.x.
Fireday, Fertility Week, Fire Season 1627
We awoke on the floor of the Jade Temple. Erissa Marn and Fola Rund were still tending donkeys and waiting for us with Nurse and the mute Veralzi. We had been gone for three days into the Other Side to find Baroshi after defeating the Maggot.
The Veralzi lead us from the Jade Temple, through the trail of the Maggot, to a small meter-wide crack that lead back into the defiled temple of Mallia, Thed, and Ragnaglar. Sneaking along the wall, we made our way back to the pool in the upper caves where Stoneshell lounged. The ancient turtle spirit was delighted with us for having brought him the skull of Osboropo. In exchange, as our reward, he dove down into his pool and hauled up a chest so encrusted shut with corrosion that our only choice was to break it open once we escaped the caves. Inside we found a suit of corroded bronze armor that would fit Rizen were it to be cleaned, several ancient gold coins with markings no one recognized but nonetheless were obviously valuable, a handful of tarnished-black silver coins (similarly ancient and unidentifiable), and a silver sword without a speck of tarnish on it. We wondered if it was magical and gave it to Obrast, who probably will sell it the first chance he gets.
Xx.
Godday, Fertility Week, Fire Season 1627
Two days later, we arrived back at Snakedance Temple north of Herongreen to return Erissa Marn to her worried acolytes at the White Shrine. The acolytes honored their promise that the all the services of the white healers at the Snakedance shrine were at our disposal, without further obligation, for a year.
We gave Fola Rund into the care of the earth priestesses and told them that we had entered the Jade Temple of Giniji and saved Baroshi (although, perhaps unsurprisingly, the priestesses already knew that Baroshi had been freed). Fola was grateful to have been saved and made plans to return home after she recovered from her ordeal under the care of the earth priestesses.
Although Esrolsin could freely enter the inner temple at Snakedance, we could not as we were not a priestess like her. Nevertheless, we were given quarters on the outer temple grounds and initiates saw to our needs, bringing us food and wine from the temple vineyards (a late-harvest greenish-golden wine). They bathed us and washed our clothes. Additional personal worship services were offered, as well.
oc.
Freezeday, Stasis Week, Fire Season 1627
We left Snakedance and headed over the hills towards Herongreen, where Argrath’s Host awaited us. To our surprise, Esrolsin came with us rather than stay at the temple with the other priestesses. Our warband had grown since leaving Snakedance, and now included:
- Berrik Three-Stars;
- Aeson Surepike;
- Obrast (“the Wagblather” as Red Killi calls him);
- Barterim the Healer;
- Rizen the Humakti;
- Red Killi, an old initiate of Engizi and former wolf pirate;
- Akato the Hammerhand, a man-and-a-half and former wolf pirate, initiate of the World Shaker;
- Ugly Pagit, a young and unfortunate looking man, initiate of Orlanth Adventurous and a former wolf pirate, as well;
- Esrolsin, former queen of the Amad and priestess of Ernalda the Queen;
- Garinfin, initiate of Orlanth Adventurous, Esrolsin’s noble warrior son;
- Awii Seronan, the beaked dragonewt whom we rescued from the broo, who stays with us for mysterious reasons, only hissing furiously and sadly signing in Auld Wyrmish “Today is not utumma…” when we asked him why;
- “Veralzi” the Silent, we do not actually know his name, but he is one of the mute Veralzi from the Jade Temple, he comes with us to maintain the promise of the ancient Veralzi in Rich Home; and
- Ser Mouse, a small white mouse from Nochet who we also rescued from the broo; he is quite chatty but only Berrik can hear his prattling.
Bronze Haunn has been absent since the return from the Other Side. He is not gone, just not here anymore, at least for now.
Argrath’s Host
Upon cresting the hill over Herongreen from Snakedance, we could see Argrath’s Host spread out in the valley around the town. It had grown by another thousand, perhaps, mostly fyrd and thanes from the Far Point clans that responded to the King of Pavis’ summons. Pol Joni rode out to escort us into the camp. Apparently, news of our success proceeded us (again, not so unsurprising) and the troops hooted and clapped and reached out to touch us as we passed through them towards Argrath’s great pavilion.
A cohort of Twin Spears, Argrath’s personal bodyguard, took over from the Pol Joni and took us before Argrath. The young king strode out of his pavillion with his constant companions and relatives, Orlaront Dragonfriend and Orstalor Spearlord, at his side. Argrath invoke a very formal Orlanth’s Greeting, to which Berrik responded. Argrath brought inside his tent and gave us a place to sit with a blanket to cover the ground, water, meat, and salt. We convened with Argath’s Council. The Mysterious Regal Man we had met before leaving for Snakepipe Hollow revealed himself as Prince Broyar, son of the late King Broyan of Whitewall. Another man, a Praxian shaman named Kagradhi Hoof-Talker, leader of the Eaglebrown Warlocks, was also present.
Unwelcome Company
The council was interupted by the arrival of troops sent from Alda-Chur by the Lunar Tarsh King Pharandros. The messenger, Aurelus Agarpa, parleyed with Argrath outside the pavillion; Argrath neither offered him any hospitality nor allowed him to dismount his horse and touch ground. Aurelus informed Argrath that Pharandros would offer all his host pardon and amnesty for their crimes of treason, rebellion, and blasphemy if Argrath would turn around and skuttle back to Pavis. If Argrath did not, Pharandros would be far less merciful. He would crucify each and every one of them along the road from Herongreen to Alda-Chur.
Argrath did not accept the offer in the most stenuous terms. As Aurelus galloped away, we overheard Orlaront whisper to him, “Well, cousin, you wanted war? Now you have a war. I hope we can survive it.”
