After the help I got from some members of the forum in here (http://nocturnal-media.com/forum/index.php?topic=2132.0) I decided to write a rapport on the ensuing session. I don't have much time, but I will give it a shot. It will be in short installments.

Short background. My PKs started out as knights of Baron Rhun of Sharp Hill in Jagent County. Baron Rhun, while a vassal of Uther, was also by custom supposed to help Duke Gorlois in his defense against the Irish. He was married to Ygraines sister Melisande. The match was political, loveless and they had only one daughter, the maid Evelune.

Now, in 490, Baron Rhun and his knights joined Duke Gorlois and Duchess Ygraines flight from Londinum. The following year, baron Rhun and his knights and their families rides west and joins the Duke. The women and children are sent to Tintagel, the knights are at Terrabil. Just before the battle, Baron Rhun calls for Sir Melcon [PK], Sir Godfrey [PK] and Sir Morien [NPC]. He makes them take an oath to the effect that if he should die, these three knights will take care of his wife and daughter, and make sure that the latter get "an honorable marriage".

Next night, in the battle of Terrabil, the Baron is killed. My PKs meets Cador during the rout, and he explains that the Duke has a ship tucked away in a bay up north, an the he is going to flee in it, to Puffin Island [Lundy Isle]. (In my campaign, Cador, Ygraine and Melisande came for Lundy Ilse, and had the right to one third each of the island). My PKs joins up, as do other knights. They get away and reach the island.

Alas! The hear that Duchess Ygraine has surrendered, and thus all the women of Sharp Hill, they assume.

Next year they go to Tingtagel and is pardoned by Uther. They then learn that Baroness Melisande, maid Evelune and Lady Vibenna (Sir Godfreys mother) fled in a ship before Ygraine surrendered Tintagel - and has not been seen since then.

Cador wants his sister back, and two PKs are sworn to find and help the women.

Thats the set up for the Adventure of the Deep Ones.

Sweet! Looking forward to the next installment. Please continue when you can...


T.

Thanks T, you gave me the strength to write another post.

Time to introduce the heroes!

Sir Melcon, a Heathen Pict. At 30 years of age he has 3230 Glory and is the most successful of the PKs; a vassal knight at Sharp Hill. He is known to be Honest, Arbitrary, Valorous; and to Hate (Saxons), Love (Ygraine) [ouch!], Hate (Orlande; a heinous murderer) and Loyalty (Clan Leader).

He has proven to be a political savvy knight, wise beyond his years. Old Baron Rhun valued his frank advice very much and just before the revolt Melcon was betrothed to the maid Nyssa - a girl with a manor.

He is also know to have fought King Uther in personal combat - twice - and lived to tell the tale; to have almost killed the giant Saxon "king" Eosa at Linden; and to have killed Sir Moneval, a crony of Uther, for the right to actually marry Nyssa (Uther gave Nyssa and her land to Monveal after the rebellion, but Melcon killed him before the marriage!). Quite a CV!

Sir Uist Nine Fingers, a Christian Pict. At 30, he has had his ups and downs; he has scrounged up 2657 Glory. He is a mercenary, under Cador. He is known to be Prudent, Valorous and being Suspicious of Nineve. He is a smart, alert, suspicious Pict, if not as politically wise as Sir Melcon.

He is mostly known for having sired a bastard with the witch Nineve, a son he has never seen since the evil which has been blackmailing him to do her bidding in return for seeing the boy. The witch tricked him to carry a magical ring with an eye, which she used for scrying. Uist carried this for several years, knowingly, and when baron Rhun found out Uist was in real trouble, but redeemed himself somewhat by cutting of his own finger (!) in full court.

Sir Godfrey, Cymric Christian. A year younger than the Picts, and with far fewer Glory [he has been filling out this wrong on his sheet, I just discovered] and a simple mercenary knight with Cador. He is known to be Pious, Valorous, Honorable, and Hate (Irish). If there is a good guy in this bunch, its Sir Godfrey.

Sir Heamund, Cymric Christian. Just 25 years old, he has yet to make his mark. 1490 Glory. Mercenary knight with Cador. Know for being Reckless, Valorous, Love his Family, Hate Saxons and Loyalty Cador. Young and cheerful, he just want to win Glory and action.

