Interim 2

Ya, bro. Maeriks is DEAD. Iasimush killed that fat muther-fucker.

As you know, I was kind of torn on this one. Wanted to go ahead and close it out, but then with Thorn’s interest, I felt it would be better to roll. Also added some mystery.
I leveled a Disadvantage on Maer though, just because. He had 3 levels of Exhaustion, was running on 2 hp for hours, also had made death saves earlier in the same night. Extreme dehydration from the recent ShapeShift. Seemed like it would be a tough go to get shot in the chest under those circumstances.

By the numbers he got 1 Life/Recovery Mark on his own. Then Thorn bought him another Live/Recovery Mark.
Along the series he had 2 Death Marks though.
So it was tied 2 – 2.

Not to rub it in or anything, but Thorn rolled the 1 on the treatment attempt, as an non-proficient WIS Medicine medic. That causes a Death Mark.

Don’t blame yourself though. Big Maeriks was throwing Disadvantage right after that. He was on borrowed time. As an NPC, it seemed like he was bound to be close out on that scene.
Dramatic. Pretty sad. Makes for even more gravity of it all. And Simush should have gotten that kill shot on an NPC.

Always thought one of the earliest entries here on Interim 2 would be either Maeriks integrating with the Hechesi in Jara Hili, and saying that he was staying when you guys left – kind of like he found a new home, a new clan, a type of people that he could definitely connect with on the rural living, even though he couldn’t speak the language.
Either that scene or the other option: Maeriks’ funeral as managed by the Hechesi in the Jara Hili.

Ron Oram, a Gilded Armsman of half-Hechesi lineage, is also Atraharsis’ nephew. Oram, if you remember, was almost killed by the flaming hounds in the scene when the group was with the convoy going to Gelshemish. Maeriks’ healed a bite wound that had cut Oram’s artery on his neck. Oram knew he was dead, and then he wasn’t. He saw that it was a miracle. Following the legends of Dannein druids, he suspected it was supernatural power. Reaching for anything that might save his cousin Bezil Koral, Oram had asked for Maeriks to try to treat Koral on his death bed. At the time Maeriks wasn’t available, but Thorn and Kray went, first saw Trece, Atraharsis, etc.

Long story, but all to say that Maeriks the Dannein already has a respected reputation among the Hechesi people.

Maeriks will become the first Dannein ever laid to rest in the holy grounds deep within the Jara Hili forest.
More than that, he will be the only one of any race whose grave will be built above ground, on a platform built in the trees – in the manner of the Bat Hannoc people. And of note, this would be among the most ancient trees in all of the world.
Thorn would have a hand in that I think. Maeriks had always told Thorn that you have to be buried above ground very high in the trees so that your body or your bones don’t float out in a flood. Flooding is not a problem in most of the Jara Hili, certainly not at the burial grounds. But the Hechesi ask about Maeriks’ home traditions and any known religious or cultural practices. They are insistent on giving a druid and a kind foreigner a proper place and all respect due for his final rest.
One thing usually placed on Bat Hannoc burial platforms are the broken weapons of the fallen’s final enemy. If possible.
Canon Fact: Simush’s broken longbow will be placed on Maeriks’ burial platform.

Think about that…
Maeriks’ funeral and memory among the Hechesi as a foreigner

vs.

Simush’s funeral and memory among the Hechesi as a Hechesi.

Haha.

When the group departs the flood plain with the Hechesi tribesmen, they are faced with the big reveal that the shooter was Iasu!

He is shredded up by the cats - death by suffocation and crushed trachea from the white lion death vice bite. But it's definitely him. He's wearing a new battle action blacked-out stud leather armor suit with mask. Bad-ass knives, bow, arrows, equipment. Horse saddled like a pimped-out mack.

The tribesmen move out on the flood plain and carry Maeriks off, help Thorn, etc.

On the road behind, Korvarans and Gilded Armsmen on horseback dismount and try to give pursuit. Other foot soldiers are running towards the site from further down the road. Too slow all of them though. The escape is good, but the spare time left over was quite narrow.

The Hechesi hosts in Jara Hili

We're going to blow past the limited time stay among the Hechesi pretty quickly.

