ديسمبر Saba' al Khair

 News

• The lunar new year has come and passed, and the current year is now Urodas-Bayzadis 2. Iqtadar Sesel has not been elected to any particular office, but may well be called up by the Souffets for extraordinary service, especially with the threat of the Red Cloud still hanging over the city
• Pursuant to Pako's election as censor of Fort Stormbreak, Pako has also been granted citizenship by the Souffets
• The Sakkra merchant Glarh arrived, heralding the renewal of merchants periodically appearing with wares for adventurers in the city, every few months or so. As for Glarh, he will be debarking from the city during the next week, so his remaining wares are only available until 6 January, after which Glarh will have departed for further shores
• Durham at the Ringing Anvil was commissioned to create a new enchanted item, a magical khopesh for Fa Mei, first mate of Najm ibn Marwan; this khopesh was forged of chromium, and it was deemed prudent by the Ringing Anvil to spread information about that metal for anyone else interested in seeing it enchanted
• Tales of the sunken city of Babilar were noised in the city after a seaborne adventure some months since. Najm was excited to seek this place out, as a maiden voyage for his new ship, the Rihha. He and a number of adventurers took ship on 28 December to go seek out the strange place, and still have yet to return from their venture.

Rumors

• There has been some kind of uproar at the Souffets' Court of the Moon. No details have filtered out of the palace, but some new report seems to have caused the furor. Perhaps more information will be available soon
• The Long Wake, a time of fasting and mourning in memory of those lost in the many Man-Kzin Wars, will begin next month; at the end of the month, the Coreguyi Games will be held in the arena at the culmination of the Long Wake (because of the intercalary period, the months of the lunar year have been pushed back approximately one month in comparison to our own calendar--I forgot to do this in the last year)
• There are reports that the Beyg of Ittiyqa has raised a private army of mercenaries with the intent to personally send them against the Red Cloud, in despite of the Souffets' apparent inaction
• Iqtadar Sesel is known to have appealed to the Attine Klackons in the Great Spire on behalf of the Mnor Klackons of his iqta'. There is no doubt something in the works regarding this action, which may merely be an opportunity for a festival, or perhaps moreover a chance for action ...

Items of Interest

• The Confraternity of 'Issa the Baptist is offering a bounty of 1000 dinars per shanu'u egg, or 3000 dinars per shanu'u fledgling on behalf of the Alkari of the coast (from Kir Sabaha). Shanu'u (gryphons) are known to roost in the high hills and mountainous territory over the Turma River to the southwest of Gadeed, especially over the Cataracts.
• Dindins are still plaguing the waters between Ittiyqa and Cothon and attacking fishermen and sponge/pearl divers there (see here for a former effort at hunting them). A more formal bounty has been placed upon them, claimable in any of three harbors, Ittiyqa, Cothon, or Baldashmun: 250 dinars per 3 dozen stone weight [don't be scared--this means 250 dinars per hit die, but we wanted to provide a diegetic number ~the Scribes]
• Per the inflammation of the Red Cloud's aggressions, a new bounty is being instated in Cothon: any detached head of a Kzin can earn one 200 dinars, while any live Kzin captive can earn one 500 dinars. Kzin lieutenants or captains would be worth at minimum twice such a bounty, but possibly far greater, depending on the importance of their position

At the Ringing Anvil: Chromium, the King's Steel

[written up by Joel, player of Durham of the Ringing Anvil, expanding the scope of the setting--thanks, Joel!]

As the work on Fa Mei's magical khopesh sword is finished (project noted in the middle section here), it seems appropriate for the scribes to make an entry about this metal’s history, properties and where it could be found.

Chromium's first recorded appearance was roughly 250 lunar years ago, In a small city of the Vermilion Mountains, ruled then by Idris, first of his name. Located many leagues west of Cothon and Gadeed. A vein of the ore was found and smelted, producing orange colored ingots. After some experimentation by the King’s smiths it was discovered when forged with steel the metal itself took on a golden sheen and color.

King Idris ordered a sword made for himself and for his guard as protection of the mine fell to the king and his men. It is recorded that the warrior king’s weapon started to take on magical properties, shining light in dark caverns and warding away evil spirits. The popularity of chromium grew due to its ability to take on magical enchantment and the alloy became a status symbol within noble and wealthy circles. Decades passed and it was not uncommon for those of great wealth or social status to have some item forged with chromium, mostly weapons or armor, though not always the case. Many of these items were passed down through family lines, while others were lost in battles with Sro, demons, or in the wars of man. Chromium started to lose its glory after a few generations; rumors swirled that chromium magical items would lose the power they had by the time the grandchildren of the original owner inherited them; others simply state it was no longer the status symbol it once was.

