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Oliver D. Bernuetz's Campaign Chronicles

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Chronicles of the South - Part 5

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25) RuneQuest the Continuation... Fire/Disorder/Freezeday 1617

Party: Hallelujah Harnsdottir (Barbeester Gor warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha noble)(NPCl), Durnfal Strongspear, Baron of Golden Ears (Yemalio former farmer)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and Targan the Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl).

After just over a year and a half apart the party members are all disturbed by the same dream...

In the dream the character stands beneath a tall column of rock on the edge of the Zola Fel. Below them the water runs pure and undisturbed. Riverfolk, animals and Praxians alike all use and benefit from the river. Then the character feels a sense of growing unease and notices that a tiny shadow is spreading from the base of the column. It looks like a horned skull and it slowly grows until it overshadows the whole river and people, plants and animals start dying of disease and famine. Then the character awakes.

This dream leads each of them to try and find the other members. Hallelujah and Targan are together at the Storm Bull temple when Tamerlan and Greystone find them on the last day of Sea Season. They all mention the fact that they have had the same dream and Greystone and Tamerlan tell Hallelujah and Targan that they have purchased a scroll from Treasure Trove Hurbi that suggests a possible weakness for Muriah the Broo Witch Queen. The four hear a rumour that Svart Ulfsson is working as a bouncer at Dirty Dick's Dumpside Dive and go there the next day. They arrive at the dive just in time to see a female warrior forcibly evicted. Hallelujah helps her to her feet and she rushes back inside drawing her scimitar. Inside the party sees the woman attacking their friend Svart. The woman is aided by her friends and the group rushes to Svart's aid. In the close quarters bastard swords are the biggest weapons people can draw and a quick and bloody fight ensues. After the off duty soldiers charge Svart and Hallelujah a cloaked stranger in the corner draws an iron broadsword and enters the fray. The fight is quickly over with only one fatality (a soldier is cut in two by Hallelujah's battle axe). The soldiers are allowed to flee with their fallen and the mysterious stranger turns out to be Gerhardt Frei! He tells the group that he too has had the strange dream and since he's tired of farming...

The group decides to repair to the Storm Bull in the Rubble Temple in case any more Lunar soldiers show up. Svart quits and collects his two silvers in back pay (as well as the serving sloven's wages since Tod the owner has decided to quit the premises as well). As the group heads back to the Temple they spot a glowing golden figure in the prow of a boat being rowed up the river towards Pavis. Farsees and searches quickly identify the figure as being none other than that of Baron Durnfal Strongspear of Goldenears! The noble figure of the Baron makes quite a sight even when he is pelted with sling stones by trollkin when he passes some troll ruins. Only getting hit in the head ruins the picture. The party continues on to the Temple to await the Baron's arrival. He shows up later after running a dung gauntlet at the Temple from the local Storm Bull riff-raff. The party compares notes and Durnfal tells them some dire news-a delirious, nearly dead Storm Bull was delivered to his estate by some nomads. Between his ravings he told the Baron that he was the only survivor of a mission against Muriah and that the healer with the party, one Zeena, had been taken prisoner. Durnfal also tells the party of another dream he has been having:

In the dream Durnfal approached an abyss. A figure, his back to the Durnfal, stood at the abyss looking down. Durnfal approached the abyss and found it filled with numberless heads, all screaming soundlessly. Many of the faces seemed familiar to him, but he could not place or recognize them. Then the figure turned to him and Durnfal saw that it was a Light Son. The figure smiled, reached up with one hand removed his head and handed it to Durnfal. He automatically reached for the head. Suddenly, the figure whipped a garrotte from his robes and deftly slipped it over Durnfal's head. The line of the wire lay cold as death on the skin of his neck. He screamed and awoke...

