One Thousand And One Nightmares

Game Master John M Baker

"As for you," she adds, turning to Maw"ud, "The price for this bottle is simple, Sayyid. It is yours, if you promise to fill it."

Maw"ud inclines his head towards the old woman, opening his mouth to speak as the gnoll draws his flail. At the sound of the weapon hitting the floor, he slowly turns to appraise the situation. Silently, he listens as the exchange plays out. Once the barking has died out, he eyes the gnoll and calmly states, "You interrupt commerce. That is most decidedly not in the interest of the Duskwardens nor of the Nightstalls. If you feel a need to mark your territory, do it outside."

The storyteller remains sober while observing the offer of wrist blades to Javi. "Nice? Depends which side of those blades you are on. Those are made for men who profit in murder and blood."

Kitchikez leans back against the post, remaining sitting, feeling slightly miffed, "Murder and blood eh? You speak as if from experience, sir." He raises his eyebrows questioningly and extends his own two arms in front of himself, letting his sleeves rise up to expose his wrists and the tops of his forearms, showing the distinct absence of wrist sheathes.

"You interrupt commerce. That is most decidedly not in the interest of the Duskwardens nor of the Nightstalls."

Shaggar snorts a hard laugh, "Go about your commerce then, sayyid. This isn't your business." The gnoll returns to studying Yin Hu, waiting to find out her curious relationship with the halfling.

Javi smiles and opens his mouth to respond to Yin Hu's offer, only to be cut off be gnoll. As the huge Duskman begins loosening his weapon, the halfling's mind goes to a full sprint, searching for any and every lane for retreat or cover… especially those that near anything that could possibly become an exit. At the same time, Javi takes a few steps back, sinking into a ready posture. The brute was obviously not joking around, and Javi wasn't about to become so much pulp at the end of some Duskman's brain-smasher.

And while the halfling's posture is obviously set to sprint, his face doesn't seem to show fear. In fact, if you had to guess, he's excited… enjoying the dangerous game with the huge gnoll.

"Actually, Duskman, if I wanted to insult you, I'd call you a brainless, flea-ridden, carrion-eating, camel-dung-smelling thug who can't think beyond the small amount of silver some petty merchant pays you for whatever flavor of 'justice' serves his whim at the moment. Though I'm pleasantly surprised to discover you can count to three… so I could obviously not level the first of those at you." He eyes the gnoll's weapon warily, holding up two forestalling hands, "Ya know, were I inclined to insult you. As it stands, we both know I stole nothing, and you seem to want to brain me over your bruised pride."

"You think you're the first of the Dusk to test the Wasp, Mountain? I underestimated you before, so I'm guessing it just might be a fun chase."

The halfling addresses Yin Hu without looking away from the huge gnoll. "Those sheaths look very nice, and I certainly haven't ever seen a pair sized for me. Depending on the price, I might be interested. But i said it before… stuff can be gained and lost. What have you in the way of experiences? I'd love to see something that I've never seen before… maybe get my blood really pounding again, if you know what I mean."

...What have you in the way of experiences? I'd love to see something that I've never seen before… maybe get my blood really pounding again, if you know what I mean."

Kitchikez frowns as the tension in the room increased palpably at Javi's response to the Duskman, but his eyes seem mostly concerned with the merchandise and getting blood off the rugs than those involved in the verbal swashbuckling. He can't help but look askance at Javi at the last statement he made, muttering quietly to himself, "Getting chased by that gnoll with that weapon doesn't get his heart pumping?!"

The gnoll cocks his head curiously, astonished at the halfling. His response, when it comes, is full of disbelief. "Sayyid, do you want to die? There are many Dusk in the markets of many races and many skills - warriors, scouts, and spellsingers - and all of them will seek your blood if it comes to a point of honor. You are quick... but not quick enough. Insult, defy, or challenge the Dusk and they will not be kind."

Shaggar's hitches the flail's ball back onto his belt and turns on the merchant once again, "Is he a crazed Holy Man to speak like this?"

