Here goes something!
TRICKSTER:
'What I was wondering,' you say to them, 'was why the treasure on the other hill is just lying there unguarded ...'
'Eh?' says the Bat. 'What's that? Which hill?'
'Where?' says the Dog.
You point across the river. 'A hill right over there beyond the trees, on the other side of the river. There's a pile of jewels and gold in a hole, waiting to be taken.' You smile as you see them exchange a greedy look. 'Why don't you go over and check it out?'
'Yes, why don't we?' says the Dog, getting up off his haunches.
'Don't let's be too hasty,' the Bat whispers into his friend's ear. 'We don't want to go gallivanting off and leave these strangers here with our chest.' They both look hard at you and seem to grin. 'I'll fly over and investigate,' he says.
You watch until he disappears into the darkness beyond the trees. Poking at the ground idly with a stick, you wait a while and then say to the Dog: 'Your friend's taking a long time, isn't he? Perhaps he found the other treasure was so good that he's decided to keep it for himself?'
The Dog sniffs haughtily. 'You don't know what you're saying! The Bat is my trusted friend. He would as soon fall in the river and drown as double-cross me.'
'Still, taking a long time, isn't he ...?'
'It's a long way to go,' protests the Dog.
'Flying?' You give a cynical bark of laughter. 'But maybe you're right ...'
He paces to and fro for several minutes. 'I have come to a decision,' he announces at last.
'Oh yes?' You scratch your nose disinterestedly.
'I'm going to see what's happened to my friend. But I'm not going to leave our chest here - even though it does only contain peat for our fire. Help me get it up onto my back.'
You help him with the chest until it is balanced squarely on his shoulders. 'Heavy for just peat, isn't it?' you remark.
'Peat's all it is,' snaps the Dog. He makes his way down the hillside and is finally lost to view among the thorn thickets.
Hey, maybe the Bat found more fascinating peat!
TRICKSTER:
The Bat returns shortly. 'You were mistaken: there's nothing there,' it says sourly, exhausted by the flight. 'Eh? What? Where is my friend the Dog?'
'Where indeed?' you answer wryly. 'After you left he made some remarks to the effect that he had shared the treasure with you for too long, and he would now take advantage of your absence to make off with the lot.'
The Bat gasps. 'My trusted friend? It hardly seems within the bounds of credibility!'
'The trust and friendship were only felt on your part, it seems.'
He sheds a few tears, then looks at you with angry eyes. 'Where has the miscreant gone? Tell me - he'll not get away with this. For centuries I have tolerated his dull wits and unrefined conversation. I will not tolerate this betrayal!'
You buff your fingernails on your sleeve. 'Well, it isn't really up to me to get involved, but I do think you've been treated rather shabbily. The Dog muttered something about hiding in that tower over there.'
'Hah!' cries the Bat. He shakes his wings and launches himself into the air. 'I'll fly in the top way and surprise him.'
A few minutes pass. The Dog returns, huffing and puffing, with the treasure chest still on his back. 'Forgot I couldn't swin the river with this load,' he says. 'You'll have to go and find out what's happened to the Bat while I wait here.'
'I will not have to travel any distance to tell you what has happened to him, but I'm afraid the news will cause you grief.'
'What is it? Has an accident befallen my friend? Did robbers come and attack him?'
'Neither. However, by his own admission and action he is no longer your friend. He came back with some truly fabulous jewels from the other hill. He seemed rather self-satisfied, and he uttered some uncomplimentary comments about you. His precise words may have been: "This is a real find and I'm damned if I'm going to share it with that cretinous hound. I'm going to fly to yonder tower and hide it where he can't get his greedy paws on it." I know this comes as a cruel blow to you, but it is time you saw your so-called friend for what he is ...'
'A blackguard!' cries the Dog. 'A louse-ridden cheat! A rat with wings! All these years I've put up with his effete manners and his superior airs and graces! Now there'll be a reckoning.'
He sets off in the direction of the tower. You follow at a discreet distance. As you approach, the Horned Bat pokes his head over the parapet and flies down. You notice that he has a gleaming gold amulet clutched in his talons.
'Traitor!' snarls the Dog.
'Fiend!' shrieks the Bat.
They fall on one another in a rage and tumble over and over down the slope. After a few moments of furious fighting, the Dog manages to close his jaws on his opponent's throat. But the Bat's claws are poised to strike, and he eviscerates the Dog as he dies.
