Game Session Recaps

[frenzied67]

Highlights of Episode Eleven
Erath, - Melwid 17th, CY1031

Enkili and Wolf worked together hacking at one of the three wererats they faced.  Leiya used her abilities to interfere with the lycanthropes retaliation against the two, while Blaylocke Anvilarm plied his shortbow and picked off the injured hybrid shapes.  Meanwhile Riardon and Jolrael raced around, skipped the door at the top of the stairs and went to the tunnel at the end of that hall.  There the two confronted Boscar the Rat and a common Skulker Thug; those two fled through a door at their backs, Boscar shouting orders.

The two fighters, cleric, and bard fell into a routine that began to wear the wererats down quickly, all the while two penned prisoners called for succor behind them.  On their own, the rogue and sailor/sorcerer(?) stepped into the room.  Immediately Skulker thugs poured out of the space Boscar had fled, and from the hallway door the two had ignored, another handful of criminals spilled out.  All Riardon and Jolly could do was fall back and try not to let the enemy flank them.  Riardon fell back into a small storage room swinging his silvered short sword in desperation; Jolrael was forced into a corner behind a table. 

Leiya, Blaylocke, Wolf, and Enkili heard the detonations of Jolrael’s spells, and they knew their friends were fighting on their own.  Yet the last wererats proved tenacious combatants.  Enkili was bitten two more times, the only hero to be exposed to the cursed disease they carried.  Injured by swarming attacks on his person, Jolrael Symara found the thugs lined up perfectly for his Thunderwave spell.  He bounced most of the group facing him with his first arcane shot away, killing only one, and he backed fully into his corner.  As they fell upon him again, the bad guys situated themselves for Jolly’s last real spell.  This time Thunderwave slew all the Skulkers and their new recruits in its detonation.  The last survivor ran cradling injured limbs.

Wolf and Enkili darted for the door the wererats had been defending right after the bard shot down the last of the lycanthropic lot, While Leiya and Blaylocke freed and questioned the prisoners.  After wending a maze of rooms and doors the fighting men found Riardon and the sailor healing their wounds and coming out of the little closet they had taken shelter in.  Following Boscar’s trail, they found the last Skulker recruit dead over grates that led deeper into the sewer.  Below, in a small cistern like room, the heroes discovered that the last surviving Skulker, Boscar the Rat, had assumed a full rat shape and escaped through a tunnel that not even a Halfling could fit.

After a brief discussion the crew looted what they could then sent word to Sess, Riardon’s underworld contact.  Though Boscar escaped, the local thieves guild were impressed with the groups carnage, though they did claim the Skulker’s lair as their own.  Our heroes found 13 pp., 127 gp., 20 ep., 140 sp., 200 cp., a carved ivory bracelet, 3 potions (healing, heroism, and hill giant strength after detect and identify were cast), 2 lapis lazuli, 12 polished quartz, a small gold bracelet, three silver trade bars (ingots), and a set of engraved bone dice.

Though he decided to inform the group after they trained, Blaylocke the bard claimed an urgent errand and he left the group.  Those heroes who remained, to this day, still pray for the time that Mr. Anvilarm might join them again.

Highlights of Episode Twelve
Erath, - Melwid 17th through Taznos 8th. CY1031

We will speak of Jolrael's training and purchases when he returns just as mysteriously as he vanished.  We hope he knows our prayers go with him.

Of the treasure, it was agreed that Leiya would hold the Elixir of Health (mislabeled as potion of healing above), Wolf was given the potion of Heroism, and Enkili claimed the Potion of Hill Giant Strength).  Leiya also wanted one chunk of the lapis lazuli to turn into prayer beads.  Wolf and Enkili both purchased locks and chests to ride in the party’s (Wolf’s) wagon.  This was after all the other items were sold.  Enkili trained to become a Battle Master, a fighter who utilizes tricky maneuvers to bring about favorable conditions in combat.  Through the lunar cycle, Enkili is declared free of Lycanthropy from the trio of bites he had taken.

