New Kurn - Enemy's Slumber: 2nd of Dominary

[DM Bob]

The skies have been silent recently.

Six years have passed since Kalak's death. And four years since his rebirth.

The year is Enemy's Slumber. We all expected the Messenger to appear. Every 45 years it is said to grace the skies, visible even during the day... and bright enough to travel by during the night. As we watched the Heavens for signs of the comet's visit to bring the Dragon tidings of the future, we were only shown the light of Guthay's full eye. The comet was missing. Sages and watchers of the night muttered odd portents and protections as they one-by-one noticed the missing visitor. But many that had never experienced the celestial occurrence before; simply shrugged and went about their paces. Blissfully unaware.

***

The goliath psion Hurk and Niachi the dark elf had found themselves in New Kurn after a series of (mis)adventures trying to find refuge from the Shadow King's agents. The duo had wisely discarded Nibenay's son's possessions after determining that was how they'd been tracked so easily; then traveled to where their contact in the Order told them to lay low for a while... the crumbling City State of Kurn. Built on the ruins of an elven city (imagine that, elves that didn't wander!), it appealed to the Shadow Warlock Niachi to search this place for magics that might augment his own growing powers. Instead, it led them to discovering allies and the secret of the dichotomy of Kurn. The next couple years flew by quickly as they trained under the Black Lances, Oronis of Kurn's elite psychic warriors.

Coden Rokos had previously returned to Balic to run house. He had been begrudgingly reaccepted into the familial fold and had helped add to the growing fortune of his Uncle's wealth. He still felt like he was constantly fighting for what scant acceptance his family would dole out. One night, after meeting with his friends in town to discuss business affairs concerning his flint stake, he found himself ambushed, shanghai-ed and forcefully removed from Balic.

The Draji's of House Tsalaxa had gotten their revenge. Taking the young noble north to Draj, they planned on ransoming him off for a large portion of his estate. A leaden helmet had been grafted to the psion's dome preventing his use of psychic powers. What they'd forgotten was how resourceful the young Rokos was... he'd killed the vile defiler that guarded him with the very helm that was bound to his head. The gear he'd been wearing was found nearby and Coden escaped into the night. He eventually landed at Azeth's Rest, before finding a member of Kurn's trading house that could remove the psychic dampening helm from his dome. The traders took him in and took him back to Kurn, where, low-and-behold he managed to reconnect with Hurk and Niachi. The tales his friends told him seemed too good to be true. A model utopia? A possibly redeemed Sorcerer Monarch? After having mental messages sent to his family, he was informed that the house was fine running it's own accounts for now and to take his time returning. Malikon Rokos always viewed weakness as a liability. The message was clear.

The duo introduced Coden to a few allies they'd met in New Kurn: a bird-woman templar named Ande, a kreen druid by the name of Chat'cho, and a wild halfling lady mentalist, Eslyk. They were often called upon for errands that the Lances weren't as suited to solving... and seemed like they were proving themselves daily in order to gain the very City's trust. In that way, Kurn was very much like the elves of the desert.

***

A meeting with the Tribunal was scheduled for later that day, after noon, but before dusk. Our heroes had gathered for a bite to eat near the 'Kocra perches in the garden square to discuss what the ruling body of New Kurn had in store for those of their skills. The food here was less bitter than that of Balic, with eggs and fruit being the dominant components. The lack of silt made everything less gritty as well. Amazingly, the heat was offset by a slight southern breeze, that teased coolness and a promise of a peaceful evening.

Would it be though?

[Deleted]

Chat'cho is clearly uncomfortable in the heavily vegetated, humid environment. She'd cast Cure Disease yesterday to remove her sixth case of Chitin Rot, and wonders how long it will be before she has to cast it again. Likely not long, with how green and wet everything was around here now. Worse was how happy the dra were about it. They strutted hither and thither, cavorting across what had once been pristine desert. Sometimes it made her sick. The trees left no room to hunt, and Thri-Kreen instincts were no good against birds and voles that could just perch or climb trees until the hunt was over.

Still, it wasn't all bad--the Aarakocra were numerous here, and Chat'cho found them beautiful. They were lovely to watch in flight, and the mantis warrior often wished she could run her fingers through their resplendent plumage. Well aware that she is the proverbial braxat in the room, she sways back and forth on her feet as she scrutinizes those around her.

