You Will Hear Thunder (campaign)/Act 1

Act 1 occurs entirely at the settlements of Kumintang and Alambihod. In real time, it took place between February 21 and June 20, 2021. It was played using Gubat Banwa versions 0.4 to 0.8.5.

Since ventures still existed in those versions of the game, the summaries will be divided thus as well. Rolling for out-of-combat actions existed as well, though it is up to the reader to guess which consequences were the dice's fault or the players'.

## Venture 1: An Omen of Salt and Iron

### Encounter 1: Eyes in the Dark

#### **February 21, 2021**

The warband have been Datu Aguyhoy's personal kadungganan for a few moons now, working in the seaside haop of Kumintang, which is located on the Akai island of Hulagak. There they are known to the populace for the following reasons:

* Sakuna finds places of natural splendor to sing and perform. He is of course, a sad talented prettyboy, which has gained him a solid fanclub in the settlement. Daguum sleeps in the forest (despite the Datu offering the warband their own balay), plays the flute to entice children, and is generally a Pied Piper hobo of whom the parents in Kumintang are very wary. (There is a settlement legend that there is a cryptid who wanders the forest every night. It is Daguum.) They are musicians on opposite ends of the public approval scale. It is also worth noting that at this point in time, Daguum was infatuated with Sakuna.
* Abyang frequents the docks and pesters anyone who looks like they can fight to spar with him. Yakal visits the docks regularly as well to be able to speak with all sorts of people. As the latter will never turn down an opportunity to win, Abyang and Yakal spar quite often, which is something of a nuisance in the docks. Additionally, Melag - then known as Dagem - would visit eateries every day asking for ham, which no one would admit to not having, as a joke.

Aguyhoy calls them to investigate ships disappearing at a certain sandbank, a known location on a known trading route that any captain worth their salt would know to avoid. On top of losing people, this has begun to affect trade. There has only been one survivor: an old man driven half-mad by the experience.

Abyang interviews the old man, who describes seeing barely humanoid forms coming out of the sand, dragging sailors out, and draining the life out of their eyes. He attributes his survival to his faith in the Moon Goddess. Sakuna attempts to purchase a seeing tube - a telescope - but his fan club appears and disrupts business for the merchants, thus having them refuse to trade with him.

The warband sails to the sandbank and discovers a boat there. Shambling out of it are the Returned - drowned zombies - with blue fire burning in their eye sockets. They engage in combat.

#### February 28, 2021 (Respite)

> **Sakuna:** Did you disrespect the dead again?
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> **Abyang:** He started it.
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> **Sakuna:** And you didn't have to continue it.
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The Returned seem to be bihag chained to the ship - a Sultanate galleon - who were abandoned and drowned when the vessel ran aground. A few still cling to their half-life, growling threats of destroying the polities, but Dagem shoots them and Daguum loots their belongings. Sakuna offers them a burial and to sing a funeral dirge for them; Yakal carries out the burial but does a sloppy job at it, which results in an argument where Sakuna insists on respect and compassion for the Returned and Yakal argues that the Returned tried to kill the warband minutes ago and should be grateful for even the courtesy of a burial. To relieve the tension in the air, Dagem playfully pretends to drown; Sakuna jumps into the water to save him, ignoring the fact that he actually cannot swim. Dagem ends up having to rescue Sakuna instead, which earns Sakuna's admiration. Meanwhile, Abyang progresses the plot via examining the boat, initially looking to see if it would require slave-rowers but instead encountering the Returned Master. It jolts to life and tells him that the vengeful dead are rising, and nothing will stop them until no one in the isles lives and dies in chains. Abyang, unimpressed, tells the Master to return to death. Sakuna sings for the Returned, and they head back to the settlement, reporting to Datu Aguyhoy their findings. A feast is held to celebrate the sandbank being safe for sailing once again.

At the feast, Abyang tells ghost stories (that are thinly-veiled spookier versions of things the warband does around the village) to entertain the villagers. Dagem muses the lack of ham in Kumintang to Yakal, who tells him there is no ham in the Sultanate and the eatery owners have been pranking him day after day; he cries, and Yakal comforts him. Sakuna, still melancholy about the plight of the Returned, is approached by a Baikhan youth named Huang Xiaoli, who asks him for musical training after hearing of what he's done at the sandbank and his regular nighttime performances. He gladly takes the man as a student. Daguum gathers the children around to tell them stories and eventually guide them to making *bato music* (a ploy to build his own child army). Yakal is led by the settlement balyan, Mahandurawon, to a small group of people playing [Currently Unnamed Gubat Banwarhammer Game Bread is Designing IRL]; Yakal is immediately enamored by the game and insists on playing until she has a hang of the rules. Abyang meets a senapati lady, who trains him into changing profession to Senapati.

### Encounter 2: The Man of Starlight

#### **March 14, 2021**

A short time after their venture, the story begins with Daguum teaching children how to make explosives. He assures them this will make their performances of *bato* music more impactful. Sakuna, meanwhile, attempting to buy himself a tampi, tries to endear himself to the merchants by singing a marketing jingle for their wares. (This works.) Dagem tries to buy a pole, but is scammed by the merchant Lamon; Yakal tries to tell him he is being scammed but fails. Datu Aguyhoy calls on the warband to drive out brigands who have taken over an iron mine; Kumintang's head blacksmith had sent 20 of his people to gather ore for trade purposes (as well as tithes to the Sultana), and they have not returned.

Abyang barters for drinks and learns from travelers coming into the eateries that the brigands raid in groups of 10-20, seemingly uncoordinated but they appear to have a leader. They are a large enough threat that datus are beginning to form alliances to secure their own roads.

