Return to Moria: Player Maps

It's Saturday, and I usually don't write a regular post on the weekends, but I thought I'd throw up links to the player maps from the first session. These were done on easel-board sized paper, then photographed, so the quality isn't the best.

First Map

•  The First Map

This map depicts the exterior entrance (top), the cavern complex (left) and the goblin fort (right). Most of this area was explored Friday night.

Second Map

• The Second Map

This map depicts the goblin fort (top) and the passages beyond the "Big Evil" in the pool. This area is only partially explored. Most of this was explored Sunday morning.

Third Map

• The Third Map

This map depicts the area beyond the north gate leading from the goblin fort (right).  The big area in the center is the huge arena the party crossed several times during Saturday's play. Left is the switchback that lead to a miles long passage, while the bottom of the map represents the orc fort and ant colony.

Return to Moria: First Session Recap

The tldr for the lazy: Very successful first session with lots of encounters.

I'm writing this after spending a long day driving back from the game followed by a cold night in front of the fireplace. I got home about 7 PM Monday to discover my furnace had died while I was gone. Please bear with me if this article sounds a bit frazzled. Since you've been patient enough to read my ramblings about this campaign I thought it only fair to share the fruits of the preparation.

Friday Afternoon & Evening

After a quick bit of organizational work (we dealt with most of that before the session in email) the entire 18 man party plus two mules set off for Moria, loaded with gear, food and grain. Their intent was to first verify the map, left to Darren, Digs and Dahryl by their somewhat deranged uncle, was actually accurate, then find a secure campsite relatively close to the entry, then start their delve, leaving part of the group on watch at the base camp. The trip was relatively easy, the only sour note the sight of three or four riders shadowing the party along their route. After discovering a promising cave leading into the mountainside the party established a base camp and headed in.

The group spent the better part of a day exploring a series of natural caverns centered around a huge, watery, maelstrom in a central chamber. They ran into a pack of diminutive humanoids that set traps for them along a cliff-side trail, discovered a massive millstone door that they haven't figured out how to get past, traveled through a fungus-filled cavern, discovered a pair of skeletons beneath a pair of obsidian spires, and rescued a deranged old man who was apparently the survivor of a previous expedition. After backtracking and leaving the old man at the camp, the party finally found a (relatively) safe route to the Dwarf-made wall mentioned by the 3 D's uncle.

Further scouting by the party's thieves revealed a fortified wall occupied by goblins beyond a broad stepped passage over 200 feet long. The party, a bit itchy for action, decided to harass the wall guards to see what the reaction was. With a bit of shuffling around in the dark the party managed to get the jump on the guards, killing most of them, but not before one sounded the alarm. The party started to fall back, only to be blitzed by a pack of swift running wargs. Realizing the beasts would easily run them down, the party used their elevated position on the wall to their advantage, and made pretty short work of them. The fight delayed them long enough for the warg's handler, a bestial goblin with glove-mounted blades on his hands, to attack. They eventually killed him too, and beat a hasty retreat from the additional forces approaching across a fairly open cavern beyond the wall.

After an uneasy night at camp the party returned, intent on assaulting the remainder of the goblins. They discovered they were up against a moat protected fortification with an elevated balcony providing cover fire over most of the approach. The party started an assault, but realized they were not prepared to face a determined adversary in a fortified position and fell back. This ended Friday night's gaming.

From the GM perspective, the entry area was a bit too complex. There were quite a few physical obstacles and I think the players got a little frustrated. I had anticipated the goblins would have been defeated by the end of Friday night's play, but it was late when the party got there. The players decided not to force a major encounter when everyone was tired, which was, in retrospect, a very good choice. I also rolled exactly zero encounters for the party camped outside.

Saturday Morning

The party's first attempt at the fort was side-tracked by a group of orcs, who were waiting to ambush the party near the entrance to the fort area. After a bit of indecisiveness, the party attacked in force and wiped the orcs out in short order (all hail hold person!)

Using some clever tactics, spider climbing a fighter and cleric supported by thieves onto the balcony to take out the archers while the main force went for the main gate, they got through the defenses and pretty much wiped out the goblin force. Their leader, a tougher goblin wearing a fine shirt of Dwarven mail, challenged the party's ranger to a one on one duel, quickly knocking him unconscious. The party's paladin was going to take the next shot at him, but the others were less patient and attacked en masse. Seeing he was going to die no matter what, the goblin leader turned and jumped off the parapet, plunging over 500 feet to the cavern floor far below. The party secured the gates leading further into Moria, and searched the fort, uncovering the goblin hoard. After some debate they decided to use the fort as a base of operations and move the camp inside, uncomfortably aware that at least one goblin had escaped the fight. The party also left their mules in the care of the crazy old man they rescued from the caverns above. Apparently he was able to communicate with them somehow.

The rest of the morning was spent securing the fort and exploring beyond the two gates leading further into the depths. The south gate led to a cavern with a huge bubbling pool in the center. A pair of frog-like humanoids retreated into this pool after being surprised by the group, and the paladin spotted something very large and EVIL in the depths. That, combined with the trio of exceedingly lifelike 'statues' near the pool's edge convinced the party they should go the other way, at least for now.

The other gate led to a stable or stall area, where the party found the remains of three dead creatures, an over-sized wild boar (long dead), an orc skeleton, and a tiny elven figure with lime-green spots all over its skin. Beyond was a huge arena-like area with bleachers around the periphery. Several passages led away from this area and the party followed several, discovering a complex of residences and workshops taken over by a giant ant colony (which almost lead to a huge fight), a fortress held by more orcs, and a switchback descent guarded by iron drawbridges that led to a miles long passage leading further into the depths.

GM notes: Hero points saved at least three character lives during last night's and this morning's battles. We use a deadly critical hits chart, and the players all used hero points to avoid getting hit by one. The goblin fight was a tough one, but the players did a great job of coming up with a plan and actually implementing it.

Saturday PM

The party spent some time arguing their next steps. Some wanted to explore further, others wanted to clear out the ant colony, while another group wanted to hit the orc-held fort. Eventually the third group prevailed, leading to a major battle. The fort consisted of a pair of walls surrounding an inner bailey, the inner higher than the outer. A stone bridge led from the top of the outer wall to a barred gate that gave access to the inner bailey. There was also a heavy timber in place that connected the two walls.

The party managed to stealth some members to good firing positions outside the wall, then began the assault. Surprisingly most of the orcs retreated, releasing wargs to attack the party as they tried to penetrate the gates. With the party's primary combatants tied up with the wargs, the thieves and clerics were free to engage in the prime activity of the night, falling off high spots. No fewer than five characters plunged off the walls at various times, and the party's many clerics (six total) were kept busy keeping people alive. Even the poor halfling thief managed to fall off the same wall no fewer than three times.

Eventually the party defeated the defenders, but not before they discovered the wargs were actually some sort of demi-human/wolf shape-shifters. They also encountered a gaunt and pallid human who had the ability to form weapons from his hands and fold himself into the shadows and move without being seen. At least one of the orcs disappeared beyond the interior gates, and the party, pretty banged up and almost out of spells, decided to retreat. On the way back they ran into a lone Dwarf with an obsidian staff who pretty much ignored them and disappeared into the darkness. Back at camp the night's rest was disturbed by a weird black blob-creature that disappeared in a cloud of rainbow light when slain (?).

From the GM point of view the afternoon dragged a bit. The party got a bit tied up figuring out where to go and what to do, wasting about an hour before deciding to hit the orc fort. One of the hazards of such long sessions is we tend to not take breaks when we should and people get tired and grumpy. The fight at the fort was both hilarious and overly long. We all had a cold streak on dice and spent a couple rounds missing each other. Everyone falling off the beam between the walls was really funny, especially when the cleric actually saved someone by breaking their fall with their own body. The folding man really threw the party for a loop too. At the end of the fort fight everyone was done for the night, so we took the rest of the night off to socialize.

Sunday AM

Sunday sessions are generally short, as everyone generally heads for home around noon. The party bypassed the 'pool of evil' and explored the tunnels beyond, discovering a huge lake-filled cavern with yet another fortress within, a collapsed cavern full of rubble, and a nest of carrion crawlers, which they easily defeated. When they explored the nest they discovered a paralyzed but still-living Dwarf among the victims and rescued him.

Backtracking they eventually found a natural granite shelf leading out and down into the gigantic cavern beneath the original goblin fort. They wanted to recover the nice mail shirt the goblin leader took with him so they followed this down to a hilltop covered in ruins. A pack of undead Dwarves jumped them among the ruins, leading to the final big battle of the game. With so many clerics and two paladins the party managed to kill many of the undead with those turned revealing several paths down into the cavern below. A search of the ruins turned up a very nice stash of coins and several magic items, leftovers from a previous expedition slain by the undead.

