No Night Without Stars--A Cities of Gold Campiagn

Week 7—Woe to the Conquered

“Defend the Find”
Chester the Molester gets a Final Hug

Valten von Carstein stopped and looked back down the rain-drenched avenue. There did not seem to be any further pursuit. The thrice-cursed Melderzhus was probably counting the spoils by now. Bah! It was all so unfair. Valten had found that treasure! It was his!

Where had all those zombies come from? There had been too many of them. And Melderzhus! It had been no simple task to trick the fool into advancing beyond his horde of servants. Valten could still feel the joy of victory as his trap had sprung. The greedy Necrach had taken the bait and Valten’s blade had hurt him. But the fiend would not die! Three times Valten had knocked Melderzhus from his feet. Four times the fool had risen to his feet again.

Then that ‘thing’ had lumbered out of the rain. “Dude!” Melderzhus had shouted. Who talked like that? Dude? Poor construction and inferior materials was what it was. But it crushed that cretin Chester. All the hunchbacked fool had to do was stab the helpless Melderzhus. No, he turns to try to save his miserable life. Lot of good it did Chester. The thing hugged him tight even with Chester’s sword buried in its ribs. Valten could still hear the screams and the bones snapping. Mildly entertaining, but it cost him the newly discovered treasure. Valten crossed the clearing to ask the Old Man if he could at least reanimate Chester. Valten was sure he needed more zombies, possibly a wolf.

Ah, Wolfy…

Post Battle
The superior numbers of the Shadow Stalkers overwhelms the Evil Doers. Chester was killed by The Dude, which had the happy result of reducing the number of Evil Doers that suffer Stupidity by one. By chance a new dreg is found wandering the ruins, although a return trip to Naufragio was perhaps necessary to procure equipment.

The Shadow Stalkers gain more treasure. Melderzhus contemplates raising skeletons instead of zombies…

Week 7--If Women Kill Me...

"Surprise Attack"
A Tale of the Unexpected

Xiuhpilli glanced slyly to his left. Nothing. He moved another stone then glanced toward
the ruin of the Ascendent Purple Blossoms of Infinity. Nothing. The priest began to recite the Twelve Prayers of Patience quietly to pass the time.

The Two-Leg Females had been robbing the ruins at will. After his success with the sea-borne ambush. Xiuhpilli had decided to try to trap his mortal enemies. The Guardians were spread out over the entire Plaza of Lord Lfjopi of the Transcendence seemingly absorbed in a search. The priest knew the female's curiosity would draw them. Once they showed themselves his hidden braves would pounce.

Like many plans the ambush was not perfect. Xiuhpilli had reckoned without the denizens of the ruins. Suddenly one of the flying blood-drinkers appeared to the east. His braves instinctively fired their arrows at the beast. They failed to do more than enrage it. The blood-drinker attacked the braves that had hidden in ambush above the Pillar of the Unknown One.

As the Guardians attention focused on the intruder, the Females struck from the north. Even though he had expected them, Xiuhpilli was shocked at their numbers. The warm-bloods poured out the jungle beyond the plaza. The skink ambushers found themselves attacked from two directions. The Guardians in the center of the Plaza fell back. Their carefully planned maneuver dissolving in uncertainty.

Before the center was over-run One Emerald Six and One Emerald Eight burst from the jungle behind the warm-bloods and bravely fell upon the rear guard. Their selfless assault drew the charge of the warm-blood crazed killers. The warm-bloods concerted attack faltered, but too many Guardians were dead or wounded. Xiuhpilli withdrew from the plaza to regroup.

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Bergdis the Serpent Priestess, beloved of Rigg, looked cautiously around the ruined plaza. The Scaled Ones had fled. They had killed one of the small ones that had lurked behind them. That had been a near thing. Another small one had been killed by one of the giant vampire bats that haunted the ruin. Otherwise there was some blood and the carcass of the bat, nothing else. The priestess knew the Scaled Ones were searching for something here. She ordered her women to find it quickly, before the Scaled Ones returned.

The search was soon successful. A doorway into the depths of a ruined temple had been partially uncovered. Bergdis had the rest of the rubble cleared. Freya volunteered to inspect the crypt as soon as there was space to crawl inside. Despite her misgivings Bergdis gave her blessing. Immediately Freya reported a strangely glowing gem set in a plinth in a chamber beyond the door. As the gathered women above listened and watched the surrounding ruins, Freya advanced into the chamber. She screamed in alarm, then breathlessly reported she was well. However when she returned, it was not bearing fabulous treasure. A few baubles nothing more. The charms and skin of the Scaled One she wore had protected her from the Scaled Ones trap, but the bait was hardly worth the risk.

Bergdis eyed the surrounding ruin with new caution. This had all been too easy...

Post Battle
The Azure Band defeated the Guardians but gained little treasure for their effort. No new wonders of the Old Ones are found in this section of the ruin.

The Guardians suffer the loss of the skink braves One Emerald Six and Two Ochre One. Despite their defeat the ruins provide ample rewards to recruit new warriors and acquire more equipment.

YET ANOTHER evocative report. The thing that sets your games apart is the FINE narration, backed up occasionally by playtable's EXCELLENT photos & scenery, of swashbuckling adventure set in strange, exotic, & interesting settings that take the game from a mere war game into the realms of pure adventure. WELL DONE!

Thanks again Al! Next week I have been requested to supply the jungles and temples of the Lost City. Perhaps the camera will accompany the ships and docks of Shipwreck Cove.


Week 8—Blood and Thunder

“The Haunted Hulks”
A Variation of Occupy

Valten von Carstein watched the huge ship glide past in the foggy gloom of dusk. He could see Melderzhus pacing near the helm, but neither vampire acknowledged the other. Valten seethed with envy. Here he was the greatest sailor, explorer and soldier of his age, but the command of a Ghost Ship is given to a scarecrow dabbler in the Black Arts! Melderzhus! The lubber could barely plot a course! Everyone in this port knew Melderzhus’ last command was even now moldering on a reef off the coast. Furthermore, Valten was his master with a blade and had proved so many a times. Arrrgh!

