Book II: Back to the South Province

[DM Bob]

Kem inspects the new (to the party) metal weapons. Their style is different enough that she gains some insight into their creation… she assumes that greater amounts of fuel and water were used in their construction than are currently performed in the City States. It made her ponder places that might aid such work. Didn’t someone say something about foul water under South Ledopolus? Perhaps if the water was fouled it might still have a use...

Laahk contacts all of his allies mentally. Andras is very intrigued, but of little true help. <”This is too much to take in and comprehend. Orrery? Like for reading the stars? Bounty hunters? None frequent my shop that I know of. You have my word that this halfling and elf will receive any help they need that I can offer while they’re in town though. I’m sure some of the things you’ve brought up would be helpful to those behind the shawl. Oh! A customer. Be sure to visit soon!”>

Maris answers his mental call, her voice drips of mud wasp honey, sickly sweet with a hint of a trap. <”Oh dear Laahks, we’ve been so busy with the legion having returned from a-field this week. Rumor has it that the foreigners in Tyr have the other ruler’s blessing. I hardly believe that with the iron mines at stake! Cilops you say? I’ve fought them in the shows, but the templars always cared for them personally. Raum!”> Mental pause. <”My partner says that he’s never attempted it. Has a few ideas, but the profit is in kank and the honey for the city hearth.. Easier to tame, you see?”>

Falmon listens more than speaks. <”Spies? Do you have names? Dote Mal Payne of Tyr? Now that *is* something. Tell me your role in defeating the Iron Tyrant’s right hand and we’ll talk about other roles you may fill for Wavir.”>

Hurk contacts Shardivan. <”So you were pulled back from the Grey? By who… or what? Tyr is ever the question. The three armies that hovered outside her gates have been dismissed. The Warriors of the Dragon hold the Iron City in their bloody claws. But the mines have been producing again. The Order is split on how or if they should react. There have been talks of a strike to further destabilise the powers that be, now that it has been shown a Sorcerer Tyrant can fall. MY concern is that the collateral damage would be too great if it were attempted.”>

Mak magically mends the urns. This is successful upon the two dread, obsidian containers. A lot heavier to carry right now…

The Ral-moon Lily speaks as the halfling intones a charm to speak to plants. “My friend watered my roots and kept the mites away. Sang songs to my face before he slept. Good man, my friend. Brought me from shoot to bloom, kept me well.”

He is able to locate a 30 page blank book in Altaruk through Andras for the sum of 8 silver coins. An 80 page tome is also available for 23 silvers. These are the only two blank books he has on hand, otherwise he has a plethora of loose paper, parchment, clay tablets, and abacus to choose from (as well as inks, quills, styluses, and the like). These can be found at book cost.

A week is needed as he locates a proper refugee to apprentice. Rika, a female mul, is found near the decimated remains of his small orchard. It was completely destroyed during the Balician Legion’s occupation over the last month.

DM note: A memoir of Dote Mal's will be writ tomorrow.

[Attilius]

Dec 2, 2021 15:02:03 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Hurk contacts Shardivan. <”So you were pulled back from the Grey? By who… or what? Tyr is ever the question. The three armies that hovered outside her gates have been dismissed. The Warriors of the Dragon hold the Iron City in their bloody claws. But the mines have been producing again. The Order is split on how or if they should react. There have been talks of a strike to further destabilize the powers that be, now that it has been shown a Sorcerer Tyrant can fall. MY concern is that the collateral damage would be too great if it were attempted.”> 

<”Aman, The Maker, brother of Myron brought me back to the living, Elder… Speaking of strikes...”>

HurK goes on to tell the Elder of everything they've learned since his last contact with the dwarf, including:

• the history lesson from Aman

• Bodach details from the team members left behind
• the skeletal monk worshippers of Mak Thuum Ngatha the Nine-tongued Worm
• Ninguable of the Seven Eyes wanting Kalaks body
• the white tower with gigantic orrery and
• the "Game & game pieces" Aman spoke about

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

Dec 2, 2021 15:02:03 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Kem inspects the new (to the party) metal weapons. Their style is different enough that she gains some insight into their creation… she assumes that greater amounts of fuel and water were used in their construction than are currently performed in the City States. It made her ponder places that might aid such work. Didn’t someone say something about foul water under South Ledopolus? Perhaps if the water was fouled it might still have a use...

