Gurps: Battle at Shield 10

 

The Sienfest forces have chosen to stand against the Gnoll/goblin horde at Shield 10.

This is a rudimentary earthen wall fort with palisade.  There are a few hundred regular troops and militia, with some balista to hold off the expected horde of a fee thousand. 

Father Wolfgang bolsters the defenses with some minor ditches and oil in the swampy water.

Paladin Beaumont arrives and sets up the Rose company in the hedges of the right flank.

As the first Wargs and gnolls appear from the woodline, Sir Sedelicious and his Knights of Remagen arrive and bolster the center.

Missile fire degrades the first wave of enemy.

A second wave advances, but falters under the precision missile fire of the heroes that target the enemy leadership.   Beaumont's crossbow, Sedelicious triple-warbow, and Wolfgangs "God's Fire" claim enough enemy officers that the Goblin advance stalls.

A new column of goblin warriors advances up the right flank, brandishing candles.  Not sure what trickery this is, Wolfgang summons a rain storm to extinguish them, and molest their archers.

It is noticed that the demon commanders are nowhere to be seen on the field.

It is assumed they are somewhere else with the main force and this assault is a mere distraction. 

Without the demons to produce caution, Beaumont summons the full Holy Battle Aura of Arken and charges the enemy with his Heavy Knights.  The Goblins flee in terror from the sight of the Holy Light, arch angels riding silver steeds with swords shooting from their mouths accompanied by winged angels blasting their battle horns.

Those goblin and gnolls who do not fly from the field feint in despair and are easily dispatched.

Despite a few militia archer casualties from wargs that jumped the ditch, the enemy is thoroughly defeated at little cost.

A Goblin battle chief is captured and interrogated.   It is learned the big demons are some 10 miles to the east at some ancient temple where they are attempting to raise a third Bugbear demon to aid them in conquest.

To do this a mighty warrior must volunteer as a sacrifice to provide a host body.

Wolfgang has heard of this local warlord and it is discussed if he is a willing sacrifice and if there is time to rescue him, or should he just be killed to thwart the summoning.

It is deduced that Dark Lord Fengri is not a righteous man, and most likely seduced by keeping a Hag as an advisor. He has chosen his fate.  He will take the Test of Silver.

Traveling with all speed, the heroes go to the Demon camp on winged beasts provided by God's will.

The Atem scout goes ahead to locate Fengri's tent, while Sedelicious picks a shooting position with his Law Rod of Marduke.  Beaumont blesses the bullet against infidels.

Fengri appears from the tent and begins his walk to the sacrificial altar.

Sedelicious lines up his shot.  Yeenoghu senses something and shouts a warning. Fengri turns to run, but Sedelicious bullet shatters his skull into many pieces.

Fengri has failed the test.

Gurps: Jiro and the temple of Hecate

 

Greetings Jirro,

You notice in the streets of Phillippi, the people, mostly the poor and artisans seem particularly jubilant and gather on corners to hear fiery rhetoric decrying a decadent devil worshiping elite. Also apparent is an emblem of an eye with a seven-pointed star making up the Iris is popping up in fresh graffiti, particularly in the poor sectors mostly in red or black.  Recalling darker days under the Sons of the Son, they had a similar symbol that was more like a mouth with seven tentacles called the 'Jaws of the Master. 

The three story temple of Hecate on the Edge of Free Town, is surrounded by a walled garden of about 12 feet high, topped with curling iron sculptures of a spiky rose vine, complete sculpted rose quartz flowers, this extends the wall another three feet.  The wall you think is about 100 feet to the building.  There is a single gate made of heavy thick oak boards, cross banded with ornate iron fittings,  It has not guards, in fact there is a lot of graffiti in Balarian and many Star eyes painted on it, and you guess by the smell that several of the local tavern's customers regularly piss, throw up and defecate on the walls.  You don't think they are popular with the locals.