Returning his attention to the exotic seller, Maw"ud continues, "Honored lady, I am more than a little surprised. I was tasked by my master to ask for a certain bottle. I was not tasked with making empty promises. If you care to explain your meaning, perhaps you would find me amenable to exceeding my authority."

Returning his attention to the exotic seller, Maw"ud continues, "Honored lady, I am more than a little surprised. I was tasked by my master to ask for a certain bottle. I was not tasked with making empty promises. If you care to explain your meaning, perhaps you would find me amenable to exceeding my authority."

With a sarcastic, false obsequiousness, she replies, "I am but a simple peddler, Sayyid. I buy and sell the things I find in this store. I can only sell to the people who are here, before me. If you buy this bottle, it will be yours to do with as you wish. Turn around, sell it yourself, that is your business. If your master wished to buy the bottle from me directly, he would be here, himself, not you. Perhaps he fears what I would ask of him."

Addressing the group at large, she adds, "But I like this group before me. I am giving you all the most amazing deals. I ask nothing of any of you that you will not find possible to fulfill. In fact, you will all find that the prices you pay result in grand benefits! For example, you, little one, you want to see something completely new? Stay with the storyteller. Do this, and you will see and witness things you never thought possible. And for you, Sayyid, filling this bottle is very easy when you can see that it is already filled!"

She holds out the bottle for Maw"ud to inspect. The blues and golds and iridescence of the glass makes it hard to view its contents, but it appears to be filled with shimmering sand. And yet, the grains yet appear suspended somehow, as if the gods took wisps of smoke, turned them to pearls, ground them to dust, and filled the bottle with that. It is a curious bottle indeed.

With a sarcastic, false obsequiousness, she replies, "I am but a simple peddler, Sayyid. I buy and sell the things I find in this store. I can only sell to the people who are here, before me. If you buy this bottle, it will be yours to do with as you wish. Turn around, sell it yourself, that is your business. If your master wished to buy the bottle from me directly, he would be here, himself, not you. Perhaps he fears what I would ask of him."

...And for you, Sayyid, filling this bottle is very easy when you can see that it is already filled!"[/b]

She holds out the bottle for Maw"ud to inspect. The blues and golds and iridescence of the glass makes it hard to view its contents, but it appears to be filled with shimmering sand. And yet, the grains yet appear suspended somehow, as if the gods took wisps of smoke, turned them to pearls, ground them to dust, and filled the bottle with that. It is a curious bottle indeed.

Stepping up to the elderly woman, Maw"ud accepts the bottle. Handling it gingerly, he peers within to see the contents swirling within the beautiful glass. "You claim your price already met and should it remain so, you shall find my payment made. Thank your Sayyidah. May the gods bless and keep you." Maw"ud bows deeply in respect for the aged merchant.

As the gnoll stows his weapon, Javi relaxes… or, more accurately, he deflates. And if you didm' know any better, you'd say his face becomes a bit… petulant. "I'm not crazy," he asserts to the room in general, continuing in a mutter, "Why does everyone keep asking that?"

He turns back to the mountain-of-a-gnoll, face more serious than it has since he walked in… apparently the lack of excitement has had a sobering effect. "And to be clear, I stole nothing from your brass-maker. I don't want any trouble with the Dusk. Picking on a low-level Enforcer is one thing…." He leaves the rest unsaid, and is about to turn back to the conversation when something occurs to him. He turns back to Shaggar one more time, curious. "Speaking of… most low-level Enforcers are about a step above a thug. Think with their fists or blades. Not only can you count to three," he quips with a smirk, taking the sting from the jibe with a playfully appeasing gesture, "but you admitted you actually thought I was innocent AND took the time to make sure.. not to mention successfully tracking me down in Nightstalls." He looks at the gnoll with some surprised respect, "… you looking to climb the ranks? You're smarter than you look, Mountain." As he turns back, he mutters again, "And for real. I wouldn't argue if you made sure the Dusk knew I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

In fact, you will all find that the prices you pay result in grand benefits! For example, you, little one, you want to see something completely new? Stay with the storyteller. Do this, and you will see and witness things you never thought possible.

