A
Anonymous
Guest
SHADOWS OVER ZAMBOULA
(no relation to the Conan story of the same name)
Here is the *insanely* detailed set-up to my first Conan game, which takes a group of Meadow Shemite mercenaries to Zamboula, joining up with some Hyrkanian nomads along the way. Naturally, as is my nature, I over-prepared. It's a bit of a railroad, with little up to the player's choice to decide until they arrive in Zamboula. It does capture the episodic nature of Conan, IMO, however, and gives a good intro to the major geographical features of Shem and the adjacent lands. Plus, it forces the players in a specific direction so there's no messy stumbling about in the beginning.
This campaign assumes several things have happened: The Yoggites
(Darfari) have revolted and fled the city and are now disrupting trade around Zamboula. King Yezdigerd of Turan has ordered the Satrap of Zamboula, His Excellency, Jehungir Khan, to eliminate the Yoggite trade menace. The Khan has thus sent forth word to the surrounding lands that he is hiring a huge mercenary force, and is paying well (with Yezdigerd's coin). There is more to it than that, however... to be revealed later.
THE ROAD TO GLORY
INTRO:
You sit in your father’s house with your cousin, Talouf, getting drunk, as he relates the
story of his misadventures to the north.
“Still planning to seek your fame in Koth, cousin?” Talouf says, draining his drinking
jack and wringing the overspill from his blue-black beard with a wry grin. “Well, Ive just
come back from there, and there is no work to be had among our famed archers to the
north. King Strabonus demands only the finest, the magnificent bastard, but what can you
expect? He steals away our best and brightest. Some say tis but a ruse to keep Shem
weak, others to keep them from going to his enemies in Khoraja or Khauran. Me, I say
it’s to keep his unruly barons on their toes, and mayhap to make civil war! Mark my
words, Shemite feathers will fly and decorate many a baron’s backside, come that day.
After, Koth will march against its former satellites, consolidate its grip, and then there
will be war, real war, and real profit to be made by the Sons of Shem.”
“As for me, I’m bound for ivory domed Zamboula---if you can believe that, and Bel take
me for a liar if I’m not---aye; if I can make my way past our feuding eastern brothers. I
heard from a fat Turanian merchant in Khorshemish that the Satrap’s hiring men to root
out some thrice be-damned horde of desert savages plaguing his southland, probably on
orders from Aghrapur, for I hear the Satrap---he’s the governor---does nothing except
when commanded by King Yezdigerd himself.” Pfheh! Talouf spits, then continues, “A
city’s either free or it’s not, I mislike this idea of protectorates and subjugation in all but
name. If this keeps up, our eastern brothers will be warring with no kingdom, but an
empire!”
“What’s that cousin? Yoggites, I think the savages are called, but they’ll die just as quick
as if their name was Set himself! Why don’t you join me? You could stand to get out and
stretch your legs a bit and see the world. Might give you the experience you need to get
the nod from the Kothians. At any rate, I’m off with Enosh and Elohar, Gilzem and
Gomer to seek our fortune in the east. May Anu speed our feet! If my offer doesn’t tempt
you, cousin, I’ll wish you well, and see you when I return to Eruk a rich man with a
plump wife and fine Akbitanan steel strapped to my belt. Ishtar keep you.”
Talouf makes the obligatory gesture associated with the religious phrase, rises unsteadily
to his feet, and grins drunkenly as you rise and catch his arm, which he clasps with vigor.
“So, cousin! We rise as one! Tis a good omen. You’ll join me, then? Excellent! Come;
we must sacrifice a bull to Anu to bring us luck crossing the desert.”
After learning from your cousin, Talouf, that there was no work to be had except for
hard-bitten veterans among the Shemitish archers of King Strabonus of Koth, you stated
your intention to follow him into Zamboula. Along the way, you stopped in Akbitana to
press your face against the display of fine Akbitanan steel in longing, knowing you could
not afford it, and picked up a dozen more would-be adventurers down on their luck. All
vowed they would return with wealth enough to buy up an entire army’s worth of such
near-magical steel when their adventure was done and the Yoggite thorn was pulled from
the paw of Zamboula.