Hope you intend to continue this, Skarpskytten. :)

While I am not into mixing Chtulhu Mythos with my Pendragon, I am curious to find out how the adventure played out. :)

Agreed. Don't leave us hangin', bro!


T.

Sirs, I have not given up. But I'm in the middle of moving 600 miles as the crow flies, from southern Sweden to western Norway. I'll be back, as soon as I find a calm moment.

Aw, thanks for checkin' in with us. We patiently await your return to the boards!


Best,


T.

Ok, seems I'm back from the dead.!

Spring 492, Puffin Island.

"A ship, a ship!" The knights gather at Cadors manor. Is it King Uther, coming for the rebels? No, the ship proudly bears the arms of - King Lot. The ship sails closer and closer, while the rebel knights arm up and ride down to the beach.

After a brief parley and some high worded oaths a small ship approaches the beach. It holds King Lot and his new bride, Queen Margawse, straigh from Tintagel. Margawse greets her uncle cordially. There is some talk on what's going on in the realm, and then Margawse gives Cador a letter from Ygraine. The ryoals says their godbyes, and leaves for Lothain or some other northern place.

On the way back, Cador calls for Sir Godfrey. The two rides ahead, and Cador asks Godfrey to read the letter for him - after he promises to keep mum about what it says.

It's a long letter, rather personal. Ygraine writes about her marriage to the King ("not a bad man") and the wedding of her two oldest daughers. She is keeping Uther's mind away from the rebels on Puffin Island, they need not worry. And then she drops the bomb: the ship on which Melisande (their sister, remeber) left, has been spoted, wrecked on the coast on one of the Sunny Isles [Isles of Scully]! The King wont do anything about it - Cador must look into it. Their sister might still be alive - and in need of help!

Back at the manor, Cador holds an iterview with Sir Melcon and Sir Gilbert - he knows they are honor-bound to investigate. He explains that he can not go himself, he need to find a good Lord to hire his knights. He asks them to take his ship, a couple of other knights and a dozen archers and investigate. He will pay them thier mercenary salary, of course, if he finds a Lord to serve during the upcoming summer. Good speed!

Sir Melcon and Sir Gilbert asks Sir Uist and Sir Heamund to join the quest, and a couple of days later the four knights set out on their adventure on Cador's ship.

The voyage is uneventful; they give Tintagel a wide bearth. After a couple of days of sailing they approach Sunny Isles. The Isles are part of the King of Lyonesse's domains, and is reputed to be full of cannibals, pagans, druids, pirates and wreckers.

One early night, when the moon is up painting the sea silver, they see the siloutte of a craggy island. Some small fires can be seen, mabey a small village. The sea is calm, nothing can be heard. Then, suddenly - a hauning voice can be heard over the water. It is a worldless song of sorrow and woe, more beutiful and sad than words can convey.

Sir Uist suddenly gasps with recognition: "It's the voice of baroness Melisande! It comes from the bottom of the sea!"

;)


T.

The four knights leans overboard and stare into the ocean. They see a shimmer of mother-of-pearl, or perhaps it is some dancing ghostligts under the surface? No - it is a castle, slender towers and thin walls, all in silver and glass and crystal, at the bottom of the sea. That where the singing comes from! Our heroes have found the Adventure.

But now, in the middle of the night, they will do nothing. Daylight will bring advice. They order the captain to anchor the ship.

A pale morning dawns, revealing a poor village on the craggy isle. It clings to the sharp hill - and at the top of the village, just below the crest, they see a hall. Could it be a manor? The knights hold their advice, and decide to make a landfall and see if there is a knight up in that manor that knows whats going on.

Soon, they are in the dingy, armed and armored, with the squires panting at the oars.

On the way to the shore, Sir Uist spots a bay to the side of the village, with an entrance that is hidden from the sea - it can only be seen from an angle, for a short, short while. In the bay can be seen the remains of dozens of ships of all kinds and types: cogs and long ships and galleys and leather boats. They lie there, like the carcasses of stranded whales.

"Look!" he says, and points.

"Wreckers!" say Sir Melcon. "And behold!"

