RPG Campaigns

Giraine Summaries

Milords Barons Ronalio and Reginaldo,

As your humble vassal and that of the Baronets Barapitis in New Arvonesse it falls upon me to send you my full report on what you surely have already heard of through your considerable network, but which I must tell you myself, and that is the story of how we freed New Arvonesse from the weeks-long siege of the wicked Seshnegi kingdom. I, Captain Gulos, hatched the plan that brought this freedom but I must emphasize that it was the heroism of your Lords Boamund and Shaven that truly brought us victory on the battlefield, with their comrades Miguel Silvestre and Bog the Trollkin.

We spotted the ship named The Shadow coming into port after many rumours that had reached me of it raising quite a ruckuss around the Orninior Coast. I was much relieved to see it at last, much as we could have used its passengers' help sooner, and it was for the best that Captain Ahappi did not accompany it. The famed heroes disembarked and met their new friend the trollkin, who told them of what my sponsored mission into the Sewers had uncovered: a Krarsht cult web that their Zorak Zorani, Elandran and other powers soundly defeated in the cramped, twisting tunnels under our fine town, a strange catacomb with one chamber bearing a fountain inscribed with Earth and Water runes and serpent motifs, connecting to more passages with other ancient First Age artifacts and then some deeper caves connected to the sea, where two Waertagi fastships were beached on a dark shore. Methinks these fastships relate back to the episodes of very stealthy pirates we've had over the years, and the Waertagi are not far away. But furthermore, the tunnels led to a great chasm where a lone giant skeleton of a fish-with-legs stood watch, and Bog and his friends dared go no further yet. Word of this surely was of much interest to “New Froalar” Fraud Shaven.

Nonetheless, I ensured that my people invited the arrived heroes to my abode for a meeting where I welcomed them with due hospitality. I saw the opportunity that their coming offered and thought I would broach it with them immediately. We had suffered too many losses of good warriors, including commanders, in repelling onslaughts of the Seshnegi forces besieging us, and I proposed my daring scheme: we would take the battle to our enemy together outside the walls, in the drained Big Gunge swamps just past the bedrock of New Arv, where it was still muddy and icy in the Dark Season gloom. I knew that New Arvonesse's wyter would aid us in battle on that site, whereas the enemy would both greet us in overconfidence and not be able to cope with the poor footing in melee. And so I suggested that Lord Shaven lead a unit of good men on my left flank (with the trollkin in the ranks), and Lord Boamund lead my right flank, with our best cavalry on the far right. We would charge forth while Lt Heloise created a distraction and temptation at the western gates to keep the less disciplined and skilled second half-regiment occupied. The heroes agreed, and my plan was a raging success thanks to their aid!

It took me only a couple of days to prepare to enact this strategy. The heroes found Zeffedi of the Friends of the Sinners Saints and learned he'd found word that Ciddar had left in a ship with Brown Vadeli (I am sorry to say they managed to bribe their way out of port without raising much attention; those responsible have been sacked and placed in the stocks to repent); but also that Shaven's friend Gertrude was held captive by the Sottogh clan, and Zeffedi, a mutual friend, asked for aid.

The time came for battle. Omens were auspicious, and the weather was in our favour. We set out in mid-afternoon, catching the Seshnegi at ease out in the wasted swamp where their Zzaburi had used fire-magics and elementals to clear a wide swath for the siege. Boamund and Fraud gave rousing speeches to their units (the Leopard's Fang and the Silver Swords) that had them smiling in fervour to take the fight to the enemy and drive them off our lands for our families. And battle was joined!

Our far-right flank's cavalry held their own with the enemy's throughout the fight. Fraud Shaven, showing his brilliance in battle, unleashed a powerful magical fan-caused blast of wind that sent the majority of the left flank's second enemy cavalry unit scattering, dismounted and disarmed and floundering in the icy mud. Soon others fell on them and cut them down or they fled. We faced two strong lines featuring companies of Boar or Lion Horali and their militia and mercenaries, including small contributions from Wolf Pirate singing Gold Gotti mercenaries and Magisaur/newtling mercenaries from the continental fens. Behind them were the household of the Regimental Captain Onfroi Longjaw (a Lion-Talar of great heritage from Seshnela) and then five supportive Zzaburi including an Order of Iron Blood battle mage (Master Akerbus; long may his infamy be damned) and St Iames defenders and healers.

