Doomed to Die

Previous session: A Crisis of Faith

They wonder if they can somehow subvert Shirat's plan - before they connect with the Emperor's mind they can betray the acolytes' intentions so that he can protect himself in the month's time is will probably take them to connect fully with him.

As they consider the practicalities, mystical and political, they see an approaching column of cavalry coming across the desert. It's Juk and his fifty-strong warband.

They array themselves in a broad crescent around the eastern part of the Temple (where the holding is) and they bring a dozen of the villagers out of the houses as hostage. They kneel in front of Juk and swords are placed at their necks.

Sun and Cinder go out to parlay with Juk - and as she approaches the line, Cinder spots her parents kneeling right in front of him. She plays it cool, and wonders what Juk wants.

It's very simple, he replies - bring out Malerre and he will release all of the hostages immediately.
Sun appraises the situation; the best reason for them to betray Malerre is Shirat - Malerre is truly the only one committed to pursuing the Emperor's interests here. But they should be on the lookout for a small band of Juk's warband around the back (they could've easily snuck around as the column of horses with flying banners trotted up to the hold). Inside, Sun knows that Malerre is at Shirat's mercy (he'll have dispatched his warriors to the wall's defence, but Shirat always retains two of her bodyguards).

Juk yells out to the men he recognises around the walls of the Temple. He calls on their common sense to turn on Malerre and join his growing warband.

****

Jasner, poking his head above the parapet at the sound of Juk's familiar voice, is startled. He didn't expect to see his old commander again. Juk deserves to die, but Jasner reins in his thirst for vengeance though and bides his time.

Malerre organises the defence. He notices that Juk's offer has affected a few of his warriors, and splits them up to avoid any dissent from gaining momentum. He's suddenly wary of Shirat, she reckons that he is surplus to requirements, and he's very vulnerable to her bodyguards. Malerre kneels before her and is inducted into the Temple; he must kill the Emperor to prove his loyalty.

Outside, despite his misgivings, Juk allows Cinder to bless the villagers. She steps slowly along the line, anointing each of them with a sweet-smelling salve - the crown of peace, uttering a holy benediction to them individually. She steps back and with Juk looking on impatiently, she pulls out a small statue of a screaming woman - she brushes her lips across the head of the object of radiant misery and whispers her cruel incantation. The statue comes to life, rising up into the air above her head and exploding in a ruthless psychic assault.

Horses up and down the line collapse in screaming agony, and their riders are similarly afflicted. Some survive but are grievously wounded. Those at either end of the line recoil in horror. A few of Malerre's warriors on the wall (including Jasner) are also slain, as are a handful of villagers who were hiding in their houses.

Sun however is mysteriously affected, keeling over unconscious and bleeding.

***

Cinder stands triumphant, but a couple of Juk's surviving riders charge at her. She flees into the village, turning a corner and pressing herself against the rough wall in an attempt to hide. One turns the corner and as he lurches back to swing his axe at her, she clasps his face with her violation glove and forces him to attack the other one. As he refuses, she crushes his mind and tries to intimidate the other into fleeing - but he simply runs her through with his spear and leaves her bleeding in the dust.

Jasner climbs down from the gatehouse and slowly walks over to Juk, where he struggles to free himself from his dead mount. Obviously in pain and probably with a broken leg, the grizzled commander starts to reason with Jasner, but doesn't even get to finish his offer as a crossbow bolt thunks into his head.

Malerre calls out to the surviving men, reversing Juk's recent offer - if they join him and swear allegiance, he will bring them glory and fortune. Of course, they accept!

**

After the battle, a recovering Cinder grasps outward and forces herself to turn towards the Mountain. She sees the dawnlight slowly light up the land, showing grass and streams and fruit groves everywhere. But then she regards the Mountain and it spews forth liquid ash, which covers the land and turns it into the desert she knows.

This horrifies her and she sits down to convince Jasner to follow her lead - the evils of this Temple must be expunged, Shirat's sway must be destroyed and she will take over and help the Emperor defeat the Mountain.

