No. The ones you can see are still waiting, but they are not brandishing weapons.
Wetsands chuckles again. He stamps his foot on the sand three times then looks at Cordoba.
After a few moments he points to Cordoba's feet. "Agreed?"
"To peace, yes... agreed." The Deceiver stamps his foot three times.
The little Bhuka raises his hand and makes a complex hand signal.
Bhukas start creeping out of the brush, some of them staggering and a few of them dragging snoozing or stupefied Bhukas behind them. Several lug pieces of meat you can’t identify, several carry sacks that clatter and move as if they are fulls of bugs. There may be as many as twenty, or more, but it’s hard to tell because they disappear into the brush and over the surrounding dunes and return from different paths.
Before long a burly looking one with a wet rag on his face walks around filling a leather sack with the flowers off the lotus plants. He sits down apart from the group and starts plucking the petals off the flowers and squeezing little knobs for a liquid he drizzles into a bowl. He laughs to himself now and then while going away at his work. After mixing some liquid from a bottle and making a clay out of his concoction out of the sand he begins dividing it into little balls, then staggers around passing them out.
All the while the others scramble around collecting sticks and brush, some of them sit by the water and fill waterskins. Some of them drink.
A fire is built against the east wall of the round building and cooking begins. Katella nervously joins some of the Bhuka and cooks some of the pork while Bhuka roast giant bugs and camel. The jackals yip and follow anyone with meat. Food is shared, the Bhuka seem quite generous with whatever they have and insist that everyone try their delicacies. The sandbiters are delicious.
When all have eaten their fill and the sun begins to set Bhukas begin musicmaking by clapping, beating drums and singing while others begin dancing wildly, gyrating, leaping and eventually diving into the oasis. Pipes are pulled out and the exhausted dancers smoke the little lotus balls. Just like the food, the pipes are passed around freely. As they manically party and rollick in abandon you finally understand that they do have something in common with Varisian goblins. They just seem to lack the malice.
Wetsands will circulate around translating for some of his warriors and sociably asking all of you your names. Even after smoking lotus and meeting everyone, he still addresses everyone correctly.
The Varisian kids play with some of the Bhuka in the water and chase jackals while Bhodan, in particular, watches over them protectively and admonishes them not to smoke lotus. Nothing untoward happens, everyone eats well and for the first time in weeks a genuine feeling of relief becomes possible for everyone.
Wetsands asks if one of you will tell the story of how you arrived at Southwalls Goodwater.
The Deceiver tells the tale of the group's journey. "Our people travelled long and far aboard a ship which allowed us to move swiftly across the great ocean. But some of our number were wicked and committed great sins which angered the gods. The gods' sank the ship but they were merciful nevertheless and delivered the innocent onto this land. But the gods deemed it important that the innocents learn their lessons. Hence, this trial beneath the anvil of the sun. The discovery of this oasis is a sign from the gods that the gods see progress in the innocents' learning."
"Pardon my briefness of the tale, our journey is not yet at an end."
A most pleasant meeting this is! I am gladdened by the gathering of our two peoples. To not be clashing in anger and misery is most welcome. Thank you for the company Wet-sands.
Syd rolls his eyes at Cordoba's version of events, and he has a realisation. Not just a nutjob, a relidjus nutjob...
"Yarr Aref don't boggart the pipe my friend, pass it over to me"
Certainly my long-eared friend! That is quite an interesting flower which blossoms from your shoulder. Is that a desert cactus blossom?
Bohdan stays away from the pipes and any wine that might have been brought along, drinking only water and only eating the meat Katella prepares.
Sitting down next to his fellow half-orc he makes a little conversation, while keeping an eye on the kids.
"As long as he keeps his words and honors his promises, I don't mind Cordoba doing the talking. So far it's been going ok."
That is quite an interesting flower which blossoms from your shoulder. Is that a desert cactus blossom?
"Wahahahahaha."
Unable to focus on you but obvioiusly talking to you. He waves his pipe around.
"This flower not bad. Also fist cactus but not here. Eat that all day like hit on head."