With great concentration Valten willed himself to focus on the present. The Necrach had left the port, thus there was no one to challenge him if Valten assembled a fleet of his own. Yes! He would take control of those wrecks along the north beach. The hulls and the zombies within them would make those Cold Bloods think twice about challenging the flag of Von Carstein again.

Thunder boomed in the distance as Valten approached the first hulk. Its masts were gone but it still floated near the decaying docks of Naufragio. As he pulled himself over the rail Wolfy bounded alongside. The much-abused corpse of the long dead wolf was still agile on sea or land. Valten absently ruffled the lank, scabrous fur. Wolfy growled deep in his eviscerated chest. Valten straightened and readied his halberd. A ghoul materialized out of the mist.

“Who walks Lord Harkon’s decks?” it called. The creature’s eyes grew bigger as it realized whom it challenged. Then its head disappeared from its shoulders.

“Secure this tub,” Valten ordered the awed mob of ghouls and humans that followed in his wake. He crossed the deck toward the next gangplank. Wolfy followed carrying the ghoul’s forearm in his jaws. Suddenly the wolf stopped and peered towards the distant wharf. The wolf dropped the half chewed arm and bared its fangs. Valten followed its gaze. Across the way a mob of indistinct figures struggled near a half beached hull. Another warband was moving in on his ships!

Post Battle
The Azure Band win their first fight in Naufragio Cala. No casualties are reported among the women.

The Evil Doers flee. Chester the Third lost a fight with an Amazon warrior early in the battle. Unfortunately he was supposed to have been supporting Valten’s attack. Chester is turned out of the warband for incompetence (a valid charge, but he never claimed to be competent only evil.)
The ghoul Rockhead is promoted for surviving its wounds, which is a rare feat for an Evil Doer.
On a related note, the ghoul Nick-Knee is now called Sucking Wound after suffering a Chest Wound from a Claw of the Old Ones. After witnessing Chester's fate, the weakened ghoul walks in fear of its cannibal pack-mates.

Week 8—Down in the Dark

“The Temple of Doom II”
The Sea God’s Judgment

Melderzhus.
The ancient vampire reveled in the scents of the catacombs. Such a wonderful world! Dust, mildew and rot were three of his favorite things. Mingled with them, but not overpowering, was the smell of ancient death. There were bones nearby and the spirits of long dead wizards, if only he had the time uninterrupted to find them.
“Nothma, hurry!” Melderzhus demanded.

He quickened his pace and pushed past the lumbering zombies, the thrall following in his wake. There was a faint vibration in the floor. Something was not right. An iron cage fell from the ceiling. It narrowly missed crushing his shoulder.

“Slaves!” Melderzhus roared, “release me from this thing at once!”

“I obey Masst…Aiiieee!”

Melderzhus spared a glance behind him. Nearby Nothma dangled upside down from what appeared to be a tree root. Beyond him a great cloud of dust and debris rose in the air as The Dude and a skeleton armed with a spear tottered on the edge of a new hole in the floor. Both fell into the pit as he watched, the Dude’s flailing limbs swept the skeleton in its wake. More dust and another scream from the pit resulted.

A human voice cried, “Help meee. Get them off!”

Melderzhus snapped the rusted bars of his prison himself.

Yaotl.
Yaotl marched grimly along the dim corridor. The light from his lamp and the lamps of the rest of the party threw strange moving shadows on the ancient walls. The dust raised by their passage gave the shadows life. The totem warrior was not fooled, but he gave each shadowed nook a thorough glare before moving on. He was trying to remember the layout of the traps set in this corridor the priest had sown them. But the necessity of remaining vigilant for ambush interfered with his ability to count his steps. He also noted that after their last adventure in the catacombs his fellows were giving him a wider berth. Yaotl the Chosen they called him.

Yaotl counted his 300th step since turning left at the Arch of Awareness. He felt the flagstone give in a familiar way. A cage crashed down before he could leap clear. The saurus warrior dropped his lantern and began to batter the cage with his star metal sword. Around him skinks and saurus braves shied to the other side of the passage. The metal of his prison gave before his attack. As he shoved the remains of the trap away he took a few steps forward and triggered the next trap in the series. Too late Yaotl remembered the last time he destroyed a cage. With increasing frustration the totem warrior destroyed the new cage. Since he was totally disoriented by this point he was not surprised when a guardian spirit was triggered by his efforts.

Matlal.
The saurus warrior Matlal finally reached the Chamber of Sublime Reflection. The ancient room was the scene of chaos and slaughter. Skinks and saurus fought warm-bloods and undead to his left and right. Directly in front of him was the Altar of Ultimate Restfulness. A gaunt Blood Drinker fought the skink, Chicomecoatl, on the far side of the altar. Matlal roared a challenge and rushed forward. To his right Chac fell in a bloody heap before a smaller Blood Drinker. Chimalma defended the downed saurus.

The ancient Blood Drinker met the Matlal halfway. Matlal was undone by the creature’s speed. The Blood Drinker’s sword cut the saurus, but the armor Matlal wore held. The saurus’ return attacks failed to pierce the creature’s guard despite its weak skeletal appearance. Matlal roared in pain and frustration. The large saurus sunk to its knees as the weakened links of his armor gave way under repeated blows. Matlal tried to rise again, but the long blade the fiend held found his heart.

Yaotl.
Yaotl crashed into the smaller Blood Drinker before it could finish either little Chimalma or Chac. The totem warrior could hear the priest chanting behind him. His anger focused on the suddenly wary abomination before him. Yaotl struck many blows on the weakened guard of the Blood Drinker. He felt elation as the star metal sword sliced flesh.

Before Yaotl could strike a killing blow, Chimalma’s dagger flashed. To the surprise of the Dragon folk, the Blood Drinker’s body dissolved into a pinkish mist. Both the skink and the totem warrior watched in fascination as the mist rose into the air and disappeared.

