"Take no offence, Mr. Alkenstar, I'm sure you're a fabulous guy, what with the rakish eye patch and all, but I think we've all been betrayed enough by people who've offered us gestures of friendship to be leery of even a friendly rope. Now, if you can get us out of these damnable Manawastes, I think we'll be more disposed to trust you."
Ah, Very well I understand. I can get you out of the pitt for now, I am travleing back to my city tommorow. It is still in the Manawastes, but it is out of this desert. You may travel with me, I have much to discuss with you. As a gesture of good faith, allow me to return you these things, Hana said they were yours and not to allow my men to pillage them.
The Dwarven girl gets into her things after a quick rinse with some water, and puts on some decent cloths. Thanks for finishing off that monster.I never got a chance to tell you much befor Elimon betrayed us, but it seems you have regained some of your memories now. I work for Alkenstar as an ambassador of sorts with Nex, but my parents served Arodeth's father as harbingers. When they passed, I promised them I would assist the harbingers when I could. I am sorry I did not uncover Elimons plot befor. She sighs.
Please come to Alkenstar with me, and I will answer any of your questions. I talked Alkenstar into giving me a few extra firearms and ammunition, there is not many places on our way that magic works, and one of the Calikang is unaccounted for. I think it is the one that was sent to be punished, if it comes back with reinforcements it could get nasty. Gather things and get some rest, it is a three day journy on foot, there is not enough water in this accursed land to support horses.
Well then we better travel light so I can carry enough water
Sorry - short on time today - I explain to everyone what is in the spoiler to me above. Feel free to read it.
Xideus rinses the rest of the masters blood from his blade with the water being poured on the beast, trying to remove the blood while letting the rest of the water drop on the corpse. He adjusts his armor a bit, but keeps it on and grabs onto the rope, pulling himself up and out of the pit. He extends his hand to Alkenstar in greeting, "I hope someone is making this worth your while." He smirks and retreats to gather his things.
About 30 minutes later Xideus returns with his usual well-trimmed goatee and his hair neatly brushed to the sides and back. He is wearing his exquisitely tailored, crimson, silken, ceremonial armor. The faint hint of cologne wafts over you as he walks by. It is a welcomed smell since your time in the arena. Dangling from his hip is a well-shined gold-gilded scabbard with a finely crafted scimitar hilt protruding from it. He gently sets his backpack on the ground next to him and lets out a whistle.
Flapping of wings can be heard coming from behind him. Suddenly a pseudo-dragon appears, its skin matches Xideus' clothing. It's long, spiked tail wags from side to side as it hovers just above the Magus' shoulder before landing on it. Before you departed on your last mission, Xideus had bought this 'slave' named Sindri from a local exotic merchant in Absalom.
During his time getting ready, he has thought about the spell used to wipe their memory. He tries to divine if it is permanent and will effect them once again when they leave the manawastes:
|
Alkenstar shakes Xideus' hand, Well I could't let Hana here die to these vermin, beside they had been raiding my caravans to Geb. I like to lead from the front when it comes to dealing with people like this. We have cleared the camp as good as we can, we have a camp near-by we will rest there tonight, and leave early in the morning. If you want to search around first thats fine, but be cautious there is still a Calikang out there somewhere, and if he feels his treasure is disturbed he will fight like a mad dog. The other two Calikang took out a dozen of my men alone. Strange thing is though, we haven't found any treasure here. Normaly these Calikang dont go far from a horde.
"What would one find in a Calikang cache, Alkenstar?" Questions the magus as he looks inquisitively towards the less-than-humble human.
As long as we are going to be resting for 8 hours, I will do long term care (heal) on anyone injured.
I will do 3 heal rolls, figure that they are for the first 3 people injured who post that they are injured. You regain 8 hp from the long term care 2 hp x 4 levels
Heal #1:
Heal #2:
Heal #3:
Well the Calikang in the north 'round Osirion, or over in Qudira you'd find em with about what you'd 'spect, gold and riches. The ones here are strange though, they have some strange drive to "heal" the magic here and often waylay travlers with magical abilities and force them to try and cast magic. So I was hoping to find a cache of some magical artifacts and what not. I suspect though that this isn't the Calikang's only encampment. It sounds like they cut some strange deal with the master, but they probably have a larger settlement to the north. Unfortunatly I do not have the time to go and investigate this.
"What would one find in a Calikang cache, Alkenstar?" Questions the magus as he looks inquisitively towards the less-than-humble human.
