Wolves Upon the Coast - Session #10
Welcome once again, my friends, and lend your ear as I continue the tale of the Brimuxi’s crew! Our journeys in the world of Luke Gearing’s Wolves Upon the Coast continue! If you you missed out on last session’s voyage check out the recap here. Our system of choice is T. Thomas Giant’s As Above, So Below, an OSR hack inspired primarily by Cairn and Into the Odd.
The Crew of the Brimuxi
Gripard the Near-Sighted - Hails from Faroe. He willingly signed on to Snori the Craven’s crew to avoid starvation. Understands some arcane secrets.
Gull the Wanderer - Hails from Ruislip, in the northwest. He is of humble stock, but his kin did not appreciate his talents. Their parting of ways was mutual, but it wasn’t long before he was captured by the Norse.
Haoelkbaeolker “Bulkor” the Foul - Hails from Littitie. Also called Bulkor, he was banished by his kin for being a general nuisance and ass. It is a wonder we haven’t killed him ourselves.
Lurg Who-Laughs-At-Death - Hails from Littitie, a faraway and distant land. A proud, barbarian warrior - he is slow to trust others, including members of the Brimuxi’s crew. He has earned a new title thanks to his courage in the face of a horde of reanimated skeleton warriors.
Pádraig the Skald - Hails from Mar, a coastal land to the east of the North Sea. He was betrayed by his mentor, who grew jealous of Pádraig's growing popularity amongst their kin, and sold to the Norse as a galley slave.
The Tenth Voyage
We spent the week camped out on the shore by the Witch Edicia’s tent as we waited for Gripard the Near-Sighted to recover from his wounds. We spent much of the first day debating the favor we would ask of the witch before she left this island to return to parts unknown. We expressed interest in a tool or weapon to defeat the Yisharu so we could harvest its blood. Edicia’s eyes shined at the sound of the creature’s name and she inquired as to our intentions. Thinking quickly I said we sought its blood so we could brew a potion to become vampires. Unfortunately Gull the Wanderer spoke over me, stating rashly that she “asks as lot of questions for one who owes the favor.” Gripard and I had to act quickly to deescalate - myself working to calm Gull while Gripard soothed the witch before she thought to place a hex upon our would-be captain.
A decision was not reached on the first nor second day as we debated between a poison, an enchantment, or the use of her Deathless warriors, but on the third day I was convinced by Lurg Who-Laughs-At-Death that poison was the correct path and Edicia spent the afternoon brewing until she had six doses of a paralytic toxin. It was at this point that we caught Lurg bragging that he would face down the Yisharu on his own and incapacitate it single-handedly. I called attention to his words and in response he bravely repeated them, boasting to all who would hear that when we arrived at the monster’s lair he would venture down into it alone with naught but the poison and his weapons.
Before we set out I cast the runes to speak with the gods. I must confess I believe Daudi, the Faceless has seen fit to vex and play tricks upon me, as the rune of fertility was yet again cast upon my shield. Fortunately the rest of the stones were cast in our favor - should Lurg stay true to himself he will overcome the Yisharu. Satisfied, we charted our course and set out, returning the Brimuxi to the sea. We hugged the coast as we oft do and after a few hours Lurg spied an old fortress along the coast with several Noose-like warriors milling about. He quickly took count, noting a dozen men and women carrying their strange sickles and bows - the latter of which being a weapon we sadly found ourselves lacking.
I quickly presented my case: we sail past, circle back, and strike at the fort when night has fallen and they won’t be expecting it. Lurg, hot-blooded as always, was immediately interested in this plan. The rest of the crew proved their lack of spines and so we continued on our path, bypassing a similarly-sized camp just before rounding the horn of the island. My blood cried out for battle, Gull ordered the ship forward. We passed a third group wearing armor and carrying broad shields. Ermelandus of the Christian Court of King Roderik identified them as Frankish Knights, apparently fellow Christians. He claimed to not be able to tell if they were Eastern or Western, as they looked the same to him. I nodded in agreement, letting him know that all Christians look the same to me as they do not bathe. Our “guest” did not seem amused and went on about how these were noble, virtuous men, but they looked like little more than jumped-up raiders to me.
We slept on the Brimuxi that night and continued westward as the sun rose behind us. Lurg spied a village near the sea and reported an intriguing goings on - five young men tied up in the town’s square being pelted with stones. The punishment was not so strange, but my companion noted that these men were considerably younger than the other villagers. Lurg and I once again grew excited at the prospect of a raid - surely the captain wouldn’t say no to an attack on a nearly defenseless village!
Alas it was not to be so. Gull wanted to speak with these peasants!
And so we landed on their shores, sending their cowardly fishermen fleeing up the road to the village upon the hill. Gull ordered the oarsmen to remain at the Brimuxi and the five of us began marching after the villagers. Gripard and Gull called after them, stating that we came with peaceful intentions. When we arrived at the edge of the village we were greeted by fifteen footmen wielding crude spears and more of those Noose sickles. The captain identified themselves as “Nesimi,” or something like that. These Noose were willing to speak with us and we soon learned that Nesimi wanted to hire our swords in an attempt to get revenge. A nearby village called Meza has been causing problems for this village. They would pay us in silver to rough the Mezans up, stealing their goats and goods, and drive them out, but we cannot kill any of them.
We spoke amongst ourselves and, upon realizing this was a perfect compromise between Gull’s desire for adventuring heroics and mine and Lurg’s lust for battle, agreed to carry out this raid in exchange for the promised silver, the rights to keep the stolen goats, and whatever treasure we find in Meza. Nesimi seemed apprehensive, but she agreed to these terms.
But the night grows long and it’s time for the fires to burn out. I will tell you of our battle when next we meet!
