Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 9 - The Decision

   Hi everybody,

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 9

The Decision

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 and strap. Tinder and flint.   

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

Burvin's Journal in a water-resistant pouch. Speckled Eggshell serving bowl.

In pouch around neck - 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.5) Hermit,  6).Mad Folk, 

7) Melek-Kesh Symbol.

                                 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 around neck = 17), 1 sack.

Rations = 7 in a sack, including Burvin's supplies. Tarnak Berries/ 1 Ration.

Sword and Shield (Melek-Kesh Symbol).

It is still the afternoon of day four. Weather - Cool and Cloudy.

Everybody was keen to hear about the mine and the magical skeleton that guarded it.  "This is its armour, shield and sword. Does anyone recognise the House sign?" They all shook their heads.

 Deramisk said that the elders would want a proper report on the mine, not a half-completed one, which is all that could be given at the moment, since they did not know all of the details.

"Then split your forces, half takes the food back to the village, and the other half can explore the mine with us, or as much as we can in a few days, and then we will come back with you. As far as we know, there are only a few rooms left to explore, but there is at least one part not on the map, so there might be more. We will not be able to explore the lower level in any event. It is your choice as leader of the hunt."

Boki applied fresh salve to Yamil's leg while they ate and rested."Thank you." Boki nodded, "It is healing nicely."

After lunch, they packed their camping gear away.

Deramisk spoke, "I have thought on what you said, Boki, Shemba and Kudu will come with me to the mine, the rest will go to the village."

Farind asked, "What about me?"

"Not this time, but you will come with me on my next visit."

"Yes, Deramisk."

"Nandak, you will lead the hunters on the way home. No detours unless you have to, you have enough meat, and you must see it gets to the village."

"Yes, Deramisk."

"Garamu protect you."

"And you"

 With that farewell, they started back to their village, and the other group retraced their steps back to the mine.

Mel and Yamil chatted to everyone about the game in the area and assorted tracks when they came to them. The time passed quickly, but Yamil was annoyed that he was slowing the group down.

"We are not worried, the others have bundles of food and will be assured of a good welcome when they arrive back home. It is good not to have to worry about the hunt, but we do have to worry about things hunting us, so we still have the scouts checking the path ahead."

The trail through the forest was mostly uphill. The two scouts were returning at intervals to report and be replaced by the other two hunters.

Boki explained, "By swapping men scouting the front, you do not get very tired or slip in your concentration. You get a break from being on high alert, although you are never really safe in these woods. We do not normally hunt in this area, but we had to follow the beast where it led us. It must have hoped to put us off its trail. But the snow and rain helped to preserve its tracks, and we were able to get ahead of it and ambush it."

"You did well to bring down a beast of that size."

"Yes, we are a good team."

(? Q - Get lost? 3 No)

The trees are beginning to thin out, and the going gets easier as the slope begins to flatten.

(?Q - Mishap? 6 - Yes)

A stone gives way under Mal's foot, and he slips, "Ahhh." and rolls down the slope a few yards. His pack had spilt its contents on the ground. His Tarnak berries have been squashed in amongst his tinder bundle and ruined it. The bung had come out of his waterskin, and half of the remaining liquid had leaked out. He took a long drink and then stoppered the waterskin again.

He picks up the rest of his gear and the flint. "They will be fine once they are washed, but my tinder is just a sticky mess."

Yamil reminds him, "These things happen on the trail."

"So they do," agreed Boki.

"We must be getting closer now."

Within a few minutes, they had arrived at the larger of the two mine entrances.

Yamil cried, "At last, I was wondering if we had missed a turning and would be wandering all night."

He did not show it, but his leg was itching fiercely.

Mal asked, "Do you want to camp inside or outside?"

(? D6 1-3 Inside, 4-6 Outside. 6 Outside)

"We shall camp outside tonight, and treat the mine as a hostile lair for now. We will camp around the corner, so that if anything wants to go in or out of there, it can do so without us getting in its way. But no doubt, it would catch our scent."

