Sarka, The Royal Court, Klos 20th, 350AC, 9:45  (underground, 72 degrees, half moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/redoctober2.mp3|autostart=yes]

The badders seem to be seated in a hierarchy, with the most influential or powerful towards the southern end of the court.  The very southern end seats the king and the major nobles who have very ornate carved wooden thrones.

King Rrullka is a powerful looking badder, although with greying fur around his face.  He is missing his left eye: in its place is simply fur.  He wears a cloak of deep purple.  A duralloy septure (it looks like an ornate mace) sticks upright out of a slot in the floor next to his right hand.  He sits back in his throne and looks upon you with a steady narrowed eye.  Sir Cyr, fully armed and armored, stands behind the king to his left.

To the king’s right sits a younger badder, who is leaning forward and looking restless.  He has shoulder plates and gauntlets made of silvery blue duralloy.  Even further right sits Lord Frall, who sneers at your group with yellowed fangs.  Mortiere the skunk stands behind them.

To the king’s left sits a heavyset badder who wears clothing made of green suede and cloth and a brown leather tricorn hat.  To his left sits a strange looking badder: He wears a simple robe of white cloth upon which many runes have been written in black and red.  He has tarnished gold bracers and a torc around his neck.  His eyes are an eerie milky white.

(See turn 2-27, May 2010 for a good summary of the issues at hand)  The king speaks:  “Aktonites!  Sir Cyr brought you my demands a moon ago.  They have not changed.  What is your response to the treachery you showed Lord Frall and his brave warriors?”

Sarka, transit from Sir Cyr’s den to The Royal Court, Klos 20th, 350AC, 9:20  (underground, 65/72 degrees, half moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/anthem01b.mp3|autostart=yes]

Like many times before, your group is surrounded, and led through Sarka.  You march back across the bridge to the central keep, then through the keep and along a new bridge that heads toward the south wall, above Sarka’s main cavern.  The bridge ends at a solid looking 3 meter high metal gate.  Arrow slits are cut into the stone wall next to and above it, and you can see badder archers peering down at you.  As your host approaches with beating drums and blaring horns, the gates swing open smoothly and silently, and you are marched through.

The gatehouse contains another garrison of badder soldiers.  Hoplites are lined up shield to shield, 1 row on either side of the passage, forcing your group to walk between them.  Archers sit on fortified balconies and aim down at you.  Looking down the tunnels to the west and east, you think they are probably used for barracks, and/or to operate and defend the gate.

You are marched into a large chamber and immediately sense it is warmer and muskier than outside.  Large metal lanterns, fashioned into chandeliers, hang from chains above, making this room brighter than most.  The stone walls and support columns are decorated by tapestries, flags, and shields.  Badders, dressed in finery (colored cloth, leather, and jewelry), stand or sit in carved shruden chairs around the periphery of the chamber.  Several servants (plainly clothed badders) are carrying mushroom cap tables out of the room into a side chamber.  You can smell that food was recently served.

Part of your escort moves through the room and reinforces the soldiers already here.  The rest of them, along with the robed yellow-eyed badder, bring you to the center of the room where you finally halt.  The robed one kneels, and says, “My king, here are the Aktonites, as you demanded!”

Along the southern part of the room sit the nobles of Ukrul, including King Rrullka and Lord Frall.  I will start a new turn and describe them in more detail, hopefully by the end of the holiday weekend (no time now).

Any fruit to declare?  ANY FRUIT??!!

Sarka, Sir Cyr’s guest quarters, Klos 20th, 350AC, 9:05  (underground, 65 degrees, half moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/cromtheme.mp3|autostart=yes]

Ragnor opens the door and sees an impressive amount of duralloy armor, glittering in the lantern light.  A host of badder hoplite warriors in their red cloaks are lined up outside.  They have well armed and armored infantry support staff, who seem to be holding the lanterns, pounding on drums with their powerful paws, and blowing metal horns.  The yellow eyed robed badder is standing just outside the door flanked by two hoplites.  He grins in a wicked show of sharp teeth.

“Rrullka, king of Ukrul, defender of Sarka, conqueror of the northern wastes, demands your presence.  You will come with us now.  All of you.”

