LOG START
[17:29:55] Master of Games
All Creation, Beneath the Sword
Session 28, Part 3
Stories and picture scrolls across the South and East depict the massive bird known as rukh or stonefeather. They show it terrifying soldiers, scattering caravans with the wind from its wingbeat, striding across the ground to pick off victims attempting to hide from it with its long neck and beak, or carrying off massive prey to feed to its young, nested on forbidding mountains. Spears are depicted breaking against its feathers. In traditions from the South, it seems to be credited with bringing rain and thunder; farther east it is thought to alter perceptions and create illusions.
Perhaps this is what you’re witnessing now, a strange sense of warped scale as you behold the great bird perched on what you know to be a building atop a hill as though it were a hen on a termite mound. Certainly it hasn’t brought rain to Hundred Gasps Lake.
The circle and their entourage have sought a hiding place behind a tall rock outcropping, spooking a strange creature that looks like nothing so much as a large crab with human hands and feet in place of pincers and legs during the glimpse you catch of it as it flees for another hiding spot. Your camels pay it no mind, but they are visibly nervous in the presence of the rukh, even huddled out of sight between rocks and the long-empty shells of large molluscs.
You have a moment to observe the rukh: it’s dark-feathered, with a long, curved beak, long neck, long legs, not unlike certain wading or ground-hunting birds of the River Province and nearby grasslands. A prominent horn of sorts protrudes right above its beak. A low, booming sound can be heard periodically in the background, further unsettling the animals, and it takes your party some time to realize that this is probably the rukh’s call, heard even at this distance.
[17:29:55] Master of Games
To the extent it’s said to have weaknesses, they lie in its massive size: it’s ungainly when landing or taking off. Its face and throat are bare of feathers and vividly purple in the sinking sun—perhaps here is another vulnerability. Either way, the rukh is a territorial predator. You’ll have to trick it, chase it off, or kill it.
You’ve not been noticed yet, but the bird is suspicious. Evade its notice under the cover of night, sneak closer and ambush or trick it, draw it out and face it in the open where it hunts. Any of these is easier said than done, but you are Chosen of the Unconquered Sun, are you not?
What will you do?
[17:37:14] Datei ma Kagemori
”If we must engage it, we should ensure we get to pick the battlefield, not it. We have capable combatants, but we are also weighed down by supplies. Do we think it safe to leave some things here to be able to engage it without as many distractions? Alternatively, is there any way to send it away?”
[17:41:04] River Snake
”I’m not sure if there would be a way to draw it away while we get in”
[17:41:05] Raizo
”I’m perfectly fine trying to kill this thing. We have bows, we can either scare it off if it tries to attack, or down it to finish off.”
[17:44:10] River Snake
”It won’t be an easy fight, but I’m skeptical I can sneak this many people and camels across mostly open nothing” He says with a laugh.
[17:45:13] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori nods. “Either result is satisfactory. How should we approach? Should we all stick together or should the band go ahead to keep the others safe?”
[17:46:57] Raizo
”The Tortoises and I will form a ring. Noncombatants and baggage in the middle of the ring. Snake and Kage, wherever you feel you’re best positioned.”
[17:48:17] Raizo
”I don’t trust we’ll be able to pull off an ambush or baiting strategy, and trying to make something a more tempting target on the bet we’ll be able to save it sounds dangerous. And besides, if we don’t look like an easy target, maybe it will just leave us alone.”
[17:50:49] Datei ma Kagemori
”Understood.”
[17:55:36] Master of Games
”I’m not confident we can keep the animals under control if the bird comes for us. But I don’t know that they’d be better off elsewhere,” Hiruna offers.
[17:56:53] River Snake
”We could attempt to keep them and the noncombatants under cover while the rest of us draw out the bird, but then we’d be split”
[18:01:21] Raizo
”Would you rather try to keep them under control under a shield of our arrows or without one?”
[18:01:47] Master of Games
Hiruna and Vend exchange glances. “Under.”
[18:05:25] Raizo
”And so I hope to provide.”
[18:07:07] Raizo
”Is this a safe plan? No, but I don’t see a safe one, so my next best option is the safest, and I think this is it. Maybe do this under cover of night? If the thing even sleeps.”
[18:08:00] River Snake
”If its an animal it probably does. Not that I’m an expert on giant birds”
[18:09:12] Raizo
”For all I know, this thing crawled out of the Wyld and never sleeps. The cost of waiting is also the cost of, well, we’re rather exposed.”
[18:09:26] Raizo
”And there might be other dangers that think we look tasty.”
[18:10:05] Datei ma Kagemori
”A risk to reduce other risks. I’ll leave the judgment up to you, unless Hiruna and Vend have suggestions.”
