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Carthago! is a game by G.M., louisxiv just made a site for it.
Carthago! is a game by G.M., louisxiv just made a site for it.
Thursday, 31st July ’25
7:45 for 8pm BST
From Sammus’s Boast:
At Mergooza there was a herd of around 50 ponies awaiting us along with four Spanish horses and guides we recognized. Baal-Shaq paid off the Ajjer guides and after a celebration the next evening, we bid them farewell. We would now be switching to day travel even though it was still hot as our mounts would not see well enough at night. We would have a fragile cargo on our return journey, so following advice from our guides, after much explanation between them and Baal-Shaq, we spread the load amongst many mounts and would travel somewhere between walking the horses all day and travelling flat out. Both Si'aspiqo and I started coughing during the day, but Agripinus was able to carry out a small rite and we almost stopped coughing completely.
We left Mergooza on 27th May on a cloudy morning with a fresh wind from the north. It was good to be back on horseback. By evening we reached a small hamlet, Erfond, with a dry river off to the west. Si'aspiqo pondered the obsidian blade as he slept and thought it was ceremonial. It might be a spirit cutting blade. The next morning our guides gave thanks to to the Spirit of the Sky as it was raining lightly and there was a little mist. We were travelling through semi-desert but now there were signs of vegetation. The rain and mist cleared in the afternoon, and our guides told us we could either ride hard to Khettara or camp in the semi-desert. Agripinus told them we would keep the same pace and camp. When we stopped, Agripinus produced water for the animals and found it easier than in the desert.
The 29th May was a fair day, and we reached Khettara oasis in the afternoon and rested. Agripinus healed those of us who were tired and saddle sore. The next morning, we set out again and after 15 miles of semi-desert we saw the land starting to rise ahead with mountains in the distance. Agripinus again produced water for the animals and then did some more healing before dawn.
On 31st May we rode up into the high pass where it was cooler and there were places to water the horses. We had to dismount and walk the horses as the footing became trickier. Amphius tripped and the pony shied but did not fall. We camped on a clear and cool night. The next day we continued walking our mounts. We soon crossed the highest point of the pass and began to descend. We saw several eagles.
We continued walking for the morning of 2nd June but then began riding again. It was hot by the time we reached Midef. There was a small market here and wells sank into the ground. Everyone came to look, and hawkers tried to sell their wares. We spent a day recuperating, during which Si'aspiqo learnt the spell ritual Identify from one of the scrolls from Hemeroskopeion. He used his new spell to investigate the bone necklace. As he was meditating, he slumped over, exhausted. We made him comfortable, and he had recovered by the morning.
We left Midef on 4th June and had a quiet day with a light wind from the north and rode to the hamlet of Zeda. That night, in his dreams, Si'aspiqo investigated an ivory trinket Amphius had found on an undead and he thought had power. It seemed to have something to do with guiding.
It would be a harder day’s ride to get to Katan, so Agripinus decided we should continue at the same pace on 5th June and camp in the wilderness. As we set up camp, Agripinus managed to produce some water, but it took a few attempts to get enough for the horses and ponies. We had a shorter day on 6th June to reach Katan.
The next morning, we rode north from Katan. The hardest stretch would be coming up, up the Kander Pass, the highest part on our journey. We headed slowly up into the mountains with a light wind from the southwest on a fair day. I was coughing a little, but Si'aspiqo was coughing badly, so Agripinus healed him. That night Si'aspiqo slept on the ivory trinket again. He had a helpful dream on its use, so when he awoke, he put it on. If he closed his eyes and turned away from the north, he found it pulled him back in that direction. It seemed as though it would direct him to the Pole Star, which would be useful for mariners and when exploring mazes underground.
We rode north on 8th June, climbing higher and higher as we went and then camped not far from the summit. As we set up camp, I narrowly avoided being bitten by a snake, but I quickly drew my sword and cut it in two. Agripinus thought that his curved, ivory wand aided against the shadow of despair and might be invoked by calling on Tanit. He discussed it with Si'aspiqo, who tried to investigate but awoke trembling and in a sweat. He felt that something large, heavy and threatening was nearby in his dreams and thought it was part of the device’s protection. He felt he was approaching his investigation in the wrong way.
The next morning the wind was rising, and we did not want to approach the highest point of the pass in a gale. We decided to wait to see if the wind would drop.
