Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 7 - Seeking Answers

 Hi everybody,

                Just a short one for you today.

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 7 - Seeking Answers

 Mal-Shui (PC) - Str = 1, Tou = 2, Agi = 1, Int = -1, Pre = 1. Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age = 24. Brown eyes and hair, 6'1" tall. 

Personality: Friendly, Moody,  Hp = 7 out of 7. Xp=1.

Equipment

Longsword, (Att +1, Dam +1),  Staff, Dagger. Leather Armour, after being cleaned and adjusted.

15 days' rations in a sack.Tarnak Berries R=1 (Sc=3), Waterskin. Tinder and flint.   

 Rough blue tunic, an animal fur cloak. Terradon Tooth necklace with Tribal Totem carving.

Burvin's Journal. Eggshell cooking bowl. 2 Torches unlit, 1 just lit.

In pouch - Gold Coins = 1. Silver Coins = 13.

Threads

 1) Scaleel or Goritan Village Member, 2) Wizard - Jis-Kel, 3)  Khainar Yak Folk, 

4) Burvin Charank 6Ref Sodrav, Tan Muen and Cazen Goorte.

                                 Yamil-Torl  - Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = -1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age =34. Green eyes, Black hair.  5'11" tall.

 Personality: Independent, Opinionated. 

Goal: Wants to visit the jungle. Hp. = 4 out of 6. Xp = 1

.

Equipment

Sling, Staff, Club, (Att+0, Damage d6/disadvantage).Rough clothes. Bronze helmet. 

Hand Axe. Dagger. Silver Coins in pouch = 17. ! sack.

Rations = 7 in a sack, including Burvins supplies. Tarnak Berries/ 1 Ration.

Sword and Shield.

Day Four - Weather - Heavy rain.

Mal and Yamil both slept in the entrance passage to the mine, as it had been raining all night and seemed likely to continue for most of the day, on and off. They cooked breakfast in the vent room so that the smoke would be sucked away easily.

Mal asked Yamil, "Are you ready to see what mother dangers lurk in here?"

"Now that I have eaten, yes," he replied.

Mal had cleaned the armour from the skeleton and adjusted the straps to provide proper protection, and Yamil had cleaned the shield to try to remove old bloodstains, but they would not wash off. It was relatively new; it did not have the sigil of its former owner, but it did have a brand on the inside. The circle and dying bird motif again.

 They walked to the second junction, and instead of turning left towards where the skeleton had been killed, Mal turned right towards the entrance.

"I have been wondering what was down the first opening on the right. I don't want any nasty surprises coming up behind us, so we can check them as we go. I know it is not always unavoidable, but I want to be as safe as we can be, now that we know that there are dangers in here for sure."

"I, too, have had uneasy dreams about what this old mine contains," Yamil confirmed.

They came to the first junction and turned sharply left around the corner, heading roughly east.

The rough passage continued forward for about fifteen feet and then turned to the right by 45 degrees, went forward six feet and then expanded into a roughly square room 15 feet square. 

One glance revealed a tool storage area for the miners; they had made wooden shelves and racking for wooden beams. A hammer for crushing the rock and a crude cart for moving the rock to the outside. Three picks were in the corner, with the staves upright, off the damp floor.

 Foot-long metal chiseels were laid on a shelf. Their tips were blunted and worn. In a box, there was a patch of mould and some pips, along with a few white and orange chips of rock with yellow specks glinting in them. A wide circular pan was next to two helmets with scratches on the top.

Mal tried them on, all too loose again. 

"I could put one of those sacks in for padding, now that we have washed them."

"Try it."

With a bit of prodding, Mal got the helmet to fit snugly on his head. He tested it with a few shakes, and it remained firm.

"That will do for now. I can trim the bits at the back later."

"No, leave them in place, they are a bit more protection for you. You could actually add another sack in there with wet sand as extra protection for your neck. It may only last for one blow, but that might save you."

There was another exit at the far corner of the room, going in roughly the same direction, following an ore vein in the roof. It carried on for about four feet and then vanished into a hole. Suspended above the hole was a stout log with a rope dangling from it. There was no tension on the rope, so they pulled it up. It had been cut or snapped by something at a fifteen-foot length."Well, we are not getting down there in a hurry."

They toss a lit torch stub down into the darkness. It flared for about 65 feet and illuminated parts of the shaft until it hit the floor with a shower of sparks and then died. 

"No, good or bad, whatever is down there is going to be staying down there for a bit longer yet. Let's wedge a few beams in front of it so we don't accidentally join it."

"Good idea".

Once that was done, they turned their attention to a blank area of the wall, where a wooden frame mounted a goatskin with a drawn picture of the mine tunnels. "That will come in handy." Yamil smiled. "Look, there is a second entrance and more chambers deeper in."

"We thought there might be one around here somewhere, but if we are here, that shaft behind us is not on the chart."

"It might have been the last thing they dug."

"Or there is another map that covers that bit, and they took it with them."