A roar of anguish jarred Yaotl out of his fixation with the disappearing Blood Drinker. Yaotl whirled about. In the flickering light of the priest’s lantern Yoatl beheld the old Blood Drinker standing above Matlal’s body. The beast sniffed the air and turned toward Yaotl. It met the enraged totem warrior’s charge with a sneer on its lips. Yaotl was conscious of the aura of fear and confusion that surrounded the fiend, but his anger carried him through the enchantments. The sneer turned into a scowl and then a look of alarm as the star metal sword beat through the Blood Drinker’s guard. Yoatl growled with frustration as the beast dissolved into the now familiar pink mist. Yoatl slashed at the retreating mist in an attempt to complete the destruction of the Blood Drinker. The totem warrior lunged toward the far entrance to the chamber only dimly aware that the sounds of battle had ceased.

Post Battle
The Shadow Stalkers fled the temple once Melderzhus fell. Despite taking heavy losses from the combat in the treasure chamber, all of the fallen recover with only minor injuries.

The Guardians suffer a crippling victory. Melderzhus killed Matlal the heroic saurus brave. The Necrarch also killed Tialoc another veteran saurus brave. Chimalma attempted to claim the Major Artifact, but was set upon and killed by guardian zombies.
The Guardians were rewarded amply for their sacrifice, claiming all the random treasures available from the scenario as well as the dread Pendant of the Old Ones.

YET ANOTHER fine narration of swashbuckling action with a dash of Indiana Jonesque traps for flavor! COOL STUFF!

Thanks Al. It was a really enjoyable game.

Week 8 Finale--Sometimes They Come Back

The River Temple
A Tale of Corrupted Treasure

Bergdis the Serpent Priestess, beloved of Rigg, peered into the gloom of late evening. The omens pointed to a favorable outcome for an evening raid on the Scaled Ones temple, but as she neared the place she was troubled by doubt. The river current was at their backs now. When her warriors were ready to leave the temple it would be against them.

Also this particular temple had an evil reputation. The temple was surrounded on all sides by the river, but the tales of the tribe said that this was not always so. The actual temple, it was said, was much bigger than the small isle that remained above the surface of the river. Long ago the Rat-Men had over-run this temple. When the Scaled Ones drove them from the land, the river rose to attack the Rat-Men as well, swallowing the area around the temple. The Rat-Men were gone, the legend said, but their curses remained. It was all she could do to press her tribe to approach the place, let alone search it. Bergdis sent a prayer to Rigg and steered the small canoe toward the landing at the base of the ruin.

"Have care shield sisters," Bergdis cautioned the scouts who crept up the worn stairs toward the altar and the misshapen idol beyond it.

Barely were the words out of her mouth when Bergdis heard an ominous CLUNK. The first scout screamed and fell. The second foolishly rushed to her aid. She was able to call, "Darts!" before she collapsed in a heap.

The other canoes in the small flotilla were arriving at the temple. More warriors climbed the stairs as others tried to scale the trailing vines that covered the ruin. One boat circled the island, standing off to guard from attack from the river or reinforce the raiding party.

Eventually a nimble warrior was able to avoid the trigger of the traps and discover a secret compartment within the altar. However at once the warrior was attacked by a sickly looking abomination that gibbered and laughed as it hacked at her with a rusted blade. A berserk totem warrior hacked the foul creature to bits, however no sooner had she done this when another seemingly identical creature attacked a lookout on the other side of the temple. No mater how well they watched another creature would eventually appear after the one before it was destroyed.

While the warriors in the temple dealt with the daemonic guardian, the crew of the last canoe came under attack by several rotting jolly boats manned by ghouls, zombies and misshapen men. A chaotic melee broke out in and around the submerged temple. Bergdis and the warriors occupying the temple were eventually able to drive the guardian away. Two warriors loaded the treasure chest into a canoe moored on the side of the island farthest from the undead. Bergdis and the rest of the survivors rushed down the stairs to board the last canoe to reinforce the beleaguered rear guard.

Freya was about to cast off from the temple when she heard an odd giggle from Thyra. She turned to ask what was funny in time to see Thyra's body topple over the side of the canoe. The guardian screeched with glee as its rusty sword swung toward the helpless woman.

Post Battle.
The Amazons fled after the Plague Bearer re-captured the treasure. One warrior is killed and a totem warrior suffers Stupidity.

The Evil Doers captured the treasure from the guardian, then began the process of evacuating the island. Most of the ghouls were able to board a boat and cast off. Two remained on the island, awaiting retrieval. Both were killed by the guardian before the next boat could dock. The treasure chest turns out to contain only a small amount of gold and nothing else.

Week 9—By the Beautiful Sea

This past week we had a nasty ice storm in central Indiana. Schools were still closed on Thursday but most folks had their first day of work since Monday (except Playtable who is a man of leisure.) Three of us made it to the Game Preserve.

“Treasure Hunt”
The Lizardmen Reclaim Lost Treasures
Narration by Von Kurst. Photos by Playtable.

The night was overcast. Valten Von Carstein led his warband on patrol toward the southern end of the cove. His Living servants had reported strange lights moving through the jungle. The southern section of Naufragio Cala was almost completely overgrown although there were still some ramshackle docks.

The Evil Doers enter along the beach from the north. The Amazons have occupied the jungle to the west. 3 jungle cats are trapped between the warbands near the docks.
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The Evil Doers surge toward the closest lights.
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Amazon scouts emerge from the jungle.
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Skinks swarm out of the southern jungle.
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One cat charged each warband. Wolfy is knocked into the cove and out of the fight, (because he can’t climb back out of the water…)(initiative 2) The Amazon berserkers cut the cat that attacks their scouts to ribbons. The cat that attacked the saurus Atl was knocked into the water where the skink Chimalli killed it.

The pack of ghouls tore the cat that dunked Wolfy to bits. The distraction meant that the entire band fell back before the advancing Amazons to circle to the east.

