Reivers is Rising (storyline)/saved posts
Topic: River's Rest
Message #: 17593
Author: PERIGORD
Date: 9/7/2009 12:28:44 PM
Subject: Re: I've heard a rumor...
<<Part human part horse or something? A little back story would be helpful.>>
Some records, One is a compilation timeline of the Reiver quest by Missoni and Myself and the other which is from a previous scholars recordings of their past.
History and Background of the Reivers
By Diarmuidh Brujo-Salamanca
Centuries ago the forefathers of what are now called reivers lived in a village a ways north of Luinne Bheinn. As you can well imagine, they did what villagers do; some were farmers, some were blacksmiths or woodsmen and so on. A simple lifestyle, but a happy one. Or at least the passage of time would have it so. When the black cloud of the krolvin invaders roiled over the lands, precautions were taken -- even in this small village. Soldiers were stationed there and the village folk prepared for fight.
And the time came when the invaders from across the sea stood at the village gate. A battle was fought, long and bloody, but the villagers fought in vain. One by one they were cut down. Age, gender, armed or not, it mattered little to the ape-folk. Buildings were put on fire and children were torn from their mothers' lifeless grasp and heaved on the flames, live or not.
A small band of survivors fought their way out of the burning village and eventually made their way up to faraway Luinne Bheinn mountain. Luinne Bheinn, or Mountain of Melody (so called for the haunting sounds the wind's furious passage can bring forth up there), has always had a few hardy folk living there. Long ago, almost longer than even the tendrils of my memory can reach, that area was considered hallowed by druids. A cromlech on the somewhat smaller Liath Bheinn mountain was a focus point for a yearly gathering of these wise people. And the cave on Luinne Bheinn was a popular place for elder druids to seek solitude and contemplation (strangely enough, time and mind has so twisted the memory of the old druids and their cave that the reivers now are nervous about entering it. In sooth, it does seem like one can feel the lingering presence of their spirits at times still, but I suspect that it is benevolent spirits that one senses.) But that era came and went, leaving only a few relics and memories -- memories that are bittersweet to yours truly.
Long after the druids had disappeared, a war-like clan lived here. Not much is known of them, and about all that remains is the skeletal remains of a peel tower, an obelisk and a few drops of blood coarsing through reiver veins. No doubt these people often fought the nearby mountain ogres and other creatures, and the peel tower was the only thing that staved off gruesome death. At least for a time. Remember, those times were much less civilized than the present. Especially so far away from other settlements or towns. By the by, the unusual names of these hills, vales and mountains are of unknown origin, but they certainly do seem related to the elven tongue. One can only speculate, one supposes.
When the band of bloodied survivors struggled up to Luinne Bheinn after the krolvin onslaught, more dead than alive, all they found was a few filthy hovels inhabited by a rather sorry-looking lot. With time, sweat and toil the reivers built the settlement that stands there today. As you can well imagine, life on a barren mountain plateau is anything but easy. Though the reivers do manage to grow a few grains and vegetables there, they rely on their hardy mountain rolton and their frequent raiding to provide real sustenance.
Though the reivers raid out of need, their true aim is to rid Elanith of the krolvin invaders and to win back their forefather's village. Their hate for the krolvin is absolute; their raids on the nearby krolvin areas are fierce and plentiful. And the krolvin retaliate with brutality when they can, though they have a hard time penetrating the natural barrier of Luinne Bheinn.
The reivers are a bit ambivalent regarding folks like those who live in Wehnimer's Landing. On the one hand, no reiver will ever sully the memory of Talbot Dabbings and his heroic act against the krolvin in Wehnimer's Landing; on the other hand, it does seem like many of the current people of the Landing are a shallow and selfish lot, with little care or thought for the danger of the krolvin menace. The current lull in the krolvin invasion can not last forever, and when it ends quite a few townfolk will, no doubt, find themselves in the servitude of krolvin masters. Perhaps deservedly so. Or so the reivers are apt to think.
