Standing in silence as his cousin ultimately fails the test, Borak looks on in disbelief as the old woman puts her utensils back in her robes. Blinking he turns as Pardot Kynes, wondering if this was all for the off worlders benefit. Had the reverand mother wanted to make a point to him or was it for their sake as well. Watching as Kasit picks up Ghir's crysknife, Borak numbly nods knowing Kasit will use it in his brother's memory.
Turning as the 'mother' recited her prayer, without puase, Borak softly repeated the words with the acolytes, "May his water make the way and bless us." Nodding as she points out Ghir's water and belongings were theirs, he was relieved that at least they would get to honor his remains.
Lost in his thoughts, Borak barely notices the mother assigning an acolyte to accompany them, but he pauses at the name 'Fedaykin' if felt familiar in a way. Raising an eyebrow as she asks Kynes to 'show them why we are here.' Watching the image in the device, Ratel blinks, wondering. 'Is it possible for the sands to become a paradise?'
At Ghir son of Dranor wake the sun starts to come up.
As you stand there, the revered mother and Keens comes with the water master. He places Ghir son of Dranor in the cloth where Ghir son of Dranor, Still suit and his belongings. Once he has done this, the revered mother walks upto Ghir son of Dranors belongings and takes a single Spice coffee cup. She holds it up.
"I was a friend of Ghir son of Dranors, Because like this cup, he blessed me by showing me that though thow I think I am full, I am not, there is always more to learn and experience."
Still holding the cup she steps back, and nods to Keens.
Who walks up and takes a coffee set cup as well.
"Even if I only knew him for such a short time, I was a friend of Ghir son of Dranors. He showed me what real conviction is, for that I think him"
And he too steps back.
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Standing silently over the body of his dead cousin, Borak watches the emotion on Kasit's face. They had both been like brothers to him, now one was gone and he and Kasit were left to carry on. Looking towards the other Fedaykin he realizes that though death had taken Ghir, they were not alone. As he considers their new duties Borak realizes the reverand mother had began to speak, refocusing on the hear and now he listened to her and considers the time he'd spent with Ghir.
Remembering when they would play as children, he approached the body, gently touching Ghir's chest. "I was a friend of Ghir, Son of Dranors. When we were children, we would play hide and seek. I would hide in the sand, and he would always find me. It caused me to work harder and learn how to 'Blend in with the sand." Reaching out he takes the Oil lens binoculars from his cousin's belt. "These binoculars will remind me to continue searching until we find what we are looking for, as Ghir did."
Fighting back the urge to shed a tear, Unable to say more, Borak steps back away from the body, and attaches the binoculars to his own belt,
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Funerals. Kasit hated them. While he knew that it had to be done, that the deceased person's water would be taken through the deathstills, it just felt too final. That with the water gone, so too was the person. Emotionally, that was when you knew that the person was gone for good. That you would never see them again. Never talk to them. That anything which was left unsaid would remain so. And he hated the ceremony afterwords, when friends would speak of the deceased. He didn't take any of his personal possessions, as he had already claimed Ghir's crysknife. He carried it in his hand. To his shock, the knife was far more advanced than he had ever known. It had within it a field projector in it. It was a simple enough task finding a matching one to go onto his wrist, allowing it to be brought back to his hand. He wasn't surprised that Ghir hadn't noticed it, for the knife looked normal enough. It was only from staring at it for so long, thinking about his lost kinsman, that Kasit had noticed it.
Realizing that he was getting lost in thought, he brought himself back to the present. He didn't have it in him to 'give water to the dead' through tears. Ghir was gone. Shedding water would not change that.
"Ghir." He said, and was surprised to find that the name caught in his throat. Suddenly there was a lump there that hadn't been there before. He swallowed, forcing himself to be able to speak. "He was everything that a man should be. He fought to win. Every day he did this, regardless of the task. And he fought for kith, he fought for kin. He did this, and he died for this. Everyone who knew him knew this. Now, he is gone. Now, it is up to us to remember him, so that he can remain with us. I remember...I remember finding him in the mornings, awake early. He saw beauty in this world of ours, and he would wake just to watch the spice in the air when it was thickest. He..." Kasit trailed off, failing to keep a pained look off of his face. "...his memory will be a blessing to all fortunate enough to carry it. And that is why I have taken his crysknife. A reminder to fight as he did. A reminder that when the time comes, to have a death as worthy as his. And to hopefully leave behind memories like his. He lived a good life. Everyone who knew him will miss him." Knife in hand he returned to the others.
