Once the animals are cared for, he moves over toward the fire and cuts off a chunk of the roasting Bulette. Nodding and smiling at Altin, "Mmmm tastes like chicken and shark had a delicious baby."
After camp has been set up and bulette portions are roasting merrily over the fire, Altin takes out his small Romani flute and begins playing something to lighten the mood. After a tune or two he asks if anyone else plays or sings.
Miranda the Muse rises and moves to stand beside Altin as he plays his flute, and begins to sing a beautiful counter-melody...
Singing: Faaa La Laaa! Faaa La Laaa! Tra La Laaa La Laaa!
She sways gently to the music...
Achiko sits quietly, listening to the beautiful music made by Altin and Miranda. She stares at the campfire and occasionally up at the stars in the night sky. Her dark, almond-shaped eyes tear up.
The three vulture brothers perch on the rock outcropping that forms a partial wall around the campsite, gobbling down scraps of roasted bulette meat tossed to them by the adventurers, or by the gladiators and harem women.
Mmmm! Yes! Just as Wulfgar said! Like tender baby chicken-shark!
How would you know what either tastes like, dummy!? All we have had to eat until today is carrion: rotten hyena, lizards, snakes, and rodents!
Don’t call him a dummy, you idiot! Hahahaha!
Delilah rises and begins to dance to the music. Her movements are hypnotic and beautiful.
Set up his house for the night and is sitting drinking some wine while enjoying the music.
Mwikali eats and enjoys herself getting up and dancing alongside others her hips and body moving to the music. It wasn't formal but more primal.
Mwikali eats and enjoys herself getting up and dancing alongside others her hips and body moving to the music. It wasn't formal but more primal.
Aha! Oho! Here is Earth Magic!
Vanna watches as the others danced. She takes a drink of her coffee as she grazed on some well done bullette steak.
This would go well with a glaze made from some root vegetables. Very nice taste though...not as tough as i thought it might be.
Watching everyone, Volreg rubs his aching legs as he eats into the landshark steak and drinks from his waterskin. The music was good, the singing nice, and the dancers excellent, plus there was a woman who knew some of what he was going through with the gifts of the elements.
"Ha, if it weren't for my legs hurting as much as they are, I'd join the dancers. I may not be as good as Delilah or Mwikali, but letting the wind guide me might help. As for you Oparah, perhaps we can learn how to focus our abilities and learn how to better control our gifts in the morning. That jump put quite the strain on my legs."
The key is bending your knees and not tensing up as you land. My instructor drilled that into my head...had me jumping off lots of things...only rolled my ankles a few times before I got it down...
"Combat is harsh, I myself know the bare minimum of what I need to weld what weapons I can. My true power comes from my spells. They are my weapons. As for the jumping and landing, maybe one of the others can help you learn who to fall better?" Mwikali says as she dances over in front on Volreg and Vanna with a wide smile on her face.
Out of the darkness at the open end of the rock formation, a familiar ally emerges into the light of the campfire: the zebracorn has found Mwikali once again!
To Mwikali in Kunari: Hail, Sister of the Land! We meet again! I heard the lovely music, and saw you dancing in honor of the spirits of Africa, and I have come to once more offer my friendship and service! I came across the carnage from your victory over the landshark, and saw jackals and buzzards feasting on the remains of two mules, and what was left of the landshark... I guessed that I might be useful to you again. Mwikali, I will serve as your ride west to Safi, that one of your companions might use whichever of these fine beasts you have been riding upon, if you would like...
At two minutes til midnight, a rainbow-hued portal appears outside the tiny door of Lord Perpireen’s magical house... A moment later, a spry little sprite springs through the portal on furry goat legs and sees Lord Perpireen smoking a pipe on his doorstep!
In Sylvan: Ho there! Well met, good Lord Perpireen! Rejoice, for thine old brother Puck hath come with tidings and gifts from Queen Titania and King Oberon for thee! First, the tidings: Our Fey Queen and King bid thee greetings and give their undying love to the Fey Lord of the Brandywine and the Brambles! Thou art brother and son unto our August Queen and Terrible King! Now, their gifts unto thee: Thou hath shown patience and selfless contentment as thy mortal friends looted tomb and fallen foes. Now, receive thy reward!
