The Author's page

Give herbs -> Check on Farm -> Back to Stronghold -> Eat Turkey -> Enhance Statue -> Kingdom turn?
Give Herbs
While history is uncharacteristically vague about what exactly was handed over to Tiressia, we do know she was reunited with her lover Falchos, and together with Melianse formed the core of a Fey outpost within the Forest.
Check on Farm
Loy Rezbin's farm had quickly taken on the look of a small village: and in honour of the great battle fought there a statue of Forsten slaying a Tatzylwyrm had started to take form from of a fallen tree. Through common agreement the village now bore the name Tatzylford.
Back to Stronghold
So it was that the victorious Runelords rode back to meet with Simon and Valerianna, once more infusing the statue of Kurshu with their conquered deific power.

Valerianna? You still present?
Anyone want to do anything before kingdom turns and levelling?

GREEN MAN: "Then PREY it shall be! Help us Lady Nyrissa!"

GREEN MAN runs to background, moves between trees and offstage rear. CAPERING FEY follow.

MELIANSE, TIRESSIA and GOOD FEY stay

TOGETHER: "We choose to work with the Chosen Runelords to defend this forest for all!"

RUNELORDS pursue GREEN MAN and CAPERING FEY

DIM LIGHTS

NARRATOR: "So it was that the Good Fey chose to submit to the Runelords and join Threshold, and the Evil Fey fled. They hid in the Dark Forest, hating Mankind and plotting to drive all traces of it from their forest."

NARRATOR: "So remember, when you are in the Wilds, or you meet a Fey, that they may be allies... or they may be the DARK FEY!"

FEY cower

The GREEN MAN enters STAGE RIGHT. He still has the Staff from SCENE II
THE GREEN MAN: "None here dispute that the Dancing Lady was unfit to rule! Hail to her conquerors! But who ARE these conquerors? Who is this Lysalla who has chosen you? You are not Fey - are you Man? "

MELIANSE and TIRESSIA (together): "They are not Men! They are Runelords!"

GREEN MAN: "As you say, spirits of lake and tree. But my GOAL is to defend our forest from Man's Destruction. We are the Defenders of the Forest, and Man is our Rightful Prey!"

THE GREEN MAN LOOKS AT THE AUDIENCE SLYLY

GREEN MAN: "And now shall we see what these Runelords truly are!"

GREEN MAN LOOKS BACK AT GREY

GREEN MAN: "Am I then free to pursue THIS goal?"

The best record of the victory speech given by the Runelords to the Dancing Lady's Fey is that of the triumphal and final scene in the play "Runelords Invictus". While the literary style of the play is archaic, if not questionable, as it was written mere weeks after the event it's veracity is near unquestionable.

SCENE: THICK SCRUB in a TOWERING FOREST. Background is a DARK TOWER. Gathered around are various DARK FEY.

The journal doesn't talk about the search - though it is referenced twice by Runelords in the future as being 'distasteful' and the night they spent camped there as 'disturbing'.

We know that it was the next day that the final partially decomposed , partially eaten remnants of the Dryad's Satyr lover were found.

Inspired by the Runelord's miraculous victory over the terrors of the wilderness, the settlers decided by unanimous acclaim to declare their new settlement Tatzylford that the power of Lissala and appropriately trained and disciplined arcanists would never be forgotten.
Plans for a statue of "Runelord Forsten and the Dragon" were drawn up - but sensibly the decision was made to first concentrate on establishing vital infrastructure.

Holgrins and Dazak agreed, and of course as the long term result of this landmark decision is familiar to any schoolchild I will hold off discussion of it here.

Despite certain "scholar's" claims, the evidence clearly shows that though they passed near the temple of Erastil, the Runelords were too focused on delivering their charges to divert and look for the entrance. Instead they had a relatively uneventful passage. Late on the fifth day, having discovered some abandoned ruins in K4, they arrived at the area designated as the Old Rezbin Farm on Loy's map.