You can picture it. They are woodsmen nomad tribal hunter gatherers, mixed with some poor laborers who travel occasionally back and forth to the city. Live in a small stationary village deep in the forest. They aren't under threat from the Gelshemish authorities. It's not like they are constantly fighting a battle v. the Sar, the Armsmen, etc. There is a question in the air of to what extent the PC company will be pursued. The answer is suspected to be that they definitely will be pursued. The Hechesi don't feel like it will mean an invasion by a large force. Instead, some trackers and bounty hunters, some specialized armsmen, probably the Korvarans, coming through on manhunts. That is nothing new exactly. Babati and Atraharsis are already wanted, so there is usually some evasion going on anyway in the area - but it is important for the foreign party to get out of dodge sooner rather than later,.

So it pretty much is a 1 or 2 night stay, enough to beat exhaustion, get some supplies, get a plan - then go.

The Funeral

Maeriks' funeral is done late that first evening, just before sunset. They talk it through with Thorn mostly, as he emerges as the one in best understanding of Maeriks and his background. They set to building the platform without delay. The Hilleli Apsuants (priests) oversee the dedication and final ceremony. These guys are all believers in the story of a god over all gods, Marduk, and his control over creation and the struggles of men. Noteworthy: they do not follow Goldna ad Dasnish. They say that is a misconception. That prophet was a man, named Luwhaesh, who was in truth a follower of Marduk. His disciples wrongfully misrepresented his life and claims after his death and made him into a god so that they could gain power and influence over an important holy site millennia ago.

As mentioned, Maeriks gets great praise and respect among the Hechesi people. They are very respectful to the idea that he was a druid and a healer. Perhaps somewhat strange, being that it is a different religion than theirs - but that whole discussion doesn't go very far in to deep theological studies. Ron Oram is not there at the funeral, but Atraharsis says that someday soon his nephew will visit the final resting place of Maeriks the Dannein to pay respects.

People are allowed to put offerings on Maeriks' resting platform after the ceremony is over. Some do, especially women who bring forth flowers, prepared foods, and crafts. Babati adds the broken longbow and a broken arrow of Simush the Devil-Man. One old man leaves a small carving of a bull, apparently just whittled in the same afternoon after the story leaked out that Maeriks may have been a shapeshifter, like the druids of legend.

Route Revision. Target Destination maintained, but a long term layover in....

Kray had the general plan of slipping away through rural routes, getting to a coastline, and sailing to Arkkad.

Discussing with Hechesi leadership, it is realized that the general plan can remain, but the details of the route are best adjusted.

Moving west through the Doresh Mensha areas of Heshba, trying to transition to Kortella or possibly Korsi, would likely end in disaster. A lot of coverage by the Nasi in that region. A lot of good trackers and rural villages loyal to the Sar. Probably riders have already been sent out that way to inform of the manhunt. High chance of discovery and capture.

The better way is to go south, out of the Jara Hili and into the hills of Aviram. The Hechesi have more friendlies in this area, and the Nasi less so. Further south is a gradual blend of Bishtu villages, easy to pass through with no chance of support of Nasi/Sar forces.

From there, the group could hug the west edge of the Bishtaan Desert, make a short crossing to the River Cities, and truly disappear along the Old Empire Roads.

In the areas that blend out of the Bishtaan to the west and south, there are a variety of great cities where people can cut ties from pretty much any lingering pursuit from the northern civilized countries. This area is loosely organized, with several cities existing as free-standing political powers.

SEKER

Although it is not an actual unified country, the region is called Seker. Sometimes called The Fortresses. This is an area of grand adventure and opportunity. A place of mercenaries and bold travelers. A mixed collection of the weak and the powerful, the traditional and the adventurous, the desperate and the opportunistic. Power players. Great leaders and overconfidant upstarts. Effective followers and angry mobs. Tyrannical warlords and noble resistors. It's a place where you make your own way. The Law is the law of strength and the sword. Wealth and luxury are there for the taking for those strong enough and wise enough to do it. Disaster and defeat are there for those who are not.

In modern terms, Seker is pretty much an extreme libertarian playground. Unbridled anarcho-capitalism.


