Week 4: Traitors and butt-lickers

Jan 22, Monday; Icy & cloudy

• The snowfall has finally eased off, but as we broke camp in the morning, we discovered a slight problem - chasing after the riders yesterday has led us into a sea of identical snowy hills and our tracks were already covered with fresh snow. In short, we were lost.
• Grumbling and griping, we picked a direction towards the tallest hill nearby, but our troubles didn't last long. From the hill, the road from Odawara to the temple of C'ro could be seen and we were back at it before noon. (#2.10, #2.9)
• While a bit of time has been lost with this detour, the rest of our journey was quick with the improved weather and we arrived at the temple in mid-afternoon. (#3.10, #2.11, #3.12)
• We resupplied with rations to start our venture into proper wilderness fully stocked and attended the mass at dusk. Some of the priests even recognised us by name already, which I guess is only fair given our frequent visits.

Jan 23, Tuesday; Sleet

• We set of towards the southern edge of the mountains, intending to circumvent them and get to the dark temple of Shadow-that-Hungers from a more favourable terrain.
• As we were driving over the plains to the foothills (#3.13), we noticed a strange pseudo-tower rising from the ground, worked on by a swarm of way too large insects. Four of the creatures went to take a look at us, so we kept our distance and left.

4x Ant, Giant: HD 3, AC 9, AT bite, ML +5, SP acid (2 dmg)

• Unfortunately, the journey to circumvent the mountains turned out to be longer than expected. We eventually climbed some hills overlooking a seaside swamp (#4.13), but we will have to see tomorrow if there is a path between the mountains and the swamp.
• At least we managed to forage some apples still on the trees since autumn, so the rations are not so dry today.

new hexes traversed = 20 xp

Jan 24, Wednesday; Light drizzle

• We continued to push around the southern tip of the mountains through the forested foothills (#5.13), until the forest parted around an enormous, sleeping squamous body.

Dragon of Cinders
HD 10, AC 10, AT bite (+1, 4 dmg) or breath, ML +3

• We backed away, very slowly and very quietly.
• We kept driving deep into the night to get as many miles between us and the creature as possible. (#6.14)
• We had to stop when Saoirse slipped on the wet snow and slid into a forest pond.
• We set up camp, but the snow and sleet-damped forest wood was a not great for kindling a campfire. We had to use some of our torches and oil to ignite it and let Saoirse to dry off.

new hexes traversed = 20 XP

Jan 25, Thursday; Cold rain

• The weather is getting worse. And to think we were dismayed by the endless snowfall - now we have snow and rain mixing into a freezing slop. Getting through the underbrush-choked hills with two carts was a similarly pleasant experience. (#6.15)
• By late afternoon, we found a strange clearing, or rather a large crater cut into the hill. In the middle of the ash and cinder filled hollow, an artifact looking like a mirror made of crystal and petrified wood stood.
• While most of us were wary, Saoirse insisted on inspecting it closer. She persuaded Fenja and Menja to accompany her into the crater. There, she started tapping and prodding the mirror with her staff.
• A flood of tiny, rainbow-coloured insects poured from the crystal.

3x Insect Swarm
HD 3, AC 7, AT tiny bites, ML +4, SP only harmed by fire and area attacks

• Fenja, Menja and Saoirse quickly backed away and thankfully, the insects looked uninterested in pursuit. They gathered around the mirror in a squirming, oddly beautiful cloud.
• Soon, we had to set up camp and once again, we spend an overly long time gathering enough wood to dry ourselves at least a bit.
• This weather is pretty bad for foraging, too. We are burning through our rations and might need to spend some time hunting if we cannot resupply somewhere.

new hexes traversed = 10 XP
feature found = 50 XP

Jan 26, Friday; Cold winds, shooting star

• Today's travel went well until just after midday, when we drove our carts into a valley that turned out to be a dead end (#7.16) - the slopes so steep we could've hardly climbed out, let alone get the carts up there. And as things go, everything only went downhill when we turned around and found out that a trio of nightmarish creatures has settled down on our path.

3x Nightmare Spawn
HD 8, AC 8, AT giant weapon (2 dmg), ML +1

• They have already noted our presence by the time we managed to stop the carts and we needed to get through them anyway. Grim, we prepared for a fight that might well be our last. There are more of us than last week, but we only fought and fell one of these things and barely avoided death. How many of us will be done for by this nightfall, should we even win this fight?
• But then Cori told us to wait and hold back. She wants to talk to them first.
• We were all rather taken aback, but before some sense could've been talked into her, she called out to them in a soul-chilling language I've never heard before and do not wish to hear again. But the horrors responded in the same tongue and engaged in a lively chat with Cori, to our bewildered fascination.

Reaction: Bored. Wants to chat.

 

"They will let us though," Cori said, smiling slightly.

Nissa, Brenna and Maera started talking one over another:

"How did you-"

"What was that?!"

"They could've killed you!"

But all fell silent when Saoirse spat on the ground and then said something in broken Tradertalk, eyeing Cori with open disgust.

"What the fourteen hells is her problem?" Maera challenged, but already Saoirse's three companions were questioning her.

"She says that the language you used, Cori, was Logro," Brenna translated, hesitant. She was the only one of the Rogues who spoke Tradertalk.

Chani turned to cast a dark look at Cori.

"Yes," she said, her Amazon heavily accented, "the speech of Chaos-monsters and their butt-lickers."

"Shut your fucking mouth, foreigner!" Brenna hissed.

Fenja and Menja stepped forward, hands on the hilts of their weapons. The tone was obvious even if they didn't understand the words.

"Yes, it was," Cori said, voice small.

"Cori!"

"But I am no cultist. I-"

Saoirse said something and the shipwrecked four chuckled, while Brenna's face turned flushed and angry. She started to say something back, but Maera grabbed her shoulder and stepped between the two groups.

