Episode 1

Zaituc talking to leadership

With a smaller group gathered at a collection of old boulders adjacent to the large menhir circle, Zaituc speaks to his lieutenants Ruacht (local Dannein manager), Rori (Voldruvan tracker and special tasks), Horasiu (Voldruvan 1st Mate), Beryx (Voldruvan brother-in-law and advisor), Shen Lain (Alijanian female quartermaster), and Daig (Dannein cousin and leader of visiting Lochlann war party).

After some discussion back and forth, it is decided that Rori will accompany Daig and his team back north to hunt for more Gandish who are apparently roaming around in hidden bands. Rori is to return to the longhouse in two weeks (half moon cycle) and be ready to move.

Shen Lain, Horasiu, and Beryx are instructed to start working with Ruacht to start setting up transport for the cargo by small boats, using some of the Murroghs at Baoill, to get the stash moved across Azan to the west shoreline and consolidate it up at Low Creek with Rine. They need to be working with some of the Bardh carriers to move the goods up to Melig Trade and eventually be ready to coordinate with contacts that will be established later to move through Caerlleon Gate.

Zaituc makes sure everyone knows Kray Mercon. Details will be hammered out later, but by the time that stuff is assembled safely at Melig's in a week or two, hopefully Kray will be coordinating Mercon contacts to help with the cargo transfer into Jeres.

Most of the leadership group leaves, going their separate ways: some back to the longhouse, the others breaking out north and departing from the area. Zaituc then turns attention to Ivor, Qiu, Kray, Thorn, and Talius. The old druid Scachan stands next to Zaituc, leaning on his cudgel staff.

Zaituc talks through the basics of the task he needs completed

"Why did I ask you to come out here then?" Zaituc says, looking. "I will get to it then. And I will tell you both what I know and what I do not. I need something fetched and returned to me. Something I know little about, have not even seen before, yet at this time in my life it is very important to me."

"For this task, I need warriors. Men not afraid of getting in a fight," he goes on, "Who can kill who has to be killed once it is figured that way. But I also need discernment. There are axe-juggler Dannis (derogatory term for Danneins) to deal with, so as usual all of them are poised like Gaeirmundi gorillas to jump out of the swamp and launch a war party stomping all up and down Owain Branch. That is definitely not what I want. War parties are not good for my business and the longhouse does not need Murroughs swarming around like flies looking for someone to bite and somewhere to land near my camp."

"So I need a light hand to steer things as best as possible, until treading lightly cannot be done any longer." Zaituc says looking at Kray a little longer. "And then when that happens, I need everyone to run a heavy hand across these boys. And they are a bad bunch for the most part, this crowd. The Bat Hannocs. Swampers through and through. Some say they hatch out of the mud instead of being born to their mothers because they are as mean as snakes."

"But even then, none of those rats are the worst of it. What is worse is that I have to get you to meet a demon of a woman there who is the most manipulative, most vindictive, most untruthful scorned bitch I have every known, and I have to ask you to work with her and not kill her, though I am going to say that she will likely be trying to kill you, even when it appears that she is cooperating."

"This slippery slut's name is Rutcrana. She is called Grave Scratcher. You must not be drawn in by her charms, but yet hardly a man can resist. She is a hex thrower, a potion brewer, a devil breeder, a witch. The worst trouble I have ever known, but likely the only person who can tell you where to go to find what I ask you to find." Zaituc trails off. Looking off to the southwest, peering into the swamp as if frustrated.

"Who I send you to find." He says quietly. He turns around, "Who" he repeats looking at everyone.

"She has green eyes. I do not know her name. I have never seen her. She will likely resist, but I ask you to bring her safely to me nonetheless. For she is my own flesh and blood. The daughter of my son. And the witch, her mother, must not be allowed to keep her any longer."

