Out of the Darkness (Harnic RPG) fact sheet

The Game Room
1

This is a companion thread to this thread, “Let’s play a role-playing game.”

Since that thread is now something like 11 pages long, and we have been playing it since June, important facts have gotten buried, and you’d have to have an amazing memory to sort through it all to get to what you really need to know to progress.

Let’s continue the role-playing in that thread, but let’s use this one just to list the cold hard facts. Use this as a reference thread. Facts only, please!

I can’t really be comprehensive in the OP, but I’ll add everything I know over the next few days. This is a work in progress.

The story so far:

Four men woke up in a cave with no memories of how they got there or who they were. They found their way out of the cave and made their way down some mountains. The time of year seemed to be early spring.

They ended up in a barbarian settlement (of the Taelda Nation) where they picked up a fifth companion who agreed to act as their guide. They seemed to be men of the Kingdom of Kaldor.

They walked along the Silver Way until they came to Naniom Bridge, where they traded firewater for food and silver. They then went south to Getha Keep, where they met Sir Chimin Indama, Baron of Getha and Sheriff of Neph. He and his wife identified three of the four. He loaned them 4 pounds and some armor and weapons. They set out north again.

The group ran into a few oddball folks, and blew them off. Later that night, one of the oddballs showed up at the camp, acting strange and drugged out. She touched one of the group, Sir Orsin, turning him into some sort of undead thing. He still travels with the group.

The next day, they ran into Sir Urian, the son of an Earl. He turned out to be the brother-in-law of the fourth member of the group. His Herald, Sir Shemp, has also identified one of the group. They plan to go to Gardiren, Lord Curo’s home, by way of Chalced Abbey.

That’s where we stopped.

The PC’s, now all identified, are:

Gaerlin(sp?) (Koldanar), a Taelda hunter and guide to the group. His father is chief of his tribe.

Sir Sedris Meleken, Earl of Osel at Qualdris (Jimmy Chitwood, nee Antinor1). Sir Sedris disappeared some 9 months ago to chase after a murderer. His young wife, Lady Thilisa, has competently run his estates in his absence.

Serekela Edine Kynn, Archbishop of the Kaldoran Church of Larani (NAF1138). His sister is the wife of Earl Hemison Curo at Gardiren. He disappeared just as

Sir Conwan Elendsa, Sheriff of Semeth (glee). Sir Conwan is a first cousin of the Queen, and was the nephew of the late king. He was a favorite for the throne, but disappeared during the clan council in which he could have been chosen.

Sir Orsin Firith, Baron of Kobing (Santo Rugger). Also a candidate for the throne who mysteriously disappeared. Now some weird undead thing whose touch must be avoided.

It’s late, so more tomorrow. I’ll give a rundown of the political situation then.

Please feel free to asks questions about facts, figures, family situations, etc.

2

Thanks for posting this.

3

You’re very welcome.

Let’s continue with politics.

Haldan was the king of Kaldor. His son, Haldan II, succeeded him. Haldan’s wife Chelebin was then queen. During her reign Kaldor experienced a renaissance and a rebirth of chivalric values. It was sort of a golden age. Her son Torastra succeeded her. His first son was to be Haldan III, but he died at a young age. Second son Miginath was crowned at the age of 41.

Before he was crowned, he spent time in the company of a non-noble woman, who bore two sons, Maldan and Koris. She died giving birth to Koris. King Miginath then spent time with his Lord Privy Seal, Erila Kaphin, a noble from Chybisa. She had a son as well. Miginath never acknowledged any of the boys, but they were given positions normally reserved for princes.

Miginath was never in the best of health, and his physicians never expected him to reign for more than a year or two. As he had not named an heir, some 15+ people had legitimate claims to the throne. These claimants ranged from the mature Earl of Balim to the infant sons of Sir Chimin.

Miginath ruled for 27 years. He finally passed away just a few weeks ago. Conwan, Orsin, and Maldan were considered likely candidates. So were Scina, the Earl of Balim’s son, and Cheselyne the Younger, Torastra’s great granddaughter, who is not yet at the age of majority. Negotiations were underway for the betrothal of Scina and Cheselyne. Many oppose the marriage, as it would greatly upset the balance of power. So far no agreement has been reached.

Miginath died in his sleep. When the clan council was held to decide upon a new ruler, neither Orsin nor Conwan were anywhere to be found. In a surprising turn, Miginath’s niece Meliem was chosen. When the Royal Council was held to confirm the new queen, the Archbishop was missing as well. Earl Sedris had been missing for eight months, and is presumed by some to be dead. His wife Thilisa voted in his stead.

The voting was rather split. Maldan opposed Meliem, thinking that he, as the king’s eldest son, should be the new king. As he administers the Earldom at Olokand, which has been the king’s Earldom for generations, he feels he is owed this. He does not recognize Meliem as the new Earless. She, of course, claims her right to it. Maldan is raising an army to prevent her from entering the castle. Brother Koris, commander of the royal guard, is assisting him and bleeding soldiers away from Meliem. Accusations of treason are being made. This makes Meliem’s power very tenuous.

The acting Archbishop, Symon, has not yet declaired the church’s position on the matter. The Laranian fighting orders are forming factions.

All remaining Earldoms have sworn fealty to the Queen, with the exception of Curo, Earl of Neph (at Gardiren). He seems to be non-commital.

4

Clues so far:

-Five went east through Naniom Bridge. Four returned. Who was the fifth person?

-For several years, the Kald Stalker, a monster or demon of some sort, has been haunting Kaldor, mostly around the city of Tashal, where the king winters. (He summers at Olokand.) Its appearances seem to coincide with the disappearances of various folk. They are mostly the poor, but some people of social standing have gone missing as well. Sir Sedris may have been one of the victims.

-Some of the missing have returned as animated dead.

-You woke up in the cave ten days after the death of Miginath, five days after the Clan Council, and two days after the Royal Council.

NEW INFORMATION: This is rumor from Shemp, but it is said that Conwan, Orsin, and Edine were at Caer Elendsa (the royal castle in Tashal) days before Miginath’s death. If true, there would be witnesses.

-Not sure if I mentioned this, but… Edine was appointed Archbishop after the mysterious death of the former Archbishop, Kalabin Elendsa (Torastra’s younger brother). Kalabin was found murdered in his chambers, which were locked from the inside. The last person to see him alive was Conwan. It is said that Conwan swore an oath to him not to accept the throne, for reasons unknown. Only the current Archbishop can release him from that oath. There is, at this time, not current Archbishop.

-Sir Orsin is afflicted with something resembling the plight of the Kald Stalker victims. Such an affliction is unknown in these parts, but was rampant in western Harn some 50-100 years ago. The “evil” gods, Morgath and Agrik, still enjoy considerable worship in those areas.

I think I have mentioned some other clues, so please remind me.

What’s next? Family? Religion? Important NPCs? Maps?