Arkkad is just beyond. There are Seker ports along the Sea of the Scorpion. There are also many people of Arkkadi-decent living in Seker permanently. There are many languages spoken in Seker, one of the primary of which is Arkkadi. A tough but possible sail across to get to the actual Arkkadi ports, but that will be for active play if we enter those mystery lands.

Interim 2 though will be staged for the most part in Seker, along the Old Empire Roads, in and between The Fortresses - in the land of both maximum opportunity and ultimate failure.

The Major Leagues of mercenaries.
The Big Show for real contenders.
For warlord training - if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere.
Worldwide street cred.

Get ready for fake Sudan/Somalia, with a dash of fake Saudi oil-tycoon luxury.

Close out with the Hechesi / departure from Jara Hili and the Heshbaan lands

Sizhen stays behind. He is going to help fight in the resistance against the devilish Nasi, and hopefully even try to get back into the palace to close The Pit.

The Hechesi are nice folks. They appreciate the punch to the mouth that the mercenary raider group delivered to the devil factions in the Palace.

But to cover the final assist on extraction, to allow passage through their land, and for their cooperation in covering the escape - there is a tax on that score of treasure. We're not going to get into specifics - counting coins has never been the point in DT. There was a shitload of wealth coming in. You guys are still walking out of the forest with a shitload of wealth going out. Fat Maeriks actually carried 2 bags out by the way! - so his cut helps in a huge way for making the final deal. And in the reality of it all, I think the guys know that this is going to happen. It's the way of mercenaries, thieves, opportunists, renegades - spreading the score among fellow conspirators is a traditional part of the adventurer underworld game. Plus, it's always better to walk out alive and filthy rich rather than bargaining to remain sicko-psycho-profane rich and winding up dead in the forest.

Summing it up: the Hechesi resistance movement just got a donation boost AND the New Frontier Mercenary Travel League is fully funded at the Luxury setting.

Kray, Ryhim, and Thorn marching out into the Aviram Hills,
rolling out to The Bishtaan,
rocking fresh nomad threads,
backpacks full of ca$h.
Bitches are loving it.
WHAT!

So, with the above as the narrative starting line, does anyone intend to retire any other characters?

No retirement for Kray. The aging bastard (34 now since start of DT?) isn't even close to studding out to pasture.

Seker sounds amazing. Seems like more than an interim to me.

And hell yeah the Hechesi can have some loot. That was the plan, one of those "it's the least I can do for saving my ass" type of deals. On my end, especially given their respect for Maeriks, they would take both bags he carried. At that, Kray, Thorn and Ryhim each walk out with a bag. A dope haul, to be sure.

Man, Seker sounds amazing. A mercenary playground of unbridled anarcho-capitalism? The Law of strength and the sword? The Fortresses?

Fellas, Arkkad can wait. I want to get there, love the exotic appeal of Arkkad, but Seker sounds like a 'must see.' And DO. Especially for our crew. Kray and Thorn are some badasses who've survived the first two episodes, which is an accomplishment given who the DM is.

And Ryhim is a badass pickup, from what I've seen: made some sweet plays to get out of the Pit (loved the mimicry of Suter-Set at a pivotal moment!) and skill checks for the great escape. I'm a huge fan of stealth and managing tactical scenarios for max advantage, and Ryhim brings that in spades. Hyp, I'd love to see your character sheet. Given the interim, it's believable Kray would get to know him well, know his strengths and weaknesses he may have.

I know X and I have spoken about the two of then making it full throttle all the way, and I love the idea of characters sticking around. Bad mofos who see the DT world together, truly developing relationships and commitment. What I'm saying Hyp is stay with us. Love what you bring to the table so far, RP-wise with Ryhim's personality and mechanically with his skill-set and abilities. A great addition to the team.

A Yuoric, Dannein and a Sarceran walk into a bar... ha!

Kray, the sword and board duelist, Thorn rocking heavy metal/great sword and Ryhim quick with the shots and the blades. I want nothing more than to see these guys navigate the DT world and see some action.

J, I'm thinking the interim in Seker becomes an episode. I can see the crew getting caught up in the massive appeal that Seker has, with all of its offering of fortune, fame and adventure. A real hot spot to get what you earn and make a rep.

I'm sure you could easily flow the interim into a local episode, offer up some options to us along the way.

