Nymm (June) 29, Sul (Sunday), 998 YK
Torlaac Moors, Darguun, Khorvaire, morning
Expedition dig site
The pyre had burned all the way into the new dawn. When you woke up in your tent, shivering in the still-preternaturally-cold weather, you could all smell the scent of burnt wood in the air. The pyre, you now realized, had for certain marked your campsite to any other survivors miles and miles distant, but if anyone had come to investigate, Erix’s sharp eyes hadn’t managed to spot it.
As you cooked breakfast for yourself you discussed your plans for action and decided investigating the other expedition’s campsite would be a good short-term goal. So, once you had fed and prepared yourselves, you got moving. The general direction of the campsite was clear enough from the glow of their own campsite from the previous nights (something you realized you had not spotted last night), but the best way to cross the rough country – mostly rocky hills and clumps of dried-out vegetation – was something you had to find out the hard way.
And the way proved rough indeed – the effects of the Reality Storm had done a real number on the ruins that seemed to cover a large part of the local hills, and the quakes had left many a formerly solid patch of ground a cave-in waiting for a little extra pressure to happen. Luckily, while Erix had little luck in finding you a straight path to follow he did manage to spot the worst lurking disasters before anyone could fall prey to collapsing ceilings that’d deposit you back into the ruins you had taken such pains to escape yesterday.
The hike took a lot longer than you had thought it might, but a bit shy of 3 hours later you stumbled almost directly into the other expedition’s camp – unlike yours, this one had been set up hugging he hillside and the cave mouths the other team had apparently chosen to explore.
At first sight, it was obvious these people hadn’t fared any better than your own expedition – the hillside to the south of the campsite had become a huge tangle of crates, barrels, collapsed tents… and bodies. A few bodies wore the hallmarks of broken bones and twisted limbs caused by falls from great heights, but those you had expected to see. Others, on the other hand, had clearly been struck down with weapons – claws, perhaps, rather than manufactured blades. There were also great many bones in the pile, but Baran did recall the Professor mentioning Karrnath being Alina Dalian’s likely sponsor. Were that so, the Karrnathi would more than likely have augmented their workforce with their undead creations.
When Lupi repeated her question as the others returned Erix was forced to admit his ignorance.
He sat near the fire and brewed his medicine, then found a vantage to nestle on where he was not silhouetted by the fire. By the time the others awoke his eyes were dry, and tired.
Erix got another nap as preparations were made, and when he awoke he wolfed down his portion of breakfast, shouldered the immense pack laid out for him, and left.
The actual journey was painful. Normally one could rely on animal tracks - even in desolate areas - but here the ground had been disturbed enough that it was pointless.
The sight of the other camp was expected, but depressing. After the first ten minutes Erix sat down against a rock, hat over his eyes. "Time for another nap. Call me if you need me, or when we're ready to move."
The bard looked a little strung-out, like a morning after drinking, but he had energy and had found his voice again.
After eating a few too many of the fried tomatoes he began packing whatever he thought he could carry and made sure Erix pack was ready for when he got himself together.
Baran woke Erix just as everyone was packing up to get moving.
As they began walking, Baran started humming to himself and to keep everyone in step with each other. Once they reached the other camp he looked for the airship but noticing the wreckage and evidence of harm ...
"Don't the Karnathi use necromantic servants?" He thought to draw his rapier but, after imagining stabbing a dead man over and over, instead chose to unsheathe his dagger to use as a carving weapon.
With everything they had gone through that day - being thrown around by the gravity shifts caused by the reality storm, digging their way out of the ruins, being slapped in the face by seeing their airship flying away, and then having to deal with the dead and set up camp all over again - Phin was exhausted. She gave Erix a grateful smile as he offered to keep watch all night and smiled as Baran once again warmed her bedding against the cold. She burrowed down in the warmth and the elf slept like the dead.
Panic rose in Phin's chest. She didn't recognize where she was and she was alone. She ran into the next room, "Erix? Alua?" She ran through the next door, "Baran? Lupi?" Her voice echoed throughout the space but no one answered her. She heard birds calling outside the nearby window that opened out onto a balcony and she rushed over to look outside hoping for more information.
The breeze took her gasp as she stepped out onto the balcony. All she could see was a vast sea. There were birds flying and diving over the water but they never came close. She looked down and saw that the building she was in was perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. She looked up and the Tower, as that is what it seemed to be, seemed to stretch into the heavens.
She walked in the other direction within the Tower and found a large window on the other side of the building. From the window, all she could see was a never-ending field of tall grasses and wildflowers that reached all the way to the horizon. She had no idea where she was and there were no people about that she could ask. Reasoning that she may eventually find her friends or someone to ask - either in the Tower itself or the fields below - Phin started down the stairs.
Phin climbed down and down and down. Having looked out one of the many windows earlier, she was certain that she should have reached the bottom by now. Stubbornly, she continued downwards until she found herself getting dizzy as she circled down. She decided to stop and rest on one of the floors to regain her equilibrium. She found a parlour with the most inviting looking furniture and she sank down into one of the sofas. The rogue couldn't remember ever sitting in anything so comfortable. Before she knew it, her eyes began to close.
