Dark Sun Notes 4 8 13 - the Tyrian War

The Night Before – Barok

 

The night before some of the members of the House of the Painted Eye were set to go to war, some of them wrapped up individual business. Barok was patrolling the warrens with some of his gladiators from the School for Gladiators Who Fight Good and Want to Learn to Do Other Things Good, Too, when a weeping woman ran out from a tenement building in the warrens. She begged Barok to help her since her son was missing in the work camps and did not come back, even after the defeat of the Carrion King. Barok sent his other gladiators ahead but kept the Dray with him to get information about these work camps and where they might be. The Dray suggested they go talk to Kern. Once there, both Barok and the Dray had to sign contracts that they would not harm Kern and then they were inside. Kern was friendly to the Colossus, unveiling a new statue of Barok lovingly holding the body of a small child as a tribute to one of his fallen children. The statue was a gift, but Kern wanted the rights to sell reproductions. The Dray negotiated a contract where Kern would be able to replicate and sell 1000 miniatures for the information. Kern told them of a man named Stick and where to find him. He said Stick was a bad man that beat the children. Kern also had more information, which he bargained for the right to sell 3000 Colossus of Tyr action figures, which is that there was a second work camp, run by a man named the Weaver who makes crappy shirts using inferior products. He also mistreats the children, but he did not know more. The Dray and Kern then started their ritual fighting, ending in head-bobbing and neck flaring and then the Colossus and his gladiator left.

The Night Before – Akkadian

 

The night before leaving to war Akkadian sought out C’aro. C’aro was in his room, occupied. Finally, after some awkward sounds, C’aro opened the door in a smoking jacket. Behind him, Maribel was laying in bed with the sheet covering her looking very happy and satisfied. Akkdian told C’aro that about MItzrah’s offer of being a lieutenant and that he wanted to take the place of the Carrion King in that territory, ruling it for the House. C’aro thanked Akkadian for his information he even said he liked employees who thought for themselves, but he did not need one more person who was a slum lord. Both Mitzrah and Barok were slum lords and the last thing C’aro needed was one more. What he needed was someone who could blow things up with their mind. Then C’aro suggested that while on the battlefield Akkadian try killing a few extra House Vordon soldiers with a bonus for lieutenants. Then, C’aro returned to his room, with Akkadian hearing Drix asking how the session was going for he and Mirabel.

The Night Before – Cael

 Cael took her night to talk to Rhiannon. Of course, the healer did not want her girlfriend to go to war, but understood and even made a very nice first aid kit for Cael to take along. After that, Cael went to visit Bellesaria. The other wizard was mediating, but broke this to make tea for them both and discuss tactics. Only a few wizards were going into battle for Tyr, so their main job was to kill the Urikite wizards and psionicists. This upset Bellesaria who did not want to kill anyone, but wanted a free Tyr so felt that she had no choice. To help this cause, Cael learned from Akkadian if the Urikite wizards had any distinguishing features (they did, a head dress) and after reminding her friend to not bunch up with other wizards during battle, Cael left.

The Night Before – Bay

 Bay spent his time writing letters. Some were letters of introduction for his employees to use so that they could gain employment at the House if he should fall in battle. He also wrote a letter to Timmuth, giving it to his seneschal to deliver in case of his demise. After that preparation he went to the monastery where Kalifa lived to see his daughter. They talked for a time, during which he asked her to take his name and inherit his lands. She said she would think about it, but wanted to know why Bay did not do a better job of standing up for her mother. She told him to try harder, because Bay’s wife spoke of him all the time.

The Morning of the Battle

 Everyone woke, ready to go to war. Bay received a new chariot from Lord Hericles, and a body guard in the form of Adamicus Thawk from Barok. Zarnian gave Bay the General’s Voice, and lent her bow to Akkadian, then Cael, Bay, Bobby, Hank, Sam, DaCosta, Havok, Lorena, Akkadian, and Domino went off to war.

Once at the war, everyone checked in with Commander Strongbel, a former gladiator who had a warhammer. The House of the Painted Eye contingent were with Esticles, Meticles, 10 of Meticles guards, 10 of Esticles guards, 10 gladiators, 7 House of the Painted Eye guards, 3 Damocles guards, Cale, Bay and Akkadian. The nobles were extra offended that a common gladiator was leading them into battle.

A Tyrian cistern had been taken by the Urikites and it was the group’s job to take it back. They noted two visible guards in the front and six more in the back. With just a small handful, it was their job to take the cistern, then hunker down for reinforcements. Though the attack was done with some amount of tactics, it was easy because the Urikites had used slaves as decoy guards. Once the group was engaged with the slaves, the main force started to attack with wasps, mages, and warriors. However, everyone held out with only some injuries.

On the battlefield, Bay found both Meticles and Esticles wounded on the battlefield. He psionically healed Esticles though that meant taking the wounds on himself, then picked up a spear and started approaching Meticles to kill him, when Meticles was attacked by an invisible force. Though Varius hit whatever was attacking Meticles, it was not in time to stop his enemy from being killed.

The group succeeded in taking back the cistern, which gave the Tyrian army the advantage and helped bring a quicker end to the war. Taking their dead and injured, the group headed back to Tyr.