Present:
- MARMALADE: Abellinet "Able" Ugwistan, 31, Moor Arian Fighter from Septum – Jeff
- Brave "BJ" Jose, 22, Arian Visigoth Fighter from Astigi – Jamie
- Fabius Cato, 26 Roman Nicene Temple Fighter from Rome – Richard
- Luigi Abundus Bertolini, 23, Roman Nicene Priest from Ravenna – Chris
- MARMALADE: Merkel, 24, Vandal Arian Temple-Fighter from Gades – Kevin
- 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 Astigi – Steven
- Lucky Logan, 27 Nicene Visigoth Temple Fighter from Malaca - Shane
by Richard
The plan, as it stood, was to travel to Malaca and board a boat to Septum [ North Morocco ] where Velito will be introduced to his new bride Isidora's parents. Following that, we will travel back to Gades as Brother Luigi and Sister Justina are concerned about Father Valerius and Acolyte Felix.
We are in the Inn of the Gilded Chalice in the small town of Iluro. Velito, Sister Sarah, Brave Jose, and Victor are soon to take the day's travel to Malaca. Once they had secured a boat, BJ will return, and the rest of us will quietly slip into Malaca and board the boat. The plans of mice and men …
The rest of us, the Nicenes, Father Luigi, Fabius, Lucky Logan, Sister Justina, Isidora and Elena (our serving maid) all wait, and thank goodness we did.
The road, which had been unusually safe until now due to the high number of King's Guard, had now turned somewhat sinister.
About two hours in, they see ahead a group of eight or so black men (Moors) ... crucifying a Nicene Priest.
"Dis is not good" expressed Velito "we lucky we not bring Fabius and Lucky."
Velito, being Nicene, was also concerned about the events unfolding in front of them, but he was far less devout and willing to die for God than his peers left in Iluro. He did, however, see Jose with a faint smile on his lips (BJ being a heretical Arian)
"We do nutting and just go past – si?"
"Agree," confirms BJ "and why would we interject anyway?"
The group walk toward the black men, and, as they near, are approached by what is clearly a Moor soldier.
"Who is your leader?"
"Ahh, that’s me," confirms BJ – being the only one with a horse.
"You travel with a whore," the soldier says in an agitated manner pointing at Sister Sarah. "Her face is not covered. Bring her here. And who owns her?"
"No no!" chips in Velito before BJ can get a word in. "We not own her – she a sister of the Arian church."
The soldier ignores Velito and keeps talking to BJ. Velito of course did not pick up on that hint and continued to argue his view.
"She is a good woman and she is a Sister – si?"
Smack – the hilt of the soldier's sword smashes into Velito's jaw.
"Keep him quiet," demands the soldier to BJ.
"Si si!" mutters a retreating Velito
BJ engages the Moor in conversation telling him they are heading to Malaca and then on a ship to Septum. "We are taking his (pointing to Velito) wife to Septum to her parents."
"Tell your whore to wear a veil – and you control her" the soldier demands of BJ.
While BJ tries to fruitlessly explain himself, the soldier continues to eye up the [ expensive lorica squamata ] armour.
"I will fight you for it," he states. "First man down."
BJ, feeling he had little choice, agrees. Before the soldier fully unsheathes his sword BJ has knocked him unconscious to the ground [ Jamie rolled a 1 critical and did 15 damage ].
At that, the other soldiers, who had gathered around, acknowledge BJ's win and allow the party to move on – Sister Sarah now veiled and Brave Jose's armor intact, although he quickly decides to remove it to avoid any further unwanted attention.
As the group continue, they see more Moor soldiers. And also some kings' soldiers slain and hung on crosses.
"I heard of dem" says Velito "des are Moors from Africa."
"They follow a god called Muhammad," says Sarah
"Why are they here?" Victor rhetorically asks.
"I not like – I not like – we can't bring Luigi and Fabius here – it be trouble."
"I want to go back" said Sister Sarah.
After some discussion, the current plan is changed. Velito will travel on alone to Malaca and find out what he can. The rest will return to Iluro.
BJ, Sarah and Victor travel back to Iluro. The roads are quiet and there is no sign of the eight Moors who had crucified the priest. They arrive in Iluro an hour or so before dark, and go back to the Inn of the Gilded Chalice. They enter and see Luigi and the others at one table, but in the corner are the eight Moors.
"I can't go in" says BJ – "they might recognize me."
"I will go in and get the others to come out here," volunteers Victor. With that, he subtly disguises himself as a Nicene Bishop (failed disguise roll) and goes in and beckons the others outside.
"Why are you back so early?" says Fabius looking around "and where is Velito?"
Brave Jose, Victor and Sarah quickly relay what has happened and the change of plan. BJ lingers with delight on relaying the story of the Nicene's priest's crucifixion, and sees Fabius and Lucky's faces fill with rage.
Brother Luigi was particularly animated. "We must destroy the infidels and heretics – kill them all!"
Fabius and Lucky Logan (both Nicene temple fighters and sworn to protect and obey Brother Luigi) look at each other – breathe heavily and, with hands on the hilt of their swords, go to the town guard to see if they have soldiers who can help. Of course, there is no question they will do their duty and lay down their lives for the Nicene church.
The town guard building has lights on inside.
"Victor sneak up and look in the widows" asks Fabius
Victor disappears into the night and reports back. "Four Moors inside – looks like they have taken over the town guard."
"So that’s twelve," says Fabius.
"How'd you work that out?" asked Victor.
