Rescuing the Season

With most of the children safe (recounted earlier), Lord Vibe shut the gates to Landfall Castle and posted sentries alert for a return of the Krampus. He and his officers convened a council of war to discuss the Krampus.

"How will we track the Krampus and find the children?"

"We have a bigger problem than that," a sage spoke as he entered the council room. The officers stared quizzically at him as he spread some old papers across the table.

"According to all the accounts, the Krampus is only supposed to prey upon naughty children. From what we've learned from the villagers, the kidnapped children were nice. That should not happen! I then found another account. The Krampus's power and malice will grow, if Greatfather Wyntor is gone. It is very clear what has happened . . ."

"The Krampus has kidnapped Greatfather Wyntor!"

At that moment one of the Sentinels' scouts rushed in, holding a tiny shoe. It was from one of the children.

"With this we can track the Krampus to his lair!"

The scouts unleashed the bloodhounds and followed the Krampus's trail to a cave in the mountains. Lord Vibe and the Sentinels followed. As they approached the case, a horde of shaggy, white ape-like creatures emerged and charged.

The Sentinels raised their shields and received the charge. They hacked and slashed, but the beasts kept fighting. Then, the Krampus appeared and launched himself into the battle. The Sentinels' line was pushed back.

But a squad detached itself and snuck into the case. Deep in its bowels, they found Greatfather Wyntor tied to a stalagmite. A particularly nasty-looking yeti stood guard over him. The Sentinels were not deterred; they rushed forward and struck down the beast while one of the squad cut Greatfather Wyntor's bindings. They began to lead him from the cave, but more yetis appeared. The creatures scattered the rescuers, grabbed Greatfather Wyntor, and retied him to the rock.

More Sentinels arrived, defeated the yetis, and again rescued the captive. This time they escorted him out of the cave. More yetis attacked. One raised its arm, a huge rock in its fist, and slammed down on Greatfather Wyntor's head. He collapsed; his skull shattered.

Greatfather Wyntor was dead!

But Ferrum, the Sentinels' healer, would not admit defeat. He was able to use his powers to summon Greatfather Wyntor's corpse to him. Then, he laid hands on the victim and spoke an incantation. The power of magic surrounded Greatfather Wyntor. He groaned and opened his eyes! He was resurrected. The Sentinels were then able to lead the groggy Greatfather back to Landafall Castle.

Krampus and his army pursued. But now Greatfather Wyntor had recovered. He rushed to the battlements, looked up to the heavens, and raised his arms. A howling, frigid wind swept over the castle and struck the evil army. The Krampus was caught up in the icy grip and blown over the mountains. Without their leader, the yetis panicked and fled.

Once the storm had abated, Lord Vibe sent some warriors back to the cave. There they found the missing children, who were reunited with their families. There was much rejoicing, and all had a wonderful Winternacht!

OOC Notes:

• This was the second of our holiday scenarios. Greatfather Wyntor was "tied" to a tree behind the bad guys' spawn point. The good guys had to reach him, say "untying" twice, and then get him back to their spawn.
• Greatfather Wyntor was an elf, with 2nd level druid spells. He also had access to a shield and sword (left around the cave, no doubt). I played the Greatfather and must admit that I only used one power (shadow step). I never had time to prepare anything else.
• Kudos to Robb who played a mean Krampus and to Ferrum who won the day by summoning and resurrecting Greatfather Wyntor,
• Skale was the " particularly nasty-looking yeti" I mentioned.
• The scenario ended when Greatfather Wyntor made it to safety. I invented the part about the icy wind sweeping away the evil army in order to have a nice, happy, Winternacht ending.
• The yeti picture came from https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/32/e3/84/32e384d4facc4bfec4d0a563b3c38668.jpg 

Terror in the Night

'Twas the night before Winter Festival and all through the castle.

Not a soul was stirring, not even the vassals.

When out in the villages there arose such a clatter,

the Sentinels sprang from their beds to see what was the matter.

What to their horrified eyes did appear

but a demonic figure that filled all with fear.

Yes, it was indeed a horrid sight on that terrifying night. First, the Sentinels spotted a horde of diminutive, scaly creatures scurrying through the neighboring villages.

These gremlins were breaking windows and opening doors. Lord Vibe noticed a pattern; the creatures were attacking homes where children lived. Vibe commanded the Sentinels to race to the villages and rescue the youngsters.

There were three threatened villages. To the west was Twotownes, which used to be a pair of villages on opposite sides of a river that dried up. In the center was the crossroads village of Kaltor's Crossing. Eastward was Foxglove, so named for the abundance of said flower growing near it. Vibe and a strong force rushed to Kaltor's Crossing, where they witnessed a demonic figure crawling out of a window, a child in its clutches.

It was the legendary Krampus!

The Sentinels attacked, driving off the beast without its prize. Vibe scooped up the child and brought it back to the castle.

Meanwhile, the gremlins launched attacks on the Sentinels. Vibe ordered them to push forward and create a defensive perimeter. The sounds of vicious battle pierced the still winter night. Meanwhile, Vibe escorted children to the safety of the Sentinels' keep.

The Krampus tried to make another attack on Kaltor's Crossing but it could not make it through the perimeter. Instead, it moved west to Twotownes, where Silk was maintaining a wary vigil. When she saw the Krampus and its minions approaching, she raised the alarm and prepared to defend the village. The evil creatures approached cautiously toward the stalwart scout, which gave reinforcements a chance to arrive. Together, they repulsed the attack.

As this was occurring, Vibe managed to evacuate Foxglove. With this village empty and the other two heavily defended, the Krampus adopted a new strategy. As its minions harassed the defenders, it snuck past the villages and descended upon an unprepared Landfall Castle. The Krampus had the chance to kidnap some of the children that Vibe thought were safe. Fortunately, eagle-eyed Artemis spotted the beast. She cried out a warning - "Back! Back!" as she rushed to the castle. More defenders rushed back. They tracked down the Krampus and forced him into retreat.

At this point, the Krampus had enough. He and his minions slipped away in the night. Most of the children had been rescued. Alas, two were missing and presumed to be kidnapped. But where did the Krampus take them?

OOC Notes

• This is the story of the first of a two-part scenario we played at our Amtgard park the Sunday before Christmas.
• There were 3 villages (cones) placed in the middle of the field. I used paper dolls for the children. Only the captains (Vibe and the Krampus - ably played by Robb) could carry the children.

Wyntornocht in Caligo

Wyntornacht is the popular mid-winter festival in Ember Shoals, and apparently it has made its way to Caligo as well. As the celebration draws nearer, I am reminded of the traditions of the season. Here is a short excerpt from The Wayfarer's Guide to the Ember Shoals-Customs & Rituals by Phremynn.

"There are two figures central to the Wyntornacht mythology, Greatfather Wyntor & his antagonist, Dur Krommpys [also known as the Krampus]. The pair seemed to be locked in a never ending cycle of battle; with Greatfather Wyntor seemingly coming out on top at the conclusion in the folklore.
Below, I've included my best attempts at depicting these beings."

Greatfather Wyntor

The Krampus

And another excerpt from The Wayfarer's Guide:

"The origins of this holiday boogeyman are mostly unknown. What little information, my brethren & I, have been able to gather is at best...fragmented & anecdotal. Dissconcerting to say the least but, we work diligently with what we have to compile this tome.

Rumor states the this creature is the bastard child of a Faedwyr noble & Dyvaalkin called a Succubi(we're still uncertain about the Dyvaalkin; more on that in a later chapter).

Depised by both it's Fey cousin's & the Dyvaalkin, Dër Krahmpuz, took to wandering the mortal plane. Gaining followers amongst the nascent Fomorach(orc) tribes that once inhabited the archipelago. Revered as a nature diety by the Formorach for millenia, it had found a place that it could belong & cheerfully ruled over it's chosen people.

This changed however. With the coming of the first Krewes, everything changed...forever.
As the orcs numbers dwindled from the diseases & slaughter wrought by the humans, Dër Krahmpuz, found it's strength fading.