Mal added, "We did not see any creature tracks inside or at the entrance last time we were here, but we should stand watch at camp during the night to be safe."

They found a suitable spot protected from the wind by a rock outcrop, cleared the ground of snow and soon had a fire going. Mal melted some snow and refilled his waterskin. He plans to search for tinder materials in the mine in the morning. They took turns on watch duty.

(?D Yamil's healing roll - 2 + 1   Failed)

(D: Night encounter = 03 Nothing.)

Day Five - Heavy rain began during the night.

"It's too damp to get a fire going out here; we can have a cold breakfast, pack up and get warm in the mine", suggested Mal.

Yamil stated, "You are just eager to see what else is in there."

Mal admitted, "That's  true enough" he grinned, "Anybody disagree with the idea?"

Nobody did. They started with dried Terraton leg and nuts for breakfast, then broke camp.

Once they got to the mine entrance, Mal instructed, "Stick to the right wall, it's about 40 feet to where there is a left-hand bend, that is where we have left some torches. After that, there is a pool on the left and further up, there is a pit trap. Use the boards on the right edge."

"I will go first, Yamil will follow next. Oh, keep your spears up so you can find the low rocks in the roof. It will get easier when we can get the torches lit. Yamil, is your Tinder dry?"

"Yes, Mal"

"Right then, head down, spears up, right hand following the right wall. The scratching will be our helmets being bumped by the ceiling rocks. Let's go."

Mine map 3 - Entrance South, Vent NW, Exit East, Down Tunnel Central.

NOTE: Coming in from the East exit.

They entered in single file, getting used to the rock surface underfoot and overhead

Thunk, Mal's staff had hit wood.

"A crossbeam in the roof coming up. I think that was where the roof gets higher for a bit. Yes, it does."

A few paces forward.

Clunk.

"Ah, that must have been a bit further on."

A few more paces forward.

Mal announced, "I think we have come to the junction, wait there, and I will get a torch."

 He soon returned with a torch, which Yamil proceeded to light, "That's better. We would have been quicker with just the two of us. "

"Oh well, it's done now."

The others looked around at the different colours of the rock veins.

Mal pointed to the white rock overhead, "We think that is what they were digging out, but we do not know what they were after. It does look pretty with all of those different coloured specks in it."

They picked up a spare torch and continued at a better pace past the pool, over the pit trap and under the net trap into the communal room. Mal pointed to the other tunnel way out.

"It's left, straight on, right through the other chamber and out. You would have to curve left of the main path to get to your camp from the entrance."

"We have not done up this small passage, but it may lead to somewhere new. Be prepared."

Mal took the lead with his sword drawn, and Yamil came next with the torch and the staff prodding in front of Mal. After fifteen feet, they came to the chamber with the decapitated skeleton.

"That was our opponent, guarding the passageway; there may be more." 

Yamil pointed to the symbol carved on the wall, "This may be who they worship, Melek-Kesh."

They moved around the central pillar of rock and examined the entrance to the tunnel before entering, just in case more traps were waiting for them, but it looked clear. 

Mal was about to proceed, but Yamil stopped him. "My turn in front for a bit."

Mal shrugged and let him proceed first down the new passage.

After about five feet, the passage began to rise slowly, with occasional planks of wood on the floor.

Yamil paused, "That beam looks as it is at an odd angle, I don't like it. Back up a bit."

They did so while he picked up a small rock, which he threw at the plank.

Chunk, it bounced off the plank to the side.

Suddenly, a spear dropped down, splitting the plank where someone would have been standing on the plank.

"Another tripwire trap. They made a groove in the wall and covered it with mud, which pulled away the plug or whatever was holding the spear in place. It could have been nasty. The mud preserved it from rotting, and they put animal grease on it too."

"It's like hunting in reverse."

"Exactly, not something we are usually a part of, except when a terradon comes calling.at our home.or raiding our livestock."

"Let's keep going."

