Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Ten, Part One

Date: 27 September 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Zach (Haley).

The party entered the cave system through the secret opening they’d found. Footing was treacherous – Malack in particular had trouble and kept slipping and falling over. However, they still managed to make reasonable time.

At one point the party entered a large cave that had a great rockfall dozens of feet high on the far side. Goblina, with the first of about 12 critical successes, spotted everything that there was to be spotted. There was evidence that the elf and his party had ascended this slope of rubble. In the midst of it, the hand and leg of a humanoid were found sticking out, with the rest of the body covered by rocks. Tracks of cave lizards called rishtuks were also to be seen around and about.

Dolo began ascending the slope to unearth the poor unfortunate beneath the rubble. The body’s hand and leg had been chewed down to the bone. Concerned about the rishtuks, Haley and Goblina also started to make their way up. Then Haley was attacked by one of the pale lizards darting out from between rocks.

A hard-fought fight ensued that saw Dolo wrestling with one of the small-sized rishtuks and bashing it repeatedly on the ground. Haley was bitten repeatedly in the legs. And Goblina’s mount, Snowflake, was critically wounded. Jaren and Malack fought off another rishtuk between them. The party’s guide, Randak, proved quite effective – once he managed to scrabble up the slope.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Nine, Part Five

Date: 20 September 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Matthew (Jaren), Mike (Malack), Zach (Haley).

Goblina’s contribution to the plan was to cloak Zirg in an elaborate illusion that would make him look and sound like a dwarf. As the plan took effect, Zirg called out to the inspector as if in distress. Malack and Dolo then jumped him, Malack beating severely and intimidating him into leaving the orcs alone.

They headed back to the Mug and were told that the elf had wanted to find a way of travelling through the Warrens secretly, leaving Kalmeshi and arriving in either Virgmiliom or the River Kingdom without leaving a trail. He was recommended a guide, who took him and his party to some abandoned mines to the north-east of Huntholm. Oour party was also put in contact with a dwarven guide who would do the same for them.

The party then split up to investigate various locales where the elf may have visited. Dolo drank with the orcs. Jaren held a one-elf wine-tasting session at the elven guesthouse the Summer Sun and Winter Moon. Dolo overheard the orcs mentioning that the inspector’s wife had been seen leaving her home in a fury; somewhat the worse for drink, he staggered over to meet the others and inform them.

In the morning, the party met their guide, Randak, at the bridge. After agreeing terms, he led them to Rasdrog’s Mines. On the way, realising that horses would not be able to navigate the mines and caves, the party sold two of their horses to an old dwarf woman at a nearby hamlet, while Jaren gave his away for free. Haley, too attached to Phnor to do the same, tearfully sent her mount away with Randak’s pony, with a note (written by the newly literate Goblina) that he should be given into the safekeeping of Enthorgond.

Randak led them the rest of the way to the mine. Outside the entrance were the remains of another small settlement and some signs of recent use. Randak explained that certain individuals and groups who wished to avoid the notice of the authorities sometimes used this route. He led them inside and straight to a secret cave entrance that was disguised with an illusion spell. Haley, perceptively noticed that tracks started near the secret cave, while the rest of the mine was clear of tracks.

The party investigated this further and found a large pile of rubble. Once Dolo had cleared this rubble away, a newly broken entrance to the caves was found. The party entered.

4 XP each.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Nine, Part Four

Date: 6 September 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Josh (Zirg), Matthew (Jaren), Mike (Malack) and Zach (Haley).

Enthorgond and the others cleared up the remains of the choke beasts and then the party continued on their way to Turingsdag. On the morning of the day they arrived there, Malack came down with bloodpox. Unable to resist a dare, Dolo massaged the human’s feet and licked his finger, risking infection himself. Jaren and Zirg remained in a cave off the main Warrens thoroughfare to care for Malack.

The other headed into the town, where Enthorgond led them to the Clan Hall to register as foreigners and to his own clan’s Clan Hall for a meal. One of the dwarves told the party about Enthorgond’s injury, the death of his wife and the fact that his only asset is his magical axe – from which he is loath to part.

Jaren tried and failed a couple of times to heal the bloodpox, but finally put his all into it and rid the disease from Malack’s system. The party headed on to Huntholm on the trail of the mysterious elf. Haley fell sick with bloodpox and was cured by Jaren.

Huntholm is a town on an island in a lake in the mountains. It is something of a tourist resort, with people from many nations coming to try their hand at hunting the silvercats, drakhai and other beasties that call the Gorodan Mountains their home. The made some inquiries and found that the elf had done likewise at a rough orcish tavern called the Mug. Malack and Dolo attempted to find out what he’d wanted. Dolo, despite being an extrovert orc, failed while Malack succeeded.