Over time, it came to know emotions that it had never known. Sorrow, hate, anguish, envy...the sudden rush of these feelings twisted & warped the creature; slowly driving it mad. In its madness, Dër Krahmpuz, began demanding sacrifices from it's followers. At first animals but, that soon wasn't enough. Dër Krahmpuz hungered for the most precious of souls....children."

OOC Notes:

• I copied these bits of lore from Facebook. They were written by Robb Rodgers, aka Kettlebaun aka Xhorja.
• Greatfather Wyntor and the Krampus shall have starring roles in this Sunday's Amtgard scenarios.

A Horrifying Harvest

With voidling attacks petering off, the lands of the Sentinels were able to reap a bountiful harvest. There was, however, something missing - turkey! The Sentinels decided to take up their bows and go hunting. Two parties were formed - one led by Vibe and the other by Beast. Boasting began, and soon the two teams had arranged a contest. Which team could come back with the most turkeys?

The two teams set off into the forest, one to the east and another to the west. I, Rufus, was with Vibe's team. As we wandered through the wilderness we were amazed by the stillness. No birds sang and no animals scurried underfoot. What sorcery could do this?

After a while, we heard a scream in the distance. Shortly thereafter, we spotted a figure rushing towards us. It was a man, fleeing in terror. Behind him came this towering, feathered creature.

Before we could do anything, it caught the man and pecked him to death.

"A dire turkey!" I exclaimed.

"What?" asked my companions.

Briefly I explained. Back in Ember Shoals, the Faedwyr had performed arcane sorcery upon the native wild turkeys. They grew to monstrous size and began attacking the populace. After a bloody battle, we defeated all but one, which fled deep into the wilderness. But that was in Ember Shoals; how did one get to Caligo?

After dispatching its prey, the dire turkey looked up at us, then unleashed a gobble that sounded more like a lion's roar. Our knees quaked in fear. Suddenly, a swarm of the beasts converged on us. We steeled our nerves and prepared to defend ourselves. Then one of them did this:

We covered ourselves with our shields and joined the battle. We hacked and slashed, slaying many of the beasts. More attacked, flying over us and then diving upon us. Still, we put up a brave resistance. After a heated battle, the remaining dire turkeys fled. We gathered up the carcasses of the slain turkeys and brought them back to Landfall Castle. We had 37 of the creatures, enough to feed the settlement for many months. Upon our return, we met Beast's team. They had a similar experience but only netted 36 turkeys. Vibe had won the bet!

Beast would gain a measure of revenge. After our feast, a friendly battle broke out over the pumpkin pie. Beast's team won the lion's share of the dessert.

OOC Notes:

• For our Thanksgiving weekend battlegame, I pulled out a scenario we ran at Ember Shoals a few years prior - a twisted turkey hunt.
• Dire turkeys had flight, terror, and 1 fireball spell.
• I actually was reeving the turkey battle but joined Vibe for the pumpkin pie fight. So he won without me and lost with me. Hmmm.
• The pumpkin pie fight was a game of Heavy Object, using a shield as the object (a pumpkin pie, naturally). Of course, players had to hold the "pie" horizontally so as not to spill it.

Ghouls in the Graveyard

It had been a quiet two months, but then the tranquility of Landfall Castle was broken when a scout burst into the Great Hall.

"We've found another Node!" he exclaimed to the startled populace. Lord Lancelot was away from the keep, but his second-in-command, Vibe, wasted no time. Soon after, the Sentinels were saddled and riding hard to the location of the third Node.

The scout led them to a graveyard. As the Sentinels made their way onto the grounds, they could see things scurrying among the tombstones. Hellish figures were rooting through the graves, digging up fresh corpses.

"Ghouls!"

"Where is the Node?" Vibe asked.

The scout replied, "In one of the graves. We'll have to dig it out."

"Look!" cried one of the Sentinels. On the other side of the cemetery, they could see the figures of voidlings hastening toward the graves.

"Hurry!" Vibe commanded, "before the voidlings get it!"

The Sentinels rushed forward, hacking and slashing their way through the ghouls that patrolled the graveyard. They got about halfway in when a wave of stench, drifting up from the unearthed corpses, struck their nostrils. They were left gagging and gasping for breath and had to withdraw. Logan, a recent arrival at Landfall, cast a spell, negating the effects for some of the Sentinels. Vibe flanked to the left while Amaru and Mark went right. They reached the graves and began digging, but to no avail.

Meanwhile, the voidlings had cut a path through the ghouls and likewise began to dig. The ghouls converged, but one of the voidlings went on a berserk rampage. Its powerful blows cleaved the ghouls while it seemingly ignored all strikes against it. It finally fell, but it had cleared a space. More voidlings rushed in and ransacked the graves.

The Sentinels were nearing the voidlings when suddenly there was a bright light and a clap like thunder. One of the voidlings held up the Node! Light flashed again and then the voidlings, and the Node, were gone.

Deflated, the Sentinels trudged back to Landfall Castle. The voidlings now had a second Node.

OOC Notes

• This is the report of the latest Caligo lore battle.
• In this scenario, one side played the ghouls while the other were the questers trying to find the Node (a wooden disk) which was placed under a "gravestone" (actually a rectangle of heavy, gray cardstock). I timed how long it took for the questers to find the Node. Then the teams switched roles. The team that found the Node quickest won the scenario. In this case, the team representing the voidlings won.
• To make it more challenging, the ghouls' half of the field was deemed to be an area of Eternal Stench. Unless immune to death, questers had to cover their nose and mouth while immersed in the stench.
• Kudos to Lord Gr'Rakt (Josh), a visitor from Crest Haven. He played a crucial role for the voidling team when his barbarian character went into Fight After Death mode and mowed down the opposition. This cleared space for his teammates to come up and find the Node.

The Shot

A minor incident in the everyday life of the realm

I was riding on patrol the other day when I came upon a curious sight. A man was throwing a rope up into a tree while a young boy looked on expectantly. I stopped and asked if they needed help. The man explained that he was trying to get his son's toy down from the tree. I did not ask how it got there in the first place, but when I looked I could see the toy lodged in the crook between 2 branches.

"I'll see what I can do," I said.

I dismounted from my steed and gathered up my bow and some arrows. I strung my bow, placed an arrow on the string, a drew it back. My archery was not the best so I wondered if I could make the shot. I momentarily worried that I would get my arrow stuck in the tree while leaving the toy untouched. What if my shot skewered the toy, destroying it? All these thoughts filtered through my mind. I had to dismiss them and concentrate on the shot.

Focusing my concentration, I aimed and loosed. The shot was true; the arrow grazed the toy without puncturing it. It swayed on the branch, then came tumbling down. The man and boy applauded.

I was very happy to be able to help. And I am particularly pleased with the shot!

OOC Notes

• This was an actual incident at last week's practice. There was a Cub Scout pack having a party at the park's pavilion. One of the lads got a bean bag stuck in a tree (I didn't ask how). One of the fathers was trying to get it down with a rope. I came over with my bow and arrows and offered to help. I got it out of the tree in one shot. There was applause.
• Note that I used Amtgard arrowheads. I didn't have to worry about piercing the bean bag.
• Nevertheless, I am so pleased with the shot that I had to write down the story.

The Fight for the Flagon

As Kettlebaun wrote about the Fibber's Flagon, " You never know just where the blasted thing may turn up!" Somehow it arrived in the Great Hall of Landfall Castle. I, Rufus, found it sitting upon the table. I picked it up and asked, "Who does this belong to?" Then, the flagon exerted an insidious influence on those feasting within the hall. No one could truly say who owned it but all desired it. Soon, the assembled members began to put forth their claims to the mug. Tempers frayed; the sound of weapons being drawn filled the air. Then, without warning, blows were struck!

The clang of weapons resounded through the Great Hall as former comrades were at each other's throats. The melee was so confused that I could not make out exactly what was going on. Various factions formed and squared off against one another. One by one, however, the combatants succumbed to their wounds. Eventually, only three remained - Lord Lancelot, Beast, and Vibe.