As the reivers perceive themselves as the only ones who seriously face the krolvin threat, they have little sympathy for those who might not. And though the reivers have refrained from raiding the Landing so far, they now find that short-sighted people from the Landing are attacking their own settlement and killing family and friends; thus, understandably, the reivers are less hesitant to attack the Landing, or those who hail from there, than they may once have been.
Hardy adventurers with a noble spirit will, however, often find a warm welcome in the picturesque reiver settlement. Such people should not be surprised to find themselves invited to the warm ambiance of The Restless Reiver tavern for a dram of Jock's famous Reiver's whiskey. And perhaps they will get to listen as Jock relates tales of bygone deeds and days.
As a postscript of sorts, I must say that yours truly has known this proud people for a long time and is wholly sympathetic to their cause and plight. And a certain weakness for their excellent drink, if the truth must out. And sometimes, but not always, it must...
A summary of the Reivers is Rising storyline
A Reiver Timeline as composed by Perigourd and Missoni, some of which draws on the above records, and specifically keyed towards the happenings of the Reivers quest involving Hagga.
Pre-4926:
Reiver clan inhabits a small town on the shores of Lake Marliese in the Lysierian Hills. Mainly farmers and tradesmen, they lead a simple life in their peaceful settlement.
4926:
The Krolvin Isle, Glaoveln, is discovered by a Turamzzryian expedition in the arctic waters far west of the Trading Post of Pinefar. The current empress, Empress Geleena Anodheles sends three emissaries to the Isle, proposing peace between the nations. These emissaries travel through Wehnimer's Landing on the way to the Krolvin Nation. The three emissaries rather returned in pieces. They were in six sacks borne at the Vanguard of a Krolvin War Party. This act of violence heralded the beginning of the Krolvin Wars.
The Krolvin make their way to the Reiver village, and though the Reivers fight a long, hard, battle, they can not overcome the ruthlessness of the Krolvin. Children and soldiers alike are thrown upon the flames, and the village is taken. The few survivors make their way to Luinne Bheinn. After Talbot Dabbings slays the Krolvin Warchief, the remaining Krolvin become disarrayed and fall to petty bickering over control of the War Party. Eventually, the discord leads to the withdrawal of all but a few Krolvin factions from the continent of Elanith. After the war, the Reiver Clan builds a home on Luinne Bheinn. Life on the mountain peak is trying, and despite best efforts to continue their farming life, only a few crops sprout. Relying mainly on hardy rolton herds as sustenance, only the determination and endurance of the Reiver people sustains them upon Luinne Bheinn.
The Reivers two main goals become survival and regaining their village on Lake Marliese. They often attack the krolvin there and must defend their own village from the krol, as well as hunters from nearby Wehnimers Landing.
Day of the Huntress, Ivastaen 6, 5105:
In an attempt to assassinate the Council of Reiver Elders, Hagga the Bone Witch of the Luinne Bheinn Clan, causes a massive magical explosion within the Council Chamber and blows the top off of Luinne Bheinn. The explosion kills most of the Council and attracts the attention of nearby Wehnimer's Landing citizens. Some council members survive and three reivers, Council Elder Menetra, Fernage and Raevik escape to the north gate of Wehnimer's where they fall in with group of helpful adventurers composed of Jolena, Stunseed, Meldikar, Kiriane, Jhadusar and Bisco. The group takes them to Town Square Central for healing and agrees to help hide them and then protect them. After a brief talk, Fernage and Raevik decide to go and try to find the others who may have escaped and are killed by Hagga. Menetra is told they died and leaves the group, saying she must find her companions alone so as to be unseen by Hagga's forces. Hagga arrives with Ahana and Kaovarq demanding that the Landing turn over the "traitors," meaning Menetra and company. Hagga is resisted by Landing citizens and battle ensues between those unwilling to help her. She is discovered to possess powerful sorcerous magics and an ability to call upon griffins, felines of the wild, and misled reiver warriors and scouts.
Feastday, Ivastaen 7, 5105, Evening:
Hagga returns to the Landing and attacks. Citizens follow her to her hut in Luinne Bheinn to try and get information out of her. Eventually, she is killed and leaves. One of the hounds of Hagga named Kaovarq discovers the refugees had fled to Icemule and follows. Upon arriving in Icemule, he meets brusque opposition to his intentions, costing him his life several times during the eve. Hagga rejuvenates him.
