Campaign Timeline
6.051 T.E.I.
381 Yinka Timeline
Summer
Going home
Machaera comes through for them and after a couple of days they are set up with guides to take them over the mountains, home to Yinka lands
The journey across the mountains is very hard even though the summer already set in, but for the hardened Yinka warriors it proves to be no problem for them. After reaching over the mountains they say goodbye to their guides and arrange a place for a future trade station to get trade started between Machaera's barony and Yinka land.
After a couple of days travel NE they reach the first settlement, a small pretty isolated Yinka town called Rahmet, and they decide to make up a base of operations here, away from the prying eyes of the priest-king.
They start investing in everything that might help them getting the trade started, mostly trade houses, inns and ranches. They hire soldiers and workers to be able to expand their operations and start planning for how to best return to the central parts of Yinka land without attracting too much of a attention from powers not on their side.
Rahmet
The town of Rahmet is a small calm place that is perfect for the characters plans, they quickly secure the area around it, sends out patrols to stop the brigandry into Machaera's lands
After a few days in Rahmet to rest after the long journey they decide to go and report, they take out a way that will lead them through the Sulini land, but with a small party it should be no problem staying undetected, especially with Ashdar capable of hiding their tracks and Raul that can give them constant reports of what they have around them. For the first time they realize during the journey the powerful essence flow that separates the Yinka lands from the Sulini lands, but they encounter no problem passing through it.
In a little less then a week they arrive at the city of Cinvat, and there meet up with the high priest Papak, they spend all night there talking about their adventures, telling him about the threat with the black men from Aranmor and in general what they have been doing. He decides that they need to contact their other ally, Nerva, and together come up with a suitable plan for how to go on from there.
They leave the morning after for Achren, disguised as normal guard patrol escorting a priest so they will not attract unwanted attention. They make the trip to Achren in a day and immediately seek out Nerva to tell their story again.
As always Nerva meets them in the mysterious fashion, sitting behind the curtains so they can only see his siluette, they tell him all their news, and leave all the documents they have about the black men, something that seem to interest him a lot, but he does not think there is some immediate threat from them. He in returns tell them about the situation in Yinka land and what been happening since they left, and that Cloudlords started to be seen again when the summer starting, and that they are getting more and more bold. Also the Priest-king has been gathering allies and forces around him, starting to fear a uprising more then an attack from some foreign forces. Nerva also tells them that they are wanted by the priest-king for treason against the church.
Nerva and his allies have deemed it needed with a civil war and he needs the characters help with that, he gives order to Cyrus to start gathering forces in the south for the purpose of war against the priest-king, he also gives Cyrus the county around Rahmet to rule over. They will make it public with the uprising in the south, so Cyrus hide will not be much worth, but that is also needed to hide the forces gathering in the north under control of Nerva and Papak. Ashdar also get a title, he is named Baron down in Rahmet, and his task is to gather the nobles there under their flag too, to make sure they have a strong regional support. Early the morning after they are done with the affairs and head for their beds
The following days they gather supplies and Raznir takes contact with his noble friends to get their support too, an assassination attempt is made on Ashdar but he slays the would be assassin and takes the whole thing rather lightly.
At a meeting outside the city between Raznir and his noble friend is attacked by a single Cloudlord, but they manage to escape unharmed. More rumors about Cloudlord sightings are heard in the city.
The destruction of Achren
After a few days and with a few allies they leave the city of Achren, heading back to their new home of Rahmet. The Weather is warm and sunny and the group are in good mood with their usurper plans.
Late the second day they sight a pillar of smoke in the horizon behind them, far away, but still big they understand something terrible has happened, they fear that the black men has come to Achren to get their books and documents.
Raul who been in the capital trying to get a hold of some trader there for Raznir is on his way back when he sees the smoke, he flies to investigate it and see that the city of Achren is burned to the ground, he can't see any sign of who been attacking the city, he decides to hurry and catch up with the others (whom he hope has survived) and report what has happened.
After getting Raul's reports they decide that it is not much they can do, so they continue home to Rahmet instead, to at least take care of that part of their business.