The three combatants agreed to honor duels to decide the fate of the flagon. First, Beast and Vibe squared off. After a dazzling display of swordsmanship, Beast prevailed. Then he took on Lancelot. Again, we were witnesses to some sword mastery. This time, however, Beast was bested. Flush with victory, Lancelot seized the flagon from my hands. I was too flabbergasted by the whole affair to refuse him. Fortunately, no one was killed in the scuffle (perhaps the flagon's magic prevented any killing blows).

OOC Notes

• This tale is based on a tournament I held at Caligo last Sunday. It was a free-for-all for the ownership of the Fibber's Flagon, a new artifact that we introduced to the realm. Click the link above for a description.
• I was the reeve for the tourney so I did not participate in the fighting.

The Fibber's Flagon

The following passage has been taken from the pages of the journal of Lord Admiral Kettlebaun.

A curious magic item of either halfling or gnomish design; though none can be absolutely certain due to the proclivity of both races play pranks upon larger, stupider folk.

Its properties bear mentioning, whilst beneficial...there can be certain hindrances if more than one is used at a time. Such as rendering a person powerless for a time. Oddly, this only seems to affect preternatural abilities & magicks. Raw martial prowess is unaffected.The first, is it's miraculous ability to remain ever full. A man can drain it's contents to the dregs & the cup will fill itself again of it's own accord.

Second of which are it's restorative powers! A single sip will cure diseases, restore lost limbs, & heal the body whole! A delightful tool in any event.

Thirdly & the most seemingly inconspicuous ability of the Fibber's Flagon, is its power to render the bearer immune to mental dominion so long as the tankard is carried & an old sea shanty is sung or hummed aloud...whether this is an inherent magick placed upon the Flagon or an after thought conjured up by its most recent bearer is yet to be determined.

Speaking of its history & bearers, there have been countless tales of this auspicious mug being lost & found by the most unlikely individuals. You never know just where the blasted thing may turn up!

The Fibber's Flagon (also known as Kettlebaun's Crock) was last rumored to be in the possession of a certain halfling pirate Lord in the Ember Shoals...

OOC Notes

• The Fibber's Flagon is an artifact that we created as the prize in the recent Caligo tournament.
• Its powers:
• Can be used as a heavy throwing weapon (can be used by the owner regardless of class)
• Grants healing like a Potion of Healing
• If the owner chants or sings while holding the Flagon, it acts like a Song of Determination
• If both powers are used, then the bearer is Suppressed for 60 seconds
• Only the owner is able to use it
• Robb (the former Kettlebaun) built the flagon, developed its powers, and provided the above lore.

The Second Node

The Sentinels were on edge as they awaited word from their scouts. They lost the first node to the voidlings; losing another one would severely threaten their very existence.

Then the day came. A messenger came riding hard. Panting, he rushed to the Great Hall and reported to Lord Lancelot. The node had been found in the Haiiro Ransu (translates as the Ashen Lances). Lancelot organized his troops and rode out.

The Haiiro Ransu is an area rocky badlands. Large boulders and high cliffs arise from the dusty plain. Anyone traveling there would need to wind their way through narrow passages between the cliffs. As they approached the region, the Sentinels could spy numerous creatures flying over the cliffs.

"Something must have died recently. Vultures." one trooper stated.

Lancelot looked closer. No, those weren't vultures. Too big. Suddenly, one swooped down upon the war band. Although it had the body, wings, and talons of a vulture, its head was that of a woman.

"Harpies!" someone yelled.

The creature slashed it talons, slicing into the flesh of one of the horses. It reared it fright and pain, sending its rider flying. Then it bolted for safety.

"Our mounts cannot survive against these monsters," stated Lancelot, "we must advance on foot. Swiftly now!"

The Sentinels dismounted, unslung their shields, and advanced into the Haiiro Ransu. Several harpies swooped down and engaged. Talons clashed against shields, but the Sentinels held firm and slashed away at the enemy. Wounded harpies flew away, only to be replaced by more of the beasts. Suddenly, a rock fell from the sky, hitting a Sentinel in the head and knocking him senseless. Lancelot looked up; some of the harpies hovered overhead, dropping rocks on the dense formation.

"Archers! Take out those rock-throwers!"

Artemis took aim. Her accurate shots scattered the harpies, but others made rapid passes to bomb the Sentinels.

Slowly but surely the Sentinels pressed deeper into the Haiiro Ransu, although some warriors fell to the talons and rocks of the enemy. Then, the rocks and cliffs seemed to part, revealing a wide canyon. In the middle of the canyon was the Node. It sat upon a small boulder, pulsing with energy.

"Look!"

Across the canyon, coming from the other side, the Sentinels could see a band of voidlings. It was now a race to the Node! The Sentinels tried to surge forward but the harpies redoubled their attacks. Fortunately, the voidlings were similarly beset.

"I'm going to make a break for it!" yelled Lancelot. He girded himself and rushed forward. The harpies swarmed him, but he hacked and slashed, clearing a path. He reached the Node and smiled in triumph. But a voidling also charged forward, reaching the Node.

"I'm coming to help!" shouted Vibe. He burst through the swarm of harpies and rushed to Lancelot's side. Together, they were able to hold off the voidling and grab the Node. They retreated back to the rest of the Sentinels. For some reason, the harpies shied away from the Node. Once Lancelot and Vibe rejoined the warband, the harpies flew away, attacking the voidlings instead. This allowed the Sentinels to retreat in safety. Once they reached their horses, they rode like the wind back to Landfall Castle.

Afterwards, Lancelot sat in the Great Hall, pondering the recent events. Many Sentinels had been wounded and some had made the ultimate sacrifice. Was it worth it? He thought so; if the voidlings captured most of the Nodes then Lndafall Castle, even Caligo itself, would be in deadly peril.

OOC Notes

• My apologies to Kage if it seems that I'm not giving them enough credit in these narratives. I choose to write from the Sentinels' perspective in order to maintain narrative consistency. After all, my character has taken refuge with the Sentinels.
• I named a few individuals whom I recall playing a role in the battle. There are others who fought valiantly. Please forgive any oversights. Feel free to share n the comments your remembrances of valiant deeds done by others.
• The scenario was essentially a gauntlet. One side played the questers (either Sentinels or voidlings) while the other played the harpies.
• The goal was to get as many players to the Node as possible.
• I used rope and the tree line to represent cliffs, which were impassible to the questers (although the harpies could fly over them). This created easily defensible narrows.
• As it turned out, this was a difficult scenario for the questers. Kage only managed to get one person through. The Sentinels ran through it second. Lancelot dashed through, followed by Vibe a little later. There were more Sentinels still alive but I called the game because the Sentinels won 2-1.
• The part where Lancelot and Vibe fend of a voidling and retreat with the Node was not part of the scenario. It is just a little artistic license.

Return of the Me'owtzlan

On the southern arm of Ember Shoals is a virtually impenetrable tropical jungle known as the Jungle of Tloth.

Deep within the jungle are scattered stone ruins, clearly the habitation of a race of now-vanished humanoids. Throughout the ruins are many carvings and statues of human figures with feline heads. This fact has given rise to the popular belief that the ruins were the work of a race of cat-people. Scholars scoff at this notion and instead propose that the inhabitants worshiped some kind of jaguar god, who is the subject of the artifacts.

Regardless of who built the now ruined cities, artifacts from this vanished civilization have become very popular as decorations for the rich and powerful of the city of Kyrath. An organization known as the Benevolent Antiquities Lodge was organized to journey into the jungle and recover lost treasures. One of the most prized was a 10' tall obelisk with intricate jaguar carvings. Based on a rough translation of the hieroglyphs along one edge, it became known as the Zcrat Xeen Pozt.