How would you like to attempt to scout out the Temple of Hecate:

• Talk or just listen to the Free men of the Local Taverns
• Scale the wall in a secluded spot
• Use the High City Wall, which is on a 100 foot cliff and covers the back third of the Temple compound, as a perch to observe inside or even infiltrate
• Locate a sewer and an attempt entrance through that
• Monitor the temple for comings and goings
• Something of entirely your own design :)

You know from what you can see the building has multiple towers, some square, some round, with multiple colored stones, elaborate stained glass windows of abstract design, and many gargoyles in the shape of Vrock, Harpies, and Ghost-like women.  The eyes of which are set with pearls.

The tavern is crowded and very upbeat, with a mix of Huskarls and Philippi Muldanes, so large fair skinned men, with red, blond and sandy brown hair predominant, and definitely a different look then the aristocracy who are smaller olive skinned with black hair.  They do however mostly speak Ballarian and a little bit of Huskarla, and some other language you're not sure of that is local to the Danaka, you think. Talk in the Tavern is general joy that the arrival of the Messiah of Cove, will be arriving with Hir Polito, and they are very excited to welcome him.  They universally despise the Pagan Gods of the Aristocrats, and welcome a new age of Arkhen to the city.  "Let his eye be upon you" Is a common greeting.  They are pleased that 'Demonstrations' are already taking place.

They are welcoming to foreigners and you're soon invited to jam with other musicians, one of which is very good with his lyre and his friend on the pipes.  They appreciate the strange tones you make, and you are poured many drinks.

You learn from the musicians that people particularly hate the Witches of Hecate, but fear them, few who break into their house ever get out, and those that do, tend not to live long, many go mad and are consumed by their dreams.  It is a wicked place.  They hope a Demonstration is made soon of them, and are hopeful; after all there have been three in the city just this past month.  

"Demonstration?" You ask, saying you have heard this term often, but are unsure of what it means.  

Tosh, the Lyre player, a large Huskarl Wood Cutter "That is when the wicked are presented with an Angle 3 nights before a trio of Demons will arrive to Drag them to Hell.  Beating them first to demonstrate God's wroth to an extreme extent, they die nearly mutilated, when the demons burn them and little is left but a husk.  This is what the wicked deserve.  It happened a Whore Mistress who allower her client to abuse children for their pleasure.  A money pinching Brass guild master who would beat his journey men for making mistakes in their craft.  But also killed a notorious gangster on the warf who exploited the small folk fishermen.  The Day of Righteousness are coming... " And they break into song around that theme, singing about the crusade is coming to free all of the North and burn all the false gods down.

Gurps game from July/August

 

To his excellence, the esteemed Burhy Al Quatma,

Cousin, I am writing to inform you that I arrived safely at the Estate of the Hir Stone in good time.  They were most appreciative of your gifts.  The fine spices, of which I used only a small amount on the journey here to make my meals palatable- which I am sure is what you intended, were unlike anything they had ever experienced.  The silver was untouched and I assume will be greatly welcome as the house is small, crowded, and not well provided with comforts.

I must relate the strange customs of this new land.  My first evening in the House of Ama was very eventful.  The first person I encountered was their Doorman, an Easterner named Jiro.  Since I am well educated in his language, we became fast friends. Thanks to your letter of introduction, I was immediately granted an audience with the Masters of the house.  

The Lady Ama and her witch Morgan heard my tale of toiling in the Golem’s workshop in a fugue state for some years until they banished the Djinn and paved the way to my freedom.  They instantly recognized the usefulness of my talents and accepted my offer of servitude to House Stone as repayment for my life-debt.

I seemed to have arrived just prior to some social event.  A gentleman caller of Lady Ama named Slynt arrived for dinner accompanied by some holy warriors of the dead god Arken.

