The Torture Chamber (Everquest RPG PBP)

Game Master Xenh

Gwendalyn takes a closer look at Sajeek's map, and does some rough estimations based on things like the distance between Freefield and Kerras. "That is a really big desert. I would feel a lot better about our odds if we knew where to look."

"Exactly. But we don't have time. Perhaps the Paladin could suggest something." says Revery.

"We need to plan well. We need to decide how many days, maximally, we'll be in the desert. I suggest six, which will require about two sacks full of waterskins. That's for each of us."

The black-eyed barkeep waves off the offer to pay, for the group had been more than generous in paying off their debt, and if truth be told, had been very good for business as of late as long as one ignored the dead bodies that had been left in their wake. Freeport was a dark and dangerous place; more than one cooling body had been discovered in the years that the Hogcaller's Inn had been in operation.

The warmth of the old man's smile embraces each of you. Items can be left behind and Swin will watch over them at no charge.

You locate a sailing vessel that is traveling southward down the coast of Antonica carrying a pungent cargo of white onions. He has room for each of you, as long as you do not mind spending the journey in manual labour sorting rotten onions and tossing them overboard.

He leaves in two hours, which is the time it will take for his deckhands to stow away your mounts. Your gear can be loaded and then you are free for a couple hours.

(post any last things you wish to do/buy and one single representative of the party's diplomacy check for the cost of your journey, if seeking information about orcs/dervishes then include a gather information and/or knowledge check in your next post)

Kwen looks at the others then says " Alright I'll go ahead and see if I can find out any information about some of the area's that they orcs like to raid, and see if anyone knows anything about the dervishes. Could I get one of you to come with me, I don't want to be jumped in the street. Also when we get to the city freefield or where ever, I'll ask around again."

Kwen gleans nothing in the time alloted.

Thanking Swin for keeping an eye on the whatever he decides to leave in his room, Sajeek takes a hearty pull off hi ale mug. Wolfing down his food eagerly, the Vah Shir goes over what he needs to do before they leave on the boat. Everybody looked ready. They seemed a bit nervous.

'Must be a city dweller thing,' he young Beastlord thinks to himself.

"Okay the onion boat leaves shortly. I'm all set to go," Sajeek says through a mouthful of stew. "Oh, wait, I need to fill up the barrels." Finishing his meal, he grins at the others. "Hurry up slowpokes."

Finished with his quick meal, Sajeek gets up and attends to a few last minute preperations. Like filling up the barrels, and empty skins.

The Freeport Dockside is a long strip of tanneries, shipyards, fisheries, and the poorer residential areas found along the eastern edge of the city. It also includes the docks and the dock authority buildings. In many ways, Dockside is the heart of Freeport's economy, for everything shipped into the city by sea comes through here. There are still a few shops of quality and value in Dockside, but such businesses are increasingly rare. The rest of the area has turned into a slum, cheaply constructed new buildings vying with the old shacks for space, its poorly lit streets dim even during the day. There are several open sewer trenches running through Dockside, carrying the city's waste to the north, where it is eventually dumped into the ocean. Poverty is extremely common in Dockside, and many residents here are homeless labourers and beggars. This has resulted in a high crime rate and the rise of the powerful thieves' guild, the Underground.

A child stops near Kwen and speaks loud enough for everyone to hear, since subtlety is not something young have in great quantities. Her words are obviously rehearsed, but you are able to correct enough of the mistakes to piece together: "Some merchants, in the northern areas of Freeport and uncomfortably close to the Knights of truth, feel that they don't need the 'protection' of the Coalition Underground any more, and have stopped making appropriate compensation to the guild for their worthwhile efforts." The conversation is short, but it is made clear that if two of the merchants were reminded that if something bad happened to them, they might return to the fold, and those responsible for this change of heart would find their slate clean. Once slates were clean it would be imperative to provide the guild with 25% of Kwen's take. All the merchants, that are part of the extortion scam have a black ribbon tied to their door hinges. Glancing around you realize that every single door in Dockside is flying those ribbons.

The words are left to dwell in your ears, since in short order water is acquired, supplies are loaded and your days become filled with the process of shovelling. It takes weeks before you stop stinking of onion.

Freefield is sold to you in a manner that makes it apparent that it is not a destination that you would like to visit. Freefield is the last source of supplies for travellers before reaching the deep desert to the south, and in part because it sits in a safer stretch of land than most towns. The Deathfist orcs of the Commonlands rarely come as far east as Freefield, and the Scorchfist orces rarely as far north.

Kerras is a sleepy little fishing village.