Riardon’s training was having him join four other thieves guild members in a heist.  The mansion that was targeted seemed proof against stealthy entry, lock picking attempts, and other roguish skills ( and Rodor's new spells).  Riardon’s only luck that night was his ability to get the lot of them free without being caught.  He lost a little sway with the underground of Solare.

Wolf trains then does some light shopping, He chooses to join the cavalier's to learn his fighting skills. 

For the next five days, Enkili researched the map to Darsta they found in the catacombs.  Using his new calligrapher’s skills (and 50 gp in bribes) to help him unravel the map, they discover that the old city was next to the Dragonspine Mountains in western Sedaria.  The dead king of that ancient city state cursed those who had killed him, but his ghost slays all who enter his garden.

Out of curiosity, Leiya began to read “the Dishonor of Dispair” a tattered book found in a curio shop.  So garbled were the words, that she began to suspect it was some form of coded script.  Enlisting Enkili and Riardon, the three of them researched together to discover a map to the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to a minor god (Eyah) of Dreams and visions.  Liral was the name of the temple and the last high priest was Zerandis.  From some of the papers taken from The Torrent (the chained Heart slaver ship), the priestess also finds that the Chained Heart Slavers may be working out of The Freehold in the south.

Also, in a group collaboration, the party discovers that the Tiefling, Ethorm Maurgan, fled to the capitol of Bhel to study something.  That leaves the heroes torn.  All the possibilities they have for adventure lead away from Solare, and they lack the money to travel far.  Fortunately in 4 days time, the festival of Shieldmeet is happening and the games are being held in Sedaria.  There are many forms of tournaments with fat prizes, many full purses for Riardon’s itchy fingers, and other opportunities to find coin.

These are the five adventures open to our party, listed in nearest to farthest distance from Solare.

Shieldmeet in Solare, several days of games and tournaments

Coded message’s ruined temple west of Lake Sedaria (? north west of Wizard’s Peak).

Pursuit of the Chained Wings (slavers) in The Freehold.

Lost city of Darsta in the Dragonspine mountains in south west Sedaria.

Vengeance on the Run in Norak, Bhel.  Ethorm Mourgan’s hiding place.

Highlights of Episode Thirteen
Erath, - Taznos 8- 10th . CY1031

Enkili’s past poses a problem for him entering the Shieldmeet games.  In the rules it states that the entry required for most of the games is either an invitation, documentations proving ones noble pedigree, or a sponsorship from the well to do.  Only the archery contests are “open” to the public.  Riardon takes a stroll through town using his mage hand spell to pick the pockets of the unwary; he gains 25 gold for his efforts even though he barely slipped away after his crimes.  The rest of the party (Leiya, Jolrael Symarna, and Enkili) approached Wellborn Huxley to see if he could help with a sponsorship.  As a representative of Wizard’s Peak Wellborn would only be able to sponsor a mage or sorcerer of the guild in magical combat on the 4th day of the tourney.

However the wizard did pave the way with three well to do people of Solare who could sponsor the team; the interviews were held on the 9th of Taznos.  The first was Lord Cromley, whose daughter had been saved by Leiya at “The Lion of the Ancients” fiery attack.  He was already the patron of a fighter in the lists, but he did offer a remuneration package of 500g.p. should the party’s gear be “captured” and held for ransom during the games.  A generous proposition only if the team could become sponsored by someone else.

Their next potential sponsor was Lady Alisande who was the daughter of a new magistrate of the nation.  They found a lot of the lady’s decorations to be gilded imitations of rich peoples belongings, proving that the young lady was striving for position amongst the high and mighty.  Jolly and the lady sparked distaste off of each other upon first meeting, and as the questioning went on, even Leiya started to see darkness in the young woman.  In a fit of desperation Enkili offered a martial display to prove his worth to Alisande, but when she made one of her servants take up a shield and stave to face the young warrior, Enkili began to understand the underhanded heart Alisande had.  Through intimidation he made the young servant boy Hubert quail in fear, which prompted the desert man to ask for a real fighter to face.