Ten feet along the passage,  they saw a torch propped up against the left hand  wall. Mal said, "That is not one of ours. If we did not get this far before, it is much more neatly made. Possibly another welcome gift for visitors."

Another rock flew straight, knocking the torch over, and another spear came out of the roof to the right of the torch and clattered on the stone floor. 

"They certainly had a liking for nasty stuff; this is no place for youngsters to go exploring just yet."

"No", Boki replied, "And I am not too keen either", he admitted.

Another ten feet and it opened up into a large chamber with three pillars, probably from the original excavation. They could see three normally sized exits and a large carved out alcove instead of a left wall, with an altar placed in front of it.

Yamil peeked around the left corner, "There's a central pillar, probably from the mining and I can make out something else as well."

"What is it? What can you see?" asked Mal.

End of Episode 9.

,

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

14 days' rations in a sack.Waterskin and strap. Flint.   

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

Burvin's Journal in a water-resistant pouch. Speckled Eggshell serving bowl. 

In pouch around neck - 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.5) Hermit,  6).Mad Folk, 

7) Melek-Kesh symbol 

                                 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.

         Deramask  and the Hunters Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = -1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.Fate Point =1.

Male Human. Age = 18. Green eyes, Black hair.  5'11" tall.

 Personality: Independent, Willing to listen. 

Goal: Wants to keep his tribe safe. Hp. = 6 out of 6. Xp = 0

.

Equipment

Sling, Spear, Hand Axe, Dagger, (Att+0, Damage d6/disadvantage).Rough clothes.

Tinder and flint in a pouch. Waterskin, clay bowl. 1 Food sack. Tribal necklace. Hammock and sheet.

 Bedroll, Rations = 7 in a sack.

Call of Cthulu 1920's - A Stormy Nightmare Episode 4a - The nightmares of Hank

 Hi Everybody,

                      Here is a quick bit of extra supplementary material for you while we are waiting for the Call of Cthulu role-playing game to start up again. The circumstances have improved, I am very glad to say. Hopefully, it should be back in action within the next few months.

A Stormy Nightmare Episode 4a - The Nightmares of Hank.

While Ferb is cutting Billy's hair, with a regular, snip, snip, pause, snip, pause, snip. Hank sits in one of the stalls, adjusts his soaked leather hat to block off as much light as possible from the candles, folds his arms out in front of him, puts his head down and drifts off to sleep.

Unfortunately for Hank, it is not a restful sleep, but a reliving of the last few days and nights of terror the pair have been through together. It begins as the hatch in the Hotel floor opens to see Ned climbing up to get them. Ferb shoosts him in the chest.

Ned said, "I only wanted to ask if your room was comfortable?" and dies in a pool of blood. They rush out of the hotel room and run along the path. The door to the number 4 apartment opens, and a fish man appears at the door. "Hello, blubalub, do you want to be my friend?"

Hank shoots him in the chest with his pistol.

He staggers back and takes off the fish head mask, asking, "Didn't you like my costume? I thought it fit me very well. You will pay, you will become one of us!"

He is grabbed by the arms by two other fish men and dragged off to the lake, where they tie him to a half-submerged stake, "Help me, Ferb, help me!"

Ferb replied, "No! You just shot my brother, Gary! It was a prank! You are going to pay for his death. I hope you get along with piranas, we use them to get rid of the waste scraps and bones from the hotel. They are only young piranha, so they have only got small teeth, so your death will take longer than usual."

"I can see some ripples in the water. They are coming for you, murderer. Who needs an electric chair? This is much more fun, neater too. Do you fish? because now you will know what it is like to be the bait!"

"Nooo..."

He feels a tugging as the fish start to tear at his clothes. One leaps out of the water to take a bite out of his cheek. "Aaah".

Then a sharp pain in his leg, a finger tip, his waist. More and more, they are all over him. He thrashes in the water,  but they only bite faster, and the water is getting redder and redder.

"Please, Ferb, help me"

"No. You should have done less of the driving and let me do some. You know I am better than you, you, you..."

