Can Shiko Coup de Grace the bound man?
Mohktar you find a small vial of something foul and a most peculiar dagger. It seems to have a small hole near the tip that oozes something with a pungent smell, you're pretty sure it's poison.
Lilly manages to stabilize Bahni's breathing, but she can tell it's only a matter of time before Bahni passes away.
What next?
"Damnit! >:( "
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
Mohktar considers the vial of poison and wonders if this is what was given to Bahni.
Sounding almost frantic Pratavh says, "We must get her to our destination, there is no other way to save her. We should move, quickly."
Shiko grunts as he swings the katana in an arc *shwack* and the cultist assassin's head rolls forward with a spurt of blood. He looks to Mohktar Root and stem.. it is the only way.
He bounds forward towards the Palanquin
Fahad and Wadi nod at the wisdom of Pratavh's words. Soon you are all wading into the warm waters of the bay. The day is mercifully calm with little in the way of swell. You notice schools of colorful fish darting away from your toes. As you get closer you feel a strange magnetism from the vertical whirlpool of magical blue light that the spirits are streaming into.
You step closer and the water rises as the beach gently slopes away into the bay. The palanquin is getting buffeted by the few waves and you get a feeling that it's served it's purpose. Thanks the magic of the scroll you no longer have need for air. Bahni seems semi-catatonic in the water but she appears to be breathing at least. The two acolytes gently drag her forwards by her arms.
The sea itself possesses a strange attraction. 'Swim to the gate, swim swim swim, little fishes' You look around suddenly and for a moment you had a sense of dislocation. No longer where you in the sea, but you where inside a pool looking up at a young girl making ripples on the surface with a stick. There is another judder and it's gone, you're back in the sea, submerged and swimming towards the gate. You look back towards the shore and you notice a great many souls streaming through the gate. They seem to be rushing.
The gate itself is very strange to look at up close, and you can feel it's power as it sends odd pressure waves through the water every time a spirit passes over. As before the gate momentarily flashes to show the other side a soul passes through. However you notice the destination seems to change based on some random scheme you can't divine.
Do you approach?
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"This gate is incredible, it draws so much of the weave that it actually warps the planes surrounding it. Allowing you glimpses of the other planes. Don't be worried though the Monks told us it would not affect us, only the souls passing through of those who have passed on" I hope Alwyn tells the others, sounding slightly muffled as the water distorts his voice making it had to tell where he is unless looking at him.
Lilly sees the different images in the portal.
What sort of places/images do we see.
Abyss, hell's layers and everything more positive?
"This is surreal. But there are certainly places i would hate to go to.
I'm no scared little kitten, but some of them would surely be unpleasant."
Turning back to Alwyn and Pratavh, "Alright, let's get this over with and get back to dry shores."
Good thing i'm not wearing simple white fabric.
Pratavh has no real clue what is going on with the pattern or the powers involved, his great knowledge for once failing him. He simply looks to Lilly and says, I agree, let's get this done quickly, before we lose her."[/b]
You swim closer and the pressure waves from the passage of spirits get stronger and stronger. Soon you are being buffeted about and making headway is proving difficult. A particularly powerful wave causes you to tumble back and hit the wooden floor of the dance studio. An annoyed feminine voice harangues you, "Again! Do it again, this time don't trip!" You surprise yourself by replying, "Yes mistress!"
With a start you look down and see the sea bed, and once more you approach the maelstrom of blue light that represents the portal. Something about the edges makes it hard to look at directly, but this close it feels vast, alien, incomprehensible. Just looking at it makes you feel sick, the way it flickers so as the souls enter, never the same destination twice. Feeling vaguely nauseous, you tear yourself away / push up from the floor in the cold dark room. The snow has been falling and you have a feeling you shouldn't have had some much ice wine. You drag yourself away from the bed and a man stirs, he's very handsome, somehow he seems familiar. In fact you...
You start suddenly, the vertical whirlpool of the gate fills your vision. You have no recollection of getting this close. The pressure waves are beyond words at this distance, and it feels as if the very fabric of the universe was stretched taught like the skin of a drum pelted with rocks. You look behind you and a great host of spirits, trailing back like a snake to the land is streaming through. Faster and faster they come and the surface of the gate vibrates faster and faster and the view of beyond becomes more and more confused. But out of the chaos comes a strange picture of a girl. She is dressed in a tutu and is doing a pirouette, and as the picture flickers she moves, as if you are seeing snatches of instants linked together. The pictures change and the girl changes, grows, becomes graceful confident.
