Tides and Tribulations #11 -Nilas

An In-Character report from the point of view of Callast Nilas Orakn of the events from session 11. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #10 - Nilas

A retelling of Mysterious Tides #10 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #9 - Nilas

A retelling of Mysterious Tides #9 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #8 - Nilas

A retelling of Mysterious Tides #8 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #7 - Nilas

A retelling of Bay of Spirits #7 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #6 - Nilas

A retelling of Mysterious Tides #6 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #5 - Nilas

A retelling of Bay of Spirits #5 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #4 - Nilas

A retelling of Bay of Spirits #4 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #3 - Nilas

 A retelling of Bay of Spirits #3 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysterious Tides #2 - Nilas

A retelling of Bay of Spirits #2 from Callast Nilas Orkan's point of view. On-going GURPS adventures set in the beautiful and evocative Bay of Spirits setting by Randy M. at Roan Studios.

Mysteries of Mystara 006P

 Panya's first person recollection of the events of Session #6 of the Mysteries of Mystara GURPS campaign. 

Mysteries of Mystara 006T

Talyn's first person account of the events of Session #6 of the Mysteries of Mystara GURPS campaign. 

Mysteries of Mystara 005T

Talyn's first person account of the events of Session #5 of the Mysteries of Mystara GURPS campaign. 

Mysteries of Mystara 004T

Talyn's first person account of the events of Session #4 of the Mysteries of Mystara GURPS campaign. 

Mysteries of Mystara 003T

Mysteries of Mystara
Session 003T

From Talyn's Point of View

211107

Contemplating Names, Friends, Maces, and Fey

In the morning Talyn met with Father Berabellus where the old priest gave them some holy water and some kind of spell scroll. He also blessed the party. Once that was done the company moved on to meet the Gray Company mercenaries. 

Thinking to himself, "we really need to come up with a name for this group, something like the heroes of wherever, nah that would just mean someone would shout it all over and wouldn't that be embarrassing?"

We meet up with Cass, Lev, and another young woman they introduce as Ilya the Red. Apparently Panya and Ilya know one another and start up a conversation that seems like it will be a bother, so I just moved the group along. Maybe I shouldn't have done that, I mean bold action is the Vanyian way, but I want to be different, better than that. Maybe I should have let Ilya and Panaya talk it out.

We get back to the keep and enter through the same entrance. Malachai and Dak both indicate movement in one of the buildings and we go to investigate. Opening The door and entering the room beyond I find a bunch of undead and take action to engage the creatures. I did not expect my companions to pull back through the door, but fortunately it worked as the zombies stupidly followed them allowing me to engage the Wight in the room. After spending several seconds dancing with the dead thing, my companions finally entered and we ended the fight. Not sure these mercenaries were worth the cost, or maybe it's just Lucky didn't seem to negotiate very hard. 

The mercs seemed a bit battered and were complaining about being hard pressed. Panya had some words for the woman in orange as she apparently did nothing during that fight? Also, if I'm going to be travelling with these people for long, I probably need to start training with them in tactics. That could have gone disastrously wrong.

After resting and patching up the mercs we continued on into the next building where a small dog growled menacingly at us. I tossed it some of my dried meat and that seemed to appease the beast. Which was good while Vanya teaches that anything that dares to bare fangs at you should be put down, I just don't think everything needs to be met with steel.

Pushing on we once again descended into the darkness that was the basement of the old keep. We found an old stinky cistern, some abandoned rooms, an old prison, and some more of those shadow things that while they hit us in sneak attacks didn't stay and fight. 

All in all after finding the mace and gold the keep is turning out to be disappointing.The group then moved to climb the tower stairs and after some maneuvering and helping each other up over the hole finally found the ghost. It is apparently a banshee mourning the loss of its children. 

We engaged it, but after a few rounds of combat and some chatter by the ghost my companions wanted to back off and find another solution. While I know what Vanya would want me to do I decided to see where this was going and let my companions try their way. I mean we can always come back and bash the banshee later. Besides, it doesn't have to be all fighting all the time does it? Taking the banshees chatter about her babies to mean we needed to find them to put her to rest we went back down the stairs and started searching for the bones.

