HurK's notes (because Markus's old ass can't remember 💩)
Aug 14, 2023 4:20:11 GMT -12
AthasianLaborer, Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP], and 1 more like this
Post by Attilius on Aug 14, 2023 4:20:11 GMT -12
WHO:
twin staff weilder, took HurK from New Kurn - Lord Commander Bomris of Ebe: a seller of poor tobac and a trainer of kanks. Weak of character, smells of greep and drools incessantly.
From Ebe, was rumored to be to the east somewhere over or beyond the silt. These people more recently arrived when Kalak passed, and took over the government of Tyr and it's iron mine during his absence. Urik decided not to attack even though they were prepared to siege. This showed either strength or limited intelligence on the foreign occupation. During their time, the Ebeans rooted out a greater number of witches from within the city-state, there is a good chance the Veil was nearly wiped out in that span of time.
Oronis: S.K. of New Kurn. A gentle breeze blew in from the east today and with it carried an impressive sight. A gigantic gossamer winged figure, bathed in gentle golden light floated in wide, low circles into the city and down into the yellowed stone piazza of the New Utopia. The strange peaceful figure changes before your eyes, to a handsome older man with sad eyes. He wears worn finery. Worn was a good word for him. He was much like looking at a spent worry stone, the stress and hurt of hundreds of years wearing heavily upon his angelic frame. It was a miracle he could fly, with the weight behind his visage. Oronis' musical voice, while but a whisper, seemed to carry deep into the fiber of your very being.
Syndic: Black Lances captain, an older, grizzled vet (and fun to work with).
Kinnan Azeth: Youngest member of the Tribunal, youngest human son of Corik Azeth, of House Azeth, head of Kurn's prime trading house. The young man was pretty & clean. His blond hair immaculately trimmed, he was definitely a younger version of his father (for those that knew the merchant family). His voice is soft and high pitched
Presider Ulali: 1/2 elf Leader of the Tribunal.
Rikto: Elven member of the Tribunal. Wears traditional tribal garb, that has a small ivory colored horn tied about his neck (used truth detecting rites of Air on HurK: Air cleric)
Akos: Telepath "brown clothed" elf. He keeps company with Rikto. Akos will mentally contact you (and vice versa). He is to be the medium for your communication with Kurn.
Liandrin is a highly respected efreetess widow & war leader from the mythical City of Brass, located within the very plane of flames & fire. She was bound once by an evil wizard and forced to reveal the secrets of draconic ascension. Upon revealing these dread methods, she was left buried to the sands of time, contained in an obsidian bottle. She was released just prior to Kalak's first death by a caravan of traders & ex-gladiators out of Nibenay, somewhere in the sands north of the Stone City on the way to Shalzim. She is angry and plots revenge on this evil wizard... the one known only as Graytch.
***Other facts are divined given the amount of time spent, mostly by Niachi. A properly summoned or captured efreeti can be forced to serve for a maximum of 1,001 days, or it can be made to fulfill three wishes. Efreet are not willing servants and seek to pervert the intent of their masters by adhering to the letter of their commands. The efreet are said to be made of basalt, bronze, and solid flames. They have no direct magical resistance to weapons, but are said to be nearly impossible to kill or capture if not summoned. They are purported to have powers to shapechange, fly, turn invisible at will, turn into a cloud of smoke and of course produce many flame-centered attacks. Most famously is their power to gift wishes, but those of the plane of fire & flame tend to pervert these desires at any chance.
There is a note that there are varying ranks of efreeti. You are almost certain that Liandrin is considered nobility, which are likely stronger and have abilities beyond the ken of her lower ranked peers. One of those abilities could very well been the conflagration that struck Hurk in Nirid-Tohr.
Graytch was an apprentice to the Sorcerer King Kalak before the construction of the Ziggurat ever began in Tyr. They are headstrong and craved power beyond that the Sorcerer King would ever provide a court defiler. Their interests in necromancy and the planes led them to the eventual capture of Liandrin the efreetess, that they tortured until she gave up the secrets to draconic immortality & power. They are considered weak by draconic standards and they raid the lands to the west of the obsidian plain, yet holds court with the undead kings & queens there often to gather more power and tricks to hopefully eclipse that of their former master, Kalak. Graytch is crueler than Dote Mal Payne ever was, if there needed to be a benchmark.