Exhausted by my travel, I retired to my quarters, which were shared and spartan but acceptable in warmth and dryness, which seems in short supply in these lands.  No sooner had I relaxed and been served a bowl of soup, when Jiro appeared, told me my soup was poisoned, and rushed off.  I found this a peculiar way to treat a guest and left my quarters to investigate (and find some un-poisoned fare).  In the entrance hall, the guards of the Holy Warrior were in various states of incapacitation from ingesting the poison soup.  I could hear some heated discussion in the dining hall, but did not understand the language.

Again Jiro appeared, succinctly stated: “We’re under attack.  I am going to flank them.” And disappeared again, which is his custom.

The attackers had the same idea, for the door Jiro headed for opened and a Wild Elf and Lizardman tried to sneak in.  The Lizardman held a jar with some thumb sized creature, which seemed nefarious to me, so I let loose a flash of light that blinded him.  Jiro appeared again from the shadows and entangled the lizard in a chain in a most thorough manner.  He then proceeded to apply the “Death of a thousand cuts” which broke the lizardman’s spirit and he surrendered. 

Not sure what danger the thumb beast was, I apportated it in a rug across the street and deposited it safely behind the wall of an estate across the street.

The fighting in the dining room resolved around the same time.  None of our side had been significantly harmed, and several captives were taken.  I don’t completely understand what went on but it seems to be some sort of labor dispute led by one of Lady Ama’s household staff named Saga.  This kind of rebellion by servants is incomprehensible in our culture.  Curiously, they did not summarily execute the offenders.  I can only assume they are saving them for some long term torture.

The excitement ended, I was finally able to obtain some untainted victuals while the prisoners were interrogated.  The lizard-beast revealed that one of the Hirs of Cove, the Magistrate, would be assassinated this very night by a third party.

It was decided to warn the Magistrate of this after some discussion.  Although there was apparently some trust issues with the magistrate, Lady Ama decided that having the information and not warning him would make her complicit. This is all well and good, for Noblemen should not be murdered in their beds like dogs.  Such actions lead to chaos and anarchy.  If the time comes for us to challenge this noble, we will do so on the field of honor.

Jiro ran the letter across the street and delivered it the Magistrate’s estate.  Despite his emphasis on the urgency of this being about life and death, it turns out later the warning went unheeded.  But I get ahead of the story…

On the way back to House Stone Jiro was delivered a note by Raven.  The writer demanded the return of the Elven and Lizard prisoners and stipulated a meeting by one person at the Golden Mule within the hour.

Aware this could be a trap, or a ruse to empty the house of defenders, I volunteered to be the negotiator, as I had no value as a hostage to the enemy.  Morgan and Jiro shadowed me there.  There was a minor event outside the Golden Mule- a young noble was being accosted by a band of commoners.  He was forced to kill one and then they dispersed.  He then vomited and collapsed, apparently too much drink.  This was no state to leave a gentleman in, so I brought him inside and had him taken to a room to sleep it off.  I paid out of his own pocket, not wanting to embarrass him by making him beholding to a stranger in any fashion.

Inside I made contact with the leader of the Elven attackers, a dark haired woman calling herself Lethold or some such.  I told her that her manners were atrocious and her negotiating skills abysmal.   We held the advantage, so we dictated the terms.  It was she that may send one person to negotiate with us at a place and time of our choosing and convenience.  But preferably tomorrow after 9th candle as we had some previous commitments this evening.  With that I left.

On return to the Manse, Lady Ama had decided the group would go to the bathhouse to intercept the attack on the Magistrate.  Do these people ever sleep?  So there would be no rest for poor Rajun this night.

Lady Ama, her two witches Morgan and Nicole, a leader of the Arken Knights Sidilicious, their manservant Jiro and I went off to the bath house.  Jiro spied a getaway boat outside, indicating the assassins were already inside.  We went in and found the Magistrate in the main hot bath.  The keen eyed Knight spotted some disturbance in the water.  Jiro had gone in ahead and found a woman playing a queer silent pipe.  He managed to grapple her arms with his chain weapon but the pipe fell and shattered on the stone floor.  This left the tool of their assassination attempt, a greater water elemental, suddenly out of control.  It rose from the pool, angry and lashing jets of high speed water in all directions.