The small city eventually became the great city Idris, one of the ten in the Ten Cities League. Those close to the royal family swear that there is a secret chamber where the sword of Idris the first is kept and that the sword itself speaks providing the wisdom and counsel of the former King. Such rumors aside, it is no secret that the city Idris has some of the best smiths in the known world and developed most of the techniques used for making chromium.

Chromium is almost exclusively forged with steel to give it maximum durability. Often the two metals will be layered on top of one another creating a pattern (damascus), which can be further manipulated to provide more unique patterns. After being forged this new alloy gains some new properties. First and foremost it makes the metal easily enchantable; it also allows the steel to be worked much more easily, removing problems such as shrinkage and porosity during the forging process. Pure chromium is a rare thing to see as it is brittle and likely to break.

Where can chromium be obtained? Idris of course is one such place, it is also said the far northern lands is another. There is unconfirmed rumor that the Fremen have access to chromium as well but most would rather believe that those barbarian tribes traded for it. The metal is more common than the fabled zortrium of legend so it would not surprise anyone if a merchant vessel had some to sell. An adventurer who is brave enough could very well come across some in the lair of a Sro or the tomb of a king.

 

Merchants' Return

A Hanse ship has put into port, and it heralds the good weather of summer soon to come. [the Scribes need to figure out the actual dates of the solstices and equinoxes of the solar year at some point, but have not yet done so] This means several things:

1. Adventurer-Merchants should begin to trickle through the Cities again
2. Telman of Tsipa will have to return to press his campaign against the Luwian Pirates very soon now [the Scribes know that Durham is working on something in regard to this and acknowledge that a session may be a good way to resolve it]
3. 
   (though this is not how it works in the real world), winter inflation is now over and prices are normal per the SRD once again

As for this merchant, he is actually a Hansesakkra, one Glarh.

While his ship offloads some much needed spring cargo of corn, salt-hma, and other such goods, Glarh himself has certain curios from his personal chest for sale in the town, for anyone interested:

Price	No.	Items
40 dn/horn	8	Wapeetum Antlers
75 dn/cask	4	Ismiirli Pale Ale Cask (16 gallons)
100 dinars ea.	8	Sakkra Essence Healing Potion
150 dn/bottle	5	Chromium Ink (4 uses per bottle)
2000 dinars	1	a Northern Sekeker Queen (ready for nesting)
3200 dinars	2	Logrii Bulrathi Mail Shirt
5000 dinars	1	Manslayer, a Kzinti wtsai (magic)
8000 dinars	1	Moonlight Pendant (magic)

Availability is first-come::first-served. Please either comment on the blog below or on our Discord channel to let the Scribes know if anything is bought. The Scribes will keep track of the timing of any purchases.

These items/goods are available until 31 December, after which Glarh will have departed for his next port of call and taken anything not yet sold with him.

Regarding Najm: Some Housekeeping

A few items of note that Najm ibn Marwan and crew have been up to in the last year.

In a recent session, which was actually backdated to the beginning of this lunar year, Najm transported a company of individuals to the city of Ittiyqa, some of whom would partake in the Zihuitlani Games there. Overcome by the glint of dinars, Najm allowed himself to be talked into supporting Gan ad-Din's entrance into the Games with 1000 dinars towards Gan's entrance fees--despite Najm's personal reservations about the nature of the Games. Once the Games began, he remembered his scruples and was sick with giving money toward them, even if Gan and his fellows were gracious victors.

Najm received 1080 dinars (so far) in return for his support. Remembering his scruples, he has devoted all of that money to charitable donations. Five hundred and twenty dinars (520) were spent on manumission for slaves from the slave market of Cothon. This would free 13 slave laborers, the worst-treated of all slaves; any with an inclination for work on ships would be invited to join his crews for pay.

The remaining five hundred and sixty (560) dinars would be spent in a great fish-and-crab feed at Fahra's Hole-in-the-Wall down in the harbor, for the poor especially, but not turning anyone away.

Both of these actions would have occurred some time in February, probably, after the return to Cothon from Ittiyqa.

In August, the keel was laid for Najm's new ship, the Rihha, a fast-sailing vessel, with financial help from Sesel and with a bronze figurehead cast in the image of a rihha-sro that Najm and company defeated some time ago in a strange place.

