Story Concept: Sands of Change

A muzoval guard in a humdrum kingdom with no real need for a military is on their duty during the day (sleep time for muzoval). On patrol, they smell something that tells them to follow. comes across ‘librarian’ who shouldn’t be out so late. Finds she’s deathly afraid, finds the corpse of their humi attendant. Sounds alarm.

Go to check on royal to find room with the prince dead and blood everywhere after following the smell.

flight with person who they can save.

leans they are hidden royal.

they take him to a cliffside outside the town.

meet sister, the voiced royal along with his head guard, the general, and one other scholar with three other high ranking guards. Two royals enter the chamber with him and head guard (general). Other guards wait outside, not allowed to enter sacred place. Hidden royal takes him as her guard. Both royals enter light and emerge some time later (enough for the two guards to have a conversation) with grim expressions. The guard (Embvar) is to take royal (Aaro) into hiding a town over.

They leave and they live in the town for five years. Guard learns royals have a bloodline to see spirits. Her’s is weak (thus why she’s not voiced) and can only see them vaguely in her left-front eye. He learns the smells he’s had (that’s he’s attributed to luck) were actually spirits wills.

Assassins that he only fights off by going into some kind of berserker trance (blacks out). Embvar is brought to by lady guard who was with the queen earlier (only know her by the smell of her soul since she’s decked out in jewelry to hide her features). She tells them to take a vehicle just outside of town and go to (city) across the desert.

They are quiet and try to make sense of what happened while in the vehicle. Embvar shofers. A sandstorm forces them to stop and take refuge in a nearby ruin. Embvar is skeptical and checks for dangers (guard instincts).

Stranger emerges from the storm, an Alsow. They don’t say anything and lay near the entrance (while the two are a bit further in). After debating then calling out to it (it’s friendly responses), Embvar approaches it, telling Aaro to stay back. (they are skeptical as Alsow are usually in small herds) It’s name is Numbat and it survived Raksha’s storm. They are blessed by Raksha so that wind does not exist in a bubble around them. Though storms are still dangerous.

Storm rages for what seems like a day. They worry if it will let up. Numbat assures them it will, though Raksha normally does not stride over this area. (Neither Embvar nor Aaro follow Numbat’s religion, though they are respectful).

Just when they were about to do something, the storm lets up. Numbat bids them farewell and leaves. They dig the sand to the door to open it and enter the buried vehicle. It shakes itself loose and they continue on their way.

They enter the city (one with black spikes and short buildings) and exit the vehicle on the perimeter as told. A humi they dont’ recognize comes up to them and tells them they will take their vehicle with a wink. They go into the city to get food and find whatever it was they were supposed to come there for. They get food and hang by a fountain before being found by a Muzoval.

They are taken down a sketchy alley and into a nondescript door. THere, they are led through a bordello into a side room. There they meet the jeweled lady, an elderly scarred male muzoval, and a young strong male humi by his side. Lady introduces herself as head of the hidden guard, ones whose duty is to protect the royals from the shadows. The guy is her retired successor. The young boy was taken by him as his attendant. (later revealed that he’s sort of a father to the boy, teaching him what he knows. He’s never had a child of his own and really isn’t a good parent). The assassins were sent by a neighboring country and Aaro is no longer safe. They must flee across the desert where no one will find them. The elderly man, Drath, as she must return to Aaro’s sister. As Drath is to be her protector, Embvar is relieved of duty on the spot. Aaro convinces him to continue being her guard.

As they leave town, spikes give way to rotund trees. To Aaro’s disgust, Drath lets his attendant Eb ride on his back. Edge of forest to sand desert (empty but some floating sand particles and clumps) they are greeted by Numbat. Numbat, upon recognizing them, makes the conclusion that it must be divine intervention. They had left their herd due to prophecies in the sand and they must have a purpose with them. They agree to go with them as 1. they aren’t a threat with the two guards and 2. they convince them they are helpful with their anti-sandstorm ‘blessing’.

To their luck/misfortune a sandstorm loomed over the horizon in the direction they needed to travel. After a debate, they decide to go through (rations not enough to go around the desert or take a detour). The storm is harsh and they stay close to Numbat. They can’t stop moving as though the wind stops around her, the sand falls and would bury them.

The storm lasts longer than Aaro’s legs. To keep going, Embvar carries her and passes his share of provisions to Drath. Too long and Embvar becomes tired. He knows he needs to keep going and goes beyond his limit. He blacks out.

