With the aid of the blind sage Bowgentle, the Runestaff reveals what is threatening Rome.
First, Lolth, the Demon Queen of Spiders, is behind the orc horde beyond the Black River. They have already slain Crassus' armies, and now they are approaching Spoletum, the residence of the Emperor and Emperor Emeritus. Once they have him, they will put a spider in his ear, and thereafter he will say whatever Lolth wants him to say.
Second, Fabulus Calamus has remade Britannia, or parts of it, into Granbretan, the Dark Empire. Their armies of beast-men are overruning the empire from the West. Calamus is an ally of Lolth, not a slave. But he serves her purpose.
Third, Persia is to be conquered by Chin, a land in the Far East. Chin has tamed the wild horsemen of the steppes, so their army is invincible. Also, several Persian wizards are servants of Lolth, guiding the Persians to ruin.
And fourth, Lolth has perverted the temples of the old gods of Rome, tolerated by the Christians so long as they celebrate folk heritage rather than worship. But she has promoted pontiffs who are secret pagans and suppressed others who are orthodox. Through their prayers, Lolth knows each man's heart and grows wise.
This has worked literally everywhere, in every dimension, except Rome, which worships the real god instead of pagan sprits.
Sigrid Junia, in particular, was a big pull for secret neo-paganism when she was in charge. She's repented now, but if she won't work for Lolth, she can just be murdered.
That is the limit of the threats described, although the Runestaff can also give the exact location of the contending armies. No doubt those present, Romans and otherwise, will have additional questions.
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Castle Brass
Castle Brass is a metallic cube in the marshlands of southern Gaul, patrolled by flamelance-armed knights. After a welcome Mass in his church, Brass hosts a mandatory banquet in his castle, introducing his daughter, Yisselda.
He has just agreed to come to Rome to help use the Runestaff in the aid of the Romans, when another visitor knocks on the door. He is Baron Meladius, Grand Constable of the Order of the Wolf, a nobleman of Granbretan. His armies are consuming the Roman armies, and he wants to see if Count Brass wants to make an alliance with Calamus.
Quite apart from the oath he swore to the Empire, Count Brass has heard terrible things about Granbretan. Meladius grins and says they're all true; he's about to launch into a long, character-defining speech when Bjern and Pouncequick jump him. Meladius is armed with Mournblade, a vampire sword which drinks the blood of its victims. He gets Junius, Brother Aquila, and Retarius, but Rosa comes in behind and heals them so they don't actually die.
Granbretan soldiers on massive, horse-sized wolves burst in to raven and slay! Rosa decoys the lead wolf with the thought that there's a deer running around outside, so the mounts leave, and Retarius and Bjern defeat some of the Granbretans. Pouncequick casts protection from evil on Meladius, in the thought that some evil power is aiding him and will now be cut off. It does seem to slow him down somewhat.
Junius defeats Meladius by breaking Mournblade with the Sword of the Dawn. Then when Meladius charges, he smashes his throat.
Count Brass ignites his flame-dagger and scorches the Wolves, then sets fire to the big tapestry over their heads and lets it fall on them, wiping them out.
With the Wolf soldiers defeated, Decinque bursts in, exclaiming "giant monster!" A huge rock creature has hauled itself out of the soil and is coming for Castle Brass.
As the knights of Count Brass charge on horseback, the monster reaches deep into the earth and pulls the rock out from under them, causing the soil to collapse. They all fall down.
Bjern, using the Axe of St. Michael, and Decinque, driven aggressively mad with fear, assail the rock monster and kill it.
He has just agreed to come to Rome to help use the Runestaff in the aid of the Romans, when another visitor knocks on the door. He is Baron Meladius, Grand Constable of the Order of the Wolf, a nobleman of Granbretan. His armies are consuming the Roman armies, and he wants to see if Count Brass wants to make an alliance with Calamus.
Quite apart from the oath he swore to the Empire, Count Brass has heard terrible things about Granbretan. Meladius grins and says they're all true; he's about to launch into a long, character-defining speech when Bjern and Pouncequick jump him. Meladius is armed with Mournblade, a vampire sword which drinks the blood of its victims. He gets Junius, Brother Aquila, and Retarius, but Rosa comes in behind and heals them so they don't actually die.
Granbretan soldiers on massive, horse-sized wolves burst in to raven and slay! Rosa decoys the lead wolf with the thought that there's a deer running around outside, so the mounts leave, and Retarius and Bjern defeat some of the Granbretans. Pouncequick casts protection from evil on Meladius, in the thought that some evil power is aiding him and will now be cut off. It does seem to slow him down somewhat.
Junius defeats Meladius by breaking Mournblade with the Sword of the Dawn. Then when Meladius charges, he smashes his throat.
Count Brass ignites his flame-dagger and scorches the Wolves, then sets fire to the big tapestry over their heads and lets it fall on them, wiping them out.
With the Wolf soldiers defeated, Decinque bursts in, exclaiming "giant monster!" A huge rock creature has hauled itself out of the soil and is coming for Castle Brass.
As the knights of Count Brass charge on horseback, the monster reaches deep into the earth and pulls the rock out from under them, causing the soil to collapse. They all fall down.
Bjern, using the Axe of St. Michael, and Decinque, driven aggressively mad with fear, assail the rock monster and kill it.
Monday, June 26, 2017
The Dark City of London
Andronicus and Fabulus Calamus have been busy ...
The Runestaff, according to Sylvia's perceptions, is in the Prison of Souls. While everyone else waits for daybreak, Rosa sneaks in and finds only one prisoner who isn't screamingly insane ... Count Brass, a nobleman of Gaul. He says he's here voluntarily, hoping to learn how Calamus turns one metal into another.
He also knows where the Runestaff is. And when the Valerians break him out, he shows them --- he has it! Indeed, Count Brass had the Runestaff all the time, and the madmen of Granbretan -- the empire Calamus is building on the province of Britannia -- never suspected.
The eagles come at Elrond's call and everyone escapes. Count Brass is willing to discuss what to do with the Runestaff, but demurs Pouncequick and Junius' kind suggestion that they take it to Rome and discuss it. Instead, Count Brass prefers to explain the Runestaff at his home of Castle Brass, surrounded by his own philosophical devices and troops.
The Runestaff, according to Sylvia's perceptions, is in the Prison of Souls. While everyone else waits for daybreak, Rosa sneaks in and finds only one prisoner who isn't screamingly insane ... Count Brass, a nobleman of Gaul. He says he's here voluntarily, hoping to learn how Calamus turns one metal into another.
He also knows where the Runestaff is. And when the Valerians break him out, he shows them --- he has it! Indeed, Count Brass had the Runestaff all the time, and the madmen of Granbretan -- the empire Calamus is building on the province of Britannia -- never suspected.
The eagles come at Elrond's call and everyone escapes. Count Brass is willing to discuss what to do with the Runestaff, but demurs Pouncequick and Junius' kind suggestion that they take it to Rome and discuss it. Instead, Count Brass prefers to explain the Runestaff at his home of Castle Brass, surrounded by his own philosophical devices and troops.
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