Thaddeus twiddles his mustache as he ponders the two possible missions further. After a moment, he sets his glass down and clears his throat. "I believe," he begins, measuring his speech in order to maintain a dignified pace, "it might be wisest to retrieve the sword first. It seems to me that one of my tutors—Master Galbraffin, I believe it would have been—once mentioned that the noble houses of old would often protect their tombs with enchantments which required a family weapon to bypass... in theory ensuring that only family could delve into the ancestral crypts."
He looks slowly around the room, then picks up his glass and sips his wine before re-engaging in his meal.
Emil looks at Thaddeus, and blinks. He glances at their host for,... confirmation?
"I,... did not know that. Sound advice master Thaddeus! I am sure that your Master Galbraffin would appreciate that you were paying attention!"
The priest raises his cup to his lips, hiding (most of) his follow-up comment,...
"I Know that MY teacher wished that I had payed more attention!"
Dawnilea laughs, "Well, then, sword first, tomb second. Fair enough. Still, we'll be gone for quite some time if we're heading all the way to Qadira and back -- this isn't a short jaunt like the trip to Andoran. Should we worry about what might transpire in our absence?"
Remaio shakes his head at Dawnilea. "The Ghazali family caravan is near Omash, just across the Qadiran border. Trade caravans go between here and Omash with some frequency, and the road there is through an easy pass - almost a gap - in the mountains. The roads from Oppara to Omash to Karakuru are busy and fairly safe. Despite the political conflicts between our countries, we merchants find trading between us to be quite profitable, so we are... polite, at least. Your trip to Qadira will be relatively quick."
Dawnilea says, "Fair enough. I wasn't allowed to learn about our trade routes growing up... that was all reserved for Darcastin. Would we be hiding in such a caravan, then, or would you prefer we strike out on our own?"
Remaio shrugs. "Up to you. The roads are easy enough for merchants, they should be no problem at all for a well-armed group like yourselves. No need to hide, as long as you don't carry a banner inscribed with WE SEEK TO ENNOBLE HONORIA ALCASTIA" He smiles and offers Dawni another bottle.
Dawnilea accepts the new bottle and laughs, "I'll have to cancel the commission then." She shrugs, "Well, other than trying to negotiate a raise based on our effectiveness, I don't think there's much else to do or ask.... Then again, I *have* been known to leap before I look. Most of the time."
”Should we procure horses? Or… will they be provided?” Auguste asks.
"Leaping is fun. But looking first is usually advised." Emil murmurs, smiling at some particularly amusing memory,...
"Hm? Oh, yes! To the task at hand then! Well Master Remaio DID mention that everything would be provided, including transportation. I for one would Far prefer to trust another to pick a decent steed for me. I have many talents. But I won't pretend that being a good judge of horseflesh is one of them!"
"If you are going to Qadira, then straight to the tomb, it would probably be best if you have horses, since the caravans and boats may not travel on your best route - or your timetable. I will rent four at the livery on your behalf," Remaio nods agreeably. "I'd much rather you make good time than wear out boot leather hiking the distance." He skewers a small roasted partridge with his knife and transfers it to his plate, then sits and begins eating it.
Dawnilea nods, "Doing it without coming back to Oppara isn't a bad idea. And I think doing it on horseback is probably for the best."
Emil nods.
"I suppose that the ladies in town can live without me for a few days." he says with a grin.
The grin fades slightly as he realizes what he just said,... but then returns as he tells himself how happy 'the ladies' will be to see him again,...
Dawnilea laughs, "Aye, but we should still hurry back, lest they suffer from both of our absences..."
Auguste looks at Emiliano, and then at Dawnilea, and simply shrugs.
”No reason to tarry overlong, I suspect a day or two for rest and supplies, then?”
He pauses and looks back to Emiliano. ”Unless you need longer. For a bachelor like myself, surrounded by sailors day and night, I found no shortage of amiable companionship in the berths. But others may be missing their recreations.”
Emil salutes Dawnilea with his mug, and outright laughs at Auguste's comment.
"I suspect that a swift, successful, venture and return will satisfy ALL of our various entertainments and endeavors. Whatever they may be!" The dandy declares with a grin as he holds his mug aloft. The words of the Cleric of the Drunken Power slurring only slightly as he does so.