"Have you all forgotten that we are standing some fifty paces away from three creatures that could crush us like overripe cantaloupes if they so wished? Cori says they will let us through, so lets not give them a reason to change their minds. Get the carts moving, now!"

• After that heart-wrenching brush with sudden death, we drove further until several hours after sundown, when we all finally agreed that the gigantic horrors are unlikely to follow us. (#6.17)
• We set camp and started a fire, mood tense and dark. We sat around the fire and Cori talked about her family, who indeed were worshippers of Chaos. But then conflicts with other cultists escalated until her whole family was murdered and Cori - still a small girl back then - escaped both the murderers and the cult only because everyone thought she was among the dead when they set fire to their house.
• She fled to Odawara and left her past behind, hopefully never to be troubled by it again.
• A fight nearly broke out when we tried to comfort her and the shipwrecked four kept throwing accusations in their funny foreign accents, but Maera negotiated a truce.
• Nobody slept well.

new hexes traversed = 20 XP

Jan 27, Saturday; Icy & cloudy

• Our foraging attempts are going poorly, so our stockpiles of rations are taking a severe beating. After yesterday's exhausting events, we've decided to stay put for a day and hunt. It will also do us some good to split the party for a bit.
• From our retainers, only Gwen and Bronwyn deigned to join us on the hunt, but that still meant ten people out in the forest, so we formed three hunting parties: Maera, Nissa and Gwen; Cori, Brenna and Bronwyn; and lastly the shipwrecked girls. The latter four have resisted any mention of being split, with Saoirse casting dark glances at Cori.
• The hunting didn't go well.
• Of the three groups, the shipwrecked four have returned the latest, having come across some outriders from Eklo.

4x Amazon: HD 1, AC 7, AT spear or bow, ML +1
4x Lizard: HD 4, AC 8, AT bite
Reaction: Offers a challenge of drinking skills.

• Fenja and Menja were talked into drinking with the Amazons and while they kept the pace for a while, they were woefully outmatched by the Amazons' leader. At least they didn't embarrass themselves, unlike one of the Amazons who passed out and threw up.
• They have also decided to take advantage of the Amazons' presence and invited them into the camp. When we all returned with our meagre quarry - just several rabbits - Chani has presented their new plan to the gathered group - take Cori as a prisoner and return with her to the temple of C'ro, where it can be determined whether she collaborated with the forces of Chaos and what her punishment shall be. The Amazons, while technically bandits in the eyes of Odawaran authorities, were still followers of Law and thus an added muscle on the Shipwrecked side.
• The Rogues have rallied in defence of Cori and some terse words were exchanged. In the end, after a lot of shouting and a lot of arguing, the party was split completely and permanently.
• The Shipwrecked took one cart and went along with the Amazons back westwards, while the Rogues took the second cart and stubbornly vowed to push further east. Glynn and Aerea the heavy footwomen have decided to join the Shipwrecked, but mostly to get back to civilisation. This camping in the cold and meeting dragons and Chaos-spawn is not for them after all. Deryn the cart driver along with Gwen and Bronwyn have, however, decided to stick with the Rogues, Gwen even staunchly arguing in Cori's favour - as she said, Cori did save all of their lives.
• We kept a single camp, but both sides put multiple people on guard duty. Nissa even tried to sleep in her armour.

Jan 28, Sunday; Icy & cloudy, meteor shower

• We continued east to get some miles between us and the traitorous foreigners. By later afternoon, we've finally found a pass through the mountains, turning north. (#6.18, #5.18)
• We set camp in a clearing surrounded by windfallen trees, offering us a bounty of firewood. Unfortunately, sitting by the evening fire, we were also dining on some of our last rations and rather dour for this predicament.
• Tomorrow, our footwomen along with Maera and Nissa will go on another hunt to procure some food, while Cori and Brenna will take the mounts to explore ahead and see if there is not some place to resupply properly.

new hexes traversed = 20 XP
feature found = 50 XP

Hungering Temple

A squat adobe pyramid worn by passing years, with a six floor dungeon beneath it. The lowest level holds a sacred pool within which a deity's servant dwells. The temple is inhabited by the Feather-and-Claw people and dedicated to Shadow-that-Hungers.

Shadow-that-Hungers, an avian deity of Night

• Its priests are known for their mastery over darkness.
• To devoted disciples, it offers eternal life of a sort. Regular human sacrifices infuse a person with preternatural vigour, which lets one persist far beyond their years.
• Its cult is focused on a world-shaking project.

Leadership:

1. Midnight-Ascendant (HD 5), the high priestess of the temple
2. Darkness-Regnant (HD 4)
3. Darkness-Malignant (HD 3)
4. Darkness-Poignant (HD 3)
5. Gloom-Unforeseen (HD 2)
6. Penumbra (HD 2)

Ceremonies:

• Once per day at midnight, accompanied by chanting celebrating the night.
• Special one during eclipses, attended by priests only, when human sacrifices are offered.

Treasury:

• 30 000 silver in religious iconography and paraphernalia
• 3 000 silver in coins
• Hoard of the Many-Winged Herald, gathered in its sacred pool where it sleeps.

Notes & Connections:

• At war with Eklo, the bandit village.
• Cultists speak Ziz, while priests have a 2:6 chance of speaking Tradertalk.

 

Stolen from here.

 

d4	Common Encounters	#App
1-2	Feather-and-Claw cultists	d8 or d20
3	Hungering shadows	d8
4	Carcass crawlers	d3

d6	Uncommon Encounters	#App
1-3	Priest (see Leadership) & Feather-and-Claw cultists	1 & d8
4-5	Black iron statue	d2
6	The Many-Winged Herald	unique

Feather-and-Claw cultist
Flightless humanoid avians of black feathers and maddened eyes.
HD 1, AC 7, AT javelin, XP 10

Hungering shadow
Left behind by sacrificial victims of Shadow-that-Hungers.
HD 2, AC 7, AT touch + devour, ML +5, XP 35

• Shadowy: Can only be harmed by magic, but chased off by strong light (Morale at -4).
• Shadow stealth: +3 to surprise chances.
• Undead immunities
• Devour: Victims lose 1 Physique per hit and roll Physique. If the total is 0 or less, they are devoured by darkness and become a new shadow. Recover Physique as Fatigue.

