blackenedwings
Mongoose
I finally got a chance to start my Conan session tonight, and it went amazingly well. I have 4 players in this campaign, and none of us had played Conan before, but were all looking forward to it. The players are:
Rolf - Nordenheimer Barbarian
Gilgamesh - Shemite Nomad
Angaal - Zingaran Thief
Corvalas - Kothic Noble
The game began in the Kothic barony of Korveka with a flashback explaining how Angaal had brokered a business arraignment with the youngest son of a local Kothic noble. Corvalas although only 17 years of age has aspirations to become a knight like his father, and continue the family tradition. As the youngest son however he is often ignored by his father who is far too busy with the business of running a noble family. "Noble" scarcely describes his father however who is deeply involved in a seedy underworld of assassination, bribes, and illegal trade. Records of some of these activities has been recorded and obtained by a rival house. Corvalas acting without his father's knowledge or consent hires thieves under false pretenses to break into a well guarded merchant compound. He tells them they seek a shipment of crossbows intended for a rival family, and they need to destroy the weapons and slip out undetected, but he insists upon going with them intending to track down the incriminating documents and return them to his father. Angaal is incredibly paranoid and is uncomfortable with the idea of the employer going along on the mission, but as Corvalas has his retainer see their faces before they set out, he has little choice but to continue. To watch his back he brings the largest meanest tavern brawler he knows, a well traveled Nordhenheimer named Rolf, and a master archer and desert guide named Gilgamesh.
The game actually begins much like the Howard books, in the action. The party finds themselves pulling a rope up from the outside wall of the compound where it meets the edge of the city. Hearing approaching guards they quickly scan the inside of the compound seeing a large guard tower to the north, a large warehouse building with no windows and a sloped roof, and to the south near the main gate of the compound into the trade district of Korveka is a rectangular two story barracks building nearly against the front wall of the compound. They move as quickly forward as they can along the wall finding a ramp leading down to a grassy sward inside the compound. Lagging behind the rest, Angaal saw the approaching torch of a pike wielding guardsman. The guardsman saw something in the darkness and moved to investigate. As the party flattened themselves up against the edge of the ramp, Corvalas scraped the hilt of his broadsword against the stones, accidentally alerting the guard. Immediately reacting Angaal lept up from his hiding place, jamming his hideous Zaibar knife under the edge of the guard's leather chestguard spilling his guts out across the stones messily.
The party made their way across the courtyard of the compound, silencing several hounds until they saw the foreboding site of dark, and archaic wagons across the grounds. The design of the wagons was immediately recognized by both Gilgamesh and Corvalas as Stygian. Corvalas was convinced that the papers he sought would be found in the barracks and offices in the rectangular building, so he convinced the others it would be best to check for the crossbow crates inside the barracks first before checking the warehouse. He advised staying the hell away from the Stygian wagons. As there was a small space behind the barracks running the length of the wall, filled with brambles and weeds, Angaal scaled the rear side of the building, and using his thieves tools was able to pry free the single pane of cheap glass in the narrow window. As the smallest of the group Angaal was able to fit through the window, and replaced it with a sticky gum made from sap. He riffled through the contents of the room finding a stilleto concealed in a drawer as well as shorthand documents of merchant transactions.
Corvalas killed an off-duty guard standing at the entrance to the barracks drinking a tankard of ale and concealed his body poorly behind the building in the weeds. Corvalas and Rolf slipped inside the building but shortly afterwards other guards inside the building missed their friend and followed the trail of blood and trampled grass to his body. Outside, Gilgamesh barely managed to remain hidden by pressing himself up against the edge of the wall and throwing clumps of grass across his robe. Guards ran to raise the alarm in the tower across the compound, while others swept the area for intruders. Inside Angaal and the other two met back up on the second floor. A single guard seemingly oblivious to them guarded a door on the far end of the hallway. Eventually they tried to bluff him, trying to convince him to leave his post. He had seem them however and he rushed down the opposite stairs calling for help. As Corvalas ran to check the door he was guarding, the opposite door flew open and a guard jammed a pike into his side. The impact knocked him into the door, but was unable to breach his costly mail. Rolf heaved a large crate full of candlesticks and bashed the guards skull open despite his steel cap. Inside the room they found a concealed metal safe which Angaal was able to pick allowing him to snatch up a sheef of bound papers and two interesting looking pouches.