So saying, Puck produces with a conjuring wave of deft little hands, a fine, bejeweled box of miniature aspect, of gilded and tooled leather inlaid with moonstone and red jasper, redolent of jasmine and frankincense. Within, Lord Perpireen finds enclosed a tiny ring of ruddy gold engraved with runes that signify liberation and unchained chaos—a ring of freedom of movement—along with a fine spidersilk robe of violet and indigo hemmed with cloth-of-gold knot work and stylized eye symbols interspersed with what appear to be a variety of blinking, vigilant eyes—some with vertical slit pupils like a serpent, some like a hawk’s, some like the “eyes” of a peacock’s tail, and others with two or three pupils—a robe of eyes! In addition to these priceless treasures, there is a finely engraved wand of cure serious wounds!
"I will gladly accept your offer Noble steed!Come sit in the shade and close to the fire. You are welcome here" She says back in Kunari as she then continues to dance enjoying herself while she can.
Ho there!
Load P falls of his seat and lands on his behind with a tiny thud.
Shoots a look at his brother."Ya silly sod!! Ya scared the Beziuss out e me, I told Puck about dropping in like that."
His brother shot him a look. O its one of them visits, so now who's watching us?" Load P stands and waits to hear the proclamation sounded out by his brother, he did so patiently. He know his dread king, King Oberon liked his long proclamations. So it was always wise to get them out the way. After his brother was done, he looked at him there offering up gifts.
"You know brother I have a good mind to leave you standing there all night! Just for the shocking me. But... Queen Titania, she be keeping an eye on me a?"
His brother nodded his head vigorously. Load P took the gifts and putting them away, mouthing the words Thank you, then took a step and he hugged his brother, who hugged back. They patted each other on the back. After a wile they let go, Load P broke the ice.
"Its good to see ya not dead them, You been messing with showing mortals fey magic still and all. I tell ya puck one of these days you going to push ya luck. So then, don't go rushing back, I have a hole human bottle of wine, and some of the best court food this side of the water. What say you and me brink the dawn in and sing rude songs about farmers daughters and farm boys."
His brother smiled.
"Don't you never mind brother, no mortal will get the better of me. Or my names not Robin Goodfellow, and as for a drink, I thought you would never ask Brother, and I don't have to be back on the bright road till tomorrow, so lets see that bottle then"
For the rest of the night the party can hear two high pitched and every drunk voices giggling and singing all manner of rude songs that would make a Viking Blush.
Moving slightly with the music, watching the dancers and then the fey beast speaking to Mwikali, then the other fey beast show up, speaking to the little lord. He looks up to the moon, then around the campfire, noticing Achiko sitting alone. Grunting, he rises to he feet, crossing near the fire he goes and sits by her. "Once we reach Safi, what will you do? Will you sail to Portugal and book passage back to the east, to your island?"
I must think on that, Wulfgar-San. I... I am torn between loyalty to two clans... The Koga Hexagon Yellow Reeds, my family in Japan... and the Desert Jackals, my family here...
She looks from the stars to Wulfgar, and smiles sadly.
With our traitorous brother Hisao dead, I can return home a hero... But I feel that my destiny might be calling me to remain with you and the others... To be a hero here in Africa... I cannot be certain, and it is difficult to decide, Wulfgar-San.
Meanwhile, in Japan...
Gojira, King of Kaiju, stomps across the blazing ruins of Edo (medieval Tokyo), each colossal footfall causing the ground to quake! Lifting his titanic reptilian head to the waxing moon, Gojira gives voice to a monstrous shriek!
YYYEEEEEEAAAAAAARRRRRRRRKKKK!!!!
Turning north, the King of Kaiju stomps off to wreak further destruction upon the Land of the Rising Sun...
At dawn on the 18th of January, the caravan rises and breaks fast on roasted bulette steaks and water, breaks camp, unhobbles their mounts, and continues west toward Safi, the third day of travel from Marrakech.
By sundown, the twinkling lights of Safi come into view on the dark western horizon...
In Kunari to Mwikali: Now that we have come to Safi, I must again bid you farewell, Sister of the Land. The monks of Safi would not welcome me, I fear. Be careful, My Lady. I sense that evil might lurk within that monastic fortress!
The zebracorn looks with apprehension toward the glittering lights of the fortified monastery of Safi as it kneels low to let Mwikali dismount easily...
At this point, the Desert Jackals ascend to a new level of power in the Game of Mortals, the Fifth Level!
wakes and shares some food with his brother Puck.
"Now don't be a stranger, you come back anytime Brother"
His brother nodded,
"I a will Brother"
"So where ya heading next, off to the green lands once more"
"I was thinking of visiting the magical Island I spotted off the cost of Naples. You remember Caliban, that mean grumpy old git who used to eat beetles and go on and on about the weather. Well That's where he's been hiding. Thought I would go see what he has been upto. Bad I would suspect"
Load P nodded
"Yes he was a bad one that one, Well be careful is all I can say, now off with ya, the others are getting up and I have a name to make for my self"
"His brother gave in one last hug stood back and then jumped into the air, becoming the wind he was gone in an instant."