[Niachi]

"-And then the concubine pops open a hidden door and says "You can come out now, uncle!" Niachi has told Hurk and Coden the same joke a dozen times, but they still
laugh politely. Jokes are important bonding rituals, he muses, learn some new ones. As he finds a shady bench, he sees their fellow team, including the kreen healer. He turns to face Chat'cho, puts down his food and his empty hands (slowly) move to his forehead, his index fingers mimicking the Happy / Favorable antennae wiggle. He's worked alongside stranger companions in his days, and the long gythka scar down his back from years ago healed slow and painful. But whatever Kurn wants of him, it will be alongside unusual allies. He returns to his meal with a closed mouth grin, remembering that some Kreen peoples respond poorly to displays of teeth.

[Attilius]

The large half giant quietly crunches down on his massive Erdlu drum sticks and thigh meats. The loud sounds of his lips smacking, clear indications he loves his seasoned meats

"Mmmmmm..." [smack] "so tasty, this..." [more lip smacking] "They got just the right amount of seasonin' this time!" [crunch] "MMmmmmm so good!... What 'cho think the Tribunal gonna say?" He says in his low deep baritone voice to no one in particular as he wipes off the Erdlu juices dribbling down his chin.

[Deleted]

Chat'cho's pheromone balance unconsciously changes as she views the attempt to mimic the antennae positions she knows by heart. She could be offended by the terribly crude imitation of her language...or she could be pleased that the dra bothers to make the attempt at all. An optimistic soul, Chat'cho decides on the latter option. She looms over most others present, her insectile mass giving her a physical presence matched by few. Her mandibles chew the air silently as she scrutinizes the others present. Somewhat reluctantly, she lapses into the awkward tongue the shelless call 'Common.'

"I wish qhor a mmission to a *lace warmm, sandy, and ri`e with *rey."

Naturally, her biology makes certain letters unpronouncable for her, and so her speech is nearly impossible to decipher by those not accustomed to dealing with Kreen. Despite her alien features, Chat'cho is unique among Kreen in that she seems much more than a great heap of gnashing teeth and claws. For one thing, her lack of antennae means that she lacks the infamous taste for elf flesh that has demonized many Kreen before, and her choice to tend to the flowers of her guarded lands last results in her constantly being followed by a thick scent that makes her pleasant to be around. She has little understanding of personal space, and people tend to get swallowed up in her shadow, but Chat'cho's lovely smell, agreeable personality, and adoration of Aarakocra has taken her far in New Kurn.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

-The little olive tanned and green eyed Halfling showed up - "Nice to meet you all" - as she gets nearby Chat'cho.
Wild is her ways but comfortable in this weather, looking the size of the Half-giant from his feet to his head - "Whoaa.."

[AthasianLaborer]

A female Aarakocra, styled as an Andean Condor appears between Chat'cho and Eslyk with a sudden pop akin to a loudly clicking tongue.

She appears as a large, indigo vulture with a ruff of silver feathers surrounding the base of her neck. Ande's head and neck are nearly featherless and the blue-tinged silver common in Silveraak coloration (though her blue highlights are noticeably darker than typical) which may flush and therefore change colors given her emotional state (varies from a contented off-silver to an angry purple). Ande's eyes are the same deep crimson common to female Aarakocra, they contrast sharply with the blues across the rest of her. She has consistently brilliant indigo feathers throughout her plumage, which may ruffle when she's upset but remain ever indigo. She wears a headdress of woven golden threads and rose quartz pendants that both gild and help provide structure for her gauzy wimple/veil combo. She proudly wears her insignia of service to the Templarate of Kurn as a choker, plainly visible to all as the centerpiece of her ruff. She's female and doesn't have the additional silver wing plumage found in the males, nevertheless, on inspection, she has golden flecks all over her digits, lower body and wing tips (imagine the places that would contact her nest). She wears carved rose quartz rings on her manipulative digits and a braided leather tether clasped to her right ankle and tied to itself as a loop. She wears a leather flight harness in which her Longbow and quiver are held 'over the shoulder' style.

Welcoming the assembly and replying as if she'd been present for the question "They will tell us what course of action they believe must unfold, leaving the accomplishment of said actions for us" she speaks with a remarkably well articulated Common, having none of the troubles usually dealt with by the birdpeople. "The stars tell me that the vanguard has gone forth and the Caravan gathers to descend, will their actions bring Pyrus to ascend spinning Creation? Or perhaps Destruction? Only Hortle can tell us so wait to know we must!".

She hops about excitedly then vaults into a lazy backflip and landing back where she started "I have been promised a new place! Nothing like the smelly stains of those <scoffs then effects arrogant tone> Dragon Kings! <returns to regular voice> I know it's inevitable that I may need to return to those southern eyesores, but I really rather much prefer the roosts of Kurn and my range in the White Mountains. Oh, but this new assignment will bring me new views--things I have not otherwise laid eyes on and that is truly joyous news! I am confident in this assembly, we'll not fail Kurn!"