Farpoint is apparently a nefarious port of unimpressive size, where there are no permanent residents since it is only used by smugglers that wish to avoid the costs of sailing into Freeport's harbour.

A choice needs to be made about whether to disembark at "Freefield", though there is no town there, since it is a day's ride west from the shore, or to continue on to Kerras or Farpoint.

(please include an update of your coins remaining in your next post)

After buying a camel Revery decides he doesn't need Swin to keep his extra stuff, but he thanks the barkeep anyways. "Plans are always changing..." he says.

When he finds out the others have booked passage, Revery hurries up to go do the same. He books for himself and his camel Wink, to Kerras, the next town on the coast and the obvious choice to stop.

After finishing his purchases, he declares, "I'm ready, I guess. I love onions, but I worry that will change by the end of this voyage."

Gwendalyn screeches with alarm. "WHAT? The Deathfist orcs are WEST of Freefield? And that's a whole day's ride west of HERE? Why didn't anyone ever mention that earlier??" she wails.

Revery asks Sajeek to show Gwendalyn his map. "No, Freefield is south-southwest of here. All the orcs are generally to the southwest of it, as the mountains and the coast effectively provide a corridor heading from northeast to southwest, at least for a while. What I want to know is, who is or was Ro?"

"But then why did we even bother taking a ship? All that money, and for what? It'll take us as long to get southwest of Freefield from here as if we'd just walked from Freeport! ARRGH!" Gwendalyn throws up her hands in frustration and stalks off to get the rented camel that she called Smelly.

Thinking about the map for a few moments, Sajeek realizes that Revery was right, and digs it out to show the barbarian woman.

"Sorry, I guess I mixed the two up," the Vah Shir says with an embarassed grin. His ears were half-way folded back, and his tail lashed side to side. "Kerras would be the best and closet point for us to begin our hunt."

"I'll toss in the extra coin to cover the change in our drop off point," Sajeek adds with a smile.

Kwen chuckles, " Gwendalyn, it happens all things in life don't always go how we plan. We didn't know that the orcs, had a better place to ambush people." Looking over at the camel he had rented, calling it Gull, just to give it a name because it was better then calling hey you.
" I'll throw some coin to help the out with the cost as well, the last thing I want is anyone to travel by themselves, in this heat." He finishes with a shrug.

You stand at the dock with 2 hours before the onion ship departs and decisions to be made.

(please include an update of your coins remaining in your next post)

Kwen looks at the others then says " Alright I'll go ahead and see if I can find out any information about some of the area's that they orcs like to raid, and see if anyone knows anything about the dervishes. Could I get one of you to come with me, I don't want to be jumped in the street. Also when we get to the city freefield or where ever, I'll ask around again."

Gwendalyn nods. "I'll go with you to keep you safe -- and maybe I can find out something too."

Revery sticks with Sajeek, as he does not really want to be in the city alone. He has his pet, but that is not the same as a real person.

He hopes the others come back soon so they can solidify their plan. It has been difficult to come to any agreement so far with everyone, including Revery, going off doing stuff on their own. Now the question was whether or not they should even be taking a ship. Also, perhaps a guide to the desert might be good, but then if they go to Freefield it might be easier to find a desert guide there, as it's right on the edge of it.

Revery ensures his spellbook is wrapped up tightly inside a sack before it is put in his backpack. And of course, he takes great care to ensure the backpack is kept safe.

Sajeek had been fairly quiet on the way to the docks. Talking, walking and thinking at the same time was a bit much for the Vah Shir.

"So, from what you were saying eariler, you think going by camel to the desert would be the fastest plan?" The beastlord says when they get to the docks. "I figured the boats would get us to the desert fastest. But you say it's faster to go by camel? Alright, you've got the big brain, and your're ideas are pretty good, and you've probably had this all figured out already." he says with a shrug.

The Vah Shir thinks for a second.

"So my plan was to roam the caravan routes. We should look like a nice bit of prey to the orcs and bandits," Sajeek says. "What's your idea for attracting our prey?" the Beastlords asks.

"That may be a good plan, roaming the caravan routes," says Revery. "I had been hoping they would come to us. Perhaps something glinting in the sunlight might catch their interest? Then again, attracting the right number is important, too. I don't really wish to have a tribe of four hundred of them decide they like our camels. So, I suppose that means we need to find them, and then act accordingly."

