Another old Campain

This is from my early 90s RQ3 campaign. Each nation was menaced by a different evil god. The evil gods of four pantheons had united into a new pantheon and promoted a daemon to lead them as a new greater god. Each god had a favorite monster it used to weaken a nation. Heroes spent years traveling around circles of continent trying to warn everybody and even get the non evil gods to wake up and enter time again instead of living outside it in ignorance. It was pretty grim and at time I only used rune magic requiring POW sacrifices.

BRP Babylon: Gifts of the Gods

Toth (Steve) Half Egyptian Nergal Cultist has taken to wearing a vampires black kilt, blackened armour of noble quality and a huge khopesh. Keen to serve the lord of death and keep the underworld secrets from mankind. Keen for pilgrimage to Cutha.

Sobek (Hanna) Amorite chariot driver and archer whose clan worship lion ancestor. Her ancestors to west had some Egyptian links but have fled from west as Egyptians pulled out. Is good with animals and likes taking responsibility for livestock captured and donkey carts. Father allowing her to practice drive Sumerian battle donkey waggon with a team of four. Loaned a slave to drive other donkey cart and care for animals. Still looking for religion possibly join Ishtar but also meeting Shamen.

Kull Draco (Andrew) a Gutian huge brute kin of the bear totem caries a huge battle axe. Interested in status and respectability, told by priests of Marduk should marry a Babylonian girl and be civilised. Not totally convinced but tempted to by a slave free her and marry her as nobody will marry a savage ugly illiterate Gutian.

Ariana (Andz) Minoan raised daughter was leading crew of Mycenean Pirates, Adad cultist, and a swords woman. Adopted the weather god as was useful at sea or on land and handy for killing monsters and somewhat respectable cult. Very attractive and scandalous for partial nudity (more tolerated in south). Looking for a noble husband with dad's help. Preferably one in the army.

So party climbing the holy mountain when herd some growls and running beasts. All prepared and wolves charged through gap in rocks on trail. Misile fire injured about half and party killed seven and drove off rest. Kull was badly bitten in thigh. Medical attention looked after this.

Still higher and two horrendous Scorpion men, spawn of Tiamat guarding a cave charged. The party were wary of scorpion stings this time since fighting a manticore and all parried them in preference. Kull got a nasty bit and first one fell quickly. Second one lost several legs and tail before being finished. They had short swords and slings on them. In cave found their beds, corpses of barbarians, water jars. Also jars which turned out to be scorpion venom antidote they used so captives did not die outright. In back of cave was a tunnel. Party rested and next morining began long trek into cave. They got impression the tunnel was not actually inside the mountain anymore.

Found a tiled area with table, wooden bed with headrest, kitchen ware. Scribes desk and snake woman idols. All quite artistic. Wary of more monsters a atractive, elegant tall woman greeted them. Se pronounced she was Ugari and related she was kin to plant goddess daughters of Enki, Snake people on Gizzida and the old snake goddesses of the pre flood era. She impressed them mostly but realized she lived off cave snakes and bugs. Offered her a taru bird that sobek kept in cages for food and releasing in dangerous places. She cooked them snake stew and shared party food but they did see her turn her back on them and swallow the bird. They shared beer with her and spoke for many hours. She like kull because he would eat anything she ate even raw. But she slept with Toth and Ariana watched to make sure nothing bad happened to her half brother. After she and the snakw woman groomed each other and became good friends. Having told of the party adventures she said the fact they had seen these things and were here meant the gaze of the gods was on them.

They saught her advice about the cave ahead. One way went to gates of the celestial heaven and the other to the underworld. This was not the cave the sun god Shamash used to travel through the underworld or to heaven but related. Also asked about warning from Enki to not accept gifts from the gate keepers of the gods. Ugari agreed Enki advice was tricky.

If Enki gives you advice it may not always be in your interest. If Shamash advises you it is probably good. If Marduk advises you it is an order. Toth inhaled his incense and went into a trance but got mixed messages from his visions.

So to the path of heaven they set. After an impossibly high climb they came to stairs all set in lapis tiles with scenes of dragons on them. Finaly came to a chamber of palatial art and two guardians at the gate. Aspects of Tammuz as a handsome youth and Gizzida an old man with a lapis jeweled beard. The did not speak but gestured. The seemed friendly and inspected party. Gizzida went through the misty gateway and returned with scented body oil which all but Toth obediently applied. Then they were granted bread and water which Toth also refused. Sobek applied some to her pack goat and it shrink down to a coin sized fetus. She was a bit upset and put it in her pocket.

Then they were admitted. They went up more stairs into a identical chamber with same guardians who offered them to pass. This happened a total of seven times. Finally they came to a great palace which was mostly dark and looked long unused. But on the shining throne sat the celestial god of the upper heavens Anu, formerly supreme god of the universe. He smiled and inspected the mortals as he had not met any since the hero king Etana post the flood era.

They presented him with offerings which vulture headed geni took. They asked about the state of the world and what they could do to fix it. He explained the universe unbalanced and chaos was spreading across the corners four of the world.

The four ancient evils were afoot. Asag the great stone giant who once grought a ghoard of rebel stones from the mountains to wage wars on the flood plain people and Ninurta defeated. The Anzu lion-bird which once stole the tablets of destiny to usurp reality. Tiamat the Dragon of Chaos in the sea stirred again or some remnant of her from when Marduk killed her and dismembered her. And Hanbi a great wind demon and father of the winds who Anu long ago placated him and his sons with titles and purpose in the world. He looked at Toth who had refused his gifts and looked a bit scruffy by comparison and presented him with a meteoric steel Khopesh. All were pleased and thanked the god and left the palace.

Returned to the snake goddess and spent better part of a day with her before exiting. Got down the mountain and met others who were guarding donkey cart who said party missing for 15 days. Those who had the oil got +1 APP (making Ariana superhuman with 22), the brad ggave +1 HP (puting Sobek up a class for location HP) and he water reduced age by 1d4 (making kull look 15 - everyone else older and still looked adult).

Marched back to Mari staying in village on the way. Several recruited handmaidens from friendly Amorite tribe. Drove off bandits and wild dogs before one night camping women heard a pleasnt tune. Ariana and Sobek went to look and Kull and Toth followed suspiciously. On edge of marsh a handsome brown faces youth was waste deep in reeds playing a pipe. The men saw he had horns and thought him ugly but ladies seemed attracted. Toth dragged away Sobek lifting her over her shoulder as she protested.  Kull went to stop Ariana and the angry Satyr threw a rock at him. Kull went into a rage and struck satyr in head with his axe, cutting his scalp and knocking him out.

Back at camp there started what was to be a several week fued about what to do with him. In Mai city found Temples of Tammuz and Geshtianna offered hundreds of shekels in goods for the beast. Ishtar temple offered more. Beast kept threatening to kill men and steal Ariana the fairest. Sobek had sex with him while imprisoned in clan trade house and fell pregnant. She had a diviner tell her it would be a son. Kull kept taunting him with his flute and even smashed it in front of him. Satyr spat on him so he punched it. Visited often to give him a beating. As a wasteland savage he knew these beasts stole women and hated them.

It did tell of how his father lived in mountains with human wife kidnapped long ago and how father had driven him to wasteland at puberty.

The long trek to Babylon they met some hunters and traders and a band of Hurrian bandits. Once home they sold off the loot they had taken from the wicked. Toth wanted to sacrifice the beat man as did Kull. Others wanted to sell. Some suggestion they could pimp him ou to curious rich ladies. Ended up getting a good price from Ishhar temple who wanted him for secret rituals. Sobek demanded a bigger cut as alimony for her child. Others begrudgingly let her have extra.

Kull settled into his new country shack and went to market to buy a wife. Found a deptor selling his daghter and he paid good price and married her. He had learned to read and wear proper clothes and was accepted as a Babylonian citizen. Was keen to join cult of Marduk in a sect specializing in civilizing and fighting savages.

Sobek paid for a nice house to be built from brick and furnishings and nice things for her unborn child. Even put money in temple with will for son he would get only if he behaved properly. Probably a tall order.

Ariana stayed in Daddies palace and was looking for husbands and attending royal functions. Toth was busy with studying the secrets of the underworld.

Next time will plan which of the great evils to hunt.

BRP ROME First session

Finally got first session off ground and had six spanking new heroes to face Nero's Rome 60AD. Got minis ready, sheet only had two typos so far and i will add a skill tick box next to MP. Also remove a axe slot and add a shield slot  Flail slot really only suit things like rare chain or whip or rope.