Jiro and I grabbed the sorceress and attempted to escape with her, but a blast of water narrowly missed us as we dodged aside.  The bound woman was not so fortunate and tossed against a column which snapped her neck.  If I was not such a gentleman I would perhaps find amusement that the assassin was instead killed by her own creation.  I am not so callous a beast, however, and there was a pang of sadness as I watched her crumpled body slide doll-like to the floor.

The witch Nicole was blasted with a water fist so strong it pushed her into the stone wall.  I feared her dead, although later it was revealed she survived through her magics.

Morgan was a safe distance away and started to prepare the Banishment spell.  Jiro rushed the Holy Symbol of the assassin to her, hoping it might help.

The Arken knight used his “Shining wood” on the elemental but it seemed to have no effect.  The magistrate sobered up enough to participate in his own defense and threw a huge fireball at the beast but this only brought a mere second of relief as it receded into the water to heal.

I was tempted to flee, as I had no offense or defense against such a creature, but I remembered my duty to the Lady Ama, who had shown no fear when she descended into the Djinn’s lair to save me.  Indeed this small woman had run to the magistrate’s side, alone among all these heroes, in attempt to pull him out of the pool.  Using my enchantments, I jumped to her side and advised her I would get her away from the danger.

It was not an instant too soon, as the refortified Elemental, enraged at the magistrate’s attack (as if the beast could be made even more angry or deadly) turned into a tidal wave to pound down on the magistrate’s position.  I leapt to safety with Lady Ama but the wave crashed into the Magistrate and Sir Sedulicious and I feared they were both dead.

There was no time to waste, however.  I heard the plea from Morgan- she needed more Mana to banish the beast.  Once more I leapt to her side and formed a link with her.  “I am at your disposal, Madam”.

The witch Morgan was very skilled, yet it still took every bit of her energy and will to return the beast to the water plane.

The encounter was over.  By miracles, the Magistrate and the knight survived.

One member of the assassin team survived and after a brief chase through the sewers was brought to heel and interrogated.

The assassins were apparently not hired swords but political agents of Philipi?  I admit that current events are not my strong suit, so I left it to others to unravel the intrigue while I finally claimed my well earned rest.  It had been I first day of no small energy expenditure, I tell you, my cousin.

Regards,

Rajul Hadidum

GURPS: Cove Crusade, before the Seige at Shield 10

 Prologue:

Sir Sedelicious and Lord Beaumont sits with the newly installed Lady Lucratia of Bira-Boro, Barones of  the Island of Zlodor, in the Kingdom of Damilon.  Said to have been rescued by Sir Sedelicious and other Paladins of the south from a Lich's Temple Tomb, she is the last wife of BlueBeard and the inheritor of his client kingdom under the White Cloaks. Bluebeard's greed has given her a vast inheritance, on so large that her rescues fear that she lacks forces to defend her realm.  Most of the former guardians are dead, and those that survived were men of dubious virtue, so it is the expeditionary force from Ragadorn, the Company of the Rose, and a Templar Company that defend the rich, but little kingdom.  Father Vonegurt of the Templar has traveled north to see if the conflict between the Sienfest and the White Cloaks might be coming to some sort of cease fire, as there is an envoy from the Archbishop Urban the 2nd, the unrecognized partriarch of the Manichen

They are considering a recent betrayal, a scribe within the treasury thought loyal smuggled out ledgers that reveal BlueBeards true wealth of hundreds of thousands of Silver Pieces.  Evidence that while he paid the White Cloaks well, his powers of extraction and accumulation were superior.  His agricultural resources were rich and well managed; the forestry bounty from rare herbs, alchemy ingredients, to furs, and valuable hardwood as well as rich fruit vineyards and fat pig farms.  What was not as well understood was the systematic looting of Kurgan Mounds, raids against the Carrins most of whom had signed treaties after the White Cloak’s victory or who had never been in conflict previously were ruthlessly pillaged with special efforts to capture as many as possible. The Beast Men of Yodor and Red Forest tribesmen were sold to the slavers at High Point today though contacts in Sienfest including the Dark Lord Fengri a belligerent of the White Cloaks and self righteous Pagan Lord of the Danaka. 

