Ezana Gedeyon's page

'Is this man insane?'' Shaking his head gesturing at the giant beast, "Sae though unable tae dae anythin' tae halt this beast, ye follaed alang anyway?"

Shaking his head in disbelief Angus turned from the 'advisor' to the reptile, pointing to the advisor, then gesturing towards the body. "Is th' 'advisor' 'ere th' yin wha git th' archeologist murdurred?"

Ezana produces another sinister chuckle,

"Oh, I didn't say that I was without any defense against this puppet of the meddlesome Templar Cirag Khagan, just that you were unlikely to be able to shoo it from the premises with your present abilities and stratagems."

The beast now swallows air in a massive torrent through its pair of gigantic flared nostrils, the swift action producing a tremendous clamor louder than a monsoon. Then, it bellows with a force greater than the roar of a lion.

Angus and Helena both need to roll a fortitude check to see if they take minor damage from their eardrums bleeding.

After a moment, it continues,

"QUIET meddler! I tire of your prattle. Your unsanctioned perambulations beyond the Moon Gate are at an end."

Ezana almost chokes on his laughter,

"Gah! None of your pitiable ilk will silence either my own person or that of any of my confederate travelers. Nay, I shall come and go as I please, like the desert winds, and you shall be forced to endure it."

Looking from the huge monster to the advisor, Angus rolls his eyes "Didnae ah post a guard oan yer tent?"

Ezana chuckles, his laughter peeling with the same alien cadence with which he has just spoken,

"You shall find, I believe, captain, that I am far more difficult to contain than by some pedestrian measures. My people are famed for their far, and unencumbered journeys throughout many worlds."

LOL, I just realized he's speaking sankskrit with a scottish accent, not sure it will harm anything, but I may change it to only using the accent when he's speaking english, Any opinons?

'Trafficked with a traveler? not an appointed representative? The brahmins of the queen of Infinite Light? well this is a bloody mess, how do we get out of it a live and get this thing out of my compound' Breathing a sign, "Weel coudnae ye hae juist given him a warnin?"

'I don't think this will do any good.' Looking at the creatures armored plates, Angus holsters his revolver, and asks, " Weel, water under th' bridge sae tae speak, Ah see masell as a practical man: sae how dae we convince ye tae lea th' rest o' th' camp alive 'n' let us be aboot oor business?"

A mellifluous voice breaks in upon the conversation,

"I believe that you shall discover, dear Captain, that the Templar Chirag Khagan's k'thaogaon will not be so easily put aside."

Angus quickly discovers the supposedly dispatched advisor of the late Director entering through the door to the study, though his voice is strikingly altered.

He speaks in the same garbled Hindi as the frightening creature,

"Mind you, he's dissembling by more than a small measure here. For one, only the Templars of Raam's Queen refer to themselves by the titulature of the ancient Desi ritualists -- I guarantee you none outside the Temujin accept this identification or employ that vocabulary. They may consider themselves as to brahmins, but no one else does."

"Secondarily, he is overstating the matter of the claimed trespass. Indeed, the Templar Chirag is merely annoyed that he was cut out of a skillful negotiation which I effected at with the caretaker of the Oasis of Jahaladhpur. I assure you that his tyrannical liege has no knowledge of his activities or direct concern with the any of the immediate proceedings."

Getting impatient, Angus asks bluntly, "So Mr. Gaedeyon, can ya wield it or no?" He points to the natives still milling around frightened. "I'm runnin' out o' time. The men need ta see someone doin' somethin' instead of the folks in charge standin' around wi' their thumbs up their arses." He looks pointedly at the 'advisor. "So if you can use these forces, say so, then shut yer pie hole and come on. If not, tha good sergeant here will escort ya back ta your tent."

any thing here true?
[dice=sense motive]1d20+8

"As I have already informed you, some of my studies in the libraries of Axsum have involved materials handed down from the ancient sages of Babylon, esoteric appendices to the Bavli Talmud and similar works, which make mention of the Shem Ha Mephorash. However, as this power is a double-edged blade of fire, like unto the blade wielded by the avenging angel who guards the entrance to the Paradise of Eden between the great rivers Tigris and Euphrates, I would not dare from caution and wisdom to attempt to wield this knowledge."

Ignoring the talk of religion, Angus turns to the shorter ghurka who had just joined them. "Serrgeant Limbu, thank you for joinin' us. Give me a moment if ya will." Angus turns back to the 'advisor' "When I was a wee lad, ma nanny would tell me stories of a caprricious fey named Lord Perpirrrreen McGibel. Now in all of them lovely stories tha Nanny McFee told me, I never got tha imprresion tha a bullet from a good wembly rrevolver coudn't stop him." giving a carnivores smile "Not if I shot him enough."

