No worries Fabian - hope things get better.
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Gbaji came out of the dark dream. It simply confused him, leaving him with a sense of dread he could not explain. The face in the stone seemed significant, but he did not know what any of it meant. He looked around at the others. "Anyone know what that was about?" *********************************************
Gbaji listened to the arguments of the two strangers, but he didn't reply. He wasn't too sure about anything right now. But even so, he wouldn't give up Kornugard now without a fight. They had battled and tricked their way out of Urik and across the desert towards Tyr, and he'd be damned if he was going to give up now. The others rebuffed Nemburri's arguments so he didn't need to get involved. He smiled as Lalali tore a strip off the man - the little human girl was surprisingly fiery. But when she asked about the perils of being free, it was his turn to become annoyed. "My master just sent me out into the arena to fight people who I had not argument with. He didn't care about me. I lost my family when he bought me like a kank. If I'd died he wouldn't have even thought about it, except maybe if he'd been betting on the outcome. "I've lived in Tyr, without a master. And it's not always easy, having to decide what's best for you or for others. I've made mistakes, but they were my mistakes to make. I'd have that anytime to a master who doesn't care."
Gbaji's entered an easy stance, non-threatening but ready to break some heads should the moment come. The question made him think of his own home village - before the slavers came. Were these from a hidden village of escaped slaves too? "Well, we ain't masters, chum. My master's dead. I should know, I killed him, but that was a long time ago now. We're just heading to Tyr, not looking for trouble. Who are you?"
Gbaji puts a heavy hand on Valsavis' shoulder. "I know what it's like to lose a sister," he rumbles. "If she's in Tyr, we'll find her."
Gbaji stood over the body of the defiler and watched the last rider escape over the dunes. He winced as the pain from his wounds began to make itself felt. At first he didn't begrudge the rider his escape, but as the others began to talk of others coming he felt a twinge of worry. Nevermind, he was alive at the moment. We walked back to the wagon to check on Kornugard, but the man was still unmoving. "I agree, we need to get moving."
Gbaji grinned as the defiler dropped from the sky and crunched into the ground. He checked to see that the halfling and the raider he had traded blows with were making a break for it in earnest. He knew the type - with their leader down, they had lost their appetite for a fight. He then trotted over to give the defiler a good kick in the head to make sure he never got up again.
Gbaji gritted his teeth through the pain - it was nothing new, after all - and punched at the nearest raider.
Gbaji was grateful for the respite for the rest of that day. the encounter with the 'kreen, and then their fleeing before the unconscious Kornugard, was more than a little confusing. He was tired, but didn't demur when Ala'a "volunteered" him for first watch and promptly went to sleep. The elf woman had proved her worth. To keep himslef awake he asked Lalali, "So, what did you find out from Kornugard? Anything?"
Gbaji recovered his wits as the vision receded. He nodded in agreement with Ala'a. This was clearly a message, and what with everything else going one, one he also intended to listen to.
Gbaji watched with some incredulity as the human woman sniffed Kornugard. Disciple of the Way or just a moon-touched - well, time would tell. "Why don't we just put him back in the wagon? We need to get moving - our water has spilt out."
Gbaji watches in amazement as Kornugard's presence disperses the 'kreen like windblown sand. He gazes at the floating wizard, then back at the rapidly fleeing insects. "I still reckon we could have had 'em. Shame they ran off like that."
This was going south fast. Both Barega and Valsavis were badly wounded, and he and Ala'a weren't looking much better. Gbaji hadn't planned on being 'kreen food, but... There was no subtlety to it. Dodge the claws and mandibles, punch out when an opening presented itself. Repeat. A battle of attrition. Those who were standing at the end would be victorious. Right now, Gbaji's world had shrunk to the patch of earth where he fought, the chitter and hiss of the 'kreen, and his hoarse grunts as he struck out again, and the sting of his wounds. This was a sure way to die. Time to fight smarter. "Valsavis! Alal'a! Here, form up!"
Gbaji survived the initial charge unscathed. He swung about with his fists. He realized that Barega was surrounded, wounded and alone, and tried to fight his way towards the halfling, slowly wading through the tide of insectoid bodies. Flame and lightning struck about him.
Gbaji breathed in deeply as the 'kreen charged, held it as they gathered closer, then let it go as they made their leap over the wagons. His mind was focused. It was kill or die. Again.