Restday, Ivastaen 8, 5105, Afternoon:
Icemule is attacked by Hagga's forces. She demands that Icemule releases the whereabouts of the reivers to her, calling them traitors. The Northern Fury, whilst engaging the invasion, is visited by Hagga. During the banter, Jolena mentions that an Elder is still alive, at which Hagga decides to take Jolena away, saying that they must talk. She exits with a Major Elemental Wave, killing many, herself being killed in turn by the sorcerer Syberus. A griffin immediately arrives to carry Jolena to Luinne Bheinn, depositing her in Hagga's hut. Hagga tortures Jolena for the information on the whereabouts of the Elder. Upon receiving no information, Hagga says she will make Jolena one of her pets eventually, and first attempts to mark her. During her attempt, Perigourd, striking from invisibility, cuts Hagga down, saving Jolena, who then flees to Icemule and enters hiding. A second griffin fails to capture her en route. Lentack, a second hound of Hagga, arrives in Icemule and demands information on the reiver refugees. Citizens refuse, and Lentack attacks. He is killed and his searching of the town brings no information.
Volnes, Ivastaen 9, 5105, Evening:
Menetra sends word to those she trusts about a secret Reiver Camp set up in the Icemule environs. She advises allies to seek it and her out to discuss matters and to tell what she knows. Present with her is Arivein, a reiver scout. Menetra advises that Milbagua, the Reiver Clans revered Warchief, ought to be found if he survived the explosion. Certain parties including Jolena, Jaysehn, Karibeth and Stunseed go to Luinne Bheinn to search for Milbagua, but are unsuccessful and so leave a note in the Chief's Bedroom within the Great Hall. They hope that Milbagua, if alive, will find it.
Tilamaires, Ivastaen 10, 5105, Evening
During a meeting with Menetra at the Reiver Camp, Kaovarq, while searching for the hidden Reivers around Icemule, is captured and interrogated by those helping the refugees. He speaks of Ahana, the apprentice of Hagga, and says that she must be found if more is to be learned about Hagga. After this, he calls to Hagga for aid, whereupon a griffin swoops down and carries him to safety. We presume this is when Kaovarq and Lentack are marked for revealing too much information. Ahana appears in the Landing later that night, and is met upon by Mekthros, Wulfhen, Perigourd and Missoni, who attempt to use guile to learn more about Hagga from Ahana. Kaovarq appears, ruining their cover and attacking Wulfhen. Mekthros subdues Kaovarq as Ahana flees towards the North Gate. A slapdash pell-mell series of events begins in which Ahana breaks free, is captured, is rescued by Kaovarq and some of Haggas invasion forces, is re-captured with Kaovarq killed, and taken to the Undergound Ruins in the Coastal Cliffs. Ahana is dispelled and bound and the group begins to question her. She refuses to talk and bolts as soon as the binding spell wears off. Mekthros catches her in the Ruins and binds her again. She drops dead before answering any questions, presumably killed by Hagga before divulging any information.
Leyan, Ivastaen 11, 5105, Evening
Jolena is now in disguised in Icemule under the pseudonym, Lilliam. Menetra and Katver, Milbagua's wife, appear in the Reiver Camp outside of the city. Katver leaves early, but Menetra remains to talk to those present. Menetra discusses the structure of the Reiver Clan and tells them that the Bone Woman is essentially a necromancer or shaman that can talk to the Clan's ancestors. Lentack finds Jolena in her disguise and shows her the note left in the Chief's bedroom, meaning it did not reach Milbagua.
