Random Acts
| Current Campaign: New Blood For An Old Sword | |
| Episode 1: "Random Acts" | |
| Year: 1763 Summer | |
| Location: Larkos | |
PCs:
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NPCs:
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| Previous Episode: "The Fall of Kandorr" | |
| Next Episode: "The Ruins of Azedoma" | |
| Previous Campaign: The Knights of Eaton | |
In the search for his missing children, Carlo of Treefall arrives in Larkos and brings trouble down upon himself and his companions.
Story
Act One: Carlo and Cromwell
The Berethian merchant vessel Katarine docks and among the men to disembark are: Carlo of Treefall, Eolian of the Voldar and Michael Alastor. Carlo has arrived from Bereth, following a lead on his kidnapped children. He met and befriended Eolian and Michael on the journey across the sea.
Michael's kroa is not yet registered with the city's Steward of Beasts kroa, and so he elects to camp outside the city for the night with his mount; there he meets the legendary mercenary captain Jargos and four of his comrades, who are preparing their kit for an excursion to what might be a hidden trove of loot in the ruins of Azedoma.
While Michael and the mercenaries share a bottle of wine, Carlo and Eolian check into the Rusty Peg. Carlo settles into his room and to pass the time he idly strums his baliset, ignoring the complaints of the boarder shouting through the wall next door. His door opens and a large, one-legged man drunkenly hobbles in, yanks the baliset from him and shatters it against the wall. "Thank you," he slurs, gently shutting the door behind him.
The next morning Carlo braves the dreary weather and makes his way to the Slave District. His questions and demands throughout the day raise eyebrows and ruffle feathers and, as he walks through the back alleys on his return to The Rusty Peg, he is accosted by a gang of bravos and taken to a posh house in the Bazaret. There he is briefly questioned by Kerrigun, who pats him down and then shoves him into a lush solar room. There he meets the wealthy merchant Alva Cromwell, who reclines between a nude male and female Makosti as he eats his lunch. Cromwell states that his comrades are agitated by Carlo's intrusion. Through him they wish to deliver a warning to him: unless he is there to make a purchase, stay out of the Slave District. Carlo asserts his right to find his children and says he cannot make promises.
- Cromwell: You have been warned to be wise.
- Carlo: A wise man does what he will.
- Cromwell: Aye, but a cunning man can befriend even ogres. You have been warned. You may go.
Carlo gives a puzzled laugh and returns to the inn.
Outside of Michael's encampment a traveler approaches on the road to Larkos, his cloak drawn tightly against the pouring rain. When he gets close to them his horse slips in the muddy road and kneels. Jargos drunkenly stumbles to help the stranger but the horse bites his finger. Enraged, Jargos draws his sword and kills the horse. The stranger rises to his feet and demands payment, but Jargos curses and spits at him and turns around to walk back to the encampment. The stranger follows him, scooping up a heavy rock. When Jargos turns to stab at the stranger he misses his mark and the stranger strikes him dead. The cowl falls to reveal a fellow Karadoan, one of Michael's kinsmen. Michael recognizes the tattoos on the stranger's arm: He is an Alaric, who are liege lords of the Alastor house.
Jargos's companions stagger to rise and draw their weapons, but the stranger is upon them instantly and Michael rises to aid his kinsman; within seconds the mercenaries all lay dead. The stranger, wounded in the leg, limps to Michael's tent and asks for a drink of wine. Michael passes the bottle and the stranger introduces himself as Kes Alaric. Kes takes Jargos's horse and rummages through his saddlebags, keeping items that look expensive and tossing out the rest; he passes a finely crafted dagger to Michael and says, "it's yours now."
Act Two: Complication and Death
Michael, concerned for Carlo and Eolian, commands his mount to remain at his encampment and he rides into Larkos with Kes. They track Carlo and Eolian to the Rusty Peg and within Mike is accosted by an ogre, who demands to know where the horse outside came from. "I recognize that charger you rode in on and it don't belong to you; her keeper wouldn't leave her without good reason." Michael tries to convince the ogre that it was won in a dice game but the ogre notices Jargos' dagger tucked into his belt.
The ogre lifts Michael off the ground and rears his fist to strike him, but he is struck from behind by Kes. As the ogre stumbles to his knees Michael delivers a sweeping kick to his temple and knocks him unconscious. Kes shouts at Carlo and Eolian to flee to the stables and get their horses. The innkeeper runs outside and shouts up at the nearest proclamation tower to raise the alarm.
Eolian unleashes the first horse he sees and rides it out of town, with Mike and Kes trailing not far behind him astride Jargos' charger. As Carlo collects his horse at the stable he yells for the stable boy to deliver a message to Cromwell: "I return for my children and nothing will stop me." By the time he reaches the east gate it is closed by the town guard; he race through the crowded city to reach the north gate.
Outside, Michael spurs his kroa Kovac to flight and they soar up and over the city wall. He lands near Carlo and the mercenary leaps from his horse and upon the kroa. Kovac takes to the sky again but he is pierced by archers' arrows in mid-flight; he careens, mortally wounded, and he crashes onto the wall walk. Michael tucks and rolls, slamming against a stone merlon. Carlo is thrown back into the city, smashing against a rooftop and rolling onto the hard cobbled street. Outside the gate Eolian casts a fog spell over that portion of the wall, allowing Carlo enough time to hobble to the barbican, disable two guards, and slip outside the city.
Grief-stricken, Mike slays Kovacs and pushes him off the wall into the river below. Before the wall guards can reach him he dives and swims to safety. Carlo clears the fog but before he can reach the treeline he is hit twice by arrows. Kes swings his charger about and races towards the wounded mercenary, scooping him up and riding him into the forest. "I owe you one," mutters the wounded mercenary.
Eolian climbs down the river embankment to help Michael out of the river. As Kes and Carlo catch their breath they are ambushed by Mayfn Maelost. Carlo and Mayfn trade swings and the mercenary's sword is shattered, but the force of the blow knocks one of Mayfn's shortswords from his hand. Mayfn kicks Carlo and knocks him backwards into a thicket; as Carlo struggles to stand Mayfn prepare for a killing strike but is thwarted when Mike hurls his knife. Mayfn parries the blade, catches it, and switches to main-gauche fighting stance.
Carlo rises, drawing his hip knife and the gladius from his back sheath, and the two trade blows again. This time Carlo draws blood and knocks Mayfn's knife to the ground. Mayfn delivers a savage riposte that send's Carlo's dagger spinning off into woods. Carlo spins to counter-attack but loses his footing and falls in front of Mayfn, completely vulnerable.
Mayfn poises his sword for the killing strike but Kes puts himself between the two and the blow pierces him instead. Mayfn struggles to pull the sword out of Kes, but the wounded Karadoan grips it tightly with one hand and with the other lifts the fallen knife and plunges it into Mayfn's side. Mayfn blinks, stunned, and Carlo kneels to deliver a final strike that decapitates him. His corpse rises, staggers and falls backwards down the embankment—Jargos's blade jutting from its side.
Carlo crawls to Kes's side and the dying warrior clasps his hand and smiles grimly.
"That's two you owe me," he whispers before death takes him.
Carlo rifles through the Mayfn's kit and stuffs the man's head inside a pouch. Michael, Eolian and Carlo strap Kes's body to the charger and ride into the forest.