Passing the Mountains of Fire, Talouf leans over to you and laughs, “The mountains be
not so active as the last time I passed this way as a boy. I take it for a good sign. I was
right to sacrifice the biggest and strongest bull our coin could buy. Anu speeds our
journey and keeps us safe from heat and flame!”
Reacting to your inevitable question, your cousin responds, “South? You don’t want to go
there. Ghastly desert as far as the eye can see, haunted pyramids, and worse. If you can
get past the Ilbars hillmen, I hear there are even kingdoms ruled by black men---Kush, I
think they call it, and---Ishtar preserve us---they are cannibals!” Talouf spits and makes
the Shemite sign of warding evil, then continues, “?No; you don’t want to go down there,
cousin. To the southwest lies Stygia, with all her foul sorcery---poison for the soul---filthy
Set worshipping fiends, one and all. To the southeast, the slaver city of
Khawarism---never share a cup with a Khawarasami, cousin, or you’ll wake up in a coffle
come morning. No; there’s no profit in going south! But come, we ride to make our
fortune in Zamboula, and I shall buy you all a cup of Ghazan wine when we get there!”
In the town of Akhlat, you had a lucky roll of the dice, there followed an exchange of
fierce words with a Zuagir nomad---the poor man seemed convinced all Meadow
Shemites were dice-cheaters spawned by jackals until you and your cousins put him
a-right. A boot planted in his backside and the knowledge that his mother was a diseased
camel seemed to get him out the door peaceably enough. Again, you asked what was
south, and all present in the tavern made a warning sign against evil. “Kuthchemes lies
south, stranger,” said the bar man, “And you’ll not want to be going there, for it’s as
fiend-haunted a ruin as any to be found north of Stygia herself! They say a powerful
sorcerer is buried there, I won’t say his name aloud, for fear of waking him. You’ll do far
better in Zamboula, where men are men and die like any other. But sorcerers, Set take
them, don’t die like men! I hear they can live forever, with their demons and ghouls.” At
this point, one of the mercenaries in your band suggested the bar man’s wife might be just
such a wart-faced ghoul for scaring the life out of him when she poked her head out of the
kitchen. With that, you, your cousins, friends, and all, were forcibly ejected from the
premises, never to return.
___________________________________________________
INSERT ANY ADDITIONAL PCS or NPCs joining the party in the tavern, as fellow adventurers who are journeying to Zamboula in search of employ in the Satrap's forces. For example, IMC, I had two down on their luck Hyrkanian nomads (other PCs) offer to guide the Shemites across the desert. The nomads witnessed the dice cheating and insult hurling in the tavern and warn the Shemites they will need their help, as the nomad is related to the Zuagir chief and will come seekng vengeance with friends as soon as they depart Akhlat. Plus, the Shemites have no desert experience or Survival skill, and may get lost, if not ambushed first... The Hyrkanians say they can confuse any trackers so to avoid the Zuagir or bandits hoping to trail them for an easy looting in the desert.
The Hyrkanians backstory: Their tribe was slaughtered by another, and only a few escaped. These two are brothers, and the younger brother killed the enemy war chief, stealing his badge of office, an ornate jewelled (Akbitanan) dagger. They had to flee Hyrkania because the war chief's four brothers vowed revenge and must possess the dagger to rule their tribe, so the two brothers are being hunted down! This gives them a cool origin and gruesome fate to look forward to if they don't keep moving.
Here is also where I let the party purchase or barter for equipment, with many Appraise and Bluff (Haggling) checks that were fun. One PC unwittingly bought a defective battleaxe... :twisted:
____________________________________________________________
Once in the desert, I had them make Survival checks and "Wandering Monster" rolls (1-2 on a 1d10). With a successful anti-tracking (Survival) roll, the Zuagir do not attack them the first night. Otherwise, they automatically pick up their trail and ambush them at midnight the second night. A dozen Zuagir (level 1 Shemite nomads, no armor, shields and scimitars) surround the camp and fire arrows in (Shemite bows) at guards, then at any who stand up, then they charge in en masse, except for the leader (the enraged Zuagir nomad from Akhlat) and two guards, who hang back and watch, firing arrows in at likely targets. The leader flees at the first sign of trouble, leaving his two men to guard his retreat. He flees to a location neaby where two more nomads and the group's camels await. They flee and eventually lose any pursuit, but may end up letting some of their excess camels go as spoils to the party.
