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#61
10-24-2010, 09:47 PM
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As the group approaches the war camp, they see glimpses of fire, but it is difficult to tell until they are very close how many fires there are because, as they are also delayed in realizing, the huge amount of tents. They had underestimated the army's presence. They are stopped away from the camp's edge by sentries. Saliak talks to them briefly, but allows them to search the travelers' cart. Gerand protests, but Saliak will not hear it. But when the loda returns with Gerand's lion-clasped purple cloak, accusing them of being Dinsian soldiers, Saliak seems wary. He ends up siding with Gerand and Nehzir, however, who explain the items as symbols of friendship and nothing more. Saliak, ignorant of Ammin politics, nods and scolds the lodaman. Within the camp, Saliak takes them immediately to his own large tent. He offers them room within it to sleep, but mandates that no one leaves, and they need a servant to accompany them if they need to relieve themselves. Indeed, Nehzir does find himself needing to go outside the tent. He wakes to find one of the three servant boys idling around, and the boy is quick and eager to go outside with Nehzir, clearly bored. He follows Nehzir, who, perhaps tired or perhaps losing his inhibitions so far from home, makes some suggestive and sly remarks to the child. The boy, though he smiles, is shy, and leads Nehzir back to his the tent where he goes to sleep. The next morning, Saliak wakes everyone up and tells them to gather their equipment. They do so, and he leads them to the enormous tent of Erednemo, king of the Anzavics. Passing the guard, Saliak turns to everyone and tells them to be quiet, for the king is in argument with the three lesser kings of his subordinate states. Everyone approaches to see a large oul man in beautiful armor, very clearly Erednemo, arguing with three other regally dressed people, an oul man (older and thinner than Erednemo), a strong-looking oul woman, and a perth man who looks like a born soldier. They are introduced, respectively, as Ardo, Nistine, and Pithin. Nistine is the only one who appears friendly at all; the others are absorbed in their interrupted argument and show only cordial greetings, but Erednemo seems desperate for a way to break up the heated discussion. He listens to Saliak's story and commends him, then invites everyone to eat. Unfortunately, they've already eaten and need to get back to the gorge. The frustration in Erednemo's heart is manifest in his eyes, and he waves with resignation as Saliak leaves with his friends. Nistine offers a kind farewell to the travelers, but before they even elave the tent they can hear Pithin and Ardo raising their voices and Erednemo sighing. After another two-hour journey, the group is back at the gorge, this time without their horsecart. Saliak tells them that even without the documents, the army will begin moving along the best path they find by this evening. And, this whole time, Nehzir's hoxop stays safely out of sight, but he catches the occasional glimpse of it and knows it's within range of his call should he need it. Tark follows Syavi, but she is able to explain his presence to Saliak and he of course stays out of the tents. Last edited by Klomag; 10-25-2010 at 12:03 AM. 
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#62
10-27-2010, 01:36 PM
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As the group approaches the edge of the gorge, they see a pair of huddled forms lying on the ground at the lip. Coming closer, they discover the two perth, sharing an oul-sized cloak as a blanket and asleep. Saliak wakes them, crouching down to ask them what happened. They both get up quickly and respond with excitement. One hand an object to Saliak. When the drinneid stands up and turns back to his charges, he holds up a sheet of paper, charred on one edge but legible.
__________________"They found one page!" Saliak cheers. "They say no others were nearby, but since it was dark we must search the whole of that area now. Come, come." He leads them down to the slope, and the two perth in short time catch up. Just south of the center of the gorge, the group arrives at the bottom of the slops. Looking at the Cornylian friends, Saliak says, "There is the place the perth were looking." He points to a spot near the far wall. "I am going to search there, as I have the best eyes. They will search farther out. Who will come with me, and who with the perth?"
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#63
10-28-2010, 09:58 PM
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"I would rather go with Nezhir... wherever he goes." Gerand says gruffly. "Or at the very least, I'd rather not go with your... subordinates."
__________________He stares at the two Perth for a split second before waiting so hear Saliak's thoughts on the two (Gerand and Nezhir) searching together. For when we decide who goes where. Last edited by Hatlicks; 10-28-2010 at 10:01 PM.
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#64
10-28-2010, 10:49 PM
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Nehzir looks up at the Saliak and asks, "May I have a quicker look at the page? It would help knowing exactly what we are looking for."
Regardless of the drinneid's response, Nehzir looks back and forth between the perth and their leader. Sure that he needed to go with Saliak, seeing as he too had the better eyes for the group, he turn to Gerand with a sly smile. "Unfortunately Gerand I believe it best if we split up as well. Why don't you go with the perth and see what you find in the other direction?" He gave a smile toward Saliak and nods. "Shall we be on our way?"
