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"I shall not fall to your tricks, wretched old man!" thunders the priest's voice from under his mask.
Idgethun gets up close and personal with the Lamashtan priest, and manages to land a serious blow!
Initiative - round 3 - bold may act!
1. Papy Shayn, Argus
2. Lepers
3. Zymir, Nahramon, Vasily
4. Ben-Garri
5. Idgethun
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Vasily's strike is clumsy, but the leper is even clumsier, and the attack connects! He seems staggered by the blow.
As for Ben-Garri, his resolve is strong and he resists Zymir's attempted invasion of his mind.
Initiative - round 3 - bold may act!
1. Papy Shayn, Argus
2. Lepers (2 unconscious)
3. Zymir, Nahramon, Vasily
4. Ben-Garri
5. Idgethun
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Argus charges past Zymir and knocks another leper unconscious!
One of the lepers attacks Idgethun, whereas the wounded one continues to assault Vasily.
Seeing his target fall down to the mighty dwarf's attacks, Nahramon moves and strikes, killing another leper.
Initiative - round 4 - bold may act!
1. Papy Shayn, Argus
2. Lepers (3 unconscious)
3. Zymir, Nahramon, Vasily
4. Ben-Garri
5. Idgethun
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Vasily downs the last leper standing, while Zymir asserts his natural authority over the Lamashtan cleric.
Ben-Garri suddenly stops and remains still for a few seconds, enough time for you to deal the finishing blow.
You interrogate the survivors at length, but they seem dedicated body and soul to Lamashtu, and uneager to talk to you apart from cursing you and your descendants up to the umptieth generation. You only manage to learn that Targos was a lifelong enemy of the local Lamashtan cult, and that Ben-Garri intended to seek revenge on the deceased Venture-Captain by defiling his remains.
After securing the corpse of Targos Min-Katheer and preparing it for travel, you find that the Pathfinder Society has arranged for a number of domesticated dromedary camels to serve as your mounts as they cross the high desert and make for Katheer. One camel is provided for each of you, including sufficient supplies and waterskins to make the trip, and another camel is granted to bear the shrouded body of the deceased Venture-Captain during the journey.
However, despite having the necessary means of transportation, you soon realize that you will still require assistance in crossing the desert on the trade road. According to Adril Hestram, this is best accomplished by joining one of the so-called “silken caravans” that traverse the Silken Way. You have been provided with the name of someone that might help you in this regard, a Qadiri noblewoman of the deep desert tribes named Jamila al-Shafah. As you reach the caravanserai at the edge of Lopul where she has her stall, you hear loud voices arguing.
"You trample on my honor like the fleas of a thousand angry camels with an offer at that price! I am offended, Hokama."
Glancing inside the gate, you see a dark-skinned beauty with henna-streaked hair and green eyes highlighted with kohl, dressed in traditional desert rider garb, although the luxurious fabrics and cosmopolitan cuts display her wealth and success as a trader of silks and precious stones of the desert. From her description, you understand that she is Jamila al-Shafah. She's seated with three men, two of whom are currently mildly arguing.
The man who just spoke is wearing typical clothing for a souk merchant of that city, and is of Keleshite origin. Despite his recent outburst, he's smiling with a conniving look, addressing an Osiriani facing him and who is wearing ample, bright clothes that make him appear used to travelling in the desert. The last man is an aged Taldan knight with a dented and tarnished armo, currently stroking his long handlebar moustache as he contemplates the two southern merchants with a bemused look.
"Mahmoud, peace! Don't you see we have guests?" interrupts the dark-haired beauty. "Please forgive my friends, honored guests. I am Jamila al-Shafa, leader of this caravan. These three fine men are Mahmoud, Hokama Pashket, and Gaspar du Mer." she adds as she nods respecfully towards the three merchants. "May I ask in turn who you are, and what you wish from me?"
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Idgethun is happy to let Pharasma do the judging, and holds nothing back as her daggers slice Ben-Garri's throat.