(no relation to the Conan story of the same name)
Here is the *insanely* detailed set-up to my first Conan game, which takes a group of Meadow Shemite mercenaries to Zamboula, joining up with some Hyrkanian nomads along the way. Naturally, as is my nature, I over-prepared. It's a bit of a railroad, with little up to the player's choice to decide until they arrive in Zamboula. It does capture the episodic nature of Conan, IMO, however, and gives a good intro to the major geographical features of Shem and the adjacent lands. Plus, it forces the players in a specific direction so there's no messy stumbling about in the beginning.
This campaign assumes several things have happened: The Yoggites
(Darfari) have revolted and fled the city and are now disrupting trade around Zamboula. King Yezdigerd of Turan has ordered the Satrap of Zamboula, His Excellency, Jehungir Khan, to eliminate the Yoggite trade menace. The Khan has thus sent forth word to the surrounding lands that he is hiring a huge mercenary force, and is paying well (with Yezdigerd's coin). There is more to it than that, however... to be revealed later.
THE ROAD TO GLORY
INTRO:
You sit in your father’s house with your cousin, Talouf, getting drunk, as he relates the
story of his misadventures to the north.
“Still planning to seek your fame in Koth, cousin?” Talouf says, draining his drinking
jack and wringing the overspill from his blue-black beard with a wry grin. “Well, Ive just
come back from there, and there is no work to be had among our famed archers to the
north. King Strabonus demands only the finest, the magnificent bastard, but what can you
expect? He steals away our best and brightest. Some say tis but a ruse to keep Shem
weak, others to keep them from going to his enemies in Khoraja or Khauran. Me, I say
it’s to keep his unruly barons on their toes, and mayhap to make civil war! Mark my
words, Shemite feathers will fly and decorate many a baron’s backside, come that day.
After, Koth will march against its former satellites, consolidate its grip, and then there
will be war, real war, and real profit to be made by the Sons of Shem.”
“As for me, I’m bound for ivory domed Zamboula---if you can believe that, and Bel take
me for a liar if I’m not---aye; if I can make my way past our feuding eastern brothers. I
heard from a fat Turanian merchant in Khorshemish that the Satrap’s hiring men to root
out some thrice be-damned horde of desert savages plaguing his southland, probably on
orders from Aghrapur, for I hear the Satrap---he’s the governor---does nothing except
when commanded by King Yezdigerd himself.” Pfheh! Talouf spits, then continues, “A
city’s either free or it’s not, I mislike this idea of protectorates and subjugation in all but
name. If this keeps up, our eastern brothers will be warring with no kingdom, but an
empire!”
“What’s that cousin? Yoggites, I think the savages are called, but they’ll die just as quick
as if their name was Set himself! Why don’t you join me? You could stand to get out and
stretch your legs a bit and see the world. Might give you the experience you need to get
the nod from the Kothians. At any rate, I’m off with Enosh and Elohar, Gilzem and
Gomer to seek our fortune in the east. May Anu speed our feet! If my offer doesn’t tempt
you, cousin, I’ll wish you well, and see you when I return to Eruk a rich man with a
plump wife and fine Akbitanan steel strapped to my belt. Ishtar keep you.”
Talouf makes the obligatory gesture associated with the religious phrase, rises unsteadily
to his feet, and grins drunkenly as you rise and catch his arm, which he clasps with vigor.
“So, cousin! We rise as one! Tis a good omen. You’ll join me, then? Excellent! Come;
we must sacrifice a bull to Anu to bring us luck crossing the desert.”
After learning from your cousin, Talouf, that there was no work to be had except for
hard-bitten veterans among the Shemitish archers of King Strabonus of Koth, you stated
your intention to follow him into Zamboula. Along the way, you stopped in Akbitana to
press your face against the display of fine Akbitanan steel in longing, knowing you could
not afford it, and picked up a dozen more would-be adventurers down on their luck. All
vowed they would return with wealth enough to buy up an entire army’s worth of such
near-magical steel when their adventure was done and the Yoggite thorn was pulled from
the paw of Zamboula.
Passing the Mountains of Fire, Talouf leans over to you and laughs, “The mountains be
not so active as the last time I passed this way as a boy. I take it for a good sign. I was
right to sacrifice the biggest and strongest bull our coin could buy. Anu speeds our
journey and keeps us safe from heat and flame!”