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#65
10-31-2010, 10:05 PM
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Gerand agrees to split up, but convinces Nehzir that he should go with Saliak, not the one with the better eyes. After all, it is better to split the talent - but secretly, he wants to get away from the perth. He tries to secretly remind Nehzir of his hatred for these two diminutive, creepy soldiers, but is so unclear in his message that Nehzir shakes his head, believing that Gerand's true motivation is a desire to get closer to Saliak.
__________________As the sun rises higher and higher above the tall grasses overhead, the group finds the searching very tiring. Saliak stands up straight and stretches his back, sweat dripping from his brow despite the cool weather. He shouts at Gerand for results, but Gerand has found nothing. He then shouts to the perth and Nehzir. Just before he hears his name called, Nehzir in fact spots something and slides a partially burned page out from under a rock. Then he starts at the call from the drinneid, and he is unable to bring a lie to his lips in the moment. "I think I have," he replies hesitantly to Saliak asking if he found anything. The Anzavic hurries over and looks at the paper, excited but explaining that there're three more to be found. Everyone goes back to work, but Saliak and Gerand move out from the inner location, spreading out the searching party over a wider area. The morning wears on and on, and everyone begins to feel a gnawing hunger. The breeze of the plains can't be felt down here, and everyone is feeling hot in the midday sun. But then Saliak stands up with a page in hand and shouts to Gerand, "Come here!" He shows the page to the loda happily, then tells him to take it to Nehzir. At nearly the same time, one of the perth finds a pages stuck to a rock, the bottom burned off. Both perth take the page excitedly and pantomime to Nehizr that they are going to take them to Saliak. As they are rushing across the shattered ground, the perth are foolishly absorbed in their find and in the praises Saliak will bring them. They don't notice Gerand rushing toward them at all - but he sees them. Grinning to himself, the loda lowers his shoulders and breaks into a charge. The perth, totally unaware, react very cleverly to the crashing Eknak, but his sheer size drops them both to the ground. He stumbles and dons an apologetic face, and he tries to make it look like an accident. They grumble and hop up, then they dash away without a word. When Gerand gets to Nehzir, he can't help but laugh. Nehzir still believes Gerand is attracted to Saliak. Soon, Saliak and the perth come back over to the Cornylians. They have found the last page, and request the one that Nehzir has. Nehzir hands it over, having been unable to perform any trickery with it yet. It is only midday, and Saliak is happy that the group can return now without failure. They walk up to the top of the gorge where the embraces them like a waiting friend. A hoxop whines in the distance, and Nehzir knows the call, but the creature'll not approach yet. Last edited by Klomag; 11-01-2010 at 10:20 PM.
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#67
11-29-2010, 01:18 AM
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At the camp, it becomes clear that Saliak will need to pack. Most of the army has already taken down their tents, and the forward groups have moved out. The scouts have clearly found a pass suitable for the army's movement. Saliak approaches his tent to find some of his possessions already stacked into the carts, but nothing important has been touched, so he commands his servants to begin work. He asks everyone to help as he also begins to prepare himself for leaving. There is a lot to do for an officer, and it takes a while. The whole time, perhaps only because many of his personal things are being handled, Saliak seems guarded. He especially seems to be cautious of Steodo, who he knows can understand his language. Finally, toward the end, he holds up the damaged papers and looks at Gerand. He smiles and asks to be accompanied to the King's tent.
Gerand goes with Saliak, but when they approach the tent, they can hear even form outside the explosive argument between the kings. Saliak hesitates and looks at Gerand. He suddenly says he doesn't want to go inside. It could be dangerous for Erednemo if he were to do so at a time like this. But he contradicts himself and says it could be risky if he were to hold onto the papers until later in the day. He seems torn, and Gerand suggests he just go inside now. Placeholder: Saliak didn't trust you; you got him stripped of office and memorized the logistics, foiling his own plan for betrayal; you were marched as prisoners to Adeinei, where Syavi left; you found a boat which could get you to Nepheri before the army; the boat left; you found another that left a day later; you were attacked by Limnish soldiers. The enemy ship has rammed you and dropped two boarding claws. They're extremely short, utterly preventing the escape of either ship. The black dot is Gerand, the blue dot is Nehzir, the greyish dots are masts, and the red dots are enemies. They are roughly ordered by apparent threat level. 6, 15, 20, and 19 are injured (in order of severity); 3, 9, 10, 13, and 16 have been hit, but are not wounded. The center aisle of each ship is navigable, but the sides are difficult terrain (rowers will get out of your way, but their bodies, oars, and possessions will slow you down). Initiative: Nehzir, enemies, Gerand. Last edited by Klomag; 12-20-2010 at 06:40 PM.