The party agreed that they should try and find the mysterious shrine of Thanatar mentioned in the scroll purchased from Treasure Trove Hurbi. They decided to go to the Lhankhor Mhy temple the next day and see what information they could get on Senna's past actions, Senna being the individual who had originally owned the scroll and who had disappeared into Vulture's Country over a year ago. The group went to the temple the next day and over the course of two long days waiting for information at the temple discover that yes, Senna had been there but no, he hadn't gotten much information from them. Like Senna, the party was referred to Hector the Librarian at the Sun Dome Temple for more information. They received a letter of introduction to Hector and set off the next day. (Hallelujah spent most of the two days waiting at the temple in her tight leather tunic trying to distract the initiates so much that someone higher up would kick her out so some work could get done. No such luck, they all enjoyed a good leer like the next man-they're scholars, not eunuchs for crying out loud!)

After an overnight (read drunken free for all) at Geo's in Garhound where the party made the acquaintance of Carylon Squally, Melisande and their three sons the party arrived at the Sun Dome. As guests of the Baron the group is put up in the visitor quarters and their letter of introduction is carried to Hector. He discovers the location of the tower mentioned in the scroll and asks if he can have a copy made. This takes three days or so and the party regales the local militia with tales of their (and Baron Golden Ears') exploits. Some illusions are shattered but the shine on the Baron is little diminished. Hector gives the party an invitation to the Magnus Pike the militia leader in Arrowsands (where the tower is located) and the party heads down there. They arrive and head out to the tower where they discover the weird rune markings that give directions to the Thanatar shrine. They decipher them with some difficulty and realize that they must travel into the Wastes. With a stop at Rabbit Hat Farm for supplies the group travels first south to Condor Crags and they west into the Wastes. The trip takes twenty days...

26) RuneQuest the Continuation... Fire/Stasis/Wildday 1617

Party: Hallelujah Harnsdottir (Barbeester Gor warrior)(Doug St.), Tamerlan (Waha noble)(NPC), Durnfal Strongspear, Baron of Golden Ears (Yemalio former farmer)(Gary), Greystone (Waha herder)(Doug Sh.), Gerhardt Frei (Orlanthi warrior)(Arne), Svart Ulfsson (Humakti warrior) (Henry) and Targan the Bash (Storm Bull warrior)(Darryl).

After a brutal journey of just over two weeks duration over the broken terrain and through the searing heat of Fire Season the party arrived at their destination, the great stone skeleton of a demibird partially encased in solid rock. There they found that the canyon forked to the northwest and to the south. The northwest fork was the continuation up the relatively broad Canyon of the Serpent of Dusk while the other narrower canyon turned towards the ominously named Devil's Knob and was known as Noway Canyon. Greystone noted that there were a lot of human, herdbeast and predator tracks (including broos) in the Canyon of the Dusk Serpent while there was naught but broo tracks in Noway Canyon. The party resolved to spend the night at the fork and leave the next day. That night they spotted a fire to the southwest along the canyon and the next day they went to investigate. They found a well-ordered camp site with sable tracks. (Could it be their old friends the Lunar Provincial Survey?) They decided to track the sable riders as Dalamides the sorceror leader of the Survey had also been making inquiries into Seena's activities. Greystone tracked the sables up onto the plateau where they headed northwestward roughly in the direction of Devil's Knob. There he lost the trail. The party then decied to follow Noway Canyon along the top towards Devil's Knob. There they spotted a party of broos camping in shallow caves beneath Devil's Knob. There seemed to be only a dozen or so broos so they decided to lure the broos into an ambush. Durnfal Strongspear volunteered to ride his mule up towards the broos and taunt them into attacking. He donned his plate armour and tilting his plate helm backwards at a januty angle he trotted off. The broos took awhile to spot him but when they did he taunted them again. Half again as many broos popped up and prepared slings while two prepared bows (including a giant four armed specimen). Durnfal got his mule turned around and the broos let fly. All the stones and arrows bounced off of Durnfal's magically augmented armour (the spirit inhabiting Durnfal's spear had cast protection four on him). The next round they smartened up and aimed for the mule which dropped in its tracks. Durnfal managed to land on his feet and he ran like all the trolls in the Rubble where chasing him. As the pursuing broos approached the rock the party had agreed to as the point when they would let fly with their missiles they did so. A brief fight ensued which lead to the extinction of all but two or three broos. Several members of the party contracted diseases but no one had a serious case. The party decided to descend into the cave. There they encountered the mad ghost guards who were easily dispatched to the other world, discovered (and looted) the bodies of Senna and his nomad guides and found the inner shrine where Ormelius Dragonchilde was imprisoned. With the aid of a Spirit Screen 6 Hallelujah battered his MPs down after which Gerhardt went in and freed his spirit. The party destroyed Muriah's enchantments and decided to take the altar stone to the surface in order to douse the dark light flame. They carried the stone to the surface and discovered that another party of broos had arrived and were waiting outside. They put up their spells and charged out but Thed was with the broos that day and several critical sling shots later the Storm Bull was dead and several others had been badly wounded. The party was unable to recover Targan's body and the broos dragged it off to loot and eat (Storm Bulls? Them's good eatin'). The party regrouped in the cave to regain MPs and rest. That night after dark they decide to send Tamerlan and Graystone out to determine where the broos were. The two sneak out and climbing one of the slopes Graystone manages to trip over a broo waking the lot up. Tamerlan and Graystone have to duke it out with half the broos by themselves until the rest of the party shows up. They mop up the broos and then the broos from the other side of the canyon show up. They're mopped up too and only the broo shaman escapes. The party stops for some much needed rest. They gather up what remains of Targan and sleep for the rest of the night.