Javi grins, his energy coming back (even if he continues shooting glances at the huge gnoll), "So I get the sheaths AND get to see something special, and all I have to do is follow the story-teller around?"

If Yin Hu indicates that's true, Javi's grin widens and he bows his head. "I'll agree to that." His grin shifts over to Panchatantra, "You wishing you walked in now, story-teller?"

As the gnoll stows his weapon, Javi relaxes... or, more accurately, he deflates. And if you didn't know any better, you'd say his face becomes a bit... petulant. "I'm not crazy," he asserts to the room in general, continuing in a mutter, "Why does everyone keep asking that?"

LOL

He turns back to the mountain-of-a-gnoll, face more serious than it has since he walked in... apparently the lack of excitement has had a sobering effect. "And to be clear, I stole nothing from your brass-maker. I don't want any trouble with the Dusk. Picking on a low-level Enforcer is one thing..." He leaves the rest unsaid, and is about to turn back to the conversation when something occurs to him. He turns back to Shaggar one more time, curious. "Speaking of... most low-level Enforcers are about a step above a thug. Think with their fists or blades. Not only can you count to three," he quips with a smirk, taking the sting from the jibe with a playfully appeasing gesture, "but you admitted you actually thought I was innocent AND took the time to make sure.. not to mention successfully tracking me down in Nightstalls." He looks at the gnoll with some surprised respect, "... you looking to climb the ranks? You're smarter than you look, Mountain." As he turns back, he mutters again, "And for real. I wouldn't argue if you made sure the Dusk knew I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

The gnoll scratches behind his ear, mollified. "For the Dusk, the matter ends here. Tawid called you thief and you have not stolen. He may whine to my superiors - then there will be questions. I will speak the truth - that I found the 'thief', he stole nothing, and Tawid wasted my time before checking his goods." He gives an all canines grin, "Then there will be questions for Tawid."

"But I like this group before me. I am giving you all the most amazing deals. I ask nothing of any of you that you will not find possible to fulfill. In fact, you will all find that the prices you pay result in grand benefits!"

Shaggar finally realises the old woman is including him as a possible patron in her pronouncement - an odd thing for a Duskman. He glances at the obvious goods skeptically. "Sayyidah, I have no needs that can be met here. Unless, under your burqa, you have a winged Aasimar beauty seeking a gnoll lover?" He lets loose a high hyena cackle. "As long as you offer me no words of my glorious future, no prophecy that I am destined to fulfill... then tell me what you think I need and we will bargain how much it is worth to me."

Kitchikez starts when Shaggar starts to cackle his mirth, and relaxes when he realizes the Duskman is only laughing. He puts a hand flat on his chest and looks down, as if assuring himself his body is still contained within his skin.

"I will be happy for the company," he says good-naturedly. "Though I am poor in wealth, I can be rich in friends. I am called Panchatantra, and I wish for many things, but never that I did not walk into the tent of Yin Hu."

The halfling nods, though his face slowly screws up in confusion as he tries to disentangle the man's words. "Javi," he finally mutters in response.

Yin Hu shrugs toward Shaggar. "Pact mates, perhaps?"

She turns to Maw"ud and hands the bottle to him. "We have a deal. You would not like the bottle empty, anyway."

Theme Music

Stepping into Yin Hu's tent, almost as if in response to the passing of the bottle, a tall and imposing man, every bit the picture of an Osiriani noble, strides forth. His skin is deep bronze, and he carries the scepter of an asp. His clothing is of the cleanest white, the trim a true golden, and the azure of his headdress can only be lapis lazuli. The faint aroma of myrrh and mushrooms follows with him.

Yin Hu lets out a mild growl as he approaches. The noble does not respond in the slightest.