She will however, give the benefit of the doubt to the followers, stabilizing those she can and simply turning them over to the proper authorities.
nope
one
two
nope
nope
three!
At the caravanserai, Odd makes the introductions. "Humble greetings, Jamila al-Shafa. I am Idgethun Magesbane, a priestess of Pharasma, also called Idgethun the Silent or just Odd for short. These are my companions, Zymir al-Qa'im, Vasily Petrescu, Papy Shayn, Nahramon, and Argus Keld. We are bound to travel the desert to Katheer, and seek company. I am given to understand that you also journey to Katheer. Might we join you?"
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Greetings and Salutations to you all. I am Zymir al-Qa'im, Chronicler of the Cave of Aroden, Explorer of the Fallen Fortress, uncoverer of deadly mysteries, assistant to both the Noble and Infamous, Sage of the Sands, and Humble Pathfinder. Zymir give the woman and the other three gracious bows. The tales of your beauty proceed you Jamila al-Shafa. It is said that the only thing that surpasses your radiance is your business sense and leadership. It is these qualities that bring us here today. I understand you are a efficient merchant and fear our presence would hinder your operation but I assure you this would not be the case. We are all skilled and seasoned professionals with a wide range of talents. Our company on this journey would in fact be a boon to your caravan. We humbly ask you reconsider, and allow us to join you on this expedition.
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Good to know Targos caused enough of a stir with these guys that they hated him even in death.
Argus watched Idgethun dispatch the cleric and checking the followers. Yeah looks like I might not have held back as much as I should.
Upon meeting up with Jamila at the caravan, Argus keeps an eye out for anything out of the ordinary.
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Jamila appears to be impressed by Zymir's manners and honeyed words. "Your words are like the light of a sunset, beautiful and swaying. Very well, Master Zymir, you're all welcome aboard my caravan. Find us tomorrow at dawn, at Lopul's west gate. In the meantime, you're welcome to stay with us if you so wish, for we would enjoy your presence."
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W graciously accept your offer. Zymir says with another bow.
Once settled in Zymir will change into his fancy close and use a dab of his moon orchid cologne before rejoining the party. As the evening progresses Zymir will stay up and share stories with the merchants. He is especially interested in Jamila and tries to converse with her in private if possible. He will ask her about her likes and dislikes, her past, present and future. While an excellent orator Zymir also prides himself as being an excellent listener as well and excellent conversationalist. He continues to laces complements of Jamila into the any topic, focusing on her intellect and wit at first and them moving on to focus more on her beauty as the night goes on.
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Narhamon will follow with a new touch of perfume. He smile to Zymir al Qa'im and wisper
"This woman is surely gifted by Shelyn, her beauty is amazing."
And later he will engage the conversation with the merchants.
"You are, I guess, familliar with the trade road ? Do you have anecdote from your travels ?
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Idgethun spends most of her evening time around the fire honing her daggers, reading passages from The Bones Land in a Spiral, and listening to the merchant's idle chatter. However, she does set aside some time to converse with the slave, inquiring after Atmar's life story, the nature of the servitude, and what type of master is Hokama.
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Jamila welcomes you at their table, serving you a refreshing mint tea for those who would like some. She takes pleasure in conversing with you about life on a caravan, her many travels through the desert and along the Silken Road. She respectfully declines Zymir's offer to continue the conversation privately, preferring to remain as most nomads are - together around a fire. Late into the night such a fire is lit, and you are provided with delicious yet simple dishes typical of Qadira, lamb and couscous. However Jamila refrains from talking too much about herself, preferring to redirect the conversation to a different topic every time. She seems quite taken with your stories of high adventure, and eagerly inquires about why you chose to become Pathfinders in the first place.
The merchants gladly talk about their lives with Nahramon. You learn that Gaspar du Mer is a former Taldane knight who chose to leave his country after leading many raids against Qadira at the height of the war between the two countries. Now he takes pride in being an arms dealer, selling exotic, curved swords and daggers from central Kelesh. As for Mahmoud, he's du Mer's partner and associate. He's much younger than the Taldane knight, though, so his sharp-witted tongue usually handles any discussion. You find him to be very bright for his age, and a true Keleshite at heart.
