Ancient Dread: Assault on L'Huath

Continued

Upon return from Yetu’s domicile, we were greeted with much rejoicing by the Ma’Lwai’Yu villagers. Yetu’s daughter was returned and a grand celebration was held. Negotiations with Chief Ya’Tairda and Captain Macintosh proceeded in order for us to journey to the island of L’Huath, home of the evil Katuade tribe.

We decided that travel up the river delta towards the volcano would be the best option and the chief provided us with the use of one of his boats and food in exchange for the pillage of at least one small village from their enemies. Getting the crew proved to be more negotiations. Four sailors from the Virtuous Maiden joined us for some extra pay. From the tribe, 4 young bucks, eager to make a name for themselves, agreed to go just for the adventure and promise of plunder. Several bowmen accepted a quiver of arrows each and a warrior we nicknamed ‘King’ agreed for a Kobold-forged axe. Alta asked to stay behind to recover from the previous sojourn and I left Mug to care for her.

After loading up the food and supplies, leaving the mules in the care of the village, Macintosh towed our craft to the river’s edge and we began the tedious chore of rowing and watches in shifts to watch for the Katuade or hostile fauna. Things were quiet until a trio of large water snakes decided we were what was for supper. Two were quickly dispatched w/ arrows and swords but Echo decided a show of force was needed, vaporizing one w/ a fireball and taking the remainder of her frustrations out on an innocent palm tree. The rest of the crew tread cautiously around her after that while Ackdor strutted with pride. During her watch, Rod Kym Nar alerted me to the presence of a scout hidden along the river bank. Noting his location, an arrow through the gut guaranteed he would never report back.

The following morning, a party from our mutual enemies foolishly attacked our craft, not expecting the barrage of arrows and spells they received in response. In retreat, they led us straight to their village, a perfect opportunity to repay the chief and for our hirelings to earn some stripes/plunder. Their warriors were warned by the hunting party but it did little good. They were unable to stand up to the combined might of spells, arrows, and fighters that assaulted them. Rod, however, did foolishly attack one of their stronger warriors, getting hurt fairly severely in the process. An attempt by their resident warlock to turn the tide was quickly stopped by several arrows to his torso.

After clearing the village, a search revealed much in the way of booty. Steel weapons (dwarven forged if one can believe it!!!) and some primitive armor for our allies. Gold and jewels for the chief. A good haul overall. A statue of Styphen the Black, dark god of the Dragonwright pantheon, was left behind. We don’t need that kind of support. Deciding that the ones who fled were likely heading to get re-enforcements, we returned to the boat and are continuing our way up the river, our spirits much lifted by the success we’ve achieved.

Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

So guy robs a Pizza Hut and gets ventilated.  Response by the parents is what we've come to expect from the genetic providers of thugs:

“If there was to be a death, it was not the place of the employee at Pizza Hut. That is the place of law enforcement,” said Hairston.

(BS, they would have blamed the police and started BLM riots if that had happened)

Hairston and Grace Sr acknowledged that their son was breaking the law by robbing the business, and said they definitely don’t condone what he did.

Well isn't that nice of them.

“It was an act of desperation, but I do not believe that Michael would have hurt anyone,” said Hairston.

Except maybe for this from a different article:

On Sunday, October 30th in Charlotte, North Carolina, three men walked into a Pizza Hut after closing hours to rob the business. One man, later identified as 28-year-old Michael Grace Jr, pulled a gun out on employees. One of the employees pulled his gun out and fired back, striking Grace in the head and killing him. Police did recover a gun after the incident from Grace. The other two suspects ran away and have not been caught yet.

So he had a gun and was threatening people w/ it.  But he wouldn't 'really' hurt anyone. They continue to excuse his behavior.

They said Grace Jr had fallen on hard times and resorted to crime to provide for his own child.