"'Tis true, Lord Mercon. A best laid plan takes account for all the small circumstances. And a goal without a plan is nothing more than a wish," Zaituc says. "And you see Alijanian? I knew that if a Mercon were here, then he would ask the right questions and promote a strong contubern to work together for a plan. And maybe a Mercon would know how to talk things through where he could and not just start stabbing people right from the beginning, which is not what I am trying to buy. Just like I know that you might need to be able to walk up to one of those Bat Hannoc goons, wrap him up, and mash him into the ground if he is acting out. Or bend someone's arm up around their back if they are not cooperating to give advice of where to go next. And likely there will be a chance to wrap someone up into a net, and maybe not stick them just then with a pitch fork, but instead just carry them out in a sack." Zaituc says, pointing sternly at Ivor.

"This is the right team," he continues. "I am satisfied on that. So let me do what I can, as you say Lucreides, to tell you what I know and why things are as they are now with this wretched woman who strives I swear to be the ruin of my family, among others."

Clarifying who is the girl to be brought to Zaituc:

The girl's name is unknown. Physical description is that she has green eyes and should be 11 years old. She is the daughter of Nemes's son whose name is Dinu Zaituc (more on him below). She is said to have red hair, like her father and her father's mother, which is a less common hair color among the Bat Hannocs. Suspect that she may fairer skin than most of the clan, because the Bat Hannocs are generally darker skin complexion while Dinu as a Voldruvan has a lighter skin color.

Why is this girl there in the first place? What are the details of past relationships and storyline?

Though Dinu Zaituc now has his own ship and ventures, he used to travel with his father. 12 years ago, he was at the longhouse. Long story short: Dinu fell victim to some of the charms and temptations of Rutcrana, who lured him upstream on Owain Branch to the Bat Hannoc village. He had a love affair with the witch, lasted a week or so. Zaituc learned of what was going on and sent his guys to recover Dinu by force. Some confrontation, but no deaths. Rutcrana had what she wanted. Dinu was frustrated that his father was interfering with his choices, but was also ridiculed for falling under the witch's spells. This event began the decline of relationship between Dinu and Nemes. They parted ways completely within the next year and have had little contact since. Nemes says clearly that he is not here to talk too much about his relationship with his son. What is applicable here is that Dinu has heard that he has a daughter with Rutcrana, but is not raising a finger to do anything about it. Nemes has avoided the issue for a while, but will stand by no longer (more reasons below on that).

Why now? Why not claim the girl in the past? What has changed?

A simple reason is that Nemes was not interested in getting involved. Many people father kids in this world and provide no support to the mother nor the child. What's new? Perhaps this would have been left alone, but two things have changed for Nemes. One, he is having a change of heart later in his life. This is the first any of the PCs have heard of it, but Nemes Zaituc says his intentions are that this is his last year of life on the high seas as a corsair. He is returning to Voldruv when winter sets in this year and plans to take up headship of his father's family's historic estate in the mountains. So at this time of his life, family is more important to him. But perhaps most importantly, motivation Two...see next entry.

Series of communications from Rutcrana to Nemes Zaituc

The region where the Bat Hannoc clan lives is upstream on Owain Branch, and then to the south. The Danneins call the area the Borgh Riac (Dannein for Borgh Swamp). Two autumns ago (about a year and a half in the past), a Bat Hannoc messenger came to the longhouse to speak a message to Nemes Zaituc from Rutcrana. The messenger, speaking for Rutcranna, said that the Bat Hannocs had "new allies, neighbors of great power" and that Nemes should visit her in Borgh Riac to understand what it will mean for the ongoing blood feud against the Murroghs. She said that Murrogh would soon fall to the onslaught from the Bat Hannocs, who would soon have new strength and resources from "the neighbors." Zaituc dismissed the messenger, thinking of it as another one of Rutcrana's efforts to get Nemes to visit her so that she could charm him.

On the following summer though (less than a year ago), another messenger came. This time it was a small youth male messenger, not an adult Bat Hannoc warrior. Rutcrana told Zaituc that he should come to see her and discuss the power of "the allies" which she also referred to this time as "the claimants of Nahrooma". Rutcrana also said that his grand daughter was growing very beautiful and was extremely gifted in skill. Again Zaituc dismissed the message.

During the winter, about a month ago, yet another messenger came. This time it was a young Bat Hannoc girl. One who was weak, malnourished, and suffering from exposure on the trip through the wilderness to deliver the message. Her message from Rutcrana detailed in next entry.