Alisande demanded that Enkili beat the servant or she would withhold her patronage.  Her sponsorship was declined with ill feelings, yet Leiya was able to free Hubert from Alisande’s service.  The boy gravitated toward the party offering to work for food.  They did not promise the young man an extended time of working for them, but they did express a desire to see him placed in better conditions (home was not an option for Hubert.)  Wellborn Huxley next offered them the address of Lady Adelein, a retired paladin of Melwen and a famous dragon slaying hero.

Riardon joined the team for this early evening outing.  Lady Adelein was much more receptive to the tale that the young heroes gave her during her questioning period.  Even Enkili’s convoluted familial tale did not strike the woman as odd and off putting.  After she discovered Lord Cromley’s endowment for ransom, Adelein agreed to sponsor any in the party who wished to enter the lists for any competition.  Lady Adeleid asked that Enkili come over the next day (the 10th of Taznos) to be fitted for his armor and gear.  She also sees some spark in Hubert and asked that Enkili take it upon himself to train the young man in the use of arms.  Hubert agrees to act as “squire” to Enkili and Jolrael who expressed a desire to compete with his sling in the open archery tourneys.

Also, Wellborn has asked Jolly to become a part of Wizard’s Peak guild; a position that never used to be open to “natural” casters until the war.  It may be that Jolrael may soon have a license to cast magic in public, a coup for sorcerer’s the world over!

Highlights of Episode Fourteen
Erath, - Taznos 10th . CY1031

As Lady Adelene made sure the would be contestants were fitted for their armor and arms, and trained while in them and with them, Hubert was made to learn the duties of a tourney squire.  Meanwhile, rumors began to circulate about important visitors and their champions.  1) As mortal foes in real life, the rumor that Bhel’s champion and the hero of Errod would be fighting to the death.  2) Representatives from Uhria would be joining the games for the first time in Shieldmeet history.  3) N’maria will be participating, and their Queen shall be in attendance.  4) Svealund Dougal, the Wokari chief (an Angierthan tribe) would be coming.  5) Kaashak, the new Maklu of Bhel has deigned to come and observe the games.  6) From Brandt, the legendary warrior Prince Eidwe is reputed to be coming to enter the jousting tourneys.  7) Emperor Alexi Ilyanovitch of Onastia (Leiya’s homeland) is bringing his best champion, Eleyna Petrovia, to have her enter the martial lists; her reputation is one of brutality.

The party’s benefactor had another rumor emerge about her.  Evidently Lady Adilene is reputed to have killed the giant that slew her father when she was but a teen.  The participating nations will be Mandagar, Shandeer, Endel, Errod, several tribes from Angiertha, Bhel, Sedaria, Brandt, Onastia, N’maria, Uhria.  Though the rumors have not been confirmed, Dhanta, Quan, and Gora may have champions arrive to enter the lists.  May the gods say it so, and all praise be bestowed upon them!  May glory fall upon the champions who stand as representations of Tazen's and Melwen’s will manifested upon Erath!

Highlights of Episode fifteen
Erath, - Taznos 10-13th. CY1031

Wolf settles on jousting, mounted melee, melee single combat, and horsemanship games.  He too is fitted for half plate and is given a horse to ride.  During the opening rituals on Taznos 12th, the Lady of Mercy was chosen, and Lady Meren of Clearbrook is chosen; her champion is Durne (or Sir Durne) of Wesfolk.  That morning, Riardon almost got caught picking pockets.  He was forced to run and rely on his illusion spells to make his escape.

Since the party is made up of mostly unknown foreigners, not a single individual was invited to the first feast, but the nightlife in Solare was going into overtime with impromptu competitions, feasting, and drinking of all sorts.  Riardon made good on his picking of pockets, he earned enough to pay his “guild” dues and offers Leiya the rest of the money too help support Melwen’s sisterhood or other Melwenite causes.