Glancing from the advisor back to the others, then giving the sergeant a knowing look. Turning back to the advisor. "Now just out of curiosity, would you perchance be one of tha Shem ha Mephorash? Or are ya just tha bearer of bad news? I ask, because I plan on investigatin' tha noise before I consider lettin' anyone wake tha director. An' if your not going ta be any benefit ta me, I'm gonna ask ya ta return ta yourr tent."

"My studies of the ancient writings held in the fabled libraries of Aksum included many texts collected from the sages of Babylon. However, the power of the Shem ha Mephorash is a two-edged sword, as your people say. It is a mighty weapon, but one that may, like a fire, burn those who attempt to employ it."

Ezana Gedeyon wrote:

Tolly Devlin wrote:

The fact that this man, who pretends to be someone he is not and is trying to convince them not to investigate the ruins tonight, tells Tolly Something important. The ruins are exactly where they should be going to investigate.

Tolly shakes his head and says, "Being a baptized Englishman, I can rebuke any demon in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As far as more conventional threats. I trust the war tested Captain of Her Majesty's Expeditionary Force will prevail .

"Alas, the empty mummery of your spiritless British sect will will avail you naught against the children of Adam's First Wife. They heed only the enigmatic power of the Shem ha Mephorash, which, or so the ancient sages of Babylonia inform us, once hovered above the primeval chaos in the form of a dove."

Tolly bristles then quickly suppresses his urges for violence. "I don't expect a savage to understand that Jesus is the Almighty Lord incarnate, but I'll pray for your soul."

He heads off in the direction of the ruins

"Oh, you misunderstand entirely -- the people of Eritrea are the adherents of the Crucified Lord's true church, established by the power of Yahweh's holy ark which was transported for our safe keeping in ancient times. We believe in and uphold this ancient and pure truth, which the Master Jesus received whole from the sages of Israel. It is simply the case that you follow in the way of an isolated and deviant branch of the Lord's ekklesia."

The fact that this man, who pretends to be someone he is not and is trying to convince them not to investigate the ruins tonight, tells Tolly Something important. The ruins are exactly where they should be going to investigate.

Tolly shakes his head and says, "Being a baptized Englishman, I can rebuke any demon in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As far as more conventional threats. I trust the war tested Captain of Her Majesty's Expeditionary Force will prevail .

"Alas, the empty mummery of your spiritless British sect will will avail you naught against the children of Adam's First Wife. They heed only the enigmatic power of the Shem ha Mephorash, which, or so the ancient sages of Babylonia inform us, once hovered above the primeval chaos in the form of a dove."

"Ya mean a secure perimeter, with trrroops on guard, an' officers checkin' on them on a regular basis an' dealin' with any unusual activity?" Gesturing indicating they've done all that. Rolling his eyes, Sighing, "So I assume ya have no knowledge of how ta deal with 'em, other than hidin' in tha dark." He continues walking toward where the sound came from, 'I can see me explaining that to my superiors, 'Yes sir we were hiding, it seemed like the right thing to do.' turning back to the 'avdisor' "An' ya wanted ta wake the director why? So's we could tell him we decided we need ta hide better?" He looks from the 'advisor' to miss Von Der Ahe then to Tolly, shaking his head. Continuing to the directors sleeping quarters. 'I wish someone would give a good reason to arrest this charlatan.'

"My business with Sir Clausden is none of your concern."

"Ya mean a secure perimeter, with trrroops on guard, an' officers checkin' on them on a regular basis an' dealin' with any unusual activity?" Gesturing indicating they've done all that. Rolling his eyes, Sighing, "So I assume ya have no knowledge of how ta deal with 'em, other than hidin' in tha dark." He continues walking toward where the sound came from, 'I can see me explaining that to my superiors, 'Yes sir we were hiding, it seemed like the right thing to do.' turning back to the 'avdisor' "An' ya wanted ta wake the director why? So's we could tell him we decided we need ta hide better?" He looks from the 'advisor' to miss Von Der Ahe then to Tolly, shaking his head. Continuing to the directors sleeping quarters. 'I wish someone would give a good reason to arrest this charlatan.'

"The knowledge that is required to effectively combat these entities is not that which you are likely to possess -- the rabbis of Eastern Europe refer to it as Ba'al Shem Tov, the 'Master of the Name'. There are esoteric traditions that have been passed from master to disciple since the days before the Flood that concern the knowledge of hidden things, especially the mysteries of the Names of God. It is this hidden knowledge that can compel the sheddim, or ward off their intrusions, not the children's toys which you carry in your hands."