Beyond doubt you are watching Bahni as she was, you glance down to see how she is and you notice her wasted body is limned with tiny motes of yellow light swirling like a constellation of starts. Her body glides forwards sucked up into the currents of the maelstrom, even if you had wanted to it would have been impossible to stop her entering now. You notice the vast host of souls is mostly past now, and slowly the cadence of the drum beats stills. There is a moment of silence and stillness as Bahni's outstretched hand touches the gate. Her form grows translucent at the junction and the motes of light seem to react with the gate, which abruptly changes color from blue to the color of ripe corn. One very last spirit passes and then the gate is perfectly still, with only the smallest of ripples as Bahni passes through. There is a moment as she is past, the moment seems to stretch in to hours, days, years. And then there is light, and the world drops away.
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Nodding as he turns, Alwyn responds"She has a beautiful soul, that became evident in her craft, and was taken far to soon from this world. I believed her soul worth saving, and my companions did as well I believe. What must be done to right this "affront" as you call it that has been set in motion. Many things have not been right in this .... city? as Alwyn says this part the cadence slows, looking around, not really sure I'm still in Niswan anymore before speeding back up to normal. I can't speak for my companions, only they may do that, but for myself I wish to help her if her fate can be restored to what it was before the attack. Whatever the price may be, I am willing to pay it."
What....another altar? This is some kind of bad joke.
As the voice talks to her and asks the question of self sacrifice, her thoughts are short.
"If this is related to my vision earlier, damn right i will!
But do tell me some more about it."
Shiko mutters under his breath in Tien, a curse he learned long ago.
Come on Mohktar, even the weather conspires against us here.. and he turns to leave
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Mohktar puts a hand out to pause his friend. "The assassin had implements for a dangerous poison. You've more skill with these things than I." the monk offers the tightly wrapped satchel to Shiko. "Perhaps you can ascertain it's effectiveness and antidote? Turn the enemy's weapon against them?"
Even as he asks the question both men turn to see the gigantic waves approaching from the bay. "Our friends are down there, yes? They'd have used the acolytes' scrolls by now."
A very odd thing happens. There is an old venerable monk up there with you, robed in faded orange with whisps of greying hair at the temples. You couldn't say how he got up there, but you've seen him before. He is presently staring out at the ocean and remarks mildly, "Amarini mo ōku no ikari, sore wa migurushīdesu. Soredemo watashi wa chōdodearu koto ga gen'in o handan shimasu."
He turns towards the pair of you and motions arthritically towards the satchel, saying, "Bāharaurori san wa, a tte mo sonkei kurosan ga anzen ni, sono baiaru o shori suru koto ga dekimasen. Kore wa, sū sen-mairu dore mo arimasen, katsukazan no naka ni nagekoma rete iru hitsuyō ga arimasu. Anata wa watashi o yurusudarouga, watashi wa kyō no gogo ni sanka suru puresu wa nani mo arimasen."
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The scene suddenly shifts and you feel like your are falling, falling for a very long time. There is a sudden light and then...
Your attention is suddenly brought back to the bay, for there is a second tremendous concussion as the waves from the first one start striking the shore with force of a winter gale.
You spot a mote of inky darkness streak out into the sky with a terrible wail. The light must be playing tricks on you, or perhaps it was some percularity of the wind for the contrail left by whatever it was looked like a twisted face in anguish although it soon faded. As quickly as it started the tempest that had been stirring up the waters vanishes. You hear the monk behind you grunt, "Watashi wa anata no yūjin ga oyogu koto ga dekiru to omoimasu. Sore wa chōdo sore no baai, sorera o sakana no ga kenmei kamo shiremasen."
Bahni, Alwyn, Pratavh, Lilly along with the two Acolytes Fahad and Wadi are found washed up on the shore. All of them where covered with multiple abrasions and seemed to have aged perhaps ten years in a single day. All of them are marked with a small flash of white hair. The amazing news is that Bahni has been miraculously healed, but she too seems older...
The party are enjoying some well deserved rest at their hotel (The Seafarer's Rest) when a letter arrives:
Congratulations!
The operation at the Silk Mill has been a resounding success. Still we fear this may only offer temporary respite, because this was just the cultists's regional chapter. Ay your earliest convenience we would like to discuss an expedition to Lechmugee.
Your's respectfully,
Raheem Pandisar
As Lilli took in yet more mysterious visions, the falling down was a certain 'whoah, what the..'. *cue the white flash*
-.-...-.o....o.O....*snaps awake*
"Where...what."
Stroking a bit of hair out of her face, she notices a piece of it being white. Huh? White hair? She quickly checks the rest, thankfully it being still her natural color. Some big mess is about to come our way, isn't it.