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#69
12-14-2010, 03:55 PM
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The battle opens with a final arrow slung from Nehzir's magic bow. It crosses the gap between the ships easily and splits into one man's armor, cloudy acid burning through the metal and pushing a deep hole into the man's stomach. The soldier bends at the waist, vomits into the water, and collapses on the deck, clutching at his wound and gasping for help. Nehzir then drops his bow on his own deck and steps up to the boarding bridge, drawing the sword from his hip.
__________________The men, while not being able to keep up with Nehzir's archery, then spring into action on the other ship. Many draw swords, while others pick up or gather javelins and spears. One enemy crosses the lower bridge before Gerand can reach it and stabs one of the sailors to death while they all try to scramble out of the way of the boarders. Two men throw javelins, and Nehzir is forced to dodge one of them. One enemy throws a javelin at the captain, who wails as his arm is torn by the weapon. Two other soldiers follow down the lower bridge. A soldier also moves down the upper bridge toward Nehzir as Gerand breaks away for the lower. The Eknak hurries over to the exposed side of the ship and strikes the first boarder with his axe. Nehzir stands with his sword forward, waiting for the pirates to move across. One brazen young man holds his sword out to the side and lowers his shoulder into his shield, shouting in his native language. But as the man approaches the end of the board, Nehzir preempts his charge with a downward chop which slices into the man's weak shield. The blade slides out, and the man's momentum is stopped. He stands in front of Nehzir, his face contorted in pain, but still he refuses to yield. He instead swings his own sword upward in a thrust which fails to bite Nehzir. But one of the stronger, older soldiers back on the enemy ship hefts a spear and throws it past his ally. The spear is not seen by Nehzir, and it strikes him on the shoulder, causing him to gasp though he pulls it out, he is injured and feels himself growing weaker. Soon Gerand finds himself with enemies on two sides, and a third is approaching they will soon surround him. But the two next to him cannot harm him; he deflects the first hit easily but is jarred by the second. Still he does not bleed, and he feels the anger grow in his chest. Another soldier on the ship throws a a javelin at Nehzir. The archer is again caught off guard and bleeds from a wound that the javelin slashes into the side of his leg as he twists just in time to prevent the hit from being crippling. Nehzir responds, angry that he cannot use his bow, by jabbing at the man before him, slashing a new wound and then stabbing the man in the gut, dropping him to the wood below. Gerand, at the other end, pummels one man with a chop that opens his defenses and a long gash at the man's chest, causing him to cry out in pain. Still the man does not fall he holds his ground as if he weren't in immediate danger of death. The fight continues on like this for only a few minutes. One man circles around Gerand, but the Eknak flies into a rage, screaming for vengeance and battering the man into retreat. As the enemy soldier tries to run down to Nehzir's side of the boat, Steodo stands up from the deck and in the same motion grabs the man's head, driving a dagger under the man's jaw and killing him instantly. He catches Gerand's eye, but Gerand is too focused on his bloody rage to pay attention to his allies right now. Steodo has the sailors help him throw the body overboard, then sits back down. Nehzir calls to his hoxop, who had been cowering on the rocking ship, and whistles for her to leap to his aid. She leans upon the rail and bites at the soldiers who cross the bridge to strike at Nehzir. Both of the hold the line, and no one is able to board Nehzir's side of the ship. But so injured, Nehzir steps back, and his hoxop stands at the end of the bridge. The next soldier to approach looks with contempt on the animal and tries to strike it, but his sword goes wide he severely underestimates this creature. With something in front of him, Nehzir picks up his bow again his first arrow pierces the man fighting his hoxop. The young soldier screams and tries to run, but the hoxop bites and latches onto his leg, pulling back and dropping the man to the ground. His is a short oul but lands heavily, trying to not groan in pain from his wounds. Another soldier, older than the fallen one, rushes up. He is a loda, and hefts the the young man up over his shoulder, righting him and taking his place. He tries to stand against the hoxop, but the wily creature bites him on the knee. He is already tired, and after failing to block the attack, his leg buckles below him, and he tumbles over the edge of the bridge. he roars and tries to grab on, but the sea spray has made the wood slick, and he tumbles into the waves. Gerand, his face twisted in fury, turns back to the injured man to find another next to him. He chops down both of them easily, their blood wetting his blade. With a grunt, he steps onto the bridge himself, drawing a shout from one of the soldiers. As he moves across the unsteady planks, the obvious leader of the enemy soldiers grabs a thick spear and walks to his end of the bridge Gerand is crossing. He raises the spear and throws it at Gerand, who, in his rage, isn't as quick to raise his shield as his axe, and takes the missile above his hip. It doesn't restrict his movement, so he keeps going, and when he reaches the other end of the bridge, to the surprise of the enemy, he raises his axe and brigs it down. His opponent is unable to dodge in time the axe splits his skull through his leather helmet, going so far as to pin his split face against the mast. Gerand yanks back his axe and glares around him. The second-in-command, already being injured by an arrow and seeing his leader fall to the rage of an Eknak, draws his sword and tosses it at Gerand's feet. The others follow his lead the four surviving enemies on their ship throw their swords at Gerand's feet, who looks around in surprise and suspicion. But at that same time, the young man who was saved by his now-drowning companion gets back to his own boat and picks up a javelin. He sees that his companions are surrendering and shouts at them in Limnish. He flings the javelin at Nehzir, but he misses, and Nehzir replies by nocking an arrow. But Gerand sees this aggression and, in his rage, simply charges at the man - with no regard for the two surrendered men between them. He crashes into the first man and sends him flying into the next. Both men fall down onto the deck, cowering, but before Gerand can attack the exposed relentless soldier, Nehzir puts an arrow in his back. A sharp ting signals the piercing of his armor, and the man staggers to the deck and dies. Gerand, realizing no one is fighting any longer, finds himself completely exhausted, and he falls forward onto the small pile of prisoners and just lays there for a few moments, trying to catch his breath. He considers treating the spear wound.