The masses of Evil Doers attack the scattered Amazons.
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Rockhead claims a treasure (a green plastic bead) as the others move to attack.
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Skink archers mass along the tree line. There are Warm-Bloods out there.
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Yaotl claims another treasure.
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Borghild knocks Valten to the ground as 2 ghouls try in vain to distract her.
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Rockhead rushes to the rescue only to bring the Amazons another pretty treasure. (Rockhead is not pictured, only the treasures remain.) Meanwhile Valten withstands the attentions of both Borghild and Bothildir the totem warriors.
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Post Battle
The Evil Doers flee with 3 heroes and lots of henchmen OOA. A ghoul dies. Either Rockhead or Nick Knee is robbed.

The Amazons flee the advancing Lizardmen. 5 henchwomen and 1 hero are OOA. None die.

An Amazon heroine defeats a Cold One in When Animals Attack (Vol. 4).
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The Guardians suffered one skink OOA. It dies. Alas poor One Emerald Eight. The Guardians claim 5 out of the possible 7 treasures on the table and withdraw towards Axotl.

COOL!
@playtable: of course, by now you realize that while I enjoy Von Kurst's fine narratives, I LIVE FOR YOUR PHOTOS...these were no exception. The fauna looks SPECTACULAR; are these new terrain pieces?

Love all your praise DeafNala.
No, nothing new.
I bought a TON of the plastic bonsai trees at the dollar store a few years ago. They were plastered into little ceramic pots along with a standing stone. I set them free and made a couple dozzen or so bases for them. Quite the ticket for Lustria or wooded areas.
We use the whole base as wooded. Can only see through 2" of the stuff.

Week 10—Rumble by the Docks

“Skirmish”
Valten and Melderzhus Duel in Naufargio

Valten Von Carstein led his warband toward the old lighthouse. The night sky was filled with scudding clouds but Valten could see well in the gloom. To his left the jumble of wrecks and Zombie Pirate hulks were lighter shadows in the cove.



Ahead of him the wind tossed jungle ran almost to the shore. Beyond the jungle the bulk of the ruined lighthouse could be seen against the clouds. Somewhere near there he would find that walking skeleton Melderzhus. Perhaps this night the Dark Gods would smile on the house of Von Carstein and Valten would claim Melderzhus’ skull.

Suddenly the roars of ghouls and moans of zombies erupted near the docks. Something had attacked his left wing. Valten pushed on. In a thicket of jungle to his right he spotted the pale, grey face of a zombie.

“Wolfie kill!” Valten ordered. The undead beast rushed toward the jungle. It leapt upon the hapless zombie and the pair disappeared into the undergrowth. A silent duel between undead minions ensued as neither the wolf or the zombie could gain the upper hand.

Stragglers from the left began to show up.

“One of those giant snakes,” was all the Grandfather said by way of explanation. Valten noticed he was missing a ghoul already.

The reunited warband broke into a clearing in the jungle. The center was dominated by one of those pools the Scaled Ones seemed to build in all their cities. Arrayed beyond the pool were the hated Necarch and his minions.

“Kill them!” screamed Valten.

Post Battle
The vengeful Evil Doers cut down the Shadow Stalkers in droves. Valten defeats Melderzhus easily in single combat.

The Evil Doers are victorious. Another ghoul dies. 2 ghouls are hired to replace it. Briefly the Evil Doers reach their maximum warband size.

The Shadow Stalkers flee once Melderzhus falls. No casualties or lasting injuries are reported. A jungle witch is found and hired.

Week 10—The Treasure Chamber

“The Temple of Doom III”
Another Sequel in which Our Heroes are shown to be Falible

Xiuhpilli.
The skink priest led the Guardians into the Hall of Lurking Dismemberment. In the dim light of his lantern the undisturbed dust of centuries gave the corridor a soft, harmless look. Xiuhpilli was not fooled. He signaled the Emerald spawning forward. Two braves moved quickly past him. Both traveled the carefully planned paths through the traps lining the corridor. The brave on the right must have made a misstep. He disappeared suddenly into the floor. A huge cloud of dust rose into the air.
The next skinks in line moved to the edge of the pit and peered into the settling dust.

“One Emerald Ten is sore hurt, Honored Priest,” One Emerald Two reported.

“Raise him out of there,” ordered Xiuhpilli. “I will tend to him.”

Two skinks cambered into the pit as others moved forward with ropes. The whole warband moved past the priest without further incident. As they advanced they could hear wailing and screaming off in the distance.

“Secure the Chamber of Watchfulness!” Xiuhpilli hissed, as he made certain that One Emerald Ten would survive.

The skink braves swarmed into the arch at the end of the corridor. The clumsy saurus followed more slowly in their wake. Still they were not cautious enough, Huehue was suddenly plucked into the air by an ancient snare. As the fuming warrior hung in space the newest of the saurus warriors moved to release him. Instead a spiked ball swung out of the opposite wall and crushed the warrior’s chest.

The priest could hear war cries and the clash of weapons from the chamber beyond. He rushed past the ruined corpse and entered the Chamber of Watchfulness. There he was met with a scene of chaos. A crowd of the warm-blood females was forcing their way into the chamber from the far entrance. One of the Ochre spawning lay in a pool of blood near the altar. Arrows flew from the skink bows and javelins and bursts of pure light were fired back at them. The saurus Atl was knocked off his feet by a javelin. Then one of the Crazed Killers fell upon a skink archer. Blood splashed and the archer fell in several pieces. Xiuhpilli looked down at the severed head of One Emerald Two. The Guardians fled. (I roll three 6s for my first rout test! Curses!)

Post Battle
The Azure Band gains their first Major Artifact, the Plague Sword. All casualties recover from their injuries.

The Guardians lose the new saurus and the veteran skink. However they were able to secure 2 of the 3 random artifacts present and all six heroes survived the skirmish. Both fallen warriors are replaced. In addition more Blessed Water is obtained.

HOORAY FOR THE BABES! This & the preceding report are perfect for my limited early morning comprehension skills.
I'm really enjoying the misadventures of the Living Impaired Gangs; considering their basically evil nature, they are both comedic on a cartoony level. GREAT STUFF!