Phin could feel someone vigorously shaking her. She heard her name but the voice sounded very far away. She wanted to stay in the comfortable sofa but the shaking was persistent and she couldn't ignore it anymore. She very slowly opened her eyes, "I'm awake. I'm awake." She sat up and realized that she felt better than she had in awhile.
The elf savoured her hot breakfast thinking it may be the last hot meal for awhile if they were going to be traveling in the wilderness. That and it was nice to have something warm to hold in the colder weather.
When Baran suggested burying the Tower outside their camp, Phin asked, "Are we coming back this way? If coming back this way doesn't make sense with out future plans then we should probably take it with us. That and the burning pyre is going to attract someone's attentions, most likely the locals, and so it may not be wise to return. We could always bury it before we get to the other camp?"
The rogue was sweating by the time they had trekked three hours for a distance that should have only taken them half that amount of time had the land not been ravaged by the reality storm. Phin wasn't surprised to see no sign of the other airship or other people but that didn't mean she wasn't disappointed all the same. "Do we actually search for survivors? It doesn't look like their airship is still here either." She glanced at the caves, "I don't know about you guys but I'm in no hurry to go back underground to search."
On one side Lupi was happy to see the beautiful homeland of Darguun again. She would have been, however, to be much happier seeing the streets of Rhukaan Draal instead of this desolate wasteland. She was a street-dweller. She had lived most of her life either in a temple in Rhukaan Draal or on the streets of Sharn. Sure, the latter had included lots of survival, but it was the different kind than in Torlaac Moors.
Lupi followed the others to the other campsite. She did know the bushes on the Torlaac Moors had thorns, but she had to go too near a couple of times before she knew, why it was mentioned in the books she had read. After a few mistakes, and scratches, she was becoming more careful.
Lupi felt a bit bad about hear own weakness. Erix was carrying a huge pack and it did not seem to slow down him at all. At the same time Lupi was hardly carrying anything extra and she still struggled to follow the others.
As they got to the campsite Lupi's hopes of an easy airship trip back to Sharn disappeared. This site seemed to share the faith of the other site.
"Do we actually search for survivors? It doesn't look like their airship is still here either."
"I don't like to go underground either... Ummm... Maybe we take a quick look, if there is anything that could help us walk back to Sharn.", Lupi said, while casting Detect Magic spell "...ummm... I am hoping for a Bucket of Endless Porridge..." and added to herself "Damn, the food itself is heavy to carry."
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Nymm (June) 29, Sul (Sunday), 998 YK, midday
Sharn – City of Towers, Khorvaire
”… and that one. Those two boxes as well. Get them together and delivered before the end of the day?”
”Sure thing, boss,” the clerk said, nodding his head and writing up the numbers painted on the items the shift foreman had indicated into his notebook. ”Will see to it right away.”
”Excellent. But don’t let it cut into your lunch break – we aren’t paid to work on an empty stomach, eh?” the foreman chuckled, sharing a conspiratorial wink with the clerk.
”Sovereign’s own truth, that,” the clerk agreed, then nodded his head and went on his way to get the latest shipment organized, leaving the foreman alone in that corner of the vast storehouse.
He leaned against a handy wall and sighed. It was a wonder how one’s fortunes could turn in a matter of days. Arrange the death of one obnoxious oaf who had been begging for it with his attitude, make a show of saving the company’s director from sharing the same fate and suddenly, everything had changed. He had got the promotion he had been promised, and he had found he actually liked his new job – he was good at organizing things, it seemed. Better than he had every been carrying heavy fertilizer sacks around, that was for sure! And he got on well with the rest of the folks, who had apparently decided he was now living a charmed life and, surprisingly, felt genuinely happy about it rather than jealous of his sudden stroke of luck. The work was easier, the pay was better and he was getting good reviews from his own bosses. And he was allowed to talk back to rude customers who thought they knew better… well, as long as he did it in moderation, at least.
Yes, life was good, and he had divine providence to thank for it.
’Acolyte. Attend me,’ a voice whispered in the silence of his mind, and the man straightened in surprise.
”My Lord,” he breathed. ”You can talk to me outside my shrine?” he asked aloud, eyes wide in wonder, then glanced around, eyes narrowing to see if there had been anyone close enough to hear him apparently talking to himself. But no, this corner of the warehouse was still empty of other people and there was plenty of noise outside to make it unlikely anyone outside could have heard. Still, better safe than sorry, he thought and moved even deeper into the labyrinth of boxes and crates and barrels waiting for delivery. ”How may I serve you?”
’I have dreamed,’ the voice whispered, and the man could feel his heart soaring. Again, his God had chosen to reach out to him! With rapt attention he listened as the quiet but powerful voice went on. ’The moment of our salvation is approaching. I see a tower, standing at the threshold, reaching out to touch the azure sky. Born from the bosom of Eberron, it moves. It exists. The hand that wields it is unaware of its power, its purpose. We must be stand ready.
The man hid well his puzzlement – it wasn’t the first time the Lord of Azure Skies had spoken to him in riddles. And why expect anything different? How could his mortal mind possibly grasp the heights of intellect of an immortal? Simply getting to listen to what the Lord chose to share with him was a blessing of its own. ”Ready for what, o Savior? Would you like me to steal this thing for you?”