The Rihha was finished in October and has been undergoing her sea trials in the intervening months. She will be ready for a maiden voyage seeking the strange lost city of Babilar by next week, as noted in Najm's call to adventure. With two mates and two ships, it's time to promote one to captain of Saint Iskameen; and Najm has elected Alianor Drake as captain of the Saint Iskameen, while retaining Fa Mei as his own first mate on the Rihha. Allie (Alianor) is therefore free to choose her own first mate for her ship (still owned by Najm, of course).

Fa Mei is no doubt disappointed that she has not been selected as captain; as consolation for not getting her own ship, Najm suggests that she get a sword enchanted at the Ringing Anvil (for if she's his first mate, there will no doubt be adventures for her yet!).

Fa Mei has a chromium khopesh (damage 1d8+1), of which the metal chromium was noted by Durham as especially good for enchanting. Najm will pay 1500 dinars for the sword to be rehilted with something more distinctive of Fa Mei--she elects a basket hilt designed after a nautilus' shell, allowing her to strike with less worry over her own hand (+1 to hit).

And once the rehilting is finished, Fa Mei will have the sword enchanted at her own expense (2000 dinars) and with a Bani Dawr psioinc potion (given by Najm). Fa Mei has a high intelligence (15), and between that and the psionic potion, her sessions with Zaynab the Enchantress will focus on Fa Mei being able to predict an opponent's defensive moves, thus neutralizing the protective bonus of an opponent's shield or defensive technique (yes, Fa Mei has also heard of Sesel's famed ability to parry nearly anything!); i.e. it would become a Khopesh +1, negates shield OR defensive technique and allows the wielder to strike an opponent as if they have no shield, or as if they are not using a defensive technique.

[if this ability is too much, the Scribes allow that perhaps Fa Mei needs to have spent more, or to reword the enchantment of her sword]

It will be up to Durham and his Ringing Anvil to determine how much time this takes, from the first week of October (2023).

Najm has not been idle as he awaits his new ship being finished. He has been developing new spells, partially inspired by his reading of the Queen of Winds, and partially by his own calling of Saint Iskameen at the Battle of the Hastati Gate.

This involves the commission of an excellent new spellbook (scroll) of the finest hmelu parchment, inked with the finest inks from Heijo the Dyer's inkshop, and copying the ballad that Gan ad-Din penned, "Najm at the Hastati Gate" as well as some paeans and prayers to Saint Iskameen and her battle prowess and lance of lightning (a cost of 2500 dinars). It will contain the spells Call Lightning and Saint Iskameen's Might.

The details of the spells are being worked out, but the results of his researches are as follows:

For Call Lightning 5 tick track (beginning week ending 9/9 to week ending 10/7):

1. 8 - success

2. 9 - success

3. 9 - success

4. 7 - success

5. 9 - success - 1500 dn altogether

For Saint Iskameen's Might a 6 tick track (beginning week ending 10/14 to week ending 12/9):

1. 6 – failure

2. 11 – success 1

3. 9 – success 2

4. 10 – success 3

5. 9 – success 4

6. 6 – failure

7. 8 – success 5

8. 6 – failure

9. 8 – success 6 – 2700 dn altogether

It has been noted that the second spell may be too weak as a fourth level spell, so negotiations over the particulars of that spell will continue, but Najm has successfully researched it, whatever the specifics, as well as having completed this spellbook, "Najm at the Hastati Gate".

Old Dog, New Status

[This document should be considered back-dated to 6 September, right after the reported decision of the Souffets and the response by the party that Pako should be censor of their new grant of land]

Pako the Citizen

The Souffets granted the company who captured Fort Stormbreak, né Bugeater, the right to elect a military commander (mridha), for whom they chose Sesel; and to elect a civilian commander and tax collector, or censor, to mutually command the Fort. For the latter, the company elected Pako, longtime loyal comrade of Durham of the Ringing Anvil.

This is certainly a surprise! There is no law against granting citizenship to a renyu or assigning one such a high office, it is a thing almost unheard of. There was Saint Khristof once, who was indeed even a saint, but renyu are not widely known for their intelligence or initiative. Whatever the feeling of the Souffets regarding this decision, they certainly won't deny it the heroes of the Bugeater crisis.

Therefore, with some little fanfare, Pako was duly invited to make the procession between the Long Walls from Cothon to Gadeed, to enter the Court of the Mount, escorted by Sesel, his sponsor and companion. In that palace, Pako stood first before a lesser magistrate, whose office of censor Pako would soon take on himself, to declare his answers to the four formulaic questions: 

1. What wealth do you claim?
2. Do you make any claim to rights or privileges according to the pedigree of your ancestors?
3. What is your profession?
4. Do you swear loyalty to Gadeed, to Cothon, and to their Souffets? Do you swear to keep arms, and/or to provide for the arms of your servants and/or slaves, for service to the Mother of Cities and the Ten Cities' League?