Week 10--Massacre at the Lonely Tower


"Defend the Find"
A Bloody Tale of Greed and Murder

Bergdis the Serpent Priestess, beloved of Rigg, peered into the gloom of late evening. The light of her lantern illuminated the surrounding jungle, but she could see little beyond that. The lights would alert the Dead Things to their coming, but the light meant none of the tribe would be lost before they could find the tower.

She could see the scouts moving ahead of them in the light of Freya's lantern. Freya and her shield sisters would lead them true. The scouts had discovered the Dead Things interest in the tower the day before. However there were too few of them to do more than watch the Dead move about within the ruin. Bergdis was intrigued by the unusual effort on the part of her enemies. She had brought the strength of the tribe to investigate.

"Beware!" Freya's cry of warning broke the silence of the jungle night.

Arrows fell among the Amazons, drawn by the lanterns' glow. None did any damage. The twisted males that served the Dead had no skill at archery.

"Forward!" ordered Bergdis. "Drive them from the ruin."

The tribe rushed toward the looming bulk of the tower. By chance there were no openings on the lower southern face of the ruin. Arrows were fired from the upper floors and the women could hear the evil chants of the Old Man's sorcery. The tribe split into two groups to surround the tower. Both groups were attacked by zombies and ghouls that poured from gaps in the tower's walls.

The foul beings fought with mindless ferocity. They disputed every foot of tangled, overgrown ground outside the ruin. Each one had to be hacked apart before it ceased to struggle and tear at its killers. When the exhausted women finally entered the ruin it was quiet and empty. There was no sign of the Dead or clue as to what they had sought.

Post Battle
The Azure Band win another victory in Naufragio. The undead keep them from the ruin, however, so they gain no extra treasure.

The Evil Doers suffer horribly in the defense of the tower. Four ghouls die for the three extra treasures earned.

Chance Encounter
A Tale of Surprises

The Guardians of the Silent Places were returning to the Citadel of the Moon Flower when the scouts signaled that enemies were near. Xiuhpilli quickly dispersed his command throughout the area.

The young Great Crest, Chimalli led three skink braves into the shadowed halls of the Temple of Impeccable Order. Chicomecoatl led three others to occupy the Tower of the Spitting One to the north. Xiuhpilli, Yaotl and the skink Tototl led the rest of the band toward the noise of their enemy's approach.

Soon the shambling servants of the Blood Drinkers were visible in the dawn light. The undead moved with uncertainty in the light of the new day. They halted when arrows flashed toward them. But the confusion was short lived. Tototl fell wounded by one of the warm-blood's arrows. Xiuhpilli found himself battling several enemy spell casters. Chimalli was blinded by sorcery. One of the Ochre spawning was blasted off the battlements of the Tower by a fiery spell. The undead servants of the Blood Drinkers rushed straight at the saurus braves blocking their path. The foul beings threatened to overwhelm the saurus with their numbers. But Chac and his fellows held firm. Halberds and swords flashed and the undead began to fall.

Then the masters of the undead appeared on the parapet of a nearby curtain wall. Yaotl moved to challenge them but he was shot by the same archer. One Blood Drinker leapt into the courtyard to attack Atl, but the fiend landed poorly. Chac quickly cut it down before the monster could recover its balance. The Master Blood Drinker raised a zombie to defend the fallen fiend. But this was the Master's undoing. Xiuhpilli blasted him with Chotec's Wrath while Tototl and the rest of the skinks shot it with arrows. The old Blood Drinker fell from the wall. His minions lost heart and fled.

Post Battle
The Shadow Stalkers lose Po the Witch and their last original henchman (a waif whose name I have misplaced). Melderzhus and Nothma both make full recoveries.

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The Pool of Insight
The young skink Chimalli became separated from the rest of his spawning as he pursued the invaders through the ruins. Suddenly he realized that he was far from the Citadel of the Moon Flower. Indeed Chimalli felt completely lost and disoriented, a most unusual feeling for a skink bred to guard this ruin. As Chimalli wondered at this strange feeling, the skink felt himself guided toward an overgrown square to his left. There inside a small copse of jungle trees he discovered a small pool. With the curiosity of his kind, Chimalli looked into its depths. What he saw changed him forever...

Chimalli gains the Old Battle Wound, but he also gains d6 experience, counts as a wizard and gains access to academic skills. Woot! The warband does not gain much wealth but all the casualties recover from their wounds.

Week 11—The Ghost Ship

“Fell Cargo”
A Tale of Dead Sailors and the Women who long to keep them that way

Melderzhus listened to the night. Over the howl of the wind he heard a distant ship’s bell toll thirteen times. The appointment was kept, the signal given. It was time to complete the ritual. He ordered his servants forward through the overgrown ruins of Naufragio. Melderzhus moved with them, but apart. His heightened senses reveled in the storm tossed night. The smells of brackish water, rotting jungle and the reek of ancient death were a delicate perfume to the ancient sorcerer. His ears listened to the sounds of the wind as it howled through the trees; the crash of the waves on the sea wall; the strain of the ancient rigging before the gale; the scream of agony as a blade cut flesh.

Melderzhus snapped out of his reverie. His minions had blundered into an attack. Bright lights hurt his eyes. Lanterns were shined on him. Beams of energy sought to burn his sacred flesh. Oh they would pay for this! Melderzhus began to recite the litany of Shriveling Doom. Something was wrong. He could not form the words! The winds of magic blew strong with the storm, but he could not draw upon their power. He could not move!

All around the Necrach his minions struggled with the women of the jungle. Without him they relied on The Dude and Nothma to lead them and to smash the women warriors. Melderzhus raged impotently. First The Dude fell, cut into pieces by one of those hateful power swords. By the Dark Powers, Melderzhus hated those swords. Nothma was driven back!

Suddenly he felt his power return! He was free! Melderzhus howled with wrathful joy. Then the hated swords sought him.

Bergdis watched the broken weakling males flee. Borghild and Bothildr pursued them until the Priestess called the totem warriors back. The dark bulk of the black ship rode the tossing waves as though it lay at anchor in another, calmer sea. Thyra and a group of shield sisters approached the larboard side from the ramshackle docks. Thyra bravely clambered over the side of the ship, but several of her comrades shrank back, cowed by the strangeness of the ship even after defeating the Dead.