And, is it level up time? It's well earned and I'm horny for it.

Ya, Ep 3 will be a Seker story. Working title: "Once upon a time in the savage lands."
Mad Max Bronze Age. Black Hawk Down - DT Style.

I'm not sure at what pace, but I'll be throwing in some gradual story entries - starting with the transition through the Bishtaan.

Yes, level is on the way, but it is later in the storyline, during the longer time lapse. You can start planning for it, but I think before making it official and recording/publicizing the details, we should wait to frame out some of the story that is happening along the way. There will be some change. Will need some input from you guys, including some active rolling on a few topics.

Also DM Fiat awards coming soon. - don't get too excited though, I don't want to oversell it. But hopefully it gives some fun boosts for the characters and helps stack their progress little by little. Will try to write those in the morning, if I don't get caught up in some other errands RL.

Plus, I'm wanting to have you guys write some entries about character development as well. So be thinking of some ideas about events that you think would be cool. This is like another round of background building, just its background ongoing instead of just one mass deposit at the beginning.
Let's take this opportunity to give the characters another layer of depth. Frame out some story points that make them who you want them to be. Its a way to get experience in their story in ways that we either wouldn't play in the game, or we could play but it would take a long freakin time.

I'll send out some framework for the solicitations on this - it will be within a focused range of targets and options - but be thinking of some general ideas that you like and we can start an exchange to build things in.

Don't you worry yourself, Janab, Ryhim is going nowhere—or better yet, marching towards Seker, matched by Kray and Thorn.

I love how excited you are for Seker. The place sounds like Kray's wet dream, so I guess it should be a surprise. Definitely feeling Seker as more than an interim.

Just an accomplishment is an understatement. I wasn't here at the beginning but if it was anything even close to like The Palace, DM J needs to send y'all custom tees reading 'I survived 2 full episodes of DMJark Thrones on a single character'.

I love that Ryhim has a place. While I won't say I'm happy that Trece met his end but I pretty sure if he didn't I would of dipped at the end or rerolled. While Trece was a pretty deep character, I felt he didn't have any sort of party relations. He had no goals, other than serving someone else; I kinda ran myself into a hole there. So big plus, that Ryhim melded so well with the currents. Definitly diggin the three amigos vibe going on before Jabes brings his dweeb in. All in all, I feel like Ryhim is actually apart of the party, instead of just tagging along. Kray has well earned Ryhim Data (Note: needs to be heavily updated—still have the short bow listed, which was dropped like at least years ago now? But all the good stuff is there).

DM J, is this where we go over what we want to do during the down time? There is a couple things I wanted to do with the Hechesi and such.

Hyp, yeah - have at it. This thread is purposefully versatile and mixed. Entries can be anything- scenes can be out of order, theoretical, abstract or in-character real. It’s open workspace for anything story and setting related.

Dang I know. Fatality count crept up pretty high Ep 2. Yikes.

It’s been especially tough on the party structure ever since the loss of Ahri Saleem to the death gel.

Forgot all about Ahri! Came and went so damn quick! Tsavo seems like a cool dude too.

J, since Kray is going L1 rogue, I'm feeling him getting involved with the Seker underworld would be pretty dope. Develop some contacts, get some street cred. I could see Kray pulling that off by eliminating an organization as a means of favorable entry into an established organization. Maybe he starts out using his merc talents to escort some serious cargo, plans and pulls off some serious heists/raids (leaning toward his future as a Mastermind). Essentially, taking an organization seeking more power, one that needs a guy with his skillset and strategic mind to take them to major player level, no longer just boyz 'n the hood.

I could also see Kray setting up Lord style with the Cursed Palace haul. But for Kray, although he digs the loot, for him there's the same craving to see the world he's had since the beginning, attached to his cartography interest, his curiosity in cultures far and wide, to see and experience them.

And the quest for power. Kray's a guy who values it and the potential it offers to impact the world. And the man has ambition.

The more I play Kray, the more it seems he wants to experience the world and get a better sense of humanity at large, understanding the perceptions of right vs wrong from the viewpoints of multiple cultures. Then, from that assimilated viewpoint based on experience...

Maybe, just maybe, he might feel that he ultimately should determine what's best for some future kingdom he might rule.