’Patience, Acolyte,’ the voice murmured, yet he felt the Lord was pleased by his eagerness to serve. ’The tool is still far, beyond our short reach, but I have dreamed of it coming to us in time. We must prepare ourselves, for there will be opportunities in the future. First, you must make haste with the ritual. Is all soon in readiness?’
”Momentarily, my Lord,” the man whispered, his lips stretching into a wide smile. ”We have all but one of the pieces, and I know where to find it. And I have found an alchemist who promised he’d be able to brew the elixir you required. But he warned it would not come cheap.”
’Gold,‘ the voice muttered, disapproval clear in the mental voice. ’The greatest of the oppressor’s shackles. But easy to come by in this world. Very well. Prepare yourself – I shall have new orders for you tomorrow.‘
”Your will be done, o Shield of the Weak,” the man murmured, bowing at empty air as he felt the presence in his mind withdraw. He took a moment to compose himself – it wouldn’t do to let all the elation he felt show on his face as he emerged from the storehouse. But there was a new spring to his steps, power brought by a sense of clear purpose.
After all, how often one got work on saving the very world?
"Do we actually search for survivors? It doesn't look like their airship is still here either." She glanced at the caves, "I don't know about you guys but I'm in no hurry to go back underground to search."
Baran frowned 'Why did she have to say that?! I hadn't been thinking to find survivors at all' He slowly trudged up the hillside to inspect for recent collapses and if he thought any of them might be moveable. The only engine moving him forward was a sense of responsibility to anyone who might have survived.
Lupi followed Baran thinking "If there was a survivor, we might get more information on the other group." She was worried the survivors would be Karrnath skeletons.
Erix cracked one eye from where he rested, preparing for the night to come.
"Oi." he called "Someone with a ranged weapon stays on watch. The others stay close. Leave the dead. Damned Karnathi hate it when you ruin..." his voice changed to a vicious mockery of someone from somewhere and somewhen in his past "Perfectly good vessels."
Phin retrieved her bow at Erix’s suggestion for someone to stay on watch to cover the others. ”Quickly clear the camp and let’s get going. Maybe check to see if they have any better maps than the one of the Professor’s. With their airship gone as well, we’ll have to find another way back to civilization.”
The elf’s eyes roamed over the camp, keeping an eye out for any threats while the others searched as well as for anything that looked potentially useful.
Baran started looking for survivors like it was a chore and trudged through every cave he could find. His disgruntled demeanour slowly changed in the searching as his mind played tricks on him. He could hear muffled voices coming from every cave. 'I ... I think I can hear somebody?! Great host! Is that someone calling out?' "Ah, hello?! Is anybody there!" 'We can save them!' But what he found was a whole lot of nothing. Not even a trace of anything that might be of historical value.
Thank the gods Lupi was there. Just her being near was an anchoring influence.
The bard plodded down to the campsite much the way he had gone up. He felt disappointed at the lack of care and desertion of the site. He felt strained at the emotional labour and the physical work of searching, he didn't like doing his homework and now what? Was he acting like the conscience of this marauding group of grave robbers?
Mostly, he felt lucky, and that made him humble, and that made him serious.
As Baran and Lupi focused on exploring the nearby tunnel entrances, looking for survivors and if any of the exposed parts of the ruins could be used for some purpose Phin began digging through the daunting tangle of gear piled in a tall and elongated heap along the hillside by the tricks of gravity. She worked quickly but carefully, mindful that were she to dig too deep without properly clearing leaning and overhanging obstacles she herself might get buried in a collapse.
Of the maps she hoped to find there was no sight – of course, it would take an entire day for several people to check everything – but her eyes were drawn to an iron strongbox that, with Erix’s help, she managed to drag out in the open. The box had a formidable lock but the dancer had some time on her hands and eventually the lock surrendered to her skills.
Inside, Phin found several pouches heavy with coin and an unsealed envelope filled with letters of credit from House Kundarak bank.
Erix whistled, suddenly glad to have been woken "Well, this sort of money might make the difference. A lot of diplomacy works better with 'gifts'. Good eye!"
Alua spent some time wandering the wreckage, rather aimlessly. More bodies, more destruction. If she had known the results of the Reality Storm, would she have allowed Phin to take the Tower? Or would the army of abberrations getting their hands on it have been worse? She tried to put the question out of her mind, as it wouldn't help them survive.
When it became clear that there were no survivors here, Alua said, "I suppose heading for the border of Zilargo is our best bet to get to civilization. I don't want to fight every tribe in Darguun." Looking at the map, she said, "Anybody know anything about these mountains? Will we be able to cross with the equipment we have?"
When Phin found the money, she felt a bit of a weight leave her shoulders. She hadn't allowed herself to think about it, but she was worried about paying to get back to Sharn, and coming back empty handed. They needed to keep money to keep the office open, and to pay off Sebastian's protection. At least now they weren't returning financially ruined.
She spent the rest of the day working with the others to bake bread and cook some of the other supplies into something that would last for their trip. Some of the bread came out only slightly burned, and as dry as it was, at least it wouldn't mold quickly.
"Anybody know anything about these mountains? Will we be able to cross with the equipment we have?"
Lupi tried to remember all the mountain passes between Zilargo and Darguun and the current practices between the borders. "Ummm... Goblins value Darguun highly, so there will be border security. Getting out should be easier than getting in though... bribes, yes..." Then she teamed up with Alua. "Maybe if... we try some Darguun goblin meals... ummm... I can see some ingredients here...". Someone from the other group had been shopping in Darguun.