While we were searching Malachai had a chat with the dog and apparently it is not just a dog, but a magic blink dog. Also he seemed to have some kind of gift for it. Fae are kind of weird are they not? Anyway after a while we found the bones under the undead willow tree and buried them. I voiced my opinion that we should take them to the banshee and put them to bed, but the group wanted to bury them. I still think that is the wrong idea and we will probably have to bash the banshee and the little ghosts too now.I thought it was quite obvious that we needed to reunite the ghosts and the children were haunting their bones, but I'll let this play out. So, now we wait. I wonder how long the mercs will stay or if they will head back to town before sunset?

Session Notes

This was an In Character report from our last session (not posted yet, not done putting it together). Talyn is a young and naïve Celestial that has recently escaped from the Cult of Vanya. He was being trained as a holy avenger but chaffed under the strict training and dogma. Now out wandering the world, the young, glowing warrior tries to fit in with a strange and eclectic group of companions, but has no real skill to do so.

Cast of Characters:

Talyn Dilectus Vanyilam, teenage Celestial warrior on the run - played by Don K

and GMJasonGURPS as the DM

Mysteries of Mystara 002T

Mysteries of Mystara
Session 002

From Talyn's Point of View

2109613

Having passed the night in Novaci, unfortunately there was bad news in the morning. The main road had been blocked by a landslide and it would take days, maybe weeks to clear and repair the road. Fortunately there was an old road that while not a straight shot did loop around and reconnect to the main road.

After some discussion the caravan decided to follow the old road. After a few hours' travel an eerie noise was heard that spooked the horses. It was decided that Talyn, Panya, Lucky, Malachai, and Dak would scout ahead and see what was going on. 

After traveling towards the noise we discovered an abandoned, ruined keep. Easily entering the ruins from the "front door", even though there was no door. We quickly made our way over to the tower and entered. In the main chamber of the tower there were some stairs that I attempted to climb, but accidently broke through the rotting boards. Deciding to explore the rest of the tower before attempting the dangerous climb the group went through a door. 

Finding themselves in a kitchen with some metal corroding cobwebs that Malachai eventually cleared we opened a trap door into a basement area. Curiosity compelling us to descend into the darkness. Once down the stone stairs we found ourselves in a corridor and decided to open the first door on the right. After some attempt to see if any traps were left we managed to get the door open into a storeroom. 

Confidently entering the room to search for clues or other hidden things we were attacked by shadow monsters. Our weapons were mostly ineffective, but the torches and perseverance won the day. After a search of the room where some coins were found, we decided to fall back, regroup, and see if we could find any resources to deal with the shadows back in town.

On your way out, as we trooped back through the kitchen I once again saw a glint of something shining. With no hesitation I pulled the shining thing out of the pile of debris and discovered a magical mace. Panaya almost immediately asked to see the mace and we discovered that she had been searching for it for the monastery up the hill from Novaci.

We then moved out into the courtyard through the back door when Malachai approached the Willow in the courtyard and we discovered that it was an undead tree. Which of course promptly attacked Malachai. We immediately sprung into action and after a few exchange of blows the tree was felled, but not before the vile thing whispered foul things about Malachai. I mean really what did the fae do before joining us?

There was then a lively discussion about what to do with the dead body behind the tree, apparently the man was a thief. I just couldn't understand why Panya wanted to bury the guy, I mean what benefit to us was that? Meanwhile Malachai wanted to leave the body to nature. There was a giant vulture that he seemed to be talking to and I think he wanted to leave it to the bird. I wonder if he is going to try and convince the vulture to become his familiar? Anyway a compromise was reached in that we would leave the body for now and then bury the remains when we come back. Note to self bring a shovel. We then made our way back to town and decided to visit the village priest up at the Lord's keep. At the keep we were stopped and questioned by some mercenaries working for the lord of the keep. After explaining our business, I was then let in to see the priest and we had a discussion about the old keep, the old lords, and the probable ghost there. The priest then said he would provide some items to help, and we could pick them up in the morning.

As we exited the keep I realized there was an opportunity before us and inquired if the mercenaries were for hire or knew someone who was. To my surprise this sparked a round of argument among my companions as some of them did not see the wisdom in hiring mercenaries. I pushed ahead anyway and came to an agreed price for 1 day service from the mercenaries. Amazingly Panya agreed to help defray the cost.

In the morning we plan on heading back to the old keep with the newly hired mercenaries and the items that the priest provides. Better equipped, with more swords, and more information. I am confident that we can overcome this challenge.

Written by Don K.

Session Notes

This was an In Character report from our last session (not posted yet, not done putting it together). Talyn is a young and naïve Celestial that has recently escaped from the Cult of Vanya. He was being trained as a holy avenger but chaffed under the strict training and dogma. Now out wandering the world, the young, glowing warrior tries to fit in with a strange and eclectic group of companions, but has no real skill to do so.