When they are all ready to leave on their trek across the mountains back into the Empire, they strike. Jasner cut down Shirat, as Sun and Malerre battle the Temple guards. It is over very quickly and Cinder takes control of the surviving acolytes.

*

In the Empire, Cinder helps the Emperor to survive the acolytes assault as they become new Oracles, and she is central to his power. As chief mystic, wife and mother to the next ruler.

Jasner becomes a marshall, prosecuting a long war against a new foe to the south.

Back in the desert, Malerre and Sun slowly carve out a new duchy, re-establishing the old empire (though under another's aegis).

FIN

A Crisis of Faith

Previous session: Terrible Majesty

Crossing the mountains is much easier the second time; maybe it is that they know what they walk into this time or the fact that they have been well-provisioned and provided with study pack mules by the Emperor's quartermaster.

On the summit, the desert's stark and barren nature is shocking after their months in the Empire. But still, it is home.

Cinder wonders if the Mountain only acts through the Temple's acolytes, or does it have other servants abroad. She wrestles with her conscience and wonders if she can make the trip to seek an audience with Ahassunu. She needs to convince the Temple (but mostly Shirat) that the Mountain is evil - though she knows that some of what the Emperor does is evil too.

Sun has no such crisis in deciding on his righteous course. Picking a side is easy: the desert is their home, and giving up four acolytes will prevent the terrible destruction the Empire will inflict if they refuse.

**

They tell Shirat the truth! That the acolytes are conduits for the Emperor and that he needs the Temple to continue to supply him with Oracles. Cinder tries to convince Shirat that they can undo and perhaps subvert the Emperor's plans and bring peace to the Desert if they move the entire Temple across the mountains - but she refuses; she cannot make the trip and insists that this is the Temple's home.

Indeed, she urges them to strike against the abomination that is the Emperor. Any good that the Emperor appears to do across the mountains is only as temptation from the true path. They are soft and blind to the truth. They, as servants of the Temple/the Mountain must destroy the Emperor now that they are aware - she believes that (willing or not) Cinder betrayed the Temple while in the Emperor's presence .

They cannot bring her around to any kind of compromise - she cannot see that the Emperor is necessary or a part of the Mountain's plan.

In the chaos after the Emperor's death, they will be able to spread the Mountain's message throughout the land. In a moment of cunning and mystical insight, Shirat suggests that they can send four chosen acolytes back, and when they are open to the Emperor's mind they will destroy him, either by breaking his sanity or dying themselves - which will surely induce a more calamitous outcome for him than when two Oracles were murdered previously...

*

Shirat is very compelling.
But afterwards, lying alongside Sun in the dark, Cinder wonders with sudden clarity - what if the next Emperor had the Temple's gift (any progeny from her union with him would surely produce a child with both their talents).

Next session: Doomed to Die

Terrible Majesty

Previous session: Dreams of Peace

As the tension of that single moment builds, Malerre weights his options. Can he bring himself to betray Cinder? Dare he strike at the Emperor?

Behind the dais, in a secret room, Cinder looks on and casts her mind back. 

With the others readying for battle, she tried to keep her head down, but was intrigued by the chaos in the camp which  must have been caused by the slaying of The Oracles. 

She finds herself alone with The Emperor in his tent – her very presence seems to revitalise him and bring him back from the brink of death.  He brings her into his counsel and is impressed with Cinder's wisdom and insight. Whether or not she feel the same way, he is entirely smitten with her. 

Above them all crouches Jasner, the Swordmaster.

After the treaty with Zirg he's gone back to the nearby city of Tahirn where The Emperor has serious questions for Malerre.
 Cinder is well ensnared in the Emperor’s counsel, and Jasner has used his knack of keeping below their notice to scout out ways of fighting their way out if The Emperor turns on his companions.  He sucker punches a few guards and climb into a cubby hole which brings him to a small window overlooking the throne room. It’s too small to bring his terrifying weapon of war in there, but otherwise he's ok. 

***

Jasner is a veteran from Malerre's warband. He was the last survivor of another troop - their leader, Juk left them all to die in the far north, and that grudge dies hard. His most unexpected possession are his high cavalry boots, they are remarkable, incredibly comfortable and probably should be in tatters by now. He finds solace in good food (hard to find on the road or in an army) and the simple purity of innocence (like children playing, or animals).

