Present
Abellinut "Able" Ugwistan, 31, Moor Arian Fighter from Septum – Jeff- Brave Jose "BJ", 22, Arian Visigoth Fighter from Astigi – Jamie
- Fabius Cato, 26 Roman Nicene Temple Fighter from Rome – Richard
- MARMALADE Luigi Abundus Bertolini, 23, Roman Nicene Priest from Ravenna – Chris
- MARMALADE Merkel, 24, Vandal Arian Temple-Fighter from Gades – Kevin
- Hawk-Eye, 22, Arian Visigoth Barbarian from Astigi – Shane
- Velito Rosso, 24, Roman Nicene Barbarian from Venice – Darryl
- Victor Koshenko, 24, Alan Arian Thief from Gades – Ian
- Sister Sarah, 22 Arian Visigoth Priestess from Toletum - Steven
by Jeff
 |
| Bodies littered the courtyard |
The blackened spear lay in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by the bodies of the Arian church guards who had been standing watch over it. Smoke still coiled up from the burnt-out wagon and the nearby guard tower in the perimeter wall of the bishop's country Manse.
BJ was grumbling profusely.
"Arrrgghhh, this won't fit" he complained, holding up the set of lorica squamata (studded leather armour) he had just stripped off one of the bodies, "It'll take weeks to have an armourer adjust it"
The scrumptious sister Sylvia stood near the spear, having just thrown it down to the ground.
"What hap... hap... happened here?" she stammered.
"Well" stated Victor, "You did."
"Oh Lord" Sylvia moaned, "What do we do now?"
"Let's see what Luigi says" instructed BJ, "Meanwhile let's wrap that thing up and get out of here"
Sister Sarah and BJ took scrumptious Sylvia (and the armour) and headed straight back to Corduba to report to the rest of the party, and to get scrumptious Sylvia back to her Bishop. Victor and Hawk-Eye wrapped the spear in old cloth and leather scavenged off the bodies and dragged it into the Manse.
Meanwhile, back in Corduba at Our Lady of Shining Grace, a university guard had arrived with a letter for Velito.
"Si si, I Velito" said Velito.
The guard handed it over and Velito unrolled it.
"What it say?" he asked Fabius, "I not veed so good"
Fabius turned the page up the other way, and began ..."Pablo
Cassals
Rector
of La Real y Rolliza Universidad Visgótica de Corduba
4th
December 748 SE
Velito
Rosso,
I
hope this letter finds you well.
As
you might well assume, the Royal Visigothic University of Corduba has a strict
no-children policy, and as such we normally refuse entry to lady students and
staff. But in the case of Lady Florinda and her entourage, I have made a
personal exception, subject to one condition: that the ladies be checked by the
University Deacon.
I am
writing to inform you that the Deacon Brother Tariq performed the Ecce Gravida miracle on all
Lady Florinda’s ladies-in-waiting, and one of them, Lady Isidora Felicia, is
with child. She has informed us that you are the only male that has liaised
with her, “Daddy”.
She
will be expelled from the university immediately. Unless you wish her to join
the whores of Corduba, I expect you, gentleman of Venice, to do the honourable
thing.
Yours
in Christ,
Pablo Cassals"
"I be a daddy?" asked Velito with an excited squeal.
"Velito" groaned Fabius, "What have you done? You must confess and do the honourable thing."
"Si si" replied Velito, "I most honourable."
Fabius dragged Velito straight off to the confessional, and stomped backward and forward in a righteous rage as Velito entered the box and confessed his sins.
" ***, #$#, **@*&**, **********" he stated. [Come on now, you know its confidential!]
As Velito skipped happily out of the confessional box Fabius stared daggers.
"Don-a be-a so mad" instructed Velito with a wink, "It's-a sin"
The wedding is planned immediately, Fabius hastened off to the university to retrieve Isidora and bring her to the church, and a great feast was prepared. Invitations were sent out to some local parishioners,
As preparations were underway, BJ and sister Sarah, sans the distraught scrumptious Sylvia who had been dropped at the Arian cathedral, arrived back to report.
"What is this" questioned BJ, "A wedding?"
But, with his new armour forefront in his thoughts, he immediately raced off into the city to find an armourer to adjust the studded leather for his height and build.
"I'll be back" he grunted as he shot back out the door.
 |
Velito and Isidora are married
|
Isidora agreed to be baptised into the Nicene faith, and the wedding was performed. Velito beamed throughout the whole ceremony, and Isidora looked radiant. "Si si" pronounced Velito happily, "I do"
And then they both shot off to the church cottage to consummate the event.
"I do, I do" echoed out of the cottage a short time later.
After the wedding, BJ and sister Sarah reported what they had found down at the country manse. Luigi was consulted, and he confirmed that the spear definitely needed to be destroyed. It was concluded that the best option would be to take it to the "prophet" back in Astigi.
"That Arian bishop can't be trusted" Luigi stated, "We leave at first light."
=================================================================
Back at the country manse, Victor and BJ had barricaded themselves inside the building and were preparing to get some rest. Deciding that one of them would be awake and on watch at all times, Victor settled down on the hard floor while BJ sat in a chair next to the barricaded front door. The spear was thrown into the corner of the nearby study, heavily wrapped, and the connecting door was closed.
