Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Talismans of Aerdrim
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="havenstone" data-source="post: 4707048" data-attributes="member: 61094"><p><strong>General Mercon’s Game</strong></p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">THE NEXT MORNING</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">, Nina wakes to the sound of violent curses. He recognizes the voice of Athriam, the High General. “Worthless dogs! Treacherous swine! Marcor died for this?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“What’s going on?” Nina asks Agerain when he finds him outside the tent.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“The village elders gave us their tenth to settle the plains,” Agerain says, looking both angry and amused. “Most of our new settlers are obviously cripples, senile, or diseased; I’m sure the rest are lazy, weak, or criminal. In short, they’ve given us everyone they want to get rid of.” Then he shrugs. “It’ll just be more work for the priests, healing them so they can keep up with the rest of the army. We aren’t going to turn anyone away. We’ll just see how many survive being planted in Arawai.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The host resumes its long march under a pall. Now there are only three Generals for the Senalline army – the two d’Aramants, Athriam and Mercon, and Atrix’s uncle Sarquin d’Loriad. Dozens of rumors run through the camp about who is responsible for General Marcor’s assassination, with d’Aramants and d’Loriads both painted as the culpable Family. Kyla reluctantly informs Ash that Serif was linked to Aleander the Sage. He passes this tip on to Meeshak, Nina, and Darren; the friends hunt through the entire camp for any sign of the traitorous scholar, but find nothing.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Aside from her anxiety about Aleander, Kyla finds herself happier than she has been since the fall of Rim Square. By shooting down the bandit lord, she won the respect of the other soldiers; the old harassment and dirty looks are now replaced with waves and smiles when she rides past. She’s not wholly comfortable with the soldiers referring to her affectionately as “<em>our</em> Arawai,” but it’s better than the alternative. Her happiness reaches its height on the afternoon when the Aradurn army finally joins them, and a dusty, weary <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4514585-post40.html" target="_blank">Gareth d’Loriad</a> rides into the archery range to find her. Atrix’s quiet cousin dismounts, sweeps Kyla up in his arms, and covers her with kisses. The soldiers who would have greeted this with contempt or even violence a month earlier erupt into whistles and cheers.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">The Senalline knights, who have fought often against Aradur in the past, also accept the arrival of two hundred sixty Aradurn knights and more than nine hundred spears with good grace. To preserve goodwill and reduce suspicion between the nations, the Aradurn host under General Malecot has skirted the Senalline heartland around Lynar, marching instead through the free city of Shayard before turning south toward Guardwatch, and collecting a company of seventy Shayardene mercenaries along the way. Carwyn and Lune, who by this point are sharing a bedroll (but not yet their winnings), are elated at the massive influx of new gamblers.</span></p><p> </p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">SOME DAYS LATER</span></strong><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">, when Ash returns from scouting, he is approached by a nervous-looking Calla. He recognizes her as the object of Darren’s affections, and greets her gently. “What can I do for you?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“My uncle’s eyes are all over,” Calla says with hushed urgency. “But the men he has looking out for me are mostly watching the dwarrow camp. I don’t think he knows who you are. Is there any way you can arrange a meeting between me and Darren, somewhere safe?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Ash tackles this challenge with his usual quiet reliability, working with a couple of other trusted scouts to identify General Mercon’s spies, separate Calla from them, and get her to the outskirts of the camp where she can meet with Darren. They manage to arrange four or five fleeting rendezvous as they travel, which Darren and Calla find all the more precious for their briefness.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Ash and Darren are not the only Rim Square friends to find themselves pitted against the northern d’Aramant General. Carwyn has been staying on top of the current of rumors in the army, and has heard a number of disturbingly catchy stories discrediting the d’Loriads. For example, one slander states that Atrix tried to force himself on Avric d’Aramant’s betrothed, and that the duel that killed Atrix was revenge for the attempted rape. Another rumor has it that General Sarquin d’Loriad has been trying to dispose of his rivals, and may have been behind the death of General Marcor. Using her Rumor-mongery skills, she tries to trace these stories back to their source. It isn’t easy, but Carwyn eventually finds that a few apparently go back to Mercon d’Aramant. She tries to spread equally catchy counter-rumors, discrediting the d’Aramants, while covering her tracks so they can’t easily be traced back to her.