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From Sammus’s Boast:
Once we had arrived at Tamoudi oasis, and set up camp, Si'aspiqo cast a spell to give Mago a sound sleep to recover. He slept heavily and seemed to be hardly breathing, and when he awoke, after a long sleep of 13 hours, he felt fully recovered. While he slept a sandstorm had blown up. As we and sheltered from the sandstorm, some of the tribesmen approached Baal-Shaq and asked for our help with the jabba worm. We discussed the request and agreed that once the sandstorm cleared, we would look around, but there was no guarantee we would be able to find it especially as Si'aspiqo had ordered it to leave.
The sandstorm continued for a couple of days, during which time Mago improvised a grapple. By the morning of 16th May the sandstorm had left, and it was a calm warm day. We followed Bardis and Amphius to roughly where they thought we had been attacked by the jabba worm, although it was difficult to be sure as all the sand had been blown around by the sandstorm. Si'aspiqo concentrated and cast some cantrips, first to focus his luck, and then a second time to feel for jabba worms. He kept concentrating for a while, so he could reach out further, but he could feel nothing. We walked out in a spiral, starting 100 yards to the west and Si'aspiqo tried again, but still he felt no trace. We moved 100 yards to the south, and he tried again, and it went badly wrong. He needed to take a break to clear his mind. After five minutes’ rest, he had recovered and cast again, but there was no sign of the creature. We travelled on further and he tried again, with no trace. We had a break for some water, while Amphius and Mago searched around for any signs of a pit dug by a jabba worm. Mago stumbled and twisted his ankle, and they found nothing.
We gave up and returned to the oasis and reported there were no signs of the jabba worm. The locals seemed happy that we had tried and found no sign. We settled for a nap as the guides packed and then set out at dusk on 16th May, leaving the oasis northwards. The night was uneventful and as we rested for the day, the wind rose. By dusk it was a stinging wind from the south and the guides were worried it might become a sandstorm, so we stayed in camp for the night, which was wise, as a sandstorm did blow in and it was very hard to see. It was still blowing at dusk, but the wind dropped halfway through the night, and we marched on until half an hour after dawn, before camping for the day. We set off again at dusk and reached the oasis of Ouata just after midnight on 20th May. It was very hot without a breath of wind.
We set out at dusk on 20th May and arrived at Benni oasis around dawn on 21st May, where we camped for the day. During the afternoon Hannibal was disturbed by a cobra, but he quickly killed it. Amphius skinned it and the guides cooked it for our evening meal. We set out again at dusk on 21st May. In the early hours of the morning Amphius and Mago spotted a small desert gazelle, which Amphius shot and killed, and we all enjoyed the meat for breakfast. Two more uneventful nights march brought us safely to Abadla, on the morning of 24th May, the first cloudy day for some time. There was no wind, and it was very hot and humid.
Axil and Baal-Shaq went into the only prominent building to talk to the Kasila, the King of the Ajjer, accompanied by Agripinus, who wished to trade his pearl necklace. Kasila was taken with the necklace and, via Izil his interpreter, offered Agripinus slaves or other goods. Agripinus politely declined the slaves for religious reasons. Kasila responded, “You are the priest from the city of the white veil, who brought rain, and the first mystic from there to travel south and return”. He spoke of their mutual respect for their religions. He thought that Agripinus liked old things, and Izil brought the King a box from which he took out a large, yellow curved thing, two feet across. It looked like a curved bone with sharp points. Kasila told Agripinus that it was from the deep deserts, was very old and had power. No-one knew who had made it, maybe the un-men, the jibarren giants, from before man. He did not know what it did. Agripinus agreed to the trade and the chief smiled and told the priest that they parted as friends.
Agripinus showed us what he had traded for. It looked like a strange, curved, ivory wand and was almost L-shaped. Baal-Shaq told Agripinus that it looked old and was carved ivory, with a stained patina that looked like sigils. Toxoanassa said that it looked like a huge version of a throwing stick. Si'aspiqo took a look at the item, he could definitely feel power, but he couldn’t make out the runes.
