The Southern Campaigns

The Writings of Chalyb Sequitor - Part VIII

"He"s here! He"s Here!” Shouted children through the small town of Lope. As though materializing from the very air itself, a dozen children manifested at the gate to their town. With the various implements of work or play forgotten in their hands, a stuffed leather bear, a small shovel, a bit of cheese, they waited in fidgety excitement for the man walking up the dusty road.

Lope was still at heart a quiet little town despite the various periods of turmoil in its history. So it is of little surprise that travelers bring with them a certain excitement and anticipation. This particular wanderer was something of a regular. A blind storyteller who traveled from town to town spreading news, and gossip, and tales from days long since passed, when the red star shone in the sky.

No one knew how he managed to navigate or even survive on the road, but he did, and with seemingly little problem. He wore a scarlet band of cloth over his eyes, and robes, which suggested he might have been a priest of some sort at an earlier time in his life, but the symbols, were not any of those known in the present age. As he entered the town, the children all fell in behind him. They knew from prior years that he would not speak until he had arrived at the inn, and had himself some dinner and a drink. But then he would dispense candies and stories that would fuel their imaginations for the intervening weeks between his visits.

That eve, after he had indeed been fed and given a full tankard of ale, he turned his chair to face out into the room and the assembled crowd. (For you see, it was not just the children who were enthralled with his tales, and so the innkeeper had good reason to treat the taleteller to some free meals and a mug or two. Jakob, the owner, had initially offered the wanderer the food and board for the evening out of charity, but after the first eve, and the massive increase in his business that this entertainer represented, he also now made sure the taleteller walked away with a few coins in his pocket as well.)

"Well now, my friends,” The taleteller began as he always did. "You have all been most patient in waiting for this old man to wipe the dust from the road. So what shall it be this evening? Shall I tell you of the days when the red star rose, and the brave band of adventurers who first brought knowledge of the Night King"s return? Or shall I speak of the battles beneath the burning, where the champions of the Prince of Ume did lead forces against the Dwellers in the Dark. Or perhaps you wish to tell of more local heroes. I could speak of the adventures of The Company of Steel, who were pledged to the protection of Lope and the surrounding towns before the great wars.”

Smiling he knew exactly which stories his audience was most interested in. For he had already told them of the early Chronicles of the Company as they had lifted the curse of the Vale of Onsho.

"Well then, I see my mug is full, and the fire is right, so listen now as I continue the chronicles of the Company of Steel…”

It was shortly after their return from the Hidden Cavern and the restoration of the Great Seal, that the Company was sundered. Their conscience, the holy martyr Vanlenlo, had sacrificed himself for the good of humanity, and was lost to them forever. May Eria have mercy upon his soul. Shortly thereafter, Donnatelli decided to retire from the more dangerous activities and establish her claim to the Vale itself. While she would remain in Lope mostly, she began to gather others, and would soon travel into the vale to restore the Keep, and repopulate the now fertile lands. Apparently Okan, the dwarven Lieutenant and she spoke at length of the opportunities of expanding both their domains together. For she needed the stout hearts of their warriors and had knowledge and claim to areas in the beneath they might find gems and minerals in.

Ana too had decided to take her leave. After claiming yet another potent magic item, this time Blastbone, she set off for parts unknown. Presumably she left for the empire, in a bid to join one of the magical societies therein. However, it was not really known, since she simply vanished one evening and was not seen around Lope until… Well, that is another story entirely.

Balla had a tearful parting with his family. He had obtained his revenge, but at a cost. His service to the Lord of Vengeance called upon him to leave the Company and head north, to parts best left unsaid. His friends would miss his strong arm and good humor in their travels.

Thus was the company reduced to three. Kentaro, the quiet monk, whose life was constantly in danger of being torn from him. Raphael, the boyish rouge, who bore the markings of both moons upon his body and his soul. And Chalyb, who was known throughout these parts as "Scorpionhead” and whose fate was now bound up with the ancient artifact embedded in his head.

They were not to remain three for long however. In his negotiations with the dwarves, he had sought to trade a glorious suit of magical dwarven chainmail for men and materials to build a small enclave that he might train mercenaries and thus establish himself and court Donna more properly. Okan was willing to work with Chalyb, and asked that in exchange for a good deal, that Chalyb might take Okan"s Nephew, or some approximation thereof based on dwarven family lineage, under his wing, and show him something of the world beyond the caves.

Chalyb readily agreed, especially after learning of the younger dwarf, Zol, had status as a chosen of the Earth Mother, and renown as a fair healer. Thus was the company made four for a time.