Kurt'ta'ali was a greedy elven assassin with contacts in Draj, Urik, Malka and numerous elven tribes. He was shaman of fire and a preserver... as well as a strong psionic wild talent. These traits made him difficult to kill, to say the very least. After encountering Liandrin and seducing the efreetess, he was able to ask for two wishes as long as he did her bidding on the prime. The deal was struck, and his first wish was a templar's hoard. A flatbox containing gold-fused quartz from the templaress Ande of Kurn's nest was magically delivered into his hands. There was some irony in this, as Fate tends to deal. As Ande and her friends were the ones that Liandrin wanted to weaken Graytch upon their arrival to the Messenger - a temptation of power that they could nary turn down.
KREEN:
the government in the simplest terms, as well as challenges as a whole: adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6722/thread
Members of the j’ez subspecies are lawful in nature and tend to fill roles as leaders and bureaucrats. They command legions, oversee work details, rule imperial holdings, and perform the administrative functions necessary to keep the empire running smoothly.
J’hol, in general, have an evil bend. They make up the majority of the empire’s military base, though they also make good builders and crafters.
Those of the jeral subspecies tend to serve as teachers, though a few also own ranches and farms.
T’keech are the laborers, performing tasks that the other subspecies consider beneath them but that are too complicated for any of the enslaved insectoid races to be trusted with.
Members of the to’ksa subspecies are the shock troops and gladiators of the empire. In general, they don’t hold a firm position in imperial society. The place they do have is considered to be the bottom rung on the societal ladder. They are wanderers in a settled society, barbarians among the civilized kreen. They are nomads and hunters who fill the wilderness between imperial holdings.
jalath’gak: giant bloated flying insects buzz lazily about. The most important detail is their size. At first glace they seemed smaller, perhaps a trick of the light, distance and your preconceived notions of insect mass. They are likely closer to 12-15' in length. Even as it darkens you can make out at least a dozen in the air... but luckily without and cohesion or swarming. Two seem to notice you and climb to match your speed. In fact, they seem to be gaining on you. Currently they are 41 feet or so distant and perhaps 20 feet lower in altitude. They have a bluish shine to their carapace and shiny, shimmery wings.
Kri-kir: smaller of the 2 kreen
J'lact of Nirik-Tohr: clutch-leader. A large kreen of shiny black chitin arrives and rapidly speaks to Kri-kir. This new mantis man's carapace is scrawled with intricate designs in eggshell white and burnt orange, reminiscent of Native American pictographs. He carries a dark shafted gythka and a strange, curved chatkcha. Not of the design you see in the Tablelands. He looks over the entire group... spending the most time looking over at Hurk. It's head cocks and antennae move - almost as if reading the air. He then addresses Chat'cho in Tohr-kreen.
Haazi (tohr word for emperor)
J'lact's team includes himself, four warriors (Klik'l, V'kyl, L'kriq & Rik-Rak), a scout (Kakyl) and a shaman of Earth (Lik-Vyr). They are all J'ez Tohr-Kreen.
THE MESSENGER:
The Oculus, p. 4
Efurth Rin'Dahlan adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6829/thread
His Ship: adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6804/thread
Inside the control room? adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6890/thread
www.facebook.com/messenger_media/?attachment_id=842604917263564&message_id=mid.%24gACIcKsvmv1iQfmoqYmKTSTfE95t6&thread_id=9601119343263576
His Assassin:
WHAT:
Presider Ulali cuts your dialogue short.
"…We will open a wormhole east of a small city of mixed kreen. From there, you are to avoid being subjugated and befriend any black chitin J'ez Tohr-kreen that you may encounter. From there, find a larger settlement and try to broker a deal that would guarantee us some strong allies. We also want to know anything that may betray any possible plans to invade the Tablelands or anything regarding the undead bugs we believe to be harrying their southern borders. As far as we can tell, the singular head of the Empire resides further North and might not even view the Deadlands as a threat."