Load P looked after him then went about packing up.
Thought out the day he said little, thinking in his brother and the fact he was being watched. This must be a lot more importune than he thought, what they do much have effect something his king new would mean something in the world of mortals. But what, they where just a ragtag band in the sands. He thoughts raced all day thinking on this.
As the caravan draws near the great fortified monastery of Safi, the dull roar of the Atlantic Ocean becomes audible, along with the rhythmic chanting of Muslim monks echoing from the apertures piercing the sun-bleached stone walls of the great fortress, the distant cry of gulls, and the occasional ding of a ship’s bell from the harbor...
Flickering torchlight from within windows and archways, and from external torches in brackets at twenty-foot intervals below the battlements and turrets, illuminates the interior and out to twenty feet (forty feet shadowy illumination) from the fortified monastery walls.
Within this flickering illumination can be seen the grim faces of guards posted atop the towers and outer battlements, most armed with bows or crossbows, but some, including two gatehouse guards flanking the main gate outside the monastery, are armed with glaives, or even apparently unarmed. All wear turbans and scarves that cover the lower halves of their faces...
The two gatehouse guards, armed with wicked-bladed glaives, call out loudly in unison, in Arabic: HALT!! WHO GOES THERE!?
Unlike when you last passed through Safi from the harbor side to the main gate and out into Safi town, this time, the great portcullis of the main gate is lowered to block entry through the great archway of the gatehouse, and the two monk guards seem especially suspicious of the large caravan of apparent foreigners, some of whom (Wulfgar, Mwikali, and a few of the gladiators and harem women) appear particularly barbaric or savage...
After Wulfgar reminds the guards who he and his companions are, and announces passengers and livestock to sell, they visibly relax, and wave the caravan to approach the gatehouse...
The great portcullis is raised, and a pair of stout inner doors that had been opened wide during the adventurers' previous passage through swing open once more with a groan of hinges, revealing the open, torchlit courtyard beyond...
In Arabic, one of the guards calls out: Welcome back, captain and crew of The Alanqilis... Forgive our suspicion, but there are far more of you now than before, including many more beasts...and...a TIGER... I'm afraid your tiger will have to be secured by chains or a cage, which we can supply, before you can bring it through!
In spite of seeming more relaxed than at the caravan's initial approach, the guards keep the wicked blades of their glaives pointed at the approaching Desert Jackals and caravan...
A low growl rumbles in Shaka's throat... GGGRRRRRRRRR!!
The tiger snorts indignantly... *SNORT!*
In a booming baritone Arabic: What in Allah's Holy Name is this nonsense!? I WILL NOT be chained, or caged, like some stupid, savage brute! I'll have you fools know that I'm an AWAKENED tiger, AWAKENED by the Great Mullah of the Desert himself, a much-respected Bedouin holy man of the wilderness! Chained or caged MY FURRY ARSE!!
The guards gasp in astonishment at the complaining tiger!
In Arabic: The tiger speaks!?
The two briefly confer, then one addresses Shaka the tiger: A thousand pardons, noble tiger! If you were indeed awakened by the Great Mullah of the Desert, then surely you must be tame enough for us to treat you as a guest! Forgive our rudeness... No chains or cage will be necessary!
The Desert Jackals and their companions and beasts are granted entry through the great main gate, and through the torchlit open courtyard, where a dozen monk guards posted along the settlements above watch them pass below...
The front door of the monastery keep proper is unlocked by a door guard, who silently bids the adventurers and company to enter...
"Our TIGER is in charge of its own faculties. It has been blessed with speech and intelligence of a man."Mwikali says as she looks over the guards with her two multicolored eyes as she hates to see such a noble creature and ally be restricted.
Vanna chuckles as Shaka protests.
If one of you is brave enough to put a chain on him, by all means....although I highly recommend against it... she says trying to not to burst out laughing.
In Arabic: No chains or cage shall be necessary if the noble tiger wishes to pass through our monastery... But, of course, you may certainly choose to pass around the monastery to sell your wares in the Safi bazaar, and board your dhow Alanqilis sooner rather than later...
The eyes of several monk guards posted on the battlements overhead can be seen watching the Desert Jackals and their companions carefully...