Fabius looks at him quizzically and strides off back to Father Luigi.
"Father there are twelve Moors, perhaps…."
Father Luigi has become even more animated over the last minute or so, as he pondered his Christian brother's demise. "Kill them all! – they must burn in hell for their sins!"
"I haven’t seen him this upset before" murmured Fabius to Lucky.
"Ok BJ, you and Lucky come with me – we will try and take them a few at a time. Victor go and jam the locks in the doors of the town guard-house, and then stay and watch it and let us know if someone comes out."
With that, Fabius, BJ and Lucky go to the inn's external latrine and wait hidden. After some 15 minutes a Moor comes out, and we quickly eliminate him as he enters the latrine.
"One down" mutters Fabius.
Another ten minutes pass, and two Moors come out to search for their lost companion, but they are watchful and wary [ and make Surprise rolls ].
This is where things turn south.
We enter the fray. BJ and Lucky take one Moor, and Fabius the other. In the first-round, Lucky fumbles and is critically hit taking 15 points of damage and is dropped. BJ hits
Fabius hits the first round but is critically hit by the second Moor and only stands on one hit point (by using 3 luck and reducing damage by a D6).
Both Fabius and BJ dispatch their foes the round after, and Lucky makes his Con roll and saves himself from death.
We drag the bodies including Lucky into some bushes.
"Go and get the others – we need to save Lucky and then get out of here," commands Fabius looking rather sorry for himself.
BJ goes into the inn, gets the others and they all congregate around Lucky's bleeding body. Sister Sarah completes First Aid successfully on Lucky (now on one HP with a major wound) and Fabius (now on two HP).
"We must destroy them!" rants Father Abundus.
"Father, perhaps another solution would be for us to retreat and warn the towns and churches of the oncoming Moor threat – I think we would serve God better that way," gently persuaded Fabius.
"Perhaps you are right, Fabius. Yes, we must go and warn others of this threat."
With that, we, as quickly as we could, headed west from town retracing our steps, planning to travel firstly to Nescania, then Irni, then Lucurgentum, and then onward to Hispalis.
About 500m out of Iluro, we went across some farmland and into an olive grove and hid. Sister Sarah spent an hour consecrating ground and then we spent five hours curing everybody (for once we had four curers - Sister Sarah, Father Abundus, Sister Justina and Fabius).
During this time, it also dawned up us that we had left Victor in Iluro.
Back to Velito
Velito travelled into Malaca arriving late in the day. As he approached the gates he notices twelve or so Moors stationed there. He walks through, but is stopped on the other side.
"No weapons are allowed."
"Si si – I understand but I'm going straight to board a boat to Septum," he lied.
"Septum is a good place – you may carry on" (Velito made a successful Persuade roll)
Velito notices a number of strange things.
There are no women on the streets. He later finds out that women cannot be unaccompanied on the streets and they must be fully covered.
Half of the people he sees are black Moor soldiers, and all of the town guard are black.
There are a large number of boats in the harbor.
Velito checks himself into the Inn of the Vanquished Nicene (a new name instigated by the Moors) and uses all his persuasive powers and a little cash over the course of the evening to get information. He discovers:
- No alcohol is now served in the taverns
- Moors run the town
- Septum is overrun by Moors
- They talk about "Mumid"
- They are arriving daily in their droves
- Arian's are tolerated: Nicene's are killed
- Gades is not impacted
With this information in hand, Velito goes to his room, sleeps restfully that night, dreaming of Isidora, rises at dawn and, in double-time, makes his way back to the group in Iluro.
Back to the Nicene Group
"What about Victor? What about Velito?" asks Father Abundus.as we go about curing everybody.
"You mean me?" says Victor as he steps out of the shadows. "You really aren’t very well hidden."
"Oh bugger" Fabius exclaims "ok, we will move further away. Oh, and good to see you."
"We should leave a message in town for Velito. With the Arian priest and the bartender," says Luigi.
We instruct Victor carefully about what to say to both and we write it down given Victor isn’t the smartest (7 Mind).
The next morning, after we are all healed and partly rested (and about the time Velito is leaving Malaca), Victor goes into town and leaves his messages. He tells Philip the Bartender (of the Gilded Chalice) that his name is Willard and that a friend of ours, Velito, may come asking for Father Abundus. If he does, then tell him we will meet him in Hispalis.
"Are you members of the Companions of Abundus? You will be our saviours."
"Ah, something like that" murmurs Victor and heads off back to the group.
After a hearty breakfast and morning prayer, we head off toward Nescania.
It is only an hour or so later that we hear the voice of Velito.
"I found you, si," comes the familiar tones.
"Oh, my darling you are ok" he says hugging Isidora.
"The messages worked then," said Fabius
"Si si – the bartender Philip was very helpful."
"Are we going to Septum?" asks Isidora of Velito.
"No no, not at the moment – it's dangerous and full of Moors"
"But what of my parents?"
"They’ve probably been killed," volunteers Fabius in his no-nonsense way.
"Killed?!" cries out Isidora
"No no, don’t worry" says Velito glaring at Fabius. "He knows nothing – he is just a failed priest"
"Oh yes! They wouldn’t know anything," agreed Isidora. "I didn’t know he was a failed priest."
Velito is about to respond when a large clad fist smashes into his jaw – blooding his nose and causing some distress.
Fabius walks off.
We carry on our journey and several hours later come over a rise only to see some 30 kings guard fighting 12 Moors. Will we ride down to help the kings guard?
Will this be another "oh no" moment? …… find out next week.
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