Secrets
In Rahmet they find out that Nerva is still alive, he has a meeting with Raznir and Cyrus and tells them that it was the Cloudlords that attacked and sacked Achren, and that almost everyone in the city perished, including Cyrus master Papak.
Nerva has a secret meeting with Raznir a little later and when Raznir comes back from that he is paler then usual and tells the other he must go north, he can't tell where, but he will know when he gets there. He warns them that it will be a dangerous trip, but he would need them there if they want.
Said and done, Raznir takes the lead of the group and they leave as fast as they can gather their horses, heading towards Sulini land, the others are a little worried about how they should be able to get a boat there that would be willing to take them on a longer trip, a Dyar, an albino, an Gark and the rest bloodthirsty Yinkas.
Two days later they arrive one late night outside the small Sulini town of Alda, Raznir sneaks into the town and after a while comes back out and tells them he has a boat fixed. They sneak inside the city without any problem (the guards seem to have been bribed) and down to the small harbor, there they get to load on a large Sulini boat.
Black Sails
The first few days go uneventful, the group gets fast very bored on the small vessel, only Shúkort and Cyrus seem to be able to entertain themselves with their books instead, studying languages and magic's. They travel mostly on open water and only in the nights they can see the coast and some passing isles, making it very hard for them to know where they are, something captain ***** seem to make sure on purpose.
After three days of good weather and speed they run into their first trouble, in the horizon they can see a black sail - Pirates! - The captain want to try and head for the coast and abandon ship there and that way get away from the pirates, but the group, filled with confidence, decide that they can take, or at least slow down the pirates.
As the pirates come closer, Ashdar and Raznir leaves ship, traveling fast underwater, aided by magic, towards the black sailed ship. They arrive undetected and find that the ship is maybe a little too big, Raznir decides to climb up the aft to look and at the same time decides Ashdar that he should cut of the rudder. As the first "thuds" from the axe sound through the wood, Raznir is starting to see the danger and jumps down and hides under the ship. The ship lets down the anchor and slows to a halt, seconds after they hear a splash in the water from the side of the ship. Ashdar, almost on his way to continue his not so quiet sabotage is unaware the danger until it is almost too late, then he sees something long coming towards him, looking like long snakes, moving fast in the water, one bites him and he feels a shock goes through his body, dazzled from the shock he is unable to outrun them, he must say and fight and after short while and with a little aid from Raznir he mange to cut down the creatures. Not understanding the warning with this, he once again start to cut in the rudder, this time they hear more splashes, and being a little more aware of the danger he can now see over a dozen of the creatures coming towards him.
Using their unnatural speed underwater they manage to keep a distance from the eels, but the black sailed ship is a lot faster then it's size lets them know, is starting to gain on them, knowing they can not manage this themselves they decide to head for their own boat.
As the pirates go closer the captain still want to go ashore, but Cyrus manage to convince him to not go all the way to the shore, that they instead can manage the boat. As soon as the ship comes into range a ball of fire detonates in it's sails, a wall of fire erupts in front of the bow too, but it disappears after a second, not being able to do any damage to the ship. From the ship a deafening sound is heard, not even knowing what is happening Cyrus and Shúkort sees the boat around them being ripped apart, how Sulini crewmen is ripped to pieces, seconds after they are in the water, trying their best to head for the shore while the Dyar crossbowmen is choosing their targets.
After a while the pirate ship leaves, not seeing any point looking for some loot in the remains of the Sulini boat, of the Sulini only three survived, but all of the group are relatively unhurt. Not left with so much of a choice, they continue their journey on foot.
Eyes Above
After a couple of days they reach the border of the Dúranaki forest and some mountains. Not wanting to go inside the forest they head a little more to the east, cutting over the mountains. A few hours up in the mountain edge Ashdar sees the tracks of a troll, but they decide not to try and track it down. At the evening the same day he finds some other kind of tracks, from armored feet, almost a dozen of them, They guess it must be from some Lugrôki force.
While they are resting during the day they see a great bird passing over them, they can't be sure of distances and so on, but guess it must have a wingspan of close to fifty feet, not really knowing what that is about they just decide to move on, not worrying so much about that.