Carcass Crawler
Saprovorous insects, common in waste pits and mass graves.
HD 3, AC 7, AT tentacle (+4, no dmg) + paralysis, ML +2, XP 75

• Paralysis: Make a Physique ST or be paralysed for 2d4 x 10 minutes. Paralysed victims will be devoured, if the crawler is left in peace.
• Cling: Can walk on walls and ceilings.

Living Statue, Black Iron
Crow-headed animated statue.
HD 4, AC 9, AT talon (+1), ML +4, XP 75

• Shatter metals: Non-magical, metal weapons crack when they hit the statue.
• Unliving immunities

Feather-and-Claw priest
Five children of the high priestess.
HD d3+1, AC 8, AT javelin, XP 65

• Spell casting, sacred
• Summon shadow beast: The priest can perform a ritual along with four other cultists to summon a shadow beast, which takes three rounds of chanting and cannot be carried out in bright light. The summoned shadow beast is not under the priest's control, but will not harm Feather-and-Claw people.

Shadow beast
A shapeless shadow, darker than the darkness surrounding it.
HD 8, AC 9, AT sharp shadows, MV crow, ML +3, XP 1 200

• Shadowy: Can only be harmed by magic, but chased off by strong light (Morale at -4).
• Summoned: Dissipates if the priest that summoned it is incapacitated.
• Extinguish small lights
• Undead immunities
• Devour whole: All creatures close by save or take 2 damage. Any slain are devoured by darkness and become a new hungering shadow. Only usable in darkness.

The Many-Winged Herald, servant of Shadow-that-Hungers
"All shall be night!"
HD 6, AC 9, AT beak (+1, 2 dmg) or breath, MV crow, ML +1, XP 725

• Worshipped: Immensely proud, will always listen to flattery. Can speak Ziz.
• Attack pattern: Always attacks first with its breath weapon, then either breathes again or makes melee attacks (equal chance of either).
• Breath weapon: Ravenous darkness, 80' long line, up to three times per day. All caught in it lose levels equal to the Herald's current HD, save for half.
• Undead immunities
• Rejuvenation: Discorporates into black feathers and starved crows if reduced to 0 HD and comes back on the next sundown. Can only be permanently killed in sunlight.

Week 3: Not dead, but not for lack of trying

Jan 15, Monday; Light snowfall

• Deciding that approaching the bandits would be preferable to being spotted from afar and that we would stand out on the snow-white plains like a sore thumb, we instead opted to skirt the forest north of the temple. (#2.12)
• It was a decision of mixed results. On the one hand, we haven't run int anybody all day long. On the other hand, we were still in the damned forest come evening, because Nissa insisted on bringing the cart with us, in case we need to transport injured Sabatha or some loot back to town. Forcing a mule to get a cart through a snow-drowned forest is not an easy task.
• On the third hand, the cart was half-full of firewood, so we didn't need to scavenge the snowbanks for wood.
• There were one too many of us to fit into the tent, which was great, because someone had to keep watch anyway. Brenna suggested that foreigners are well-known for their lack of a need for sleep, but before Menja could clock her in the face, we agreed to take turns.
• The night was freezing and calm.

Jan 16, Tuesday; Light snowfall

• In the morning, we started off briskly to finally get out of the forest. Once we were on the open plains again (#1.13), Menja quickly found the location of their ill-fated attempt at camaraderie with bandits, but unfortunately the unrelenting snowfall has long buried any tracks we could've followed. Undeterred, we made for the mountains (#1.14), reasoning that a lair of such ne'er-do-wells would surely be hidden in a cavern or a forgotten mountain fort.
• Soon, though, we were forced to admit that the cart will simply not make it over these rocky slopes. Maera and Nissa were charged with preparing and holding a base camp, while me, Cori and Menja went to find a lookout place.
• I would have never guessed how hard it is to climb a mountain in the middle of a winter. We got lost so fast.
• On the other hand, we saw a tiny village hidden in a crook of a valley. This could very well be the bandit hideout we were looking for, even if it's a bit bigger than expected.
• On the third hand, we were still lost and unwilling to burn through our limited lantern oil bungling through the dark were we could oh so easily slip to our deaths. Even trying to sleep behind a rocky outcropping while the wind is freezing your butt off is better than suddenly having your leg be at an obtuse angle. Maera and Nissa will have to worry for us tonight; we can find them in the morning.

Suddenly, an encounter with Men, Merchant with a reaction of "Offers food and shelter." Because of course.

• On the fourth hand, we did not end up sleeping in the snow after all. Just as we were snugly tucked into a freaking rock crevice, a light shone from above and some confused questions and explanations later, we joined a group of completely legitimate mechants - they quickly and repeatedly emphasised that part - who just happened to be crossing the mountains in the middle of the night. They did know the way down to the village, though, and really there was no way how to explain any unwillingness to accompany them, after we told them that the night took us by surprise and we got lost.
• Soon after midnight, we arrived to Eklo, the bandit village, and were shown to the local "House of Joy" where a room for us could be arranged. We were so spent we actually fell asleep nearly immediately, circumstances be damned. Let paying our dues be tomorrow's problem.

