Update.
Having begun "Season two" with a very slightly modified version of "High and Dry" by UNIgames - by modified I mean I increased the number of foes in the ruins to balance the fact the PCs are not starting characters.

SPOILER WARNING
Read no further if you intend playing in the "High and Dry" adventure.

So far we are 2 sessions in and he party haven't left Mishabar yet! The reasons for this comes down, mostly, to Naru hiJashte's "Temper" disadvantage - but more on that later.

The party were ambushed by Atlun's on the way to Mishabar to investigate why the Flat Rock Clan had failed to deliver the grain they owed the parties clan, Blue Stream. This presented a slight issue in that one of he parties warriors - Telek hiKanuma is under a geas never to harm an Atlun (long story) while one of the party's sorcerer priestesses, Nia hiKanuma (Telek's sister) refuses to harm them because she loves Atlun and keeps several small ones as pets.

Naru hiJashte, being something of a hot head, raced to intercept one group of the creatures and soon found herself a little out of her depth - being outnumbered considerably. In order to relieve her clan cousin's position, the parties second sorceress priestess - Mnella hiChakkana hurled a "Missile of Metalja" into the fray - forgetting it has something of an area of effect and accidentally shooting Naru in the buttocks with it. This must have reduced Tsalisha hiSarelke to fits of incoherent laughter because she promptly missed by a Tsan wit her next bowshot despite being a reasonably accomplished archer.
The attacking Atlun were finally driven off when Nia summoned some Phantasms who were able to frighten the creatures away without harming them and the party travelled on to Mishabar... Which is where things really started to go wrong.

The initial meeting with the village head man was strained, to say the least, as his terse attitude towards his guests ruffled many feathers. Naru was barely able to keep her temper under control (rolling against her WILL to control her Temper disadvantage she passed by the exact target number) and spent the rest of the meeting grinding her teeth and flushing red but managing to behave.

Having picked up on the tension between the head man and the other elders, Tslaisha decided that later that evening she would sneak out of the accommodation they had been loaned and nose around a little, hopefully over hearing some snippets that would let her gage the mood of the village.
Sadly things did not go well and as she slipped out of a window she found herself drawing the attention of a gaggle of curious children (She fumbled her Stealth roll) who spent the rest of the evening following her around, tugging at her kilt and asking her questions, such as "Why are you trying to sneak up on those guards?" at inopportune moments until she gave up on the whole thing and went back to the parties room.

From there things got marginally worse when, during the investigation into what had happened to the missing clans-women a poorly chosen phrase sparked a heated theological debate between the village priest of Sarku, the village priest of Karakan and the parties two priests (Of Thumis and Avanthe respectively) which ended when the mayors guards, fearing things were about to get out of hand, sent for he mayor. Which is about where things *did* get out of hand.
He arrived and, with his typical bluster, accused the PCs of being at the heart of all his village's woe's. At which point, Naru's player foolishly reminded the GM about her temper disadvantage by asking if she was managing to keep her temper in check. Naturally I make her roll another WILL test to see and she fumbled it with a perfect double 10.

Before any one could stop her, Naru punched the mayor, who immediately accused the party of being assassins and called out the guard.

As blows started flying, Nia unleashed a Web of Kryag, lover of Atluns and was able to immobilize the four guards that the mayor had with him.
Things may have ended there but the mayor ran for he safety of the clan house with Telek in hot pursuit, determined to overpower him safely and negotiate a settlement to the whole sorry affair. Panicking, the mayor continues to shout about assassins and he rest of his guard – 8 in all, emerged form the clan house to come to his rescue. Afraid that they would not reach the mayor before Telek did, one of he guards threw his spear at Telek, hoping at the very least to slow him down.
Now it was the GMs turn to roll a fumble and the guard accidentally impaled the mayor through he head.

Seeing the mayor fall the other guards stopped in their charge and milled about confused and usnusre what to do. Still enraged, Naru set off at the charge towards them, and so did Telek – who had a head start. Reaching them, Telek felled one with a savage head blow that almost killed him and did knock him senseless before the other guards, galvanised by the attack pierced Telek with their spears and reducing him to a rapidly bleeding out unconscious mound.