A mist descends and then clears to reveal Hank and Ferb in the car, Hank is driving."This Roadster is great, it handles like a dream."

Ferb replies, "Calm down, calm down, I only said you could try it out, I did not expect you to see what its maximum speed would be, now slow down."

"But, I'm enjoying myself, it's not as if I am going to be able to drive one of these again for ages, now, is it?"

"That's true, but it's not a toy."

"You're just jealous because you did not have the idea first. You can try some spins once we have left this ghost town." He looked at Firb, "I bet nobody has lived here for years."

"Watch out!" Yelled Ferb and tried to grab the wheel.

"Wha." cried Hank, stamping on the accelerator instead of the brake, as he saw a little old lady holding a baby in her arms right in front of them. There was a soft crump as she was knocked to the side and a double jolt as the roadster went over them both.

"Where did they come from? "shouts Hank.

"It does not matter now, does it? You were going too fast."

"I thought the place was deserted. What are we going to do with them? "

"Throw them in the river that we just passed a mile back and hope they get too battered to notice we hit them." 

They tossed them into the fast-flowing river and then drove back through town. All that they heard was "Granny, granny, have you got junior? It's time for his bed."

The roadster backfired with a jolt.

Herb awoke with a start. "Huu. Granny." Ferb had just clanked a mug of coffee in front of him.

"There, mate. That will warm you up a bit," said Ferb, totally oblivious to the fact that Herb was sleeping.

"Th..thanks." 

Glad to be out of the nightmare, he gulps it down, only realising that it was hotter than he expected,

He splutters it all over his hat.

"It's a bit warm," explains Ferb, a bit too late.

End of Episode 4a.

There you go, Herb's little bedtime story. I am going to pass this on to the cast and GM.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 8 - Finding Risks and Rewards - Updated 27 May 2026

  Hi everybody,

Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 8

Finding Risks and Rewards

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.5) Hermit,  6).Mad Folk, 

7) Melek-Kesh, 

                                 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.

Still Day Four - Weather - Heavy rain.

Mal carefully moved his hands and feet to the next grip or outcrop along the wall, testing each one before he put his full weight on it.

(Left Handhold 1 and Foothold 1 were tested ok before his weight was applied.)

(Right Handhold  and foothold, 4 and 9, Grip failed, foot solid = ok)

(Left Handhold  and foothold  5 and 10, Grip failed, foot solid = ok)

(Right Handhold and foothold, 10 and 13, Both ok).

(Left Handhold  and foothold, 10 and 7, foot slip ok.)

(Right Handhold and foothold, 3 and 9, Grip failed, foot ok).

(Left Handhold and foothold, 12 and 8, Both ok. Able to step onto firm ground again.) 

"Well done". said Yamil, as he strode across the boards covering the pit in three paces. 

(11, 9 and 16. (Added misc bonus of 4, previously tested ok)

Mal's jaw dropped at the sight."Wha.."

Yamil smirked, "If only I could capture the look on your face right now. I told you I had tested them, but did you notice that I kept my feet over different boards, so that if it did start to break,  I could get a springing leap from the other board. Apart from that, these two boards on the left and right would have had the least foot-traffic wear, however long they were in use. I was pretty well in no danger at all. Let's see what's next."

He picked up the torch and began checking for other sneakiness the Cultists may have left behind for interlopers.

Mal brushed the dust from his fingers and followed Yamil along the passageway as it bent slightly downward. "I hope you are not going to take those risks too often, as sooner or later you will figure wrongly and I will have to drag you out of a hole by your hair."

They continued onwards, finding hollows in the roof and walls where they had followed an ore junction, only for it to shrink and vanish among the other rocks. Other hollows were blocked up with waste rock that had none of the white ore in it. "They were keen on following every chance that the veins presented. That hole in the other room must have been very rich in what they were looking for. I just hope they got home to spend it."

