Hi everyone,
A very warm welcome to my latest follower, RB.
Exploring Kal-Arath -Episode 11 - The Revenant
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).
Thread
Burvin Charank
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
Day Five Continues - Our adventurers have just entered another chamber and been met with a grisly sight. The skeletal remains of a corpse was laid out on a table, with the remains of ropes attached to it.
Taking no chances, Mal had flicked the head away from the body. After this, 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, rustling through the trees.
"Who disturbs the rest of Aglar Krent. Speak!"
"I am Mal-Sui, formerly of the village of Scaleel." he said defiantly.
"Wait, I sense no malice in you; you are not like those evil ones who put me to death here.
"We have been calling them the Mad Cult."
"So they are. I was told they called themselves The Beloved of Lotross. I was to be another guardian to their royalty. As you can see, it only partially worked."
"We found their resting place back there."
"Their shaman had managed to stave off their corruption, but nothing else. I can sense their presence."
"How can we grant you peace?
"Burying my body may stop my wandering, but as to my release, I do not know."
"That we can do for you."
He picked up Aglar's skull where it lay on the floor and placed it back with the rest of the body.
"We shall return soon once we have finished our searches".
Hearing this, Aglar faded away.
He exits through the other hole. The others nod to the spirit as they pass the table and follow Mal.
Kudu, last in line, pauses in front of the table and whispers, "Watch over me, gentle spirit, if you can."
Aglar said nothing, but the smell of decay had lessened. He took that to be a good sign.
(? D6 Will Aglar try? True / False =5 True)
Mal remembers where he is and waits for Yamil to catch up with the torch, shuddering at what misfortune a wrong foot might mean. The tunnel curves back towards the banner room and soon they can see the glittering reflections of the torchlight again.
Yamil said quietly, "I am not sure how we will get him out of there, Mal."
"There was a pot I saw under the other table. That would do if we find nothing else."
"There is just this tunnel to check now," said Deramask. We can use that old robe as a makeshift torch for later."
Deramask was going to bend down, but Yamil stopped him. " Always be suspicious in here." He prodded it with a staff and flicked it to one side.
(?D6 anything there? 4 = Yes, but)
Under the robe was a coiled snake, Dead, but to make sure, Yamil pounded its skull into pieces. He lifted the robe with the staff and gave it a shake; nothing came out. "That's better."
They entered the final tunnel in the usual manner, tapping away, noting that it angled downwards after fifteen feet. The torch flickered slightly more than usual; there must be a slight breeze. After thirty feet, the way struck water, coming from the floor of another of the minor side tunnels, a small rivulet running in front of them.
"Be careful, the rocks will be slippery, but they should be rough enough to stop a fall."
A few feet further on.
"Ah, they have put a groove in again."
The water turned to the left of the tunnel floor.
After another ten feet, it began to get steeper, but not too dangerous to proceed. The water went faster. Yamil slowed his pace, watching the white rock shining in the wall tilting downward. Another few feet revealed a hole in the floor which the water ran into.
"I think we have come as far as we can for now."
He did not want to get too close to the edge, as there was no protection against falling into this hole. The sounds of faint splashing came from below.
They retraced their steps to the banner room and then back to the torture room, and Deramask placed the remains of Aglar into the pot and carried it. Kubu carried his skull, mumbling to himself. Boki and Shemba carried the banner pole. They went through the larger exit and made their way to the meadow where Burvin Charank was buried. They dug a shallow hole with their knives, placed his remains in and then covered them with rocks and stones, leaving a small mound. Yamil scratched Amil's name on a flat stone and placed it on top, as he had done for Burvin.
Mal quietly spoke, "Now you will not be alone, Burvin. Aglar, may Burvin and The Great Mother give you the peace that you deserve." (Graves lower right on map.)
Abandoned Mine Map 3
They made their way back to their original campsite and had lunch and then started back down the mountain path. They tried to make as little noise as possible, with the scouts out in front again.It was slow going, with the banner pole getting in the way of everything. Mal thought it was too much bother, but he kept silent. The youngsters did not want to come back empty handed from their journey. They came across some game tracks and signs of a Eucaryd hunting one of them. Lower down the slope, they arrived at their previous tribal camp and set up on familiar ground.
(No new points of interest as they were travelling on a known path. No foraging needed as they had plenty of supplies.)
(? D6 Encounter 3= No. Overnight = 4 No.).
Day Six - Light rain begins to fall. The mountain forest gives way to hills, but the game trails were wider and easier to navigate. They follow a stream for a while. Deramask points out edible plants as they pass them, but they do not stop to forage for anything. The rain stops and they gather bark from dead trees to start a fire for lunch and chat about adventures. After lunch, they realise they must have taken the wrong path and have to backtrack for a while before finding the correct one again. The forest begins to thin out. They have to take rest breaks and swop over carrying the banner often. It is not very heavy, but cumbersome and unwieldy, especially when footing is un-even and slippery in the wet.
They find a rock outcrop that will serve as a campsite and decide they will stop early since they are all feeling the strain from the banner pole. This does give them the time to grab a few local plants to flavour their meal with.
For the first time, Yamil carves Burvin Charank into the rock, as he promised to do. He sees Kudu watching him and explains, "This is our fallen comrade, I honor his memory, although we knew him for just a short time. He gave his life for us." He scratches a fallen stick man fighting with a skeleton wielding a sword above it.
(?D6 =6 =TOU, Yamil's leg is healed.)
(4 = No new points of interest. No foraging needed)
(? D6 Encounter 4= No. Overnight = 4 No.).
The Camp at end of day 6. (1 hex = 6 Miles approx.)