"Once we transport you there, there's nothing keeping you from traveling back... as long as you stay focused to our original goal. Our hope is that a strong, small group of individuals will not be viewed as a militant threat. As far as mental communication? We'd prefer that this is kept between you... and us in New Kurn. Our telepath, who Hurk will be meeting tomorrow may be mentally contacted who will relay any messages to the Tribunal directly…"
"Kreen clutches are hard to quantify, as they tend to overlap. The city, if you can call it that, houses at least a thousand of mixed mantis folk. At the most? I think the odd buildings of resinous domes that I've scried could hold fifteen hundred to two thousand souls? But it's hard to get an accurate read, as their buildings are so *different* than ours.
A still picture of a settlement appears mid air, small amber domes, rather low to the earth is surrounded by tall grasses. Weird membranes stretch from some of the constructs, lending a Geiger-esque feel to the odd scene. A couple taller buildings have threads of the grown or excreted substance and connect like walkways. The illusion is quite detailed, more of a mental snap.
"Again, we plan on dropping you a few miles east of this settlement as to curve any initial surprise."
"Tohr-Kreen simply means "settled people". The kreen like our friend here (she waves an open palm towards Chat-cho), hail from the blood of nomads and are cousins to the Tohr-Kreen as best as I understand it. The Tohr-Kreen of the West have more than one coloration, build & differences that range from body structure to general character. These J'ez are the most neutral and inquisitive of those that I know... and have been the most diplomatic historically. The Great Meeting in Bodach betwixt the Lawmakers and the J'ez has been well documented in our Library. Those long forgotten accords belayed an incursion to the east long ago, beyond recent memory."
"Material resource acquisition is not a priority. We do not wish to conquer the Tohr-Kreen or occupy their territory. Unless something like iron or copper were divined would we consider sending others to source it. The Kreen do not mine as far as I know and the cost of doing such business would be insane without having further alliances and friendships made."
"We are always interested in their general numbers in the towns, cities, encampments as well as the traffic along the heavier paths, or I dare say roads in the most general sense of the term. This can prepare us if the Empire is ever totally motivated to head east. One of our worries is if the mantis folk are over-stretching their prey or water in any grand way... it may cause them to regard us as the solution."
"And cultural knowledge is highly valuable. While I've, we've, been able to scry here-and-there, much of it is alien to us."
***
Oronis understands that power respects power. So we have something to offer as a gift."
The Presider claps twice. Two free servants leave; then return carrying a small tree in a large handled clay pot. A single, small golden pear hangs heavily from one of the few branches.
"The Kreen have one weakness. That is their own short lives. This is the remedy... perhaps not for all, but for those who crave power within their clutches. Oronis has the ability, as do some druids, to begat more of these saplings. We can do so... for the simple price of friendship."
She breathes in and out deeply as her eyes widen in fervor.
"For this tree can extend one's life beyond the norm. Behold, a tree of youth."
***
She summons a scribe who begins to take notes before conversation goes any further.
"We knew of undead bugs that were plaguing the borders of the Kreen Empire. It seems you know much more than I do... I am uncertain how much Oronis knows. Have I, we, been kept in the dark? Are you sure that these undead are organized? Expansionistic goals?"
She breathes out deeply.
"I was told that the Empire would not want to fight a war on two fronts. Originally I thought that just meant a mindless curse... not that Oronis corrected my assumptions. Do you have any proof of this?"
------------
Rikto: "I want you to ask any befriended tohr-kreen of any strange activity on their southern border."
------------
Presider Ulali: "look for evidence of it's visit to the mortal realm. We fear agents of the other City States may be also interested in scouting this event - and there's a decent chance it ranged as far as the kreen's grasslands. Any information you may gather would be of extreme import to us... especially if it could be used to further our goals of restoration."
WHERE:
New Kurn: The population of New Kurn is still small in comparison to most City-States... even Hurk & Niachi are regarded as new-comers. Attention is given; delayed trust is eventually built. One of the reasons they'd done work with the Black Lances and the Tribunal is that they not only had a stellar reference in Shardivan, but have shared meals, music and spilt the blood of those who would threaten these freedoms. The others can have been friends for any period of time you've been around, this doesn't need to be the first time you've met.
Western great plains: "The terrain to the west is dry, endless grasslands as far as the eye can see. Insects abound... especially where there is water present. The kreen as we know it don't grow many crops... unless it were to attract prey or done in secret (perhaps where I have not scried)."