Once family is done, Elta approaches the body. He looks down and says "I didn't know Ghir long, but he was a very important part of my life. He helped set Ethan and I free from the outworlders. I take this paracompus to remind me of the freedom he gave me, the freedom to roam this world."
Once family is done, Elta approaches the body. He looks down and says "I didn't know Ghir long, but he was a very important part of my life. He helped set Ethan and I free from the outworlders. I take this paracompus to remind me of the freedom he gave me, the freedom to roam this world."
"Where I was born, the traditions of mourning often give water to the dead." Seemingly from nowhere, the young man brandishes a water ring clearly worth about 5 litres.
"Where I was re-born, the traditions of mourning praise Shai-Hulud, through which we are eternal." From another place of nowhere, Ethan produces one of his crysstars, its edges gleaming like the tooth of The Maker. There is more than one gasp from the assembled.
"Ghir spoke first. When The Ladies of The People needed aid, Ghir spoke first. I listened. I learned from Ghir the meaning of having meaning, the meaning of leading when leaders know the way. I take nothing in this moment, Ghir's gift is within in me; I leave these small tokens with him so that he will flourish in eternity." The water ring and the crysstar appear, again from nowhere, at the apex of Ghir's tribute pile.
Ethan too seemed to move from nowhere, standing as though he had never moved from Elta's side.
Sister Julia walks over and picks up all the water rings 1st.
"I Ghir, let me be here and now, the center and from here he give me a path to the future. I will hold his water for us all"
then she bends and picks up his stillsuit and cape.
"I will take these, So that I may walk in his footsteps"
She turns and rejoins the group.
At first blush Sister Julia seemed an extremely unlikely person to accompany the newly anointed Fedaykin warriors. Her physique was that of a slim nineteen year old fremen girl, pleasing to look at but hardly a warrior. That notion that she might be fragile lasted until she looked directly into each of your eyes. Starting with Borak, then Kasit, Elta and Ethan each of you saw the face of a true believer, somebody who would do (and likely had) done anything for the cause.
Apart from her stillsuit she seemed to have little gear beyond a small oblong box she held in one hand.
Kasit met Julia's gaze. At first glance she did not look like much, and he idly wondered how much water they could extract from her corpse when she inevitably died. That was, of course, until he looked into her eyes. Her eyes reminded him of the box that had just claimed Ghir's life. He looked away, not wanting to stare into something so dangerous. That was when he noticed, from the design embossed on the leather box she held, that she was holding a tarot deck. That was it then. That was why she was coming with them.
He no longer thought about how much water they would gain from her, as he no longer expected her to die.
The next day you are asked to be come down to the deep meeting room, as you enter a null field. Keens is there as is the revered mother.
It seems they had been there for some time.
"Arr you fighters are here, lets go over this again. I am not questioning your logic I just want them to know the gravity of it"
Keens nods and stands still, and enters a Menta trance.
"Given computeinal variations, our main objective in stage 1 is to create a number of Sietch's suggested number if six with water catches. We have 6 Laz cutters one for each. Second we need to desemnate the technology to craft water catch funnels and platage to each of the six. To Do any of this we need to forge trusted contacts with all six with out upseting the groups who are reluctant to the status quo. But before we can do any of this we have to blind the eyes of the spicing guild to what we are doing here. The highest probability of success is to bribe them.
To do that we need to 1st make contact with one of there spys here on Acrakus. unfortunately we don't have any information on such a spy here on world."
He stops coming out of his focus.
"And that is where you come in, Fairdikin, your task is to find and make contact with one of the spacing guild spys here."
She took out a cylinder.