Guards began rushing up the stairs and Rolf and Corvalas grabbed ends of a large wooden desk and charged at the pikemen. Rolf carried his blade in his teeth as he charged. The point of a pike narrowly missed Rolf's head as he used his massive improvised wooden shield to flatten one of the guards blocking the stairway before cleaving him with his sword. With Angaal's help the three men managed to reach the flat roof of the building. Outside Gilgamesh had managed to climb up onto a narrow section of wall and rig an improvised sling to stand on outside the wall, providing cover so he could rain arrows down on the numerous guards running on the walls towards the barracks. Like a deadly rain his arrows began to fly through the air to find fleshy targets. With a great cry his first target pitched off the wall to impact on the cobbles far below. Rolf used a line to get across to the wall where archers on the outside of the compound began sweeping the area for escaping intruders. When Corvalas joined him on the narrow wall they saw the glinting of his mail in the night and arrows began to strike them. Most of the arrows were turned by Corvalas' shield and mail, but one buried itself deeply in Rolf's thigh, and another punched through links of armor into Corvalas' side. Faced with archers on both sides, Corvalas focused in the direction of the city wall, and safety. 8 trained guards with bows and swords stood between him and safety. To wait even a moment longer on the wall would be to invite certain death. Lowering his shield in front of him Corvalas charged the group of guards bunched up at the narrow section of wall. Working in tandem with the massive Rolf, while Gilgamesh rained down arrows on the group they began carving through the surprised guards. The narrow quarters and unconventional tactics worked hugely in favor of the party and within moments the remaining two guards were backing away begging for their lives. Even as they began to run, Gilgamesh sent arrows into them, sending them to join their companies in death.
Angaal had slipped behind the now deceased guards and was busy lowering a rope to their waiting horses. As they descended a large figure in full platemail with a large shield and a strangely twisted looking axe began walking across the walls with two guards flanking him. The figure had a strange symbol emblazoned on his shield, a Stygian marking surrounded in a thick black circle. As they reached their horses the figure reached the wall and looked down at them through the narrow slits of a great helm. Eyes seemed to burn in those slits even as Gilgamesh shot an arrow true to strike the foreboding helm before rebounding from the steel. Without moving the figure ignored the arrow, as if it were a gnat, and clanged axe and shield together in salute as the party rode away.
Later in the "Queen of the South" tavern in the poorest district of Korveka the party sat in a booth towards the rear of the common room. Rolf began drinking heavily as his favorite whore brought him tankard after tankard of ale while he dug an arrowhead out of his muscled thigh. The rest of the group talked money, and Corvalas handed over the rest of the payment to Angaal in exchange for the documents obtained from the safe. Angaal gave his companions the amount he had agreed on for them... half of what was actually offered for the service. As the party prepared to break for the night, a tall dark haired Stygian approached their table. With pale skin, dark eyes, and a stiff beard the man was both exotic and mysterious looking wearing a voluminous robe cinched at the waist. He informed them that they had made great enemies this night, they could not imagine how dangerous. He said they carried something that the Black Ring, a powerful group of Stygian sorcerer priests wanted and the screams of rage for its loss could be heard throughout the night. He went on to explain that he was a scholar of ancient texts and had need of guides to travel with him to an ancient city in the desert of Turan. He has no love lost for the Black Ring, and was willing to offer gems in initial payment, as well as a share in fabulous loot when they find this ancient city he seeks.
He handed a single gem to each of them in exchange for their services, and an extra gem to Angaal for the pouch he carried which turned out to contain a key carved of bone and a note written in a language only the Stygian could read. Each gem was carved exquisitely, especially the enormous topaz he gave Angaal which was carved into a tremendous likeness of a skull. Corvalas agreed to obtain horses and the party would leave town before the sun came up, for otherwise the man assured them, they would surely die.
Examining the papers later, Corvalas found that the noble house who's merchant compound they had infiltrated was deeply involved in a deal between the Stygians and the master of the Scarlet Citadel. The wagons contained a number of ensorcelled chests full of Black Lotus blossoms from the heart of Stygia worth a veritable fortune.
