Session 397 - Fugitives
General Summary
The Story So Far
Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.
Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.
They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.
This is the continuation of Session 395 - Conflagration.
15th to 20th Peonu (Spring) 728TR
Location - Kasli Manor in the Kingdom of Rethem.
The heroes have broken into Kasli Manor and retrieved one of the missing Mamekan Holy Sword, which contains the trapped soul of Ryobi's brother knight. In the process, they murdered numerous guards, set the manor house on fire, and blatantly stole valuables. There were many witnesses, and the heroes likely have been identified.
Ryobi’s priority is to return the sword to his Monastic Order and the Primate in the City of Golotha. Vinzent and Ash's priorities are to escape the law and the consequences of this debacle.
Part 1 – Burning down the Village
The heroes attempt to escape pursuit by Kasli Manor’s Priest of Agrik, the uncle of the absent Lord Kasli, accompanied by two henchmen. Ryobi gives Ash several firebombs (acquired from his Order), and Ash throws them at peasant’s houses to create a distraction. This devious and cruel act almost works. Half a dozen homes of the poor, innocent commoners are set ablaze. Unfortunately, Vinzent fails to hide, and the priest catches up with the heroes.
The heroes battle the priest and his thugs, killing them; Ash strings the corpses up in a tree as an example.
Part 2 – Escape
The heroes disappear into the Rylosin Forest as the survivors of Kasli Kanor contact their liege lord, the Baron of Qusio, and the Sheriff of Hohnamshire, based at the nearby Winen Keep. Soon, word of the party's atrocities spread far and wide, and what passes for the law in Rethem has been mobilized. The fugitives narrowly avoid capture several times.
Eventually, they spot a large band of Kubora Barbarians. The savages are in a good mood. Vinzent entertains them with one of his best juggling performances, allowing Ash and Ryobi to sneak around them undetected.
As they near the outlying manors near Shostim Castle, the heroes steal some horses and make their way through the Laxley Forest. They stumble on a huge bear-sized Ivashu feeding on a dead horse; the Arthynnod, or the Horned Bruin, spots the heroes and decides it wants fresh meat. The mighty Ivashu, covered with thick bone-like armored plates and equipped with wicked horns and claws bear-like arms, charges the outlaws. After a terrifying screech, it swipes at Ash, grabbing and immobilizing him in a lethal bear hug. Then it gnaws on the stricken hero with its beak. Vinzent is terrified, and his courage fails. He runs.
Some of Ryobi’s strikes penetrate the creature's armored hide, and it is bleeding but far from defeated. If an act of desperation, Ash manages to break free of the Arthynnod’s grip and throws three vials of alchemist fire in quick succession at the beast’s head. Enveloped in flame and screaming with pain and rage, the mighty bear-like Ivashu dies.
Eventually, the party arrives at the City of Golotha. Ryobi easily intimidates his way through the lazy gate guards and goes to the Cathedral of the Trials of Mamaka, the city’s oldest and most influential Temple of Agrik.
Location - City of Golotha in the Kingdom of Rethem.
Part 3 – Exiles
However, on the positive side, Sir Klyrdes is pleased to have the sword of the warrior monk Dobrzyn returned so the knight's soul can now be released and passed on to the afterlife. Ryobi's rash actions also set an example of what happens when anyone, no matter their station, steals a Mamakan holy sword.
However, Sir Klyrdes cannot ignore the issue politically. He is considering three options.
1) Hand over Ryobi to the sheriff for trial and execution. He would never do that; if Ryobi were to die, the Order would execute him themselves.
2) Send Ryobi on a suicide mission, killing an enemy of the Order and dying in the process.
3) Send Ryobi into exile. With this, he could travel the world, become rich and powerful, and be better positioned to return unchallenged. Also, in time, the political situation may change. Sir Klyrdes chooses this option, as the shrewd politician also has an important mission for him.
The Mamekan is the “Semi-Divine” Master Smith of the Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel. By an ancient sacred oath with the desert-dwelling Numec tribesmen of Hepekeria, the Mamekan, and his forefathers have forged the Order’s holy weapons.
Several years ago, the Mamakan sent his mother and sisters back to the island continent of Hepekeria to find suitable Numec wives for his heir. The last message he received was that they had arrived in the Town of Isynen in the distant Isynen Autarchy. Since then, they have heard nothing, and the Mamaka is concerned and indicated that he is considering retiring and searching for them. Ryobi is tasked with learning their fate. Sir Klyrdes will provide some funding and arrange for the party to be smuggled onto a merchant ship bound for the City of Cherafir in the Kingdom of Melderyn. From there, they can purchase travel to Isynen in Hepekeria.
Once Ryobi has completed this task, he is free of obligation other than to become powerful and return to Rethem as a hero.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Sir Klyrdes Bisidril, Apalankh of Hârn.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
The Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel.
The Order of the Warriors of Mameka.
Player Characters
Ryobi - Human - L8 Monk
Background - Temple Guard.
Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.
Ash - Human - L8 Thaumaturge
Background - Weaponcrafter.
Archetypes - Alchemist.
NPC Companion
Vinzent - Human - L8 Bard
Background - Cursed.
Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.
Next Session
Ryobi
Ash
NPC Companion
Vinzent
He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.
The Mamekan
The “Semi-Divine” Master Smith of the Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel.
Comments