Dire Spirits

Setting: The village of Kwaso, in northern Lokossa, near the borderlands with Meru and Sokone.

The Kirsine scout, Mugabe Bawku of Fara, leads a hunt for the capture of an indigo-furred dire lion
which has been terrorising the borderlands near Kwaso of late.. Its appearance is universally seen as
a blessing by the Ancestors. Accompanied by his guide, Nufu, and the Lokossan hunters Tabiti,
Bontu, Duro and Mensa, and well as a half-dozen hangers-on and slaves (porters, cooks, and
labourers), Mugabe tracks the noble beast through the southern Sokone plains into the savannah of
western Meru. While camped on the fifth day, the hunter becomes the hunted, and Duru where he
rests, right under the nose of the sleeping Mugabe. Once roused by Durus terrified screams,
Mugabe leaps to his feet and gives chase, his Lokossan companions reluctantly follow, spurred on by
Nufus admonitions.
After a long overnight chase, the lion, which seems to have been luring Mugabe away from the herd,
turns to confront the scout. Mugabes quarrel fails to pierce the beasts hide, and it readies to
pounce. By a stroke of good luck, Tabiti looses an envenomed, which buries its toxic payload into the
beasts shoulder. Seizing the opportunity, Mugabe reaches into his calabash, grabs a handful of the
fungal venom, and grapples with his quarry, introducing more of the paralysing toxin into the
creatures wound. He withstands several powerful strikes by the lion, but aided by his war-mask and
his lucky calabash, manages to choke the enervated beast into submission to the delight and cheers
of his companions.

The dire lion will make a fitting gift, and will amply substitute for the human tribute demanded of
the Ahonsu, the cruel Lokossan sorcerer-king, for the annual Traditions.

Sun-staff and marabout of the Sun Faith, Kha Qar of Min and his junior Sun-teacher companion,
Nakh are in Lokossa to spread the Faith. Kha hopes to make some inroads among the otherwise
traditional Lokossans. It is fortunate that they fear wielders of ashe more than they despise heretics,
and Kha hopes this will give him the opportunity to impress upon the folk of Kwaso the merits of the
Sun Faith and its principles of filial loyalty, kindness, hospitality, and obedience, as enshrined in the
holy texts The Four Corners of the Mountain, virtues which are in short supply since the years of
chaos wrought by The Long War.

Kha and his charge enjoy the hospitality of Clan Aboaze, and have worked with the clans weavers
and wheelwright to assist in and bless the cage and wagon in which it is hoped the dire lion will be
housed for transportation to the Ahonsu.

The hunting expedition returns to Kwaso with great fanfare, the loss of Duru (and a few nameless
slaves en-route) notwithstanding. The village chief, a vassal of the local, absent oba, welcomes the
hunters with a lavish feast in their honour, men and women segregated, of course. Offers of
marriage pour in and gifts are lavished on the heroes, Mugabe in particular, by the various clans. The
prize is placed in the village square, safely secured in the cage so expertly constructed by the
Aboaze clan, while revellers take advantage of the obas largesse, something which has been in short
supply of late. The obas griot, Kwesi, sings the praises of Mugabes great feat of strength and
courage, and it isnt long before a warrior-woman, Abena, one of the dreaded Lokossan Reapers,
approaches, in breach of the usual rules of segregation, as if to challenge the foreign upstart.

Kha has observed Abena drinking copious amounts of palm wine, yet she seems unaffected. She
appeared to be bristling with anger during the griots account of Mugabes deeds, and clearly feels
that the praises heaped upon him are an affront to her own glory. He waits with anticipation to see
if the Reapers reputation for savagery and ferocity is well-founded.

Meanwhile, the visiting Nyalan sage, Dembele of clan Mathzahu, has been enjoying the hospitality of
the chiefs compound, yet he remains uneasy. He well knows that the blood of his people watered
the jungles of Lokossa during the Emperor Shangmays ill-fated attempts at conquest. Even now,
many generations later, Dembele can still feel the power of the Ancestors coursing through the very
land itself, and teaching him mastery of the Nkisi of Grasping Vines.

Dembele wishes to wrest the ancient secrets from these southern lands. He is fascinated by the
Traditions and the hints of half-buried vine-choked ruins. As nganga, he knows he will be afforded a
certain degree of freedom and respect, but he lacks the wherewithal to venture too deeply into this
foreign land. He hopes to acquire slaves: servants, porters, and guides, for this purpose. As an
outsider, he is naturally drawn to the other foreigners at Kwaso.