With time running out the group retreated all the way back out of the depths and headed back to town to cash in their loot. When they returned to their original base camp they discovered the old man and their mules had vanished (hey, what do you expect if you leave your stuff in the hands of a madman?) The trip back to Hollin was uneventful, and everyone returned alive.

GM notes: Everyone lived. Not one party death. Clearly I need to step up the deadly factor a bit. Combats with 12-18 characters are SLOW, even with a relatively quick system like 1st edition. I think the players are likely to reduce the active characters in use next time we play.

Final Thoughts

Reading back over this, it doesn't seem like we did much, but that might be deceiving. Some of the encounters were huge. The goblin fort, for example, was protected by over 60 goblins and wargs. The fight there ended up being three or four separate encounters. This group is big on tactical challenges, and I accommodate them, so even simple encounters tend to be pretty deep when it comes to the actual battle.

My only disappointment with the game was that I didn't get to expand on the story elements touched on in the game. It's kind of a mixed blessing in that I have plenty of material ready for next time, but I think the story people in the group felt the lack. Hopefully I can address that next time.

I view the game as a real success. It was initially proposed as a one shot game, and by the end of the weekend everyone was talking about 'next time'. One player suggested everyone chip in some cash to defray my travel costs so they could play more often (they're all in the greater Washington DC area, I'm in Indiana). With that kind of enthusiasm, I can't wait to play again.

Against Your Type

I was talking to one of my Return To Moria players the other day and the conversation turned to favored character roles. After a bit of discussion we realized that none of the players involved had picked primary characters that matched their usual roles. The "I don't care what I play as long as it's a magic user" player is playing a cleric. The two roguish, jack-of-all-trades types are playing a paladin and cleric. The bowman and thinker / support players are both playing front line fighter types, and the healer is playing a pure magic user. It's going to be interesting to see how the mixed up roles turn out. I'd be curious to hear if any of you have experienced a situation like this, and how it turned out.

The other thing that came up during this conversation was the fact that this group doesn't have any players that favor the front line fighter type. On the rare occasions that I play, that's my favorite role, but I'm usually GMing instead of playing. The combat types in this group tend to go for ranged or sneaky fighters. We usually have pretty big groups at the table so someone usually fills this role, but this game is going to have quite a few pure melee types. I may have to make some adjustments to my GM tactics to compensate.

The last thing we discussed was the fact that we spend waaay too much time analyzing our gaming...

Return To Moria: Some Maps

These are two quick maps I pulled together for my Moria campaign using Open Office Draw to lay them out. Note to my players: Don't be peeking!

They show the main upper halls, the lower deeps, the two gates into the Mines, a number of upper and lower natural cavern complexes, and Durin's Tower, with a few miscellaneous markers up too.

The first one is a top-down view of the main areas of Moria.

The second is a side view showing relative elevations.

Of course there's no real scale here, other than a rough 40 miles between the gates.

Return To Moria: The Sandbox

A while back I posted the pitch I made to my gaming group. The response from my players was overwhelmingly positive, so the game is afoot. Since mega-dungeons and sandbox play are recurring threads in the blog-sphere and that's the direction I'm taking with this game I thought I'd throw down some information about how I'm preparing for this game.

Since the game is set in Tolkien's Middle-earth, my first step was to find some inspirational resources. A quick web search turned up two sites that look useful, The Encyclopedia of Arda and The Thain's Book. I also spent the weekend watching the The Lord of the Rings.

My next step was to define the potential roles for player characters. Tolkien's world provides many options for races and backgrounds, but doesn't really fit the classic old-school class model very well, but I've already decided to play fast and loose with the setting, so coming up with a collection of races and classes wasn't all that hard.

My initial pitch sketched out the very basic outlines of the sandbox, so my next step was to firm up the area of play. I had visualized Hollin, the player's base of operations, as a gold rush town, populated by those drawn by the potential wealth of Moria. With that in mind I laid out a list of businesses:

• Durin's Rest - A slightly better quality inn and tavern
• Farin's Provisions - General supplies and provisions
• Gamling's Mounts - A stable
• Garden of the Valar - Shrines to the various Valar
• Mithril's End - A smithy
• Moria Tours - Guided tours of Moria
• Sheriff's Office - The local law enforcement
• The Common - The open central square of the village, generally a muddy morass
• The Dancing Dwarf - A tavern, brothel, casino and inn, all rolled into one
• The Market - A bazaar held outside the palisade three days a week

If you're a Tolkien fan you can probably see the first big divergence from canon, shrines to the Valar. Since we'll be using some variant of D&D, clerics and magic-users are pretty much assumed. Clerics draw their power from the Valar, while magic-users study the remnants of magical lore left by the Maiar.

The next step was to lay out an overview of Moria. Moria is a huge place, something like 40 miles east to west, so a broad strokes layout is going to be very helpful in planning who or what lives where. Clearly laying out 40 miles of dungeons a grid at a time is the work of a lifetime, so I needed a framework to hang the important bits on. I did a little digging into the history of the Dwarves and discovered the number seven has some significance to them (seven Dwarf clans, seven rings of power), so I decided to play up that theme. Moria, I decided, was made up of seven Great Upper Halls, cut into the slopes of Silvertine. Twenty-one Great Deeps (seven times seven [edit: clearly my math is flawed]) were cut beneath the mountain's roots and housed the mines, armories, and workshops of Moria. I also picked out some of the major features of Moria mentioned by Tolkien, Durin's Tower, the Endless Stair, Dimrill Gate, the Bridge at Khazad-dum, and added them to the list. I then did a very rough layout of these levels on paper.

So far so good, but all those levels are carved by Dwarves. I wanted a little more variety, so I defined a few different areas as well:

• The Upper Caves - natural caverns that honeycomb the slopes of Silvertine.
• The Lower Caves - lightless caverns deep beneath the Dwarven diggings inhabited by creatures even Gandalf didn't understand.
• The Black Reaches - Caverns tainted by the foul presence of the Balrog.

Now I have a variety of level types and potential sources for occupants for the Mines. I've discovered an obstacle though. Moria as described by Tolkien only has two entrances, Dimrill Gate to the east and Hollin Gate to the west. Unfortunately Tolkien did a good job of destroying both these entrances. The watcher in the water blocked Hollin Gate and the Bridge of Khazad-dum was broken when Gandalf confronted the Balrog. Hmmm, time for some improvisation. I concluded men and Dwarves had reopened the Hollin Gate (in fact a group of men has set up a toll at the newly opened gate to capitalize on the adventurers venturing into the depths). I also added the Seven Watches, towers built on the slopes of Silvertine by the Dwarves, and Balrog's End, a great chasm smashed into the depths when the Balrog was finally destroyed by Gandalf. I also have some speculative notes about Upper Caves that lead to the surface, but nothing concrete yet.

At this point I have a pretty good idea of how things are laid out in and around Moria:

• I have thumbnail descriptions of the important businesses and points of interest in Hollin
• I've written a line or two about most of the named NPCs in Hollin.
• I have the general layout of Moria in place, and have solved the "how to get in" problem.
• I've also accumulated some rough notes about who or what might be found in Moria.

My next steps are going to be focused on the occupants and features of Moria proper, but that's fodder for the next article.

Return to Moria: Player Races

A couple days ago I posted up the pitch I offered my regular gaming group for one of our mega-weekend gaming sessions. It met with much enthusiasm, so it looks like we'll be playing Return to Moria soon. Time to start planning! Here's the race and class combinations we're probably going to be using. I wanted to give things a Tolkienesque feel without deviating too far from old school D&D.

Races / Classes

Potential class and race combinations listed below. These are tentative at this point. Maximum levels possible for each race/class combination are listed in parenthesis where appropriate.

Iron Hills Dwarf

Representatives of the Iron Hill Dwarfs. Dain's kinsmen are fascinated with Moria and expeditions from the Iron Hills are quite common. Unfortunately, like Balin's original foray, they have ended in failure.

• Classes: Cleric (8), Fighter (9)
• Multi-class: Cleric/Fighter
• Bonuses: Dwarf racial bonuses, Lore of the Dwarfs

Western Dwarf

Often scorned by their more noble cousins, the Western Dwarfs represent the scattered clans inhabiting hills and valleys west of the Misty Mountains. They are a less reputable class of Dwarf, though they are just as greedy as their distinguished cousins.

• Classes: Fighter (9), Thief (8)
• Multi-class: Fighter/Thief
  
• Bonuses: Dwarf racial bonuses, +5% Hide in Shadows, Move Silently

Elf of Mirkwood

Elves rarely have anything to do with the works of Dwarfs and Men, but King Thranduil has a streak of avarice larger than most of his kind, so he encourages the boldest among his folk to join the exploration of Moria.

• Classes: Druid (7), Fighter (7)
• Multi-class: N/A
• Bonuses: Elf racial bonuses, speak with animals 1/day

Elf of Lothlorien

Since the fall of Sauron, most of the inhabitants of Lothlorien sailed into the West. Those that remain are seemingly lost in a world that has left them behind, lost in a dream of past glories. Some of these Elves still seek to oppose the darkness left by Sauron's fall, and some of the Elves in Hollin fall into this group.