From there--assuming he answered well and without any offense to Gadeed, and did indeed swear the oath--he was escorted before the Souffets to be invested with his office of Censor of Stormbreak (as the fort was renamed) alongside Sesel being invested as Mridha of Stormbreak.

Pako's name and the date inked in lapis lazuli blue, and stamped with gold

Pako the Censor

As censor Pako is responsible for the development of the land around Fort Stormbreak into productive land, the taxes on which he can farm and will retain 10% for his own personal use. The land allotted him is a 10 mile radius around the fort, which is approximately 314 square miles.

The land is currently not well developed, except around the inn-on-the-ford, and so the land as a whole yields only a fraction of what it could if properly developed. The river is replete with fish and eels, so one might imagine fishing weirs providing one place for development; or using its current for driving a mill. One might also expect Pako to use his connections with the Was'go tribe of renyu, from among whom he was born, to perhaps develop the land in some way that renyu would be good at, like hunting or birding. Other ideas will have to be developed by Pako (and whoever might wish to help him).

As of September, Pako would have a monthly personal income of 100 dinars between taxes from the inn and the little bit of income from the land. This can be significantly increased if Pako surveys the land to see how it might be used, and invites settlers to come out to the Fort or the area around the inn and to thus start developing the land to be useful to Cothon-Gadeed.

This means that Pako has earned 400 dinars since investiture.

Pako should, of course, coordinate with Sesel on ideas about the Fort itself

The Tale of Babilar

 This was a story told around the fire while encamped in the Denyan Isles during that jaunt to the isles some months ago. The teller was an old sea dog, and the yarn must certainly be embellished here or there, and yet it seemed clear to those who listened that there was a kernel of truth to it--and almost certainly adventure to be had in pursuing and discovering lost Babilar ...

Najm ibn Marwan, is issuing this call to adventure, to join him on the maiden voyage of his new ship the Rihha in search of this mysterious place. Having been completed in October, the Rihha has now finished her sea trials and will be packed and ready to sail forth in search of Babilar on 28 December for those who wish to join him.

The Tale

Gather 'round, ye salty souls, and let me spin ye a yarn of the mythical city of Babilar. Aye, this tale be more enchanting than the mermaids' songs and more mysterious than the depths themselves.

Babilar, they say, be a city lost to the mists of time, swallowed whole by the ever-hungry sea. But it ain't just any city, no, mateys. It be a place where the old laws of the land and sea got all tangled up, where magic be as common as the fish in our nets.

Imagine a city, tall as the sky and grander than any castle ye ever laid eyes on. Towers of stone, once scrapin' the heavens, now peekin' through the water like the tips of a leviathan's back. Streets of cobblestone, now the domain of ghostly fish and mystical sea plants, all glowin' like the lights of the fortress moon in the night sky.

But Babilar's true wonder be in its bridges. Magical pathways they be, weavin' through the sunken city like spells woven by ancient wizards. These bridges, they say, shimmer like moonlight on the waves, connectin' the remnants of buildings where folks like us once lived, worked, and dreamed.

Now, mates, don't ye think this be just another sunken ghost town. No, siree! Babilar be alive with sorcery and wonder. The very water be imbued with magic, and strange creatures, with scales that glow like the treasure in a pirate's chest, call it home. Legends tell of artifacts, ancient and powerful, hidden in the city's watery depths, waiting for a brave soul to claim 'em.

But there be danger in Babilar, too. For sorcerers be there. Powers beyond reckonin', wieldin' magic that can reshape the very world we know. Their battles can send waves higher than the masts of our ships, and their whims can alter the course of fate itself.

So, me hearties, if ever ye sail these treacherous waters, keep a keen eye on the horizon. If ye see a shimmer in the distance, a glow beneath the waves, ye may just be near the mystical city of Babilar. But beware, for it be a place where the boundaries of reality be as murky as the depths themselves, and where legends and dreams merge into a tale as fantastical as the sea itself.

Session #106: Masters of the Zihuitlani Games

The new solar year began at about the beginning of this lunar year. At about the same time, Gan ad-Din introduced Cothon-Gadeed to the new song and dance performing troupe, the Chroniclers. After playing  their way through the taverns of Cothon, Gan had hopes to tour Ittiyqa in the same way, and perhaps Baldashmun as well, and then have the Chroniclers work their way back to the Dual Cities overland.