Kwen starts to look for two merchants that have stopped paying their "dues", asking around (using some of the children that are following him). Spending a few silvers to get this information, he also spends time trying track down some more information about the DeathFist orcs and where they like to attack travelers.
" Gwen I might need another favor, in order to get the local guild off my back and to get a chance things a bit easier for all us. I might need you stand somewhere and look threatening, that's about it. I'll let you know before we go to a shop if I need you to do this, we could use the help and if we could get more use of an underground network. All I need to do is talk to them and remind them of what it means to make their dues, and collect them." He says in a quiet voice, making sure that Gwen should be the only one that hears him.

Revery stops and suddenly says to Sajeek, "Hey, we have some time before the others get back. Why don't we try to find out something about the orcs and dervishes? I wish I knew of a good library in this city. "

Gwendalyn stops and puts a hand on Kwen's shoulder. "I'm glad to hear that you're fixing things between you and your guild. I don't know what it's like here, but the guild in Halas keeps the rougher element in line, so that everything goes along in a much more predictable fashion that is safer for everyone."

The young shaman continues. "I was honestly really drunk when I helped you before, and don't feel very good about what I did. They need to enforce their rules -- but on the other hand, they were criminals intent on murder, so I don't feel very bad about it either. Anyway, I'll help you make peace as best I can without technically breaking any laws; and you can help us save Noggy from a gross injustice."

When they reach the first merchant, Gwen tells Kwen to let her go in first, and wait half a minute. Entering the shop, she finds a dimly-lit treasure trove of knickknacks and curiosities. "How can I help you?" The proprietor bustles out, beaming at the barbarian woman who has surely never seen anything like anything in his store. She turns to him and shakes her head, wide-eyed.

"Oh, I'm just looking around. You have some really nice stuff! I wouldn't want to break anything, and you Southerners have such narrow aisles, and make everything so delicate. Perhaps it's best if I wait outside." She blinks innocently, with a slightly vapid smile, then goes out as Kwen enters. "I'm ready for the next one when you are." She winks at the half-elf.

Time drifts past and Kwen loses track of it as he seeks out information that will assist the party in recovering their friend (gather information takes a few hours, or so, per check).

For those that do not lose track of the descent of hourglass sand a choice is left for those on the docks to abandon rogue and shaman, or let the onion ship sail without them. It is a sick decision, but really not a difficult one since sailing would mean leaving behind their sole healer, and that is really not something someone wishes to do when heading out into unknown territories. The captain is a good man, fully understanding the group's plight and returns all of their gold, their items and agrees to leave his vessel close enough to Farport to be of some use for the return trip. He provides a strangely colourful tube with a string on the end and explains that one need only pull the gnomish firework's string and it will alert him as to the group's position. He warns the group to remain on the outskirts of Farport, since it is a place of ill repute.

Sajeek and Revery find the Academy of Arcane Science with little trouble, since it is the largest compound in the Gates and Markets District ((#3 on map). A hint as to its nature comes fromt he fact that it is a 5 story castle located on a floating island of rock. A large stone wall surrounds a secluded compound comprised of ponds, creeks, gardens, outbuildings and small amphitheaters. Powerful arcane spellcasters guard the 30' wide iron gate that serves as the entrance to this extensive campus. The guards shows the duo where to keep all of the mounts and supplies.

Kwen approaches the merchants that have decided to escape from under the heel of the rogue guild and his honeyed words (critical success on diplomacy check) play a perfect contrast to the impressive barbarian's impressive physique. Each man agrees to common sense and returns to flying the black ribbon.

The children stop following the rogue after relaying to him the best way to make a contact in the rogue's guild. Interestingly enough the directions will take him through the blank wall that the iksar disappeared into earlier. One needs to say a word to the "merchants" standing in front of the wall to be permitted past, lest they skewer thee.

Gwendalyn and Kwen work together and their efforts are not for naught. They glean that the Deathfist orcs are lead by a Lord Shin Rhee, who is making an effort to restore his people to a position of prominence within the Commonlands, and has sent hunting parties into the Desert of Ro to steal Scorch Hall from the Scorchfist orcs, but thus far his success has been limited. Most Deathfists simply lack the will to band together for a greater cause, instead they travel in small bands to raid and take whatever they can. The Deathfist orcs have nearly 2 dozen encampments set up a few miles south of the Phantom City of Takish-Hiz. It is made incredibly clear that you want to go nowhere near Takish-Hiz, for it is a place of incredibly powerful roaming undead.

Dervishes are a nomadic bandit organization of cutthroats and thugs who prey upon merchants traveling through the Desert of Ro. Unlike other such groups, the dervishes allow members of any race into their ranks. Each band typically contains between 6 and 20 members who move nightly to find a good camp that provides shelter and a good vantage to look for merchant caravans.

