A Scream and Leap to Arms!

-- The Kzinti Are Coming --

[written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, calling adventurers in the city to be ware the Red Cloud's coming ...]

This is a call for players available to join in a game against the Kzinti before 26 May.

News has been trickling in to Cothon-Gadeed about groups of K'Zin bandits coalescing and terrorizing the hinterlands. A red-tailed comet burns in the night sky. And the rise of a self-styled “mighty K'Zin warlord” has been a conversational topic throughout the Dual Cities – especially on those lips of K'Zin origin! This warlord calls himself the Red Cloud, after that same comet, and has been hinted at as the instigator of several wilderness skirmishes. While he has not (as yet) claimed responsibility for those sorties, it is known that he is calling for K'Zin (and human!) tribal groups to answer his call – to build an army of extraordinary magnitude for liberation and conquest! Furthermore, over recent years, it has been noted that the K'Zin have been infiltrating and desecrating the catacombs of the Necropolis, in search of ancient artifacts of war, buried with powerful historical figures, and often forgotten or neglected over centuries of time.

While these rumors and discussions have led to heated debates within the Dual Cities, little has been done to quell the concerns of the citizens. Political power struggles have stymied any potential actions to thwart Red Cloud. However, it appears that the powder kegs of politics and war are about to ignite and burst forth upon the land, whether the people want that or not! It has been confirmed that in recent months at least two small iqta's have been razed and pillaged. And more recently, the outpost fort in the Tukayyat hills was infiltrated, its Captain brutally murdered, a protected artifact stolen, and its library burned to ashes. Word has it that K'Zin appear to be responsible for all of these attacks.

In confirmation of these woeful tidings, a rag-tag group of four refugees (bloodied, beaten, and bruised) have stumbled to the gates of the Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy, pressing the newly minted citizen, Sesel of the Survivors, to provide them a safe haven. They report that their caravan, traveling to Cothon-Gadeed, was set upon by a large band of 40 – 50 bandits, only a few hours march east from Sesel's iqta'! They relate the horrors of being taken by surprise the night previous, ambushed and overrun in the dark by both K'Zin and human warriors. Even though it was dark, and the chaos and confusion were overwhelming, they are certain that these bandits were being led by K'Zin, and they report hearing the human warriors extolling that “Red Cloud has blessed us this night – we can only be victorious!” The wagons of the caravan were broken up and burned, easily carried valuables were stolen, food-stuffs were carried away or scattered to the wind, a good number of their fellows were savagely murdered, and several were taken prisoner (ostensibly to serve as slaves). One of the prisoners taken by the bandits (along with her goods) was one Ilasha – a respected traveling merchant dabbling in gems and jewels (who came to Cothon last year)

These caravan survivors appeal specifically to iqtadar Sesel, but also to any and all citizens and barbarians alike, to avenge them! They fear the worst for their fellows who were taken as slaves, and believe that if nothing is done, the Red Cloud will continue to rampage across the land, and perhaps this iqta' will be next – being that is so close to where the caravan was ambushed!

Who will heed their call and appeal for justice? Who will come to the aid of those taken prisoner? Who will lend their strength and arms to fight for freedom against the tyranny of the Red Cloud and their oppressive K'Zinti regime of horror and genocide? The doom is growing. The machinations of a mad-Cat is at full throttle! Action is needed!