'Well, at least one of us does.' Smiling at Helena's comment, he raises an eye when she starts speaking to the 'advisor' in a language that he believes is Hebrew.

Waiting a moment, for the advisor to answer her, he enquires again, a little more politely. "Advisor, I'm no' here ta have a philosophical understanding of tha local supernatural fauna, I'm here ta protect tha folks a' tha dig site. So if ya know a way ta kill these potential threats, would ya speak up."

"A due measure of caution, including a wide berth. I would advise you to establish a defensive perimeter and prevent any from leaving the camp."

Seeing as two of the men with her had weapons out she did not feel the need to do the same.

"Well I feel most safe Angus"

Walking with them she listened to the conversation.
When the adviser talks of jin, Helena says over to him.
"Dieser Mann redet, als ob Mythen real wären. Am interessantesten"

"אתה מדבר על הילדים. של לילית השדים?"

** spoiler omitted **

The Aksumite sage at first regards Helena with a curious expression, clearly struggling to understand her question. Then, he replies in Amharic, the Semitic language of Ethiopia, which is just similar enough to Hebrew for Helena to grasp the general meaning of Gedeyon's reply,

"Yes, children of the first mother, who filled the earth before the Flood. They and the annakim and nephilim...."

'This is hurting my brain.' Breathing a heavy sigh, "So your sayin' the genies caused both tha animal noise and tha light?" Shaking his head, feeling a little agitated "So back ta ma question, supposin' tha bloody thinks are real, how do ya put tha bloody things in tha bloody ground?"

Realizing what he had just said in front of the lady, he turns, blushing slightly, "Pardon ma language, Miss Von Der Aha, I've been around soldiers too long."

"In a word, yes, most probably so -- they are afoot in the camp on some ill-omen-ed business, but also intend, if possible, to lead astray the unwary, to separate them from their strength in their fellows gathered here, and to isolate them under their awful and unknowable power, within yonder ruins."

Tolly, I forgot you were there. actually I didn't realize you had caught up with us. I believe the advisor was saying the noise/animal sound was a jinn. Angus had not discussed the light with him, that was one of the Gurkha soldiers that saw it. So will try and work a post.

Hearing Tolly before he saw him, Angus turned from the advisor, towards the Englishman. Shifting his revolver to his left hand, he reaches out with his right. "Mr. Devlin," Seeing the small automatic in Tolly's hand he smiles. "Good ta see you sirr." He nod his head towards the 'advisor' "Tha advisor was just fillin' me in on his opinion of tha sound tha disrrrrupted tha camp." He gestures with his pistol, the general direction they were headed. "Would ya like ta join us? Seein' ya brought yer own … torch"

He gestures back to where he had been talking to private Thapa. "Tha private had seen a light before he heard tha animal-like noise and thought it worth mentioning." He shrugs, "I don't know tha we could find tha exact location in tha dark. It may ha' been a torch, or some such think." He then looks back at the 'advisor' "Unless ya want ta explain ta Mr. tolly wha' else may ha' been."

"I have no objecting to ex-positing my opinion on the subject. Unlike in your native isles, Captain Elphinstone, the wise ones of my homeland to not so readily and scornfully discount the received wisdom of ages past, and account it as nothing but superstition. We are a people who have received directly and passed on the wisdom which the Creator bestowed upon his chosen son, the renowned King Solomon, and we likewise have been custodians of the Ark of the Almighty Yahweh since it's long-ago transport from the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, which the aforementioned Solomon fashioned to fulfill the pious vow of his revered father David the Psalmist."

"These creatures of which I have spoken, the sheddim, the azazel, the jinn, or whatever one wishes to call them, are well known in legend to lure the unwary by means of just such apparitions as those described in the report of your Private Thapa. I believe their intention by such manifestations is to lure the curious and incautious to a certain doom."

I had just noticed and was typing an appropriate response

Ezana Gedeyon wrote:

"Captain, are you a man who accepts the existence of the Unseen?"

I did not realize Gedeyon is still following Angus!

Keeping the flashlight focused ahead of him, Angus gives the 'advisor' a look that says 'I don't have time for this foolishness.' he then sighs, "Ma last name is 'Elphinstone.'" He pauses for effect, then continues. "I come from a land tha prractices Chrristianity an' still whispers a-boot tha Aes Sídhe tha live in an invisible world . Believe is a strrong word. Lets us tha word, possible." He gestures towards the darkness where the sound was rumored to come from. "Wha' does this have ta do with tha 'not a tiger or Scottish wild cat' roamin' a-boot tha camp?"