A warning of danger in Borgh Riac

The young girl Bat Hannoc messenger, speaking for Rutcrana, said that "the neighbors at Nahrooma" had turned from ally to oppressor. Bat Hannoc was nearly ruined. She asked Zaituc to bring his crew to her aid. She cannot provide more information, for fear of retribution from the collaborators in her own clan. She said that his grand daughter was not escaping this danger either, that she too was being drawn into peril.

Zaituc, still relentlessly suspicious of Rutcrana, thinks the whole thing could be a trap, another lure. At the same time he is troubled by the message of increasing danger in the area. Zaituc sent Rori to explore for a while. The Vodruvan tracker found that the woods and marsh of Borgh Riac was exceptionally quiet and untraveled. He did not see any Bat Hannocs whatsoever, though he was far into their territory. That alone is reason for concern because the Bat Hannocs are avid scouts and hunters. Plus the decades long blood feud versus the Murrogh Clan has pretty much come to a halt because no Bat Hannoc skirmishers are traveling north and west to the edges of Murrogh territory as they did often in the past.

A Theory of Gandish Involvement Recently Discredited

Since last summer, Zaituc has suspected that these "new allies" and "neighbors" that Rutcrana spoke of were the Gands. Of all Danneins in the Danneinkiff, the only ones known to cooperate with the Gandish (in legends from the past at least) were the Daughters of Finni Hag. This was a villainous female-dominated clan from a few centuries ago. Though the Hag Daughters' Clan has since gone defunct, the Bat Hannocs are said to be descendants of this notorious group. With increased reports of Gandish roaming the Cairngorm Mountains and the Drakkenmire, Zaituc had a theory that Rutcrana and the Bat Hannocs had formed a dangerous alliance with the fiendish Gands.

Now though, Zaituc relents and says that he no longer thinks the Gands are involved. For one the young girl messenger did not seem to have familiarity with the Gand, although she was completely closed up and stood her ground relentlessly to not give any further information than her assigned message (a known pride and expertise of messengers).

Second, the recent captured Gand from up north (slain previous hour in the druid circle offering) were thoroughly interviewed and interrogated, by Zaituc's crew but also by Scachan. It is said that no one can talk to a druid for any length of time and successfully lie to him. Druids have ancient ways to understand the words of all men, not just their words but their intentions. Scachan says that the Gandish knew absolutely nothing about the Bat Hannocs, nothing about a witch. They had come from the mountains. They knew of one other Gandish war party separate from their own, but those raiders were further north.

Why does Nemes Zaituc distrust and despise Rutcrana so much? Why does he think she would be trying to kill the team? Why does he not address this himself directly?

Experience. Rutcrana charmed Zaituc when he was a younger man. He fell into an unholy passion for her and remained under her spell for nearly a month. Luckily, no pregnancy resulted, as it did later with his son Dinu. Nemes was able to escape the enthrallment, but knows that Rutcrana could likely get his clutches on him again if he were ever to see her or come close to her. She has material on him and has made a doll of him which she can use to do witchcraft upon him. Scachan has been able to release Nemes from most of the spell, but if Zaituc were to come in close proximity to Rutcrana it would be a high risk.

In the years since, Rutcrana has both attempted to lure Nemes back to Borgh Riac and to kill him. She is vengeful against him and bounces back and forth between sending messages of love and scorn. Once she sent a Bat Hannoc hunter to spear Nemes. Later she sent a crafty Bat Hannoc girl to poison him.

Zaituc knows that Rutcrana's word is worth nothing. She is deceptive and a complete villain. Nonetheless, she likely holds some of the keys to solving this puzzle and will definitely be involved in capture of her daughter, Nemes' granddaughter. Surely she will not support that, yet she will be needed to find the girl in all likelihood.

What are the details of Rutcrana? Who is she? What are her powers? Who are "The Barrow People"?

Rutcrana is a witch who calls on ancient powers of darkness. She likely has Hag lineage. She is also known to have access to ancient tombs of an old race that the Danneins most often call "the Barrow People" or "the Stone Cutters". Barrows are old mounds scattered across the Danneinkiff, that are known to serve as tombs to a now fallen and mostly forgotten civilization. The ruins of this past society can be found littered through the countryside. Fragments of statues and old stone structures can be found in wreckage now overgrown. The old group was apparently very skilled at building stone structures and cutting stone images and icons.