But only to the point where the landlord offered him a deal. Deliver a bit of physical encouragement to a pesky inspector of taverns who had given the Mug a bad report and fined them for various infringements and Malack would learn what the elf had wanted. Malack, Dolo, Zirg and Goblina planned an ambush of the inspector on his way home from the Clan Hall at night.

4 XP each, but 3 each for Jaren and Zirg.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Nine, Part Three

Date: 30 August 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Mike (Malack) and Zach (Haley).

The fight against the choke beasts got underway in earnest. The small sized juveniles were tricky to hit, but they didn’t pack much punch themselves. However, one managed to strike a critical blow to Haley, causing her to start bleeding – although this didn’t slow her down much. Zirg changed his plan to make the floor of the passage sticky, instead dumping conjured excrement on a couple of the beasts. Jaren took the horses to safety out of the suffocating gas. Malack, Dolo, Goblina and Enthorgond waded in with their weapons, blocking attacks with their shields.

A short time later, a large sized adult choke beast appeared and started attacking the party. A couple of blows from Enthorgond’s axe caused it to flee temporarily. When it came back for more, the party finished it off. Goblina tended to Haley’s injury.

4 XP each for Dolo, Goblina, Haley and Malack, and 1 for Zirg.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Nine, Part Two

Date: 23 August 2011. Present: Zach (Haley), Mike (Malack), Matthew (Jaren), Josh (Zirg), Eric (Goblina) and Andy (Dolo).

In the evening, Jaren, Zirg and Goblina, attempted separately to recruit help for their task of collecting rockflower plants from the mountains. The results were unimpressive. Everyone did a little collecting in the evening, but the gathering started in earnest the following day (Moonday 8th Felcorvary). Zirg recruited a family of goblins – the only such in dwarven Tragad – to gather, thus using up his morning. Everyone else headed straight out to the mountainsides.

Malack, Dolo and Goblina found a small number of plants. Jaren and Haley went out together with a plan. Haley, with her superior vision and good fortune spotted a couple of decent-sized rockflower patches. Jaren, using his newly developed Nature Magic, caused the plants to grow explosively, resulting in veritable carpets of verdure on the bleak mountainside. The pair returned triumphantly to the flabbergasted vintner, securing the case of twelve bottles of rockflower wine (Jaren bought himself a couple of bottles, too), which they handed over to Ilga, the jeweller, who then sold them the pink diamond necklace, which they handed over to Ethrig Alrigsson, who gave them a letter authorising the party to use the Warrens.

The party was brought back to town in the afternoon, and, with their guide, Enthorgond Brakborgondsson (who is a dwarf, not an arthropod), set off into the tunnel system known as the Valthaxu Warrens shortly afterwards. During the first day, the party passed another group, dwarves coming from Turingsdag, the party’s initial destination. They told them that an elf with four others had been in Turingsdag a few days ago and that he was heading north-west to Huntholm.

During the following day, still in the Warrens, Haley suddenly heard a hissing, popping noise. She alerted Enthorgond, who told everyone to take a deep breath and hold it. Everyone did so. A moment later, all the torches went out, leaving only the goblins and the dwarves able to see with their low-light vision. A further moment later, the party was set upon by a clutch of juvenile choke beasts.

Being at the head of the party, Enthorgond took the brunt of their attack. Dolo bulled forwards through his companions and attempted to attack – in vain. Zirg gathered Anima for spells. Goblina quick-cast a light spell. Jaren shouted ‘What the hell is going on?’

Find out if anyone answers him next week in Chapter Nine, Part Three of Tales of Tolvenia.

Everyone gets 3 XP, except Jaren and Haley, who get 4 XP for their successful rockflower-growing plan.

The Kalmeshi Realm

The Kalmeshi Realm is a dwarven nation located in southern central Tolvenia, to the west of Lutia. It is a mountainous land that has a climate rather cooler than its latitude would suggest. Its population is mostly dwarves, but there are many humans, some orcs and ogres and a smattering of other races. Its economy is largely based on mining and related occupations. Kalmeshi weapons, armour, tools are highly regarded. When in the Kalmeshi Realm, people may find bargains on masterwork examples of such items (make an opposed diplomacy check to attempt to get a masterwork item at the normal cost). Kalmeshi stone, masons and architects are renowned throughout southern Tolvenia.

The capital is Kalmesh. It is located at the base of a great mountain, Kuruk-kal. The Realm is ruled by a Lord High Marshal, who is appointed for life by the Council of the Realm. This council is manned by twelve Lord Marshals, who are individually appointed by the Realm’s most important clans, plus the Lord High Marshal, Rûkhëon Aramûnsson of the Clan Fyordok. There are eleven dwarf Lord Marshals and one human.