Given that he's relatively new, his relationship with the rest of the war-band is unusual. He has their respect and trust, mostly because of his veteran status, but they don't particularly like him. They definitely know he's not better than them; and he's made an example of a few of them on the trail for being cruel to their mounts.


Behind the Emperor, Cinder reads Malerre from the secret room. She feels his terror, and knows that he intends to tell the truth to save himself (and then blagg his way out). He wishes she'd never been born - life was simple before she entered his.

As he opens his mouth, compelled to answer, Cinder opens the hidden door and walks in. The Emperor seems almost disappointed that he wasn't able to torture Malerre some more.

From on high, Jasner grasps outwards, but as soon as he regards the Emperor, burning eyes fix on him and he feels the Oracles trace his bloodline from his birthplace all the way here. The Emperor turns to him, pointing him out to the guards and he is brought forth and disarmed.

**

The Emperor tells them what he wants of them: he wants them to take four acolytes from the Temple of Rania, and to ensure that it carries on as normal otherwise.
Cinder is deeply uncomfortable with this suggestion, but her attempt at seduction falls flat and he is colder. He speaks directly to Malerre, offering reinforcements and a Duchy across the mountains under his protection to the Wolfshead. They leave the throne room, to discuss the offer amongst themselves...

...which quickly descends into a rambling discussion weighing up greater and lesser evils.

Cinder casts outwards, seeking any advice on the situation from the Mountain. She tries to turn to face the mountain, but the entire world seems to shake as she does and she can hear the Mountain rattling, as if there is a rockfall. She even sees a hint of glowing light in her peripheral vision, as if it's on fire, before her vision is slammed back around front and forward. She feels a trickle of blood cross her cheek and she is shocked - the Mountain has never harmed her before.

It tells her that she must destroy the Emperor - if she doesn't stop him now she will never be able to.

*

Cinder returns to the Emperor that night to ask serious questions about the Oracles.
He tells here that their wills must be suborned to his - they cannot merely cooperate with him. Only those from the desert are fit for purpose, as they have been deeply damaged by the howling maelstrom - unlike those who were born and live in the Empire.

She is confused as her entire position is turned by this man's raw and forceful personality. Her disquiet is soothed only by his promise that he will cross the mountains himself if Malerre misbehaves.

She had wanted to bring the entire Temple here to help him, but if there cannot be a peaceful solution, she is still resolved to betray him.

Next session: A Crisis of Faith

Dreams of Peace

Previous session: The Empire

They return to Adar with news of the impending Zirg attack - he gathers every scouting captain available to send them out to screen the army. If it can deploy in time; the Emperor has taken ill and the most senior commanders have been thrown into disorder. Malerre brings his war-band back into the skirmish line as soon as they're ready to find the Zirg's skirmishers already jockeying for position along a ridgeline - screening the well-dressed lines of their army behind.

Some light skirmishing breaks out, but as the Emperor's army gets into some kind of shape, an small group approaches from the Zirg lines. The banner of the Count of Zirg (a gold Gryphon on a field of green) flutters above them, and the Count's retinue demand that Malerre bring back the Emperor for a parley. Sun, the Child of Battle and Jasner, the Sword Master remain at the front line.

***

Malerre rides straight to the Emperor's tent and after a brief discussion with his chamberlain, is shown inside. In the centre of the grand tent, sits the sickly looking Emperor - as pale as a man of his complexion could look and sweating through his night gown. Taking a instant liking to Malerre (it would seem), he entrusts the responsibility for these negotiations onto the Wolfshead.

First off, he wants to show a general state of ease with the Count of Zirg by sending an emissary to negotiate on his behalf.