His long finger points to a ragged standard at the top of one of the ships - it has the colors of the Baron of Sharp Hill!

They have found the Baroness and they have found her ship.

But what has happened here, in this godforsaken part of Britain? Perhaps the villagers gathering at the shoreline can tell - or, if not, that proud kninght they see striding down confidently through their midst?

I'm lovin' it! Very much reminiscent of the Land-Under-Waves from Scottish legends. Very much at home in PENDRAGON. It'll be nice to see the "twist" to something more Lovecraftian.


T.

I'm lovin' it! Very much reminiscent of the Land-Under-Waves from Scottish legends. Very much at home in PENDRAGON. It'll be nice to see the "twist" to something more Lovecraftian. T.

Thanks T - I hope the twist will live up to your expectations!

The four knights hold a quick conference. It seems that there is no great danger right now; there are four of them and just one knight, without armor, and a horde of peasants on the shore. They proceed.

"Hoy-hoy! Welcome! I give you my permission to land!" shouts the knight.

Our heroes steps ashore. The pesants look surly and somewhat wild, but well fed and well in fear of their master. The knight greets them cordially. He is Sir Cwynar, a knight of the King of Lyonesse, and this is his manor and his peasants. "Let go up to my hall for refreshments and some talk! I don't get many guests here, I can till you. My daughter will be thrilled!"

He chats on cheerfully as they walk through the village along the steep main street. Both Uist and Melcon notes that the peasants of this "poor village" are suprisingly well dressed. They peep through open doors, and sees rich tapestries, large copper pots and other rich furnishings. They nod meaningfull to each other - these are the wreckers, no doubt. And there is more. They all sense that this man is not honorable; is he even a knight. He can not be trusted.

The knights reach the manor hall. Cwynar asks them to step in and accept his hospitality.

"No", says Sir Melcon. He does not trust this man nor his hospitality, since he is either a wrecker himself or lets his peasants get away with it. Lives are cheap on this island, he thinks. None of his compatriots gives any sign of stepping into the hall.

A somewhat tragicomical discourse takes place. Sir Cwynar wants our heroes to enter his hall under his hospitality; they refuse. He is insistent, but there are four of them, in armor, and he is but one, and his Kings might is of little use out here. Finally, he accepts that his charms have no effect; he asks them, angrily, to leave his domains. They concur, for they need to hold councel on what to do.

As they start to leave, Uist hears a rustling sound a see the face of a young woman peep out from a shrubbery in the manor gardens. It quickly withdraws when the girl realizes that she has been caught spying. Uist takes care to remeber her face.

The four knights reach the dingy and put to sea. They realize that they can expect little welcome from Cwynar and his peasants next time around, so while they are at it they decide to sail into the wrecker bay to investigate.

They reach the ship they saw earlier. Uist climbs the mast and cuts down the flag; its bears the heraldry of the late Baron Rhun of Sharp Hill. The other find large stains of blood on the deck, but also something more sinister. Other stains, that looks like blood stains, but in green color. It seems, the ship was attacked, there was great bloodshed, but some of the attackers beld green blood.

The plot thickens.

You've been mighty quiet of late, Sharpskytten. Any possibility you can round out this yarn for us?


T.

You've been mighty quiet of late, Sharpskytten. Any possibility you can round out this yarn for us?


T.


I've been swamped in that strange thing we call "life". But I'll try to finish the yarn, perhaps quite soon.

Cool. Good to see you back on the boards. Don't be such a stranger!


T.

Cool. Good to see you back on the boards. Don't be such a stranger!


T.


Well, I'm trying not to! Thanks.

I'm starting to forget the details, but I'll see it through to best of my ability.

***

Our heroes return to the ship in the dingy. They discuss what to do. While they do not have proof that Sir Cwynar and his subjects are wreckers (and those green strains are mysterious), they have little doubt that they are involved in wrecking in some way - and that he knows something of the singing from beneath the waves. They agree that the knightly thing to do is to confront him, but Sir Melcon advices a surprise attack. They will round the island, arm up and arrive at the manor at next dawn.

So the ships sets sail and rounds the island, anchoring at nightfall. Early morning the four knights land on a deserted beach with their horses, gear and squires. Four archers are ordered to accompany the knights.

