TB's Elric campaign

[tarkhan bey]

Sessions 3 & 4 cont'd

'Speaking to Sorkyah' involves luring the Pikaraydian away from her mistress. Jax knows that she frequents the 'Garden of Dervala', literally a walled garden where Pikaraydian's can sample a taste of home in traditionally built, 'Clan Style', sweat lodges.
The Garden of Dervala is in the Broad Ward and has several alleyways close by. Annariel and Jax simply wait there the following morning for Sorkyah(who is a regular) to exit the Garden. "I know that your mistress is up to something and I am going to see Lady Cassendora about it" says Jax. " Do not forget, you Pikaraydian trout, that it is only my master that is forbidden to set foot in the halls of House Anderos, not I." He moves off toward a nearby alley and disappears. Sorkyah takes the bait and drawing her dagger she follows him into the alley, straight into the trap.
Annariel emerges from hiding behind her and between them, they overpower her. "Tell us where Jerac and Galvan are" hisses Annariel." There is no point in lying. I am the killer known as Shrike and my employer has already told me that you hired him to arrange Jerac's murder". A look of fear comes over her features as the name Shrike is used. "My mistress is innocent" she lied(convincingly). "Yes I hired men to murder Jerac, but only so that my mistress would stand to inherit the wealth of House Anderos. She is completely unaware of my actions" You lie you poxy Pikaraydian. Pikaraydians always lie" sneered Annariel. "No, it is the truth. Lady Jeramyn knows nothing of this, I swear it."
The interrogation continues for some few more minutes and in this time they glean that Jerac and Galvan were taken by hired men belonging to a street gang called the Wharf Rats. Sorkyah paid them in gold to row a boat out into the harbour and drop them over into the drink.

 

[tarkhan bey]

Although they have got the information they need from Sorkyah, they cannot get her to confess the guilt of her mistress, Jeramyn, in the plot. Annariel callously cuts the Woman's throat but does not attempt to sample her eyes. Jax is watching and he has too much of a Puritan law worshipper about him. He could not possibly understand and it would be a shame to have to kill him, at least for as long as the old toad was proving useful.
Jax is aware that the street gang known as the Wharf Rats frequent a seedy dive on the dockside called 'the Drowned Rat'. They are a large gang with more than two score of members but he reckons that many of these are errand boys and makeweights. Probably around a dozen hardened street villains in all.
Annariel decides on a straightforward confrontation. Marching in to the Drowned Rat, he asks quite plainly if anyone knows who these gutter trash known as the Wharf Rats are. His reply is when upwards of a dozen, hard looking, men stand up. "Who wants to know, you ugly son of a whore?"
Despite his best efforts, not even the infamous Shrike can intimidate a dozen armed bravo's on their home ground. He is, in fact, lucky to leave alive. He does,however, manage to convince them that he and Jax can account for at least half of them and the 'Rats', having heard of this stone cold killer think better of attacking. They get the information they need, but Annariel's purse is substantially lighter than when he entered the tavern.

 

[tarkhan bey]

Balzaq, the leader of the Wharf Rats, confirms that they were hired to kidnap and murder an individual. They were then to weigh down the body and dump it in the harbour. He admits to instant recognition of Jerac Anderos, though he had no idea who his companion was. He says that he didn't want to get into any trouble with Lord Lutric(who occasionally puts business their way) so they decided not to murder his eldest son.
instead, they sold him to one Captain Tarfis of the 'Dirty Molly', a trading cog out of Argimiliar. this Tarfis,whilst not a slaver per se, was renowned for disposing of troublesome individuals if the price was right. it was not the first time that an undesirable from Raschil had found himself bound for the slave market at Ryfel in the Dirty Molly's brig.

 

[tarkhan bey]

Session 3 & 4 cont'd

Having discovered the fate of their companions, Jax nd Annariel decide to approach Lady Cassendora for help in affecting a rescue.