The sound of running water and splashing came from not too far ahead. They kept to a steady pace, watching out for anything unusual. Soon, they found it, an upturned barrel and in the middle of it had been placed a small animal skull, with a necklace of beads surrounding it.

Mal said, "Well, at least one of the cultists had a sense of humour. An offering to the Gods?"

"If it were, I would think the Gods would be offended at such a small gift. In that case, do you want the beads, or the skull, for that matter?"

"I think it can lie there undisturbed for a little bit longer. I do not want to offend the Gods so early in my journey to The Pit Arena by claiming something that could be theirs. I will surely need their aid and intervention later on."

Yamil laughed, "Of that there is little doubt, as shall I. Onward, mighty warrior, the honour of the next discovery shall be yours."

He offered him the lead with a wave, and Mal went forward, liking Yamil's sense of humour, so similar to his own.

(No trap check needed as they did not touch it.)

They rounded a slow curve to the left to find a chamber dug three feet into the right wall, going upward following the vein and halfway across the floor, into which a small but steady flow of water, coming from a crack in the rock face. There were fire stones to the right of it.

"The miners had hit a spring when they tried to follow the vein upwards and decided to make the best of it by turning it into their own personal spa. You can see where they first carved a groove to direct it away from where they would be digging, then they excavated the pool down four feet, then carved the diagonal channel to catch the overflow from the pool and direct it to the gutter on the right wall so that the rest of the stone floor would remain dry and not become slippery."

"It is wide enough for three of them to relax at a time, and they have lined it with sacks to prevent scratches from the rocks. They added a torch slot in the left wall and two on the right wall. The air is much better here; there must be another vent nearby."

"Is that a clay bowl in the water? It must have got knocked off the shelf that they hollowed out above the water line."

"It's a pity that it was not a hot spring."

"They had that thought too. I bet that burn patch there was not just to cook on; they could have heated water and tossed in warm rocks to generate heat. We must try that at least once before we go."

"Only after your leg has healed properly. It has scabbed over nicely; you don't want to have a setback, do you?. Speaking of legs, let's move on from here."

They skirted around the edge of the makeshift pool into a wider section of tunnel, which began to gradually shrink and widen at odd intervals. At one point, timbers had been erected to make a platform, and the ceiling they had carved out of the living rock by standing on it was twenty feet above their normal height. Then it gradually sloped downwards again to a height of 12 feet and then back to its usual height of six feet. 

The pair rounded a corner to see a silhouette framed in the entrance light of the mine tunnel. It was a small humanoid of some sort. It started yelling as they came into view and ran out of the entrance. They chased after it, which was a foolish thing to do in that place, but they got out without mishap.

Once their eyes had adjusted to the glare of daylight again, they saw a young child running away from them into the steady rain, holding a spear. "Hello there. We are not going to hurt you."

(Roll for Encounter D6 = YES, Disposition 6+3+Pre=10 Friendly)  15 = Lost child.

At hearing this, the child stopped and looked back at them. Seeing them as humans, they smiled. He slowly approached them, "I was checking my traps", he patted the rabbit hanging at his belt, "And I came in here to get out of the storm and fell asleep. I woke up to tapping noises and thought you were demons from the underworld. "

Mal smiled at this, "No demons are we, just travellers like yourself. What's your name, lad? This is Yamil, and I am Mal."

"I am Farind, of the Onjos tribe. Some of our warriors are hunting below, and I sought shelter from the storm."

"Well, you are a brave warrior indeed to be hunting alone here; there are dangerous monsters about. We will see you safely back to your people."

Yamil asks the boy, "You wait here while we fetch the rest of our travel gear. It will be a while as these tunnels go quite a way into the mountain, so don't go wandering off. There are dangerous monsters out in the woods; we were not telling tales about that part."

"Can I come with you?"

"It is dangerous in the mine; we have not explored it all ourselves yet. We have already found a bottomless pit, and there is a water trap and a spike trap just around the corner. It is not safe for you to go in there alone, understand?"

"Yes."

