Chapter 19: Civilization's End

[Inferno]

The Pictish Frontier, Between Thunder River and Black River
Aquilonia, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Afternoon, 11th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







The massacre turns more gruesome as the adventurers harvest scalps for Aquilonian silver. Grigor's plea for civility goes unheeded and soon their hands are red with the blood of the desecrated dead.

Cruloc the cruel bandages his injured companions. (+1hp each, and healing rate will be doubled)

Grigor and Dahinna attend to Amethu's near fatal wounds with prayers and potions of healing. (+3hp, +8hp) Miraculously, Amethu awakens, opening his eyes upon the grisly tableau.



The barbaric work is finished.

Nothing stirs in the fathomless woods. Its shadows lengthen and deepen. The sun has not set, but it is no longer in sight, hidden behind the dense forest wall.

The last settler's cabin lay miles behind them, and the Aquilonian fort at Black River is still miles ahead.


Actions?!


Map:

X marks the adventurers' position.




PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 6/14, Spells: 5/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 13/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 18/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 20/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri glances at the party members taking scalps, but betrays neither enthusiasm, nor distaste. He does not join them in their harvest.

"Be careful to the west of the trail. I fell off a cliff," he says, seeming distinctly like a man who has not been pummeled by rocks in a fall.

"Are we to camp here? Perhaps we move off the trail a bit. Who knows where the picts came from. Perhaps they have a village nearby and will more will come," he says, cleaning his blade as he talks.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu rises slowly to his feet surveying the dead and mangled around him with little pause. He whispers silent prayers to his ancient gods for renewed life. He continues with healing prayers upon himself and Grigor who appears most in need. He keeps some healing powers in reserve.

Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=3
Cure Light Wounds [1d8]=5

OOC: was the charm spell he was casting before he was struck down still available or was it spoiled during that attack? Thanks.

[Urson]

Zahra
What should we do with these? Stack them as a warning to their Pictish sisters? Or drop them over the cliff?

If there is a cliff, we would have trouble camping here- unless we camp in the corri- road.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Sullen after the scalping. He feels the decision to imitate the Picts savagery by taking the scalps will only increase the violence towards us. Heading through Pictish lands, he hopes the next nomads we meet are from a differing tribe.

"We should keep moving. Through the night if neccessary. Any camp could be easily discovered and our footsteps an easy trail along the road. Unless we get off the trail?"

He asks Kiri about the cliff. Could we descend it and make another route across the valley. How deep is the cliff? Is the floor traversable.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

Dahinna does not watch the gruesome mangling of the dead Picts, but she doesn't say anything about it or really disapprove. They would have done worse to me, she thinks, as she cleans the Pict blood from her sword.
So she sits quietly, nibbling on some hard tack from her rations.
When the subject of camping comes up, she listens and chimes in.
"I agree with Grigor. We keep moving. The Picts will hound us all the way down the Black River, but there is nothing we can do about that now...except keep moving."

[ChubbyPixie]

Grigor

He asks Kiri about the cliff. Could we descend it and make another route across the valley. How deep is the cliff? Is the floor traversable.

"Well, I traversed it by magic the first time, but I'm all out of spells. I guess it depends on how good everyone is at climbing," Kiri replies.

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"We move."

Keeping his steel unsheathed and ready in his fist, he starts up again the darkening path.

"Or all our heads hang on poles."

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

Securing his reward to his belt, Iago nods down the path. "We go. May these serve as a warning to any who follow. But be on your toes. The escaped Pict will return with greater force."

[Inferno]

Conajohara, Aquilonia, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Afternoon, 11th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







The savage butchery complete, the adventurers press on, making haste down the trail before the Picts can exact their bloody revenge.

Mile pass swiftly beneath their feet, through the primeval wilderness of Aquilonia's newest province, Conajohara, thrust like a spear nineteen miles wide, deep into Pictland.



The shadows thicken. A darkening mist blurs the outlines of the foliage. The forest deepens, becoming a blue haunt of mystery sheltering unguessed things.

Before sunset, they reach the furthest edge of the Aquilonian empire.



Built to house a thousand soldiers, Fort Tuscelan stands in an ax-hewn clearing on the eastern bank of Black River. Across the river lies a huge forest, approaching jungle-like density, in which far-off drums echo. Men pace the runways atop the log parapets, watching that thick green wall.

Here, at the fort, civilization ends. The last outpost of the civilized world, it represents the westernmost expansion of the dominant Hyborian races. Beyond this point, the primitive Picts still reign in shadowy forests and will never forget that once Conajohara had been theirs.

"Who goes there?!" comes the bellow of a challenge from the vast fortress' gate.


Actions?!


Map:

X marks the adventurers' position.




PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 9/14, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 18/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 18/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 20/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Yrkoon]

Cruloc

"Purveyors of Pict scalps!" calls Cruloc, in the unsullied Aquilonian accent he learned as a boy in Galparan. He holds his two bloody trophies aloft in both hands, mimicking a champion of the fighting pits of Tarantia.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu remains quiet but alert. He allows the rough greeting to proceed as the folks behind the gate are of a sturdy lot - they must be to man such an outpost at the edge of the tribal waring nation. He thinks that this could be one place to find a clue as to the location of Thracia - or more likely a hopeful path through the wilderness to the coast...