Thus, the BAL (Benevolent Antiquities Lodge) organized a large expedition to carry the Pozt back to Kyrath. Teams of workers had to slash through dense jungle and build causeways across swampy ground. They were followed by wagons drawn by scores of horses. Finally, the archaeologists, escorted by trained warriors, brought up the rear. Once at the site, they were to supervise to ensure that the Pozt remained undamaged.

The trip to the site was uneventful (aside from the laborers and pack animals who fell ill to various jungle fevers). Once there, the archaeologists wasted no time getting to work. Diggers began undermining the obelisk's foundation so that it could be tipped over and then dragged onto the wagons.

Suddenly, there was a blood-curdling screech, like the cry of the lost civilization's jaguar god. After a short hesitation, the archaeologists shrugged and went back to work. So what if it was a jungle cat? That's why they hired mercenaries.

Another roar sounded, this time from the other direction. Then the jungle practically erupted with the sounds of screeching cats. The workers looked around in a veritable panic while the warriors gripped their weapons tight.

"Keep calm! We have protection!" announced the chief archaeologist.

Out of nowhere, a large jaguar rushed the chief, knocking him to the ground. It then stood upright, lifted a large club over its head, and pummeled the archaeologist into pulp. More cats rushed form the jungle into the Pozt's clearing. They stood on their hind legs and were armed with shields and clubs edged with razor-sharp obsidian shards.

"Cat-people!" screamed the laborers as they tried to escape.

They fled in all directions into the dense jungle. Unseen jaguar-headed humanoids pounced on the unfortunate men, dragging them down and dispatching them with blows or powerful bites.

The mercenaries hired by the league kept their heads, however, and formed a defensive circle in the center of the clearing. The surviving archaeologists huddled inside the perimeter. Scores of the cat-men emerged from the jungle, hissing and growling as they approached the human warriors.

Suddenly, one of the men rushed forward, sword and armor shining in the sun. His opponent leapt into the air over the warrior. Landing silently, it lashed out with its club, severing the warriors head. At this, the rest of the cat-warriors charged the defensive perimeter. The air was filled with yells and growls, as neither side would give no quarter,

Despite their superior armor, the mercenaries could not hold off all the attacks. One by one they fell to the feline attacks. Some of the cat-warriors made their way into the center of the circle, killing archaeologists until a mercenary was able to cut down the enemy. Soon, only a small band of humans was left.

"We can't hold out indefinitely." said one of the warriors.

"Then we must fight our way out!" And with a word, the remaining members of the expedition charged forward. They managed to cut their way through the wall of attackers and reach the jungle. But once there, the could not see the pursuit. One by one, they were cut down by sudden and silent attacks as a cat-warrior pounced.

Finally, only a lone archaeologist was left, shivering with fear in the midst of the jungle. He could hear the cat-men surrounding him, but he could not see them through all the foliage.

Then, one of the cat-warriors, the one who began the battle, emerged. He glared at the man, then spoke in broken Common Tongue.

"Go, and never come back. These are our homes."

The archaeologist turned and fled. As he ran, the leader of the cat-men roared a challenge: "Tell your people that the Me'owtzlan are back!"

And thus began the Me'owtzlan War.

OOC Notes

• The Me'owtzlan War was a series of battlegames that formed the theme of Kettlebaun's second reign.
• The idea of the Me'owtzlan began when Kettlebaun (Robb) asked what the theme should be and Shroudstar (much to Robb's chagrin) suggested cat-people.
• Kudos to Robb for giving the cat-people (the Me'owtzlan in Ember Shoals' parlance) a unique and freehold-specific backstory.
• Some of our members got into the storyline:

Me in some Me'owtzlan garb

• Others not so much

Robb is not enjoying the cat ears

The First Node

Once he learned of the first Node of Mana, Lancelot gathered his troops and rode out of Landfall Castle. (Due to my illness I was unable to ride with them; I stayed on defense at Landfall). After much hard riding, the Sentinels arrived in a valley that gradually narrowed to a point. At the very end of the valley was a cave. Lancelot stopped and consulted the map provided by the sorcerer. It looked like the place but he was not sure.

Then one of his troopers spoke: "This must be the place, Lord Lancelot."

"Why do you think that?" Lancelot asked.

"Look," the trooper replied as he pointed across the valley. A band of voidlings had appeared and were racing toward the cave. Lancelot was about the give the order to ride for the cave when a loud roar split the air. Then, from the cave appeared a reptilian head. It was followed by another and then another until several were writhing from the cave.

"A hydra!" one of the Sentinels said.

The Sentinels dismounted from their now skittish horses and began to rush to the cave. They and the voidlings arrived at the cave mouth at the same time. As if by mutual agreement, the bitter enemies ignored each other and instead attacked the hydra.

With a roar, the hydra began lashing out at the invaders, striking with its jaws and spewing gouts of flame. Many a warrior was burnt or bitten, leaving bodies strewn upon the battlefield. The Sentinels unleashed a storm of archery upon the beast while the voidlings hacked and stabbed with fury. One by one, the heads were severed, until the creature shuddered and died.

But the battle was just beginning for the Node was inside the cave. Now the Sentinels and voidlings turned on one another. Lancelot cut his way through the enemy and reached the Node. He grabbed it and began saying the incantation to claim the Node. Then a voidling crept up behind him and knocked him senseless. This time a voidling grabbed the Node. The Sentinels rushed it and sliced it to bits. The Node was knocked aside and rolled around the cave floor. Hands tried to grasp it but it kept rolling about. Finally, a voidling seized it and raced out of the cave. The Sentinels gave chase but could not catch it. The Node was gone.

The remaining Sentinels tended to their wounded. They revived Lancelot and told him the bad news. He shook his head in dismay as he pondered the fate of his home. Would this defeat usher in the beginning of the end? But then he steeled himself.

"They may have won this battle." he firmly stated, "but we will prevail in the end."

His troops nodded in agreement as each vowed to fight that much harder next time.

OOC Notes

• Rufus does not appear in this account because I am the reeve for the scenarios. I guess Rufus will be stay at home defending the castle, although I did have an illness (a cold) this week.
• I don't recall all the details of the battle although I remember Vibe's and Artimis's archery with Lancelot and Beast on the front line. Many others contributed but I was closest to the Sentinels and was most aware of their fighting (sorry Kage).
• Lancelot first reached the Node, Rage was the voidling who grabbed it next, and XIII was the one who raced off with it. Congrats to Kage for their victory.
• Thanks to Barnabis, Holly, Ryan, et. al. who served as the hydra. And thanks to Mercy for being a second reeve.
• Finally, I made a slight oversight and forgot to tell the teams that the rope represented the cave walls. A couple of members of Kage rushed around the hydra and ran through the walls. Oops.

The Nodes of Mana - Introduction

I (Rufus) am getting to old for this. This time I had come down with some form of plague. I was resting at Landfall Castle when the sorcerer arrived.

He was a short, wizened figure wrapped in a dark cloak. We could not see his face because his hood was pulled low. He approached Lord Lancelot, who beckoned him to speak.

"I come to offer my regrets, Lord Lancelot."

Puzzled, Lancelot responded "Whatsoever for?"

"The destruction of Landfall Castle." the figure replied.

Well, that got everyone's attention.

The sorcerer then took a crystal ball from beneath his cloak and placed it on the table in front of Lancelot. We all gazed into it, and it seemed as if we were drawn into the scene that the ball displayed. We could see Landfall Castle in ruins, the Sentinels, dead, scattered throughout the stronghold.

"What does this mean?" I asked. "Does this ball show what will be?

"Not what will be but what may be. 'Tis shall happen if ye take no action."

"What kind of action?" asked Lancelot.

"To seek the Nodes of Mana."

We looked at each other, puzzled expressions on our faces. The sorcerer then explained the situation. Somehow, nine Nodes of Mana had been pulled into Caligo. In the wrong hands, they had the potential, the power, to wipe out Landfall Castle. But they were currently hidden throughout Caligo. Lancelot seized on this point.

"If they are hidden, how can they threaten us?"