Players had to roll 3d6 for all stats except SIZ and INT which get 2d6+6
NPC Romans get 2d6+3 SIZ
Minimum of 9 for player stats (can reduce EDU and add to other stats up to 18 Max)
Can add ten to age and add 1 EDU at loss of another physical stat
Age=EDU+6+2d6 years experience

INTx10 in hobby or private interests to flesh out your character
EDUx20 in 8 professional training skills obtained by state or private training
EDUx30 in 8 skills obtained during your career to date

75% of everyone is a initiate of a Roman cult. the rest are sorcerers.
Divine worshipers get a bit of read latin, rhetoric and ceremony, plus a point of rune and spirit magic
Sorcerers get a few spells and a small amount of skill barley enough to use

Everyone gets read latin = EDU
and speak latin = EDUx5
If you don't increase your Status to at least 25 you will be a slave
That's not so bad because you all have a patron and your dad can kill you for disobedience

Cash is as per GURPS rome income per month x INT in savings so most have a flat or country house or live with masters. Educated ones richest. So party richer than any i have started in ages. One has a horse, others can drive a chariot. Some considered getting a slave.

Will be using stun damage system as described last post and these sheild rules
Medium or bigger shields can parry any amount of missiles
Or you can just cover several locations (depending on shield size) with full AP even if unskilled
If you parry you still get 1/2 AP on certain locations as above
If you crouch behind shield can defend additionally locations

Will have equipment/ENC/Fatigue sheet and possibly a family/estate/history sheet

If you have not worked out yet i am doing a version of Ringworld Skill/Bonus system which I could explain if anyone interested.

So adventure begins....
Greek Gladiator (possibly Spartan) Worshiper of Mars, bought freedom through pimping self (Perform/Carnal 50%). Wears a minotaur mask and carries a axe and spiked cestus. Has a panache for cursing and very interested in underworld and gore..

Nubian Gladiator (possibly part Dacian) Worshiper of Mars, fights with a Dacian Falx (has two spare). Very agile and acrobatic. Is still a slave and iss being aided by slightly older freed gladiator.

Eutruscan Lady Seer and healer come to city of Rome as a soothsayer and reader of the Eutruscan mysteries. Worships their version of Minerva. Eutruscan women can Drink and have more rights than Roman women and their customs are respected, especially by pro italian and anti greek factions.

Her sister is a horse breeder who can speak to horses. She has earned respect at home like her sister so called here by Roman patron. She is quite acrobatic and athletic and good with animals and a bow. She has a horse. She worships forest god or hermes, still undecided (oh I cant remember).

A former pretty house boy slave who has grown into a scribe and business manager, He is a bit of a snoop and listens about the household at night. Now free he serves as an employee and foreman of other slaves and is entrusted to important house records. Is ok with a sling and knows a bit of sorcery.

Final hero is a Alexandrian sorcerer of ambiguous gender, a follower of hermes-trimajesteros. She has power over quite a few mysteries including secrets of air and taste. She is a colourful character with robes and wands and medallions. Donated all her cash to temple(?) in form of books to pre pay future tithes.

Party non gladiators called to Patrons house by his slave mistress of 17 years. he gives them her jewellery and tells them to sell it for as much as possible and raise more cash to pay a pirate ransom. If we cant pay they will sell him to enemies. Discretion required as she shouldnt really be doing this. Party withdraw personal loot and head to collect gladiators from bout at colosseum (from family fighting school). While allowed in to chamber with nubian gladiator and his greek trainer when all locked in and gate to arena opened. Six men dressed in leather versions of army uniforms with a cavalryman. The veteran gladiators charged and scored wounds. Slings and sorcery reduced foe effectiveness and the horse trainer tried to convince horse to help her. Quickly mopped up with lots of classic RuneQuest gore and fumbles. Horse was unharmed as sensible gladiators all know. Lady seer slit a foes throat and started cutting out his guts to read his liver for opmens. She got called in to visit members of Emperors family and delivered some spiffy poetry. Gladiators strutted about while clouds of dust rippled around them, giving them a heroic presence. Sorcerer was pleased.

Sold jewellery and short of 90 000 needed by master's captors but keen on their way.

Am mixing several published scenarios together

Worked well. Will be big fun.

Babylon log: To the city of Kartulu

My last for the year of this game

So in palace of king of Umma party decided to check out city of Kartulu to see if deserved the wicked rep it had as a sinking mess falling to corruption with unwholesome citizens. Spoke to agent of king in common clothes who advised dont explore city alone. Also they dont really grow enough food but do well in fish and have plenty of gold. They seem to bribe away Gutians and Elamites from invading them. They have funny version of Dagon more fishy and draconic and possibly far older than the Dagon cult of the north. The source of the gold was a mystery neighboring areas disliked them greatly. Many persons had vanished in city and area.

Went to docks where there was a warf used by men of Kartulu and a street adjacent where trade houses, warehouses, fish markets, a pub and brothel. Known as Fish street it was a dirty street of shifty men in loin cloths with a few poor merchants and shopkeepers. There was a house of Dagon which acted as a embassy and shrine for visitors from Kartulu. Went to brothel first and were unimpressed to see ugly people having sex in courtyard for few fish. Next to the pub where they drank beer from pots through a straw then got to drinking palm wine. Ariana was a former pirate and she got very drunk. Toth talked to a few men and heard the feast of Dagon was in city and men longed to return before the nigh festival began. Party intrigued so all took a hired boat to the city of Kartulu. Left non essential followers and money in palace of Umma. As swampy a chariot trip seemed unwise. Thi richest in party (Ariana, Toth, and now Kull) too the VIP trip with fans, food and more wine. The cheapest barbarians (Sobek, Pek and Kull's backward brother) took the working mans ticket and helped to row.

Boat arrived in 4 hours and captain took them to a good inn. The dykes were leaking, the fields were in array, the common folk ugly and hunched. Sighs of bad kingship or some curse. The festival folk were all buying masks with fish and frogs and eels being popular. Toth bought a panther in honour of Nergal. Rest got frogs and got robes. Kull wore his Marduk dragon warrior uniform and refused to dress down or leave his huge axe.

Ariana was a bit hungover from morning so accepted drinks from strangers who liked her breasts so she got very drunk. As festivities continued floats of fish monsters, dragons, sea serpents and kraken flowed though the crowds. Every one was banging drums, using whistles and rattling cistrums. Pek got a drum. Shift men kept trying to lure Ariana from group but saw she was under watch. Toth saw a really realistic fish man mask in crowd that unsettled him. Kull pretended to hang back and was invited into one of dozens of guild halls for extra drinking and feasting. Saw a ox get dragged in screaming into one and it was rapidly silenced. Pek kept being friendly but insisted his friends come in. They said was too busy and told him to wait. He was outraged at others getting in first. Finally invited in but he would not put down axe so got kicked out. Town was now quiet and rest of party admitted and Pek politely put down his maul as requested. Saw a dragon outfit with leggs of four men playfully snapping at other revelers. Four other in corner chanting in croaking voices with gold tipped warped looking spears in robes and masks. The cultists bolted door and Pek asked why?

"Oh to keep out drunks", they replied

"I am the octopus queen", shouted Ariana drunkenly

Finally the chanting increased. The robed men revealed their true faces of deep one fish men. The dragon dancers turned into a real wingless dragon, possessed by a liogor spirit forming flesh from magic power of the city rituals. But the party were not afraid and drew their hidden weapons while kicking and punching at cultists. Pek ran to his maul, his guardian spirit of Ninurta told him to be wary of the dragon spirit. Kull out side heard commotion and his spirit grew angry. Ariana called a lightning bolt from heavens through roof and struck the dragon upsetting it.

Our heroes cut and bashed the men senseless but the fish men sat back sending evil eyes, even demoralizing Pek. Pek's spirit countered the spells and Pek returned more violent than ever. As minions fell with ease the dragon and fish men edged closer but Kull smashed door down with axe and cast the command dragon spell of Marduk. The  liogor discorporated it's vulnerable fleshy form and angrily cast spells at Kull but his guardian spirit warded him from spells.

With no dragon the fish men were batterd. The dragon tried to reform and kull banished it again wasting the Dragons prescious magic so it fled in spirit form to alert other dragons and deep ones. Party killed deep ones and took one cultist captive and fled for docks. Ariana said she had never fought so well and should get drunk in battle more. They ran with a mob behind them and Pek dropped out to claim the party goods. At docks most held of crowd while drunken Ariana selected a fast boat. All jumped in and set off rowing hard. Burbling deep ones came at them from the water and Ariana shot at them with her bow. As they sailed past walls into swamp, Pek leaped from wall thirty feet up with all party loot. The got to nab some deep one gold medallions and had a cultist prisoner.

Escaped back to Umma and celebrated victory. Learned much from cultist about the fowl city and relation to the lords of the deep and other horrors.

