Epic - Twenty-Four Years Later

Escape From Kondii

We appeared in Kondii, standing on Shang-Ti's symbol, but there was a troop of Kharash, about a score, riding through the valley. As we looked around we could see that there were lots more Kharash encamped around the Kondii, although thankfully none seemed interested in the cave for the moment. It was no longer winter, with no snow visible, so time had passed although we had no idea how much at this point. A voice in the cave challenged Garuk, who had arrived first, calling out "thief"! The creature didn't seem impressed to see us, and demanded to know what we had stolen. Before we could respond, though, a Githyanki appeared having followed us through.

Magic missiles streaked at Garuk, so it was clear that we were being targeted, then he charged at us, striking me as I ran him through. He died quickly, but I had taken a nasty wound, and another one appeared to engage us. I struck him twice before Garuk finished him off. Fulgar meanwhile had made his way up above the cave, and was peering over the side, confused as to why we hadn't followed him - sometimes he was just too fast to follow! The creature that had been skulking around seemed impressed but wary and we left him to join Fulgar, thankfully unseen by the Kharash.

We had to head north to Cron, especially as time had passed since we entered the pathways between worlds. It was the only place we were likely to find answers and not be met with hostility, anyway. We walked for the rest of the day, following the mountains and staying away from the road, but strangely saw no wildlife and only a few Kharash riders. We stopped to rest overnight, as well as giving Fulgar and I a chance to train properly after all the disruption. We were undisturbed and Fulgar called Shang-Ti's blessing upon us in the morning before we set off once more. We traveled for half a day before we caught sight of some fortifications ahead that I didn't recognise. They were no makeshift barricade, either, being stonework and well constructed... had years passed?!

We avoided going near the place, skirting farther west as we neared the Karuk Way. As we crossed over (the mountains weren't quite as imposing this far north), we met a dwarf who called himself "Rodin the Bold" who it seemed had been hunting rabbits. He spoke in an old tongue, strangely, but one that Fulgar and I knew. He seemed friendly and willing to talk of the land and some of its history. We realised that it had been twenty-four years since we entered the Kondii! The Githyanki had won the fight here, with Kharash supporting them (known just as the Law Keepers now). It explained the strange tongue, and any talk of the Gods was considered ancient history. We had protected my people against one threat, but failed utterly against another!

We had no choice but to continue, hoping to find someone friendly at Cron, and traveled until the end of the day, training and then resting in the mist tent. We were very close to the Karuk Way now and picked our route carefully to keep to cover. It wasn't long before Fulgar warned that horses were close, but then we heard sounds of a fight. We approached carefully to find archers engaging Kharash riders, and winning by the look of it. Half a dozen managed to ride off, with the others killed without being able to respond. We surprised one of the archers, who looked worried but relieved that we were not one of the foe. He asked us to wait and said he would send someone to us rather than have us follow them, and we agreed to his terms.

About an hour later a rider approached on a white horse. They wore jumbled, homemade armour, but carried a nice looking longbow and also a shortbow. We were a little cautious about introducing ourselves, but they seemed quite receptive of anyone that was opposed to the "Law Keepers". Fulgar wanted to talk to their leader about the Gods, noting that they seemed to believe the Gods had left them years ago. He agreed to take us, but said that Garuk would likely not be welcome given his resemblance to the Githyanki.

He took us through caves that passed under the Karuk Way and then continued north of Batuhan (as it used to be called anyway). We climbed up to a mesa in the mountains then descended back towards the river. When we were in the low ground we were blindfolded and taken through another cave, staying underground for about half an hour it seemed. When we were allowed to see again we were on the other side of the river with some open ground ahead of us. We would have to sprint across as fast as we could to minimise the risk of being seen. Thankfully we were not challenged, and the we headed back up a mesa.

After some time our guide took Garuk away to climb higher, asking us to wait but leaving his horse with us. He returned without incident, leaving Garuk at the highest point with a great view to meditate. He took us on the final leg of our journey where we found a canyon settlement very similar to Marun that I hadn't known existed, but was clearly ancient. There were a lot of people here - surprisingly so. Fulgar at once noticed that effigies of the Gods were common in the architecture, although not cared for as well as we would have expected in our time.

New Minnerwe

We were taken to their chief's building and waited in a well appointed room. After a short wait we met Makhansu, the leader of these people. He seemed to welcome anyone that could fight against their foes and bring back resources useful to them, and was particularly interested in Fulgar's Way and its link to Shang-Ti's truth. He also admired my armour and weapons, something that seemed highly valued by the people here. Fulgar agreed to an exhibition fight to show his knowledge of the Way with one of their fighters, which he lost although I suspect he was being polite - even though his opponent was clearly a good fighter.