When you are sure they're both dead, you go over to see what they had.
Let's check out the
loot peat! Maybe the Sage can study them and write a book on them!
The gold amulet that the Bat presumably found in the tower is an ankh: a T-shaped cross with a circle at the top, commonly worn in Kaikuhuran times. If any player wishes to put this on - either now or later - you should make a note of the entry you're reading at the time and then turn to 25. (If you aren't going to see what it does right now, note 'gold ankh-cross; see 25 for effects' on your Character Sheet.)
Their treasure chest has fallen open and you now discover that it contains a cache of enchanted items:
A suit of magical silver plate with an Armour Rating of 5; an Enchanter could wear this and still cast spells.
Two suits of magical chainmail, each with an Armour Rating of 4.
A suit of magical studded leather with an Armour Rating of 3; this will not impede an Enchanter's spellcasting.
Two magical axes; these give no bonus to Fighting Prowess, but they score an additional one Die of damage when they hit.
A magic bow; arrows shot from this inflict 1 Die+4 damage.
There are also five thousand gold coins. 'Ah, we are rich,' remarks the Traveller ironically as he sees you looking at these. Once you have taken your pick of the hoard, he says: 'Too much time has been wasted already. Now we must hurry.'
Most. Awesome. Peat. Ever.
The Warrior and Enchanter still have their money pouches, so I see no reason not to fill them up to the full again.
You guys can work out how to share the rest of the "peat" before we move on. Note that the Enchanter can't use the chainmail without impeding his spellcasting. Also, let me know if any of you volunteers to try out the
ankh.
WARRIOR:
NAME: Dame Caecilia Wither-Stoat
RANK: 2nd
Battle Order: 1
Fighting Prowess: 11
Psychic Ability: 6
Awareness: 6
Endurance: 20/20
Damage: 1 Die +4 (+3 from Enchanted Sword)
*Extra Notes: Takes no FP/damage penalty when fighting unarmed, +1 Armour Rating from Potentiation on top of normal armour bonus
Items:
1 Enchanted Sword (+3 Damage)
2 Enchanted Chainmail armour (Armour Rating five)
3 Money pouch (100 gold)
4 Silver crucifix (with finger-bone of St Ashanax)
5 Iron Bell
6 Bedroll
7 Shielding Charm (+1 AR)
8 Dog-faced Creature's Spear
9 Ointment of Healing (10 Applications, +2D6 END each)
10 Empty slot
TRICKSTER:
NAME: Benedict of the Crimson Spires, Honourable Duelist
RANK: 5th
Battle Order: 2
Fighting Prowess: 8 (+1 from Enchanted Sword)
Psychic Ability: 7
Awareness: 8
Endurance: 31/31
Damage: 2 Dice
Items:
1 Enchanted Sword (+1 FP)
2 Studded Leather Armour (Armour Rating two)
3 Golden Snuffbox
4 Dervish's scroll
5 Water from River Lethe
6 Bow
7 Harp
8 Quiver (6 arrows)
9 Fur Cloak
10 Gilt-edged scroll
SAGE:
NAME: "Pepito" Cascadero, Master of the Mystic Way
RANK: 5th
Battle Order: 3
Fighting Prowess: 7
Psychic Ability: 8
Awareness: 7
Endurance: 26/26
Damage: 2 Dice
Items:
1 Quarterstaff
2 Ringmail Armour (Armour Rating two)
3 Seafaring Charts from Hunguk's ship
4 Bottle of water from the Pool of Remembrance
5 Magic Bow (Damage 1 Die+1)
6 Quiver (2 arrows)
7 Skull Amulet
8 Blue Crystal Eyes
9 Typhon's Crystal Eye
10 Silver key to Fatima's garden
ENCHANTER:
NAME: Enchanter Reed, Ninth of the Inverted Tower
RANK: 5th
Battle Order: 4
Fighting Prowess: 1
Psychic Ability: 15 (+1 from Ring of Sorcery)
Awareness: 8
Endurance: 26/26
Damage: 1 Die +2
Items:
1 Brazier
2 Silver armour (Armour Rating two)
3 Bedroll
4 Magical Bread Crust of Infinity
5 Fur Cloak
6 Money pouch (100 gold pieces)
7 Ring of Sorcery (+1 PA)
8 Iron rations (7 days)
9 Amber Tinderbox
10 Empty slot