"Ah, Maw"ud! My good fellow," he speaks joyfully. "I see that you have met your goal with success! You are truly commendable. Isn't that pretty, the bottle? How the light catches the pearl sands inside? Now then..."

The noble casts his eyes around the tent, knowing just what to look for. He moves a rusty shield aside, revealing a damascene falchion. "There we are! A suitable trophy for one as worthy as yourself. Yin Hu, I will accept this as suitable recompense for our earlier agreement."

"So be it," she intones, an undercurrent of wariness beneath it.

"Excellent! Now then, Maw"ud, what do you think? Look at the craftsmanship of this blade! I offer this falchion to you. A reward for services rendered, for bringing me the bottle. I knew I could trust you!"

Delahmbra stands silent, eyes darting from Yin Hi to Maw "ud to the newcomer, not quite sure what to make of this turn of events.

Maw"ud is startled by the sudden entrance of the Osiriani. He works to recover the look of surprise on his face as the tall man moves purposefully through the tent to draw forth a remarkable falchion. At his words, the wiry dark skinned man gapes anew. He remembers himself in time to bow deeply and respond, "You honor me, effendi, with your generosity." Proffering the bottle, he adds, "Truly, the sands within this exquisite bottle do capture the imagination as much as the eye. Your request, my command, is fulfilled."

At the strange series of exchanges, Javi leans into Panchatantra and Shaggar – either forgetting or dismissing the fact that he was nearly a red stain on the gnoll's weapon moments before. His voice is pitched so as not to carry beyond the two.

He looks up at Shaggar with a grin, "Not that I'd do that sort of thing, obviously."

Also, Panchatantra, be warned: Very soon you will be receiving a nickname from Javi that will be much, much easier to type. :D

So if I'm reading the notes correctly Maw"ud's boss here is the guy who 'has the services' (which could mean enslaved or bought from slavers) Delamhbra's people... refering to this post.

Shaggar watches the rich stranger cautiously considering the words of Yin Hu previously as well as her 'offer'. Slavery wasn't illegal but it was something that Shaggar had grown to dislike... possibly since most gnolls embraced it as wholeheartedly as they did exiling him to the wastes. It was symptomatic of a callous people.

With this in mind, the gnoll chuffs his amusement at the halfling's comment, "Many just things happen outside the Nightstalls. These are not the Dusk's concern."

Yin Hu shrugs toward Shaggar. "Pack mates, perhaps?"

Noting the merchant's tendency to offer what was already in hand, Shaggar looks to the people in the tent as the potential 'pack mates' of which she speaks. To put it kindly, he has his doubts. More and more, he suspects the vaunted Yin Hu is nothing more than a clever grifter. He decides to put it to the test.

Shaggar nods, "For a Blackmaw true pack-mates would be welcome, Sayyidah. What is your price and where should I find this new pack?"

As if struck by an epiphany, Delamhbra looks to the newcomer then to
Yin Hu. You said the next person who enters...Him, he is the one who has my people? The last few words ending in a hiss as his eys narrow at the man and his hand straying to his kukri in his belt.

A big smile takes over his face as Delahmbra comes to the same realization as he did. But seeing the catfolks reaction he speaks up quickly, "Perhaps that's a... conversation best had outside the tent, yes?" He stands, making gentle gestures towards the tent flap, worriedly looking around at some of the more fragile items in the tent.

Panchatantra answers Javi simply, in an equally discrete tone. "He is the man who owns many things, and one with the power to own other men." The straightforward answer betrays a hint of distaste that might itself betray a stronger sentiment buried beneath layers of humility.

A humility the storyteller openly shows to the noble slaver. For to fail to do so might earn him a lashing, by tongue or scourge depending upon the man's mercy. He clasps his arms at his waist and bows, then dares to address him.

"Effendi. I am a simple storyteller who has been tasked by the great Yin Hu to pursue the bottle you now possess. So I must beg upon you to permit me to follow you, the owner of the bottle. I will follow as a friend, to offer succor; or as a servant, to offer my idle hands; as a guard, to offer Bijlivel in defense of your law; or as a bonepicker, to follow in the dust kicked up by your sandals."