Leiya just wandered through the crowds watching the various wrestling or boxing matches she came across.  Wolf hung out with some of the folks setting up the competitions, he learned his first melee opponent is not a known quantity, but his jousting partner is Sir Tumbolt a knight with a little bit of a reputation at arms.  Wolf also learned that Enkili’s first melee foe is an unknown Brandti fighter.  Enkili takes Hubert with him as they wander the festival filled night.  He encourages young Hubert to enter a boxing match so the young man could get a taste for the adrenaline his body will feed him during a fight.  The boy is dropped in three punches without landing one blow, Enkili tries to stop the bout, but Hubert wades back in without hesitation.

Enkili pulled Hubert out after a fourth punch sets the young man back on his backside, he then treats Hubert to a roast and potato dinner, and they spend the rest of the evening picking out good fighting technique over bad.  Seven criminals are placed into the tourney for Shieldmeet justice.  Wolf is the first party member to have a bout on the 13th of Taznos, the first day of actual competition.  The bard that Lady Adilene had working the crowd on behalf of the party members grants Wolf a bardic inspiration while Leiya buffs his armor with a Shield of Faith spell.  The ex watchman does not start off too well, taking heavy blows from his opponent while fighting mace and shield, then in one hit he forced his foe to concede the fight.

Enkili’s first foot melee fight sees him getting Shield of Faith buff from Leiya and has help intimidating his Brandti foe from the bard; he loses the coin toss and has to fight sword and shield (his opponent’s choice).  In one hit he strikes so powerfully that his foe concedes (critical hit).  Wolf has his first jousting contest and takes Shield of Faith and another Bardic Inspiration.  In the first pass, Wolf chose to aim for Sir Tumbolt’s shield and twisted away from his lance.  Wolf tilted true (critical hit), shattering his lance on the shield and knocks his opponents helmet off.  Sir Tumbolt misses entirely.  Wolf earns five points to zero points first tilt.  The second pass saw Wolf using the same tactics.  Again his aim was so daunting (2nd critical hit) that he shattered his lance, unhelmed his opponent, and this time knocked the knight off his horse.  This made the score 15 to 0 as Sir Tumbolt missed again and was knocked out when he hit the ground.

Highlights of Episode Sixteen
Erath, - Taznos Fellsday 13th-. CY1031
(My apologies RC, I dropped the ball in my note taking by not paying attention to the right exposition.  I tried to recreate your archery scores from my faulty memory.  I hope I captured the thrill of your slinging for glory at least.)

With the sun just past it’s zenith, young men and women began to place targets of woven straw out on plinths for the archery contests.  Referee’s ambled about proclaiming that a shot in the outer ring would give that contestant one point, the second ring two points, the middle ring three, the ring just outside of a bullseye was four whole points and that desirable spot in the middle was worth five golden points.  In pairs the contestants would square off and get three shots each at the target, the individual with the most points would continue on into the next round while the loser would be eliminated.  Today’s contest would see five rounds of elimination.

Sitting on a bench just off the line, Jolrael Symarna waited his turn while his first opponent sped his stones downrange.  Two misses and a three point shot.  Jolly stretched his shoulders before taking the mark.  His first shot flew wide, but the sorcerer’s second and third shots smacked the straw for a clear six points and his first victory of the day.  His next opponent landed an astounding eight points with three solid strikes.  As a champion should, each of Jolraels three shots eked out a point closer to the bullseye than his opponents shots had, another three points over the other contestant and Jolly got his second win.

Stress began to mount within the Errodian Sailor.  In the third round his opponent got an outer ring for 1 point, a 5 point bullseye, and a strike in the 3 point circle, for a total of 9 points.  The sorcerer’s first shot was in the 3 point circle, then just outside that for 2 points more.  In the stands, Jolrael’s friends fretted and called out their belief in him.  He made Enkili and Hubert go berserk when he hit that sweet sweet bullseye to win by one slight point.