Secondly he is willing to offer these concessions to the Count:
- that the County will enter gain full accession to the Empire's trading agreements
- that the Count will be given full Imperial Court privileges

In return he must receive this territory into The Empire. He would also like to receive a gift from the Count of half the number of war elephants that are with the army, along with all their trainers and accoutrements (within the year), and each year thereafter a breeding pair.
If he must give additional concessions, he can grant a mutual defence arrangement (understanding that The Empire would never ask for such aid from the County)

**

Back at the front line, Jasner eyes up their opponents - by and large they are well armed, possibly on average better than the Imperial army. To the right hand side of the Count is a monstrosity of a bodyguard, holding a greatsword as if it was an arming sword, and somehow managing to make the great warhorse he's sitting astride look like a pony.

To the other side of the Count is a slight woman in court clothes - and by the way her and the Count speak, she must be his primary advisor.

Behind them are a few dozen mounted soldiers, and if hostilities break out, their war-band will be quickly overwhelmed. The army behind them look ready for battle and will have a definite (if temporary) advantage unless the Imperials can bring their greater numbers to bear. In fact, Jasner reckons he's much better off riding for the nearest friendly scouting company, rather than try to fight or race back to their own army for safety.

Returning with the Emperor's chancellor and some notaries, Malerre presents the terms. The Count obviously struggles with the prospect of giving up territory without a fight, but when Malerre suggests the prospect of making it a dowry for a marriage into the Emperor's family, he seems much more positive. The Zirgian party withdraws out of earshot for an intense discussion, but when they return, the terms are accepted.

*

Back in The Emperor's tent, the first thing he notices is Sun - who answers a shower of questions about his heritage with infuriating obfuscation. When Malerre steps in to give some clarity on which desert Sun is from, the Emperor wonders if they know a Temple of Rania; and both Malerre and Sun act as if they've never heard of it, and know no grand temples across the Mountains.

After the Imperial levy disbands, the core companies return to the nearby city of Tahirn. And when the Emperor summons then to the local Prince's throne room they gladly accept the invitation. The grand hall is virtually empty for their audience, and only holds some court functionaries along with the Emperor's bodyguard.

They have been disarmed and are beckoned to the dais, where The Emperor shows them a brass bowl of water. In the reflection of water, they see a crowd of worshipper gather around the viewer, but suddenly they see Cinder reach out towards them before being snatched away (only they could possibly recognise Malerre from his wristband).

The Emperor smiles: do you know this woman?

Next session: Terrible Majesty

The Empire

Previous session: Across the Mountains

Rushing back to their inn, the companions try to come to terms with this mighty and strange empire they have found themselves in:
Malerre can cope with the extravagance and wealth he knows this place can bring him.
Sun lacks the imagination to be freaked out by it.
Cinder is freaked out.

Talking to their innkeeper, a stout middle aged man called Zain tells them a little about the city, ruled by Prince Ku-Aya and the Empire, ruled by Balashi, but quickly their talk focuses on the border war the Empire is in with the Zirg to the north. His brother was in the army until recently, and he knows that mercenaries from all over take on scouting, raiding and skirmishing duties with them.

They consider what to do with the Oracles in the Temple - their best idea of how to do it, and get away with it is to suborn one of the Temple guards to do it.

Jahangir visit's Cinder's booth, thanks to a very convincing pitch by Sun - he's expecting someone to slake his thirst, but instead he gets tied up in Cinder's sorcerous puppet strings and told that he will be killing the Oracle  at the next new moon and in absolute secrecy, or he will suffer in agony and death.

***

They head northwards to try to get some gainful employment with the army. They countryside is idyllic, with farms and village markets and a shocking lack of everyday ultra-violence. A week up the road though, Cinder feels Jahangir try to slip his leash - she hammers his heart mercilessly and feels his will ebb away: he'll murder the Oracles for her after all.

Shortly afterwards, they come across the detritus of an army, at a crossroads, where the road gets rougher and turns directly towards the border, they come across Avit, she's a messenger for the army, but their impression is that she's on the lam. Avit shares their meal that evening, and is surprised that they don't know that 'his nibs' is leading the army: The Emperor!

They come across the rear-guard - fifty well-armoured soldiers on horseback, whose Captain queries them for a while before sending them to Adar, the commander of the various scouting companies attached to the army. On the way to the army, they spot a hundred slaughtered cattle, the first true sign of the extent of the horde - which must number thousands.