Lupi proceeded cooking noon balls from the local grain she found. There were also a large amount of eggs and a later inspection revealed them to be lizard eggs. Most of them were broken, but they were packed well and some had survived the gravity shifts. Lupi was unsure of her friends tastes, so she took the safest route and just boiled them all, hoping to pass them as chicken eggs. She even found some bananas and a bottle of honey. She could not think of any way to preserve the bananas, but she made some sweet rolls with honey. Phin even found a broken bottle of Korluaat, which luckily had some liquid left in the neck of the bottle. It was enough to just fill a thimble for each hero, but Lupi saw no need to waste it.
Sharn did not have Darguun ingredients, unless one wanted to pay obscene prices. Thus it had been decades, since the last time she made Darguun meals, but she was happy with the results. Noon was soft enough, lizard eggs stayed intact in the cooking and honey rolls had a nice brown colour.
She presented her work together with Alua. "Here are Noon balls... ummm... from the local grain ummm... some eggs... some bananas... ummm... better eat those fresh... those sweet rolls have honey and they are called Shaat'aar... ummm... and just a bit of Hero's Blood.", Lupi said pointing to a mug of strong alcohol. She looked around and was anxious to see others reactions.
Lharvion (July) 3, Mol (Monday), 998 YK
Torlaac Moors, Darguun, Khorvaire, morning
Expedition dig site
Another day in the Moors dawned, and this one brought back the normal weather you had come to expect… not that stifling heat was necessarily better than the bitter chills of the unseasonal convergence of the planes. The previous day, after your return from the other expedition’s campsite, had been spent preparing for your journey back to civilization and by now you had a reasonable store for food that would keep for a few days and didn’t take quite as much space in your pockets than the raw reagents would have.
As you had during the previous days when the camp had been bustling with people, you gathered around a breakfast to plan for your next move…
Erix concentrated on eating, finally leaning back and loosening his belt. "Thanks Lupi. Damn sight better than I expected to be eating."
He sighed and belched. "Dry rations from here on out, I guess. Right. Plans. Wherever we're going we're going to need water, food and shelter, in that order. That said, while I'd like to keep the wait down, I'd like everyone to have a bow, some arrows and some sort of hand held weapon."
He held up a hand "Only three sorts of people go hiking through an area like this. Locals, Hardasses and Victims. The only one I think we can pass as is Hardasses, and weapons are a good way to do that. Also: everyone gets a hat, the sun'll wear on you. Lupi; I'm assuming the locals favour travelling at night? Make sure you've got a good pair of boots. Look for spare socks and jocks, but you don't want to get foot rot or..." he hesitates and then stops.
"Am I missing anything? I'm keen to take off tomorrow at dawn."
Alua took another look at the bodies. Some had definite weapon marks. She tried to determine if they had been attacked by outsiders, or if there had been fighting from within.
Alua looked south, her new-found hat shading her eyes. "I guess it's Zilargo, then. I think we might have a better chance than heading north. And less time in this heat," she added, wiping sweat from her brow.
Baran had just returned from the caves and noticed Alua looking over the bodies. He joined her and did his best to speculate on cause of death but didn't look at the bodies. He was tired of seeing death today. He simply nodded with whatever Alua suggested.
After eating a little more Baran was ready to get moving with no time to waste, and Zilargo! Zilargo's library at Korranberg used to appear in his dreams. At such a place one could learn something of the gnomish bard's skill, some little tidbits not secreted away by its' relationship to the mark. It would be another clue to his personal goal. Wouldn't they be passing north of Korranberg?
But these loremasters, sharing a boarder with Darguun, they might know more about the tower than anyone. How would the team get such an artifact through such a nation state.
Not being a survivalist Baran followed what advice others gave. He scared up some extra arrows. He looked for a hat with a good brim and excused himself from the fellow he pulled it off of. Taking the hat made him feel grim and he tried to scoff at the morbidity with some gallows humour. "Why sir and or ma'am, (forgive me, it is hard to tell in your present state of untogetherness) I would like to make my case before the jury of learned colleagues," Baran motioned to other bodies on the field, " that my need for this rather, well let's be honest here, rather plain hat is greater than any claim you could make. My case comes in three parts. Part the first, the sun will only bar my way while it is an important element to helping you along to your destination. Part the second, you will not be exerting yourself whilst I must trek some course from here. Part the third, well, you're dead." The bard took a respectful moment of silence. He looked to the other bodies, "If anyone here is empowered to object on this fellow's, or lady's, behalf then I ask them to do so now and present arguments ... ah, I thank you for your wisdom. I shall be on my way now. No, no, no, don't get up."
Then he packed what he could for rations and water.
Acting calm, "Ahem, it sounds like Zilargo is really our only choice. We could attempt the mountains ... but if we chase the mountains around the southern tip it shouldn't add too much to our travel time. I think there's a city near there. Also, shouldn't we get underway? These bodies will attract scavengers."
As they started to travel Baran began playing his hulusi to lighten the mood but the playing and the walking was difficult and he didn't have the air needed to continue long. He played every now and again though, and as he did he focused on his friends making sure their boots stayed dry and their sweat didn't make their clothes chaffing.
