Episode 2: Sun and Steel
General Summary
The Island Outside of the River Time
Each character, for reasons unknown, follows instructions given to them by a town crier and finds themselves inexorably drawn toward a grove of ancient trees just outside of their own town. There an old man (recognized a Verazsuuth, an elder in Order of Shar’iishta by Niskaex), who looks them up and down as if they were a piece of horseflesh, ushers them to step inside of a tree.
Once inside, the characters find themselves in a dark stone room, lit only by cold blue fire. A mysterious voice echoes about the room, issuing a charge:
Welcome ardent heroes, to the far island outside the stream.
A task I shall charge you, one that might graft a rent in the river time.
Once more our foe appears, a shaper of River Time,
Guiding its course anew with plans both cunning and prime.
Within the City of Evershitfing Streets and change,
Mercenaries plot revenge through hatred and rage.
A gift from ancient days, bestowed by One Lady’s grace,
Was stolen in the dark and hidden without a trace.
Now must Kirsh'shaluush act, lest all that was built will fall,
Tumbling into the void, the end of creation's call.
Upon a dais in the center of the chamber they see the image of a young Soulmeliti warrior with a slightly curved blade of blue-white crystal floating beside him.
While most of the party remains paralyzed, Joran retains the ability to speak, though all she utters is "shit.” Everything goes black.
Dropping Some Eaves
The party finds themselves beneath the stars on some sort of grasslands. Looking around they release that for most of them, the stars have shifted in alignment. Saga, however immediately recognizes the stars above and city of tents behind him as his hometown of Katzpütch. His memory, however, contains nothing of the thousands of campfires just to east of the city that make the party believe a large army may be camped nearby.
Looking about, they notice that one of their number - a Soulmeliti - lies crumpled on the ground. A quick check of his vitals indicate that he is alive, but not conscious, perhaps suffering side effects from the impossible trans-location that everyone experienced. Then again, his jaw was quite swollen, so perhaps the Ork had just knocked him out.
After a few moments of bickering, they heed the hissing calls for silence made by a furious Joran , who was beginning to realize that she will once again miss her lunch plans. They also realize that just over the rise, not forty feet away, another group huddles around a campfire. At the center of the group two Soulmeliti - one a woman wearing what Saga recognizes as heraldry from the Roen'shai Family and the other the young warrior who’s image they saw in the cave, are discussing the theft of a blade. Niskaex and Saga, informed by their religious and historical studies both swear. Impossibly, they believe they have travelled through time.
Joran confirms their suspicions and begins to explain her adventures in the distant past when the visage in front of the party shatters. After a moment of disorientation, they find themselves staring out over the Lawless Steppes, but in a different direction, soft laughter coming from behind them. Spinning, they see a black robed Elynthi, the mark of House Tuiz (the most powerful house in the Elanthai Council - at least during the character’s time). He shakes his head disappointedly, telling the characters that they clear know too much and that they must die. With a flourish, he opens a gate to a land of fire and brimstone and out step two massive hounds, their dark fur tinged with fire. The Elynthi himself vanishes as the hounds close for battle.
Saga unloads a Chromatic Orb, causing a stunning amount of damage and killing one. Addag and Joran finish off the other nearly as quickly and the characters find themselves alone in grass.
The City of Evershifting Streets
After much debate, the party agrees that they are in Katzpütch, but not in their own time. Instead, Saga and Niskaex reason that they are in the late 5th Century, some 250 years in the past. The lights of the campfires can only be those of Dyianr’ri’s Army which assembled in the city before marching west to invade the Elanthai Council in retaliation for the Great War. The blade, they reason, must be Veracous, the legendary Sword of Truth and Light. They do not, however, agree as to why they have been sent to this place and time. There is a short discussion about the sword and historical events of the time, with Niskaex correcting everyone’s pronunciation of the blades name.
Finally they agree on a course of action and head into the city, hoping to blend in with the crowd until they find the Soulmeliti Sword-Saint from earlier in the evening, named Yausanti Daumashito. Given the circumstances, they talk Addag out of killing the unconscious Soulmeliti and instead tie him awkwardly to the Joran’s wolf and head into the city.
