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Aphonion Tales: Adventures in the Spice Lands and the War in Hanal, a tween and teen D&D game (edited notes, posts Tuesdays, most recent 3/7/23)
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<blockquote data-quote="CPaladin" data-source="post: 8362307" data-attributes="member: 7030144"><p>Session 18 (Jan. 17, 2021)</p><p>[I began playing Sister Agnes, a sort of semi-PC, semi-NPC cleric to support the party, in this session]</p><p></p><p>15 Ghast</p><p>Noah is from the Stromnate of Arundall, about 8 days journey away.</p><p></p><p>Sister Agnes, a heavily armored nun of the Order of the Weeping Woman, asks if she can travel with them. Her convent was overrun, and then she joined up with the Inquisition, but she finds an Inquisition camp disquieting and would prefer to travel to closer to her family’s lands.</p><p></p><p>The first two days of travel are behind Inquisition lines. Things seem close to normal, although under Inquisition control. The villages carry on like normal, going about their farming. After they cross out of Inquisition controlled areas, they see people looking more furtive.</p><p></p><p>17 Ghast</p><p>The villages controlled by the Queen-Empress have been significantly depopulated of men of prime fighting age—whether they have been conscripted or slain, who can tell.</p><p></p><p>That evening, Noah ties himself to a tree. Sr. Agnes prays for him, asking her lady to cry for his state.</p><p></p><p>Noah is trying to gain control over himself as he changes. Elyn is trying to hinder him, as is Ravokris. Iados tries to help, as does Sr. Agnes. Noah spends some time maintaining control, but it slips away after a couple hours and he rampages some. (Next time he gets a +2 to his save.)</p><p></p><p>Early in the night, while Elyn is on watch by the fire, under a full blue moon and full violet moon, a shadow passes across the faces of both moons. Ravokris is deeply asleep, but sits bolt upright and leaps to his feet. The veins on his head are bulging out. He starts running around in circles, staring at the sky and futilely making gestures at the sky, before he comes to his senses. Elyn clams that the shadow must be a dragon, but without even attempting to identify it.</p><p></p><p>18 Ghast</p><p>Peaceful day and peaceful night.</p><p></p><p>19 Ghast</p><p>Peaceful day, but as they pass through more of these lands, they see villages that are badly mistreated. Ahead, they see a walled estate in the valley, with manned walls. The banners show a sprig of purple grapes on a green background.</p><p></p><p>Noah hails them. “I’m looking for the Stromate of Arundall.”</p><p></p><p>“Three days further north. This is Pallennvalley. We still stand!”</p><p></p><p>They travel on.</p><p></p><p>In the early hours of the morning, there are ten or twelve flashes of purple light in the direction that they’re traveling.</p><p></p><p>20 Ghast</p><p>Peaceful day, peaceful night.</p><p></p><p>21 Ghast</p><p>Peaceful day, peaceful night.</p><p></p><p>22 Ghast</p><p>After a day’s travel they arrive at the outskirts of the Stromnate of Arundall.</p><p></p><p>A troop of guards with an eagle rampant on their banner greet them. “Na-Strom? Your parents had hoped that you would not make the journey here. We remain unbothered by both sides, but that’s surely just a matter of time.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, but I had to investigate the Inquisition and then come here.”</p><p></p><p>The patrol continues, but they send the houndmaster to lead the group back to the castle. They arrive at the castle shortly, after a trip with a laconic houndmaster.</p><p></p><p>As they arrive at the castle, Noah feels the grip on his mind easing a little. He remembers the castle a little, with a few memories of things he did in the castle. It’s a medium-sized motte and bailey, with a lot more people under arms than Noah is used to, and many of them militia raised in levies recently.</p><p></p><p>“Your parents. This way.”</p><p></p><p>As he sees his parents, Noah can’t remember all that he should, but he remembers having a good relationship with them and has a flood of strong feelings. They are bent over a map with the captain of their men-at-arms. His mother looks up. “You came, in spite the danger.”</p><p></p><p>“Yes. I ….”</p><p></p><p>“I’m glad you came. These are your boon companions?”</p><p></p><p>“Yes.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m glad you all came. We have been safe so far, but the Queen-Empress has asked permission—in a way that is not a true request—to station a voller squadron here.”</p><p></p><p>“You cannot say no, but if you do, you’re making the Stromnate a target.”</p><p></p><p>“And going against Mother Church itself. I’ve been around a long time, but I never expected to have to choose between my country and my faith.”</p><p></p><p>“It’s certainly not something any would wish.”</p><p></p><p>“We hope the fighting won’t make it this far north, or that it will be stymied by Pallenvalley, which has more men under arms than we do.”</p><p></p><p>The captain is sent out.</p><p></p><p>“They attempted to replace you. They sent something that looked like you, but it was not you, as the bishop’s enchantment showed. We think this has something to do with the cult, but we do not know how. Certainly, the Queen-Empress does not follow the cult…”</p><p></p><p>“When I was taken, I remember seeing three with raven tattoos.”