Never once does he offer himself as a slave, and the absence seems very intentional.

Handing the falchion to Maw"ud, the nobleman turns to Delahmbra and smiles warmly, no hint of malice in return. "I have many people who serve me. Many, many indeed!" He rubs his thumb along the neck of the bottle. "Perhaps you should come, and see them, for yourself! There are catfolk among them, yes, as well as a large lizard-man servant, a scaled beauty with a poisonous kiss, an exotic elf-golem from the frozen wastes of Avistan, and many more! Why not come, and see for yourself! Maw"ud, please, feel free to relax, enjoy the market for all you have done this day. I shall take my prize home, and you can meet up with me there."

He turns to look at Panchatantra, his hand at the tent flap. "You may follow, storyteller, but be warned, I travel quickly! Be swift, or you shall not be able to even find the dust of my passage!"

The nobleman steps out of the tent. Yin Hu lets out a bark like an angry dog. "Shaggar you are called, yes? You should join up with the storyteller and those traveling with him. You will find them worthy pack mates, even the little one. You can be swift and follow Ramakhet, that noble, but Maw"ud will know where to find him if you are not. For if you stay, I will tell you, I will tell you all, what that bottle holds, and why you have been brought together."

"I will stay to listen, Sayyidah. After that, you can tell me the price of this pack."

Kitchikez, not quite sure if he is included in her little prophecy, settles deeper into the sack he's been resting on, waiting to hear her words. "About time..." he mutters quietly.

So does Javi get the wrist sheaths as part of the deal? :D

Javi turns back around from watching the man leave, giving Yin Hu and Shaggar an incredulous look, "Surely she meant 'especially the little one.' But I'm sure it was an honest mistake."

He then settles in to see what the story-teller will do… follow the man or stay with the mysterious merchant.

Delahmbra stands paralyzed with indecision, his eyes darting between the retreating figure of the newcomer and Yin Hu. His only movements are his sleek, furred tail twitching in small circles and his clawed fingers tapping on the hilt of his blade. Finally he sighs with resignation and turns toward Yin Hu. I will listen to what you have to say.
He turns to Maw"ud. I beseech you. You must show me where that man lives after she has had her say. Nodding at Yin Hu.

Kitchikez, hoping for a bit more excitement, sighs to himself. But he too, turns to his master ready to listen to her advice to the catfolk.

Maw"ud inspects the bejeweled falchion. He marvels at the exquisite flowing pattern in the metal. At the old crone's words, he gives her his attention, waiting to here the story of the bottle.

"Then listen, and listen carefully. A long time ago, in a desert far from here, the gods went to war. It was not a battle of good versus evil, or law versus chaos, but of the entirety of existence, or its destruction. In the plains of Gormuz, armies of angels and men and devils and genies--even armies of gods--all stood against the combined forces of horrors that could make even the foulest demon recoil. They stood strong against one who would have consumed... everything."

"Well... I could tell stories about the war, but you know what happened. We won. Gormuz is a foul pit and prison. Ninshabur is corrupted, but it is a small price to pay to keep the stars and sands and oceans and... well, you get the picture. But what you may not know is that evil thought it would be a good time to strike, just after the war and the Rough Beast was defeated. Demons and devils and evil genies and other, more bizarre forces struck against the forces of good and justice. Yet you see, life and kindness may be gentle, but they are not stupid. Good was prepared."

"Their greatest diviners hunted the celestial halls, the libraries of the Boneyard, teased forth the secrets from the darkest recesses of the Abyss. Holy watchers, with eyes more precise than an eagle's, combed through the sands of all the deserts, searching and choosing only the most pure and perfect grains from billions. The most devout craftsmen labored tirelessly by forges heated by the sacred radiance of the purest hearts, melting the grains into the finest glass. In this way, they created the perfect vessel."

