Vergus of Torga - Kal Arath Actual Play 6

Demon Cultists of Vul

Check here if you missed the last part of the ongoing story.

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Vergus, Ketra, Rogra, Tark, and Oswin spurred their horses forward, leaving the rest of the party behind.

Two slavers and their six guards rode forward to meet them.

“Greetings, friends; my name is Caldon.” The leader spoke with relaxed confidence, believing Vergus and his party to be fellow slave traders.

“And to you friend. Vergus of Torga. We ride in towards the fort of the Yellow Wyrm.”

Vergus closely gauged the men’s reaction to his words.

Caldron scowled, “Why are you going there? They are thieves, cheats, and bullies. They sell sick and weak merchandise at high prices, pay nearly nothing, and enforce their deals at sword point. I would advise against it.”

Vergus nodded. “They have cheated us too, and we seek recompense.”

Caldon first laughed, then took a deadly serious tone. “Then you ride to your death. They kill anyone who refuses them.”

Vergus gave the man a cold stare.

“So you are cowards, afraid to stand up to some petty warlord and a band of thugs,” interjected Ketra, giving Caldon and his guards a look of disdain.

Vergus saw this insult to their honor hit home.

“We are not cowards but warriors. But there are too many…good warriors pick their battles.”

Oswin looked at the guards, “Real warriors do not pick their battles. They take their fight to the enemy regardless of the odds!”

The slaver and guards grumbled. Shamed at the insult to their honor.

“Listen Caldon, we know the risk. But we have numbers and a mission. If you join us, we have even more. Glory awaits in the destruction of the Yellow Wyrm, and enough silver to make us all rich. Join us, and we cannot lose.”

“Wait here.”

Caldon and his guards rode back to their wagons and held a silent conference.

“We would like nothing more than to see those bastards’ heads on a spike. We’ll ride with you and make them pay.”

So, the caravan grew.

Total Party

Vergus, Ketra, Rogra, Tark, Oswin, and Caldon

4 armed tribesmen we freed (armed with swords)

5 slavers with Caldon (armed wth swords and light armor)

Oswin’s 8 companions (armed with swords)

6 slaves which Caldon refuses to arm (currently)

4 children freed from slavery

Hex 8 – Day 4

Weather – Heavy Snow

Not Lost

No POI

Forage – 20 total forage

Encounter – Day (none), Night (none)

Vergus and Caldon’s parties joined and moved slowly northward through the blanketing snow. On the ride, the warriors made oaths and boasts to one another. They would destroy the Yellow Wyrm together.

Though the day’s journey was harsh, they met no one along the road or during camp.

HEX 9

Weather – Clear Sky

Not Lost

POI - Settlement

Forage – 40 total forage

Encounter – Day (8 Demon Cultists – Friendly), Night (none)

Just a few hours after dawn, the sprawling party saw a ruined settlement with perhaps a dozen ramshackle buildings. As they neared the seemingly abandoned town, eight brown-robed figures with wild eyes covered in bloody sigils stepped from one of the larger buildings.

They weren’t hostile, but Vergus noticed they wore no shoes, even in the snow. Something was wrong with them. Blood magic.

Five men and three women greeted them, never taking their eyes from the slaves in the wagon cages.

Vergus spoke quietly with his companions.

“These foul sorcerers cannot be suffered to live.”

Not a single person disagreed. Follow my lead, and we will slaughter them.

One of the cult’s women addressed Vergus, “You are slavers, no?”

Vergus nodded yes.

“We have the silver to buy some of your slaves, especially the children. Our great Lord Vul, prince of the night, requires sacrifice.”

“You have the silver for our price, then? 10 pieces per head?” inquired Vergus.

The crone produced a pouch of coins with thin skeletal fingers and handed it to Vergus. He counted the coins, hiding his disgust.

“Meet us by the wagon and choose which you’d like.”

The cultists could barely contain their vile grins as they made their way to the rear of the party.

“Ketra, Torga, Rogra, and I will ready our bows. Oswin, Caldon…give word to your men to get into position. After our first volley, surround these creatures and destroy them.

The plan unfolded perfectly.

As the slave cage opened, the volley was loosed. Three arrows buried themselves into the cultists. They were taken entirely by surprise. Then, the warriors closed a circle and killed them quickly.

They never had a chance to act.

8 Demon Cultists

HP 8 each

Rolled for attacks and damage. The cultists fell in the first round without ever getting to act. Left the actual combat rolls out for brevity.

Vergus and his party left the cultists for the scavengers and then searched the ruined town.

Several of the buildings were covered in blood and incomprehensible scribbling. They were both murderers and cannibals from the look of it.

Searching one building turned up a cache of forgotten weapons and supplies.

Loot

10 swords

10 bows

100 arrows

10 torches

5 vials of oil

60 s (taken from the female cultist)

They torched the buildings used for the sacrificial rituals and used the encampment town as a base for the night. Everyone who could wield a sword now had one, and they knew the Black Wyrm slavers’ fort was only a two-day ride away.

Extra guards were posted, and they planned to move at first light…

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