</p><p></p><p>“The Guild. Strange. It’s not their ordinary dealings.”</p><p></p><p>They welcome all the guests.</p><p></p><p>A feast is served—albeit a bit sparse, because of the fear that a siege may be coming.</p><p></p><p>“What can we tell you that will help you, son?”</p><p></p><p>“How have things in Hanal gotten so bad?”</p><p></p><p>“There were hints of this for years. When the first cultists were eliminated by the prior Inquisitor General, we were not sure that they were not simply people who had become ill-favored. And then some of our people were found celebrating strange rites. We heard reports from our neighbors of similar things. Thyastis tried to do what any good monarch would do. And now her daughter is caught up in it, and will not allow the Inquisition through to purge the cult. But she would not, and now we have this.</p><p></p><p>“Unfortunately, your younger brother is trapped at the Academy. He is safe, so far, though I do not know he will remain so. So far, both sides have avoided attacking the Academy. We will not ask you to travel through this war-torn mess to try to bring him here—and he might not be safer here. Do you know why the Inquisition is so insistent? Is it just the cultists?”</p><p></p><p>“It is the cultists, but I think there is something more. It is a strange time.”</p><p></p><p>“Perhaps your group could go into the northern portion of the Stromnate. That’s where we located cultists before. If we can ascertain that there are no heretics in our lands, we may be able to get the Inquisition to turn aside.”</p><p></p><p>Sister Agnes warns them that the forces of the Queen-Empress have engaged in some atrocities, including attacking a convent of the Weeping Woman, ostensibly for refusing to allow them to occupy it for strategic purposes but actually because the Abbess was sheltering some of the little people.</p><p></p><p>23 Ghast</p><p>They travel north on horseback to the north of the Stromnate. There are corpses here, blasted from above—in about the same place where the flashes of purple light struck. They were villagers, but they were blasted from the air by energy weapons. They had strange weapons, and disturbing scarification that was self-inflicted.</p><p></p><p>Noah suggests searching the bodies—“don’t steal anything, but look it over.”</p><p></p><p>Some of them are normal people, but with scarification. A couple of them, however, are translucent, and one of them has a blue glowing fire in its heart. Those last ones were blasted by the energy weapons. Some of the scarification matches symbols they saw on the foul altar.</p><p></p><p>There is some sense of good at the edge of the periphery of Sr. Agnes’s sense, when she detects evil and good. Not too far outside that area, she finds a small girl, about three years old, clutching a church icon. She is quite deceased, although not hit. She had her throat slit when the attack occurred.</p><p></p><p>They bury her and take the icon.</p><p>[End session 18]</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="CPaladin, post: 8362307, member: 7030144"] Session 18 (Jan. 17, 2021) [I began playing Sister Agnes, a sort of semi-PC, semi-NPC cleric to support the party, in this session] 15 Ghast Noah is from the Stromnate of Arundall, about 8 days journey away. Sister Agnes, a heavily armored nun of the Order of the Weeping Woman, asks if she can travel with them. Her convent was overrun, and then she joined up with the Inquisition, but she finds an Inquisition camp disquieting and would prefer to travel to closer to her family’s lands. The first two days of travel are behind Inquisition lines. Things seem close to normal, although under Inquisition control. The villages carry on like normal, going about their farming. After they cross out of Inquisition controlled areas, they see people looking more furtive. 17 Ghast The villages controlled by the Queen-Empress have been significantly depopulated of men of prime fighting age—whether they have been conscripted or slain, who can tell. That evening, Noah ties himself to a tree. Sr. Agnes prays for him, asking her lady to cry for his state. Noah is trying to gain control over himself as he changes. Elyn is trying to hinder him, as is Ravokris. Iados tries to help, as does Sr. Agnes. Noah spends some time maintaining control, but it slips away after a couple hours and he rampages some. (Next time he gets a +2 to his save.) Early in the night, while Elyn is on watch by the fire, under a full blue moon and full violet moon, a shadow passes across the faces of both moons. Ravokris is deeply asleep, but sits bolt upright and leaps to his feet. The veins on his head are bulging out. He starts running around in circles, staring at the sky and futilely making gestures at the sky, before he comes to his senses. Elyn clams that the shadow must be a dragon, but without even attempting to identify it. 18 Ghast Peaceful day and peaceful night. 