Six Seasons in Sartar - The Haraborn Tribe

 

The Haraborn Tribe

MYTHOS & HISTORY

Before Time

The entity that would eventually become the clan wyter, the Black Stag, is one of the many children of Hykim, Father of Beasts, and the mountain goddess Kero Fin. He laid claim to the mountain valley bearing his name long before Time, when he challenged the Seven-Tailed Wolf for dominion over it. Victorious, he drove the Wolf and his pack away, and married Running Doe, the rushing mountain stream that cuts through the vale (today called “Deer Run”). Together they made the Vale a safe refuge for their children, the albino Ghost Deer unique to the region.

During the Lesser Darkness, Jarstakos Forked Spear and his war band wandered into the Vale. One of the many sons of Heort, Jarstakos and his men fought long and hard in the war against Chaos. One of his followers was Ungbar Zak Bak, a Dark Troll warrior. Tired and hungry, the band were shocked to find a place in the wasted world where game was plentiful, and decided to hunt there. It is said Jarstakos himself shot the arrow that killed the Martyr Faun, and the wrath of the Black Stag was terrible. The earth shook. The entrance to the Vale squeezed shut. To placate the Stag, and spare his followers, the sons of  Jarstakos swore that after Chaos was defeated they and all their line would remain in the Vale, replacing the child the Black Stag had lost. The Stag agreed, but Running Doe was not so easily appeased. She cursed Jarstakos, saying that he would indeed return to the Vale, but it would be to be buried alongside her slain child. The curse was a true one. Jarstakos fell during Darkness, and his sons carried his body back to the Vale and raised a mound over him. This was how Heortlings came to dwell there as the Haraborn, the Black Stag Clan.

Since Time Began

After the Dawn, the Haraborn lived a quiet life of relative isolation in the Vale, farming, herding, and trading with related clans in the valleys below. They worshipped Orlanth and Ernalda, and true to their word never wavered from the vow to honor Black Stag and Running Doe as their own ancestors. In these early days there were some skirmishes with local Telmori, urged on by the Seven-Tailed Wolf, who felt the onset of Time was the perfect chance for a proxy war to regain the Vale. The Haraborn proved their claim to the Vale time and time again by driving the Telmori off, just as their wyter had in the God’s Age.

As the Empire of Wyrm’s Friends slowly rose around the clan, their wyter answered divinations concerning the EWF by counseling against the lies and deceptions of dragons. As a result, the Haraborn stayed free of draconic mysticism, even as many clans around them embraced it. This was the start of the clan’s reputation as staunch traditionalists. For centuries, the clan continued to stay true to the Old Ways, maintaining (mostly) cordial relations with draconicized neighbors. But mounting

pressure from these neighbors, and dire warnings of impending doom from divinations, eventually forced the Haraborn into self-imposed exile. In 1118 ST, after more than a thousand years in the Vale, they burned their homes to the ground, gathered what they had, and went south.

A year later, the Great Dragons came in wrath and killed every man, woman, and child in the Pass.

The years in exile were difficult ones. Bound to the Vale, the clan wyter was unable to accompany his human kin south. In his place he sent one of his sons, White Hart, to serve as the Black Stag wyter in their exile. These years were the beginning of the White Hart shamanic tradition that persists among the clan to this day. Without the protection of the Black Stag and his Vale, however, the clan struggled to survive. Heortland was filled in those days with destitute refugees fleeing the Dragonkill, and the Haraborn were forced to wander from place to place selling their labor, their swords, and sometimes even themselves to survive.

This changed when Jornun Shadechaser challenged Barnor Son of Grudd for the position of clan chieftain. Shadechaser was one of the “Troll-touched,” a Haraborn clansman born with pitch black hair and eyes and tied to the Darkness Rune. This was the legacy of Ungbar Zak Bak, who died alongside Jarstakos and many of his men and was entombed with them in the Vale. Ever after, a small number of Haraborn were born Troll-touched, and Jornun was among these. Once he was leader of the clan, Jornun took his people to the court of Ezkankekko, the Only Old One. It is said the Old One recognized Jornun as troll-marked, and his clan as friends of the race. He employed the clan as mercenaries in his armies and gave the women and children homes. For nearly two centuries the Haraborn had a new home, and flourished in Ezkankekko’s service.

The death of the Only Old One at the hands of the Pharaoh in 1318 ST ended this time of refuge. Divinations were performed and the White Hart consulted by shamans. It was time, at long last, for the Haraborn to return home.