Fifty years had erased all human works except the trees. The oldest over a century old, these enormous trees provided an Orchard only possible in the nearly supernatural fertility of this strange forest. Proof that civilization had come here once, and now intended to come again.

The story emerges in Anglon's zone of truth.

Holgrins was a farmer up past the border in Restov
Dazak was a kobold from that area, who emigrated here and became a citizen last year.

Under the expert elicitation of the Runelords the following comes up;

Holgrins: "We were always gettin' Kobolds coming' up and stealin' our livestock. Tried settin' traps, but they just stole 'em. Sneakin' in and stealin' me chickens. Me and the other men laid in wait, when they came back one night we shot at 'em with crossbows. They stopped comin' back after that, but we started losin' people who went out alone... so we moved here."

Dazak: "We were in an area. Humans set up farms, made it hard to hunt. We took food from the humans. They tried to hurt us, but we let it go. Then they ambushed a bunch of us, killed some, injured many. Tribe split, half moved to here, other half stayed behind to get revenge."

"Sootscale Caverns"

Loy's people were trepidatious as their worldly goods were loaded on top of the dangerous-looking thing. "What is under all the masks and pennons?" One nameless settler wrote in his diary. Still, they accepted it and the "wagon train" moved off at speed.

The Sootscale Village was greeted with concern by the settlers, but the Kobolds and Settlers didn't seem to have too many issues with their brief mingling, save for one.

A Kobold Dazak identified one of the new Settlers, Johno Holgrins, as the man who killed his sibling. This became the famous Rzznak vs Holgrins case, and it is worth pausing to address how the Runelords present handled this issue.

Any Runelord staying home, say so now! Yes I'm reusing an Avatar :)

will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
charisma: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2let's assume you win the opposed charisma check
Bokken's conversion was as unexpected as it was sudden. Claiming to have been approached by a figure he later identified as Lissala herself he traveled to Threshold and agreed to join the Kingdom, even taking apprentices and paying taxes.
Indeed his vision left him something of a prophet among the common people. It was not for a long time that scholars discovered his reaction to Runelord Dranstus' mental meddling. Despite numerous ethical arguments over his approach, I have attempted to show here that I believe Runelord Dranstus was trying to save Bokken from becoming an enemy of the Kingdom and - shortly thereafter - dead.

Upon their return the Runelords were in council when two unusual parties of petitioners approached.

And so it was that the Stag Lord's army that had for years ruled the area with a lax, anarchic, but terrifying hand was destroyed.

The Lieutenants were killed beyond even Lycanthropy's ability to cure. The archers that combined the main unit riddled with shafts from above and then heaped upon with further insult. The Stag Lord himself literally rent limb from limb. The Owlbear family that had been half-domesticated trapped, killed and butchered and their corpses partially flensed by the unworldly spiders summoned by Denat.

Not only had the Runelords taken not a single casualty, they had actually recruited two of the guardians who watched over the keep.

Okay - I think we're good to at least start
The Stag Lord's Fort

Who has not thrilled to the stories of the Stag Lord as a child? The monstrous bandit lord who ruled the kingdom's lands with his twisted servants before the coming of the Runelords.

While the stories are colorful, the truth is more prosaic. The Stag Lord's 'army' was a chaotic mess of loosely affiliated raiders. His keep - though impressive - was the looted sight of an abbey and even at full capacity housed less than thirty men.

The Runelord's planning is the subject to much dispute; though fortunately their actions are recounted with much more accuracy in Runelord Kindness' journal. I have endeavored to give an understanding of the kind of planning engaged based on the actions in the war. Undoubtedly my critics will bemoan that I have simply taken the actions and engineered a plan that would result in those actions, but I feel this is reasonable. That said, then;

The plan went off without a hitch, at first. The mass of Grey Servants moved into place at the bottom of the hill. As they were approaching an alarm is raised in the keep. By the time the Grey Servants are in place a full unit of bandit archers - perhaps 25 men - manned the walls and watchtower. Runelord Dranstus' spell had its audience.