19 Ghast Peaceful day, but as they pass through more of these lands, they see villages that are badly mistreated. Ahead, they see a walled estate in the valley, with manned walls. The banners show a sprig of purple grapes on a green background. Noah hails them. “I’m looking for the Stromate of Arundall.” “Three days further north. This is Pallennvalley. We still stand!” They travel on. In the early hours of the morning, there are ten or twelve flashes of purple light in the direction that they’re traveling. 20 Ghast Peaceful day, peaceful night. 21 Ghast Peaceful day, peaceful night. 22 Ghast After a day’s travel they arrive at the outskirts of the Stromnate of Arundall. A troop of guards with an eagle rampant on their banner greet them. “Na-Strom? Your parents had hoped that you would not make the journey here. We remain unbothered by both sides, but that’s surely just a matter of time.” “Yes, but I had to investigate the Inquisition and then come here.” The patrol continues, but they send the houndmaster to lead the group back to the castle. They arrive at the castle shortly, after a trip with a laconic houndmaster. As they arrive at the castle, Noah feels the grip on his mind easing a little. He remembers the castle a little, with a few memories of things he did in the castle. It’s a medium-sized motte and bailey, with a lot more people under arms than Noah is used to, and many of them militia raised in levies recently. “Your parents. This way.” As he sees his parents, Noah can’t remember all that he should, but he remembers having a good relationship with them and has a flood of strong feelings. They are bent over a map with the captain of their men-at-arms. His mother looks up. “You came, in spite the danger.” “Yes. I ….” “I’m glad you came. These are your boon companions?” “Yes.” “I’m glad you all came. We have been safe so far, but the Queen-Empress has asked permission—in a way that is not a true request—to station a voller squadron here.” “You cannot say no, but if you do, you’re making the Stromnate a target.” “And going against Mother Church itself. I’ve been around a long time, but I never expected to have to choose between my country and my faith.” “It’s certainly not something any would wish.” “We hope the fighting won’t make it this far north, or that it will be stymied by Pallenvalley, which has more men under arms than we do.” The captain is sent out. “They attempted to replace you. They sent something that looked like you, but it was not you, as the bishop’s enchantment showed. We think this has something to do with the cult, but we do not know how. Certainly, the Queen-Empress does not follow the cult…” “When I was taken, I remember seeing three with raven tattoos.” “The Guild. Strange. It’s not their ordinary dealings.” They welcome all the guests. A feast is served—albeit a bit sparse, because of the fear that a siege may be coming. “What can we tell you that will help you, son?” “How have things in Hanal gotten so bad?” “There were hints of this for years. When the first cultists were eliminated by the prior Inquisitor General, we were not sure that they were not simply people who had become ill-favored. And then some of our people were found celebrating strange rites. We heard reports from our neighbors of similar things. Thyastis tried to do what any good monarch would do. And now her daughter is caught up in it, and will not allow the Inquisition through to purge the cult. But she would not, and now we have this. “Unfortunately, your younger brother is trapped at the Academy. He is safe, so far, though I do not know he will remain so. So far, both sides have avoided attacking the Academy. We will not ask you to travel through this war-torn mess to try to bring him here—and he might not be safer here. Do you know why the Inquisition is so insistent? Is it just the cultists?” “It is the cultists, but I think there is something more. It is a strange time.” “Perhaps your group could go into the northern portion of the Stromnate. That’s where we located cultists before. If we can ascertain that there are no heretics in our lands, we may be able to get the Inquisition to turn aside.” Sister Agnes warns them that the forces of the Queen-Empress have engaged in some atrocities, including attacking a convent of the Weeping Woman, ostensibly for refusing to allow them to occupy it for strategic purposes but actually because the Abbess was sheltering some of the little people. 23 Ghast They travel north on horseback to the north of the Stromnate. There are corpses here, blasted from above—in about the same place where the flashes of purple light struck. They were villagers, but they were blasted from the air by energy weapons. They had strange weapons, and disturbing scarification that was self-inflicted. Noah suggests searching the bodies—“don’t steal anything, but look it over.” Some of them are normal people, but with scarification. A couple of them, however, are translucent, and one of them has a blue glowing fire in its heart. Those last ones were blasted by the energy weapons. Some of the scarification matches symbols they saw on the foul altar. There is some sense of good at the edge of the periphery of Sr. Agnes’s sense, when she detects evil and good. Not too far outside that area, she finds a small girl, about three years old, clutching a church icon. She is quite deceased, although not hit. She had her throat slit when the attack occurred. They bury her and take the icon. [End session 18] [/QUOTE]
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