"Then, as the hordes of carnage bore down on the weakened forces of light, they gave the vessel to a blind orphan boy. Unable to see the horror advance upon his position, he remained calm as he held the vessel aloft. The diviners approached him and recited to him a long, long list to speak, and speak these words, he did."

"The words were the true names of every individual soldier in that vile army. And with every name spoken, each dark myrmidon in turn was summoned, pulled into the vessel. As the very last blackened soul was entombed, the vessel was stoppered, and the army was no more."

Yin Hu's voice wavers, with something approximating fear.

"The bottle, that is the vessel. Each nacreous, sparkling grain you saw inside is a loathsome fiend. And Ramakhet... You, storyteller, you arrived sixth to repay the stranger's debt. Ramakhet arrived first. He bartered with me for a very long time, to receive a gift. It cost him dearly--his station in Osirion's court, his true love, his ability to feel satisfaction in his life. And yet, in return, he received a terrible gift... the ability to free outsider servants from their fetters."

Looking confused and concerned Delahmbra says to Yin Hu. You let him have this...thing. Why? Why not just destroy it? What are you playing at?

Javi nods, "It does seem the sort of object you keep close and secret. Assuming that story is more than …. well …. a story, what do you think he will do with it?"

"Why would he sacrifice these things? Love, happiness, comfort? These are things that sustain and enrich a man's life, and he would give them away for something no mere man can hope to control?"

There is no confusion on Panchatantra's face. No disbelief, either. "The things put into that bottle wanted nothing less, and nothing more, than nothing at all. Annihilation."

He nods in agreement with Javi's question, and adds some of his own. "Whatever became of the boy? And Yin Hu, what role did you have in this war, and the crafting of this bottle?"

Kitchikez, caught off guard at the magnitude of the power of the bottle that was just inside this very tent, looks at the door it departed out of. Obviously it is long gone from view, but he can't help wonder at its power, and what it'd be like to possess that power for himself. But he gives himself a mental shake and returns to the conversation at hand, adding another question for his master, "And what are you going to do about it now?! That thing can't be just... walking around!"

"No... it can't."

"But neither can it be simply destroyed. Destroy the bottle, and the army goes free. No, it is vital that the bottle still exist, for it can hold all the fiends and their allies. And should they be freed, they can be captured again. I have been around long enough to know that this sort of thing cannot hide forever... It must eventually be found... compromised by those who would sow chaos and destruction. It is not in the bottle's discovery that we are doomed. We will only suffer if we do not act to retrieve it."

Yin Hu then turns to Panchatantra. "So yes, I am here to arrange for the recapture of the bottle when it falls into the wrong hands, among other things. As for my role in the war? Clever you are. That is a very good question with a very interesting answer! The price for that story is five teeth from Rovagug's maw."

"The question remains... will you retrieve the bottle? Find any escaped monsters? Return them to their prison?"

Having stood up to express his incredulity, Yin Hu's question to Panchatantra about escaped monsters seems to deflate the ratfolk a bit, and he sits down heavily, the air 'woofing' out of him. He seems dazed now, and much like he'd prefer to be somewhere else.

Javi lets out a slow whistle, trying to gauge the group's reactions. His eyes hang mostly on Panchatantra.

Yin Hu then turns to Panchatantra. "The price for that story is five teeth from Rovagug's maw."

Listening silently to the tale of the bottle and what it might contain, the gnoll is incredulous - to say the least. Certain he's in the presence of a mad woman, he fires off a bone dry question, laced with wry humor, "Canines or molars?"

He waves off an answer, "Alright. I will try to get this bottle back for you. And if anything but sand falls from it, I'll stuff it back in... But if this task is as dangerous as you say, I'll expect more reward than just a few pack-mates... even with such a fine 'little one'." He gives the halfling a squinty half-snarl that was probably supposed to be a wink.

His fingers tap against the shaft of his spear in thought. A man of education and means would question all that he is being told: that the end of the world is contained in a bottle and in dirty hands? That this shriveled old peddler of wonders is over a millenium old? That a small score of individual who don't know each other and just met in a tent are tasked to prevent every wicked thing from escaping a glass prison, a task accomplished ages ago by a lone, blind child?

