Hi everybody,
Exploring Kal-Arath - Episode 10 - Revelations
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 (Design of the Cultists).
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.
The Morning of day five, in the Mine - Yamil peeked around the left corner into the latest chamber, "There's a central pillar, probably from the mining, and I can make out something else as well."
He shuddered.
"What is it? What can you see?" asked Mal.
"Glowing pikes are coming from the left wall, and there is a haunted altar."
He thrust the torch farther in to look for any imminent danger. "Wait, they are not spikes, they are crystals of some sort."
They checked the immediate area for traps.
(?Q Traps? d6 > 2 =no traps).
They stepped farther into the chamber and looked to the left at the crystals, which had formed in a hollow in the rock. There were three lead-lined boxes in there, each with carvings on it. One had a royal arm bracelet depiction, the other had the symbol for Mother Nature of Fertility, and the small one had the Spear of the Royal line upon it. Resting on each was a glowing blue crystal. The light was reflected off the faces of the other crystals, giving the chambers a faint ethereal blue radiance. This was reflecting off the altar, giving it a faint glow. Yamil made the sign of warding off evil spirits. "May Dorgan the Mighty protect us."
"Always," replied the others.
"The miners must have hit this growth of crystals as they were coming this way. The cultists have taken advantage of it to honour their royal family. Those blue crystal things may be protecting them in some fashion. I, for one, will not be disturbing their slumber. We have already found out what their powerful mage could do."
"Yes indeed, they were clearly worshipping them or were performing some sort of rituals here."
The wooden altar was stained with a dark substance that was probably blood. The Melek-Kesh symbol was carved into the top of the altar. Above it, there were metal hooks hammered into the high roof, with the remains of rope dangling from them.
Looking farther behind the large columns of rock, we saw old remnants of two crossed, sloping banner poles with tattered banners dangling from them, along with swords and shields mounted on the walls, all bearing the same design as the shield Yamil was carrying now.
There were crudely made benches in the central area facing the altar..
"I will change the design on here as soon as possible, even if it is the brown of plain dirt. They clearly had power at one time, and it seems they did not use it for good".
"That is the way of great power, it always seeks more."
(? D6 Loot? 6 Yes, And information).
Deramask looked at the ragged banners and stated, "We will repurpose them to the glory of our tribe."
Not wanting to argue with their new acquaintance and having no need of them, they both agreed. "Take the weapons too, but check for traps first," he advised.
They carefully examined them, or so they thought.
(? D6 Is there a trap? 5 Yes).
(? D6 Look for trap, 5 Yes, Locate Trap? 1 No.)
TARGET = Deramask, Boki, Shemba and Kudu 1-4 = 4.
Kudu states, "This banner is fine." He picks it off the mounting hooks. There is a slight ping, and a sword mounted above it comes falling towards him.
(? d6 Do Mal or Yamil see the blade falling? Mal = 6+1=7. Y 3+1=4)
Mal shouts, "Above you!"
Yamil shouts slightly later, "The sword!"
(?D2 Dodge or Parry with banner? 2 + Dodge attempt. 6= fail). He slips on some gravel.
Daramask, who is next to Kudu, will burn his Fate Point and Strength to push Kudu out of the way, and he falls to the side, the banner still gripped in his hands.
2d6+2 = 4,2+2 =8) Can Daramask twist out of the blade's path? 11 Yes,
Using the skills honed in evading charging boars, he dodges the lethal blade as it clatters to the floor and collides with the benches, landing on top of them, his pack cushioning his fall.
Mal and Yamil are horrified at the sight, remembering what happened to Burvin.
Shemba asks, "Are you hurt, Kudu? Kudu?"
There was no reply.
Shemba rushes to his side. "Kudu!"
Kudu's eyes slowly blink open. "Are you hurt, Kudu?"
"No, but I would have been if it had not been for Daramask." He slowly climbs to his feet and claps Daramask's arm in appreciation.
They found a braided hair connecting the base of the banners to one of the sword hilts on the wall, balanced so it would fall if anyone lifted the banner base off the ground.
Daramask looks at the other banner, "I think just one banner will do. We can leave it here for the time being."
Shemba noticed that Kudu was hurt."Kembu, you are bleeding."
"It's only a scratch."
"Sit on the bench while I fix it."
Shemba bound some healing leaves around it.
(Not worth losing a HP over.)
Mal looked around at the exits, wondering which one to take next. The left one began just beyond the crystal chamber. The central one was wider than the other two. The other exit was to the right of the banners.
(?d6 Left, Middle, Right 1 Left tunnel).
"Let's go down the left tunnel. The torch should be good for a while."
He prods around the entrance with the staff to check if it is safe.
"All clear, I hope."
He asks Yamil, "Do you want me to go first?"
"No, I am fine."
The tunnel was mostly straight, and then it curved to the right after a stubby dead end. After about 60 feet, it opened into another roughly circular chamber 30 feet wide with an exit in the right wall.
There was a central table with a humanoid skeleton chained to the top, and a far table with a Ghoul's head hanging from a beam above it.
Mal adopted a defensive posture. He approached the table and flicked the skull off the body onto the floor. He looked around nervously.
Nothing happened.
He drew a sigh of relief.
The others came into the room.
Suddenly, the temperature got colder, and a smell of decay permeated the room. And a thin, wispy form appeared above the skeleton. It spoke like the wind through the trees.
"Who disturbs the rest of Aglar Krent. Speak!"
End of Episode 10.
Mal-Shui (PC) - Str = 1, Tou = 2, Agi = 1, Int = -1, Presence = 1. Fate Point =1.
Male Human. Age = 24. Brown eyes and hair, 6'1" tall.
Personality: Friendly, Moody, Hp = 7 out of 7. Xp=1.1.
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 = 1.1.
.
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 Burvin's supplies. Tarnak Berries/ 1 Ration.
Sword and Shield (Design of the Cultists).
Deramask and the Hunters Str = 1, Tou = 1, Agi = 1, Int = 2, Presence = 1.Fate Point = Used.
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 of 6. Xp = 0.2.
Scouts Boki Hp = 3 of 3. Xp = 0.1.
Kudu Hp. = 1.of 1. Xp = 0.2.
Shemba Hp = 6 of 6. Xp = 0.1.
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. Banners Carriers x 2. Swords & shields X2
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.