The sight of her lover falling sent Tsalisha into a rage of her own and her arrows began to rain down on the guards, driving them back – which probably saved Telek's life. Meanwhile, worried for her brother, Nia agai unleashed phantasms to attack the guards and Naru reached the first of the now retreating guards. Unleashing a flurry of blows she dropped both before Mnella unleashed another missile of Metalja on the rest of the fleeing guards (this time managing not to shoot Naru in the buttocks with it).

A very brief skirmish after that and he last remaining guards surrendered.

The other village Elders, pleased to be rid of “The Mad Mayor” struck a deal with the party – if they would uphold their promises to find out what happened to the missing clangirls then the Elders would ensure that the authorities “knew” what had “really” happened here... That being that the mayor had been murdered by some of his own guards who had turned upon him for reasons unknown and that it was only with the help of their friends form Blue Stream who happened to be visiting at the time that the forces loyal to the Elders had been able to overpower the assassins who had infiltrated the mayors personal guard, and that sadly none of said assassins had survived to explain their reasoning. The guards who had survived naturally agreed to this version of the truth in exchange for not being taken to the ruins south east of Mishabar and being “unfortunately lost in action against the foul forces that lurked there”.

Here's a recap of the first session of Bethorm (and my first Tekumel game ever) that I ran two weeks or so ago. I first posted this report on the Tekumel Facebook page.

Here's a rundown of the player characters participating in my oh-so-cleverly named Katalal Campaign:

Khanuma hiKurodu of the Black Monolith – A scholar-merchant with a taste for arcane and occult matters, though not himself a sorcerer. He owns a small shop that specializes in minor antiquities. A worshiper of Ksarul and temple-educated. A young man with a distinctive look, already balding and having had his nose broken and badly set after a brawl he was involved in during his student days.

Ekara hiViridu of the Association of the Relievers of Life – A young woman of this assassin's clan, and a talented swordswoman who prefers using a twin sword style. Quiet, taciturn, rarely speaking above a whisper if she does not need to do otherwise.

Vorek hiNakor of the Balanced Stone – A former slave-gladiator, a year ago he won a minor tournament in rather spectacular fashion, impressing his owner enough to emancipate him and have him adopted into the clan as a member of a lesser lineage. Currently working as a bodyguard for hire.

Kalusü hiVekkuma of the Great Stone – A temple guardswoman for the Temple of Ksarul in Katalal, she is a giantess, with stories of her having some Nlüss blood being bandied about.

Elue/Ekune hiTeshku of the Black Stone – An administrative priestess for the temple of Dlamelish, she had just started her career and helps with the temple's slaves. Elue is gender-fluid, having been born male and mostly identifying as female, though at times she assumes a masculine identity.

2374 A.S.

The first day of Halir.

Five natives from the city of Katalal had traveled to the great western Tsolani city of Tumissa on various errands, either personal or on behalf of their clan or temple. After successfully completing their business they departed for the long journey back home. These five strangers of various clans and professions met on the Sakbe road and, finding each other congenial, decided to travel together for companionship and mutual protection. Their journey was uneventful, with only various trivial encounters with fellow travelers, but events turned some six days away from Katalal and home.

Near the end of Suruna 1st, the party was coming to a waytower to prepare to camp for the night when they saw a woman haranguing several men, who sheepishly endured her sharp tongue. She told them they should all have been born women, since they would have made good clan girls. The party approached and Khanuma hiKurodu asked if there was room in the tower to camp for the night. The woman calmed down, remembered her manners and told Khanuma that there was more than enough room and he and his companions were welcome to stay. The woman introduced herself as Vanethi hiJuthu, a stonemason from a prosperous and respectable artisan's clan. When questioned about what had her in such a temper, she explained that her clan had been contracted to renovate the villa of Lord Sardumalshu hiArkona of the Gray Wand clan, a high ranking administrator in the city government of Katalal. His villa is located just two hours south of the road in the village of Qanishe, which he holds as his fief. However, Vanethi and her men were running late due to their reluctance to travel the trail to Qanishe so late in the day. There had been rumors of shadowy creatures prowling the low hills north of Qanishe, which she personally dismissed as peasant superstition.

Vanethi then asked the travelers, who were fairly well-armed, if they would mind escorting her workers to the village, offering to feed them and pay them a small wage for their trouble. The party agreed, having no pressing need to return to Katalal by a certain date and with Qanishe being only a few hours travel there and back.

