The Errant Guard – 27 Aug. 2019 – Heret
Sept 1, 2019 20:52:39 GMT
Varis/G'Lorth/Sundilar and Igrainne (RETIRED) like this
Post by Heret Velnnarul on Sept 1, 2019 20:52:39 GMT
24 Elesias, 1396 AR
encamped near Oz’dat, K’ul Goran
An interesting day back in the country of K’ul Goran. As GV asked in his letter, reported in the morning to the public circle in DH for teleportation. Pleased to be joined by Igrainne; also BB, Mystigon (on relatively good behaviour today), Ghesh, & a pale elf – eladrin, I think – named Faye.
For the transport, we were all blindfolded (even Zozo!) at the insistence of the Zot Gorans. All I could see, looking down as we arrived, was a stone floor and the edge of a teleportation circle carved into it – couldn’t make out any of the coordinates. We were led through divers passages to a room where we might remove the blindfolds, and there spoke to GV.
GV explained that in K’ul Goran is a corps called ‘the Errant Guard’, with whom he wished us to establish bonds by undertaking a shared mission. Agreed fee of 50 gp each plus any spoils. GV introduced us to 5 of these Guards:
RH & CF explained that the group had been ordered to venture to the edge of the mountains ESE of Zot Goran after reports of the native giants being more active than usual.
We made the journey travelling in ‘hill-surfers’. These peculiar vehicles are like small boats, large enough for two or, at a squeeze, three, mounted on sturdy wheels and fitted with mast and sail. By grace of the high winds constantly blowing in that country, these hill-surfers travel at least as fast as a galloping horse and do not tire – very efficient! Crossing hills and wide livestock ranches, we have reached a copse that CF says is near a small town named Oz’dat. It will not take long tomorrow to finish our journey, say our companions.
Much interesting talk with them today about our respective customs and ways. It seems the Errant Guard are all soldiers in service of K’ul Goran. Having served as ordinary soldiers, those who have the necessary qualities of mind and body may become members of an elite force; but first they must serve a time in the Errant Guard. During this time they roam the land and must perform not only missions from their commanders but almost any task asked of them by any K’ul Goran, provided it occupy them for no longer than about a tenday. RH told of a recent period he and the others spent helping some farmers make a fence! They may not refuse a reasonable request, nor accept any payment (though they may accept hospitality and keep or sell any spoils of battle). The purpose of their time in the Errant Guard is to hone their skills and instil a sense of public service.
For their part, our hosts found it strange that we accept money for our services and that some of us do not even count expeditions such as this to be our principal occupation. To them, our ventures seem selfish – though RH confessed, when pressed on the point by F, that for many of them the decision to enlist in the army is a self-interested one, and their service in the Errant Guard is motivated by desire for what lies beyond.
They were also curious about our divers peoples, as they for the most part are only minotaurs, genasi, and commixtures of the two. They are familiar with under-elves, who sometimes raid K’ul Goran settlements to take slaves, though usually (said TC) without success. They knew little of firbolgs, and had never seen nor heard of humans until our kind began to arrive in this continent from Faerûn. They spoke but little of their neighbours, but when asked what enemies the army might protect the land from, RH mentioned elves (the drow? or others?) and what sounded like ‘the shined’. Both threats are dormant at present, however. M, I know not why, asked several times about ‘organized crime’ and whether one of their people might be the leader of an outlaw band. Our hosts seemed perturbed and irritated by the idea and I was much relieved when M dropped the subject. Of their kind, T said that the maze-like streets of Zot Goran are no challenge to minotaurs for they have an inherent ability to remember any route they have travelled; the same is true of aerotaurs as well, while the air-folk sometimes have a little more trouble but learn the paths from an early age just as we do in the places where we grow up.
Also learned today that the boomerang I gave Igrainne on our last visit here has been broken already! A pity. She says she threw it at someone who then broke it. It struck true, however, which is some comfort.
