From the Journal of the Wanderer
I live in a world of fire and sand. The crimson sun scorches the life from anything that crawls or flies, and storms of sand scour the foliage from the barren ground. Lightning strikes from the cloudless sky, and peals of thunder roll unexplained across the vast tablelands. Even the wind, dry and searing as a kiln, can kill a man with thirst.
This is a land of blood and dust, where tribes of feral elves sweep out of the salt plains to plunder lonely caravans, mysterious singing winds call men to slow suffocation in a Sea of Silt, and legions of slaves clash over a few bushels of moldering grain. The dragon despoils entire cities, while selfish kings squander their armies raising gaudy palaces and garish tombs.
This is my home, Athas. It is an arid and bleak place, a wasteland with a handful of austere cities clinging precariously to a few scattered oases. It is a brutal and savage land, beset by political strife and monstrous abominations, where life is grim and short.
Being a slave is rough but being sold to new masters usually ends up worse. It's been several days now since you left Urik and the slave traders tied you into their wagon. The grin on the man's face that shipped you off burns into your minds. Maybe one day he will get his due but not this day this day you must endure and survive.
There are seven guards in total transporting the three of you. One of which you know appears to be a pretty powerful master of the way.
You all wear heavy leather manacles on your wrists and ankles, as well as leather collars. The manacles and collars are sealed shut with giant-hair rope. The rope runs through a bone loop set into the wall, and is tied securely shut with knot located outside the hold. This gives you just enough room to reach the wooden chamberpot in the middle of the room. You know that if you pull on the rope the guards will rush in and probably beat you. The rope is extremely strong and even a Full Giant would have a lot of problems breaking it with brute strength.
The routine of the wagon is pretty standard. It moves at daybreak, an hour later your fed gruel and water and the guards check your shackles. They return in the evening with an additional quart of water.
" You know if I wasn't a slave this whole free food and water thing might not be so bad." Davros says as he squirms around for the most comfortable position possible.
"Hey big guy how'd you get captured? don't look like the type of guy to get taken down by a slaver. Davros hums to himself, waiting for a response.
Manu sat towering over the others in their wagon cell, being nearly 12 feet tall when he stood. His thick leather restrains were even thicker than the others in proportion to his size as well. He stared at the far wall remembering his past as the days passed endlessly, enduring the monotony with stoic resolve. Finally the voice of the halfling caught his attention and with a slow motion he turned his head as much as he could to look at the other slave.
"My name is Manu. I was accused by the templars of being in league with enemies of the city. Their leader ordered me locked up. I fought. I lost. They took my possessions and my freedom."
Manu trembled with anger as the memories opened the fresh wounds in his memories at the unfairness even though he knew justice was not a thing that existed on the face of Athas.
" whoa, whoa, whoa relax there you don't want the guards coming on in." Davro's says looking around for any sign of movement.
"do any of you know where we're going? We must be quite some ways from Urik by now." Davros attempts to lie down but sees that the rope will get pulled if he does.
Davros sighs while sitting up straight. "What have I gotten myself into."
"I will not fight until the moment is right, but I will be free once more. I could kill these guards with my bare hands if the one with The Way was dealt with. Until then I wait. I do not know where we go or why but when I die I will die well."
"I am Tydus the Handsome. I was born a slave and likely will die a slave despite my own knowledge of the Way. If I were to be free I would carve these guardsmen up and suck the marrow from their bones..."
Tydus may be the ugliest being you have ever seen this side of a Thri-Kreen. His face looks as if it has been shattered by many beatings ad his flesh looks half dead. Instead of being bald like other Mul's, he has stringy hair as you might see on a decoration as opposed to a living being. Perhaps his only redeeming quality is that his body seems as if it could drag the wagon the three of you sit in.
2 Guards make their way into the holding room with your water rations for the evening. They do not say anything to each other or you as they hand you the skins with water in them.
The Wagon has come to a stop and is following the normal routine getting ready for nightfall.
"Didn't know Mul ate people." The Half-Giant said as he stared meaningfully at the halfling as if expecting him to say something...and then the guards entered before he could suggest or say anything else. Still this might be an opportunity to learn more from the guards at the least...
He took the waterskin and gulped down the water, but he held a last bit in his mouth and stayed quiet as the guards made their rounds.
When the guards leave, the Mul replies, "I don't but with these curs I would make an exception!"
Davros's humming stops to a halt upon hearing Tydus's remark. Davros begins fidgeting a little before he stops himself and resumes humming hoping no one notices his uneasiness.
Seeing that neither of his companions questioned the guards he waits for them to leave. Once they have done so he lets out his mouthful of water over his leather cuffs carefully, taking the time to make sure the water soaks into the leather where possibly cracks or rough spots might exist. Other then this he listens to the outside of the wagon for any voices that might be talking.
A few minutes after the guards leave your slave hold you hear shouting outside. You hear an unfamiliar voice shouting and the guards moving into their battle stations.
"The Jura Dai are not slaves. Your king must release our people or all his caravans will perish in the desert!"
With that you hear the guards command the Mekillot's to begin moving again and the wagon starts forward.