The air here is thicker, more humid than you're accustomed to, not to mention that you're hundreds of feet lower than Tablelands. It is a tad harder to fly here, and there is a slight breeze. The higher you go, the stronger the winds.
There was a bit of darker colored land due north, but probably 50 or more miles distant. Ande has not had a good look that far due to the light.
The tall grasses are sharp to touch. Anyone here have AC 7 or worse (not using dex modifiers) will take some damage any round walking through without protection. The grasses are also taller than a halfling or a medium sized human. This makes seeing an issue for some. Anyone riding the crodlu are immune to both issues.
The wind blows faster, harder here. There are also some streaky clouds. The air quickly begins to warm. A light humidity of morning dew disappearing is further highlighted by the insane noise of varied insect life. A few large, bloated bugs, Jalath’gak if you fathomed correctly, head north... seemingly ignoring the rest of you.
The ground here is also softer. Noticeably.
Nirik: Home of the "Nirik-Tohr" You begin to realize how structured and organized everything is. Weirdly shaped, but pleasantly laid out. A few hundred amber colored domes are seen, the grasses that surround a tad more flattened than what your friends currently plod through. Wingless jalath’gak pull sledges stacked with globules, wax balls, cut grasses and (or) clay urns. There are kreen of many different shapes and sizes here, bustling about the immediate outskirts of the resinous abodes. The ones steering the jalath'gak look the most like those from the Tablelands. The others are closer to the city proper.
There are other insects about as well. Black & brown Kanks are seen, as well as large holes in the earth that they are seen entering & exiting. Pale yellow waspy wezer fly from underground hives that are only visible by the papery wasp-like nest openings in the earth. And then there's the smaller ones. The noise is both grating and hypnotic.
Observing the city, you notice shelled slugs shimmying up and down the slopes of the domed buildings. These are z'oct'n. You wonder how the Tohr get them to form constructs... as it seems that the amber-colored slime is forming the outer shell. Z'oct'n are used in the Tablelands as well. They often coat obsidian weapons with the snails to prevent them shattering upon any impact.
As you weave about the amber domes, numerous kreen poke their heads out of doorway and stop their general business to get a look at this new sight.
While not as large as a city state, this does dwarf the small Bandit States to Kurn's west. The areas between buildings easily accommodate the traffic of lamed jalath’gak going in both directions, perhaps thirty or so feet of compacted dirt road that meanders through the town. Occasional stretches of thinner solid webbing connect some of the taller buildings, but not many. You see the occasional tohr-kreen walking on these like bridges. Here and there, small trees are seen with flowers and the occasional fruit, as well as a plethora of herbs lining the street. Flies hover about these in anticipation of a fresh meal. Kanks are herded as well. The bustle of commerce; not-commerce commences. There seems to be a structure to it, perhaps a caste or pecking order.
Eventually you pass a large step well, where all manners of large insects and insect people are bringing the precious liquid to the surface.
To the east of this well, smoke is seen coming from two of the domed buildings. Past these, sharpened stakes hold the bodies of animals common to these parts, partially cut and bled. Tohr-kreen butcher them before your eyes and hand pieces to the young and old tohr... those not quite ready for the hunt and those that are close to the last kills.
It smells of peat and smoke.
while riding towards Nirik (10 miles out)
- Hurk smelled Tobac smoke
- found a Mobat depression in the grass with odd tracks:
HOW:
The Presider does add, "...if you were to find yourself in dire straits, we can attempt an extraction for your party, depending on the amount of time we have to react. We would need to have an exact idea of your location though. As well as the approximate numbers and make up of those that oppose you. So keep in touch. With that in mind, tomorrow, as we send you off, Akos will mentally contact you (and vice versa). He is to be the medium for your communication with Kurn."
Pause.
"I do emphasize that it takes time for us to react. It is better to get captured and buy time, than it is for you to expect our immediate reprisal."
WHEN: 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.
WHY:
To the north and west, far into the distance, it seems that the earth changes darker. Before that, a giant rut of earth is seen heading north to north-east. At the end, half a giant almond shaped thing is seen sticking out of the dirt. It looks like a gigantic wooden nut from here, and looking directly at it causes your head to ache lightly. You estimate that the almond-shaped Messenger is around 275 feet long and 225 feet at the widest... and about 65 feet tall if you aren't mistaken by the amount under the earth. When making your rounds here, you do feel observed. There are a few kreen keeping watch and distance from the downed anomaly. It is likely them. Radial navigation: around 750+ miles away from New Kurn & almost due west.