Sajeek thinks for a few moments.

"Well, I think it might be worth a shot" the Vah Shir scratches behind his right ear. "Since it seems like we'll be going over land, I'll let the captain know that we won't be traveling with him."

After the captain returns their coin and gear, and hands the gnome firetoy to Revery, Sajeek clasps his hand warmly. He wishes the captain save and profitable journeys, and hopes to see him again. It was probably a good idea on the Captain's part handing the toy to Revery. The Vah Shir's claws itched, he wanted to see what the fire toy did.

As Sajeek watches the smelly boat leave, he ponders what they should next. The Beastlord's mind turns back to his off hand comment about magical travel like the Fire Pots they had "found".

Seeing the floating castle, Sajeek takes a moment to close his open jaw.

"Since we're here, why don't we ask about getting zapped to the desert, rather then travel over land?" Sajeek asks Revery, the Vah Shir's brillant green eyes were trying to take in all the magical sights at once. He punches the magic use in the arm, not hard enough to do any damage. "Alright, good idea coming to a library. You want to hit the books? I'm going to see if I can scrounge up someone who is willing to magic us to the desert."

That said, after stowing his mount and gear, Sajeek pads off in search of someone to teleport the group to the desert.

"Oh, could you hire someone to go and wait for Kwen and Gwen to meet us here?" the Vah Shir calls over his shouler as he leaves the stable area.

That done, Sajeek begins his hunt for a wiling caster. If he is fortunate enough to hunt one down, using a bit of gold to grease the wheels. The Vah Shir tells him or her of their plight. The Beastlord leaves out any mention of the healer and his plan for them to get in good with the Militia.

Revery stows the platinum returned from the captain, and the fire toy. He doubted they'd make it to Farport, but it couldn't hurt to bring it along just in case.

At the Academy of Arcane Science, Revery looks forward to perusing the library, but Sajeek's question is important too. "Be sure to include a way to return, with your request."

When Sajeek asks him to run off and hire someone for him, he is a bit annoyed. He thought Sajeek could do that himself. He makes a mental note to think about it in a minute...

Instead he seeks out the library right away. He plans to look for the most recent documents on the Deathfist orcs and dervishes, and their locations. Another topic of interest is anything useful on surviving in the Desert of Ro. He really, really want to study arcane tomes on magic, but he knows time is limited and resists that temptation.

Kwen looks at Gwen then whispers " Look I'm not part of a guild, the people who trained me also killed my parents. I didn't find that out until much later, that is why I've spent several years on the streets. I've spent a lot of time moving city too city, I wash up here, tired and decided to stay. that is a problem I have had with joining up with guilds, and why I've remained what I call a 'Free Agent'." He pauses clearing his throat.
" This group I know isn't the same guild, it's just something that I have against guilds, and why I have a hard time trusting anyone. It's how I lost part of this here, and why I've spent a long time running." Kwen points to the tip of his left ear, moving forward he leads Gwen to the wall that the other rogue had gone through.
" Merchants." He says, bracing for an bolt from a crossbow, or a couple of daggers, hoping that with the Merchants payment he might be able to live a few more years, if the orcs didn't kill him before he returned from the parties trip. Hoping that he would get his Kurki back into his hands, not by a return trip into his chest.

Kwen and Gwendalyn recognize that they are hours past their expected arrival time. The "other west wall" is exactly opposite of the docks, and no where near where the northern area of the city, which is where they currently are standing. It is possible that the others have already left them behind, or are standing around worried sick about them.

Revery ignores the vah shir's words about hiring someone to connect with the others and instead delves into the library using one of the many teleportals, a device that is very common in Erudin. The teleportal is a crystal which crackles with arcane blue energies permits one to step on it and appear on a similar crystal within the library. The erudite is permitted to look through the library and spends time among thousands of tomes (+2 to any research check). He finds a great deal of information, but not much helpful about orcs or dervishes. Arcane tomes are only for guild members.

Sajeek finds one of the most senior wizards within the academy, who agrees to help. The wizened old elf tents his fingers as he considers what remuneration such lowly adventurers could provide one such as him. Calitri asks the group to return to him when they have freed their gnome friend.

It takes time for the group to get back together, but finally you all stand side by each, with mounts and supplies securely packed atop them, before the elven wizard.

