The Serpent's Path, part III
"Journeyman Vomilost?"
The Melderyni was intensely studying a dissected Vlasta at a workbench that had been provided to him by Erech of Davys.
"Journeyman?"
"Err...yes. I am sorry. These creatures are fascinating," he replied after a long pause.
Pelar Vomilost had been engaged almost the entirety of the afternoon, cutting open the ivashu, and drawing his observations of its anatomy.
"They have no gender," proclaimed the young sorcerer.
"Quite correct. Ilvir creates them. They have no need to make more of themselves. It is the way of the Brooder."
Pelar quickly went back to his work, not wanting to fall into a theological debate with the very thoughtful, yet very pious Erech, the Temple's resident physician and apothecary.
"It will take so much time to do this correctly. Unfortunately, we do have this time.”
“I may be able to help. Have you seen our library? I have done many illustrations.”
Pelar raised an eyebrow.
“You have a library here? In the middle of nowhere.”
Erech smiled, “For you the end of the world, but for us, it is the seat of Creation. The beginning.”
Pelar grimaced. He let himself be drawn in again.
“I can transcribe some of my own observations for you, and perhaps enlighten you about the our god.”
The young wizard sighed.
“Very well, good master. Lead on.”
**
It had been a day of back and forth for the young legionnaire. He had gone to see the senator, repositioned the guards after traveling across the stream again to the
Smiling Nolah. Then after speaking with Senator Aeb again, he had been escorted by a priest to view the “trade goods”. That had made him laugh, inwardly so as not to offend, but still…for all the professed piety of the Senator and these Ilvirans, they were only out to make a few silvers. He was sure that selling “Ilvir’s children” did not sit well in some quarters. However, the Senator was willing to cut him in on the deal.
Near the cages, he had stumbled upon
The Serpent’s Tongue, a path that led to Araka-Kalai, the Pit of Ilvir and the source of the stink. On the side of the trail, stood a stone monolith with strange writing that had been carved into it. He had tried to decipher the script just out of curiosity, and then he had blacked out. When he had come to, the priest was helping him stagger back to the temple.
“What do you remember?” the Ilviran had asked.
Markus shook and then spouted something in a language that he did not know.
“Ahhh! You are a Pilgrim of the First Stone!”
The young lieutenant had felt sick, excused himself, and run back to the
'Nolah.
Now he had a bad headache. Vynscythe interrupted his thoughts.
“So tell me. Do you want to go back out there and see this Pit?”
“No. Not really.”
“Are you afraid, Thardan?”
The implication was enough for Markus. Once again he crossed the Klega, this time with Vynscythe marching along beside him. At the temple, they sequestered an acolyte to carry a lantern for them as evening approached, and continued to the first stone. Markus again recited the strange language, but the Rethemi declined.
The trio moved on, with the acolyte shaking as twilight gave way to darkness.
“Keep that light steady, boy,” ordered Markus as they neared the second monolith.
Shaking his head at the Thardan’s harshness, Vynscythe asked in a gentle voice, “Why are you so afraid?”
The acolyte gulped and stammered a reply, “Cuz…when the Brooder…he makes the ivashu…they come out mostly at night…mostly.”
As if on cue, a howl sounded from the direction of the Pit.
“Like what
kind of ivashu?” asked Markus turning to look at the boy.
But the acolyte had already dropped the lantern and fled back towards Ochrynn. The light sputtered and then went out, leaving Markus and Vynscythe in utter darkness, as the clouds covered the moon and the stars.
“Well…are you going?” asked the Rethemi.
“No, you can go first. I will cover your back.”
“This was your idea. I think you should lead.”
This time a growl echoed across the broken hills, and both warriors urned and ran….
**
Professing that they would continue their quest in the morning, and that indeed it was not, they agreed, fear that caused them to halt, but the darkness, brought them once again to the
Temple of the Ochre Womb. They stumbled across Pelar and an old Ilviran cleric copying text from a large codex to his smaller traveling ledger in the workroom. Turning the corner to the dormitory, where Senator Aeb had been given a private room, they found Halifax, Rhygar and the off-duty guard, Othor of Then gambling with poor acolytes. Markus reported to the senator one last time, and then relieved the guards, deciding to stand watch first, and since he was thoroughly annoyed, scattered the young gamers to give his employer peace.
The senator called for Pelar. Erech offered to finish the scribing, and Pelar with much genuine thanks took his leave of the old apothecary and went to do his ‘advising’.
“We will be off to Leriel in the morning. I must speak with the Primate of the Church of Ilvir, and work out some business negotiations.”
The senator rubbed his hands just as Pelar had seen merchants from Chelemby do before they made a big sale.
“I wanted you to divine for me sorcerer. How goes the trail tomorrow?”
Pelar nodded dutifully, despite his misgivings at the Senator’s entrepreneurial undertakings, began his spread his tarot cards. The focus of the deck allowed him to propel his mind forward in time…The Senator gasped as he felt the magic course through the Savoryan.
Outside the door, Markus shuddered as he heard the eldritch whispering in his ear. Sergeant Bleda, keeping vigil next to him made a sign to ward against evil.
Pelar saw arrows fly from both directions of the trail through the mountains. The faces were unclear, but he knew that his new companions fell to these black-fletched arrows. Gargun poured from both sides. He felt a stab of pain…
And then he returned to the present shaking and cold.
“What did you see, wizard?”
“All will be well, Senator,” he tried to say as reassuringly as possible. “I will speak with Markus in the morning.”
Pelar calmly began to collect his cards…
Game Notes: Again the play was driven by player directed dialogue.
Good things: We found a way to reward Pelar's SA for seeking knowledge. Also, it was the first time a spell was cast. Pelar cast a formalized divination spell that I converted from HMx. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name. It was minor, and IIRC, the spell only gives a glimpse of the possibility of the future. Perhaps helping the players to avoid trouble? 
I came up with a quick mechanic to symbolize the learning of the runic script on the monoliths...also called the Gates of Conception. I think I used Wit (which to me is the closest thing to HMx Aura, since HMx already has a Will stat) and gave a really high target number...I think 10 for the first circle and +4 for each subsequent monolith, making the fifth circle really, really high. You'd have to be very lucky, have SA's in faith to Ilvir, or have some magic to bolster you to succeed.
I have enjoyed TROs because of the freedom it allows you to make on the spot rulings.
Any questions about Hârnic allusions? i.e. Chelemby...Feel free to ask.