Thor-kreen mounds are still at least 10 miles off.
twin staff weilder, took HurK from New Kurn - Lord Commander Bomris of Ebe: a seller of poor tobac and a trainer of kanks. Weak of character, smells of greep and drools incessantly.
From Ebe, was rumored to be to the east somewhere over or beyond the silt. These people more recently arrived when Kalak passed, and took over the government of Tyr and it's iron mine during his absence. Urik decided not to attack even though they were prepared to siege. This showed either strength or limited intelligence on the foreign occupation. During their time, the Ebeans rooted out a greater number of witches from within the city-state, there is a good chance the Veil was nearly wiped out in that span of time.
Oronis: S.K. of New Kurn. A gentle breeze blew in from the east today and with it carried an impressive sight. A gigantic gossamer winged figure, bathed in gentle golden light floated in wide, low circles into the city and down into the yellowed stone piazza of the New Utopia. The strange peaceful figure changes before your eyes, to a handsome older man with sad eyes. He wears worn finery. Worn was a good word for him. He was much like looking at a spent worry stone, the stress and hurt of hundreds of years wearing heavily upon his angelic frame. It was a miracle he could fly, with the weight behind his visage. Oronis' musical voice, while but a whisper, seemed to carry deep into the fiber of your very being.
Syndic: Black Lances captain, an older, grizzled vet (and fun to work with).
Kinnan Azeth: Youngest member of the Tribunal, youngest human son of Corik Azeth, of House Azeth, head of Kurn's prime trading house. The young man was pretty & clean. His blond hair immaculately trimmed, he was definitely a younger version of his father (for those that knew the merchant family). His voice is soft and high pitched
Presider Ulali: 1/2 elf Leader of the Tribunal.
Rikto: Elven member of the Tribunal. Wears traditional tribal garb, that has a small ivory colored horn tied about his neck (used truth detecting rites of Air on HurK: Air cleric)
Akos: Telepath "brown clothed" elf. He keeps company with Rikto. Akos will mentally contact you (and vice versa). He is to be the medium for your communication with Kurn.
Liandrin is a highly respected efreetess widow & war leader from the mythical City of Brass, located within the very plane of flames & fire. She was bound once by an evil wizard and forced to reveal the secrets of draconic ascension. Upon revealing these dread methods, she was left buried to the sands of time, contained in an obsidian bottle. She was released just prior to Kalak's first death by a caravan of traders & ex-gladiators out of Nibenay, somewhere in the sands north of the Stone City on the way to Shalzim. She is angry and plots revenge on this evil wizard... the one known only as Graytch.
***Other facts are divined given the amount of time spent, mostly by Niachi. A properly summoned or captured efreeti can be forced to serve for a maximum of 1,001 days, or it can be made to fulfill three wishes. Efreet are not willing servants and seek to pervert the intent of their masters by adhering to the letter of their commands. The efreet are said to be made of basalt, bronze, and solid flames. They have no direct magical resistance to weapons, but are said to be nearly impossible to kill or capture if not summoned. They are purported to have powers to shapechange, fly, turn invisible at will, turn into a cloud of smoke and of course produce many flame-centered attacks. Most famously is their power to gift wishes, but those of the plane of fire & flame tend to pervert these desires at any chance.
There is a note that there are varying ranks of efreeti. You are almost certain that Liandrin is considered nobility, which are likely stronger and have abilities beyond the ken of her lower ranked peers. One of those abilities could very well been the conflagration that struck Hurk in Nirid-Tohr.
Graytch was an apprentice to the Sorcerer King Kalak before the construction of the Ziggurat ever began in Tyr. They are headstrong and craved power beyond that the Sorcerer King would ever provide a court defiler. Their interests in necromancy and the planes led them to the eventual capture of Liandrin the efreetess, that they tortured until she gave up the secrets to draconic immortality & power. They are considered weak by draconic standards and they raid the lands to the west of the obsidian plain, yet holds court with the undead kings & queens there often to gather more power and tricks to hopefully eclipse that of their former master, Kalak. Graytch is crueler than Dote Mal Payne ever was, if there needed to be a benchmark.