"When you do give them this."
Sister Julia didn't expect to be privy to the terms the guild would be offered but it had to be generous. The problem was history taught that the hearts of greedy men were not to be trusted, so she asked, "Will bribrary be enough? Should we seek additional leverage that can be used to ensure long term compliance? Something to do with the spice perhaps, it is the most valuable substance in the galaxy and the guild will be complicit with any smuggling..."
Listening carefully to the instructions, Borak tried to grasp the overall plan, but had trouble envisioning it. However the idea of finding a space guild spy seemed easy enough to grasp. Listening as Sister Julia asked her question, he notices she is still carrying the same small oblong box. Turning so he could see the emblem; he raises an eyebrow but says nothing. When she was done with her question, he pauses for a moment, then asks the off worlder, "Any clues as to what sort of person we'd be looking for or where to start?"
Sister Julia didn't expect to be privy to the terms the guild would be offered but it had to be generous. The problem was history taught that the hearts of greedy men were not to be trusted, so she asked, "Will bribrary be enough? Should we seek additional leverage that can be used to ensure long term compliance? Something to do with the spice perhaps, it is the most valuable substance in the galaxy and the guild will be complicit with any smuggling..."
"or perhaps something to do with the Houses ... the greedy have no courage when they are threatened politically."
Keens states
"There is a president for this, it's rumored that house Kittilin from the planet Trixus V has been paying off the guild, while they build forces to attack a rival house, others have and it's whispered that even mighty House Atreides, from the planet Caladan,pay off the guild to overt imperial eyes. But what a guild spy looks like, That I would not know. But there are always information Brokers. I would see one"
you know of one such info broker. A fat offworder call Tomlik, He is contented to House Limir, but will work with anyone with the spice to pay for intel. He base of operations is a fencing come rug shop in the Village of AToric, just outside Arakin city.
You know a smuggler called Rielf-Bile, who may know something about the spice giuld spy. He said once he had dealing with the giuld.
Sister Julia speculated, "It stands to reason a guild spy, if they are any good, would seem entirely unremarkable. Also I doubt we can just ask one of your contacts about them or risk them getting tipped off. No doubt we shall have to earn the trust of those who might know them..."
Elta looks a bit stumped for the moment and shrugs. He then says "I doubt a Spice Guild spy is standing around with a sign that says what he is. Anyone have any ideas on trying to track one down? I know we can't go back to the village we were just in."
Chuckling at Elta's comment Borak adds, "True, but I do know a smuggler called Rielf-Bile, he may know something about a guild spy, he said he had dealings with the guild."
Keens adds
"We can take it as read that any [i]Official guild repratoaves on planet is an agent by default. But they would also be linked to non-Official guild repratoave. If this person has someone he had been in contact with. Then he may be able to broker a meeting."
"I recall a rather greedy fatass who acted like he was a real broker; a Limir lackey to be sure, but he could work for this. He worked out of a storefront in Atoric, not far from Arakeen."
"Maybe we should pay him a visit. Still we'd need a reason to talk to him, so would we posing as buyers or sellers?" asked Julia.
Keans said
"That is not a problem, I have some spice sites that should be ready to farm soon. If my calculations are right. That information would be a lot to miners."
”We have a contact, and a good cover story.” Kasit mused. ”Hopefully this won’t involve being dropped from the sky again. At the moment this sounds to be fairly straightforward.”
The revered mother goes to Keans and bids him farewell, she glances at you and nods once as she leaves.
Kean that says
"That was the only sand-truck we had, we do have the three Sand bikes, and no means to get them past the shield wall. I will have to leave you with the details of getting back inside. "
And he too leaves.
"That was the only sand-truck we had."
"Then we shall have to obtain another one, if the fates are kind..." murmured Julia.
Later Sister Julia reflected tomorrow was a momentous day, the beginning of a long and uncertain journey. At the time she knew what they were doing was important but without the benefit of hindsight she would have been hard pressed to say just how important. Still she was nervous, not that she'd admit it, the thought of parting from her sisters was unsettling.