As BJ sat, senses tuned for any danger, he heard a strange noise outside the barricaded door. There was a slithering noise, followed by scratching and light thumps on the door.
"Victor" BJ yelled, "Awake, something wicked this way comes"
 |
| The return of the spine-snakes |
Rushing up to the upstairs window, they peered down into the courtyard and saw a snakelike creature scrabbling at the door. It was a bony looking thing, literally, it was just made of bones!
"I know these!" recalled Victor nervously, "Tis the nasty Geryon spine-snake"
"Do not worry" calmed BJ, "Our great barricaded door will easily keep it out"
"But" recalled Victor, "They can climb!"
Hastily retreating down from upstairs, BJ and Victor closed and jammed shut a few extra doors, drew their weapons, and stood watch in the barricaded entrance lobby for the rest of the night.
=================================================================
As the new day's sun peaked up over the horizon of Corduba, the party were already up and active. The barge had been loaded with supplies and everyone had slipped on board to join Able. Velito masterfully wielded the punt and the barge slid quickly upstream through the city, out the eastern river entrance, and was soon moored against the riverbank somewhat near the country manse.
"This way" instructed Able as he led BJ, Fabius, and sister Sarah overland through the swamps and surrounding forest. The rest of the party stayed on the barge to ensure it would still be there when they returned with Victor, Hawk-Eye, and the wrapped spear.
Popping out of the forest onto the road, just a few minutes from the walls of the manse, Able and crew cautiously made their way up to the destroyed gates. Peering around the stone jamb of the archway, BJ made a quick scan of the courtyard and hastily stepped back behind the wall.
"Just some small snake things" he whispered, "Slithering around the door into the manse"
"Snake things?" questioned Able, "Bone-like snake things?"
"Aye" replied BJ, "Three of them, but they look to be pretty small"
"Oh no" moaned Able, "I know these. Tis the nasty Geryon spine-snake"
"Why don't you shoot one with your bow?" suggested Able, "And we'll jump it when it comes slithering out through the gate. Then we can do them one at a time."
BJ strung his mighty bow, drew, and approached the archway.
"Oh" recalled Able, "Try not to get hit, they have some poison thing going on."
"What?" squeaked BJ, just before he loosed his arrow.
Despite the distraction, BJ's arrow flew true and swept through one of the spine-snakes.
Which immediately turned and slithered quickly towards the gate.
"Perfect" crowed Able, "One at a time"
 |
| Three spine-snakes charged across the courtyard |
Unfortunately, the first spine-snake was immediately followed by the other two, and there were three dangerous spine-snakes essentially charging for the open gate. But Able was partially right, that first one was definitely going to arrive first. Maybe they would get one attack into it before all three would be in combat.
Able bravely stepped to the fore as the first spine-snake slithered around the stone jamb and engaged it in melee. BJ and Fabius stepped quickly to Able's sides and prepared for their bonus hits.
[A fighter in this combat system is able to engage a single opponent, taking his blows, and effectively allowing any of his allies to step in and attack with a bonus die. This involves rolling two dice against your attack skill, taking the best, contested against the targets single attack roll against the prime attacker. In this particular case, the attacking spine-snake made a more successful attack roll against Able, hitting him, and also preventing both BJ and Fabius from hitting the spine-snake themselves.]
Able's long sword swung violently over the spine-snake's head as the spine-snake somehow leapt off the ground and bit successfully into Able's thigh. A tingle rushed through Able's body, and he staggered back as the spine-snake dropped back to the ground and prepared to attach again. Just then the other two spine-snakes rounded the stone gate jamb, one heading for BJ and the other towards Fabius.
[Able made a successful roll against his poison save skill to counter the potential death that would otherwise have resulted a few rounds later. Phew! But he still suffered significant damage]
During the following melee, with bad luck encountered by both sides, the spine-snakes were dispatched. But not without consequences! BJ suffered devastating hits by one of the spine-snakes, falling to the ground unconscious, and becoming afflicted by the nasty toxins injected by the spine-snakes bite.
[Two fumble rolls were made during this combat (a twenty), and one critical hit (a one). In the event of a fumble, the attacker almost certainly gets hit, and must expend two luck points to avoid his weapon becoming destroyed or temporarily lost, which is almost certainly fatal during combat. The critical hit results in maximum damage from the weapon, plus an additional die roll of damage, so 8 + D8 for a single-handed sword attack.]
Victor and Hawk-Eye had noticed the combat from inside the manse, and had rushed out, ready to assist and clean up any remaining spine-snakes.
"I don't recall these spine-snake bites having such a nasty effect" mused Able.
"I just don't recall" agreed Victor.
"Quick!" yelled sister Sarah, "Let's get him inside to the chapel, and I can cast a Slow Poison miracle"
Able and Fabius quickly hoisted BJ and trotted him into the manse, lowering him to the floor in front of the alter in the chapel, where sister Sarah cast her miracle. First Aid was also given, bringing BJ to consciousness. During the intervening hour, Able and Fabius further investigated the bodies lying about the courtyard outside.