The illusory Runelord was impressive, and delivered his speech:
"All men here have one and only one opportunity to live. Throw down your arms and join the rune lords in power and glory or never leave this hovel of a base alive. Every man chooses for himself, but you must do so quickly. "
But the bandits were too intimidated by their own 'lord' to put much stock in the voice of a wizard. Overconfident they jeered back, and the first flight of arrows filled the sky. Shaft after shaft punches through the grey robes only to find no flesh beneath; or worse, not even a ture robe but only Ronald's illusion.

Meanwhile, unseen the true Runelords walked up the path as they sky above them filled with arrows.

An aside here if the reader will indulge me.
No one is exactly sure when Simon Demarkus started giving his burning tokens to people. There is evidence that he had started the practice sometime during the year 2713 but had given only a few to particularly favored individuals.
There is strong evidence, however, that the vast majority of the earliest tokens were handed out during this procession from the primarily human Threshold through the Sootscale Village and through to Harsk's Falls.
These were the first Kindness Pennies, or Demarkii. The familiar copper pennies bearing the Runelord Simon's face on one side, and the Rune of Evocation on the other. The Runelord's face almost completely obscured by a bright green-tinged fire that sprung from that side of the coin.
Simon's stated goal was "For each citizen to have their own touch of magic from Simon the Kind" but the impact of these Demarkii took a long time to be properly understood.
I - like many young scholars, sages and wizards - spent much of my youth reading by Pennylight. The Pennies are now ubiquitous, but it must be understood that in the first years of the kingdom the vast majority of citizens simply had to go to bed when it became dark. Firewood and candles were expensive, and seldom used simply for reading. The Pennies were cheap (if you had one), safe (illusory fire cannot burn down a house) and convenient (they could be lit or extinguished simply by flipping them). And - of course - many of the great wizards have learned the passion for their craft from studying the family Pennylights.

There is a cracking, creaking noise, like stone foundations moving.

A wave of light washes out from the Herald, and each Rune born by a Runelord glows.

When the light passes Kurshu is a giant statue, and Hargran is dead.

The runes are effectively Ioun stones, and can be treated as such. While possessed they bestow Mythic Rank 2 (1, +1 for the Heart of Hasathorex)

Now bereft of runes Kurshu's bolden glimmer starts to pale.

The seven runes of Lissala, the runes of the Runelords, blaze upon Kurshu.

She turns her eyes to each of the Runelords.

Gasps from the crowd at this proclamation, and not a few in the outer ring withdraw whispering of blasphemy.

Hargran raises his staff above his head, intones magic words and raises his voice in prayer.

The sun beats down on the still figure of the old dwarf lying on the conjurestone altar.

Next to him is a human figure - a servant whose body today is priveleged to house the spirit of Hargran Stonebound.

Around these two are gathered Hargran's seven Runelords; Denat, The Master in Grey, Anglon, Simon, Ronald, Valerianna and Taron.

Around these are gathered the students and masters second only to the Runelords themselves, kept in check by Hargran's bodyguard and enforcer Forsten.

The final circle is a crowd of villagers and kobolds, come to see what their 'king' has been working on for so long.

"And so in the year 4713 by the old reckoning the Runelords returned to Hargran Stonebound in the place that would become Threshold. There Hargran gave unto Denat his Staff and sent his emissary out amongst the world to gather Hargran's goods, influence and allies."

This quote by Aevis Stonebound has been ready by almost student in the Kingdom, but anyone with an understanding of magic or logistics will see that it is impossible. In truth there was a period of about a year where the Runelords were performing different tasks.