Now, to bed, and tomorrow on to the mountains.
encamped near Oz’dat, K’ul Goran
An interesting day back in the country of K’ul Goran. As GV asked in his letter, reported in the morning to the public circle in DH for teleportation. Pleased to be joined by Igrainne; also BB, Mystigon (on relatively good behaviour today), Ghesh, & a pale elf – eladrin, I think – named Faye.
For the transport, we were all blindfolded (even Zozo!) at the insistence of the Zot Gorans. All I could see, looking down as we arrived, was a stone floor and the edge of a teleportation circle carved into it – couldn’t make out any of the coordinates. We were led through divers passages to a room where we might remove the blindfolds, and there spoke to GV.
GV explained that in K’ul Goran is a corps called ‘the Errant Guard’, with whom he wished us to establish bonds by undertaking a shared mission. Agreed fee of 50 gp each plus any spoils. GV introduced us to 5 of these Guards:
- Raxus Highwatch, the leader of the unit (or so he claimed), a minotaur priest of Melil;
- Torven Cirrustalker(?), an aerotaur specializing in ‘boomerang’ weapons;
- Cassandra Farcleaver, a minotaur scout armed with a crossbow;
- Ventria, a genasi mage with a sharp throwing-disc;
- Cane Clovenstep, a heavily armed aerotaur of few words.
RH & CF explained that the group had been ordered to venture to the edge of the mountains ESE of Zot Goran after reports of the native giants being more active than usual.
We made the journey travelling in ‘hill-surfers’. These peculiar vehicles are like small boats, large enough for two or, at a squeeze, three, mounted on sturdy wheels and fitted with mast and sail. By grace of the high winds constantly blowing in that country, these hill-surfers travel at least as fast as a galloping horse and do not tire – very efficient! Crossing hills and wide livestock ranches, we have reached a copse that CF says is near a small town named Oz’dat. It will not take long tomorrow to finish our journey, say our companions.
Much interesting talk with them today about our respective customs and ways. It seems the Errant Guard are all soldiers in service of K’ul Goran. Having served as ordinary soldiers, those who have the necessary qualities of mind and body may become members of an elite force; but first they must serve a time in the Errant Guard. During this time they roam the land and must perform not only missions from their commanders but almost any task asked of them by any K’ul Goran, provided it occupy them for no longer than about a tenday. RH told of a recent period he and the others spent helping some farmers make a fence! They may not refuse a reasonable request, nor accept any payment (though they may accept hospitality and keep or sell any spoils of battle). The purpose of their time in the Errant Guard is to hone their skills and instil a sense of public service.
For their part, our hosts found it strange that we accept money for our services and that some of us do not even count expeditions such as this to be our principal occupation. To them, our ventures seem selfish – though RH confessed, when pressed on the point by F, that for many of them the decision to enlist in the army is a self-interested one, and their service in the Errant Guard is motivated by desire for what lies beyond.
They were also curious about our divers peoples, as they for the most part are only minotaurs, genasi, and commixtures of the two. They are familiar with under-elves, who sometimes raid K’ul Goran settlements to take slaves, though usually (said TC) without success. They knew little of firbolgs, and had never seen nor heard of humans until our kind began to arrive in this continent from Faerûn. They spoke but little of their neighbours, but when asked what enemies the army might protect the land from, RH mentioned elves (the drow? or others?) and what sounded like ‘the shined’. Both threats are dormant at present, however. M, I know not why, asked several times about ‘organized crime’ and whether one of their people might be the leader of an outlaw band. Our hosts seemed perturbed and irritated by the idea and I was much relieved when M dropped the subject. Of their kind, T said that the maze-like streets of Zot Goran are no challenge to minotaurs for they have an inherent ability to remember any route they have travelled; the same is true of aerotaurs as well, while the air-folk sometimes have a little more trouble but learn the paths from an early age just as we do in the places where we grow up.
Also learned today that the boomerang I gave Igrainne on our last visit here has been broken already! A pity. She says she threw it at someone who then broke it. It struck true, however, which is some comfort.
Now, to bed, and tomorrow on to the mountains.