In the fourth round, Jolrael faced Cercka the Eye, a fellow Errodian with an outgoing personality.  Cercka accepted his defeat with a smile and hearty praise of Jolrael Symara.  In the fifth and final round, the young sorcerer’s opponent scored a total of 6 points in his three shots.  Jolly beat that in two shots, scoring a bullseye and third ring for 8 points total.  As his friends all but hoist the Errodian on their shoulders, a large man approached.  Vlocka the Vast, an Onastian merchant claimed that he had won a lot of money betting on Jolrael, and for that he graciously invited Jolly and his friends too accept sweet deals from his great stores of merchandise.

As Leiya, Hubert, the sorcerer and crew were making a possible contact, Riardon the rogue slipped into the crowed, following a brightly dressed middle age man from Angala.  Although the man had filed teeth, the Elf crept closer and closer until he was just behind him.  Deft fingers slipped the scrip off the man’s shoulders and Riardon was blocks away before the hue and cry broke out.  Among the foreign coins, the thief came away with a deck of playing cards (northern manufacture), a map of Solare city, and a statuette of a smug looking Halfling.  Leiya received four gold coins as a donation to Melwen from Riardon when he returned, he had a half believable story of acting as a guide to earn those coins.

Erath’s greatest foot race saw over one hundred twenty contestants enter and take up positions behind the starting line.  Contestants and the audience hear the referees call out that this race would be held in fifteen legs, the three legs of the “straightaway”, and the fourth leg was a broad ditch to be hurdled just before the cliff face.  The sixty foot wall counted as the fourth, fifth, and sixth leg and was made of compacted dirt.  Legs seven and eight were to be a dash up a grueling slope.  At the top would be the ninth leg, where the contestants were to dive off a cliff into the choppy waters of the lake below.  Swimming that lake would be the next two legs of the race, where the competitors were supposed to crawl out into the swamp, a muddy pit that comprised the thirteenth leg.  The final dash would take up the last two legs of the race, where Tazen would rejoice in the glory of the victor.

As the starting horn blew, Enkili (Competing as Dumuzid of the Whispering Waste) found himself in the middle of the back quarter press of flesh, but he managed to claw his way to lead two thirds of the racers upon reaching the second leg.  He lost some ground coming up on the jumping hazard, the desert man and several other racers did not make the jump and ended up being trampled by those eager to leave them behind.  Now at the rear third of all the runners, Enkili almost reached the halfway point of the crowd when the dirt cliff was reached.  With over a hundred people clinging to the wall, Enkili had a hard time fighting his way to be in the first third of the pack... just before the top ledge of the cliff gave way and tumbled scores of runners down including him.

Later estimates stated that four racers died in that fall, three others were too injured to continue on.  That cliff stopped over half the racers.  Leiya, who dashed out with many concerned onlookers, healed Enkili even as the fighter started climbing up and over those who were too week to complete the climb; then she helped other injured runners which impressed many important people.  By the time the Mandagan reached the top, the lead competitors were three legs ahead.  Undaunted he churned on, thoroughly muddy and hot with his own sweat.  Passing flagging runners up the slope, Enkili kept his pace steady and put himself only two legs behind the first position leader gaining the slopes top.

Two things at the lake shake Enkili a little: 1)he’s never dived before.  2)He’s never been in water where his toes could not touch the bottom.  Despite this he commits himself to his first graceful belly flop, in a bid to imitate the divers in front of himself.  Trying to ignore the deep water, Enkili bobbed to the surface and found a drowning competitor splashing just in front of him.  Feeling the eyes of his father looking down from his soldier’s paradise, the Mandagan fighter pulled the poor man to the cliff where he could cling and recover.  Although he thought his race was over, Enkili swam on, determined to cross the finish line even if scores of people beat him over it.

Halfway over the tossing waters he swam up on two more contestants whose strength had failed them, their eyes were panicked and they obviously did not have the gas to even tread the water, their limbs may have been cramping up on them.  For the first time in three years, Enkili mouthed a swear word, but he knew he had to stop and help.  Taking the two drowning people in his care he started the slow swim to shore, before noticing Scores of onlookers swimming out to meet him.  Under the panic of the two he was trying to save, Enkili himself went under and found fear in his own heart.  They were heavy, they were frightened, Enkili’s great reserve of energy was almost spent, and the water was so deep.

