Session II: The Library of Bletherad

Session II: The Library of Bletherad
After three weeks of travel, Devin and Krimp make it to Algor’s Tooth, a small village a few days from the Two Axe Tribe’s capital Whitewater.

The Two Axe Tribe are sailors by nature. They are also the inventors of the Wolfen Drakkar or long ships. The wolfen drakkars are long, narrow, light boats with shallow draft designed for speed. They are fitted with oars along almost the entire length of the boat. They sport a rectangular sail on a single mast which is used to augment the efforts of rowers, particularly during unusually long journeys. In combat, the variability of wind power makes rowers the chief means of propulsion. The wolfen drakkars are clinker built, meaning each hull plank overlaps the next, and waterproofed by moss drenched in tar. In the autumn these ships are tarred and then sit throughout winter in a boathouse to protect the ship and allow time for the tar to dry. The ship's low shallow draft allows navigation in waters measuring as little as one meter deep, rapid beach landings, and its light weight allowed portages.

They speak with a young Two Axe wolfen sailor that introduces them to Captain Orca, a 9 foot dark red wolfen with bright green eyes. His large wolfen drakkar, The Stormchaser, has 30 pairs of oars. The Stormchaser is heading to Y-Oda to trade several different goods with the locals. Captain Orca tells Krimp that an elf on board would bring good luck and inspire the crew so they are welcome to ride along. Krimp, concern that this might inflate Devin’s ego, translates the Captain’s words a little differently, “The captain says in spite of the fact that my companion is an elf, we are welcome aboard.” Devin seems crossed at this reverse racism he is experiencing.

Meanwhile, Median, a northern human of The Kingdom of Havea, and Nestor, a young wolfen of the January Magic Tribe, have traveled to Algor’s Tooth a small village a few days from the Two Axe Tribe’s capital Whitewater. Median and Nestor have decided to travel aboard and strike out as independent mercenaries. “Being a mercenary means all the glory and riches of soldiering and none of the confining rules and regulations!” That’s their credo and they are out to prove it. Nestor negotiates passage on The Stormchaser by trading some of his famous January Magic Tribe tunics. These tunics are woven with metal fibers giving the garment a shimmering quality. Captain Orca is pleased with the trade and welcomes them aboard. Devin sits at the rear of the ship next to the drummer so that all the crew can see him. Median takes a seat near the cargo in the center of the ship. Krimp and Nestor are seated at the oars. The Stormchaser sets out from Algor’s Tooth as it begins to rain.

After three days of lighting, wind, and rain, the twin volcanoes, Y and Oda, can be seen on the horizon. Devin spends his first sea voyage throwing up from motion sickness. Devin’s nauseating noises convinced Captain Orca that perhaps elves are not good luck charms for ships. The Stormchaser slowly approaches North Port, a small fishing suburb of The Port of Bletherad.

Before, the wolfen ship can reach the docks the alarm bells begin to ring in North Port. The crew looks to the south and can see a pillar of black smoke rising about a mile and a half down shore. Captain Orca shouts, “Double time!” The drummer begins to beat fast. The wolfen row their oars to the accelerated beat. Krimp enjoys the adrenaline rush of sailing with the Two Axe Tribe. Nestor discovered the long voyage had taken it’s toll on his stamina and struggled to keep up with the rowing. Devin attempt to compose himself but the increased speed put him right back to his seat next to the side of the ship. The wolfen that are not rowing begin strapping on their weapons and armor. They then go down the rows and drop weapons next to each wolfen that is busy rowing. Median takes the cue from the wolfen and puts on his armor and weapons. Median looks towards North Port and sees a large group of wolfen and other beings running towards the black pillar of smoke.

The Prince of Snow, a Bizantium merchant vessel, pulls into the docks at North Port. The Kingdom of Bizantium is an island nation of proud seafaring humans. Geographically it is the most northern kingdom in the known world. This human kingdom has had a peaceful relationship with the Wolfen Empire for sometime despite the fact that they are considered a member of Eastern Territories Confederacy.

Disembarking is a human ranger named Heratio that is here to visit the great Library of Bletherad. He has become bored with winter after winter in The Great Northern Wilderness. Stories, of lands of endless sand and of forests of sweltering heat which hold plants and creatures undreamed of, have been brought back by Bizantium sailors. He yearns to see these lands and to test his skills of survival against their elemental forces. First he has decided to stop at the great library and see if any knowledge of these fantastical lands can be gained.