Feastday, Ivastaen 14, 5105
Ahana appears in Icemule and casts a violent major elemental wave in Town Center, killing many. Perigourd and Missoni track her to the Abandoned Farm, where Perigourd kills her. They drag her back to Town Square to demand her apology and attempt to question her. Ahana first mentions Dorand, the son of Reiver Warchief Milbagua who Hagga has tricked into leading her forces. Lentack corners Jolena in her Wehnimer's Landing shop, attempting to take her to Hagga, but is thwarted by Mekthros. Later that evening, a griffin takes Jolena to Hagga, and she is marked with a blood red eye tattoo on her neck, which is found to possess magic allowing Hagga to see through the eye. The allies learn that Hagga has told Dorand that the people of the Landing killed Milbagua, using this information to turn Dorand against the refugee Reivers. Kaovarq tells Jolena that another Elder is alive, but does not name him.
Restday, Ivastaen 15, 5105
Menetra speaks to allies in the Reiver Camp and says it may be helpful to convince Dorand that his father is alive. The group considers Calean to be allied with Hagga.
Ivastaen 19, 5105
Shonison, Svardin, and Missoni lead Ponthas to Thurfel's Keep, planning to show Kaovarq that the refugees are trustworthy. Valicar, Bisco, and Jolena arrive with Kaovarq and Ponthas futilely attempts to turn him against Hagga.
Ivastaen 31, 5105
Kaovarq searches Icemule for Menetra and Ponthas. Perigourd disarms his weapon and holds it in exchange for information. The helpers of the refugees begin to turn him against Hagga, and Jolena leads him to safety and returns his weapon.
Lumnea 1, 5105
Realizing Hagga lied to him about Milbagua's death and hoping to become the new reiver warchief, Kaovarq joins Menetra and the refugees in the fight against Hagga. Kaovarq agrees to lead Hagga to Thurfel's Island while the refugees search for Milbagua. Stunseed tells the allies of a secret tunnel he found while scouting in the caves for Milbagua. A group of adventurers, Bisco, Deevia, Gaerit, Jaysehn, Duoncon, Catthief, Wulfhen, Murp, Stunseed, Turinrond, Perigourd and Missoni along with reivers Lotti, Raevik, Fernage, Ponthas, Katver, Arivein and Menetra sneak into Hagga's secret tunnels under the cover of an attack by Hagga on Icemule. The Northern Fury stays behind to defend the town and make the ruse believable. The group finds Milbagua chained in a filthy cell, but alive. They return him to Icemule, narrowly escaping Hagga's wrath, as she found the rescue party trespassing in her caves. The Reiver Camp near Icemule is compromised. Milbagua spends the night in the Nightowl Pub.
Lumnea 12, 5105
In the days prior, Teclys is marked by Hagga and Kaovarq joins the Northern Fury in an allied attempt to push back the Krolvin from the village near Lake Marliese. Perigourd and Missoni run into Arivein and give her one of a series of sheaths crafted by Perigourd for the refugee Reivers.
Koaratos 2, 5105
Kaovarq patrols Luinne Bheinn for reiver hunters and kills a young Paladin, Raulin, who he found murdering his kinsmen.
Koaratos 4, 5105
Missoni is cornered by Hagga on Luinne Bheinn. Hagga says she will be marked unless she retreats with Perigourd to Icemule and allows Hagga to carry out her plans. Missoni refuses Hagga's demands and realizes later that evening that she is marked.
Koaratos 5, 5105
Dorand attacks Wehnimer's Landing. Attempts are made to convince him that Milbagua is alive, but he does not listen and is met by Perigourd, who removes him from the battlefield.
Koaratos 6, 5105
During an invasion of Hagga's forces, a new Reiver Camp near the Landing in Lower Dragonsclaw is discovered.
Koaratos 7, 5105
Menetra enlists the help of reiver allies Vyrshkana, Spaewife, Gadget, Jolena, Zosopage, Galenok, Missoni and Perigourd in a search for fennel bulbs. The bulbs are used in a tea to help strengthen Milbagua.
Koaratos 13, 5105
Lentack offers to take Missoni into hiding on the night of the ritual and proposes that she become his second wife. He says that two others have been marked, and that rituals will begin in a few days which will lead up to a large ritual.
Koaratos 15, 5105:
Katver visits allies in the Landing (Dortren, Missoni, Aydan, Miersey, Bisco, Fremie, Spaewife, Perigourd and Radcheck) and prepares a message to be given to Dorand in the hope that he will believe his father to be alive. She leaves the note with Perigourd.