The sorcerer replied: "Because the voidlings know how to find them."

My eyes grew wide with the tension. If the voidlings found those first, well words cannot describe the horror. Lancelot asked how to find the Nodes. The sorcerer showed him a map.

"Here," he said, "is the first Node. Find it and it shall lead thee to the others. But beware, for it is guarded."

"Guarded by what?"

"Ye shall see." stated with sorcerer, with a chuckle as he turned and strode from the hall.

Lancelot wasted no time. He called for the Sentinels to gather their gear and prepare for an expedition to retrieve the first Node.

OOC Notes

• This is an introduction to a new campaign I have introduced to Caligo. Every month during our Amtgard Day we will have a battle to claim one of the 9 Nodes. Once the Nodes are claimed? I have some ideas that I wish to keep secret for now.

The Mystic Glen

Part 3 of the Quest for the Gardener's Rod

After making her decision, Shroudstar led her party down the third path. As the mists parted, they could see that the path made its way through some light woods. In the distance, they could see a glen with a statue holding a staff. The Gardener's Rod!

"Hurry!" one of the members shouted as he ran down the path. Before Shroudstar could stop him, one of the trees stepped out onto the path and clubbed him with one of its branches. The warrior crumpled to the ground.

"Oakens - the walking trees." someone commented.

"Prepare yourself." It looks like we'll need to fight our way through.

The heroes marched resolutely into the fray. The trees converged on the party and battle commenced. Swords slashed and spears stabbed, but the blows seemed to stick into the bark. Then the trees struck back. Heavy limbs crushed shields and bruised the heroes. They were forced back.

As the party retreated, the trees ponderously advanced. Realizing that they moved slowly, the party tried to use its speed to avoid the trees. But as they neared the statue, a man with hair and beard like the foliage appeared. He was a Green Man. He began casting spells and striking with his own weapons. Once again the party was forced back.

Shroudstar used her stealth abilities to approach near the statue. She remembered Rufus's letter: "I have managed to send you the Horn of Hurricane. You will need it to reclaim the Rod." She reasoned that she needed to sound the Horn to claim the Rod. As she neared the statue, she blew upon the Horn and the statue's grip eased, However, the sound of the Horn drew the Rod's defenders on her, and she was forced back before she could grab it.

The battle continued for some time. The heroes fought well but could not overcome the strength of the oakens. Seriously wounded heroes, including Shroudstar herself, retreated back down the path. Finally, only one hero remained. He made a mad dash for the Rod. He drew near, reached out and nearly grasped it, but then numerous branches bludgeoned him to the ground.

By now a heavy downpour deluged our heroes as they dejectedly trudged back to the Brine Slough. Shroudstar wondered, "Did I pick a wrong path?"

OOC Notes

• Indeed, she picked the wrong path. If she had chosen the second (two's company) then her party would have fought fairies instead of oakens.
• Hollywood from Crest Haven was the brave hero who nearly reached the Horn at the end. Alas, he was swarmed by opponents before he could reach the Rod.
• And yes, it poured on us, which prevented us from finishing the quest. I was going to allow the heroes to choose another path and try again. Perhaps they would have been successful the second time around. As it is, I have an idea to wrap up this quest.

The Brine Slough

Part 2 of the Quest for the Gardener's Rod

As per the instructions delivered by the mysterious stranger, Shroudstar led her party to the Brine Slough, deep in the heartland of Ember Shoals. Once there, they began slogging through the marshland, looking for clues. What could they be?

Then, in the distance, they noticed a stone marker rising from the mud. It appeared to be broken off at the top. The party to approach when one of the members tripped. He cursed, reached down into the mire, and pulled up a broken piece of the stone slab. He was about to throw it back, when Shroudstar stopped him.

"Look at that!" she said. For on the back of the stone a word had been carved out. Then it struck her.

"It's a clue! Everybody scatter around and search the muck for more stones."

The heroes started searching, but then one member called out a warning. Out of the mists loomed a horde of smallish figures carrying weapons. "Goblins!"

With a rush, the goblins attacked the party. The heroes were driven back from the stone slab with no more clues in their possession. Yet they refused to give up the quest. They hacked and slashed, slowly beating the goblins back.

Then they were rewarded by a cry of victory. "Here's one!" cried one of the party, as he stumbled upon a stone. He pulled it out of the muck and returned it to the back lines. Shroudstar used his stealth abilities and was able to sneak behind the goblins, retrieving more of the clues. Finally, the party had pulled 8 stone pieces from the muck; it appeared that they had them all.

"Regroup!" called Shroudstar, and the heroes formed an impenetrable phalanx. Frustrated by their losses, the goblins melted away into the mists.

But what was the clue? Shroudstar joined the 8 pieces like a jigsaw puzzle. This was the writing that was revealed to her:

'Tis not the loneliest, 

Nor is't magic. 

Choose company and ye'll be safe.

As she read the lines, the mists parted slightly. In the distance, Shroudstar could see 3 paths leading out of the Slough. Clearly, the clue referenced the path she needed to take.

"One is the loneliest number," she reasoned. She was unsure of the second line. But company, she thought - isn't it three's company? With that thought, she made her decision.

"We'll take the 3rd path!"

OOC Notes

• This was the first scenario of the quest for the Gardener's Rod. 
• The questers had to retrieve 8 clues (written on a styrofoam sheet that I painted to look like rock) scattered throughout the battle area. 
• Portions of the battlefield were designated as water; players had to wade through them on their knees or at slow speed.
• The heroes had 4 lives but the goblins were unlimited. This was to simulate a horde of goblins descending on the party. Once the party was shattered it had to solve the riddle with the clues it recovered. 
• At first, the questers struggled but we gave them some help (armor points) and they ultimately found all the clues.

Quest for the Gardener's Rod

Introduction

After studying the book I received from Kettlebaun, I was able to determine the path to the Gardener's Rod, the second of the three Druidic artifacts that would allow us to defeat the Faedwyr. But how could I find it, trapped as I was in the land of Caligo?

I conferred with my new allies, the Sentinels. They referred me to a mysterious figure known as the Magus of Dissonance. With some reservation, I approached its home. Would I be unwittingly be dabbling in dark magic; the mistake of the League of Purity? Yet I determined to press on. It revealed that it could transport a package to my world. I knew exactly what to do.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shroudstar stepped off the boat at Lander's Edge, the former capital of Ember Shoals. It was now just a ruin. The Faedwyr, haters of daytime, were not present. As Shroudstar surveyed the desolation, a mysterious robed figure approached. Silently, it handed her a package. In it was a horn - The Horn of Hurricane! With it was a letter. Here was what was written:

Shroudstar, 

I have been able to send this to you through magical means. I need you to go on a quest to retrieve the Gardener’s Rod, a powerful artifact that will help free Ember Shoals from the Faedwyr. I am imprisoned on another plane of existence and cannot take on this quest. You are our only hope! 

To begin, you must make your way to the Brine Slough in the center of the island. Hidden in there is a mystical glen where the Rod is located. To find the correct path to the glen, you will need to find clues in the Slough. 

Best wishes on your quest,
Brother Rufus 

P.S. I have managed to send you the Horn of Hurricane. You will need it to reclaim the Rod.

With her consort, Rhadamanthys, Shroudstar found some remnants of the Bilgewater Brigade. She formed a band of heroes to proceed on the quest for the Gardener's Rod.

OOC Notes

• Yesterday, at the Caligo practice, I ran a quest (using Amtgard rules) to retrieve the Gardener's Rod. This post is an introduction to that quest.
• The quest consisted of 2 linked battlegames. In both, a party of heroes is trying to achieve its objective while opposed by various monsters.
• Over the next week, I'll post separate reports for each battlegame.
• For the quest, I gave Shroudstar a handwritten copy of the letter reproduced above. The letter was on parchment paper. I also gave her a toy horn that served as the Horn of Hurricane.

Cracked

Another week has passed and I am still unable to go out on patrol. Frustrating.

