GoCorral

This session was attended by Ben, Will, Avery, Trajan, and Tyler. The session was held using Roll20 for a virtual tabletop and Skype for voice and video. There’d been a push to finish my campaign amongst the group and the Rebel campaign was approaching a natural stopping point. With that in mind we decided we would wrap things up in the Rebel campaign with this session. I’ll talk a little bit more about what I had planned at this post. We’ll be playing the Alliance campaign exclusively from now on.

Moon’s Oracle

Gregor, Korjak, Demetrius, Reggy, Stanton, Sivirdm, and Tory had been enjoying a nice meal of roasted roc when they were attacked by Tagenadi and Amalius. Stanton was whisked away by the two attackers and marooned within the Lich Shade. Sivirdm’s left hand was blasted off by Amalius when the halfling attempted to steal Korm. Now the party was recovering and trying to determine what their next steps should be. Korjak used his wand of cure light wounds to close Sivirdm’s wounds while Gregor started a discussion with the other members of the group, Demetrius, Reggy, and Tory.

“The first thing we have to ask ourselves, do we continue or do we turn back? I feel we should continue.”
Demetrius said, “I do as well. Sivirdm can still walk and we can carry him while climbing if necessary. We can still reach the condors.”
Gregor turned to Tory, “How far are we from the condors?”
“About two days travel from the area where the closest nest is. It’d take a few days of searching once we’re there to find the nest.”
Gregor asked, “And are you still willing to guide us there?”
“Yes. If people like that,” Tory gestured to the spot that Amalius, Tagenadi, and Stanton had teleported away from, “are what we’re fighting, then I’m all for going on and stopping this madness.”
Gregor opened his mouth for a second, then closed it. From what he knew Amalius and Tagenadi were not with the Xorians, but were acting on their own agenda. But why correct Tory? He was for continuing.
“And you Reggy?”
“In for a copper, in for a gold piece. Let’s keep on up the mountain.”
Korjak returned, “Sivirdm’s alright. He’s in a bit of pain, but the wand stopped his blood loss. He’s got a stump instead of a hand, but he’ll live and he’s committed to finding the condors.”
Gregor said, “We were just discussing that. The rest of us think we should continue on as well.”
“Then let’s do it,” said Korjak.

There was no celebration to this decision. The party stared into the crackling fire as cool wind blew through the mountain pass. The burning wood smoke filled the party’s nostrils as the clouds parted revealing the waning gibbous moon. The moon’s light illuminated the herd of goats further up the pass.

A shaft of light extended down from the moon, illuminating Tory. He looked up from the fire and his eyes shone with the moon’s light. His lips moved. It was not his voice that came out, but that of an Olympian, “Each former dragovinian shields one other mortal from the Xorians’ wards. The half-orc is shielded by his god. Only one mortal per dragovinian. One of you cannot continue.” The light went out of Tory’s eyes and he looked back into the fire.
Reggy exclaimed, “Whoa! What was that?”
Tory said, “What was what? What are you all looking at me for?”
Korjak said, “The goddess Artemis just spoke through you. She said that Gregor, Sivirdm, and me can approach the condors safely. Only two others can go with us. Demetrius is a corporal and should continue to accompany us. That leaves Reggy and Tory.”
Gregor said, “Reggy’s more useful in a fight and there’s bound to be some up ahead.” Everyone else nodded their assent. “And Tory can find his way out of the mountains on his own.”
“That I can.”
Korjak said, “Then it’s settled. Tory, you’ll turn back. The rest of us will go on.”

The party mulled it over a little more and decided that once they got back they would want to get the final prophecy pieces to the Rebels as fast as they could. Since the druids guild seemed to be open to helping them, they asked Tory if he could speak with his cousin in the guild and get some sort of assistance ready for them upon their arrival in Tetalya. Tory said he would do whatever he could to get them what they needed. The group set a watch and tried their best to return to sleep.