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#70
12-20-2010, 01:26 AM
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Nehzir takes command immediately. Over a decade of sailing experience takes over; he has no hesitation or doubt. The captain of the merchant ship is laid down next to Gerand, who's passed out. Nehzir has the bridges broken off and thrown into the sea to follow the sinking merchant ship. Several of the sailors have some experience with cleaning and bandaging wounds, and they treat everyone in order to have them heal well.
__________________The wind is not strong or at an ideal angle, but this ship is faster than the previous one. Nepheri is reached half a day earlier than expected. ---- When the ship approaches the harbor, the sails are furled and the oars are taken up. The Captain, having fully recovered the day before, has been trying to push his way into command, but it is obvious that not only does Nehzir have an equal right to lead this ship, he probably has more experience and skill. But Nehzir allows the older man to direct the ship to a dock while he prepares his things with Gerand and Steodo. As soon as the ship is tied off and steady, he steps onto the dock, leading the cart and horse with Gerand and Steodo helping. The horse is slow, still uneasy from ship travel. There is a crowd gathered in the harbor. They are watching the only ship in sight unload before being dragged ashore. They seem suspicious, and so Gerand and Nehzir decide to put on the clymos that were given to them by Cornylios. This draws a stirring from the crowd, but nothing comes of it, so the group pushes through, and the people of Nepheri move aside to let them up to the street. The crowd had already begun to disperse, and Nepheri is a dense, so there are many people on the streets. Most don't seem to recognize the icon of Dinscove, but those who do appear to look upon the travelers with disdain or wariness. But four soldiers march down from the direction of the palace and intercept the cart. They say they were sent by the Syla, Carixo. They speak with the authority of people who do not fear opposition. Nehzir is questioned about the ship that just came in, and two of the soldiers are told to march down to investigate with the sailors still at the harbor. The other two guide the party toward the palace. ---- The palace is upon a hill, near the center of the city. It was originally a temple to the old Ammin god Skelos, long before there was even a city here. The Inkinase then expanded it and rededicated it to Skallostyno, and allowed the growing town to hold a council within it every year. This council grew with the city during the years of the Inkinanpen Empire, expanding the temple to include several chambers for purely political purposes. After the fall of the Empire, Nepheri, like most Ammin cities, found itself with an Inkinas dictator, a syla. Originally the sylas worked with Ammin councils, but over time they each eventually assumed complete control. In Nepheri, it was the temple that was then transformed into the palace. Its origins are not hard to distinguish; the palace is covered in reliefs of the gods, usually standing shielded by or embracing Skallostyno. The corners are adorned by statues of creatures Skallostyno created. But great tapestries border the door, woven scenes of Inkinas feats. When the group approaches the huge bronze doors, one of the soldiers steps forward to swing one open. It appears to be much easier than the size would imply, and he holds it open for everyone to go inside, but then closes it with himself and the horse-cart outside. Soon, he comes inside himself. Inside, the palace is even more amazing - most of the decorations are either gilded or carved of green marble. At least in the entry room, which appears to be an antechamber for the original temple, this place seems more luxurious than the palace in Dinscove. But the temple itself is much more bare, almost reverently so. There are copper statues turned green with age and gardens around the edges of the room. But it is off to the side that the group must go, and there they find the Syla waiting for them in what was probably once a dining hall for councilors. It is now seemingly a reception room for guests. Carixo is shorter than his brother, half a head shorter than Nehzir, in fact. But he shares the severe and authoritative features, and he seems in fact even more of a politician than a king. He is dressed in a white nolka with golden trim and hero silhouettes woven across. He greets Gerand first, shocked at the man's black skin but very respectful he seems however to have a nervous habit of pulling on his short beard when he looks at the Eknak. Then he greets Nehzir, then Steodo. He seems very warm, at first - but then the questioning begins. He grows more an more uneasy when he is told of the travel from Dinscove and the mercy shown by the Anzavic king. Though they show the clymos given to them, and offer the pages Steodo copied down, Nehzir and Gerand forget about the letter Cornylios gave them. Though he is honest about it, and probably wants to believe their story, Carixo calls in some more soldiers, a group of loda, and the six soldiers together take the travelers to prison cells. Nehzir and Gerand are stripped of everything but their tunics and kept together. Steodo is taken elsewhere. After several hours, the Rochoi hear Carixo's voice outside the door. Then suddenly the bronze door slides open, and the Syla observes the two men sitting on their