"Yes, yes!" is the sound of her repetitive calls as she looks about as if expecting the apes to parrot her affirmation.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- The female Halfling looks to the female Aaracokra through her tiny green eyes - "Variety, a hunt might be on sight, lots of skills and exotic origins. Smells as a big gathering.." - she gets closer to her.

Eslyk's appearance is wilder to the typical standard of her race -"This is an interesting den, hopefully we'll be informed soon" - moving her wavy chestnut hair - "I'm Eslyk, and you are?" - raising her tiny left hand up towards her, without any aggressive mood, relaxed. Although tiny, like a child's, the intertwined hand lines show the hard marks an adult should have

[AthasianLaborer]

Jul 24, 2023 7:38:27 GMT -12 Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP] said:

 - "I'm Eslyk, and you are?" - raising her tiny left hand up towards her, without any aggressive mood, relaxed. Although tiny, like a child's, the intertwined hand lines show the hard marks an adult should have

"I am named several things by several people who view me in their several ways" she replies cryptically.  "Have you heard of <her accent shifts to Glugese> 'Oronismynah' or <her accent shifts to a perfect Hill District Elven> 'oooh, it's the Indigo Hen of Paradise'.  It becomes clear that she is repeating the speech of others through mimicry.  "If you have, know they spoke of me, but you may call me Ande friend" she speaks as she extends he left wing digits to reciprocate the gesture she knows as being common among the apes.

"I trust we will bring our strengths together to forge a future brighter than those fools in the south can imagine!" she says as she does her best to clasp hands traditionally with Eslyk.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- "Ande.. Nice meeting you" - Eslyk smile to her, as she scratches her shoulder like if something is annoying her, just for a short moment then turns to HurK - "You are big! Ummm.."- her eyes move from HurK to the half eaten erdlu the Half-giant is chewing, and viceversa - "Meat..."

The female Halfling looks the others, but her eyes return to where HurK is after looking at Chat'cho

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Seated to HurK's right, some distance away so as to avoid the elbows of the massive hungry mountain, is a man in a clean toga with an olive complexion, a slightly aquiline nose, and short, curly dark hair. The notes of Balician heritage would normally come with a long, curly beard as well, but for whatever reason he is mostly shorn, with only dark stubble. He eats cautiously and frugally. For the most part he listens to the table chatter, chuckling at Niachi's joke, then sipping at a dark purplish wine.

[DM Bob]

A strange batch of acquaintances they were. The local wine was superb and it was a damned shame that New Kurn was so secretive. A cheaper styled wine (and well-watered) was all they exported and in small enough quantities to draw no great attention. To an outsider, perhaps the only odd thing that they might eventually point a finger at, would be the variety of goods that found their way out of the dual City-State. Especially for it's supposed small size. They were good at hiding their numbers, that's for sure.

The architecture here was interesting as well. Ancient edifices were in every bit of use as newer construction in the New City. Oronis had built on ruins of white stone and the rock quarried out of the nearby mountains was the same color. The only difference was the patina of age. Older rock had yellowed and pitted some. The newer brick still bright and sharp. The older constructions had a thinner, stronger concrete as well, while the newer was thick and in comparison, clumsy.

Aeries were common, the bird folk having left a mark on the city's style. Some of these taller towers seemed almost grown from the earth, similar to mushrooms in shape. Locals knew that these had incredibly well thought out air flow, which cooled the interiors better than most modern abodes.

The other striking detail of New Kurn was the quiet. The secretive nature of the very city seemed to have been passed in turn to it's inhabitants, perhaps they feared speaking too loud would betray their existence to the rest of the Tablelands. And who would blame them?

[Deleted]

Like a moth to a flame, Chat'cho's attention is drawn to the Templar. As if spellbound, the Thri-Kreen wanders closer to the resplendent bird, chittering softly and waving her vestigial antennae. Her four arms sway gently, as if she's resisting the urge to reach out and touch the beautiful feathers.

"*retty..."

[Attilius]

[Bob, has the group learned that New Kurn templars aren't evil? Because HurK's view on ALL Templars are they're only good, if they're deader than dead.]

[AthasianLaborer]

Jul 24, 2023 15:00:42 GMT -12 Attilius said:

[Bob, has the group learned that New Kurn templars aren't evil? Because HurK's view on ALL Templars are they're only good, if they're deader than dead.]

Just to be clear, Ande doesn't differentiate between New and Old.  She only ever refers to Oronis or Kurn.  If she knows they're aware of Oronis, she'd use his name directly; otherwise she simply references the 'Templarate of Kurn' and allows assumptions to be made. Most aren't so bold as to attack, for those who are: Danger Sense and Teleport.