"That's good. What you can do for us is to keep a lookout for any monsters on the prowl or your friends in case they come this way looking for you."

Mal adds, "We will be as quick as we can."

He gives him some dried meat from his pouch.

"Have this while we are gone."

"Thank you."

The pair swiftly retreat up the tunnel, the torch bobbing in Yamil's hand. The light soon vanished as they rounded the first corner.

As they swiftly moved along the passage, Mal remarked, "It was well done that you gave him something to do to occupy his mind so that he would not come in after us."

"That was my hope; we shall see if it works or not, you know what kids are like."

Soon, they had returned carrying their gear. They had left their last torch around the bend and out of sight, so that there was no recent sign of occupation at the entrance.

Mine map 3 - Entrance South, Vent NW, Exit East, Down Tunnel Central.

(? Did he run off?  1= No, and he saved the jerky for later too.)

They were glad to find Farind where they had left him. They looked out into the gloom."The rain will wash off the mine dust as we go. Point the way, Farind and then we will see if it is clear of anything dangerous."

They went downhill into the thicker part of the forest, and Farand made a shrill bird call, receiving one in reply. At track junctions, Yamil carves a notch into a tree, so that they can find their way back. After a few more calls to adjust their direction, they reach the hunter's camp and are met by two scouts on watch.

(?D: Encounter 6+3+1+10 Friendly) (I would have added +4 for child return, if needed.)

"May we approach the camp?"

"You may approach in welcome, since you return one of our own safely back to us."

(?D Farinds reception, were they mad at him? 6+3=9 Friendly) .

"Shemba, Boki, I found some new friends."

"So you have. Welcome." They pat him on the shoulder, wave at the two strangers and then slip back into their hidden positions.

When they arrive at the camp, which consists of small tents with hammocks underneath them, surrounding a central fire pit. They can see and smell that the hunters have killed a juvenile Tyrant lizard, and are cooking both of its arms over a fire, while the others are dismembering the other parts for easy transport back to their village.

"I am Deramisk. Please come and eat with us, and tell us what this small destroyer of villages has been up to now?"

"I did catch our lunch. It's a start."

One of the others pokes a stick through a thigh joint on a stick, then jams the other end into the dirt, so that it hangs above the fire, cooking slowly, with the juices sizzling as they drop into the flames. 

"You find us on a very good day. We have been hunting this one for a week now; it has been attacking our herd of cattle, and we were finally able to corner it and bring it down."

"Will not the smell of a kill and the fire attract other beasts?" asked Mal.

"It is a risk. Normally, we would butcher the beast, eat the heart and be on our way, but our newest hunter here had strayed from the camp, so we had to wait for his return or go and find him. We decided on a meal while we waited and set sentries out to watch for anything coming our way."

"Did you meet a small party yesterday?"

"No, but we did come across some obvious tracks leading down to the plain." 

"That would have been our new acquaintances, Ref and his friends. They had ha run into a Ghoul higher up the mountain the previous night, and it killed three of their number."

"That is sad to hear."

"There is an old hermit who lives up in the heights, too, but he seems harmless. He came upon us while we were burying a travelling historian. He had been killed by an undead Skeleton that we had found.in an abandoned mine, the one that young Farind would just love to explore. But to be fair, he had the good sense to stop at the entrance and not go in any further. With your permission, once it has been explored by us, we will give him the grand tour."

"I would like to see this too."

"Then so you shall."

"But first, you must meet the Elders of our village. They must learn of this."

(? Do they go with them? Find out next time.)

Map 3 - The mine entrances and exits are fairly close together.

The path down the forest track goes roughly East, but they have not exited the Hex yet.

End of Episode 8

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.5) Hermit,  6).Mad Folk, 

7) Melek-Kesh, 8) The Onjos tribe hunters.

                                 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

27th May 2026 Update - It was way too hot to go out, so I made the most of being at home and did some more on episode 9. I am about halfway done. Thanks for your patience.

Regards all,

Ivor Cogdell