Welcome Company
It was not all “doom and gloom” Imperial pronouncements of our impeding deaths during the following days. Harnal the Vicious, the Gagarthi we had spared years ago at Tarkalor’s Tower, arrived in camp and found us. He had survived his outlawry, renounced Gagarth (as is only natural), and following dreams from Orlanth, found us again. With him were three young men, also former Gagarthi who had come through their period of banishment with Harnal, who looked up to him and rode company with him.
Some Twin Spears grabbed us and took us to a commotion in camp. We found the minotaur Clatterhoof, whom we had befriended on our way to the Smoking Ruin in the Beast Wilds years ago. He, too, had followed portents to find us in Argrath’s Camp, though his came from the Shaker Priestess of Kero Fin directly.
Pol Joni horns sounded the approach of a large Lunar force crossing the Donalf Stream and marching towards Herongreen. At a kilometer off, riders and a chariot broke off from the main force carrying the Harmony Staff. Argrath summoned Orlmarl and his own chariot. We his council, us included, he rode out to meet the newcomers.
It was a strange meeting. The army was lead by boyishly handsome Annstad of Dunstop, younger son of Fazzur Wideread. It soon became clear that Argrath and Annstad knew each other well and shared affection for each other. Annstad admitted that Fazzur (after a great deal of prodding by Annstad) had sent him with 500 of the Dunstop Foot to help in the fight against Pharandros. Argrath was shocked that Fazzur would send aid to him in Far Point rather than deploy these forces to help his besieged son Onjur in Tarsh. Annstad smiled and said his father is a cunning man and Argrath shouldn’t question the gift. He gave Argrath a letter from Fazzur, which Argrath tucked away.
Convincing Death
Argrath summoned us and said that Rurik Runespear had been sent to Sword Hill to gain the support of the Humakti temple there. Rurik had not returned and a messenger from the Humakti had arrived to inform Argrath that Rurik had offended Death and was being held for ransom at the temple. Argrath sent Rizen and Aeson to sort things out with the Humakti, negotiate Rurik’s release, and gain the temple’s support for the upcoming battle: Sword Hill strategically commanded the valley where Argrath wished to lure Pharandros’ forces. Before leaving, Olarant pulled Rizen and Aeson aside and told them to be careful: the Hillsword Humakti are a proud and prickly lot. He also gave them a skull to give the Humakti, and words to say when they presented it. It was vital the Humakti came to Argrath’s side.
Aeson and Rizen rode fast Pol Joni ponies to get to the temple as soon as possible as the day of battle unavoidably approached. There, they learned that Rurik had insulted the Humakti in a cock-waving contest about whose god gave the better gifts and geases. Though an intelligent and thoughtful man, Rurik was prone to boasting and had poor tastes in jests; furthermore, the Hillsword Humakti were remarkably humorless. Aeson and Rizen’s negotiations with the temple warriors were tense and trailed off into the night. They learned that the temple had recently been dishonored by the defection of one of their warriors to Pharandros’ side, and the defector was now in command of the Doblian Dogeaters. Aeson made promises on behalf of Argrath, expensive ones at that, and the Humakti swore themselves to fight with the White Bull against Alda-Chur.
The Joyride
Barterim and Obrast, neither being warriors, found shared company with beer and dice near the healers’ train from Snakedance. In the night, Elusu the Clown snatched them up and, insanely, convinced them to steal kumis from the Royal Pavis Guard (because they have the best kumis in camp, of course). Once the kumis was stolen, she took them to the tent of Orlmarl the Charioteer where they all got drunk together. Orlmarl got the most drunk (Elusu saw to that) and passed out. In short order, Obrast had turned Orlmarl’s horses into giant chickens by giving them kumis and Barterim was holding the reins to drive the Argrath’s chariot while Elusu ripped out fart spirits to blind any onlookers who might witness them stealing the chariot.
Safely out of camp and after a few crazy bounces, the chickens took wing and the chariot flew up into the night sky, out over Sword Hill, and then high over Alda-Chur. They could see Pharandros’ entire army camped below. Elusu demanded that they count the army before the Goddess saw them. Obrast, who could barely count how many toes were on his feet, tried but gave up. Elusu shoved the chariot reins into his hands so Barterim could count. Barterim did little better. Then the Goddess saw them. Flaming Moonbats flew down from the Red Moon and arrows flew up from the army below. Elusu pushed out more farts, then shit itself, over the chariot rail and took an arrow in her ass for it. Now out of control, the chariot careened wildly back the ground. They crashed, but ended up where they started at blue-skinned Orlmarl’s tent. Elusu brushed herself off and ordered Barterim and Obrast to deal with the mess while she told Argrath what they had learned.
ec.
Clayday, Stasis Week, Fire Season 1627
In the morning, Argrath’s Host left Herongreen and marched to Sword Hill. Argrath ordered the Storm Voices to cover their march with rain and lightning. It was miserable, but it hid the army’s movement from the Red Goddess.
Tomorrow is Day 88, gc.
King Sartar’s High Holy Day. At Dawn, Pharandros will attack: we could see his mighty host crossing the Engoli River during the early evening hours as we prepared ourselves in the looming shadow of Sword Hill. What Argrath truly intends, we do not know. We only know he has ordered the Alone fyrd to hack up the terrain in the valley below Sword Hill and plant stakes in the hillsides while the Storm Voices of Whitewall fight the Lunar College magicians to keep rain and lightning above us. And we know he has ordered the Eleven Lights, under the command of Berrik, and the Eaglebrown Warlocks, under the command of Kagradhi, to remain hidden until sunset, when Orlanth’s Ring rises from the Dusk Gate for the first time since Baroshi’s release. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.