Ezana smiles sagaciously and closes his wide eyes in an attitude of blissful reverie,

"Did your well-beloved 'Bard' not say that "There are more things in Heaven and Earth, then thou hast dreamed of?""

"I mean only to say that I, too, hail from a land steeped in the ancient faith of the Crucified Lord, and that we have known, since time immemorial, that there are many strange and terrible beings that betimes assume the shape and manner of men, but are no mortal creations."

"The followers of the Arabian prophet Mohammed refer to these creatures as the 'jinn', and tell stories in hushed tones around their Bedouin camp fires of this mysterious races' invisible cities in the deep desert. They are the first of the Almighty God's creations, in the earliest days of the Earth before He, in His Wisdom, fashioned the First Couple in the unspoiled paradise of Eden."

"They have many other names -- sheddim, or azazel in the language of the Holy Torah, what your people know as the Old Testament."

"It is the received wisdom of the wise and knowing ones among my people to apportion these entities, whatever one wishes to call them, a wide and generous berth. Those who, wittingly or not, disturb their desired solitude have often come to ill ends, or so the old stories tell us."

'So not a tiger.' Smiling to himself, "I doubt if it sounded like a scotish wild cat, either." He looks towards the directors camp then back the way they came. "Private Thapa, I'll continue toward where tha sound came from, You go back and settle tha men. Then try and pin point where you saw tha light. We will go inspect it in tha morning." The private snaps a salute and begins to trot off to the others. While Angus continues towards the directors sleeping quarters.

"Captain, are you a man who accepts the existence of the Unseen?"

Something clicking in his brain, Angus turns from the milling soldiers, and the uppity German, back to the Eritrean adviser Ezana Gedeyon. Gesturing towards the west and the dig site. "Advisor Gedeyon, Sergeant Limbu and I just came from inspectin tha guards outside tha perimiter. You said you were inspectin tha citadel, but we didn't see ya." He then gestures inside the gate, "As a matter o' fact we found ya here near tha campground, headed toward us." he raises an eyebrow, letting his question trail off, waiting for the advisor's explenation.

[dice=sense motive]1d20+8

The Aksumite savant regards Angus with an evidently quizzical expression, his head sharply cocked to one side,

"What then? Oh, I suppose my humble garb" Gedeyon raises his arms to display the egg-shell color of his tunic, "must have rendered my passage as to that of a fickle chameleon, and I thus escaped your reconnaissance, Kommandant."

"Hmmm... I do believe the young Sir Clausden should be awakened, if he has not already been..."

The mysterious east African visitor then turns on his heel, turning to face some one or something behind Angus and Helena,

"Kommandant Hauser, I almost didn't see you there! Wie gehts es Ihnen?"

'Curious, is this the sage or someone pretending, odd...sergeant? Returning from an inspection?' Ignoring the slight, Angus nods to the 'sage', "Yes an animal that bold would be odd. but there are other types of predators." Looking to Miss Von Der Ahe, " We will continue our search, if for no other reason to let the workers know that we take their fears seriously."

pausing for a second, not sure if Miss Von Der Ahe has anything to add.
As they proceed the direction they were headed, he turns back to the man. "In the future if you would like an escort in the evening, I could speak to one of the officers and have them assign you a man."

He took offence at being called Sargent? What is his rank then -- I think I missed that.

"Other types of predators, such as... ?"

He smiles as Angus offers the enigmatic Aksumite sage protection on future forays into the ruins,

"Oh, Sargent, that is indeed very kind of you, but I assure you I am quite able to attend to my own person. No, these many other unfortunates here, not so well-traveled as myself, and habituated to the dangers to be readily discovered outside the well-trod boundaries of civilization, these are they to who you and your men should attend. I shall be perfectly well, I assure you."

'Ah the mysterious advisor, Ezana Gedeyon.' Making sure his pistol is pointed to the ground, and the flashlight not shineing directly ath the advisor, Angus gives a polite nod, "Advisor Gedeyon, good evening sirr" He points with his pistol "One o' tha khalsa sikh heard an animal-like noise coming from tha direction." He turns back to the advisor, "have ya heard anything sirr? Miss Von Der Ahe and I were lookin’ in ta it. Thought it would help ta keep tha workers calm, due ta all tha talk of tigers and such." Angus watches the mysterious man trying to get a read on him,

[dice=sense motive]1d20+8hey that's more like it

"An animal, really?"

"It seems unlike any of the local predators to be so bold as to brave a densely populated camp of armed men... but, you must be right. Forgive me, Sargent Elhpinstone, I am just returning from an inspection of the citadel, so you have the advantage of me in regards to the present state of our encampment."