In the night after as they move on they find that they are followed, far away hidden in the darkness a band of Lugrôki is following them. They pick up the pace but are still unable to shake their followers, then they decide to split up, Cyrus and Shúkort go out on the side and use magic to take them up the mountain, away from the Lugro. Raznir and Ashdar use magic to hide their tracks and pick up a higher pace. Nak-Enog and Raul disappear each in their own way.
Raznir and Ashdar comes down from the mountain, not seeing any sign of their followers, in front of themselves they can see a great tower behind a forest, they decide that that way is where they are going and heads there.
Cyrus and Shúkort has found a cliff to sit and wait for their followers to loose them, they are joined by Raul in the morning. They glide easy down from the cliff using their magic and prepares to continue their journey, then they see a great bird circling them and slowly descending towards them.
The giant hawk is not alone, it also has a rider, a black armored man that would give lesser men nightmares after seeing, he sits of the mount and tells them to lay down their arms. Raul is starting to draw his sword and Cyrus lets a bolt of fire strike the armored man, he replies with two hatchets flying through the air, one striking Cyrus in the shoulder, severing muscles and tendons and crushing the bone, the other hatchet glances of Raul's shield. A second later he is gone in a flash, Shúkort hears a cold voice behind him that tells them to yield.
The rider puts them all in a great net that the hawk carries with ease, and with a rush of air they are on their way. They are taken to a great tower overlooking a city hidden in a forest, in the top of the tower the beast lands, and they see several others there too, including more men like their capturer. They are questioned where they are going and why they are there and after that they are taken down to a square in the city where they are all put in a cage, displayed to the creatures and people below them.
Arna Lyak
While entering the forest, Raznir and Ashdar sees that larger groups of Lugrôki is coming down from the mountains behind them, in the sky they can see great hawks circling and how the Lugrôki forces are closing on the forest. They decide to split up, Ashdar will stay in the forest and try and avoid the Lugrôki while Raznir will try and enter the city and see what he can find there.
Raznir scales the high smooth walls and enters a strange city, the streets are filled with a mix of Elves, Humans and Lugrôki, the walls are manned by Dyari Elves that seem to put more attention inside the city then outside it. Inside the city seem to be a mix of ancient ruins and more recent built buildings, small temples and towers are spread out all over the city. Raznir has just started to go towards the great tower when a voice behind him demands his attention, Behind him is a tall Dyari elf in grey robes that wishes him welcome and tells him that he is expected. As they pass towards the tower he spots his friends in a cage at a square not far from the tower, but after asking they set them free to do what they want, and Raznir continues to the tower.
Outside the situation is getting dangerous, the Lugrôki troops are getting closer and closer, and they seem to organize very well so they will not let anyone through. Seeing it as his only choice Ashdar heads for the city and rapidly scales the walls, he is spotted by a guard but for some reason is not stopped, but as he is he does not contemplate about this for too long, instead he sees the city for what it is, with the mix of people and myriad of taverns.
During the following days the characters get familiarized with Caldana, a dangerous place, but nothing that is hindering them. Shúkort is asked for by the Dyari in the tower and shortly after is moving there himself. As the days go by they see almost nothing of Raznir and Shúkort, but in the city they hear rumors of forces gathering, and that they are hiring soldiers, only the best. They are not interested in the offer though.
After almost a week in the strange city they leave again, Raznir explains that they will get aid from forces from here if they would be attacked by Sulini or Dúranaki. They are also equipped with horses to faster being able to get back home.
The journey home goes without any major incidents, using magic to hide their tracks and traveling only by night they are not seen by anyone on the way and eventually they reach their home base of Rahmet again.
The Civil War
In Rahmet things have changed a lot, thousands of refugees has come there from the north after the sacking of Achren, and also their own force has reached close to 3000 men, 10 times the size it was when they reached Tanara. The training is already ongoing and formations and many battle tactics from Rhakhaan is implemented. To support this major increase in people the raids into Sulini land has increased drastically since the land is not capable of supporting so many.
Raul is set with a mission to go to Lord Machaera to try and hire some more experts and also buy food, while he is away the army starts moving to get things rolling as fast as possible before the supplies has a chance to become a major problem.
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by Jonas 'Drac' Cedher.