• Classes: Fighter (7), Magic User (11), Ranger (7)
• Multi-class: Fighter/Magic User
• Bonuses: Elf racial bonuses, detect evil 1/day

Half-Elven of Rivendell

Though their leader Elrond has departed Middle-Earth, many of his kindred, loyal to Arwen and the new king in Gondor, remained behind. The adventuresome among their ranks are sometimes found in Hollin, seeking their fortunes and pursuing the hated Orcs that dwell beneath the Misty Mountains.

• Classes: Druid (7), Fighter (7), Magic User (11), Ranger (7)
• Multi-class: Druid/Ranger, Fighter/Magic User
• Bonuses: Half-elf racial bonuses, Lore of the Elves

Man of Gondor

The power of Gondor is on the rise, but not all are content with the peace. The bold, the discontent, the greedy, and the adventurous souls of Gondor are drawn to Moria, seeking glory, riches and power.

• Classes: Cleric, Fighter, Magic User, Paladin, Ranger
• Multi-class: N/A
• Bonuses: Family Heirloom, Lore of Men

Man of Rohan

The fury of the Rohirrim, guided and channeled by Lord Eomer, still burns. The Riders of Rohan pursue the foul remnants of Sauron's army wherever it hides. Though unused to the deeps of Moria, the Rohirrim have come to see pursuit of their hated enemies in the depths as a test of manhood.

• Classes: Cleric, Fighter, Ranger
• Multi-class:N/A
• Bonuses: Mount, Free weapon proficiency

Man of the North

The Men of the North receive undue scorn from the noble Men of Gondor. They are the Northmen and Dunlendings. Lesser men, perhaps, than the noble line of Gondor, but Men with the same desires as their betters, wealth, power and fame.

• Classes: Fighter, Magic User, Thief
• Multi-class: N/A
• Bonuses: 2d6x10 extra gold, A map

Hobbit

Rare is the Shireling that makes the journey to Hollin, but other Hobbits of less renowned communities do show up from time to time. Like all Hobbits, they place comfort and food first, but some desire something more.

• Classes: Fighter (6), Thief
• Multi-class: Fighter/Thief
• Bonuses: Hobbit racial bonuses, 8 weeks rations

Return to Moria: The Pitch

This is the pitch I sent out to my group of regulars for our next mega-weekend game. Let's see who's foolish enough to sign up...

Return to Moria

Sauron is dead. Aragorn is king. Gandalf and his pals have sailed away. Ten years have passed since the One Ring was destroyed. The world has become a brighter place and the time of Men is at hand. Time for the valiant fighters, professional treasure seekers, greedy dwarfs and haughty elves to come forth.

Sauron's dark armies were scattered when the Ring was destroyed, but they didn't vanish. Instead they returned to the dark places beneath Middle Earth. Now, like a siren's song, the hidden wealth of Moria calls to the adventurous, the brave, the greedy and the foolhardy.

What it is:

Return to Moria will be an old school dungeon romp loosely (*very* loosely) based on Middle Earth. No complicated back story or deep preparation required (10' poles and torches suggested). I haven't made a final determination as to rules, but some potential candidates are:

• 1st edition AD&D - classic standby
• Swords & Wizardry - free retro-clone of original white box D&D
• Labyrinth Lord - free retro-clone of original basic/expert D&D

Going back to basics for ease of character creation and less setup time. Also Dwarfs and Elves as classes! S&W and LL will be completely familiar to any D&D player.

Rough notes:

• Everyone starts with 3 characters (1 2nd, 2 1st). There will be blood. Expect deaths.
• Old school XP (kills and gold) with accelerated advancement.
• Dungeon delving with the usual assortment of monsters, traps and tricks.
• Did I mention the death part?

Characters will be based in the small town of Hollin that's sprung up west of the Misty Mountains in Eregion. There will be a tavern, a smithy, a general store, and a temple. There might be thieves and wealthy patrons funding expeditions into Moria too.

The mountains are dangerous, with various nasty creatures opening new entrances to / from Moria and waylaying travelers and explorers.

Your job: Get rich. Survive.

Piecemeal

The PBM game I've been running for the last year or so has finally reached its conclusion so I'm starting to work on the next game I'm going to be running. It's something vaguely post-apocalyptic, and we'll probably be using some variant of FUDGE/Fate. Here's the quick and dirty intro I wrote to give pique the player's interest:

It ended not with a bang, but a whimper.

People predicted the end was coming for years. War. Disease. Climate change. Asteroids. Super volcanoes. No matter how outlandish the cause, someone was there, claiming it would cause the downfall of civilization as we knew it.

Who would have thought they were *all* right?

Over one hundred years have passed since the Fall. For the most part only stories remain. Stories of New York and Washington under water. Of Los Angeles consumed by wild fires and riots. Of a great meteor that struck Europe and blackened the skies for months. Of plagues that killed thousands. Stories of wars fought for oil. For religion. For technology. Stories of despair and death. Of poison vials released from secret labs. Of terrible weapons unleashed from space. Stories of burning skies and terrible storms that wiped away entire cities. Stories of honor and courage. Of those who faced the darkness and fought. Fought and lost.

The world is different now. No gas. Little power. The sun still burns. Much of the land has been seared by fire, or worse. The world is alive with danger. Man's domination of the land has faded and the wild things have returned. People have changed as well. The disasters that brought down civilization affected mankind as well, twisting gene and mind in equal measure. Not everything that looks human is human.

But the green has come back. Mankind survives. Scattered and isolated for the most part, but stubborn and resilient. Mankind survives.

Actual Play: A Turn

I've been running a play-by-email game for about a year now. The setting is Pre-WWII with a good helping of weird science, pulp and gun play involved. Things are winding down a bit, but I was pretty pleased with this turn, in which the group attempts to escape the secret Nazi base located somewhere beneath the ocean off the coast of Alaska. The party has managed to escape direct confrontation with the guards, rescue the two scientists who were kidnapped by the Germans, and start a really nice fire. So much for the sneaky approach. Here's the turn:

Everyone dives for cover at the sound of the grenade hitting the floor. Truck manages to stumble behind a crate, Sonoma easily vaults behind another. Elsie and Anders pull Bennett and Eisenstein into cover and Hi ducks back into open barracks door. Unfortunately Scars manages to dive straight into the side of a crate instead of over it, while Kane tries to follow Hi and ends up on the wrong side of the door. Those at the head of the group can just make out something moving in the smoke in front of them, and some shouting in German, just before the grenade goes off. The explosion seems muffled, the results indeterminant.

As the echoes die away Truck lumbers to his feet and charges across the hall to the cover provided by the crates along the right wall. He raises the heavy Bren and fires a burst up the hall, angling for the nearest doorway as Scars struggles to his feet and Sonoma waves the others
forward, then advances toward the left-hand door.

The sound of the Bren drowns out further conversation, but not the rifle fire from the sub pen doorway. Bullets riccochet down the hall and one slams into the unlucky Scars, hammering back into the crates [hurt wound].

"Move it!" shouts Sonoma to the others, grabbing Scars and pulling him across the hall to Truck's position of relative safety. Sonoma draws his pistols and lays down cover fire as the others begin to creep past, practically crawling through the dense smoke. Scars groans and rolls onto his belly, pulling his Tommy gun into firing position and bleeding all over Sonoma's boots. The exchange draws a scream from the sub pen, this time the German rifles are joined by the chatter of an SMG. One round splinters the monorail room door while a second catches Kane in the upper
arm [hurt wound]!

Anders, Elsie, Bennett and Eisenstein manage to crawl through the door into the smokey darkness beyond, leaving Sonoma, Scars and Truck on the right side of the hall and Kane and Hi on the left. "Bastards!" groans the ex-Marine as he stares at the bullet hole in his arm. "Good thing it's not my throwing hand." He pulls the pin on one of the remaining grenades, counts to six, then pitches it through the shattered doors leading to the sub pen. The pineapple sails unerringly through the door, bounces gently off the hand rail and comes to rest in the middle of the shallow ramp leading down into the pen. One of the Germans has time to shout something
before it goes off, but none have a chance to react.

The explosion this time isn't muffled at all, and the German guns fall silent. "Move!" shouts Kane, scrambling for the door, Hi in close pursuit.

Across the hall Truck and Sonoma grab Scars and practically drag him towards the monorail warehouse.

The five men pile through the door into choking smoke. Truck's quick glance through the sub pen doors does not reassure the big man. "The soldiers near the door are all down, but more are coming! And that sub is burning. REALLY burning! Let's go!"

Stumbling along the south wall, the group heads for the rail head. Sonoma in the lead, followed by Kane, helping Scars, Elsie and Anders with Bennett and Eisenstein, Hi and Truck to the rear. The smoke is thicker here and you are nearly blind as you fumble your way past piles of crates. Elsie gives a little shriek when she steps on one of the dismembered corpses laying on the floor, and Truck sends a hydraulic lift careening across the floor when he backs into it.