To this end, he chartered Najm's ship, Saint Iskameen for transport to Ittiyqa. But there was more to Gan's plans. He also harbored hopes of enrolling in the Games there--the Zihuitlani Games, which are the major Games of that city, in the way that the Tripartite Games are the major Games for Cothon-Gadeed. Others were interested, either to participate with  Gan, or to watch and support him from the stands: Bartholomew Pettibone, of course, accompanied by his friend Hanaïs; Sesel and his wife Zaida al Rashid, as well as their captain of the guard Rand al Marashi to act as Gan's squire; and Fa Min and her own squire Demitrytus, who was interested in debuting in the Arena herself to introduce her new fighting school; and Heijo and Raoden also came.

In Ittiyqa, the company rented out an entire small inn for themselves and proceeded to present themselves to the quastors (gamesmasters) for permission to present a team of fighters for the Games. For the paltry sum of 5000 dinars, Gan ad-Din, Rand al Marashi, Fa Min, and Demitrytus were duly entered into the rolls of fighters and scheduled to take part in the Games as gladiators.

The Fighters:

• Gan ad-Din
• Rand al Marashi
• Fa Min
• Demitrytus

These fighters engaged in several fights, broken up in different kinds of duels. Fa Min with Demitrytus as squire were matched against Oleg and Grimr; Gan ad-Din and Rand battled Black Pietr and his squire Amaya; and then, after their success in both battles, the entire group was matched against another team in a an objective-based battle where they were tasked with taking a torch from a pit with a feshenga serpent to use to light their own bonfire, while defending or attacking against the other team.

Given that Fa Min is an elementalist--some kind of strange magic-user from a far away land--she was matched against the magic-user Oleg. While Demitrytus fenced with the horn-helmed barbarian Grimr, Fa Min sank Oleg into the earth to his waist and pinned him to the ground, and Oleg ultimately submitted--and the crowd acclaimed mercy.

Meanwhile, Gan ad-Din made an ostentatious entrance into the arena through magic and fire in his match against Pietr. He gave a great speech introducing himself as the Bearer of All Things, Right Hand of the Istrid, Princess of Flames, Renyu-friend and bathed in the fires of ru'un, and many other pretentious things. After this glorious speech, Black Pietr answered simply:

"I'll kill you just the same."

Well, Black Pietr's confidence was misplaced. He never even landed a blow on Gan. Meanwhile, Gan landed stroke after stroke against Pietr and finally laid him low. Meanwhile, Rand battled Amaya, fencing spear against sword; but when Pietr was laid out in the dirt and Gan turned to assist his squire and called for Amaya to yield, she did so, laying down her own arms, and she went forth from the gate of death, defeated but not slain.

The last match was fought against a team of three humans and a pair of semi-canine gadhars under the control of the Beastmaster, one of those opponents. There was a pit opened in the middle of the Arena for this, and a wooden bridge laid across the top for passage back and forth. Gan advanced onto the bridge and fought the enemy captain, a female duelist with a fine sword; meanwhile, the rest of the other team rushed for the stairs to get the torch in the pit to be taken back to their own bonfire to light it. The gadhars engaged the feshenga, but the humans were ultimately bogged down in battling Fa Min and Demitrytus and would be cut down. And Gan, on the bridge, would also fell his opponent.

But in an heroic show that played to the mood of the crowd, Gan and his team allowed mercy for the other team and had them healed of any fatal wounds, and then escorted them as captives to Gan's own bonfire, where the torch lit the great fire to the riotous acclaim of the crowds.

Any accounts by the player-characters who took part in these matches, or who observed them from the stands, will earn that player-character 100 xp per level if posted to this chronicle.

The Lucre

• 5400 dinars (that's at 100 dn per hd, doubled for captains like Pietr, Oleg, and "the Kensai") from ransoms of the slain and the surrendered back to their families or societies (ransom money does not affect xp)
• the Torch of Zihuitle, a great torch of silver and gold; would be worth an extraordinary 10,000 dinars if sold, but as a trophy of victory it is incomparable
• Pietr's equipment:
• masterwork mail (+1 AC but non-magical) (4000 dinars)
• shield +2
• helm of protection (+1 AC/saving throws)
• masterwork sword (+1 to hit, non-magical) (1000 dinars)
• Amaya's equipment:
• fine plate armor (600 dinars)
• shield +1
• spear +1
• Boots of Foundation (+1 to hit in melee; if the wearer takes a round to steady their footwork without attacking, attack at +3 to hit next round)
• Oleg's equipment:
• warhammer +1
• masterwork linnothorax (+1 to AC, non-magical) (2000 dinars)
• fine shield (100 dinars)
• Grimr's equipment:
• mail +1
• fine shield (100 dinars)
• masterwork axe (+1 to hit, non-magical) (700 dinars)

