Let's get this going!
Who needs stabbing???
"Hopefully nobody. Don't mean I ain't ready to."
The young warrior sat at his customary corner table (with his back to the wall and a clear line of sight to the door) of his favorite tavern. This establishment--the homey sign over the door, depicting an empty cup with a four-winged, long insect with a bulbous head hovering over it, proclaimed it "The Flagon's Dry"--was where Johari usually met his short-term employers. He was suspecting, given the current happenings in Wati, that one in particular would be seeking his, and others', services.
Johari nursed his ale, staring into the fireplace flames through his pipe smoke (while still keeping an eye on the door!), contemplating the possibility of participating in Wati's latest upcoming lottery to delve its ancient ruins' secrets. His usual work wasn't so grand; shake-downs & minor heists with the occasional poking around an abandoned house or crumbling building on the edges of the "ruins proper." While knocking heads was always something he enjoyed for its own sake, he wondered whether it was time to start thinking...bigger.
Most of the time he worked alone, or in a very short-term group for a singular job, and most of the time that suited him fine. Johari wasn't usually much for conversation, and his lean, rough appearance was off-putting enough to most casual observers that they gave him a wide berth. But he'd seen some of the adventuring troupes filtering into town ahead of the lottery. Catching glimpses of the camaraderie stirred his normally cynical soul, awoke something he didn't realize he'd been missing.
The unaccustomed reverie put him a bit out-of-sorts, as he was dealing with thoughts & emotions he wasn't yet equipped to handle. So he turned his thoughts to matters both more practical, and more fanciful.
If I do find my way into a group that gets in the lottery, we'll need a name. Hmmm..."The Dark Daggers?"
Rupert walks up to rough young warrior, leaning heavily on his walking stick. This grey haired dwarf has trouble making eye contact, but is doing his very best to overcome this fear. Normally the Grand Lodge would send a group for a mission, but this was something different. This was a long term excursion, and he would need new allies to join the lottery. Considering himself to be a good judge of character, this might be the first.
"Hello sir. You look like a man who is in need of his next round, as well as some company. I am in need of some companions for this lottery and a tavern is always a good place to find such things."
Rupert, rather presumptuously sits down. He orders Johari's next round as well as a whiskey for himself and a tea for his wife, the tiny dragon on his shoulder.
"My name is Rupert, Rupert the Red. This is my wife Nida. Would you happen to be one of the people who is considering. joining the lottery? I am hoping for a well rounded group of people that would be able to survive well in this type of environment. If you are not, then perhaps I could convince you after a few more rounds."
His voice is soft and he finishes with an off-putting but somehow endearing smile.
Huh. I guess this is why I'm here...
Johari watches the odd dwarf approach, greet him, and sit across. He nods and lifts his pipe a bit in acknowledgement, Rupert. Name's Johari. He then looks at the dragon, giving an ever-so-small squint of "this is a little weird, but what the hell", and gives her a nod and "pipe salute" as well. Ma'am.
Yeah, I'm looking to join that expedition lottery business. I figure the winning team will need someone who can crack some heads. You... he gives the dwarf a closer up & down inspections ...you don't look much like a 'cracking heads' type.
When the new round comes, the warrior picks up the mug and gives another lift & nod salute to the dwarf.
”I did not marry a dragon, in case that was what you were wondering. This is just what she came back as after she passed away.”
Noticing the pipe, Rupert starts to prepare his by clearing out the remnants.
”You are correct though, I am not much for cracking heads. But it will take many different skills to be successful in this. We will need more for this group.”
Another human of Khelish descent approaches to two as they talk.
"Here for the Lottery are you two? I'm Jebbeh, here with my friends in The Pharaoh's Claw. Where's the rest of of your crew?
Sizing the man up and down...
”Well met, good sir. How goes the day for Jebbeh of The Pharaoh’s Claw? I am Rupert, Rupert the Red. This is my new friend Johari. We are both looking to join the lottery but will need to be finding more companions before we do.”
At the end of the bar sits a rather gruff-looking (so, completely average) dwarf. He motions to the bartender.
"I'm looking for an archaeologist named Guran Durgunschmidt. He said to meet him here. Do you know him?"
The warrior goes silent, taking a slow drink, watching this Jebbeh and letting Rupert talk
We are fine. We are looking forward to our assignment and finding great riches! and you?
”The riches will be plentiful but I am mostly looking forward to seeing new things. I look forward to the lively competition. If you gentlemen would excuse me though, there is a character at the bar who is looking for an archeologist and I will check to see if I could be of service.”
Rupert, gets up and nods.
”Johari, I will return.”
