Greetings all, this is my blog dedicated to a PBEM I'm running for a group of friends using the Hero Wars system published by Issaries. I'm using it to store information, as well as to keep a journal of my thoughts on my life in Japan. As I get better at this, it will improve.

Thoughts
Today is very grey or is it gray. It was raining when I woke up, but I don't think it is raining anymore though it is still overcast. I don't mind this as the gently gradated trees poke through the fog in a delightfully picturesque view, if you look beyond the Seiyu. Looks to be a fairly uneventful day in the Kooch as we lovingly call our small inaka village. I'm programming a Hash Table and trying to think of what to say about combination circuits, but nothing is coming to mind. Sometimes I am struck by how mundane living in Japan is, like it is home, but I suppose that just come from being here for a while.

My wife and I were talking about friendships here. We would sort of enjoy being friends just to be friends, not because we can speak English. We've both had numerous situations where we've been approached and asked to teach people English, which is fine, I suppose, but it is as if that is the only reason people approach us, which is frustrating. Perhaps it is just the latest throes of culture shock.

Rising Darkness
Onto the game. I'm running a PBEM for a group of friends around the world taking place in the Hero Wars setting. I started working with the adventure modules in the back of the Narrator's Book. We have, however, only finished the first module and I now have enough sense of how the system works to spread my wings so to speak.

The story so far:
The White Deer clan of Dragon Pass has been having trouble because the Black Rock clan has formed some unholy ties with either the Lunars or perhaps worse, the forces of Chaos. Unfortunately, the White Deer weapon thanes have been busy tracking Lunar troop movements to the South, which means someone else will have to look into the disappearances of livestock that have been spreading down from the North-West, near where the Black Rock clan resides. The community nominates Balak, a shaman following the great spirit Kolat; Azrienda, a devotee of Chalana Arroy; Shren, follower of Yinkin and Humakt; and Xchaa, a priestess of Ernalda; to travel to Kamil's stead to protect his livestock from these mysterious disappearances.

They arrive at Kamil's stead and meet his wife Barntada, a rotund and cheerful lady, full of life. They also hear rumors of the attacks: "Creatures that are neither human nor animal that move faster than the wind make off with sheep and vanish without a trace." They eat a large dinner prepared by Barntada and Kamil and as they are talking about the attacks they hear noises from the sheep pen and rush, as quickly as they one can after eating a large meal, to do battle. After a brief struggle, they manage to capture two of the creatures. They manage to find out that the creatures fear a being named Deshkorgos and Old-Sideways Bite more than the petty gods, before the creatures are consumed by a powerful darkness spirit.

Shren decides to hunt after the creatures in the dead of night and Balak cannot abandon a friend so he follows after, hidden in his cloak. Unfortunately, the creatures have left a surprise in their wake and a terrible fear spirit attacks Shren and Balak, causing them to pass out in fear in the middle of the Darkening Forest where Azrienda and Xchaa find them halfway through the next day.

They travel a few more hours before being confronted by a Black Rock hunting party. They discover that Black Rock is also losing livestock mysteriously and have just discovered the trail of the culprits, whom they had believed were from the White Deer clan. After introductions, the Black Rock party leaves a young warrior Ariebeth to guide them through Black Rock clan lands.

Ariebeth leads them to an abandoned tower to the Northwest which is being used by the creatures as a primitive campsite. The sun is beginning to set so they decide to attack before night fall. After an arduous battle in which Balak is wounded, they defeat the foul creatures, but are faced with a new challenge; these creatures are neither Chaos nor Lunar. They are, as the rumors said, neither human nor animal, and they follow a being named Deshkorgos which they had not heard of before. Luckily Xchaa knows some stories, and Balak knows that Deshkorgos has something to do with Darkness. They soon deduce that these cowardly creatures serve Darkness but are unorganized and trying to live by destroying what they can, but that they flee when faced with moderate force.

They return to Black Rock to alert them of the threat, but new and possibly greater threats have arisen. The Lunars are now moving companies through the road that runs through White Deer clan. Kagraidi urges haste to return to White Deer clan so the group leaves to return. They spend a night at Kamil's again before preparing to head back to White Deer's settlement.

The Characters

Ariebeth	Ariebeth is a warrior that serves Orlanth Adventurous, which is a bit odd for a female.  She is part of the Black Rock Clan.
Azrienda	Azrienda has lead a mostly peaceful life, and so dedicated her life to healing.  In the service of Chalana Arroy she has traveled to the Otherworld and even healed beings in Chalana Arroy's hospital.  She is part of the White Deer Clan.
Balak Ravensbane	Balak is a bit crazy and serves the great spirit Kolat.  He learned to ride and communicate with a giant cat named Kritch.  He is part of the White Deer Clan.
Shren	Shren is a hunter following both Humakt and Yinkin.  He can speak with Alynxes and wields a magic bow and short sword. He is part of the White Deer Clan.
Xchaa	Xchaa is a gyrda of Ernalda the Healer.  She is brave and a friend of the Aldryami, who consider her kin and gave her the Shadowstone Spear.  She is part of the White Deer Clan.