 

• In the meantime, Maera and Nissa were worried sick. They were also startled by a pterodactyl circling and screeching above their camp, but it opted for an easier prey in the end and left them alone. Still, they barely slept.

new hex traversed = 10 XP
feature found = 50 XP

Jan 17, Wednesday; Light snowfall

• In the morning, we were taken from the House of Joy and presented to the elder of the village, a truly elderly and frail Amazon named Sìneag. Her granddaughter and likely successor, hauberk-clad Beathag, was also there.
• Sìneag did not really care much for us and dismissed us quite promptly, but Beathag took the time to explain their problem: The village is currently at war with the Feather-and-Claw people that live in a temple on a nearby mountain.
• After some careful prodding, Beathag revealed that Sabatha is in the village, but of her own free will. We can apparently just go and visit her if we so wish. However, we may not leave the village for now. Beathag refused to elaborate, but for at least a few days, the gates of the town are closed.
• That is a problem we need to address, and quickly. Maera and Nissa are still probably in the camp and we have not returned for nearly a day.
• But first things first - we went to find Sabatha. Thankfully, Menja was not recognised as having been robbed by the locals just a few days ago.
• Anyway, we found Sabatha in the house of her cousin. She was quite surprised to see us and apologises for leaving without telling anyone anything - she was fearing for her life. Now, though, she claims that she is alright.
• It took some prodding, but we got her to talk. Sabatha found out that Ali-ilil the apothecary, our master, is in truth a Chaotic sorcerer. By mistake and coincidence, she uncovered some books of dark rituals he hides in his room and took the first opportunity to run away, thinking that she will otherwise slip up and he will silence her. Being sent to gather herbs in the wilds was a perfect chance to just disappear.
• Well, as far as I know, Ali-ilil really thinks that Sabatha just got lost, but she was not convinced. What if he wants to get her back only to sacrifice her, she asked.
• She claimed to not know anything about his plans, but surely a sorcerer of Chaos cannot be up to no good. She pleaded with us to never return to Odawara as well. Her cousin would let us stay here for now and then we would see.
• I frankly think that that is a decision for the morrow and the whole group. We will sleep at Sabatha's place and see what can be done about leaving this town. We need some way to contact Maera and Nissa.
• Menja tried to push for us to sneak out of the village in the night, but then we would be back where we started - lost in the mountains in the dark.
• I hope the two are alright.

• Maera and Nissa spend the day trying to find the others. They put Úlfi the dog and Pinkybone the puppy to work, but even with their noses the fresh snow has covered the tracks too well.
• They eventually returned to camp, determined to try again tomorrow. Hopefully the others are still alive up in the mountains.

Jan 18, Thursday; Light snowfall

• None of us slept well and eventually, we just decided to have a drink together and plot our escape. We could not lose another day with Maera and Nissa none the wiser about our fates and staying in the village until sunrise would only see any attempt at leaving thwarted. We decided to leave right now.
• We left a note to Sabatha, explaining ourselves and offering apologies for any trouble, but also reassuring her that we will not tell Ali-ilil about her whereabouts. We also took our bed sheets, to make a makeshift rope.
• We snuck out of the house and through the streets - there were still several hours left before sunrise - until we were standing before the village walls. Unfortunately, there were guards patrolling every stretch of the walls.
• Still, we pressed our luck and tried to sneak up on the rampart. We were discovered nearly immediately.
• While surprised, the guards didn't seem hostile. Instead, they shouted at us to go back into safety as an alarm was raised elsewhere on the ramparts. We have quickly learned of the likely reason that Beathag didn't want to let us leave the village - the village was under attack.
• Before we could move, something vast and darker than the night sky flew overhead.

The Many-Winged Herald, servant of Shadow-that-Hungers
HD 6, AC 9, AT beak (+1, 2 dmg) or breath, MV crow, ML +1
Reaction: Uninterested. Ignores you unless bothered.

If that was an aggressive reaction, it would be a one-hit TPK with its breath weapon. The party continues to be saved by good Reaction rolls.

• Whatever it was, it ignored us completely, flying over the village and breathing down shadows that shattered houses.
• We legged it.
• There was no time to properly rappel with the bedsheet-rope. We all more or less tumbled down the wall, getting bruised and winded, but we pushed ourselves to a run.
• With no light save the stars above and unfamiliar mountain slopes to run through, our escape was rather perilous, but we glimpsed the black-feathered warriors converging on the village and dared not risk being spotted. Somehow, we have found the path we had lost two days ago.
• Maera and Nissa were still in the camp when we got there, just breaking fast before they would look for us again. All together once again, we shared the meal and exchanged stories of our time apart.
• Not wanting to risk whatever the aftermath of the attack on the village will be, we packed up and retreated out of mountains. Though we have found the bandits we set out to dispose of, that situation is far more complicated than it seemed.

• By mid-morning, we were already down in the grasslands (#1.13), when Pinkybone the puppy caught scent of something that had it all atwitch.
• We went over a hill and saw a huge, horrid humanoid sitting by some poor bastard's wagon and devouring an ox, while the bastard in question was huddling beneath the wagon.

Nightmare Spawn
HD 8, AC 8, AT giant sword (2 dmg), ML +1
Reaction: Distracted.

• It did not seem to care about our presence as long as it had other food at hand, but a hushed discussion later, we decided to intervene anyway. We primarily wanted to help the woman under the wagon, obviously, but we also noticed the inhumanly massive sword the creature had lying at its side. While impossible to use as a weapon for any of us, the sword was an evident artifact of Chaos and as such could win us a handsome bounty from the temple.
• Thus, a plan was born.
• Cori hid behind the cart to dip a few of her arrows into Nissa's yellow lotus poison, which causes spasms and paralysis. We can only hope it will work even on this oversized monstrosity.
• With a deep breath, we count to three and then scatter from the cart, hollering for the creature's attention, while Cori nocks an arrow and rises to shoot over the side planks. She misses and the spawn screeches - a cutting sound that leaves ringing in your ears - grabs its sword and charges her.
• We were ready for this, though, and strike at its flanks as it gets closer. Unfortunately, only Nissa manages to nick its spongy hide with her knife, splattering the ground with silvery ichor.
• It strikes back at her and while she dodges the sword's edge, its bulk still collides with her ribs. A wet sound and Nissa collapses.
• And then it swing again, unnaturally swift with its overlarge weapon. Both Brenna and Maera scramble out of the way as it flips the cart, shattering it and nearly crushing Cori into the ground. She falls down and crawls away, wide-eyed.