The campaign continues...
Rolf - Nordenheimer Barbarian
Gilgamesh - Shemite Nomad
Angaal - Zingaran Thief
Corvalas - Kothic Noble
The game began in the Kothic barony of Korveka with a flashback explaining how Angaal had brokered a business arraignment with the youngest son of a local Kothic noble. Corvalas although only 17 years of age has aspirations to become a knight like his father, and continue the family tradition. As the youngest son however he is often ignored by his father who is far too busy with the business of running a noble family. "Noble" scarcely describes his father however who is deeply involved in a seedy underworld of assassination, bribes, and illegal trade. Records of some of these activities has been recorded and obtained by a rival house. Corvalas acting without his father's knowledge or consent hires thieves under false pretenses to break into a well guarded merchant compound. He tells them they seek a shipment of crossbows intended for a rival family, and they need to destroy the weapons and slip out undetected, but he insists upon going with them intending to track down the incriminating documents and return them to his father. Angaal is incredibly paranoid and is uncomfortable with the idea of the employer going along on the mission, but as Corvalas has his retainer see their faces before they set out, he has little choice but to continue. To watch his back he brings the largest meanest tavern brawler he knows, a well traveled Nordhenheimer named Rolf, and a master archer and desert guide named Gilgamesh.
The game actually begins much like the Howard books, in the action. The party finds themselves pulling a rope up from the outside wall of the compound where it meets the edge of the city. Hearing approaching guards they quickly scan the inside of the compound seeing a large guard tower to the north, a large warehouse building with no windows and a sloped roof, and to the south near the main gate of the compound into the trade district of Korveka is a rectangular two story barracks building nearly against the front wall of the compound. They move as quickly forward as they can along the wall finding a ramp leading down to a grassy sward inside the compound. Lagging behind the rest, Angaal saw the approaching torch of a pike wielding guardsman. The guardsman saw something in the darkness and moved to investigate. As the party flattened themselves up against the edge of the ramp, Corvalas scraped the hilt of his broadsword against the stones, accidentally alerting the guard. Immediately reacting Angaal lept up from his hiding place, jamming his hideous Zaibar knife under the edge of the guard's leather chestguard spilling his guts out across the stones messily.
The party made their way across the courtyard of the compound, silencing several hounds until they saw the foreboding site of dark, and archaic wagons across the grounds. The design of the wagons was immediately recognized by both Gilgamesh and Corvalas as Stygian. Corvalas was convinced that the papers he sought would be found in the barracks and offices in the rectangular building, so he convinced the others it would be best to check for the crossbow crates inside the barracks first before checking the warehouse. He advised staying the hell away from the Stygian wagons. As there was a small space behind the barracks running the length of the wall, filled with brambles and weeds, Angaal scaled the rear side of the building, and using his thieves tools was able to pry free the single pane of cheap glass in the narrow window. As the smallest of the group Angaal was able to fit through the window, and replaced it with a sticky gum made from sap. He riffled through the contents of the room finding a stilleto concealed in a drawer as well as shorthand documents of merchant transactions.
Corvalas killed an off-duty guard standing at the entrance to the barracks drinking a tankard of ale and concealed his body poorly behind the building in the weeds. Corvalas and Rolf slipped inside the building but shortly afterwards other guards inside the building missed their friend and followed the trail of blood and trampled grass to his body. Outside, Gilgamesh barely managed to remain hidden by pressing himself up against the edge of the wall and throwing clumps of grass across his robe. Guards ran to raise the alarm in the tower across the compound, while others swept the area for intruders. Inside Angaal and the other two met back up on the second floor. A single guard seemingly oblivious to them guarded a door on the far end of the hallway. Eventually they tried to bluff him, trying to convince him to leave his post. He had seem them however and he rushed down the opposite stairs calling for help. As Corvalas ran to check the door he was guarding, the opposite door flew open and a guard jammed a pike into his side. The impact knocked him into the door, but was unable to breach his costly mail. Rolf heaved a large crate full of candlesticks and bashed the guards skull open despite his steel cap. Inside the room they found a concealed metal safe which Angaal was able to pick allowing him to snatch up a sheef of bound papers and two interesting looking pouches.