Idgethun tries to find an opportuntiy to talk with Atmar, though the boy refuses to do so within ear's reach of his master Hokama. During the conversation, he remains mostly elusive, but the aasimar quickly understands that he lives the life of most slaves in Qadira - bad days and good days. He hasn't known anything else in his life, so he can't complain.
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Following a hunch, Odd tries to find an opportunity to surreptitiously cast detect magic on Jamila, perhaps from behind a wagon or camel or tent flap.
Later, she will ask her companions if they also find her appearance odd, and suggest that the party sets its own watch separate from the rest of the caravan.
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Vasily takes in the new scents, sights, and tastes of Qadira, mostly keeping in the background until he knows the place better. He takes notes and prepares several stories while watching the others eat and drink. The place is inspiration for someone who spent their entire life travelling the wilds of Varisia.
He watches approvingly as Zymir schmoozes them into the caravan, thinking that the Oracle has nearly as much charm as he does himself.
He retires early, ready for the rigors of the Silk Road.
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Zymir will regale Jamila with his life story. How he grew up the only son of a tailor in Sothis, how is bad knee lead him to his love of stories, how his unique understanding of stories allows his to manipulate reality, and how his unending desire to experience more and more of the world lead him to join the Pathfinders.
He studies Jamila carefully as he speak trying to why she hides her story.
He will gently coax her to reveal more about herself.
He will also study her features to try and explain her unearthly beauty.
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Jamila remains secretive and quickly retreats to her tent as Zymir makes himself a bit too pressing. However, Zymir unmistakably recognizes in her the traits of a Jann, a half-djinni humanoid said to possess mysterious powers. Shortly after, the rest of the merchants also call it a night, knowing the next day will be a long and harsh one in the desert.
The caravan gathers in the cold hour before dawn and sets out northwest just as the first bit of pink touches the eastern horizon. You are given the ignominious rearmost position in the camel train eating the trail dust of the others since you were the last to sign up. Directly in front of you are the camels of Hokama Pashket tended by him, his slave Atmar, and a pair of drovers. Riding a camel is no small feat, and more than one stomach is overturned by this peculiar experience. The scorching sun sears your skin and boils your brains, yet thanks to the appropriate clothing you've bought before leaving and to the many halts to rest in the shade, you don't sustain any major fatigue during the first day.
About an hour after the midday break on the second day out of Lopul, a dangerous event takes you by surprise. A sudden wind blows in off the erg carrying a wall of dust and grit—a sandstorm is coming. You're soon overwhelmed by it, but thanks to Argus you're able to keep Hokama's camels in sight during the storm.
You are able to draw nearer to the water seller’s camels during a slight lull in the storm. A cry from the merchant’s young slave rings out as he points into the blowing sand where several humanoid creatures approach, most smaller than humans and all muffled in heavy robes. Each stranger’s head has a great helm wrapped in keffiyehs, and each faceplate has only a small eye slit to keep out the fury of the storm. Each holds a curved sword, and it is clear they are converging on your position. Hokama, Atmar and the two drovers have the camels kneel to protect themselves from the sandstorm and erect a barrier of sorts to defend themselves from the raiders. It soon becomes clear that the smaller humanoids are none other than goblins, lunging at you with furious hunger! Even in the sandstorm, you're able to discern the sound of typical goblin-chanting. "We be goblins, you be FOOD!"
Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Papy, Vasily, Argus, Idgethun
2. Goblins, Hobgoblins
3. Nahramon, Zymir
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If the camel-riding was a pain, the never-ending heat and loathsome sun made travel through the desert even more unbearable. More than once, Vasily caught himself thanking Desna for the inspiration to bring the hot weather gear along, and while some of the others suffered, Vasily kept as cool as possible.
Now seeing the force of goblins arrayed against them, Vasily narrows his eyes and grits his teeth against the sand-blasting wind, and begins casting a spell designed to put lots of goblins to sleep at once.