beds. He announces that he is aware of the army coming to his gates, and that their information, if true, will be extraordinarily helpful. However, he's allowed no one to read the five pages, not daring to risk the tricks of a mage. He needs a way to trust the travelers, and he has come upon an idea that ought to help. In order to go to war, he must have a sword, but the sword of his uncle, the one he needs, is hidden deep below the palace. The old temple had an underground area, where storage was kept and non-public matters could be handled. But Carixo's uncle, the previous syla, went insane thirteen years ago, near the end of his reign. He had the underground area rebuilt into a supposedly maddening place of danger and tests. He laid his sword in it, and declared that a great and clever man would only be able to retrieve the sword. Having no need yet, Carixo has never tried, and no one has ever been down there. The builders were blinded and deafened when they finished, and the architect was just never seen again. So the dangers of that place are unknown, but Carixo now needs his sword, and if they will retrieve it for him, putting themselves in great personal danger, he will trust the pair that they truly want to help him win the war. ---- The temple seems less somber this time through; it now hangs with abandonment and loathing. Nehzir and Gerand wouldn't be surprised if the place were torn apart after they get through the trials below. A side passage leads to a spiral staircase behind a stone door. Along the way, the warriors ask for weapons or armor, but Carixo flatly refuses. He only glares when they try to negotiate, and he says they absolutely must go down as they are finally. That ends the matter, and then he opens the door for them to go down the stairs. With the door closed, and barred, the staircase is totally black. A slow descent takes the Rochoi into a short hallway that is dimly lit by a glowing stone in the wall. When they walk into the hallway, there is a fork. One direction is a very short dead-end; looking into that, they find a woven white cloth hanging on the wall with the phrase "A warrior never goes into battle without knowing he will win" painted onto it. One of the letters, a sepso, is larger than the rest. This is all there is, so they walk the other path. After crossing a very wide room, they flip around in surprise as huge wooden barriers drop from the ceiling behind them, blocking the passageway. Their only choice is to continue forward. Down the hallway and around a corner, they find a doorway to another room that is blocked by an immovable bronze gate. They continue down the hallway to find another room in the same condition. Continuing farther produces the end of the hallway with one more blocked room. But they realize that next to each gate, in addition to a few being scattered in the hallway, are stone cylinders jutting from the wall, their ends glowing magically. Gerand grips one and tries pushing and pulling it, then he tries to turn it, and with a grunt, he is able to turn it a full circle. A loud, metallic click echoes through the hallway, and the door in front of the two prisoners opens loudly. They also hear the sound of what is probably the other two doors also opening. So they go back to the second room. Inside, they find that the room is empty except for a helmet-shaped depression in the floor and the fact there are actually two separately made floors in the room. But trying to pry the floors produces only a slight shaking on the floor upon which they stand. It appears to not be on solid ground. Gerand and Nehzir look around for clues, but end up sighing, confused, and going back to the first room. This room has an exit on the other side and a circular depression on the floor. The only other object is a woven white cloth, and painted upon it is the phrase "A warrior knows his surroundings and uses them to his advantage", but going into the doorway reveals a much different room. The Rochoi walk into a kind of maze. Strangely, all of the internal walls and a few of the outer ones are massive stone cylinders, but the gaps between them are filled with concave triangle pillars, fitting very tightly to create the illusion of a solid walls. Even more strange are the tiny slits are the bottom of many of the cylinders. And lastly, they hear the sound of trickling water. They find one wall with water flowing out of the slot, which has a small geometrical design above it. After some exploring, they find one hallway of the maze with a solid bronze shield hanging from the top, locked in place by a wooden mount and ropes. It is too high for them to reach. They go back to the flowing water and see it flowing directly across the half into one of the cylinders, which has the same design above the channel in it. Getting a grip on the cylinder, Gerand heaves and is satisfied to feel it rotating as he pushes. The cylinder turns and exposes a new channel in the bottom. This one has no design. The water flows in, but within a few moments Nehzir notices it is leaking out up ahead through the gaps. So they that cylinder. They begin following the water to a point where it either flows into a channel in the wall or spills out. They follow the water around the maze, turning cylinders until they create a continuous stream to a channel at the bottom of a solid wall near the shield. This one has a special design atop it, and when the water flows in for a few seconds, a grinding sound is followed by a click, and the shield is