It was not an easy homecoming. The clan returned to find the Telmori had taken the Vale in the name of the Seven Tailed Wolf, who now ruled the Vale at last. The Black Stag and Running Doe were imprisoned, their children hunted and in hiding. Before they could settle in their ancient homeland, the Haraborn had to retake it. The battles that followed were violent and costly. In 1328 Stag Hill was won by the clan, enabling the chieftain and his ring to perform a heroquest re-enacting the Black Stag’s triumph over the Wolf. This liberated the wyter, and for the first time in centuries, a Royal (see below) was born to the local ghost deer population. The tide had turned, and the Telmori were driven out once and for all.

This began a new era of peace and prosperity. A century after the return, the Haraborn were part of the Colymar Tribe and eventually supporters of the Prince of the People, Sartar. They had revived the Old Ways, and once again honored the Doe and the Stag. But a baleful new orb hung crimson in the sky, and its spawn, the foul Lunar Empire, came south in invasion. At the Battle of Grizzly Peak the Black Stag followed the Colymar king Kenstrel against Lunar forces and lost their own chieftain, Kentrel Bargarson. It was a sign of the doom to come. A generation later saw a Lunar puppet on the throne in Boldhome, and foul Lunar ways spreading through the lowlands.

In the years since the Haraborn have grown more isolated as they cling to the Old Ways. To Colymar king Kangharl Son of Kallai, a Lunarized Sartarite, they are something of an embarrassment. He habitually refers to the Colymar as “the twelve clans,” with the Haraborn small enough and remote enough—in their mountain valley—to be conveniently forgotten.

Runic Associations

The people of the Black Stag have worshipped the Storm Tribe since before the Dawn. Their Runic ties to this pantheon run deep. Thus Air/Storm (g) and Earth (e) are the two most common Birth Runes; 85% of men are tied to Air and 85% of women to Earth. The exceptions tend to be men who are tied to Earth and women tied to Storm, and a small percentage of “Troll-touched” tied to Darkness (o). Haraborn characters are thus required to select one of these as one of their initial Elemental Runes (RQG p. 45).

The clan wyter, the Black Stag, is itself associated with Air, Beast, and Earth. He is not worshipped alone, but rather receives a portion of sacrifices made to the Storm Tribe and clan ancestors.

The shamanic White Hart tradition (see below) has the Runes of Air, Beast, and Spirit.


NATURE OF THE CLAN

Reason for Continued Existence

At its heart, the clan is a coalition of allied families, bound by shared culture and history. Like any community, it exists to teach, support, and care for its members. It passes on its knowledge and experience from one generation to the next.

Just as a clan serves its members, its members serve the clan. Clansmen are generally expected to spend most of their time in service to the community, performing tasks such as farming, herding, maintaining infrastructure, manufacturing necessary items, guarding the borders, etc. In addition to these tasks, all able-bodied men will be expected to serve in the fyrd, or clan militia. Women will be expected to cook, sew, care for children, and to treat sickness and injury. In return for all of this, the clan feeds, shelters, and clothes its own. It also trains and educates them.

Social/Political Power and Position

Prior to the Lunar occupation, the clan’s claim to Black Stag Vale was ancient and undisputed, supported by the spirit of the land itself and respected by all neighbors. There were of course tensions with other clans, including the time-honored sport of cattle-raids, but all acknowledge the Vale was theirs. Despite being one of the  smaller clans in the Colymar tribe, the Haraborn were respected for their adherence to tradition and their loyalty to both the tribal king and the Princes of Sartar.

With the arrival of the Lunars, however, political “power” in Sartar amounted largely to keeping your head down and going unnoticed. Fortunately this is something the Haraborn, in their isolated mountain fastness, do very well. The terms of the occupation, for example, demand a tax of one cattle for every two free adults in the community each year, but Lunar estimates of the Black Stag’s population are at least a third short, the clan being adept at fading into the hills when the census takers come. Likewise, Sartar’s conquerors have forbidden the worship of Orlanth. In the lowlands the temples are closed. The Haraborn, however, continue to worship as they always have.

So long as it goes unnoticed.

Particular Likes and Dislikes

On the whole the Black Stag are a conservative mountain clan devoted to the Storm Tribe, to time-honored traditions, and to keeping to the Old Ways. They avoided the lure of draconic mysticism under the EWF and resist the lure of Lunar mysticism now. The clan expresses many of the likes and dislikes one might expect of a traditionalist Orlanthi people. To reflect commonly held characteristics, Haraborn characters should have at least some Passions drawn from; Devotion (Storm Tribe deity or Earth Goddesses), Loyalty (Haraborn), Loyalty (Colymar), Love (Family), Hate (Chaos), Hate (Lunars). More on this on Creating Your Character.