When Khanuma and Kalusü hiVekkuma questioned the various stonemasons about the stories circulating about what was haunting the trail they received varying answers, ranging from shadowy figures to people encountering the smell of musty cinnamon in certain vales of the foothills, but learned nothing concrete. The priestess of Damelish, Elue hiTeshku, had no better luck after servicing two of the stonemasons that had caught her fancy. Meanwhile Vorek hiNakor took part in a dice game and won a little money.

The band departed the next day. The journey took two hours. On the way they came across a great stone plinth erected on one of the foothills. Curious, Vanethi went up to take a closer look at it, being interested in old stonework. The following inscription was carved on it in Classical Tsolanyu, which Khanuma translated for Vanethi's benefit.

“I, Esculvu hiArlellu, erected this stone to commemorate the great victory I won and the puissant act of sorcery I performed. For the greater glory of Ketengku, may the spawn of Zeshinui writhe in the void for ten-thousand years.”

The band arrived in Qanishe soon after. The village consisted of an Open Hand clanhouse and the villa of Lord Sardumalshu situated on a small rise a little further south. They spotted a number of young men and women exercising, being supervised by a man and a woman, both martially arrayed. At the villa they were greeted by servants and Lord Sardumalshu's major domo, Chisakh hiKashta, a preening and officious little man. At this point Vanethi paid off the travelers and saw them provisioned, claiming them as an expense covered by her clan's contract with the Lord of the villa.

The party rested for a while. Khanuma spoke with Chisakh, managing to charm him, and learned a little about the standing stone. A former fiefholder, who was also a sorcerer, had fought and banished a minor but potent demon that was haunting the area some one-thousand years back. Chisakh had heard the rumors of the trail being haunted, but dismissed them as peasant foolishness. He, personally, had never seen anything, though he had heard that supposedly some sort of shadowy thing could be seen lurking around the plinth in the hours preceding dusk and dawn. Chisakh also commissioned Khanuma to deliver to the Grey Wand clanhouse a missive addressed to Lord Sardumalshu, since the major-domo could not spare any of the servants to perform the task, needing them to help with the labor of the villa's renovation. Khanuma agreed, accepting a promissory note for ten kaitar along with the letter.

Meanwhile Vorek, Kalusü and Elue, being curious, went to investigate the villagers who were exercising. The village boys were now wrestling while the armed man and woman watched. The pair were Mridesh hiQolsuna and his Aridanni assistant Jnaki hiBaketike, members of one of the gladiatorial clans who run the Hirilakte Arena in Katalal. They were visiting the villages and towns west of the city in search of youths interested in becoming gladiators. Mridesh, a worshiper of Dra and a profound pessimist, claimed yet to have found anyone of descent quality, though Jnaki privately said to Kalusü that her comrade's standards were a bit too exacting. Both Mridesh and Jnaki offered Vorek and Kalusü places at the arena for good prizes, being impressed with their reputation and imposing physical stature respectively, but the two declined, citing other responsibilities.

Ekara hiViridu overheard two servants gossiping about a servant girl who ran away from the villa, and heard them speculate if the missing servant really stole what Chisakh said she did.

The travelers soon left. On the way back to the Sakbe road they took another look at the standing stone, but found nothing else unusual about it, and demurred to stay until dusk to see if the shadowy thing said to haunt the place would manifest.

Back on the road, the band continued traveling east. An hour before sunset they encounter a band of eight louts harassing two wandering Emerald Circlet prostitutes – a man and a woman. Vorek took offense at this and warned off the men, backed by Kalusü and Khanuma. Ekara and Elue hung back a little. The lead lout told Vorek to piss off and a fight looked about to ensue. Ekara ended it quickly by throwing a knife into the offending man's eye, killing him instantly and cowing his companions, who begged for mercy and fled. The two prostitutes, Dletana and Vri, were profoundly grateful, never expecting such consideration from a band so much socially superior to themselves. They humbly asked if they could travel with them for a bit, and offered their services to the party for free. They also passed on a rumor they heard when working a town – Srekekunu – some three days travel west and north. A ghost or spirit of some sort was supposedly haunting the basement of the Ripened Sheaf clanhouse located in the town.