I had to redo this first round, as I miscalculated and instead of only Nissa ending on the brink of death, I had Nissa, Cori and Maera die immediately...

• Menja runs to where Cori dropped her bow and snatches it. She shoots at one of the abomination's eyes, but the arrow goes wide. She immediately shoots again and this time, the arrow finds its mark.
• The spawn goes to retaliate, but it stumbles and then collapses to the ground, twitching and unable to control its muscles.
• Maera and Cori pick themselves off the ground and have at it, bludgeoning it with staff and flail. Meanwhile, Brenna runs to the crumpled Nissa to see to her wounds.
• Yet to our absolute horror, though the abomination is bleeding profusely, it is also already getting its limbs under control and dragging itself up, still gripping the colossal sword.
• Menja shoots it again with the poison-tipped arrows, but this time it powers through the poison.
• Cursing, Maera pushes Brenna away from the unconscious Nissa and pats her down, pulling a small vial from her pocket - yellow lotus powder, a more concentrated version of the poison. Brefore the monstrosity has a chance to get its head too high, Maera throws a handful of the powder at its face.
• It collapses.
• While Nissa still needs care, we also have to finish this thing before it shakes off even the nightmares of yellow lotus overdose and smears us on the ground, so everyone puts their back to it together and we smash its bones and cut its flesh.
• It is Cori who finally kills it, caving in its head with her flail.
• Brenna finishes Nissa's bandages as well as possible and helps her sit up when she wakes up.

650 XP
That was so close. Even with their rather lucky starting equipment, the party was nearly destroyed, because the spawn kept throwing off the effects of the poisons.

• We cut off the remains of its head, just to be sure, and take the sword.
• Cori then does some further butchery, cutting the corpse open. From its stomach, she retrieves two gem-like bezoars worth maybe 60 silver, but she also keeps one of its shattered ribs as a trophy.

• The woman from under the wagon also deigns to climb out of there and join us. Her name is Cerys and she is an armourer on her way to Odawara, where she hopes to open a smithy. Maera half-heartedly grumbles that had she known that, she would not risk her life for a future competitor.
• We have to gather our animals again, as both the donkey and the mule did not take to the spawn's presence well, then hitch them to Cerys' wagon. Nissa will ride on the wagon and we also get our things from the destroyed cart.
• We bicker a bit whether to break camp as soon as possible and lick our wounds, even though it's still barely noon, or whether to get moving and get to the temple of C'ro before sundown, to rest in safety and let Nissa be treated by healers. In the end, we set off towards the temple.
• We are jittery the whole way, but we get to the temple with no further trouble. (#2.13, #3.12)
• Nissa is immediately handed off to the healers while the rest of us head to the high priestess to present her the spawn's sword.
• She seems quite pleased with both our story and souvenir. We have to master our greedy grins when she pays us a staggering bounty of 5 000 silver for it.

bounty = 5000 SP and XP

• Though only Nissa is half-dead from fighting, the rest of us are just as half-dead from exhaustion, so we quickly wash off and fall sleep as soon as our heads touch the pillows.

Jan 19, Friday; Light snowfall, aurora

• Fenja, Chani and Saoirse from Menja's group had already left the temple for Odawara, so we pack our stuff and follow them.
• We are accompanied by Cerys the armourer. Nissa is immediately interested in her wares and buys herself some heavy armour, a cuirass and hauberk, to Maera's disbelieving scoffs:

"First you basically beg me for a maille, then you just go and buy from someone else. I see how it is, then."

"You've had your shot, Maera, and you missed it. Now all you can do is sulk and weep as I will strut around in this new, shiny armour of mine."

"If I overstepped somehow, I'm sorry," Cerys says. "I didn't mean to do... whatever I did."

"Don't mind 'em," Cori winked, "this is what we here call a foreplay."

• Otherwise, the travel to Odawara (#3.12, #2.11, #3.10, #2.9, #3.8, #2.7, #3.6) is uneventful.

Jan 20, Saturday; Sleet

• The weather is awful and we spend half the day sitting in a tavern, planning and plotting. All eight of us - Fenja, Menja, Chani, Saoirse, Maera, Cori, Brenna and Nissa - agree to band together and go to the temple of the Feather-and-Claw people we have heard about in Eklo, the bandit village. According to what we've heard from Beathag and Sabatha, it should hold a lot of treasure. Plus if we time it right, the war between the bandits and the Feather-and-Claw people should see their temple with a limited garrison.
• Maera surprises everyone by telling us that she sold her smithy to Cerys. She had apparently talked to her yesterday and they sealed the deal. Unbeknownst to us, she has been struggling for some time and got deep in debt. With the smithy sold, she can repay her debts and go on an adventure before deciding what to do next.
• The whole afternoon is spent shopping. In the end, we need to purchase two carts to carry all of our newly acquired stuff: better weapons and armour for everyone, blankets and tents, crowbar, shovel and other tools, grappling hook and ropes, lanterns and torches, oil, tinderbox, water- and wineskins, bandages and other medicinal supplies - even one bezoar for countering poisons, though at an outrageous price - rations and cooking tools, some soap, paper, ink and quills, plus a large wooden chest to carry the most vulnerable things.
• Brenna gets back her ring from the pawn shop. Then she and Nissa also pay a visit to Ali-ilil, telling him that Sabatha is still lost and that they are going on another venture, holding onto the hope of finding her. They talk him into selling them one of his under the counter potions, a highly concentrated poultice of orange lotus. In a pinch, it can grant a person unnatural strength.
• In the evening, we visit some more pubs and gather us a gaggle of henchwomen: a cart driver named Deryn and four heavy footwomen, Glynn, Aerea, Gwen and Bronwyn.