The Final Piece

In the morning our brave heroes waved goodbye to Tory. He was taking two goats with him for supplies on his return journey. Twelve goats were left with the party. With a late morning start the party traveled further north into the Dominarie Mountains. Luck was with the party. As the afternoon lengthened Korjak and Gregor saw a shadow pass on the ground. They looked up and saw a large bird flying overhead.
“Hey look!”
“Is it a condor?”
“Looks like one? Maybe?”

The group quickly set their plan in motion. They separated a goat from the herd and tied it to a stake in the ground. Sivirdm was given the grappling hook of a rope. His job was to swing the hook at the bird when it landed and entangle it if necessary. Gregor tied the other end of the rope to himself, providing the anchor that would prevent the bird from flying away. Korjak wore the necklace of speak with animals and would negotiate with the beast.
The plan was a success! The bird dived, tackled the goat, and killed it. The party examined the bird as it feasted on the goat. It’s bald head and large stature marked it as a condor. Furthermore, the bird bore the red scales of a dragovinian beast. This was indeed their target.

Korjak stepped away from the party and spoke to the condor, “We are travelers seeking the druids’ prophecy. Could you give it to us in exchange for another goat?”
“Sqwuaaakkk! You talk? Didn’t know two legs talked.”
“Yes. This necklace I wear allows me to speak.”
“You want the prophecy you say?” Blood dripped from the condor’s beak as it continued to drink from the goat.
“Yes. We will give you another goat to eat if you tell us.”
“Two goats.”
“Alright, two goats. And you have to tell us the prophecy first.”
“No. Goats first.”
“As you say.”
The condor continued feasting on the first goat. Korjak related the conversation to the others. The party staked two more goats out. Sivirdm and Korjak kept at the ready in case the condor tried to double cross them.
The condor lunged at the other two goats, killing them. It drank their blood down as well until it was a fat and happy bird.
Korjak said, “The prophecy?”
“Ah yes. Ahem…
“Feed a condor for a day, live for a day. Feed a condor for a life, and live forever,” the condor laughed and began flapping its wings to take flight. Korjak drew his bow. Sivirdm threw the grappling hook. It caught! Gregor braced himself against a rock. The condor took off, but found itself unable to get further than its fifty foot tether to Gregor.
“Hey! Let me go! I told you the prophecy!”
Korjak shouted back, “No! I don’t think so!” He shot an arrow, but it was unable to pierce the condor’s dragovinian hide. Sivirdm got out his crossbow and started the painful process of loading it with one hand. Reggy and Demetrius got ready to attack the condor if it came back to ground.

Gregor and the condor engaged in a tug of war as Sivirdm and Korjak shot at the bird. Gregor’s weight and strength won out in the end and the condor plummeted to the earth. Korjak dropped his bow and took on the form of Baldr to engage the condor with his sword. Demetrius and Reggy moved up as well.

The condor viciously bit into Gregor’s side, drawing blood. The condor quickly lapped up the blood which healed its wounds. In the end this wasn’t enough. Baldr, Reggy, and Demetrius continued to wail on the condor while Gregor wrestled it to the ground and pinned it under its knees. Eventually the condor gave in.

“Okay! Okay! If I tell you the prophecy will you let me go?”
Korjak said, “Yes. And the real prophecy this time! Then we’ll let you go”
The condor spoke,
“Find a voice both strong and pure
Better than the gods to be sure
Sing the song both well and true
When the potion’s foam turns blue”

Each of the party members received a vision upon hearing the final piece of the prophecy. Most notably, the former dragovinians all shared a vision.

Return to the Mean

When the group returned to themselves the sky began to darken. The sun disappeared a red glow illuminated the mountain range. Above the group a terrible figure appeared. An enormous humanoid without skin. It’s bones and muscles were freely exposed. It’s head was entirely bare bone with ram’s horns coming out of either side. Instead of hair, the creature wore a halo of fire. In its right hand it held a pitchfork.