ORGANIZATION

Inter-Community Organization

As mentioned, the Haraborn are the 13th member of the Colymar tribe, a confederation of clans sworn to a single king. The Colymar are, in turn, one of the 24 tribes of the Sartarite nation. The tribal kings all owe allegiance to the throne in Boldhome. While the Haraborn keep their clan oaths of fealty, most consider the current occupant of Sartar’s throne, Temertain, a Lunar puppet. Since 1602 when Boldhome fell to their forces, however, the Lunar Empire has been the true power in Sartar. Temertain rules at the pleasure of the Governor General of Dragon Pass, currently Fazzur Wideread.

Intra-Community Organization

The Haraborn are one of the smaller clans, with about 450 members, similar in this respect to the Varmandi and Anmangarn. Their lands are centered around Black Stag Vale, some 15 kilometers from Boldhome, high in the mountains between Quivin Mount and Kagradus Peak.

The Vale runs a length of nearly seven kilometers, stretching from the narrow southern opening where the Haraborn maintain a fortified palisade, all the way to High Deer Falls at the northern end. It is seldom wider than half a kilometer, and the mountains enclosing it are heavily forested and very steep. A creek known as Deer Run flows south from the Falls, the entire length of the Vale.

To the north the Vale is bordered by the forbidden Dragonewt citadel of High Wyrm. The Antorlings and the Enjossi, two fellow clans of the Colymar, border the Haraborn to the west. The eastern border consists of the wilder and untamed Quivin Mountains in the north and the warlike Sambari to the south. These thrall holders are famed for their ferocity and aggression, and a source of constant trouble for the Haraborn. The Telmori WolfFolk, driven from the Vale, infrequently come down from the Quivins to raid as well.

The Steads

A dozen steads, each belonging to a single extended family, can be found spaced out along the banks of Deer Run. These are the homes of the Carls, or “cattle men,” the middle-class of Orlanthi society. Families will include paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, all living together in longhouses (and in the winter with their cattle). Each nuclear family head (and there are on average 3 to 5 or these per longhouse) will have his own team of oxen and a plow. Each is granted a “hide” from the clan, as much land as he can plow in two seasons. Counting wives, children, and grandparents, each stead will have about 15 to 2o people and 30 to 40 cattle. They will have twice as many sheep, pigs, geese. While children, of course, know who their parents are, it is traditional to refer to all aunts and all uncles as “mother” and “father” and parental duties are shared by all adults. Once the children are old enough, they are expected to help tend the livestock and the fields. All adult males also serve in the clan militia, or fyrd. The head of each stead holds Thane, or “horse man” status, and is considered a community leader.

The names of the steads as are follows. Individuals will be known as “(X) (Son/Daughter of Y) of (Z stead). For example, “Wulvann Son of Skilfil of High Water Stead” or “Frania Daughter of Verani of Riddle Watch Stead.”

The stead, running from south to north are;

1. Vale Gate

2. Twin Stone

3. Bear Fallen

4. Red Rock

5. Cliff Shield

6. Riddle Watch

7. Hill Base

8. River Bend

9. White Bark

10. Twice Blessed

11. Glass Cave

12. High Water

The Cottars

Between these steads are scattered two dozen cottages, usually in the hills at the base of the mountain peaks. These are the homes of the Cottars, or “sheep men.” They are the lower class of Orlanthi society. Their cottages are usually round, consisting of one room with a thatched roof, and home to one or two nuclear families. Cottars have their own flocks of sheep and often pigs, and tend small gardens around the cottage. Most are huntsmen who supplement their diet with rabbit, boar, or pheasant. It is forbidden for the Haraborn to hunt deer. Naming conventions for Cottars are the same as for Carls, but they exclude the “stead” portion of the name as sign of lower status.

The Village

The Village lies in the center of the Vale, spreading out

beneath the Hall. It is a cluster of about 14 homes

around the Issaries market, the Smithy, and the community meeting hall.

The householders living in the Village hold Thane status. Six are members of the Inner Clan Ring (see below), including the Chief Priest and Priestess, the Chief Weaponthane, Lawspeaker, Champion, and Skald. In addition to this is the trader Borkar Son of Gudinn of Riddle Watch, who ensures commerce between the Vale and the capital in Boldhome runs smoothly, and Harvarr Son of Horvik of Cliff Shield, the master red smith. The remaining six are other priests and officials. The Villagers are supported by their families out in the steads, and by the chieftain in the Hall.

The Chieftain and Ring

The Chieftain’s Hall sits on a low, conical hill overlooking the village. It is protected by a wooden palisade with simple watchtowers. The Chieftain and his or her family dwell here as do the housecarls when on duty. The Clan Ring meets to advise the Chieftain here as well.