Erix's advice on weaponry and extra boots were welcome to Lupi. She took an extra pair of boots and a couple of more socks, found a light crossbow to seem more intimidating. Then she was feeling extra items would just slow her down. She did find some local goblin style clothes and hoped wearing them would make her maybe pass as a tallish goblin scout.
Lupi said to Erix. Umm.. I think the locals are travelling at dawn and dusk... then it is not too cold or warm.
Later Lupi started travelling. She was happy to leave back the camp site, the corpses had started to smell bad already. Baran's music and the spectacular view kept her spirit up.
The money that Phin found seemed to lighten the mood of the group so she willingly parted with all of it instead of keeping some for herself.
She then collected the Tower from where she had buried it while on the way back to their camp. Once back at their own camp, she did whatever she could to help in the preparations for their journey. She wasn't very skilled but she took direction well and collected what she could.
That evening the rogue ate what was provided and purposefully avoided asking what had been prepared. It was surprisingly satisfying and she let out a burp that was three times louder than Erix’s, ”You taking watch again tonight or are we splitting it up?”
When it was time for her to sleep, Phin gratefully curled up and promptly fell asleep.
Phin woke up in familiar surroundings. Even though she didn’t recognize the furnishings, she knew she was in the same building as before. She rushed over to the first balcony she saw and looked out over a sea of water. She looked up and then down, seeing an endless tower above and below with numerous balconies and windows.
She stood out on the balcony staring out at the water, wondering about where she was. It didn’t take much deducing to come to the conclusion that she was in the actual tower that the artifact she carried represented. The question was why? Did someone want to show her something? Was she a prisoner? She knew that she hadn’t been able to leave last time when she tried to take the stairs. Maybe she could climb down…but she didn’t have any climbing gear. Phin sighed and headed back inside. She gasped. The room was filled with everything she needed to rappel down the side of the tower, including more rope than she thought she’d need. The elf never questioned how such a thing happened, she just went about collecting what she needed.
Years of growing up in Sharn had eliminated any fear of heights that Phin may have had. She tied off one end of the rope to the balcony and then tossed the rest of the immense coil of rope over the edge. She looked down and was certain that the rope looked like it was dangling just above the ground. The elf threw a leg over the railing and attached herself to the rope with a metal clip. After making sure everything was secure, she began to lower herself down towards the ground.
Phin continued to lower herself down for what felt like hours with the ground never getting closer. Her grip began to slip and her muscles were so tired that she couldn’t hold on to the rope any longer. The elf began to plummet towards the earth. Phin screamed…and woke up inside the tower. She instinctively checked for broken bones or other injuries but found nothing amiss.
She wished for something to calm her nerves. No sooner had she wanted something to soothe her than music wafted down from the floor above. Hoping for other beings that she could talk to, Phin raced up the stairs towards the sounds of instruments playing. She burst through the door and slowly came to a stop. She heard music but saw no people, no instruments. All she saw was a strange looking contraption consisting of a fluted cone attached to a platform with a spinning disc. Fascinated, she watched the disc spin while she felt the music soothe her soul.
Lharvion (July) 7, Far (Friday), 998 YK
Torlaac Moors, Darguun, Khorvaire, afternoon
Nearing the Zilargo border
The cast expanse of badlands seemed endless. Since your departure from Sharn you felt you had not seen a single living plant and the creatures that crawled and skittered from the shadow of one sun-blasted rock to another that you had seen during the five days on the march you rather hoped you could forget – spiders, scorpions, centipedes… all poisonous to a varying degree, Lupi could tell you, and some of them distressingly territorial and aggressive.
Nor had the terrain been your friend on your trek either – for a land that had seemed to flat and barren you could hardly believe how many hills you had to climb over, all rich in fissures, sharp rocks scattered all over, thorny bushes and thin layers of brittle soil hiding crevices just the perfect size for an unwary boot placed in the wrong spot – or you had to spend an even longer time going around the obstacles. And at night, when you set up your camp and witnessed the blasted heath under the light of the twelve moons, the distant cries of wolves and other, stranger creatures haunted you.
On the fifth day, when you felt certain the river marking the border with Zilargo had to be close Erix’s eyes spotted a cloud of dust to the south, moving in your general direction – likely a mounted force of some size, although from the distance it was difficult to gauge their numbers and impossible to pick any actual details.
Erix swore "Alright. Travelling during the day was only going to go so far. See that dust? Looks like cavalry to me. I'm guessing they're border riders." He sighed
"That means a decision. Fight, Run, Talk or Hide. Given this terrain, and the fact we're all worn, I don't like Run. We can Fight if Talk or Hide goes bad. So; thoughts? Opinions? I know I prefer my chances with Hide, but some of you are people people."
Alua gratefully slumped on a bolder, then squealed when a sharp edge poked her backside. She squinted at the distance, but the heat haze was too thick for her to see through. Thank goodness we have Erix with us she thought, not for the first time.
"Let's talk," she said. "Surely we can make them see reason. We can tell them about the dig sites, and show them our flag. That will prove we had permission to be there. There are lots of supplies there that will be valuable to them, that's got to count for something. Surely they'll understand that we're just trying to get home. We can even have a bribe ready to go, with some of the money we found."