Rupert walks over to the bar.
”Hello friend dwarf. I hear you are in search of an archeologist. I do not know this Guran though. Could I be of service in some way?”
"Only if you know how I can find him. He hired me last week to keep him safe on his expedition. It starts in 2 days and I was supposed to meet him here when I arrived in town today."
"Ah, sadly I do not know this man. I just arrived in town to join the lottery like everyone else here apparently. Tell me more about this expedition and maybe what skills that you have that lead to this hiring. I am intrigued."
"I don't know too much about it other than he said he thought he had uncovered the long-lost tomb of Pharaoh Akhtetakhtebatutenuben and needed someone to serve as bodyguard in case there were graverobbers or undead in the area. I have a connection with the divine that was going to be helpful to him."
”Well, if it happens to fall through,we will also be in need. I do not know this Pharoah despite being a historian and archeologist myself. Please join me and my new friend Johari over here until your friend arrives.”
Rupert motions to the tablewith Johari and then walks over and takes his seat.
Krugor decided he has nothing better to do and follows.
|
The sounds of the tavern hurt. It's a dull, familar pain, not that familiarity helps much. Usually there was only one thing to do about it, which just so happened to be the cause as well. Raising a head of dirty blonde hair, the Taldan man looks out across the tavern to locate the source of the voices.
Levering himself out of the chair with his cane, Locke makes his way across to the gathered table. "Heard somethin' of you needing delvers, yes? Looking for a group myself." He pauses his interjection to swig from his flask, seeming to take strength from it. "Locke Jernigan, rogue scholar. I had a team last night, I think. Couldn't find them this morning however, so it seems I'm uncommitted if you'll have me."
"So, you study rogues?"
Rupert points a finger at Krugor.
“I see what you did there Kruger.”
Turning his attention to the new tablemate.
”Hello Locke, I am Rupert. This is Krugor and Johari. This other person is Jebbeh, but I believe he was just leaving.”
Rupert nods goodbye to Jebbeh.
A sudden loud snore comes from the outside.
”So, our group seems to be coming together fairly well. 1 or 2 more and we’ll be good to go. I’m not overly brave, but Oursen keeps me pretty safe. Plus, as you can see by my hair, need to hold off the bleaching. And there should be plenty of history and lore where we’re going. Though I’m not entirely sure what we’re getting into.”
A young man steps up to the group, He is wears, white Tagelmust trimmed in gold on his head that drapes over his neck and covers his mouth and nose. A new backpack rests on his shoulders and a large sword rests on his hip.
"Greetings," he begins with a slight nod to the assembled group."I am Azeem and I am told there will be group in need of my strength to fight the undead in the Necropolis. If you are that group, I would be eager to join you."
Jebbeh gives a bit of a dismissive look to Rupert and says in an offhand way "Good luck. I'm sure you'll need it." and walks away into the crowded bar.
Rupert nods in acknowledgement of Jebbeh leaving.
”We are indeed such a group, Azeem. Well met and good to have you. I believe we have a group. Krugor, if your archeologist friend stands you up, we’d be more than happy to include you in our ranks. Perhaps we finish up some more drinking and getting to know each other and then meet for breakfast in the morning to discuss final details before the lottery. At that time Krugor, if you’re in, please join us.”
"Azeem, my new friend, in your fight against undead, does a god guide you on this path?"
Rupert leans back and lights his pipe.
”Well, half the fun is in the discovery. The other half is terror.”
The slayer makes a single slight snort of laughter Ill help with that
"I have seen many things in my years in Wati." Azeem begins as he settles into a chair. "But I have never seen a bear waiting at the door to a tavern before. Bears are not common in the desert. I wonder what circus it escaped from?"
"Azeem, my new friend, in your fight against undead, does a god guide you on this path?"
Rupert leans back and lights his pipe.
"Light is the correct term. The Everlight, Sarenrae, guides my step, Master Gnome."
"I have seen many things in my years in Wati." Azeem begins as he settles into a chair. "But I have never seen a bear waiting at the door to a tavern before. Bears are not common in the desert. I wonder what circus it escaped from?"
Johari gives a one-sided smirk, and thumbs toward Rupert and his tiny, scaled, winged bride. His, I think
As the party chats, they notice the tavern is emptying out, as the hour progresses. You assume most people want to be up early to meet at the Sunburst Market tomorrow morning for the lottery.
"Should we part ways for the night and meet back tomorrow morning at the Market for the lottery?"
As Azeem gets ready to take his leave, he pauses."If I get there first, I will put our name on the list. But what name should I put on the ticket? what should be call ourselves?"