Yes, Denat was the one who used the Staff most frequently, but he was always accompanied by others. An enormous quantity of Hargran's assets were impounded by the Chelish judicial system, but a significant amount was not in Cheliax and was still salvageable. Hargran's influence was mostly felt in the surrounding countries where it was used to gather the disenfranchised. As for all Hargran's allies being called it is obvious that this is non-sensical when considered from the perspective at the time: The Church at this point was little beyond a cell structure depserately staying undercover, there was no understanding of the potential ramifications of the new kingdom, and the Chelish throne had all but declared war. Bringing all Hargran's students and allies would be a risky, poor choice.

It was during this period that the first expedition to the Staglord's keep was sent. Intended as a reconnaissance mission it comprised of Taerine, Caillus and Arioch.

They never returned, referred to now as Lost Runelords.

Hargran forbade further expeditions while he worked on a countermeasure. For nearly a year he worked on it and sadly his notes from the time were destroyed by his death in 4714.

Meanwhile work on the city proceeded apace. The original trading post was converted into the original shopping district. An opulent residential estate was created for the Runelords, Hargran and their employees, and the Smithcraft district was established. In Sootscale village the Kobolds joined the kingdom, but continued to live in militarized squalor.

The kingdom was briefly attacked by a bandit probe, but Hargran and the Runelord's magics quickly saw them off.

Three new Runelords were inducted to replace those who were lost. Given the situation it is understandable that Hargran prioritised martial might.

As he prepared for his unveiling in 4714 seven Runelords were in residence.
The Charitable Runelord in Grey, bearer of Rune of Necromancy
The Generous Runelord Denat, bearer of the Rune of Conjuration
the Loving Runelord Anglon, bearer of the Rune of Enchantment
The Kind Runelord Simon, bearer of the Rune of Evocation
The Humble Runelord Ronald, bearer of the Rune of Illusion
The Zealous Runelord Valerianna, bearer of the Rune of Transmutation
The Temperate Runelord Taron, bearer of the Rune of Abjuration

There is some debate in the academic summoning community over Hasathorex's true rankings in the infernal hierarchy. The time spent in a statue undoubtedly cost him much of his position.

Lissalans claim that Hasathorex was only one step below a demon prince, banished for a thousand years by the actions of the Runelords. Dissenters claim Hasathorex was simply a powerful demon.

There is no doubt, however, that the death of "Old Sharptooth" was one of the first great deeds of the New Runelords.

Scholar's aside: We do not know who used necromancy on Harsk. The Runelords' records are ambiguous on this matter. We know Taerine, Denat and Anglon were involved. We know Anglon planned to use Speak with Dead earlier in the day - but no record of the conversation was recorded.

We do know what questions were asked and what answers given though. These were written in a shaky hand as the import became known.

"Who was controlling you?" Answer: "A Lady of Leaves - green, terrible and beautiful."

"How?" this question seems to have slipped out. Answer: "I do not know. Only Kyra, Seelah, Alahazra and Imrijka escaped."

Their plan decided the various Runelords cast a few final spells and retired for the night. Exactly what they're plans are historians no longer know, but the evidence they led behind tells us what they planned - and what they learned.
Caillus and Simon each took a shift in the air, one before sunset and one after. From that they learned the rough lay of the land. To whit -

"To the north, and east the land is grassland and plains for miles in each direction. To the south the land turns hillier. To the west is the edge of endless forest. A rough road into Brevoy leads north and another east. Mountains can be seen far to the south east. There appears to be the lights of a small community to the southeast. Other than that no lights can be seen."

We know from Ambassador Garess' report that Arioch's conversation with him took some time but bore fruit - a list of names of those who were present. A ramshackle group - or one cleverly picked to cover all contingencies. In addition to Seelah there was Amiri, Lem, Kyra, Lini, Valeros, Sajan, Harsk, Merisiel, Seoni, Ezren, Seltyiel, Alahazra, Balazar, Imrijka and Feiya.

As Molly returns Hargran summons his students via his traditional mystical and altogether illusionary bell - though this time it is for the First Council, rather than a lecture on Thassilonian architecture.

