Hyborean Age - a Conan Exiles story

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If all goes according to plan this story will span not just one map but at least two, maybe three. And it will involve several player characters, but we start with Ylva, the Cimmerian.
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Ylva had survived the shipwreck. She was being transported on a slave ship to the Exiled Lands. Now she had no idea where she was, but she was alive. It seemed the others were not so lucky.
Ylva touched her neck. The salt from the seawater burned in the scar left by the choker she had been wearing on board. She looked around, perhaps one of these corpses had something useful?


None of the dead had any clothing or armour suitable for her. And she found no weapons or tools. The bushes provided her with some plant fiber she could use to make twine. And with a good branch and a rock, Ylva fashioned a crude stone club.


Her first victim was a feral dog that attacked Ylva on sight. The Cimmerian woman continued to explore the beach, climbing up to the lighthouse, finding a chest with some silver coins and gold bars - not that these had any value to her now. The crocodiles were quite easy to kill out of the water. Ylva continued inland...


Ylva made camp for the night at the other end of Bone Pass. The feral meat she had gotten earlier sated her and the fire kept her warm in the cold night and kept predators away.

That was one huge bear. Björn decided to stay clear of the creature for now.


His destination was a return to the Den of the Wolf Brothers...


He went inside and started to explore...


Björn held his own against two of the creatures. But when the odds were three against one, he quickly decided to leg it back to the entrance.

Björn returned, this time with Akiko accompanying him...


It was so much easier when you were two. The creatures could not stop them. But there was an obstacle to overcome. To pass through the door both levers ha to be pulled. But to reach the levers one had to clear a difficult jump. Björn mustered his abilities and made the jump... and landed short. Akiko gasped as he fell. Fortunately Björn manage to grab hold of the edge. For a short moment he remained hanging there before letting go. He returned to Akiko using the ladder. Björn made another attempt. This time better but still, he managed to heave himself up over the edge and reached the lever. Meanwhile, Akiko had successfully made the jump to and reached the other lever. Björn was impressed with her. The door opened, but the two of them still had to make another jump to reach the other side. Akiko landed short this time but manage to hang on the edge and heave herself up. Third try to jump for Björn and he cleared it.


They were getting closer to their goal...


The final guardian was bigger and tougher than the minions but just as predictable, meaning he just took longer to kill.
The sanctum of the vault now lay open with all its treasures. They learned new recipes and part of the history of the island.


A good day's work. Back at their cabin, the couple celebrated with a hearty meal, and in afterwards their lustful moans echoed in the night as the lovers became one. They weren't bothered that they shared the place with another woman. Maybe Björn was even hoping the armourer would join them in a threesome, but that never happened. Yet.

Ylva's base was growing as they continued raiding the nearby Black Corsairs. Two new rescued people joined their settlement, a male blacksmith and a female carpenter...


When Yashita and Ylva went exploring the two women stumbled upon the Leyshrine of the Demon...


There was brimstone, iron and crystal around the place but what was most interesting was to explore the strange building...


Day 17 of the Month of Epep, Year of the Dog
The ritual failed. Though the instructions were precise and the quantities were adequate, it is as if the sorcery that powers the rituals is missing.
Theoretically the ritual should cause a surge, that ripples across dimensions and summons something to this location, via the tower. But the power source seems to be missing.
I keep finding references in the Elder scripts to 'Maelstroms' and 'storms', but I have no such thing since my arrival on the island.
Perhaps this is what is missing. Perhaps the tower contained the source.

The two women wondered what the journal entry was talking about. Until...


"This must be the isle we're on," Yashita said. "I believe you're right. And the tower the journal mentioned appeaars to be in the center of the island," Ylva said.

On an expedition, Hotep and the three women happened upon a Black Corsairs raider outpost...


The raiders' camp yielded a few resources. But their journey was to the center of the island. The tower beckoned to the sorcerer...


They steered clear of the Rockslide only dealing with the rocknoses and spiders.


The area around the tower was inhospitable and frequented by wights and skeletons and scorpions. It was rich in brimstone and crystal however. And meteors regularly fell here as vitnessed by the quartet when several crashed into the ground with a loud thunder and display of fire and ash. Hotep had no means to harvest the starmetal yet though. He would be back for these riches.

Akiko expressed an urge to go somewhere specific and Björn was happy to just tag along...


The couple came to Riverwatch Keep and tussled with the Exiles who had taken up residence there...