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">One evening, General Mercon shows up in the gambling tent and strides up to the main table, where Carwyn and Lune are in the middle of a game of Imperium. A soldier hastily gets up and offers his place at the table to the sandy-bearded d’Aramant. “You are far too generous, favoring us with your presence, General,” Carwyn says, caught slightly off guard.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">“I’m fond of games,” Mercon says mildly, his eyes locked on Carwyn’s. “I’ve heard there are some interesting ones being played from this tent and thought I’d see what my men have been talking about.” He tosses a coin of Patriarch’s Gold into the middle of the table as his ante. Lune and Carwyn bring all their skills (except cheating) to bear against him, but the stone-faced d’Aramant General outplays them with apparent ease. After winning several rounds of Imperium, Mercon stands, smiling. “It’s been a pleasure, but perhaps we should all play in our own league.” Inclining his head to Carwyn in warning, he walks out of the tent.</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">When Carwyn mentions this episode to Nina, it reawakens his suspicions that the d’Aramants were somehow involved in Marcor’s assassination. He tries to bring it up with Agerain around the fire a few evenings later. “Something’s going on that you’re not telling me. Not just the war. Some play for power between the Families. Am I wrong?”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Agerain looks doubtfully at his friend. “Anseron... If it were up to me, I’d tell you more, but I’d need to have a talk with Mercon first.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Nina hastily backpedals, not wanting to have his cover ruined by an elder of the northern d’Aramants. “No, I don’t need to know the details. Just know that I’m here if you need help with... anything. No questions asked.”</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-family: 'Verdana'">Agerain smiles with genuine affection. “Don’t worry. I know we can trust you.” And despite everything, Nina feels a pang of guilt.</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="havenstone, post: 4707048, member: 61094"] [b]General Mercon’s Game[/b] [B][FONT=Verdana]THE NEXT MORNING[/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana], Nina wakes to the sound of violent curses. He recognizes the voice of Athriam, the High General. “Worthless dogs! Treacherous swine! Marcor died for this?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“What’s going on?” Nina asks Agerain when he finds him outside the tent.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“The village elders gave us their tenth to settle the plains,” Agerain says, looking both angry and amused. “Most of our new settlers are obviously cripples, senile, or diseased; I’m sure the rest are lazy, weak, or criminal. In short, they’ve given us everyone they want to get rid of.” Then he shrugs. “It’ll just be more work for the priests, healing them so they can keep up with the rest of the army. We aren’t going to turn anyone away. We’ll just see how many survive being planted in Arawai.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The host resumes its long march under a pall. Now there are only three Generals for the Senalline army – the two d’Aramants, Athriam and Mercon, and Atrix’s uncle Sarquin d’Loriad. Dozens of rumors run through the camp about who is responsible for General Marcor’s assassination, with d’Aramants and d’Loriads both painted as the culpable Family. Kyla reluctantly informs Ash that Serif was linked to Aleander the Sage. He passes this tip on to Meeshak, Nina, and Darren; the friends hunt through the entire camp for any sign of the traitorous scholar, but find nothing.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Aside from her anxiety about Aleander, Kyla finds herself happier than she has been since the fall of Rim Square. By shooting down the bandit lord, she won the respect of the other soldiers; the old harassment and dirty looks are now replaced with waves and smiles when she rides past. She’s not wholly comfortable with the soldiers referring to her affectionately as “[I]our[/I] Arawai,” but it’s better than the alternative. Her happiness reaches its height on the afternoon when the Aradurn army finally joins them, and a dusty, weary [URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/4514585-post40.html"]Gareth d’Loriad[/URL] rides into the archery range to find her. Atrix’s quiet cousin dismounts, sweeps Kyla up in his arms, and covers her with kisses. The soldiers who would have greeted this with contempt or even violence a month earlier erupt into whistles and cheers.