Wake up in an Oasis, everyone is okay. Embvar had become dangerous to touch. Eb can see spirits and the spirit guards of Aaro lashed out at Embvar’s emotional will. Embvar had continued out into the storm as Numbat was afraid of them and refused to follow. Drath dragged numbat after them, finding them after the storm had ended not far away. They were both completely untouched.. Embvar had refused to stop when Drath had noticed him becoming dangerous. They debate if he’s a threat. He did not hurt Aaro, Aaro says he tried to protect her. Drath disagrees, saying Embvar is a danger.

Drath and Embvar’s animosity escalates before Drath goes to attack Embvar. Aaro gets in the way and he does not stop, cutting her eye (back right). Drath becomes more enraged and Eb has to come and calm him down while Embvar attacks him (draws him away from Aaro). Drath attacks both Embvar and Eb. Drath becomes enraged in fear and lashes out at Aaro. Embvar protects here. The realize Drath is unstable and if he would attack the royal without remorse, he’s not safe to keep around. (“you’re the danger here”) Drath, defeated, tells Eb to go with them, and they leave him at the oasis.

Moving sand sponge forest Around them are porous walls (large holes) of sand that’s con

stantly moving. Aaro does not like the feeling of the sand moving beneath her feet yet her not moving. (imagine you’re very tiny and in an especially porous sponge but the sponge material is sand and moving). Switch to Aaro’s pov.

hunger and Embvar/Eb go to hunt leaving Numbat and Aaro. Eb always has a long knife on him. Embvar still has on him is wind lance (a long tube with a pointy end like a spear. When opened, controllable sharp wind coils out and is used by the wielder as a deadly weapon (if slightly less controllable than the stick itself) (this is Embvar’s guard weapons that he’s always had on him). Aaro and Numbat wait in rest.

Sudden sandstorm divides them. Aaro worries for the two as they don’t have Numbat with them. Aro and Numbat move to avoid being buried alive. Aaro sends one of her spirits to Embvar, it will only return when he’s either dead or found. After the sandstorm subsides, they wander in search of food. Follow spirits. Spirits show her to dive into the sand. She does and finds water to survive. Wander further and come across the corpse of giant scorpion (not realizing that this is the one Embvar and Eb hunted.) The club-like claws are broken open and empty of meat. Aaro takes some of the meat from the creatures side and pukes. They continue on.

The spirits warn them of danger. Ever the diplomat, Aaro shouts for the hidden to come out. No one responds. They continue on in fear. They are met by a small band of Vshawen. Most chatter but one speaks in poor chkoht. They lead away (forced).

They come to an opening in the “forest” and to a large rocky hill. Taken inside, they pass netw of webs deep into the area to the phora. Meet with the phora, explaining why there were found trespassing. Phora calls for her attendant who leaves for a bit. Unnerving silence in the chamber (other than chittering of surrounding vhsawen). Come back with Muzoval, it’s Aaro’s uncle. They are shocked to see each other. Phora takes pity on them, stating that she respects a fellow phora (seeing Aaro as an equal). Aaro asks about anyone that has passed through. No one (worries about Embvar (does not think about Eb at all)). Phora is curious about Numbat, Aaro states it’s her attendant (thinking like the humi attendant she had that was killed by an assassin).

Stay there some time (feels like at least a season as they are not allowed outside (too dangerous)). Aaro gets used to the life style somewhat, but never totally. She rarely gets to speek with the Phora, despite her asking. She’s assigned a Phori that watches over her (same as her uncle). She connects with her uncle too. Her uncle left after her parents were made hidden and voiced royal. His other option was death, to ensure the stability of the nation. She doesn’t remember much of him as it happened when she was quite young. He didn’t begrudge them, he loved his sister and was friends with her husband.

Aaro gets some news from her home. (revealed here, just a bit of what they saw in the vision). Her sister was killed in an assasination attempt. She knew this would happen but still was deeply disturbed by the news. Without a voiced royal or hidden royal, the commander (guard captain from earlier) rose to power and declared a state of emergency. They are now at war with the nation. This was the plan, to ensure their nations tranquility they must make sacrifices.

Aaro stays longer, getting slow news from her home. Fed up of waiting, go out to search for Embvar. She’s attempted to be dissuaded by her guardian Phori, who fails. She’s met by a group of Vshawen near the entrance to stop her. She flaunts her authority as royal, for them to step aside. Rather than the usual chitter, it’s the Phora’s voice that comes from the main vshawen. She says to walk with her in the night.

She’s actually asleep right now (vshawen are also nocturnal but it’s day now (Aaro couldn’t tell)). Preemptively stopping Aaro’s thought, her subjects see it as the highest of honor for her to take over their mind. THey walk under shade for a bit, Phora saying she’s using the time to relax. Aaro broaches the subject of her leaving. THe Phora thinks, then says on the conditions that their kingdoms become allais and that she takes a guard (the phora provides) with her until everything political is sorted.