She turned to Lupi and asked, "What do you think? We haven't been covering our tracks, and if they find us hiding, won't it go badly for us?"
She turned to Lupi and asked, "What do you think? We haven't been covering our tracks, and if they find us hiding, won't it go badly for us?"
"Umm... I guess hiding would go badly... talking is better as long as it's not me talking... umm... Baran speaks Goblin ...I could help a bit with translation..., Lupi was looking at Baran for support. Not wanting to worry her friends too much, Lupi continued, "Ummm... maybe as they are still far away.. we could try to find a defensible position... ummm... you know, just in case...". The last thing Lupi wanted was to fight "fellow" goblins, she knew far too well her sub-race of Grand Goblin was not very well known.
Phin had never had so much trouble waking up in the morning like she had this last little while. Either the others hadn't noticed because of everything else going on or else they didn't want to bring it up. She also couldn't ignore the dreams that she had been having. After the second morning, she couldn't keep it to herself any longer.
She unwrapped the artifact and ran her fingers lightly over the intricate carvings. Maybe it was her mind playing tricks on her but there was one particular balcony that she thought she had actually stood on in her dream. "I've been having dreams," she announced to the others over breakfast. "I've been in a Tower." She lifted the artifact up to bring everyone's attention to it, "This tower." The elf continued to share what had happened in her dreams.
The rogue looked at Baran and Lupi, "Can either of you sense anything about this artifact? I assume it must have some sort of inherent magic if it can affect my dreams but can you tell anything specific by studying it? I'd like to understand it better. Maybe it wants me to do something for it."
Phin added her opinion to the conversation about the approaching threat, "We could do both. Or more specifically, you all can talk and I can hide in case the talking doesn't work. That would give us an element of surprise should it turn to fighting." She paused, "But I agree with Alua's approach. Show them our old banner to show our original permission to be here and tell them that our camp was destroyed. Although I may not mention how it was destroyed. I'd leave the Tower out of the conversation."
The rogue looked at Baran and Lupi, "Can either of you sense anything about this artifact? I assume it must have some sort of inherent magic if it can affect my dreams but can you tell anything specific by studying it? I'd like to understand it better. Maybe it wants me to do something for it."
Lupi got a bit worried about Phin's dreams. The last thing she wanted was some evil mind-controlling item amidst them."Well... ummm... I can try casting Detect Magic.." Lupi took the Tower in her hands. She had the curious feeling that the Tower was somehow special... "Alua... ummm... could you check the Tower is not... ummm... evil?"
Baran's feet started to blister after the fourth hour of travel. During the team's first break he bandaged them, and at the end of the first day he bandaged them heavily. Though there were shorter members of the group he had easily been the slowest, and anyone who walked next to him could hear an audible little wheeze. He kept a handkerchief to hand to help with a cough that he blamed on having a rather old father.
"Can either of you sense anything about this artifact? I assume it must have some sort of inherent magic if it can affect my dreams but can you tell anything specific by studying it? I'd like to understand it better. Maybe it wants me to do something for it."
Baran had a very serious look about him. "Can you tell me about your dreams? You say you are inside the tower? 'This' tower'? Are you very lucid? You can make choices. And when you wake in the morning you don't feel rested." She seems to be in-touch with the legacy of some true power. What must it belike?
Baran sat next to Lupi as she studied the 'Tower' and he played his Hulusi for just more than a minute as she concentrated. His playing was glacial - smooth and near as could be to playing a single sustained note. It had a strange effect. It bolstered the Grand-goblin's confidence and took a little of the weight of the task off of her mind.
By the end of the second day it was very difficult to continue with the on the road prestidigitation which was too much for the man's lungs. He was mostly focusing on keeping his wind and not slowing everyone down. He tried to find ways to minimize his movement, expend less energy and get into an even walking rhythm. He used his art to heal his pitiful feet.
The third and fourth days weren't so bad. He found himself traveling much easier (which Baran had nothing to do with, the good traveling was all up to Erix) but the quick healing had only made the blistering of his feet worse and he vowed not to heal himself anymore so proper callouses could build up. The mornings were the best. That's when a slightly rested Baran could go about making sure everyone's things were properly clean and ready for the day.
On the fifth day the bard nearly broke.
Every step was a labour. His feet killed him. He was hungry. He was more tired than he was hungry. He was more thirsty than he was tired. He didn't play a lick that day and when the cloud of dust became visible he thanked the Sovereign Host.
"I'm sorry but I don't think I can run anywhere. We stand and talk our way out of this one ... do you think they'll let us eat one of their horses. Everyone keep your weapons out but don't notch any arrows. We do as Erix suggested and try not to look like pushovers but no aggressive moves." He took off his hat and used his hand like a comb then tried his best to stand up straight.
Baran had a very serious look about him. "Can you tell me (he did not say 'us' but he didn't expect her to tell him in confidence) about your dreams? You say you are inside the tower? 'This' tower'? Are you very lucid? You can make choices. And when you wake in the morning you don't feel rested." She seems to be in-touch with the legacy of some true power. What must it belike?
Phin nodded and began to share what she remembered from her dreams the last two nights. "The tower that I'm in in my dreams is too much like this artifact to be a coincidence. And the details in my dreams are far too intricate for my mind to have imagined, so yes," she motioned at the artifact, "I believe it to be that tower."