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]The Senalline knights, who have fought often against Aradur in the past, also accept the arrival of two hundred sixty Aradurn knights and more than nine hundred spears with good grace. To preserve goodwill and reduce suspicion between the nations, the Aradurn host under General Malecot has skirted the Senalline heartland around Lynar, marching instead through the free city of Shayard before turning south toward Guardwatch, and collecting a company of seventy Shayardene mercenaries along the way. Carwyn and Lune, who by this point are sharing a bedroll (but not yet their winnings), are elated at the massive influx of new gamblers.[/FONT] [B][FONT=Verdana]SOME DAYS LATER[/FONT][/B][FONT=Verdana], when Ash returns from scouting, he is approached by a nervous-looking Calla. He recognizes her as the object of Darren’s affections, and greets her gently. “What can I do for you?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“My uncle’s eyes are all over,” Calla says with hushed urgency. “But the men he has looking out for me are mostly watching the dwarrow camp. I don’t think he knows who you are. Is there any way you can arrange a meeting between me and Darren, somewhere safe?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Ash tackles this challenge with his usual quiet reliability, working with a couple of other trusted scouts to identify General Mercon’s spies, separate Calla from them, and get her to the outskirts of the camp where she can meet with Darren. They manage to arrange four or five fleeting rendezvous as they travel, which Darren and Calla find all the more precious for their briefness.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Ash and Darren are not the only Rim Square friends to find themselves pitted against the northern d’Aramant General. Carwyn has been staying on top of the current of rumors in the army, and has heard a number of disturbingly catchy stories discrediting the d’Loriads. For example, one slander states that Atrix tried to force himself on Avric d’Aramant’s betrothed, and that the duel that killed Atrix was revenge for the attempted rape. Another rumor has it that General Sarquin d’Loriad has been trying to dispose of his rivals, and may have been behind the death of General Marcor. Using her Rumor-mongery skills, she tries to trace these stories back to their source. It isn’t easy, but Carwyn eventually finds that a few apparently go back to Mercon d’Aramant. She tries to spread equally catchy counter-rumors, discrediting the d’Aramants, while covering her tracks so they can’t easily be traced back to her.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]One evening, General Mercon shows up in the gambling tent and strides up to the main table, where Carwyn and Lune are in the middle of a game of Imperium. A soldier hastily gets up and offers his place at the table to the sandy-bearded d’Aramant. “You are far too generous, favoring us with your presence, General,” Carwyn says, caught slightly off guard.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]“I’m fond of games,” Mercon says mildly, his eyes locked on Carwyn’s. “I’ve heard there are some interesting ones being played from this tent and thought I’d see what my men have been talking about.” He tosses a coin of Patriarch’s Gold into the middle of the table as his ante. Lune and Carwyn bring all their skills (except cheating) to bear against him, but the stone-faced d’Aramant General outplays them with apparent ease. After winning several rounds of Imperium, Mercon stands, smiling. “It’s been a pleasure, but perhaps we should all play in our own league.” Inclining his head to Carwyn in warning, he walks out of the tent.[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]When Carwyn mentions this episode to Nina, it reawakens his suspicions that the d’Aramants were somehow involved in Marcor’s assassination. He tries to bring it up with Agerain around the fire a few evenings later. “Something’s going on that you’re not telling me. Not just the war. Some play for power between the Families. Am I wrong?”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Agerain looks doubtfully at his friend. “Anseron... If it were up to me, I’d tell you more, but I’d need to have a talk with Mercon first.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Nina hastily backpedals, not wanting to have his cover ruined by an elder of the northern d’Aramants. “No, I don’t need to know the details. Just know that I’m here if you need help with... anything. No questions asked.”[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana]Agerain smiles with genuine affection. “Don’t worry. I know we can trust you.” And despite everything, Nina feels a pang of guilt.[/FONT] [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
The Talismans of Aerdrim
Top