The warband set off on a secret path to the iron mine. They feel a strange presence in the woods, but nothing more, until they chance upon saltwater puddles on the way (not originating from Dagem's Balu).

Arriving at the mine, they find a strange group of armed individuals laying incense for rows of linen-covered corpses, led by a Baikhan, bantai man with a three-quarter staff and eyes of starlight. The warband makes their presence known via Sakuna singing a song assuring that they mean no harm and would only like to know what has happened. The Baikhan man introduces himself as Zhuang Junhao and explains that they did not kill the deceased - that was done by whatever had torn the corpses' livers out - they are burying them and offering their respects. However, the brigands insist on taking what's in the mines, no matter what the warband says.

Despite growing concern for whatever's out there that had taken the livers of the dead, the warband engages in combat.

#### **March 21, 2021**

> I have 10d4
>
> Bread, moments before rolling 10 failures

Notable occurrences during the combat encounter with Zhuang Junhao and company are:

* The rondolero goes down first. This will, apparently, begin a precedent of the rondolero going down first in other times the encounter is run. This is hilarious considering who the rondolero will actually end up becoming.
* Yakal avoids a lightning attack - thus being *faster than lightning -* and Sakuna parries an actual lightning bolt.
* Abyang and Dagem work together, seamlessly using Abyang's newfound warlord knowledge to push Dagem's attacks.
* Despite (or because of?) being bonked several times by it, Daguum approaches Junhao and strokes his three-part staff. Also, Guum gets a bolt in his chest. He just leaves it there.

At a loss, Junhao is confronted by the warband. Daguum, the best speaker of the warband (mechanically), concedes that their group can take some iron from the mine if they would tell them what it would be used for. Before he could respond, an abomination - made of corpse parts and encrusted in crystal - and Returned operator shamble in, awakened by the spilled blood of their fight.

### Encounter 3: The Dead Walk

#### **March 27, 2021**

Notable events during the combat encounter with the abomination and the rest of the Returned are:

* The warband and the brigands fight as allies. Junhao offers healing herbs to the warband in exchange for debt; they accept.
* Junhao got shot in the eye. He would pull the arrow out of his skull and eat his own eyeball.
* Balu's ~~bathwater~~ brine wall was important for keeping the abomination at bay.
* Daguum jumped into the abomination, set off a bomb, and exploded the area with its blood, guts, and crystals.
* Daguum left the encounter with the exact same amount of mettle as he did entering it. However, due to the Mettle/Stamina mechanics at the time, he burned through 48 mettle, hitting 0 mettle four times.

With the Returned defeated, the warband look to the brigands. Some questions need to be answered.

#### April 4, 2021 (Respite)

> “Why do you fight, Abyang? For what reason do you draw blades and shed blood? Why do we bring violence upon this archipelago ? Why do we… why does anyone?” Sakuna very obviously starts talking about himself in the middle of this.
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> Abyang pulls the rope back so that the hilt of the kampilan bonks Sakuna on the head. He chuckles.
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> "Why the hell else? I enjoy fighting."
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The brigands agree to take only a fraction of iron to trade for supplies for their crew; in return, the warband agrees to lie to Datu Aguyhoy that the mines remained untouched by bandits. However, as far as both groups can glean, the blacksmith's survey team had arrived at the mines, were killed by whatever took their livers, and thus awoke the Returned. Yakal and Daguum pocket crystals from the corpses. Junhao reveals that they have a ship, the Tai Feng, which is currently docked at a cove. He appears to agree with the goal of the Returned, to dismantle the system keeping debtors in the isles in chains. He agrees to train Abyang and, in general, help the warband whenever he and his crew can. The warband reports to Datu Aguyhoy, who accepts their words without question.

Yakal brings forth creation by seeking a smith to craft her a gun; she is instead approached by Amaya and Ilari, eccentric twins often found hanging around Daguum's child army, and they offer to make her something that channels her sorcerous energy using the crystal they heard she has gotten. (She agrees.) Dagem connects with Mahandurawon, amusing her by offering her snacks. Abyang and Sakuna spar with the settlement watching; Daguum and his child army are dancing with Returned crystal light sticks to cheer them both on. (Daguum gyrates aggressively.) Sakuna remains distracted, thinking of the circumstances of the Returned (the Datu had theorized the abomination was the result of a mass grave), and - mid-spar - begins asking Abyang about his reason for fighting; the latter responds that, while he generally finds it fun, he also thinks violence can be used to protect his loved ones and those who need protection. Sakuna is comforted by his answer, and begins to tell him of the ways of Death Dancers after Abyang offers to fight Sakuna in hand-to-hand combat instead if it would make him feel better. Dagem watches this all go down, eating sinaunang Boy Bawang, which he showers onto his warbandmates at dramatically opportune moments.

The Kumintang PTA arrive, confronting Daguum and warning him to stay away from their children. They tear the crystal lightsticks out of their hands and drag their kids away, leaving behind only Amaya and Ilari - since they are orphans - and a stray Iyamati puppy who had - as far as the twins could tell - been born in the woods. Daguum takes the puppy and twins in, beginning to plot against the PTA.

#### April 11, 2021 (Respite)

> In a pained whisper, Abyang quietly says, "*I just wanted to go out to eat.*"
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> That's... my emotional support banga.
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> Dagem

Sakuna goes to the cove that night where the Tai Feng - or the Iron Typhoon - is at and sings a pleasant, comforting song. He tries to connect with the rondolero, a brash-looking woman wearing a tiger skin, who attempts to walk fast to shake him off. She introduces herself as Kamarang and begrudgingly admits his song made her feel better. Sakuna engages her and the rest of the crew of the Typhoon, including Junhao, in conversation throughout the night.