released. Gerand quickly catches it, and they carry it back to the circular depression in the floor. Placing it in, a low hum is heard for only a brief moment, and then the sound of some stone and metal shifting. The second room, unfortunately, is unchanged, so the Rochoi go to the last one. Here they find a depression in the shape of a sword, as well as a cloth on the wall that reads, "A warrior is aggressive and knows all his tools." The exit to this room leads to a large, open room. The pair find themselves on a ledge, which drops off about three helaide. At the bottom is dark, still water, which smells faintly of stagnancy, as if there were nothing bigger than algae in it. In the water are two wooden platforms, almost a helai in width. Spaced about a forearm's length apart are small holes all over the floor. There are also two crescent-shaped weights with leather straps for handles lying on the floor, as well as a stone cylinder of similar design to the wall triggers from earlier. However, this one is on the floor, about as wide as a man, and only a few inches above the floor. Though they suspect some evil trick, the men have little choice but to figure out what can be done. Gerand tries to turn or lift the platform, but cannot. Nehzir examines the weights and realizes they are of the kind often used for competition jumping to increase distance. However, there is no jump he can determine to be worth making. Gerand is grumbling about the platform, saying that something terrible is going to happen. Nehzir nods, but remembers the message they were given; he knows the tools he found, and now they must be aggressive. He tells Gerand to step on the platform, which the loda does. The platform lowers slowly down to the floor level and then a few inches lower. A terrible-sounding grinding noise is briefly heard, and then the wooden platforms loudly raise up out of the water. Just after they begin to move, bronze bars rapidly shoot up from ten holes around the switch that Gerand's on, trapping him in place. He glares at Nehzir, his jaw locked in anger. Nehzir, holding the weights, looks around for some way to help, but just then the platforms come to a stop. One is right next to the ledge they're on, and another is a little over three helaide away. There is also a very narrow platform attached to the wall, looking just sturdy enough to be walked upon. This third is in between the two raised platforms. Suddenly, the ceiling above Gerand glows and then lightning strikes down out of it, hitting Gerand and blasting him, screaming, into the bars. He shouts curses at Nehzir, who realizes then that he must have to complete this task to free his friend. He stands back and holds the weights, then runs forward and jumps off the end of the platform. He swings the weights forward, and they carry him farther, and then he swings the mback and extends his legs, able to make the jump without much difficulty. He lands on the second raised platform and looks around. There room ends shortly in front of him ,but to his left it continues around a wall, with another platform. Unfortunately, this jump would be made standing, and so he drops the weights and goes for the narrow ledge that accompanies this pair of platforms. He makes the jump, landing carefully and pressing himself against the wall. He looks back, and Gerand has begun coughing. Another bolt of lightning strikes him from the ceiling, and his arm flings against the bars, which now glow red-hot, drawing another roar from the Eknak. Nehzir can do nothing but continue in his task. He jumps off the wall ledge and barely makes it to the next platform, which is slippery with some of the stagnant water. From here, he must cross a narrow bridge to the next platform, which is reinforced with bronze but still looks unstable. Still, it seems better than jumping, so he slowly balances across to the next platform. Just after he loses sight of Gerand, he hears another feral roar as lightning strikes his friend again. From this platform, he looks down the room that was hidden by the wall, and sees a dimly lit ceramic circle set against the wall ahead. There are two javelins tied up in a heavy knot on the wall beside him, but the ceramic plate appears to be a little farther than comfortable throwing range, which means Nehzir will have to be careful. He begins untying the knot, but just as he gets one javelin loose he gasps at the sound of another jolt of lightning. Gerand screams through teeth as his electrified face slams into one of the burning bars. Nehzir takes the javelin he has and aims it carefully, then throws it at the plate. The javelin flies true, and the plate shatters, falling out of its small hole into the water and revealing an all-bronze sword which follows. Nehzir is relieved to hear Gerand groan and the bars retract; the tortured barbarian is free now. Nehzir, thinking quickly, looses the other javelin and tosses it into the water before jumping in gracefully himself. He hits bottom, but not painfully. The water is up over his chest, so he swims over to collect the sword, two javelins, and ceramic plate. He is glad he decided to look at the plate; on the back is painted the phrase, "The greatest warrior is not alone." After getting back together and cleaning off, the two men travel put the sword in its place and travel to the second room. Still there is nothing here. But outside it, across the hall, is one of those lit cylinders. Gerand turns it, and the wall in front of the men raises up, revealing a passageway. They