Kurt'ta'ali was a greedy elven assassin with contacts in Draj, Urik, Malka and numerous elven tribes. He was shaman of fire and a preserver... as well as a strong psionic wild talent. These traits made him difficult to kill, to say the very least. After encountering Liandrin and seducing the efreetess, he was able to ask for two wishes as long as he did her bidding on the prime. The deal was struck, and his first wish was a templar's hoard. A flatbox containing gold-fused quartz from the templaress Ande of Kurn's nest was magically delivered into his hands. There was some irony in this, as Fate tends to deal. As Ande and her friends were the ones that Liandrin wanted to weaken Graytch upon their arrival to the Messenger - a temptation of power that they could nary turn down.
KREEN:
the government in the simplest terms, as well as challenges as a whole: adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6722/thread
Members of the j’ez subspecies are lawful in nature and tend to fill roles as leaders and bureaucrats. They command legions, oversee work details, rule imperial holdings, and perform the administrative functions necessary to keep the empire running smoothly.
J’hol, in general, have an evil bend. They make up the majority of the empire’s military base, though they also make good builders and crafters.
Those of the jeral subspecies tend to serve as teachers, though a few also own ranches and farms.
T’keech are the laborers, performing tasks that the other subspecies consider beneath them but that are too complicated for any of the enslaved insectoid races to be trusted with.
Members of the to’ksa subspecies are the shock troops and gladiators of the empire. In general, they don’t hold a firm position in imperial society. The place they do have is considered to be the bottom rung on the societal ladder. They are wanderers in a settled society, barbarians among the civilized kreen. They are nomads and hunters who fill the wilderness between imperial holdings.
jalath’gak: giant bloated flying insects buzz lazily about. The most important detail is their size. At first glace they seemed smaller, perhaps a trick of the light, distance and your preconceived notions of insect mass. They are likely closer to 12-15' in length. Even as it darkens you can make out at least a dozen in the air... but luckily without and cohesion or swarming. Two seem to notice you and climb to match your speed. In fact, they seem to be gaining on you. Currently they are 41 feet or so distant and perhaps 20 feet lower in altitude. They have a bluish shine to their carapace and shiny, shimmery wings.
Kri-kir: smaller of the 2 kreen
J'lact of Nirik-Tohr: clutch-leader. A large kreen of shiny black chitin arrives and rapidly speaks to Kri-kir. This new mantis man's carapace is scrawled with intricate designs in eggshell white and burnt orange, reminiscent of Native American pictographs. He carries a dark shafted gythka and a strange, curved chatkcha. Not of the design you see in the Tablelands. He looks over the entire group... spending the most time looking over at Hurk. It's head cocks and antennae move - almost as if reading the air. He then addresses Chat'cho in Tohr-kreen.
Haazi (tohr word for emperor)
J'lact's team includes himself, four warriors (Klik'l, V'kyl, L'kriq & Rik-Rak), a scout (Kakyl) and a shaman of Earth (Lik-Vyr). They are all J'ez Tohr-Kreen.
THE MESSENGER:
The Oculus, p. 4
Efurth Rin'Dahlan adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6829/thread
His Ship: adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6804/thread
Inside the control room? adanddbobdru.proboards.com/post/6890/thread
His Assassin:
WHAT:
"…We will open a wormhole east of a small city of mixed kreen. From there, you are to avoid being subjugated and befriend any black chitin J'ez Tohr-kreen that you may encounter. From there, find a larger settlement and try to broker a deal that would guarantee us some strong allies. We also want to know anything that may betray any possible plans to invade the Tablelands or anything regarding the undead bugs we believe to be harrying their southern borders. As far as we can tell, the singular head of the Empire resides further North and might not even view the Deadlands as a threat."
"Once we transport you there, there's nothing keeping you from traveling back... as long as you stay focused to our original goal. Our hope is that a strong, small group of individuals will not be viewed as a militant threat. As far as mental communication? We'd prefer that this is kept between you... and us in New Kurn. Our telepath, who Hurk will be meeting tomorrow may be mentally contacted who will relay any messages to the Tribunal directly…"
"Kreen clutches are hard to quantify, as they tend to overlap. The city, if you can call it that, houses at least a thousand of mixed mantis folk. At the most? I think the odd buildings of resinous domes that I've scried could hold fifteen hundred to two thousand souls? But it's hard to get an accurate read, as their buildings are so *different* than ours.
