Into Darkest Africa

After a relatively uneventful crossing of the Red Sea, our heroes take off for Axum, capital of Ethiopia. We learn some interesting facts from the natives that contract what we had heard from Miriam, the Christian princess of Ethiopia and one of the Maidens. Harald was looking forward to seeing her and her new husband, Asterion. However, it seems that there has been a bit of a regime change while Miriam was in the Castle of Maidens. Queen Yodit apparently bumped off Miriam's dad, King Tatadim, during a long and bloody civil war. Miriam was being protected by the badass monks and clerics of the Moastery of Dobre Damo until she was whisked away by a jerk djinn. The monastery fell, having lost the will to fight when their treasure was taken.

Now it turns out that due to a prophecy regarding Miriam's death Queen Yodit really wants her in safe keeping. So, when Asterion turns up with Miriam in tow Yodit cuts him a deal: He can get a chance to see the Ark of the Covenant if he gives up Miriam, which he readily does, the jerk. So, when we turn up in Axum Harald is quite displeased. Fianlly, it seems that Miriam has been given to the trogodytes to worhsip as an idol or something. The party decides to go and rescue Miriam and risk the wrath of Yodit.