The Dahak spoke, “You mortals will not return the prophecy to the Rebellion! Zeus will not be healed by you!” The huge form began to lower itself to the ground and shrink to a smaller, but still large size.
Stunned, Gregor let the condor loose and it flew away. Baldr turned to Demetrius, “Take Sivirdm on your horse and get out of here! Take the prophecy back to the Rebels! Go! Now!”

Gregor, Reggy, and Korjak ran straight at the demon. The demon skewered Gregor on his trident as the orc charged. Gregor collapsed and the demon withdrew its weapon. Baldr and Reggy connected. They both dealt significant blows, but to the demon, they were only ants.

Demetrius mounted on his paladin horse and scooped Sivirdm up in the front of the saddle. Sivirdm had other ideas. He slid off and ran to the goat herd that were now stampeding away from the demon. The little halfling jumped into the goat herd and grabbed onto the back of one of the goats as hard as he could.

The demon brought its huge pitchfork down upon Baldr and Reggy simultaneously. The pair fought on. Reggy mustered all his willpower to stay standing and swinging. They inflicted more small wounds to the demon, but it was clear that their contest would be futile. Demetrius and Sivirdm fled south, each in their own way. The demon brought its pitchfork down once more. A prong pierced Reggy’s chest, slaying him. Baldr was similarly punctured. Using his godly force, he ripped the pitchfork from his body, but Baldr was undone. His form slipped away, abandoning Korjak.

Korjak still wished to delay the demon from chasing Sivirdm and Demetrius. Without an ally, melee combat would ensure his death. Thinking on his feet, Korjak ran north, further up the mountain pass. The demon would have to chase him or the others. One of them would escape its wrath. The demon stabbed Korjak as he fled, opening a large wound in his back. Korjak kept his footing as he ascended the pass.

The demon turned and pounded down the pass after Sivirdm and Demetrius. Hearing the pursuit, Sivirdm rolled off the goat and hid behind a boulder. The demon rushed past him, following Demetrius and his mount.

Unfortunately, the demon had made the wrong decision. Even high in the mountains, Demetrius was faster mounted than the demon was on foot. Soon, the sky began to lighten as the sun shone once more. The demon dissipated into black mist that the wind quickly blew away.

The party regrouped around Reggy’s corpse.
Demetrius said, “Should we bring him back with us to be buried?”
Gregor grunted, “We bring him back. We’ll bring him back and we’ll bring him back to life.” Gregor’s tone made it clear that there would be no argument on this point.

The party gathered up the goat herd once more and redistributed their baggage. Gregor carried Reggy’s body himself as they headed back down the mountain pass. The next day Korjak cast gentle repose on Reggy to make their journey easier on their noses and to lengthen the time in which Reggy could be raised.

Advent and Ending

Within a few days the party was back at the silver mining town. Tory had left a message for them, saying he was traveling on to Tetalya. The group sold their goats and mountaineering supplies in exchange for healing and a trip downriver.

Days passed as the group went through Yuettencal and finally into Tetalya. They looked up Tory and Trachendolf at the druid guild and were warmly received. The group spoke with one of the higher up druids. After fully explaining the prophecy the druid understood the importance of their cause. He offered to help in any way he could. The party needed three things from the druid.
1. Reggy needed to come back to life. The druid offered to do that with a reincarnate spell. Gregor had grown close to Reggy and knew that he would be okay with being brought back in that manner.
2. Korjak needed a raise dead cast on himself. This was not to bring him back, but to bring back Baldr who had retreated into a deep slumber after his defeat at the demon’s hands.
3. A quick journey back to Gazeara where the Rebel command was stationed. The druids would provide this with a wind walk spell.

The druids gathered the necessary components and worked their magic to reincarnate Reggy. He came back as a centaur! After resting in Tetalya and rejoicing with their returned friend, the party turned into clouds with the wind walk spell and flew off to Gazeara.