To her new companions she said, "Of course the question is will the fates be kind..."[/v] She fetched a leather mat from her small pack which was inlaid with all sorts of mystical pictograms representing Dune Tarot cards and various icons of the Bene Gesserit faith. Upon this she unpacked her Tarot deck and shuffled it well while humming a Bene Gesserit mantra.
She drew a card with an inscription in the semi-circular exitway of a dusty landing field. She told you [b]"This card reminds us of how fortunes can change a thing written in salt. See to one side a rabbit cowers and digs, to the other a desert fox leaps, both trapped in the endless cycle of Fate. An aircraft like a winged scarab rises over the arch, and the jets cast its shadow onto the ground completing the circle, even as it attempts to escape the cycle."
She drew one more card that of a beautiful but haughty figure, the princess and wife of the prophet who sits upon a crystal throne in blue finery within a palace. A blue hat rests on lovely blonde locks. She writes in a book displaying the sigil with a stylus like a great Scepter.
With a look of triumph she announced "An auspicious card! The fates are capricious but those who tread subtly may reap great rewards."
With that she carefully picked her cards up and said, "Until the morning..."
Listening as the others formulate a plan, Borak nods in agreement with the idea of approaching the 'broker.' Frowning at the idea of getting within the shield wall, he knew they could ride a worm to the outskirts, but wasn't sure if they would be able to transport the sand safely.
Watching as Kean leaves, he chuckles at the 'sisters' comment about acquiring another sand truck, nodding "She's right, we should be able to steal another easily eno...." But stops talking as she draws out her cards. Glancing towards Kasit, he tried not to seem nervous as she drew the cards. Sand, and blood and death along with many other things he understood, the supernatural he did not. When she finishes 'dealing out' the two cards he listens to her explanation, not sure what to think, but nods, "Yes until the morning."
The day comes and in the night the revered mother left. One of Keans men comes to see you.
"I am a trader heading back to Arakineen, I have been asked to add you to my group, you had best get ready we are taking a smuggler thopter from the mount 2k from here."
Last chance to sort tuff then your off to Arakineen
Sister Julia believed in traveling light and she had no desire to purchase anything before they went so she simply nodded at the trader and fell in line with the others as they marched to the thopter.
She did however discreetly observe the trader and anyone else they were traveling with, hoping to get ahead of any potential surprises.
Knowing they were heading to Arakineen to find a contact, Borak decides he doesn't need the extra weapons he's been collecting. Leaving them with the para-tent he'd purchased, he double checked the gear he was taking, making sure his appearance wouldn't draw any undue attention.
Rising early the next morning he eats a quick bite and moves to where the thopter was expected to land.
Ok everyone, I have added new maps
Map of Arakus and The main shield wall Area.
Note I have marked
Where you are now, Keans base
On the bigger map of the North of the planet DUNE.
And two places on the smaller map,
They are the Village you went to and I known Smugglers nest {Town, Where the thupter will drop everyone off, you make it v foot after that. Note you can try and collect info at the Smugglers Town if you like,
Its an village built into the higher rock and lets them fly in and out unseen v a number of roots.
While they waited for the thopter, Sister Julia prepared for a Tarot reading. She spread her leather mat onto the sand and watched for a moment as a gentle breeze blew grains of sand across it. She swept them away before placing her deck the center, which she contemplated for a moment before suddenly cutting the deck twice and performing an elaborate shuffle.
Seeming satisfied with a sudden flourish she drew one luxuriously hand painted card, which she showed to her companions: It depicted a valorous warmaster who juggles his duties as court troubadour, trusted advisor, teacher, and companion. He plays his nine-string zithra over a table of implements representing the four minor suits and the four major factions. A stylized offworlder plant, a daisy blooms below.
She said, "The companion-teacher. In older traditions this was the magician or the jester but it has come to mean much more, the companion-teacher represents an adviser and confidant of the sort common among young scions of trading houses and even Landsraad nobility. Perhaps this represents the Guild representative we seek, or a path to them, in time its meaning shall be revealed."