The Chieftain is a position held by election and mutual consent. The Clan Ring is a council of advisors selected by the Chieftain to advise, usually made up from the most powerful and influential members of the community. Technically there are two Rings; the “Inner Ring” consists of seven positions, in honor of Orlanth and the Lighbringers. The “Outer Ring” consists of the leaders of each stead, as well as the Issaries merchant Borkar Gudinnsson, and the master redsmith, Harvarr Horviksson. The Outer Ring advises the Inner, and the Inner advises the chieftain.

As of Sea Season, 1619 ST, the Inner Ring consists of the following members. For more information on each, please see the next chapter, pages 24 to 28.

Chieftain: Gordangar Son of Kenstrel of Twice Blessed, Rune Lord of Orlanth Rex

Distinctive Features: Large hands with thick, squat fingers, a braided black beard shot through with iron gray and silver, bushy black eyebrows over piercing dark eyes.

Motivation: To keep the clan together in these dark times, to see Leika Black Spear restored to the Colymar throne

Chief Weaponthane: Jorgunath Bladesong Formerly of Red Rock, Sword of Humakt

Distinctive Features: Pale and thin-faced, with hollow cheeks and high cheekbones, a deep voice that is never raised but always menacing. Tall and wiry muscled. Every morning after rising and practicing the sword he worships, and traces a Death Rune on his forehead in ash.

Motivation: To serve his chieftain as best he can, to die a good death.

Chief Priest: Savan Son of Kenstrel of Twice Blessed, Storm Voice of Orlanth Thunderous

Distinctive Features: Tall and reed-thin, prematurely gray hair and beard, both wild and unkempt. Steel gray eyes always a bit wider than they should be, with a stare that continually looks off to the horizon.

Motivation: To understand the meaning of his visions, to prepare his clan for the coming of the end.

Chief Priestess: Morganeth Daughter of Jarlarant of High Water, Priestess of Ernalda

Distinctive Features: Seems taller than she really is, iron gray hair tied in a coiled braid, milky-white eyes that have gone blind, deep lines in her face, especially around the mouth and eyes.

Motivation: To serve as mother to her clan, to check the more volatile and impulsive behaviors of the men in the Ring.

Lawspeaker: Jodi White Hart of Riddle Watch, Lhankor Mhy Sage

Distinctive Features: Pointed jaw, hawk-like nose giving him almost the aspect of a bird; deep brown eyes flecked with gold, hair and beard gone milk white but kept oiled and braided.

Motivation: To maintain the laws and traditions of his people in the face of Lunar occupation and foreign corruption.

Champion: Erinina Copperaxe of Bear Fallen, Babeester Gor Rune Lady

Distinctive Features: Shaved head on one side, scalp tattooed with the Runes of Earth and Death, hair on the other side dyed blood red, broad, flat face and nose, cruel-looking lips, short and stocky with large bones and strong muscles.

Motivation: To prove she is a better warrior than any man, to avenge wrongs done to women and children.

Skald: Keladon Blue Eye, Bonded Eurmali Trickster

Distinctive Features: Has one gray eye and one bright blue one, his nose is crooked from being broken several times, no beard but grizzled and unshaven, strong body odor, often smells of drink.

Motivation: To put people on the path they need to follow regardless of consequence, to sow the seeds of discord and violence that will clear the ground for change.

In addition there is an informal “eighth” member of the Ring. He does not usually attended meetings unless they are of the utmost import. He is the Royal.

The Royal: The Royal is the Son of the Black Stag; a massive 12-branch stag with a mane of milk white hair and antlers the color of bleached bone. He is the Chieftain of the Beasts, the leader of all animals in the Vale, and considered a member of the Clan Ring.

It is uncertain if every Royal is the same Royal, reincarnating as a new fawn when the previous Royal dies, or if magical powers and sentience and somehow transferred to fawn when need arises. Seldom seen by the humans of the Vale, when encountered he commands all the deference owed the chieftain.

The Royal is also the master shaman of the White Hart Tradition, created when the Haraborn fled from Dragon Pass and the Black Stag sent his spirit-son White Hart to act as Wyter-in-Exile.

Center of Power, Holy Places

Technically, the entire Vale is the center of the Black Stag’s power, but there are specific centers where it is concentrated. The center of the human community’s power is the Village and the Chieftain’s Hall. Three other important centers must be mentioned.

Stag Hill is a mound of earth 20 meters high and 70 meters in diameter. It is capped by a ring of seven standing stones. This tumulus contains the ancient graves of Jarstakos Son of Heort and the original war band that founded the Haraborn, including—it is said— Ungbar Zak Bak, who is the source of the Darkness Rune some in the community are born with. The worship of Orlanth and the Thunder Brothers is conducted from atop the Hill.