In Arabic, the same gatehouse guard continues: As for your fine beasts, we monks have little use for them ourselves, but if you offer a charitable price, that we may resell them at a modest profit to feed ourselves and the poor of Safi-town, we would also repay you with shelter for the night and a blessing on each of you...and, bulette meat is a delicacy we rarely have the good fortune to savor... More often, it is the bulette who savors the flesh of mankind! The guard's dark eyes seem to sparkle with morbid humor at this last observation...
If you wish to be our guests for tonight, we will grant you safe shelter for only a silver shekel donation from each of you to our coffers... Or in return for selling to us your beasts of burden at, say, half the usual market price, we will not only shelter you in our finest guest chambers, but we will pray for Allah's blessing on each of you, throw for you a sumptuous feast, and supply you with provisions for your voyage to wherever your destiny takes you!
Tuesday, 9th of January, 11:00 PM, Japanese Island of Honshu, twenty leagues north of the blazing ruins of Edo:
Gojira continues his apocalyptic rampage, stomping and incinerating a swath of utter destruction hundreds of yards wide! His colossal reptilian feet trample an ancient bamboo grove to smithereens, pounding the high stalks down into massive, claw-shaped craters! The King of Kaiju seems to recall an ancient memory...
There are others besides me... Foes to fight!... and friends to go rampaging with!... Mothra! Mothra is my friend!... or is she my foe??... Can’t recall... Doesn’t matter, she’ll remind me after I wake her, I suppose... thinks Gojira out loud: YYYRRREEEAAAAARRRKKKK!!!! BBRRREEEEEAAAAAARRRRKKKK!!! GGGRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!
Something about the way the monk says “safe shelter” and “in our finest guest chambers” strikes Wulfgar as off...sardonic...subtly mocking...
In Arabic: You shall find no evil here, weary travelers... only goodness and succor from the harsh desert... It sounds somewhat insincere to the aasimar bloodrager...
Altin keeps an eye on the guard. He can feel that something is amiss, but can't quite pinpoint it. He gets closer to Wulfgar and murmurs to him in Greek, a language they both share.
Altin keeps an eye on the guard. He can feel that something is amiss, but can't quite pinpoint it. He gets closer to Wulfgar and murmurs to him in Greek, a language they both share.
** spoiler omitted **
The monk guard seems no more suspicious than he already was, apparently believing in Altin’s “casual conversation” with Wulfgar...
The vigilant monks posted on the battlements overhead continue to watch the adventurers and their companions with dark eyes from the shadows, dimly illuminated by flickering torches in sconces...
Barely audible, indistinguishable whispers are exchanged by a few of these shadowy watchers above...
A pair of monk guards creep like cats through the shadows and into the gatehouse of the great front gate...
[ooc]Totally forgot I get Alertness thanks to my familiar.Ugh[/dice]
"I for one would prefer the ship. I know you are holy men, but I am not of your order. I do not wish to disturb any rites or rituals you must perform just to accommodate us. This way you are allowed to worship and stay devout without our disturbance. I, however, am honored by your hospitality and may in the future take you up on your offer. I believe though that we are going to go to our ship and rest. It has been a long journey and the familiar is something I think all of us crave." She says with a fierce look on her face. On the road, the spirits of Air came to her through Kiku and bestowed upon her the ability to soar in the air and the ability to hurl lightings from her fingers. If need be she will employ them against these monks. She does not wish too, but at the same time, she was told of great evil among them.
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A pair of monk guards creep like cats through the shadows and into the gatehouse of the great front gate...
Now whats them fellers up ta
They look a bit odd now
Load P comes up behind one of the monks and says in a loud voice.
"HELLO THERE FELLO-ME-LADS WHAT YA DOING SNEAKING AROUND HERE LIKE CATS?"
He casts light on the monks head and zips away, over to the next one.
Cast light on him as well.
Altin follows Wulfgar's lead, turning his horse to go around the fort, when he hears the commotion caused by their fey companion. Chuckling to himself, he spurs his horse faster, hoping that the distraction will give the big clumsy folk a chance to get clear of the gatehouse without trouble.
Shouts of alarm echo from within the main gatehouse as the Desert Jackals pass under the great portcullis and back out of the fortress-monastery, onto the road that circumnavigates it...
The two monks with brightly glowing "haloes" dash back the way they came, up stone stairs and onto the upper battlements...
To Lord P, it seemed that they were approaching the great lever that can be thrown to quickly drop the portcullis, likely planning to throw it before the adventurers could exit the courtyard, trapping them within...but the noble sprite cannot be certain...