As the twins Amaya and Ilari had been taken into the warband's balay for the night, Abyang recognizes them as the R&D heads of Daguum's child army and asks that they replace the rope on his kampilan with a chain. The twins offer to make it spring-loaded as well, and, impressed that they are not only enabling but encouraging his idea, Abyang stays to brainstorm with them until their final design.

The children of Kumintang wish to stay with Daguum; he decides to help them rebel against their parents by going full Jack Black and organizing a rock concert- no, a *bato* concert. The main performance has Xiaoli doing backing vocals, Amaya playing an instrument, and Ilari - who has terrible stage fright - as the frontwoman and singer of the group. The parents are outraged, and the warband - drawn together by their recent fondness for the band - attempt several methods of keeping them at bay. Daguum creates a moshpit, Dagem tries to distract them via breakdancing, Sakuna speaks of the artistic innovations the youth of the settlement are making through their music, and Abyang tries to hype up the moshpit. Yakal threatens the parents with violence (a mistake; several parents are mangugubat), Sakuna dances to the music to prove its artistic merit, Dagem tries to twerk over to Sakuna (accidentally getting his bahag pulled off and mooning the parents in the process), and Abyang scares the parents by pointing out that Daguum *did* blow up an abomination made of mass grave corpses. This entire time, Balu had been crowd surfing the pit, and everyone is thoroughly wet and salty.

Despite all odds the concert is a success, and Sakuna goes to give Xiaoli his heartfelt congratulations. Daguum, meanwhile, blasphemes every god known to tawo, earning the ire of the Kumintang baylan.

Back at the warband's balay, Dagem is nervously consulting Balu while getting dressed. Sakuna and Yakal ask him what's wrong, to which Dagem replies that he put out a notice on sinaunang Tinder and has gotten set up for a blind date that night. As both Sakuna and Yakal have crushes on Dagem, they stiffly give him advice for his date. Abyang, oblivious, offers Dagem his bag of unmelting ice to (quite literally) keep his cool. Sakuna and Yakal follow Dagem separately on his way to the eatery, only pretending to be surprised to encounter each other. (Daguum follows them all because he is Daguum.) Abyang encounters them on the way to the eatery for dinner, and they pull him against his will into tailing Dagem from a distance. Dagem's date is late, which causes mostly Sakuna and Yakal to subtly trashtalk them... until the date arrives and is revealed to be Xiaoli. Dagem and Xiaoli stumble through the awkward first moments of their date, but begin to hit it off. Yakal seethes, Sakuna is numb with conflicting emotions, and Daguum approaches in a banga and offers the couple some black market ham. Yakal and Sakuna eventually haul Daguum away - convincing a very confused Abyang to help them - and dumping him in the middle of the settlement, still stuck in the pot. Abyang does not get to eat dinner all night, much to his dismay.

In a good mood after his date, Dagem finds a merchant prince showing off a familiar sikarom. On a closer look, it's undeniable that it is the bow of Palandey, Dagem's missing father; Dagem grabs it and bolts. Guards give chase but Balu helps Dagem speed away. He inspects the sikarom and finds carved at the bottom the words "We're alive, we're safe, we'll survive," in the unmistakable hand of his dear Cesilia Mateo.

## Venture 2: A Child of the Moon, A Child of the Sea

### Encounter 1: A Child of the Moon

#### April 18, 2021

> "Wait, shit, fellows," Abyang interjects. "I like you all too, what- come on. I mean just because he fucks shit up left and right, keeps getting his head kicked in in combat, blasphemes the known world- oh- *oh* that's what we're here about, huh?"
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Sakuna decides to hold an intervention for Daguum, calling the warband over to call him out. Sakuna and Yakal are quite harsh with their words, while Dagem and Abyang are more consoling; however, Daguum is almost flattered by the attention they are giving him until Sakuna makes it clear by no uncertain terms that he does not like Daguum - and absolutely not romantically. Daguum breaks down on the floor, causing Yakal to pat him uncomfortably with the tassels on her kalis, and Sakuna to awkwardly give him a hug. Dagem and Abyang enthusiastically join in, and Daguum pleads at Yakal - pulling on Debt - to join the group hug. Daguum quickly recovers; it turns out that his breakdown was something of a ploy to get a hug from the warband and especially Sakuna, though he sincerely says he will try to do better.

Datu Aguyhoy instructs the warband to escort trade ships to the nearby settlement of Alambihod, where he intends to have Kumintang's surplus goods traded for debtors from Alambihod to free them. These trade ships will be headed by Legasna, a retired but competent kadungganan lady. He explains as well that Alambihod's sibling datus, Hiraya and Hiwaga, have expressed an interest in hiring the warband for a few moons, and he is willing to loan them out to them out of friendship. In preparation, Sakuna attempts to once again purchase a seeing tube and succeeds with Daguum's help. Dagem tries to purchase nets but is scammed once again by Lamon, who tells him they're made of crab sinew. Yakal gains barter via gambling at [Currently Unnamed Gubat Banwarhammer Game Bread is Designing IRL], which she has gotten quite skilled at, much to Sakuna's disapproval. Abyang asks around for news on Alambihod, finding that it's a prosperous settlement located in the middle of a lake.

They sail at night in order to reach Alambihod at dawn and maximize their time trading. However, using the hard-won seeing tube, they find that the watchtower at the mouth of the river is not only unlit, but unmanned, and with signs of violent struggle. The warband search for signs of the Returned and find only saltwater puddles. The boat stops for the night and the warband agree to sleep in shifts.