Emil stands, surprisingly steady on his feet for one whose speech is slurring, no matter how slightly, and salutes their host and employer.
"To a successful adventure. May we ALL get what we want. And never what we deserve!"
Dawnilea chuckles, then says, "Aye, I'll drink to that."
Remaio thanks everyone again, packs his new treasures into a case, and takes his leave, eager to start examining and cataloging your finds. You are left to close the place down, if you wish.
The voucher is good at the money changer, and 1,000 gold are delivered into your hands as promised for you to split as you will. There's also a message waiting containing a map and the name and address of a livery stable, where you find four decent mounts with full tack and saddlebags waiting. The owner makes it clear that he expects these same mounts to be returned, as they are engaged for a round-trip journey. It's plain that he is concerned about the trip to Qadira, and warns you to not allow the theiving Qadirans to swap your horses for lesser beasts when you're not watching. He watches you ride off, glumly spitting into the straw.
The trip to Omash is relatively uneventful. You fall in with a friendly caravaneer, who is happy to tell any Qadiran officials that you are part of his caravan guard. The guards at Omash's main gate direct you to the Ghazali family manor, which lies outside the city walls of Omash.
A sandstone wall decorated with geometric mosaics surrounds the opulent manor. Through the brass front gates, white cobblestone paths wind through a garden of floweriing cacti and acacia trees to the manor's entrance.
A pair of guards clad in polished armor flanks the gates, standing out of the sun under brightly striped awnings. They scrutinize your party as you approach, and one steps forward to address you in Common.
"Welcome to the Ghazali estate, travelers. Do you have business here?"
Dawnilea pauses a moment to take the measure of the man before nodding, "We are here representing the interests of a Taldane noble, who has arranged to purchase certain items. We're here to collect and transport them back."
The man's dark eyes flick to your various weapons, but he nods and bows. "Be welcome here. I am Rasoul. Lady Ghazali should be in her study. If you will follow me."
He leads you on one of the winding paths to the front door, where he signals a servant, who bustles away. He crosses the bright, airy entryway to a pair of ornately carved double doors, opens them, announces travelers from Taldor, and stands aside to allow you entry.
The domed ceiling of this grand room soars above red and white tiles whose pattern resembles roses in bloom. Between the mahogany bookshelves that line the chamber, suits of armor stand at attention. An empty weapon rack faces the doorway.
A woman sits alone in the room. You catch a glimpse of her raising her head from her hands before she rises and fastens a gauzy veil which blurs but does not entirely conceal her features. Rasoul enters behind you and stands by the doorway, followed closely by the servant bearing a tray with glasses of what proves to be cool fruit juice. The servant sets the tray on a small table near the lady and departs quickly and silently, closing the doors behind her.
The woman bows her head in greeting and waves her hand at the tray of drinks. "Welcome, travelers, and be refreshed. I am Arajida al-Fakhiri, Lady Ghazali. How may I help you?" Judging by the network of fine lines just beginning to appear around her eyes, she seems to be middle-aged, and appears human from what you have observed.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Ghazali." Auguste takes a sip of the proffered beverage and tries to conceal his disappointment that it is not alcohol. Seeing the lady's emotional state, he treads lightly.
"We have been sent to facilitate the re-purchase of a certain sword. I understand that word has come before us on this matter. We are hoping it is an amenable transaction to all parties."
"That sword!" the lady bursts out, "I wish I had never laid eyes on it! First my children squabbling over who would have the pretty thing when I was gone, like vultures over my not-yet cold corpse! Then, after I made it very clear that, once I go to meet Pharasma's judgment, the blade would go to my eldest child, my youngest keeps wheedling after me, saying the blade was meant for him and he should have it now!"
She rises and begins pacing rapidly, gesturing with her hands as she illustrates the story. "And then this morning, with all my children but the youngest out with the caravans - along with most of the household guard - I wake up to find Aayef gone, and that cursed cutlery with him! He must have heard me talk of the letter wanting its return, that foolish, foolish boy!"
Rasoul steps forward one pace. "Lady, Badr and I will find him. Let us go, I beg you."
Lady Ghazali cuts him off with an abrupt slash of her hand. "No! Aayef thinks himself a man, he must learn to live with the consequences of his decisions, like a man! I will not leave this house undefended because of the foolishness of my child," she thunders, but there's a slight quaver in her voice at the end before she trails off into silence, obviously distraught.