Manu looks up at the unfamiliar voice calling outside. "What is a Jura Dai?" He begins to test stretching his leather cuffs now that the water has softened them a little.
Tydus stands and heads to the door to see if he can see any of the guards. If he can he smiles and begins to concentrate...
Psion
"Wait Tydus you might alert the guar..." Davros peeks at his face once more. "Not like you would care." Davros takes his time relaxing accepting anything that might happen in the near future.
When Tydus stands and walks to the door you can hear the chimes from pulling on the ropes but no guards come running in like you would expect.
Within moments you hear.
"You can't stop a mekillot wagon!" from one of the guards then suddenly there is a loud explosion sound in front of the wagon!
And more sounds of "They stopped us!" and "Were doomed!"
Manu lets out a little growl and rises to his feet slowly realizing that something more was happening here then they could see. "Little man, you want to be free? It sound like guards gonna be busy for a short while, we should get rid of...these..." He flexes his wrists against the leather straps more not holding back as much with the chaos outside.
Manu is unable to break free of the bonds.
More yells from unfamiliar voice can be heard outside.
"Leave now, taking nothing with you, or we will burn you out!"
At that moment the Psioinist bursts into the room and looks at you all wild eyed seeing Tydus standing near the door and Manu trying to break free of his bonds.
"If you help us I will set you free!" he says quickly holding an obsidian short sword in his hand.
Tydus grins his hatred for the Psion almost palpable.
"Very well, free us..." he holds out his bonds.
Manu nods. "What do we face?"
The Psionist eyes you all carefully for a moment before pulling out the keys and undoing the locks that hold you all in place.
"Filthy elves gonna pay now!"
Tydus chuckles as his bonds are released, "Indeed".
His eyes flash at the Psion and he brings his powers to bear against the fool that freed the very men he whipped earlier in the trip.
Push - TN 15
Psion
"..."
Davros awed at the sign of hope before hearing Manu's and the psioinist voice. He rushes to the psioinist with the shackes in front of him. "yea yea sure just hurry."
Round 1
Psion - 17 (Block 9, Parry 12, Dodge 12, Soak 9)
Davros - 10
Manu - 10
Tydus - 8
#####
The Psion narrows his eyes at the group.
"I don't trust you Mul."
TN 25+Resists (Roll your charm skill)
"hey hey relax there it must of been an accident I mean look at him I'm surprised he can even talk properly. Remember where the help now let us help you." He says trying to relax the psioinist.
The Psion eyes the Halfling and appears to let his guard down a bit after hearing to what he has to say.
"We need to put aside our differences. Mutual survival is our best bet right now to making it out of here. Self destructive actions will not be tolerated." He glares at both of the psions there daring either to make a hostile move. "You slaver, we will need weapons if we are to fight with you."
He holds himself ready to jump in if either takes hostile action.
The psion nods at Manu.
"Yes! Man the three rear firing decks there are crossbows and bolts there."
Charm
Wild
Tydus turns to Manu, "You would trust slavers? I am not so trusting, this is my chance to be free, more the fool you if you don't see it".
The Psion flies backwards as if pushed by an invisible force slamming into the wall just outside the door and falls prone!
Feels his temper rise as the mul ignores his warning. "You are the fool who would throw away your sword because you do not like who made it!" His hand moves instinctively out backhanding the Mul.
The Psion stands up groggily holding his Obsidian Short Sword in hand.
"Your going to pay for that you filthy mut!"
Tydus is able to easily block the blow.
Round 2
Psion - 17 (Block 9, Parry 12, Dodge 12, Soak 9) - [Wounded -1D]
Davros - 10
Manu - 10
Tydus - 8
Davros determined not to get in between two psion's and a mul sneaks through the door looking for any loose weapons or enemies.
Like a little ninja Davros makes his way out of the room without anyone even noticing he did so!
Manu follows after Davros toward the mentioned weapons, leaving the Mul to determine his own fate with the slaver he simply must kill. He is not very stealthy as he leaves.
Manu being so large has to turn sideways not to interrupt the battle going on before him to leave the room.
Manu moves swiftly not taking time to look for the halfling but heading toward where he would stash the weapons...the farther from the prisoners room the better. He first goes to check Room D then Room E, pausing only if he finds something worth equipping to help his survival.
Davros sneaks onto the firing deck grabbing the crossbow and quiver nearby then heads towards room C and searches for anything of use.
Davros you take the crossbow and 20 arrows with you. Room C looks like it's the Psionist quarters and your able to find 25 ceramic hidden in his bunk.
Manu room D is the kitchen. There is a LOT of water in barrels here and 20 one-quart vessels. Room E appears to be the Captains quarters who is not actually on this trip. You find a safe beneath the bunk and is locked.
Manu takes 4 quart vessels of water and heads to the Captain's room. He attempts to break into the chest hoping for a weapon...
Please make a Stamina check as some gaseous substance begins to make it's way into your system!
Manu shrugs off the poison with ease. Inside the case you find 50 ceramics in a pouch and a bone case with a map inside it.