We spent some time learning the ways of these people and joining them on raiding parties, proving our worth to them in the process. Even Garuk was accepted after the initial suspicion had worn off, although he was still made fun of by some of the children. Fulgar's shapeshifting also drew attention, although they were more impressed by this than fearful. We also did what we could to teach them of the Gods, and many battlefields were dedicated to Huang-Ti and Shang-Ti. Sometimes the Gods did seem to favour us in battle, so we knew that they were still with us no matter how much time had passed. I also made a point of giving the Runestone to Fulgar; he was the very embodiment of Shang-Ti's Way and it did have healing powers when used correctly, and as my people no longer seemed to exist, at least here, it was right that it should be his.

After several weeks some interesting news reached us of a captured Githzerai on a ship heading towards the city, so we set off with some guides to find out more. We had to travel overnight, but reached it the next day in time to intervene if it was possible. It was a large, three-masted galleon but had few sails set so it was moving quite slowly up the river. We were really not sure whether we could attack something on the water effectively, and we had a heated and lengthy discussion about whether it was possible or worth it. In the end what tipped us towards trying it was that we caught a glimpse of a white tiger in a cage... could it be Khat?!

Fulgar blessed us with Shang-Ti's protection and our guides used their archery skills to kill the pilot, leaving the vessel unguided. Garuk summoned a fog to shield us from archers as we approached, although sadly one of our guides was killed by a stray shot through the fog. Garuk used his powers to levitate, holding me up, and then Fulgar ran across the water pulling us behind him. Truly we were blessed by the Gods! A warning horn sounded as we reached the ship and started to climb. Fulgar reached the top easily and snarled angrily at those on deck, smashing one off the back of the boat with a stunning blow. There wasn't much space, though, as the defenders pressed onto the stern so we were struggling to join him.

Fulgar killed two more before I managed to force my way onto the deck, and we were all taking damage from arrow fire or sword blows. Garuk took too many blows and fell into the water, unconscious, and Fulgar quickly dived in after him, dragging his head above the water behind the ship where the archers couldn't target them. I killed two of my attackers, obviously becoming the target now, while Fulgar used Shang-Ti's runestone to heal Garuk's wounds. He was completely refreshed and woke with a start, grabbing hold of the ship before it could pull away.

They both began the climb to join me again, and Garuk conjured a hypnotic pattern around the archers farther up the deck as he reached the top. I was having no real trouble killing the fighters, but the archers were taking a toll and I had been badly hurt. Garuk conjured some kind of cloud onto deck next, still targeting the archer. I killed two more of the defenders and some of the archers lost their nerve, jumping into the water terrified. I ran up to the remaining archers before I realised that they were not really in control of themselves, instead just staring into space.

We waited a few minutes, unopposed now, for the dweomer to disperse, making sure that the rest of the sailors that had been mesmerised fled when they came around. Fulgar eating their captain's arm in front of their faces probably helped to convince them that this was the best course of action. We then freed Khat, for it was indeed her, and Grimbol (the Githzerai). They quickly summarised some of the history for us; they had fought a war twelve years ago but had been defeated, and Cron was now in a secret place away from the river, the city having been lost in the war. The Githyanki ruled with the Kharash as law bringers, as we had already discovered, and the old calendar and worship of the Gods had been lost.

We steered the ship into the bank, deliberately grounding it, and salvaged what we could whilst keeping watch for other river traffic. What we could not carry we tried to stash some distance from the river for others to collect, although when we saw that another ship was approaching we left anything remaining and set fire to the vessel to deny it to the foe. We returned quite laden, with the help of our released friends, to the settlement of Minnerwe and were given permission to admit the newcomers for an audience with Makhansu.

The total haul (I note it here in case any of it became important as we learned more of this new world) was:

7 scrolls (Garuk)
Two golden metal jugs - they would refill with wine over the course of a day, bound to be popular at feasts
An Ioun Stone of Wisdom (Fulgar)
Four earthernware pots of keoghtoms (we shared)
A phial of fizzing white liquid - Super Heroism (Batu)
A potion of Speed (Batu)
A phial of thick purple liquid - Neutralise Poison (Garuk)
Effigies of the old Gods in silvery precious metal - the whole pantheon in an ivory case (Fulgar arranged for these to be set beside the effigies of stone, and for the mason to work on them)
Golden metal braces with metalwork and plates to fit the hands, which would allow the wearer to climb as if a skilled climber (equivalent level rogue)
A bag of climbing equipment - silk rope 25', pitons, hammer

Two pouches of gems (about twenty stones in total)
A tiara in silvery metal - not magical
A chunky golden necklace with gems - not magical
Two bracelets - not magical
Four horns with silver ends patterned - not magical

There were also the following of note, left with the stash of useful materials: Five brocage tapestries
Two large gold-bound mirrors

Champions of Death

We spent some weeks at New Minnerwe as Fulgar trained with them in the Way, and I learned something of their riding skills and how to sustain a fast pace for longer. Khat, who stayed in tigress form, and Grimbolt were also welcomed as we vouched for them and were trusted. In all it was fairly uneventful, even with the routine of raiding the Kharash, at least until Abukhan came to visit. He bowed and touched the doorway as he entered, which was the custom here, before announcing that his scouts had seen strange riders encroaching on their territory. Their description was just that they were "like the Kharash but worse", all armoured in black and numbered about a dozen. I was keen to understand this new potential threat, but Fulgar was reluctant to put us at risk without good reason.