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When at the hotel:
"Alwyn, Pratavh, i'd be lying if i'd say 'it could be just me', but you two look a little older."
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Rubbing the considerably rougher stubble this morning as he eats breakfast, the bard studies his reflection in the mirror. I agreed to his proposal, and would do so again, but I wonder how much of my life did I just bargain away?...It doesn't matter, Bahni survived and that is all that mattered.
later...
"Yeah, but you know Lilly, I think the white lock is actually very becoming on you. Peeking in and out of your other chestnut locks like it does. Pratavh on the other hand it just makes him look old"
Unsure as to how she will react Alwyn is ready to duck at the first hint of of thrown projectiles.
"It being white as snow and shiny might be cool, but having aged after a bargain in a vision, isn't what i had in mind as an effect.
Speaking of which, don't tell me you didn't have some sort of vision?"
Shiko says The Pandisar requests our presence...no doubt to send us off to finish this Cult.
Having met up with the others and hearing Lilly's words Pratavh replies, "I think we have all aged. You look lovely regardless Lilly. As for you," He glares at Alwyn, "You are no longer a spring chicken yourself." As he moves he groans a bit, "I think I got the worst ofit though, I think I've reached middle age. At least they were years well lost, I can live with that."
Lord Pandisar's carriage arrives and takes you to his residence. The entrance way is very grand, with a sweeping staircase leading upstairs, but the private areas are understated, almost homely. You are ushered into his somewhat spartan study and are surprised to see the Thakur is there too. Lord Pandisar's table, like many of the things in his house, is well made but seems entirely without the usual frilly pretense you are used to.
Lord Pandisar smiles as you are seated, and his manservant brings in cups of steaming Chai. He then addresses you in the common tongue, "Lady, Gentlemen. I would like to extend the Thankur's congratulations on your success. It appears you have entirely removed the taint of Dhalavei's foul cult from this city! A remarkable achievement, something that we tried to do ourselves repeatedly but never managed. It turns out several of the palace guards had been compromised, offered various illegal drugs in payment for information. Knowing the game was up, the compromised guardsmen where found dead by their own hands in barracks."
Lord Pandisar shakes his head, apparently finding that a bitter pill to swallow. He takes another breath and laments, "Regrettably while this progress is most welcome, it's only a matter of time before the cult grows back like a weed. Historically there have Pogroms before, most notably in the reign of Thakur Awani three hundred years ago, but always some part of the cult escaped. The Thakur requests that 'if at all you try to eliminate the cult in a single attack, so that the cultists have no chance to regroup' I think this is good advice. Do you agree?"
He looks at you hopefully.
Taking his seat shakily with great relief, Pratavh listens to what Lord Pansidar has to say. As he finishes Pratavh says, "I agree, they need to be dealt with once and for all. The problem is, where do we find them?" Pratavh thinks while Hirati looks at him with concern as she senses his discomfort with his newly aged body. Taking a drink of his Chai Pratavh asks, "There wouldn't happen to be a mountain due south of us would there? One that may have a concealed shrine on it?"
Raheem nods, "Based on historical accounts and the notes you found at the silk mill, we believe the cult's main head quarters is based in the vicinity of Leckumgee. There are several mountains in that area, one to the east and one to the south. Leckumgee itself is a week to ten days travel south from here, through thick jungle."
Raheem looks at Pratavh as he adds, "That of course is dangerous, but to seasoned travelers like yourselves I doubt it's an insurmountable obstacle. There is one problem however, we are getting towards the wet season, which..." His voice trails off, sheepishly he asks, "Have you, er ever witnessed the monsoon?"
Blowing away a strand of hair that fell into her face, Lilly cuts to the point.
"There's something you're not telling us here, your lordship.
Is something bothersome about the monsoon?"
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Lore Master gives Alwyn a 20 on either of the two knowledge checks.
"Please Lord Pandisar, do not hold back. The Monsoon season is still probably a month off, although freak storms have been known to strike early. The monsoons are not the only thing bothering you. We wish to help and have made sacrifices to that end; let us know what you worry about. Better the devils we know than the ones we don't or must guess are there."
"The vision I had of Leckumgee showed it to be roiling with corruption; we will find few if any friends among the inhabitants there I'm afraid. Yet I don't think that will be the absolute center of the corruption based on comments my companions have made."
He is petitioning for the Thakur to open up with what bothers him; not berating him for holding back.