As you wait you post the large smuggler large Ornithopter
coming low over the dunes. Some 20 freeman inc yourselves will get getting onto it with trade goods.
Then with a theatrical flourish Julia pointed at Borak and said "Lets see what the fates have in store for you!"
She drew a card and gasped, "The mortal enemy!" She held the card up for Borak to examine, it depicted a blasphemous figure the Baron Harkonnen in gemstone studded robes, floating on suspensors, swinging a mace. Two captives; one a woman covered in Bene Gesserit robes, the other an almost naked slave boy are bound by vines to a pedestal supporting the bejeweled globe of a planet (Arrakis). He is protected by a glowing pentagonal shield.
Softly she added, "Clearly we must tread carefully, lest we catch their attention."
Turning next to Elta, she said "Perhaps the fates will be kinder" She draws the card and replied sadly, "Perhaps not, Arrakis is harsh. This card is The time of Trial!" The card she shows Elta is beautifully painted. In the distance a distant steep mountain peak dominates and in the foreground a young woman of surprising strength wrestles two great black worms, holding them upside down. Sparkling violet bile oozing from their mouths drips into a basin. A master of animals she is sustained in these trials by Fortitude and Perseverance.
For Ethan she cautions, "The fates are not always kind, but forewarned is forearmed." She draws a card and tells him, "Ah! Time Enlightenment, a most interesting card. The epigraph discusses the kind of wisdom or enlightenment gained by the knowledge of Mortality. The Hermit card can hold either the lamp of enlightenment, or the hourglass of Father Time, a symbol of mortality, a reminder that all things must die."
She shows Ethan the card, on which one of the brotherhood of the learned, the self-reliant Scientist steps timorously over white sands in long robes. He is armed with the blades of his two masters, Prudence and Truth. Like an ancient genius, he holds aloft a great seed and carries the pole and ring, implements of his planteological pilgrimage. A glowing light hovers above his sandy head enlightening the path, whilst a thirsty creature (sandtrout) emerges from the sand near his feet.
Finally she turns to Kasit and frowns upon seeing the card, "The fool, a warning I think but against what? You do not strike me as being foolish."
The image on the card was of a foolish, careless, and untested youth who wanders out into the open desert without proper protection; face mask open and no head covering. They carry an open survival pack, but pay no heed to a wise jumping mouse nor to the dangers a giant worm breaching in the distance.
Kasit raised an eyebrow as the fool was drawn. He thought back to the last adventure that they had just gone through and could not deny that he hadn't always acted rationally. Even being the first to stick his hand in the box could be seen as being foolish. While he kept it to himself, he found it impossible to deny that the card could fit. It was a dire prediction as to what could come.
Elta gathers his few belongings and purchases some food and a tent for the journey. He lines up with the others and is ready for their first test together.
The large smuggler large Ornithopter, come in to land, and as the dust outside the Bio-Botanical research center landing pad. The traders and Keans smugglers move into its hold. Bringing containers of what one can guess to be raw and refined spice. You are shown a small area, with webbing to strap yourself into. Soon the ramp comes up and the Ornithopter takes off. The flight is low and fast, following a known safe path to the Shield wall town of the Smugglers.
Kn Local / You learn this of the flight.
You know that they Smugglers pay house House Jarrlo in spice to keep the roots to the Smuggler town safe and for it to traide, House Jarrlo givens this town and everyone pays local taxes to them. Gangs run the city with in this robbing stealing, killing off worlders for their water. But its a critical root for off world goods to get into arakus. Its a shadowy place known for rasiem to wildfreman who are seen as little more than savages.
And soon the Ornithopter comes into land, and as the ramp drops, a group of armed locals come to the ramp.
They are calling the entrance tax, 10Grams of unrefined space. The viles are handed over. You hand over yours and they hand you a single pass for your group.
"Show this if asked, the law is simpler here, Wild Freman keep out the off world area, harm or cross and off worlder and they can have you stripped naked and left on the street, You understand."
You move pass them, and into the town true.
