Elta stops and breaths deeply after that dash. He doesn't notice much around him as he looks around astonished there was a seal here.
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Having made his way to the nearest rocks, Borak breaths the prayer silently with the old woman, "Bless the Maker and His water. Bless the coming and going of Him. May His passage cleanse the world. May He keep the world for His people."
Moving into the cave, Borak sets his end of the case down and takes his breathing tube out of his nose. Pleased there were people here who could take care of the old women, raising an eyebrow at the mention of a 'Reverend Mother' being present in the cave system.
He turns to the others asking, "Did anyone see what happened to the truck? It will be a long walk back carrying the 'cases'" He about said weapons, but didn't want to publicize the mission any more than he already had.
Kasit just grunted as he slumped over the box. The adrenaline fled from his body, and as the entirety of their experience washed over him, all he felt was a deep and profound weariness.
Now the danger seemed to be fading, Ghir was disgusted to find himself shaking, such weakness was unseemly. Taking a few breaths to steady himself he muttered under his breath "A close run thing and no mistake..."
"Did anyone see what happened to the truck? It will be a long walk back carrying the 'cases'"
In his normal voice Ghir replied, "Didn't have time to look, but surely it's gone. It's going to be a long hard journey on foot."
The woman all go off and huddle up talking so you can not here, then the leader, now dressed in a still suit comes to you with an offer.
"Are you worm raiders? if so, I am my sisters need to get to the nearest safest place that you know and trust. One from which wild freman can collect us."
Raising an eyebrow at the woman's question, Ratel finally nod, "Yes we are worm riders."
He looks towards the others, realizing that the only safe place they knew were their new employers, "Shall we take them with us?"
"It is our duty is it not to escorts elders across the kala?" replied Ghir, "There's the Seiche but perhaps the compound where we saw Liet-Kynes might be best..."
He glanced at the woman who spoke wondering if she might react to that name.
Telling himself that it would be good to have these people be indebted to them, Kasit sat and watched his kinsmen make whatever deals they could.
Nodding his head in agreement with Ghir, Borak fights off a yawn, asking, "We have been up all night, is there someplace we can rest before we attempt the crossing?"
So you wait out the day tucked away is a small hidden cave.
Yiu can try and lisson in on what is being talked about.
Pick a skill and action, discribe and roll and I will say what you find out.
That night you go to call a worm.
Survival rolls please, you can aid other, DC is 14 and higher means better.
Well rested, Borak sets out with the others, ready to 'summon a worm'
As they waited for the worm to arrive, Kasit sat on the box of guns with his eyes fixed out to the horizon. "It is hard to believe that we survived that." He said, both to his kinsmen and to those who had joined the group. As much as he wanted to complain, he knew that just being alive after all they had been through was a blessing. "I hope future jobs are not that dangerous. Either that, or that the rewards prove worth the risk."
Ghir was curious about the group of old women, clearly they were important to the acolytes in a way Ghir and his companions simply were not. Considering the magnitude of the journey ahead he felt it important to understand who would be travelling with them.
So later that evening he removed his sandals, to soften his footsteps before creeping through the shadows until he'd found a good place to eavesdrop and then he listened for as long as he dared before returning to where the others would be sleeping.
Ethan is seen meditating near the mouth of the cave.
He seems happy to have some silence.
Elta rests up just happy to not have anyone adding any more bumps and bruises for a few hours. The journey here certainly added a few more.
Elta turns to the others and says "How are we going to get the crates onto the worms?" When the time comes he helps in getting the worms.
The old woman are talking to a girl, and use the words 'Sayyadina sullect'
That night you call a worm, and the whole group rides it to the south, by about 4am you get to the research site in the desert, getting off the worm you make your way to the main site, when a group comes to meet you.
The woman greet oddly the old shop keep, while you males are taken to Pardot Kynes, who is in a kind of green house working with small grasses, in pots.
He greets you.
"Well done my young friends, you got the las-guns, but you lost the truck, and seem to have gained some new friends"
He looks at the two young freman with you.
"Care to explain."
You sense you are alone here.
Sighing, Borak hopes their kindness doesn't cost them. He gestures towards their new friends. "They were prisoners at the 'warehouse' they provided information to us which aided us in finding the weapons. We felt it was appropriate to aid them in escaping."
Ghir picked up the narrative adding, "As for the truck, well we got picked up by carryall HG1 and dropped." Glancing at Kasit he said, "Remarkably that wasn't the end, but the impact on the sand attracted a maker and that was the end."