Yet here was the company, having had a few weeks to relax and attend to such duties and obligations as they might each have, they found themselves sitting about the tavern planning out what journey they might next make which could lead to glory and gold. It was late in the evening, when they were approached by Sata, the river queen. You may remember it was she who sat on the council when they presented the findings of the cult and the danger of the demon. It was she who failed to see a need for Lope to ‘get involved" with such matters. Yet here she was approaching the Company"s table. Chalyb wondered if they were in for a fight.

Yet, in truth she had come to offer them an assignment, should they be willing. She was attempting to establish a new trade route to the eastern kingdoms across the Bay of Tears and through Sunta"s waste. This would avoid the current instability surrounding the southern end of the empire and the city of Sandol. It offered her a good opportunity to gain a leg up on the competition as well.

However, as it was untried, and certainly offered no small element of risk, she sought to ensure the first transfer of cargo with more than the standard accompaniment of guards. Thus did she offer the company of steel employment.

There was little haggling. Her offer was generous, and neither Chalyb nor the others were particularly adept at such negotiations. Thus a deal was struck, that the Company would ensure that the six crates she sought to transport, and her factor, a quiet man named Ferun, reached their destination, and that such cargo as was acquired returned to Lope safely.

They set out in on a river barge down the Sechi river. The captain was a terse and unsociable fellow who knew his job and ran a tight ship. Chalyb immediate liked him and thus remained at the rear of the boat for the lion"s share of the journey. Raphael was more inclined to remain at the front with the sharp-eyed and sociable Eshe, the mate. Kentaro moved about the boat and aided the crew, having grown up in a mondarian village lent itself to an understanding of ships. And Zol, simply plunked himself down in the center of the vessel to avoid the opportunity to fall into the river and drown.

It was mid evening and Mios had risen to full, when each of the company was awoken by the ethereal sound of Ana"s voice crying out in pain.

The journey was quiet for the most part, and they made good time. Until they came to the great fork. As they passed into the more rapid current, Eshe grew quiet. Raphael saw the great heads of the sea snakes rising in the water and making great speed towards the boat. His hands a blur of speed he launched arrow after arrow into their mass. His arrows found and wounded the heads, but still they came. Perhaps a little too fast for his own good, he knocked his own bow from his hands. It nearly fell and was lost to the river, but the gods looked over the young rouge and it caught in some of the boats rigging.

Chalyb was much slower, as was his nature. His own arrows sought out their marks, and his single-mindedness of purpose aided him, in dropping one head, then another. The great boar-killer arrows he used and the incredible power of his bow caused the arrows to actually blast through the skulls of the creatures.

Eshe meanwhile was moving towards the back of the boat as the rest of the crew hid. As Chalyb"s arrows continued to seek their marks, the serpents closed, and Raphael saw they were all the mass of heads from one great creature, and there were more beneath the water.

Kentaro"s spear kept the heads at bay, when Eshe and Zol finally feed a great sack from beneath the tarps. Slitting the sack open and dropping it over the side, the Company saw it was half of the carcass of a cow. Almost immediately the heads dove for the meat, and the boat sped on down the river.

"What was that?!?” Chalyb asked. He was informed that was the river serpent, and that it had been there for months now. If one fed it, it usually left the rest of the boat alone.

The group continued on down the river, stopping periodically at the various settlements along its banks. To call these places anything more than a group of tow or three huts would be kind, but they did provide fresh water and a place to rest for a bit after several hours of poling through the river.

Their journey down the river took several days, However, they reached Xaymet with little other incident. Ferun left the boat with Kentaro and attended to some matters within the city, but the group, having been warned of Xaymet xenophobic nature remained upon the barge. Except for Zol, who, despite Chalyb"s warning, decided he needed to sit on a more stable surface. He got off the boat and sat upon the docks.

Naturally he was immediately accosted by the mondarian guardsmen. Who demanded to see his papers and know what he was doing. After a brief struggle of languages, Zol not knowing any Mondarian, nor either group having a good command of Vichese, Zol returned to the barge after being searched for weapons. Chalyb simply chuckled.

It was the evening after they had left Xaymet, when they came upon a boat burning and floating free in the midst of the river. They investigated and found some burned bodies and a skeleton. Kentaro also noticed that it appeared that the boat had been rammed by something.