(Last chance to do anything before you leave Freeport, please include a list of the supplies you have purchased and an update on how much money you have left)

Gwendalyn listens to Kwen's tale of woe sympathetically. "Well, I think you belong to a guild now, whether you like it or not. Better to approach them as a new member who belongs than as an outsider doing the minimum possible to keep from getting skewered, right? Even if that's how you think of yourself." The well-trained shaman winks at him.

"But that can wait -- a gnome's life is at stake!" she adds, pointing at the sky dramatically. "And the others would have no idea where we were or what we were doing. We need to go back to the docks, where they are surely waiting for me; I hope we got our money back on those tickets, but at least now we know where to go!" The red-faced Northwoman mumbles something about planning a route before knowing the destination, and lessons learned.

"But first, I need to find a merchant who buys and sells used weapons. If we're going that far south, I don't have near enough money." Gwen reluctantly parts with her fancy spiked chain -- really too pricy for such a young adventurer, especially one with a spell habit to feed -- and replaces it with a simple sap for situations like yesterday's bar brawl, where she may be facing an armed opponent that she doesn't necessarily want to kill.

"Thank you, magic master Calitri," Sajeek smiles, not showing his teeth and bows sinuously. He had found out that the elf was a senior mage, but couldn't remember what the guard had said his title was. "I'll be back as soon as I round up everyone."

After he gets out of sight of the mage, Sajeek breaks out into a jog. The Vah Shir slows down and stops in the courtyard, looking around for his raftmates. The Beastlord looks around, and then walks around, not finding anybody. Padding over to the stables, Sajeek sees the two camels. He reasons Revery is still around, probably in library.

Waiting for a few minutes, Sajeek rapidly starts becoming very bored. The Beastlord turns to the stablekeeper.

"Hi, I have to go round up a couple of my friends. My friend with the big forehead will be a while," Sajeek hands the keeper a gold piece. "Here, if you see my one friend, the one I came in with, let him know that I went to round up the other two. Thanks!" Sajeek leaves the coin in the hand of the stablekeeper. The Vah Shir waves and pads off.

Sajeek leaves the the Arcane School, and jogs back to the docks. The Beastlord looks around for Gwen and Kwen in the chaos of the docks.

While Sajeek is trying to hunt down Kwen and Gwen, he spies some camels being off loaded from ship. The Vah Shir realizes that no one rented a second camel to help carry the extra gear. Ears twitching as his brillant green eyes keep, Sajeek keeps moving.

When, or if, Sajeek finds the other two, he would go and rent a second camel, before they went back to the floating castle. That should give Revery a little bit of time to look in the library.

In his wanderings, Sajeek happened across a travelling vendor seliing scrolls. The Vah Shir stopped, his eye catching a few symbols that he recognized.

'I can spare a few minutes to look,' Sajeek thinks as he greets the vendor and begins to peek around for things he knew. Or at least had a pretty good idea on how to use. 'You only have to set yourself on fire once for it to be enough,' Sajeek thinks with a grin.

After picking up a few scrolls, SAjeek thanks the vendor and continues on his hunt.

A while later, after everyone had finished their last minute preperations, they made their way back to the Academy of Arcane Science. Sajeek leads the others to the meeting place with Calitri.

Sajeek bows again to the elder mage, greeting him politely. Sajeek was now joined by the others, their animals and gear. They stood in front of the elder elven caster.

Kwen looks up at the sky,shakes his head, and starts to follow Gwendalyn then says, " Since we are going to pass by the docks, I'll make the drop off, after we find out where the others went too, and then meet you at the place, it shouldn't take too long."
Seeing that Gwendalyn selling her spiked chain, he makes a note of what type it is, moves on waiting for her to get done, then follows her. Ready to get a move on out of this city and to take care of his business, he gives a sly smile at the prospects of the journey.

Revery manages to extract his head from the books and scrolls of the library. They are so interesting, and it's a hard thing to do. He makes a note to spend some time here some day, as many of the documents were quite different from what he knew in Erudin.

He rushes back to the stables, only to find that Sajeek had already gone to get the others. Well, that's convenient.

As he waits, he reviews his equipment, hoping he didn't forget anything important. He shakes his head as he thinks of the crazy thing they are all about to do. Heading into a dangerous desert to hunt orcs! That is not the Revery I know. His friends, and Arwen, would be shocked to see him preparing for this sojourn.

He checks everything he has bought: The camel, Wink, which came with all the gear, saddlebags, and such. Six more days of rations, bringing his total to two weeks; two sacks full of waterskins, twelve in each; some warm clothes for those desert nights; four extra sacks; and a large amount of camel feed. He knew some deserts had growth that camels could eat, but he did not know if this desert would have any where they would be going.