The party set out the next day, parting company with the two Emerald Circlet clanfolk. Their day was uneventful. At the occupied guard tower they stayed at, they learned unusual news from the Road Guards stationed there – an unusual band of bandits were operating out of the Plain of Mist north of Katalal. These bandits seemed to be Milumanayani barbarians from the north, but they have in their service a large number of Renyu, the humanoid-dog creatures also known as the Loyal Followers.

Late on the fourth day of their travels together, the band found bodies strewn on the lowest tier of the Sakbe road. Closer investigation revealed the corpses to be chnehl – ape mutants. Much blood had been spilled on the pavement, and a few more ape carcasses were found on the ground by the base of the road. A quick search of the ground showed signs of several creatures heading towards a small forest to the south-east. The party chose not to follow the tracks, instead continuing on the Sakbe road. After a couple of tsans travel they found the next guardhouse occupied by a small slaver caravan and some road guards. The master of the caravan, Di'ichu hiRaskeu of the Rivet of Bone clan (a small slaver clan of Sarku worshipers who also supply slaves to the Temples of Sarku and his cohort Durritlamish) arguing with the road police, asking for their help to retrieve his stolen merchandise. The chnehl who had attacked his caravan had managed to carry off three choice slaves. The road police refused, saying that that they had all ready done their job when they aided Di'ichu on the road, their writ did not extend off of the Sakbe wall, and they were not going to risk their lives for three slaves.

The party approached Di'ichu, who greeted them politely, seeing they were mostly of high status. Also noticing their martial bent, he asked them if they would be willing to retrieve his stolen slaves, offering a writ of 250 kaitar in exchange for the favor. The party agreed, and learned from the road police that the chnehl were most like hold up in a ruin located in the copse of trees they had spotted. The party quickly descended to the ground and made for the woods. Ekara chose to scout ahead a bit, being the first to spy the ruins and noticing two chnehl seemingly on guard duty on the perimeter of the stone pile. She started to retreat to the main group but unfortunately stepped on a large, dry branch, alerting the chnehl of her presence. The apes immediately discerned her location, started hooting a warning and charged the young woman. Ekara drew her swords and met the ape-mutants, killing one in the first pass of arms. Her companions rushed to her aid, as more chnehl came from the south end of the ruins and from an underground level beneath the ruins.

The affray was fierce, but the travelers were soon victorious, their skills too much for the apes. Ekara took a minor blow to the leg, while Vorek took more serious wounds, being hit by a thrown spear and bitten on the arm, though his immense endurance allowed him to shrug off the pain. The apes soon fled in a panic, and the party found the slaves intact in the lower level. They also found some treasure – though whether it had belonged to the chnehl or was loot abandoned by whoever once dwelt in the ruin they did not know. They discovered a handful of gold coins and, more impressively, a steel long sword.
One of the slaves, a young boy named Akna, was in a panic, claiming to have seen a pale face peer out at him from a crack in the south wall of the underground chamber. Khanuma and Kalusü searched the wall and discovered a secret staircase descending into the earth. After some debate, the party decided to return the slaves to Di'ichu and then return in the morning to investigate where the stairs led to...

Thanks.
Very much enjoyed the read.

Allan

A proclamation, issued in Katalal on Mugun, Halir 8th, 2374 A.S.

Yea, let it be known that in the name of his Excellency the Governor of Katalal, a bounty has been offered for the apprehension or death of the ahoggya known colloquially as 'Old Scar Head'. This uncouth creature is an enemy of the Imperium's peace, having disrupted the harmony of the Great Square of the Seven Heroes, causing loss and distress to honest merchants and injuring most grievously three virtuous clan women of the Victorious Globe.

Four hundred kaitar will be rewarded to those who bring Old Scar Head alive to the City Guard, so to be punished, to be tormented, to be taught lessons of regret in the Gardens of Suffering. Two hundred and fifty kaitar will be rewarded to those who bring forth the creature's hewn and lifeless carcass.

So commands the Most Puissant Lord, Daseshmu hiMriyatlaku, Great and Mighty Governor of Katalal.