At some point in the night, however, crewmates get attacked by a winged creature, being grabbed by the feet and clawed at (though non-fatally). Despite Dagem and Daguum attempting to see if spitting Boy Bawang at the creature - likely an aswang - would subdue it, it escapes as quickly as it arrived. The warband follows the monster's tracks in the forest, finding a woman at a stone pool frantically scrubbing blood from her claws. She introduces herself as Malaya and begs the warband - who she believes are hunters from the Sultanate - to spare her, that she can control her powers, though it is clear from the bestial grunts periodically interrupting her speech, her red sclera and moonlight irises, and the wounds she'd left on the crew that she is not entirely honest about this.

When it becomes clear that the warband is set on mercy-killing her, she once again pleads that she intends to see this woman again, a woman she loves... and she's willing to fight for it. Wings burst out from under her armor and a moonlight songil materializes in her hand. Aghoy tree guardians, serpents, and buwaya appear from the forest to assist her.

> “If we ever find this woman we will give her your last regards,” Sakuna says with slight sympathy. He hardens his expression again. “But you will not live to see the dawn.”
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#### April 25, 2021

> "You have given me much to think about and I hope your solution will help others.“
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> "Color me surprised, murderers with principles," the asuwang retorts, spitting blood to the side.
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> "Isn't that what all manggugubat are?" Sakuna replies, a bitter smile creasing his grim expression
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Notable events during the combat encounter with Malaya are:

* Daguum takes his yet unnamed puppy out to help in battle. For its safety, he is more cautious in battle, while Sakuna's out here full feral and wrestling crocodiles after starting battle singing a funeral dirge.
* Yakal's arm gets dislocated right out of its socket from the buwaya death-rolling her.
* Dagem was grappled by Malaya and, through sheer thigh power, lifted Balu with him along the way. He would be dropped behind a literal wall of fire, where Sakuna would emerge, essentially dividing the warband on the map.

Malaya is caught in Dagem's net and calls out that it's rich that the warband is hunting her down when there are also those who are not what they seem among them, before breaking down and crying. Malaya's cries of only trying to survive in this cruel world touch Dagem; Sakuna, fully prepared to kill her, cannot get himself to in Dagem's presence. (Despite Chingkaw not only offering 3 Precision if Sakuna had killed her then and there, but goading him in-character as Malaya as well.) Dagem offers her help; although she is initially shocked, she says she only needs a place to stay, as she can hide her wings. Daguum also offers her his blood to drink and is disappointed when she only nicks his hand instead of gashing him in the gut or something.

Dagem opens up that his family was taken away from him. Malaya sits, still processing the mercy that has been shown to her, and asks what the warband's next move is. The sun rises.

### Encounter 2: A Child of the Sea

#### May 2, 2021

> "I saved the day... right?" the Tactician remarks, only slightly more alive than the one Yakal tore to shreds.
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The warband introduces Malaya to the crew as a survivor of the watchtower attack; since none of the attacked crewmates got a good luck at the aswang, they accept her without question. Mahandurawon, who was apparently on the ship, snaps Yakal's arm into place. The rest of the trip is uneventful until they are intercepted by a band of freedmen - trapping the ship under nets - demanding that the crew hand over all their cargo. They say they serve no polity, master, or ideal but themselves, and they refuse to settle for even a fraction of the ship's supply. Disembarking from their ship, Sakuna attempts to deescalate the situation by pleading to their attackers' empathy (since they were former debtors) that the cargo would be traded in to free 300 bihag; Daguum attempts to escalate the situation by violently snorting some of the spice supply. Regardless, the freedmen refuse to budge, and - with Mahandurawon channeling the river through a sea-chantey - they engage in combat.

Notable events during the combat encounter with the freedmen are:

* Combat begins directly after Sakuna and Abyang give up trying to talk the freedmen down, as Daguum lobs a bomb at them, yelling, "I'M GONNA BLOW MY LOAD"
* The warband is, for the most part, set on not ending any lives for the day. The freedmen do not share such a sentiment.
* As such, the warband struggles. Daguum finds himself surrounded and bleeding out. Sakuna becomes increasingly sorrowful at each freedman that falls under his blade. Abyang cannot pull all his allies away from harm's way. Dagem and Balu are wounded by constant fire. Yakal, tired, points her kalis at the freedman tactician, and unleashes her forbidden technick: a swordsorcery scourge - a glowing gumamela - bursts and lacerates him into flesh ribbons, eventually rendering the tactician into nothing more than a puddle of blood. Both sides spend a moment silent and dumbfounded.
* Legasna takes the opportunity to order the manggugubat under her command to attack, but Sakuna's sorrowsong - his Almighty Siday - compels both sides to cease violence. The freedmen retreat into the woods. The warband return to the ship to nurse their wounds.

They arrive at the trading post, where they are greeted by the Datus of Alambihod themselves. Datu Hiwaga, the elder brother, is ~~twinky~~ spindly and has white hair and golden tattoos, the handler of their haop's state-minded dealings. Datu Hiraya, meanwhile, looks every bit the warrior and protector of Alambihod - the Sword of Hulagak - being a large and imposing muscle mommy.

The Datus welcome the crew and warband with good nature and hospitality, but Sakuna - emerging from the dark corner of the ship he'd curled up in - recognizes Datu Hiraya as the warrior who had his entire village burned down and killed.