Despite their attempts to walk casually, they stumble upon a Mennithitepriest, preaching about the twisted justice of his faith to a small mob of malcontents. They party tries to sneak past but between Addag and Niskaex, it is impossible to hide their species from the human zealots. Before a mob can form, however, Saga drops a globe of Darkness upon them while Joran entangles them. The party makes a mad dash deeper in the city and shakes any pursuit.
After pausing their flight, they quickly realize that they are hopelessly lost amidst the canvas of tents. Saga takes advantage of the ensuing discussion about what to do next and rifles through the unconscious Soulmeliti’s belongings. While he takes nothing, he does find a fair sum of coin and a noble clothing that bears the mark of the Roen’shai family.
At that moment, Kethal (the Soulmeliti) awakens to find himself strapped to a wolf with a goblin going through his belongings. He immediately threatens to slay Saga who quickly apologizes, explaining the situation. Upon hearing about translocation, time travel, and Veracous (which he pronounces differently than Niskaex had instructed earlier), Kethal sets his shoulders and informs the party that “It is clear why Tyloma has sent me here” and attempts to take charge.
The People’s Army
Without knowing exactly where they are, the party continues to make their way toward the edge of the city. As the tents thin and muddy pathways widen, they arrive at a huge open field, filled with young human and Soulmeliti men and women, all starting at a distant podium. Standing upon the podium, her fist in the air with braids as fiery as her speech, is a Soulmeliti woman that Kethal instantly recognizes as Dyianr'ri Shien'shoam, the leader of the ill-fated People’s Army. The warlord recites incinerate speech, promising vengeance upon the Elynthi for widows and orphans of the Great War.
The sharp eyes of Addag and Joran spot the same Soulmeliti woman that the party had seen earlier just to the right of the stage. Kethal mutters “Aunt Sheli” under his breath and the party agrees to seek her out, working their way around the edge of the crowd as unobtrusively as a Goblin, and Kyushu might in a crowd of Human and Soulmeliti malcontents. And while the party makes a fair effort at the endeavor, Addag manages to stumble, knocking down a trio of Soulmeliti warriors. Covered in mud and staring up a cleric of crashes, they shout “Ork” and the party finds themselves surrounded.
After a mad combination of bluster, magic, and subterfuge, the party resumes their march on the podium. They soon find themselves face-to-face with Ver'sheli Roen'shai and a squadron of hard looking Aran'fantarhyme, hands on the hilts of their swords and the flint of magic in their eyes. Kethal stays their hands, claiming that the Ork and Goblin are “with him” and that he has been sent by Tyloma. Ver’sheli finds the young Soulmeliti strangely familiar and opts to trust him, offering what little information she knows about the whereabouts of the blade - somewhere here on the Lawless Steppes. Kethal promises to return Veracous into Soulmeliti hands and the party takes their leave.
Clues Abound
The party bickers. A half dozen ideas are floated as they travel back around the City of Shifting Streets, giving it a wide berth - their only hope of remaining inconspicuous. Kethal wants to rescue the sword and give it to Dyianr’ri, hoping to change history and save the People’s Army from their fate at the Battle of the Fallen Moon. Addag wants the opposite - to rid Tarien of the accursed blade. After asking Grashua for advice about returning to the place of their arrival, Niskaex claims that only by ensuring history unfolds as it is written, will it be saved. Saga is inclined to agree and the two of them go over the charge given to them in the strange cave. Joran merely wants to return in time for her lunch plans.
After the debates degenerates into name calling, with Kethal calling Niskaex a "bug" (It's Soulmeliti for Tzecheni'korak, he assures, "It just doesn't translate well".) Having circled around half of the city, the party decides to split up. Being conspicuous, Saga, Addag, and Niskaex set up camp on the outskirts of the city. Meanwhile, Kethal and Joran (pretending to be Soulmeliti child) decide to head into the town to gather clues. The two make their way back into the maze of tents until they come across a crazed old man, waiving a symbol of Landric and shouting about doom and brimstone in an empty square. He rants about an unspeakable evil - alien in nature - that approaches Tarien. “It stalks the spaces between existence and non-existence, its goals unknowable but it is relentless and patient, its malevolence growing as it stalks time.”