Was a lot of fun as all players knew what they were facing, the Insmouth of 1751 BC

Babylon Blog: Against the Witch men of Elam

So our heroes came across a great battle in the mountains of the borders of Elam. A army of the city of Umma had been pursuing gutians when it fell into a ambush from superior Elamites. While the Sumerians of Umma had backward old Sumerian light troops and 2 man chariots with four wheels, the Elamites were better armoured, with modern 4 man chariots with 2 wheels. The heroes poured in through a pass with a group of 18 Gutians they had recruited while Sobek with her javelins and Ariana with her bow climbed the hill and targeted the Elamite charioteers.

The men of Umma were falling back from a line of swordsmen with rear ranks lobbing demoralising curses. The words of our heroes could not sway the bewitched men who fled but they forced them to stop fleeing by physically blocking the pass forcing them to turn and fight defencivley. A Elamite chariot fell and the greatest heroes Kull, his brother, Pek and Toth hacked through the attacking swordsmen, shattering their lines.

Sumerians pushed back and their chariots smashed the Elamite archers sending the surviving Elamite chariots fleeing. Rejoicing from the victors who stacked Elamite severed heads in pyramids to count their dead for the scribes records.

So the prince who led them begged them to come to Umma where his father would reward them. They marched back and got to see distant cities they had not seen before. They had spent little time on this side of the two rivers. Hearth of a city where Dagon was worshipped to north and another city Katulu to south over run with marsh and degenerates. All interested in visiting.

In palace king rewarded them with magic weapons, silver and incense. Spent days in his palace enjoying hospitality, his libraries and sporting with his nobles. The Gutians were offered jobs and wives and Kull's brother too the best of the girls for himself. The king married them all together in a charming ceremony. The heroes were praised in song. Also gave them a chariot and a driver.

One night the king had a dream of evil spirit commanding him to submit. He consulted soothsayers and priests and astrologers and the party decided to help. Ariana consulted the wind omens and sensed a evil wind from the wrong direction in the wasteland. Toth went into a incense trance and dreamt that rebellious forces from the underworld had broken free. They sent message to king who sent them to investigate. Sobek sent a dove ahead and saw a mound had been exposed revealing a ruined temple of the old times. A forgotten Sumerian city.

They parked chariots and left some guards and went in. In a great hall gallu demons attacked. With lion heads and bird feet they fired arrows while ore charged. The heroes beat them back with muscle and magic and even captured one. The dead broke down into putrid filth and bugs then into ash that blew away.

While some first aided th wounded others went upstairs and met a jet black man of darkness, A wicked underworld Djinn of darkness. He engulfed the room in his shade form blinding them all. Most were blindly swinging but several cast second sight and could see the living shadow around them. Sobek fell unconscious and Toth fell from a heart attack. While guards fled one got accidentally got stabbed Kull's brother, another was struck dead by shade and both fell down stairs. One barely alive. Ariana tending to sick found them and saw wall of living night at top of stairs. Eventually the magic weapons killed the shade and all was normal. Found many underworld idols, incense and silver items. Everything dead they returned to Umma the curse was over.

The king rewarded them and asured they were welcome to stay with him.

Babylon Log: Graverobbing and Black Sorcery in Egypt

So the heroes arrived in port in Egyt and established a new trade post. Now they had trade posts everywhere except Elam and Uratu. The ans was pleasant and they enjoyed luxury and peace. Went hunting and battled lions, a giraffe and a flock of Demon birds! The local hunters seemed not to think Ostriches were so evil but the heroes knew better - they were the spawn of the Anzu bird. Saw the Sphinx and Pyramids. A giant cobra almost got Kull. A demon with a lion body with a cobra coming from it's neck attacked by night. Managed to cut snake from body and had two monsters to fight instead but it eventually died chopped into many small bits. This upset the hunters a bit so party found their distractions elsewhere from killing mostly  dumb animals.

Eventually decided to visit Toth's family in Karnak. A week of travel to Thebes on a pleasant river cruise. Once there he met his family he had not seen since being sent to join his father in Babylon as a child. He met his "baby" brother who was overjoyed to see them. Recognising them as great adventurers he invited them to Karnak where he worked with a clan of grave robbers. He also mentioned you could buy ancient black manuscripts there.

"Really", said Toth.

So all went to Karnak and spoke to some Nubians charioteer scouts from the south border on the way. Got a ferry over the Nile and towards the city of Karnak. Thoth's brother led them through a fringe village of tomb builders which pleased Toth. In the mountains nearby was a tomb valley and the craftsmen made a living building ombs anc crafting grave goods and art. Of course others made a living robbing them and selling old grave goods as new. At the boys criminal friends home the gang met the heroes and offered them their barn to stay in. Sobek who loved animals stayed in the barn the rest set up tents, Ariana bossed Sobek into making her tent. While shopping for forbidden papyrus scrolls found a half brother who had been missing from the clan for a year. He was a scribe and was travelling and studying and happily rejoined the party. The night before the trek, Toth inhaled the sacred fumes of incense and dreamed that treasure awaited. Ariana's wind divination warned of death.

The band were weary of heroes but offered to take them to a forbidden valley and cursed tomb. As they marched to the valley the groups sized each other up. Toth's brother hoped he would impress his gang who clearly thought very little of him. Scorpions were everywhere.

Found a ancient Mustaba style slab tomb, pre dating the Two kingdom era, with much simple art. Art on door proclaimed was tomb of Unas the untouchable who claimed to have eaten the gods and claimed their power. Kull a champion of Marduk saw similarities to his god's claims.

A gang member smashed the door down and the leader decided to leave the boy and several guards outside (hoping to use Toth's brother as a hostage). Inside was more simple tomb art art pre dating the Egyptian style. At end of hall was a another wall but this barrier was a hastily erected and crudely plastered over. So the gang smashed it down. Kull boldly walked through and was struck by a horrible wound that burst from under his skin crippling him. While he healed himself Pek warded himself from magic and stepped through. It didnt work but he managed to survive the wound and then smashed around the door frame looking for wards. Found thee statuettes and broke the ward. Two more alcoves were passed and wards gathered but each was weaker. Finally at end was another plaster wall. When smashed hole through it. As one of heroes could cast a wall of darkness he did not fear it and finished the smashing and wennt through. Sobek had collected all the warding idols of female figurines with crowns.

Inside were two huge crocodile headed sarcophagi and a jet black smooth faced sphynx and two more doors. All thought the Sphynx creepy and several robbers backed off. Sobek stared at the face and went into a trance and several others tried to drag her out. Kull started to cast a spell in preparation. This angered the tomb spirits who awoke the crocodile Mummies. A huge brawl broke out. Ariana now afraid of big monsters she cant seem to hurt jumped through the wall of darkness. One bandit went insane and stabbed Kull. When a party member hit him back the bandits all turned on the party and several fled. Ariana for some reason behind the wall of shadow struck them dead. Others tried to Drag Sobek away but she was busy in a dreamland conversing with Nyarlathotep. He offered her advice and magical power if she needed it. The bandits and mummies were all finaly killed but everyone injured. Ariana went outside and shot all the guards and Toth's brother. Toth eventually showed no concern as his cult defended the underworld and practised treason as a matter of course. He was planning on killing his brother and all his friends.

Sobek recovered with a new spell the dark god gave her to call him. Yay!

Two more tunnels were left to explore. Aparenty the Tomb of Unas had been moved by the cult of the Dark god. One passage led to a empty shrine tomb of the Black Pharaoh Nophru Ka. Art depicted suffering, monstrous gods and the revolting priests who destroyed him. Unclear if past or future. Obviously post dated the construction of the tomb. The second chamber depicted a strange city of wonders with great towers, men flying in sky chariots and a future king. Found several strange relics including potions. Thinking them ambrosia of the gods several drank it and found themselves in a strange state where they did not breathe. Also found a black papyrus book and a strange metal coffin with alien sigils. A large disc on the front with symbols and moving rods at different speeds. A smaller series of discs seemed to be some kind of lock. Aslo were several enchanted daggers, a mace and a crumbling bow and arrows.

All the treasure was carried away to Karnak. They were told of a rich merchant interested in such goods. After showing treasure to his servants they were allowed in and met the corpulent huge merchant. He seemed pleased and offered the to rest. The golden potions he gave them plenty for and the empty ones. He explained they were potions that allowed wizards on star born stteds to traverse the heavens. Party grunted - nobody interested in that. The great coffin he offered a talent of silver (30kg). Enough to make them allrich. Sobek thought this was odd and suspicious. Toth was keen to sell. The merchant offered them a night as his guests to decide and the barbarians were left to guard the coffin in a vault. Sobek pleaded the should keep box but merchant explained would take a life time of study and none of party especially barbarians would ever understand the box. They did sell a dagger and the mace and paid the merchant to use sorcery to mend the bow and enchanted arrows which Iltani kept.