“What do you see?” called Bergdis from the jetty.

A man who had stood unseen on the forecastle turned toward her. He wore the stained tattered uniform of a ship’s captain from the previous century. His skull glowed with a greenish light.

“Death,” was all he said.

Screams, war cries, pistol shots and the clash of arms sounded from the waist of the black ship. Bergdis led the rest of the tribe toward the ship. The women on the jetty could see muzzle flashes and the shapes of struggling bodies on board the ship. Along the ruined docks the corpses of drowned men were pulling themselves from the roiling waters. The warrior next to the Priestess was pulled from the jetty by grasping hands from the deep. The battle on the ship spread through the harbor.

Attacked from all directions the Amazons began to falter. Over half of their number were pulled down, shot or hacked with rusted blades. The women had become spread out, isolated from each other. Only the totem warriors fought with the same zeal that they had earlier. The rest of the women began to tire, to lose hope. Bergdis tried to hold them, but the ship’s bell began to toll again. The Azure Band fled back into the night.

Post Battle
The Shadow Stalkers fled the harbor once Melderzhus fell. No causality report is available.

The Azure Band suffered no losses in the rout of the Shadow Stalkers, and then the Cursed Crew of the Black Ship hit them. The undead pirates killed 2 warriors. Thyra suffers a deep wound and will miss 3 games.

Week 11—Brawls in the Ruins

“X Marks the Spot”
A Hidden Treasure Variant

Valten Von Carstein watched the lights moving amid the ruins. Someone else searched Naufragio on this blissful rain drenched night. Interlopers! They would pay with their blood!



“Stop digging!” the vampire ordered. “We must teach these fools to fear the night.”

Valten scaled the crumbling walls of the nearest ruin to get a better vantage point. From the height he could see a pack of feral ghouls heading for his henchmen. His minions could deal with them. The lights were coming closer. As he watched a glow highlighted the battlements of a nearby wall. Soon two figures bearing lanterns scaled the wall. Two others followed them. The Dragon folk, their blood was cold but still blood. Valten felt the first stirrings of the Hunger.

Roars and battle cries erupted below him. The ghouls had made contact with his servants. The small cold bloods chirped and hooted among themselves. One of the lantern bearers moved forward with its lantern held high. Valten laughed out loud and stepped into the light. He immediately regretted his decision as arrows and javelins flew toward him out of the rain.

Valten flinched as the missiles flew past him. Once he realized the little saurians had missed, Valten roared with anger and leapt toward the nearest of his enemies. Before the little cretin could ready another javelin Valten swept into him swinging his halberd expertly. The blows all missed. The little fiend hissed and struck back. Valten barley avoided its flashing blades. He gave up trying to cut the creature and smashed it along side the head with the haft of his weapon. It fell with out a sound. Valten let the momentum of his blow carry him forward but the others were too quick for him. They all hooted and leapt over the battlements out of sight.

Valten skidded to a halt on the rotten planking and searched the field for another foe. Immediately an arrow flashed by his head from off to his right. Valten saw the cowardly little sniper crouched at the base of the wall below the battlement. He raced along the battlement and leapt at it like a jungle leopard. Somehow he collided with the edge of the battlement and landed with his halberd buried in the muddy ground. As he dragged the blade free of the mud, the archer stabbed at him with a bronze dagger. Valten twisted away from the blade. He kicked the little fiend’s legs out from under it as one of the larger beasts hacked at Valten with its own halberd.

“To me, my minions!” Valten roared into the night.

He had lost track of his servants as he fought. Valten prayed to his foul masters that Harkon’s ghouls hadn’t delayed them, but he had little faith in the bumbling clods who served him. Valten chopped at his large opponent’s head. It fell away. The little one stabbed at his legs. Valten stomped on it until its chest caved in. He leapt over the corpse with his weapon ready to strike but there was only one of his startled ghouls in front of him. The enemy had fled.

Post Battle
The Evil Doers held the field. 2 zombies were destroyed by Yaotl’s swords in the skirmish. The treasure chest yielded 12 gc and a rusty sword.

The Guardians suffered 3 saurus braves and 4 skinks out of action. Valten killed Two Ochre Six. The rest of the wounded recover. In their haste to retreat the Guardians discover the Tunnel Entrance (which will allow a total of 4 models to infiltrate when combined with the Chameleon Skink Hired Sword!)

Personality-wise, Valten bears a striking resemblance to Thanquol...probably why his plans go whacko & he's having less than a wonderful time in Lustria.

Now that you mention it... I was trying to make the narrative reflect playtable's horrific dice rolls and, shall we say, "pessimistic" approach to the game.

Week 11 (Cont'd)



"Skirmish"
A Tale of Speculation and Rumor
(I was busy trying to avoid the Amazon Totem Warriors.)

Valten led his servants ashore along the rickety docks. It was day but the delightfully foul weather meant he had no fear of the sun. The wind howled and rain lashed the rotting docks. The Necrarch and his minions disputed the Evil Doers right to come ashore, but the Von Carsteins brushed them aside.

Valten had put aside his signature halberd in favor of two matched swords. Despite the magical strength mustered against him, Valten was easily able to defeat The Dude. Melderzhus did not offer single combat after his champion the Abomination was defeated. [The poor underdog Evil Doers win TWO games in one evening!]

Post Game
No Evil Doers are killed. The Shadow Stalkers are routed.

One waif is reported killed. The new witch and the hired warlock have their contracts reviewed. Magical domination fails to work.

"Skirmish II"
Deadly Deeds in Axlotl



The Guardians of the Silent Places fought the Azure Band in the ruins of Axlotl. The Guardians used the tunnels they had discovered to flank the Amazons. The resulting ambush cut down all of the Amazon scouts briefly. The young warrior women were only wounded. however, they fought on despite their injuries. Thyra the chief scout eventually was forced to withdraw. One of her shield sisters was killed by arrows.

