"Sorry, I'm already a minion of Lady Ocean." says Derlan, without a hint of a joke as he continues to tend to his Mekillot.
"Should someone without the necessary skills and knowledge attempt to read the scroll there may be dire consequences for them. Or perhaps nothing would result," Farcluun replies. "And the halfling is correct, he has already chosen his master, he cannot also serve me. Should any of you so choose, you could easily swear your allegiance to me, but I expect this to be a simple transaction between client and mercenaries."
Farcluun walks briskly for the rest of the day, making minor course adjustments along the way. He is indefatigable and seemingly unaffected by the harsh heat of the sun.
Finally the group crests a large hill. The wastes below are punctuated by stone walls peaking up from beneath centuries of sand. A weathered statue sticks partially out of the sand and the outlines of buried buildings can barely be seen.
A camp has been laid out on the hilltop. A fire pit has been dug with a pile of kindling and a barrel of mekillot dung waiting beside it. Boulders have been dragged to form a circle around the pit. Two elves stand stock straight wearing dusty tabards of a pale blue color. Over their faces is a three inch by three square of black leather. Both elves hold Spears with gleaming steel tips.
"Your payment and some supplies will be along shortly. Make yourselves comfortable. I need you to be at your best tomorrow."
Ekee follows along with the others and is less chatty than normal. When the camp is reached she takes a seat beside fire pit. All the while keeping an eye on the Elf guards. After Farcluum's comment she smiles and says.
"A contract, now that I like. And payment has a better ring to it than satisfactory reward. Which was a little vague. I mean what one finds satisfactory another would not. For instance I have often found a proper evisceration both rewarding and satisfying. But I'm sure there are some that would not."
She then begins to unpack her things and make ready for the night.
Jaryx silently sits down by the fire, jealously regarding the steel of the elven spears.
Derlan guides his wagon into the camp and then tends to his Mekillot, feeding and watering it before pulls out some rations and begins eating. He offers the group water from his wagon, and as the evening sets on he enters his wagon and begins singing in that same language he spoke in earlier.
Ludi peers out at the statues in the distance and says, "What is that place? With the statues?"
Farcluun sits down on one of the boulders. "Yaramuke. Once the city-state ruled by Queen Sielba. She made the mistake of starting a trade war with Hamanu. He escalated to a real war and the might of Urik laid the city to waste."
He pauses his history lesson to turn and look over his shoulder at the ruins. "Yaramuke was built around an immense oasis called Black Waters. The damage left from the magical final battle between Hamanu and Sielba cursed the oasis. According to the Wanderer, those who drink of Black Waters become cursed. They grow ill, die, then rise as undead bound to the oasis."
"When you locate the scroll, I have plans to use it to both increase in power and undo the curse. If I can feel the Wall weakening, so too can Athas' enemies. After the incident a few years back in Tyr, my rivals are nervous. One of them might decide to try and seize the curse for themselves, twist the undead into an army. If such a thing happens, all hope for the world may be lost. That would ruin my plans."
"Yaramuke," repeats Ludi. "Another place lost to history."
He checks his water supply and says, "I suppose we'd best take all of our own water and avoid that curse."
Ekee shakes her head and says.
"Yeah, I can see how the world being lost might be inconvenient for you."
Dismoon begins eliminating possible clans and tribes, but cannot recall any elven cultures quite like these silent, serious, and disciplined spearmen.
"Indeed," he says gravely. Moments later a quartet of elves bearing a crate approaches. They are dressed in the same type of tabard and with the same black square veil, but they carry typical bone swords. They gently lay the crate down then remove leather messenger bags and set them down beside it. The elves open the crate and remove shelved layers from within. "Take only what you can use and reasonably carry. Please do not abuse my trust." After unpacking the crate the elves face Farcluun and drop to one knee with their heads bowed. "You have done excellent work, thank you. Please return to your families and prepare for my next move." They wordlessly stand and run back in the direction of the trade road.
Ludi is quite startled by the extraordinary wealth on display. Finally he hoists his own set of waterskins on his shoulder and says, "I don't know how to use most of these weapons and I don't really think I can carry much more. I can take one of these potion-fruits for safekeeping."
Ekee watches the elves depart then begins picking through the chest.
"Dis, Jaryx lets split the arrows."
She also takes one of the bucklers as well as a sling, 1/2 of the bone bullets, 2 small sacks, 2 candles, 1 stick of chalk, 1 flask of oil, a shovel, one of the potion fruit and a waterskin. Looking over the weapons again she says.
"Does anyone want the really nice metal handaxe? If not I'll take it."
"Who can carry extra food and water? There's no telling how long we'll be down there," says Ludi sensibly as he stows away one of the potion-fruits.
Jaryx nods, taking his share of the arrows. .
Looking through the rest of the items, the half-giant shrugs. "Most of this is too small to be much use to me, but I will take one of the waterskins and one of the fruit."
Hearing Ludi's question, the half-giant raises his massive hand. "I can do that."
Ludi thinks a bit as he surveys the items, unlocking his mental senses for the uncanny.
"Some of these are enchanted," he says, carefully filtering through the goods. "This armor. This weapon. These arrows."
He points out the various magicked items for the team.