Before the ranger can inquire about the library the bells of North Port sound an alarm. He sees wolfen soldiers, human townsfolk, and adventurer types come pouring out of the buildings and into the streets. They begin running in the direction of the black pillar of smoke. He hears the soldiers yell, “To arms! To arms! Scrod Cove is under attack!” The young ranger rushes with the mob about a mile to the top of the hill over looking the small fishing village called Scrod Cove.

Scrod Cove is a blaze! The bodies of peasants and fishermen both wolfen and human, males and females litter the area around the village. The fishing boats are on fire and you can make out the murdered fishing crews amongst the flames. On the beach is a small raiding ship. The ship is human in design but looks as if it is from the Land of South-Winds instead of Eastern Territory. It looks like a Jung-Gorl ship that he had seen an illustration of once. “Probably, stolen”, he thought. He is joined on top of the hill be several other bowmen of different races. They begin to assault the raiders that are on the ship and those making their way back to the ship. The soldiers and adventurers pour into Scrod Cove first hacking down raiders and then trying to put out the fires.

The Stormchaser now blockades the only entrance or exit to Scrod Cove. The human raiders will have to fight their way past. Captain Orca stands, strapping on his shield, he growls, “Let them come to us. Board and then save as much loot and as many captives as possible. No prisoners! Turn the cove red with their blood!” The crew snares, whines, and snaps their jaws in agreement of the captain’s orders.

The human raiders begin to flee the village. They are pursued by a blood thirst mob and are being showered in arrows from the hill. The humans already on the ship begin to pull away in haste leave several of their comrades stranded on the beach. Some try to swim for the ship but are filled with arrows. The remaining raiders drop their loot and draw swords against a line of wolfen imperial soldiers, the raiders fall swiftly.

Now the raiders see their path to the sea is blocked by a wolfen drakkar! They prepare their ship to clip the front of the wolfen long boat and push through to the open sea. With almost 10 feet of clearance between them and the wolfen ship the raiders begin to think they will make it. One of the human raiders sees a large dark red wolfen, with a wooden shield strapped to his left arm and holding a long sword with no hand guard in his right hand, stand and run down the length of wolfen ship before leaping into the air and land on their ship. As Captain Orca lands on the human ship he cuts down two raiders with one fluid motion. Several of Two Axe crew let out great howls of battle which seem to inspire the other wolfen and terrify the raiders. Krimp and Nestor follow Captain Orca over to the other ship! Nestor hacks down a human raider with his sword. Krimp impales another with his hunter’s spear. Devin uses his sling while Median fires his arrows onto the human's ship.

The human raiders are routed; some begin to throw themselves into the freezing Algorian Sea to avoid the brutal justice of the Stormchaser’s crew. Seeing his adversaries in complete disarray one of the older Two Axe wolfen warriors throws down his sword and shield. He grabs the nearest human and bites deep into the muscle between it’s neck and shoulder! The human screams in terror and pain. The wolfen violent rips the throat out and the human falls silently to the deck. He lets out a victory howl with is blood covered muzzle. Several of the other wolfen see this and throw down their weapons, chase the humans around the ship before pouncing on them in a frenzy of claws and teeth. Krimp and Nestor are astonished by the spectacle! Devin loses his lunch on the deck of the Stormchaser. Median is surprised but not shocked, after all he remembers the stories the old soldiers told of the time before the Empire, before peace with the wolfen.

As the last of the humans stop twitching, the Two Axe tribe lets out a chorus of victory howls. They are answered by howls from the village of thanks and requesting more help to save the village buildings. Captain Orca wipes the human blood from his face and yells, “You two guide this ship back to port! The rest of you back to the Stormchaser! We have got some cleaning up to do!” Two wolfen run to the helm of the Jung-Gorl and begin turning it around. Krimp, Nestor, and the rest of the wolfen rush back to their oars. The wounded wolfen are left on the Jung-Gorl and two more wolfen stay behind to bandage them up.

After a drunken brawl and a night in jail, the "heroes" move on to the great library. Krimp researches Kym-nark-mar and the Church of Dragonwright. Devon finds some accounts of the Elf/Dwarf Wars, Rune Weapons, and the Scourge. Nestor reads on the plethora of undead monsters in the known world and the many ways to destroy them. Between them and their allies they learn of changelings, Yin-sloth Jungles, Mount Nimro, and other strange lands. Krimp tells the group that the latest records about the Church of Dragonwright come from the Timiro Kingdom. He wishes to search there for the followers of Kym-nark-mar. After studying a world map the party decides since the Timiro Kingdom is on the way to all the other lands they wish to visit, they would stop their first. The next day they find passage on a trade ship heading to Hanna a small port in the Timiro Kingdom. Three weeks at sea brings them to the ancient human Kingdom know as Timiro.