Daishata finally reaches the wagon, leaving her gouge hanging by her side as best she can. She grimly starts the ascent of the swinging rope ladder.
Double Move:
*
fort
Rennoc snorts as the snake bites him and he charges a pulse of electricity through his body... As he does this he lifts off from the wagon...
Rahger makes his way to the top of the ladder just fine in one burst of energy. He is now on the caravan ready to help fight once again.
Now the great wagon is starting to slow. Once again, Nadar darts in and out like a bird, nipping at the invading raiders with his blade, this time unable to score a hit in the gloom. With Rennoc lazily floating away, the earthen snake springs out of the turret to make one final strike before crumbling into dust. In the south, the former climbers charge at the templar who suffered a similar fall, but are unable to penetrate her defenses.
Their forces nearly extinguished, Kilothrak calls for one last, desperate assault. While his bodyguard is busy completing the destruction of his own weapon, the tarek leader invokes his mightiest prayer, warping the very fabric of the wagon. A gaping chasm opens up, daring euclidean geometry to stop its formation. Strangely, this hole does not seem to connect to the interior of the wagon as the sides are smooth and stony. Unable to get past her assailant, Hamailii suffers a swing by a nearby tarek. It swings wildly, hacking off a piece of the turret. Taking a bolt of psionic energy dead on, the raider swings once more and collapses from the effort.
Create Pit has been cast.
Gideon will move to m13, and shoot at Kilothrak
Gideon, you need to roll miss chance, and a back up to see if you critical.
Chumain glances down at the odd hole opening below him and decides its time to find somewhere else to press his attack from.
Once away from the pit he once again focuses on the leader of the attackers.
Again the darkness does not seem to prevent Chumani from finding his mark.
Lucian steps takes a step and unleashed more cards, this time at Kilothrak, hoping to end this combat soon.
Heavily encumbered, tired, sore and beaten, Dai grimaces as her fingers slip on the giant hair rungs of the ladder. She tumbles back onto the hated hot ground, able to land without injury.
Grimly she grips her trusty gouge as two tareks charge her. She easily evades one, the other's primitive weapon stopped only by her lamellar bracer.
Dai wipes her mouth, the copper taste of blood a welcome reminder of her purpose. Stepping to the side she wrenches her weapon around in a blistering attack of her own. Dai grunts in disappointment as she is unable to score a hit.
5' step to T13
Standard Action: Attack tarek 17
[BAB +3, Str +1, Weapon Focus +1, Masterwork]
[Strength]
that is 9 damage total then
Rennoc warily gazes at the last enemy and makes a motion with his fingers...
icy ray attack, damage
Although ready to help , Rahger notices that the last few swings and rays of frost have finished the fighting on top of the caravan. He sees Daishata back in the sand, fighting with the last remaining raiders.
Not again! He thinks to himself. That's when he notices the empty crodlu chariots on the side. He runs over to the nearest one and jumps on board.
This time he's going to Daishata with transport or at the very least a good meal.
The last two raiders try to flee, but are shot down by crossbow bolts from Roshan and Daimon as they return to the wagon. Now that the battle has ended, the Crodlu calm down enough to making driving the chariot a trivial matter for Rahger. Half dozen heartpicks and plenty of tarek litter the top of the wagon. Nadar orders them removed, but one or two could be snagged by those whose tastes run in that direction. You are on your own for preparation however, Cleaz isn't touching them. After a few minutes, the strange warping of the wagon subsides and the gloomy emanation from the leader’s weapon ends. Nadar nods in appreciation of a job well done, and begins to bark orders to get the caravan back in formation.
Rennoc gets back onto the caravan quickly and warily studies the desert in silence...
Dai is incensed. Battered and bruised, she kicks the tarek corpses disconsolately, perhaps astounded at the stupidity of the creatures. She is not interested in eating them after all, but she thanks Rahger for his valiant effort to come to her aid.
She thinks of approaching Nadar and taking issue with the handling of the attack, but he seems happy enough with the result. Taking him to task publically, while it might lance the boil of frustration she feels, would likely cause unnecessary aggravation and rifts in the crew. Perhaps she can find time to consult with him later.