Gbaj remained quite through the preparations . Strategy wasn't really his thing, pounching enemies in the face was more his metier. But he nodded in approval to Ala'a's shaping of the ground they would defend. Kreen... He didn't have much experience of fighting them. He watched the swarm hurtle towards them. Well, if they were planning on eating him, he was going to make them work for their meal. He stuffed the enchanted fruit of strength into his mouth.
Like Valsavis, Gbaji felt Ala'a's magic course through him. Damn, but she was good to have around in a fight. And most other situations. He allowed himself a moment of dry amusement - he was back to relying on elves again. Hopefully this would work out better than last time. He brushed the distracting memory aside - he had work to do. He took aim with his crossbow at the biggest-looking kreen he could see, and loosed the bolt.
Gbaji blinked under the barrage of questions. He wondered what to reply, as he knew he wasn't clever with words like Ala'a. So decided he'd go with a simple approach to discourage further discussion from the traders. "My mistress does the talking. I have nothing to say to you," he growled. He cracked his knuckles one-by-one - pop, pop, pop - and glowered with his best Scary Face on.
Gbaji smirked - she was always inventive, that Ala'a. If this worked out, she'd put Hamanu's templar off their trail and send House Stel on their way, all in the same breath.
Gbaji laughs good-naturedly at Valsavis' question. "I won my share of bouts, but I know I wasn't the best either. Luckily I never had a death match with the real killers. I was never a favorite of the crowd, either. Not pretty enough. Maybe you should give it go instead when we get to Tyr, the gladiators are free men there now. You could impress some of the ladies in the audience with your charm. "Nah, I was mostly is group fights. Fighting with you lot reminds me of some of those days. It wasn't all bad. Less complicated, anyway..." Gbaji trails off, lost in his memories.
"Crap!" Gbaji balled his fists. "Any chance we can just fight our way out? How many are there?"
Gbaji watched impassively as the rider shouted down. His arms were folded, but in his big hand he had palmed a fruit that would give him extra strength in a fight , ready to gulp it down if things turned violent. Like the others, he looked to Ala'a to do the talking, but was ready to unleash the Scary Face should it prove necessary.
The following morning, Gbaji wakes, rolls out of his bedroll and has a short walk in the dawn to take a leak beyond the camp. He finishes his business, strolls back into camp, casts an eye over Kornugard in the back of the wagon to ensure he isn't deteriorating, and then grabs some rations. He nods to the others. "We did alright last night. We seem to work well together. How's the wound?" he asks Ala'a. Later, he talks to Barega as they are packing up the campsite. "Your nature magic... It's powerful stuff. Changing shape, lightning, I've never seen anything like it. Do you talk to the land spirits, is that how it works?"
Gbaji also didn't want to belgoi to escape. He didn't like users of poison. In the arena it was considered the lowest form of dirty fighting. He sprinted after the nearest belgoi, ready to give to a battering.
Gbaji took a quick look at the battlefield. Two of the enemies wounded and with their fighting spirit diminished by Valsavis' threats. Two faced him but so far he'd avoided their attacks. But Ala'a was looking weak after taking a nasty scratch. They needed to wrap this up as quickly as possible. Time for the rolling boulder! Gbaji dropped his crossbow and swung a meaty fist at the face of the nearest belgoi, hoping to knock it down so he could get to the one next to it.
Gbaji fires his crossbow at the belgoi with the bell.
When Ala'a didn't answer, Gbaji grabbed his crossbow, loaded it and followed after her.
"Huh, wha..?" Gbaji shook his head to get the sleep out of it. "What is it, are the 'kreen attacking?"
"Er, yeah, Marek - great guy!"
Gbaji looked at the children again, and made up his mind. "Here," he said, handing over his (giant-sized) waterskin, "Let the kids have some of that. Kreen, you say? How many, how far?"
Gbaji waited for the response from the ragged travelers.
Gbaji felt uncomfortable when he saw the survivors from the raided caravan. He knew what the smart thing was to do - leave them to make it (or not) on their own - but he looked at the ragged children and felt a stone weight in the pit of his stomach. "Ala'a," he said uncertainly, "Isn't it nomad custom to help those lost in the desert? I don't like leaving them like this."