2374 A.S.

Surunra, Halir 7th

After a few weeks of travel and some risky adventuring towards the end of their journey from Tumissa, the travelers were happy to have returned to Katalal and spent a couple of days reconnecting with friends and family. Ekara hiViridu returned to the Association of the Relievers of Life clan house and stayed immured there for the next few days. Kalusü hiVekkuma returned to the Temple of Ksarul and met with her patroness Vajesh hiZhnayu, a high priestess of the Doomed Prince, and informed her of her adventures, including the discovery of the underworld complex a day and half west of the city. She told the priestess that Khanuma hiKurodu was thinking of mounting an expedition to the ruin, and being a worshiper of Ksarul would be interested in temple support, in exchange for offering the Temple first right of refusal for any lore or treasure found. Vajesh stated that she would at least consider giving some food provisions for the expedition. Later Kalusü was visited by Vorek hiNakor, and the two shared drinks in the guard barracks.

Meanwhile Elue hiTeshku re-acquainted herself with her husband and wife and reported to the Temple of Dlamelish to report how her temple business in Tumissa went.

Khanuma returned to his shop, visiting his second wife Elara and infant daughter Marisel. The next day he went out to visit two associates of his, Hehineshmu hiKurodu, clan leader of the Emerald Circlet in Katalal (and his 'cousin') and the Pygmy Folk trader-adventurer Vreemei. Before his visits, he learned of a proclamation issued by the city government, offer a reward for an ahoggya called Old Scar Head, who had caused much damage at the Great Square of the Seven Heroes and had also injured three clan women of the Victorious Globe. He asked for details of this from his associates, and learned the Old Scar Head had gotten into an altercation with two Shen, and had managed to kill one during the fight. The fight also ruined several stalls and the three clan women had gotten cut by Old Scar Head's sword. Khanuma also learned from Vreemei that Old Scar Head was associated with a few other ahoggya who had been selling items that they claimed to have been compensation from previous employers. Vreemei showed one he personally had bought – a beautifully wrought silver urn. This piqued Khanuma's curiosity.

Khanuma also learned from Hehineshmu that an old beggar in the Foreign Quarter had gone mad and run amuck, hurting a few people with a knife before he was beaten to death. The beggar had been nakome, very meek and unassuming, so this strange attack came as a great surprise.

The next day a second proclamation was made, declaring that Varsü hiAyanu of the Scarlet Planet of Knives had been declared a criminal and traitor, had been cast out of his clan, and the Palace of the Realm was offering a one-thousand kaitar reward for his capture, and five hundred for his head. There had also been an impalement by the north-west gate, Varsü's cousin Pangai hiSsaronel being executed as a criminal and a traitor. Vorek went to investigate this, confirming that this was the Pariah cultist he and his traveling companions had captured and turned over to Naru hiVerscha at the Palace of the Realm.

Upon hearing this second proclamation Khanuma initially sought out Kalusü and Vorek to discuss this. Varsü was obviously the Pariah Sorcerer that had escaped from them, and they all expressed concerns on whether he would seek them out for revenge or have wit enough to stay away from Katalal. After a brief meeting they went to consult with Elue (Ekune today, having assumed a masculine role to please his wife Thusurs hiSurutien, an aridani warrior of the Green Kirtle clan) on the matter.

Ekune was at the Temple of Dlamelish, attending to some paperwork, when a young temple girl informed him that someone wished to speak with him. This person was Jugur hiSsaronel, a fierce, scarred older man and clan elder of the Scarlet Planet of Knives. Aware of Ekune's superior status, he politely informed him that his beloved nephew Pangai was dead and that he knew Ekune had a hand in the matter. Jugur wished to know what happened, since the Palace of the Realm and the City Government only stated that he was a criminal and a traitor. Ekune led Jugur to a private chamber, went to fetch some temple guards, then explained to the clan elder what had happened west of Katalal. From the stony expression on Jugur's face, it was obvious he did not believe it. Jugur stated that if the Palace of the Realm said Pangai and Varsü were criminals and traitors then it must be so, then thanked Ekune, saying he would remember this. Jugur then politely took his leave. Feeling threatened, Ekune sent for his wife Thusurs to accompany him home from the Temple.

As Ekune and Thusurs left later in the day, they encountered Khanuma, Vorek and Kalusü. Ekune told them of his encounter with Jugur hiSsaronel and his oblique threat. There was brief speculation on whether the entire clan of Scarlet Planet of Knives was suborned by the One Other cult, but that was dismissed as unlikely. More probable was that a faction within the clan did not believe the charges against their clan-brethren, and could possibly be sheltering Varsü. They may also be interested in seeking revenge on those who brought Varsü and Pangai low. The travelers decided to be wary, and also see about finding if Varsü was in Katalal. Khanuma also brought up the matter of Old Scar Head, and the group decided it may be worthwhile to seek out the outlawed ahoggya as well. They decided to start their searches the next day, planning on going to the Foreign Quarter.