The Council appoints city and town governors and passes laws relating to internal affairs. The Lord High Marshal makes decisions regarding foreign affairs – although he is expected to consult the Council for such decisions, including declaring war. Once war has been declared on a foreign power, the Lord High Marshal can make decisions relating to the war effort without regard to the Council.

There is also a Greater Council of the Realm, which theoretically sits continuously, but which rarely meets in full. Its purpose is to discuss controversial issues and make recommendations to the Council and the Lord High Marshal. It consists of representatives from minor clans, tribes, churches, guilds and so on. It can force Lord Marshals and any citizen or resident of Kalmesh (but not the Lord High Marshal) to attend its meetings and answer questions, but it has no legislative power.

The main religion in Kalmeshi is a form of Decadianism called the Way of Ûrist. Ûristis believe that the legendary priest-king, Ûrist was a messenger of the Ten who lived around 600 years ago. He preached absolute loyalty to family, clan, and nation, and vigorous defence of one’s own interest against foreign threats. He is said to have brought the disparate clans together into a unified polity, established the institutions of Kalmeshi, tried to cleanse the young nation of foreign influences (supposedly by ethnic cleansing of non-dwarf populations).

The Way of Ûrist is summed up by the Ten Precepts. Believers in Ûrist keep an image of the Shield of Ûrist about them and their home at all times. (The actual Shield of Ûrist is kept in the Citadel of the Shield, the seat of Kalmeshi government.) Non-believers are taxed at a higher rate and are discriminated against in a host of ways – less favourable treatment before tribunals, rougher residential areas, longer waits after applications etc.

Kalmeshi is also known for being insular and militaristic. It has a peace treaty with Lutia and the Kingdom of the River, but fights constant skirmishes with its other neighbours, the Orambali Empire to the south and the Virgmilliom Confederacy to the north. Foreign travellers are closely monitored and must report to the town or city marshal’s office in any place they visit, stating their business and length of stay.

In addition to its mining and artisanal centres in the mountains in the northeast half of the nation, Kalmesh has many farming towns and plantations in the plains of the southwest. Farms and plantations here are mostly worked by slave labour and are administered by merchants or by minor clans.

Hunting is a popular pastime, and the Gorodan Mountains of the far north and west are home to some fearsome creatures, including silvercats and drakhai. The ogres and orcs that make their homes here are often subject to attack by hunting parties.

Underground, there is an extensive system of caves and tunnels called the Valthaxu Warrens that link most mountain towns and cities. Travelling by the Warrens can cut travel times drastically. Their use has to be authorised by the local marshal, and they are generally only used on official business, or private business by wealthy Kalmeshis (Ûristis being favoured). There are also dangers to their use – numerous dangerous creatures inhabit them, and there are legends of terrible beasts in the furthest depths.

The Twelve Main Clans
Clan Fyordok
Clan Omli
Clan Thûriëk
Clan Magravats
Clan Ishnyur
Clan Fëorost
Clan Yokhnar
Clan Rhûos
Clan Gôdh
Clan Hrintiakh
Clan Dorok
Clan Arvinger (human)

The Ten Precepts of Ûrist
Honour thy father.
Honour thy clan.
Honour thy people.
Honour the Ten.
Slay not, but in defence.
Deceive not.
Take not that which is not thine.
Lust not for that which is not thine.
Toil is the way of honour.
Deliver justice to the unworthy.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Nine, Part One

Date: 16 August 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Josh (Zirg) and Zach (Haley).

On arriving at the Kalmeshi border town of Tragad, the party had to register with a border clerk and hand over a deposit of 10 gold. Once in the town proper, they headed to Brondar Alrigsson, the town marshal’s brother and delivered the letter. Having heard about the Valthaxu Warrens, they were interested in using them to head north-west on the trail of the elf (whom they had heard was apparently planning a hunting expedition in the mountains). Brondar explained that his brother wouldn’t give access to foreigners, but that he may be able to bend the rules if the party helped him out.

Marshal Ethrig Alrigsson wanted to buy his wife a gold necklace pink diamond pendant for her upcoming birthday. However, a feud between his clan, Clan Thûriëk, and the jeweller’s clan, Clan Fëorost, had made this very difficult. If the party could purchase the necklace, he would allow them to use the Warrens with an escort.

The jeweller, however – Grenda Ilgasdaughter – wasn’t willing to sell unless the party could procure for her a case of rockflower wine – which was in short supply because of the bad winter.

The vintner allowed that he might part with a whole case of wine if the party agreed to go into the nearby mountains and gather rockflowers. Haley began at once and was lucky enough to find a substantial fraction of the required amount. The others, meanwhile, repaired to the clan hall to recruit assistance.

Everyone in attendance receives 4 XP.

Tales of Tolvenia, Chapter Eight, Part Four

Date: 16 August 2011. Present: Andy (Dolo), Eric (Goblina), Josh (Zirg) and Zach (Haley).