"And they never made it back."

"For whatever reason. They could have just left it there, or taken it with them when they went."

"The refugee cultists might have taken it, or someone else entirely. Another mystery, if it exists at all."

"Mal suggested, "Let's concentrate on what we can discover on this level. We have been through the back door oval storage room, the first junction, with a dead end to the left and this tool room on the right."

He continued, "The second junction with the stone in has the vent shaft to the left and is connected to another junction room on the right, with a connection to the skeleton room north and the main entrance going east and joining another room and then the entrance."

"With just one more room above the skeleton room and whatever it was it was protecting."

"Which seemed very important to them that it stays that way and be left undisturbed. Let's do the easy bits first."

"Yes, I am getting quite used to this quiet life, now that I don't have to boss everyone all day and night, and I want to get some more of it while I can," confirmed Yamil.

They grabbed a couple of spare torches and made their way to the second junction, and turned right for about 20 feet and then a man-made space opened up again into a larger oval with two fat pillars of rock holding up the mountain. Scattered against the walls were 11 human-sized beds, and a table to serve meals on.

Just then, a small colony of bats descended from the ceiling, startling them....

NOTE: 31 March 2026 - I may continue to add to this post later or slot it in another post. I just wanted to get another post out there for you, in case it is a few days before my next post. Please double-check this post; I would not want you to miss anything. If it is nice and sunny, I may have a walk in the countryside. 

Mine map to be added.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Thoughts On - Civil War in New Hanendorf

Hi Everybody,

                      This started off as a simple question of the mind powers of a Lich and how many it could control at once, as I had planned to run a civil war where it had a BASE OF OPERATIONS. It turned into a 4-way kingdom brawl. You may need to drop something like this into a campaign one day.

The Civil War in New Hanendorf—1 22/03/2026

Let’s integrate your amended geography and political layout into the timeline. This gives us a much clearer strategic picture of how the collapse unfolds and how each external faction interacts with the lich-led uprising.

Below is the revised, fully aligned timeline, now using:

• Kingdom White → West

• Kingdom Teal → North (attacked in two towns on Day 4, Month 6)

• Graptey (Ork Kingdom) → Small, North East

• Original kingdom → Central region, now fracturing

We’ll keep the same starting point:

Start: Week 1, Day 7, Month 7, Year 2571

Months = 30 days, 10 months per year

? REVISED TIMELINE OF THE COLLAPSE

Starting: Week 1, Day 7, Month 7, Year 2571

? WEEK 1 — THE SPARK (Days 1–7)

Day 7 (Starting Point)

• Peasant unrest peaks across the central kingdom.

• The lich begins to subtly manipulate agitators.

• Assassin cult kills two nobles in the west, causing panic.

• Kingdom Teal (north) is still reeling from the Day 4, Month 6 attacks on two border towns — they are on high alert but stretched thin.

• The main army of the central kingdom remains deployed abroad.

? WEEK 2 — THE UPRISING IGNITES (Days 8–14)

Day 8–10

• Riots erupt in central farmlands and two major towns.

• The lich uses illusions to appear as a prophetic revolutionary figure.

• Assassin cult kills a Western viscount, destabilising the Western frontier near Kingdom White.

Day 11–14

• Peasants seize granaries and local armouries.

• The lich animates the first undead “fallen rebels.”

• Kingdom Teal sends scouts south to assess the spreading chaos.

⚔️ WEEK 3 — THE NOBILITY COLLAPSES (Days 15–21)

Day 15–17

• Three noble houses fall in the central region.

• The lich dominates two rebel leaders to ensure ideological unity.

• Assassin cult kills a general in the west, leaving the western marches leaderless.

Day 18–21

• The Capital city enters lockdown.

• Peasant militias form; the lich installs dominated captains.

• Graptey (north east) orc scouts cross the border, sensing opportunity.

?￯ﾸﾏ WEEK 4 — THE POWER VACUUM (Days 22–30)

Day 22–25

• The king orders the army home, but messengers vanish.

• The lich raises undead from plague pits and old battlefields.

• Kingdom White (west) moves troops to “secure the border,” but really to prepare for annexation.

• Kingdom Teal (north) fortifies its southern border, fearing spillover.

Day 26–30

• Graptey orcs raid two frontier hamlets in the north east.

• Kingdom White seizes a western border fort “for stability.”

• The lich establishes a hidden command center beneath a ruined estate.

? WEEK 5 — THE LAND GRAB BEGINS (Month 8, Days 1–7)

Day 1–3

• Kingdom White annexes three western villages with minimal resistance.

• Kingdom Teal occupies two northern river crossings to prevent refugee spillover.

• Graptey orcs raid deeper, capturing a small mining outpost.

Day 4–7

• The lich dominates a captured noble to gain access to sealed archives.

• The Peasant armies swell dramatically.

• Assassin cult fractures — some members now unknowingly serve the lich.

