Dark Sun Game Notes - Chapter 4, Game 2

Dark Sun Chapter 4 Notes – Game 2

 

Meeting with a King

                The House of the Painted Eye gathered their forces quickly as they had to leave for the meeting with Tithian almost immediately. Zarnian ordered her personal guards and five others to come with them. Only she, C’aro and Barok went inside, but Zarnian had to leave her weapons outside the Golden Tower. Cael turned into a kestrekel and Akkadian tried to stay inconspicuous as they melded into the crowd and waited. Strabbo Ianto arrived on time and was allowed inside, but Thaxos Vordon arrived insultingly late with twenty guards, four half-giants, a psionicist, and a young woman named Talera Vordon, though he ordered her to wait outside.

                Inside the chamber Bay was sitting with Esticles and Meticles as the nobles responsible for the mines. Templar Borgen was there, as was the head of the blacksmiths. Barok was summoned to stand behind Tithian, who also had defilers, psionicists, and guards inside the chamber. The King greeted the heads of House as the three Houses who sold iron in Tyr. This was the first time the House of the Painted Eye received permission to sell iron in Tyr so C’aro was happy.

                The king explained that once the Tyrian army won, the mines would reopen. Instead of the 50% cut the houses received before of the iron profits, now they would only get 20% if they bought quantities of 100 pounds or more, and 15% if they bought less than that. The city itself would also sell iron directly. The discount was only offered to those in the room as a courtesy and he wanted an answer on who was interested immediately. C’aro jumped on the offer, saying yes, but Ianto, who looked shaky, said he needed time to think about it. Vordon was incensed, and rejected the King’s deal since it was Vordon soldiers that patrolled the city. The King ordered every Vordon solider from the city and to the battle. When Thaxos refused, Tithian had a psionicist float over a box that contained the head of the Vordon agent who was planning the King’s demise. He barred Thaxos from leaving until every Vordon guard was outside the city walls.

                Ianto, C’aro and Zarnian left, but Barok was asked to stay behind. As Zarnian was leaving she saw the one eyed man who maimed Jingleheimer in command of the Vordon guards, but knew that was not the right moment to challenge him.

Thirty minutes later Thaxos signed over command of his guards to Tithian but was still held until they all left. Bay volunteered himself to go fight for the city and defend the mine. When he did, Esticles and Meticles had to follow suit, which angered them both.

After the chamber had cleared of all but Barok, Tithian asked Barok to use his influence and his Citizens on Patrol to control the warrens. If he did, there was a box of money waiting for him. Barok agreed to help the city, at which time Tithian mentioned that there was also a man speaking out against the King in the Merchant Square and since this was a time of war, and leadership needed to be clear, would Barok take care of the problem as well? Barok said he would.

 

Plans within Plans

                Back at the House, everyone met to decide who would go to war and who would stay. Bay had already volunteered, but he was joined by Akkadian, Cael, and Barok. Only Zarnian felt her place was at the House commanding the troops. She did offer to find 20% of her guard to volunteer for the war, twice the original agreed amount.

                C’aro noted that Strabo Ianto seemed to be scared and broke. He asked Zarnian to use her intrigue organization to spy on Ianto to determine his debts and assets so C’aro could simply buy House Ianto.  Zarnian agreed to speak to Aein on the matter.

                The issue of the Carrion King was still undecided, and since most of the group were leaving for war the next day they decided to attack that night. Akkadian floated the idea of conscripting some of the Carrion King’s followers into the service of the army. Bay converted one of his closed wagons into a patty wagon. Zarnian did not like the idea of marching in, remembering the archers the Carrion King employed, so she asked Cael if there was a way through UnderTyr. Cael did know of one, but it would not fit Barok. Zarnian also felt there were not enough troops so she decided to ask Ohzon the Skyfather to provide some Sky Followers, for a reasonable fee.

                Just as they decided to tell Mitzrah of the plan, he appeared with news of his own. The Tunnel Lord had been spotted in the warrens. Though everyone was concerned, it was decided to deal with one problem at a time, and take out the Carrion King. Mitzrah reported that he had as many as 70-80 fighting men, his numbers swollen in recent weeks. Then Zarnian knew she needed extra troops and left for Ohzon.

 

The Sky Father

                Barok and Zarnian arrived at Ohzon’s compound. After having to wade through several layers of followers, they were finally allowed to see Ohzon. He was less than thrilled to see them since he was still frustrated by Zarnian’s request to the Oracle to stay in the care and custody of “The Bug”. Once she made her request for followers, offering Ohzon a donation to the church and his followers a chance to loot the Carrion King’s men, the Sky Father was still unmoved. Then, she related Vordon’s fall from grace and newfound vulnerability. Then, Ohzon told her to go speak to his followers. Those that wanted to go could. Zarnian made a speech, gathered 30 followers and Barok’s Half Giant parents, then went to do the raid.

 

Over and Under

                While Bay, Zarnian, Cael and Akkadian went through the tunnels, Barok, his parents and the Sky Followers stayed on the surface and approached the Carrion King’s lair in the warrens. They were spotted and the Carrion King took his men out to talk to Barok and his parents. Meanwhile, the rest of the group burst out of the tunnel, walked through the basement up into the bar, and found it deserted of all but the Bartender. Zarnian rushed the Carrion King, stabbing him from behind with her spear. Bay also rushed out, but Akkadian and Cael stayed inside. Cael went invisible and Akkadian used his bow to shoot a few.

                Carrion King ordered his men to attack and disarm Zarnian. Several mobbed her, and tore the spear from her grasp, but it was dropped by her hand. She picked it up and fought, but was surrounded. As everyone battled, Bay took two prisoners, Akkadian was rushed by a drugged out woman, and Cael used her spells. Barok saw the Carrion King was wounded but not ready to fall, so he threw the Rainbow Sword, piercing the Carrion King. Cael followed this with a flame burst which burned part of his face, killing him.

                When the Carrion King fell, his men fled. The group was able to gather six for conscription, and they killed another 10. Then, they called Mitzrah to come in. When he arrived, they made him a gift of the Carrion King’s head, and the area of the Warrens he controlled, as well as the drug, prostitution and gambling trade in the area. In return, Zarnian demanded 10% to the House of the Painted Eye. Mitzrah agreed.

                Because Bay and Barok were wounded, Cael took them to Rhiannon. Because Bay was flexing, and Rhiannon can hold a grudge, she actually made his wounds worse, but she healed Barok. Then, Cael told her that she was going off to war.

                With their prisoners and the guards who volunteered ready, the group rested for the night before leaving for the front line of the war the next morning.