[written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, about a "Special Episode" that was played 22 April; despite and because Bart was not directly involved, I offered an award of 150 xp per level for the in-character report of rumors, and thus Bart has earned this award]
From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone
A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery
22 April 2022
Treachery at Tukayyat!
While I have been studying and completing various research projects, here in Bob Hall, I have begun to hear stories and rumors of terrible things. Gan has been in town recently, visiting his sweetie, and has brought me this news:
Word has been spreading in Cothon-Gadeed about a recent attack on a particular Tukayyat hill fort, not too far off in the wilderness, northwest of the dual cities. Many claim, and it is the official word, that it was bandits – merely attempting to make off with several head of the prized chlen herd maintained in that area. However, others have heard more dire rumors.
Reports have begun leaking into public knowledge that the Captain of the guard at Fort Tukayyat (and his squire) were found alone in the forest, slaughtered. It is also rumored that the library of the fort was burned to smoldering ash, a particular artifact has gone missing, and a “trusted” initiate has disappeared. Some are saying this reeks of treachery, infiltration, and guerrilla war tactics by none other than the K'Zin war chief Red Cloud!
Indeed, Gan learned that the mangled body of a well-respected military captain (Lord Icar) was found in the forest nearby the hill fort, his face literally ripped off, and his weapons and armor missing; his squire was found crushed to death nearby. Yes – crushed to death! As well, a particular artifact (the shards of a broken “lance”?), and a certain initiate of the Confraternity of St. Inistas (Sister Kyssa) have gone missing. Furthermore, I have learned that a clerk of the Confraternity was found disemboweled in his chambers, and the library at the fort was most certainly turned into a conflagration (sad to lose such knowledge!). Perhaps the missing initiate was a traitor from within?! Finally, Gan related that in the area around where the bodies of the two military personnel were found, unidentified sources claimed that massive claw marks were noted on several trees, and a particular name carved into a tree trunk was identified – a K'Zinti name: His-Right-Hand-Is-Open!
More general rumors say that Red Cloud has been active throughout the north and west, with his bands of wild K'Zin burning and pillaging isolated farm villages. Small, scattered groups of refugees have been entering Cothon-Gadeed as of late, telling horrible stories of hordes of large cat-like demons descending on their freeholds, wantonly killing all in their way, stealing away herd animals, and leaving a scorched wasteland in their wake. These refugees have begun petitioning the great Houses to do something, but so far their pleas have fallen on deaf ears – except when it comes to one Warlord Dalinar of House Bani al Khalid.
Many of the great Houses, and the High Council, have claimed that these are only rumors, that there is no approaching war with the wild K'Zin (that's utter nonsense – they were crushed ages ago!), and the tales of murder and mayhem are but scare tactics being blown out of proportion by hyperbolic political rivals. However, Warlord Dalinar has made public claims that indeed, there is no “approaching” war – war is already upon Cothon-Gadeed! Keen observers have even noted that soon after the news of the raid on Tukayyat began circulating, a small contingent of emissaries from the Confraternity of St. Inistas made contact with House Bani al Khalid, and had private discussions with Warlord Dalinar.
Has war with the K'zin truly started? What might this mean for the city and her inhabitants? What about the far-flung iq'tas that lay outside of the city proper – are they safe, can they be properly defended, or will they follow a similar fate as Tukayyat and others? What, exactly, is Red Cloud up to?! Warlord Dalinar has made calls to action in the past, and none have heeded – is Cothon-Gadeed doomed?
No comments:
Post a Comment