Stressed and afraid but not wanting to yield to the long dark of death, Enkili paddled harder and brought the three of them to the surface; fear even lent the young man the strength to close with their would-be rescuers.  Gette of Brandti, a fellow competitor had noticed Enkili’s heroic effort and had voluntarily swam all the way back to help, taking one of the drowning men off of Enkili’s hands.  Unfortunately for Gette, the last of his strength was given in that deed, the Brandti urged Enkili to continue on as he himself quit the race.  The lake was a barrier that became the quitting point for scores of competitors.

Even after three rescues, Enkili still discovered that he was passing much of the remaining competition; his physical fitness such that he was far from out of the running.  Gette had been in fourth place, a fact Enkili discovered after he passed two more swimmers in the lake.  In the swamp he chased the first place runner through the muck, coming even with the man as they muddily came to the paved street and saw the finish line.  Both men passed each other, stumbling more than running, but just as Enkili was throwing his chest out to break that line of tape, his last foe made his own heroic surge and crossed that line first.

Enkili did not notice that his name was called out much more than the winner’s name, he spent his time lauding the victor and taking joy in the man’s accomplishment.  Just crossing that finish line had been an achievement the young fighter would never forget.  That night, Enkili was summoned before the competition’s notables, Gette and he were recognized for their heroic efforts in saving lives through that grueling race.  But before that, Riardon stalked the evening crowds, coming away with more coins and a rough carnelian stone.  The Elven rogue was beginning to see the patterns within the cities watch and their hidden and disguised security measures.

Close to eleven hundred brawny fighters marched into the grand field for the Grand Melee.  Wolf could not locate Enkili in the massive press of bodies.  The rules were simple, survive to be the last creature standing.  Up until the horns blew, the crowd could not be heard, the fighting men and women’s conversations and taunts had dominated the noise levels until then.  Even before the first wooden stave smacked armor the spectators were making ecstatic noises which were a deafening roar.  Everyone was buffeted, jostled and smacked soundly before six seconds had passed.  Wolf managed to square off against one foe, whom he swatted down easily.  Enkili also faced a single person that encounter, but he was knocked around.

On his next memorable encounter, Wolf found himself surrounded by four opponents and he was played like a ping pong ball on a multi sided table.  Trying to find his friend, the Mandagan swordsman instead found himself helping a group of two other fighters take down a man fighting like a wounded lion; that man was hauled off the field.  After failing to fall down a shift in dynamics placed Wolf beside some of his former opponents attacking a new foe; together they dragged that doughty fighter down and removed them from the game.  Facing several foes at once, Enkili not only defended himself from flailing wood, he also managed to sneak in a good hit that dropped one of the pack.  Most of the weaker contestants had been removed by this point.

In his fourth memorable encounter, Wolf too found himself surrounded, and his savage counter attack saves him and dropped one of the gaggle.  Without knowing it, Enkili swung at one foe at the same time that three others also attacked, one more down.  Still facing a large pack of foes, Wolf again defended himself and popped another one out of the contest.  Enkili did not fare as well as four pummel him at once, staggering him.

Locking his wooden blade against a stout fighter, Wolf has a wonderful duel before a score of sword swinging maniacs interpose their melees where they had been fighting.  A swirl in the fighting confuse the group trying to take Enkili down, they all attack another member of the pack, removing them.  Again finding himself part of a temporary pack, Wolf helped pull down a figure who did not want to go down.  At the same time, the Mandagan also helped face off against a mighty fighter who held off the small pack of four by himself; even Enkili.

With just a few large handfuls of the toughest fighters left, Wolf had to face several at once; he punished the group by taking one of them down before dispersing them.  Enkili’s eighth memorable bout was with just a single swordsman, he won after a grueling bout.  Facing just one person, Wolf snaked the tip of his stave out and knocked that foe cold.  A gaggle three fighters took a moment to knock Enkili around almost dropping the young hero.  Then for a moment there was a stillness when the remaining contestants realized that only a little more than a handful of them were left.