#### May 9, 2021 (Respite)

Yakal goes to the twins to pick up the gun she had commissioned. Amaya admits that in its current form it is still somewhat unstable, which is proven when Ilari rushes from behind their protective shield to adjust something in it and it explodes, searing half of Ilari's head bald and leaving a lotus-shaped scar on her skull that glows with purple light. Yakal chastises the twins for writing their protection mentala wrong, before taking the gun in her own hands. This causes her to face a being that, despite not seeing it, she can immediately tell is ancient and powerful. It promises that it will unlock her latent abilities if she would share secrets with it; Yakal maintains that it's unclear what secrets it wants, but, sure, she guesses. She comes out of the experience not only with a new firearm, but her eyes have become lilac with black scleras.

Abyang goes and gets his commissioned weapon from the twins right after: a gauntlet that can launch his kampilan with a chain. However, he begins hearing a mysterious voice, saying things about reaching heaven if he wields it; Abyang initially assumes the twins have made it like this (they have not, and Amaya comes after Abyang's arm with a hacksaw, which he backs away from), and, later, that the voice is from the kampilan. Nonetheless, he gains the ability to grow crystal covering his entire left arm and a glow in his left eye, and decides that the voice is harmless for the most part. Abyang hugs the twins, offers them barter as a treat, and tests out his new weapons against a bamboo field.

Yakal and Abyang then set off separately to find Malaya in the woods, and are surprised to find the other. They speak of being bothered when Malaya called out that members of the warband aren't what they seem. When they find her, Abyang explains that, long ago, he'd fallen asleep in the woods under a full moon and woke up at noon - an unknown amount of time having passed - with a dark spot on his left palm; Yakal describes having been attacked by a yawa in her bukot as a child and, since then, being told her aura had changed. Malaya offers to mentor them in controlling their monstrous natures; however, if they choose to really indulge in it, they could be viewed as beasts by society and their loved ones. Abyang and Yakal take her up on her offer.

> **Malaya**: Think this through. It's a very difficult choice.
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> **Yakal**: Frankly, I think the decision to become a manggugubat was harder. If it makes me a better warrior, it's the logical choice.
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> **Malaya**: You're underestimating the gravity of this.
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> **Yakal**: And you're underestimating me.
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Sakuna has been getting more nightmares than usual and seeks Malaya, under the moonlit sky. He admits that Hiraya - who had lead the war party that razed his village - is the person he hates most in the world, and is afraid that his violent hatred is leading him to make a pact with the diwata of murder. Malaya tells him of her lover, the Sultana's daughter, and how she can never return to her life before, but she can use her fear and hatred now to protect her. Sakuna resolves to wield his sword to protect others. Afterwards, he goes to the Iron Corsairs' cove hideout. He speaks to Mananat, the gunner, asking if the corsairs (or, more specifically, Junhao) had heard anything about Datu Hiraya's activities, saying he is confident that she would only "leave burnt homes and broken corpses in her wake." Mananat replies that there are rumors that a strike is in the works, as the bihag and craftsmen of Alambihod are being made to work longer hours and to meet their tributary quotas to the Sultana. Sakuna asks if he could have their cooperation if they are to go against Hiraya; Mananat would bring it up with their captain. However, he hears that an infamous pirate band is getting back together, and they may be potential allies as well.

Daguum goes to the marketplace and finds Lamon, who attempts to scam him but fails. Lamon confesses that he's scamming people to afford the expensive medicines for his sick daughter. Daguum promises to keep his secret, if Lamon would trade black market lechon with him.

Daguum then joins Dagem to find a ship for the warband and - more importantly - for the bender they're planning together. They charm the man at the boatyard. He sells them a galleon for stupidly cheap, as it is currently buwaya mating season and no one in their right mind would take a ship out to the river at this time. So, of course, the warband does. It is christened the Tigang na Buwaya - the Horny Crocodile. The warband gets to work customizing the galleon, beginning with the Dagbros commissioning the shipwright of the Iron Typhoon to paint a pinup of a crocodile man at the ship's bow, which has been enchanted to glow in the dark . Daguum makes a banga (pot) network where he sleeps and gets around the ship; Sakuna's quarters are at the back of the ship, covered in protective mentala and lontar leaves written with Hiyang mantras to discourage horny guests; Dagem's room is covered in *Live Love Laugh* posters, crayon drawings, shelves of essential oils, and has a beaded curtain in place of a door to *encourage* horny guests; Abyang's room is set up like an arena, where entering it is an open invitation to spar; Yakal's room, in the captain's quarters, has magicked RGB lights and displays her prized game sets. The main party area aboveboard is named the G-Spot.

As construction is ongoing, Datu Hiraya passes by and asks why they're putting in an unusual amount of work for simple ship renovation. The Dagbros explain that they will be throwing a feast, and invite her to it.

#### May 16, 2021 (Respite)

> Daguum, you walk down the stairs, your twink hips swaying back and forth, and you're really feelin' it. You're really, really feelin' it.
>
> Chingkaw

The Tigang na Buwaya sets sail on the day of the bender, which is well-populated with many partygoers. As Sakuna performs with the band - Ilari, Amaya, and Xiaoli - a few crocodiles leap into the ship, which Abyang and Sakuna quickly dispatch. Amaya later takes Yakal and Daguum aside and dares them to, respectively, kiss Datu Hiraya and Datu Aguyhoy, promising both a reward if successful.