The Riddle is more of a mystery. A perfectly square entrance way is carved into the base of Kagradus, and dates back before Orlanthi times, possibly back to the Green Age. Inside is a labyrinth, a maze in perpetual blackness. Torches will not burn within. Sounds are muffled and quickly silenced. The women of the Haraborn are initiated here, taken shortly after their first menstruation and led inside by the Earth priestesses. No man is allowed inside the Riddle (this does not apply to the Nandan, who are taken inside the Riddle for initiation  when their natures become clear and the priestesses approve). When a woman of the clan passes on, her body is carried inside the Riddle and left there. On either side of the Riddle are shrines to Barntar and Uralda.

Not inside the Vale, but overlooking it from atop a cliff face rising some 600 meters, is the Royal’s Grove. Aside from this duty he is also the leader of the local shamanic tradition, the White Hart. Haraborn seeking to become shamans must do so with his instruction and blessing. The Grove is a perfectly circular clearing in the woods under a massive, spreading oak.

Holy Days, High Holy Day

Most Haraborn men are initiates of Orlanth Thunderous, revering him as the Rainbringer and fertilizer of the earth. Thus Windsday of Movement Week is a holy day each season, with the men gathering atop Stag Hill and its upper slopes to offer worship and sacrifice. Savan, or one of his two junior priests, leads these rites. Before the ritual begins the hill becomes crowned in cloud and mist to conceal it from the eyes of the profane, though thunder is often heard throughout the Vale and the sky is lit by lightning. Windsday, Movement Week, Storm Season is the High Holy Day, with rituals beginning at sunset the night before and continuing though the next day. The Windsdays of Sacred Time are equally holy.

The women are nearly all initiates of Ernalda. Every Clayday women worship around the hearth while the men are away in the fields, and though young children are often underfoot during these ceremonies they do not participate. Minor offerings are made, and prayers for health and fertility given. On Clayday of Fertility Week, however, the women of the clan all gather before the Riddle for seasonal rites, led by Morganeth and her priestesses. These rites are forbidden to the eyes of men and children. On Ernalda’s High Holy Day (Clayday, Fertility Week, Earth Season), Morganeth actually leads a procession of women into the Riddle, and rites of worship and sacrifice are performed in darkness and secrecy.   Finally, Godsday, Death Week, Storm Season is observed as the day Jarstakos Forked Spear hunted and killed the Martyr Faun. On this day, worship is given to the clan’s ancestors, the Black Stag, and Running Doe. This is also the day when clan “lay members” (adults who marry into the clan or are adopted) are officially initiated as Haraborn. 

Gloranthan Calendar 

The Spark: A Burning Wheel Campaign

Big Picture:

You live on the outskirts of a vast empire in the small, remote village of Thornwood. Once part of the enchanted kingdom of Eldoria, Thornwood now falls under the iron rule of the Imperial Throne following a brutal conquest a generation ago. The old kingdom, once brimming with magic and wonder, has had its legacy buried under the empire's edicts. The village remembers the haunting tales of the Battle of Falling Leaves and the betrayal of the High Mage, whose spark ignited hope and despair.

In Eldoria's time, magic was a living, breathing part of everyday life. Now, those who possess the "spark" are hunted by the Imperial Inquisition, a ruthless force dedicated to eradicating the old ways. The "spark" might show as a glint in the eye or an involuntary act of magic, making its bearers live in constant fear of discovery. Stories of disappearances and public burnings are whispered among the villagers.

The Imperial Inquisition, led by the infamous Inquisitor Varus, casts a long shadow over Thornwood. Known for his relentless pursuit of magic and his cruel methods, Varus is a name that chills the hearts of those who dare to defy the empire.


Current Situation:

Now, on the eve of the Autumn Festival, a beloved tradition from the old kingdom of Eldoria, the village of Thornwood finds itself on the brink of crisis. The villagers have prepared for the festival with bittersweet nostalgia, but a shadow looms over the festivities.

Rumors have spread like wildfire that a young girl in the village has manifested the "spark"—more than that, she is said to possess the rare ability to practice actual sorcery. Such news has reached the vigilant ears of the Imperial Inquisition, and they are now marching towards Thornwood with grim determination.

The village is gripped by fear and anticipation. While some villagers whisper about hiding the girl or fleeing, there are those who believe in standing their ground and fighting. The first challenge, however, is to find the girl before the Inquisition arrives. As the festival lights flicker and the first notes of music begin, everyone knows that this celebration might be their last moment of peace before the storm.