Meanwhile, Jerac and Galvan drift back into a groggy state of consciousness and find that theyvare chained in the brig of a small ship. Their heads are pounding and both are violently I'll from the rolling of the ship upon the ocean swell. After a short time the darkness of their prison is illuminated when the hatch is opened and several figures climb down from the deck above.
The first figure, who is short and somewhat portly with a bald head and bright red face looks at them and orders his companions to drag their prisoners up upon the deck," so as we can get a good look at them".
The two are roughly hauled onto the deck by strong hands and the bright sunshine forces them to squint.
"Welcome aboard the Dirty Molly my friends" laughs the portly man whom it transpires is the Captain of the vessel.
He looks them over and remarks that it was fortunate that the Wharf Rats paid him to take these two as they didn't look like they would fetch a bronze penny in Ryfel.
The rest of the crew laugh heartily at the captains apparent wit, save for two. A hulking Pikaraydian with with his hair in two long plaited braids scowls at the captain while an equally large Lormyrian with a bald head and a bushy moustache eyes the Pikarydian suspiciously.
"I am Jerac Anderos of House Anderos and I demand that you release my companion and I."
"And I am the Theocrat of Pan Tang" Laughs the captain.
One sailor chirps up and confirms Jerac's identity. "He is Jerak, Cap'n. I used to sail with House Anderos and I reckon he's who he claims."
The sailors discuss this turn of events as our two heroes try to gauge their whereabouts. from the headland that lies directly south of the ship on it's starboard side, Galvan is able to ascertain that they are just departing from the by of Raschil and that they are, indeed, bound for Ryfel.
"Return our guests to their living quarters" says the captain. He summons Madoc (the Pikaraydian) and Pallan (the Lormyrian) to his cabin as they have "things to discuss".
The characters are treated quite well for the next two days and are given fresh drinking water as well as food. On the evening of the third day at sea the Captain has the pair brought to his cabin.
He tells them that he knows that Jerac is no longer the heir to his family title and fortune. He also says that he has no desire to make an enemy of Lutric Anderos(a dangerous an,by all accounts). It is,he says, little wonder that the Wharf Rats were so keen to be rid of him.
"But what to do?" he ponders aloud. Jerac claims that he is hunting the man responsible for the murder of his brother, Jalnor. He says that he intends to take revenge and redeem himself in his father's eyes. Any who aid him will find that fortune will smile upon them in any future dealings with the house of Anderos and that his mother will pay in gold for his safe return.
Galvan Raises his eyebrows as the Captain and his two officers nod in agreement, the glintof avarice in their eyes. Perhaps Jerac is not quite as stupid a he thought.

 

[tarkhan bey]

"you, however are another matter" .The captain grins lasciviously at Galvan as he sizes him up."the Pan Tangian governor there likes to have pretty boys as well as well as pretty girls in his household and you,my friend, are about as pretty a boy as I have ever laid eyes upon".Galvan's horror at becoming the playthings of some sadistic, and most likely,perverted Pan Tangian is obvious upon his face until Jerac demands his release as a part of their bargain. Relief floods over his features and he mutters under his breath that he will see this kidnapping dog dead.
Captain Tarfis agrees after some deliberation and the two characters are made temporary 'guests'.
Several days later, the ship is making headway south, along the Yellow coast when a ships sail is spotted off the port bow.
Galvan and Jerac peer into the gloom but at this point it is impossible to tell anything other than it is a war galley. Is it an Argimilian naval vessel or something more sinister? It could be either in these waters.
THe answer soon becomes clear. "She's a Pan Tangian boys" yells out the big Lormyrian Bosun. "Break out the armoury and pray to your gods that the 'seahorse' does it's business." exactly what the seahorse is, is revealed moments later as a black flag is run up the mast with a seahorse emblazoned upon it. It appears that any 'honest' traders who do business in Ryfel can obtain one of these flags from the Governor. In theory it should Mark the trader as a friend of Pan Tang and divert the attentions of their numerous corsairs. In theory, anyway. the sailors clutch their weapons nervously as the bireme bears down upon them. Jerac clutches a cutlass and Galvan wields a heavy bladed boarding axe as they wait to see if the approaching ship will veer off it's ramming course. At the last possible moment, it seems, the ship does veer off. It is close enough that the character can make out the individual features of it's crew as it glides past. pan Tangians for sure, hook nosed and swarthy with ringletted beards and dreadlocked hair.
A sigh of collective relief escapes the lips of just about every man on board the Dirty Molly.

 

[tarkhan bey]

The following day, the Dirty Molly sails into the port of Ryfel, passing under the gaze of the mighty black stone fortress, perched on it's promontory at the harbours entrance. The first thing that strikes the characters is the sheer size of the wharves and mooring berths. This harbour was clearly built with much bigger vessels in mind.
A Half dozen warriors of the Black Guard barge their way down the gangplank and on to the Dirty Molly. "Make no attempt to be funny with them lads", whispers the Bosun "they'll be gone soon enough, once they've taken such tribute for Pan Tang as catches their eye."
sure enough, following a quick search of the ship they depart, a pair of large burly slaves carrying such goods as they have confiscated.
Tarfis instructs half of his men to remain on board to protect the cargo hold. These men are drawn by lots and Pallan the Bosun remains to command them. The captain and the rest of the crew, accompanied by Jerac and Galvan make their way up the docks and into the harbour side district. They are, explains the big Pikaraydian, heading for the Frozen Gem, where Tarfis has business with it's proprietor. Unknown to the characters, Pallan the Bosun is actually shadowing them at a discreet distance. Tarfis des not intend that his 'guests' should disappear , undetected, into the slums of Ryfel.