Cast of Characters:

Dak, a Makai islander fluid mage - played by Ben L

Malachai, Faetouched, Wilderness Defender - played by JeCorey H
Panya Masika, a bronze skinned Nithian monke stranded out of time - played by Carol C 

Talyn Dilectus Vanyilam, teenage Celestial warrior on the run - played by Don K
Panya Masika, a bronze skinned Nithian monke stranded out of time - played by Carol C
Vlajic Savago, the Lucky Savage, a Traladaran bard - played by Dan E

and GMJasonGURPS as the DM

Mysteries of Mystara 001P

Mysteries of Mystara
Session 001P

Dreams Come True For Panya

210831

Panya tries her best to follow the tenuous trail of the missing mace. She fears she may fail her promise to the Abbot in this endeavor. Her only lead brought her to the small town of Veseya. Not one to willingly leave a task undone, Panya perseveres and walks through the town talking with merchants along the way, looking for the slightest bit of information that would guide her to the thief’s whereabouts. However, the person rumored to have a magical weapon for sale in the area has seemingly vanished. Later in the day, as she passes by a newly arrived and heavily ladened caravan, Panya experiences a strange feeling, like her head is wrapped in soft cotton. Her vision flickers for a moment causing her to hesitate lest she stumble on the dusty road. 

As her vision clears, she sees two individuals that most definitely look familiar. These are two of the people who regularly appear in her dreams. She stares at them, one being of faun heritage and the other is a young man who glows from within, with the light of a hundred flickering lanterns. Now she is certain these are two of four people from her dreams.

She moves away from the caravan towards the docks while trying to decipher the meaning of what she saw. Yet, here among other people moving around the area, she sees the other two people from her dreams. The musician and the dusky hued man walk along the pier, obviously leaving a boat. They begin walking towards the town but suddenly stop and stare at Panya. Panya feels light headed, her legs give way. She stumbles clumsily against a fortuitous, sturdy barrel where she plops down hard, her mouth agape. The dreams and visions were standing before her!

The moment passes as the two men continue their walk into Veseya proper. Recovering quickly, Panya follows them closely, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. That’s when she overhears them talk about someone she had recently met, Fergus Proudsun. Fergus knew there might be people looking for him, and asked her to pass along a message if she met any of these people. 

Timidly, Panya approaches the men and attempts to explain how she met Fergus but before she could deliver the message, the Faun and the Bright One step into the conversation, also apparently looking for Fergus. 

She learns their names, Malakai, of Faun Kinship; Talyn, the Bright One, Lucky the Musician and Dak the Exotic Skin. She delivers Fergus’s message and a brief conversation follows. The group splits up. Lucky and Dak pair up and head towards a tavern. Malakai and Talyn are guards at the caravan she saw earlier and they head in that direction. Momentarily unsure of what she should do next, Panya decides to discreetly follow the pair heading to the caravan. She has no understanding of how these four people will affect her life, but she knows that meeting up with them was no coincidence. Destiny has an agenda and she is willing to follow the best she can.

Panya finds a spot near enough to the caravan to hear any commotion, yet far enough not to be in their way or even noticed. She gets a few hours of sleep and wakes up in time to perform her morning rituals. She ends with a recitation of the 8 Legs of Spiritual Life. When she finishes, she gathers her belongings and carefully packs them in her bag then sits down to watch the activity surrounding the caravan and its workers.

Lucky and Dak, who seems unwell, arrive at the caravan looking for work. She isn’t sure if they got jobs or they just decided to follow the caravan anyway. But she didn’t want to lose contact with the four so Panya decides to join, walking along beside the wagons as they pull out of town heading north towards Castellan Keep. In reality, this is backtracking her journey, heading back towards the Monastery of St. Yulric. Her heart is heavy that she hasn’t managed to find the holy relic.

As the caravan journeys northward, Panya doesn’t find many opportunities to talk to any of the four, so she keeps her eyes moving while enjoying the panorama of nature. Suddenly the caravan stops. Orders called down the line state that there is a large tree fallen onto the road. As caravan employees come together to deal with the obstruction, an arrow flies into the midst creating chaos. Panya runs forward keeping an eye on the spot where she is convinced the sniper is located. She launches herself from a nearby rock, trying to kick the bandit. Unfortunately, the man is able to move out of the way in time to avoid the lunging kick. He turns and slashes at Panya. She is barely able to keep from being sliced.