The Learning

• 10,000 xp for winning the matches and earning the Torch of Zihuitle
• x amount of xp, where x is the number of dinars earned by sale of any of the equipment taken by the victors--at the moment 0 (the total value of non-magical equipment is 8500 dn; magical equipment doesn't normally have a price on the open market, but could also be sold)
• 391 xp from Pietr
• 171 xp from Amaya
• 271 xp from Oleg
• 113 xp from Grimr
• 389 xp from "the Kensai"
• 170 xp from "the Peltast"
• 216 xp from "the Beastmaster"
• 223 xp from two gadhars (100 + hp ea.)
• 278 xp from the feshenga (250 = hp)

The Cut

• 3492 xp each to Gan ad-Din, Rand al Marashi, and Fa Min (Rand was a squire to Gan, but was played independently by another player, earning him a full share)
• 1746 xp to Demitrytus
• 1080 dinars each to Gan ad-Din, Sesel, Fa Min, Heijo, and Najm, who all went in together as "investors" in the team, to split the proceeds evenly. Sesel and Fa Min are expected to share their split with Rand and Demitrytus, respectively, at mutually agreeable fractions
• the Torch of Zihuitle
• the equipment from the defeated
• victors have first refusal of any equipment they wish to keep for themselves
• investors may then be allowed to take equipment they are interested in
• dinars from sale of leftover items will be split five ways, like the split in dinars above, while the fighters will earn xp according to the selling price

 

Najm at Hastati Gate: a Song by the Chroniclers

 Rather a while ago as it seems now, Najm ibn Marwan commissioned Gan ad-Din of the Chroniclers to write a ballad for him--a ballad for his own glory, an heroic deed-song! It was to commemorate the victory at the Hastati Gate, but also to be a song glorifying Saint Iskameen, whom Najm claims as a spiritual ancestor, or perhaps a direct ancestor.

Gan, happy to take Najm's money, complied with alacrity--rather more alacrity than the Scribes in recording it. He developed the song during the jaunt to the Denyan Isles that, though only entered recently into these chronicles, actually happened about three months ago (around the beginning of September).

Najm is most pleased with this lied, and will have it sung at the launching of his new ship, the Rihha, as part of his private celebration for that occasion.

As always, as an in-character accounting of events, this earns Gan 100 xp per character level.

Najm at Hastati Gate

(aka Ballad of Najm, or Ballad of Hastati Gate)

(sung to the tune of: “Am'rekan Pye”

by the ancient bard: D'ahn Mk'leene)

Not so very long ago, the gods rained down their favor
Upon Najm ibn Marwan.
He gathered a fine company
Of mystics and great warriors
To join him on a journey into Hell!

Tsurr al Qadim made us shiver
With every blow we did deliver,
Undead from the doorways,
Fell before our fair blades!
I remember when we almost died
A s'ro called out and burned my hide,
But something healed me deep inside
The day St. Iskameen arrived!

So, HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

A Stygian was on the prowl,
Collectors crept along the roads,
A s'ro commanded in the clouds!
The minions of Tsurr al Qadim
Corrupt and desecrate your soul,
And animate your corpse as something foul!

Cultists ply their evil trade,
Raise undead beasts with shield and blade
They'll track you to your homes
Then flay your skin from bones!
Hundreds stood against our host
Zombies, skeletons, and ghosts,
They tried their best, our souls to roast
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!"

As we fought in a poisoned land,
Lightning flashed from Najm's hand,
And fire burst forth from Heijo's wand!
The s'ro lashed out with bane and blight,
The cultists cast their spells in spite,
As the Stygian and Sesel there did fight.

The Barcidae rushed out with swank,
But the undead moved upon our flank,
Their arrows fell like rain.
All the Barcidae were slain!
As Durham laughed with sheer delight,
'Sun Forger' flew from left and right,
With Najm lighting up the night,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

The carnage grew at Hastati gate,
The undead s'ro there laying waste,
Our only plan to act in haste!
Bart sent Gan ahead through space,
And undead burned in gouts of flame,
'Cause fire is Heijo's one true friend.

And as we watched the fight unfold,
Gan and Sesel, fast and bold,
Najm opened his mind
And St. Iskameen did bind!
The poison storm the Saint did quell,
And daylight burst asunder hell!
The s'ro then slain, before us fell,
The day we almost died!

Everyone sang: “HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

We passed Poor Brothers on the way
And told them how we won the day
They all smiled and stopped to pray.
We arrived at Cothon Gadeed
Intent to share our heroes' deed,
The throng there gathered 'round, our tale to heed.