Behind you the red glow of the burning sub flickers through the smoke, or is that someone moving? It's impossible to say. To be sure Truck lays down a burst of Bren for luck.

It seems an eternity, but you finally stumble through the big sliding doors and into the darkness of the monorail chamber. The air here is a bit clearer, though your eyes still burn from the thick diesel smoke hanging in the air. Sonoma helps Scars into the waiting car and lays him down. The
gangster looks pale and a dark stain coats the left leg of his overalls.

"Elsie help Eisenstein and Bennett into the car, let me tend to Kane so he can set the charge."

Anders moves quickly to the engineer's side, but Kane shrugs him off, already digging into the bag for the satchel charge. "This won't take a minute. You can tend to this on the ride."

Anders sighs, then rips a strip of the tough overall fabric free, pulling a gauze pad from the first aid kit, he grabs Kane's arm half-shouting "This will take considerably less time. At least it will slow the bleeding til it can be properly tended." Working quickly he crudely bandages the wound, pulling the strips tight to stauch the flow of blood.

I played!

This is an actual play write up done by one of the players in a newly started campaign I'm running using (modified) Fate 2.0 rules. Sorry, no pictures available. The actual game happened the weekend of January 23-25. We played Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning. Aside from the 20+ hours of driving required it was a great time.

The Legend of the Five of Ji'an

Written by: Joshua Caulfield (Shiko Bi)

It was dark in the Cave of Bats and the flames of the great fire licked upwards towards the natural flues in the rock. The shadows danced along the walls of the cave behind the old storyteller. With creaking bones and the grunts that accompany movement at such an advanced age the rest of the clan made ready to hear a favorite tale, spun with such vigor that many almost thought they saw the shadows form on the walls in pantomime of the story being unfolded.

"Shall I speak of the Five of Ji'an, and how they sought to free our valley from the oppression of the Srin-ga and their minions?"

The children cheered and giggled, while the hunters sighed as the game of goading the story began. "Yes please." The leader of the Clan asked.

"Shall I speak of their humble beginnings and how they were born as slaves to the very oppressors they would one day attempt to overthrow?"

Slightly impatient herself, the headmistress of the clan tapped her foot, "I have been saying nothing else for the last 15 minutes."

With a chuckle the storyteller settled in and began her tale.

"I was but a girl when I first met the Five Rings. I did not think much on it then, but in the passing of years I see now that just as there are five elements that draw together so too were these five heroes brought forth and combined in the alchemy of fate to produce the beginnings of The Revolution!"

When Dao, a wanderer and trader amongst our people spoke to my grandfather of the arrival of strangers he got a wild look in his eye, and I new that there would be nothing for it but to bring him down to see them and hear their tale to add to his own. I loved my grandfather, but at the time I could not understand why he was so stubborn and determined to meet with these strangers here and now. I wonder sometimes if he had dreamt of them or see them in a vision. Yet he spoke not a word of it, and after dressing more warmly, we began the halting walk down to the great entryway and those who sought an audience with the people of the Cave of Bats.

I can still see them now, as though for the first time. They were so young then, proud and determined. I admit I was a bit taken with them as I looked them over.

The First was their leader. Solid, patient and practical as stone he was. They called him Tao So. He was a warrior born, and handled his spear like it was an extension of his own body. He spoke little, and quietly, but the others deferred to his decisions... mostly.

He was fighting barehanded with their other warrior, Si Tang. The two were cousins, though they seemed more like brothers. Si Tang was like the water flowing from one thing to the next and leaving little lasting impression. He simply adapted to the situation. His loyalty to his brother was as unquestioning as the path of the river through the mountain.

The third was a funny one, who almost looked like a tree with his wild hair and clothes. The others called him Yax, and he like the wood ensured the health of the group. In many ways it was his words that brought them together when they began to drift.

He was close to the bald one with the bright tattoos. Shiko Bi was their fire, the spirit of the group that pushed them into action. I sometimes wondered if he and Grandfather were related, mainly because Shiko seemed to never stop talking. He was a powerful Dragon Blooded sorcerer, and he gained the favor of the blacksmith and others by using his magic to make our home better.

Finally there was Bodi. It was he that I was drawn to. Like the wind he was there and yet above the common discussions. When he needed to express himself he blew in and as quickly returned to his quiet observation. He too bore a power inside himself, a power I would come to know in the days ahead.

It was often said that there was a sixth member of the legendary heroes. I am no scholar to debate the existence of the sixth, but let me simply say that if he did exist and he was as stealthy as the shadows he is compared to, he must have been so good that it seemed like he was not even there.

When my grandfather sat with them many stories were told, what follows is what they shared with us.

They had all grown up together in the village of Ji'an. I would learn many of their personal stories later, when I took up grandfather's mantle and became a wandering lore keeper myself. But they did not delve into those aspects at this time. Instead they spoke of spending a year in the woods preparing, and that now they would begin to stand against the Srin-ga and the oppression of the human race.

They had already begun. In the days prior to their arrival, they had tracked the patrols of the Mefun and Taken, and they had then ambushed the patrol.

They had lain in wait at a point where the road neared the river, and a great stone outcropping drew near, providing them a hiding spot and place to lay in wait. They were excited, yet fearful, for they had never truly stood up to their captors before.

Bodi hid them from the sight of men with his powers and they watched the patrol pass by. Shiko drew forth a great wall of stone from the side of the rock face that was beside them on the river, splitting the patrol in half. The Yang cousins leapt forward using their martial arts to assault the rear four. While Bodi drew the forward group off with visions of other opponents, and Yax used his powers of adjusting mind and body to keep his allies safe.

The fight was over in moments. The Yangs cut through them as the sickle harvests the tender shoots of rice, and when they came around to the front, Shiko had impulsively ripped the others apart with his magic.

Bodi altered his hands so as to make the wounds appear to be the results of a great pride of lions, and Shiko called down the rains to cover their tracks. And thus did they execute their first act of rebellion and fade back into the woods.

They came to the Cave of Bats, to trade and learn of our ways. We were distrustful at first, but in time we came to know them as honorable allies, and for some of us and them, something more.

It was late and the children's eyes were drooping. The storyteller waved her hand over the fire. Perhaps tomorrow I will tell you of how our own Dao led them to the Tombs of the Captains and how they accepted defeat to gain victory.

Part The Second

There was some fine Saki being passed about the caverns tonight. The Merchant Fisal of Chang Chang's Guild of Traders had brought some as a gift from their Headmistress for old friends.

"You know" the storyteller said, "Chang Chang was here when the Five first arrived at the Cave of Bats. A smirk crossed her chapped old lips, and I think she would admit to not being entirely oblivious to one warriors good looks and prowess."

The group quickly quieted as it was clear that the storyteller was about to launch into the second part of her tale.

The Five were bold and mighty it is true, but in those days they were also somewhat humble, unsure in their power it was as if this was all new to them. Certainly they had defeated a Mefun Patrol, no small feat to be sure, but they were not yet aware of their abilities. They also seemed to lack a direction. They spoke of overthrowing the Srin-ga, at which many of the hunters and elders chuckled, though mostly out of sight of the young warriors. Yet they lacked a plan, or any real direction.

As they spoke with my grandfather they asked him many questions about the Captains of the Di-Hon, what were they like? What had happened to them? Where were they buried? What were the legends surrounding the tombs?

Naturally my grandfather, Zian, passed along the tales he knew, and in return their young leader gave he and I a share of the food the Five carried with them for trading. It would be enough to see us through several weeks.

When the tale telling was done, I helped grandfather back into the cave. And in so doing I looked back. At the time I thought the one known as Shiko, so flamboyant in his power could assist me with my own talent, but now I realize it was not really to him that I looked, but to the giant behind him, the weird one, Bodi.

"Bodi came to me in the nights ahead." The storyteller waved off the snickering form the young males who had not heard the story before. "Not in that way you fools. Not yet at any rate. But come to me he did, and he explained that I bore power within me, and that properly harnessed it would benefit me greatly, but allowed to grow like a weed unchecked, it would bring me only pain and despair. He described my power as 'leaking' forth when my grandfather told tales. He was bound off to the tombs with his friends, but he invited me to learn from him and possibly others should I so desire. The offer, and the man intrigued me.

Next they met with the smith, Fu Li, he offered them steel weapons crafted by his son, Fo Bo Jing (sometimes called Bo Jangles for the bells he crafted in his spare time). Much of the prosperity of the Cave of Bats was founded on the skill of the smith's son, and it was unfortunate that the father did not allow the son the glory of his skill. For as Fu Li held the reigns of the family business, resentment crept into the heart of Bo Jing. But that is another tale.