So in private rooms the nobles rested. Ariana tried wind divination that said the box was a great mystery and dangerous. Sobek called the dark god who took her spirit to his palace across the universe and told her of the power of the clock to travel in time and space but he could teach her the same with witchcraft. He also told her the current combination. Alarmed she went downstairs to check on the barbarians who unimpressed at being called stupid were taking turns at opening it. Pek managed the combination. A crack appeared and the lid began to open. Heavy breathing and tentacled fingers slipped out and Pek jumped on the lid. A horrible scream from within as the lid shut and the lock re set itself.

Unknown to them it was a poor time traveller with an alien bodied gained on his misadventures.

Toth spent night trading spells with the Merchant who preferred simpler cult magic to complex sorcery.

In morning The exchange was made and all party now rich beyond wildest dreams. Mansions, slaves, even a small castle were within reach. They were keen to go home and spend it.

Babylon Log: Into the Labyrinth

 So settled in Knossos after exiting sea voyage with giants and dragons and the wrath of the Gods. Ariana was home and saw her family and beautiful twin brother.  The heroes set about setting up a trade outpost and before long were invited to see king Minos. Slightly wary they mrt the king who invited them to feast and tell him of their travels. He was very amused and invited them to stay. Called for their servants to gather their possessions for the stay. At first being in the greatest and richest court in the woeld seemd ok but was soon clear they were not allowed to leave. Spent days at sport, Sobek spent time in the menagerie and Toth looked in libraries. They heard of sacrifices, the Labyrinth and beast within beneath the palace.

Ariana came across the workshop of Deadalus who was also a prisoner with his son. He viewed the gods as just great lying sorcerers who obtained magic in past when more common. Magic he explained was just a science of underlying principles. Ariana looked at his incredible inventions including a rotating steam sphere, a mechanical device to determine the location of planets and predict eclipses. Ariana spent days here and slept with his son Icarus. She heard about the device he built to disguise the former queen with a hollow wooden cow and how the minotaur came to be. She heard of secret entries to the Maze but Daedalus recommended safer while the dozen sacrifices loose in the maze. She asked Daedalus to join them but he had his own plans under a great oil cloth. Her brother kept inviting her to join him in dallying  with palace eunuchs but she was too busy.

Over days Sobek sent messages outside the palace through servants she befriended. Some of the heroes met the sacrifices, best youths from one of many cities of the mainlands of Greece. They were being anointed and prepared for sacrifice. Pek tried to seduce the maidens as they wouldn't want to die virgins. He got a few kisses at best. One of them was a lad named Theseus who had infiltrated th group to kill the Minotaur. Ariana made friends with the local princess Ariadne and met her sister Phaedra and the girls met a witch of Hecate on tips to help Theseus.

On the fateful day the heroes were at the ceremony where the sacrifices were to thrown into the labyrinth. Ariadne had hidden a sword and thread for Theseus. The heroes got out of the celebrating feast and had taken their weapons and armour hidden to Daedalus's lab earlier. They entered the dungeon and followed the instructions of Daedalus and warnings that the walls moved. Pek and Targ asked why not just kill the beast but Iltani reminded them the monster was a son of a god - the bull was Posieden who already hated the party. Pek said all great onsters are divine and great enemies make a man great. They had been avoiding the bellows of the beast but when they heard screams of the sacrifices they went to see. The great beast was wearing bronze plate armour and was killing several prisoners, They charged and hammered the beast. It had a pole axe and lashed out with kicks maiming Kull at one point who fell but healed himself. Pek had his armour breaching spell and dealt it some great wounds but it was a long fight. Theseus came and attacked it's back and several heroes were in doubt they could do anything.

The beast fell and theseus claimed the head Sobek complained as they had done all the work so she took a horn when thesues insisted would let him overthrow Minos. Besides he had divine favour so wouldnt be punished for the kill as gods told him to come here.

As party fled the secret doors leading to the outside, their servants met them and they all fled to harbour. Arianas family were happy to run the trade hall for the heroes clan. Arianas pretty twin joined them as they sailed for Egypt, land of Toth's kin.

A Uni Table for BRP

 I'm still saddened about changes to Call of Cthulhu and deviations to the BRP system. I rarely used the x5 derivative rolls like idea other than luck and SAN. 7th ed new changes suck. Some marketing group could not multiply or divide by 5 and nobdy considered just doing this instead of making stat blocks that are incompatible with 30 years of product. What will monster stats loo like? Wounds system look interesting. Im still not over the increase in skill points since 1st ed so every PC tends to be a combat veteran now and more pulpy.

When I played BRP for everything except super heroes which i used marvel, I got better at maths and % calculations. After a year of playing my players mostly struggle with maths so I made these to help. So this should speed up everything. RQ3 had a table like this and players use it but it was very tiny. A greyscale one too. Hopefully I didnt make any dyslexic screw ups.

Some of my friends running Cthulhu are very generous on stats and skills and one even wants too beef up HPs like DnD. Sigh. I did my PC as per older editions because I want to play a sickly scholar not Indiana Jones. I have had long term campagns where I used BRP skill and stat training. Of course the scholars drop out of play 3-5 times faster than the illiterate types. A baseball coach and gangster lasted longest in my games. A priest did well but retired when lost INT points to be looked after by his wife in Tasmania. He was one of the lucky ones. I like BRP for grittiness and fragility of life. Always DnD and TSR Marvel for other stuff.

Babylon BRP: Journey to Knossos

So the party debated where to go and as they had developed a taste for sa travel and Ariana was hankering to visit her birthplace in Knossos the party headed to the Minoan civilization in the medertereanean.

Spent time boating and swimming training then headed west. Had two chariots and a wagon so made good speed and culd avoid unwanted foot encounters. Met some Hurrian barbarian nobles on road a few days outside of Babylonian Empire and met them peacefully. Stayed to feast with king and draw up trade allegiances. Continued west and at one pont saw 30 men aproaching them. Amorites judging by their hats and arms. As the had Chariots normaly might think twice but confident with their magic and skill and relitive weak armour om men with mostly just sheilds. Charged them and men formed three lines. Rear archer line and party members began deadly volleys. Heroes managed to whittle down the front rank with shields til javelin range kicked in. Then both sides hurled even more missiles. Peck, champion of Ninurta took several hits in the chariot driven by Kull the Marduk champion. Sobek herseslef an Amorite was a skilled chariot driver and mostly her donkeys were hurt. The front line of sword and sheild men were badly hurt. The archers in fear scattered as the chariots crushe dthe single line running down eight men. Several heroes jumped off to kill those still able to fight and the archers were run down of shot by bow fire.

A tough battle but heroes captured seven men and filled their wagon with a fortune in weapons. Travelled on to Hadadbad, dedicated to Ariana's adopted storm god. She was thrilled to find a great city between her birthplace on Crete and her home in Babylon that put her god number one. Etablished a trade house and sent letters back to dad informing him of the extnsion of the family trade routes. After a week moved onto Tyre a Phonecian coastal city. Nobles bought nice purple robes and a ship. Ariana refused an offer for a lift to Knossos from Minoans as she didnt trust them. Part bought a ship, a ex pirate raider captured by navy and set ail with crew of extra ten phoneceans. Nahme was good enough a navigator she went by thr deeper water non coast route. They found a tiny rock outcrop and decided to stop for water and saw goats. When they scanned Island with second sight saw a man hiding. He was a hermit fleeing political trouble after his youth as an adventurer, pirate and philosopher. Told them how to get to two magical Islands he visited 30 years ago.

Party stayed a few days and bough cheese and relaxed till stars were right and went to visit the magic Islands. First was populated by a cyclops herder who made magical wooly boots for the gods and was a son of Posieden. Hermit stole a vase worth thousands here as youth. So they bid him farewell and left on the full moon after six days.

The newly named Wavebiter pulled to shore and sneaked up and watched giant. After a while Ariana and Iltani the Ishtar worshiping Sumerian sorceress called to giant while others in hiding. All a bit split on this action but at least the women might be good bait. Cyclops invited into his cave offering them wine and cheese and the girl followed him in while the silent and grim Nergal hero Toth and wiley Pek the barbarian followed. Kull and Draco the Gutian brothers followed. Sobek remained on boat. Saw three amazing gold urns and girls seemed interested in writing so as lonely cyclops invited them to read the inscriptions h stepped back to roll a boulder over the door. Toth and Pek ran out and smashed his led felling him. The Gutian brothers followed up with attacks to the head and giant clumsily failed to stop them and passed out. Iltani instructed to leave the cyclops as he was a gods son and it would be sacrelige to kill him. Pek said all monsters were divine and we must kill them anyway. Party grabbed wine, cheese, caught 4 giant wooly sheep, the three gold urns and fled. As they sailed away the cyclops crawled to peak of Island ang abused them as thieves demanding to know who they were.

