Help yourself
So, we found some nice treasure but it seems we are no closer to finding Thorrpe. Where now? Noonan tries healing Dwal again.
Converting Greater Magic weapon into Cure Critical Wounds
+50% =54
Caster Check
Converting Restoration
+50%=34
I think this seems to be a dead-end.
Noonan correctly devises that this dragon's lair is a dead end.
Tariq however, overturns the quiver and a sheet of papyrus falls out.
A small regional map is drawn on the papyrus with a number of watering holes detailed across the map, the closest one to the north of you past a mountain ridge.
"Ah, good point. Well lets see there are some waterholes here and . . ."
Perhaps we should skip ahead a few and then double back, catch him bu surprise.
Shad looks at the paper and quiver, do they look like Thorrpes?
If he is, it is possible he is fighting his confinement
The hand writing does not, in fact, appear to be Thorrpe's. It's old and written in a bold Osiriani of broad strokes, quite unlike Thorrpe's usual surprisingly delicate handwriting.
Tariq believes he can get you to the nearest watering hole in two days time.
”No, it’s not Thorpe’s, but this is in fact very old and I can get us to the nearest watering hole in about two days with it.”
Tariq looks around.
”I guess we take what we can and leave the rest? I can harvest the parts off the dragon that are valuable while you check the rest of the complex up top?”
So are we going to try cutting him off at the pass? Noonan tries healing Dwal again
Summon Monster 4 into CCW
Wind Wall into CSW
Searing Light
Dispel Magic
Domain Cure Serious Wounds
Domain Cure Moderate
Silence
+50%= 32
Tariq leads you through the desrt and across the sands - eventually as you crest the dunes you see the ruins of a small village around an oasis below you.
Broken rock walls offer scant shade from the burning desert sun, but cloth sheets painted with triangles and yellow and blue stripes stretch between the crumbling walls, affording some shelter. Here and there, the walls remain intact enough to suggest the frame of a building, but the ruins otherwise appear ravaged by time. Still, the ruins show some signs of habitation. Wooden barrels topped with white marble lids stand in a shady area next to a wall. On the outskirts of the ruins, wooden racks hold stretched and drying animal hides. The hum of conversation drifts on the dry breeze.
Noonan cus a hand to his ear.
stealth
Shad successfully blends into the background while Dwalindor and Noonan look out and see several maftets wandering around the village.
Noonan waits.
Shad will take his time and just do a cursory scout of the village, not going deep inside, just enough to get a rough lay of the land
Noonan plays a little solitaire.
Shad moves through the shadows, occassionally being sucked into the dark patches away from the desert sun as he skulks throughh the ruined vaillage. Two adult maftets seem to be standing guard on the outskirts while other adults guard children in the inner ruins of the village.
They seem on edge about intruders.
Yep, still here. Need to confess your sins?
Noonan is making sand castles
”Noonan, have you had dealings with these beings before? Do you know what religion they follow?”
Tariq tried to recall anything he could about dealing with this culture.
Hmmm
So I guess we should go introduce ourselves to them.
”Give me a minute to form my thoughts and I will tell you what I know about these creatures.”
So I guess we could go introduce ourselves? I can help us be more charming.
Noonan pokes Tariq with his charm powa.
Tariq smooths his hair.
”Alright then, it’s showtime.”
He dramatically walks around so that he can come into view leading his camel. Keeping his hands open and his body relaxed as though he is happy and relieved he addresses the Maftet camp.
”Hello, I am Tariq Ibn-Ziyad. I am traveling through the desert with but a few friends. May we sit with you in your shade to rest while we share goods and stories and perhaps make friends before moving on?”
The maftets bristle at your appearance.
"Stay where you are humanoids!"
They call out behind them and an elderly looking mafet appears behind the guards. His hair is white, his fur streaked with gray.
"Welcome travelers. I apologize for our distrust but recently our tribe has been more mobile than some. Sit, tell me of your reasons for venturing out into the perilous wastes."
Noonan sits. Finally, we meet some people who are willing to talk. We seek a lost friend who was cursed by an ancient mask and believe he has wandered this way. Have you encountered any other humans?
”This is our elder, Noonan the Healer. Thank you for your kindness in allowing him to sit with you.”
Tariq says with a bow and also sits as offered.
Shad stands toward the back, hunched under his hat.
To our sorrow we have met other humanoids. Recently we were driven from our homes by madmen. Tell me, where did your friend go in the wastes?
Tell is about the madmen
We are searching the waterholes for his presence. As our friend here has said, please tell us of these madmen.
The madmen were curious - they wore gold masks, shaped like ancient funerary masks and fought with a blind fervor we have not seen. Our home was in the desert far from your kind as too often humanoids and maftet do not talk well together. We follow our own ways and humanoids are very harsh to those who move to rhythms other than their own.