In the end, the Five traded a years supply of rice and much linen for 3 steel daggers and a new spear for their leader. As the trading was being completed, Shiko approached the smith and asked him of the tools of his trade. Wary, the smith confirmed some of Shiko's guesses, and then Shiko offered to restore Fu Li's grinding wheel and anvil to their original condition. The smith looked at the thin bald boy with the odd tattoos and smirked, "How would you be able to do that?" He asked.

"The same way in which I do this." Shiko answered. And with a gesture at the ground a massive stone pedestal rose up from the rock lifting shiko high into the air. Much of the clan was hidden in the caves watching, and there were many gasps around me as my clan-mates saw this. Of us all, perhaps only grandfather had actually seen magic before. "The earth dragon blesses me, and I may use that blessing to assist you. If you so desire."

The smith was a bit taken aback by this. "I will speak to Hui Fen." Then he turned with his things and went back into the Cave of Bats.

The group met with Hui Fen, may she rest peacefully. She interrogated them. For though Dao and my grandfather thought they were honorable, the weight of leadership rested on her shoulders. They were direct with her, and she with them, but in the end it may have been the way young Shiko and she glanced at each other when the other was not looking that made the difference. Finally she allowed them into the cave.

They stayed for two days, and in that time Shiko aided the smith, and as I mentioned Bodi sought me out. Yax sought herbs for his own brewed magics, and the warriors demonstrated their skills to the young boys of the village. Si Tang met and spoke at length with Cheng Cheng at that time, and some might say it was in that early exchange the foundation of their relationship was laid.

Dao had agreed top guide them to the entrance of the Valley of Death wherein lay the Tomb of the Captains. Though he informed them that he would not enter. There was a communal meal shared the night before they left. Shiko left for a time before the meal saying something about getting clean and being unable to do so in the presence of stone. When he returned he spoke privately to Hui Fen. Though she said he had simply offered to aid in developing the defenses of the cave, I noticed that she carried a small stone flower carved by no mean chisel, but perhaps born of Shiko's magic.

The next morning the Five and Dao prepared to leave. Shiko met them at the entrance to the cave where he was studying the great arch that leads into our cave. They gathered their equipment and began the journey to the valley.

The trek would normally take 5 days. They took seven, spending two days at the direction of Tao So to hunt and replenish their stores. Tao So was a mighty hunter, as good as our own men, and it was his efforts that put meat into their larder. For besides Yax, the others were not nearly as at home in the woods. Yax, brought forth many herbs and berries and edible mushrooms and tubers. And Shiko prepared the whole in a fair manner such that much of the leftovers were able to be stored and brought along.

In the end they arrived at the Valley. The mountains shot forth from the ground as mighty teeth, and between them a gap appeared. Filled with mist and the chill of death the valley was aptly named. It was difficult to see, and there was something wholly unnatural about the place, yet the Five were determined.

They chose to enter in the morning, both Dao and my grandfather warning them that the shadows and unholy things within came out at night... mostly. Dao told the Five he would wait for a few days, and hunt in the area. And with a hug for his friend Tao So, the Five broke with his company and entered the valley.

Part the Third

Wherein our heroes enter the valley of the dead and encounter, as one might suspect from the name, things which should not be.

The cave drew still as the storyteller took her seat. For this night she would spin one of the most exciting parts of her tale. The journey through the vallety of the dead, and the receipt of the treasures of Di-Hon.

"The night passed restlessly for our group of young heroes. Dao fell to sleeping quickly, but the Five stayed awake restless in anticipation of the challenges they might face on the morrow. Shiko, brash and overconfident in his magic played with the fire. While Yax worked on the final touches for some of the herbal magic he had been developing. Bodi was lost in communion with his ancestors from whom he drew direction and power. And the Yangs prepared their new weapons for battle.

With the coming of the dawn they entered the valley and slogged through the rough terrain and mists. Periodically Shiko and Bodi would call a halt. Shiko to test the essence of the area and Bodi to reach out with his mind. Though he kept it from his friends, Bodi later shared with me that he felt a dark presence throughout the valley, and in reaching forth to divine more of it's intent and specificity, he felt it drawn to him. He would only describe it as anger and hunger, and some despair.

It was a difficult trek through the valley, and finally they were hiking up a steep mountain path that had been washed away by rock-slides in several places. Tao So was in the lead, and missed a step. They fell, with only the quick actions of Si Tang who was in the rear grabbing the cliff wall preventing a horrible end from closing so soon on their young lives. For a moment they all hung there, then Tang let go of Yax to get a better grip. Yax grabbed Tang's leg and held on, as Tao so also grabbed for the mountain and began to attempt to climb up.

Shiko, ever overconfident simply allowed himself to fall, right into a massive stone hand he had called forth with his power. The hand scooped them all up and cast them forward onto the safety of the ledge, where they caught their breath.

The entrance to the tomb was roughly carved with a lintel and a warning of some sort. At least that is what the group decided the runes on the outside of the tomb meant. Shiko called upon the power of fire to cause his staff to glow in the manner of a glowworm in the spring. Yax lit the groups oil lamp, and with the others interspersed between them they entered the gloomy cave.

The first thing they noticed was the chill. Bodi mentioned that there was a dark presence within, but he could not source where. It was difficult for him to maintain concentration on it. Si Tangs bear also began to object, but for the time he followed his master.

They came upon a small shrine, ancient and worn. There were some tracks of animals in the dust on the stone flooring. They gently searched the area, but could determine nothing of what the purpose of this shrine was, not was there anything of interest in the room itself, save for a passage leading further into the mountain.

Passing into the passage they rose and walked deeper into the darkness and cold of the mountainside. They came upon a larger room, clearly used at one point as a living space for a group of men. Though the equipment was in tatters, there was much evidence that long ago this had been an important living space. It was then that the chill grew deeper, and the shadows parted to reveal a spectral figure reaching out for Bodi's heart.

Si Tang's bear fled the scene, as one would expect from a natural beast, even as five more shadows appeared about them. Si Tang and Tao So found that their physical attacks did not SEEM to be doing much against the apparitions, Shiko called forth a swarm of fireflies made of real fire and sent them out, but they had little effect on these beings either. Bodi was turning them against each other, even Yax applied his natural magics to try and turn the tide. Then Si Tang followed his bear, leaving the battle, and ended up hanging off the side of the ledge when he failed to successfully cross the rockslide, but more on that later.

Back inside the tomb, One of the beings reached inside of Tao So and seemed to grab his heart. Yet instead of drawing it out the wraith-like being instead seemed to flow into Tao So, who was left gasping for breath. Shiko was channeling pure essence into the creatures which seemed to be working more effectively than constructs, and then Yax let loose with a mighty essence flare which drove the remaining ones into dust, even as Bodi held them off with his mental powers.

Tao So began wandering off toward the valley floor, and the group followed him outside. Bodi reached into his mind and found a dark spirit nested within. Yax began an incantation to remove the possession, but Tao So began moving away from the group. Shiko bound his feet in stone. Seeing this, Si Tang came over and leaned heavily on Shiko's shoulder and told him to release his cousin. Shiko told Si Tang to get off, even as Bodi and Yax attempted to explain that Tao So was possessed, but Si Tang was not listening, and so Shiko threw him off and cast a spell at Si Tang. Drained of mana from the battle, Shiko drew forth a powerful spell of earth to hold Si Tang at bay, but Si Tang flipped out of the way of the spell and came up in a fighting stance.

By then, Bodi and Yax had broken the possession and stepped between the combatants. All was explained to Si Tang, yet it was clear that the two were not reconciled. It is unfortunate that this grudge would remain between them, and one day lead to, well, that would be telling.

The sun was setting, and none of the group wished to be in the valley come nightfall, so after resting a time to regain their power, Shiko cleared the rock-slides from the path and reshaped a part of the mountain to allow the path to easily accommodate travel again. They left the mountain and passed as quickly as possible back out to their campsite. Dao was surprised to see them, and sat in anticipation as they told their tale.

On the following morning they reentered the valley and made their way to the tombs.

It was lightly raining, and they were actually glad to enter the tomb and get out of the rain. All except Si Tangs bear who would not even re-enter the valley with the group. They moved with purpose into the second area, and were not surprised when the apparitions came again.

Si Tang leapt up and over the first one and kicked it in the head, but to little effect. Tao So learned to invoke essence into his kicks and seemed to have more effect than previously. Yet even as the others brought their magic into play the battle seemed to be against them. Si Tang fled from the tomb again, and as he did, Bodi allowed one of the entities to possess him. Whether this was some grand strategy or simply an aspect of Bodi being kind of weird and marked for death, one may never know. It affected Shiko, who fell to overwhelming supernatural fear and despair. Another of the apparitions entered him and now two had fallen.

In the end all four of the remaining heroes were possessed and walked out towards the valley. They passed by Si Tang who was waiting outside. When Si Tang saw they were not acting normally he ran down the path and towards the campsite, planning to tell the Cave of Bats folk that all of them had been lost.