A still picture of a settlement appears mid air, small amber domes, rather low to the earth is surrounded by tall grasses. Weird membranes stretch from some of the constructs, lending a Geiger-esque feel to the odd scene. A couple taller buildings have threads of the grown or excreted substance and connect like walkways. The illusion is quite detailed, more of a mental snap.
"Again, we plan on dropping you a few miles east of this settlement as to curve any initial surprise."
"Tohr-Kreen simply means "settled people". The kreen like our friend here (she waves an open palm towards Chat-cho), hail from the blood of nomads and are cousins to the Tohr-Kreen as best as I understand it. The Tohr-Kreen of the West have more than one coloration, build & differences that range from body structure to general character. These J'ez are the most neutral and inquisitive of those that I know... and have been the most diplomatic historically. The Great Meeting in Bodach betwixt the Lawmakers and the J'ez has been well documented in our Library. Those long forgotten accords belayed an incursion to the east long ago, beyond recent memory."
"Material resource acquisition is not a priority. We do not wish to conquer the Tohr-Kreen or occupy their territory. Unless something like iron or copper were divined would we consider sending others to source it. The Kreen do not mine as far as I know and the cost of doing such business would be insane without having further alliances and friendships made."
"We are always interested in their general numbers in the towns, cities, encampments as well as the traffic along the heavier paths, or I dare say roads in the most general sense of the term. This can prepare us if the Empire is ever totally motivated to head east. One of our worries is if the mantis folk are over-stretching their prey or water in any grand way... it may cause them to regard us as the solution."
"And cultural knowledge is highly valuable. While I've, we've, been able to scry here-and-there, much of it is alien to us."
***
Oronis understands that power respects power. So we have something to offer as a gift."
The Presider claps twice. Two free servants leave; then return carrying a small tree in a large handled clay pot. A single, small golden pear hangs heavily from one of the few branches.
"The Kreen have one weakness. That is their own short lives. This is the remedy... perhaps not for all, but for those who crave power within their clutches. Oronis has the ability, as do some druids, to begat more of these saplings. We can do so... for the simple price of friendship."
She breathes in and out deeply as her eyes widen in fervor.
"For this tree can extend one's life beyond the norm. Behold, a tree of youth."
***
She summons a scribe who begins to take notes before conversation goes any further.
"We knew of undead bugs that were plaguing the borders of the Kreen Empire. It seems you know much more than I do... I am uncertain how much Oronis knows. Have I, we, been kept in the dark? Are you sure that these undead are organized? Expansionistic goals?"
She breathes out deeply.
"I was told that the Empire would not want to fight a war on two fronts. Originally I thought that just meant a mindless curse... not that Oronis corrected my assumptions. Do you have any proof of this?"
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Rikto: "I want you to ask any befriended tohr-kreen of any strange activity on their southern border."
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Presider Ulali: "look for evidence of it's visit to the mortal realm. We fear agents of the other City States may be also interested in scouting this event - and there's a decent chance it ranged as far as the kreen's grasslands. Any information you may gather would be of extreme import to us... especially if it could be used to further our goals of restoration."
WHERE:
New Kurn: The population of New Kurn is still small in comparison to most City-States... even Hurk & Niachi are regarded as new-comers. Attention is given; delayed trust is eventually built. One of the reasons they'd done work with the Black Lances and the Tribunal is that they not only had a stellar reference in Shardivan, but have shared meals, music and spilt the blood of those who would threaten these freedoms. The others can have been friends for any period of time you've been around, this doesn't need to be the first time you've met.
Western great plains: "The terrain to the west is dry, endless grasslands as far as the eye can see. Insects abound... especially where there is water present. The kreen as we know it don't grow many crops... unless it were to attract prey or done in secret (perhaps where I have not scried)."
The air here is thicker, more humid than you're accustomed to, not to mention that you're hundreds of feet lower than Tablelands. It is a tad harder to fly here, and there is a slight breeze. The higher you go, the stronger the winds.
There was a bit of darker colored land due north, but probably 50 or more miles distant. Ande has not had a good look that far due to the light.