Holding the feather tasseled finely crafted leather armor up to her and assessing the potential fit Ekee says.
"Well if no one else is going to use it, I will. I always had a few feathers on my arena armor. I think we should also pack that excellent looking obsidian mace if for nothing else than it's probable value."
Ludi hesitates after packing the potion fruit, then picks up the steel scimitar and slides it into his sash.
"Anything else?" he says. "Jaryx, how much of the food and water do you think you can bring along?"
Ko-Tik quietly collects the chatchka and gythka.
"I travel light." Jaryx says looking over the rations and water. "I don't see any reason I couldn't carry it all if need be."
Derlan unhitches his Mekillot and tells it to guard their home, then feeds it and goes into his wagon.
When he returns, in addition to his Hide armor, he's carrying a shield, a pair of bone daggers, and a sling.
He takes a couple of small sacks from the offering, which he stocks with food before tying off to his belt. He also takes a waterskin, but doesn't actually fill it.
Finally, he looks through the weapons and takes the Obsidian dagger* and two more of the bone daggers.
Before leaving, he goes inside his wagon and pulls out a barrel of water, which he offers to his guards. "Here, enjoy with the blessings of Lady Ocean. Please just leave the barrel here when you are finished."
Turning the others, he says "I believe I am ready to depart."
"Very well. Let's be off without further delay," suggests Ludi.
Wearing her newly acquired high quality leather armor and a buckler on her left fore arm Ekee adjusts her backpack, flexes her wrist razors then securing the long bow for travel grabs the impailer and shouts to Dis as the scout runs ahead.
"Don't get too far or out of sight. So we can cover you."
Then begins heading toward the ruins.
"Wouldn't want anything to take our bait."She adds with a wide grin.
From a distance, the partially buried walls to the northeast of camp looks to have a been a wide, short building at one time. Radiating away from that are two large hills, one further north, the other further to the east.
Dismoon rushes off to scout the land between Farcluun's camp and the nearest obvious ruined building. She arrives at the building's edge to discover that other than part of the roof having fallen at some point, the squat structure is mostly intact. Even the double doors remain on hinges, though askew and no longer capable of functioning thanks to centuries of dust and grit caking them. Fortunately they're already open, with about a foot of loose sand piled up on either side.
Peaking inside, she sees no movement. The entire building looks to consist of only one large room, about eighty feet wide by sixty feet long. On the wall opposite the entrance seems to be a painting or mural of some sort, but the details are difficult to make out through dust and darkness.
Jaryx waits, weapon in hand, awaiting further word from the elven scout.
Carefully watching the ruined build Ekee waits with bow at the ready. After a few moments she says.
"Well no screams or blood spray. That's always a good sign. Although the arena fans do love it so."
"I suppose you're right," says Ludi. "Shall I look in on her remotely, just in case, or shall we advance as a group?"
"I don't see why we can't do both." Ekee replies to Ludi as she lowers her bow and prepares to move.
Upon seeing the glint of Dis's dagger Ekee looks at the others and says.
"Ko, right flank. Jaryx center. I'll take the left. Ludi you Derlan second rank. Lets go. She takes two steps, stops and turns to the group and says.
"Sorry didn't mean to give orders. Just used to deploying for combat. Shall we move out?"
Ko-Tik does not question, obviously the half breed thinks she should lead this hunt and Ko-Tik does not care enough to contest the point. She moves to take up a flying right flank with a wide arc from the core of the group.
Derlan lumbers on. He's not particularly fast, especially weighed down by his armor and gear, but he isn't so weighed down as to be a liability. Once the group was out of sight, Derlan would offer the Obsidian dagger* that he picked up to one of the others, saying "Lady Ocean demands that I only use natural weapons or weapons that came from the bodies of creatures, but I felt that this was something that would benefit our group, so I took it."
The half-giant nods, and begins to move forward.
Dismoon does not see any signs of traps anywhere on or near the ancient obsidian doors. Everyone else cautiously moves up in formation. A tiny sand rat scurries off in fright, but there are no visible dangers.
Accepting the dagger Ekee studies it for a few moments,
"That is a extremely fine weapon very well balanced." She says to the Halfling.
"I believe that is one of the Enchanted weapons Ludi identified. It is unfortunate you cannot wield it. I am already well armed but another of our group should be able to employ such a weapon."
Looking at the intently focused Elf she says.
"Dis could you possibly make use of this formidable dagger?
Dismoon moves quickly and quietly into the building. Hugging the shadowed portions she sees the interior is mostly open. A crescent shaped table of finely worked stone is the only thing in the cavernous hall. A handful of ceramic pieces are stacked on top, stamped with "Yaramuke" across the tops and "KA167RA" on the bottoms.
The mural on the broad wall behind the desk is covered with dust and cobwebs. The artwork depicts a bustling city. A statue stands proud and a beautiful palace is seen in the center. A flat circular slot is embedded into the wall beside the mural.
Ludi stays quietly in formation and waits for Dismoon to finish scouting.
Moving into great hall Ekee looks about taking it all in then moves to study the mural. Shaking her head she says.
"What a marvel this place must have once been. It is hard to imagine the power required to lay waste to it. I wonder how grand it's arena must have been. I wish I knew more of history but alas my education was focused in other areas."