Tao So, who had been possessed by the traitor, and the two rebel leaders who had left to fight headed towards the west, while Shiko, possessed by Ho Ching, the commander of all the rebel forces after the fall of the Captains drew on his magic to create a mighty whirlwind that bore him into the air and towards the south.

Each of the heroes found the remains of their possessing spirit and knew they must lay their spirits to rest. The three to the west made clay tablets and burned the remains, bring the tablets to the shrine at the tomb for proper prayers and rites.

Shiko, being Shiko, blasted a massive epitaph into the mountainside and cremated the remains of the commander with a mighty blast of fire.

Returning to the tomb, all four found themselves returned to their proper frames of mind, and yet they heard the ghostly howling from the depths of the tomb.

Shiko stepped forward and opened himself to the spirit. He did not resist as the apparition plunged into his heart, and led him again to the south of the valley. There he would find that Li Ti, the rebels final Dragon Blooded sorcerer had gone down in a mighty battle himself. And so Shiko learned the lesson of how numbers of lesser enemies could outweigh the might of even the strongest sorcerer.

Shiko laid the elementalist's spirit to rest, and found that Tao So had also made the journey again to escort a spirit into their final rest. In so doing, they felt a great darkness lifted from the vale, and made their way back to the campsite, just in time to stop Si Tang from his run back to the Cave of Bats.

Tao So explained things to his brother, Yax and Shiko seeming not to care so much what the fifth member of their party learned, and Bodi simply wandering off to commune with his ancestors again.

They ate and slept and for a third day entered the valley at dawn.

They passed deeper into the tombs this day, and came upon more natural caverns where the ground was deep rich earth with strange trails leading through it like that of giant worms. There were also signs of animals killed and eaten, and the memory from their possessions that the "tomb was defended."

But by what will remain a mystery until tomorrow night, said the storyteller, even as the fire began to die down into ashes.

Part the Fourth

In which our heroes face their greatest danger yet, and reap the rewards of destiny in the process.

The storyteller settled in her seat, her grandson gathering a warm blanket for her. He was a weird one, her child's eldest, it made her think of... well, that was best left for other times.

"So," She began. "Shall I carry on with the tales of our heroes? Or perhaps you would prefer the tale of the swamp demon..."

The children erupted before her seeking the furthering of the tale of the Five.

Gathered as they were in the Tomb of the Captains, led by the light of Shiko's staff and their oil lamp, the Five moved deeper into the tomb. They had noticed that the tomb seemed unfinished. In fact later, Shiko would come to the conclusion that it was really only just started when the rebels met their fate.

The storyteller had gotten much of the story wrong. Certainly it was not grandfather's fault, for he was only repeating the tales as they had been passed on to him. But Zian had recalled to the heroes that it was the captains who had been betrayed by one of their own, when in fact it was the rebels. The captains had fallen in some other way in battle, and their remaining followers had removed their crucified bodies and their panoply and built for them a tomb. The very tomb our heroes now entered. But one of the rebels had succumbed to fear and despair, and had sold out his companions to the Mefun, in return for a quiet life and gold. The traitor had led the others into ambush, and as his reward he had been slain by the Mefun and his remains cast into a pit of excrement. Even his erstwhile allies thought little of someone who would betray his own people.

Passing through the large room Tao So in the lead moved down a passageway, when, over Shiko's incessant chatter, he heard a click, and felt the stone beneath him move. He leapt backwards tucking his feet up into an astonishing flip that nearly bowled Shiko over, even as a massive section of the tomb ceiling collapsed into the hallway.

"Well, that was fortunate." Said Yax. "Nicely done finding that trap there Tao."

The Five entered a section of the tombs that was either naturally formed or hollowed out by magic. The floor of the tomb ended and simple mud about a foot deep covered the floor of the cavern moving forward. Trails like those of a snake or large worm wound through the mud, and the skeletons of animals littered the floor, ancient and dessicated.

The group moved through the chamber and down another passage, wary of more traps, when before them rose a great wall of foggy mist. Dense, like a cloud on earth, and warm like steam, it did not block their way, yet it offered an ominous portent.

Shiko was bored, and as usual he acted rashly, calling forth his power his dragon tattoos rolling across his flesh and glowing in their vibrant hues, a mighty wind ripped through the caverns and drew all of the mist past them and out of the tomb.

"So much for subtlety" Yax chuckled.

Shiko shrugged, even as they all looked into the great cavern revealed beyond. It was a massive area that spread beyond the source of their light, and within were great piles of mold laying around the outskirts of several huge crater lakes of bubbling and steaming water. The entire place reeked of ancient, decaying plant life.

The group pressed on, Tao So in the lead. When suddenly a great tendril vine rose form the mud, a mighty pincer of thorn dripping black mud to the floor. It slashed forward even as a companion tendril rose up as well. Piercing the warrior's torso, Tao wrestled to get himself away, even as Yax and Si Tang moved forward to help him. Bodi, meanwhile was facing off against another tendril, which rose and revealed itself to be coming from the watery pools.

Shiko saw more coming from the pool to their left and realized that shortly they would be surrounded. So as the other fought the tendril, he drew upon his powers and caused massive icicles to form and drop into the pool piercing the tendrils and seeking to end their assault from the flank.

The flanking tendrils whipped backwards dragged by their main body to avoid the dropping spears of ice. Tao So had been freed, and the tendrils the others fought were slowly being driven back.

Shiko moved closer so as to summon more of the great ice spears onto this pool, when they all saw that deeper into the cave was an even greater pool of roughly twice the size of these lesser ones, and a series of massive vines with their dual tendrils were erupting from its depths.

The ice spell was launched into the main pool, and a retreat sounded. Naturally, Si Tang was the first away from the room.

The group retreated out nearly to the entrance of the tomb, pausing at the re-sanctified altar to catch their breath. Yax began the effort of healing their wounds as Shiko and Bodi reached out with their powers to determine the nature of the being(s) they faced.

Shiko learned it was a single opponent, a mighty elemental of vast power and great hunger. It seemed to have been compelled here, most likely by Li Ti in an effort to guard the tomb from robbers.

They rested for a time and discussed a plan. In fact they discussed about a dozen plans and finally agreed upon one.

One of their concerns was light, and so, calling upon the illuminating power of fire, Shiko caused all of their weapons to glow. While no longer capable of stealth, they need not fear being trapped in the dark.

So too was Bodi seeking a means to use his power against it. When Tao So sat upon a stack of ancient flagstones a smile crossed the weird one's face. Speaking softly to Shiko, the two were shortly laughing like children. Shiko shaped the great flagstones into razor sharp stone stars of death, and Bodi drew them up with his power and set them to spinning about his head.

They reentered the cavern of mists, and Si Tang moved up towards the great pool, planting a glowing spear about 30' from it. Shiko grew bored waiting for results and closed on the main pool, calling the others to pass through the cavern if the beast failed to show itself. Secretly thinking of leaping into the water and seeking out the vine kraken he did not have long to wait when a half dozen great vines burst from the central pool and planting themselves drew forth the main body, a great dense knot of wood and bark and leaves with a maw not unlike that of a shark, filled with calcified bark in the form of mighty razor sharp teeth.

The battle began and long it was. Bodi used the stones as mighty cutting tools into the wood of the monstrosity before them. Si Tang was constantly in motion keeping the vines from Shiko, Yax and Bodi. Tao so took the other flank and did likewise. While Shiko hammered the elemental with bolts of lightning from his fists. It was through Yax's good efforts that none were slaughtered outright, even as the mighty elemental leapt forward and attempted to swallow both he and Shiko in its great maw.

In the end our heroes emerged bloody and beaten, but victorious. Their foe falling back into the watery hole from which it came.

Shiko and Yax looked at each other and knew that it would regrow in their and that they should not dally in their further exploration.

As Yax sealed their wounds, Tao So led them past the misty chamber and into the true tomb of the captains.

Therein lay six great flat stones covering what was undoubtedly the resting spot of each of the Captains. Upon each of the stones lay an item. There were two ancient braziers which Shiko ignited with magical fire to burn and provide additional light.

Each of the Heroes was called to an item of power, and when he touched it the item seemed to come to life.

They did not delay, and understanding that these items were bound to them in some way they took their rewards, made homage to the Captains, and removed themselves from the tomb.

At the entrance to the tomb, in the fading light of the setting sun, Shiko sealed the tomb behind them.

Passing through the valley they returned to Dao, who was astonished at their appearance, and possession of the artifacts of the captains. He listened to their tale and was thrilled by the story of their battle. He suggested they return to the Cave of Bats without delay. They others packed and prepared to walk home, when Shiko called them.

Raising his hand together, he drew forth an archway of stone from the ground, and calling upon the magic of water he pushed his essence to the limit, and formed a magical passage. The others went through it quickly, and they emerged from the other side, just over there.

The storyteller pointed to where the grand entryway to the Cave of Bats was.