Yakal stumbles through conversation with the datu. Daguum senses Yakal struggling and offers to help via showing them the hallucinatory benefits of snorting spices. Datu Hiraya places spices on her lips and asks Yakal to check if Daguum's method really works; Yakal pulls on Hiraya's necklaces and kisses her. The only person more offended than Amaya to see this is Sakuna, who begins singing passive-aggressively. Meanwhile, Dagem is chugging through as much alcohol as he can, and Abyang is on the mast doing what he thinks are simple core-strengthening exercises (he is pole dancing). When Datu Aguyhoy arrives, Daguum reveals himself at the top of the staircase wearing a fishnet shirt and off-shoulder robes. As he struts down the steps, yet more horny buwaya enter the galleon; Abyang jumps from his aerial silks and wrangles them, calling out to Dagem that they should oil-wrestle them - the latter accepts, the last rays of the setting sun glistening off of his oily body - and Sakuna leads the crowd in dancing away from danger.

The party continues. Dagem, thoroughly drunk, makes out with his boyfriend, Xiaoli. Sakuna copes with seeing this by sulking away; Yakal copes with seeing this by doing body shots off of Hiraya. Daguum flirts with Aguyhoy, who picks up on Daguum's intentions and admits that - though he appreciates him - they cannot pursue a relationship, as he has too much on his plate managing Kumintang. They hug.

Belowdeck, an audience gathers inside Yakal's room, where Daguum and Yakal are setting up a game of [Currently Unnamed Gubat Banwarhammer Game Bread is Designing IRL]. Aguyhoy and Hiraya are behind the players, respectively; while the former comments goodnaturedly on Daguum's tactics, the latter's whispers (among other things) distract Yakal enough for her to lose the game.

Abyang ties a buwaya inside a ring and puts all his barter up as a prize for whoever can beat the buwaya in a fight (and then, subsequently, him). Ilari is goaded by Amaya into joining; she succeeds via pushing it into the water and using her newfound sorcerous power to electrocute it. Abyang, still greasy, congratulates her and gives her the prize, choosing not to spar with her. Dagem finds Sakuna and offers to set him up with someone at the party so he could cheer up. Dagem asks Sakuna for his type, and the latter begins basically describing Dagem. Dagem does not pick up on this. Sakuna, however, cheers up talking to him, and goes off to meditate in his room.

Daguum spends the rest of the night with Aguyhoy, listening to him nerd out about policies and governance; Yakal spends the rest of the night with Hiraya, doing something decidedly less wholesome. Hiraya asks Yakal to stay in bed, but the latter leaves.

It is almost sunrise, and Yakal finds Amaya, who had been picking up and abandoning dates throughout the party. She shows off the results of her night with the datu and Amaya - thoroughly jealous - gives Yakal a bandolier.

## Venture 3: An Ember is All it Takes

### Encounter 1: The Camp

#### May 23, 2021

> I am saying that we used to know each other before this, before war and violence intruded upon my life, before a blade was put in my hand and I joined the bloodshed. You are one of the two people I knew before who survived that woman and a reminder of the peace I used to have. I am saying that we were childhood friends years ago, an age ago, an eternity ago.
>
> Sakuna

A band of eskrimadors arrive on the Tigang na Buwaya, demanding Daguum. It turns out the lechon he had bought from Lamon was stolen from them. The twins, Datu Aguyhoy, and the warband - sans Yakal, who is cleaning up belowdeck - fight them off; Datu Hiraya joins in, enjoying herself and even offering to train Abyang and Daguum as they invent various combat methods based on animals, most notably the infamous Salmon Style and optimizing Daga's nose-boop for maximum deadliness. As this is happening, Sakuna takes a blow for Dagem; the latter asks why Sakuna keeps protecting him and, in fact, why he shielded him from the fire wall back at their fight with Malaya. Sakuna says he simply wanted to be by Dagem's side, and to protect him. While Dagem says he is reassured by and glad for Sakuna's protection, he does not understand why the man feels so attached to him; Sakuna realizes that Dagem does not remember their past together, and subsequently that Hiraya had lead the destruction of their villages. Despite Sakuna's best attempts, Dagem still does not remember, but promises to do his best to do so and stand by Sakuna; they share a tender hug. In the background, Abyang is flopping like a feral salmon, and Daguum is strapping lantakas onto buwayas.

The men clean up the damages. Dagem goes belowdeck to comfort Xiaoli. Daguum begins plotting a crocodile cannon combat platform and suggests a **natural adhesive** to help hold the lantaka in place; Amaya, justifiably, thinks Daguum is making an innuendo before realizing that neither Abyang nor Daguum know what sex even is. (Both had assumed babies came from split bamboo.) Sakuna gives them The Talk.

> When you stimulate your penis it gets hard, and if you stimulate it more it eventually ejaculates a clear fluid, okay?
>
> Sakuna

Amaya, again justifiably, does not want to hear this, goes belowdeck, and encounters Dagem. As she explains what is happening above, Dagem is shocked to realize through this news that Abyang and Sakuna are *not* a couple and do *not*, in fact, fuck. Amaya begins to dissociate from the natural world. Yakal emerges from cleaning and Datu Hiraya asks her to stay in Alambihod, spend more time together; Yakal agrees.

They are summoned some time later by Datus Hiwaga and Hiraya to go on a venture. The pair explain that, as the Sultana's tributary quotas keep increasing season after season, their debtors are being pushed into longer and more demanding work hours. A number of them have run away, putting even more strain on the workers left behind. If this is to continue, Hiraya would be forced to join other Sultanate datus around Hulagak in raids. However, they have received a report that there is a large camp of runaway debtors deep in the forest, and are tasking the warband with bringing them back to Alambihod alive. They would have the assistance of 50 of the Datus' personal manggugubat, who will be lead by the kadungganan known as the Swordmaster - a silent, cloaked figure whose face is completely obscured by a veiled salakot.