**

After they sign on with Adar, for standard mess rates with quartering, stabling in camp, and pillaging rights in hostile territory, Cinder eyes up the Emperor's tent in the middle of camp: it's a huge structure, with a obelisk-like eruption from its roof. As she stalks around, she casts forth, and suddenly an gap appears in the busy street of the camp and she spots the Emperor walk by - he's resplendent, but somehow understated. She sense his power turn towards her, but just then the gap in the crowded street closes and she is safe again.

The next day, they eat dust on the road, but around about noon (Sun reckons it must be the moment of the new moon when the Oracles are to be slain), the Emperor's contingent falls into chaos and the whole army stops in disarray.

*

They are sent out head out to scout for the enemy. As they get further and further out from the camp, they lose contact with the other scouts on their flanks and in the early afternoon, as they head into some lightly wooded rolling hills Malerre spots the glint of spearheads in the trees. They retreat to a nearby abandoned farmstead where the enemy company of some thirty warriors come at them.

With two of his men guarding the horses and one sent to get help, the warband is less than half of the Zirg attackers. Malerre puts the men at the low stone wall and gives the order for his archers to shoot at the enemy leader (who is the only one on horseback) as they approach. The first assault is turned back as the ferocity of the war-band dismays the Zirg. They fall back and the leader attempts to rally them, but Sun leaps over the wall and challenges him to a duel.  The Zirg captain spurs his horse into a trot and charges straight at the Child of Battle, who sidesteps neatly, and brings his vicious chain weapons around to almost decapitate the horse. It buckles and slams into the wall, and while the captain struggles to get free, Sun bring the other end of the chain around and the razor-sharp axe head slams into his brain.

The rest of the Zirg company flees and when they mount up to follow the retreat, Malerre spots the Zirg army marching for the Emperor's camp in haste...

Next session: Dreams of Peace

Across the Mountains

Previous session: Beloved of the Maelstrom

Taking a professional eye to the Temple of Rania, Malerre the Wolfshead wanders. He counts about 40 acolytes, but only half a dozen warriors, all wearing similar armour and with identical tattoos. The grounds are definitely not overpopulated, and it makes a lot of sense that if they had an extra 20 people recently, that they would have been sent away.

Inside the main tower, there is a large chamber, and hanging from the outer walls are giant tapestries, which go up beyond where the light reaches. Amazingly, gold coins are sewn irregularly into the tapestry; a few at the bottom and increasing in number and width with height. There must be hundreds and thousands of them on each of the eight tapestries.

Each coin bears the visage of an ancient emperor, and every eye is crossed out.

***

Shirat tells Cinder the Mesmerast that across the mountains lies another Empire - though she's unsure if it survived the Apocalypse, the Temple has sent missions there before, but none of the acolytes have ever returned.

Sun the Child of Battle watches Shirat carefully, and while the old woman is kindly, he knows that she does want her cult to expand. If the warband would be willing, she would hire the to cross the mountains to discover the fate of the previous colonies sent there.

Cinder casts forth from within the Temple, to discover some truth about those lost acolytes. The Maelstrom demands that she think about what it would take for her to betray her companions - which she would for the greater good. And then it asks if she promises to do whatever Ahassunu requests of her when they next meet - and she emphatically affirms.

In return, the Maelstrom assures her that she will find the acolytes across the mountains - a sense of foreboding urges her to turn around to look at the Mountain behind her, but she cannot; why would she turn around?

**

Crossing the mountains is the most difficult thing they've ever done - the wind and snow challenges them all in ways the desert never could. Malerre pushes his war-band hard, they struggle, but everyone knuckles down. Sun never imagined such cold - in the numbness near the summit, the Maelstrom tells him that he must kill them all. Cinder prays for death - but the Maelstrom tells her to keep moving; she will persevere if she continues, though it cannot help her beyond.