"What of the warehouse, other then the two boys, you killed everyone there.?
Kasit gave a slight shrug. "To start from the beginning. We got in just fine. Though it proved to be too easy, for when we moved to take the guns we were given the wrong goods. When we pointed this out we were ambushed. Rather than leave, we dealt with what remaining guards stood between us and the goods. To get to them, though, we came across these two here. They were being held prisoners and we decided to rescue them, as Borak said, they provided us with much needed intelligence." He tactfully left out the part where he was ready and willing to release them as a distraction. "This proved fortuitous, for between us and the goods was an off-world doctor. He proved to be surprisingly adept in the art of murder, though he was not good enough. Obviously, as we stand here and he will never stand again. The experiments that he was conducting were...unnatural." Despite his effort to look unphased, a cloud of disgust and horror crept over his face. "I have seen many a man die in my time. I have treated wounds and injuries that have caused less trained men to waste water by involuntarily emptying their stomachs. But that man's experiments? They will haunt my dreams." Shaking his head, he continued. "With the goods in hand, we got out. As Ghir pointed out, the HG1 lifted us, but dropped us due to the offworlders. We survived, but the truck did not. Luckily, it was eaten by a worm, which erased any evidence that our foes might have tracked us with. And from there?" He paused, collecting his thoughts. "We sheltered with a group of pilgrims, blending in with them. And at the first opportunity we called a worm to ride and returned with the goods. I think that we can all agree that this are hard earned spoils?"
Pardot is just about to ask you more questions when one of his freman come in and whimpers in his ear. He lissons and then stands.
"Thank you have done well. We have just reserved a message from the boys father, and he will be here tomorrow. Please show them where your staying and callent you prize of 2 liters of water each."
He nods to you as a young female water master comes in and offered you 182 water rings, for 3 liters of water. The two new members wait outside.
You can now shop,
There is a lot of buz, here hiar snippets
"She is ill, they need to pick someone soon"
"Those boys they saved, their father would not come here, and now he will be here tomorrow."
"We are getting the water traps ready for tomorrows"
They had managed to accrue the rights to quite a large volume of water, so Ghir mentioned to the others, "I wonder do we have enough water to trade for proper stillsuits? This village one I've got is ok, but a proper ones are amazing."
Later that evening Ghir practiced moving unseen, wandering around skirting any groups, always sticking to the shadows. He wasn't looking for trouble, or deliberately eavesdropping on anyone in particular, rather he felt his skills needed honing which called for practice. If along the way he heard snippets of interest, well that was simply a bonus.
Before finally turning in to sleep he mentioned to the others, "Tomorrow I think will be a big day, best get some rest."
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To be hornets I think you have around 12L each, S0 +3 = 15L each.
Its up to you of you want to give the new players water.
There dad will be here in game tomorrow
You not new traders are here, three of them, and by their acsent they are form the south, the deep south. They have suits and other fine southen kit for sale.
Wild Fremans still suit 2l
Wild Freman Para-Cumpus. +2 Survival 1l
Wild Freman Para-tent +2 Survival 3l
Wild Freman Plastic Explosive 1lg=1l [6d6 Dmg per 100grams]
Wild Freman BundiPistol, [Air Gun Type A] Clip [5 rounds] Rang 30' DMG1d8 Crit 18/20 x3 5l
Wild Freman BundiPistol, [Spring Type B] Clip [1 round] Rang 90' DMG1d6 Crit 19/20 x2 5l
Wild Freman BundiRifel + Scope [Slow firing} Range 260' DMG2d10 Crit x4 10l
Wild Freman Bundi Rounds 100 1L
Nodding in agreement with Kasit, Borak smiles as Pardot explains they've 'done well.' As they got to collect from the water master, he leans in, "Well spoken brother, you have a gift for speaking."
As they collect the water his ears perk up when the young water master answers Ghir's question about 'proper still suits' Holding the water rings in his palm he chimes in, 'Yes tomorrow should be a big day, let's go speai with the new traders, perchance we can be wearing fine southern gear when Ethan and Elta's father arrives."
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After you give your report little is said, but you feel something is up.
There is a lot of coming and going in the night, but you are kept away.
The morning of the next day comes and you are called to a meeting, deep below the research center, a space before it was built.
The odd, room is clocked down as you enter and before you is the old freman woman now dresses is full robes of a Freman Revierd matran.
