Session 465 – Return from Exile

The Story So Far

Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.

Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.

Vinzent - A bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.

This is the continuation of Session 460 – A Banshee Wails.

16^th of Ilvin (Winter) 729TR

The heroes have been exiled after committing robbery, murder, and blasphemy in their home Kingdom of Rethem. Now, under the orders of the new Apalankh (the Agrikian Primate of Harn), Ryobi has been pardoned and recalled; his exile is nearing its end. However, the warrior monk has good reason to suspect a trap and will act accordingly.

Location: West of Castle Bedenes, in the Kingdom of Rethem.

Part 1 - The Vessel of Choking Wind

The heroes' long exile is nearly over. As they leave the rugged winter forest and near Bedenes' outlying manors, they notice a disturbance near a small bridge. A wagon with a large broken cage is wrecked. Feeding on the carcasses of two horses is a massive, imposing, blubbery form, an Aklash , the Ivashu also known as a Vessel of Choking Wind. One man lies dead, torn apart by the monster's claws, and another nearby is unconscious but still breathing.

Ryobi disappears into the shadows as Ash attacks from a distance, hurling his enchanted starknife at the Ivashu’s chubby head. He misses, but the lumbering monster notices and charges forward, breathing a noxious blast of foul air onto Ash and Vinzent. Ash dodges, but Vinzent is nearly overwhelmed and steps back. Ryobi appears behind the monster and slices off chunks of fat with his holy sword, but the wound quickly seals over and regenerates. He then shifts tactics, attacking the creature's stubby legs, causing it to topple over. He stabs deeply into the creature’s blubbery mass with his dagger, hitting several vital organs. Still, the Ivashu starts healing its wounds, but more slowly.

Ash realizes that the bizarre monster has its water-filled brain deep in its chest, making it vulnerable to electrical shocks. He quickly coats his weapon with a material that creates sparks and rams it into the Aklash, piercing its brain and stunning it. It convulses and dies, with its fat layer quickly turning to jelly.

However, another sinister Ivashu is lurking nearby, watching the battle. Baethyr , or Mind Lasher, decides to strike. Its Metal Bolts catch Ryobi off guard, causing an intense headache; however, the warrior monk quickly recovers. He and Ash rush forward and cut the serpentine creature into pieces.

Part 2 – The Beastmaster

The survivor, Frenrich the Beast Hunter, is healed by Vinzent and surveys the wreckage of his wagon, the deaths of his horses, and the guard. He takes a practical view of things. He is a hunter for the Pamesani Games and was attacked by the Baethyr, which maliciously assisted the escape of the Aklash, a creature he was transporting for sale. He pragmatically recovers what he can of the carcasses of the dead monsters and plans to sell them to the Order of Pia-Gardith for dissection and study.

Part 3 – The Order of the Warriors of Mamaka

Halan Uelasen, art by Artflow

Ryobi finally returns to Bedenes and is greeted by guards before being swiftly escorted to meet Halan Uelasen, the Akarata (Grandmaster of the The Order of the Warriors of Mameka).

The Akarata listens to Ryobi’s account of his exploits in exile, particularly interested in the details of the rescue of the mother of the Order's revered holy swordsmith, and updates him on recent events. The Order is facing significant challenges.

Last year, tensions in the City of Golotha erupted, leading to a brief but bloody religious coup (this was triggered by another group of Heroes, refer Session 438 - Destruction of Knight of Death). The simmering antagonism between the Warriors of Mamaka and the Red Shadows of Hepra escalated into a full-scale conflict, resulting in the complete destruction of the Warriors in the city, the burning of the Order of Mamaka, Master of Steel grand temple, and killing all the priests including the previous Apalankh (the Agrikian primate of Hârn), Sir Klyrdes Bisidril.

The new Apalankh, Andraz Enald, the former grandmaster of the Order of Herpa the Mace, is hostile, and the King has offered the Warriors of Mameka no support except to limit the conflict. The Order, in response, has fortified its holdings as best it can and refuses to pay taxes. Tensions are high and could lead to the Order's destruction as rivals circle like vultures. The Akarata believes only Castle Bendes, with its impressive fortification, has deterred a full-scale civil war.

Akarata Halan has launched a recruitment drive among friendly noble families, offering superb-quality swords for their surplus sons. He also says that if the new Apalankh were to die, he would not shed a tear. However, there should be no evidence leading back to this Order.

Part 4 – The Mamaka

The Mamekan art by Artflow

That evening, the heroes dine with the Mamekan and his wives. The holy smith forges the order's holy weapons and is one of the world’s best human swordsmiths. The Mamakan is extremely grateful to the heroes who saved his mother and sister’s lives in the distant desert continent of Hepekeria. He listens with rapt wonder as they recount their adventures. As a reward, Ryobi’s Holy sword will be significantly enhanced.

He confided that he looks forward to traveling to his homeland, but that won't happen until his son is fully trained to his satisfaction as his replacement.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Frenrich the Beast Hunter.

Halan Uelasen, the Akarata Grandmaster of the Order of the Warriors of Mameka.

The Mamekan.

Created Content

Nothing this week.

Related Reports

The Order of the Warriors of Mameka.

Aklash - The Choking Wind.

Baethyr - the Mind Lasher.

Castle Bedenes.

Player Characters

Ryobi - Human - L17 Monk

Background - Temple Guard.

Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.

Ash - Human - L17 Thaumaturge

Background - Weaponcrafter.

Archetypes - Alchemist/Vestige Hunter.

NPC Companion

Vinzent - Human - L17 Bard

Background - Cursed.

Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.