The rogue looked excited as she answered Baran's next question. "Not only could I make decisions but the tower seemed to understand what I wanted and made it happen. I needed climbing gear and it appeared. I wanted music and it was provided. It's really weird though in that I never see anyone else." Phin looked thoughtful, "Maybe I can seek out a library in my next dream and see if I can find out anything about the tower or maybe the artifact."
She shook her head, "I feel very rested in the morning. More so, I feel almost reenergized every morning. It's just hard to wake up until my body wants to get up, if that makes sense."
Erix took a break from his morning routine and shook his head - in wonder rather than disbelief - at Phin's words. "So... apart from the fact you're in this tower the dreams are... normal? Not nightmares?"
Erix put a hand on Baran's shoulder. "Don't underestimate yourself. This's been a brutal march, and you've held up."
Your plans made, you moved to an open spot where the approaching patrol could easily see you and Lupi planted your banner of safe passage, somewhat worse for wear after the fringe effects of the Reality Storm and several days on the march. Meanwhile Phin quickly scouted the nearby area and found a small gully hidden behind dried-out bushes some 30 yards from the others where she could hide and, if it turned out the arrivals were hostile, possibly launch a surprise attack to even the odds.
It didn’t take long for the riders to notice you, as they obviously picked up speed and turned from their original heading to ride straight at you. As they neared you could make out their numbers – 8 hobgoblins on horses, all of them armored and carrying spears or lances, the lead warrior with the pennant of Rhukaan Taash, the High Warlord’s own clan waving from her spear. As the patrol approached they picked up even more speed, looking at first as if they might simply run right over you, but Lupi had known to warn you of such an approach – the Darguuni valued honor over all else, and while the goblin concept of “honor” was a somewhat different beast to what a Five Nations citizen might think of, showing bravery in face of adversity was one key tenant to their value system.
Thus, an attempt to demoralize a stranger was only to be expected, and as you stood firm the line of horsemen did slow their charge at the last moment. Five of their number approached you directly while three peeled off to circle around you, blocking easy avenues of retreat and making sure you were no mere heralds of a larger force hidden from sight. One of the riders passed within three feet from Phin’s place of hiding but his eyes didn’t so much as stop on her hiding place.
For a few moments, the Darguuni stared at you in silence, then the pennant-carrying woman broke the silence.
”Outsiders,” she growled, in a tone of voice another might had uttered the word “cockroaches”, her eyes wandering from one to another before settling on Erix – clearly the most martial figure of your group. ”Explain your presence here or face the consequences.”
Alua watched them coming with growing concern. They were all worn out from the grueling march, and nobody wanted to fight. But they would if they had to.
Before Phin left, Alua said, "Take most of the money with you. Here, let's keep 80 Galifers in this pouch, for them to "find", and you hide with the rest. Take the dagger and they byshek spear too."
As they approached, she closed her eyes and summoned strength from the spirits to aid her tongue.
Stepping forward, Alua inclined her head respectfully and said, "Greetings, warriors. We were in your lands as part of an archaeology expedition, here with permission," she gestured to the banner, "about five days walk back that way." Alua gestured back along their trail, in the direction they'd come.
"We were exploring a cave system, which partially collapsed while we were in it. When we dug our way out, we found the camp destroyed, the air ship gone, everybody else dead. Not knowing if or when anybody would return or find us, we abandoned most of the many supplies there, and decided to walk out. We are merely trying to get home, and thoughtthe trip to Zilargo would be quicker. We ask your permission to continue our journey through your lands to the border, so we can return to Sharn."
The oracle stopped there, waiting for a response, hoping that she was using the right words, words that would get them passage, and not killed.
The rogue looked excited as she answered Baran's next question. "Not only could I make decisions but the tower seemed to understand what I wanted and made it happen. I needed climbing gear and it appeared. I wanted music and it was provided. It's really weird though in that I never see anyone else." Phin looked thoughtful, "Maybe I can seek out a library in my next dream and see if I can find out anything about the tower or maybe the artifact."
She shook her head, "I feel very rested in the morning. More so, I feel almost reenergized every morning. It's just hard to wake up until my body wants to get up, if that makes sense."
Baran fed off of Phin's excitement and his voice grew a little louder, a little faster, "You must look for a library, or anything written! In most dreams a person 'understands' what is written on a page, at least on a basic level, but when they take a good look at it the text is gibberish. The mind separates some thoughts like the dream plane is resistant to rational thought. If you can read what is on a page ... perhaps you aren't dreaming! Perhaps you go someplace else!" The bard looked to the ground and slightly to his left, his mind racing, "But you wake up rested?! If you weren't dreaming I'd expect you to be tired. Maybe something is reaching out???" His voice trails off and his mind moves a thousand miles away.
It was strange everything that made university boring was becoming interesting with this group. It was they that kindled his interest in engineering - the course of study he had abandoned first. Now! Now, he cursed his lack of attention on Planar Theory! What were they doing to him?
Stepping forward, Alua inclined her head respectfully ...
Baran instinctively stepped back as Alua moved forward putting himself just behind Erix. He ignored the outriders and unblinkingly focused on the five, making sure there was no doubt that Alua spoke for all of us.