Jan 21, Sunday; Light snowfall

• When we all gathered in the morning, we formed a nice little caravan - thirteen people in total, most of them heavily armed and armoured. As we marched out of Odawara, we were accompanied by many an interested look and a few worried, as well.
• With so many people and two overflowing carts, the journey was somewhat slow-going when compared to our travel with a single half-filled cart. (#3.6, #2.7, #3.8, #2.9, #2.10)
• Thus, we travelled a few hours into the night, when Brenna noticed something moving in the darkness beyond the light of our lanterns.
• Cori on her horse went to investigate, but she only caught sight of several lizard riders in garish robes quickly disappearing northwards.
• When the rest of us caught up, we decided that a pursuit would make no sense. Rather than returning to the road, we made camp then and there.
• The night was quiet, only the snow still softly falling.

Week 2: Boars, bandits and drunk flirting

Jan 8, Monday; Snowy wind, eclipse of Kythera

• Though with some trouble, but we persuaded the Amazons to sell us one of their tents.
• They advised us to go north around the swamp and then west towards their city, and so we said our goodbyes and went.
• By noon, we discovered an old but well-tended, wooden temple with a painted dome sitting on a low hill (#3.12) and were greeted by the attending priests, who offered to let us consult with their oracle, should we wait for the evening mass.
• The temple belongs to C'ro, a formless deity of Magic. In the depths of the temple's sanctum, it is said that it speaks wisdom through an animated skull of its ancient high priestess.
• Saoirse insisted on attending the mass and we even persuaded Menja to seek out a healer for her worsening cough.
• Saoirse borrowed money from me and Menja to purchase a proper sacrifice, but the oracle's ramblings offered nothing but nebulous omens. Perhaps the eclipse had something to do with it?
• Still, a night under a roof is a night under a roof. We scrubbed ourselves clean and slept comfortably.

Jan 9, Tuesday; Wet snowfall

• We spend the whole day following a road west towards Odawara, the city of Amazons. (#2.11, #3.10, #2.9, #3.8, #2.7, #3.6)
• We met no one, probably due to the gods-awful weather, and arrived late in the evening.
• The guards didn't want to let us in at first, but Saoirse's charming song and our pleas brought them around.
• We found the first inn and went to sleep.

Jan 10, Wednesday; Sleet

• In the morning, Fenja and Chani bought enough food to last us a week and some leather armour, but that left us nearly out of money.
• In the meantime, Menja visited the town hall and turned in the location of the machine-god (#6.13) for a reward of neat 10 sp, while Saoirse spent some time in a pub. She heard about a quest from a local apothecary, a Dendrassi named Ali-ilil, whose apprentice got lost to the north-east of the town. There are rumours of bandits on the roads, so maybe they did something to her?
• We set off around noon and left the road for trackless grassland in the afternoon, going further north-east.
• Soon, though, we noticed a few boars rolling in the mud. They were upwind and haven't noticed us yet. After some deliberation, we decided to kill and sell them.

3x Boar: HD 3, AC 7, AT tusks (2 damage), ML 9
Note: I use HD damage, so "2 damage" actually means "2 dice of damage". The boars were pretty deadly, but the party felt cocky.

• Fenja and Menja rushed and killed one boar immediately and Chani landed a throwing knife in the other's side.
• Saoirse spoke some strange ancient words, but the last beast seemed too afraid or enraged to listen to her commands.
• Menja, though, was quick enough to win the initiative over the ambushed boars, slew a second one and wounded the last one, who promptly failed morale and ran.
• Fenja still managed to wound it as it fled, but it was quickly getting away.
• Chani, being the swiftest and stealthiest, was sent to run it down. She managed to sneak up on the exhausted animal and finished it.

3 x 35 = 105 XP and valuable corpses

• It took us the whole rest of the day to drag the heavy corpses back to town, selling them for 12 silver, which was actually enough to nearly double our funds...
• We treated ourselves to another night in the tavern. The apprentice can be saved tomorrow.

Jan 11, Thursday; Icy & cloudy, shooting star

• All day, we travelled north-east through the plains (#2.7, #2.8, #1.9, #1.10). It was an uneventful journey.
• We saw a shooting star as we set camp, though. A good omen, or an ill one?

Jan 12, Friday; Icy & cloudy

• Another day of uneventful travel (#1.11, #1.12, #1.13). The low, grassy hills eventually just started to melt together.
• In the evening, we were hailed by three Amazons on riding lizards. 

3x Amazon: HD 1, AC 7, AT spear, bow, ML 8
3x Lizard: HD 4, AC 8, AT bite, ML 7
Reaction: Untrustworthy. Will try to cheat you. May behave friendly at first.

• They were returning to Odawara, the city of Amazons, and offered to camp together for safety. We gladly agreed. We were looking for bandits in the area, after all, and didn't want to get jumped. Unfortunately the Amazons have seen neither bandits nor a girl who would appear lost.
• We were jumped in the night. By the Amazons.
• They took everything but our clothes. Told us that once we escape our bonds, a day's travel south is a temple and good luck to us.
  Fuck.

A save was failed, so nobody realised how suspicious they are. Another reaction roll was positive, though, so the bandits decided to spare the party's lives. That would've been a fun TPK.

• At least Chani managed to conceal a knife, so we will get out of these ropes quickly.

Jan 13, Saturday; Light snowfall, aurora

• We set off southwards with dawn, to get to the temple of C'ro as soon a possible. Of course it had to start snowing again, to make our hike all the more pleasant.
• We arrived in the afternoon (#2.13, #3.12), but were treated to a rather cold welcome when we explained how we lost everything and how we need provisions to travel back to Odawara.
• We were told that a wagon will be going to the city for supplies in three days and we can hitch a ride. Until then, we can help around the temple for food and lodgings.

traversed 1 new hex = 10 XP

Meanwhile, in Odawara...