[18:11:43] Master of Games
They do not.
[18:15:11] Raizo
”Then I say let’s keep things moving. If it attacks, you have my guarantee of not losing anyone. If it leaves us alone, all the better.”
[18:16:15] Datei ma Kagemori
”Lead on.”
[18:22:27] Raizo
Raizo nudges his camel along to relay the orders to everyone else that they’ll be forming a tighter convoy until the threat of the big bird over there has passed. He then takes point at the head of the pack, idly wondering if it’s worth even putting on his helmet when a bird that big could probably trivially crush through the steel.
[18:26:28] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori hopes his camel staying calm will inspire the others to remain calm. In either case, he is in the center of the convoy currently, and watching the bird intently. He is ready to leap to intercept an attack that gets past the outerlayer.
[18:29:28] Master of Games
The Red Tortoises do their names honor and get in formation around the noncombatants and the animals. Then your convoy moves out of the rock’s shelter onto the sands.
The stretch leading up to the Dead Observatory’s island is marked by a relatively flat stretch of shallow sands; good news for your own movement. The rukh is quick to spot you once you leave cover, and it’s easy to tell when it has. It flaps its wings on its perch without taking off yet, clearly assessing how it feels about your presence.
[18:33:27] Master of Games
You hear that low, booming sound again, a faster rhythm this time. Then it leaps and takes off, ungainly at first as its wings fight the earth’s pull, then almost graceful once it gains altitude and begins coasting with wings held straight. Towards you, of course. Fast.
[18:34:49] River Snake
Snake, seeing that the bird is approaching, gets ready to dismount his camel and readies his direlash in one hand.
[18:34:56] Raizo
”Hold your shots until it’s good and close!” Raizo shouts, eyes trained on the bird.
[18:38:44] River Snake
”Here it comes” Snake shifts his stance, standing on the back of his camel with his weapon drawn.
[18:39:51] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori shifts the hold of his reins to one hand and clenches his now free fist. His eyes lock on the incoming bird, trying to predict where exactly it will strike.
[18:42:37] Raizo
Raizo goes for his Vanehan blade over the iron saber he borrowed for this expedition, drawing it in preparation. He keeps his eyes on the bird and guides his camel beside the Tortoise’s banner bearer.
[18:52:12] Master of Games
The Tortoises raise their bows as the great bird approaches, but hold their fire, waiting for Raizo’s command.
[18:56:32] River Snake
Snake jumps off his camel and heads towards the giant bird, attempting to get onto the highest ground he can fined, he’s no good with bows, but if he can jump within range of the thing, he’s no slouch when it comes to jumping.
[18:56:38] Raizo
”Nock arrows! Eyes on target! Hold until my command!” Raizo barks out orders one by one, ordering the Red Tortoises along to ready and aim but not yet fire.
[19:02:00] Master of Games
The rukh swoops lower to the ground, beating its wings to slow down, and for a moment seems to blot out the sky as it makes to land. A roar blasts over you, amplified by its hollow horn. It’s almost like the imperial temple’s Calibration bell. The camels rear in a prey’s panic.
[19:04:41] River Snake
Snake covers one ear with his free hand. He was expecting the bird to be loud, but expecting it doesnt change how loud it is
[19:07:29] Datei ma Kagemori
”Hold strong!” Kagemori steels his will. While he has never faced a bird of this size, he knows his talents. He went untouched in the battle with the river bandits. With the might of the sun flowing through him, he will not falter.
[19:08:59] Raizo
Raizo grits his teeth and digs deep into his heart for an answer. He’s a Bronze Tiger, for Sun’s sake, he should be the one intimidating others! “Band of the Canopy!” he roars, pouring his soul into his words. “Hold fast!”
[19:19:47] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori places a hand on Raizo’s camel. “Be firm, noble beast. We will keep you safe.”
[19:27:51] Master of Games
At Raizo’s command, the Tortoises let loose and shower the rukh with arrows.
[19:28:43] Master of Games
Many of them scatter against the bird’s feathers, but enough lodge in its bare face to make it flinch.
[19:33:59] Raizo
Raizo nods in gratitude to Kagemori for his aid and turns his focus back to the rukh. “Good shots, lads, let’s give ‘im another! Nock! Volley on my mark!” The Dawn belts out in rhythm, raising his sword and holding it until the moment to let the arrows fly.
[19:38:36] River Snake
Snake, looks up at the big bird, not about to be put off by the fact its currently airborne, he launches himself into the air with much more force than would be possible for a mortal, doing a spin in midair as he simultaneously rips his direlash across one of the creature’s wings and lands standing in the center of the no-doubt unhappy bird’s back
[19:48:35] Master of Games
Snake catches the rukh during landing. While it’s too large to control with a human-sized whip, the sudden pull of his lash disrupts its descent, forcing it to flap furiously with a startled roar to avoid crashing.