They waited politely to be invited in, and prepared to relay their story again.

The storyteller sipped at her tea, even as her audience was looking at where, so long ago the young heros had stepped forth from thin air to reveal that the first challenge had been settled and their path to destiny had been laid out before them.

Part the Fifth

In which the fellowship is broken and the Heroes go their seperate ways in search of their next destination.

Lu Ci was sporting quite a nice little leather mantle she had recently purchased at the Wolf's Vale trade moot. The old storyteller noticed and commented favorably upon it which made the young maiden preen with pleasure. The storyteller shook her head just a bit, "Of course it was nothing compared to the Mantle of Tang Shan, which was brought back to this very spot by Si Tang." Sensing she was on the verge of continuing the tale of the Five of Ji'an the children nearby hushed and gathered at her feet.

Sighing, the storyteller feigned an exaggerated frustration as she settled on a stump. "Will you pester me until my old bones can stand it no more? Chao Kensai, get down form there this instant. Shelves are for holding supplies, not precocious young children. Well, I suppose that it cannot be helped now. You will pester me to no end until I assuage your need for fantastic tales...

...yet this part of the tale is sad, as the first fractures among the Five begin to show themselves. Because although they were bound together by their common youth, their drive to free the valley, and their recent experiences, still enough they were five individuals. Each of them had a role to play and a desire for things unique to their own mind. Yax, the unkempt wild man, truly sought the eradication of the invaders. Never mind their presence here had been going on for centuries, never mind that there were women and children among the Mefun and possibly the Srin-ga. He sought only their deaths and in this regard he was as without compassion as the Wesh.

Bodi... well, few really knew what the Bender wanted. His mind was on a different place from that of his peers. Many a time it would seem as though the consciousness driving him was asleep at the table, while the body made its way through the motions of life. One person pierced that veil of loneliness and weirdness, and she speaks not of the man she fell in love with inside the odd exterior.

Si Tang was changed by the encounter with the spirits. He had a hardness about him ever after that came, perhaps, from seeing his friends possessed by the restless dead and used for the will of the ghostly beings. Perhaps it was founded on the hard time his friends gave him for running during the battle. Perhaps it was there all along and it took the hard lessons of the Time of Trials to pull it forth. Had she been about he might have sought solace in the arms of Chang Chang, yet she too wandered a path different form his own.

Tao So was suffering the burden of leadership. He knew that the others looked to him for guidance and thought, and trusted him with their lives in his decisions. Yet he feared to make mistakes. They were on the leading edge of fighting a war for the love of the ancestors, and it didn't help that Shiko's rash overconfidence and lack of self discipline would drive them forward as often as Tao So's careful planning.

Which leaves us with Shiko Bi. Here was a soul in conflict. On the surface he was brash and flagrant in his power, hidden inside him was a desire to use his power to establish himself above the people around him. So long had he been pushed about as a child. His clan destroyed while others thrived, the bullies in the village given privilege while he was mocked, even in seeking training with Yax, it had always been clear that the wild dreadlocked student was the true protege. He sought to prove himself a power in his own right, and that began to separate him from the group. Yet too it was clear that Fu Hui Fen had caught his eye. Her beauty and quiet confidence, and the way the others in the cave of bats sought her council drew him to her. For her part, she had made clear to Shiko it was not his power she found interesting about him, but that he would use it to better the lives of all in the valley. And thus did Shiko wonder if his deeds were pure or simply show to win the heart of this woman? And would he set his own lust for power aside to be with her?

Yet that is not the tale for today.

When they simply appeared outside the Cave of Bats, it made for quite a stir. While tales of Shiko's magic were fresh in the gossip circles none had dreamed that he could cause the entire band to magically appear before their cave. Dao was astounded that the five day journey could be reduced to a simple walk. For some this would be worrisome, and might create complications for our heroes later.

They waited, but Dao invited them in directly, and though it was late, they were well received. Hui Fen was pleased to see them, and her eyes grew wide at the implements of power they now bore. Though curious she told them to hold their story until the morning, and share it with the entire clan at once. They were ushered into the guest cave, and quickly fell to sleep.

In the morning at the breaking of the fast they were welcomed, and began to relate their story. The spoke of the valley and the darkness that lay dormant within. They told of waking the spirits of the rebels, soldiers who, though not the captains, had waged a valiant effort to remain free and bring the struggle of humanity to the doors of the Srin-ga. In some ways they were to be admired more than their previous leaders. For they did not have the powerful artifacts or mastery of powerful magics, yet still they fought, and succeeded for a time.

The Five corrected Zian's assumption that the Captains had been betrayed, and also described the end battles where the Mefun died yet succeeded in ending the resistance... until now. They spoke of the doom vines that slithered forth from the bubbling waters of the tomb, and came back again and again despite the heroes brave efforts at cutting them down. They told the the great stump lord who's teeth were as razors and in who's maw both Shiko and Yax had disappeared, each getting away only just, and Yax having a mighty scar from nearly being bitten in half. Tao So spoke of the mighty bark of the wood elemental that turned aside his spears, and how Bodi had driven massive flagstones sharpened to razor points into the elemental over and over, and how the elemental had seemed to heal itself after each attack, renewing the battle.

They showed the people the wounds where the mighty pincers had ripped into their bodies, threatening to drag them beneath the bubbling waters to their doom. They spoke of Si Tang's mighty kicks freeing his cousin, and Bodi's razor shards, and Shiko, much to the amusement of the children, showed how his dragon tattoos had actually moved through his flesh to bite through the vine piercing him.

In the end they told of the death of the Stump Lord and how it had retreated deep beneath the earth. They warned the clan to be wary of the valley still.

Then they spoke of the tomb, and of honoring the Captains, and how each was drawn to one of the captains as though to inherit a great token. Tao So had been called to their Leader Tang Chong Lin, eldest son of Bo Qin and Dai Yu, and had been given a spear of great power. It was crafted of steel and runed with jade and jet and bearing the five elemental symbols. In some way he knew it to be unbreakable by mortal means and when commanded to by Tao So it would change from a short spear to a long weapon over 12' in length. Bodi would later call forth the memories of the spear and learn that when properly powered, it could be cast forth and create a mighty wall of flames behind it as it circled out and returned to it's wielder's hand.

Si Tang had been drawn to the beir of Tang Shan, middle son of Bo Qin and Dai Yu, and had taken up a mantle of bone and jade and leather. It provided him with great protection. If he knew what other powers it would bear neither he nor Bodi spoke of it.

Bodi had come to the resting place of Qin Lang, known as "the one called", the son of Jun Jie and Shu, he had taken a pair of jade and jet bracers. The symbols of the elements were dark now, but when he assessed their power, he saw Lang lifting massive boulders and casting them against the walls of a great and terrible city, unlike any Bodi had ever known.

Yax had been presented with a jade helm with eye lenses that dropped forth when worn. It had been the token of Mang Shou Shan, the outcast, and allowed him to be the candle amidst the torches or the torch amidst the candles. He had declined to learn the former powers of the helm, saying that destiny would reveal what it would in it's own time.

Finally Shiko had a gold and jade chain link belt. It had been worn by Han Ye, son of Xin and Mei, who had been the last of the Elemental Masters and in Service to Ne-Long the Dragon of the Heavens and Guardian of Holy Places. It gave him understanding of the flows of essence about him, which none there knew what that meant, and it allowed him to fly.

After their tale, the group ate and rested for the day, each seeking out their friends amid the clan. On the morrow they packed their things and headed out to the north to seek the Clan of Wolf's Vale.

Here they ran into strife. For Shiko grew defiant and tired of being told what to do, even as Tao So tried to determine if they should head along the river, or the mountains or straight through the forest. Shiko headed off along the river, and this encouraged Si Tang to head out on his own in the direction he though was most obvious. Yax, seeing trouble, went with Shiko, and Bodi with a shrug followed as well. Tao So headed out after his cousin and the bear.

What bear you say? Si Tang had tamed a bear and it followed him about. Were there more to that story i would tell it.

The two groups made their way north for three days not knowing of the progress of the others. Being competitive, the Yangs used their powers to go without food or sleep, and Shiko called upon the winds to carry the other three along the rivers bank.

They missed the Vale, and ran into each other instead, Bodi using his powers to reach out and seek the minds of people. When reunited not a word was said, and instead they simply backtracked and using magic to aid them closed in on the Wolf Clan.

A dark shadow flashed by overhead. None could see what it was, but Bodi assured them it had seen them and was sentient. Still they moved on, wary for an attack, when suddenly the shadow flashed overhead again, and a voice called out, "Hoi there stand and be counted."

They held, and in a moment, "YAX, by the seven, what are you doing here?" And a great bear of a man who's face and featured seemed somehow alien to the others rose form the brush and closed to hug Yax."