"The Daring Delvers is a good a name as any. We are a group who have nothing in common except we all want to be here. Come friends, let us call it a night and I could introduce to Oursen on the way out. He'd probably recommend a name something like the Oursenites or something. And yes, bears are not common in these parts. But he insisted on coming here in search of adventure and saying how he wants to visit home and the desert again. If I didn't bring him home, I would never hear the end of it."
Rupert gets up, empties the ashes from his pipe, and heads out. After introductions, Rupert and Oursen find a nice spot out of town and fall asleep under the stars.
The next morning everyone meets at the Sunburst Market in the very center of Wati. The plaza is crowded with people in groups, all there obviously there together.
The bustling desert city of Wati is near bursting with excitement. Adventurers from every corner of the Inner Sea region have assembled here beneath the hot Osirian sun to explore the tombs of the city’s necropolis, waiting only to be assigned their first sites for exploration. Surrounding the
participants, the public has gathered to observe the ceremony as well. There is a festival-like quality in the air, and numerous street vendors are hawking goods and refreshments to participants and spectators alike. Some merchants have even brought what can only be considered adventuring gear to sell as last minute
convenience items to explorers, while others advertise that they’ll buy recovered treasures and antiquities from those who visit their establishments.
In front of the imposing edifice of the Grand Mausoleum, an immense awning has been erected between decorated pillars in the market to provide shade for the priests of Pharasma overseeing the lottery. Beneath the awning, two urns sit atop a table elevated a few feet above the ground on a wooden stage constructed for the event. The high priestess of the Grand Mausoleum, Sebti the Crocodile, sits behind the table, while two acolytes confer with her at either side.
Sebti the Crocodile, rises to her feet and looks over the crowd. Sebti seems surprisingly young to hold such a distinguished position, but she has a confident air of authority. After calling for silence, she begins with an invocation to the Lady of Graves, followed by a brief history of the founding of the necropolis.
Then she speaks again:
"“Let the lottery begin! Although many of you have requested specific sites to explore, we must leave these matters to fate. The Lady of Graves is a far better judge of destiny than we of this mortal sphere. The gates of the necropolis will open at sunrise tomorrow. Use this evening to prepare yourselves for the task ahead. Let these rules guide you in your endeavors in this holy place: remember how this came to pass, every slave’s hut is a memorial, and honor the departed. May you go with the Lady’s blessing.”
Next she explains the rules:
Remember How This Came to Pass: The Plague of Madness was unleashed upon the city of Wati while religious authorities were engaged in infighting. This rule is a reminder that the necropolis remains a holy place, and those who engage in needless conf lict and banditry are not only criminals, but accursed.
Every Slave’s Hut Is a Memorial: Every structure within the necropolis is a testament to the people who lived and died in the city. Explorers must not desecrate or vandalize standing structures and tombs, but preserve them as the memorials they were intended to be. Some structures may be trapped or decrepit, but willful and unnecessary destruction will not be tolerated.
Honor the Departed: The dead should be treated with dignity and respect. If the interred need to be disturbed to recover an antiquity or relic, they should be returned to their resting places carefully. It is understood that the ancient dead are often brittle, but there is no need for the contents of a sarcophagus to be summarily dumped on the ground. This rule does not apply to the undead or other abominations.[/b]
She then sits down and two acolytes begin pulling out tokens. One from one box and one from another. They call a name, and a representative from a group goes up to the stage and presents their token then is shown on a map where their are to go and are also given a piece of paper to return.
After several teams are called, a token is pulled and the announced name is called out.
The Daring Delvers!
Azeem raises his hand,"Aye! We are here." The group moves towards the awning to collect the token.
Johari stands toward the back of his new company, keeping a keen eye out for trouble of the "street-rat" variety, particularly when their own name is called and most of the group would be distracted by that.
You recall that only one person should be going up.
Azeem makes his way up to the priest and nods respectfully towards her.
"I am Azeem El Bashir, I represent the 'Daring Delvers.'"
One of the assistants provides a a token for your location as well as a map, nods they prepare to move on to the next group.
Azeem accepts the token and places it in his belt. He grips the map with a zeal he can barely contain. "Thank you." is all he can say without his voice cracking. He returns to the group and beckons them to the back of the crowd before looking at the map.
”I am so excited. And scared. But more excited than scared. I think. I’m not so sure anymore actually. I wonder what area is ours. Are we going straight to the site? Is everyone ready?”
The warrior opens a belt pouch and takes out a pinch of...something. He brings it to his nose and snorts it strongly, sniffing a bit afterwards.
He licks the dust off his finger. Yep