go inside, but it is completely dark except for a faint light far down. They find a mechanism inside the passageway that opens the gate at the other end, and come out in a large room. There are nine triggers on the floor, like those from the walls. There is also a huge pit between them and a floor farther away, with four wooden platforms suspended on the ceiling. With some logic and guesswork, the two begin turning the triggers to change the positions of the platforms. Though it is a difficult and confusing process, they refuse to attempt to jump a gap, since it looks like certain death if they fail. Finally they get the entire bridge straight across, and Nehzir goes over to pick up what looks like a flattened bronze helmet. Behind it is a cloth reading, "A warrior is prepared for nothing without his mind." Taking the helmet back, they put it in the recess in the floor where it belongs. The hum and click are followed by a shaking of the floor. Then, the floor they're standing on begins to lower. It takes them down, and when their eyes pass below the section of floor they left behind, their eyes behold a horrible creature chained to the wall in front of them. Half as tall again as Gerand, this beast's human body is stretched and disgusting. Its arms split into thick, struggling tentacles below the elbow, and its legs halfway down the shin follow. Its head, chained by the neck, is that of a serpent; black eyes glare with only loathing at the stunned Rochoi. The arms are chained near the shoulder and actually nailed into the wall farther down, but the legs are free and would prevent any kind of approach. Carved into the wall above the monster is the phrase, "UNLEASH HELL TO ENTERTAIN THE EYE OF ROCHI." The only other object is a wall trigger. With no other choice, the men turn the trigger and prepare to jump into the wall and escape the monster that'll surely Last edited by Klomag; 12-30-2010 at 08:54 PM.
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#71
12-30-2010, 09:04 PM
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Sword in hand, Nehzir nods proudly at Gerand, who returns a stare from his crispy face. They both pound on the heavy door to signal the guards they've returned. The stone door slides slightly open, just a crack, and a voice calls out, "If you have the sword, slide the blade through the door."
__________________When the blade goes through, Nehzir can feel it move slightly as someone grabs onto it. The door then slides all the way open, and Carixo stands there, his hand wrapped in a pale cloth and gripping the blade. He pulls the sword from Nehzir's hand, and though he does not smile he seems happy. Two soldiers stand next to him, wearing heavy breastplates and with swords at their sides. Carixo silently waves one hand upward before turning away and walking out into the temple. The soldiers bring the two men with them and follow the Syla. He is found sitting on a bench in one side of the temple. Torches are lit at the corners of the room, and light from the late-afternoon sun pours through narrow, horizontal windows near the ceiling. Plants in large, ceramic, square pots spread all over the sides of the benches, but Carixo gestures for the adventurers to sit across from him, and they must push aside large fronds to sit down. "This temple is only used twice each year. Most celebrations are held in the pavilion at the base of this hill. Instead, this has become more of a sacred, somber place. The sylas have long come here to make important decisions. I am no exception." He leans back against the wall and folds his arms over his chest. He looks carefully into Gerand's eyes. "We found the scroll you received from Cornilios. I suppose you forgot it. It is not a bad thing; I would have not believed you at first. But we have read it, and now that you have gotten my sword for me, you must not be with the Limarade. Or you are fools, but the scroll proved you. I apologize for imprisoning you, but with war looming I can trust no travelers. "Cornylios asks me to raise an army and march south when the first teuli crop is is harvested. I cannot do that if this war is too costly. The notes you have given us are very helpful; Steodo is already going over them with my generals. "The scroll... I have a feeling Cornylios did not tell you this - it demands that you two march with me. This I must enforce. But I will not make you fight against the Limarade. If you choose to do so, however, I would be honored; it is said a normal man would die underneath the temple." Last edited by Klomag; 01-04-2011 at 06:39 PM.
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#72
01-05-2011, 08:10 PM
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Nehzir leans forward after the Syla finished talking, thinking about his offer. A small curve forms on one side of his mouth after a moment of thought. "We were once told that 'A warrior never goes into battle without knowing he will win'." He sits back up straight and continues with a more serious look in his eyes. "What are we looking at with this war? I don't planning on fighting and dying in a one sided battle. Especially one that we have no real reason to fight in the first place."
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#73
01-06-2011, 09:54 PM
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"That is wise advice," muses Carixo. "Almost an unofficial motto of the Idopso line - that is my family, if you did not know. Did my brother tell you that advice?" He smiles and shakes his head.