They ride through a barren and deserted land. The "manor" seems to have no crops growing, no cattle grazing, no nothing. Thanks to Sir Melcon's skills as a hunter they strike the ridge above the village shortly after dawn.

The village looks like an anthill thats been kicked over; people running to and fro; dogs baring and children crying. In the midst of it all sits Sir Cwynar, on his charger, fully armed. They have been discovered! And there seem to be little scope for talking ...

Sir Melcon wastes no time. He points into the village and puts the spurs to his horse. The four knights gallop down the main street, scattering women, children, dogs and pigs. In the middle of the village, Sir Cwynar rallies the men of the village; some fifty scrawny men, armed with bows, and spears and swords, crying defiance.

Sir Godfrey and Sir Heamund races ahead, eager to prove their worth - and to slay the wrecker Cwynar.

Heamund proves the most eager. Cwynar swears, and counter-charges. The two clashes in front of the villagers. Cwynar's spear recoils of young Heamunds shield, but Heamunds spear catches the old man under his shield. Cwynar is skewered and thrown dead from his horse. Hardly have the villagers registered the death of their Lord, when the other three knights are over them, slaying left and right. They break and flee. The combat is over in less than ten heartbeats.

Eager Godfrey and Heamund starts to pursue, but Melcon and Uist calls them in. The combat is over, and the villagers wont rally, Melcon explains. They should get up to the manor and see what they can find out.

Our heroes arrive at the manor hall. Everything is quiet. Melcon and Uist dismounts and approach the doors, while Heamund and Godfrey keep whats. The archers are set to guard the approaches from the village.

The doors are flung open - and there stands the lost Evelune, daughter of Baroness Melisande! She looks haggard and worn, but her face lights up when she sees the men outside. She rushes out and falls, crying, in the arms of Sir Uist. "What is going on here", Melcon demands, but Evelune is i no stat to answer. He peeks into the hall; and there stands Arianwen. She is crestfallen. "Your father is dead" says Melcon brusquely. She almost breaks, but looks at him defiantly. "I want answers", says Melocon. "Go look elswhere", she answers. "I have nothing to say to the killers of my father. You have nothing to do here. King Meliodas will avenge my father! Prepare to face the wrath of king!". Melcon looks grim; he will worry about that king later. "Perhaps your king is not so angry at having lost such a scoundrel of a vassal as you thing, my Lady, if that is what you are." Their conversation is broken by sir Uist, calling from outside.

In the yard Godfrey and Heamund, half from boredom and half out of spite - and in Gilberts case a pious hate for the wicked ways of the folks of these parts - have set the archers to rain fire arrows on the village. It is burning brightly already. Uist points to plain, young woman in filthy clothes. "I saw this one yesterday, Melcon. She claims to know what is going on here". The lass nods eagerly and opens her mouth to say something, but Uist cuts her off. "But first! Gilbert!" Gilbert leaves his gloating over the burning village. "Huh?" "Lady Evelune claims that your mother is here!" "Praise the Lord! She is still alive then?" Evelune nods. "They ... they kept her in a well these two years. They would sacrifice her to the fish-headed men of the sea at some time." Godfrey turns red with rage, and says, through his teeth: "Take me to her!"

Leaving Heamund by the archers, Melcon, Uist, Gilbert follows Evelune towards the back of the hall. "They've kept her in a hole in the ground", says Evelune. "I think ... I'm afraid, Sir Godfrey, that your mother is not quite ... sane anymore." "Ha! I think you will find that she is made of sterner stuff than that", answers Godfrey, but he do look worried.

By now Uist has realized that something is amiss. Evelune is followed by the most ugly little boy he has ever seen, perhaps two years old, but looking strong and with a cynical gaze, but none of the others seems to be able to see the boy. Has one of the fish-headed monsters gotten this half-bred child on Evelune? He shudders. Evelune treats the imp with caring and love. The whole thing stinks of Glamor!

Then they hear the wailing from a well in the ground. It is Godfreys mother, howling like a madman.

Oh this is a wonderful story! Want to see the rest.

Oh this is a wonderful story! Want to see the rest.