The others arrive as he's checking his stuff. And Revery is surprised to see an aged Elven Wizard approach them. He waits to see what such an esteemed person has to say; he hopes they have not offended in any way...

"We must ensure our mounts are well watered up before we go," he says to the others.

The early afternoon sun beats down upon your skulls as you find yourself ready to depart the largest city on the surface of Norrath.

"Your mounts will be conveyed in short order. Draw your blades..." The elderly high elf Calitri speaks in a voice just loud enough to scare a whisper and then falls into the routine of casting impossible spells (translocate: Ro).

You had experienced the jarring explosion of motion from a wizard’s evacuation spell, the gentle caress of ancient magics within the firepot room, two of you had been transported by the teleportals into the Academy of Arcane Science, but this is completely different. It is as if an invisible tendril had grabbed hold of your mid-section and yanks you through space at speeds that no man could match. The speeds are too much for your mind to comprehend.

This must be how gods move.

One moment you stand in the coldly pristine bustling Academy of Arcane Science and the next your breath is drawn from your lungs by oppressively dry heat. Bits of sand seek to flay your flesh from your bones, if the sun does not do it first.

You stand next to a mostly buried pyramid. While Revery was unable to glean much about their adversaries he does understand a bit about where they have traveled:

• Some wizards believe this pyramid to be a complex built by the shissar, before the Greenmist destroyed them, ages ago and then later used during the Combine Empire.
  
• Some claim that much more of this ancient complex lies buried beneath the desert sands than most realized. Efforts to dig down to these buildings have all failed because of the great difficulty of digging through shifting sand.

All but Kwen recognize that there is a humanoid shape on the horizon, which is riding quickly away from the group's position. The rider quickly disappears into the shifting contrails of the very air itself.

Spot (Revery): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 (success)
Spot (Kwen): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Spot (Gwendalyn): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 (success)
Spot (Sajeek): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 (success)

You stand with each of you, and a moment later one of your camels arrive.

Glancing at the map and your surroundings reveals that you are standing atop the northern of the two pyramids.

"Huh. What do you suppose the odds are that they've gone to gather others to welcome us with food and song?" Gwendalyn comments idly, waiting for more camels to appear.

"Let us hope they did not see us. If this map is correct, we are approximately three hundred and fifty miles from Freeport, or a twelve day march. Thus, we had better start heading northeast and hope to find that which we seek along the way. I would love to explore this pyramid, but we do not have the luxury of time; but perhaps we can do so, at least until the camels arrive."

Revery feels the heat and wonders about sweat, but apparently it is so dry that the moisture evaporates as it hits the air. He wraps his skin to reduce the effect, and suggests others do the same.

The magic that brought them here was most impressive. Revery hopes someday to be able to perform such feats.

He looks to see whose camel is here, and also to see which direction the rider is going. Then he looks at the pyramid, from their current position, to see if there are any discernible features on it.

"How much do we have to pay him, Sajeek?" He winces internally as he awaits the reply.

Kwen looks around, already felling his sweat roll down his flanks, already hating the heat. His body was trying to tell him that it didn't care much for the spell travel. " I'll start working out to pay my part of the coin for the, spell. Now how should we locate some of the DeathFist orcs so we can get the hell out of here."

Sajeek staggers, trying to get his barings. His head was still spinning, thinking it was still back in Freeport. The Vah Shir felt all sorts of loopy. The sight of a fleeing figure makes his hunting instincts kick in. Sajeek focuses quickly.

Staring after the figure, the Vah Shir draws his cloak hood to shield his eyes. Panting in the heat, Sajeek turns and stares up at the bit of the buried pyramid. He turns back and looks at the others.

"And it's this hot in afternoon? Ugh." the Vah Shir says outloud. When the camels suddenly appear, Sajeek jumps and lets out a surprised hiss. Shaking his head at the sight of his camels, the Vah Shir walks over and checks the two beasts over.

"What's that? Oh, the price for the spell? Calitri said just to come and see him once we got Noggy out." Sajeek says. "He didn't mention anything about paying him coin."

Gwendalyn looks surprised at Revery's declaration of how far they'd gone. "Huh. How long would it take for us to get to the orc camps just south of Takish-Hiz, then to the boat waiting near Farport, and back to Freeport by sea? I'm still not good at reading these maps."