When the fighting is done, all the bandits are severely injured and unconscious. Panya notices that Malachai is bleeding, injured during the fight. She applies first aid to his wounds by tearing strips of cloth from the shirt of one of the nearby bandits.

After the bandits are tied up and loaded into a wagon, Panya and Dak attend to the various wounds received in the battle. Dak points out the strange bluish growths around the ears, and coloring under the eyes. The bandits would not answer any questions about who they are or what the growths were. It was decided to bring them to town and check for any outstanding bounties.

The day isn’t done yet, and more excitement, appaling as it is, soon arrives. The road ahead was strewn with clutter and as the caravan approached, a plaintive cry for help was heard. A merchant’s cart had overturned and most of the cargo lay in the dirt. A Hin named Isaac was leaning against a tree, a crossbow bolt protruding from his side. Panya attempts to heal him after the bolt is removed, but fatigue gets the better of her. Dak helps with first aid, and Isaac is loaded onto the caravan as well.

Panya uses the time to gather Isaac’s belongings while some of the men turn the cart upright. Finding and capturing the horse is another matter. Malakai locates the beast, who in turn informs Malakai that his name is Bob, Bob the Horse. However Bob is reluctant to pull the cart, having had enough drama for one day. 

Eventually, Bob gives in and is hooked up to the cart allowing the caravan to reach the town of Bergoi where the caravan master, Tsorvano, plans to spend the night. The bandits are given to the local authorities, and a local priestess is contacted to heal the injured. The Bright One questions the priestess about her religion and decides to talk with her further. Panya is tempted to stay as well, but she is still unsure about Talyn and whether or not he would appreciate the extra company. Besides, morning comes early for her. Her spiritual meditation each morning is a necessary and welcomed ritual. It keeps her balanced and centered in her own faith.

Panya heads for the caravan camp, noticing that Lucky and Dak once again head for a tavern. What is the fascination of a night filled with inebriating drink and no sleep? One day she will try to have this conversation with Lucky and Dak. Panya notes that Malakai arrives at the camp before her. She thinks that perhaps he is of a like mind about the need for sleep. 

The few hours of slumber go by quickly. Panya rises for her morning meditations, noting that Malakai had returned to the camp sometime after she fell asleep. She completes her rituals and carefully packs her backpack, ready for the next leg of the trip. She decides that if given the opportunity, she will go to the monastery to speak with the elderly Abbot. Her update on the missing mace will be sparse with no more information about the thief. Panya had the opportunity to see what was in the bandits belongings after the ambush, and the mace had not been in their possession. 

Dak and Lucky show up just in time as the caravan begins its journey northward towards Castellan Keep. Panya notices that Dak looks ill, and for some reason is only partially clothed, the unusual color of his skin is even more obvious. Panya quickly looks away as it is not considered appropriate to view another person’s unclothed body unless it is necessary for healing purposes. 

This day’s journey is relatively uneventful and Panya spends most of her time watching the scenery scroll by. There is one unusual interruption when a group of travelers going the opposite direction stopped to talk with people in the caravan. Panya overhears a conversation about attending a tournament where individuals fight each other in competitions. It makes no sense to Panya, why would you want to hurt someone for money. There is enough pain in the world without needless suffering inflicted on purpose.

The caravan eventually makes it to Novaci and prepares to bed down for the night. Panya notices that Malakai slips out of camp almost immediately. In spite of her curiosity, she knows that it is none of her business where he went. Surprisingly, Lucky the Musician, and Dak the Exotic prepare to bed down for the night near the caravan’s campfires.

Panya is torn between going to bed early or heading to the monastery now. She is sure she can make it there, spend some time with the Abbot and be back in time tomorrow to leave with the caravan. Her duty to the Abbot is more important so she quickly heads out and climbs the wandering path to the Monastery.

Written by Carol C.

Session Notes

This was a player written account of the first session (last post) from the point of view of their character, Panya. 

Cast of Characters:

Malachai, Faetouched, Wilderness Defender - played by JeCorey H
Talyn Dilectus Vanyilam, teenage Celestial warrior on the run - played by Don K
Dak, a Makai islander fluid mage - played by Ben L
Panya Masika, a bronze skinned Nithian monk stranded out of time - played by Carol C
Vlajic Savago, the Lucky Savage, a Traladaran bard - played by Dan E

and GMJasonGURPS as the DM