Although the exact spell used has since been lost, a recreation has been used to mark the formal opening of every Great Council in the last century. Few realise the sharp, discordant tones were originally designed to cut over the chatter of disruptive students.

The hatchet wielding woman is widely believed to be a bandit known as Kressle.

Kressle was devastated by the onslaught. There is some doubt as to whether she was already dead when frozen solid by the Master in Grey, but no doubt as to her state afterwards.

Astute readers will note this battle bears little resemblance to the famous "Battle of Oleg Keep" portrayed in Heroes of the Empire. This is because the battle portrayed there is assembled from anecdotal evidence of the few servants to survive into the later empire, whereas the battle portrayed here is based on evidence from the recently discovery of Hargran's own account from after the battle, while he was unable to travel.

In "A Man, out of Time" - The posthumous biography of Runelord Caillus Mordent - the Runelord talks of the fear in the early days of the Kingdom that the Devils would simply have attempted to follow. Decades later the leader of the Barbazu was summoned and compelled to recount what happened when Hargran vanished.
---

The Barbazu, frustrated by the sudden lack of victims, smashes a table with his Glaive. The split wood immediately start to ooze and decompose.

"Follow?" asked his second laconically.
"The contract we serve under does not let us go outside Cheliax. Unless they return, we are done here."

Turning the devil saw the pile of goods - treasures, items, scrolls - left by the fleeing humans

"Perhaps not done. Everyone take what you wish." Smiling he spoke the words that made theft law.

"For resisting arrest and assaulting an Officer of Cheliax I hereby fine and confiscate these goods."

Grabbing some choice items he prepares to leave, then hesitates

"Burn the rest"

Ostensibly addressing the bound man Kressle keeps smiling cruelly at the crowd of around him. Putting on a mockery of a judicial face she orates.
”Kesten Garess you have been found guilty of raising arms against the Stag Lord. You are hereby sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead.”
”Do you have any last words?”
The bound man, gagged and furious, mumbles incoherently. Kressle’s grin rekindles as she switches into a more theatrical mode.
”Very well. Mr Bydon, take it away!”

Meanwhile, deep in House Thrune's intelligence department a slouching noble sat up suddenly
"What!" he demanded incredulously of his pact-bound spy "He did What?! Show me again." a second passes as the slimy mind of the Zebub melds with his own. A process so commonplace now the noble does not even shudder.
"Send two rapid response units to Stonebound's mansion! Charges are Treason and Heresy. Send a unit to pick up his students as well!" he shouts to the other Zebub's surrounding him - all of whom vanish.

The question as to whether the serpent's run in magnimar would allow spellcasting was rendered moot as two small holes were temporarily punched through the fabric of the material plane. Through this wasteful display of arcane energy stepped the student's mentor, Hargran Stonebound.

CHAPTER ONE

Few would have believed in the early years of the forty-seventh century that the fate of the world would rest in the hands of a few dusty academics, or that the goddess Lissala - thought dead at the time - could return and rise to such glory.

Certainly the academics involved would have been sceptical. It is important to remember that the New Runelords were simply young men and women at the time. It is true that they studied under Hargran Stonebound at the Egorian Academy of Cheliax and served as his current acolytes in the Church of Lissala. However, evidence of the day shows that while Hargran Stonebound was quite wealthy he had little real respect and was accounted only a middling powerful wizard. Later claims he was secretly an Archmage are almost certainly exaggerated. The Church of Lissala he ran was at this time little more than a cult, living in fear of the church of Asmodeus.

As for the day-to-day lives of the Runelords, let us look at what events they were engaging in when they received that fateful summons that would change the world.

FOREWORD

Almost certainly you - dear reader - have heard of the New Runelords. You may even know certain dry facts, or been subjected to the propaganda posing as historical evidence the current Runelords promulgate. Rest assured that this history is different.

I have taken the facts and evidence, statements from various summoned beings and a lifetime of work in the field of Divination and used it to construct - in never before detail - the true story of the Rise of the New Runelords.