No enemies on the road.... probably. Gbaji knew this wasn't time to get complacent. Even if the agents of Hamanu weren't actively trying to kill him, plenty of other desert denizens would be happy to do the job for free. "We need to work out who's going to be on watch, and when. I can see alright in the dark, I don't mind taking the next one."
Gbaji nods. "I've heard of such things. Impressive - no doubt we will be requiring your strength soon."
"Nice belt. Is it magic?"
Once they were a decent distance from the city gate, Gbaji ducked inside the wagon and removed Kornugard from his cramped compartment so he didn't suffocate. Gbaji laid him out and tried his best to make him comfortable among the trade goods. Everyone seemed to be feeling better now they had made it out of Urik. Gbaji worried slightly about the possibility of pursuing elves and halflings, but at least the immediate danger was past. The farther out into the desert they travelled, the farther they were from Hamanu's reach. And that could only be a good thing, elves and cannibals notwithstanding.
Gbaji found Barega's transformations fascinating. He wondered what it must be like to soar in the sky like a bird. But the others seemed unfazed by it and Gbaji didn't want to look silly by asking, so he shyly kept quiet. At least the druid brought some good news that they didn't, so far, seem to be being pursued. He thanked Ala'a as she placed a healing prayer upon him. Then he grinned. He hadn't chosen these companions, but they seemed to work well together. And despite the danger, they had tweaked the nose of a sorcerer-king and lived to tell the tale. It was certainly a lot more interesting than carrying bricks. He smiled at Ala'a. "You know," he said, "You're alright." He gave Valsavis a friendly slap on the back as he went past to check on Kornugard.
Gbaji quietly hoped that the templar wouldn't notice that Valsavis called Ala'a "she" while she was disguised as an elf-man.
Gbaji donned a big set of baggy pantaloons and wrapped a long length of cloth about his head to make a turban. He then grabbed one of the clubs they had taken from the half-giants they had defeated to finish off his disguise. It wasn't much, but he was hoping that most people don't look to hard at half-giants and would do the same with him.
He looked across at Valsavis. Well, at least Gbaji looked more convincing than he did. He helped the others stow Kornugard in the concealed compartment in the wagon. He seemed little different than from before, except that the bruising of his face was turning a very angry purple colour.
Gbaji just tried to look vacant as Ala'a talked to the templar, toying with the head of his axe and meeting no one's eye. He scanned the crowd to see if the elf wizard was up to any tricks but could't see him anywhere.
If things turned difficult, he was ready to unleash the Scary Face, but it seemed to be going OK so far.
"Yeah, what the elf girl says." Gbaji considered. "I don't look much like a trader. Maybe I can pretend to be a guard, maybe me and Valsavis?"
Gbaji just concentrated on getting out. He kept his eyes open for any sign of pursuit, but didn't bother to engage in chit-chat. He tried his best not to jog Kornugard about to much as he carried him slung over his shoulder. The mage just flopped there like a ragdoll, unmoving. When Gbaji put him down to climb up and check the next tunnel, he bent over to listed and confirm the preserver was still breathing. He was - just about.
"No, everyone is not OK," whispered Gbaji back harshly, "Help us with Konugard, he's been hurt." As Abbin talked about getting them out of the city, Gbaji's stomach tightened. He really wanted out of Urik - they must all be wanted byt the templars now. He hoped they could make it but he knew the whole venture now was life or death - his, and everyone else's in the group - and the pessimist in him didn't like the odds. The elf girls talk or turturers didn't help much, either. "So how are we going to get out of here?" As Ala'a mentioned the elven wizard, Gbaji thought back. He'd been pretty fast on his feet, like maybe he'd known something like this was going to happen. "What do you know about this elf anyway? Can he be trusted? How did the templars know where we were?"
Gbaji watched as Barega butchered the lion. "Nah, I'm fine thanks," he replied as the halfling went about his bloody work. He wasn't bothered - he'd grown up on an oasis farm, and anyway worse happened in the arena - but his post-combat come-down usually left him a little queasy. "I agree, though," he added, "This place isn't secret anymore. The hunters found us pretty easily so we can't just hole up here. Let's head out the other way - where's it go, slave quarters or something? - and see if we can get away from there. Maybe we can see about getting to Tyr in the morning. Shall I get Kornugard down from up there?"
Gbaji jumped down, following Valsavis as he ran down the escaping halfling.
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