Aaro leaves with Numbat, a Phori, and six Vshawen for the nearest town to try and track Embvar down. One of the Vshawen is particularly good at tracking. She debates about just returning home, but is reminded of her vision. Best she stay away. The prophecy she broke. Embvar broke.

Get a lead in the town of someone of the description of Embvar passing through about a week ago.

Alleyway mugging actually an assasination attempt. One of the spirits takes control of Numbat and forces her in the way of the blade meant for Aaro. Fails as people come to help as Aaro screams. They try once more, but only left-back eye cut (they were obviously going to blind her).

Wake up in hospital. Sees stranger at foot of bed along with her vshawen guards. It’s hidden guard captain. Aaro assumes she’s the one who kept them from being killed.

Hospital time. Aaro takes a bit to heal herself. She also waits for Numbat to get better, blaming herself. Numbat doesn’t wake up for a while. Aaro can see her spirit severed and overlapping with her guards spirit (due to the gash in her chest). The doctors say she can heal physically, but her soul is troubling. Aaro releases the spirit from its eternal servitude and it disappears, finally dying. (in the culture it’s a high honor to have one’s spirit bound to eternal guardianship of a royal).

Aaro decides to leave. She claims it's to keep Numbat safe, as the assassins will be back. She takes the guard and Vshawen with her (guard is untrusting of Vshawen).

They walk under overroad during the day (when everyone’s asleep).

Another assasination attempt on the way, killing the Phori and four vshawen before they leave.

Come across a crashed caravan in the sand. Help the muzoval (scene with vshawen inspecting carrying creatures (a sand eel that filter feeds with an open mouth (in wait of catching actual prey) and a tongue that looks like the stem of a flower). She does this so she may be carried the rest of the way in his wagon. This happens. Safer in numbers and with speed.

In new town, they ask around for Embvar. They silently lead the group to a back door in an alley. With hushed words, they are moved through a brothel into a private room with a pool. Everyone is told they can not enter but Aaro. while her entourage protests, she says to do as the helper says.

Entering the room is an older Muzoval and she dips herself into the pool. Aaro stays to the side, skeptical. Lady says that Aaro does match the description, and asks her a personal question only Embvar had known (about the vision). She says Embvar is her lover and has been looking for Aaro for around a year. Aaro is shocked at the time loss.

Wait for Embvar to come back in a few days (after message is sent). He’s taken up the duty of private messenger for the leaders of the towns. THe towns don’t have much say in the greater kingdom and are basically autonomous city-states. But the war has demandes soldiers and tensions are high. So with his training, he’s taken the role as messenger to also look for Aaro (an excuse for information). It was Ra that gave him that job, after asking a favor of one of her high patrons. First, she found when he came to her brothel looking for information about a year ago. They quickly fell in love.

Aaro stays in a hotel near the brothel. Embvar returns and they have a happy reunion. Aaro is touched by how much Embvar loves Ra. With new confidence, she decides to return to her station as royal. The prophecy was obviously wrong, so why should she continue to believe it. She meets with the mayor before departing. Rather than the mayor, it’s her uncle. He’s astral projected to the area to talk to her, telling her not to come back. He’s taken up rule, outing the general. And her sister, she’s been spotted conspiring with the enemy kingdom. He knows of what they had seen, the prosperity, and he will see it done.

Aaro returns to the brothel, the only place surely safe. She talks with Embvar, only trusting in him. The decide she should return, to at least find out who’s lying. Those sandstorms could not have been a coincidence as they but stopped while Aaro was gone. Embvar has Ra lend them her finest ship and crew. Aaro is off put by the crude nature of the sailors.

The next day, Numbat arrives. She had come with one from her herd, after returning there. They read the signs Raksa provided them and it seemed Aaro had some important role to play soon. Numbat’s taller companion almost had the same demenior as her, though slightly colder. The companion was the priest who read the signs. Aaro says they can do what they want, but she will no longer be responsible (tries to distance herself).

During the day (sleep) In the hotel they are met by Drath who goes to attack the guard captain. Drath claims the captain is a turncoat, that her sister was still alive. The whole war was a coup to put the general in power. But now her uncle returned and everything is wrong. Aaro doesn’t know who to believe and runs to Embvar who’s already at the ship and they board with Numbat. Embvar sends for Eb, thinking he’s with his fling again.

They set sail. The ship glides along the sand, three points of contact in the center and to the sides on wings. The sail is long and one member is at the bow of the ship in a glowing chamber that has it move. Aaro grows sea(sand)sick.

Attack on ship from Muzoval and humi. Drath comes from nowhere and saves Aaro. No one dies but several are injured.

Not sure when this happens: after Numbat is hurt but before runion with Embvar, one of the six spirits of Aaro dissapears.