And in their joy, the children danced
The Souffets cried, and the Hansemen pranced,
The pall of death was broken
When our success was spoken.
And the gallants I admire most
Najm, Bart, and Durham's host
Cried out to all there, “Hear our boast!”
The day we almost died.

“HAIL!, HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down fro the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

“HAIL! HAIL! Najm ibn Marwan!”
Led his comrades into battle, and the battle was won!
Called Saint Iskameen and lightning down from the sky,
Crying, "None of us, this day shall die!
None of us this day shall die!”

The Zihuitlani Games

Almost a lunar year ago, Gan ad-Din and the Chroniclers went on a short tour outside the Dual Cities and up the western coast to Ittiyqa and the port of Baldashmun on the island across a short strait before returning to Cothon-Gadeed.

The time coincided with the solar new year and the Eid of the New Sun, when sacrifices are made in honor of the sun and with the intent to strengthen it and rejuvenate it for the next year.

This time is especially important in the city of Ittiyqa. Rather than simply making citywide sacrifices and donating excess meat to the poor and needy throughout the city, the Ittiyqans especially revere their founder hero Zihuitle, who was a fire bearer and so a kind of cognate with the sun and its need of rejuvenation.

To this end, the traditional sacrifices have been transformed into the Zihuitlani Games, which encompass both sacrifices and games--and specifically, the mix of the two that is gladiatorial combat (which is thus given a double meaning of funereal sacrifice and regenerative sacrifice with the spilling of the blood of the gladiators).

Gan ad-Din has been noted expressing interest in taking part in such games as a gladiator and champion himself--not only the Zihuitlani Games, but also the tripartite games of Cothon-Gadeed (Coreguyi, shortly upcoming, Tsamri-Hane, and Xoldasoteri).

For those who are aspiring, but less sure of themselves, the games include a tourney, the winner of which is granted "champion" status and then allowed to participate in the real gladiatorial challenges of the Games. To participate, one pays a 60 dinar fee to the administrators of the Games, and then participate in one-on-one duels until losing or becoming the ultimate champion, who wins 400 dinars and the title of Champion, with which one may enter the real to-the-death gladiatorial combats of the Arena.

The Champion portions of the Games are where the real glory is to be won, however, before the entire audience of the great Arena. First, there are a series of one-on-one or two-on-two (or rarely more) bouts between evenly matched fighters--these serve as the bulk of the real gladiatorial entertainment. Then, with the climax of the Games, there is some staged combat between teams, made elaborate with set pieces, monsters, and higher objectives than simply slaying one's opponents.

This year, the rumored staged combat is to represent a rekindling of the sun by one team needing to capture coals or brands away from another defending team and thus to light their own bonfire. The particular circumstances will only be revealed at the time of the Games, of course--the gamesmasters don't want to let the surprise be ruined!

Each combat in the Champion portions of the Games are affairs to the death (though individual gladiators, or those following the whim of the crowd, may strike false blows to yielding opponents, rather than actually killing them). Losers' bodies are ransomed back to their families, friends, or fighting-society, while their arms and armor are kept by the winner as his prize. It is known that the especially wealthy and magically connected may keep different panoplies ready in case of death or defeat, and in case of death may even be supernaturally called back to their bodies by those knowledgeable enough in the deep philosophies.

The Idea

As of writing this call to adventure in the Arena of Ittiyqa, these are my thoughts on the nature of the game:

• it is retroactive, i.e. it has already happened in the past within the fiction (IF a player-character dies an ultimate death--which the scribes find unlikely, given the magic the players have access to--that PC would have to cease being played, being dead, with the reasoning being that they didn't recover properly after the Games, but got a year of "extra" life before succumbing; and that's a pretty big IF, like I said, but risk is a part of the game)
• any player/character wishing to participate need only pay some fee chartering a ship (or transport by other means), and they'll be present; we're not going to worry about logistics at this hour
• depending on the number of players who wish to be directly involved, there will be a bout with Gan alone, or perhaps with a "squire" to aid him, and other players may take antagonistic roles, or play the crowd
• there will also be a larger staged bout as described including everyone who wishes to participate and (presumably, assuming he wins) Gan ad-Din as captain of one of the gladiatorial teams
• given their foreign status (coming from another city of the League), player-characters involved in fighting will have to pay a 5000 dinar fee to the gamemasters to get their team into the big staged combat; this is unique to circumstances now, and will almost certainly be different with subsequent Games (remember, winners get ransom money and losers' arms and armor)
• player-characters may of course attend the Games without participating other than to bet on the outcome--if anyone chooses to do this, I'll have to work up some odds, but for the moment I'd rather hear that there is interest before I do so

Good Hap to the Lunar New Year!

 and the Feasts of Investiture

With the close of Urodas-Bayzadis 1 and the beginning of the new lunar year, it a time for feasting and celebrations. The clash of timbrels and the winding of horns at sundown at the end of the lunar year herald the coming of the new year, and denote the beginning of a night of feasts Cities-wide.