Mugabe soaks up the adulation he so richly deserves. He notices the scornful Abena, who finds such
lack of humility distasteful. Undeterred, looks her straight in the eye an while putting on his most
charming smile says: Woman, you are welcome by my side to share the fruits of victory, we of the
Plains have no segregations. Perhaps later we can test our prowess in a friendly wrestling bout.

He whispers to Nufu: "My loyal friend, if she accepts my challenge you could perhaps indulge in
some wagering with the locals. Let me know how the odds are and I can perhaps influence the
outcome much to our mutual gain."

The space around Mugabe soon clears as Abena stands over the cocky Kirsine. There's
something...unnatural...about a woman who denies her rightful place in society: wife, mother, lover.
Those who submit to the rigors of the Reapers' test forgo the traditional role, in defiance of the gods
and ancestors alike, and are treated with a great deal of suspicion despite the awe with which they
are viewed. She utters something in the clipped, glottic Lokossan tongue as she produces the
double-bladed razor for which the Reapers are renowned, before kicking over Mugabe's plate of
cassava root and bowl of tesh wine.

Kha, frowns disapprovingly at this display. He turns away and is surprised to see several monkeys
milling about the lion's cage, seemingly unperturbed. In fact, one of them appears to be expertly
untying the leather cords which secure the cage's door, while otherscast aside the effigies and icons
placed there by the marabout himself. The nearby drunken locals seem too enthralled by the
prospect of a duel to notice.

Dembele, senses a supernatural presence which he

cannot immediately identify

Before the duel can commence, Kha attracts Abena's

attention away from the cocky Mugabe and directs her
towards the cage where the monkeys are working. He
will grab a torch and drive the attempts to drive the
monkeys away.

Abena spins around at Kha's urging and races towards

the cage while the monkeys shoot and holler excitedly,
seemingly unconcerned about the approach of the
torch-bearing Kha. Before Abena can reach the cage,
the door bursts asunder as the monkeys goad the
enraged lion with sharp sticks. They promptly scamper
off, running across the open market square trying to reach the safety of nearby trees.

Abena is left to face the escaped lion alone as it readies to pounce, having long-since shaken off the
effects of the poison. Debele is still seated, cross-legged, his mind communing with unseen spirits,
while Mugabe springs to his feet.

Kha sternly calls for the villagers to capture the escaping primates as he moves to flank the lion.
Speaking softly to Abena, he will try to coordinate and herd the lion back into the cage whilst
someone can secure the door once more.
Abena curbs her natural urge to charge the lion. While some of the villagers summon the courage to
chase the offending monkeys, others try to make themselves scarce. The lion appears to survey the
situation for a moment, allowing the hunters to cautiously approach (perhaps they are emboldened
in their intoxicated state...). Without warning, the very voice of the sacred ancestors booms,
startling all in attendance. Moments later, Kha recognises the distinctive sounds of the Lokossan
bullroarer, wielded by one of the monkeys, seemingly disregarding its own safety.

Mugabe calmly takes out his weapons and readies his battle-mask. Wanting to see a Reaper at work
he calls out to Abena: Mugabe has faced and defeated this beast once already, lets see how a
Lokossan Reaper fares. Do well and I might just let you wash my loincloth! He turns and whispers to
Nufu: Go prepare our gear and mounts for a fast escape if things go badly"

Abena glares at Mugabe before bounding off, powerful muscles rippling. She deftly avoids the
panicked villagers, most of whom are too intoxicated to get out of harm's way, and is soon face-to-
face with the dire lion. It glowers at her with a human malevolence, and emits a deafening roar.
Abena staggers back momentarily, but holds her nerve, spins her razor before her and moves in.

Her first blow is a mighty one, indeed, and catches the lion across the side of its head. The wicked
wound briefly stuns the beast. Abena wastes no time and presses her advantage, but in her haste is
caught flat-footed and vulnerable to the enraged lion's vicious counterattack. The Reaper crumples
at its feet, her weapon sent skidding out of reach. Pausing for a moment to gloat, the lion stands
over its prize and prepares to go for the kill.

All the while the monkeys continue to hoot and holler, taunting the villagers with small missiles,
upturning plates and gourds, and generally adding to the confusion.

Kha leaps in to intercede, shouting in a commanding voice and club in hand. When he is at the fallen
Lakossan's side and drawn the attention of the great lion, he summons his glorious patron's gift and
blasts forth a blinding radiance. The lion is taken aback by this assault, allowing Kha an opportunity
to strike again.

