Tales of Fantasy & Wonder Vol. 1

IX - Warlord of the Wastelands

Warlord of the wastelands

Game IX                                                                17th November, 2017.

On the seventh day since leaving Haggletown, the Survival Company found themselves walking between the colossal rock pinnacles and flint barrens of south-west Yhorgii. A pair of goats had been eaten along the journey thus far, and the crew were aware of shadows that slunked away from the high places, or crouched on distant horizons as though they were being watched.

By eventide, Theo and the rest of the company relaxed against a large rock face, campfire flickering low on the ground before them. Watching the edge of the distant north as it met the darkening sky, the ranger flicked his eyes toward the silhouettes of men on mounts circling the camp. Wary of the new company approaching without sound like hunters, Theo alerts the group to move to the south face of the rock as a shield, waiting for the riders to show their intentions.

The outriders send arrows through the twilight toward the empty fire side where the sailors had just retreated. First Mate and Jerac brave the danger zone and retrieve burning branches from the coals to throw out into the compass points of the night to reveal any intruders slinking closer. The burning branch to the west reveals the movement of a rider, to which Theo aims with return arrow shot. Warned by the arrows of the ranger and other members of the group, the outriders fall back and return to the north in the moonless landscape.

The morning after the encounter, Theo examines the tracks of the scouts before the group trek onward to the north. There is no further sign of hostility until the group rests under the wide shade of a boab tree. Five riders emerge from the heat waves, travelling a similar path to the scouts of the previous night.

Warning the sailors and Xammy to remain on guard under the tree, Jerac and Theo walk out to meet two riders in the hopes of a parley. The brutes are half bred men like Jerac, and they speak in the orcish tongue, unaware that Theo can understand the ensuing words. It is soon obvious the outrider pair have no intention of coming to peaceful terms, drawing their scimitars to try and overwhelm the ranger and half orc.

Theo sidesteps the charging rider and his terror bird mount, aiming low to wound the bird's leg and bring down the outrider with it. Bloodied, the beast charges at the command of its sword wielding master as arrows fly from the background (the remaining three riders fire as they pass to capture the sailors).

Jerac beats down his own rival from the parley before helping Theo defend the sailors from the last three outriders. One of the 'kokosh' birds, now riderless, is brought under Theo's influence by speaking in the orc manner, the language the terror bird had been trained under. Climbing into the saddle, he pursues two more half men away from the boab tree as the sailors fight desperately on, having lost Jhor from the steel and arrow shot.

Recovering any useful armour and the crude pig iron swords from the slain riders, the company remains under the boab as the shadow swings with the descending sunlight. Dust clouds on the afternoon horizon signal another force on its way to meet them.

The swiftly approaching outriders are towered over by a giant with red terracotta skin who strides among them. Remaining en guarde under the swollen black tree, the Survival Co watch the riders break away to allow the giant to continue closer. Theo and Jerac act again as heralds, walking out to speak up to the lofty ears of the red one.

Introducing himself as 'Jaggy', the giant declares that he is a representative for Lord Fingers, who wishes to meet with the leader of the party, primarily to understand who they are trespassing over his territories. Jaggy assures the pair that the rest of the men will be safe but kept under guard here by the tree until Lord Fingers has satisfied himself to their intent.

Jerac successfully argues that he should be included in the meeting, as a native to the region the language and customs would be handled through himself as an 'interpreter' of a kind. Theo plays up this ruse, agreeing that Jerac is his second in command. Jaggy bargains that the half orc will not be allowed within Lord Finger's presence, since he had expressed his wishes to only speak with the leader of their group.

Leaving the others to nervously wait their outcome, Jerac and Theo merge with the escort riders, led around blinds and circular trails until nightfall, whence they were led into the canyons and clay villages of Lord Fingers encampment. Most of the domiciles were smooth walls and ant nest like, growing out from the canyon sides. Crowds with their animals watched the arrival of the pair of adventurers, herded closer to the larger mud brick palace in which the warlord of the region held court.

Their arms (except for smaller blades, knives etc) where confiscated by waiting guards at the great entrance, and Jaggy ushered them to continue on, as he was too large to enter within. The central hall was approached by passages that followed the circumference of the outer walls, lit sporadically with torch light and passing figures. Jerac held Theo back before they entered into the brighter lamplight of the backworld court, advising Theo that he was half brother to the man he was about to meet.

Entering the inner world of Lord Finger's court, Jerac was withheld by guardsmen after a few paces within, allowing Theo to continue with another moving escort to stand before the dais of the warlord. The ruler was aptly dressed in severed fingers arranged like a fan from the leather necklace, a half bred orc like most of the people about the space, varying in their orcish or manlike traits.

Lord Fingers soon asks how they will re-compensate him for the loss of his men (outriders) and crossing his territories without his acknowledgment. Being mostly ignorant of either, Theo explains how they are hoping to reach the borders with the empire after surviving a shipwreck. During these minutes of rough introduction the chieftain learns that Theo is a Soroen. He calls out a man from the watching crowds, whom introduces himself as a man of the same bloodline as Theo, named Jomon. He is attired alike in simple hunting garb and accoutrements of the trade. His purpose in Lord Finger's court can only be guessed at after a sad smile before he steps back to allow the warlord to continue his speech.

A task is asked of the ranger, which would waive any debt to the warlord; that he would go out and deal with another who encroaches on Lord Finger's territory. This individual is a sorcerer rumoured to have lived in the wastes for close to a hundred years.

Reluctantly making a pact with Lord Fingers, wine is brought out and the dancing of slaves recommences after the introduction of the ranger. Theo remains close to the dais as he watches the strange peoples of the court, half men, reptilians, and other rare desert races who are aligned to the chieftain. He asks casually for more information about this wizard, learning his name (Wendel) and some local history and myth about his presence out in the sun hardened plains west of the encampment. Wendel is a Sirintai, the once rulers of Yhorgii before the coming of the Sun Empire, a cruel nobility that had enslaved Theo's ancestors long years ago.

Before the wine lulls him into the carousing of the night, Theo asks to see an apothecary in the morning, his thoughts dwelling on the herculean task of encountering this near mythical magician...