We fought well in the lines, giving as good as we got, and weathering some inevitable losses with strong morale. The enemy had the upper hand with their sorcery, but we had the benefit of fighting for our homeland and not troubled by that slippery mud, which saved us many times from further losses. Early in the fight, Lord Shaven proved himself again, finding the unit leader of the Boar Horali Company of the Iron Tusk, Guarin Twostrikes, and cutting him down quickly after unhorsing him. That unit, also taking losses of Dronari from the brutal blows of the trollkin Bog and also the standard-bearer of the unit from Fraud, soon broke and fled the field! Meanwhile, as I turned my line to focus on the Lion Horali unit, the Company of the Gilded Claws led by Aalis Darkmane, Miguel ably defeated his scout foe and a Seshnegi marine and Lord Boamund boldly defeated the unit's St Iames maceman who cornered him with another marine. Miguel tried fighting a great Magisaur, with rune-carved hide, and valiantly climbed atop its frilled back dealing it some wounds to the head, but it grew furious at the injuries and unleashed a Blood of Lava draconic magic that spouted hissing molten blood from new wounds, injuring Miguel in return, so he wisely fled that fray and last I heard it had galumphed off into the Big Gunge swamps on its own, abandoning the Seshnegi. The two lines of the enemy were soon falling apart, as Lord Shaven pushed part of his force, under heavy enemy magical and missile fire, to face the Regimental Talar's household.

I saw it from afar and still cannot believe it. What a fight that was! Bog dared face the mounted Regimental Captain alone, seeing too late how he was clad in full iron plate and wielded an enchanted iron broadsword that would cut through a trollkin as if he were made of papyrus. Fraud challenged the healer Rokari but the regimental standard bearer, sticking his rampant-lion golden standard pole into the ground and drawing a flaming sword, leapt in between them and tried to save the healer only to be beheaded by the unstoppable Fraud Shaven! The standard of the Regiment slowly fell with the corpse, and so did the enemy's last hopes. Bog had disarmed his opponent with a lucky blow but now faced him having drawn an iron mace; only a slight improvement for that trollkin's fate. Yet by then Fraud came to his aid and, with another tremendous sword-slash, severed his sword-arm so he died on the spot. The Zzaburi called in the name of Law and Harmony and mercy to be given leave, but Bog would have none of that, furious that his Berserk spell had been Neutralized by that sorcerer. He tried swinging at the healer twice but his blows were blocked by that stout white-ash staff of the Order, and then Fraud said for him to let the Zzaburi yield and depart. Indeed, now the five Zzaburi behind the household had given up trying to aid others in the battle and flew off on a gust of sorcerous wind. There was no doubt then that it was over.

The battlefield was ours, and New Arvonesse freed! A hue and a cry of joy, pent up for so long amongst our people, erupted. We had suffered defeat after defeat across the island, then long series of stalemates, but now… was there hope? Could we continue to take the fight southwards to our foe, who may be too distracted by events in Nolos to care? I say we should prepare to do so while we can. The enemy is on their back foot, having lost about half their forces of this one-and-a-half Regiment and two of its greatest Talars, by my counting. More will come eventually. The Zzaburi, having escaped without losses, surely plan vengeance via their foul Rokari sorceries. We cannot give them too much time.

The spoils of battle were great. We can re-arm and armour our forces and make riches we can use to hire more aid from abroad. For their valour in battle, I granted in the Baronets' name the choice of the treasures of the fallen to the heroes- there were three fine Seshnelan iron broadswords (1d8+1 damage) and then the Regimental Captain's Death-rune-blessed broadsword of iron (2d8+3 damage!) and his full suit of iron armour (SIZ 16, 11 AP all-watch out for gorp and krarshtkids!!). I warmly thanked the heroes for their bravery and they plan to be on their way to the Sottogh-which may be in our favour too, as they think that the Sottogh are key to getting the Giranois on our side in this war. I say we take any help we can get, but this word of late that the Giranois are sliding back into their old ways of feuding and raiding anyone worries me. If anyone can find success in this venture, though, my confidence is that it is these heroes of yours, milords.

Faithfully in battle and in peace, your servant Captain Gulos, “the Scoundrel of Leplain”, of New Arvonesse

-John

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