Kha glows brightly as the Aten Himself, the Sun god, descends on His loyal servant, and seizes the
initiative and rains down buffetting blows with his runku club, temporarity stunning the beast, which
is more surprised by the man's audacity than hurt by his attack. Kha must act quickly before the Lion
regains its composure.

Dembele, meanwhile, rises wearily from his cross-legged position with some effort, seemingly
unperturbed by the goings-on.

Nufu is busily readying his master's horse, but must contend with mischievous monkeys which
hamper his efforts. Slowly but surely some of the other villagers seek shelter, while others arm
themselves and cautiously approach the lion.

Abena stirs feebly.

Mugabe yawns and realizes his prowess is required to defeat the beast again! He rushes into the
fray, apparently still reeling from all that palm wine, stumbles over the warrior-woman, and almost
overbalances, but deftly regains his footing and delivers a stunning blow...which the beast
immediately shakes off. A glimmer of recognition in its eyes, it appears to almost smile, as it lunges
at the Kirsine. He dodges the first paw, but receives a wicked gash from the second (5 hit points),
causes him to drop his weapon.
 Meanwhile, a few of the monkeys attempt to
grab burning brands from the fire pit before
being driven off, while others actually turn to
face their pursuers with sharpened sticks and
purloined knives One scampers over to Abena,
dagger in hand, ready to strike..

Kha acts without hesitation, handing/tossing his

Holy Ranku club to Mugabe so he may defend
himself then leaping at the monkey to engage it
in a grapple to steer it away from the fallen
Abena.

Mugabe catches the ranku club just in time to

fend off the Lion's bite attack. The monkey sees
Kha lunging for it and turns to flee. Kha grabs
the Awakened monkey and pummels it. Nakht,
too, joins in the fray, and the monkey is quickly
subdued.

The Lion and Mugabe size each other up, circling

around the fallen Abena.

With the possessed monkey subdued, Kha

leaves it in the hands of Nakht and turns to the
gathering villagers. He will rally them and coordinate their actions so as to confuse and distract the
lion, ultimately forcing it back into the cage where a couple of villagers wait to slam close the gate.
[Leadership 1 & Tactics 0]

Despite the Dire Lion's awesome presnce, Kha succeeds in rallying them to take up positions near
the cage while Mugabe and the beast face-off. Realising that he cannot possibly push the Lion into
the cage, Mugabe's only choice is to lure it into a pounce and dodge out of the way, a risky
manoeuvre, indeed, but one worthy of a Spear of the Dawn. Meanwhile, he and the lion trade
blows. Mugabe scores a telling blow, but is, in turn, buffeted and raked, although the wounds are
quite superficial (7 HP damage)

Mugabe has 6 HP remaining, plus any bonus HP for high Con, if any. He will need to make a
successful Evasion save to get out of the Lion's way. if he fails, on a successful hit he will take
maximum claw damage (12 HP). He can use 3 Luck points from the Calabash.

Abena staggers to her feet and retrieves her razor.

Dembele approaches the square and prepares a Nkisi.

With growing fear Mugabe backs into the cage. The Lion bounds after him, but is caught in the flank
by a desperate lunge from Abena, her wicked razor cuts deeply, causing it to lurch to one side.
Mugabe deftly dives the other way. The Lion quickly regathers its footing and turns to strike.

The villagers quickly move to shut the cage door, threatening to trap Mugabe.
Dembele positions himself to the side of the cage, and looks on with great interest while muttering
something incoherent and gesticulating oddly.

While Mugabe and the Lion face off, the subdued monkey goes limp in its captors' arms, convulses
briefly, then just as suddenly, its eyes widen and, to the amazement of all, speaks:

Let me go, harm me no more, for I am the spirit of all monkeys, and wish to speak with you through
this farasi. The animals of the forest have gained an evil sentience through dark ashe. We are losing
the ability to control Our children, and if you do not destroy the source of this magic soon, We will be
unable to protect you.
Seek out the ancient tomb house in the rainforest and put an end to this mockery. You have been
warned!

With that the spirit grows quiet and the monkey returns to its agitated and frightened state.

The Lion delivers a blow which briefly staggers Mugabe (6HP damage, but saves vs PE, and so
continues his withdrawal). Without warning a mass of grasping roots and vines appears from
nowhere, filling the cage and hampering movement. As tendrils of roots threaten to fix Mugabe in
place, Abena pulls him free and out of the cage, slashing at the entangling vegetation. The Lion
frantically thrashes about, but to no avail, for the moment.

Dembele allows himself a sly smile. The onlookers stand stunned at these recent developments