Wow it’s Friday again!
Boamund stepped forward to the statue of the Divine Judge as night came; a little pale candle sat burning on the ground. Soon shadows grew and within them a silhouetted figure that spoke in a sensuous feminine voice: “The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Emotions inflame; loins engorge. Darkness gathers. With it all, I, Bahariel, stir. And with my coming, stir the hearts of men and women, away from Logic and unto Error. Woe betide ye who stands before me; for what woe do ye approach the Divine Judge?” It stepped forward as Boamund addressed it, in the form of a Pithdaran man of perfect physique, but towering at almost 3 metres tall, and naked as a newborn.
Bahariel and Boamund began bargaining. It seemed to go the Talar’s way at first, with the succubus wavering on some points, but then on matters such as her desire to leave here or not (this shrine was very safe and full of “prey”) she gained ground. Boamund took frequent breaks to consult with the party and let the demon ponder his offers. He returned with a new idea, to focus on what she might care for- perhaps Alikandra herself? This started to work- while there was no way she’d ever let Alikandra go (nor did Alikandra seek this; condemning herself to eternal penitence here and also as a guardian/advisor), she did care about Alikandra in some way. At least jealousy that she had to influence her through Niisma rather than directly, and perhaps even some form of love or lust, that could never be directly consummated with the pious Alikandra.
With much persistence, and plenty of offers of carnal experiences and heroquesting knowledge or other forbidden secrets for himself, Bahariel gave in—or did she? Alikandra had warned that any bargain with the succubus would still involve suffering (or the demon would never agree) but hoped that the greater good might still result. The deal Boamund struck was that she’d leave the shrine, never to return, and aid one penitent (with some consequences that Bahariel hinted at) to achieve “good”. Bahariel chose Veless Bright, whom she said reminded her of someone, saying that she’d at least lose her religion (and it was implied she’d return to the passion-numbing nature of drugs such as the Brithini concoction Cataplasis)—but she’d likely return to her military advisor role (helping Nolos vs. Seshnela!). Boamund also learned that the statue of the Divine Judge had been destroyed before; Bahariel was unconcerned about it. Indeed, once he came upon it kneeling before her in the darkness, with her seeming to whisper where its ear should be, before she gestured and it stood up again. But, the bargain struck, Boamund left her to do her deed and she forebade anyone from visiting Veless’s quarters that night while she acted.
You went to Alikandra’s tomb and she appeared as a dim spirit, still wounded, but calmer and gentler. “I fell upon my own sword and have hidden the shame within my form for centuries. But Taanashayara now tells me she is ready to depart, to cease tormenting me and to serve Law again. She has chosen one of you to do this with. I hope that you will accept her. Fare well.” She withdrew the amazing iron broadsword from inside her torso and laid it on her sarcophagus, then vanishing, and Boamund took it as it spoke out loud, asking to know more of him and demanding that you go slay demons with due haste. Taanashayara had as much subtlety as her keen blade, and you expected she’d have much to say about your future exploits.
The next morning, you informed Bajer of the progress and he was impressed, and a little sad that he still hadn’t seen Alikandra himself but he hoped that now she’d rest more easily here. Veless had left in the middle of the night. And you too packed p and left, returning to Korrin Bastion. There, Rumino informed you that there’d been no more sign of Dionora Threethumbs, but the Horali had explored the Krarshti tunnels connecting to the fort’s basements and found it was only a small infestation, easily cleaned up they thought, but helping to explain some of the unstable masonry and foundations at the fort lately, with the recurrent tremors. Moreover, he’d investigated that Disorder-rune-carved token you’d found on the assassin and learned it was a sign associated with a troublesome bandit group, the Scar-Crossed Bandits, who had arisen from obscurity to be a thorn in both forts’ sides over the past year or so. They were well organized vs. the usual bandits, preying on land and sea trade, and seemed to be concentrated in the Rancid Forest south of Korrin Bastion but their leader(s) and lair had never been found. The patrols never went far into the forest, he explained, because of great dangers—the forest hosted not only rumoured beast folk and other fantastic things (in addition to good hunting), but also spirits and weird monstrous beasts like the “mole bears” and “stench apes / skunk apes” that the Horali feared. He briefed you on some of these dangers, from what was known to the local soldiery. You also informed him of the assassin’s threat to Galan Teggin and he was most disturbed, promising this would be acted upon swiftly to ensure security. On the local wyverns, he said they jealously guarded their roost by the Bastion and had little direct interaction with the people here, but were on fair terms and Rumino asked that you not try to contact them since the peace here was fragile enough already, with the wedding approaching and all. Far better that you go off and deal with bandits and such in the Rancid Forest… And so you did!
You followed a path through the increasingly wild countryside into more and more jungly terrain and softly rolling hills. Miguel spotted some of those Disorder-rune-bones from time to time, seeming to mark a path that the bandits knew. Then in some open ground near the jungle, there was a sudden rumbling of the soil and out came a huge beast fitting the description of a mole-bear! It slashed with its massive digging claws at Miguel and ripped off his leg armour, wounding him a bit. Then he rushed behind the party as they stepped up, drawing weapons, and it came out of its burrow to engage, revealing its bony, hairy front armour and fearsome jaws. The thing must have been blind as its head-carapace even covered its eyes. Fierce as it was, you’d faced much fiercer. Ahappi leapt on it and speared it through the head with his trident, and it began dying. You went on your way, now wary of these ambush-burrows.
Now into the jungle you went, with Miguel once leading you astray into a dense area of rotting plants that Boamund had to lead you out of, back to the game-trail. Fewer and fewer people must come this way, now. What lay beyond was surely only danger, as more bone-runes hinted at. Then, further inside, you heard loud hooting ahead. What was that strange sound? You’d soon find out.
See you tonight. -John
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