The Rebuilding of Van Myrid

Mar 3^rd – Mar 19^th

The first day of Queen Leandra’s reign sees a massive construction effort across Van Myrid. Veng ‘Stross concentrates on his fighting academy – the Rihaj – with the help of his martial artist friend Scalpel whilst Lady Madrina, necromantic wizard, teaches G-Lest the fundamentals of magic use. Later that day the guests drift back to their lands including Illeum Runesabre, emperor of New Bretonia.

Veng ‘Stross constructs a shrine to Ishtar in the centre of the Rihaj. He sends a letter to Elboran – via Rumus’ temple – who is a nobleman in Aldegaarde who has an aged sword saint called Akahito who has information regarding Ishtar and the Rihaj.

The master sword cultist then asks Hamroth to transport him G-Lest, Madrina and Scalpel to Aldegaarde where they intend to meet the dying Akahito. They are welcomed warmly by the nobleman Elboran and shown immediately through to see the bed-ridden Akahito. Veng can sense a connection between their spirits as if Akahito has been waiting for the orc for a long time.

"Even in my dreams I saw your face," Akahito says. He goes on to tell them about meeting Ishtar when he was a child (Madrina suspects time shifting) and that the Lady of the Blade gave him something; a spiritual message. Akahito did not understand their meeting but Veng ‘Stross feels the strong connection with the old sword saint…and in particular with Ishtar herself.

That evening Akahito – an interesting storyteller – regales them with tales from the Darklands and Grayhawk. When the old man has gone to bed Elboran invites grandmaster Jakaru to his house; the man runs the finest fighting school in Aldegaarde.

Instantly Veng can detect a great spirit. Even from the small movements he realises that Jakaru is a skilled bladesman. The grandmaster dines with them and is good company; the evening culminates in him inviting the slayer of Illyanth to give a demonstration to his students.

Next day Jakaru’s academy – a grand Darkland-styled construction – is packed with students and onlookers wanting to get a glimpse of a godslayer and the killer of Illyanth. Displays of swordsmanship and combat carry on through the morning until Veng is asked to spar with Jakaru’s best student.

Veng ‘Stross feels the spirit of the student crushed by his own. The subtlety of his sense is such that he knows the young man is beaten before he begins. The fight is short. Veng allows the young man to gain a few good positions until – in a blistering attack – he disarms and holds a katana at the student’s throat. The academy erupts into great applause.

Later Elboran arrives at the school to inform them that Akahito has passed away. Madrina suggests taking the body back to the Rihaj where Veng will bury it beneath the shrine.

Upon their return to Van Myrid G-Lest becomes a novice sorcerer under the tutelage of lady Madrina. That evening a guest arrives at the palace with an invitation from Illeum himself. Zeran is a vampire from Erelain, sent by Illeum to meet Madrina and ultimately test the night defences of the palace. He is urbane, charming and incredibly handsome, beauty not lost on any of the palace’s females…including the queen herself.

That night Madrina stays up as Zeran goes to work. The friend of the queen – a necromantic wizard – can only smile as she walks through the sleeping guards, unconscious maids and servants.

An hour before dawn Madrina and Leandra speak with the vampire, impressed by his abilities. Zeran agrees to help Leandra and Madrina and is to return to his father (Baelar) to make preparations to move his entire household into or around the palace.

Days later Veng takes Scalpel, Madrina and G-Lest onto the streets to find students for his new Rihaj. His mastery of the spirits tell him that they are out there – he just has to find them.

The first thing they find however is an ambush. Five dark robed killers with armour and badly concealed Malakarian symbols, leap out to attack. It is clear that their target is G-Lest, their former archbishop, but the Malakarians intend to kill everyone.

Veng ‘Stross lightning draws two blades, the first – Talkharus – cuts the first attacker in half whilst the second blade opens a deep gash in another stomach. One of the attackers hurl the contents of a small vial at G-Lest but he dodges out of the way before ramming a longsword through the Malakarian’s brain.

A quick, ugly fight develops. Madrina catches the sword arm and releases vampires touch into the attacker before disembowelling him with a couple of artful strokes from Willowstar’s katana. Only Scalpel is wounded in the short fight; a gaping hole in his stomach leaks blood. "Get me to a temple!" he screams as G-Lest and Veng finish off the last remaining Malakarians.

Later – in Rumus’ temple – Scalpel is healed and they head back onto the streets to find students. Their next encounter is with a one legged, one armed veteran beating his young son in a market place. Veng ‘Stross knows the young man is talented, senses the connection between their spirit almost immediately and greets them both. Madrina and G-Lest take the old cripple, called Crastus, back to the palace where Leandra is at first saddened then angry by the way her people treat their wounded.

Meanwhile Veng hands the young man called Avelar the wooden practise sword from the Rihaj.

"But I have never wielded a weapon," Avelar says.

"That is of no consequence," Veng says, "just take the weapon."

Instinctively the young man grips the weapon correctly, sets his feet right and Veng can see the beginnings of an open ended spirit stance. He smiles. Scalpel launches a fist at Avelar, who instinctively turns aside the blow with his wooden sword. Veng ‘Stross smiles; "I think the Rihaj has its first student."