Ana clears her throat. "What is the price for membership in your organization, if I qualify. I am a capable warrior, as my friends can testify. What would be required of me?"
"Could you tell me what becoming a member would entail? What would be required of me?"
"Could you tell me what becoming a member would entail? What would be required of me?"
Auriga takes Zynazyr aside and gives him an explanation.
Ana clears her throat. "What is the price for membership in your organization, if I qualify. I am a capable warrior, as my friends can testify. What would be required of me?"
"Price?" Pandora sniffs. "This isn't a circus. We don't 'charge admission.' Did the Magi tell you that? Typical."
She shakes her head.
"The price is loyalty. The Warrior Maidens strive against Zargon and mean to destroy him once and for all. Then Cynidicea can be restored to its former glory. We all are dedicated to this goal and will not swerve from it."
"The factions ruled by men are all fools. The Zargonites are evil and corrupt, and they only care about perpetuating their own power and wealth. The Magi fiddle about with books while the city dies. And the Gormites lash out without plan or strategy."
"But we Madaruans realize that there is a cycle in everything. Just as the ancient seasons once governed the surface, going from summer to winter and back again, this dark period can end, but only when all Cynidicea is united together. As things are the men bicker amongst themselves, accomplishing nothing. When our plan is realized even the priests of Zargon must fight against Zargon or perish. We may be warriors, but we are also wise women and see beyond the short term."
"If you would pledge yourself to this worthy goal, you may join our order."
"Your friends, sadly, are men and are barred from our order. But there are many men who recognize the folly of the male factions and have pledged themselves as our allies. If your men wish to make such a pledge, we can give them a token to symbolize this allegiance."
Without hesitation or even a moment of discussion with her companions, Ana kneels before Pandora. "Then I pledge my blade, my loyalty, and my life to your order. Your quest is my quest."
Wallia kneels to and says, "I am not a fan of being considered a secondary member but I know in my heart your group is the wisest and most just of the four groups within the pyramid. I humbly beseech admission as an ally. I am a friar and a healer."
Gads, have you all lot lost your minds? Have you not already forgotten your homes? he exclaims with the shake of his head. Turning to the dwarf You haven't lost your mind too have you?
Zynazyr considers the proposition.
I have neither lost my mind or my hope of home. I long to return to the mountains of Rockhome. The dwarf answers the human male. I do see value in forming an alliance with these noble warrior women. But at this time without knowing the fullness of their plans I must refrain for anything so formal as taking a pledge of allegiance.
Ferrous takes a few steps backwards until he is behind Fistep and then he says very quietly. Glad to know someone still has their pebbles in tact.
Whispers back, my pebbles are quite large my friend...
...But at this time without knowing the fullness of their plans I must refrain for anything so formal as taking a pledge of allegiance.
Pandora looks puzzled at Ferrous' mention of 'Rockhome.' But she shakes her head.
"You speak fairly. But only those that join our order are required to make any kind of oath. And in ancient times it was decreed that only women could ever enter the service of the goddess."
"The pendant that would mark you as an ally serves to identify you as a friend. You could show this to other Madaruans you might encounter so that they know you are not an enemy, and if you ask them for aid they will help you if they can, though whatever mission they may be on may take priority. You would merely be expected to keep the peace with members of our order and render aid to them if it is possible to do so, as they would with you."
Pandora pauses for a moment.
"As to our plans, they are simple in concept, if not in execution. We seek to intercept the sacrifices that are bound for the maw of Zargon. We send raiding parties to intercept the priests when they go to deliver their sacrifices."
"We hope for two things by doing this. First, releasing those who were prisoners of the cult shows the city that at least one of the old faiths still works for them, so that they may know they are not totally lost to the Zargonites. As long as the city serves the church the power of the cult remains, so we must undermine their support."
"Secondly, Zargon's lair is in a secret chamber far below the pyramid. We have never been able to penetrate that far, and even if we did, the lair cannot be large enough for a concentrated attack. If Zargon goes hungry, he will become angry, and will emerge from his lair to ravage the city. When that happens, all the people must oppose him. Even the church of Zargon would have to fight him if they value their lives. With everyone united against the beast, the creature may finally fall."
What would change if I became a member as opposed to just an ally?"
Auriga shrugs.
"A sense of divine purpose?" he chuckles. "I don't intend to coerce anyone who does not wish to be one of our number. But there is magic I am capable of that allows me to communicate with other members, even at great distances."
"As a member you would be entitled to reside here or in the main temple of the city below, though if you did you would be expected to do the usual chores that are needed for running those places. But I suspect you would prefer to continue your explorations."