[Urson]

Zahra
Zahra doesn't speak. She holds her sword above her head, laying flat on the palms of her hands, as a sign that she has peaceful intent. She'll stay with the group, not approaching the fortress until the others do.

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

Looks at the surroundings. A lack of outside stalls and farriers camps. It looks a stockade under siege.

"We might get be in a hurry to get in and hurry to get out." he muses.

[Paladin]

Iago Vazquez de Quesada

In answer to the challenge from the walls, the Zingaran stands beside Cruloc and flashes a wicked grin, raising his scalps.

[ChubbyPixie]

Kiri lets the others handle the announcements. He glances down at grandfather questioningly, but the old man, if he knows anything of the fate that awaits them on the other side of the wall, makes no sign. He wonders why his ancestor remains silent, as he has indeed been for many hours. Perhaps it was something he said, he thinks.

[hedgeknight]

Dahinna

While the boys display their trophies, Dahinna eyes the fort with suspicion. Once again, she finds herself agreeing with Grigor.
"Never did like a place where I couldn't find an easy exit. Might be fun to try though."

[Inferno]

Fort Tuscelan, Conajohara Province, Aquilonian Empire, the World of Hyboria
Day One. Sunset, 11th day of the month of Qrot, 1280th year of the Age of Aquilonia







At the threshold between civilization and barbarism, a lone fortress stands on the brink. A monolithic intruder in the howling wilds, forged from the timbers of the savage land the king of Aquilonia has chosen to conquer.

The Pict scalps smooth the adventurers' path. "Then you'd better come inside!" shouts the guard.

The gate swings inward and the travelers stride the walkway over the defensive trench, past the spiked rampart and through a gate flanked by a tower on each side, the summits of which rise above a log stockade peppered with arrow slits.



Inside, Aquilonian guards bid they wait as the gate is shut and barred behind them. Within, the adventurers see the fort's inner walls are lined by rows of barracks, a stables, merchants' stalls, a towering blockhouse and the other buildings that surround a large open courtyard where the soldiers drill and where, now, dozens of men lounge off duty; the rangy figures of Gunderman pikemen and the shorter, stockier forms of Bossonian archers chief among them.

But there seem far too few.

Above, the fort's wall-walk is fully manned, the sentries vigilant. A retinue gathers on the western parapet, watching the sullen river and the shadowed jungle beyond, where the drums still talk.



At the gate, one of the guardsmen stares at the exotic strangers; albinos, women, a barbarian, a pirate, a gypsy, an easterner and one dog. Another grunts, "Seven scalps? Well met! What brings you to Conajohara? Have you come to help hold the frontier?"


Actions?!


Map:

X marks the adventurers' position at Fort Tuscelan.




PC Status:

Amethu: Verulian Grand Magus Cleric/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 4, HP: 9/14, Spells: 3/7 1st lvl, 3/3 2nd lvl
Cruloc: Cimmerian Northman Barbarian 3: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 45/45
Dahinna: Zamoran Southwoman Thief 4: Move: 12", AC: 4, HP: 19/19
Grigor: Zamoran Nomad Cleric/Fighter 3/3: Move: 9", AC: 1, HP: 18/29, Spells: 3/4 1st lvl, 2/2 2nd lvl
Iago: Zingaran Southman Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 2, HP: 18/32
Kiri Khutan: Kambujan Easterner Fighter/Magic-User 3/2: Move: 9", AC: 3, HP: 19/19, Spells: 1/3 1st lvl
Zahra: Verulian Amazon Fighter 4: Move: 12", AC: 3, HP: 20/29
Gnasher: Grigor's Hound: Move: 12", AC: 5, HD: 2+2, HP: 10/11, AT: 1, D: 1-4

PC Magic:

None currently.

Player Resources:

The Struggle To Survive (the story so far)
Mysteries Strange and Deadly (player clues and notes)
An Age Undreamed Of (maps and realms of the World of Hyboria)

[Bluetongue]

Grigor

"Who wants to look to get us accommodation? Maybe a pair could survey the merchants and others check out the stables, chat frontier reports with the scouts and such." He says to the group then turns to one of the speaking guards.

"My charismatic friend here could give a report of our recent encounter to your Captain.

As for me, I would give thanks in the chapel or shrine, grateful it is not my locks decorating a savage's tepee. Can you point me the way?"

I guess a basic plan would be to get rooms or bunks for the night and meet up round a tavern table or campfire later.

[ravenn4544]

Amethu bows slightly to the guardsman. "Well met and thank you for allowing us entrance to this stout fort. Indeed, we were ambushed soundly by these 'savages' but you can see we prevailed," as he nods to the scalps that were recovered. "We can help you but perhaps not as you expect. Is there additional folks in charge like yourself that I could speak with?"