Squaring off into three separate melees, the final six contestants swung wood with skill and determination.  Each one saw the end of the contest looming and they each were savoring the idea that they could be the big winner.  Unable to swing straight, all of a sudden, the two heroes found themselves out matched.  Enkili fell first, having suffered more damage through the whole fray.  For sixth place he won a purse of 10 gold pieces.  Wolf who fell at fifth place earned 15 gold.  Thus ended the first day of Shieldmeet, with notable contestants being observed by the hosting officials, visiting nobility, and even the few persons of royal birth who were attending

Highlights of Episode Seventeen
Erath, - Taznos Endrest 13-14th-. CY1031

As the last few contestants were straggling away from their end of day bouts, Gette, Enkili, and Leiya were acknowledged by the event coordinators for their humanity, compassion, and selflessness throughout the day’s events.  That is where they learn that Leiya was recognized for “Piety in the Temple” for upholding Melwen’s tenets in the chaos of Shieldmeet.  Telizen of Flamespire had been the winner of both the Grand Melee and the footrace.

Jolrael finally realized that the archery competitions happened every day through Shieldmeet, and he did not have enough round sling stones.  With Hubert and Enkili’s help they gathered as many round rocks as they could before the light faded.  He then wandered over to the Rusty Bedpan to make sure the inn keeper and his family were still faring well.  The nightlife of Shieldmeet was ensuring that the inn was thriving.  Meanwhile Leiya had spent time at the church helping feed the poor and tending the sick; she then joined Enkili to wander through the street to street festivals that was Solare at night.

After discussing all the repeat criminals being hung while Shieldmeet was going on, the two noticed a street urchin with a stuffed animal eyeing some sticky buns with avarice in his/her androgynous eyes.  Leiya bought the child a proper meal after Enkili purchased a sticky bun for her/him.  The urchin took the food and ran.  Wolf hung out near the event coordinators again, spying out who he would face in the morning.  The Errodian learned that a trade agreement might be signed between Sedaria and Brant, and that he would be jousting against Elgar.  Riardon burglarized an estate whose owner had not been paying their “protection” fees to the underworld.  Easy money for the Elven Rogue.

In the morning the heroes learned that Enkili was to have 3 bouts, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, and one in the late afternoon.  At the same time Wolf would be doing his first joust in the morning, a melee on foot in the early afternoon, then a final joust in the evening.  In the afternoon, Jolrael would also be competing with his sling.

In the first tilt Elgar scored 3 points against Wolf, but 3 points were scored against him.  When their lances crossed for the second round, Wolf only scored 2 points against his opponent.  Elgar scored no points but had been well and truly bloodied to the point he conceded the rest of the bout to Wolf.

Axsess the Lean faced Enkili with sword and shield at the same time that Wolf was humbling his opponent.  In the first of five rounds the two sword fighters tied with 1 point a piece.  In round Two Enkili pulled ahead, scoring 2 points to 0.  Neither warrior scored a point in the third pass.  Round four was a repeat of the first pass where both men scored a point.  Axsess desperately tried to score points in the final pass of this bout, but he only scored 1 point while Enkili stole the man’s dreams by taking 2 more points to win 6 to 3 overall.

Before Sedarian soldiers happened along, Riardon managed to pluck 1 platinum, 18 gold, and 4 electrum pieces from one oblivious event spectator during morning crime time.

This day was not so kind to Jolrael Symara.  In his first round he got three bullseyes and scored 15 points which was a great start.  His next round however is not so well shot.  His opponent got 10 points but Jolly only had one bullseye and two one point shots.  He fell from the champion’s bracket in the competition but would be able to continue seeking a prize in what amounts to the widcard bracket.