Yax introduced them to Ban Fu, the "half man" who's ancestry was both local and of the people in the north beyond the wall. The shadow landed, and the group was introduced to the glowing eyed Dragon Child known as Thistleheart. Thistleheart sniffed the air and said, "Mmm... Pretty metals."

The group was taken to the clan, and found that the clan was nomadic. They had a number of Yurts that they resided in and raised small horses, traveling in the region to remain undetected and for hunting.

The Five told their story that night, and Shiko caused the fire to shape and dance in images supporting Yax's telling of the tale.

They were invited to stay the night, and in the Morning, Ban Fu had agreed to take them to the entrance of the cave where the dragon might lay.

That night the Five learned of the ways of the Clan and Shiko stepped out to find a rocky outcropping. Laying his hand upon the stone he communed with it and in time drew forth a chuck of copper ore. Returning, he sought out Thistleheart, the dragonborn ally of the clan, and presented it to the birdman as a token of friendship. Thistleheart accepted and cheerfully munched on the metal ore.

In the morn they set off for the Dragon's cave. Ban Fu explained that the cave itself was the result of a natural spring and one of the sources of the river. If indeed it held the dragon, it was likely the Srin-ga had found him there at rest and surprised him. The Dragon, Ji'an-lung was said to have held the length of the river from the control of the Srin-ga nearly alone.

Finally, they arrived at the entrance to the cave. Camping for the night, they prepared to enter in the morning. Ban Fu said he would wait for them for three days. Shiko chuckled, "If we haven't emerged in one, you may return home with news of our destruction. We won't be journeying deep into the earth for days ata time."

They spoke of the items of power they wore, and what would happen to them if indeed they fell to whatever guardians were within. In the end they decided that whatever could defeat them combined was a strong enough guardian to ward the items until the next incarnation of the captains arose.

This led Yax to speculate, "Perhaps our destiny was not to free the valley, but simply to transfer the items of power to a more powerful guardian..." It was not a pleasant thought to go to sleep upon.

The storyteller allowed a great and dramatic pause, and began to rise. The children clamored about her. "Off with ye, ye have chores and learning to see to, now be about it. She waved her staff at them and shooed them away. There will be more anon.

Part the Sixth

In which both stone and fire block the path of the river, and Bodi is caught with his hand in the jar.

The moon rose round and full outside of the Cave of Bats. It was a warm spring night, made for lovers. Of course being an old woman who had difficulty with the necessary athletics, Wei Ci was more than content to indulge the gaggle of prepubescent offspring with more tales of the mighty warriors (and smelly old YAX) who had sworn to free the valley of Ji'an from the shadow of the Srin-ga.

They rose in the morning, and after a breakfast of sushi and rice, they made their way up towards the mouth of the cave from which this tributary to the mighty Ji'an river came.

Before going in, Shiko cast his arms over the water, and all looked down into the small eddy before him that showed them there at the entrance to the cave. The view changed as Shiko's spell flew forward into the cave to see what lay in store for them. Darkness, darkness and more darkness was all for a time. Then a flicker of light which grew into a pale glow and then into more. They passed over the remains of a torch from long ago.

The scene revealed to them of the cave was of a great opening in the rock, where not water, but rather Lava flowed. In the foreground a small lump of what might be a child's skeleton, and towards the back the glowing form of a mighty river dragon.

To one side was an odd Jar with white light blasting forth, and then... the spell shattered.

"So, shall we go rescue a dragon?" Bodi quipped.

The cave mouth was dark, and Shiko laid his palm upon their weapons, again providing light for the band as they entered a place of darkness and gloom.

Carefully they crept forward along the ledge that ran beside the river's runoff.

Deeper and deeper they traveled into the mountain, leaving the lands of light behind them and finding the walls of stone closing in on them. No sound could be heard over the rushing water, so it was with their eyes alone that they sought out the dangers that must assuredly lay within.

In time they came to a section of the cave where the glow of light was before them. Further on they passed the discarded torch upon the floor, from where Cheng Ru had tossed it in the children's flight from danger.

They came then to the entrance to the chamber of fire. The rivers source had long since moved away into the depths of the mountain.

Before them was a river of lava, and several large jars casting forth powerful essence. In entering they examined the jars, and Shiko and Bodi determined they were warding vessels of some sort. A powerful magic laid down long ago. The large jars at the edge of the cavern were sources of air essence, and deeper in the cave, surrounding the Dragon's form, which could be seen form the entrance, were smaller jars, that Shiko determined were earth foci.

They also determined that the wards on the cave stopped magic from entering or leaving.

Of course their little perusal of the cave woke the guardian, and as the other called out in warning, they saw a mighty beast of fiery lava emerge from the field of lava before them. So, not being of a mind to be cripsed upon their initial foray, they retreated out to the entrance of the cave to plan their attack.

Shiko assessed the lava being to determining if it was elemental in nature. It was, but to their surprise it was a twisted earth elemental, which led them to alter their strategy.

In discussing the assault they commented on the possibility of simply destroying the outer ward, which was likely restraining the guardian. They quickly discarded that thought, as they did not want to loose a deranged elemental upon the people of the valley, despit the value of damage to the Mefun and Wesh it might achieve.

They also discarded the thought of trying to have Shiko compel the creature. It was clearly beyond his current ability. Thus they decided to go in and attack it head on. Which they did. Shiko bestowed upon everyone a barrier of ice shard to defend them from the lava, and they entered the cavern.

Si Tang and Tao So, led the charge like true warriors, even as three great worms of lava rose up and met their challenge. Bodi was distracted by the great jars which the group was not supposed to be dealing with, and Yax was remaining nearby to support and heal his teammates.

Inside the warriors engaged the beast, and Shiko cause mighty bolts of lightning to begin striking the lava from which it reared. He believed that when in contact with the lava the elemental might regenerate, and having seen the wood elemental retreat, he caused his lighting to remain in place for a time to force the elemental to move away from it's protective environment.

The elemental was not worried, and spat forth a mighty glob of lava at both Shiko and Bodi, while also attacking with its third head to the two warriors flanking it.

Tao So and Si Tang struck forth with their weapons and chips of stone and lava flew from the beast.

Again Shiko called forth the power of air, this time a spinning tornado of deadly force, to force the creature to move and defend itself, while Bodi used his mental powers to wipe off the lava burning him. Yax healed Bodi, and closed to support the warriors who were leaping and striking from all about the third head.

Then the elemental puffed up and seemed to explode, casting forth a horrific spray of obsidian that speared through nearly everything in the room. The warriors dodged, and fortunately the ice shards of protection Shiko had formed protected the group form the worst of it, though the intense heat melted the spell to nothing.

Bodi used his mental powers like a hammer upon the elemental, and Shiko, nearly drained of power cast forth more lightning.

But it was Tao So, who slipped beneath the creature and using the power of his magic spear to expand and contract perforated the wounded elemental and caused it to crack and shatter, nearly burying himself in the process.

Upon freeing Tao So, the group approached the entrapped dragon. Bodi had learned from examining the larger jars how the warding magic worked, and so he showed Shiko, and the two set about attempting to break the earth ward.

They were distraught though, when they saw that there was a second ward, a great seal that protected the earth jars from being tampered with, and the pair first spent their efforts in breaking the mighty seal. The power of the seal was great however, and nearly broke Shiko to defeat.

Bodi, then removed the earth wards after many minutes of great magical strain.

Yet the dragon lay there. Shiko tried to energize it with pure water essence, but with no result. Yax attempted to heal the dragon, which was dessicated and nearly about to perish. Then Tao So came forward, having been gone for some time back out of the cave. In his hands he held his dinner bowl, full of the waters of the river, and he poured it upon the dragon.

The dragon raised its head and seemed to smile. With great effort it struggled forward out of the cave and into the river itself. The waters sparkled about the dragon as it seemed to expand and become more vibrant and glossy.

After a short time the great head of the dragon rose, "Thank you, mortals. You have released me in the nick of time. I am yet to be fully restored, but I know what you have done this day. Return here in one week's time and I shall reward you."

With that the dragon slipped ino the waters of the river and vanished from sight.

The heroes smiled as Ban Fu looked on in near awe at the events he had only just witnessed.

"Well," said Yax, "Looks like we have a week to kill."

Shiko picked up a stone and skipped it on the water, "Dammit, I hate waiting!"

The children cheered, for this was their favorite part of the tale.

"I'm the dragon!" called out Wu Hu as he jumped from his seat and ran about the fire.

"I'm Tao So," Called forth Ti Chu La, who picked up a stick and stabbed at Ting Len, "You're the elemental."

"Why do I always have to be the elemental," Ting Len whined. "I want to be Yax!" He reached down to put mud in his hair.

"Don't you dare!" Commanded Wei Ci. "You can be Yax without the dirt."

And thus beneath the moonlight in the cave of bats, new tales of the Five were told that had no root in reality, but were merely the stuff of imagination drawn from the mouths of children.

The dirty old being who had watched the tale be told chuckled. "You can't do a good Yax without the dirt."