So repeat criminal but it's the employee's fault:

"Why in the hell did this guy have a gun?” questioned Hairston about the employee who shot her son.She said her son was shot in the head, and she thinks the shooting may have even been personal, citing past conflicts Grace Jr had had with other employees at the restaurant.“This wasn’t a body shot. This was a head shot. My son was shot in the left side of his head just behind his ear. A headshot is personal,” said Hairston.

Maybe the employees knew her son was a violent thug and prepared (rightly) to protect themselves from him.
No accountability or responsibility.  No wonder he thought he could take what he wanted from others.

Ancient Dread: The Journey To Ye'Tu's Hut

Continuing the adventure

The party decides to take the trail to Yetu's location, rather than the river.  We load up the mules while Te'ke gives Rod-Kym-Na and I some information on the local flora and fauna.  It seems like most of the standard things that one would find on a tropical island although there are some differences, likely from the centuries of isolation from the rest of the Palladium world. 

The first day is uneventful.  We find small  'pockets' in the jungle where there is no vegitation for several yards.  Nothing magical or evil emanates from these open spaces so we use several of these as our campsite.  Standard watches through out the night.  No attacks during the first night but both Mug and Ackdor say they saw something watching us from the distance.  Ackdor, scouting around, finds large cat tracks a bit from the campsite.  Tracks that are larger than your normal jungle cat.  

 Throughout the next day, at least one cat continues to stalk us, never getting close enough to be a real threat or get a close look at it.  By mid-afternoon, Alta is looking unwell, sweating and stumbling while trying to keep up.  Some jungle affliction. Quickly cleared up by a healing drought, of which we've brought many, it foreshadows something we will experience numerous times over the next few days.  

We encounter several large cats over the next few days. None are overly hostile but the ones that look like large black panthers seem more intelligent than average and are the ones that have been following us.  Temporarily paralyzing one using psionics gives them the message that we are not just food to be trifled with.  A sickly anaconda and some bush pigs are the most serious threats we face until more of the jungle sickness strikes.  While the version that Alta is repeatedly hit with and also afflicted Mug is easily cured with some healing potion, Rod-Kym-Na becomes delirious with fever, nearly fighting us so she can ‘return to the temple’ before we convince her to take a sip of ‘holy water’.  

The night before we expect to reach Yetu’s, one of the cats decides to get brave enough to attack the camp.  It jumps on Mug from behind and mauls him badly until we manage drive it away. Even though he is quickly healed, nighttime and darkness will make him nervous and uneasy for the rest of his days. Poor Mug. 

We reach the location of Yetu.  A large swamp with an upraised hut on stilts in the middle.  No boats being present, we utilize a log as ballast to make our way across.  The entrance to the hut is familiar.  It is carved and designed into the shape seen at every Dragonwright temple across the Palladium world.  The gate. Yetu stands in the doorway and beckons us in.  Of the same type as the tribesmen, he is ancient and exudes the power of the dragon gods but not nearly so much as what stands on a pedestal in the middle of the room.  A giant tooth, rippling with waves of magic. One can only surmise the strength of the creature that shed it. 

He shows us a war club covered in runes, dwarven make and old.  Likely predating the Elf/Dwarf wars that destroyed the Old Kingdom.  Yetu explains that this came from the other island, L’hauth, the island of the evil ones, and that the next stage of our journey is there.  On that island we will face challenges that will test our bodies and mind but that will be nothing compared to what we will face beyond, challenges that will imperil our very souls. A place where we will have to make decisions that could change the direction of the entire world. 

We depart from the hut with the Shaman’s blessings and warnings on minds. 

@DogMightGames: DragonSheath 2.0

The guys at DogMight Games rock.  I picked up one of their DragonSheaths through the KS for some of my PC based minis, they deserved their own fancy home.  Unfortunately, while the workmanship was absolutely beautiful, it was a hair too small to fit the 30mm bases. I mentioned this to the guys at GenCon while the female spawnling was buying one of her own and they offered to make me a custom box.  A few emails back and forth for sizing and a few weeks later it arrived. Fits the minis perfectly.

Comparison in size between the original and 2.0:

They continue to put out top-notch, quality wood work and take care of their customers.