Journey to Akbyset II Report

General Summary

As Alex continued to flee the party under the influence of the dark Ar of the @Eye of Nekhtebu, Asbjørn tracked him through the dark, but Alex sliped behind a stand of rocks and disappeared. Ükhilflin relied on her keen sense of smell to find him. With Ükhilflin pointing, Riven was able to find him and smack him with the flat of the blade hoping to subdue him.   Macedonius was confused by the commotion and upon asking Theo, he leapt into action and sliced at the afflicted Oameni, rendering him unconscious and shredding his backpack. Theo is horrified and cries out to the Mother of Mercy to hold Macedonius fast in place. He is outraged, but Theo bade him calm and spoke words of understanding to him. He relented though his words were tinged with racism. With a deft flick of his wrist, Asbjørn cut the Macedonius' belt sending his trousers falling. Kegho scooped up the downed Oameni and carried him safely away. Theo asked Teleptyon Marathonos if anything could be done to separate the cursed gem from their companion and was unwilling to even touch it. Teleptyon did not know how to separate them and warned that with this sort of magic time made no difference. He suggested that some charms could temporarily draw off the taint, but they would be temporary: vellum from an unblemished ewe, a sash of silk, jade, oak struck by lightening. They decided that perhaps some religious healing would be beneficial.   The party returned to Adza Oasis to ask Grandmaster Andronicus Prodromus for advice on purifying. Macedonius agreed to take them back. They returned on the observance The Blackest Night. The Grandmaster was confused at first, but that confusion turned to concern when he learned of the taint infecting Alex. He told them that even destroying the gem if they could would not save him, but perhaps the Rusati would know more. The Grandmaster gives Macedonius the Sword of Gregorios and sends him to see the deed done. Alex requested that Theo ask the monastery to send a message to Elissa bas Sisa  to have them meet at Akbyset. Asbjørn tracks down the Rhennish paladin and they engage in a highly formalized exchange of insults before Asbjørn knocks him out.   With this they set off toward Akbyset to meet Elissa and then find the oases of the Rusati to baptize Alex and the gem in their pools.   As they journeyed they became aware of something large, moss-green following them dragging a tree. They attempted to avoid it, but it began tracking them so they turned to fight.