At the top of society, the Souffets feast in their palace and re-invest their officers in the offices they have held for the past year--or choose to invest others in their place, as the case may be. They dine on fine dejeja meat, delectably roasted in butter and stuffed with dates; and eat pickled ninyelu, and rice pudding, and drink lassi, spiced or sweet, and fine wines.

Among the houses of Gadeed, the feasts are no less sumptuous, and mirror rituals of investiture are performed for the various officers of the banu houses. But even in humble households of Gadeed, or even of Cothon, feasts are still held--families take mowaj haunches from the markets for great roasts, or slaughter hmelu for themselves, and even they repeat the ritual for their humble servants of investing them with their responsibility within the household.

For player-characters:

Those who wish to partake in the festivities may spend 100 dinars (gp) per level to participate in a feast, as sumptuous as their means allow--and thus earn experience points equal to the gold they spend.

If they describe their festivities in detail, either below in the comments or on our Discord server, the experience they earn will be increased by 10%.

For Iqtadar Sesel:

In addition to the option above, Sesel, as a citizen, may also be called to perform some further office, into which he would be invested, if selected in particular, or if selected by lot. 

Let Sesel roll a d100 and consult the following table:

1 - called to serve as one of the Thalatheen (a panel of judges)
2-3 - called to serve on the Bem (the popular assembly)
4-10 – no office
11 - Katib to the Harbor
12 - Katib to the Knights Pylaea
13 - Katib to the Censors
14 - Katib to the Poor Brothers
15 - Katib to the Migdol of the Dyers
16-29 - no office
30 - Katib to the Court of the Moon
31 - Katib to the Court of the Mount
32 - Katib to the Souffets
34 - Katib to the Armory
35-49 - no office
50-51 - Hamladdir to the Mahanet (General)
52-63 - no office
64-70 - called to serve the army
71-92 - no office
93 - Katib to Alagadrein
94 - Katib to al Zaytun
95-98 - envoy to the Xolda Princess
99-00 - envoy to the Attine Spire

Thalatheen – the Thirty
A panel of thirty judges who review the conduct of civil and military officers. A citizen selected for this office should roll 1d6 at the beginning of each month; a 1 indicates a review is afoot, details to be generated by the referee

Bem – the Popular Assembly
The Bem is responsible for voting on certain proposals of the Souffets. If the Bem is summoned, the player-character must spend their downtime for that week attending the assembly to listen to debate and vote on the proposal

Katib – Scribe
A minor official assigned to a variety of offices to assist operations. Very much like the quaestors of ancient Rome, the Kataba's chief function is as auditors and assistants. A player-character performing such duties must spend one downtime per month attending to said duties; on the upside, this will entail some familiarity with the officer they are assigned to, and to the arena they are engaged in

Hamladdir – Shieldbearer
No longer literally the shieldbearers/bodyguards of the Mahanet (General), this is a junior military officer who acts as an aide de camp or sometimes a quartermaster. A player-character chosen for this office must either attend the Mahanet in person, or supply a person of character and skill in their stead (e.g. a son, a trusted servant, or perhaps a cousin, &c.). While the Mahanet is in the city it requires only one downtime per month to fulfill this duty, but if the Mahanet marches forth, then his Hamladdir must perforce go wither he goes

Army Service
A player-character called to serve the army as a citizen must supply armsmen to the army according to his rank and wealth. This does not necessarily mean personally serving (many nobles outfit their own Gilmani or men-at-arms to serve), though citizens of lesser means are expected to outfit themselves with arms and serve in the heavy infantry.
An iqtadar of a smaller holding might be expected to send a heavily armed infantryman and his shieldbearer, plus ten archers/skirmishers, and a slave or servant or two to serve their camp.

Envoy to Klackons
An unusual post, but Sesel's reputation precedes him enough that he is in consideration. He helped spearhead the crusade against the creatures haunting the Sixth House in the Spire of the Attines, after all. This post would entail service similar to that as a Kitab, although with the additional responsibility to act as a liaison between Souffets and Klackons under extraordinary circumstances (details to be determined by the referee)