Session 085,”Change of Plans“, has been posted.

How to describe this session? I really don’t want to give things away here; I’d rather the reader felt the full impact.

Sif and Duff close in on Tashal.
A resolution for Sif, and a parting with a friend.
We actually played this a couple of years ago. I’ve been that remiss getting this posted. It will probably be a few more weeks before we start playing this campaign again; we’re currently working through a story arc in my wife’s game. But the next chapter will be genuinely NEW stuff. Stuff we haven’t played yet.

Tentative working title, as I map out what’s ahead for Duff and Duncan: “A Room Full of Hexes”.

More to come.

Darin’s miniature caravan has been through a lot, and moved fast. Now, this trip comes to an end, and Duncan begins planning a new one.

Session 83, “North of the Osel” has been posted.

It’s been awhile since there was any activity posted about this campaign. We’ve been on hiatus; the group has been playing other campaigns, under different referees. I hope to pick this back up soon; we’ll probably rotate between campaigns as various story arcs finish in each campaign. Session 84 and 85 have been played and will be posted soon. After that — new material!

Meanwhile, Sif and Duff are headed north through the Pagaelin lands north of Chybisa, headed for Tashal.

And for those wondering just how Sif thinks when she’s on a hunt, well…

Session 082, “Assault“, has been posted.

Back in session 53 “Bloodshed”, Darin’s caravan fought a cluster of Pagaelin right outside the trading post at the Osel River . In session 56, “Burzyn at Last”, the caravan-master gave a report on the trip to the Mangai, including the fight and the subsequent refusal of the head of the trading post to open up his palisade for the caravan.

People were more angry about that than they were about the fight.

Word got to the Order of the Lady of Paladins in session 78, “Ulmstane”; a force was immediately sent out to bolster the mercenary troops sent by the Mangai.

They’ve arrived.

Note:  This session writeup contains explicit violence and some of the imagery may be disturbing.

Session 081, “Three-Day Hill“, has been posted.

Out in Pagaelin lands, there is a flat-topped mesa called Three-Day Hill. Caravans headed north from Chybisa along the Genin Trail generally pass it about their third day out from Burzyn. That’s about all that travelers know about the hill, which is on the south side of a narrow valley across from Knife Rock.

They certainly don’t know that up atop this mesa there’s a group of soldiers watching the Pagaelin. Littlehawk headed out there with a pair of soldiers, taking a tour of duty out on Lord Jared’s forward reconnaissance outpost.

It’s both less than he expected, and more.

Session 080, “With Fast Horses Under Them“, has been posted.

Two groups are headed north from Chybisa. Their goals have little in common.

Sif and Duff are making a dash for Kaldor, back north through the Pagaelin-controlled lands they just came out of. Just the two of them and mounts, and a pack horse. They’re depending on speed for safety.

Littlehawk is headed north from Alekshos with two soldiers, on foot. Their goal is a hidden reconnaissance outpost from which they can watch the Pagaelin and travelers.

Session 079, “East of Jalis“, has been posted.

Duncan is still with Darin’s caravan, headed for Thay. They’ve made it out of Chybisa and across the pass into Melderyn.

You’d think that once the group was into civilized lands again that their problems would be over. Just clear road to Thay and the end of the trip.

Well, no…

Session 078, “Ulmstane“, has been posted.

So Durendal is now a full-fledged Knight of the Order, a Paladin. That means days and weeks of training and staying ready for trouble at the Chapter House, right?

Wrong…

Session 077, “The Plow“, has been posted.

Ever since he left the school at Gwaeryn, Wince Waterfox has been trying to get south to Burzyn so he can fulfill a contract. Accepting this commission is how he got the money to make the trip. Finally, the last steps are at hand and the plow is ready. Until a few days ago, finishing the commission would have left him free to leave the area and pursue his own agenda. Now, as punishment for acts he feels were just, he gets to spend months in thrall to a woman he hates.

On a different front, Sif – the woman in question – is busy with her own affairs. A midnight rendezvous leads to Sindar games with Littlehawk.

And, Littlehawk finds out just what Lord Jared meant by “military testing”.

Session 076, “The Trade Spine“, has been posted.

is headed east towards Thay. At Alekshos, things are still simmering between Sif and Duff, who is trying to finish his commission. Durendal is over at Ulmstane.

Elsewhere, the tribesfolk – Yin, K’Arandi and Yang – are headed south, deep into Hodiri lands. The route through Hodiri lands from Burzyn to Patrel, the site of the Hodiri inter-clan gathering, is called the Trade Spine. It’s generally a fairly safe route to travel – trade is important, and the Hodiri are nothing if not practical.

Of course, “generally” is kind of a loose term…