Knowledge Engineer
Knowledge History
Knowledge Religion
|
|
Well, for now those of you that are wounded my see my Medicus,we also did not kill the Gnoll medicus, he has agreeed to assist us, as he was a slave also. I also should warn you, I have Gnolls among my ranks, they are not the mutants you see in spellscar though. They have distinct markings and a reddish tint to their white underbelly coat you can use to identify them.
"Excellent. I will go post-haste to this Medicus." Xideus retreats to the medicus who was a prior slave. He reveals his bruised back and arm and awaits treatment.
While being tended to the Magus speaks up asking the healer, "do you know how we were captured or found?" He tenses up for a second as the healer hits a tender spot, but quickly relaxes afterwards.
As you make your way into Alkenstars camp, you see that he has many soldiers with him. Most of them are Dwarves, but there are some humans and Gnolls of the kind Alkenstar had described. There also seems to be a few Goblin slaves, and even a few Undead being used for labor.
Well I am not sure how you came to be here, Hana would know more about that. She told me she was was tricked by Elimon, a fellow worshiper of Lamashtu it turns out, who sold you all into slavery to die in the arena.
The Medicus has incense and a pot of herbial medicine brewing, which relaxes you.
As to how we came to find you, well we have been searching for this compound for awhile. With out magical assistance, the Gnoll Mutants were able to hide it from us for a long time. They recently took advantage of our fight with the Mwangi tribes, and raided our caravans to Geb. After we finished off securing the mines, Alkenstar started this campaign against the spellscar. So in short, you were just lucky.
"Just lucky you say? Figures." He huffs out a small laugh, "No one can do anything just from the goodness of their heart, can they, Sindri?" The pseudodragon chirps and whistles in response from her perch on a nearby chair back.
Xideus remains sitting with his back straight. Although he is relaxed, his body remains rigid and up-right. He tugs at his pant-leg for a second, freeing it from underneath his thigh and looks back to the Medicus.
"What or who is Lamashtu?" He waits for a response before asking his second question, "Also, can you tell me any more about Elimon?"
Xara is relieved when the group's gear appears. She claims her belongings, though she hangs onto the masterwork fauchard as well (you never know when a second weapon will come in handy). When she picks up a pair of scrolls, she fondles them sadly. "I hope we can get out of here sooner rather than later. Getting my memories back has just reminded me how lonely I feel without Trig. Although I do feel closer to the rest of you all for some reason. I guess it's just the side-effects of being fellow gladiators in some gnoll hellhole in the middle of a magicless desert. I'm sure it happens all the time."
Medius man, Im in need of your healing skills please, I might get rabies from mutant dwarven wanna be thing!
After listening to Xara Oh! Don't worry I have a feeling it's gonna get even better than that!
Well I am done, and I didn't charge you for my service so how is that for being good hearted? This is how it is in the Manawastes, you survive or you die there is not a lot of room for much else. I don't know anything about Elimon other than he is a lord of Nex. Lamashtu is the Goddess of Monsters, the late Master was her local priest or something like that. After answering Xideus the Medicus attends to Belros. Now tell me something, What is a harbinger, and why would you consort with people like Elimon in the first place?
I watch the Medicus seeing if I can learn any new healing techniques in this magicless land.
Knowledge(nature):
Heal:
|
|
You all sleep well and recover your lost hitpoints. The camp sentries reported a Calikang spotted, but it turned and ran once it noticed the camp. The camp gets packed up quick and you are off marching in no time.
Hana greets you in the morning. Good morning to you. If you want I shall march with you on the way to Alkenstar. We have about three days befor we will get there. This first day will be the hardest though, we have to push hard if we are to make it to the next avalible water. We dwarves are a hardy folk, and the Gnolls are accustomed to this land, but I fear you will have the worst of it.
|
Jazismus takes out his harp in the morning, tuning it as Hana approaches the group. "A long walk you say," *sigh* "Well it will give us time to catch up Hana. I still am fuzzy about what we were doing before we ended up in the Spellscar. Where were we when Elimon's Betrayal happened?" the bard asks.
Well we meet each other outside of the Capital. I was recieved as ambassador to Nex. I am extremely resistant to magic, having been born in the wastes, most of us from the wastes are, but I am an extreme case. Magical healing rarely works on me, and when it does it is not nearly as effective.
Anyways, so that is why I was choosen as Ambassador to Nex. I got you all in as part of my ensemble as a favor for Arodeth to honor my parents who were harbingers in the days of Arodeth's father. Lord Elimon aranged to meet us secretly in the courtyard of his City villa,it was a trap. He tried to take my memories too, but the magic didn't work on me, so brought in a sadistic Inquisitor and a strange man that worked with something he called kemikals, and they brain washed and tortured us, and mad us drink the kemikals. Still these things had little effect on me, but I tried to play it off so that I would not be hurt further. Elimon decided to sell us to an Allied tribe in the wastes to Honor Lamashtu. Elimon is a half-ork, though he looks more human then most and has a human complection. That is all I remember.