On the body of the sorcerer they killed Akiko found a map. It pointed right to where they were. More specifically to an entrance from the river. Akiko was thrilled.
The couple also rescued a Cimmerian woman who had been imprisoned by the exiles...


When it was time to explore the cave, Björn and the Cimmerian woman hesitated to enter. And so it was Akiko went inside. Alone...


Akiko was astounded at what she had found. She left the place with a wand and her own Tome of Kurak - the very beginning of her sorcery. The Khitan woman had also gained a minor amount of corruption during her visit in the cave.


it was time to return to their cottage. Sigunn, the Cimmerian woman joined them.


And back at home, Akiko outfitted Sigunn in her old laid off light armour.

Ylva was born to worhip Ymir, but during her imprisonment she had learned to appreciate the lustful practices of worshipping Derketo. It may not be surprising that this shrine was the first to be erected at the base...


Following a religion meant sacrificing your enemies. There were enough enemies at the nearby Black Corsair camp to collect enough Slivers of the Unfulfilled to upgrade the shrine...


But before the holy altar could be upgraded, the blacksmith had to make enough iron reinforcements...


Yashita, too, began actively contributing to the religion. During one of her raids on the nearby Black Corsairs, she freed a Cimmerian entertainer...

Ronja had repressed the memory of how she had gotten here. Now she just wanted to get away. The Stygian priest, though, had other ideas. Fortunately for Ronja, a sorcerer was performing a ritual and stormsick Cimmerians were spawning in randomly all over the Invader base. The priest was distracted by a cry from one of the other Stygians. It was enough to give Ronja the opportunity to strike. With a precise and brutal blow she crushed the Stygian's thrachea...


Ronja grabbed the pair of daggers then started looking around. She spotted a spear...


A Strygian arrior got in her way but Roja knew how to use the spear to her advantage. The Stygian had no chance.


Ronja grabbed a few things as she made her way to freedom...


The sorcerer performing the ritual was protected in some king of magic shield. The stormsick Cimmerians seemed to Ignore the Nrdheimer woman and were attacking the Stygians who had a hard time repelling their enemies.


The path was blocked by several Stygians. Ronja could possibly take them on, but chance was she'd quickly be surrounded by them and captured or killed. Ronja had to find an alternative way to escape...

Ronja wasn't home free yet. She still had to get passed those Stygians at Bastard's Stand...


Her exellent climbing talent came in handy once again avoiding confrontation with the guards...


These boars would provide more than enough pork for her to get by for the next several days...


Continuing along the shore, Ronja eventually found the Outcasts' Camp...


Ronja did not stay long. She did meet Valeria and was rewarded with 25 gold coins for a scout report she had picked up during her escape from Bastards' Stand.


Ronja had been told of Ylva building a base further to the west. This was now her destination...


The dancer at the shrine of Derketo directed Ronja to Ylva...

Björn and the women were exploring a different fork in the river...


The Elder Vault beckoned to them...


The Vault was crwaling with Snakemen...


The worst was probably all the eggs, the stench making the three of them choke and gag. But they made steadfast progres to the sanctum...


Björn, Akiko and Sigunn returned home with the spoils.

A Maelstrom broke out and Yashita and Ronja decided they should take a closer look...


Out of a flash of lightning this hideous creature spawned. Undeterred, the two women fought and killed it. They found some unusual resources on the carcass...


Ronja and Yahita killed several more spawns of various creatures, all of them giving brimsstone, black ice, and demon blood. Butchering the creatues also yielded some strange resource they yet had to fif´gure out what it was and what good it could do.


As they returned to base the maelstrom cleared up.


Yashita decided to start using the Yakith's Pike she had found while she was exploring the maelstrom with Ronja.

On another expedition Hotep and the three women discovered the Bridge of the Chosen leaing into X'chotl, an ancient ruined city...


In the dark, among the ruins, they stumbled upon the Ashen Core - the headquarters of the Black Corsairs. The area was littered with traps...


Initially, it all went well, the four of them taking out the sentries as they circumvented the traps. But as they got further into the large camp, the Black Corsairs had them surrounded and it all went black...


When Hotep opened his eyes, an unknown Cimmerian woman stood over him. He looked around and could see all the dead bodies of Black Corsairs and among them he recognised the corpses of his three followes. He thanked Set for being alive but cursed losing the women. The Cimmerian ushed him out of there. It was not safe as there were many more pirates in the camp.


All Hotep could do now was trudge back to his camp. And for some unknown reason the Cimmerian woman followed him.

Akiko, Björn and Sigunn explored along the coast going westward...