The tall grasses are sharp to touch. Anyone here have AC 7 or worse (not using dex modifiers) will take some damage any round walking through without protection. The grasses are also taller than a halfling or a medium sized human. This makes seeing an issue for some. Anyone riding the crodlu are immune to both issues.
The wind blows faster, harder here. There are also some streaky clouds. The air quickly begins to warm. A light humidity of morning dew disappearing is further highlighted by the insane noise of varied insect life. A few large, bloated bugs, Jalath’gak if you fathomed correctly, head north... seemingly ignoring the rest of you.
The ground here is also softer. Noticeably.
Nirik: Home of the "Nirik-Tohr" You begin to realize how structured and organized everything is. Weirdly shaped, but pleasantly laid out. A few hundred amber colored domes are seen, the grasses that surround a tad more flattened than what your friends currently plod through. Wingless jalath’gak pull sledges stacked with globules, wax balls, cut grasses and (or) clay urns. There are kreen of many different shapes and sizes here, bustling about the immediate outskirts of the resinous abodes. The ones steering the jalath'gak look the most like those from the Tablelands. The others are closer to the city proper.
There are other insects about as well. Black & brown Kanks are seen, as well as large holes in the earth that they are seen entering & exiting. Pale yellow waspy wezer fly from underground hives that are only visible by the papery wasp-like nest openings in the earth. And then there's the smaller ones. The noise is both grating and hypnotic.
Observing the city, you notice shelled slugs shimmying up and down the slopes of the domed buildings. These are z'oct'n. You wonder how the Tohr get them to form constructs... as it seems that the amber-colored slime is forming the outer shell. Z'oct'n are used in the Tablelands as well. They often coat obsidian weapons with the snails to prevent them shattering upon any impact.
As you weave about the amber domes, numerous kreen poke their heads out of doorway and stop their general business to get a look at this new sight.
While not as large as a city state, this does dwarf the small Bandit States to Kurn's west. The areas between buildings easily accommodate the traffic of lamed jalath’gak going in both directions, perhaps thirty or so feet of compacted dirt road that meanders through the town. Occasional stretches of thinner solid webbing connect some of the taller buildings, but not many. You see the occasional tohr-kreen walking on these like bridges. Here and there, small trees are seen with flowers and the occasional fruit, as well as a plethora of herbs lining the street. Flies hover about these in anticipation of a fresh meal. Kanks are herded as well. The bustle of commerce; not-commerce commences. There seems to be a structure to it, perhaps a caste or pecking order.
Eventually you pass a large step well, where all manners of large insects and insect people are bringing the precious liquid to the surface.
To the east of this well, smoke is seen coming from two of the domed buildings. Past these, sharpened stakes hold the bodies of animals common to these parts, partially cut and bled. Tohr-kreen butcher them before your eyes and hand pieces to the young and old tohr... those not quite ready for the hunt and those that are close to the last kills.
It smells of peat and smoke.
while riding towards Nirik (10 miles out)
- Hurk smelled Tobac smoke
- found a Mobat depression in the grass with odd tracks:
HOW:
The Presider does add, "...if you were to find yourself in dire straits, we can attempt an extraction for your party, depending on the amount of time we have to react. We would need to have an exact idea of your location though. As well as the approximate numbers and make up of those that oppose you. So keep in touch. With that in mind, tomorrow, as we send you off, Akos will mentally contact you (and vice versa). He is to be the medium for your communication with Kurn."
Pause.
"I do emphasize that it takes time for us to react. It is better to get captured and buy time, than it is for you to expect our immediate reprisal."
WHEN: 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.
WHY:
To the north and west, far into the distance, it seems that the earth changes darker. Before that, a giant rut of earth is seen heading north to north-east. At the end, half a giant almond shaped thing is seen sticking out of the dirt. It looks like a gigantic wooden nut from here, and looking directly at it causes your head to ache lightly. You estimate that the almond-shaped Messenger is around 275 feet long and 225 feet at the widest... and about 65 feet tall if you aren't mistaken by the amount under the earth. When making your rounds here, you do feel observed. There are a few kreen keeping watch and distance from the downed anomaly. It is likely them. Radial navigation: around 750+ miles away from New Kurn & almost due west.
Thor-kreen mounds are still at least 10 miles off.