Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.26 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 8 May 2011, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, an unlikely band of adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja on the Plains of Sathendo….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2011:

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J.]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 2

-“Kovar” [Beruk A.]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S.]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 3

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O./absent]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 3

“26 to 27 August 1229 B.C.E.:” After a few days in the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human city of Nadwi, the adventuring party takes a break from training to compare notes over dinner. Asish is absent because he had gone out with “Jade” [Sammy H./Non-Player Character] and then to the temple of Ulandt, lady of rest. Digger had already met Clerics Sylvia Cloudtree and Nidra there.

Gawain notes that an enchanted amulet that Vappu Lahja had given should soon arrive by courier, and Kovar explains that he has been working at the smithy of Dwarf Yohann Karsh. Jovinda reminds her companions of their promise to Nelly O’Keefe, priestess of Yondolla, to help find the farmers who had fled from the haunted hamlet of Alarn.

Digger complains that he needs more money to fund his research, and he proposes an expedition to long-abandoned border forts built by King Memir I of Hifalendor. The ruins could be of historical value and provide clues about the Fey followers of Vappu Lahja, says the Halfling scholar.

In addition, Davven says, the fortifications are near the villages of Evesboro and Tarken. The Rogue’s original mission to get a map of the area from merchant Eligius on behalf of mage Octavius Karstus could still be accomplished.

Kovar inquires about Marcel, an associate of Karstus in Nadwi. He learns from Yohann that the stonemason is respectable, if not particularly trustworthy. The Half-Orc Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts, agrees to go with Jovinda to the temple of Otih, to see if holy warriors will cleanse Alarn from Undead.

Kazuo returns to the Arena of Arakkis, where he had bested Shengtese Kensai [eastern human swordsman] Kezui Ochima. The Nezumi (rat folk) Monk finds a cigar-chomping lanista (gladiator trainer) named Hans Jeffers who eventually admits him to his ludus (gladiator school) after assessing his capabilities and unarmed fighting style.

While sparring with burly farmboy Dalan, Kazuo learns that his predecessor Marcus recently disappeared. The martial artist makes discreet inquiries around the ludus and finds that Marcus is known to be pious, predictable in his habits, and unlikely to go to the arena at night. However, Marcus was seen visiting the arena and temples late shortly before disappearing.

The next morning, Gawain and Digger walk from the “Deer’s Heart” tavern in the Dagger District to the local Magisterium (magic school/library). The Illusionist and Rogue discuss mutual interests in linguistics, the planes of existence, and architecture and haggle with booksellers on the way. Their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Jade.

Digger exchanges barbs with his former schoolmate at the Royal Academy in Alfhileno, and Gawain avoids taking sides. The young woman admits some past indiscretions and reveals that she’s also trying to find out about Vappu Lahja, even though Digger and Gawain haven’t mentioned her! They plan to meet back at the inn and talk to a certain Tsucharim Ranger later.

Jovinda returns to the shop of Gnome toymaker and silversmith “Pip…” to inquire about her father. Pip says a Gnome tinkerer traveling with a human would be a rare partnership. The Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature, plans to meet Kovar at the temple of Otih, lord of the sun and justice, as their companions wait for a summons to report to Nadwi‘s city council….

Please post to the message board if I left anything out and to plan and role-play between our virtual sessions. Byron, we missed you, and I hope that Cindy (and Susan and Linda) had a nice Mother’s Day! While the FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera will be meeting on May 16, the “Vanished Lands” group is skipping a week because of Damon F.P.’s visit and a cookout.

We’ll reconvene on May 22, but Sammy and Taum may be absent. I don’t know yet if we’ll game during Memorial Day weekend, and in the meantime, don’t forget to contribute to the ongoing threads about potential missions, whether to continue using Google Groups, and treasure. Have a good week, -Gene