Then, suddenly, they see the sea in the far distance! It's amazing, and initially they aren't even sure what they're looking at. Below the mountains, green foothills await them and they march into a town,

It's a city really, with more people roaming the streets than they have ever seen in one place. And there's a wide variety of people here, with dark skin (most more or less in between the desert tribes and Malerre's people). It has no gates, just a gatehouse - and a handful of soldiers stand guard, armed with spears and fine mail. People here speak a strange dialect, though they can make themselves known easily enough.

The layout of the city is remarkable, with concentric circles and straight lines - at the major junctions are shrines: large statues of a forbidding man overlooking a deep pool (into which people drop coins).

Casting forth, Sun is immediately struck by one thing - the man is the Emperor and his presence envelops him; there is no desert and no mountain here.

*

They wander towards the centre of the city, where a low stone temple sits - with four obelisks at the cardinal points - descending a ramp which ends up underneath these, large crowds of worshippers congregrate there. Through the silent crowd, they hear whispering, and they force their way closer to see an emaciated acolyte (from the Temple of Rania) hanging from a chain coming out of the bottom of the temple (from the obelisk above?). The Oracles whisper guidance for any who are ready to heed them.

Cinder reaches for the acolyte/Oracle - but touches the Emperor, he is snarling but confused, and she can hear his unguarded thoughts: "they worship Me as I defend them from the chaos beyond". Malerre grabs her just as the Emperor grabs her and they flee...

Next session: The Empire

Beloved of the Maelstrom

Previous session: Fallen Empires

Cinder, the Mesmerast, wakes to find her companions returned from the Rock. Asleep the young woman looks much like any desert dweller; but awoken, her sharp canines and milky left eye set her apart. On her left cheek and around her milky eye is ritual scarring. One of the first things she caresses as she gets out of bed is an ornate skull-pick in the shape of a cranes head. A divining tool of arcane provenance which she uses to pick out the eyes of the dead for later consultation (including the recently fallen champion Kelle).

Cinder's freakish talents became apparent when her parents brought her to the Temple for an exorcism. The acolytes there embraced her and she trained there, living inside the temple walls with her new family.

She last had sex with an innkeeper named Pharador (from Azul, the Ravine). His everyday sadness appealed to Cinder - he laments the loss of his childhood sweetheart, who married the local blacksmith.

Cinder knows that the Maelstrom loves Ahassunu, an older woman who advises Borbeq and is a cult magnificent. She knows her from casting forth into the Maelstrom and wishes for an audience.

Sun heard talk of Ahassunu from the desert mystics; that she was strong in the way of the desert wind and that the force of the North Wind is behind her. When talking about her with Cinder the next day, Sun reveals that he has no real long-term plan. Only seeking glory. The Cult sent him abroad with no specific goal, just to represent and create stories which lead to more seeking to join them.

Having seen the White-Eyed Fiends up close, Sun and Malerre worry about Cinder; though they know her from before and don't really suspect her of being involved.

Cinder reaches into her jar of decaying (though pickled) eyes and reaches into the Whirlwind for something about Ahassunu - this eye belongs to a cave-bound hermit, who was part of the same collective of mystics who advise local strongholders - a collective who all take insight from the Maelstrom as well.

****

Into the tavern walks the resplendent Ahassunu, with two of Borbeq's guards. Cinder is abashed and loses her usual poise. She is at Ahassunu's service. The woman grasps Cinder's face, slanting it towards the sunlight which has broken through an open shutters. She wants Cinder to investigate the Fiends and to find out where they come from and what force is behind them. Cinder just wants Ahassunu to be her mentor. Malerre and Sun look to maneuver Ahassunu into hiring them, but she leaves that to Cinder's discretion and leaves.

They they all journey to the Rock to see if Andai will pay them to discover the story behind the threat of the White-Eyed Fiends. Sun pitches that they will hunt down, find out their real purpose and take a few heads as proof. This'll also remove some of the fear Andai's people feel about the Fiends. Andai knows a thing or two about the Whirlwind, it was he chanting a rite of cleansing from the highest tower the night they retook the stronghold from the Fiends. If they fail in their mission, Sun promises personal service to her for a month.

***

At the pyre of the fallen Fiends, Cinder feels around through the skulls of the dead. She senses a few familiar ones - which feel like home. On closer examination, two have cuts on the cheekbones, like a butcher cut at them, but they're old, and such as might occur with a botched scarring ritual.