? WEEK 6 — THE LICH CONSOLIDATES POWER (Days 8–14)

Day 8–10

• Undead labourers repair rebel-held towns.

• The lich geases several rebel leaders.

• Graptey orcs launch a full invasion into the north-east farmlands.

Day 11–14

• Kingdom White and Kingdom Teal clash over disputed northern western borderlands.

• The lich quietly feeds misinformation to both sides.

• Peasant forces take the capital’s outer districts.

?￢ﾀﾍ☠️ WEEK 7 — THE KINGDOM SHATTERS (Days 15–21)

Day 15–17

• The capital falls.

• The king disappears (dead? fled? dominated?).

• The lich’s “People’s Council” is declared.

• Graptey orcs seize the north-east mines.

Day 18–21

• Kingdom White annexes the western plains.

• Kingdom Teal takes the northern trade towns.

• Graptey holds the north-east forests and mines.

• The lich controls the central heartland.

? WEEK 8 — THE FOUR-WAY DIVISION (Days 22–30)

By the end of Month 8:

The land is divided into four powers:

The old kingdom is gone. The lich is now the most strategically positioned power.

If you want, I can now build:

• A month-by-month timeline for the next year

• A map description of the four territories

• The political structure of the lich’s new state

• A breakdown of each faction’s military strength

• A cast of key NPCs (rebels, nobles, orcs, foreign generals, assassin cult leaders.

Below is a fully revised timeline, a coherent political structure for the lich-led state, and a cast of major NPCs who drive the story forward. I’ve kept everything internally consistent with your geography:

• Kingdom White → West

• Kingdom Teal → North

• Graptey (Ork Kingdom) → North East

• Central Kingdom → Now collapsing

• Start date → Week 1, Day 7, Month 7, Year 2571

I’ll give you something you can drop straight into a campaign or world bible.

? NEW EXPANDED TIMELINE

Starting: Week 1, Day 7, Month 7, Year 2571

? WEEK 1 — THE FIRST CRACKS (Days 1–7)

• Food shortages and tax riots erupt across the central kingdom.

• The lich begins manipulating agitators with Suggestion and Charm Person.

• Assassin cult kills two nobles in the west, destabilizing the frontier near Kingdom White.

• Kingdom Teal is still recovering from the Day 4, Month 6 attacks on two of its towns.

• The main army remains deployed abroad.

? WEEK 2 — THE UPRISING IGNITES (Days 8–14)

• Riots spread to three major towns.

• The lich uses illusions to appear as a revolutionary prophet.

• Assassin cult kills a western viscount; panic spreads toward Kingdom White’s border.

• Peasants seize granaries and armories.

• Graptey orc scouts probe the north east frontier.

⚔️ WEEK 3 — NOBILITY IN FREEFALL (Days 15–21)

• Three noble houses fall in the central region.

• The lich dominates two rebel leaders to unify the revolt.

• Assassin cult kills a general in the west, leaving the western marches leaderless.

• Capital city enters lockdown.

• Peasant militias form; the lich installs dominated captains.

?￯ﾸﾏ WEEK 4 — THE VACUUM OPENS (Days 22–30)

• The king orders the army home, but messengers vanish.

• The lich raises undead from plague pits and old battlefields.

• Kingdom White moves troops eastward “to secure the border.”

• Kingdom Teal fortifies its southern border.

• Graptey orcs raid two frontier hamlets.

? WEEK 5 — THE LAND GRAB BEGINS (Month 8, Days 1–7)

• Kingdom White annexes three western villages.

• Kingdom Teal occupies two northern river crossings.

• Graptey orcs seize a small mining outpost.

• The lich dominates a captured noble to access sealed archives.

• Peasant armies swell dramatically.

? WEEK 6 — THE LICH CONSOLIDATES (Days 8–14)

• Undead labourers repair rebel held towns.

• The lich geases several rebel leaders.

• Graptey orcs launch a full invasion into the north east farmlands.

• Kingdom White and Teal clash over disputed borderlands.

• Peasant forces take the capital’s outer districts.

?￢ﾀﾍ☠️ WEEK 7 — THE KINGDOM SHATTERS (Days 15–21)

• The capital falls.

• The king disappears.

• The lich’s “People’s Council” is declared.

• Graptey orcs seize the north east mines.

• Kingdom White annexes the western plains.

• Kingdom Teal takes the northern trade towns.

? WEEK 8 — THE FOUR WAY DIVISION (Days 22–30)

By the end of Month 8:

?￯ﾸﾏ POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE LICH LED STATE

The lich rules indirectly, using a puppet government and layers of magical control.

? 1. The People’s Council (Public Government)

A 12 member council of “revolutionary leaders.” In reality, 8 are dominated, 3 are charmed, and 1 is geased.