Revery considers Gwendalyn's unexpected question, and replies, "If you were to go to the orc camps south of Takish-Hiz, there would be no subsequent need for travel of any kind save the type that brings you to meet your Tribunal in the sky. But if you somehow survived such a trip, it would take, oh, perhaps a dozen days to reach Farport. Then another week, I believe, to sail back to Freeport, assuming a ship could be found to take you there. This desert is indeed great. Why, are you considering such a solo trek?"

He sits down, tired of this heat already, and looks around for shade. Considering the afternoon sun would head west, it might be wise to stay east of the pyramid, so as to embrace the first of the shadows as they appear.

"Let's just start heading back to Freeport, since it's going to take us a while to get back," Sajeek says. "Someone or thing knows that we are here." he points in the direction of the fleeing figure.

"I don't think it will take long for the desert predator to realize we have arrived," Sajeek chuckles. He pats the side of the second camel. "We present an inviting target. From a distance all of the extra gear should make our prey think we are loaded down with loot. And poorly guarded, if we are a small caravan."

It takes hours for all of your camels and supplies to arrive. Your last camel arrives with a piece of parchment attached to the bridle.

"We have managed to stave off the execution of N for three fortnights hence from the morn of this very day. We have done all we can. May MM guide your hand." The missive is signed with nothing more than the letter "F" emblazoned upon it in tired handwriting. If the note can be trusted then time is no longer the issue it was just moments prior.

The camel rider had hied away from you southeast from your current position (Desert of Ro), towards Kerras. Continuing south will place the sun directly in your face for the entire journey as it moves from the north to its nightly rest in the south.

Expertly-drawn pictures of Shissar architecture were seen in the books that Revery had studied, and this is definitely looks to be the same. There was once writing etched into its stone surface, but the seasons have scrubbed it clean, leaving behind only a vague wonder of what this structure must have once looked like, and been used for.

Sajeek was not a scholar, but he was from Luclin, the land that the enigmatic Shissar had fled when the gods had sought to destroy them with the poisonous green mist, and he understands the truth of the pyramid: it is an altar.

Takish-Hiz lies south of your position, and that is the direction you will need to head if you are looking to encounter the Deathfist orcs of the Desert of Ro. To travel there and then to Farport is perhaps a 400 mile trip; a journey of approximately 13 days from your current position, and then you would have a weeks sail back to Freeport, if the goodly onion boat captain is true to his word.

The early evening brings a slight reprieve from the oppressive heat and instead replaces it with a horrific chill.

" Well that is good that the gnome will live for a while longer, now even though we were warned about the weather, I still hate this place." Keen mutters, during the day of travel, his hair plastered across his face.
When the brutal heat changes to freezing he pulls the cold weather gear out of his pack. "How are we doing watches?" He asks, used to keeping a look out at times after he had picked a lock.
His thoughts are focused on getting out of here, slightly surprised that he missed the city. Clenching his hands trying to keep his hands warm, he puts his new gloves on.
His body was sore, as he was unused to riding on a camel, he pats it lightly, not wanting to get angry at him. He sips at his water skin, he marvels the ease on how they arrived here.

Gwendalyn is beyond looking surprised any more, as she wilts in the heat. "So we owe Calitri something that we don't even know for teleporting us out here, and now time doesn't even matter as much, if the note is true. And if it's not, then we wouldn't have time to attack the orcs, even if Revery weren't against it -- and I trust his knowledge. So it's straight back to Freeport and hope to get attacked by dervishes, I guess."

Time passes as they wait for everything to arrive. Night begins to fall and she sighs, keeping a hand on Smelly's bridle. "Let's make as much distance as we can, then find a place to pitch our tents. I could take first watch, I guess. Perhaps things will look better in the morrning."

Sneak (opposed roll): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Tracking across a barren wasteland of sand affords you little to pay attention to save the plodding of one's stinky mount. Sadly there was much more to hear.

Sajeek (listen): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Revery (listen): 1d2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Gwendalyn (listen): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Kwen (listen): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

You are set upon, while still astride your camels, from the very same direction that the rider fled towards. Your sole warning is the sound of the arrows in flight.

Surprise Attack:
Strike (Gwendalyn): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (not confirmed)
Damage (Gwendalyn): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Strike (Kwen): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Strike (Revery): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage (Revery): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Strike (Sajeek): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage (Sajeek): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Additional Attack (By alpha): 1d4 ⇒ 3
Strike (Revery): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage (Revery): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Gwendalyn gets slashed across her cheek and through the edge of her ear (critical success). Blood flows from three of the companions, but Revery looks the worst (0 hit points, disabled).

You turn and find 5 men, heavily garbed with mismatched layers of fabric, astride camels and launching arrows from shortbows your way. These men are equipped for a chase, and will easily run down your heavily-burdened mounts should you seek to run.