Cinder casts forth into the Maelstrom. As usual she sees a dark sky and she stands in front of the Mountain - it's completely behind her, and she cannot see it, but she feels it and feels that it's the source of what remains good in the world.

But the Maelstrom is wrathful - she has abandoned her heritage and she does not know her brethren any longer. Sun appears behind her inside the Maelstrom and is an intense source of warmth alongside her. He assures Cinder that she is not like them.

When they emerge, Malerre stresses with Cinder not to share her vision with the war-band. They're already getting worried about her eye and a connection with the Fiends.

**

They journey through the desert towards The Temple of Rania - where Cinder was raised and trained. Across the trackless waste it's two days to the oasis of the Dalmori tribe. There are no nomads at the oasis, and that night Cinder attempts to seduce Malerre. In the firelight, Malerre's eye is drawn to Cinder's violation glove - the black, shiny, rigid glove glistens in the darkness as if it's slightly wet. The fingertips are sharp and pointed - this disturbs him more than he's realised before.

She wonders how she can get Malerre to protect her - and she realises that only silver will buy his service. He knows that the way to get her to stay away from him is to threaten her with harm.

Malerre puts an additional two men on guard to watch her the next night, and when he's sure she's asleep, he prowls over to her side. Placing his boot on her gloved arm (which she cradles tenderly in her sleep) and placing a blade to her throat he wakes her up - terrified, Cinder tells him she'll stay away from him in future.

*

Approaching the Temple, it's wall and tower dominates the small settlement outside. Inside there is a grove of tall trees and a peaceful pool alongside the great tower. Only two guards are visible - they have great helms, heavy spears and intricate tattoos which remind Sun of his own, albeit that they look permanent.

Cinder casts forth to wonder if she is in danger: the Maelstrom is incredulous - she's come home, how could she be in danger here? She is going to lead the Whirlwind into the world. Malerre looks for a way out: getting over the walls should be easy enough, though they'll want to break the gates to get their horses out (indeed, the guards let the entire war-band inside!).

After they've settled in, an old woman welcomes Cinder. Shirat practically raised her and is a true mother to Cinder. She greets Cinder and asks her (almost too formally) if she has returned to them as a friend, and if her companions are also friends. Cinder confirms this and then Shirat's manner becomes open and friendly. She embraces Cinder warmly but takes her face in a manner which reminds Cinder too much of how Ahassunu did the same to her a few days previously.

Asking her about the attack on the Rock by the White-Eyed Fiends, Shirat nods sagely. She tells them of a colony the Temple sent northwards to make a new founding. About twenty went with supplies, tradeable goods and silver but were waylaid by warriors from the Rock. Only one acolyte returned. She thinks, and suggests that those who were unjustly slain in the desert were taken by the Whirlwind to enact vengence on the guilty. She glances at Cinder and tells them that the blind-eye is a sign of a close connection with that primal force.

Next session: Across the Mountains

Fallen Empires

Sun, the Child of Battle, has intricate henna tattoos all over his muscular body, matching the intricate patterns of his weapons. He carries a shining and razor-sharp dagger, a shining and enchanted sword, and a remarkable chained and bladed weapon. He is dark skinned, like most in this region of the world, while his striking face and arresting eyes captivate all who see him.

When he was very young, his parents gave him up to a Cult, who survived on the alms of nearby desert tribes. They taught him to craft his weapons, to mark himself with henna and to wield himself as a Child of Battle. Five years ago, the Cult's leader - known only as Dust - sent him into the world to gather fortune and glory for his Cult, sending even more adherents to join them in the deep desert.

Most recently, Sun stood alone to defend a desert tribe against raiders. He defeated them without slaying more than one - their champion, a man names Kelle, fell under his wickedly sharp blades - and Sun's form and manner impressed the others to surrender or retreat from the fight. A famous song has already been composed on the matter, and Sun's other skills as a bard gained wide recognition.

The man's mother, a Bonepicker named Imsha, harbours a grudge, but cannot bring it to bear, as her tribe have submitted to the Wathi tribe Sun championed that day.