I suppose that I should explain all that has been happening. After my rescue from the kraken, I returned with my rescuers to their castle. They are a fighting company known as the Sentinels. They are fighting an ongoing war against beings of darkness known as the voidlings. Their success in battle has cleared the voidlings from a sizable territory. Unfortunately, they were running out of supplies. I helped them establish farmsteads around the area to grow the food they need to survive. Our construction, however, drew the attention of the voidlings.

One day I was on patrol with some of the members of the Sentinels when we spotted smoke on the horizon. One of the farmsteads was burning!

We rode to the scene and found a party of voidlings sacking the place. We rushed into battle, trying to rescue the settlers from the burning buildings. As I ran toward one of the doors, a voidling leapt out of the darkness. He thrust his spear into my side. My armor prevented the point from penetrating, but the force of the blow knocked me to the ground. I felt a sharp pain in my ribs. Cracked, I thought. One of my comrades came to my rescue, drove off the voidling, and assisted me back onto my mount. Then a wave of voidlings came out of nowhere. We had no option to retreat.

We swiftly rode back to the Sentinel's stronghold, Landfall Castle, with the voidling horde on our heels. Because of the pain of my injury, I knew I could not effectively fight in the front line. I grabbed a bow and rushed to one of the towers. The voidlings used dark magic to blast apart our front gate and then rushed in. The Sentinels put up a spirited defense, their line did not waver. A few voidlings managed to break through but were quickly dispatched. I did what I could to assist, and many a feathered shaft sent a voidling to perdition. Eventually, the voidlings could not keep up the assault. Their attack wavered and the broke. They fled back into the void.

However, I am still nursing the injury. I hate to be stuck on garrison duty while my friends, the Sentinels, are risking their all to preserve the settlements. I just need to give it time.

OOC Notes:

• This post describes a practice from 2 weeks ago. I was injured after running into a spear. I think I just bruised my ribs, but cracked ribs makes a better story.
• The skirmish at the farmstead was actually a game of Ring the Bell. I decided that the bell represented the farm we were trying to save. Unfortunately, my side lost so I described it as the voidlings overrunning the farmstead.
• We then followed with a castle battle, which I describe as a defense of Landfall Castle. I had to leave before the scenario was over but the defenders seemed to be doing well. Thus, I described it as a victory for the Sentinels

The Rescue

As I mentioned previously, I had been sucked into a maelstrom and pulled into another world, along with a kraken!

I now stood upon a makeshift raft in the middle of a wide lake. The beast had surfaced near me and was approaching. At first, I crouched down and used my scout skills to hide from the monster. It was no use; it spotted me and lashed out its tentacles, trying to grab me and pull me into its maw. I readied my shield and the Flame of Justice, prepared to fight to the end. Tentacles lashed at me but I blocked and parried them away. There were too many! Soon I would be overcome.

Then over the roar of the creature I heard the steady voice of command. "Row, row, row!" I chanced a look behind me and saw two ships, laden with well-armed warriors, approaching me. Hope! If only I could hold out a little longer. Then a tentacles lashed out. Smash! My shield dissolved into splinters. I held the Flame before me.

"Hurry! Jump to our ship!" I turned and leaped, just as another tentacles came smashing into my raft, pulverizing it. With one hand I gripped the gunwales. I felt myself sliding down into the lake. A strong hand grasped me and yanked me into the ship. I tumbled to the deck then scrambled to my feet, expressing my thanks as I did so. My rescuers had no opportunity to reply for a slew of tentacles lashed at the ship. I took my place in the battle line and struck at the beast. We would wound it but more tentacles would appear.

The second ship pulled alongside us. Together, we began battling the kraken. Some valiant heroes perished, yanked overboard and pulled into the snapping beak. Yet we began to take out some of the tentacles. Perhaps we could prevail!

Then from behind me a tentacle lashed out, smacking me in the back of the head. I tumbled over the side and landed into the lake, unconscious.

The next thing I remember was waking up on shore, dripping wet.

"Where am I?" was the first thing I said.

The warrior responded, "The answer to your question is a hell of a story."

POSTSCRIPT
I would learn later that I was rescued by a band of heroes from many companies. As the chronicle of Caligo records:

Those within the Sentinels of Gothix aided the paladin [this is how they refer to me, Rufus], while warriors from the Guardians of the Bay, Keepers of the Obsidian Stag, Uncharted Waters, and Triune Shores distracted the monstrous creature. After much effort, the battle had been won. The Kraken drifted beneath the waves with wounds that could rid any creature into silence, and uproar of glee escaped all survivors.

OOC Notes

• Designed as a way to explain how I got to Caligo, we played this out as a scenario at last Sunday's practice. We actually ran it multiple times. I was rescued the first time but then "killed" when we decided to return to the lake to kill the kraken. I actually had to leave before I was officially rescued so I don't know exactly how the scenario proceeded. I explain this by writing that I got knocked unconscious.

The Kraken

My trip to Neverwinter failed to reap the benefit I sought. The kingdom's officials were loath to take on the Faedwyr, especially if it meant that the pirates of Ember Shoals would once again have a safe haven from the Royal Navy. Yet I now had the Horn of the Hurricane. It was with mixed feelings that I boarded a smuggler's ship en route to Ember Shoals.

We were cruising peacefully along when suddenly an unusual wake began to pursue us. Then a giant tentacle surged from the sea and smashed into our ship. Several more followed, grabbing the masts and rocking the ship.

"KRAKEN!"

The crew grabbed any weapons at hand and began battling the beast. Its rubbery hide was as tough as armor and its strength was unbelievable. it yanked the masts down. Falling spars struck down sailors while the tentacles would occasionally grab an unfortunate soul, pulling him down into the briny deep.

I struck at the tentacles with my sword but could nary make a dent. Frustrated, I charged one of the tentacles with my sword point leveled. It penetrated, then got stuck. The tentacle lashed away, taking my sword with it!

I rushed below decks to my sea chest. I grabbed the Horn of Hurricane and my magical mace known as the Flame of Justice. I then returned to the fight. I blasted a note from the Horn and called upon the power of the Flame. It erupted in holy fire. I was ready for battle!

At that moment, a storm brewed up and quickly overtook us. The swirling clouds were colored purple and black and rotated like a maelstrom in the sky.

Heavy winds began to pummel the ship. Between that and the kraken, our little ship was splintered. The crew was tossed into the sea. Somehow I managed to scramble upon a piece of flotsam. The kraken surfaced, its giant beak clicking in anticipation. It rushed towards me. I stood, readied my shield and the Flame of Justice, and called defiance to the beast.

By now, the maelstrom was circling overhead. The seas themselves began to spin. Suddenly a massive undertow gripped my makeshift vessel, pulling it under. As my head plunged below the surface, I could see that the kraken was also caught in the whirpool.

Down and down I went. I held my breath until my lungs felt like they were on fire. Then I passed out. I'm not sure how long I was out but it only seemed like seconds later I broke the surface of the water. At first I thought that the planking that I gripped and brought me back up. Then I noticed that I was no longer in my world. The sky, sun, and sea pulsated in indescribable colors.

"The Other World," I thought. "Have the Faedwyr kidnapped me again?"

I did not have much time to ponder this question. With a mighty splash, the kraken surfaced!

(To be continued)

OOC Notes

• I am undertaking a new phase in my foam-fighting career. I'm fighting with Caligo, a new cross-gaming realm being formed by Kage (a unit in the Way of the Sword organization). This story explains my presence in their setting.
• According to their lore (IIRC) Caligo is a land on the continent of Mu. Mysterious forces have pulled it out of the material world into a strange void. Thus, another portal seems to be the best explanation. I worked out the details with Amaru of the Sentinels (one of the units of Caligo)
• Have no worries - the quest for the druid's artifacts shall continue!

The Horn of Hurricane

The Horn of the Hurricane! A magical artifact from the time of the druids. Who knew that it held so much power? As I, Rufus, gazed at it, my mind wandered back to the day when the Bilgewater Brigade had recovered it.