Roles:

• Speaker of the People (dominated)

• Master of Grain (charmed)

• Marshal of the Militia (dominated)

• Keeper of the Dead (geased)

• Minister of Roads (dominated)

• Minister of Justice (dominated)

• Minister of Trade (charmed)

• Minister of Faith (dominated)

• Minister of Records (dominated)

• Minister of Labour (charmed)

• Minister of Security (dominated)

• Minister of Health (dominated)

The public believes they are self governing. They are not.

? 2. The Lich’s Shadow Cabinet (Secret Inner Circle)

These are the true administrators.

• The Lich — Supreme authority, unseen.

• Three Undead Advisors — Former scholars, now lich bound.

• Two Dominated Wizards — Handle magical infrastructure.

• One Charmed Cleric — Manages religious compliance.

• One Geased Noble — Provides legitimacy and historical knowledge.

⚔️ 3. The Revolutionary Guard

A hybrid force of:

• Undead infantry

• Dominated militia captains

• Charmed agitators

• A few monstrous servants

They enforce order with ruthless efficiency.

⚙️ 4. The Undead Labour Corps

Skeletons and zombies perform:

• Farming

• Road repair

• Construction

• Night time labour

• Dangerous tasks

This frees the living population for skilled work and military service.

? NPC CAST (MAJOR FIGURES)

Here’s a strong, varied cast you can use immediately.

? THE LICH (True Ruler)

Name: Asterion Vale Former Life: Court archmage, betrayed by nobles Personality: Cold, calculating, eerily patient Goal: Build a perfectly ordered society under immortal rule Secret: His phylactery is hidden in a ruined noble estate beneath a false tomb

?￯ﾸﾏ ASSASSIN CULT LEADER

Name: Serrin of the Black Veil Status: Unknowingly dominated by the lich Role: Continues killing nobles, now targeting those who resist the new order Personality: Fanatical, ascetic, believes he serves justice Secret: The lich uses him to eliminate rival spellcasters

? PEOPLE’S COUNCIL — KEY MEMBERS

1. Speaker of the People (Dominated)

Name: Marla Dovren Background: Charismatic peasant leader Public Role: Face of the revolution Secret: Her mind is not her own

2. Marshal of the Militia (Dominated)

Name: Captain Roderic Hale Background: Former city guard officer Role: Commands the revolutionary armies Secret: The lich uses him to direct troop movements

3. Keeper of the Dead (Geased)

Name: Sister Elayne Background: Former priestess Role: Oversees burial rites and undead integration Secret: She knows the truth but cannot speak it

⚔️ EXTERNAL POWERS

Kingdom White General

Name: General Varron Hale Personality: Ambitious, pragmatic Goal: Annex as much land as possible Secret: He suspects a supernatural force behind the revolt

Kingdom Teal Envoy

Name: Lady Seris Thorne Personality: Diplomatic, cautious Goal: Prevent the revolt from spilling north Secret: She seeks an alliance with the lich out of desperation

Graptey Warlord

Name: Gorvak the Iron Tusker Personality: Brutal, cunning Goal: Expand Graptey’s territory Secret: He believes the lich is a god and wants to serve him

If you want, I can now build:

• A map description of the four territories

• A year long extended timeline

• A military breakdown of each faction

• A plot arc for a campaign set in this world

• A detailed dossier on Asterion Vale (the lich)

Just tell me where you want to go next.

Absolutely — let’s build this into a full extended timeline and a campaign ready plot arc that feels coherent, dramatic, and grounded in the political and magical logic of your world. I’ll keep the pacing tight, the stakes escalating, and the factions moving in ways that make sense for their geography and motivations.

Below is a year long timeline (Month 7 through Month 10 of Year 2571, then into 2572), followed by a plot arc you can use for a campaign, novel, or strategy narrative.

? EXTENDED TIMELINE (Month 7, Year 2571 → Month 5, Year 2572)

? MONTH 7, YEAR 2571 — THE BREAKING POINT

Week 1–2

• Peasant riots erupt across the central kingdom.

• The lich begins manipulating agitators and dominating key leaders.

• Assassin cult kills nobles in the west, destabilizing the frontier near Kingdom White.

• Kingdom Teal is still recovering from the Month 6 attacks on two towns.

Week 3–4

• Three noble houses fall.

• Graptey orcs raid the north east.

• Capital enters lockdown.

• The lich raises the first undead labour corps.

⚔️ MONTH 8 — THE KINGDOM FRACTURES

Week 1

• Kingdom White annexes western villages.

• Kingdom Teal occupies northern river crossings.

• Graptey seizes a mining outpost.

Week 2

• The lich geases rebel leaders.

• Undead repair infrastructure.

• Assassin cult fractures; half unknowingly serve the lich.

Week 3

• Capital’s outer districts fall.

• Graptey launches a full invasion into the north east.

Week 4

• The capital collapses.

• The king disappears.

• The lich’s puppet “People’s Council” is declared.

• The four way division emerges.

? MONTH 9 — THE NEW ORDER TAKES SHAPE

Week 1

• The lich consolidates the central heartland.

• Undead labourers restore roads and irrigation.