NPCs

Inquisitor Varus

Description: A tall, imposing figure with piercing eyes and an aura of authority. Varus is the leader of the Imperial Inquisition, feared for his unyielding determination and ruthless methods.

Background: Varus rose through the ranks of the Inquisition by demonstrating an unwavering dedication to eradicating magic. Rumor has it that he once possessed the spark himself but chose to suppress it, seeing it as a weakness.

Personality: Cold, calculating, and merciless. Varus believes that the ends justify the means and is willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals.

Goals: To root out and destroy all magical influences in the empire, ensuring absolute control for the Imperial Throne.

Kerys, the Hidden Mage

Description: An elderly woman with kind eyes and an air of wisdom. Kerys is a former mage of Eldoria who has been living in hiding since the conquest.


Background: Once a respected mage, Kerys lost her family in the conquest and has since dedicated herself to preserving the remnants of Eldoria’s magic. She has been secretly teaching the young girl with the spark.


Personality: Wise, compassionate, and cautious. Kerys knows the dangers of the Inquisition but is driven by a deep sense of duty to keep magic alive.


Goals: To protect the young girl and keep the spark alive, hoping for a day when magic can flourish again.

Lina, the Young Girl with the Spark

Description: A young girl of about ten years old with an innocent face and a glimmer in her eyes that hints at her magical abilities.

Background: Lina discovered her abilities recently and has been kept hidden by her parents and Eldara. She is still learning to control her powers.

Personality: Curious, kind-hearted, and brave beyond her years. Lina is determined to learn about her abilities and help her village.

Goals: To understand and control her powers, and to protect her loved ones from the Inquisition.

Marcus, the Village Elder

Description: An elderly man with a long beard and a frail but wise presence. Marcus is the voice of reason in the village.

Background: Marcus has lived through the transition from Eldoria to the empire and has a wealth of knowledge about the old ways. He is a respected advisor to the villagers.

Personality: Wise, calm, and empathetic. Marcus tries to mediate conflicts and guide the villagers through difficult times.

Goals: To maintain peace in the village and find a way to protect Lina without provoking the Inquisition.

Thorin, the Village Smith

Description: A burly man in his early forties, with muscles honed from years of working the forge. Thorin has a stern face, a wild mane of dark hair, and intense, steely eyes that reflect his fiery determination.

Background: Thorin’s father, a proud warrior, fought valiantly against the empire during the conquest of Eldoria and was a key figure in the resistance before it was crushed. Thorin grew up hearing tales of his father’s bravery and the old kingdom’s glory, instilling in him a deep sense of honor and a burning desire to fight back against the oppressive empire.

Personality: Brave, passionate, and fiercely loyal. Thorin is driven by a desire to honor his father's legacy and protect his village. He is quick to act and is unafraid to stand up against the empire, often encouraging others to join him in defiance.

Goals: To inspire his fellow villagers to resist the Inquisition and protect the young girl with the spark. He believes that fighting back is the only way to reclaim their freedom and preserve the remnants of Eldoria’s magic.

Role in the Current Situation: As the eve of the Autumn Festival approaches, Thorin emerges as the instigator of the fight caucus. He rallies the villagers, particularly those who share his desire to resist rather than flee or hide. His impassioned speeches and unyielding spirit make him a natural leader, but his fervor also puts him at great risk from the Inquisition.

 Ruben Marino - Journal #2 (Peru)

Sharing a meal with Gus and De Mendoza chilled off any thoughts of real sleep as I slept as light as a ballerina. We all met for what the natives called desyano, pretty good although I don’t want to be downwind of Silas after those beans. Mr. Jackson said he had a contact at the university by the name of Professor Sanchez. Silas and I kept tabs to see if we were being followed. Sanchez, Artie and Jesse were peaching over theories about Mendoza being a Peruvian vampire, one that was over 400 years old to boot!

 Sanchez expected his aide and asked us to look in on her. To ensure their safety we asked them to lock the doors while we looked in on his aide. His aide was pooped! The artifact room was in disarray with her being buried in a rack of old shit. Silas was the first to unearth her, finding her withered corpse with a hole in chest. Her corpse put the screws on Silas' gut and he wretched out his desyano. In the rubble we found a golden artifact with a hand print burned into it, fairly fresh. I think we collectively all stopped breathing when we found some bloody prints leading outside. Following the tracks back outside and back into the building he attacked passers-by to perhaps cover his tracks. Returning back to the professor’s office with the doors caved in, Jesse knocked out cold and De Mendoza looming over Sanchez with rows of razor sharp teeth I stepped forward with a shot into its chest. Nothing. The wound closed up; I could hear the “tink” of the bullet hit the floor. It leapt at me, and as we struggled its saliva was like acid burning me like a cup of hot joe. Stepping up to bat with the golden artifact Silas brained him with it. Everybody's attention turned to Jesse and Professor and in doing so De Mendoza had vanished. We gave statements to the law who encouraged us to leave. 