These Ledgers taken by Eustace Scrubsen were delivered to Master Thulsa Doom, a heroic leader of the Order.  They have not herd word yet of his reaction to news that Lucretia is sitting on a 400,000 silver piece horse.

Things just got more complicated when word from the Children of the Feathered Serpant reaches you that a horde of non-Humans were spotted in the Mountains Swamps to North East.  This was of concern in and of itself but what was worse is that it seems to be a mix of Gnolls and Goblins, two groups known for mutual enmity but now seem to be cooperating and travel under two banners The Black Flail if Yeenoghu and the Blood Axe of Maglubiyet!

L'wanzi, Murmidon of the Black Guard had assumed spider form suspended from a twig, ready to use his abilities to fly upon the currents away from the Demon Prince.

 

Yeenoghu had proved a diligent tracker, Wolfgang of the Templar and Valius of the Wotonic Knights had failed to lead him and the 300 Gnolls that traveled with him away from their fleeing forces and the even slower and mor vulnerable civilians.  Now they had one last option. The White Tower Wizard named Lena had created an illusionary copy of trees to hide in.  The plan was simples,  they would runout and provoke him then as they are running, they would pass the illusionary trees and she would generate their likeness and they could leap under the illusion’s shell.  He would be chasing a phantom far away. It might worked…

First the Demon Prince moved as fast as the swiftness of a cavalry horse, a move of 16 per round.  Then pausing near the illusionary stand of trees that the other’s sheltered under he halted, pulled out a sling and sent there massive flaming stone missiles which all hit with terrifying accuracy dodging past trees and exploding in smoke, fragments and fire.  He then paused sniffed and looked about.

Lena was scry guarded, had cast the spell of No smell and had a perfect illusionary cope of tree; this did not save her from his strike.  His three headed flail could strike at 10-hexes and for a moment she became no more no more than an exploding sack of flesh and shattered bone, but instead she lost her Blessing as 8D+10 crushing hit her.  Seeing the miracle of Arkhen dissipate she decided to flee. Cannon Valius, a faithful captain of the order the White Monks and pledged to Master Scaramander of the Martial Wing drew his gleaming silvered greatsword bained against demon kind and called the Demon Prince out for being a coward in the face of Three River druids and pagan rabble.

Yeenoghu started attacking Valius whipping the massive flail around like a bull whip, and the White Cloak champion dodged and told Wolfgang and Lena to flee.  She was gone throwing on every spell she knew to keep moving.   Father Vonnegut paused, but Valius reminded him that both of them need not die.  Reluctantly the Templar Grand Knight fled as well. 

The demon struck is three headed Flail three times, great gouts of earth up rooted with each shot. Valius had danced at 30 feet toying with him as the flail’s incredible range attacked him nine times.  It could not last and closing time with the enemy was inevitable. He rightly reasoned at one hex the flail could not strike him and he was right.  But by then the two score of Hunter Gnolls who’d been shadowing their god got within range, and at 100 hexe started to let loose well aimed arrows into the fray, they carried not if their leader was hit, aside from his incredibly tough hide, he wore some form of missile shield and arrows simply flicked off him.