Rutcrana apparently goes to a site in the Borgh Riac, an old burial mound. She scratches and writes on the walls of the ruins, hence her nickname of Grave Scratcher. It is believed that she has learned much of her dark magic from studying the remnants of the Barrow People's writing, runes, and iconic carvings. The site where she is known to visit for her powers is a large hill that rises up from an expansive and deep lake that is covered in the thick growth of the Borgh Riac. This ancient site is called Nahrooma by the Bat Hannoc. It is located near the Bat Hannoc village of Sruthadmad (means Driftwood in Dannein).

She can cast hexes and other spells that confuse the senses, illusions and deceptions, lures and charms. Also, she has extended her own life through her dark powers. Her real age is unknown, but because of known interactions with the Murrogh clan, events involving Rutcrana go back for well over a century, likely closer to two centuries. Despite being inhumanely old, Rutcrana still appears to be a healthy woman in her late 20s early 30s, in the prime of her beauty.

Why the effort to avoid killing of Bat Hannocs if possible?

There would be no way to wipe out the Bat Hannocs entirely. They are dispersed in small settlements and wigwams all through the Borgh Riac and even further south into other parts of the Drakkenmire. So anything that happens to some of the Bat Hannocs will be used as fuel to call for vengeance by the other Bat Hannocs. Zaituc does not want to revive or intensify the Murrogh - Bat Hannoc blood feud. When that happen, his longhouse hideout is caught in the middle. So he wants to focus on getting his granddaughter and getting out, not on killing as many Bat Hannocs as possible.

Rutcrana herself is also very valuable to the Bat Hannoc clan. Killing her would likely cause a furious response and demand for retribution against Zaituc and Murrogh. Again, he just wants to avoid it if possible, to spare the Murrogh's and Baoill from a full invasion, but also most importantly Zaituc doesn't want his own territory upset and getting caught in the middle of a war.

So, as mentioned, Zaituc wants to go as far as possible without killing anyone. That being said, the top priority is getting the girl out safely. Zaituc is an experienced raider and marauder. He knows that even when you try to avoid a fight, sometimes you cannot. As motivation for keeping death count minimized, pay structure for the contract will be based on bringing back Zaituc's granddaughter. Bonus money is in play for getting the job done with no killings of Bat Hannocs. No restrictions will be given on hurting, injuring, or non-lethal assault of Bat Hannocs.

History Check Results:In the Q&A, Qiu is able to recognize the name of the site called Nahrooma. He confirms, from Scachan, that it was once a city ruled by a Wizard King named Osankmek around 4000 years ago. Legend has it that Osankmek was a ruler of "The Barrow People" who gained an ability to soar into the clouds.

Investigation Check Results:Sifting through the information and following a series of well-placed questions, Kray is also able to glean out a few more pieces of useful information that may have been overlooked. What is the situation like on Bat Hannoc leadership? Who is the chief? What are his main resources?

The Bat Hannoc's call their leader the Norach. It means something like "the remnant" in Dannein. The last known leader was Norach Onchu. He is known to be a demented and cruel leader, but widely feared by the Bat Hannocs. Years ago, he killed the Murrogh champion Caldeanich. Norach Onchu is also rather aged, and it is rumored that he had some contenders who would likely challenge him for leadership soon.

Champions among the Bat Hannocs often gain skill as fighters by raiding in the Yuoric borderlands. They are usually battle tested and capable warriors. They sometimes dress in fearsome body covers and masks, and are known for their ability to move around unseen and may wield enhanced abilities from the magics of Rutcrana.

Bat Hannocs are often known for their superior javelin throwing skills. They have a javelin launching hand tool called an atlatl that can cast javelins exceptionally far and at extremely high speeds, delivering notable lethality. They are also some of the few Dannein clans who tend to use poison.
(Nearly all other Danneins reject the use of poison as dishonorable, the weapon of weak men and conniving women of civilization.)

Bat Hannocs are also known for their large game traps and even man-traps.