Day Seven - There are clear skies this morning, so that means it will be better underfoot and a better travel rate. The way is still hilly. As they walked along, Boki announced that Aglar had appeared to him in a dream, as a strong warrior and thanked them for their treatment of him. He felt highly honoured to have been visited by the spirit.
Mid-morning, in one of the valleys, they find the overgrown ruts of a battle wagon curving in from the left, its wide scar on the landscape showing clearly it had passed this way, with the remains of crushed tree trunks strewn about its path. It had long since gone to meet its fate.
Mal mutters to himself, "May they stay in the past."
Deramask leads them along its track for about a couple of hours, before they branched off to the right again. We still skirted the edge of the stream, along a much narrower path. with birds twittering overhead.
He mentioned, "That was not the way we came last time, our prey was no so helpful as that, but it was going our way, so why not use it, especially with our trophy."
We had a cold lunch by the stream running through the valley bottom, it was cold, clear and refreshing to drink They refilled their water bags, rising out the older water first. Some kind soul in the past had laid large flat stones in the stream bed to aid people crossing, which we were grateful for. We saw the odd game animal in the distance, but none came near, most bolted at the mere sight of us.
(?D6 Lost: 4 All fine).
(2 = No new points of interest. No foraging needed).
In the afternoon, we come across a band of armed merchants on the trail, with horses. They stop as we emerge from the down the path.
(? Hostilities = 10, Friendly. Trade - Information.)
"Greetings, travelers." they call out. "I am Sirgon, leader of our house."
"And to you, Sirgon. I am Daramask, of the Onjos tribe. We are on our way home with our new friends, Mal and Yamil. Have you met any wild beasts on the road?" Daramask asks.
"I have heard good things of the Onjos tribe, but not met any before now. No, but there were signs of a giant snake. Where the trail goes between the rocks, after it has left the river."
Daramask nods, "I know that place, where the carvings are. We will be careful."
"I hope your path does not take you too close to the Red mountain, there are Eucarya and Ghouls on the higher slopes, they may wander down if they are hungry.", shares Mal.
"No, our legends say it is a dark place and to be avoided."
Yamil agrees, "Ya, they are so true. We have heard of three deaths and one our number was slain there. Some dark deeds were done there long ago and it was left tainted. There is a hermit that lives on the top too, he has probably been up there too long, but he is not exactly hostile, just not friendly towards anyone."
"I do not like to have to say this, but we have news of possibly more dark events to come your way. My former tribe, the Remiki, may well be at war with its neighboring tribes, all for the glory of one man, their new leader."
"Many thanks for that warning, in that case, we will go further south than we had planned, but it will be worth it.". They swapped greetings with each other as they passed on the trail. "There is a campsite by the river that you will reach before nightfall.", said Yamil, as he grasped hands with the last traveler. Mal adds, "If you pass through Scaleel or Goritan villages, tell them I was well. Safe travels."
The trail was easier now, since it had been trampled by the horses and twigs had been snapped aside by the others as they passed by, but they were still vigilant when the undergrowth got thicker. Finally the trail bent away from the stream.
Daramask asks, "Shall we halt here or press on while we have daylight left?".
(? d6 1-3= Stay, 4-6 = Continue 6 =Press on.)
Mal looks up, "Well, it is clear and not windy, so we may as well make good speed while we can, Deramask".
They carried on through the scrubland, gradually rising onto flat ground, but with hillier terrain ahead. Reddish rock outcrops started to appear, then bigger chunks, worn smooth by the passing of ages. Deramask warned, "This could be part of the home ground of the snake, stay alert."
Yamil replied, "Ya."
High on one of the flat stone surfaces was carved a shield of the Beloved of Lotross cult.
Yamil spat and exclaimed, "It is the same design; they came this way after coming from the mine."
Daramask nodded and replied, "I thought it was the same as on your shield there, but I wanted to make sure it was the Lotrossi, It has been a while since I came hunting along this pass, since the game is not plentiful here. You will see a few more of them along the trail, but not as big as that one is. They must have paused here for some reason and expected others of their clan to be following them later on, so someone saw fit to carve their emblem here to make the path clear."
Shemba continues proudly, "We have erased some of the smaller ones by carving them deeper into the rock to provide water catchers for the animals, few that there are in the area. You may have noticed that at most places we stop, there has been a stone already left there for grinding grasses or grain and one or more hollow stones to catch water. That has been by design, not accident. We do not have to carry grinding bowls with us when we travel."
 |
| Kal- Arath Map 3. Orange = Battle wagon tracks. |
(? D6 Roll for encounter 6 = YES).
End of Part Eleven
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=1.4.
Equipment
Longsword (Att +1, Dam +1), Staff, Dagger. Leather Armour
9 days' rations in a sack.Waterskin and strap. Flint and tinder (Gathered inside from scraps).
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) The Beloved of Lotross.
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. = 5 out of 6. Xp = 1.2
.
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.
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 = 0.4.
Scouts Boki Hp = 3 of 3. Xp = 0.2.
Kudu Hp. = 1 of 1. Xp = 1 (Deeply affected by his
experience. He has gained Aglar as a Spirit Guide. He may
become a Shaman).
Shemba Hp = 6 of 6. Xp = 0.2.
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 = 5 in a sack. Banner Carrier. Swords & shields X2
04 Oct 2026 - I am partway through writing Episode 12.
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 ???. 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.
P.P.S. The next episode has been slightly delayed while I work on https.//www.thepeoplesvoice.online
website. I am currently doing the administration for it. Please take a look; it is for you to use, after all.