"Wetsands ask Aref Sami Shahrokh why come here?"
Bohdan stays away from the pipes and any wine that might have been brought along, drinking only water and only eating the meat Katella prepares.
Sitting down next to his fellow half-orc he makes a little conversation, while keeping an eye on the kids.
"As long as he keeps his words and honors his promises, I don't mind Cordoba doing the talking. So far it's been going ok."
"Yer, so far. I sin him on the ship, though, mate. I fink we orta watch ourselves. He'll smile and gut yer at the same time. I int havin' none o' tha' stuff, 's made 'em all daft."
"Yarr Aref don't boggart the pipe my friend, pass it over to me"
"Why you have no hair like other bigbigs?"
"Why you have no hair like other bigbigs?"
"Hair gets in the way of hearing and seeing, I don't need that...
"Wetsands ask Aref Sami Shahrokh why come here?"
I lived in an oasis to the west for 2 handsful of seasons. I came to find a lost temple, buried in time with only stories remaining to let people know about it. It bears the name 'Aroden'. Perhaps your people have heard some story of this place?
"You want dead god temple? City under sand? Maybe Calebra's house."
He chatters at the other Bhuka, some of them shake their heads and wave their hands.
"Calebra big nasty ask dumb questions no answer."
"Me think tribe walking Kasheer there tomorrow. Me show tomorrow morning."
What does this Aref fellow want with a temple of Aroden?
To Bohden: "You follow dead god's child, Daddy Bohdan Orcson. You safe there."
Points to Syd surreptitiously and says to Bohdan: "Me no understand Syney Orcson. You brother? Some Bhuka stupid, too. Stupid no problem he big strong."
He points to the big Bhuka who mixed the drugs, still talking to Bohdan: "That me brother, Bigstones. He stupid but strong. No sick. Eat one-month-dead camel no problem. Drink Badwater no problem. Biglove him."
To Cordoba and Aref while they chat: "Wetsands language - talk good?"
"Wetsand's language, good, yes."
"Bigbig daughter of selling man come here. Run away from home. Daddy want her marry stupid. She come here live Bhuka life many years, teach me speak many words two language. Her name Zaaf."
To Aref Wetsands shouts in Qadiran: "Dawr al Qunaytirah al wadi ghada!"
"Wetsands, excuse me. But I'd like to check on the perimeter of the oasis. You can never be too careful."
"No problem Cordoba. Bhuka guards no shoot you."
"The jackals would have alert us Cordoba, but your right we should have a look".
"And besides I could use a walk and clear my head alittle."
Codoba and Ryor need not walk far before the fire inside the round building becomes invisible.
Codoba and Ryor need not walk far before the fire inside the round building becomes invisible.
WTF-And Yes
For Pharasma
Cordoba and Ryor walk to the perimeter of the oasis brush and begin circling it in silence. The vault of stars above and a slice of moon light the desert around you in a cool glow.
Things shimmer and shift in your peripheral vision as the lotus wears off, but for Cordoba the experience of seeing the night is extraordinary. The Bhuka guards nod and stamp their feet softly when you pass, each of them rests in the sand next to a jackal. You count five sentries by the time you complete your circuit.
It would seem from the way his guards are placed that Wetsands trusts your tribe.
"Ryor, though the Bhuka's trust us and I do not suspect any treachery... I prefer that we also post guards. What do you think?"
Posting guards is no problem.
The Bhukas will sleep in heaps to conserve body heat, scattered around here and there. Everyone who smoked will have low-light vision all night, so guarding without fire will be no problem for those humans who partook. The picket sentries of the Bhukas go out pretty far and with the jackals there, nothing will be entering the oasis at ground level without rasing a serious racket.
One worry you have is Calebra. Whatever Calebra is, Wetsands points into the air every time he mentions the name, so you all take it that Calebra can fly.
Everyone can recover their spells, if there was any remaining damage I'm sure Bohdan can cast before he rests.
The Deceiver prays for new spells at midnight.