27) RuneQuest the Continuation... Fire/Stasis/Godday 1617

Lunars: Hazphar Pharates (Unaligned sorcerer)(NPC), Dalamides Aveticus, Decurio and Sword of Yanafal Tarnils (NPC), Reskil Taranus, Priest of the Seven Mothers (NPC) and Antonia Blackhock (Seven Mothers/Daka Fal initiate)(NPC)

Rescuee: Zeena Duran (NPC) High Healer of Chalana Arroy

The next morning the party heads out after the fleeing broo shaman. As they proceed overland towards the Bleak Hills they come across the remains of the Lunar Provincial Survey which had been overrun by broos the previous night. The two groups realising they are after the same thing agree to team up swearing by their gods not to betray each other until after they arrive back at Ronegarth to collect the reward. They agree to split any loot and the reward 60/40 with the Lunars getting first pick of any choice loot. The party helps to bury the Lunar dead, rest a while and then the set off after the broos. They reach the High Holes site several hours later. Greystone is sent off to scout the area but he discovers nothing. They enter one entrance which doesn't lead them anywhere the larger party members can go. They discover the main entrance and force their way in. Hard fighting leads them farther into the cave complex. Eventually they meet the main body of the broos and a bitter fight breaks out. Muriah's excellent broos put up a good fight but they're no match for Hallelujah's pole ax and Greystone's Befuddle. Durnfal and Svart also do their gods proud and the party presses forward. The Sword and Kirin the eastern broo duke it out toe to toe with huge Bladesharps and Protections and neither gets anywhere. Eventually the Sword is killed only to D.I. himself back to life. (None of the Lunars other than the Sword are particularly effective in the battle. Though the priest does manage to Heal up the fallen). Kirin is slain by the Sword and Svart. The shaman Behlok also uses Befuddle to good purpose until he is felled. Muriah appears ineffectually casting Cause Disease spells at people. Then she runs over to her escape route slits Zeena's throat and escapes up the tunnel leaving the last few broos to be slaughtered. The party heals up Zeena and races after Muriah. Greystone and Antonia manage to track her down and corner her. Muriah sends her fetch to possess Dalamides and the possessed Dalamides trades blows with the party. Durnfal and others race towards Muriah who Greystone manages to Befuddle. Durnfal reaches her first and critically impales her in the head killing her. He manages to avoid catching most of the diseases she carried and they burn the body. The party makes camp for a week to allow Zeena to treat their diseases.