We decided to position ourselves on a point of high ground that would likely intercept their path but was defensible and hard for cavalry to reach, and just observe what they were up to. A young scout, Moncoyn, took us to a likely position on the Mesa with a steep side that the cavalry could not traverse. He had a bird of prey with him, which was interesting, and we positioned ourselves near the edge but amongst rocks so as not to be silhouetted. The riders came into view eventually, and not far from where we were waiting. They were particularly evil looking - with skull flails, blood red swords, various other nasty spiked weapons, spiked helms, and strange shadowy torsos from which it was difficult to make out a true form.

They stopped as we watched and one stood up in their saddle to make a strange haunting call, like a wolf in pain, that sent a shudder through Fulgar. To him it was as if one of the pack was badly wounded and needed help, and it was having a primal effect on him that he was struggling to control. He said quietly to me that he had to go immediately and slunk away from the edge, intending to distance himself as quickly and safely as possible. As he moved back, though, he saw a figure clad in black with skulls adorning his clothes stood behind us, but could also see through him! He barked a warning to us and then sprinted deeper into the mesa, seeking safety.

The horsemen wheeled towards us, alerted by the noise or their agent it wasn't clear, but as Fulgar was running we had little choice but to follow him. As usual he was faster, but as he pulled ahead he was confronted by undead wolves! He instinctively leapt at one, slashing at it and connecting well. It turned to dust and was gone in a moment, but Fulgar still had time to realise that these were former pack-mates brought back from death to hunt him! I was at the rear and the see-through figure that had been joined by another two caught up quickly so I had to turn and fight. I was shocked to find that I also recognised the shades - my own family were sent from the dead to haunt me, or worse... as I held back from attacking at the revelation one struck me and the pain shook me out of my reverie.

Garuk was closer to Fulgar and moved around to help him, conjuring a yellow orb that he threw at one of Fulgar's attackers, blinding it. Fulgar stood tall and opened his chest, roaring at the attackers in Hengeyokai; it certainly made an impression on one of them as it cowered back. He tried to attack the blinded one, but its erratic movements meant his attacks missed the mark. I started fighting back against my former kin, striking one twice at which it simply disappeared. Garuk swung a cleaving blow at the rear of an undead wolf and began to cut right through it before it too crumbled and was gone. Fulgar struck again, and another crumbled under his assault. That just left the cowering wolf on their flank, and Fulgar roared at it again to intimidate it further; it backed off, clearly unwilling to fight, and then it too crumbled to dust.

Fulgar didn't feel safe, though, and immediately continued his sprint towards what he hoped was safety. As he entered a fissure in the mesa top, though, he was faced by more foes from the realms of Death, and also a weird barrier that prevented the Minnerwe guards farther below him from seeing any of what was going on.

Attacks as Garuk comes back towards me. Foe points prism at Fulgar muttering something, but doesn't do much, then draws a flaming blade.

Garuk attacks my foes from behind them, landing a blow. Fulgar fighting a wraith thing, landing blows but not sure it's doing anything.

I follow up on Garuk's attack and that one disappeared as well... just my relative left - saying "you must die"!

Wraith summons another undead warrior and Fulgar was struck. I was struck and suddenly found myself paralysed! Garuk struck the one that affected me from behind twice and it disappeared.

Fulgar desperately fighting against the odds, does seem to land one good hit on the wraith.

Garuk picks me up, realising that I couldn't move, most undignified.

Fulgar deflected one blow but struck by another. Garuk carries me towards combat despite being defenceless, cheers. Puts me down carefully at least.

Fulgar managed to finish off the wraith thing, some of his punches having an effect. Becomes formed into a Batuhan noble, collapsing but then decays rapidly into a skeleton.

Fulgar smashed another one that disappeared, Garuk struck one, and Fulgar finished that one too.

Last one turned to flee but Garuk struck it down from behind.

Fulgar sinks to knees, distraught. Garuk kicked prism out of skeletal hand then noticed Fulgar was in tears.

Fulgar growls at Garuk as he nears, barking that he is never to use his filthy dweomer on his pack. Do it again and we are done.