Kull cried out "we are Egyptians".
Toth moaned as he was half Egyptian.

Terrible storm appeared and all struggled against the wrath of gods then it stopped. The air was calm and the boat wa smoving of own accord. Ariana the best swimmer tied a rope to herself and jumped overboard to see. A sea god with a fish tail sixteen cubits long was dragging boat. She climbed aboard amazed. All puzzled by this but real reason gods spared them was Sobek was pregnant to the Sea god Enki with a sea Nymph.

Saw horrible rocky Island. Was last day and warned must go south of island on full moon or be trapped seven years. No way to land so dropped anchor stone and swam to shore then climbed up cliff. Heard ferocious sounds and saw two wingless male dragons battle while two females looked on. Party were amazed at the 24 cubit (12 metre) beasts. So the scattered and hid when dragons noticed them. Some jumped to cover, Draco hid behind a veil of darkness he cast and Ariana got chased up mountain cliff with her jump spell. A female dragon folloed her and on top of rocky volcanic hill was a cave she ran in. Inside was wealth of a kingdom glistening. Dragon behind her she dived in and burried herself in loot. Dragon came in and two males followed. Meanwhile Kull called on Marduk and commanded she dragon searching for them below to allow him to ride her. Then commanded her to take him to her nest. Others amazed by this and several jumped off cliff and back to ship.

Ariana in the cave was trapped under the gold and gems while the male dragons resumed battle on top of her. Kull saw three more dragons before came to the nest and bid her dig and he snatched a egg. Weighed a talent so got dragon to return him o ship then go to opposite end of island and sleep. She dimly waddled off to obey and all waited tensely for Ariana.

Ariana swallowed as much gold and gems as she could and while dark ran from cave and jumped into the sea. She swam to boat and almost failed when her peers threw a rope to her. They sailed away on time to return to the waking world. Araina passed the treasure a bit awkwardly and cleaned it up. A fortune. The gold vessels from the cyclops were examined and had apple symbols and Minoan like script with screw lids. Inside was gold liquid. Ambrosia of long life from the gods. Then the Nobles of the group Sobek, Ariana and Iltani deemed they should as they were most important. They felt vital and good but lightning and thunder crossed the sky. No other noticeable effect. A second sacrilege in only a few days. In the morning Knossos palace city of king Midas was visible at last and Ariana was glad to be at her birthplace.
 

 Some Minoan warriors

Babylon BRP: Sex rites in the garden at the dawn of time

So in the gardens of Dilmu the party sat meditating with holy incense and followed the rites to enter the dreamlands as the Priests of Enki had advised them.

Awok in a great colourful garden where every plant was like turquoise and jade with every flower and fruit brilliant as precious stones. Were no stones or sticks or dead leaves the sun sat in the peak of the skydome watching them. All were naked with nothing. Ariana made herself a loincloth from some leaves and a vine. Pek the barbarian climbed a tree and saw beyond the garden was a great plain of silt deposits and the world seemed unusually flat.

Eventual heard water so found a crystal clear creek with nymphs playing. The nymphs were friendly but ignorant of ideas like direction (we are at the centre), being lost, what a human was, coming from anywhere and were pretty uninformative. They were playful and encouraged party to bathe and play and even splashed the dour Toth. Pek offered to teach hem to wrestle. While frolicking it was brought up that they were daughters of Enki born after he had had sex with then eaten their mothers (also his daughters) who were tasty herb nymphs. Erishkigal had got miffy so Enki had given birth to them.

"So where is Enki now?", the visitors asked.
"Oh just over there", said a nymph pointing.

Sure enough there was the great god, larger than any human 8 foot tall with a great beard of Lapis Lazuli drunkenly asleep under a tree. Next to him were two empty clay jars, each a talent load for a man. Amazed to see one of the greatest gods asleep but were also kind of afraid. But Ariana wanted to awaken him. Failing that she collected some of his drool in a fruit peel thinking it could be a potion.

So the party except Ariana and Sobek her chariot driver began having sex with Nymphs even Lady Iltani the Ishtar worshipper. After a bit Enki awoke and all stopped to hear his amazing wisdom.

"I didn't make any of you"

Various heroes asked about their gods and Enki explained they were in the heavens. Sobek asked what to do about Tiamat and the gods reply indicated they were indeed in the dawn time and Tiamat was still alive. He fancied Ariana but she wanted to save herself for her husband or her own god. Sobek was keen as she was pet and baby mad but Enki didn't want to touch anyone with less than superhuman beauty. Enki wanted to have sex with them both and Sobek begged Ariana to give into the gods lust. She sighed and the two women got down to business but Ariana craftily avoided being impregnated by dodging at the last second. Eventually he sobered up a bit and commanded them fetch him beer.

"Where do we get beer sir?"
"From the Beer goddess of course"

So they took empty beer jars and marched onto the muddy alluvial plan towards a distant shack. On the way they saw a huge dead tree. The first dead thing they had seen yet.

In the top of the tree was a great Imdugug bird, kin of the Anzu bird with a eagles body and a lioness head. In the bough in a hollow was a nigh hag with horrible hairy bird feet like an owl. Chewing on the roots was a small dragon gnawing angrily on the roots. Party avoided it and kept going with glares from the beings.

Arived at the shack where a mature woman in robes leaned on the bar resting her head in her hand. She declared she was Shulgi the bartender goddess and offered them beer for service. As party naked they had nothing to trade so she told them to make her a bed. They asked how and she told them to cut down the tree and make the bed from that. She gave them a bronze hatchet and instructions on how. Sobek cut off her hair and wove it into a sling. In the hut were some nice river stones for missiles. Some others grabbed stones to throw. Iltani and some others chipped stones into crude cutting tools with craft skills.

Back at the tree Kull the Marduk champion informed them all he had a spell to command dragons. So Pek took the axe and started to chop the tree and the others hurled spells and rocks at the bird as it buzzed them. The dragon (more like a crocodile with horns really) awaited below its mouth open to eat an other tree guardians who fell. Toth climbed up and smashed the hags leg shattering it and knocking her out then tried to reach in to grabed her hair and pull her out. Pek kept chopping and cast many charms on the axe to ease the process. Sobek used her sling and eventually shattered the birds legs. Toth finally grabbed the old woman anf hurled her into the dragons awaiting maw. He gobbled her up in two big gulps. As the lion bird menaced him Ariana used her jump spell to try and leap at it it then got idea of casting on the dragon and it leaped up 12 cubits and snapped but missed. The bird was intimidated and backed off and Toth came down to help pelt bird with stones. Kull said when spell wares off dragon will attack so he positioned it where tree was to be felled. Finally bird fell and kull grabbed it and threw it to the dragon. The tree fell pinning the dragon and all helped finish it off.

Toth was most hurt and Ariana was hit by spell also from the bird. Party carved a bed over hours the sun never moving from the apex of the sky. Carried the bed and dragon and bird skin to the shack and the goddess was pleased. She got them all drunk and filled their jars. She took the spittle Ariana had collected also and let them keep the axe. Iltani realised the goddess was an aspect of her own goddess Ishtar. Sobek was told she would bear a nymph. As she had given birth to a Satyr earlier this was a nice set.

Back in the garde of Dilmun Enki was pleased to take the beer and presented Ninhursag the great goddess, his lover and sister (gods dont worry about rules they make for mortals) and Ariana was a bit disgusted. She knew they were from the waking world and told them to visit her great enclosure in her temple in Nippur. All drunkenly celebrated and watched the gods play a game to see who could make the most useless being by damaging the moulds they used to cast humanoids. Enki found uses for all the goddesses malformed beings - the blind a masseuse, the sterile a prostitutes, cripple a scribe and many more. Enki won by creating old people, the hopeless, senile beings were incapable of any use so he won. As the gods squabbled drunkenly, the heroes awoke suddenly in their bodies fully equip with Kull's war dog barking happily.

Left Dilmun and it's holy temples and funny creepy fishermen who spied on them. Were blown b great wind demons at sea and were very lost. Arrived in the area of the River Indus and stayed for ship repairs and food. Met local cults, hunted some lions and gathered exotic trade goods and spices. Set sail and made it back to Eridu only three weeks late. Marched to Nippur where the temple priestesses gave them each earth power. A sort of magical reservoir they were told would save them if their souls were drained. At first everyone thought this sounded good until priestess said the Goddess knows they will need it. Then everyone reconsidered the wonder of having their souls destroyed or severed or stolen.

