THE ATRILIAN CAMPAIGN E-JOURNAL by MC Gianni giannieanna@infonie.fr Issue no 4, July 1996 Being a summary of the events which took place in SE Atrilia during the 1st and the 2nd months of Peret in the 1st year of Lalibea's reign (Ndogo reckoning). Hello all Something special has happened in my RW campaign: I got married! The wedding took place on 21 June, hence I couldn't devote much time to the Atrilian campaign in June. This is why this issue is, again, a little late. This had little incidence on the campaign itself, however, since many players seem to have got into a dormant state. I shall repeat it again and again, but this is YOUR campaign. You shouldn't wait for me to create random events in order to stir up some response. YOU must act in order to get the game going. At the moment, there are only 8 active players out of 20 players: 1. Andreas Hedfors/Mirennian ash-Shorill 2. Eric Ramsdell/Mosherai 3. Jay Kotliar/Khalil al-Daresh 4. John Rowe/Maummar 5. Jordan/Teklis 6. Olivier Dubreuil/Suppiluliuma 7. Ruud Overbeek/Abu Djafar 8. Tom Slattery/Sebekemhat I'd like everyone to try and be more active, for the sake of the campaign and your own enjoyment! ;) ---I'd especially like Steven to reply to my last message. As the Pheacian admiral, you play a major role. I _really_ need your reply!--- 1/ THE GITHZERAI PLATEAU The Xolas and the unheard-of nomadic tribe called "the Nation" have established a camp near the destroyed Githzerai tower, Mellin. On the 10th day of the 2nd month of Peret, the camp was just going to be attacked by invisible, flying white-skin sorcerers (seems to be their favourite battle tactics) when something alerted the natives in some way, because they managed to scatter moments before the attack, reducing its effectiveness. The White-Skins cast some fire balls and stinking clouds, then left. The total toll was about 40 dead. Hadn't the nomads been alerted, the number of casualties would've been much larger. 2/ THE RIVER PANGANI The water of the river has become salty to the point that it has become unsuitable for irrigating and drinking. As a consequence, famine and drought have stricken this farming region. Starving people are leaving the countryside and are flocking to the cities and towns by the sea. However, the recent increase in the numbers of salt-water crocodiles entering the river from the sea has hindered the fishermen in their work. As a result, food is getting scarce in all the Pangani region. 3/ MAFIA The ethnic strife between the island's Xolas (armed by the Pheacian military government of Admiral Yoram) and Bandogo has abated. Rumour has it Admiral Yoram and the Omukama are discussing an agreement between Pheacia and Dogobar which would bring peace to the Sea of the Sirens. 4/ THE RED COAST An unknown ship was spotted in the waters near Shedet (see the previous issue). The ship was surrounded by Gyptian vessels; the intruders claimed they had nothing to do with the attack against the Gyptian shipyard in Shedet. The ship was escorted back to the north whence she claimed she hailed. However, the ship managed to evade her Gyptian convoy in the labyrinthine waters of the Pirate Islands. 5/ PUNT The peaceful Xolas living on the southern coast of Punt have started building a large harbour near their villages. Imam Abu Djafar says the harbour is being built with a peaceful intent. 6/ SECT STRIKES ANEW The new sect called 'the Slayers' which has recently attacked Bur Hammon and Bur al-Saadat (during the 1st month of Peret) struck again. On the night between the 3rd and the 4th days of the 2nd month of Peret, 'Slayer' raiders desecrated Pheacian temples in Dar al-Hamra, the largest Pheacian settlement on Mafia. ENCYCLOPAEDIA ATRILIANA This is the second in a series of regular instalments of encyclopaedic information about the continent of Atrilia. *The Gods of the Pheacians* The Pheacians are an independent-minded, courageous people from Northern Atrilia. They live in a very small mountainous country by the sea, Pheacia, which is located between two much larger countries, Istan (to the west) and Haran (to the east). Despite their small numbers, the Pheacians rule the waves and have established a strong presence in South-eastern Atrilia, especially on the island of Serendíb. The Pheacians worship a number of gods in a loose pantheon. However, since Pheacia is not a united country (it is divided into three city-states: Hiram, Maité and Aradus), Pheacians tend to worship their local gods over the national ones. Major gods Baal Hammer; god of the sea, navigation, sailors; also local god of Hiram Baal Hammon; father and king of the gods, god of the sky Baal Qarnaim; grandfather of the gods, god of light Baalat Tanít; goddess of marriage, protection, the moon; also national goddess of Pheacia Intermediate gods Melk Qart; god of the morning sun; protector of sea travellers Eshmun; god of wine, merriment, fertility; protector of land travellers; also local god of Aradus A'nat; queen of the gods; goddess of revenge Minor gods Adón; god of beauty, spring, vegetation Ashtaret; goddess of love and pleasure; also local goddess of Maité Baal Refa'ím; god of evil giants Réshef; god of thunder and lightning; popular amongst colonists Sakun; god of writing, scribes, knowledge The priests Priests in Pheacian society have a lesser role than in Gyptian or even Meshuesh society. They just perform coming-of-age, marriage and funerary rites. There are, however, two peculiar cults playing a less negligible role: 1) The priesthood of Ashtaret maintains sacred brothels all over Pheacian lands. 2) Specialty priests of Baal Hammer often accompany Pheacian galleys on long voyages.