The Amazon Totem Warriors moved to the fore of the fighting. Their quick reflexes and Claws of the Old Ones cut a swath through the saurus ranks. None of Chac's warriors could stand against the powerful weapons and manic attacks of the frenzied killers. The Guardians fell back before the onslaught but did not break.

Bergdis the Serpent Priestess attempted to goad her warriors to press the attack but the loss of the scouts and the casualties inflicted by Yaotl broke the attack.

Post Battle
The Amazons lose a scout and another warrior.

The Guardians lose Two Ochre Seven, a skink brave.

Week 12—Naufragio Cala

“X-Marks the Spot”


A Tale of Gold Digging Women with Swords of Power
Once again Valten Von Carstein watched the lights moving amid the moored ships, wrecks and flotsam of the harbor. No one feared the dread name of Harkon anymore. Mortals made free to search his very home port. It was an outrage. Add to his miseries a bright moon in a clear sky; the Dark Gods mocked the house of Von Carstein.

Valten turned to the two ghasts who squatted nearby. “Take your pack and drive those fools from the docks,” he ordered. “You may have the choice of anyone you catch.”

Nick Knee began to drool. Rock Head said, “yesss Masster!”

Both ghasts leapt to their feet and signaled to the misshapen beings lurking nearby. The ghoul pack surged toward the distant lights. They blundered into a patrol of Harkon’s zombie pirates almost immediately. Despite Valten’s commanding presence the zombies refused to yield the walkways. Instead they attacked.

Valten fumed at the delay. “Destroy them!” he raved. A zombie shuffled towards him with its clawed hands outstretched. Valten beheaded it. He turned to order the ghouls forward. Instead he beheld his minions locked in desperate battle with zombies. Three ghouls tore at one animated corpse. Instead of ripping it apart they got in each other’s way, tripping and stumbling in the gore. The zombie flailed at them with its claws and sought to tear at their flesh with its blackened teeth. Other ghouls fought zombies in the waters of the cove. One ghoul appeared to attempt to drown his opponent!

“Imbecile, it doesn’t breathe!” Valten bawled from the stone jetty. “Twist the head off or break its neck!”

The ghoul looked up at him, its face pale in the full moon’s light. It appeared to be confused.

“Name not Imbecile,” the ghoul mumbled as it bobbed about. “Name Ugly. Imbecile, he on dock.”

Valten was no longer paying attention. The noise of the fight with the zombies had drawn the attention of the people with the lanterns. Instead of fleeing the lanterns were converging on the struggle. A beam of pure light struck a stone statue nearby. The lance of light gouged the stone. A zombie was cut in half by a warrior woman wielding a bright crackling sword. Valten remembered those swords.

“Kill her!” Valten ordered Nick Knee. The ghast roared and rushed the Amazon. “You too!” Valten called to Rock Head. Rock Head charged as well. The woman screamed, there was a splash of blood. Something rolled to a stop against Valten’s right boot. He looked down into Nick Knee’s sightless eyes.

Post Battle
The Evil Doers fled the field. Nick Knee is killed. Rock Head becomes Stupid, which is quite appropriate all things considered. A new Dreg is hired to replace the fallen Mr. Knee.

The Azure Band found the treasure chest on the first ship searched. One warrior slowly dragged it away while the rest sliced up zombies, ghouls and such. The treasure chest is nearly empty, for all the bloodshed it caused.

Week 12—The Ruined Temple City of Axlotl

“Treasures of the Old Ones”
A Variant Wyrdstone Hunt

Xiuhpilli peered into the darkness. Directly in front of him the awesome bulk of the Temple of Eternal Reflection and Introspection dominated the square. To his left he could see Yaotl’s light globe leading the saurus braves toward the south face of the temple. On his right Chicomecoatl, Chimalli and Tototl had climbed to the battlement of the Gate of Autumn Humility. From the gate they could traverse a rickety bridge to the first level of the temple.



The priest did not need the alarms of the scouts to know that the Blood Drinkers and their servants polluted the sacred night. Xiuhpilli could see the Dark magic gathering over the city. He could sense the disturbances in the serenity of the spheres. There was need for haste.

“Forward,” Xiuhpilli ordered. “We must reach the upper levels before the Blood Drinkers.”

The skink braves moved forward as quickly as they could in the uncertain light. In a few moments they had swarmed up the steep stairs to gain the top level. As Xiuhpilli climbed the last step his lantern illuminated an ornately dressed warm-blood male removing one of the sacred Moon Stones from its setting. As the light hit the warm-blood’s startled face several missiles flashed from the braves around the priest. The warm-blood fell and lay still. But the battle was joined. The Master Blood Drinker rushed from the darkness and fell upon the skinks who had shot his minion down. Brave Chac, the saurus warrior, felled the ancient fiend, but more of the Blood Drinker’s servants appeared both in front of the Guardians and behind them on the stair.



Yaotl was on the wrong level of the temple to offer aid. Some of his braves got behind the first wave of Blood Drinkers but more came up the far stair to trap the reinforcements. The Guardians were almost surrounded. Xiuhpilli ordered the Guardians to withdraw.

Post Battle
The Guardians fled the field. One Ochre Three and One Ochre Four are killed. (The last of my original henchmen.) The Guardians recovered 2 of the 4 possible treasures before they routed. They also find a Feather Cloak amid the artifacts rescued from the fight.

The Shadow Stalkers win a hard fought victory. Melderzhus suffers a Hand Injury.

Week 12—Naufragio Cala

“Surprise Attack”
The Vampires Strike Back!

Melderzhus watched the woman approach with grim amusement. The jungle women had no idea that he and his band were nearby. They had swarmed all over the surrounding wrecks and docks. Now they thought to explore this crumbling temple.



“Attack!” Melderzhus roared.

The deserted ruin spilled forth zombies and wild men. The hulking Dude broke right through an old wall to attack the startled women. Melderzhus swept toward his chosen victim. He savored her fear.