Despite the ambush you are the quicker to act afterwards.

(end of surprise round)
(start of new round)

Initiative
- Sajeek, Gwendalyn, Kwen, Revery
- (5) Ambushers

Revery was inclined to believe the note. Why would someone write it, and why would the wizard let it be attached if it were not written by someone with a good reputation? Then again, Freeport is a strange place, and many people there seem untrustworthy..

"I would believe the note, written by Feitmere I assume, who would not lie about that. I'm actually glad he showed interest in our plight, and in the danger to Nogglegrop. He seems to be a fine person." They were riding their camels. When the camels had appeared Revery had said, "Wink has another reason for his name now, for he is a teleporting camel." Nobody had laughed.

Then they had set off, and before long Gwendalyn's stated hope had come to fruition - they were attacked by dervishes.

Revery takes two arrows, and leans forward on his saddle to hide from more arrows. He was not sure which was more painful, the one in his leg that had hit bone, or the one that was lodged in his side. He wonders if a quickened spell would make him pass out. Probably any spell would drain his energy enough that he would. He considers climbing slowly off Wink, but decides instead to stay on him. There is no telling what will happen next. Instead, he directs Conann to stay between himself and the assailants.

Sajeek had been lost in his own thoughts for a while. When the arrow tears a deep groove of flesh and muscle out of his arm, the sudden pain drags the Vah Shir out of his toughts.

Snapping his head around, the Beastlord spies the 5 attacks. Glancing to his side, Sajeek sees Revery slump over in his saddle. A curse sneaks out from behind clenched teeth.

Drawing out a javelin as he slides off the camels back to stand on it's left side, Sajeek takes aim. The young beastlord throws his javelin at the closest of the attacks.

"Gwen! Can you get to Revery?" Sajeek says, trying not to shout. Five attackers was enough at the moment. The Beastlord didn't really want to draw the natural desert predators, as well as bandits.

"Ow!" The unexpected line of fire across Gwendalyn's cheek burns with pain, and she suspects that her ear is notched now, but she sees that the others are worse off -- especially Revery. Sajeek's plea to help the sarcastic shape-changer is entirely unnecessary, as she's already casting a minor healing spell, while dismounting to put Smelly between her and the ambushers. The bookish enchanter still doesn't look so good, so Gwen performs the ritual chant and gestures to ask the Tribunal to heal him some more -- really, he isn't so bad. He doesn't deserve to die this way.

Revery is almost ready to sleep, or flee, when he feels two familiar waves wash over him, and suddenly his injuries begin fading away. But the wave stops and the pain is still there, just lessened somewhat. "Thank you!" is all he can come up with at the moment, as other things are on his mind.

Seeing the others dismount, he decides it must be the wise thing to do, so he follows suit.

Kwen curses at loud, while ducking down from his camel, trying to use it for cover. He draws one of his throwing daggers and peers, around it, trying to gauge the distance from the attacks and himself. Seeing the one that Sajeek had thrown his javelin at, he whips his dagger at the same one, hoping to score at hit.

These men had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and set upon the group.

They are well within the range of a thrown dagger (2 ranged increments, -4 to strike) and Kwen makes good use of his attack (critical threat), but the blade deflects off the man's chin rather than finding his throat. It lays open a wound, but nothing like what it could have been if it had landed just an eyelash off of its current path.

Kwen (confirm critical): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sajeek's blow is less accurate, but what it loses in pin point precision it more than makes up in ferocity. Flesh is torn, and the man keeps coming.

While the Pendril's Animation was able to float above the ground (no movement modifier for difficult terrain) it was not a fast "pet" to have (20' movement rate), and though tireless it fell far behind its master more often then not, especially atop the long-legged camels (50' base speed, x3/4). It was likely easier to just recast the spell, though at 2 gold pieces a casting it could get expensive quickly, whenever danger was close. Revery has no control over his pet, but is positive that many hours hence that his pet will start slashing these fine fellows...if the enchanter lives that long.

Gwendalyn is able to release one healing spell (free action) and another (standard action) and dismount (move action), providing an opportunity for the erudite to get back into the combat.

Unlike the mounts of the attackers, your camels are not trained for combat (those that remain mounted please include a DC 20 ride check in your next post, or start your post with a dismount move action).

These opportunistic men dismount from their camels, and draw blades, not wanting to damage any of their spoils any more then they have to. They move close enough for blade and fang to be wielded upon each member of the party.

(end of round)
(start of a new round)