Session 1: Viod Lyros

The adventure began on a boat, two masted and rather cramped. Six sailors were aboard, including a Getas Bastigos who was master and his five subordinates. Five conscripted Eurobasar were with them. Finally, there were seven characters of more important note, being the undesirous protagonists of this ill-fated venture. They were Odaryol, an Odyrzid; Qetukris, an Etayen; Xeyesh, an Elivas; Yaza, an Atamani Aemar; Othyrus, a Eurobasar Aemar; Thelastor Carrghest, an Everosi Aemar; and Arelastod Arhelon, an Everosi Aemar as well. They spent some three or four days on the boat, playing coin games and other passages of time. In time the managed coastal lands of Demrazand gave way to the wild excesses of the Golbesh, unchanged since the days of Magyagardu.

After some time, the crew caught sight of a pole painted in faded blue and white paint. This was the sign, the viod was somewhere ahead. The party and others arranged themselves near the main mast. Thelastor and Getas ordered them to disperse to the edges of the boat to seek out a dock, which was supposedly the place where the garrison was to meet them. Certain characters such as Arelastod and Xeyesh were less interested in being ordered around, thus distracting them with debate. Qetukris watched to the port side with Yaza, and saw the dock, being a lanquid, collapsing construction, while Othyrus noticed a sand-bar close ahead. He let out a yell, but the response was the crush of the timbers against sand. The vessel rose sharply, then crashed down. Thankfully none were harmed badly nor killed.

As the chaos settled, it became apparent that nobody was at the dock to meet them. Nobody at all, and there appeared to be no sights to indict there ever was anybody there to meet them. With this information, the party gathered themselves and at the behest of Getas and lowered the ship-boat to begin exploration. Thelastor brought ship-line to begin ferrying supplies back and forth between land and ship. They made landfall, saw nobody as expected, then determined to move inland to seek the viod for themselves. The precise location was unknown, but moving forward was determined superior to waiting back on a compromised vessel.

It didn’t take long, perhaps half an hour of walking, to encounter something of note. Yaza heard speaking and strange clattering on the wind ahead. It sounded nothing like a battle. Othyrus, Yaza, and Thelastor moved ahead to scout while the others remained behind. A quite short distance thereon, they encountered the stone walls of Viod Lyros. Thelastor and Yaza maintained a watching position at the edge of the forest, waiting for Othyrus’ return with the rest of the party. In that interval, a fellow emerged from the closed gate, walked a short distance along the wall, faced it, and began to relieve himself. The party was granted an opportunity to quickly accept or decline. Thelastor moved fast, drawing a belt-knife, crouching through the brush and stumps, and ambushing the stranger. This was done with great success. The victim never suspected a thing. Thelastor placed the knife against his chest, told him to be quiet, then dragged him back to the forest as a beast carries away its kill.

They spoke with this terrified captive at length, who explained that the viod had been abandoned for some weeks, and they were nothing more than common people who decided to “have a night” since everyone was gone. No, they were not bandits or warriors or anything! Nobody knows what happened to the garrison- the two parties never spoke overmuch. Thelastor and Yaza determined that this fellow appeared honest enough, but they continued to prod for thoroughness’ sake.

Othyrus now arrived with the remainder of the party, and was moved into a position of watch while Thelastor and Yaza continued interrogating the captive. While watching, another figure emerged from the gate opening, and began calling out for an “Enir” though the precise words were uncomprehensible to Othyrus, given the language barrier. Othyrus crept back to Thelastor and Yaza, asking what to do. Thelastor declared that coming clean would probably be best, given that these people were not enemies but just random villagers. The whole party arose and approaching, terrifying the oncomers, but the party managed to clam him down. The fellow agreed to allow the party in to speak with their leader.

Entering through the gate, the party was horrified to see the condition of the viod. Storage chests, food, casks of drink, weapons, armor, and every other manner of item was strewn throughout the courtyard, with cheering, howling, and singing Demhezzar making merry. Around 20 of them were present in that immediate area, with the sounds of others abound. Everything went silent as the party stepped inside, and they were pointed to an older fellow, balding head and long beard, who was apparently the leader of this bunch. He wore a long suit of maille with an obviously Eurobasar blade on the table before him.

The party explained that they were here to reoccupy the fort under orders from Eurobia. The man told them that they appeared as stupid beggars, and that he owed them nothing at all. Back and forth they went for a short while, but Qetukras grew tired of it and stepped forward to negotiatie. With great cleverness he was able to convince the Demhezzar that this Viod was not theirs and to depart. However, the party wanted to be merciful, and allowed them to stay the remainder of the night. Great merriment was had among them, bringing joy. Othyrus won a friendly spar, Arelastod was drenched in drink, Xeyesh and Qetukris offered their fringe theories to enthralled, drunken crowds. All was well for that night.