"Hey" yelled Fabius, "There are twelve bodies here without spines"
"So?" Victor called back from inside.
"Well, that means there are more of those things about" replied Fabius, stepping quickly back inside behind Able and pulling the door closed.
"Let's get out of here as soon as sister Sarah is finished then" stated Hawk-Eye nervously.
As soon as the hour was up, Slow Poison successfully cast and resisting the death poison of the spine-snake on BJ, we gathered up the spear, by its long rope, and hustled off. Across the courtyard, through the forest, around the swamp, and back towards the barge.
=================================================================
Velito and Isidore emerged from the small cabin below the barge's deck. Isidora's dress was quite rumpled and Velito had a huge grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Ah, dis marry life-a very exhausting" Velito boasted loudly, with a wink.
"How-a long you dink they taking?" he asked, considering another quick dive into the cabin.
"Oh look-a, comeing"
But he was actually talking about Able and the rest of the party who just then burst out of the bush beside the river and hurried up the ramp onto the barg.
"Quick" called Victor, "Let's get out of here right now!"
Velito cast off the ropes and pushed the barge off from the shore and we were soon sliding quietly downstream along the Baetis river, back towards Corduba.
"No need to be stopping" whispered Able from the cabin, as the barge slipped through the upstream river gate of Corduba, past the swinging body of a black man strung up over the river, and down through the city. Isidora wistfully watched the University walls as the barge swept past, but quickly snuggled up against Velito who draped his arm around her with another big grin.
Velito kept the barge moving and we raced through Corduba. The various groups of guards along the riverbank and at the river gates, a mix of King Roderic's, Corduban city guards, and the white-clad church guards, didn't pay us any attention at all, and we were soon well downstream. Racing along with the gentle current, Velito kept the barge moving all day, eventually pulling into the riverbank beside one of the frequent shrines that dotted the riverside track as evening approached.
As the sun lowered down below the horizon, sister Sarah cast the more difficult Neutralise Poison on BJ, and a number of Cures on the injured fighters, with mixed success. Fabius also utilised his Temple Fighter talents and cast Cures on himself and Able. Watches were set for the night and everyone settled down.
"At least we've definitely outrun those snake things" stated Hawk-Eye as he rolled into his bedroll on the deck before his assigned watch would begin at about three am.
Sister Justina and Able were on the first watch, and they glanced nervously at each other.
"They can swim can't they" stated sister Justina.
"Sure can" whispered Able, sharpening his blade with his leather strop.
Sometime during the third watch, just before dawn, Hawk-Eye and Elena both heard a small splash from off in the river. Peering over the side of the barge, they see a ripple moving towards the barge.
"What's that then?" wonders Hawk-Eye.
 |
| Hawk-Eye leaps to defend the barge |
Suddenly, a long thin creature launches itself out of the river and hits the side of the barge. Leaping back, Hawk-Eye yells in fright and hastily draws his sword. The spine-snake quickly makes its way up the side of the barge towards the deck rail. Hawk-Eye shouts again as he swings his sword, cutting deeply into the rail, just beside the spine-snake, as it launches itself over the rail and straight at him.
As the rest of the party rouse from their slumber Hawk-Eye and the spine-snake engage in a violent melee.
Velito spots a second spine-snake slithering up the side of the barge, heading right towards him. Able soon spots a third, and engages bravely, without his customary armour!
Soon there are three battles raging along the side of the barge, with all the fighters engaged. Even Velito has bravely stepped into the fray and exchanges blows with one of the spine-snakes.
"Take-a dis" he yells as he hammers at the creature with his sword.
"You-a not getting past-a me to my wife" he threatens.
In fact, Velito is the first to down his target and the first spine-snake falls apart into its component bones on the deck in front of him. But Able, BJ, Fabius, and Hawk-Eye continue to battle on.
Hawk-Eye suddenly reeled back and fell heavily to the deck, unconscious. His spine-snake opponent then launched itself at Fabius, who also stumbled back and slumped to the deck, bitten viciously in the thigh. As the spine-snake drew back for its next attack, BJ switched targets and engaged it. His blow lopped off its head and it crumbled to its bony components.
First Aid was successfully administered to Hawk-Eye and Fabius. Fabius staggered back to his feet, leaking blood from multiple wounds and feeling woozy. Stepping past Hawk-Eye, he quickly joined BJ and Able in battling the final spine-snake.
It was soon dispatched, but not before BJ took another huge bite wound, nearly dropping him.
Looking around the barge, Fabius was very concerned. He quickly realised that of the twelve bodies back at the country manse, only six spine-snakes had been defeated.
"There are six more somewhere" he groaned, "we better Cure ourselves immediately"
"That'll take hours" noted sister Sarah.
"Let's get going now" argued Velito, "We'll be in Astigi in a few hours"
"Yeah" echoed BJ, "We'll be safe there"
The ropes were released, and Velito punted the barge out into the main current. We were quickly slicing through the water, racing for Astigi.
Able and Fabius peered nervously over the stern into the gloom upstream.
"Will we be safe there?" wondered Able.