[19:52:02] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori moves back a single pace to touch the camel formerly ridden by Snake, calming its nerves. “See? We have this all under control. Look at your rider up there!” He doubts the camel will actually look up to see Snake but his tone gets across that they have this handled.
[19:54:19] Master of Games
River Snake’s camel calms down, while Vend is carried off by his and Hiruna struggles with another.
[19:59:23] Master of Games
The rukh careens towards the ground and lands with a resounding impact. Dunes and debris fly, churned up by its talons as they drag across the ground. The bird’s prey underfoot is momentarily forgotten, though, as it cranes its neck and whips around, picking at the nuisance on its back with its beak that could cut three men in half.
[20:03:55] River Snake
Snake expected this, and is already prepared to dance around on the bird’s back. After all, while its after him, everyone else gets easy shots at it.
[20:06:31] River Snake
Seeing a convenient opening as the bird misses a particularly determined peck, Snake does a backwards dismount from the bird’s back while also launching the tip of his direlash directly at the bird’s now prefectly lined up eyeball.
[20:17:24] Master of Games
The massive whip hits the rukh’s eyeball and then some; raking down across its exposed throat and making it bleed. The legendary animal screams.
[20:25:18] Raizo
”It’s down! Draw swords! Charge!” the Dawn hastily shouts, turning his raised sword into a leveled one to direct a charge. Sending a volley of arrows with his friend down range is not very high on Raizo’s to-do list.
[20:34:09] Master of Games
In those scrolls that depict a rukh’s downfall, its fatal vulnerability is its bulk: clumsy when taking off, it is cornered and tied down, unable to escape. So here, as the Band of the Canopy swarms the injured bird and keeps it grounded while their spears find the gaps between stone-hard feathers and seek its exposed throat.
[20:36:24] Master of Games
Chaotic moments have felt like hours, but it has, in fact, only been moments. The rukh lies dying before you.
[20:37:31] Raizo
”And that’s how we do it!” Raizo hoots and sheathes his sword in triumph. “Outstanding work, gentlemen,” he says as he trots his camel up to his Tortoises and gives a few a clap on the shoulder.
[20:37:45] River Snake
Snake stands over the dead bird and looks at the gash on its head and neck he inflicted “I’m not gonna lie, that was a lucky shot on my part”
[20:38:05] Master of Games
Thanks to Kagemori’s efforts, most of your camels have stayed with you; Vend has been dragged back towards your previous hideout by theirs, while Hiruna followed hers, but brings both it and a second one that escaped back by the lead.
[20:38:49] Datei ma Kagemori
”Masterful work! Now, I wonder if we can collect some of i ts feathers.”
[20:42:04] Raizo
”All our limbs where your mom put them?”
[20:46:24] Datei ma Kagemori
Kagemori checks up on their entourage before approaching the bird corpse.
[20:50:22] Master of Games
Everyone appears safe, sound, and somewhat astonished at being so. Hiruna is particularly in awe of the rukh’s corpse—she doesn’t seem too broken up about its death and instead excited to see it up close, and muttering about what uses parts of its body could be put to. Vend wipes the sweat from their brow. “I think I just aged ten years, friends, but after watching you fight like that, I feel immortal.”
[20:54:30] Raizo
Raizo gets off his camel and approaches the rukh carcass in some pride and surprise himself. He takes some time to appreciate the trophy. “I wonder how it tastes…” he says to no one in particular, rubbing his chin.
[20:54:47] Raizo
”And what you can use the body for…”
[20:56:39] River Snake
”I don’t know if I’d eat it but I’m sure these weird feathers gotta be useful for something”
[20:57:07] Datei ma Kagemori
”I’ll make sure you each get your share of the remains,” Kagemori says to Hiruna and Vend. “Collectors will be interested. Plus, sorcerers likely.”
[20:59:55] Master of Games
”It probably tastes foul. Big predators usually do. Powder from the horn and talons, maybe…”
[21:01:10] River Snake
”The talons or beak might be good enough to make weapons from or something like that”
[21:01:17] Raizo
”I’ve been hungry enough not to turn my nose at it before, but I think we have better food available.”
[21:05:24] Master of Games
Whatever use you wind up putting the carcass to, the sun is setting, and the path to the Dead Observatory is free. You might camp out with your kill, or seek the walls of Cometborn Zhang’s tomb.
[21:08:31] River Snake
Snake starts pacing the corpse, mostly looking it over for what looks like it would actually be worth bringing back, since they can’t really cart the whole thing home with them.