Thanks! The rest will come, given time and inspiration.

And when I'm done, I will collect the whole story in one post - and correct all the spelling mistakes and other linguistic mishaps that I spot.

The knights get Godfrey's mad mother out of the sacrifice pit. Evelune takes care of her.

Sir Uist now notices a plain young woman peeping out of a door. It is the girl he saw in the garden yesterday. She rushes out! "Thank you, Sirs! Thank you! You have destroyed a great evil here today! But your work is not done yet, oh no!" She is blabbering; gloating over Cwynars death and the destruction of the village. Sir Melcon calms her down. How is she and what is she doing here?

She calms down, and explains. She is Amlen, a priestess of the Old ways. She has been here several years, trying to find a way to stop the horrors that are going on here? What horrors, Sirs? She sits down on the ground and starts to tell a story. Long time ago, she says, there was not a scattering of islands here, but a rich and bountiful country. It was ruled by a King Nodag and but his court a most evil custom took place. Each year Nodag sacrificed one or more maidens to the God of the Sea. For a long time, he sent his knights far abroad to capture maids, and the God of the Sea protected his people. There came one year, though, when no maidens had been found. Nodag dared not not sacrifice no-one, so he ordered some maidens from his own people sacrificed instead. His knights found this to be a good solution. Why look abroad for what they had plenty of at home? So, next year again, the victims was chosen from his own people, and that became the new custom. But as the years went by, the Ladies deserted the Court or died of sorrow. Fewer children was born. Nodag and his knights, however, was set in their ways, and had grown lazy and cruel. They did not venture forth again. The went on, until, one day, there were no maidens left to give to the God of the Sea. As the day of the sacrifices grew nearer, the King and his knights was at lost. Then fate intervened. Meleri, Maiden of the Lake, had her ship wrecked on the island. King Nodag gave her his Hospitality. King Nodag seized her and gave her to the God of Sea.

The God of the Sea did not want such a sacrifice. He rose up out of the ocean depths to punish the King and his court for the breach of the rules of Hospitality. The island was smashed to pieces and most of it swallowed by the sea. And he cursed King Nodag and his knights; he turned them into vile fish-headed monsters and put a spell on them, so that they henceforth must live a cold, gloomy life a the bottom of the seas, always freezing, without comfort or nor joy.

And so it was, ever since. Humans came and settled the islands, now believed to be free from the terror of King Nodag. But once in the while, the vile fish-men of Nodag would come out of the depths, and take humans for food or companionship. Some of them interbred with the women ashore, creating horrible half-men. Soon, the people of the island was in their thrall, wreckning ships and sacrificing humans to the fish-headed monsters of the waves. Sir Cwynar was just to last of a long line of knights who had sustained this vile customs. And now, he's dead!

Amlen again started to praise the knights for thier good deed, but Sir Melin cuts her short. "That's fine, Priestess, but what about Baroness Melisande? We are here to find her! Is she in the hands of these fish-men?"

"Yes! Yes, she is! Or, I guess thats the one that we hear singing from time to time! From under the ocean!", says Amlen.

"How can we rescue her?", says Sir Uist.

"There is a castle down there, out in the bay. It isn't deep down, or nothing. Maybe 20 paces down or so ..."

"Not long! Are you crazy! We are knights, not fish!", says Uist.

"Well, don't worry, Sirs. I've been down there. I know were it is. And the thing is - once you're inside, you can breath ..."

"You've been in there?", Uist blurts out. His fellow knights looks as surprised as he does.

"Well, then!" says Melcon. "How do we get the Baroness!".

"If you go down during the day, they all sleep. But at night. At night, they are awake. And, oh, it's horrid ..."

"Why would we go down there at night?", says Sir Uist. "We'll go down daytime, sneak in, and get her out, as fast as we can". He looks around at his fellow knights. They answer, with grim nods. If any of the hotheads have more heroic ideas, they keep them to themselves.

"It's decided then. We'll go down tomorrow morning".

I'm a Lovecraft fan, and The Shadow over Innsmouth has always been one of my favorite stories.

Your tale is quite fun to read, and I at least am impatiently (grin) waiting for each new installment.