Places you can go
Inn: The Smuggler
Inn: Two moons
Inn/boarding house: The Emperor's rest
Open food market: Center
Night Market: North side
Smugglers Kit market Hardware
The Bazaar, stalls and stands selling all manner of things
Hidded Market:
Temple of the gods, Milti faith off world site
Pleasure House: The Smugglers Run
Pleasure House: The witches temptation
Pleasure House: Toopers home
Spice processing plate 1
Spice processing plate 1 Hav-Blocks A-C
Spice processing plate 2
Spice processing plate 2 Hav-Blocks D-F
Spice processing plate 3
Spice processing plate 3 Hav-Blocks G-I
Tech workshop 1
The Hangers.
The lock up/Tropp quitors
Other sites and locations yet to be found out.
Frowning at the card Sister Julia turns up, Borak says nothing, simply waiting out the ride on the Ornithoter considering what he knows of the smuggler's town. As they unload, he resist the urge to smile when referred to as a 'wild freman' instead he stiffens his upper lip and curtly nods. Moving away from the landing pad he asks, "Should we try to gather a little information here, or head straight to Ethan's contact in Atoric?"
Kasit responded carefully, feeling somewhat shaken by the card reading. ”I would hasten to find our contact. The more people we talk to, the greater the chance of information we don’t want spreading to get loose.”
Elta nods and says "Finding a way to Atoric should be first priority I think."
Now your in side the shield wall if you ask about you should be able to find a means to get to the Village of Atoric. but where and who to ask?
Sister Julia nodded when Kasit and Elta spoke, but she suggested "I agree we should do both things, but let's also get a sense for what is on the locals minds..."
Practicing what she preached, Julia visited the various markets and stalls making small purchases and chatting with the locals. She hoped to get a sense of any rumours that might be doing the rounds.
1:A shipment of goods {slow Carravan} will be going to Arrakeen for sale from here tomorrow, and will be passing Atoric, which is on root to Arrakeen.
You have to roll higher or another will have to roll to know more.
There are whispers and talk that there has been hostilities between House Jarrlo and House Limir over a suspected large robbery of spice. A whole 1/4 of a mouths shipment of unrefined spice that House Jarrlo had placed on one of 4 ship for orbit never made it. One ship seemingly being lost. They had complained to the Harkonnens, saying House Limir should pay for the loss as they were in charge of maintaining the craft. But the Harkonnens has told House Jarrlo to cover the costs. Now the whole town was sold out of refined spice as House Jarrlo merchants tried to collect what would be needed.
The shipment of goods {slow Carravan} that will be going to Arrakeen for sale from here tomorrow, is for House Limir. And they are looking for more Guards to help protect it interference.
Now your in side the shield wall if you ask about you should be able to find a means to get to the Village of Atoric. but where and who to ask?
Nodding in agreement with Elta and Julia, Borak chimes in, "Both a route to a Atoric and learning what is going on is important. We'll want to blend in as much as possible."
As they move around town Borak notices a couple fellows who look like they could be guards. Moving away from the others he speaks with the two well-armed men. Returning to his friends he smiles, "They say a shipment of goods are being transported to Arrakeen and they are looking for more guards."
Sister Julia glances at the Fedyakin and nods, "That sounds perfect... For you at least, we will have to see if they'll accept me as a guard or as a passenger. Let's go talk to them."
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Sister Julia
Børak
Elta Tabr
Kasit
Ethan Limir
Sister Julia and Ethan Limir ask around and are soon talking to the Supercargo for the shipment. There are 4 Sand trucks, each truck has a driver and a guard. They looked over to the Supercargo says.
"I will place one each of you men on the back of the Sand tucks. The woman can go up front in the cab. Pay is 1/2l of water danger pay and 18l water for work, Now help load"
And soon your working helping to load the trucks.
Ok let me know who wants to be in which truck
Sand truck A
Sand truck B
Sand truck C
Sand truck D
Ethan is willing to be in Truck A
Hi All, map us up, place your PC on the trick you want A is at front.
I have placed you for now but feel free to change with each other.
Drivers Yellow, Other guards Red.
Elta looks at the trucks and says "Either the front or the rear will get hit. I'll take rear."