***

Malerre, the Wolfshead, is a pale northerner, a scion of the Fallen Empire. The young man wears functional clothing (like the rest of the war-band), but his narrow face, calculating eyes and wiry body set him apart from the burly warriors.

He is of an ancient line of nobles, and the war-band are his retinue, although they don't seem to be very happy that they owe him fealty. The warriors are well-armoured, and well-disciplined. Their horses are almost more impressive, being caparisoned and well-groomed.

Previously they were all part of Juk's company, who was Malerre's father's Master of Horse and who raised Malerre in the internecine civil war after the Fall. Juk's desire to use Malerre as a figurehead did not sit well with him but his attempt to wrest control came to naught - Juk's command was unquestioned and his easy trustworthiness stood at odds with Malerre's reputation as a sneak.

Lately, to keep control of his war-band, Malerre was forced to make an example of Etienne, one of his most stalwart supporters (albeit one whose awkward and rude nature made him few friends). Malerre beat him to a pulp after Etienne objected to a new job, and left him to die in the desert.

**

This perilous job concerned the worrying takeover of Badinah, the Rock, a hilltop fortress at the edge of the desert. On the way there, the rumours abound of how a group of White-Eyed Fiends swept in from the sandy desert, unheralded except by the Song of the Djinn. They slaughtered every last inhabitant of the holding a daring night-time assault. Dismembering the bodies, setting up the torsos on pikes along the walls, using the heads in rituals after gouging out the eyes. Some say that each of them have a clouded and blinded eye, which allows them to see in the dark.

Five local Strongholders have formed a coalition to take it back from them, and the assault is too easy, considering the fearsome reputation of the Fiends, and the strength of the defences. They overwhelm them, killing every one amongst the score in the first attack.

As the few wounded are tended and the warriors take on water, Malerre looks around wondering who'll be taking over the stronghold for good. Andai, a canny leader from Anyel, the Grove, seems to be already positioning her war-band to control it. Several warriors are on the roof-tops with bows, and the others are controlling the oasis below (where everyone's mounts and pack-animals are), the main well and the gates.

Juk has noticed too late and is struggling to organise and gather his soldiers from around the hold. Malerre walks over to Andai who has a few warriors with her next to the well and after swift negotiations, they circle the hold to talk to the other warlords. Simos and Marca are drinking outside the tavern, and they don't seem too bothered - well, Simos gets a purse of silver from Andai, and says he'll be leaving in the morning if that's ok. Marca's surprised, but sits back down and pours them another cup of wine.

Malerre brings his warriors down to the oasis to take control of everything there and send the rest of Andai's warriors up.

Juk's men gather in the courtyard to take control of the gate, but as they square off against Andai's assembled warriors, Sun steps towards him, inviting him to taste his steel. Juk caves in, and walks out the gate to get his horses and leave. There's a brief spat below, as Juk invites any of Malerre's war-band to join the winning side, but they're not having any of it.

*

That night, the sentries hear a plaintive chanting,but it seems to ease the jitters of all those who have slept fitfully throughout the long darkness. In the morning, Andai tells Malerre and Sun that she doesn't require them for garrison duties, she's expecting a caravan from Anyel in a few days. She would appreciate some scouting or harassing of Juk though.

Malerre and Sun make their way back to Matesh, the Crossroads. They get involved in a drinking/boasting session where Sun's bardic talents win the day. Borbeq, the strongholder is thankful to them for helping to remove the threat of the White-Eyed Fiends from so close to his hold (he didn't have the strength to send any forces himself). Malerre has befriended one of the tavern workers, a young man called Mercury, but mostly with an eye on using him to manipulate Juk if it comes to that.

As the night wears on, a usual topic of dispute between the northerners and the desert people comes up. Most here hold the empire responsible for the misfortune which has befallen the land. They dug up a great evil in their quest for gold and power, and loosed it upon the world when they were driven mad by their greed. Malerre and his war-band retort that the desert is the source of evil and only the strength of the Empire kept it in check.

Next session: Beloved of the Maelstrom