RPG Campaigns

Giraine Summaries

Last week:

Ahappi, although he spoke not much of it to the rest of you, ran into Captain Gulos on his way home from the Ophidi Inn in New Arv, and exchanged tense words with him. Gulos, showing respect for Ahappi's status as a “dangerous man” like him, asked Ahappi to kill the Stonefish for him, in return for free access to the harbour and the town's connections and resources, including magic things. Ahappi spoke plainly that he wanted the Captain's signet ring, but Gulos was having none of that; he said it was of sentimental value to him, but both men knew better. Gulos was visibly uncomfortable about the whole proposition, and moreso confessed that he could not go with Ahappi, as requested, to slay the Stonefish, but must remain ashore. Their negotiations having failed, the two parted with thinly veiled threats of future conflict. Come morning-time, you left New Arv behind, headed back southward again.

The trails to Humbertsville turned out to be as good as you'd heard, and so it was a more pleasant voyage. And you were greeted pleasantly by the young Baronet Humbert, who again welcomed you to meet with his family in his fine manor. Cyroosta showed interest in the daughter, Safiyyam, who had come of age and was pretty and somewhat promising in courtly arts, but the Baronet Shaven decided to test her by swiftly removing his hood to show his serpent face. That ended that; she ran off and Baronet Salacrinne Humbert turned from gracious to awkward host. Cyroosta suspected that there was another love that had captured the heart of Safiyyam, but who? Others of you heard that the World of Losers movement was still trouble here, but less so than last time, and half of the party spent the night in the Tumbledown Inn socializing with the lower castes.

The next day's journey to Toadhaven was equally easy but there was one disturbing event: you came across a giant cliff toad, the size of a large pony, tied and staked down on its back near the footpath. Miguel saw it was ill or something (it didn't try to move much when cut free, and was pale and shallowly breathing), and Boamund found tracks that suggested it had been left there by local colonists, not Giranois. But who? Some of you searched for Giranois and found a farmer to consult- he said that this problem was evident in other swamp amphibians and blamed it on wall-men curses. You convinced him to (reluctantly) come see the toad, and he dispatched it from its suffering with a quick throat-slitting.

You came to Toadhaven late that night and had a curt talk with the Baronet Dupres, who was more gruff and inhospitable than ever, but he welcomed you to stay in his fortified manor. His two wizards (Knowers) bothered Maugis; they seemed Ralosian like their lord, but of some Malkioni caste he did not know, although it raised his hackles. That was not a fun visit.

The next day you ventured to the witch Apatune's hut on the edge of the swamp town. On Lord Shaven's unveiling of his serpentine nature she became both excited and downcast, muttering that she knew this time was coming. Cyroosta and Shaven won her over to at least take you to meet Quick Sister in her stream out in the swamp. You came there and the green-tinted nude body of the frog-headed spirit rose out of the waters, then speaking in a big, deep croaking voice after it was formally addressed. You learned that it was an old spirit, from the First Age or even Dawn, but it had forgotten much of what it was, as it had not had much worship. There were Giranois once that revered her, from time to time, but the coming of the colonists ended that (and she was visibly bitter about this). Apatune had rediscovered and nurtured her, so perhaps the witch's unsettled expressions were born from these years of lonely tending of and bonding with the frog-naiad.

Quick Sister and Shaven spoke about potential ties between them, then with some coaxing Shaven asked for her hand in marriage, while Apatune visibly sulked and Cyroosta beamed, and Quick Sister said yes!

But the spirit's affirmation of their betrothal came with a shock. She said “In death we lost not those we love. The memories merely get diluted, but can come washing back in a flood. I can help you, Baronet!” (using his name for the first time, not Froalar) And no one expected what came next– the frog head exploded in a fountain of blood, and from the bubbling stump grew a new lump of flesh as the Baronet bent down and began to craft a new one out of the mud- but it was not needed, as the new head quickly took form… familiar form… it was Inyana's head! Maugis fainted into the mud and almost everyone else was left in utter shock.

Quick Sister then addressed Froalar/Shaven, in words of ritual power that could mean only one thing– a new heroquest: “But there are formalities that must be followed. Froalar, I bestow upon you a quest to earn my love. When you are ready, enter the dead mangrove tree in the dark place in the swamp nearby, with seven and only seven in your household. The anti-death holds a power over that place, and any more that enter will meet a cruel end. Its power, too, slows me and quenches my joy. Inside you will find a tomb where the last rulers of this land wrought evil curses on the power of Ending and the “once ones” who lived with me long ago. Break the power of anti-death there and return to me with a bone from that place as my wedding gift, and I shall be yours.”

Apatune would lead you to the swamp tree now, you agreed, after some discussion of whether this quest should be done soon or after consultation with experts such as the Giranois (Boamund favoured the latter but was outvoted).

And so you head into another quest; or a quest within a quest; to please the mysterious spirit and secure your lord a new bride!

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