Raheem glances at the Thakur and sighs, "Dhalavei's cult has many strange and unlikely followers. We have ah, well we've heard rumors there may be a 'dragon of corruption' from... Well frankly the sources have typically been insane, but the rumors are persistent despite every effort to keep the lid on wild rumors. I'm not entirely sure I believe it, but supposedly this 'dragon' is the source for a major constituent of the acidic venom the cult employs post mortem. If this is true, and there really is a dragon, then your trip may well be hazardous indeed."
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"Oh, hmmmmm, a dragon will most definitely make things more difficult. Then again we knew something strong would have to be behind this, and a dragon would explain it coming back around every so often. Most unfortunate since they tend to get stronger with age. It will be a wonderful tale to tell when we return, Sir"
Irregardless of his being worried about going up against a possible dragon, his inner sense of adventure and wonder that made him want to be a bard, would never let him walk away from this offer.
Pratavh listenes to Lord Pandisar's words but finds nothing wrong with them, other than a dragon of course. Hirati though realizes there's something more, likely due to her innate sense of nosiness and mischief. Pratavh senses her delight and intention to say something to cause trouble and thinks hard at her, Don't, tell Alwyn instead, we can't afford trouble here so let Alwyn handle it. While she is disappointed she reluctantly informs Alwyn mentally, He's hiding something else, something embarrassing. Prat says you should handle it carefully.
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Thank you, I shall do my best Alwyn tell the little dragon. Thinking for a moment while looking around the room a bit. Bowing to the Thakur.....
"With you pardon Eminence I wish to speak with Lord Pandisar a moment privately."
Walking with Lord Pandisar over towards a window where they can look out over the city and harbor.
"It's beautiful isn't it, even so we know that at the bottom in crevasses unseen there are dark and dangerous parts of the city. A Dragon in Monsoon season is all very dangerous and worrisome but our little fairy dragon friend Hirati feels you are still holding back on something Sir. And I agree with her, might there be a familial connection with this group that will possibly bring disgrace back upon yourself or the Thakur? Or is it something else? We wish to bring no dishonor upon ourselves or the Kingdom. As I said earlier, we wish to fight the devils we know instead of learning of them only after they have stuck a dagger in our backs."
शांति
स्थिरता
मौन
A dragon? Mohktar had been quiet during the interview, but the mention of such a beast as an enemy piques his interest. As Alwyn sees to a private conversation with Pandisar, he leans close to the others and says quietly, We must see to the collection of these accounts he mentioned. If it is a dragon we face, then the more we know will allow us to be better equipped to defeat it."
Lilly was surprised at the news...
A dragon? That's not something i'd expected to run into soon.
Given the risk, i'd rather not run into it, but if we must, we must.
Raheem pauses monetarily, and then sighs deeply. Looking uncomfortable he tells Alwyn, "Every man has a weakness, you know this of course..."
His voice trails off as he stares out of the window overlooking the city, "His Highness and ahem I have a common weakness for dancers. Not just any dancer of course! Oh no, it's well ahh. How to put this delicately? You've seen Muskar's shadow dance, something that only the creme de la creme can do justice to. Well a dancer who can do that can do other things, not easily forgotten. Bahni is one such dancer, but far from the only one, although she was perhaps the most beautiful and easily the most honorable. Deepti, if anything, was a better dancer but she lacked a certain moral fiber. Some of the things that happened where deeply scandalous, and had to be hushed up. It got too much when she started killing bystanders, and doing things with their corpses... We arrested her, but she escaped into the jungle. This was some years ago, she will be older now but don't underestimate her. She killed twenty armed men with her wiles and her fists, wearing only a bunny costume." Raheem makes a nervous little gesture, and whispers "Don't judge, you'd have likely been besotted with her too. Know this, she is a deeply manipulative and vicious little vixen, and it's quite likely she has others under her thrall."
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Alwyn nods at this revelation "Often the most beautiful things can also be the most dangerous, we shall be on our watch for Deepti and her companions. I pass no judgement on you or the Thakur for your weakness, neither of you are the first, much less the last to look deeply into a woman's eyes only to have her steal your soul. I must advise my companions of the danger we face but beyond that the matter will likely never come up again in conversation concerning you or the Thakur."
Later when everyone is together and it is private Alwyn will reveal the information he has concerning Deepti and her dangers.
Raheem nods at Alwyn, relieved he understands and says, "Perhaps we should return to your companions and discuss the expedition."
The pair walk back and Raheem addresses the party, "We have taken the liberty of arranging transportation. Considering the terrain, elephants are the best and most reliable mode of transport. The jungle itself is thick and everything you might imagine. We have a guide Bala, who will help care for the elephants and make camp. He knows the jungles although I'm not always convinced by his 'short cuts'. Everything should be ready for the day after tomorrow. Do you have any further questions?"