28) RuneQuest the Continuation... Fire/Illusion/Freezeday 1617

Rescued: Zeena Duran (NPC) High Healer of Chalana Arroy

After Zeena has finished helping the party cure their diseases (as well as purifying what little loot of the broos they could) the party sets off once again towards Condor Crags. Again the trip is long and uneventful. Twenty days pass and once again the party is back on the Plains of Prax. On the way to Ronegarth to collect their reward the party comes across one of the Duke's men who has been horribly mutilated by Impala Riders. The body is still warm and they discover a note in his belt pouch that agrees to the pay the ransom the Tusk Riders are demanding for the Duke's daughter, Jezra. The note goes on to say that the ransom will be brought to the old stone tower in a few days. The party decides to rescue Jezra and set off for the old tower. (Hallelujah having formerly worked for the Duke knows where the tower is roughly). They find the tower and send Tamerlan and Greystone to sneak up and scout it out. Greystone manages to climb to the top and is forced to do battle with a pair of strange winged creatures by himself. He manages to kill the two by himself and the rest of party climbs up a rope he lets down. They proceed down into the tower killing all opposition they meet (not much of a challenge) and are proceeding without any problems until Gerhardt and Tamerlan fall into a trap on the steps. The two plummet into a deep pond and Gerhardt manages to easily get out while Tamerlan just barely manages to drag himself out. The two explore for a way out in the dimly lit space and manage to stumble onto six skeletons which the poorly armed pair manage to defeat. Finding some coins and an iron spear point the two find the exit and head up. Meanwhile the rest of the party manages to find and free Jezra. They leave the tuskers to starve, loot the tower and head off to Ronegarth.

On the way they encounter a sombre party of the Duke's mercenaries bearing the body of Daine his chief of mercenaries. Daine had been treacherously slain by the self-styled mayor of Weis Gap, Tarnak after he had laughed at him when he said that he was going to marry Jezra. Daine's last act was to activate his Death Sword which slew Tarnak.

The party arrives at the sombre Ronegarth and is put up until after Daine's funeral. Four days later, after the funeral the party is received into Duke Raus' presence. His priest has cast a divination that confirms that Muriah is dead. The priest acting as the Duke's intermediary pays them their reward and offers the Duke's thanks for rescuing Jezra and killing Muriah. He ups the reward to 300 Wheels! Them the priest offers to trade the party Daine's iron armour in exchange for all loot they had retrieved from the Tusk Riders. The party agrees and splits the prize with the Lunars.

The next day (Earth/Harmony/Wildday) the party sets off for Horn Gate to seek some healing for their afflictions. They meet a large party of Storm Bulls there who treat them to a three day drunken bash and orgy to celebrate their victory over Muriah. The party spends a week in Horn Gate before heading back to Pavis. They spend most of their money and trade some minor magic items for healing and everyone is healed back to full health. They arrive back in Pavis Earth/Fertility/Windsday and are overwhelmed by the welcome. The Lunars had arrived before them and spread the news. Their money isn't good in this town for drinks and they spend a week telling and re-telling the tale of Muriah's death. At the end of the next week they are approached by one Amur An Zed, Priest of Dormal with a job offer. He will pay the equivalent of 5000 Lunars for each giant boot tree they can bring to Corflu. The party investigates the economics of this offer...

29) Balastor's Barracks (the scenario that was almost forgotten!) ???

This is the scenario I forgot to write an account of. Svart had a dream about a temple of Humakt hidden in the Rubble. The party explored it and managed to retrieve the cult sword and some other treasures which they turned over to the temple of Humakt for a reward.

30) The Return of Dorian Tavish...Terrier Earth/Stasis/Windsday 1617 (Feb. 03/1996)

Special Guest Appearance by: Peracles (Sorcerer from Ralios) Jeff

This is the point where these "objective" campaign accounts are replaced by the various Tales from Grandpa which follow in chronological order.

On to the Tales of Grandpa 1

Last updated January 01, 2017

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