As he was unhurt during the battle with the master, Akor tries to learn a few helpful healing techniques from the medicus
The next morning he listens closely to the conversation between Jaz and Hana "It shall be a very sweet victory indeed to loose a quiver of arrows into Elimon, sooner hopefully than later. Then I think I'll heal him up and lash him with my whip for a day or seven. Perhaps I will even ask my Goddess to bless me with a swarm of wasps to keep him company throughout all of this." He says this rather casually, as one would talk about the weather or what to eat.
|
|
Why were we in Nex? Do you know why Arodeth wished us to be there?
Well all, if we are ready, lets get our stuff together and hit the trail, this land is not getting any cooler.
I gather my belongings and prepare for a day on the trail.
|
|
The day is HOT, this is hotter then you ever can recall being in your life.
You make it to a small creek and you camp around it. You are about to take a big gulp when Hana stops you.Wait, this water is to salty to drink alone, you need to ad this cactus milk to it to neutralize some of the salt content. She hands you a "cup" made from the top of a cactus plant with some milk inside. You only need one sip of milk for two sips of water.
Alkenstar comes over to your side of the camp. I have sentries posted, but we could use all the eyes and ears we can get in this part of the desert. Many abominations from the war with Nex and Geb wonder these parts. Please set up a watch amoung yourselfs to assist us. He says with a courtious nod.
Fort Save:
Diplomacy:
Knowledge(nature):
I have no armor on.
Hearing Hana discuss this way to make undrinkable water drinkable, I listen carefully and try to learn whatever I can.
Fort save:
The thought of getting away from that horrible place, and some judicious sips of water along the way, help keep Xara motivated and energized during the march.
Xara volunteers for first watch.
Diplomacy:
knowledge -nature:
Xara watched Hama closely as she prepares the water and cactus.
"This desert seems such a forboding and dangerous place to live. Why does someone like yourself, with the resources and ability to leave if you choose, choose to remain? There are plenty of green, unsettled parts of the world."
Green! HA! Only a human or elf would dream of green. I am a Dwarf! Don't get me wrong though, Drogon Hold is a very nice hold, even humans complement us on it. Two days from now you will see, the landscape will change dramaticly. There is even a water fall near Alkenstar.
Xideus walks upright staring off towards the distance. The heat doesn't seem to effect him much, besides the few drips of sweat that have beaded up on his temples. He shrugs at the mention of a watch.
"There are six of us. Best we paired up, 4 hours each if we rest for 12. That would give us eight hours of sleep."
Xideus takes a sip from the cactus cup and sits on a nearby rock, propping his feet up on a smaller one in front of him. He interlaces his fingers behind his head and looks towards the rest of the encampment. He swishes the water around in the cup and takes another sip.
"Alkenstar, do you have any cots or bedrolls? Or maybe a fine tent and some pillows?" He asks aloud from his relaxing spot on the rock.
He returns his attention to Hana some time later, "Don't mind them." He gives her a crooked smile and continues, "A home is where you can put your feet up. Must be quite a job, being an ambassador to Nex. I bet you have dealt with quite a bit." He pauses and takes a drink, "Its too bad our dealings with Elimon were so... well, nasty. Care to share a tale or two - maybe some rumors about this fellow? Or maybe even about Tar-Baphon?
The young archer havin pursued and hunted down both people and objects of interest many times in bad conditions seems to be unaffected by the desert's harshness.
When they stop for water, he sighs "Were we not in this blasted wasteland, I could create us delicious, tasty water. That reminds me, Elimon gets another day under my whip for us ending up here."
Akor, used to relying on himself, does not bother talking to Hana about the desert. Instead, he utilizies his skills and insight his goddess has granted him to learn all he can.
|
|
Xideus smooth talks Hana to divulge more secrets of survival and life in the desert.
Xara and Herani gain +2 circumstance to Knowledge nature when in desert enviroment.
Akor listens and learns new techniques in survival in the desert, +2 circumstance when in desert.
I don't know anything about Tar-Baphon. Geb is bad enough, but I guess we have to get our food from somewhere.
All I want is to get out of this damn desert already as I keep grumbling to my self listening on how to make a living out of a desert for surviving I don't plan to make a living in the desert, but it is fine and dandy to know your way around one I suppose as I keep grumbling and complaining on the weather.
Third watch perception check:
Perception:
I turn to Jaz - and point out the person. Jaz, look over there, do you see someone dragging a bag?