Unsettled, the two return to the party where everyone agrees to find the blade and give it Yausanti Daumashito. The believe that perhaps they should make contact with someone from the Thieves' Guild in an effort to find more information about Moments later, a crowd of rough looking Soulmeliti, led by a greasy haired warrior, storm into the makeshift camp, itching for a fight. The warrior, chest puffed out, introduces himself. 'Yo! I'm Joei Daumashito and you lot are clearly hiding something." The party assures Joei that he has caught them. They are indeed hiding something - that they are looking for Veracous to return it to Soulmeliti hands. After the party explains that the bug (Niskaex) is a member of the holy Order of Shar'iishta, the ones who gifted the sword to Tyloma in the first place, Joei and his goon-squad agree to help.
The party heads for the Farmer's Daughter - one of Katzputch's three inns, to try and find out more information. Once at the inn, the split up. Addag and Niskaex carouse with drifters from the People's Army, signing Khadric drinking songs. Niskaex insists upon correcting everyone's pronunciation of Khadric, but otherwise the pair ingratiate themselves, mostly thanks to the rounds of ale they purchased. Kethal and Joei attempt to question various Soulmeliti soldiers, focusing upon officers until they spot a shady character and overhear something about a Great Market.
Saga and Joran sit in a corner where they are approached by a Nerrid introducing himself as Agent Giant Eagle. Always seeking new sources of information, he offers to trade with the party. As it turns out, he does know something about a the Thieves' Guild moving a major item through the city. According to his sources, the fence Rajiiv the Slick will be handing it other than Luvren Lightfingers himself this evening in the Great Market. In return, Saga offers only this advice - do not follow Dyianr'ri's Army to Merdenkal. Agent Giant Eagle is disappointed but Saga tells him, "Trust me, it’s the best advice you will ever get."
The party starts slipping out of the Farmer's Daughter one at a time, pulling Niskaex away in the middle of explanation of the song's deep philosophical meaning. Kethal is unable to sneak out as Joei follows him to the latrine, so he comes clean and everyone heads for the Great Market.
Rewriting History
The party arrives at the Great Market and sees two characters skulking in the shadows of a Dharjan kabob stand, a long slender package in their hands. Kethal and Joran attempt to sneak over while the rest of the party casually shops their way in that direction. Niskaex, who misses the point of casually shopping, alerts a half-dozen Guild Members watching over the transaction. A brawl breaks out, with guild members attacking Addag and Niskaex from the rear. Kethel quaffs a potion and charges. Joran entangles the fleeing thieves. Saga slides through the shadows and unleashes a lightning bolt at the package holder, frying him and cutting a hundred foot deep path of destruction into the tents beyond. Joei is struck by a thief and collapses to the ground, a bloody mess.
The stench of burning flesh fills the air when the air shimmers and five Elynthi warriors appear on the scene, attacking thieves and the party alike. Kethal reaches the sword, entangling himself but grabbing Veracous. For a moment reality itself shudders. As the party fights back against the thieves and Elynthi, a squad of Soulmeliti charge into the square, heading straight Kethal. The battle continues, with Addag and Niskaex taking as much friendly fire from the Soulmeliti as from the thieves. Joran moves toward Joei to heal him.
With half of the party nearly down, they watch as the group of heroes from the campsite charging into the square, Yausanti at their head. Addag establishes a position behind Kethal, guarding his flank from Elynthi until he succumbs to Yausanti's blades as the Kirsh'shaluush cuts his way toward the sword. Kethal tosses him Veracous, the crystal blade arcing through the air until Yausanti clasps it by the hilt. A bright light ignites from the sword and everything goes black.
Return to the Island Outside of Time
The party awakens, bloodied and exhausted, to the cave. The old man knees over Addag's body, shaking his head slowly. "This one has given his life to preserve the River of Time," he sighs.
The strange voice returns, sending them back to their lives and warning the characters of some malevolence trying to manipulate history.
Thanks to you, heroes, for solving the mystery dark and profound,
Guiding the Sword of the Truth and the Light to its home to be found.
Though in the annals of time there is anguish this act may have sown,
Such is the course that the River of Time was destined to own.
Stay ever watchful, for time in its passage reveals yet a foe,
Alien, dark, and malign in its scheme, twisting rivers that flow.
What are its aims? Still a shadowy veil hides the purpose it weaves,
Yet, be prepared, for the call may return to your service, it grieves.