Once back aboard the wagon, she asks generally if the leader carried any valuables, what is to be done with the crodlu and whether or not there is anything to be gained by keeping the chariots tied to the back of the wagon. She then passes among the hired blades, asking if anybody needs immediate attention - she has limited healing energy left, but if anyone is particularly damaged she is willing to provide succour.
After the battle, Lucian finds a place to rest until the weakness leaves his body. Then he consults his Harrow Deck on the near future, wondering if this is the best route to their destination.
Will this route bring more danger in the coming hours?
Chumani helps clear the bodies from the caravan and then returns to his assigned duties.
On Kilothrak’s mangled body you found a small pouch containing 7 silver pieces. Unless one of you tries to make claim to them, Nadar is taking the chariots and incorporating them into the caravan.
Lucian asks the cards the outcome of traveling in the direction you all are still headed. The result he receives is weal. True to their foretelling, nothing more attacks you on the journey to Urik.
Later in the evening, as camp is being made, Nadar approaches Daishata. “There was something you wished to discuss?” he asks, his face a passive mask.
For the time being Chumani will add the silver from Kilothrak's body to the other party funds and let the Dai, Rennoc & Gideon know about it once things have quieted down and others are not around to overhear.
Gideon will help clear the tareks then go to check on Pinara.
You weren't injured during the fight were you?
The half elf Pinara "I don't think so. That was very brave of you shooting all those terrible creatures today., Gideon was it? I think you deserve a reward. Come by my tent this evening, I have a skin of good broy I've been saving."
I am glad to hear you are safe, and I will be certain to join you this evening.
Giving a slight bow, Gideon leaves to rest until the evening, cleaning himself and his armor of any grime that may be present
|
Hamailii prods at the tareks a bit, it was they first time she saw the lot of them and she is curious.
Also watching the conversations of the others, she notices Nadar speaking to Dai and tries to sneak in on them, overhearing what will be said.
She also will try to search out Daimon the half elf.
Ah there you are! Where have you been in that fight? I didn´t see you at all somehow. Did you do something heroic?
Dai smiles, her blood settled now. She welcomes Nadar's proximity, and takes note of his impassive demeanour.
" It's true I was a little flustered. Mine own actions were, shall we say... foolhardy." Dai waits a moment to see if Nadar's inscrutable front wavers.
"Nevertheless, in the gladiator pits we were taught that battles are a balancing act - playing on the forces available, either working for or against you - the crowd [throws arms wide] ...the elements [indicates the sky] ... the dust [points to the ground] ...or your opponents." Dai pauses again to ensure dhe has the guard captain's attention.
"In order to effectively lead, sometimes you - our commander - may have to delegate to take advantage of these seemingly disparate elements. The mekillots. The crew. The enemy. The land. The mercenaries. I heard nothing from you during the battle. The chariots sped toward us without relenting. Perhaps you could have changed tack - stopped the wagon, however slowly. And once they were even with the wagon, whatever advantage we owned by evading them with speed was lost. Do we have ballista? Grappling hooks? Nets? We need to be more maneuverable, and more dynamic..."
Dai smiles again.
"I mean no disrespect Nadar. I merely want for us to be as successful as we can..."
Gideon enjoys a delightful evening in Pinara’s tent. The night itself is mostly a blur, until he manages to catch her with a hand in his coin pouch. She blushes and slowly removes the hand, palm open, face up and empty. "You're a sharp one I see. Shame on me I suppose for following my heart rather than sticking with the easy mark." She shrugs and takes another swig of the kank nectar brew. "Still, not a total waste of an evening."
* * *
“Sure did!” Daimon responds to Hamailii’s inquiry. “Was out there with Roshan, keeping the bulk of their horde off your arse. Skewered a dozen at least.” He pats his crossbow. You get the impression that while he may not have personally killed as many as he claims, he did see some combat.