Guards began rushing up the stairs and Rolf and Corvalas grabbed ends of a large wooden desk and charged at the pikemen. Rolf carried his blade in his teeth as he charged. The point of a pike narrowly missed Rolf's head as he used his massive improvised wooden shield to flatten one of the guards blocking the stairway before cleaving him with his sword. With Angaal's help the three men managed to reach the flat roof of the building. Outside Gilgamesh had managed to climb up onto a narrow section of wall and rig an improvised sling to stand on outside the wall, providing cover so he could rain arrows down on the numerous guards running on the walls towards the barracks. Like a deadly rain his arrows began to fly through the air to find fleshy targets. With a great cry his first target pitched off the wall to impact on the cobbles far below. Rolf used a line to get across to the wall where archers on the outside of the compound began sweeping the area for escaping intruders. When Corvalas joined him on the narrow wall they saw the glinting of his mail in the night and arrows began to strike them. Most of the arrows were turned by Corvalas' shield and mail, but one buried itself deeply in Rolf's thigh, and another punched through links of armor into Corvalas' side. Faced with archers on both sides, Corvalas focused in the direction of the city wall, and safety. 8 trained guards with bows and swords stood between him and safety. To wait even a moment longer on the wall would be to invite certain death. Lowering his shield in front of him Corvalas charged the group of guards bunched up at the narrow section of wall. Working in tandem with the massive Rolf, while Gilgamesh rained down arrows on the group they began carving through the surprised guards. The narrow quarters and unconventional tactics worked hugely in favor of the party and within moments the remaining two guards were backing away begging for their lives. Even as they began to run, Gilgamesh sent arrows into them, sending them to join their companies in death.
Angaal had slipped behind the now deceased guards and was busy lowering a rope to their waiting horses. As they descended a large figure in full platemail with a large shield and a strangely twisted looking axe began walking across the walls with two guards flanking him. The figure had a strange symbol emblazoned on his shield, a Stygian marking surrounded in a thick black circle. As they reached their horses the figure reached the wall and looked down at them through the narrow slits of a great helm. Eyes seemed to burn in those slits even as Gilgamesh shot an arrow true to strike the foreboding helm before rebounding from the steel. Without moving the figure ignored the arrow, as if it were a gnat, and clanged axe and shield together in salute as the party rode away.
Later in the "Queen of the South" tavern in the poorest district of Korveka the party sat in a booth towards the rear of the common room. Rolf began drinking heavily as his favorite whore brought him tankard after tankard of ale while he dug an arrowhead out of his muscled thigh. The rest of the group talked money, and Corvalas handed over the rest of the payment to Angaal in exchange for the documents obtained from the safe. Angaal gave his companions the amount he had agreed on for them... half of what was actually offered for the service. As the party prepared to break for the night, a tall dark haired Stygian approached their table. With pale skin, dark eyes, and a stiff beard the man was both exotic and mysterious looking wearing a voluminous robe cinched at the waist. He informed them that they had made great enemies this night, they could not imagine how dangerous. He said they carried something that the Black Ring, a powerful group of Stygian sorcerer priests wanted and the screams of rage for its loss could be heard throughout the night. He went on to explain that he was a scholar of ancient texts and had need of guides to travel with him to an ancient city in the desert of Turan. He has no love lost for the Black Ring, and was willing to offer gems in initial payment, as well as a share in fabulous loot when they find this ancient city he seeks.
He handed a single gem to each of them in exchange for their services, and an extra gem to Angaal for the pouch he carried which turned out to contain a key carved of bone and a note written in a language only the Stygian could read. Each gem was carved exquisitely, especially the enormous topaz he gave Angaal which was carved into a tremendous likeness of a skull. Corvalas agreed to obtain horses and the party would leave town before the sun came up, for otherwise the man assured them, they would surely die.
Examining the papers later, Corvalas found that the noble house who's merchant compound they had infiltrated was deeply involved in a deal between the Stygians and the master of the Scarlet Citadel. The wagons contained a number of ensorcelled chests full of Black Lotus blossoms from the heart of Stygia worth a veritable fortune.
The campaign continues...