We set out at dusk on 24th May heading west and our guides told us that two good marches would bring us to Mergooza. It was now cooler at night, and our march passed without incident. The next night, as we took our break at midnight, I was disturbed when I briefly left the camp to relieve myself. A humanoid figure appeared from the ground or shadows and whispered something to me. I felt a waft of cold, but I shrugged it off. I drew my sword and hit the female figure where her left arm might be. She stabbed me but missed. I hit her again; she missed and crumpled into the ground as I my sword bit through her arm and into her body. Mago and Amphius soon arrived, as I searched the ground to see if she had left anything behind.
I found a smaller, drier and more delicate form than the shadow, in two husk like pieces. I also found a necklace of small finger bones, and a dagger blade of obsidian with a horn handle. Some of the guides and porters had been overcome by the fear which emanated from the Asuf, but no one had fled. Si'aspiqo checked both the items I had found and said that each had some power, and that there was the feeling of the grave about the necklace, which had some tribal sigils. Bardis thought the dagger looked strange and we speculated that it might be used for black magic.
The guides were keen not to just leave the body in the desert and so Agripinus carried out a ceremony to send the spirit on its way peacefully and we buried it. By dawn we were close to our destination, and we reached Mergooza soon after.
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From Sammus’s Boast:
We prepared to leave. Our Ajjer guides, including Axil and Bardis, were ready with the two ponies we had left here. They had six porters, probably of African descent to accompany us across the desert. Agripinus asked Boujje if he wished to buy his pearl necklace, but Boujje suggested trading it in Mergooza to Kasila, the King, for his beautiful wife Madaya. I showed him my two ivory carvings. He told me that they were of African Gods from far to the south, either House Gods or spirits. He wasn’t sure what he might do with them, mischief maybe? He offered me another tattoo in exchange, but I declined and kept them to trade later. Baal-Shaq and Boujje left on very friendly and respectful terms.
We set out at dusk on 6th May. One pony had some of the baggage and Si'aspiqo and the other was just packed with our baggage. The night march was uneventful, and we rested for the day under sunny skies. It looked set fair for the next while and it was dead calm for the night of 7th into 8th May. The ponies were skittish when we stopped for a break, so Amphius and Mago walked a circuit around us, while Si'aspiqo cast some cantrips, looking for ghouls, jabba worms and darklings, but noticed nothing. The two men returned after shooting a desiccated undead with an ivory plaque around its neck. Si'aspiqo said the plaque had a spark of magic about it. It wasn’t as powerful as a potion, but he thought it was a tribal Numidian amulet or token. Amphius wore the amulet. The rest of the march was quiet. Si'aspiqo’s lungs felt dry, but so far, he was not coughing as much as he had been; my tattoo was keeping off any signs of a cough.
We set out again on the evening of 8th May. There were light winds, and the night passed without incident. Si'aspiqo was now coughing slightly and just before dawn Agripinus successfully called on Tanit to cure disease and then produce some water for the ponies. The guides told us half a night’s march should get us to Adra. Just before midnight the wind started to rise but we reached the oasis soon after and before the sandstorm arrived.
By dusk it was still blowing sand from the west, but it had eased considerably so we decided to press on. During our pause around midnight, the two ponies were restless, so Amphius and Mago again circled the camp to investigate. After 20 minutes Mago returned alone and told us that he had been looking closely at the old bones of a goat and when he looked up Amphius had disappeared. We followed the tracks and eventually saw Amphius returning confused. He told us that something had been calling to him in Greek from the desert. We wondered whether this was related to the dead priestess. The guides asked what had happened and Amphius relayed to them via Baal-Shaq what he had heard. Bardis said this sounded like the Asuf. He said that sometimes they could be talked to and mentioned the Asuf or Adebni. We continued our march. Soon after we heard Bardis pray and when he had finished, he told us that he thought there were restless spirits around. We stopped just before dawn to camp for the day and Agripinus brought forth some more water for the ponies.
The night of 11th into 12th May passed uneventfully, but just after midnight on the next night Amphius told Mago that he had seen something off in the darkness. He disappeared from view and Mago waited 5 minutes. Amphius did not reappear, so Mago reported back to the main body. Agripinus shouted a priestly command calling on Amphius, to stop and get back to the party in Greek. Amphius returned and asked what was up. He reported having seen a large deer. Baal-Shaq asked him to describe it and Amphius told us that it had been a large, majestic, grey gazelle with long curving horns. Baal-Shaq and Bardis babbled in Numidian and then we went to look for tracks. We found the tracks of Amphius but no others. Bardis told us that it must have been a Kamelton and made a sign to Baal. He told us that this was a shape-changing ghoul. We carried on and just before dawn, Toxoanassa and I thought we caught sight of something. The nearest pony was restless, so we looked into the desert I all directions but saw nothing. We stopped to make camp, and again Agripinus produced water for the ponies. Mago was exhausted by the end of the night’s march and Si'aspiqo was coughing so Agripinus also cured Si'aspiqo’s cough and healed Mago with the help of Tanit.
