Safier is amazed at the performance of the ritual, both the openness of which it was performed and at the end result. She considered the power she possessed a curse, herself a monster to be able to summon it. But with that power she took vengeance upon those who killed the ones who took her in. And that power destroyed this orb of great evil. What more could she accomplish with this power? Traveling with these others could teach much.
She turns her attention back to the discussion of Zavox's allies and listens to the talk. She wants to go to Tyr, to find these men, to deal with them as well. But she didn't want to risk too much of what she had gained thus far from these allies. "Did you have something in mind?"
"We have no immediate plans."
"Apart from Furio who is testing cleanliness as a lifestyle choice. I may also have a bath. But not," she adds carefully, "in the same place or at the same time."
"It will probably be safer that way."
"Safer for who?"
"Everyone involved, I'd wager."
Before becoming completely sidetracked by the prospect of Furio and water engaging in a life or death struggle for supremacy, Irivis drags her attention back to their employers.
"You now know all that we know. We have proven trustworthy, I believe. Is there anything more we should know about Hedriann, the loyal sons or the friends from within the wind? We'll be more useful to you if we don't accidentally blunder on affairs that are nothing to do with us and might hamper you."
Unspoken, because she's sure Arakan will raise the issue (and do it more successfully), is the question of further work and more pay.
Furio ponders a fart joke at the mention of "friends from within the wind," but decides to pipe down at the moment....
Gart cracks a small smile, as if he senses a joke on the wind, but then a memory emerges.
"Also, we found a strange statue. I think it was one of my ancestors. A spirit tried to talk to me, but I couldn't understand. Do you know anything of it?"
The three turn to one another briefly, although no words are spoken. "We know of no Hedriann - it most likely an alias. And dwarven ancestral spirits are likewise beyond our ken.
"Of 'friends within the wind', the only thing we can recollect is a reference to the 'lands within the wind'. A separate realm of existence, it is supposedly a place of bounty and lushness from where the elves first originated. But it is just a legend.
"But you have been of great service to us. Would you assist us further?"
"I'm in."
"Yes."
Arakan was mulling over what his plans actually were, maybe considering continuing on to Tyr, but everything meant it came out of his pocket. When asked to assist further, he put on his best contemplative face before preparing to talk shop, "It all depends on what you have in mind... and what it's worth to you for us to help."
"The problem with mercenaries is they are apt to betray depending on whosoever offers them the bigger purse. Our interests lie in promoting preserving magic and ending the work of defilers like Zavox. That can be dangerous work, for both you and us, and so we are not inclined to place too much trust on those who serve only their need for coin. Not that one cannot enrich oneself while doing so, under the right circumstances. But it should not be the primary focus, more a gratifying addition to what is an end in itself."
"Was I being mercenary? I was merely wondering how much our efforts and lives were worth in your grand scheme of tasks. I can seek to fight for a cause and still expect to be handsomely rewarded for doing so. Yes, everyone should fight for the altruism of doing the right thing to make the world a better place.... oh, wait, we're still on Athas aren't we? If I remember correctly accomplishing anything in this sun-blasted sand heap is going to need to rely on more than the eagerness of its inhabitants to do the right thing, what with the Sorcerer-Kings stamping that out and all. With that comes the coin and means of survival that gets others to get things done for you." He drips sarcasm at the very idea that they think they can find enough people in this world that are willing to do the right thing only for the sake alone. All the while trying to milk his point that they are hard pressed to find people that work for nothing, and anything more is just a bonus. Despite his attitude, he makes a rather compelling point.
"Plus, that magic orb seemed pretty powerful. We could have used that to gain greater riches, but we chose to do the right thing and see it destroyed."
"If you have further routes to take down defilers, I will definitely help." Jareen grins at Arakan assuring them of some funds while he can look like an altruistic old Lord.
"I do not like defilers."
It's the closest thing anyone has ever heard from Irivis that might be a creed of sorts.
"You did indeed destroy the orb - and we have given you the proceeds of that destruction. We do not ask you to work for free, and we have rewarded your perseverence. We cannot offer you further funds at this juncture, but any future work will be rewarded in a similar way. Would you be interested in travelling to Tyr with that in mind?"
"Tyr, huh? Well, I doubt any of us were headed that way, bound for other places and all, but I could probably muster up some gumption to go out that way and take out some filthy defiler. If what we got for the orb is any indication of how the job pays, well then that sweetens the pot. Sure, what the heck."