The party, having defeated the mutant eels, continued down the Ironbourne, onboard the Daystar and reached Brauger, the last big town before the Kalmeshi Realm. As they sailed downriver, Goblina sweet-talked the mutant crow she’d captured into being her companion. This white, sparkling female avian was named Cawy.

In Brauger, the party ran into an old friend – Zirg. Zirg told them how, after parting ways with his share of the treasure from Terestora, the underground ruins near Treston, he’d spent some time living in the nearby Sternvald Forest. He had seen Thenro Figginspur and some others from the village heading east. They told him that they were taking treasure to sell in eastern towns well away from Fulmond Barony. The baron had sent a man, Jedrem Luckysmile to investigate what had become of the party.

The ruins were now being investigated and surveyed. Linny Lavender and others from the village had been interrogated none too gently about the non-reporting of a treasure find and tax evasion. Zirg had decided to try to track the party down and had headed to the capital, Luteln. There, he learnt that Ransia Scorch, a senior inquisitor was about to be despatched to Kalmeshi on a ‘diplomatic mission’. She had also been investigating the events surrounding the passage of a mysterious elf. Zirg headed west in his search for the party, eventually reaching Brauger.

the party investigated the spontaneous release of all prisoners from the town jail (or gaol) a couple of weeks previously. Four prisoners were believed to have left for Kalmeshi with the elf. They were: Thrander Mill, a human male, jailed (or gaoled) for theft; Mucke the Bear, a human male, jailed for assault; Rûugrin Yrgensson, a dwarf male, jailed for assault; and Graghtog, an orc male, jailed for damage to property.

They also heard that a dwarven blacksmith in the town was related to the controlling clan of the Kalmeshi border town of Tragad. They went to see him. Dolo made use of the Yorgod Yorzigsson’s facilities to repair his axe. The party took a letter from Yorgod to deliver to the marshal of Tragad’s brother.

Two days later, they arrived.

Rules Update: Skewer Attack and Skewer Attack Feat

I’ve created a new attack in the wake of Eric’s attacks against the eels:

Skewer Attack

A skewer attack is a variation of the basic attack and can only be made with a piercing mêlée weapon such as a sword or spear. A skewer attack is made with a -3 penalty. If successful, deal damage as normal (a match deals half damage, but is not a successful skewer attack) and the attacker’s weapon remains in the wound; the attacker also enters the defender’s square.

As a two-point Reaction, the defender may try to escape with a Str or Dex roll (opposed by an attack roll).

Critical Success
Defender escapes from skewer attack; attacker is pushed back to previous square and knocked prone (Ref save at Difficulty 12).
Success
Defender escapes from skewer attack; attacker is pushed back to previous square.
Match
No effect.
Failure
Attacker deals half damage per six points in excess of opposed roll (eg, 15 vs 8 = 7 points difference = half damage × 2).
Critical Failure
Attacker deals full damage per six points in excess of opposed roll; attacker deals one critical wound.

As a one-point action the attacker may make a further attack roll (opposed by a Str or Dex roll) to deal further damage.

Critical Success
Deal full damage per six points in excess of opposed roll; deal one critical wound.
Success
Deal half damage per six points in excess of opposed roll (eg, 15 vs 8 = 7 points difference = half damage × 2).
Match
No effect.
Failure
Defender escapes from skewer attack; attacker is pushed back to previous square.
Critical Failure
Defender escapes from skewer attack; attacker is pushed back to previous square and knocked prone (Ref save at Difficulty 12).

Feat:

Martial: Skewer Attack
Proficiency: +1 to skewer attack and opposed rolls.
Expertise: +1 to skewer attack and opposed rolls.
Mastery: +1 to skewer attack and opposed rolls.
Perfection: +1 to skewer attack and opposed rolls. Critical failures don’t apply to these rolls.

Rules Update: Brutal Attack

I’ve changed the rules for Brutal Attack:

Proficiency: A Brutal Attack allows you to potentially double the damage your weapon deals. A Brutal Attack must be declared in advance. To make a Brutal Attack, make a basic attack with any weapon except a crossbow with a -3 penalty. If successful (a match is not a success), roll again with the same penalty. If you beat the Defence a second time, double your Weapon Damage (WDmg); if you match the Defence on the second roll, add 50% WDmg (rounded down). If you critically fail on either roll, make the critical failure roll twice and choose the lowest. Regardless of success or failure, you are distracted until the start of your next turn when making a Brutal Attack.
Expertise: Reduce the Brutal Attack penalty by 1.
Mastery: Reduce the Brutal Attack penalty by 1.
Perfection: Reduce the Brutal Attack penalty by 1. If you beat the Defence, you may triple your Weapon Damage (WDmg); if you match the Defence, you may double the WDmg. If you critically fail on either roll, make the critical failure roll once.