We decided to leave a day early and head south by boat so as not to be tailed. Jesse knew of a wise woman closer to our destination who would know more about the pyramid and the folklore. We looked like buncha sore thumbs towering over these little colorful people. Jesses contact was nowhere to be found and so after inquiring around we found out she was hiding on a small island afraid for her life. While trying to arrange passage out to the islands we spotted by an older woman and younger boy both with extended bellies. Worms, in your lawn commonly used as bait for fishing, no problem. I had seen plenty of maggots to include leeches across the pond during the war. This was different. I ain’t gonna touch on it too much, De Mendoza who had killed the prof had put a worm in his belly. Sally extracted it, flung it aside and it crawled as if it was trying to escape. These two mooks fit the description if the professor hadn’t been killed. 

We think we made it Nara’s undetected. Our visit confirms De Mendoza was old as methuselah. We got alpacas, goods and sundries for the trip and headed out. Our first night we lost an alpaca to the bloated Peruvians, they sucked the innards dry leaving an emaciated mess behind. Reorganizing the load on the animals, I didn’t mind carrying a little extra weight, I felt important as I wasn't able to contribute as much as Arty and Jesse. Into our trek the next day we came across an injured boy who had recently been attacked by our tail. This was brought to our attention by the gunshot of the father of the boy chasing off our tail. We offered aid to his boy and he offered us refuge on his farm. Julio, of course, was distrusting but he could see the concern in Sally’s face as she tended to the boy.

 

Dr. Sally Jones - Postcard #2 (Peru)

Dear Johnny,

Oh my word, kharisiri are real! They look human, but in an instant, their mouth transforms into a hideous gaping circle of teeth, like a lamprey eel. They feed on people and animals, sucking the fat from their victims, leaving them shriveled like raisins. That, or their victim could be left alive, which might be worse. Instead of feeding on fat, the kharisiri shoves its hideously long tongue down its victim’s throat—like a nightmarish French kiss—and implants a larva in their belly. How do I know all this? Local folklore and first-hand experience! Horrifying yet somehow gratifying to learn of this. I just knew there was something else out there—beyond what normal society accepts. The question is, what more is there? I’ve got to know.

Here's the story. Jackson and our little expedition team met up with a professor of archaeology at the local university. The professor’s student assistant was taking overly long to return with a document, so we searched for her and found her dead, emaciated with a circular wound on her chest. We found the document she was fetching. It dated back to 1543 and mentioned Luis De Mendoza. We also found a large chunk of gold, runes written across it, with residue from a burnt handprint. Pulling ourselves together and grabbing the gold, we followed bloody footprints outside to a chaotic scene of blood and screaming people. As we ran, we heard a gunshot coming from the professor’s office. We arrived in time to see Jackson in a pool of blood and Mendoza hunched over the flailing professor. It’s official, Mendoza is what the locals call a kharisiri. Ruben and I shot Mendoza, but his wounds healed—squeezed the bullets right out of his flesh. Mendoza attacked Ruben, but Silas bashed Mendoza with that heavy chunk of gold, causing acid—probably used by Kharisiri to melt the fat of their victims—to burn Ruben’s face. The professor, meanwhile, was hysterical. Rightly so. There was something moving in his belly. Summoning my medical training and nerves, I cut into the professor’s belly. A disgusting larva slithered out and up my arm. I flicked it away and Ruben squished it. Too bad we couldn’t preserve it for study. I forgot where our Professor Thompson was during this. I think paralyzed with fear and horror. At some point, Mendoza fled. Presumably healed like with the bullets.

We gave a passable testimony to the police. Jackson was bandaged and returned to the hotel. The professor survived the ordeal in his office only to be killed at the hospital. I assume murdered by Mendoza. Unanimously, we decided to set sail for Puno instead of meeting up with Larkin. How would that have gone, anyway? ”Say, Larkin, did you know that your man Mendoza is a fat-sucking, larva-implanting, murder monster from the 1500s?” Larkin is clearly in on it.