Returned to Babylon and rested an month. Father was pleased with their progress and their preparations They had now been from Indus to Anatolia, most of the civilised world. Only Egypt, Minos and Uratu to go and they will have been to every known civilisation on earth (except China). Soon they would have might to enter the underworld to plunder its secrets and power as he planned all along.

Babylon log: Hittites, Mittani and Assyria and Back

 

Ive been pretty lapse on this game and have today done 3rd session  without a blog so this is catch up. Lots of this game is travel, fighting bandits and wild animals, home decor, social climbing and training to get accepted as ranking priests and champions of their cults.

So party committed to finding the four ancient evils minions plotting to end the world.

Starring:

The 1/2 Babylonian nobles, children of Mardukbanipal

Ariana the 1/2 Minoan pirate girl, now acolyte of Adad the storm god and now married to an Assyrian noble of a great trade house.

Toth the 1/2 Egyptian follower of Nergal the lord of Death. Gatekeeper to the the house of the underworld.

Iltani the 1/2 Sumerian, scribe offspring of divorced mother to father, raised in Ishtar Temple. Hungry for magic and secrets of the universe.

The Barbarian bodyguards

Sobek a Amorite warrior maid, pregnant to a satyr and collector of pets. Still seeking path to magic through Ishtar or Shamanistic Ancestor lion cult. Has a nice house prepared for baby and her pets.

Kull Draco a Gutian wild man turned civilized and become a hero of Marduk, chosen to recruit barbarians to the forces of Babylon. Wears dragon skin armour. Married with a shack.

Pek son of Farg, a Kassite initiate of Ninutra, a great hunter and warrior committed to glory and killing monsters.

So the party after time resting after the wedding of Ariana spent several weeks marching into the north int the shattered Hurrian kingdoms. The Assyrian traders made the route safe despite the wars between the Hurrians and the Hittites and the invading Mittani. Took a side route to a Mittani kingdom and were greeted by nobles for trade. They were intrigued by similar but different religion and names of their gods (actually more like Hindu gods like Agni). Told of a mountain pass of terror birds which intrigued them. So they took a side trek and climbed a cliff into a mountain pass. Attacked by prehistoric flightless carnivorous birds bigger than ostriches and twice as mean. The great devil birds were defeated and a few fled. Others were captured and bound and lowered down the cliff.

Found cave with eggs and took them back down mountain. Signs of the bird demon Anzu were on the wall carved thousands of years ago. Took eggs back and local king was happy to try and hatch them. Sobek was keen to have a new pet but all moaned no.

Marched on facing bandits and lions and wolves till reached the Hittite lands with safer roads. Met Hittite kings and saw parades of chariots, mountain palaces and isolated valleys. Just beat the snow and spent winter in luxury. Met some Europeans, Mycenaean, Egyptians and Minoans. By end of winter Ariana and Sobek were very pregnant.

Spring they came down from mountains back to the land of two rivers to Assyria. Visited Ariana's new in laws and then marched back to Babylon. Noted how few bandits were here but the heads on poles and flailed skins nailed to walls maust have been good for local order. Back in Babylon the bandits came as son as the crossed the border. The kingdom was still reeling from King Humarabi's death almost a year ago.

On the road saw great coloured tents and lines of common folk with possessions. Ariana pushed to front and all backed off from her regal bearing. Got admitted to sorcerer who feasted with them and asked about magic items he could see. Party tried to bargain and Toth and Iltani swapped spells with him. Iltani went for normal type spells but Toth gained Contact Tsathogua.

So almost in Babylon and saw a village menaced by a lone Auroch Bull. All went to investigate and a wounded panicked woman ran out begging the heroes to help them. Party were all keen and prepared charms and prayers. Ariana called down rain clouds with the power of Adad the weather god. Crept through village and Bull suddenly charged from behind a house. Ariana called down a lightning bold from the heavens striking the bull in the genitals. Pek fired a fire arrow at it in the same place and the bull's read end collapsed. Kull walked up with his great axe and before the bull could try and gore him he split its skull with his huge axe.

Villagers were healed and cheered and had a impromptu BBQ. Heroes artfully butchered and skinned the bull and Kull stripped the skull and began carving a cuneiform dedication. The next morning arived in Babylon and news of the bull kill proceeded them. Rode their chariot with the bull skull on display and arrived to family palace. Father was ready with guests and a feast and all celebrated their return.

Father spoke to each in private and each visited their temples. Then each set about training till the girls of the party had given birth.

Ariana was granted a iron sword from a ancestor and hero of Adad also. She went to temple to debrief and recover spells. Trained in various skills till gave birth to a son after two months. Left baby with servants and husband in Trade house and got ready for adventure.

Toth continued his studies and continued to dabble in forbidden lore and the arts of violence. Spent time with the priests in the great Nergal Temple in the city of Cutha.

Iltani brought the sorcery spells she had gained and other secrets she had learned to the Temple of Ishtar. They took her to the blind sorceress in the great temple and she became an apprentice. Finally learned the means to manipulate sorcery spells. She asked for more spells but order told her four spells was plenty for an apprentice,

"Perhaps in a few years", they said.

Pek became a champion of Ninurta and gained a spirit that was placed in his armour to serve him. They wished him to kill monsters. His slave lover gave birth to a son.

Kull became a champion of Marduk charged with recruiting barbarians in the coming war to save the Empire. His wive gave birth to a son also.

Sobek visited various Shaman as to what could be done about her Satyr child. A shaman convinced her to let a ancestor possess the unborn child so his inhuman character would never manifest. She went ahead and served several shamen to become an assistant shaman. She was more and more committed to ancestor worship and her totem lion spirits.

So as babies were packed off to nursemaids, the heroes went to see father. He was pleased they had become so powerful in such a short amount of time. But they were not ready to enter the underworld through the gates in the cities of Eridu or Cutha. So he told them to visit the island of Dilmun. Fabled garden Island where the first humans were created.

So they sailed down to the city of Eridu and spent a week with holy men, being bathed in holy water and talking to elders. Explained that the supernatural beings they have met were intruding at certain moments into the waking world and the heroes could be taught to cross the wall of sleep.

So down to the holy warf to board a horse prow ship to Dilmun. Ariana was exited to be on the sea again after several years away. A pleasant trip with several stops for trade and water. Saw Enki was worshiped as only god and met traders from Aftrica and Arabia. Finally arrived at the ancient island ans found Sumerian like culture and temples to the old gods. Visited temples with letters of introduction and trade goods. Boght a house to use as trade hall for the family and after settling in visited the great garden where some said Enki and the Earth goddess made mankind.

Together they inhaled sacred incense and prepared to enter the mythic dreamland.

BRP Babylon: To Assyria with love

Ariana had chosen to marry a important Assyrian Noble who was keen to support families glorious war against the four great evils. All had used important letters and wealth rto improve status and impress religious officials and shaman to get more spells. So followed the Tigris to Assur with a donkey battle wagon and a normal donkey cart. Faced more desperate youths and Gutian bandits without fear and sold captives as thrall labourers. One evening when almost in Asur a great worm of Tiamat came from the night's darkness and attacked. The heroes killed it then bickered over the creatures skin. Made some pieces of armour including some full suits. Kull Draco now a initiate of marduk and official civilized was pleased. At Assur Ariana was married and her family and friends gave her many gifts including gold arm bands and silver. After a brief stay in an Assyrian palace and spending time with her somewhat bloodthirsty father in law sge was shown maps of her new family trade routes to Hittite lands, Hurrian mountains in Syria and Ururatu to the north.

Planed a route intending to winter in the heartland of the Hittites. Possibly return via medeteranean and even Egypt.

I got my armies finally - 200 Assyrian and Sumerian troops 1/72nd scale with 7 chariots. Con made game have a break for weekend so a few quick game logs, con report and business as usual here.

BRP Babylon: To Hunt the Anzu Bird Cult near Ur

On way to Ur visited Temple of Ninurta in Lagash who gave them advice on monster hunting and a written reference. Party scribe has an impressive list now of such documents.

So the team arrived at Ur to witness a procession of gods, visit temples for divination and meet officers who could help them with menace of the Anzu Bird cult. With temple references got tl speak to leader of chariot corp who offered to drive them close to hills in battle donkey wagons and let party use one as barbarian driver was so skilled.

Out on plain on edge of foot hills found a tribe of nomads. Spoke to them and they were wary as men folk away. Nergal cultist convinced them he hated current order and wished to serve Anzu as he had seen shield and other bird cult art.

Told him about big ritual for tribal folk of nomads and barbarians and shamans leading the great ceremony to call Anzu.

Party left then by night crept into hills and saw massive camp and thousands of torches. Sneaked up in disguise and saw rituals. Party barbarians even managed to get some spells from shamans.