A lot for him to experience and survive until then. However, in the meantime...

This Jeresian man, born a noble mercenary lord in House Mercon, having experienced Dannein culture, survived the swamps and wetlands of the Borgh Riac, a harrowing frozen winter Northern War, seen the exotic land of Hesheba and its darkly corrupted city of Gelshemish, including its vile, twisted black heart, the Cursed Palace set upon a pit leading to Hel, narrowly escaping...

Kray Mercon...mercenary...warlord... cultural enthusiast... adventurer... raider...survivor...

Who knows exactly what's next, but...

Whatever Seker has to offer, and perhaps take in return, he's ready.

Love. This. Game.

Man Hyp, you weren't kidding with the Three Amigos. Those above scenes... Ryhim is so damn believable. His integration into the team is so DT. Such a motley crew. Cool as hell.

Bro, those Ryhim scenes are a great add to the collection. To me, Ryhim is like the desert wisdom, the traveler who goes where the wind blows and takes each experience in full, pulling the pure life out of both the good and the bad, both good luck and misfortune.

Capturing and forging the idea of a swashbuckler better than anyone so far. I like that idea being grounded in the post-Zutar Empire culture, especially Sarcera. The celebrated archetype of a bold, charging, witty, skilled swordsman dashing through battles, and through life itself, with flare, bravado, and an ongoing expansion of experiential reflection.

Hyp, that idea of a really cool mysterious traveling desert swordsman/marksman - that ethos - it needs a really dope Zutaran translation name. I want it to be a word that is fully understood and cherished in the fake Middle East/North Africa. Figure out what that word is and let me know!

Which brings me to my next entries...

DM Fiat Awards

An Interim tradition. J just gives bonuses to Players based on his own preferences. Its actually supposed to be based on how the character is actively displayed in the previous Episode, plus some effort to give slight edge to survivor characters, plus some effort to make incremental increases to sections of the character that a Player can probably never afford to do, with a tendency for throwing in something a little unexpected or off the predictable track.

Can't guarantee they are fair or in line with design intentions. They probably aren't in fact. Oh well - any player who doesn't want them can simply turn down the offer. Ha!
Sort of laughing, but that's actually just fine if it's what anyone wants to do.

So, by character...

Ryhim

If DT was a tv show, Ryhim would have to be one of the new fan favorites for the season. He landed on the roster in probably the most challenging point in the story that we had ever seen, it went probably the worst we had ever seen it go, yet Ryhim blew the whole place up like dynamite, using only a couple of items he had picked up 20 minutes earlier at the ghetto armory.
Now that Ryhim is out of the cauldron and back into a more controlled setting, I can't wait to see his expansion. Also, he's heading into a region and culture - the fallen fragment communities of the remnants of the Old Empire (Zutar) - that he is completely familiar with. This is going to be a good story to see.

Ryhim is bold. He makes a decision and charges in full throttle, no hesitation.
Ryhim also seems, as mentioned above, like a man on a journey to figure things out through experience. Hyp built him with low WIS, which makes sense. He is rather impulsive I think, and probably hasn't formulated a worldwide fully developed framework for interpreting meaning, purpose, etc. At the same time, he is picking up things up as he goes and always taking something with him for the future.

Awards:
Feat, Charger.
+1 WIS

Kray

Kray continues his steady march towards master strategist. Calculating and logical, Kray had some great successes, but also had to learn some hard truths about limitations during the Ep 2. He had to reflect on the idea of how to operate when the team becomes combat ineffective. How to make tough choices about team survival vs. team success. He's also continues to battle within himself about being completely cold, pragmatic and efficient - versus the reality that you have to maintain strong relationships and trust among fellow soldiers in order to really pull off something great.

Also, Kray faced another round of sorcery, manipulation, mind-control, hypnotism, drugs. He saw his friend Bryn become obsessed with the dark arts and descend into madness. After his background + Ep 1 + Ep 2, Kray is = fucking wary of the very real dangers of having your mind unravel. He's quick to notice intuitively if something just doesn't feel right and he's hair-trigger defensive against mental assaults at this point. By experience, he is strong willed - he has had to become so out of necessity, after so frequently being under assault!

Awards:
Feat, Resilient WIS
+1 INT