In Puno, we discovered more unnatural beings. An old woman and a teenage boy suspiciously observed Jackson from a distance. When Silas and I approached, the boy ran, and the woman was uncooperative. Silas pointed out her distended stomach—like with the professor and his larva—and we hastily retreated to the others. Ruben spotted the boy, who also had a distended stomach. Now we are wary of anyone exhibiting this symptom. One night on our trek to the pyramid, one of our alpacas was attacked by one of those things. It was emaciated like the student in Lima. How many of those monsters are out here? The next day, we came across a man whose son had just been attacked by the old woman and teenage boy duo. I managed to stabilize the son, Domingo, and we all returned to the man’s house to treat Domingo further and to regroup. We will set out tomorrow for the pyramid, guided by the father, Julio.

Sally

Silas - Journal #1 (Peru)
 

It's hard to believe it's only been a week since we landed in Lima.

Everything has changed. 

I have seen what lurks in the darkness.  The monster under the bed.  It is far more terrifying than I could have possibly imagined.

A whole new world lays before me and it is full of blood and fear, and yet, I am consumed with curiosity.  If this is true, what else might be true?  Is there equally blinding light to counter the oppressive darkness?  A part of me yearns to dive in head first and see what this new world has to offer.  Is it possible to contact the beyond?  To talk to the dead?  Is it possible to talk to my Jenny and make up for past mistakes?  On the other hand, a part of me fears that I will succumb to the darkness and drown in it.  We are close to the pyramid and have a guide that will lead us there.  I guess we'll find out in the next few days.  Will I be able to resist, or will the darkness suck me dry?

 

Professor Arthur Thompson - Journal Entry #2

1921-3-23?

I think it’s the 23^rd, but I don’t know. The past few days have shaken my existence. I don’t know what to believe.

Vampires are real. Vampires are real. I can’t say this too many times, vampires are real. It’s one thing to study the occult, but to know the stories are true? I can’t comprehend the things I’ve seen.

The people De Mendoza hurt, now and over the past few centuries, how many? How many lives hurt? He’s still out there, hunting us. He’s turned others and continues to. At least we have the abdomen test, I hope that continues to work. If their stomach is distended, they are possessed. Putting this to paper sounds crazier than it does in my head. If I don’t make it, and someone else is reading this, please know that I tell the truth. I think I do.

A nice family has taken us in for the night after saving their son. The father has promised to lead us to the pyramid. I can only hope that he isn’t one of them, and we are being led to slaughter or possession. Which is worse? Do the people stay trapped in their bodies, watching the demon do horrible things? Do they die and the creature takes over like a puppet master? Are those people walking corpses? I have to put this out of my mind, or I’ll be sick.

I’ve seen so much, but I must finish this. Maybe we can find the source of the evil and stop it. If not, the demon may follow us to our homes and establish a foothold.

I need a good night’s rest. I hope this is not my last entry.

Ruben's Notes

 

Ruben Marino - Thoughts and Impressions, #1

This was the furthest I've sailed, and its majesty is over the moon. The family sent Silas with me, quite stoic, and always dependable Silas. He's always handy and keeps me in check. We got this dame and a professor who also joined us. Sally's a head doctor and probably wouldn't be an easy mark for my flimflam, and the professor is kinda a daisy, but I'm guessing he doesn't leave the school faculty much. Cards, Backgammon, and getting to know each other made the trip go quicker; the weather couldn't have been any nicer, and that's the way I like my duck soup.

Silas knew the lingo, and that made it easier to get around Lima. I felt like Gulliver towering over these natives dressed in their bright colors as I moved my wallet to the inside pocket of my vest. After picking up various sundries and picking up attire that would make us seem less of a mark, we made our way to the appointed time to meet Mr. Larkin.

I gave Augustus Larkin the ol' up-and-down from the moment we entered the hotel and knew he was into dope. I'm pretty sure Sally caught wind of what I was thinking, smart gal. The other two at the table were introduced. To Gus's left was a swarthy gentleman with a fancy sword by the name of Mendosa. The fellow opposite was Jackson Elias, who was clutching his pipe with white knuckles, nervous and why? As old Gus was coughing into his handkerchief and talking with his hands, I could track marks leaving evidence of his vice. He told us that there were riches in the Pyramids, and any supplies we would need would be compensated. It would be a few days before we would leave, and both he and Mendosa took their leave back to their hotel.

A few moments after Mr. Larkin and Mendosa left, Jackson came clean that was his alias, and he went by Jesse Hughes, an author from the States. We swore that his secret was safe, and he'd done some investigating on Mendosa, who is a real bat cat according to the natives. They claimed he was a vampire, which would be scary if you believed in that sort of malarkey. He was also tied into some kind of cult with what he thought maybe had a dozen members. I wonder if Mendosa got Larkin hooked on Smack and is using his knowledge to try and get the golden treasures from the pyramid...?