It is somewhat like the folks in the 1880s, waiting for the next part of their weekly novel to come out in the paper.

I'm a Lovecraft fan, and The Shadow over Innsmouth has always been one of my favorite stories.

I have played my share of CoC and ToC in my days (and Arkham horror), but I have only read one piece of Lovecrafts, At the Mountains of Madness. I disapprove of the way he writes, its convoluted and boring.


Your tale is quite fun to read, and I at least am impatiently (grin) waiting for each new installment.

It is somewhat like the folks in the 1880s, waiting for the next part of their weekly novel to come out in the paper.


;D

I think there are three of four left before I'm done. Could finish the thing before Christmas, perhaps.

Sharpskytten,

If I may, In the Mountains of Madness may not be the best introduction to Lovecraft. I can see how one could think the writing convoluted and boring. You should try some of the others — The Call of Cthuhlu and The Shadow Over Innsmouth, for sure. I also highly recommend the HP Lovecraft Literary Podcast, where the host provide good commentary on every Lovecraft story he ever wrote, pretty much.

Lovecraft can be a bit of an acquired taste, but when one considers the time in which he was writing, it's pretty mind-blowing stuff. He was a real original — a "sub-creator" in the same league as Tolkien and Howard with an amazing imagination and scope. Well worth a little more investigation. Fun stuff...


Best,

T.

If I may ...

Yes, you may! You have given me some food for thought.


Lovecraft can be a bit of an acquired taste, but when one considers the time in which he was writing, it's pretty mind-blowing stuff. He was a real original — a "sub-creator" in the same league as Tolkien and Howard with an amazing imagination and scope.

Well, I agree, but that do not per se make for a good read. Of the three you mention, Howard is by a wide margin the best writer, but Lovecraft and Tolkien were far more creative and original.

Well, I agree, but that do not per se make for a good read. Of the three you mention, Howard is by a wide margin the best writer, but Lovecraft and Tolkien were far more creative and original.
Interestingly, Lovecraft thought that Howard was the more creative and original, and said so in the eulogy letter he wrote after Howard's death that was published in Weird Tales.

Interestingly, Lovecraft thought that Howard was the more creative and original, and said so in the eulogy letter he wrote after Howard's death that was published in Weird Tales.


Well, I might have been hard on Howard, but his kind of pulp-fantasy do look a bit less original to me. Of course, all three had very distinct universes for thier stories, even Howard.

Belive it or not, but I have not given up on this thread. As mentioned before, when I finish it, I will collect it all into a new one, complete and with all the spelling errors corrected

After a nigths sleep, the four knights and Amlen let the ship (now returend from the other side of the island) out to somewhere above were the Faeries underwater lair is supposed to be. The ship anchors when Amlen say that they have reached the right spot. The knights stare into the murky depths, but see nothing through the waves. They have to take her word for it. Sir Uist looks suspicuously on the woman.

"And now, we can all dive down to the castle!" says Amlen.

The knights are not happy: water isn't really their element.

"You only have to swim straight down!"

Mutters and curses from the knights.

"Lemme tell you what to do. Give me a rope. I'll dive down and tie it around a rock or somehting. Then you can all just follow the rope, and then ..."

"And then how do we breath?" says Sir Heamund.

"The thing is", answers Amlen, "the once you are inside the castle, you can breath as if on dry land. You just kind of ... push through the walls. Thats it!"

"Enough talking! We need to get down there and save Melisande!" Sir Heamund is getting restless.

The knights strip down to their breeches and grab their weapons. After a confirming nod from Sir Melcon, Amlen, strark naked, dives into the waves with a rope in her hands. After a while, she tugs at it, hard, three times, from below. Thats the signal.

The knights jumps in, one by one. Splash! Splash! Splasch! Splasch!

The ocean swallows them all.

Sharpskytten!! You must not make us wait another 5 months for the next installment. You gain a point in Cruel (not just a check) for making us wait so long.

What happened next??

*smiles - hoping the next installment is soon*

Sharpskytten!! You must not make us wait another 5 months for the next installment. You gain a point in Cruel (not just a check) for making us wait so long.

What happened next??

*smiles - hoping the next installment is soon*


Thanks Sire!

I'll try finish this soon.