His blades struck only air. In response the wench cut him! Fighting through the pain in his side, the vampire slashed at the puny woman with dagger and sword. She parried easily and stabbed him with a perfect riposte! Melderzhus felt himself growing weaker. He had waved his minions on when he first chose this victim. Now he called to his zombies for aid. Where was the witch? She was supposed to support him, not vanish in the middle of battle! A zombie wrapped the woman in its decaying arms. Melderzhus immediately cut her down.

He had no time to savor her blood. Most of the women were rallying to a large hulk on the far side of the harbor. The maze of narrow docks and bridges where they pursued a few stragglers separated his minions from each other.

“Forward!” Melderzhus ordered. “Do not let them escape.”

Melderzhus saw a woman emerge from a hatch on one of the nearby wrecks. She had hidden from the first wave of his attackers, but her sister’s resistance had delayed him long enough to witness her escape attempt. Melderzhus rushed to the attack.

“Master! Help meee!”

Melderzhus checked his charge to identify which servant called for aid. To his left he saw the witch silhouetted in the light of a lantern. Her staff was cut in two by the wicked slash of a long blade. The witch fell with a scream. Melderzhus found himself with the lantern’s light in his eyes. He could hear his intended victim running towards him on the docks behind him.

Post Battle
The Azure Band ambushed the ambushers.

The Shadow Stalkers encountered stiffer resistance than expected from the Amazon henchwomen. They flee before the approach of the Amazon heroes. An ogre is hired to provide some muscle for the final battle.

Week 12—Axlotl (finale)

“Skirmish”
The Return of Chester (IV)

Valten Von Carstein shaded his tortured eyes from the hated sun. He had thought to spend the day in some deep passage beneath the ruins, but the chirping Dragon Folk had rooted him out. The Evil Doers had pursued the curiousscouts to this square. Valten had sworn to have their cold blood and he would, by the Powers!

Valten spotted a moving shadow on the upper level of a nearby temple. “There he is!” Valten shouted. “After him!”



Valten sprinted across the burning open ground without incident. His minions rushed for the nearby stair. To his left Chester and some ghouls emerged from behind a smaller ruin. Pin Haid led a similar group to his right. The little cold bloods were trapped! Valten easily pulled himself up using the intricate carvings as hand holds. Rock Head labored up the stairs behind Manfred and yet another one of the ghoul pack.



When he reached the first level of the temple Valten saw Wolfy mauling a small cold blood in the courtyard below. Other skinks shot arrows at Pin Haid and his ghouls as the Dragon Folk retreated. One ghoul was already down. From the top level of the pyramid Valten could hear screams and battle cries as his minions who took the stairs engaged the enemy. Valten began to climb to the next level.

When he pulled himself onto the top level Valten beheld the torn body of the skink whose shadow he had seen earlier. Rock Head was fighting with a saurus brave at the top of the stair. Manfred and one of the ghouls lay crumpled before a blood splashed saurus who was in the process of defeating yet another ghoul. The Old Man was hiding behind a column chanting his spells in a desperate voice. Valten gave voice to an inarticulate battle cry and threw himself toward the saurus standing over the heap of bodies.

Post Battle
The Guardians suffered 3 saurus braves, Chimalli and 2 skinks out of action. Rock Head killed the Chameleon Skink Hired Sword and Ah Peku, a saurus brave. The rest of the casualties recovered. The fleeing Guardians find a murdered adventurer and gain his pistols.

Valten held his warriors on the field despite heavy losses. Two ghouls die of their injuries.



Next Thursday will be the final battle royal of the campaign. As usual we have no real objective beyond the adventures encountered by the various warbands. Smalls' Amazons have been the highest rated warband for the last month or so. The Guardians losses in the last 2 games have dropped them perhaps below even the Evil Doers in warband rating.
In terms of power the Evil Doers have bested the Shadow Stalkers and Guardians in their last meetings. No one stands against the high strength, high attacks, lightning reflex Amazon Totem Warriors for long.

The Shadow Stalkers were a tough warband for the first few weeks, but adding magical power has not balanced the weakness of their henchmen and hero choices that are not vampires.

Playtable is ahead in the number of heroes killed. He has lost 4. Chadwicc has lost 3 and I have lost 2. Smalls lost a heroine in his first game and hasn't lost any since.

Cold Ones are slightly ahead in their quest for heroic food. They have eaten 3 heroes and been bested twice.

Week 12.5—An Interlude in Axlotl
I was out of town on business last week, so I met Playtable at his house to get a game in. We used old warbands from the last Lustrian campaign, Playtable’s Amazons and my Tileans (who also fought in Khemri).

“The Vault”
(Daylight, bad weather: -1ws, -1 bs)
The Return of the Pale Moons
(warband rating a little over 150 better than the Tileans)

Captain Herman de Guzman led the Free Company into the lost city through gaps in its crumbling walls. The city was over-run with jungle but most of the buildings survived intact. The enemy appeared immediately.

An Amazon sniper prepares to cover the advance of her shield sisters.
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The Free Company’s right flank advances on the first possible clue (the barrel in the spawning pool).
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The Pale Moons wait in ambush for the Free Company’s left.
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The men take the bait.
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In the south (on the Free Company right) the Pale Moons find the entrance to the vault (cleverly concealed under a small barrel).
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Battle is joined on both fronts, the view from the main gate.
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An aerial view of the northern half of the skirmish.
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The battle joined in earnest. A Totem Warrior suffers a wound from the pikeman. The Serpent Priestess freezes Per Torcemunda at a critical moment.
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Both skirmishes seesaw back and forth. The Amazons lose the Totem Warrior but several Duelists are down for the Free Company.
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The Free Company’s Tilean Marksman survives being shot and falling off a building.
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More Amazons fall, but reinforcements are on their way.
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The Amazon archers rush toward the fray.
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The weight of numbers and tricksy magics defeat the Free Company.
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Post Battle
The Pale Moons lose a couple of henchwomen.

The Free Company suffer the loss of a veteran Duelist and the newest warrior. However the loot skill (from the Free Company’s time in Sartosa) means that most of the equipment from the fallen Amazons and men is recovered. The least experienced Duelist, Diego, is promoted for bravery in the face of scantily clad women. After appearing in several campaigns the Free Company have 6 heroes!