Conquering the Barbarian Altanis: Session 133

May 26, 2025

Adventurers

Character	Class	Description
Tarkus the Promising	Cleric level 4	Follower of Bachontoi, God of Red Wisdom.
Beorg the Gravedigger	Fighter level 3	Inspired to adventure after burying several adventurers.
Thorm	Dwarf level 2	Ashen hair, beard, and eyes. Left his own clan due to financial trouble.
Ambros	Cleric level 6	Follower of Aniu, Lord of Time.
Ignaeus	Elf level 4	A slightly weathered looking elf with dull blonde hair and chiseled features. Seeks wealth and knowledge.
Foxglove	Thief level 5	A willowy human, long hair ties in a pony tail, looks a bit dangerous and dainty at the same time.
Dalkanarion	Fighter level 4	A youthful specimen in full strength, full of purpose, bluster, and eagerness to prove himself.

Dewsnap 11th, Airday

“Tu-tu-ruuu-tuuuuu” the trumpet blared as mounted adventurers triumphantly returned to Hara. Ambros and Dalkanarion led the victorious march, followed by other adventurers, Arlon, and four lances of mounted warriors.

Their arrival and presence was so awesome the guards even forgot to ask them to dismount and disarm. Who, in their sane mind, would dare to oppose the Justice Supreme himself?

The company of thirty trotted through Hara, to cheers and gasps of the crowds. They made their way to the citadel, where they were finally stopped by a stupendously brave guard. He soon melted away under duress, and let the company enter the courtyard.

Tsamar, Hara's current castellan and, allegedly, formerly a pirate queen, soon arrived and greeted the ambitious band.

Their plan was simple. Two weeks ago they liberated Cedarwade Keep, a key point for preventing Altanian incursions into the fertile valley of Hara. They did so on behalf of Lord Kyle, a young man who inherited a large estate from his father. Despite his best efforts, all went to ruin, since the young man was squeezed and abused on all fronts. Ambros ordered his men to remain at the keep, for now, to safeguard it. But in order to station it properly, it needs to be repaired. Thorm, an experienced dwarf, assessed there is at least 100 000 gold pieces worth of repairs to restore the keep to its former glory. Kyle family has been brought to financial ruin—their vineyards raided, their wine trade disrupted, their iron mines dysfunctional, and their reputation tarnished. Hence Ambros and company forged a simple plan—convince the Red Queen to invest into the keep due to its strategic importance. After all, Lord Kyle is her subject, and his lands are Hers.

“We are here to report to the Queen.” Ambros announced to Tsamar.

“Are you now?” Tsamar asked sardonically, sizing up everyone. She was dressed in tight leather jerkin and loose bright yellow linen pants, tightened with a simple leather belt. Numerous chunky rings adorned her hands. Heavy gold necklace with eye-sized emeralds clanged around her neck, accentuating her bronze tan. She moved like a panther, with strength and vitality much greater than her five foot frame would suggest. “Why don't you enter and share the news with me?”

“We would prefer to share it directly with the Queen.”

“Fine then, Ambros, if you insist on being so dramatic.” Tsamar waved to one of her mariners. The man prepared the rowboat, for the palace sits on a small isle just across Hara. It is a fortified isle which also houses the prison, royal vault, garrison of its own, and several servants' houses.

“No, I mean all of us.”

“What, all thirty of you?!”

“No, myself, Dalkanarion, Ignaeus, Thorm, and Tarkus.” Beorg and Tarkus had been brought back to life by Ambros. Beorg opted to head straight for the adventurers' townhouse so he can rest and recover, while Tarkus decide to join Ambros and others instead. He was in great pain, but spreading the word of Bachontoi was more important.

“Are you joking?! I though you were wiser than this.” Tsamar erupted, lambasting Chief Justice of Hara. She point at every individual Ambros called out and demanded they answer if they had met the Red Queen.

“None of you met the Queen, and yet you know demand to meet her? The audacity? She choose who she meets, not you. Ambros, you and I can go, others can stay here. Or you can all report to me. Or you can get out and go on your way.”

“Ambros, go without us. We'll wait.” other adventurers beckoned the cleric. He agreed and joined Tsamar. It was noon. It was bright and warm. Winter was nearly over. Days were getting longer.

⁂

“So, what do we do now?” Thorm decided to go drinking. Others decided to stay in the citadel until Ambros returns. They waiting well until the evening, until the spotted the rowboat carrying their friend. He was alone.

Ambros waved warily, and reported no significant progress. “The Queen has her mind on something else. But she did name Dalkanarion castellan of Cedarwade Keep. She also said he must report to Tsamar and obey her orders.” She also gave a cryptic warning that “the Altanians will come, but not as you expect.” Further, her position is that Merchant families need to agree amongst themselves who funds the repair of Cedarwade Keep.

Later same day Dalkanarion returned to the citadel once more. He was granted audience with Tsamar and reported on the status of Cedarwade Keep. Then he asked for soldiers to man the keep.

“How many do you need?” she asked. She was not happy with the non-answer she received in return. “Tell me, how many do you need, and then let me figure out where I get the men. Don't you worry your pretty big head with it. Let me do the thinking.” Tsamar's tongue struck worse than manticore's tail. “I will gather fifty soldiers for you. Best of the best. Come here in three days and they will be ready.”

“Castellan, would you do me the honour, and attend my wedding as an esteemed guest?” Dalkanarion inquired. At the end of the month he will take the hand of young, fertile lady, daughter of the Dragon's Lair inn proprietor.

“Of course! I would love to!”

⁂

“That bitch!” Dalkanarion fumed. “I'll give her the worst seat! At the end of the bench!”

Thorm tried to calm his friend. Ambros was too tired for political bullshittery. Others weren't too enthused about it.

“Listen. They might be rubble, the worst of the worst. But we bring them with us and drill some discipline into them. They get to follow you! We can make it work!”

Dalkanarion's “soldiers” were nothing but a bunch of run down thugs. They were not even equipped properly—soiled rags, clubs, and poor hygiene was all they had. These were in fact several gangs hired by Namelin.

“What is this?!” Dalkanarion demanded.

“Your men!” Tsamar replied “Best of the best! Now take them to the keep and make sure you don't lose it! Go on strong boy. See you at the wedding!”

Ambros's clerics informed him that Akasi and Anhemu Namelin are making a great commotion at Forsetti's Temple. “Injustice! We are being robbed by the castellan herself! Our men are taken and sent to the other side of the valley! What for! Whom for! Nonsense! We demand justice!” Their case was summarily dismissed by Ambros. “You are having your justice. Leave me alone.”

Since Dalkanarion was having such a great time, he also received a letter. It read as follows:

Dear Dalkanarion the Dragonslayer,

I heartily congratulate your most recent accomplishment and promotion! It is my strong belief that you will take good care of our southern border, restore peace, and break any Altanian horde that might come your way.

With that being said, I have to inform you with great regret and sadness that we have received a contract to assassinate you. Rest assured that we will kill you in accordance to your status. We take great pride in our professionalism so I promise we will not interrupt your happy day, nor injure your future bride.

As mandated by the Queen, everyone is given an opportunity to purchase their right to live. Therefore, I am delighted to invite you to bid for your life no later than ten days after delivery of this letter. Should you fail to appear, we will consider that as refusal of our offer.

With love, Zenon Coke Headmaster of the Assassins' Guild

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