The four rendezvoused in the morning, and Elue suggested that they meet with an associate of hers that may possibly have some contacts in the Foreign Quarter – a slaver by the name of Arjan hiKhursa. Meeting him at his tent in the slave market, Arjan recalled that he had heard word that Akkeme the Yan Koryani, the man who owns the hostel for foreigners of low and no status, supposedly rented a small property to a band of ahoggya a few months ago. Deciding to visit the hostel first, the associates headed for the Foreigner Quarter. On their trip, they ran across an altercation between an ahoggya and six ruffians, who were threatening it, while the ahoggya proclaimed its innocence. Kalusü intervened, attempting to intimidate the men, but these bravos, while startled, were too tough to frighten. Khanuma managed to defuse the situation and convinced the men's leader, Veq, to speak. The men were members of the Clever Hands, a small clan of grave robbers, and they claimed that they've seen ahoggya in the City of the Dead, infringing on their clan's ancient quasi-legal prerogatives.

Khanuma convinced Veq to follow his lead in an effort to get some information from the ahoggya. The two men pretended to quarrel and Veq left the alleyway in false disgust, commanding his men to follow him. The ahoggya was greatly relieved at this rescue (and, indeed, relieved itself on the nearest wall). Khanuma and his friends questioned it about Old Scar Head, whom it did not know, but did confirm that a strange circle of ahoggya were living south of Akkeme's hostel. The band then spoke to Veq, telling him that they would investigate what was going on and if these ahoggya were really raiding the City of the Dead.

At the hostel they met Akkeme (a hawkish, cruel looking man) and after a minor inducement were allowed to speak with his factor Fenekku. Fenekku told them where the rented property was, and mentioned that while these ahoggya paid regularly to rent the little compound, he had never noticed them at labor in the Foreigner's Quarter or anywhere else in Katalal.

The rented property was a small, ramshackle house, surrounded by a small wall. The yards were filthy with dung and discarded food, disgusting the adventurers, but they decided to search the place. It was devoid of ahoggya, though they did find a crude wooden effigy behind the hut. In a flash of inspiration Khanuma probed a huge heap of dung piled up against the hut, thinking maybe Old Scar Head or one of the other ahoggya was hiding in it. He found a leather sack buried in it, tightly tied with cord. Finding nothing else on the property they washed off the sack with water from a nearby well before peeking inside. The sack contained a golden funerary urn and a great deal of kaitar. They sought out Veq and confirmed that these particular ahoggya were indeed robbing tombs in the City of the Dead, and gave him the urn as a token of proof and good faith (also Khanuma thought it would be risky keeping the urn for themselves). Veq thanked them, and stated that if he or his men found Old Scar Head he'd let Khanuma and his friends know and have the first crack at the creature.

After this the four repaired to Vorek's clanhouse, the closest one to the Foreigner's Quarter, to further investigate the sack's contents and to wash up. The sack contained 2500 kaitar and a silver, jeweled holy symbol of the god Qon. They divided the kaitar among themselves then returned to the Quarter to make inquiries on Varsü hiAyanu, but found no leads on the Pariah Sorcerer.

The next day the four decided to spend some of the money they found. Khanuma purchased a primer on Classical Tsoylanu to help improved his proficiency in that language and inquired at the Temple of Ksarul about a tutor to teach him Livyani. Vorek and Kalusü sought out better arms and armor, while Elue acquired certain alchemical ingredients and spent half of the day making compounds she believed would be more useful to her in a fight than her knife. When Khanuma left the temple of Ksarul he was approached by a grubby urchin, who told him Veq wanted to speak with him. Gathering his four friends, he found Veq at a Foreigner's Quarter market, watching a puppet show. Veq informed them that he managed to track down Old Scar Head, who was holed up in an abandoned hovel in the southwest corner of the Foreigner's Quarter. Thanking the tomb robber, the four returned to Khanuma's residence to make plans on how to deal with the renegade ahoggya.