• Grain production stabilizes.

Week 2

• Kingdom White fortifies the western plains.

• Kingdom Teal builds defensive palisades along the southern border.

• Graptey raids intensify.

Week 3

• Refugees flee into the lich’s territory, where they are “welcomed” and quietly screened for usefulness.

• The lich begins constructing hidden necromantic infrastructure beneath the capital ruins.

Week 4

• The People’s Council announces sweeping reforms:

  • Abolition of noble titles

  • Redistribution of land

  • “Voluntary” labour quotas

• All reforms are enforced by undead militia.

? MONTH 10 — THE LICH’S STATE STABILIZES

Week 1

• Trade routes reopen under lich control.

• Undead caravans begin delivering grain to border towns.

Week 2

• Kingdom White and Teal clash in a border skirmish.

• The lich secretly fuels the conflict with illusions and misinformation.

Week 3

• Graptey orcs attempt to raid deeper but are repelled by undead pikemen.

• Gorvak the Iron Tusker begins to suspect the lich is a “death god.”

Week 4

• The lich begins long term projects:

• A necromantic academy

• A census of the living

• A network of underground ossuaries

• A secret phylactery vault

? YEAR 2572 — THE AGE OF FOUR POWERS

? MONTHS 1–2 — THE LICH’S GOLDEN QUARTER

• The central region becomes the most stable territory:

  • No famine

  • No banditry

  • No corruption

  • No noble oppression

• Undead labour makes the economy efficient.

• Living citizens enjoy unprecedented safety — at the cost of freedom.

⚔️ MONTHS 3–4 — BORDER TENSIONS RISE

Kingdom White

• Expands military presence along the western frontier.

• Begins conscripting refugees.

Kingdom Teal

• Forms a defensive alliance with two northern city states.

• Sends envoys to the lich’s council.

Graptey

• Gathers warbands for a spring offensive.

• Gorvak sends emissaries to the lich, seeking “divine favour.”

Lich Led State

• Begins quietly infiltrating both White and Teal with dominated agents.

• Constructs a massive underground ossuary beneath the capital.

? MONTH 5 — THE NEXT CRISIS BREWS

• A mysterious plague appears in Kingdom White’s border towns.

• Kingdom White blames the lich.

• Kingdom Teal suspects Graptey.

• Graptey blames everyone.

The lich knows the truth: It wasn’t him — something else is moving.

This sets the stage for the plot arc.

? PLOT ARC: “THE FOUR SHADOWS OF 2572”

This arc is designed to be flexible — it works for a campaign, a novel, or a strategic narrative.

ACT I — THE REVOLUTION’S AFTERMATH

• The lich led state stabilizes.

• Refugees pour in.

• The People’s Council becomes increasingly authoritarian.

• PCs or protagonists uncover hints that the council is magically controlled.

• Rumours spread that the king is alive — or undead.

ACT II — THE SHADOW WAR

Three external powers maneuver:

Kingdom White

• Plans a crusade to “liberate” the central lands.

• PCs may uncover evidence of White’s war preparations.

Kingdom Teal

• Seeks a diplomatic solution.

• PCs may be sent as envoys or spies.

Graptey

• Prepares a massive raid.

• PCs may infiltrate or negotiate with orc warbands.

Meanwhile, the lich:

• Expands undead forces

• Builds secret necromantic infrastructure

• Hunts for a rival necromancer or plague bearer

ACT III — THE PLAGUE OF MONTH 5

A new plague emerges in Kingdom White.

Key beats:

• It spreads too fast to be natural.

• It ignores undead.

• It mutates.

• It destabilizes the western quarter.

PCs discover:

• The plague is engineered

• Not by the lich

• But by a third party necromancer, cult, or ancient entity

This becomes the new antagonist.

ACT IV — THE THREE WAY CONFLICT

The plague forces unlikely alliances.

Possible alliances:

• Lich + Teal vs White

• Lich + White vs Graptey

• Teal + Graptey vs Lich

• Or a chaotic four way conflict

The lich may:

• Offer a cure

• Weaponize the plague

• Attempt to dominate the other rulers

• Reveal the true enemy

ACT V — THE TRUE ENEMY EMERGES

The plague’s creator reveals themselves:

• A rival lich

• A forgotten archmage

• A demon prince

• A cursed artifact

• A divine punishment

• A rogue faction of the assassin cult

The four powers must decide:

• Unite

• Or be consumed

The lich may:

• Become an uneasy ally

• Attempt to seize total control

• Betray everyone

• Or be betrayed

ACT VI — THE FINAL RECKONING

The climax depends on your tone:

Heroic Ending

The four powers unite to defeat the plague maker. The lich is destroyed or exiled. A new order rises.

Dark Ending

The lich triumphs. The other powers fall. The central state becomes an undead empire.