Wallia asks, "Madam, I was wondering, how often do the Zargonese offer their false deity a sacrifice a month?"
A sound plan Pandora. I would have no objections to fighting the Zargonite cult alongside the Maduruans. I view you as friends and would hope to avoid any circumstance that would change that.
The dwarf says to the warrior maiden with a slight head nod.
Wallia asks, "Madam, I was wondering, how often do the Zargonese offer their false deity a sacrifice a month?"
"I wish I could say for certain. Unlike their public ceremonies, they do not adhere to a set schedule. Not long after we began raiding their sacrificial missions they started to change the times and dates. Which is only rational. It's what I would have done. But now that they do this randomly it gets very hard to predict."
"If we spot such a mission leaving their temple, it is usually too late to mount a raid. They would have a significant head start. We are much more successful if we can lie in wait for them, but it is difficult to do that if we don't know when the sacrifice will happen. We would need to bring a lot of provisions."
"On average I'd say they make these trips every 15 days or so. But it can be as low as 8 or as many as 25. We can never tell when the next one will be. Despite our efforts, the majority of them still get through."
Wallia says, "Well maybe, you will be able to get that info from the prisoner. We will see each other soon."
Ferrous whispers to Ana. Do you want to tell your sisters in arms about the Gnolls on the surface above?
"I was about to," Ana whispers back. "*Ahem* On the surface, there are creatures called gnolls, hyena-like evil humanoids. They will destroy us all, given the opportunity. We have taken measures to prevent them from entering the complex, but the possibility exists that they will find a way in. Be wary of them and do not hesitate to kill any that you encounter."
Wallia says, "The gnolls can be used as provisions. If you would be willing to help us, we could make enough Gnoll jerky to last months."
Shakes his head at the last, and just walks away.
"Gnolls? I've not heard that term, but we have seen bizarre creatures with the features of beasts before."
"Still, if they are stuck outside, then they will soon be dead. Nothing can survive outside for long. And if they make it inside, and come here, then we will deal with them."
Pandora looks around.
"If that is all the chitchat, then Ana and I have some things to discuss."
Pandora gives a signal, and the portcullis is lifted for long enough to pass through to the other side. Pandora turns back to the others. "What we do beyond is sacred and you are not permitted. But return here in an hour or so and we will meet then."
Pandora leads Ana away into the Madaruan Quarters.
"All things in the universe are organized into cycles," Pandora explains. "Life has a cycle. All life. Living things are born, they grow, mature, and then wither and die, and decay. But their death makes room for more to be born anew. The cycle is never-ending. Our lady Madarua watches over this cycle, as do we, her chosen. When that cycle becomes out of balance, or breaks, we must intervene."
"We assist those who are with child; our order is the last group to practice the art of the midwife. We also comfort those who are near death, and arrange for the burial of the dead."
"Once, long ago, before the demons destroyed the surface world, water used to fall from the sky in a scattering of drops called rain, that sometimes lasted for hours. I know that's hard to believe, but this water allowed many plants to grow in the light of the sun. And people harvested those plants for food and for other good things. But the waters would come in cycles, called seasons, and the sowing and growing and harvesting of these plants came according to these cycles, based on the position of the sun in the sky which marked time. Madarua watched over these cycles too."
"Though plants don't grow on the surface any more, we do still watch over the planting and harvesting of those things that can grow underground, and we still watch the rising of the sun to mark the seasons, since Madarua's holy days are still based on those times of old."
"We Warrior Women of Madarua hold these virtues the highest: Passion, Vigilance, Patience, and Sacrifice...."
After the bulk of an hour has passed in instruction, Pandora takes Ana along with two acolytes north through another chamber (which has a large vault in the east wall) and to a pentagonal ritual chamber with a statue of Madarua and an altar in the north-east corner.
"Now is the time to make your oath. Take out your sword," Pandora commands. "Cut your finger with it, and wipe the blood on the blade, then place the blade on the altar. Before us and Madarua, you must swear to uphold the honor of Madarua, even with your own blood if necessary."
One of the acolytes pulls a brand from a burning brazier. The brand is in the shape of a sickle.
"Hold out your left wrist. The pain will last only a moment."
The acolyte presses the brand onto Ana's writs, and her flesh is burned with the mark of a sickle.
"I now welcome you into the order of the Warrior Women of Madarua." Pandora presents you with a bronze mask in the likeness of Madarua (like the other warrior women wear) and a set of green robes.
Wallia says, "We may as well top up the canteens."