Koaratos 19, 5105
An Archmage tells Wehnimer's Landing defenders that Dorand is under magical influence. Dorand may have to meet Milbagua personally to break the spell.
Koaratos 21, 5105
Reiver allies lead Milbagua to Dorand in Shanty Town. Dorand is convinced that Milbagua is not dead and the spell is broken by clerical magics, but Hagga appears and tears out Milbagua's heart, killing him. Dorand is mentally distraught.
Phoenatos 9, 2005
A Reiver Spirit visits Missoni and Perigourd in the Cul-de-sac in Wehnimer's Landing. Though the spirit is weak and has trouble talking, it leads them to a large boulder blocking Hagga's Secret Tunnels and tells them that to destroy Hagga they must first destroy her staff, confirming suspicions of Spaewife's that the staff is the focus of Hagga's power. The staff holds her power, the spirits of reivers that she has killed. They must then kill Hagga and resurrect her repeatedly with clerical magic. This will destroy her. Perigourd and Missoni suspect that the reiver spirit is Milbagua's.
Imaerasta 4, 5105
Dorand sends reiver scouts and warriors to aid the Landing in the fight against Hagga's forces. During the battle, he is badly wounded and taken from the field.
Imaerasta 16, 5105
Cotuil, the Reiver guard of the River's Rest Drawbridge is rescued from Hagga. She says she has seen eight of her people sacrificed and states that the final ritual will be held in a week.
Imaerasta 23, 5105
Three of the marked, Missoni, Dhask and Jolena prepare for the ritual by hiding at a table in the Raging Thrak Inn with a group of protectors. Missoni begins to bleed from the neck, and Dhask goes momentarily blind. Jolena is attacked by a kitten which leaps out from underneath the table. Ahana is sacrificed first, then Dhask is taken to the bone altar. Perigourd leads a group to the large boulder in the secret tunnels and begins to bash it, making slow progress. Missoni runs from the table against the advice of Jolena and Galilea, trying to join Perigourd at the boulder. She is picked up by a griffin and taken to the bone altar, where she is tied to a stake alongside Dhask. A mountain lion breaks through a window in Thrak Inn, carrying Jolena away in its jaws. Cotuil is then taken, completing the quartet of sacrifice victims. Hagga places blood from Missoni's neck into a bowl, then lifts Jolena to the altar, opening a cut in her chest and bleeding her into the bowl. She takes Milbagua's beating heart, pouring the blood over her head, and summons a dark spirit. Something goes wrong and a good spirit appears, ripping the heart to shreds. Hagga's staff is disarmed and then destroyed by Akari. Hagga is killed first by Calean (claiming to have been a double agent all along), then she is killed repeatedly and resurrected until she is destroyed. Lotti, Dorand's wife, borrows Perigourd's bastard sword and uses it to remove Hagga's head. The head is placed on a pike outside of the Reiver Camp near the Landing as a remembrance and remains there for nearly six months before being taken by Ladrial (which is another story). The allies and reivers rest around the campfire before departing for the evening, victorious.
As an addendum to the above timelime, I'm sure there are others that were involved who weren't named in the timeline. It's just what Missoni and Myself were able to pull out of our logs from events when we wrote it years ago to help with a Rone Academy event. We did try to be as accurate as possible, for what it's worth.
Also, this is what Cotuil looked like at the time of the Reiver quest.
You see Cotuil the Hiresword.
She appears to be a Reiver.
She appears to be mature and average height. She has brooding moss green eyes and tanned skin. She has cropped, unkempt dark brown hair. She has an angular face, a broken nose and broad shoulders. She is well-muscled and quite fit, her hands calloused from handling weapons.
She is in good shape.
She is holding a silver vultite waraxe in her right hand and a mug of golden wheat beer in her left hand.
She is wearing some simple reinforced brigadine, a weathered leather cap, some patched tartan leggings, a pair of scuffed boots, a leather travel pack, a worn dark leather pouch clasped with a small golden drawbridge, and a crystal amulet.
Hope this proves useful to you guys.
-Perigourd's Player.