Returned to city to warn weekly gatherings growing and preparing for war. Met temples and city officers and taken by chariot again to foothills to visit holy site. Arrived at sacred hill with petroglyphs on rocks an huge symbols of Anzu in the sand. Found a tunnel and crawled in and found stinking dirty nest. Creepy naked pink birdmen attacked and several killed. Fled with several prisoners monster men to temple of Nana (Sin) the moon god. Horrified priests told king and army prepared. Party got to meet king who was grateful for aid and heroes joined him in the battle command lines.

Army met gathering horde day before ritual but without chariots in hills. 1000 spearmen in phalanxes, 500 archers, 500 axemen and 3000 farmer auxiliaries with javelins and slings defeated the irregular but savage barbarians who lacked discipline and tactics. Mostly lost auxiliaries but routed enemies. Dug up holy hill, killed birdmen and prisoners and saw vultures fly off with severed human heads

King gave party gifts and letter of support. Party marched home to Babylon keen to hunt more of the minions of evil.

BRP Babylon: Hunting Cults of the 4 Evils

Party returned from mount Mushu to Babylon where some met the gods and those who had missed out when the cave entry had temporarily vanished.

Now aware there were four great evils afoot heroes tried to plan how too battle.

They tried their means of divination, tried to study magic and settled into their new relationships. Kull tried to join Marduk but failed but has gained some help from his new in laws who see barbarian as means to restore status. Ariana had help from Daddy to help her meet a husband. They decided an Assyrian would help family interests to the north andd trade into Hittite lands. She had choice of rich older merchant or noble warrior her own age. She chose later and he has been keen to follow her.

To the North Hanbi king of the wind demons was stirring. He was displeased with his office and wanted more. To the mountains of the west Asag the great stone giant and his Gutian cultists were gathering force in the Zagaros mountains. To the south Tiamat was stirring in the sea and to the west the Anzu bird was stirring.

They sought priests to aid them in interpreting their divination attempts. At one stage there were strong signs that the Hittite lands in the mountains might be source of Hanbi or possibly the Hurrian or Mittani lands. Also asked the exorcists of Pazzuzu in the doctors district how their demon lord felt about his father Hanbi. Apparently Pazzuzu not involved in scheme and other demons jealous Pazzuzu receiving status and reverence and for terrifying other demons.

Pek asking about heard that many of the cultists of Anzu bird were among western barbarians, especially in hills to west of Ur. As his god had defeated Asag and Anzu his cult were very helpful and his gift of manticore and lion pelts impressed them. Nobody else had checked the possibility of persecuting the cults locally he found in Babylon depictions of Anzu in scribe district and being illiterate told others of his discoveries. As cultists could be killed easier than gods this tactic seemed attractive and party went to visit scribe. Parked chariot and barbarians of party outside while the egghead literates went inside. Scribe shop had supplies and services typical and some ancient tablets on display. One depicted the Anzu bird and saw several version of his forms. The lion bird (a griffin like monster), a half man half bird thing and a great eagle with a lion head. Iltani harassed him to buy it but he denied and said they had to leave. Toth got a cramp and his leg was paralysed. Outside some men in scribe kilts with shaven heads a rods came out and seemed to spot party barbarians in the street instantly. They were mind linked and one had detect enemy but party had no idea. Iltani alo got a sudden stif leg and then fight was on.

Toth ran to chariot crying "witch witch!"

Sobek could not see the problem and as was a street full of healers they found more.
Inside Pek and Iltani fought the shopkeeper and the scribes maiming them easily while one older man escaped. They looked at the tablets to see they were books of sorcery. Found a cylinder seal of agate that could print tablets with a contact Anzu spell. Iltani had called for Ishtar temple for help but Priests of Mark assumed authority and questioned everyone. The Leader wore a dragon costume with a face inside the dragon mouth. He set a date for a trial.  Ishtar priestess would attend to defend party but evidence and testimony of others was strong. If case difficult to resolve the sorcerers would be thrown into the river but the trial found them guilty and priests of Girra (or Nusku or Agni the fire god) came and burned the survivors of the fight.

So armed with the realisation cultists were everywhere they decided to head to Ur to kill cultists. Packed bags and headed with donkey cart south through several cities they had never seen before on a different route. Bandits attacks and were taken as slaves to UR. Party have become good hunters and now with plenty of minor spells the average youths and poor barbarians have little hope. Every trip they now feed themselves and collect skins as they go.

Arrived in Uruk and Iltani took party to her sisters home to rest a few days.

Babylon BRP: Trek to Mount Mushu

*Starring*
Toth (Steve) Half Egyptian Nergal Cultist has taken to wearing a vampires black kilt, blackened armour of noble quality and a huge khopesh. Keen to serve the lord of death and keep the underworld secrets from mankind. Keen for pilgrimage to Cutha.

Iltani (Olaf) Sumerian daughter scribe of Ishtar cult mother divorced from father, good with rod and dagger, has a daughter and is divorced, receives alimony payments from Sumerian husband. A devout scholar and Ihtar cultist seeks knowledge in all forms. Interested in magic.

Sobek (Hanna) Amorite chariot driver and archer whose clan worship lion ancestor. Her ancestors to west had some Egyptian links but have fled from west as Egyptians pulled out. Is good with animals and likes taking responsibility for livestock captured and donkey carts. Father allowing her to practise drive Sumerian battle donkey waggon with a team of four. Loaned a slave to drive other donkey cart and care for animals. Still looking for religion possibly join Ishtar but also meeting Shamen.

Kull Draco (Andrew) a Gutian huge brute kin of the bear totem caries a huge battle axe. Interested in status and respectability, told by priests of Marduk should marry a Babylonian girl and be civilised. Not totally convinced but tempted to by a slave free her and marry her as nobody will marry a savage ugly illiterate Gutian.

Pek son of Farg (Rod) a wild Kassite barbarian archer and initiate of Ninurta, slightly better assimilated than other barbarians. One of last clans to remain wild while others assimilated for hundreds of years. Wishes to be a mighty hero and monster slayer

So party heard clan leader's concern for stockpiled knowledge uselesly being hoarded instead of helping the growing problems across the land. So now he sent to Mari to the north a former rival of Babylon and more northern cults and run down since conquest. So they might have more available lore there. Set off with less people and no chariot.

Party pleased they had killed monsters with team work and finding killing bandits profitable. They foolishly suggested monster had no hope against them. The gods tend to overhear boasts.

Decided 9 day trek would add a day by visiting Cutha the great necropolis dedicated to Nergal only 12km away and the great entry to the land of the dead. Pek visited his temple before leaving and was quested to get a lion pelt. Sobek and Kull visited Shamen and aranged to battle spirits for magical knowledge.

So almost arriving at Cuth after lunch, Pek was delighted by lion footprints. Heard lions growling. Almost as if they were vocalizing words. So they followed them up slope between two crags and something far worse than lions came. On each side of path a manticore appeared. They lept at Pek and Kull with the biggest weapons in the front. Pek managed to block the rows of teeth with his new Maul but was stung in the arm by deadly poison almost killing him. Kull was luckier and with his huge axe neatly sliced off the manticore's face and it fell dead. All piled blows on the manticore menacing Pek and slew it. They tried to treat the wounds and poison but was hard work. Skinned the beasts, collected the monster tails and collected their teeth making them into necklaces. Pek rode on the donkey cart.till they got to Cutha.

In cuth they visited priest of Nergal Toth met in Eridu and they were welcomed. He went to the great house of the dead and smelled the vapours there that he first smelled in the cursed mound earlier. He passed out with visions of the sun god entering the underworld. He learned lots there. He paid a thousand shekels in gold and silver for a diorite statue of Nergal and other gifts and learned some magic. Others were impressed by kindness of Nergals priests and Iltani bought a statuette of herself preying to leave in the temple. The local Ishtar temple was not as big as others but they learned new stories of the goddess fighting the Underworld to rescue her sister. They were far more welcoming of Sobek too.

They ended up staying week as Pek needed healing and all happy to learn from the city of the dead. Finally they left for Mari into the desolate north where you could barely find a city in a days march. Met mor country kids hoping tomug them and the all snuck up on them, killing the leader and driving them off. Hunted gazzelles and other critters and some more mixed barbarian bandits who when defeated told of hardships in the wastelands. Toth was drinking by a waterway when Kull cried out a thing in water was stalking him. Iltani and Kull threw javelins at it scaring the scaly beast back and lost a small fortune in javelins.

Finaly in Mari and could see great palace and city sadly in disrepair. Great Ishtar and Ninutra shrines and many barbarian gods. Visited clan trade house to stay and met Assyrians and Mittani and Hittite traders. Saw Iron weapons. Wilst in very old Temples of Shamash saw many depictions of him descending to the gates of mount Mushu to the underworld as he did each night. They spent some days selling goods like Manticore teeth and picking up bits of foreign speech before deciding Mount Mush worth a visit. Found what they could in more friendly (less secretive) temples and made a map.