- Kem looks to the weaponcraft and then to the party in general - Now this is interesting.. Does anyone have contacts in South Ledopolus? I remember someone saying something about foul waters in there.. I have an insight, nothing to be worried about, and it might be that the answer is there -
She looks for some clay to try to make the negative forms of both sides of the weapons, which she'll be covering them with some cloth. Her thoughts are in the rudimentary process of making a non-so-deep whole in the ground, leave the covered clay shapes within, cover with ground again and make a fire, so these would dry faster in this way

[Attilius]

"Foul water?" HurK questions "No. Mimyr Vtan, an ancient female water drakes home? Most definitely!"

The half giant looks at her 2 zerkas then laughs deeply. "And to think I was going to try and harpoon her... Thank the Way for Berg's knowledge!"

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

(Anything Coden can add about the metal weapons while the team is in his family villa? He's proficient in blacksmithing & weaponsmithing.)

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Kem looks puzzled to HurK - A water drake? I never fought anything like that, neither hear about it!

[remie]

@#$ "Ke'? Kri-kcht has contacts in South Ledo'olos! &*#"

[Attilius]

Dec 2, 2021 23:31:08 GMT -12 Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP] said:

- Kem looks puzzled to HurK - A water drake? I never fought anything like that, neither hear about it!

"Aye, I'd wager not more than two handfuls of people alive even know of her existence and what she guards."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- So it'll be impossible to get any knowledge from it, unless it's a creature like a sorcerer King... I didn't know existed one there.. - Tells to HurK, still amazed by the discovery

[Attilius]

The giantess pulls out a bit of jerky

"No, not impossible at all. I gather it'd be pretty easy to speak with her. Your odds of not becoming her snack AFTER your conversation though, drops immensely." She grins as she makes loud chewing sounds for added effect

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- So, what does she like or fancy? In terms of a present that she might agree with to share that knowledge - asks as she sees the half-giantess eating

[Attilius]

Dec 3, 2021 6:03:35 GMT -12 Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP] said:

- So, what does she like or fancy? In terms of a present that she might agree with to share that knowledge - asks as she sees the half-giantess eating

"The death of all intelligent life? I think she was around in the green age and is still angry at what all the sorcerer kings did to the planet. Can't blame her... Imagine the sea of silt filled with water as your home only to be now trapped in a small underground cavern lake prison. I can't imagine she's sane anymore after something like that. I sure wouldn't be." she shrugs sadly

[Niachi]

Laakh adds to the talk of the elder water drake:

"Perhaps if her insatiable hunger was dampened by a herd of erdlu, she may be amenable to discussion. I thought there was talk of those underground waters linked to her native plane..."

He gives Kleys and Mak the full rundown of all he knows of Andras and Altaruk's vendors and characters. AND that is it going to be full of Nibenese spies and bounty hunters looking for Laakh and his team, probably Tslaxa agents too.

To Maris:

"Can you use those honeyed words on any glad' contacts you know? If there's a market for cilops in the arena, I know a way to control them."

To Falmon: He gives the names or descriptions of the known Nibenese and Tslaxa agents. He gives a thorough mission briefing:

"My use in the Way saved me from getting lighting bolted from our flying transport to battle. I landed in their midst and with help from everyone, I Insinuated the abomination's mind enough for the warriors to end its life. We pillaged it, though a templar escaped to spread word. Our team is cohesive and I would die for their bravery, savagery, and finesse in dealing with a bard's dream of fascinating entities along the way.

My services are yours, Master Falmon, knowing how many are paying for my head in a bag... or preferably alive for gruesome Psychic Surgical interrogation...I would also be interested in sources of Dream Spider silk... and could use training in Telepathy."

[Attilius]

Dec 3, 2021 13:41:42 GMT -12 Niachi said:

Laakh adds to the talk of the elder water drake:

"Perhaps if her insatiable hunger was dampened by a herd of erdlu, she may be amenable to discussion. I thought there was talk of those underground waters linked to her native plane..."

"Aye, I thought of that too but first you'd need to secure that herd, which ISN'T a cheap prospect. Second we'd need Khuv to create a wormhole down off of the ledge and into the water for them to stampede into. Not sure about the communication part, but Berg said they only summoned her during a time of 'great need'. THAT being said, she DOES have a treasure. Maybe feeding her will gain us favor with yet another ancient of Athas." She shrugs.

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Shanav listens back and forth, absorbing the conversation like a plant absorbing water.

"So, uh, do we need to talk to this water drake, then? Or is this just a casual idea that's turned into a lengthy discussion?"