Daguum asks the twins for a weapon; Amaya presents him with a hand-cannon lantaka named *The Overcompensation*. Yakal recognizes it's too dangerous to be given to Daguum - he tested it by pointing it at himself - and confiscates it from him. He sulks, talks treason to the Swordmaster (who does not respond), and begins writing a manifesto to distribute at the camp. Dagem speaks to the local bihag and learns a faster way to the freedmen camp. Abyang offers to be the scribe for the venture and discovers that Dagem - who had consistently been the warband scribe up until this point - cannot actually read, and had been scribbling crayon drawings of their ventures. He speaks to one of the manggugubat left behind on guard duty, who informs him that the Swordmaster has been rumored to be faster than lightning.

Hiraya tries speaking to Sakuna, who is icy with her. He and Abyang consider that the runaways would not be jazzed to work under the Datus if they had sent warbands after them, and think of ways to negotiate... or trash the venture, if need be.

#### May 30, 2021

Notable events during the combat encounter with the freedmen camp are:

* Daguum yeets Daga into combat. There is a flamethrower strapped onto the dog.
* Abyang and Sakuna fight with such seamless coordination that Dagem begins to have second thoughts on his earlier conclusion. There is no way these two do not fuck.
* Daguum takes hexer shapeshifting herbs and morphs into a giant, sexy crocodile man.

Among the runaways, however, a woman goes forth and tries to stab Dagem. It is Cesilia Mateo, and she is *pissed.*

The freedmen are deciding to unionize, coming together to confront the datus regarding the unreasonable quotas. The warband is divided regarding this matter.

### Encounter 2: The Barricade

#### June 6, 2021

> Hiraya allows her fury to well up in turn. "Do you think Aguyhoy had the title of First Spear of the Sultana from just idling about? To his enemies he was the Tidechaser, the Dread Lord of the High Seas, he is the Rankbreaker-"
>
>
> “Does that matter?” Sakuna interrupts.
>
>
>
> "Do you THINK Kumintang and all that it stands for just sprung up overnight? Do you think people flocked under Aguyhoy's banner just from hearing about the change he wanted to make in the world? It had to start somewhere - with banwas who were holding bihag - and it began with yours, Sakuna."
>
>

The freedmen have formed a barricade. Hiwaga has arrived and orders the warband to dismantle the barricade, however the union leader, a goldsmith named Kalampisaw, says he will retaliate unless the warband - and *only* the warband - will come in to listen to their demands. The warband go forth and find that Amaya and Ilari are actually on the union side, playing bato music. Kalampisaw explains to them their dismal working conditions as Daguum does sumpit tricks; they demand reduced working hours, more compensation for the goods they produce, and to have a representative on the settlement council. The warband argue for the union's demands to Datu Hiwaga, who is reluctant. As discussions escalate, Sakuna, Daguum, and Dagem disarm themselves as a show of support for the union; Hiwaga continues to say if they can't meet the Sultana's demands, all of Alambihod would suffer, and that the workers were, after all, only bihag.

Sakuna, furious, lets it slip that Hiraya had razed his and Dagem's settlements many years ago; that Dagem *was* a bihag and Sakuna himself could have been one had circumstances not been different. This finally convinces Hiwaga to relent. He speaks to Kalampisaw and agrees to offer them a seat on the council and better hours, but not more lax quotas. The warband offer 50 Barter collectively to ease this.

While Dagem reconciles with Cesilia, Daguum, Yakal, and Abyang secretly sit in on the council meeting to see if they truly would be giving the workers equal consideration. Along with Kalampisaw, the council also includes the silent Swordmaster and Lamon; the latter verbally drags Daguum, who wants to throw hands but is held back by Yakal. Abyang speaks to Kalampisaw, and they discuss the Sultana's demands, as well as Abyang's past as a Sulyap raider and how raiders had made Kalampisaw's work difficult. (The voice in Abyang's kampilan seeks bloodshed, but Abyang silences it.) Meanwhile, the Swordmaster continues to be ominous, especially when Yakal leaves along with Daguum in tow.

Yakal returns to the Tigang na Buwaya to find that the twins have thrown another party there without the warband's supervision; it is a disaster, with fires being set, and buwayafolk causing a ruckus. Ilari insists that she could have had it under control, as she had been working on sealing mentalas for a while now. Yakal corrects Ilari's mentalas and kicks the partygoers out of the ship. They decide one of the buwaya could stay: a relatively peaceful crocodile who can deflate and reinflate itself, and who had apparently been a constant presence in Amaya and Ilari's lives after they were orphaned. The buwaya is named Buwa.

Sakuna performs for the Alambihodnon (particularly the new Alambihod chapter of his fanclub) as the sun sets. When he finishes and the crowd disperses, he sees Datu Hiraya standing there, and she asks for his forgiveness. He does not give it to her, and as they begin yelling at each other, Sakuna shoves the Datu to the ground. Hiraya reveals that even Aguyhoy - one who fights so valiantly for equality - had committed, just- *so* many warcrimes. They eventually agree that they are both murderers, and together they shall carve a path for a better world.

That evening, Abyang begins writing the epic of his warband.

## Venture 4: And So Our Hearts Shall Burn

#### June 13, 2021

> I can scarce believe it- everyone I've fought together with, under one banner.
>
> Abyang

Six moons have passed and the warband is preparing to stay at Alambihod permanently. They say their goodbyes to the people at Kumintang.

Sakuna says his farewells to Xiaoli, assuring him that he has grown greatly as a musician and more confident as a person. Dagem also says farewell to Xiaoli; Xiaoli tells Dagem he loves him, and the latter runs away, Balu calling him out as a coward the entire time. At the last moment, Dagem changes his mind, runs back to Xiaoli, and glomp-kisses him.

