TOD: Session 73: The battle for Ahlorsath and Serôs
General Summary
After the The Bane of Dragons blew up the forge of Platanos they traveled to Ahlors. On their way there they are contacted by a Storm Giants who notifies them that they are ready for them near the border of Ahlors. After 3 days of traveling they arrived at the war camp where they see Storm Giants and Tritons readying for battle. In the camp they found a Storm Giant commander named Harrdiir and the triton rebel leader Theodorus. Here they notified the party that they are severely outmatched and have no chance of defeating the forces of Asterion Psári. The commanders then reminded them of the Laws of Battle:
- Law of Wounds: No less than ten days pass betweenbattles of particular forces or sites. It is understood that each side has wounded, and there is no true victory in fighting a wounded opponent.
- Law of Duels: Personal challenges are acceptable forms of battle, though this option has rarely been used in recent centuries. Either leader of opposing factions can proclaim a personal challenge to his opposite and choose to settle the conflict personally (or by each choosing a proxy). Triton, Morkoth, and Sahuagin prefer this method, as it is more direct and to the point of the conflict between two leaders. Challenges can be nonlethal and to first blood (or by using noncombative methods of competition), though the choice is left to the challenged, not the challenger. All duels must be public before the amassed forces.
- Law of Gods: No battles are ever fought on holy ground of any god. This covers temples, holy groves, caverns, etc.
- Law of Heralds: Before any battle, heralds for one side (or both, if a battle is expected) approach under truce to within earshot of the battle lines (or patrols, or outposts of a city, etc.) and announce the grievances that have led to the battle. This airing of charges comes no less than a turn before a battle, though it can be as much as a day in advance of an attack. Thus, few battles are total surprises, though even if a patrol has an hour's notice, superior opposing numbers (or an hour's worth of panic in ranks) can undo even the best tacticians. Note that battle heralds are not used by sahuagin raiding parties seeking only food and treasure, as that is not a battle or challenge--that is the seeking ofslaves or meat and little else. This same attitude applies when sahuagin are on the Wild Hunt or part of Sekolah's Pack, as they are little more than savage berserkers.
- Law of Horns: Aside from blood-frenzied combatants. all battles end when either side blows a horn three times in quick succession (which can only be ordered by the highest ranking combatant or officer). Both sides separate and line up behind their respective leaders, and funeral rites are performed as needed for either side. Once those rites are complete (which can take anywhere from an hour to four days), the two leaders (or surviving heirs to their positions or their superiors) meet at the battle site to discuss and meet the terms of victory