* * *
Nadar patiently listens to Daishata’s grievances before responding. If the caravan master notices the elf eavesdropping, he makes no indication. “Your opinion has been noted.” He appears to think for a moment before continuing. “I have been leading caravans such as this for nearly a decade. It is not usually my custom to explain my decisions to those in my employ, but I am feeling generous this evening, so allow me to educate. Had we slowed or stopped our pace as you suggest, we would be fighting the bulk of the tarek horde from all sides, with nowhere to run I might add. Only by maintaining our bearings were we able to out distance the bulk of their forces. As I instructed, Roshan fought a delaying action, harrying their horde until their will to pursue broke. Instead, we only faced less than half a dozen of their faster units. Ultimately, my goal here is profit. This is not some Urikite brute squad out to pacify the waste natives, we are here to get the cargo from one city to the next. While siege weapons might be useful in downing a giant, we are better off simply running from such foes. Besides, ballista are expensive, and heavy. I would need to buy, and feed, another mekillot simply to drag the thing.” Nadar returns her smile. “However, should I find myself in some arena fighting for my life, I shall of course defer to your expertise.”
Dai nods and laughs at Nadar's gentle ribbing and thanks him for enlightening her - gaining the benefit of his years of experience without unnecessary condescension.
Dai does notice Hamailli listening in but makes no show of her discovery...
Rahger didn't have much interest in talking with the weaker meat that hid while the group fought. He obliges when Nadar commands for the remaining chariots to be incorporated for caravan safety.
He helps the others move the tarek corpses off the caravan. None of these were ones he personally slayed, so the right to their meat was not his to claim. The meat that cooks would not make meals of them either. The tarek he did kill were lost to the desert sands, probably turning into ugly man jerky.
Speaking of food, Rahger remembered....
Approaching Nadar, Rahger inquired more about the crodlu he just returned. " I keep crodlu. Crodlu have long leg. Crodlu carry Rahger faster than Rahger can himself."
Dai speaks up in support of Rahger's request...
"If not you could always take it out of his payment once we reach our destination..."
Indeed it wasn't.... so, I am on this journey as work, but why did you join the caravan?
"A trained beast of burden such as this is worth well more than your wages due." Nadar steeples his fingers. Twice, the caravan master draws breath as if to speak, but catches himself before words form. "By rights, they are now property of House Vordon. However, I have no objection to having more outriders if you wish to drive them for the remainder of the journey." As before, Nadar's expression is inscrutable.
* * *
“I go where the money goes” answers the half elf. ”In this case it’s Daran. I’ve a feeling that there’s something good in that pack of his. Why else would he sleep on it?” Pinara licks her lips, “You know, he’d be easier to handle with a little backup, if you’re up for it sharp boy. Sixty-forty and I’ll even teach you a few tricks after we get the goods.”
"Good, one of us will be the distraction, while the other lightens his load."
Tempting... but I am unsure about whether I should. My personal experience with acquisition has always been on the other side, I'm not sure I can be of much use, and I wouldn't want you to be caught, the guards here are rather... brutal. I am certain you can easily obtain whatever Daran is hiding without my help. Perhaps in the future though, after I have learned more and after my current contract has ended.
After another two days of desert travel, you finally see the blurred outlines of the City-State of Urik on the horizon. Nadar orders you all to keep up the pace, and a couple of hours later you find yourselves standing within Urik’s walls, in a large plaza bustling with activity, just on the other side of the city gates. No beasts of burden are allowed to enter the city, so the mekillots, crodlus and kanks have to wait outside.
The templars’ routine inspections and tax calculations took longer than expected. About half of the caravan guards are now paid and dismissed, including you. The dismissed guards immediately head for the nearest tavern. There is some discontent when Nadar calls out after them and announces that they are released from their contracts with House Vordon and need not report for duty when the caravan begins the return trip to Tyr at sunrise the following morning.
Nadar then leaves Roshan, the guard captain, in charge of transporting the caravan’s goods to the compounds of House Stel and the purchase of slave carriers. Nadar assures him he will be with them shortly. He then disembarks and heads up Trade Way, along with his mul bodyguard, Cratek. Daimon turns to you and whispers. “I figured this was coming after such a rousing journey here. Don’t worry. This has happened before. I’ll have a word with the caravan master about keeping us on. We might have to accept a cut in our pay, but it’s better than being stranded here in Urik, the city with a law for every man that lives in it.”