Reacting to your inevitable question, your cousin responds, “South? You don’t want to go
there. Ghastly desert as far as the eye can see, haunted pyramids, and worse. If you can
get past the Ilbars hillmen, I hear there are even kingdoms ruled by black men---Kush, I
think they call it, and---Ishtar preserve us---they are cannibals!” Talouf spits and makes
the Shemite sign of warding evil, then continues, “?No; you don’t want to go down there,
cousin. To the southwest lies Stygia, with all her foul sorcery---poison for the soul---filthy
Set worshipping fiends, one and all. To the southeast, the slaver city of
Khawarism---never share a cup with a Khawarasami, cousin, or you’ll wake up in a coffle
come morning. No; there’s no profit in going south! But come, we ride to make our
fortune in Zamboula, and I shall buy you all a cup of Ghazan wine when we get there!”
In the town of Akhlat, you had a lucky roll of the dice, there followed an exchange of
fierce words with a Zuagir nomad---the poor man seemed convinced all Meadow
Shemites were dice-cheaters spawned by jackals until you and your cousins put him
a-right. A boot planted in his backside and the knowledge that his mother was a diseased
camel seemed to get him out the door peaceably enough. Again, you asked what was
south, and all present in the tavern made a warning sign against evil. “Kuthchemes lies
south, stranger,” said the bar man, “And you’ll not want to be going there, for it’s as
fiend-haunted a ruin as any to be found north of Stygia herself! They say a powerful
sorcerer is buried there, I won’t say his name aloud, for fear of waking him. You’ll do far
better in Zamboula, where men are men and die like any other. But sorcerers, Set take
them, don’t die like men! I hear they can live forever, with their demons and ghouls.” At
this point, one of the mercenaries in your band suggested the bar man’s wife might be just
such a wart-faced ghoul for scaring the life out of him when she poked her head out of the
kitchen. With that, you, your cousins, friends, and all, were forcibly ejected from the
premises, never to return.
___________________________________________________
INSERT ANY ADDITIONAL PCS or NPCs joining the party in the tavern, as fellow adventurers who are journeying to Zamboula in search of employ in the Satrap's forces. For example, IMC, I had two down on their luck Hyrkanian nomads (other PCs) offer to guide the Shemites across the desert. The nomads witnessed the dice cheating and insult hurling in the tavern and warn the Shemites they will need their help, as the nomad is related to the Zuagir chief and will come seekng vengeance with friends as soon as they depart Akhlat. Plus, the Shemites have no desert experience or Survival skill, and may get lost, if not ambushed first... The Hyrkanians say they can confuse any trackers so to avoid the Zuagir or bandits hoping to trail them for an easy looting in the desert.
The Hyrkanians backstory: Their tribe was slaughtered by another, and only a few escaped. These two are brothers, and the younger brother killed the enemy war chief, stealing his badge of office, an ornate jewelled (Akbitanan) dagger. They had to flee Hyrkania because the war chief's four brothers vowed revenge and must possess the dagger to rule their tribe, so the two brothers are being hunted down! This gives them a cool origin and gruesome fate to look forward to if they don't keep moving.
Here is also where I let the party purchase or barter for equipment, with many Appraise and Bluff (Haggling) checks that were fun. One PC unwittingly bought a defective battleaxe... :twisted:
____________________________________________________________
Once in the desert, I had them make Survival checks and "Wandering Monster" rolls (1-2 on a 1d10). With a successful anti-tracking (Survival) roll, the Zuagir do not attack them the first night. Otherwise, they automatically pick up their trail and ambush them at midnight the second night. A dozen Zuagir (level 1 Shemite nomads, no armor, shields and scimitars) surround the camp and fire arrows in (Shemite bows) at guards, then at any who stand up, then they charge in en masse, except for the leader (the enraged Zuagir nomad from Akhlat) and two guards, who hang back and watch, firing arrows in at likely targets. The leader flees at the first sign of trouble, leaving his two men to guard his retreat. He flees to a location neaby where two more nomads and the group's camels await. They flee and eventually lose any pursuit, but may end up letting some of their excess camels go as spoils to the party.