__________________"That doesn't matter. What does matter is all the help you've given us. The five papyrus pages you gave us were helpful. Only one really did not matter. However, we know now exactly how many soldiers they bring; we know the names and wealth of their leaders; we know how they will march and even their initial scouting results for the geography. The men have been roused all over the countryside for this war, because the arrival of the Limarade was not hidden at all. I think we have a great chance of victory. And Steodo told us he made copies of the logistics; while this leaves room for error it also means they have no idea we know this information. Even if it is half wrong, we are much better for it. I think, in fact, that we cannot lose. "Any other information you can give us, since you spent time within their army, would be helpful - weakness to exploit are always welcome. But best of all would be your bow. We have inspected it, and it is extremely strong. None of my men could even string it. And your axe, Eknak, would be most welcome. Unfortunately, the only place I can put you in the line is on the left end, since I do not know how strong soldier you are. However, I suspect that your skill is great, and that you will not back down, and to have a strong warrior on the left end would definitely take them by surprise. You would be against the most dangerous Limarade, but the ability to hold them back could easily turn the battle quite literally. "I understand if you don't want to stand in our lines without any real loyalty. But with the logistics we have... we could even find a special assignment for you two. Something unorthodox..." Last edited by Klomag; 01-06-2011 at 09:55 PM.
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#74
04-13-2011, 07:58 PM
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The battle is not eager to arrive in the next few days, so Nehzir and Gerand have some time to consider their options before they speak again to Karixo. Plans too rigid will break against a clever enemy, Karixo tells them, so the syla keeps changing the details of the engagement. But finally he tells the two adventurers that he has decided where he wants them in the battle. Having lost their own choice, they warily hear the layout. Ultimately, though, they agree: they are to lead three tiny groups of men to scout narrow ravines north of the main battle, as well as harass any Limarade who try to pass. They salute and exit the room, nerves buzzing with excitement. They march tomorrow.
__________________With the armies assembled, and several generals already at the valley, Nehzir and Gerand arrive to find themselves feeling out of place. Besides the fact that they're unprepared for war, mentally - Gerand having been out of service for half a decade and Nehzir never holding a shield, they are foreign. But they are fortunate to find that the division they are to jointly lead is entirely mercenary, meaning they do not have to feel like outsiders. At the temporary altar erected outside the city, each man in the division takes an oath to each of their two leaders. A cool wind whispers the approval of Skallos above. Nehzir, however, shivers. The armies reaches the valley later than the generals would have liked, but luckily the camp is mostly set, and so only the newer armies need to do any work. The attitude is surprisingly cheerful. Gerand doesn't remember campaigns being too much like this, and assumes it to be a certain Ammin spirit. That would explain the mercenaries being quieter. ---- No ravens fly overhead the morning of the battle. It's too late for them to expect the coming feast. The troops move forward. Iron and bronze rattle viciously toward the encroaching shadows across the valley. As the sun raises ever higher, the descending Limarade change into gleaming blades and blindingly reflective armor. But as the distance closes, it is the enemy who cannot see. Spear-tips claw wildly, and the Ammins wait until just after the Limarade have thrown, when they are still looking toward the dazing light of the sun, to thrown their own spears. The initial exchange strongly favors the Ammins. ---- Far behind, and up on a ridge where the spear-trade cannot be seen, Gerand stoically heaves his shield in front of him as he marches to his position. Nehzir is nearby, in much lighter armor. Around them are hand-picked mercenaries, none trained to pack their bodies into a tight shield-wall. Instead, these are men who will hold their own expertly. Two of the lines go off farther north, where they'll hold the wider pass. The Rochoi take the smaller division to their own pass. No man's nerves can hold to the lack of knowing that vanguard suffers. They hear the battle begin, and they listen for a long time as the lines in the main battle pulse against each other. They can hear when the majority of the soldiers are resting, when there is a dreadful lull in the clashing of iron. But there are no enemies in their own section of the battlefield, and they grow increasingly disturbed as the relative quiet around them presses on. That lasts until a young messenger comes running out to them, asking of news. He is surprised to find that they've seen nothing, and offers only that the battle is slightly favoring the Ammins. Then he runs away to talk to the other groups. But the messenger only came too early. Shortly after he is seen returning to the main valley, a shining line of Limarade approaches over the hill. Then another, and a third. But it is a very small group, as expected. It outnumbers the mercenaries at least two-to-one, but it is clear that it is a simple expedition, only hoping to break in behind the main valley and sow chaos. Perfect. The lines march down, spreading out when they spot two archers and a wizard. Last edited by Klomag; 05-10-2011 at 02:32 AM.
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