Found a friendly village where Amorites greeted them and impressed by party warriors. Sveral recruited youngsters here as servants.

Into wilderness found gazelle and goats and met a dreadlocked wild man. He was a shaman devoted to Enki who told them how the local barbarians regarded as sacred and would defend it but would not follow once there. He healed some of their injuries and accepted their gifts of meat and goat skins. Iltani had a dream that Enki warned her to not accept gifts from the gods.

She knew Enki had cheated humanity from imortality to keep the status quo before and was wary. He had also saved heroes with his advice too. Such a cunning and tricky god.

So after days they reached mount Mush and began the ascent.....

BRP BABYLON DYNASTY: Halls of the Damned

A player described the setting as like dnd with history which i don't really mind. Now up and running fine. Party spent a few days in Uruk and Iltani gathered tablets from the great temple of Ishtar before returning to Babylon. Re met barbarian Pek who joined group for new mission.

*Starring*
Toth (Steve) Half Egyptian Nergal Cultist has taken to wearing a vampires black kilt, blackened armour of noble quality and a huge khopesh. Keen to serve the lord of death and keep the underworld secrets from mankind.

Iltani (Olaf) Sumerian daughter scribe of Ishtar cult mother divorced from father, good with rod and dagger, has a daughter and is divorced, receives alimony payments from Sumerian husband. A devout scholar and Ihtar cultist seeks knowledge in all forms.

Sobek (Hanna) Amorite chariot driver and archer whose clan worship lion ancestor. Her ancestors to west had some Egyptian links but have fled from west as Egyptians pulled out. Is good with animals and likes taking responsibility for livestock captured and donkey carts. Father allowing her to practise drive Sumerian battle donkey waggon with a team of four. Loaned a slave to drive other donkey cart and care for animals. Still looking for religion.

Kull Draco (Andrew) a Gutian huge brute kin of the bear totem caries a huge battle axe. Interested in status and respectability, told by priests of Marduk should marry a Babylonian girl and be civilised. Not totally convinced but tempted to by a slave free her and marry her as nobody will marry a savage ugly illiterate Gutian.

Pek son of Farg a wild Kassite barbarian archer and initiate of Ninurta, slightly better assimilated than other barbarians. One of last clans to remain wild while others assimilated for hundreds of years. Wishes to be a mighty hero and monster slayer

So Father of the civilised adventurers had heard reports of barbarian and nomads driven to the land of two rivers by drought in the wastelands and possible Elamite invasion. Also increased supernatural encounters everywhere and bad omens. Told of a possible pre flood ruin by Shepperd-trader camp in west so sent the party with barbarian scouts. Also loaning them the donkey battle waggon Sobek was training with as she had taken to brilliantly.

Party set off with normal donkey cart in rear with slave to drive and Kull with his dog. While out of site of of civilisation saw some hunters and spoke to them. Were Amorites so sobek tried to befriend which didn't do so well till she gave them a live marsh hen. They told of a ruined shack to south west and a well to north west on way to tent town. Decided to see if well in good condition. When close set slave to watch cart and battle waggon went ahead. Then Kull and Pek sneaked out ahead and saw a multi racial band of Gutians, Amorites and fair Hurrians.

Informed the rest in the battle waggon then went back to ambush the bandits guards. Pek shot and killed one and injured another and Kull hacked other to death. The drunken bandits did not hear. The victorious men split up and got close to camp and could hear the battle waggon coming. By time the bandits aware of danger arrows and javelins struck them. They formed a wall of sword and shield men in front and had slingers and javelin men behind. Pek kept shooting them while Kull charged with his dog. The battle waggon trundled around them and Iltani jumped off and charged. Toth threw javelins and the combined missiles of party whittled the slingers down. Bandits drunk and unlucky. One fell over and stayed down in fear.

Kull got up close to attack as battle waggon zoomed past. Toth swung fron the safety of the car and killed a swordsman. Sobek steered the cart over the downed wounded slingers. Then went after men who fled and ran one more down. Iltani dodged a sling stone and sent curses to demoralise the men. Several more fled and Pek shot them. Finally bandits surrounded. Iltani got Pek to stop killing the wounded but Sobek put several run over out of misery. Three men in walking condition were tied to waggon.

Found six loads of barley, a merchant suit and some jugs of beer and a goat. Well in good condition and camped and drank the left over beer. Kull convinced a gutian prisoner to behave and he could get a job like he had. In morning dropped slave in well with rope to trawl through rope and he found tablets. Some just records but several with exorcism ritual instructions to cure a type of disease spirit.

By lunch arrived at herder encampment and met chief. Toth as the most noble with the big sword was asked to behead the uncooperative bandits in front of crowd and he put on a adequate show. Vultures snatched the heads and flew off with them. The gutian bandit was put to work and agreed to behave. Shepherd kids selected to show the ancient tell (ruin city mound) and the hired men with some of grain to watch the donkey cart and battle waggon. Also received a goat for stopping bandits which Sobek pleased by.

Searched the mound and Iltani found a snake headed idol. Toth found a carved bone gazelle and Pek found a pot decorated with goat men. Kull pulled out some bricks from side of mound and found a great hole. The party lowered themselves in and Iltani noticed old Sumerian like architecture. Wandered in long forgotten gall and heard howls. Found tracks of men but Nergal could tell had long toe nails. Sobek shuddered at howls and all readied themselves. Sobek waned to flee but Kull got in her way.

Ghouls charged screaming and Toth recognised they were corpses possessed by bad spirits. The fiends showed little restraint and were cut down. One had bite parried by Kull who managed to cut upper skull free from its jaw and brought another down.  Pek got off an arrow before one snapped at him and broke its teeth on Pek's buckler in his bow hand. Sobek killed one but got clawed in the leg and went down.

Toth recovered his fear and killed one attacking him then killed one menacing Pek. Kull downed another and party hacked two dying wounded ones into chunks. Rested and went into processional hall. Where once was a statue tIshtar was a crude Ereshkigal Statue made from dung with owl guardians. Iltani knew this layout from her home temple. Went to great courtyard to find a great stinking pit. Most gagged at a bit and Toth and Iltani got head spins. They saw vapours take shape of smokey phantoms. Iltani threw up. Above it was great dome of rubble. Looked to where library should be and found room with shelves long decayed and piles of tablets in mounds. Heard a muttering and a glow over a mound.

While others prepared charms of protection, Pek scuttled up mound and saw emaciated librarian in priestess robes carrying a great staff with a cuneiform covered lead head. He fired a flaming arrow through it while others clambered up mound to follow. Sobek slipped and rolled down. Toth struck it and realised it had a mighty aurara of power, Iltani's curse of fear failed, the glow stripping the spells power. The other came and hacked at it and Toth was badly hurt in the leg and crawled to safety. The mummified priestess fell and was smashed to mummy dust and broken bones. Took her lead capped maul and headband. Found some interesting books but best included letters from last days of pre flood times recording bad omens and the gods with holding their power.Also a sorcery spell on a alabaster tablet.

While looked through tablets barbarian illiterates watched on guard. Heard moans from the huge pit. Pek fired burning arrow dawn and saw it shrink to nothing. Across pit heard slow moving hooves on brick. Pek and Kull went to see and saw a zombie Minotaur with a bronze double axe patrolling edge of pit. Party all spoke in fear but decided to fight. As they returned the minotaur saw the light this time as they were in his from and he charged. Iltani, Toth, Sobek and Kull threw javelins and Pek fired his burning arrows blessed by the spirits. The burning arrow struck its head that went up in a flash and burst to crumbling embers. The headless beast fell.

As they got close to recover javelins the headless thing stood and party freaked out. The were faster and rushed it. Kull cut it's leg and it fell. Heroes hacked and kicked and pushed it into the pit. As sighed with relief head foul wings from below coming up. So they fled, with Kull and Pek looking back to see harpy demons from the underworld come to slay defilers of the dead.

Managed to crawl outside and cover hole when felt earth shake and peak of the great mound collapsed, linking 40 metres and a great plume of dust rose into the sky. Returned to the tent camp and traded barley from bandits for cheese and feasted on camel. Next morning returned to Babylon to rest. Sold cheese and tablets then rested to recover from wounds.All gave thanks to the gods and sought wise ones to advise them on paths of power. The lead capped maul and Minotaur axe were enchanted. The circlet of the mummy was too with a healing matrix and magi battery which Iltani got as was a Ishtar relic. Sobek got the goats. Toth was just happy he got to help separate mankind from the underworld as it should be.

My meters per second charts for my roadwar game proved handy for the chariots too. Must read RQ3 Colosseum on chariots too.