They kept a cautious eye out after that, but it was of little help when a large tree suddenly turns and rammed up against the barge. Like crawling bugs, a dozen men who should have been long dead, but were still moving, swarmed upon the barge. Naturally the company fought them off, but it was Zol, who"s mighty hammer truly saved the day, and Chalyb who leapt upon the tree and with several mighty heaves separated it from the barge, and then had to dive in the water and swim after the barge which was leaving him behind. It should also be noted that Eshe, though only a crewman, fought off several of the undead with his long pole.

They arrive at Owara with relatively little fanfare, and the cargo was transferred from the barge to a small ship. The captain of this vessel, one Gnarry, was a much more friendly and outgoing man, but his mate Dolon took an instant dislike to "Scorpionhead.” This was fine with Chalyb, who resumed his position at the rear of the vessel.

They sailed out into the Bay of Tears and began to cross it, when Chalyb noticed they were passing through a great field of what appeared to be bright yellow star shaped flowers. "Hey, what"s that!” he cried out to the captain, thus ensuring that the sound responsive predators leapt up and began attacking the boat.

What followed was the most bizarre battle Chalyb had ever been a part of. Apparently the Sea Lilies were predators that responded to sound, and could be known to rip a ship to pieces if provoked. While the crew and Kentaro and Zol kept as silent as possible, Chalyb was being swarmed by the things. He hacked them apart, though they were great beasts, with a span of fifteen feet or so across. Several latched onto him, but he freed himself with the aid of the Sword of Sequitor.

Raphael was amazing, from his bow, arrow after arrow leapt out bringing pain and death to the creatures, and yet he was silent with every movement. Like a cool breeze he moved and his arrows sprouted and ripped apart the massive sea lilies. Though Chalyb was sorely wounded by the encounter, the ship managed to make its way through the field of the things and sail on across the sea. Zol treated Chalyb"s wounds, and Kentaro explained that next time, Chalyb out to just, "Shut up.”

They finally came to the small trading village where they were to exchange goods. Naturally, the man with whom they were supposed to exchange was not there. Taking turns on guard duty, they waited at Ferun"s instructions. There appeared in town a rival trader, known for his ruthless practices. Chalyb had hoped they might be able to unload their goods with this alternate trader, but was not particularly surprised when Ferun said no.

There arrived another ship at port, this one carrying passengers. One of whom was a dwarf. When he and Zol saw each other a great series of shouts and hugging and head butting ensued. Apparently they were something of blood brothers, and the second one had come after Zol, when he had learned Zol was traveling with humans. After many drinks and much discussion, the new dwarf, Grad, was invited to journey with the Company of Steel, and would soon be invited to become a member as well.

When several days had passed, it became apparent that there was something awry. With Ferun"s agreement, Chalyb gathered the group together, and made plans to go search some for this trader, leaving Kentaro to guard the crates with the aid of several of the men from the ship and Ferun. They hired the son of the local tavernkeep, who proved to be an excellent guide. Thus equipped an led, they headed out into Sunta"s waste to learn the fate of the caravan.

After two days of travel, they had seen no sign yet of their quarry, when they stumbled upon something else. It was the dwarves actually, in looking for a place to make camp, they were walking along a ridge, which turned out to be no ridge at all. Suddenly it lurched up beneath them, proving to be a vast lizard of incredible size. The dwarves were knocked to the ground by the great legs of the beast. While Raphael and the guide fired off arrows into its hide, Chalyb charged forward to draw its ire from the fallen dwarves. The Sword of Sequitor carved out a huge chunk of flesh, as Raphael managed to smack himself with his bow. However their young scout scored two good hits. Thus wounded, the Lizard was only too happy to attempt to shred Chalyb with its great toothy maw.

The battle raged on, as the dwarves fought valiantly, and Raphael sent arrow after arrow into the great scaly hide. As the lizard ripped into Chalyb"s flesh, he cause Ironhead"s scorpion to rear up and spit forth the terrible venom it"s magic produced. Zol"s leg was ripped almost from his body, but fortunately Raphael bore the mighty healing wand, and Zol"s life was spared through its use.

At the end of the battle, the Company stood about the fallen lizard, and discussed what trophies might be gleaned from their great foe, while Chalyb prayed thanks to his ancestors, and the dwarves set about to heal themselves and the others. They settled in for the evening, hoping the dawn would lead to their solving the mystery of the missing trader, and the successful completion of their mission.

"And I see that my mug is empty, and the hour late. And so, I leave you folks with that tale, until I return again in the coming weeks.” The taleteller smiled, as the room emptied, the serving girl, Valance escorted him to a warm placed near the fire which had been prepared with blankets and a pillow for him to sleep.

FINI