The City of Urik:
Using these rules
Lawful Neutral Plutocracy
corruption +6 (bluff vs officials, stealth outside buildings)
crime -3 (sense motive vs bluff, sleight of hand)
economy +4 (craft, perform and profession to generate income)
law +13 (intimidate to make civilians friendly, diplomacy vs officials & to call guards)
lore +2 (gather information and knowledge checks using city resources)
society -6 (disguise, diplomacy vs non officials)
qualities (Cruel Watch, Racially Intolerant [everyone but humans, half elves, dwarves and mul], Royal Accommodations, Strategic Location, fascistic)
danger +10
Daishata murmurs quietly to her fellow ex-slaves Chumani, Rennoc and Gideon.
"Right. This is how the Houses operate. No loyalty to us. No loyalty to them. 24 ceramic? Dust." Dai's eyes follow Nadar as he disappears into the throng.
"Still, we have a job to do, and I'm not getting left behind. When you see Nadar again, tell him I'll be with the mekillots..."
Dai leaves the city walls to find where the animals are kept. She finds a place to make a sleeping area, shares some of her food and water with the handlers and offers to help guard.
Spears cross to bar Daishata’s exit of the city. The gate guards declare “There are no caravans leaving today. By order of Hamanu, free travel in an out of his domain if forbidden.”
Well, if we are to be in the city for the day, or longer, be careful, the laws that Daimon mentioned are heavily enforced and the guards here aren't fond of outsiders, we must be careful. What shall we do during the wait?
Spears cross to bar Daishata’s exit of the city. The gate guards declare “There are no caravans leaving today. By order of Hamanu, free travel in an out of his domain if forbidden.”
Dai makes sure she stands her tallest and makes the met of her obvious umbrage. She acts surprised, then annoyed.
"I am not a caravan. I am a human. Pray tell what could be gained by keeping me inside when I wish to leave. Creating more unhappiness in your polis? This is madness and I demand that you release me. Is Urik a prison? I thought law was the order of the day here, not tyranny."
The guard swallows hard, but stands his ground. While the Gulgite standing before him does scare the fellow, you get the impression that there are other things that scare him even more. “Orders are orders. None shall pass through the gate unless part of a caravan. You should just move along before you cause trouble for all of us.”
Dai stares impassively for amoment, resisting the urge to bury her gouge in the guard's face.
She spins and stalks off.
Dai will return to find Chumani, Gideon and Rennoc and suggest they find an inn. She cares not about the price - as long as her ceramic can cover it, some food and drink.
Rennoc does not speak, he is alert for danger however... A mage in a city of the kings should be properly paranoid...
perception
As Rennoc and whomever is accompanying him are walking down the street, someone calls out to you from behind you somewhere. As you turn to look, you spot an elf clad in gray robes on a street corner next to an alley. His skin is dark, and his hair square-cut with tight ringlets in the fashion of most male urikites. The elf makes a strange hand gesture in your direction and says in a low voice with a thick accent “I’ve got something I can guarantee will be of interest to you. Come closer, so I don’t have to shout.” The elf throws a glance up and down the street and into the alley. “We don’t want anyone else to hear this.”
Chumani will go along with Dai to find somewhere to stay for the evening.
Rahger didn't like the idea of being left in another strange city. He was supposed to keep on with Nadar and that is exactly what he planned to do. Doing what that woman told him may be his best shot at getting home.
As Daimon explained that he talk with Nadar, Rahger chimed in, " He said Rahger can be outrider for him. Rahger great rider of four leg beasts. "
As the group was left to their own devices, Rahger got the sense the people didn't care much of him. They do look tasty, he thought.
Rahger will linger with Daishata and rest where they go.
Rennoc carefully approaches the elf, his lens is clutched subtly in his palm...
Speak
When you approach the elf, he huddles in close as he speaks, to avoid eavesdroppers. “I’ve got something the likes of you will be simply thrilled about.” The elf throws another glance up and down the street before reaching into his robes and takes out something wrapped in red cloth. He carefully unwraps the cloth, and reveals a shiny metal mirror. He holds it up for you to see, but is reluctant to let you touch it. You spot mysterious sigils and runes tracing the mirror’s frame, and a large rune on the back of the mirror. “I found this while exploring the ruined city of Kalidnay. I don’t know what the runes mean, but they’re undoubtedly magical in nature... So, are you interested?”
Rennoc calmly gazes at the mirror and lets his eyes glow with purple power...