Session 1 Recap: Monsters in the Mines

Recap: Session 1 (11/7/11)

As we launched into our inaugural session of Suikoden, we found all of our characters being hauled off to a Harmonian jail. Most of us had arrive there separately, for a variety of reasons. Daisy (Sarah) and Royce (Phil) were brought in together, Royce’s caged dragon Vasuki in tow. Little Sciath (Kerri) was accompanied by a strange talking contraption called Sun Crystal. Harold’s (Michael’s) only companion was his outrageous accent.

We arrived at the Orbel Mines as prisoners of Harmonia and were presented before an old man to “check in” for our stay. His name was Kuarjav Valas (Jon), and he was a prisoner himself who, as a healer and an old man, was more valuable in an administrative position than laboring in the mines. He possessed two runes on his hands, both water and earth.

The prisoners all gave their names. Daisy freely gave her last name as Saint-Anicet and was quite surprised when no one recognized it. She also revealed to Harold that she is the daughter of Viktor (Suikoden 1-2), which he advised that she keep to herself while in prison for her own safety. Kalas examined each new prisoner and found that most of them possessed at least one rune, some of which he did not recognize (one belonging to Royce, and both of Daisy’s). after meeting each prisoner, he declared them fit (except for Harold, who got half-duty) and sent them to the mines.

The prisoners had a long day of work, during which Daisy picked up Sciath’s slack when the young girl couldn’t keep up. During breakfast the following morning, word came that monsters had appeared in the mines and were killing inmates. Harold convinced the guards to give us back our weapons and send us down into the mines to handle the problem. We were also accompanied by Notable NPCs Nathan and Grant, two 3rd class citizens jailed for unknown crimes, who serve as sort of foremen, dealing with issues between the guards and prisoners. Also of note, though not currently with us, is Commander Miles, the easygoing commander of the prison who seems far too timid to run such an operation and made the decision to send us into the mines. (if this was a Suikoden game, all three of them have portraits).When the party descended into the mines, they found the corpses of other inmates, the occasional box of medicines and other items (Royce acquired a unique Illusion Cape), and roving bands of hellhounds and other beasts. We dispatched them all with minimal wounds until finally we reached the end of the tunnel.

Two strange things were waiting for us at the end of the mine. One was an alarming rip in the air itself, through which monsters were continuously emerging. The other was an enormous glowing rune on the wall, which none of us could identify. Daisy argued for just cutting it up and destroying it, but before she could draw her sword, Royce stepped forward and touched the rune.

We were immediately thrown into a fight with a three-headed monster called Geryon. It was a difficult battle that caused Daisy, at least, grievous bodily harm – but she’s quite accustomed to taking hits. When the fight was won, the rune split into pieces and a portion attached itself to the forehead of every person present. We received a vision of the rune’s past, how it had fled capture by Harmonia and was now seeking “friends”. We don’t yet know where this will lead us, but one thing is sure: our lives, and our fates, are now inextricably bound linked together.