She looks changed, altered in some way, she looks at you with a deep intensity.
Elta and Etan you see your father too with Pardot Kynes, they and you are the only men here. The rest are all priestesses.
He only slightly reacts when seeing you both, relief on his face.
Behind the Freman Revierd matran, stand the group of woman.
All holding perfectly still, they where the ones you saved with here.
"Now you will know my name young freman, I am the shia-de-na Revierd matran Halex Ravena, of the south tribes. And when I speak I speak for them. Many are the lives I have lived and much is the knowledge I have. Byond that of may single Freman. I have brought you here to test you.
So see if you are true fighters. Once long ago, we Framan had a war band, the best of us, tasked with protecting the tribes. As we went from world to world. There are few left now, for we settled here and all fight, all die as one. But I foresee a future, a change is comming. This off worlder her, who has taken a Freman wife, and sworn to use his life. Will be part of that change. I have foreseen it. But this is a hard path, one with great danger. And so I have the right to bestow onto those who I deem worthy to name. But before I do, you must past the test."
From under her robe she brings out a box, its open on one side.
"Each of you will place you hand in this Box. Pass the test, and you will be changed, you will get a new name, remove you hand from the box before before I say and you will die."
Then the woman behind her being out pistols and you see others all around, all woman. The two men tense, it seems they did not know this was going to happen. As the offworlder scientist goes to move, Elta and Etan fathers tops by placing his hand on his arm, as he dose he says.
"This must be, you need them and we need to know if they able. If the Sayyadina says this must be then it must be, even if my sons die it must be."
Pardot Kynes stops but still looks worried.
SO EACH OF YOU, THIS IS WHEN YOU BECOME MYTHIC.
RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW>
Say what you do?, what do you roll to pass this test?
How do you experience this,
THE DC for his test is
****. DC25 ****
FATES WHEELS are turning and you are here now because of this.
Universe Shaking events are coming, Pardot Kynes is critical to this
The dream of green Arakus starts here, so what will you do??
O and Good luck,
Ghir eyes the one who identified herself as Reverant Matron Halex Ravena with suspicion, he tries to decide if this is some kind of a sick joke, so he asks the obvious question hoping to gauge her reaction, "What's in the box?"
Smelling profit and unwilling to back down, Kasit walked forward. "We are too useful to cause permanent harm to." He reasoned. "And if they wanted us dead then they would not use this box to do so. Therefore, I assume that whatever is within it is merely unpleasant. A rite or ritual to prove manhood." Meeting their host's gaze, he stuck his hand in the box. And that is when he learned what was within it...pain.
Surprised by how horrific the pain was, Kasit forced himself to keep his hand within the box and his body still. Falling back on his training as a physician, he focused on what he was experiencing from a clinical point of view, trying his best to diagnose what was occurring. To his surprise, he found that the pain was to such an extent that he began to hallucinate.
It was only when the woman said "Enough." That he pulled his hand out....and found that it was unharmed. To have such be the case went against everything he knew about medicine and the human body. Confusion written clearly upon his face he staggered away, staring at his hand and the woman in equal measure.
Ghir eyes the one who identified herself as Reverant Matron Halex Ravena with suspicion, he tries to decide if this is some kind of a sick joke, so he asks the obvious question hoping to gauge her reaction, "What's in the box?"
[dice=Sense Motive - is she serious?]1d20+9
She looks are you deadly seriously
"Pain you freman worrier, you will have no lasting harm, but it will hurt. My question is, will you place the hand in the box willinly or will I have to make you?"
She knows you are targeting her!!, and she is doing the same back. posture shifts and she counters, You can't understand how or way, but you know if you make a move to harm her, you will be dead before you get close
Smelling profit and unwilling to back down, Kasit walked forward. "We are too useful to cause permanent harm to." He reasoned. "And if they wanted us dead then they would not use this box to do so. Therefore, I assume that whatever is within it is merely unpleasant. A rite or ritual to prove manhood." Meeting their host's gaze, he stuck his hand in the box. And that is when he learned what was within it...pain.
Her eyebrow rises,
"Impressive, your reasoning is sound, it seems we were not wrong in asking you to be tested. So let us see Kasit of the deep sands."
Then she tests you, all the while studying you, when it's over she nods.
"You pass, you may rejoin the others...."