"I'm confused.
I was somebody's property, and I had to kill stuff for free. Well, not exactly for free; if I killed stuff real good I got to keep breathing.
Now nobody owns me, but if I don't kill stuff for free, then I'm bad."
scratches head.
Irivis casts her mind back to the last time she saw Tyr - or rather it's dark walls as she slipped slowly into the night. It's not a pretty memory. Going back wasn't really a problem, but it makes her a little uneasy.
On the other hand, everywhere makes me uneasy.
"The responsibilities of liberty can be confusing. There is a shop in the artisan district in Tyr, Rostum's Remedies. Tell them that Ferro sent you."
Irivis tries to think. Can she, or can she not remember anything about this shop?
"Is there anything else?"
"Nothing I can think of."
"Now, where to find some sleep and food before we plan how to set out."
"sounds good. Let's go buy stuff."
"Sounds good"
It is dark by the time the adventurers get outside.
The adventurers walk out with their new-found wealth, debating what to do with it. But it is getting late, and after a long trek through the desert they are keen to rest and decide what to do tomorrow.
Irivis thinks longingly of a bath.
"Can we find somewhere to sleep with fewer bugs? I'd hate to waste the money and time on getting clean otherwise."
She give some thought to finding supplies as well.
As the group gets outside, Arakan addresses them, "Now, don't all run off just yet. If we are all going, when do we plan to leave? We need to decide when and where we will meet so we can head out. Also, bear in mind transportation. Do we want to look into each getting a kank or crodlu, or maybe a team of crodlu to draw a wagon? Or, we can try to find a cheaper route, maybe see if we can get work with a caravan heading to Tyr? First, let's find a nicer place to stay, we can discuss this there." Arakan then tries to get information on a decent inn that can house all of them, or at least most. Primarily those that took part in the ritual, Jareen, Safier, and Irivis, and his new favorite protector the Kreen. If they can't house Furio and Gart, he's not hard pressed to push the issue.
Irivis has been in town a few days and has got the lie of the land. She directs the group to a clean and comfortable inn that has individual rooms (!) and beds instead of pallets (!!). They even have a room where, for a suitable donation, you can wash with water. Furio gives it a go. Afterwards, he finds he smells weird.
Irivis also knows where the suppliers are for the journey on to Tyr. She's even heard about a crazy elf who deals in magic items...
"If we seek to hide our presence in the city, it would be best to provide a reasonable cover. If we posed as merchants entering the city it would help to mask our intentions as well as one method to learn of the happenings within without drawing too much of the unwanted kind of attention to ourselves."
Hello,
I'm kinda having a bunch of craziness atm; might be back on in the next few days. Nothing too bad.
Yeah; I'm....gonna be real busy this weekend.
Lotta work to do.
Irivis nods at Safier's suggestion. "That would work. There are enough of us. Before we leave, we might want to check on a little rumour I heard about some demented elf."
Then she heads off for her own bath, from which she emerges smelling unusually fragrant.
Arakan decides he'll wait for Irivis to finish wasting her money on ruining perfectly fine water, when a decent sweat and sand scrub does the trick just fine. Once she's ready to go, he'll want to find this elf. When people call elves crazy, it's usually because they know something that most weak-willed citizens refuse to acknowledge.
"How sweet of you to wait for me."
Irivis joins Arakan looking benign. "Shall we go elf-hunting?"
"I think we should." Jareen invites himself along. ;)
The following morning Irivis' intelligence leads the group to the small elven ghetto in Altaruk. A few narrow alleys are tucked into a dark space between the town wall and a steep slope on which perch the (slightly) better parts of the settlement. The sun doesn't get here much, and the area has a bad reputation. At the entrance to the main way in there, a few elven bravos, lanky and tanned dark brown, seem to be standing around doing nothing in particular other than watching passers-by and scowling. Much past them a few shabby hovels lurk in the gloom, even while the sun is high in the mid-morning, before the way kinks and bends out of sight.
Irivis keeps her head down and mutters quietly to the others. . She adds, "It sounds as if Sirril may be tricky. Let's try not to make too many mistakes here."
"Indeed, we don't want to draw our usual brand of attention. After you Irvis."
I wanna go.
Irivis nods and heads in, hoping that at least one of Gart, Furio or T'Kal may decide to appear as backup.
Gart follows, certainly curious and hoping the crazy elf is crazy of a sort more "entertaining" than "threatening".