Antarctica Campaign Session 11: The Eskua Tournament of Fort Ilhambal and the Princely Offspring’s Geas
Players
- Xixili Esgrima the Psychoanalyst (Idraluna)
- The Weedian (Mistuh)
- Uhin Deluse the Alien Hunter (Kwall)
- Hilargi Horno the Dog Shaman (roguewithwhimsy)
- Duchess the Giant Guinea Pig (draft animal)
- The Professor Emeritus Multiplicar duBoig (NPC)
Summary
The group dubs themselves the duBoig Sock Knockers and faces off against the hometown team, the Ilhambal Colonels on the Eskua Court.

The Ilhambal Colonels team blazon is Gules, four armsmen, carrying spears in bend, walking in procession to the sinister, accompanied in the sinister flank by a fir tree, all Argent.
Various hijinks occur as Hilargi speaks to the pack llamas and alpacas to cause a scene, while the Weedian releases a cloud of Martian smoke to distract another; but their subterfuge can't match pure Cordilleran Eskua fundamentals, and the hometown team soundly trumps the group.

With their tail between their legs, Uhin buys Builder Knife root flour, known to be used as iron rations, as the group sets off to seek out the Necropolis of Heritoza once more in search of treasure on an overcast day.
Heading ouest through the fir tree forest, the group spills back out into the Shrublands proper, the Cordillera to their north and northeast. By night they reach a brown river, some 500’ wide. They rest amongst 3-5’ river grasses.
The group doffs their armor, as the Weedian rides upon their catfish beast of burden. Duchess nearly drowns, but is saved as the group fords the river.
The next day the group finds woodsmoke to the knortheest. Heading in that direction, tall grasses emerge four identical-looking Cyberians wearing powdered wigs appear. They hold farming instruments: a plow, a hand-held sickle, a hoe, a shovel. Their tinny voices spill out of them.
Uhin hails and asks for directions to the domed Heriotza. The cyberians respond and point in the direction they came. Xixili casts Read Unconscious, hoping to see if the Cyberians in fact have a semblance of mind. The psychoanalyst feels the shadow of memory, corrupted memory files around the religious practices of wig wearing.
The group leaves the clone Cyberians and head psoutheeast, finding more portions of the river. Across the river, hanging high in the sky, they see a vine-encased fortress made of fine ceramic. Adorned with strange geometric motifs and patterns around the entirety of it.
The group decides to check that out, as Xixili believes them to be near Heriotza. Upon fording the river, the group is met by llama-riding iguana men wearing powdered wigs like the Cyberians before. The iguana men ask for introductions and to state their business.
After exchanges are made, the group is escorted by the iguana men to the tower. Xixili offers psychoanalytical services to probe the mind of their lord, the Princely Offspring, and their familial relationship.
They arrive at the aetheric fortress, and a tractor beam floats them into the fortress, where they are escorted to a grand hall where they come face to face with 50’ tall humanoid creature. Prismatic, blue skin. Elegant, fine, long hair, and protruding eyes. It looks wistfully out a giant window towards Heriotza.
In a deep, resonant voice amongst a field of sharpening colors, the language of intent beamed directly into their brain stems, asking them of news whence they came in a surprisingly earthy manner. Introductions and news told, Xixili begins to ask their questions as the Hilargi, the Weedian, and Uhin are in awe of this being.
Xixili probes, asking about fathers, brothers, the city of Heriotza, fratricide, and the abandonment of fathers. Uhin is told the Being dreamt holding Uhin within its hand. Hilargi speaks to Duchess and Uhin’s war dogs, attempting to calm them; the Weedian listens intently to what this extrasolarian speaks of.
Xixili attempts to bargain with the Princely Offspring; offense is taken and a geas cast upon them.
Seek out Gluttonous Arkmagi Asmithe Vollusc and prevent them from drawing out The One Who Stands Apart from underneath the First City of Heriotza
Aftermath
Treasure Found:
- n/a
Foes Encountered:
- 4 Gavoan Cyberians (avoided)
Rumors:
- There are Cyberians near Gavoa
- There are multiple Princely Offspring, totalling four.
- They are “brothers”.
- The second Princely Offspring is named Azalurdina
- Azalurdina is the chosen amongst their family, looking most like the Father to be the Ward of Heriotza
- Heriotza is the First City
- It was under Azalurdina’s watch; the bronze-domed city fell
- Azalurdina's hand held the weapon that felled the fourth brother.
- Something exists below the ruins of Heriotza: The One Who Stood Apart
- The Gluttonous Arkmagi Asmithe Vollusc seeks what’s below Heriotza
Deaths:
- N/A
XP Awarded:
- 500xp for exploration
- 2,000xp for hitting a major milestone
Notes
- The Eskua rules were easy enough for players to follow and moved fairly easily
- Hijinx ensued with Weedian sprays and Alpaca distractions
- The introduction of the Princely Offspring, I felt, was particularly effective. A wholly alien being that felt very distant yet somewhat approachable.
- Overall, the timbre of this session revealed some of the weirder elements I wrote beyond the more traditional dndism: handball, robots, alien beings, a regularly pulpy smattering.