"Young Fedaykin"
Raising an eyebrow as Ghir questions the old Reverand mother, Borak was not sure if he would have been bold enough to ask. But hearing the answer was pain he nods his head. Being fremen was a life of pain it was nothing new. He watches as Kasit places his hand in the box, and watches as Kasit's face contorts in pain. Resisting the urge to shout in triumph for his cousin, Borak smiles as the old woman leans in and shares her secrets.
Shrugging his shoulders Borak approaches extending his non-dominant hand, if perchance there would be damage at least it would be to his right hand instead of his left. "Looks like I'm next."
After watching first Kasit then Borak do what was required, Ghir shrugged and though while it looked painful surely it can't be that bad. He was nervous yes, you'd have to be a fool not to, but he reminded himself that he had proven himself in battle time and again, this was just another challenge to rise above.
He thrust his hand inside the box and immediately he felt the most excruciating pain, it was like being simultaneously stung by a scorpion, burned and flayed alive. He stifled a cry, tasting blood from his tongue as he willed himself to stay put. To his profound shock, the pain had only begun to ramp up and suddenly he was soaked with sweat and panting and then it ramped up again so badly his vision failed and his heart was beating so hard it might explode. At some point the bloodcurdling scream he'd been holding back escaped and perhaps mercifully he lost consciousness.
Your rolls get you this, an old reviared mother came in the night, close to death she went into the most secluded area with woman you saved. Then after some time, the old reviared mother was bright out in a death robe, and her water was reclamed. The woman you saved came out and the leader was waring new robes and being reveared.
Elta steps forward and puts his hand out and into the box. Using his knowledge of surviving in the desert heat and sand he battles pulling his hand out of the box but doesn't.
"Looks like I'm next."
As he comes up to the box, he pushes his hand into it, as the pain starts to hit him, he remembers the open desert and the heat there, pain on paint and he can feel his skin melt. Then it stops.
"Again you have impressed me Børak, it seems you have leaned how to hold your pain. You may join the others"
Then Elta Tabr steps up and thrusts his hand into the pain box.
Wave after wave of pain comes, but his mind is under his control.
When he feel his skin crack the pain stops.
"Elta, yiou father taught you well, I can see why he picked you to go into town. You may go back and join the others."
Ethan knows it is time to showcase all that he has learned during his training; he knows he must steel his mind as his sisters taught him ...
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The revered mother watches Ethan and the will power needed to hold his hand in the box.
"Now this is surprising"
She looks over at your father Ethan.
"You have trained him well"
Then back to you.
"You may rejoin the others"
Last of all Ghir son of Dranor, comes
She looks at him, and offers the box. he uses his hand in and the pain starts, you can all see him sweating and gritting his teeth. Then he screams and falls to the ground consciousness.
One of the woman walks over to check him,
"He has fainted"
The Sayyadina just says
"Wake him"
The acolyte slaps Ghir across the face a few times until he wakes, looking shaken and still sweating. the acolyte stand back from him,
and the Sayyadina's voice hits him like a punch.
He has no control of his body is moving on its own
And your arm moves, your hand back in the box, and the pain is back.
ادخل إلى داخلك يا أخي؛ عزز عقلك لتحمل هذا الألم البسيط الذي تعلم أنه غير حقيقي
"aidkhul 'iilaa dakhilik ya 'akhi; eazaz eaqlak litahmil hadha al'alam albasit aladhi taelam 'anah ghayr haqiqi"
"Go within my brother; steel your mind to withstand this simple pain which you know is unreal"
Ghir started awake and accepted the blows without comment. He was deeply ashamed of his weakness, having let down his cousins and his ancestors. A tiny voice in his mind whispered he was unworthy of such honor, yet his heart rebelled at this. Suddenly he remembered stores of craftsman in the distant past forging remarkable blades from the most imperfect steel blooms. They would heat a billet of iron in a coal forge, and fold it over and over. Each time they would grind out any impurities any cold shuts and little by little a bloom of brittle iron would become a billet of fine carbon steel suitable for forging swords.
This story had stuck with Ghir and in a flash of insight he realized that process was what was happening here. He was imperfect yes, but through this process he could be forged anew. The problem was that little voice in the back of his mind whispered, 'You are too weak, you will fail.'
Baring his teeth he snarled to himself as Ethan's words washed over him, with a supreme effort of will he quieted his mind, banishing that voice. Nodding to the Sayyadina he thrust his hand into the box once more and immediately realized he'd made a huge mistake. The voice of self doubt was overwhelming as the agony jolted up his arm like a lightning bolt. In his mind, suddenly he was small and the voice something big and terrible.