Ozzul makes a hand motion, and Yorva and Nevlok pick up the chest containing the offerings.  Zarr’s eyes dart about as his hand rests on his knife sheath.  Bren stands with clenched fists.

Sarka, Sir Cyr’s guest quarters, Klos 20th, 350AC, 9:00  (underground, 65 degrees, half moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/morgenbangen.mp3|autostart=yes]

You eat the food, clean up, and settle in for the night.  Corporal Ozzul, who still seems a bit paranoid from the recent events, has each soldier take a shift on watch, leaving your wounded group to sleep.

Arvak gains another 38 hit points due to the yert ep oil he applied (50% used), plus 5 for natural healing.  He is at 131 hit points out of 151.  All mutations available again.  The metal spike he threw during the combat is officially gone.  All of his mutations are available for use.

Zeebo gains 4 hit points due to natural healing.  He is at 67 hit points out of 102.  All of his mutations are available for use.

Phallon gains 5 hit points due to natural healing.  He is at 51 hit points out of 148.  His loyalty touch mutation is now available, along with the rest of his mutations.

Ragnor gains 4 hit points due to natural healing.  He is at 40 hit points out of 117.  His life leech and regeneration mutations are now available along with the rest of his mutations.  (Let me know if you want to use any of the 4 regenerations available for the day!  Also, are you still in wolf form?)

After a long period of rest and sleep, Grerah returns with a new platter of food: various multi-colored mushrooms, a mound of yellow paste, and assorted steamed white chunks (probably bug, looks like pieces of lobster meat).  Those of you not very enthusiastic about the meal are happy to see what looks like a half dozen small roasted birds.  If only there were more…

About an hour after the meal arrives, you hear the rhythmic pounding of drums out in the hallway.  Then a blast from what sounds like horns.  There is a pounding on the main door.

Sarka, Sir Cyr’s guest quarters, Klos 19th, 350AC, 16:30  (underground, 65 degrees, half moon)

Phallon looks over himself and his equipment.  His plate vest has a large gouge in the center (it will be at -1AC at the start of next adventure if it doesn’t get repaired, which can happen between adventures).  And of course his worst wound is in the center of his chest.  He is at 46 out of 148 hit points.  His other equipment, which mostly remained behind, is fine.  Nothing seems to be missing.  Now he has a badder mace and crossbow, so even more choices!

Ragnor regenerates as much as he can.  He gets two more rolls today, white results will be re-rolled until success or absolute failure.  (11): 40 9 = blue.  50 0 = blue.  12 hit points regenerated, up to 48.

Sir Cyr’s servant, Grerah, returns with a tray of food.  A handwritten note on the tray, in trade tongue, says:  ‘You were invited to eat with me tonight, but now king forbids.  He will summon you in the morning, rest well and good luck.  -Cyr’

Any other actions tonight before going to sleep?

Sarka, Sir Cyr’s guest quarters, Klos 19th, 350AC, 15:40  (underground, 65 degrees, half moon)

[audio:https://gwevolution.netfarious.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/anthem01b.mp3|autostart=yes]

The horde of badder soldiers march you through Ukrul.  At different points, groups of them part ways from you, until there are about two dozen of them left.  You eventually arrive at the door to your guest quarters in Sir Cyr’s den.

About a dozen more infantry are standing around the doorway, tightly grasping weapons and looking angry.  The old sergeant jabbers something at the robed one, and the two engage in a heated, non-translated discussion.  Then the robed one turns to you and says: “Enter and stay in that room.  We will get you when the king decides.”

As you enter, you see your soldiers either standing or crouched and pointing their weapons at you (bow, crossbows, Yorva the sleeth’s combat rifle).  The inner door (which presumably connects the guest quarters to the rest of Sir Cyr’s chambers) is crudely barricaded with stacked furniture.  They look relieved to see you and lower their weapons.  Bren exhales loudly and rubs a sweaty hand across his homely face’s stubble.  “Anyone gotta clean pair o’ pants?  I thought it was last stand time.  Not that you look like you’ve had a good day…”