Valius closed with the Demon Prince, vowing to get a piece of him. The demon was no lumbering monster, but was quick and agile, leaping out of the ways of several well aimed blows, and striking back at him with a hatchet the size of an executioner's great ax.  But Valius has taken his measure, he had fought a Dragon with the similar size and arrogance, he made a quick fein the to eyes, but then brought his bained blade down and spil open the monster's knee cap, and the Demon Prince howled in pain and started to limp.  Valius prayed to Arkhen that perhaps he might flee or maybe even finnish off the monster?  Realizing that it was time to let prudence govern his ways he turned to run, when an arrow struck him in the ankle shattering through his solerette.  He too was crippled, and so turned to face his opponent, sword at the ready. The Demon Prince laughed a Hyenna's Cackle with the great throat and lungs of a Polar Bear, and he did not strike with Flail or Axe, but instead leapt upon the Warrior for a close quarter grapple taking the impaling blade through his vitals as he did.  The demonic creature howled in pain but also in glee, for such wounds he had suffered a thousand times before and they daunted him not at all. Grabbing Valius by the great helm he wrenched off the helmet while the warrior futility stabbed in vain with a sharp dirk, doing no more than a mosquito's prick.  The Helmet cruelly ripped from the warrior's head, exposing his determined face as the Demon Prince Yeenoghu bit his head clean off.

Seeing his death I began to depart, the Demon Prince cackling his triumph, he tossed the body to his minions and Valius was torn to pieces and consumed.  Yeenoghu did not pursue however, but limped from the field back to camp at a mere six hexes per round.

 

The defenses at Shield 10.

A3 we go

 Gurps adventure based on this:

Hir Ama came to High Point, Isle of the slave Lords, with her trusty company of Morgan, Cole, Jiro and Raj.  Escorted by Legatus Sulla and his Praetorian Guard and accompanied by the new aquintance of Bishop Urban, a mysterious Arken offshoot who had his own agenda to free all the slaves.
After swearing an oath to let Urban lead the negotiations,  they left the docks and slums and headed into the Slave City proper to meet with the slave lords in their Arena.
The slave lords awaiting them were a large warrior, an Arken priest, a mage, and 2 Moorish types.
Negotiations were to be short , as the warrior, Francis, insulted Ama, claimed he would sell her as a slave and kill her companions.  A bomb exploded on Sullas ship..
The inevitable "sequence " resulted.
Cole charged forward summoning "ancestral rage" and almost cut Francis head off.
The rest of the party was caught in a Glue trap, assailed by a "mass mind trap", peppered by goblin poison gas and muskets.  Jiro was shot in the back by poison darts and killed.
Ogre Magi used cones of cold that brought Ama and Morgan to the edge of death..  things looked Grim, and then,, all were back at the docks with Urban, taking the oath.
Forewarned,  the group thwarted the bombing of Sullas ship.  The party did not enter the city.  Sull seemed determined to go to the Slave market, and suspected ensorcelment,  Raj accompanied him, and convinced him his "duty" was completed and they returned to the ship.
A decision was faced to "fight or flight" and the later was chosen.

Sulla set off to Philippi.   Urban to Sienfest.  The Sea Ghost evaded two Caravelle that seemed to be seeking Ama.
Doubling back to the Slave hold, Morgan kept Ama scryguarded while Jiro snuck into the city to make contact with rebel sympathizers.   The half Krall innkeeper gave info on the slavery, island and Amas people.
Next Cole, Raj and Jiro went to the Dragons Temple and talked to the wretched Tender.  It revealed the island used to belong to a Dragon,  but it is kept at bay by its child being held hostage by the Slave Lords.  The Dragon baby was held somewhere in the heavily trapped sewers, vestiges of an ancient city below (including wind tunnels)
Jiro learned that one of the Slave Lords frequently used a brothel and supposed he might "spectate" on people in the sewers like some kind of Squid Game.
The trio went to the brothel,  and while Cole sacrificed his virtue to the Madame as a distraction,  jiro and Raj searched Tariqs room.
Although no sewer entry was found, a viewing device was recovered.
It revealed several areas of the sewer, including the dragons prison. 
A long sewer pass out to Drachon Keep was found.
A suitable landing beach for the Sea Ghost was located nearby.
The work has been cut out for next time.