Instinctively he knew to hide, racing through his mind thinking of happier days. With supreme effort he forced his heart rate to fall as he slowed his breathing. The voice receded in his mind, the only thing that remained was the pain. Pain he knew was an illusion. He would get through this. It would be ok.
WHAM! Suddenly the hairs on the back of his neck stood up and terrible shadow loomed over him, and he flinched. He felt a terrible coldness from the needle sticking into his neck and his heart suddenly pounded like it was fit to burst and his legs stopped working and he wondered why he was looking down on himself lying there on the floor. There was a sensation of a bright light drawing him towards it and then there was nothing.
”It isn’t real! There is nothing physical about it!” Kasit yelled to his kinsman, holding up his hand. ”Look! Just bear with it and you will be fine, I swear it!”
Stepping closer to his cousin, Borak whispers, "You have survived the desert, you will survive this."
As he fluttered her hand moved so fast, the small needle was there, and she saw his face know he was failing. This was the paint of this test, would his mind override instant, and for a moment it looked like the boys mind was in control, but the pain was too much, and he fell again. She did not even need to push the needle in, his mind failed and his body followed, a scratch on his neck as he fell. He was dead before he even hit the floor. The was a russell and both the box and the needle disappeared into her robes.
Looking down at the boys body the up a Pardot Kynes saying to him
“We Freman know that Arrakis teaches us use the attitude of the knife - chopping off what's incomplete or broken so we can say, 'Now, it's complete because it's ended here"
As this all for his benefit, did she want to make a point to him?
"One dies, four survive, so is the way of lifes challenges. May is water make the way and bless us"
All the Acolytes with her repeats her words,
"May his water make the way and bless us"
four of the Acolytes come and take his body away.
The revered mother looks at you,
"His water and belongings will be given you."
She undertakes to on of her Acolytes. To her she says,
"They have lost a brother, you will go with them, help them, give then spiritual guidance."
This Acolyte bows her head and comes and stands with you.
Then the revered mother comes to you 5, another of her Acolytes comes with a pot of red paint. She places her hand in it then on each of your chests, Saying
"From this day on, you will be know as Fedaykin, a name not often used in these days. But a name that is needed again. I bind you Pardot Kynes, you will be his blade and his shield."
Once done she stands back,
"Show all here why we spilled blood this day for you Pardot Kynes. I trust everyone here."
Pardot Kynes then steps forward, holding out a device, form it comes and image of DUNE,
"I have completed my culations, with the right infrastructure both biological and works. There is the needed water in the echo system to turn this world green again."
You see the image of a sand covered world slowly become a green one, there is still a band of sand around the equator.
"600 years give or take 50, this is with more research, and given the full commitment for the indigenous population."
She turns looking at you all.
"This is why we are all here, it was the wish of the last revered mother than her dream of a green paradise world that Pardot Kynes be spread. She trusted him as do I."
She looks at him,
"We will protect this place and give you workers, I have given you five of out best as your personal guard. So what next?"
he looks at you and then back at her.
"We go to a test siach and but a water trap."
Then both look at the father of your two new comrades.
The revered mother turns to you.
"Leave use. I will call you when needed next."
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Kasit slowly lowered his hand, his words of encouragement dying on his lips. He stared down at the body of his kinsman with a pained look on his face. He was usually not one to care if another lived or died, but it was different for kinsmen. It was different for a friend. Keeping his face stoic, he walked over to Ghir’s body and kneeled down. One didn’t need to be a doctor to see that the man was dead. He took Ghir’s crysknife.
Kasit didn’t bother saying any words. Ghir was dead and could not hear them. The only thing he could do was to remember him, for that was the only way that the dead could live on. The crysknife would be an heirloom, for that was how his memory would be honored.
Elta watches as Ghir loses his battle to control himself. He bows his head solemnly and silently thanks Ghir for rescuing him. When bid to leave he heads out of the room.
So I will give players time to update to mythic and make a new PC.
You are shown your own rooms close to the main lab.
That night the wake is undertaken out on the cliff, for Ghir son of Dranor, that is the next event.
That morning as the sun comes up, you stand on the cliff face
Looking out over the sands in the pree dawn. The Ayclite who has joined you brings Ghir son of Dranor and lay them on the ground before you.
Others stand around and wait, they what you to go and collect and item from his belongings and state why you knew Ghir son of Dranor.
Kasit as his kingsman you are expected to go 1st.