As we prepared to leave at dusk on 13th May, the guides told us that we should arrive at the large oasis of Tamoudi by the morning. During the last part of the march around 3 in the morning, Mago stumbled onto a small pit of slippery sand. Amphius threw a rope to him. Mago tried to grab it as something bit him on the arm and took hold of him. Amphius and Baal-Shaq tried to pull him out, and Baal-Shaq called a warning in Numidian which sounded like ‘Jabba’. Mago’s left arm went numb and he tried to cling onto the rope with his right, but Baal-Shaq pulled too hard, and the rope slipped from Mago’s grasp. Amphius bravely jumped into the pit after him.
Agripinus sang a holy hymn to encourage us all and held up his symbol of Tanit, from which bright light spread around. Mago could feel something dragging him into the soft sand, as Amphius grabbed Mago and tried to pull him back. A rope landed bedside the Greek, who was unable to grab hold, as he was concentrating on holding onto Mago, who muttered a prayer to Baal for luck. Si'aspiqo cast a spell and called on the jabba worm to leave the area. Baal-Shaq threw the rope again and this time Amphius did get a hold, whilst still keeping hold of Mago. Mago with the help of Amphius and Baal-Shaq managed to hold firm and there was a whirl in the sand and Mago felt the creature release its grip. Amphius tied the rope around Mago and Baal-Shaq and the guides pulled Mago and Amphius out of the pit.
Agripinus cleaned out the wound and performed some healing ceremonies and another for cure disease. Mago was helped onto a pony in place of Si'aspiqo and we continued on our way. A little after dawn we reached the outskirts of Tamoudi oasis. The guides and the local tribesmen discussed the attack of the jabba worm, and we learned that the locals were a little concerned by an attack of a jabba worm so close to the oasis but thought we had been unlucky to be attacked there. They thought it highly unusual that it had let go of its intended victim once it had a grip, and had left.
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Party Loot
I set as the era the year of the accession of the Pharaoh Ptolemy II, son of Ptolemy, so we begin in the year 18 of that reign, and I use a simplified system of twelve months with no regard for the multiple systems of intercalary days, weeks, months or moons of our own various cultures nor those we have passed through. I shall use the month names used by the main story-teller, a Gaul, Sammus the Strong, but number them to disambiguate their order.
–Si'aspiqo
| 18 Ptolomy 02 – February | Scroll 3: Teveste Investigation | |
| 18 Ptolomy 03 – March: | Scroll 30: A13 Preparations in Carthage | ref. end of March) |
| 18 Ptolomy 04 – April: | Scroll 31: A14 Ambushed by Darklings | |
| 18 Ptolomy 05 – May | Scroll 71: A36 News from the Darklings | |
| 18 Ptolomy 06 – June | Scroll 77: B1 Arrival in Sardinia | |
| 18 Ptolomy 07 – July | Scroll 89: C1 A Problem in Emporion | |
| 18 Ptolomy 08 – August | Scroll 95: C7 A Month in Emporion | |
| 18 Ptolomy 09 – September | Scroll 106: E4 Into Baria | |
| 18 Ptolomy 10 – October | Scroll 118: E14 An Agreement | |
| 18 Ptolomy 11 – November | Scroll 119: E15 Climbing Abyla | |
| 18 Ptolomy 12 – December | Scroll 125: E18 The Black Lion | |
| 19 Ptolomy 01 – January | Scroll 137: E26 The Jabba Worm | |
| 19 Ptolomy 02 – February | Scroll 142: E31 Three Asuf and a Scorpion | |
| 19 Ptolomy 03 – March | Scroll 166: E46 Return to Fort Adjel | |
| 19 Ptolomy 04 – April | Scroll 173: E53 — An Ambush Defeated | |
| 19 Ptolomy 05 – May | Scroll 184: Back to Boujje |