Daguum says goodbye to the twins, and then stalks Yakal, who is heading into the forest for her usual meditation sessions with Malaya. Yakal offers her farewells as well as wishes for Malaya to find her beloved again, hopefully having completely conquered her aswang nature; Malaya says she hopes so as well, and says she has a feeling Yakal and the warband will see her again - perhaps sooner than she thinks, if she makes the right choices. (Daguum this entire time is showing off his swordsmanship skills, or lack thereof, while holding the blade instead of the hilt.)

Abyang finds that Junhao and the crew of the Iron Typhoon are mostly ready to leave their cove as well. He absolves the captain of his debt to the warband, says his farewell, and that the Typhoon can always seek the warband for help if they need it.

The warband sail to Alambihod, and, settling in, are called by a paratawag for a mission from the Datus despite it being midnight. While waiting along the causeways, they make small talk with a tired guard named Adlawan. Eventually, Adlawan leaves, extinguishing all the torchlights along the way until the warband is plunged in complete darkness. A cannon blast wrecks a nearby bantara watchtower.

They find Captain Zhuang Junhao on board the Iron Typhoon, flanked by karakoa and filled with warrior-braves. He greets the warband and explains that they are going to raid Alambihod and rescue all its debtors. Behind his ship is a strange-looking one, familiar to Abyang - the Abot-Tanaw - and on it are a strange-looking crew. Captain Balani of the Sulyap greets first Junhao, and then Abyang, saying he's brought the crew back together and also that he was the son of the Striking Nimbus this *entire time*.

Junhao offers the warband to join the Iron Typhoon, and help each other as equals to change the isles they live in and stem the flow of the Great River. One by one they are convinced, and - stepping aboard the ship - are given ivory pins inlaid with rubies as a sign of their membership. They also discover Malaya and the twins already onboard, having joined the Typhoon as well. Their first duty as Iron Freedmen is to distract Datu Hiraya as the raid is ongoing.

They engage in combat with the guards at the Datus' personal balay.

As the encounter winds down, Datu Hiraya comes down from the upper annex of her balay, thunder cracking in the distance. She is still groggy with sleep as she wields her flaming kampilan one-handed. Initially she assumes the warband had arrived to help her repel the raid, but it is eventually made clear that they are here to stop her.

She looks at the warband with betrayal as Yakal assures her this decision wasn't personal, and grips her kampilan tighter, calling the rest of her forces - including the Swordmaster - to her side.

> "A better world is possible, I suppose, hm? Warrior-poet?"
>
>
> Murderer, slaughterer, once hoping to be redeemed - but no longer. Datu Hiraya levels her blade as she prepares herself to do something... wholly regretful. "Make it worth it."
>
>
>
> Sakuna glares back, and replies with an oath: "I will make sure of it - even if it costs me my life."
>
>

#### June 20, 2021

> **Hiraya**: I love you. I gave you my whole heart. I gave you all I could... but I guess this explains why you could never say it back, huh?
>
>
> **Yakal**: I'm not a liar, Hiraya.
>
>
> **Hiraya**: Not a liar, huh? What was all this then? Everything we were, everything we had, it was just NOTHING to you?
>
>
>
> **Yakal**: It... it wasn't nothing to me, but not as much as to you.
>
>

Hiraya and Yakal have a tense conversation - drawing your blade against your lover as her settlement is being raided and burnt isn't exactly the most pleasant way to end a relationship - before the Datu lobs fire at the warband. They engage in combat.

Notable occurrences during the combat encounter with Datu Hiraya and company are:

* Balu gets injured protecting Dagem, his snoot being shot off. Daguum largely covers his bro as Balu crashes to the ground.
* Yakal continues to be ice-cold interacting with Hiraya throughout the encounter. At one point, Hiraya reaches in concern for Yakal when the latter is wounded, only for Yakal to rush off to revive Sakuna.
* Sakuna gets a great, burning gash across his chest from Hiraya's kampilan, which also singes the front locks of his hair.
* Sakuna and Abyang synergize so much that they fire off Storm Ambahan - a combo of Sakuna's Sword Ambahan and Abyang's Bagakay Storm.
* Datu Hiraya blows a horn, calling for a second wave of mangugubat to help her.
* Abyang, with a flaming bullet directed at him, allows the voice in his kampilan to give him strength, which manifests into crystal covering the left side of his body and his left eye glowing purple. He crushes the bullet and, using his raiding rope, pulls Datu Hiraya on her knees to Yakal.

Hiraya, seeing that Yakal has prepared her guns to shoot her, asks for one last kiss before she dies. Yakal, beginning to cry, kisses her, and when the datu smiles, a blade pushes through Hiraya's chest. As Hiraya falls forward, dead, Cesilia Mateo holds the bloodied balaraw and reveals that it had sealed the datu's soul inside it. The blade, in fact, can hold a hundred souls inside, and she intends to capture more than just Hiraya's inside it.

The second wave of forces arrive just in time to see the death of their datu, and the warband escape from Alambihod. Cesilia - also part of the Iron Freedmen - touches Ilari's face and thanks her for forging the balaraw.

As the kadungganan languish in their respective corners of the galleon, Kamarang speaks to a figure in the shadows of the captain's cabin, expressing concern at the traitorous behavior and violence the warband had inflicted. The figure assures her that the warband are reliable so long as their tasks do not go against their convictions, and they believe their cause is just.

The figure steps out of the darkness, telling Kamarang they must all endeavor to stand as one against the tide of the Great River.

They are revealed to be Huang Xiaoli.