Arkobla Conn
Mongoose
*Note - I took a few liberties with the intro here to overlay the potential and importance of this portion of the campaign to my PC's. I have not GM'd them for a month and this was my first session back.
** Note 2 - This is lengthy.
The PC's are 7th level
Raz - Cimmerian Barbarian with a flavor of Pirate & Soldier
Maja - Hyrkanian Noble/Nomad
Ajonga - Black Kingdom Barbarian/Pirate
Belyara - Zamoran Thief
Abaddon - Meadow Shemite Borderer/nomad
Hadrathus - Bossonian soldier/borderer
The PC's last left off travelling through the desert toward the river styx on the east side of Shem. They were greviously wounded from conflict and travelling somewhat ill prepared for the harsh climate of the desert.
Introduction
Raz and Maja stand in an open field, snow covering their ankles. The air is crisp, with nose hairs bristling in the chill. Up the hillock, the noise of a blacksmith drifts down. They climb and find the blacksmith who says nothing, mearly pointing to a village beyond the hill. The Cimmerian and Hyrkanian move off, following the road to the village. Within, they find a meed hall that is full of Cimmerian men and women. A few children play in and around the tables. The place is not quiet, but neither is it overly loud. Raz and Maja approach the bar keep and he hails them.
'What place is this?' asks Raz.
'If you do not know, you will soon' replies the barkeep, and he points to a stout oak door with black iron studs. Raz and Maja move through the door to find a long (abnormally so) dark hall that has a light at the far end. Walking through the gloom, they approach two men and a woman, cimmerians all, who stand resolute and quiet until spoken to. At each stop, Raz asks 'Whose hall is this?' The answer comes back the same each time 'You know'.
Approaching the dias, a man sits on the throne. It is Crom, god of the Cimmerians.
"You have died before I am ready for you." says the stern god. "Another will ask your help. Provide it." When asked why Maja was before him, the god answers and only Raz and Maja know that answer.
Meanwhile
Hadrathus, Belyara, Ajonga & Abaddon find themselves in a room full of men and women laughing, drinking, eating and loving. It is a pleasure hall, a Harem, a feast and a festival all rolled into one mass of calm hedonism. Eventually, they find themselves on divans, drinking wine and resting from their passions. They realize that none of them remember coming to this place, nor why they are there. They also realize the absense of Raz and Maja. As if on cue, the pair arrives via a stout oak door with black iron studs ... a door which is not the same decor as the Shemite motif that surrounds them. When all six are together, a young woman, dressed in opaque silks, tells them that 'She will see you now'
Moving to an open air courtyard and garden, the group finds a bare-breasted, golden haired woman sitting on a marble bench. Obvious to all, she also has large wings attacked to her back. 'I am Ishtar' she announces.
"You all died in the desert below due to your wounds and lack of water. I have need of you, however, and choose to grant you my favor in return for service. There are those below who need your help. Do so, and you will have earned your lives."
"When shall we go?" asks one. "Now" is the response as the garden disappears and the group finds themselves strewn about a dune, the heat of the sun beating down upon them and the vague image of a dark skinned woman moving about, giving them drops of water from a ragged skin. High above, they spot a giant hawk. Their throats are constricted and lips cracked and they fade into the abyss of unconsciousness.
<continued>
** Note 2 - This is lengthy.
The PC's are 7th level
Raz - Cimmerian Barbarian with a flavor of Pirate & Soldier
Maja - Hyrkanian Noble/Nomad
Ajonga - Black Kingdom Barbarian/Pirate
Belyara - Zamoran Thief
Abaddon - Meadow Shemite Borderer/nomad
Hadrathus - Bossonian soldier/borderer
The PC's last left off travelling through the desert toward the river styx on the east side of Shem. They were greviously wounded from conflict and travelling somewhat ill prepared for the harsh climate of the desert.
Introduction
Raz and Maja stand in an open field, snow covering their ankles. The air is crisp, with nose hairs bristling in the chill. Up the hillock, the noise of a blacksmith drifts down. They climb and find the blacksmith who says nothing, mearly pointing to a village beyond the hill. The Cimmerian and Hyrkanian move off, following the road to the village. Within, they find a meed hall that is full of Cimmerian men and women. A few children play in and around the tables. The place is not quiet, but neither is it overly loud. Raz and Maja approach the bar keep and he hails them.
'What place is this?' asks Raz.
'If you do not know, you will soon' replies the barkeep, and he points to a stout oak door with black iron studs. Raz and Maja move through the door to find a long (abnormally so) dark hall that has a light at the far end. Walking through the gloom, they approach two men and a woman, cimmerians all, who stand resolute and quiet until spoken to. At each stop, Raz asks 'Whose hall is this?' The answer comes back the same each time 'You know'.
Approaching the dias, a man sits on the throne. It is Crom, god of the Cimmerians.
"You have died before I am ready for you." says the stern god. "Another will ask your help. Provide it." When asked why Maja was before him, the god answers and only Raz and Maja know that answer.
Meanwhile
Hadrathus, Belyara, Ajonga & Abaddon find themselves in a room full of men and women laughing, drinking, eating and loving. It is a pleasure hall, a Harem, a feast and a festival all rolled into one mass of calm hedonism. Eventually, they find themselves on divans, drinking wine and resting from their passions. They realize that none of them remember coming to this place, nor why they are there. They also realize the absense of Raz and Maja. As if on cue, the pair arrives via a stout oak door with black iron studs ... a door which is not the same decor as the Shemite motif that surrounds them. When all six are together, a young woman, dressed in opaque silks, tells them that 'She will see you now'
Moving to an open air courtyard and garden, the group finds a bare-breasted, golden haired woman sitting on a marble bench. Obvious to all, she also has large wings attacked to her back. 'I am Ishtar' she announces.
"You all died in the desert below due to your wounds and lack of water. I have need of you, however, and choose to grant you my favor in return for service. There are those below who need your help. Do so, and you will have earned your lives."
"When shall we go?" asks one. "Now" is the response as the garden disappears and the group finds themselves strewn about a dune, the heat of the sun beating down upon them and the vague image of a dark skinned woman moving about, giving them drops of water from a ragged skin. High above, they spot a giant hawk. Their throats are constricted and lips cracked and they fade into the abyss of unconsciousness.
<continued>