The heroes alighted near the Great Fire outside of the Palace. A few of the Rebel soldiers stationed at the Palace entrance recognized them and brought them in to see Major Dactirian, Alkmene, and Tarigananata. The room furnished simply with an oval table and chairs surrounding it. The three Rebel leaders sat on the opposite side of the party.

Major Dactirian took the lead in the conversation, “Good to have you back.”
The party grunted in response. They’d never liked Dactirian that much and it didn’t matter much to them if he had some connection to Apollo or not.
“I take it you found the final pieces of the prophecy.”
Korjak said, “Yes we did.”
“Before you tell me there is something I wish to discuss. You have done much for the Rebellion. More than I had originally thought you would given your nature… I must now ask more of you. The ritual the prophecy refers to requires specific ingredients. These ingredients are all warded by the dragovinians. The same wards that you are able to bypass. However, these items are located far afield. When I sent you to collect the prophecy I had a limited power to enforce my commands,” Dactirian indicated Korjak and Demetrius, “but once you leave Cimmeria you will be on your own. Collecting the ingredients is of the utmost importance for defeating Blendegad. can I rely on you to stay true to your mission if you are sent out to collect the final ingredients? There may be another riskier means of collecting them, but I shall not risk it until all other options are exhausted.”
Gregor said, “I think we’re done going on your errands.”
Sivirdm agreed, “Yeah. We don’t want anything to do with the Xoria. Not anymore.”
“I appreciate your honesty. You will be free to do whatever you wish once you tell me the prophecy.”
Gregor said, “We will tell you the prophecy, but you must give us something in return.”
“Oh?”
“For too long my people have sat in bondage. For too long they have been slaves to humans, elves, and dwarves. This practice must end. The orc slaves that you have must be freed and the enslavement of orcs must be outlawed in the future government of Xoria that you build. That is my demand.”
Tarigananata said, “I cannot promise that enslavement of orcs will be abolished in Xoria if we are victorious. I am unsure if I will even become Queen.”
Dactirian said, “And I will not free the orcs in our possession now. They are too valuable a resource to us and too much of a liability if they flee and are captured by the Amazons. My answer is no, Gregor.”
“Then we will not tell you the prophecy,” Gregor stood.
“You do realize that I could rip the prophecy from your minds if I wished? I don’t need to ask.”
Gregor spun on his heel and walked out of the room. Sivirdm and Reggy followed.
Dactirian turned to Korjak and Demetrius, “Well, you two can tell me the prophecy then. I’d rather not hurt them more than necessary.”
“Of course,” said Korjak. He repeated the three pieces of the prophecy they had collected since last speaking with Dactirian.
“Thank you.”
Korjak said, “If I may, sir. I would like to speak to you in private.”
“As you wish.” Dactirian looked at Demetrius, Alkmene, and Tarigananata. They all got up and exited the room. “Yes?”
“You see, sir. What Gregor says… About freeing orcs? I want to join him. I’m half-orc myself. I have to do what’s right for my people. They should be equals with the other races. Not oppressed and enslaved.”
“Do what you feel is right, Korjak.”
Korjak sat and thought. He looked at his folded hands on the table. After a time his hands moved to his neck. He removed the necklace of speak with animals, the only badge of rank he had ever worn. He set it on the table, got up, and left.
“I see,” Dactirian said to an empty room.

Korjak, Gregor, Sivirdm, and Reggy rested for the night and in the morning they set about collecting supplies. They would journey east into the Orclands and attempt to reclaim Gregor’s position as Chief of Chiefs. With the full might of the orc race behind him, maybe they could free the enslaved orcs in Cimmeria by force. First they would need to sneak through the Amazon siege. Next, a long journey through no-man’s land before reaching the Orclands. The hard task of finding and uniting the chaotic tribes would occupy their time after that. The group prepared everything they would need, saddled up, and rode out.

The session, and the Rebellion campaign portion of Xorian Wars ended there.

So where was I originally headed with the Rebel campaign after the intrepid band returned from finding all the pieces of the prophecy? If you’d rather not peak behind the curtain, then just skip these last few bits.