After a moment, she turns to you in appeal. "Still, your arrival today may be the answer to my prayer. You want the blade? It is yours, if you can find it and... please... bring my son home with it?"
Dawnilea holds in a sigh, I knew this sounded too easy..., but then nods and says, "Given the circumstances, we'll do the best we can to recover both of these things of value."
Blissfully ignorant of anything amiss, (perhaps because HIS cup somehow has managed to acquire alcohol, despite the others lack of it,) other than what is finally plainly stated, the cheerful cleric nods vigorously in agreement.
"Not to worry my Lady. If your son can be brought home safely, then we shall do so. On Caydean's honor I promise you."
The lady nods. "It is well! The night guards swear he did not pass the gate, so he, in his eagerness to be gone from his home, must have gone over the walls. I did not allow the guards to seek his trail, so you may be able to pick up something of his path either inside or outside the walls."
Rasoul adds, "Badr would have had the grooms tend to your beasts. If you want them, I can have them made ready for you. They will have been watered by now, and did not look hard-ridden when you arrived, so they should be fit."
Thaddeus raises one eyebrow, but has the tact to keep quiet. So, the little man is chafing under his brothers' shadows... no crime, that, certainly not worthy of death in the desert.
He smiles reassuringly at the woman as the others offer their pledges verbally.
Dawnilea says, "We should probably start within the walls, just in case. If only to know where to start looking on the other side."
"You are welcome to roam the grounds as you see fit," the lady says, nodding to Rasoul, "I only ask you go quickly, please, and save my foolish son from himself."
Rasoul bows to the mistress of the house and gestures for you to follow him. Once outside the house, he sweeps his arm around the estate, which looks like an oasis enclosed in high walls. "Please, go where you will. I will be at the stable, making sure your horses are ready." He hustles down a path towards the interior of the estate, leaving you to your search.
Thaddeus looks around for any trees or other tall things that could have been used to scale the wall from inside.
The wall is a simple one, with a rounded top. No trees grow near enough to scale and top the wall that way. Thaddeus sees no ladders or scaffolds or other things near the wall, which seems to be generally lined with decorative plantings.
Auguste joins for a look around the grounds.
Dawnilea looks around for any sort of clue...
The estate is clear of tracks besides on the normal pathways -- you can see where your horses were led along a dusty track and hear Rasoul's voice from that direction ordering them readied.
Dawni thinks to push aside some of the bushes lining the walls, and finds one with a hollow behind full of loose chunks of masonry. They've been removed from a large crack at the bottom of the wall. A scrap of bright blue material is wedged into the margin of the crack, it is obvious from the marks that someone scooted through.
Dawnilea says, "Well, I can't guarantee this is where he went out... but it seems pretty likely."
”Maybe there will be some tracks on the outside.” Auguste maneuvers through the gap in the wall.
Thaddeus nods, following behind the lithe fellow. "Good idea!" he replies, beginning to look around once he's outside the wall.
There are definitely fresh marks of someone having come this way.
Thaddeus finds clear tracks of a single pair of booted feet that lead off into the desert, towards something indistinct on the horizon that may just be a mirage... but might not.
"Well, I guess we know where to look!" exclaims the young man, smiling. "Shall we go get the horses and be off?"
You meet Rasoul and the groom at the gate, each leading a pair of horses. Your mounts seem grumpy about their interrupted vacation, but they respond readily enough to rein and spur.
As you draw near the spot on the horizon, it resolves into crumbled and crumbling walls with a thin stream of smoke rising from between them at one spot
Dawni and Emil hear a faint cry, along with strange clanking - not quite metal on metal, but metal on something hard from amidst the ruins.
Dawnilea shouts a warning, "Giant Scorpion," as her horse stops moving. She brings quickly pulls an arrow over her shoulder and snaps off a shot, trying to get the thing's attention before it kills what she assumes to be the boy that she's trying to save.
for
Amazingly, Dawni's arrow zips past the end of one crumbling wall and sticks in a vulnerable spot in the giant scorpion's chitin, right at the joint where a leg meets the thorax.
Thaddeus urges his horse forward, but the creature throws its head and refuses to move once it spots the foe. With a quiet curse on the horse-trader who sold them their mounts, Thaddeus slides slowly from the saddle and advances on his own feet.