 

[tarkhan bey]

In the Frozen Gem, captain Tarfis goes off to conduct his business with Zheringen(the owner). He leaves a bag of coin for the dozen or so sailors who accompanied him and in typical fashion everyone begins to indulge in wine, women and song.
Galvan looks around to see who else might be in the bar and observes a pirate captain, at the head of a long table around which sit nearly a score of scurvy looking villains. The pirate is tall and slightly overweight. He has florid skin and wild reddish brown hair with a bushy beard( think Brian Blessed in the first series of Blackadder). He wears a long frock coat of green velvet and gold brocade and is festooned with rings and jewellry. It is one such ring that catches his eye, a gold ring with a large blue stone. He points it out to Jerac. It is the House Anderos signet ring, but how did it come to be on the hand of this pirate chieftain?
Investigations reveal that the captain is the infamous Kaldon Va'ark, a Dharijorian corsair and captain of 'the Death Jester'. He has two score of bravos and is feared all along the southern coasts.

 

[tarkhan bey]

Session 5

The Dharijorian pirate captain gets rip roaringly drunk as the night progresses. Tarfis returns to the table where half of the men are singing a Bawdy sea shanty about a Tarkeshite's daughter. Only Madoc, the first mate, is paying any heed to the goings on in the rest of the tavern's common room. The rest of the crew have made their way upstairs where the girls in Zheringen's employ wait to 'entertain' them.
The Pirate Captain stumbles away from the table and exits through the back passage towards the privy trough. A moment later, Tarfis follows him out. Galvan seizes his opportunity.
He watches to see if anyone is watching and then exits after the two captains. Jerac follows him cautiously, unsure of his intentions. at the privy trough, the to captains are engaged in conversation. It is clear that they know each other and Kadon Va 'ark roars with mirth as he slaps the back of the little Argimiliaran and almost sends him flying into the trough.
Drawing his knife, Galvan sneaks up on the pair and attacks the helpless pirate from behind, cutting his throat. Tarfis is soaked from the spray of blood. Standing there,dumbstruck, he stammers out "what have you done? by the Gods, what have you done?"
"Murder" yells Galvan, tossing the bloody knife to the captain who catches it without thinking. Jerac helps himself to a fat pouch of coins on the pirates belt before they both disappear into the Slaveside, the sound of the ensuing pandemonium growing in their ears.
The next morning as they break their fast in the common room of 'Irast's home from home' they overhear some details of the previous nights events. It appears that some insignificant merchant captain murdered the infamous pirate captain known as Kaldon Va'ark. His crew then took revenge upon this captain and his crewmen and the bloody violence spilled into the streets of Harbourside. The enraged pirates attacked a ship in the harbour and it was burnt to the waterline during the fracas. Several other ships crews became involved and other vessels were damaged.only the direct intervention of Leq Qel and a full company of the Black Guard prevented the riot from spreading further.

 

[Ronzo The Grim]

Oh how reading this makes me yearn for home, now I wonder whom is playing each character....

 

[tarkhan bey]

G'day Ronzo, pity you didn't make it home for the big one. Was looking forward to getting a couple of sessions in before you scarpered again.
Onyhoo, you can probably guess quite easily which character was played by which of the three stooges. It's not difficult when you know them like we do..... :lol:

There was a sixth session but then real life got in the way again and we haven't played for over four months. I have insisted that bear and tea cozy must give up on gainful employment as it is now just getting in the way of the game. They seen to like having money though, so they just looked at the ground and shuffled around a bit.
Bear probably needs the money for hair dye and has started looking like he's in a boy band these days.
God only knows what Tea cozy spends his on though? He's still just a big Emo with a stupid hat.
Trigg is as reliable as ever, which is to say that he is completely unreliable. :lol:

I think I may post up Session 6 later.

 

[Ronzo The Grim]

Yes, I had the misfortune of seeing a recent picture of Bear, tragic really, Tea Cosy clearly spends his cash on tea cosy's for his emo head and Trig, well, he's just Trig...
Really enjoyed reading through these, reminds me of how much work you put in for our benefit, just to see the expressions on our wee faces change when you throw us curve balls!

Keep it up, I look forward to reading more when you get back to it.