It was in the early days of the Wardens. A horde of goblins had been plaguing the settlements of Ember Shoals with a series of raids. The people of Lander's Edge formed the Bilgewater Brigade, a militia force, to stem the raiders. Their efforts had largely been successful and the raids diminished.

Then one day I received an urgent message from the Brigade. A vast army of goblins, let by a vicious troll known as Kragcrush were making their way through the hills heading for the capital. I mustered the Wardens and rode to join the Brigade. The forces of Ember Shoals found a defensible position at a bridge which crossed a lava vent. The narrow crossing prevented the monster horde from outflanking and destroying the Brigade.

Kragcrush yelled the command and his horde rushed forward. The Bilgewater Brigade met the goblins on the bridge. Like a scythe, the whirling brigades of the heroes cut down the goblins like wheat. The brigade stood firm and the wave of goblins broke upon the solid defenses. They began streaming back across the bridge.

Then Kragcrush entered the fray.

He was a massive, monstrous beast with a foul temper. As the goblins tried to retreat past him, he swung his massive hammer, smashing the cowardly creatures. The rest got the message; they turned back to the attack, with Kragcrush in the lead.

He slammed into the wall of defenders, smashing a hole in their defenses. Arrows, spears, and swords pierced his leathery skin but Kragcrush shrugged off his wounds and continued to fight. Despite their desperate fight, the Bilgewater Brigade was slowly pushed back. If the monsters could cross the bridge, they would outflank the defenders and win the day.

But the leaders of the Brigade refused to concede defeat. Huntario, Kristophe, Scaeatha, Shroudstar and the Wardens steeled their resolved and redoubled their efforts. They sliced through the horde of goblins and pressed in against Kragcrush. Even the troll could not withstand their whirlwind of steel. Finally, a fatal blow was struck. Kragcrush teetered and then fell of the bridge, into the lava below.

With Kragcrush's death, the monster army routed from the field. The Brigade pressed the pursuit, scattering the evil horde. As the heroes searched the monster army's camp, they discovered chests filled with plunder from Ember Shoals. But the greatest treasure was a simple, battered horn. Lost for years, this relic was the Horn of Hurricane. The brigade decided that the horn should go to the most heroic of the defenders, but many claimed that honor. After some squabbling, the horn was rewarded to Huntario the monk, or so we thought. Apparently, Commodore Kettlebaun had other ideas.

I smiled at the thought of my unlikely friend. If it weren't for his, shall we say, collector's mentality, then the Horn likely would have been lost forever. Now it, the only hope for Ember Shoals, was in my hands.

A New Hope

Rufus made his way through the tangles of the Hundred Needles to the northern coast of Ember Shoals. From there, he was able to hitch a ride from a smuggler to the mainland. He purchased a horse and rode into the heartland of Neverwinter. As he progressed, he looked for fighters willing to assist him in freeing Ember Shoals. Alas, all he got was refusals. Then in one sleepy village, he received quite a surprise. Could it be? Kettlebaun?

"Lord Admiral?" Rufus queried.

The halfling turned and glanced at Rufus. Rufus was sure - it WAS Kettlebaun.
"What are you doing here?"

"Exile, retirement, escaping from the madness that ye thrice damned Purity League loosed 'pon me island." spat the Lord Admiral, as he raked at the dirt.
"Pick one..."
The halfling eyed the ranger & shook his head.
"Come up to the house, I've got a stew cookin' & keg that need tappin'" Kettelbaun said & gestured up the weedy path to the ramshackle cottage at the base of the hill,"then mayhaps ye can explain why in the Hells you're here."

After a simple but fine meal, they sat back in their chairs. Kettlebaun quaffed deeply from his mug. Rufus sipped politely (he prefers wine). Then Rufus told the tale of the Faedwyr invasion: how the League of Purity accidentally and foolishly opened a portal for the Faedwyr; how the hounds of war descended on Ember Shoals; how the invaders sacked Heron Hall; and finally how the forces of Ember Shoals were defeated in an epic last stand.

"I am here looking for help. I need warriors to retake Ember Shoals from the Faedwyr."

Rufus could see a scowl form on Kettlebaun's face.

"You disagree. I can see it on your face." Rufus said. "But I see no alternative, other than surrender. And that I will not do. So tell me, what do you think we should do?"

Kettlebaun leaned back and took a long draft from his mug. He then sat still, pondering his response. Rufus fidgeted in his seat, anxious to hear Kettlebaun's thoughts. Finally, Rufus could bear it now more. "Well?" he asked.

"We," scoffed the halfling,"ya mean ye?"

Kettelbaun took another quick swallow from his mug & then got up from his chair. He then walked over to a battered footlocker, producing a key from his vest pocket, he opened the lock.

"I'll tell ye this, boyo...& ye won't like it none." he said, rummaging through the footlocker.

A moment later, the girthy halfling let out a grunt of acknowledgement. From the chest he took a well worn, leather bound book & another object wrapped in high quality velvet.

"These be the start of ye answer, Commodore."

Kettelbaun tossed the book into Rufus' waiting hands, then came he returned to the table with the velvet wrapped object.

"& this'll be me contribution to your noble quest." he said flatly.

Between the plates, Kettelbaun, set the swaddled object delicately. The tiny lines at the corners of his mouth creased into a saddened, near smile as pulled away the cloth.

It was the Horn of Hurricane. The little bastard had made off with it after all.

"That book will tell ye how to find the other two parts of it. The Wayfarer wasn't a stupid man, Rufus. He & the rest of the Druids knew the Faedwyr for what they were & they took precautions...like the Seals, for instance. Well, they'd also devised a...finality, if ye will." Kettelbaun's face grew deathly serious.

"They called it, Faethorn. A spear constructed from three of the old Druids most sacred relics...we have one, the Horn of Hurricane."

Kettelbaun leaned back in his chair & dropped his gaze to the dirty crockery gracing it.

"Find the other two parts, lad...& we'll have what we need to end Them."

"The Gardender's Rod & the Astromancer's Armil, make up the rest of Faethorn. The Wayfarer's book should give ye an idea where they may be,Rufus." Kettelbaun said earnestly.

"However, the trick to gettin' them be defeatin' their guardians..."

Rufus thanked Kettlebaun, for now he had hope for the future of Ember Shoals. It would be a difficult quest. With assistance, however, Rufus believed that it could be completed and the Faedwyr defeated

To the Wilds!

With our defeat by the Faedwyr, the Wardens have taken to the wilds of Ember Shoals. We have camouflaged ourselves and are camping in the woods of the Hundred Needles. We remained dispersed so it is more difficult for the Faedwyr to track us. When we can, we strike back in partisan raids.

Still, we hope to reclaim Ember Shoals from our tormentors. To that end, I shall seek allies on the mainland. 

Our new mode of dress:

The Last Stand of Ember Shoals

From atop the ruined keep of Heron Hall, the Faedwyr lord looked out upon the plain before the castle. Gathering there, in the rear of his troops was another army. He gazed upon the many varied banners - the Wardens, the Bilgewater Brigade, and even our neighbors from Kage and from the Barony of Crest Haven.

"Where did this army come from?" he wondered.

In his haste to raze Heron Hall, he had left pockets of defenders in his army's wake. One of these was I, Brother Rufus, commander of the Wardens. I had been on patrol, hunting monsters in the forest known as the Hundred Needles, in the north of Ember Shoals. When I received word of the return of the Faedwyr, my patrol immediately rushed back to our home. On the way, we encountered scattered remnants of the populace of Ember Shoals. Warned of the invasion, volunteers arrived from Kage and Crest Haven. We joined forces and marched in unison toward Heron Hall.

Now we stood at the foot of my stronghold. Tears streaked down my face, for we were too late. It was clear that the castle had fallen. Very well, we would inflict vengeance upon our defeated comrades. The charge was sounded and we fell upon the Faedwyr baggage camp and siege train. We hacked down the enemy until blood ran in torrents.