This party will be indisposed for a few days by their lack of funds, so I mad a second one. I'm rolling for sex randomly and got another women-only party. I guess the dice know what they're doing, given that they're starting in a city of Amazons.

This time, the whole party is just rogues, because why not?

They met in the Watering Hole, their favourite tavern in the town. They got down the first round of ales before starting to exchange news and gossip.

Brenna and Nissa, apprentices to Ali-ilil the apothecary, told the other two about Sabatha, the third apprentice who was sent to gather some lotus in the northern mountains a week ago and failed to return. Three days ago, some foreigners took interest and promised to find her, but they were gone in the wind. Ali-ilil was getting nervous.

"So now you two are to go search for her and he's willing to pay for help?"

"Well, he told us we can borrow the cart and take his old tent," Brenna grimaced. She was a head taller than everyone else at the table. Used to be a woodcutter.

"Maybe you'd be interested in helping us out?" Nissa put on a smile she thought was disarming.

The puppy she was petting, Pinkybone, was quite cute, though.

"No money, no interest," said Maera the blacksmith, "sorry."

"I want to help," Cori - the farm girl turned stable hand turned housemaid - piped up.

"Thanks Cori," Nissa smiled.

"Why?" Maera asked.

"I can't just want to help?"

"I know you, Cori. What's up?"

"I might have stolen a horse and I need to get out of town, for at least a few days."

"You stole a horse."

"Yeah!"

"Why?" Maera asked.

"He looked sad and I'm pretty sure they were not feeding him enough! Also the donkey liked him."

"Which donkey?"

"The one I stole!"

Maera just pinched the bridge of her nose.

"So... When are we going?" Cori asked.

"We need to get some supplies first. Tomorrow morning?" Brenna said.

"At least I'll dust off my maille," Cori beamed. "Haven't yet had the chance to really wear it. Sorry, Mae."

"Yeah, I want to buy some armour too," Nissa said. "Wait, you have a chain shirt, Cori?"

"Yeah, and Brenna has one too. I've seen her train in it."

"Where did you two get chain shirts? They're pretty expensive!"

"I've got it as a gift," Brenna said.

"Me too! Mae made it for me," Cori smiled.

"Y'know, Maera," Nissa slyly said, "I will have nameday soon..."

"You will get maybe a knife," Brenna scoffed. "I only got the chainmail when she was trying to get into my pants."

"And?" Cori laughed.

"Admittedly, she was rather successful."

"She's quite the wooer, she is," Cori winked.

"Hey, I want a chain shirt too!"

"You've got no chance, Nis, sorry. Mae's got a type. Just look at me and Bren - blonde and scarred both. We're basically twins!"

"Fuck you both," Maera grumbled, burying her flushed face in the tankard.

"You wish," Cori grinned.

"Sounds like too many people in one bed to me," Brenna said, "but I'm not saying no."

"If there's a chain shirt involved, I'm game," Nissa wiggled her eyebrows.

Maera threw up her hands. "Fine, I will make you a maille. But that'll take time."

"We could buy you some leather," Cori offered.

"Could we?" Brenna asked. "Because I would pitch in, but I'm more or less broke. I'm basically drinking through my last silver here."

Cori faltered. "Speaking of... Could someone maybe borrow me a few coins? I kinda only have a single silver on me, total."

All heads turned towards Maera.

"No way am I buying you all ale and the supplies for our trip!"

"So you're going!"

"Of course I'm going. You would die twenty yards out of the city gates without me."

"I guess I could pawn my ring," Brenna grimaced.

"Don't worry, Bren," Cori hugged her around the shoulders. "We will get your ring back. Just think about how many sweet, sweet hardtack wafers your ring will get us!"

"I'll drink to that," Nissa raised her tankard.

They all drank.

"So the first thing tomorrow morning, we load the cart with food and blankets, and off we go!"

"And some firewood," Brenna said. "You never know in this weather."

"Sure, that's a good idea!"

"And my shrunken heads," Brenna added.

"Why do you have a shrunken head?" Maera stammered.

"I have six of them!"

"...Why?!" Maera asked.

Jan 14, Sunday; Light snowfall

• We gathered soon after dawn. Between the mule-drawn cart, horse and donkey, nobody needed to walk, so we quickly and comfortably covered the distance between Odawara and the temple of C'ro. (#2.7, #3.8, #2.9, #3.10, #2.11)
• On the road, we came upon a beggar who was also going to the temple. We took him with us.
• We arrived in later afternoon and found out that the foreigners who should have been looking for Sabatha were in the temple, completely bereft of possessions.
• They were apparently robbed, possibly by bandits who might've kidnapped Sabatha. That's a lot of maybes, but it's as good a first clue as any.
• They wanted to come with us, but we really don't have the supplies for so many people nor the money to purchase them, so we arranged for at least one of them - Menja - to guide us to where they last saw the bandits.
• Menja's small dog, Úlfi, became fast friends with Nissa's puppy, Pinkybone. Menja insists that her dog might be small, but it's very vicious, but I think it's mostly cute.
• We bought Menja a blanket and Brenna lent her her axe, though she was very insistent it's just a loan and she wants it back.
• Unfortunately, it seems that very little fun is to be had in this temple, so we went to sleep. We want to set out early tomorrow.