Enkili faced Theed the Stanley in his afternoon melee.  Enkili chose longsword and shield for this bout.  Enkili took round one with 2 to 0 points.  Round two saw a draw at 0 points even.  Again Enkili does well on the fourth engagement, scoring 2 points to 1.  The crowd was eager to see “Dumuzid of the Whispering Waste” fall on the fourth pass where Theed got an unanswered hit (0-1).  Even more than seeing a champion fall, the crowd loved seeing a favorite rally.  Enkili scored 3 points to 1 against him to take the bout at 7-2.

On the other side of the tourney field, Wolf faced his foot melee foe with sword and board.  Volga the Strongarm first had to deal with the ridicule of Lady Adelien’s bard, who disparages Wolf’s opponent mightily.  In their first pass neither Wolf or Volga scored a point.  Pass two saw the two bashing each other mightily, Wolf edges Volga out 3 to 2 in new points.  In the third engagement the bard’s barbs began to really show, Volga could not exploit a single opportunity to hit Wolf, 1-0.  Pass four is another 1-0 score for Wolf.  Wolf turns on the juice on the fifth round, overawing his opponent 3-0 to win 8-2!

Feeling jaunty after giving his 4 electrum pieces to beggars, Riardon again tried to stalk a fat purse with a party goer attached to it.  This time his fingers did not work as requested.  Utilizing his magic, Riardon barely slipped into the crowd without anyone getting a good look at him.  A narrow escape indeed.

Enkili’s third and final match for the day was against Lug the Lucky.  Aggressively Enkili met his opponent scoring 2 points to 0 in the first passage of arms.  Round two he again scored two hits and receives none.  The third round was purely defensive for both fighters with a 0-0 score.  In the fourth round Lug got an early hit, but Enkili exploded and struck him back for 2 points.  Lug was forced to concede the fifth round as there was no physical way for him to even tie their scores, 6-1 victory for Enkili.

Somehow Guglaakh the half orc from Bhel discovered that Wolf was an Errodian.  The two nations have had a tense peace for the last year, but they are still at war with one another.  In the first pass, neither of them score.  In the second pass Wolf did well and scored 5 points for shattering his lance and knocking Guglaakh’s helm askew, however the half Orc got 3 points for the show he put on.  Wolf was unhorsed in the third pass for a 0-8 round.  In the fourth charge neither combatant scored, so the bout went to Guglaakh, 5-11.  Wolf had to go to the wildcard list, but the Bhellian held his horse and armor for ransom.  In a great show of unsportsmanlike disdain, Guglaakh refused to ransom the armor back to Wolf.  Outraged horse fighters from many lands pooled their money to get the Errodian both a mount and armor so he could continue fighting in the lists.

Karma shows itself in odd moments.  At some point in the evening, Guglaakh discovered that many valuables were missing from his tent.  A smug looking Riardon bought Wolf a drink with coins he had not held that afternoon.  Leiya again chose to wander through the carnival atmosphere of Solare at night.  She found the androgynous urchin again, discovering that she is a little girl named Miria.  The two of them come to an agreement where information equates to food and care for the child.  After the two ladies part ways, Leiya is approached by one of Melwen’s better known priests.  This man makes an argument that Leiya should enter the displays of “ordination”, which are the clerical trials in Shieldmeet.  Being humble, Leiya begs for time to think about the request.

That night news of almost all the attendant nations brokering agreements, treaties, and deals with each other was spread by jubilant celebrants.  Sedaria and Brandt did make their trade agreement official, while Sedaria and Nodra conclude a border agreement with each other.  Angiertha and Errod signed a mutual defense pact.  On top of that Errod and Endel brokered a trade agreement that seemed quit lucrative too both political parties.

Highlights of Episode Eighteen
Erath, - Taznos Moonday 15th-. CY1031

At dawn Leiya would have her Tests of Ordination, and begged Enkili not to wear a skirt to cheer her on. Things are heating up in the archery competitions and Jolrael Symara discovered he had two contests for this day, one in the morning and one in mid afternoon. Wolf found that his two bouts conflicted with each other he had to agonize over which event to drop, the foot melee or the joust. Enkili had foot melee bouts all day, morning, noon, and afternoon.