Red Moon Over Sartar Campaign

Summaries for February 25, 1996

Dear Uncle Orbius,

Have received your letter, and am delighted to hear that my cousin is doing well. For me, things have been less than awe inspiringly successful of late.

If you will recall, at my last writing, we were following a Eurmali thief, who had made off with a scroll and a hundred or so small but good gems. Never did catch the Trickster, and the thief managed to distribute the gems to a lot of peasants on the Lismelder - Colymar border. We recovered part of the scroll, which turned out to be an EWF era relic, given to the King of the Colymar about a year ago by a traveling merchant {we have been unable to trace the merchant}. This identification was made by the purser in charge of the royal treasury.

Most of the scroll appears to have ended up in the hands of three people and a "White Dragonnewt", who slew 7 Lismelder tribesmen, who picked it up from the road, where the trickster had unrolled it and left it. The trickster then warned the local peasants that if anyone crossed or distured it, "The Dragon would get them". This "white dragonnewt" and his companions are fugitives from justice, having murdered two herders and a herdswoman under lunar protection, apparently. Successful fugitives from justice ... we tracked them into the direction of the Dragon's Eye, but eventually lost their tracks. There was a brief contretemps when our lieutenant ordered the arrest of an Etyries merchant, who turned out to be a big shot from the interior of the Empire. The merchant resisted arrest, and though he wasn't guilty of anything I had the devil of a time convincing our lieutenant to forget about it.

We then went back to Runegate. It turned out that Golden Boy had returned. Being on the staff turned out to my advantage finally, since I got a good share of a successful adventure into the swamp, without actually going on it. Part of the loot is a large vase of magical black sludge, which I will present to the Irripi On-Tor temple in Alda-Chur, if they will tell the two of us what it is.

A rider arrived and told us of a problem at the Lunar Fort bordering the Upland Marsh. Apparently the garrison had disappeared, replaced by a huge darkness spirit, some spirit broos, and some real broos. Investiagation confirmed the dispatch rider's story. We also discovered what appeared to be a back entrance to the fort {I think this was done by Det. Tavar}. An attempt to secure assistance from a local shaman in cleaning out the spirits failed, though our lieutenant did succeed in getting his foot cursed. Investigation of the back entrance revealed three vampires, our enemies, in coffins. An attempt to fight one of the vampires turned into rapid retrograde motion. While running back to our horses Pvt. Rockfrug spotted the tracks of some living, corporate, broos.

We returned to Runegate, to ask for Golden Boy's help. Golden Boy is making sure the vampires are not lunar citizens ...

Do we have something going on with Delecti that this is connected to? Vampires and chaos in Lunar territory on the border of the Upland Marsh are pretty suspicious. If the Spoken Word is not involved, maybe it should be aware of the situation and become involved ...

Oh, and finally, according to the Grey Lord of Old Top, the words on the part of the scroll we do have are "The Dragons of Dragon Pass ... {torn off}", and there is no such thing as a white Dragonnewt. He is a Lankhor Mhy, so he is probably telling the truth but not the whole truth. There is a big cave complex in Old Top, and the top of the hill is clearly a former Orlanth temple. I would be less than shocked if it turned out that that when we aren't there it is still an Orlanth temple.

No one suspects that I can read Auld Wyrmish, for the excellent reason that so far, I haven't been able to read Auld Wyrmish.

The war wound down when Golden Boy returned from the Marsh. The main apparent result is a number of dead Sartarites.

On leave, Cpl Tracius, Det. Tavar and I went to Boldhome. Cpl. Tracius became a Yanafal initiate, and a Seven Mothers acolyte. Det. Tavar became a Jakaleel acolyte. I did some shopping, and made sacrifices at the Irripi On-Tor, Hwarin Dalthippa, and Etyries temples. I am now an Etyries lay member, entitled to Bargaining training ... which may be expensive but should prove worth it in the long run. I also look look quite nice, in black caftan and cloak, with red fox fur belt. Getting a little warm for my hat, though.

Our lieutenant's leadership skills are quite remarkable, and based on his recent performance, I unhesitatingly recommend his promotion to captain and his assignment to a staff job in Furthest.

May the Merciful, Compassionate, and Conquering Moon bless you.

As ever, yr. obedient niece,

Yasna