Ferrous follows Wallia to the water trap room and returns to camp with some water for the others stationed there. He is still sulking a bit about the fake treasure hoard.
Wallia, seeing Ferrous being a little morose, says, "We can go to the King's tomb and get some real treasure, what do you say?"
When Ana returns to her company, she wears a bronze mask like those worn by the other warrior women. Beneath her armor, she wears green robes.
I think it best to wait for everyone else to return from the joining the local cults. Tell me of your home Wallia? Do you think we will ever see our homes again? Pandora made it sound like the surface was death but I have to believe that there is a way back.
Wallia says, "I meant after we have been reunited. Oh Winterbourne Stoke, that is where my parrish is located. It is a nice wooded place with a lot of farms. From time to time we would have to deal with kobolds and such. Spreading the good word is my calling. What about you brother Ferrous?"
Zynazyr considers the proposition further. He wonders if he will ever leave this place and realizes joining the group would be beneficial if that were the case. As his eyes wander around while thinking, they keep coming back to Auriga's stripped robe, and he recalls seeing a similar pattern on the figures in his dream.
"Truly? It was not I that sent you that dream; I did not know you existed at that point, and without your membership here I would not be able to touch your mind... perhaps it was Usamigaras himself? Who else would have the power to bring you from the distant past, the time before the world was destroyed, to the present day?"
"Indeed, I take it as a sign that you were meant to join us. What else could it mean?"
He smiles.
"Come, let us begin the initiation."
"Hmmm... are we a person short?" Auriga asks the others when they arrive. "Where's your lady friend?"
"Let me give you these rings," Auriga says. He presents Ferrous, Fistep, and Wallia with silver rings, marked with the face of Usamigaras.
"They mark you as friends of the Magi of Usamigaras. I suggest you wear them with the face inwards... not everyone who might see them is a friend of ours. But show them to any Magi you meet to indicate that you are an ally."
Wallia says, "She has something she needs attending to ."
Brathas intends to wear the Mask of Usamigaras when among the Magi, and the parakeet mask when out exploring the pyramid. No sense having the Magi get blamed for whatever we might do.
He'll try to avoid spending much time around the Warrior Maidens (even moreso if he finds out about their plan).
Sounds peaceful I hail from Rockhome the mighty Dwarven city. I served in the guard for several years. I left to make a fortune that would never come to me in that position. But now after finding one and having it crumble away before me I see that maybe I was in error this whole time. What I wouldn't give to be back home walking the caverns of Rockhome again. But enough sentiment. Let's find our other party members and see what can be done about this Zargon. Who knows our treasure hoard may yet lay below.
Ferrous puts the ring on his finger with the head facing towards him. Once out of sight of the Magi he will take the ring off and place it in pouch at his side.
Well Brathas and Zynazyr do you feel different now that you belong to some order of the place? Did the Magi provide any clues on how to defeat Zargon?
"Yes, I do. No, they did not; I didn't ask. Perhaps they will learn something from those books we found."
Before leaving, Zynazyr reminds Auriga that he will be back in the morning to learn another spell.
At Ferrous' question, Zynazyr rubs the palm of his hand. "Not too much different. Hopefully the sharing of knowledge will help us in the future."
Wallia says, "INteresting. I would love to see Rockhome someday."
Later, he says, "Ok, lets get Ana and go see what the King's tomb has on offer."
Stuffs the ring in his backpack.
"Hello again," Pandora says.
"Here, take these," she says, as she thrusts a handful of bronze bracelets at the group. The bracelets are marked with an image of Madarua. "Show these to any of us you meet so they know you are an ally."
She looks around. "Anything else? No? All right then. Good luck out there," she says brusquely as she turns away and the portcullis closes.
|
Though it takes some time, the group heads back to the tomb where they believe the king must be buried.
As they pass through the central "false" tomb, the group hears a rattling noise. The various bones scattered around the chamber begin to rise!
.
Surprise Round Initiative:
Block 1: Zynazyr
Block 2: Some Skeletons
Block 2: Ana, Brathas
Block 4: More Skeletons
Ferrous is wearing the Maduaruan bracelet. Distracted by thoughts of Rockhome he is caught off guard by the dead rising again, this time including some horses.
Wallia says on the way to the tomb to Ana, "I must say I would have liked to join their order. They seemed like the most rational group we have seen here."
Ana nods, saying nothing, her emotions hidden by the bronze mask.
Was bothering shoving the bracelet into his backpack.
Zynazyr darts to the corner of the room, and shoots a tiny bolt of lightning at the skeleton adjacent to him.