Baran fed off of Phin's excitement and his voice grew a little louder, a little faster, "You must look for a library, or anything written! In most dreams a person 'understands' what is written on a page, at least on a basic level, but when they take a good look at it the text is gibberish. The mind separates some thoughts like the dream plane is resistant to rational thought. If you can read what is on a page ... perhaps you aren't dreaming! Perhaps you go someplace else!" The bard looked to the ground and slightly to his left, his mind racing, "But you wake up rested?! If you weren't dreaming I'd expect you to be tired. Maybe something is reaching out???" His voice trails off and his mind moves a thousand miles away.
Phin's eyes widened, "Really?!? I didn't realize dreams had so many rules. I guess I have an agenda next time when I go to sleep. It should be interesting to see how it plays out." She paused, obviously concerned about something, "But I'm not sure if it's necessarily a good thing if I'm actually going someplace else instead of dreaming."
Before Phin left, Alua said, "Take most of the money with you. Here, let's keep 80 Galifers in this pouch, for them to "find", and you hide with the rest. Take the dagger and they byshek spear too."
Phin gave Alua a salute in agreement before slipping quietly into the surrounding foliage. The elf had no intention of letting the money and items they'd acquired be taken from them. She found a suitable hiding place and then patiently waited.
The rogue resisted the urge to hold her breath when one of the riders came a little too close for comfort to her hiding space. She calmly reminded herself to breath normally and that he obviously didn't see her. She listened to Alua's logical words from where she was and thought that their boss was truly coming into her own. Only someone completely unreasonable could find fault with what was said. Like the others, she waited to see how Alua's plea would be received. But unlike the others, Phin was ready to explode from her hiding place should the situation descend into fighting.
Phin's eyes widened, "Really?!? I didn't realize dreams had so many rules. I guess I have an agenda next time when I go to sleep. It should be interesting to see how it plays out." She paused, obviously concerned about something, "But I'm not sure if it's necessarily a good thing if I'm actually going someplace else instead of dreaming."
After a long while trying to understand the mystery Tower, Lupi responded Ummm... my spell did not reveal much... The Tower is magical... for sure... but it the sort of ancient primordial Dhakaani magic... ummm... It is made of bone... ummm... maybe dinosaur bone... at least that's my best guess. Since you have dreamed of it... ummm... it could be a kind of legacy item... one, which gets new powers as you get them... ummm... the dreams you have are likely the best clues we have..."
Lupi stayed behind Alua, when the goblin riders came. She whispered to Alua "They are Rhukaan Taash tribe. Ummm... That's good. Our banner is also from Rhukaan Taash, they might respect it.". Lupi knew to avoid talking, but was ready to help, if there was translation challenges. She was also trying to listen, if the goblins would talk goblin among themselves.
Erix did his best to look tough. It was, in his opinion, never a good idea to look weak at a negotiation.
Stepping forward, Alua inclined her head respectfully and said, "Greetings, warriors. We were in your lands as part of an archaeology expedition, here with permission," she gestured to the banner, "about five days walk back that way." Alua gestured back along their trail, in the direction they'd come.
"We were exploring a cave system, which partially collapsed while we were in it. When we dug our way out, we found the camp destroyed, the air ship gone, everybody else dead. Not knowing if or when anybody would return or find us, we abandoned most of the many supplies there, and decided to walk out. We are merely trying to get home, and thoughtthe trip to Zilargo would be quicker. We ask your permission to continue our journey through your lands to the border, so we can return to Sharn."
The oracle stopped there, waiting for a response, hoping that she was using the right words, words that would get them passage, and not killed.
The Darguuni officer fixed her stern gaze on Alua as soon as she stepped forward and began speaking. She nodded to herself as she listened to the oracle speak, and when Alua was finished she motioned to one of her troopers.
”Haluk! Go and take a look at the banner!” she barked and one of the male hobgoblins rode towards Lupi a few steps, then gestured for her to hold the banner out wide between her hands while he peered at the complex pattern of shapes and colors, frowning and muttering to himself. After a while he grunted and turned to look at his leader.
”It checks out, sarge. Exploration permit, recent enough to use the previous set of codes. And signed by the High Warlord’s own code, if you can believe it.”
”You know Lhesh Haruuc Shaarat'kor himself?” the woman grunted, astonishment evident in her eyes, but then shook her head. ”Or perhaps not. Part of an expedition, not an expedition in its entirety, you said? Well, your permit checks out and your story supports it… and these hills are lousy with the old ruins, that is known.”
”You seek to cross the border? I’m fine with that, as long as you submit to a search for contraband before we leave you. The border is 20 miles in that direction,” she added, gesturing with her arm towards the setting sun, ”so I don’t believe you’ll need an escort to reach it, and there’s nothing else between here and there where you could get up to some mischief we’d need to steer you clear of, so I see no reason to divert our patrol. So, let’s get all your pockets and backpacks emptied out on the ground before you, and if we don’t find anything in there we shouldn’t, we can both be on our way.”
Phin lay in her hiding spot as still as stone. She internally cheered Alua's foresight to send what they'd found with the rogue and also her golden tongue. They may just get back to Sharn in one piece after all.
But at the same time, Phin never let her guard down knowing that situations like this could turn on a coin if one wasn't careful and alert.