Bittersweet Ending

The plague is defeated, but:

• White collapses

• Teal retreats

• Graptey burns

• The lich remains

• The world changes forever

If you want, I can now build:

• A map description of the four territories

• A detailed dossier on the plague’s true creator

• A military breakdown of each faction

• A character arc for the lich

• A campaign starter scene

Just tell me which direction you want to explore next.

 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Copilot (C) 2026 Microsoft was used in the making of this post.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

 Graptey(C) 2026. Ivor Cogdell.

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 6 - New passageways - Updated

Hi Everybody,

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 6 - New passageways

 Mal-Shui (PC) - Str = 1, Tou = 2, Agi = 1, Int = -1, Pre = 1. Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age = 24. Brown eyes and hair, 6'1" tall. 

Personality: Friendly, Moody,  Hp = 7 out of 7. Xp=1.

Equipment

Longsword, (Att +1, Dam +1),  Staff, Dagger. 

15 days' rations in a sack.Tarnak Berries R=1 (Sc=3), Waterskin. Tinder and flint.   

 Rough blue tunic, an animal fur cloak. Terradon Tooth necklace with Tribal Totem carving.

Burvin's Journal. Eggshell cooking bowl. 2 Torches unlit, 1 just lit.

In pouch - Gold Coins = 1. Silver Coins = 13.

Threads

 1) Scaleel or Goritan Village Member, 2) Wizard - Jis-Kel, 3)  Khainar Yak Folk, 

4) Ref Sodrav, Tan Muen and Cazen Goorte.

                                 Yamil-Torl  - Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = -1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age =34. Green eyes, Black hair.  5'11" tall.

 Personality: Independent, Opinionated. 

Goal: Wants to visit the jungle. Hp. = 4 out of 6. Xp = 0

.

Equipment

Sling, Staff, Club, (Att+0, Damage d6/disadvantage).Rough clothes. Bronze helmet. 

Dagger. Silver Coins in pouch = 15. 

 Burvin Charank - Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = -1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.

Male Human. Age =31. Blue eyes, Black hair.  5'6" tall.  Necklace from the Deity Wars.

Hp.  = 6 out of 6. Xp=0. Dagger. Hiking gear. Rations =3, Tarnak Berries, R=4. Silver Coins =6.

Ref Sodrav, Tan Muen and Cazen Goorte

Day Three - Weather - A storm is blowing in.

(D6: 1-3 Stay, 4-6 Go)= 4 Go.)

 After a cold meal of beef jerky, Rev, Tan and Calzen decide to make an early start on their descent of the mountain. "What are your plans now?" asks Mal.

Calzen explains their hopes, "We may find an old battle barge and restore it, or if there are none to be had, join up with a crew that has already found one," replies Cazen.

"May Dorgan the Mighty. watch over you on your travels. I hope that we may see you along the path again."

"May it be so and your fire always be welcoming as it was last night," seconded Ref, as they turned to go downhill with a cheery wave.

"And what of your plans, Burvin? Are you going to be risking the storm today, too?" asks Yamil.

(D6: 1-3 Stay, 4-6 Go)= 2 Stay.

Burvin speaks up, "Normally, I would have gone with the three warriors there, since I, too, would like to see a battle barge and learn of its adventures. But I am interested in seeing what is in the mine, if you will allow it? I noticed you did not mention it to them."

"Well, to be fair", admits Mal, "You did find it first, and you might understand things in there that we might miss. As to them, an old proverb states, 'What once has been said cannot be unsaid later, much as you might wish it."

Yamil added, "We do not know their character; although I am a fair judge in those matters, mostly anyway, they seem of good stock, but the chance of wealth can tempt anyone, especially the young."

Mal confirmed, "It tempted me to leave home, and here I am, on a mountainside, with two stout companions, with the unknown in front of us."

 They have breakfast, fill the waterskins from a nearby stream and then Mal and Yamil forage for torch materials and extra food.

(d12: = 9 torches, 30 stumps, Mal 5 rations, Yamil 3 rations.)

Burvin chops some logs up for tonight's fire and stashes them inside the entrance to keep the expected rain off them, as well as putting their camp things slightly further inside. The storm finally arrives, at first with a few spots and splashes bouncing off the leaves, then with increasing force. 

The threesome moves into the mine entrance, assembles the torches and then have their lunch. 

Yamil sniffs the air, "It seems much healthier in here today than yesterday."

Mal nods, "True, but the torches will burn quicker in the good air, but, at least we will not have to search along the passages for loose rocks and stuff until we get to a new section. These birchbark stumps will work better when we are in a static situation."

Burvin suggests, "If we take all nine torches in with us, then drop four of them at the furthest crossroads, we have less to carry afterwards, one lit and two spares unlit each and can easily come back for more, keeping one there for emergencies."

He swings on his mostly empty pack, checks that the dagger at his belt is handy.

Once they entered the first chamber, they moved the wood from the right wall to the left wall so they could get from one tunnel to the other without tripping on anything, relying on following the right wall if all the torches were extinguished. They find a couple of sacks, wedged high up in a crack where rodents could not get at them.