Passing through the Eye of Ekim, they came across a Lemurian camp. Unfortunately - for the Lemurians - the encounter ended in fighting. The loot from the camp was meagre.


To the south was a dock with an anchored ship - Stygians. The three of them overran the Stygians and captured the ship. But the vessel did them no good, they had no means to sail it. Intead they looted everything of value they could carry back to their flotsam cottage.

Ronja was a devout worshipper if Mitra. It wasn't long before she had an altar constructed. Now she needed to provide the essence of her enemies, collected with the ankh, back to the religious altar...


The altar would provide the worsippers with ambrosia. The clan would soon come to appreciate the benefits this divine boon given by Mitra would have for them when ingested. And with the continued devotion to her worship of Mitra, the altar would soon upgrade...


A dancer had already joined them just after the altar had first been built. Ylva's camp was slowly growing. She already had plans about further expansion. Time would see them fulfilled, altered or scrapped...


Back at the base, Ronja let the others have their first taste of ambrosia. Not only did it taste divine, it also had healing properties rivaling those of the aloe extract they had been using.


By night, the altar had fully upgraded to its second level. It would take a lot more resources and devoted worship to upgrade it to the final level.

"Like you, we are strangers in this accursed realm. We seek a way back to our lands in the misty east. And though we have crossed the length and breadth of this hellish place, a way out remains elusive. But perhaps things have changed. Perhaps this new sorcery may show us a path to deliverance -- if it can be understod. To that end, we serve Mek-kamoses, Lord of the Black Ring of Stygia and a fellow prisoner in this forsaken hell. While the workings of this new sorcery are unknown, unproven and dangerous, who better to tame its secrets than a master sorcerer? If you too wish freedom from this bewildered land, we urge you to hasten our lord's study of this new magic. But time is short, for there are others who oppose us. Rogue sorcerer who seek this same knowledge for their own selfish gain. We bid you seek out these defilers where they hide. Seize them and bring them back to our camp - we will take care of the rest. We will , of course, reward you for your successful efforts. There are three ways you may abet our lord's research. First, you may place the skulls of conquered sorcerers upon the altar for a small reward, But if it's greater fortune you seek, know that Mek-kamoses has a particular interest in live specimens. If you have the steel and wit to capture a living sorcerer, returm them here and lock them within yon cage for a greater reward. Finally, there is one more reward, but it is saved for a rare few who can achieve he impossible. Above all, our lord seeks the hidden masters who stand behind these rogue sorcerers. Find them and place their skulls upon the altar. But beware, you hunt powerful magic wielders - do not attempt to take them alive, their only value to us is as skulls adorning our altar. Achieve this and the greatest rewar will be yours. We pay in ancient obolus coins - an ancient currency from a forgotten time. You may exchange these with our trader for unique goods and chattels. We have established camps throughout the lands. Different camps host different traders, and you won't find the same offerings in every place. Some will offer various armour pieces, weapons, and even thralls -- if they are what you seek," the Khitan captain said.


Nearby, Björn and Akiko slew four sorcerers and she brought the skulls back to the Khitans. They rewarded Akiko with 15 obolus coins and a few vatious resources.
Meanwhile, Ronja and women from Ylva's base were exploring The Circle of the Moon and then stumbled upon a Khitain camp outside Coldheart Ruins...


Ronja approached the Khitans alone, but the other women stood ready to leap to her aid should the need arise.


Ronja and the women then raided Coldhear Ruins...


While the other four women returned back to base, Ronja delivered the captive sorcerer to the Khitans. She was rewarded with 11 obolus coins and some resources before returning to base.

Yashita decided to lead a raid on Bastard's Stand. she too the two dancers, Ronja and one of the men with her...


The intitial assualt took the Stygian Invaders by surprise...


They looted what they could...


Two rogue sorcerers were killed by them, their skulls to be turned in to the nearby Khitan camp...


When darkness fell it was time to return to base.

At Björn's cottage, Akiko was adamant to learn sorcery. She had acquired the thaumaturgy bench...


Using a rock and some putrid meat, Akiko learned the first few words of power. Then by using two feathers and some feral fleah she learned the Slow Fall word of power.
Now she was ready for the next step, acquiring a sacrificial stone...


One of the Exiles from the nearby ruin was an exellent first blood sacrifice...


Continiously hunting down the sorcerers in the neighboring ruin, Akiko earned enough coin to buy a thrall. She opted for a worker and ended up with Oyvind Tall-Tree the entertainer...

Alfredo and the Cimmerian women continued to explore upstream of the river...