Manu studies the water renewing as much as he can understand despite not having any knowledge of arcane matters. Still the trickling water was fascinating...
After looking around a bit and seeing nothing else down this glorified well he turned to Tydus.
"Well we have done all we can...lets refill our waterskins and take the location of this back to Tyr."
He refills his waterskin and will attempt to climb back out of the cistern.
Tydus nods, "Agreed, Perhaps we should pull this creatures' body out so it does not contaminate the water?"
You fill your skins with the fresh water and climb your way out of the hole easily and make your way to the exit.
The relentless heat of the Athasian sun is jarring after the cool shadows of the wind trap's interior. But you have more to worry about than the ever-present desert heat. A group of city toughs stand outside the wind trap; they are armed, armored, and look like they've been waiting for you. A tall, darkskinned man in white robes leads them, and the sunlight catches thlionon crest of Urik embla zoned across his chest.
Tydus wastes no time speaking simply releasing his Psionic energy upon the group before him. Those who remain awake will no doubt wish they slept when Manu gets his sword on them...
Psion - Sleep
Initiative - Wild = 19
All of the enemies before you fall to sleep except for the Templar!
Tydus cocks his head, "I suppose you wish to talk now eh Templar! Though I think my large friend would rather use you for target practice with his magnificent weapon".
Total Init=22
Manu lets out a growl and using his large muscles launches himself across the intervening distance to the Templar launching an all out attack to try to bring the Templar to the sands before he can awaken his men.
Manu's sword cleaves down on the former slave master Templars head digging down deep half way through his body as he stands there dumbfounded dying before he even had a chance to react...
There is no one else around that you can see except for the sleeping enemies.
Tydus will finish most of the attackers except for one dwarf that he will tie up.
"Wake up, we've questions for you..."
The dwarf grunts shaking his head. He looks around seeing his comrades dead and grimaces.
"Why not just finish me off as well."
"Well, usually we do. Finish everyone that is. But. I get the sense that we keep missing out on information that could otherwise be useful.
You tell us what you know about why you are here including whether you are following us or not and I'll see if I can't convince my big friend to let you come with us back to the Free City of Tyr. You can start a new life there they say..."
The dwarf grunts. "I'm just a conscript for that Templar you killed. The lord of Urik heard of this place possibly existing and sent us out to try and find it and so now it is found."
"It seems we are thorns in Urik's side these days Tydus." Manu searches the body of the Templar for maps, or items of value.
"Or they a thorn in ours. Well what will it be dwarf? Do you wish to live free or head back to Urik? How many other patrols are out there looking?"
The Templar only had a whip, rod and robes on him. The others had stone short swords.
"There are no others."
He looks about a bit and then back to Tydus.
"Tyr sounds like a wonderful place to move onto after this current situation." he makes a weak smile.
He appears to be truthful.
Manu collects ALL the food and water and bundles it together with whatever they were carrying them with and makes the dwarf carry some of the supplies while he shoulders the rest. "Come we have a long trip back to Tyr to claim our reward."
Tydus smiles at the dwarf, "Do you have a name besides the "first one we let live"? By the way, don't make us regret this... cause we'll make sure we have the last laugh".
Manu has a laugh that lasts longer than the joke was funny at 'First one we let live'.
"You can call me Krig. What shall I call you two?"
He stands to his feet, a stocky figure obviously worked hard in Urik full of muscle.
"Call me Manu. What is the latest news from Urik?" He begins trudging back toward Tyr.
"Tydus", grunts the Mul. His social graces leave much to be desired.
The trip back to Tyr is uneventful but when you reach Tyr the city is buzzing with activity not like what you saw a few days ago when you were first here. The guard and army appear to be preparing for war.
"What is going on?" Manu asks a guard as they head into the city, hoping to make it back to the strange 'curio seller' who had sent them on this mission.
"King Hamanu has decided Tyr is unfit and had declared war on us. Rikus is preparing the armies to fight back." He moves away with quickness trying to get things ready.
"Hmmm. Sounds like a right mess." Manu keeps moving toward the home of the man they had met before who sent them on this mission.
Tydus spits disgusted, "Now we'll never speak with these "leaders".
He turns to the dwarf, "Beat it, we've got places to be". Then he follows in Manu's wake back to the curio shop.
"Might as well get payment before we try to get involved with any messy politics."
The dwarf nods and takes off into the crowds and vanishes quickly into the masses. The city is hard to move through but you make your way to the old man's house before dark and knock. He opens the door and looks up at the two of you.
"Well were you successful? Do you have the location?"
"Yes." He says simply waiting to be invited inside.
Tydus nods but watches their backs to make sure no one is paying too much attention to them.
"Great come in, come in."
He closes the door behind you as you enter and goes to a table and lays out a map of the tablelands. "Show me where it is and the bag is yours."
"I require proof you possess such a bag first. Only then will we mark the location on the map. I would be...displeased if you lack such a bag."
Tydus peers around the room.
Perception
Nothing seems out of ordinary from last time you were here Tydus.
The old man nods to the Half-Giant. "Of course. Wait here."
The old man vanishes into another room and a few minutes emerges with a small bag in his hand. He take an object that should not be able to fit into the bag and easily stores it away and the bag appears to not have even be holding such an object.
"Suitable yes?"
Manu examines the bag and also makes sure the man doesn't seem nervous like he is trying to bluff him. Assuming that checks out he'll mark the location on the map. "We ran into some gith, a Tembo, and mercenaries led by a Templar of Urik at the Cistern. For all that we were able to confirm it seems to generate its water through some secret method seemingly endlessly."
"Very good, very good. All is in order then you have your item and I have what I asked you to find for me. You may leave now."
With that he turns to go into one of his other rooms leaving you in the first open room you entered.
Manu looks at Tydus and shrugs, testing his purchase by putting his inventory into it and they taking it back out for good measure before he leaves the house to just verify it is indeed not an illusion. If it worked then he would leave the way they came assuming Tydus had nothing left to ask the man.
Tydus grins at Manu, "I suppose now we have a decision to make, do we try to get a meeting with these politicians or try and do some work for that Noble? We could go a third direction but I can't imagine what that would be at the moment..."
"So long as we do not get sucked into some war I have no concerns. We should try to get to know the city more. Perhaps more work closer to Tyr will present itself."
You both leave the old man's house and head back into the city. As before most of the city appears to be preparing for war. If Urik was to make it to Tyr things could go very bad for the both of you and the rest of the city. Slavery is definitely in the future if Urik is to win.
Soldiers bump into you as they hustle, one looks to both of you.
"Your both strong able men! You should join under Rikus to help us stop Urik!"