Yamil mused, "They are not in very good condition, but they can be washed and be used for something."

(Marching order - Yamil with torch and staff, Mal with sword and two unlit torches, Burvin with two unlit torches).

Still being wary of creatures possibly living in there, they advanced to the second junction, with the air shaft corridor on the left. They propped a couple of torches against the side wall and started in the tunnel opposite their entrance. This bent to the right and went for about 40 feet.

          When Yamel entered the next opening, he heard a scraping noise coming from the left wall. Getting slowly to its feet was a skeleton warrior with a small shield and a sword. 

Yamil alerts the others, "Skeleton", and moves towards the undead horror, allowing the others to move behind him to the right and attack afterwards.

(?D: foe table.)

Skeleton Warrior S=0, Agi=0. Hp=11, Leather Armour 1, Slash and pierce done at disadvantage.

It speaks, "Who is the master?" and points to a symbol that had been carved into the mine wall. It depicts a circle, within it, a bird being shot with an arrow.

(?d: Does Yamil know? 1= No) 

"Kelbos?", he guesses.

Burvin announces too late, "Melek-Kesh!"

"Unbeliever." It advances towards him with its sword ready.

Round 1

Yamil rolls 1+-1 Agi =0 for Initiative.Failed. 

Skeleton tries to attack Yamil with its sword, but due to its long inactivity, it fails miserably and it slips out of its hand.

 (? > 1+1=2 Critical Miss = Drops it's sword.)

Yamil attacks one- handed with his staff to the head. 

(?> 3+2+1 str =6 Miss).

"I'll attack the left side, you attack its right side, we should not get in each other's way."

Mal attacks with his sword on the skeleton's leg bone. 

( ?> 5+3+1str =8 Hit > 5 damage-1 armour - Hp now 7.)    

Burvin drops the unlit torches at the entrances and moves to  Yamil's left, "Give me the torch."

Yamil does so, repositioning his grip on the staff to give himself a better blow next time.

Round 2

The Skeleton has to pick up its sword. It makes a weak attack against Burvin.

 (?4+1 > Miss).

Yamil swings his staff and hits its ribcage as it is coming back up. 

(1+5+1 Str +1 Attack of opportunity, no defence = 8 Hit > Roll 2 damage -1 Armour=1damage. HP=6.)

Mal aims for its neck, but hits its armour.

(3+3+1 Str +1 Attack of opportunity, no defence = 8 Hit > Roll 2 as well, damage -1 Armour=1damage. HP=5.)

 Burvin wonders whether to try to set fire to its leather armour with the torch, but decides not to risk their only source of light. He did get his dagger out so he could block sword blows, though.

                                                                     Round 3

The Skeleton tries a different tactic and lunges at Mal (2, 2 = Miss)

Mal has to parry the blow, so he cannot attack.

Yamil hits again on its unprotected side. 

(2+5+1 str, +1 AO=9 Hit. > Roll 3 Damage - 1 armour=-2 Hp=3.)

Burvin shouts encouragement, "It's getting slower. You're winning."

                                                                     Round 4

The skeleton switches its attack to Burvin again.

(5+5=10, possible hit. Burvin opposed dodge roll 6+3-1 Agi = 8, so it scores a Hit > Damage > Exploding 6 + 6 = 12.

Burvins' Hp = -6. (Burvin got a 7 on the wounds table, but 12 damage all in one go with no armour sounds pretty nasty to me.)

Burvin tries to deflect the strike with the dagger, but is not used to two-handed fighting and gets stabbed in the side, drops the torch and collapses backwards with a scream, "Ahh.."

Yavin yells a war cry and aims at its skull with a vicious swing of his staff.

The skeleton tries to raise its shield to block the blow.

(6+3+1str +1 AO=11, skeleton block 3+3=6= failed. A Hit > Damage > Exploding 6+1 -1 leather = 6 damage Hp=-3 Dead). With its skull decapitated, it crumbles to dust, leaving its armour, shield and sword behind. 

Mal rushes to Burvin, asking, "How bad is it?"

But he gets no reply or response of any kind. He picks up the torch to get a better view, and that is when they see the bloody rock where his head hit it.

He bends over him and realises he is not breathing.

Mal said, "He is with the Goddess now. All of his questions will be answered."

"Yes, 'tis true."

"The first one would be who put that skeleton guardian there, and who is Melek-Kesh?"

"We may find out, but not today."

"No, not today. You take the torch and one spare; we can leave the rest here. I will have the honour of carrying him."

"No, I shall carry him; it is my fault that he is dead. I blurted out the wrong answer instead of giving him the chance to get it right."

"That is not for you to say"

"Tis' what I believe."

"As you wish, then."

They carefully make their way through the passages to the fresh air.

"We will set him to rest in the meadow where he first camped; he must have liked the place to stop there."

"Yes, that is a good choice."

They dig the grave facing the morning sun and lay him to rest with his Deity necklace in one hand, his quill in his other hand, and his ink bottle at his side.