The Rogues

Maera, level 1 wanderer
HD 1+1
AC 8 (leather, staff)
ST 9, +1 Agility
Background: blacksmith, tinker
Interesting items:

• Staff
• Leather armour
• Hammer, tongs
• Lantern, oil
• 4 Lock picks

Languages: Amazon, ½ Demi-human dialects

Cori, level 1 wanderer
HD 1+1
AC 8 (chain mail)
ST 9
Background: farmer, servant, beastcraft
Alignment: chaotic
Interesting items:

• Flail
• Shortbow
• Whip
• Leash
• Baldy the donkey, stolen
• Limpy the horse, stolen

Languages: Amazon, Logro, ½ TBA

Brenna, level 1 wanderer
HD 1+1
AC 9 (chain mail, shield)
ST 9
Background: lumberjack, apothecary
Interesting items:

• Sword
• Chain mail, shield
• Axe
• Bandages
• Silver hand mirror
• Silver ring (pawned)
• Green lotus poultice
• Bone lotus potion
• 6 Shrunken heads

Languages: Amazon*, Tradertalk

Nissa, level 1 wanderer
HD 1+1
AC 7 (leather)
ST 9, +1 Agility
Background: houndsman, apothecary
Interesting items:

• Knife
• Leather armour
• Whip
• Toolbelt
• Red salt, 3 doses
• Yellow lotus powder
• Yellow lotus poison
• Pinkybone the puppy
• Mule & cart

Languages: Amazon

*) Can read and write.

Week 1: Deadly weather

The storm has tormented us for several days now. Most of the crew is dead, only four of us still cling to this sinking ruin of a ship. Fenja and Menja, sisters in arms and blood both, Saoirse of Ker, whose unearthily beautiful yet unintelligible voice has grown weary with fear, and of course I, once a petty scribe in the services of queen Ereshkigal but now nothing more than a half-drowned wretch.

May whoever finds this note think of us in their prayers.

 
Jan 1, Monday; Snowy drizzle

• We were shipwrecked on a swampy shore (#6.13) before sunrise. Praise the stars for their little mercies, for we all still live. We salvaged what little could be found in the wreckage and ventured into the swamp.
• Around noon, we happened upon a troglodyte village. They were not outright hostile, but demanded a tribute to their god. Said god turned out to be an ancient thinking war-machine, but it was quite friendly. It offered us shelter in the village.
• We explored a bit to the west (#6.12), but found only barren plains, so we returned to village for the night.

HD 80!!!

Jan 2, Tuesday; Blizzard

• The storm that shipwrecked us come ashore, we cannot go anywhere in this weather.

Jan 3, Wednesday; Blizzard

• The wind and cold has not subsided, but at least Saoirse's songs have won us favour of the chieftain and we are fed for free. It's disgusting but filling; raw fish, roots and berries.

Jan 4, Thursday; Snowy wind

• Saoirse was challenged to a singing duel by the village's storyteller. She lost (2d6 roll with a +3 bonus!) and we couldn't stop laughing. Who knew a stinky lizard could have such a clean voice?
• The weather is getting better. We will set off tomorrow, if nothing goes wrong.

Jan 5, Friday; Light snowfall

• Finally, a travelling weather! The troglodytes won't take our money, but we traded a beartrap for 10 rations.
• We travelled west (#6.12, #5.11, #5.10), trudging over the half-frozen marshland.
• In the afternoon, we were accosted by demi-human hunters who seemed just as surprised as we when we came face to face, but they attacked us anyway.

5x Demi-human: HD 1, AC 7, AT spear or club, ML 7

• Fenja charged ahead, stumbled and fell. Only through sheer luck she didn't get beaten to death. Menja and her dog took down 2 foes each and the last one ran away.

4.5 x 5 = 23 XP and some dead rabbits

• We found a secluded place to set up camp, afraid of retaliation should the last demi-human return with allies, but the night was uneventful.

Jan 6, Saturday; Light snowfall, shooting star

• Sick of the swamp, we turned back west in hopes of finding the dry plains again.
• Come evening, we were out of the swamp (#4.11, #4.12) and completely exhausted.

Jan 7, Sunday; Blizzard

• The night was awful. Caught in a snowstorm with no proper shelter, we nearly froze to death. Menja now has a stubborn cough, but Saoirse somehow seems to have endured the cold with only minor discomfort.
• We need to return to the village and somehow get better equipped for this kind of weather, but we won't survive the journey in the blizzard. We decided to gather as much firewood a possible and build a makeshift shelter.
• We were all exhausted come evening, but Chani was the worst off - she fell into a frozen pond and lost not only her weapon, but also tainted all her food. And still Saoirse seemed troubled by something worse she insisted was coming.
• And it came, except it was a salvation. An outrider group of Amazons, lost in the blizzard just as we were, who deigned to share tents and stories with us.

5x Amazon: HD 1, AC 7, AT spear, ML 8

• They even divulged a location of their city (#3.6), though they had other duties to see to before they will be returning there.
• With firewood and shelter, we slept well, even though the wind was wailing through the whole night.

The Shipwrecked

Fenja, level 1 fighter
HD 1+2
AC 7 (shield)
ST 9, +1 Physique
Background: baker
Interesting items:

• War hammer, shield

Languages: Tradertalk, ½ Lizard

Menja, level 1 fighter
HD 1+2
AC 7 (furs)
ST 9, +1 Physique
Background: miller
Interesting items:

• Sword & dagger
• Fur armour
• Brown lotus poison
• Úlfi the small but vicious dog

Languages: Tradertalk*

Chani, level 1 wanderer
HD 1+1
AC 7 (shield)
ST 9, +1 Agility
Background: bureaucrat, stealth
Interesting items:

• War hammer, shield
• Boot knife
• Tinderbox
• Paper, quill & ink
• Lantern & oil

Languages: Tradertalk*, ½ Amazon

Saoirse of Ker, level 1 sorceress
HD 1
AC 6
ST 9, +1 Mind
Background: Fled a sinking paradise island she used to call home. When she sings, reroll non-aggressive Reaction with a +2 bonus.
Interesting items:

• Axe
• Harp
• Andronike the crow

Languages: ½ Tradertalk
Spells: The Language of Stones and Stars

*) Can read and write.