The Faedwyr lord could not overlook our challenge. Instead of setting up a defensive position in the castle, he launched a counterattack upon our position on the plain. The horde rushed upon us, smashing into us and forcing us back. Dark magics lashed out and bedeviled our troops. We retreated to a hilltop, determined to make our stand. We cut down any enemy that tried to rush up the hill, but there were too many. One by one, the defenders were cut down.

I knew we were doomed but I was determined to fight to the bitter end. Then one of my lieutenants grabbed my arm and yelled in my ear. "It's hopeless, commander! We need to retreat!"

"Never!" I cried but he persisted.

"We will never free Ember Shoals if we are all dead. Live to fight another day!"

I saw sense in his words. Reluctantly, I sounded the retreat. The survivors fled into the wilds of Ember Shoals.

Ember Shoals has fallen to the Faedwyr. But we the survivors are determined that it will not be our last stand.

The Fall of Heron Hall

Mighty Heron Hall, stronghold of the Wardens, had become a symbol of vigilance and righteousness. Its residents were on the forefront of battle with the forces of evil. When the Faedwyr burst back into Ember Shoals, they set their sights upon the fortress.

The Faedwyr army ravaged across the breadth of Ember Shoals, leaving a path of destruction in its path. Scattered forces tried valiantly to stem the tide but they were overwhelmed. Within days, the Faedwyr army was encamped on the outskirts of Heron Hall.

When night fell, the enemy forces moved to the attack. First, dark sorcerers used infernal powers to blow open the gates of the castle. The Faedwyr bridged the moat then a horde of bloodthirsty warriors rushed across.

Picture from http://raymondminnaar.deviantart.com/art/Avalon-Lords-Castle-Siege-450232609

The defenders valiantly tried to stave off the attack. They cut down the Faedwyr left and right, but the enemy kept coming in droves. They forced the defenders back from the gate into the courtyard. From there, the Faedwyr scattered throughout the castle, cutting down all who stood in their way. A small coterie of defenders retreated to the keep. They kept up a stiff resistance, but the Faewyr attackers seemed limitless. One by one, the Wardens fell.

Finally, only one defender remained. He stood on the top of the keep, surrounded by enemies. One of the Faedwyr lords called for his surrender. He refused, and with a shout of defiance, he charged the enemy. One-two-three-four and more fell to his determined blade. But he could not resist the numbers. A spear thrust out, catching him in the leg. He fell to his knees on the stone tiles of the roof. A blade sliced his back and he pitched forward onto his face. Then the enemy rushed in and began to hack at him.

As he took his last breath, the could hear a sound in the distance. A horn resounded through the valley. Reinforcements! Alas, they were too late. Heron Hall had fallen.

OOC Notes:

• This story represents the second battle game of our February event. It was a castle battle. The attackers had to cross a drawbridge and take a control point past the "castle" gates. Each side got a chance to defend (we actually ran the scenario four times. Each time the attackers overwhelmed the defenders).
• The story of the last valiant defender is pure fiction.

The Faedwyr Return

My narrative of the Faedwyr War skipped over some other important events in Ember Shoals's history. I shall return to those events but for now I focus on the Faedwyr because of their importance in recent affairs.

The troubles began after a particularly rowdy celebration after the rebuilding of Lander's Edge. Some of the freebooters imbibed a bit too much and became quarrelsome. Tempers flared and a riot started. Before order was restored, several of the newly erected building had been burned down again. In the aftermath, a group of concerned citizens called the League of Purity prevailed upon the new Commodore of the Shoals, Brother Rufus, to outlaw alcohol, which they blamed for the riot.

Alas, prohibition did not go over well with the free-living corsairs of the freehold. Smuggling and illegal manufacture was rampant. Although armed with enforcement powers, the League of Purity could not stem the tide of alcohol.

Then one day a wizened figure paid a call to the League's hall. He offered to summon celestial forces to aid the League in its battle against bootleggers and rum runners. The League foolishly accepted and that night a strange ritual was held in the hall, attended by the members of the League. Alas, the conjurer duped the League and opened a portal to the land of the Faedwyr. Suddenly, a horde of huge, ravenous black dogs raced from the portal.

The beasts ripped apart the members of the League and then rushed out into the streets. A bloodbath ensued as the startled citizens were torn limb from limb. The hounds were followed by an army of Faedwyr, intent on revenge for their defeat a year earlier.

OOC Notes

• The League of Purity was a storyline that I developed for my first reign. I have more to tell about the League at a later time.
• I decided to cap off the storyline with a dramatic turn of events, hence the summoning of our old nemesis, the Faedwyr.
• The remainder of my tale of the Faedwyr will relate the events of my end-reign in February 2016. The attack of the hounds was our first battlegame of the day. Teams portrayed hounds vs. humans (those trying to escape the attack). Per design, the humans died in droves. Scenario notes:
• 2 teams (one plays hounds and the other humans. Each team gets a chance to play hounds)
• The human team tries to get its people to a safe zone on the other side of the field. 1 point for every human to make it.
• When a human makes it to safety, he/she can respawn at the start and run the gauntlet again to score another point.
• Timed scenario with unlimited lives.

The Faedwyr War

Faced with an imminent invasion, Rufus gathered the Wardens while Kettlebaun rallied the Bilgewater Brigade, the militia of Lander's Edge. The portals opened and the Faedwyr poured into Ember Shoals. The freehold's troops put up a stiff resistance but they could not stem the tide. Slowly but surely they were pushed back to their strongholds.

Then, another seeming calamity befell. The Royal Navy of the neighboring kingdom executed an amphibious landing upon the main island. They pushed inland, seizing towns and villages and pillaging the locals' wealth.

But then fortune turned for Ember Shoals. They Royal Navy ran into the army of the Faedwyr. As the Wardens and Bilgewater Brigade watched, the two invaders battered each into tatters. Disheartened by the unholy terrors of the Faedwyr, the Royal Navy retreated from the Shoals.

Now vulnerable to counterattack, the Faedwyr tried to regain their dominance by launching a new terror upon Ember Shoals. They opened a a long shut cavern that bore into the heart of the volcano known as Cinderglow Mountain. Out from the depths crept the great wyrm known as Meraxxion Flamefiend. He flew the length of Ember Shoals, scorching all in its path. Then it settled upon the peak of Dargus Rock near the mouth of Hull Breaker Bay.

A map of the Shoals

A party of valiant warriors (including Shroudstar, Scaetha, Christophe, Octave, Kain, Huntario, and the Wardens) gathered a war fleet and sailed out to do battle. Meraxxion flew down from his perch and burned their fleet to the waterline.

The determined warriors swam to shore and straggled up the craggy sides of Dargus Rock. The accurate archery of the heroes wounded the beast and brought it down from the sky. Yet it had plenty of life left. It attacked with its massive jaws and sharp talons. Many a warrior was wounded and bleeding from the battle. But the heroes were undaunted, and after an epic struggle, one of the warriors delivered a telling blow (no one knows who it was). Meraxxion shuddered and collapsed. The great wyrm was no more.

The Faedwyr had bound up much of their power into reviving Meraxxion. With the beast dead, their power was broken. Keldric Lenarus rallied the armies of Ember Shoals and led them in a victorious counterattack upon the remains of the Faedwyr forces. Soon, they were banished back through the portals to their lands in the Otherworld.

The Faedwyr War was over. Or so we thought.

OOC Notes

• The Faedwyr storyline was the highlight of Kettlebaun's (Robb's) first reign. The three-way battle between Ember Shoals, the Faedwyr, and the Royal Navy was the scenario at our first end-reign. I don't remember all the details or who actually won (it wasn't Ember Shoals, unfortunately) so I improvised for dramatic effect.
• Shortly after end-reign we wrapped up the storyline with the battle against "Meraxxion" (played by Keldric/Evan). It was an epic battle that ended with the dragon's "death." I have to say that this was one of the most intense fights of my LARPing career. I feel that the RP backstory contributed to the intensity.