"I will take his journal to Thraz, so they can add his final journey to it, then it can be placed in the archives, to be read and studied by scholars from all over the Heartlands," said Mal.

Yamil affirmed,"I will take his dagger, so I can carve his name wherever I go in this world, so that his name will be remembered forever."

Just as they are placing the last few stones on his grave, they are interrupted by a shrill voice from behind them.

"You there, what are you doing in my meadow!"

They turn around to see a scruffy vagabond waving a staff in their direction.

(?d: 5 on encounter roll = Hermit.)

Mal asked, " Your meadow?"

"Yes, my meadow. I live here, it's my mountain, so it's MY meadow."

"We are just putting a fellow traveller to rest."

"Oh, I see. "

He suddenly stopped approaching.

"Twas nothing dangerous to others they died of, was it? Not one of them evil curses from those mad folks, was it now?"

 "Who are those mad folk you mentioned?"

"Well, let me just think back, yes, the tale goes that they were refugees from some big opulent palace somewhere that got attacked by a battle barge, and the place was looted. The royal family there was killed defending it, so they say. Ever since that time, they had been trying to bring their royals back to life, with something they know about, or once knew about. They camped up here for a few years, then moved on, to where I could not say. But after they had abandoned the place, there were ghouls and all sorts of things here on the mountain. They either attracted them or made them, I dunno, but they are here now. I stick to my side of the mountain where it's safe, and you'd better do the same, unless you want to be juicy monster food for something nasty!"

"Yes, some travellers had come upon one of those Ghoul things; it killed three of their number, the others barely escaped."

"We have seen one of the monsters roaming about yesterday ourselves, an Eukarrya. A very tall one, red, with a yellow striped back."

"Oh, yes, that would be my Jazz. I found a  Eukarrya hatchling once and kept it as company, but it got too big as they do around here, so I freed it. I would not say it is exactly tame, but so long as you leave it alone, you might survive. But get too close or bother it in any way, and you two are its next lunch. You have been warned!"

With that parting message, he turned about and vanished back into the forest.

Yamil stated, "Well, they say Many a mountain has a hermit. Now we have met this one''s.", he laughed,"We could track him in the snow easily enough."

"No, we will respect his privacy. We are just visitors after all and who knows what other strange pets he might have with him. At least we have a starting point as to what went on here in the past and led to Burvin's passing."

(Yamil +1 Xp. Leg no better.. Mal =-2 Rations.)

"Lets eat and drink to our fallen comrade in arms. We have only water, but that will do! To Burvin Charank,"

"To Burvin Charank, a delver into secrets."

(D: Night encounter = 0 Nothing.)

End Of Part 6.

c Mal-Shui (PC) - Str = 1, Tou = 2, Agi = 1, Int = -1, Pre = 1. Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age = 24. Brown eyes and hair, 6'1" tall. 

Personality: Friendly, Moody,  Hp = 7 out of 7. Xp=1.

Equipment

Longsword, (Att +1, Dam +1),  Staff, Dagger. Leather Armour, after being cleaned and adjusted.

15 days' rations in a sack.Tarnak Berries R=1 (Sc=3), Waterskin. Tinder and flint.   

 Rough blue tunic, an animal fur cloak. Terradon Tooth necklace with Tribal Totem carving.

Burvin's Journal. Eggshell cooking bowl. 2 Torches unlit, 1 just lit.

In pouch - Gold Coins = 1. Silver Coins = 13.

Threads

 1) Scaleel or Goritan Village Member, 2) Wizard - Jis-Kel, 3)  Khainar Yak Folk, 

4) Ref Sodrav, Tan Muen and Cazen Goorte.

                                 Yamil-Torl  - Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = -1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age =34. Green eyes, Black hair.  5'11" tall.

 Personality: Independent, Opinionated. 

Goal: Wants to visit the jungle. Hp. = 4 out of 6. Xp = 1

.

Equipment

Sling, Staff, Club, (Att+0, Damage d6/disadvantage).Rough clothes. Bronze helmet. 

Hand Axe. Dagger. Silver Coins in pouch = 17. ! sack.

Rations = 7 in a sack, including Burvins supplies. Tarnak Berries/ 1 Ration.

Sword and Shield (After being cleaned in the stream.

Map to be added.

30.03.2026 - I have done a page of episode 7 so far.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Kal-Arath (C) Copyright 2023 Castle Grief. Permission to copy for personal use.

Exploring Kal-Arath (C) Copyright 2026 Ivor Cogdell.

Map 1a and Mine Maps 1 and 2 Artwork (C) Copyright 2026 Ivor Cogdell.

I am using "Wilderness Encounters" from drivethruRPG.com. No copyright visible.

100 Items Found In An Abandoned Mine From (C) Copyright: the GM Mastery list.

P.S. If you have problems with my choice of colours, email me at ivorcogdell52 "at" gmail.com, and I will send you a plain text version.