Panchatantra nods, as affirmation that all he has been told is true, and the gravity of the situation is appropriately dire. "I shall have to steal a chisel and hammer into Rovagug's mouth at a later time. We need to follow this man. I do not know right now what to do when confronting him, but...maybe if he is reasoned with..."

Even as he says it, he seems all too aware that such hopes are far too idealistic.

"...and when we have the bottle, what then? I assume it was hidden all this time, and must be hidden again. One of us must take it to some secret place and tell no others where we have taken it, and there bury it from the sight of men and gods. The knowledge of its location is bound to be a burden."

Del stands silently for a long while, then he looks to Yin Hu. My people are lost aren't they. Regardless of my actions they are lost. If I confront this man, he will kill my people. If I do nothing, the world as well as my people will be lost. If I do as you say, my people will be lost in the meantime. It seems my choice is no choice at all. I will do as you say, seeing as I have nothing else to do, but walk into the desert alone and perish. The catfolk sighs with resignation and waits for Yin Hu to tell them what needs to be done.

Yin Hu nods sagely, with a subvocalized chuckle. "Thank you. Here, let me give you something before you head on out. Maw"ud, you have access to Ramakhet's palace on the island of Okeno. You, great gnoll, would probably find this axe of use."

She pulls out a pair of slippers. "You, dear cat, your people are not yet lost, and Ramakhet still considers you too far beneath him to bother to exact revenge. Take these, you will find them useful at just the right time."

"And you, little one," she continues, turning to Javi, "you have the wrist sheaths, but you'll have to keep a close eye on things. This should come in handy."

She approaches Panchatantra. "And you, storyteller, you will need to learn much in the coming days. This book will contain secrets which will reveal themselves to you, over time. Keep it safe."

"Now, out! All of you! There is a world to save!"

She turns back to tend to her stall. She stops to look at her assistant. "You, too. Go!" She points at the calendar stone. "Look at the time! Your six months are over, you are free to go. And, from one survivalist to another, keep this close. Now off with you!"

Delahmbra accepts the slippers and puts them on his feet. He nods solemnly to Yin Hu and steps out of the stall without a word, worry and concern plainly etched on his features.

Kitchikez jumps when Yin Hu stops and shouts at him, but he is glad to be dismissed and even more happy to be getting a... parting gift? "May the sands never drink you dry Madam" he says with a bow, securing the jeweled dagger (???) to the sash at his waist. He turns and takes a final look around the tent, wondering when and if he'll ever see it again, then turns and steps outside. His step is lighter, more free, and he smiles at his traveling companions, "Well, this should be interesting."

Maw"ud listens to the exclamations and lamentations of the other occupants of the tent. He quietly watches the others as they receive gifts from the wizened old woman in preparation for their journey. At her declaration that he possesses access to the palace of Ramakhet on Okeno, he quirks an eyebrow.

"Am I not Ramakhet's man? Do you presume me to be so easily and quickly swayed?"

Yin Hu looks back at Maw"ud. "Swayed? No, certainly not. Ramakhet is a powerful man, you and he can take care of everyone in your own way should you see it necessary. And yet... You did promise to fill the bottle. Pray that he does not empty it."

Shaggar hefts the axe experimentally, enjoying the feel of it. "This is a gift I can appreciate, Yin Hu. You have my thanks."

Let me just pen this down... +5 Adamantine Keen, Holy, Vorpal, Dancing Greataxe of Speed and Defense. :p

The dark skinned man scowls at the crone's words. "So I did."

Looking to each of the other beings in the tent, he remarks, "I seem to be the only one left waiting their deposit for future services."

"Gratitude," he bows his head to Yin Hu. "If we succeed, I will meet you again in this life or the next."

Panchatantra wastes no time in cracking open his tome and inspecting its inked secrets. He walks out of Yin Hu's tent with the book swaddled in the crook of his right arm.