To Aref Wetsands shouts in Qadiran: "Dawr al Qunaytirah al wadi ghada!"** spoiler omitted **
Ha-haaa! Sometimes size does matter, my friend! I thank you for your wonderful pipe, but I must be saying no more. I believe the extra eyes you are sprouting is telling me that I have hit my limit. Do the Bhuka know of the temple of Aroden? I would like to find where it lies. I need to grow in my art and the power that is reputed to lie within would be of great assistance in my growth. Any information you can give would be greatly appreciated, my friend.
"Hahaha. Yes bigbrother Aref. Dead god temple, buried city. Find tomorrow, we show you."
To Bohden: "You follow dead god's child, Daddy Bohdan Orcson. You safe there."
Points to Syd surreptitiously and says to Bohdan: "Me no understand Syney Orcson. You brother? Some Bhuka stupid, too. Stupid no problem he big strong."
He points to the big Bhuka who mixed the drugs, still talking to Bohdan: "That me brother, Bigstones. He stupid but strong. No sick. Eat one-month-dead camel no problem. Drink Badwater no problem. Biglove him."
"No, he's not my brother. We come from different parts of the world, which is also why someone like Aref sounds different from us, but it doesn't mean that anyone is stupid."
Curious about Wetsands' mentioning Aroden, Bohdan tries to inquire further."Did your people worship Aroden? You seem very knowledgeable about him and my saviour Iomedae."
"Desert harsh. Bhuka worship Gozreh. Zaaf teach Wetsands gods."
After some talk between Turin and Wetsands, everyone starts early, when the sun is nothing more than a glow on the horizon, and the two tribes make their way toward the mesas in the south east led by the Bhuka walking in single file, exactly the direction Turin was taking you. No breakfast is prepared, they just gnaw on food that was cooked the night before as they walk.
The desert is rocky scrub occasionally broken by a dune. At the first peak crossed you see five rocky mesas like squat stools – and these interrupted by a taller mesa and it is toward this one that Wetsands directs Aref’s eyes. “Calebra’s Tower,” he calls it. “Dead god’s temple.”
Two of the little men take up the rear, and carrying big brooms sweep any soft sand that the small army has disturbed.
The Buhuka, numbering 28, dress mostly in robes and turbans in desert shades and are armed with all manner of weapons. All together there are 42 of you, not bad odds were you to cross the path of Book and his remaining crew.
Strangely, Katella and Turin seem to be getting along very well. Their conversation is broken only occasionally when Katella stops to help or admonish the young ones.
Several times during the journey a ruckus erupts in the front of the column and the path is diverted around some obstacle or creature they sense underground, but aside from this the journey goes fairly well. When you reach the mesas it is almost noon and the sun is roaring above. Your soaked, sun-baked pates ache in the blaze. The young ones whine and complain. The Bhuka lead you into a cool natural cavern where stone walls decay, erected thousands of years ago but abandoned. An empty fire pit and the signs of recent occupation are everywhere.
“Hide much this hole. Sun low walk more,” Wetsands explains. Wetsands leads Aref to the cave’s opening from where the tall mesa is visible.
"There. No dunes, door you find. Calebra up-up top. My fingers tens of years guards the tower. Wetsands' father of father of father go inside up-up top. Big hole. Sneak-sneak. You no take children."
Aref:
"After now, Bhuka hunt north east. Say goodbye tonight."
Wetsands leads you back into the cave to a crevasse in the rock that drops straight down into blackness.
"Water. Twenty Bhuka height down, maybe more. Use rope and bag."
What to do? Keep walking to Katheer or scout the temple?
"I wanna check out that Temple"says Ryor as he jumps about all highed up....
"Wetsands, how safe is this cave? Is it only used by your tribe or are there other... visitors who come here often?"
Bohdan is clearly torn between seeing to the safety of the children and the possibility of discovering more about the father figure of his own goddess.
"Turin, how much longer to Katheer?"
"Only Bhuka here. No flyng things. No digging things. Only door."
He gestures to the crumbling walls within.
"Use stones build wall at entrance. No scorpions then. This Calebra's place, he most danger here. Kill Calebra walk safe."