Read all the Kith’takharos Campaign session recaps here.
Even though the Swamp Man Hainish warned them off, the group decides to search for more towers. They leave the abandoned poacher cache and wade across a narrow channel, proceeding overland.
Hours pass without a hint of another tower. Chios climbs a tall tree to get an aerial view of the jungle. He sees no towers, but this proves nothing, since a damaged tower might be lower than the treeline. The group returns to the channel near the poacher cache.
Whiskin notices smoke rising above the trees about a mile to the southeast. Luc and Larry carefully approach, avoiding a Blood Scar patrol. The two men reach a clearing where a large number of Swamp Men congregate around a fire pit, roasting lizard meat. One older Swamp Man bears a feathered staff, and Luc suspects he must be a shaman. A half-dozen canoes are beached nearby.
Although the group badly needs a water craft, there are just too many Swamp Men to risk an attempt at theft. Luc and Larry sneak back to camp just as a storm rolls in from the north. For reasons no one understands, Larry removes his clothes when the rain starts to fall.
Everyone except Larry huddles in the trees to avoid the worst of the weather. A few minutes later three Swamp Man canoes glide past. Luc recognizes the shaman from his earlier scouting, and steps forward in greeting. He also asks about the sleepers. The shaman pauses at mention of the sleepers, then orders his warriors ashore.
Luc relates his dream of the sleepers and informs the shaman that the group will help find them. Shaman Eshosh listens with interest, but declares that the Forebears are no concern of the thin skins. Luc presses the point again, but the shaman is adamant: the thin skins must not search for the sleepers and must now return to Kith’takharos. The shaman provides then a canoe and escorts them to the Big Water.
The group leaves the Swamp Men, poling north along the eastern edge of the Big Water. They seek shelter from the rain in the old temple. Luc and Larry make a sweep of the temple while the others remain in the open area facing the water, discussing future explorations for the remaining towers.
Hainish soon arrives in a canoe with five warriors. Once again, Chios acts as interpreter. Hainish has been sent by Shaman Eshosh to ensure that the characters return to Kith’takharos. Before anyone can respond to the demand, Illya sends a blast of fire over the Swamp Men. Singed, but otherwise unharmed, three warriors converge on Illya and stab her to death with their spears.
Sasha and Whiskin refrain from attack. Chios desperately urges Hainish to stand down. Six additional Blood Scar warriors enter the opposite end of the temple and catch Luc and Larry unawares. Apparently Shaman Eshosh did not trust the group, and had another canoe of warriors land south of the temple to approach from the opposite direction.
Now that Illya is dead, Hainish manages to hold back the warriors. The group must leave immediately without exception or negotiation. He only allows them to live because Sasha saved his life in the burial ground. Finally, the group obeys the Swamp Men and returns to Kith’takharos.
Kith’takharos is abuzz over an impending execution. The poacher Simon Augustino will be offered to a f’lunin the next morning.
The Kith’takharos campaign will now begin a hiatus. The gaming group alternates GMs, and so another person will be taking over these duties. We will still be using the Savage Worlds rules.
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