Session 62 - Passing Through
General Summary
8 Sov'van
As the party gathered for breakfast in the common room of the Magenta Rock Inn, Janora asked, "Is there anything else keeping us in town or are we ready to move on? No offense, Jilken, but I will be very happy to go home and get out of this heat." Jilken laughed, "Well I may have some bad news for you, it's only going to get hotter once we get onto the sands. Honestly, my people usually travel at night and sleep through the day, we may want to consider doing the same." "I'm ready go," replied Denye, "though I would like to check in with Jilken and get an exhaustive list of things we should have for the journey and make sure we are fully stocked." Vellikar looked up from where he was feeding green leaves to the jackalope and said, "Yeah, we should probably get some food for my little buddy here." Ell sighed, "I really should look into this corruption thing a little more. There is every chance this is a legitimate problem, but I need more information. I'm not entirely sure I trust that mayor, she may have been trying to paint a rosy picture for outsiders. At the very least I should try to speak with this tabaxi." "Well," replied Jilken nodded, "Do you have any contacts in the local trader scene?" "No idea," said Ell shaking his head, "Back in Arborlisle Harbor, there might a few I could ask. I'm taking the direct way. I sent a message to Branch of the Roaring Lake last night asking if he would be available this morning." "That shouldn't be a problem," said Jilken, "I've been working a list, we will need to make one stop on the other side, but we should be able to get most of here. The most important thing will be water, but somebody said they could create that, yes?" "Yes," replied Janora, "I can cast Create or Destroy Water." "I'm pretty sure I have figured out Create Food and Water," added Denye excitedly. "Good," said Jilken with a smile, "and remember that if we're around my people, it would be best not to announce such a thing or you might find yourself taken and put to work until you are worn out." At the party's looks of shock, she shrugged, "The desert is a harsh place and true magic is almost as rare as water...only the priests and wise women wield it and those who can cast such spells are jealously guarded." "I would like to see them try," growled Janora, darkly. Anyone was saved from having to respond when a boy in a brown homespun tunic approached the table and asked, "Ell Darnet?" When the young warlock raised his hand, the boy produced a folded and sealed message and handed it to him before taking off out the door at a run." Ell broke the seal and quickly scanned the message. "Ahh, it's a reply from the warehouse owner, he has invited me to stop by this morning at my leisure...seems he did recognize the family name." Denye looked concerned, "I want to go with you. At the very least, I can take notes." Jilken shrugged, "If you all want to go do that, I can go to the general store and pick up what we'll need. Then, assuming you get whatever you are looking for, we can head out after some lunch." That seemed reasonable to everyone, although Janora said she would wait for everyone here where it was marginally cooler. Vellikar offered to accompany Jilken and so they headed down to the Stock'N'Trade while Ell led Denye, Ranunkel and Tear to this meeting with Branch of the Roaring Lake. The house was not hard to find, it being the only house with red trumpet like flowers on small bushes with yellow leaves planted under the front window. Ell knocked on the front door and a few moments later, it was answered by a tortoiseshell tabaxi of middle years who introduced himself as Branch of the Roaring Lake. The tabaxi invited them in and ushered them into the front room and a pair of comfortable, if a bit worn, couches were arranged. After an offer of tea was refused, Branch settled down in an easy chair and asked, "If I may be so bold, Master Darnet, I was quite surprised to receive your note as we are in the middle of nowhere...although perhaps we are also at the crux of things here in Jaxal. You spoke of business relations, I'm not really sure what I could offer, I only manage the warehouses in town." Ell leaned forward and smiled, "Well, it's not quite business relations as in a particular contract or deal. You see, I travel a lot and one of the things my family has tasked me to do is to learn about the various economies and businesses that I encounter...after all you never know what you may find. This is my first time passing through and I have heard that you are the number one person to speak with regarding storage and movement of goods. I knew that you would be just the fellow to speak with to get the down low on how this town works...if you get my meaning." "Well," said Branch, thoughtfully, "We're really more of a trading post than a town. This pass is the only known safe pass through the mountains and well, the Aiel don't generally let anyone through unless you pay your water tithe and are part of one of the guarded caravans that run up to Djedbura. So Jaxal is sort of the rallying point or transfer point to other places here on the Savannah side. I don't generally deal with the caravans themselves, I just run the warehouses here and hold goods for transfer between them." Ell raised an eyebrow in feigned surprise, "You just happen to run all the warehouses in town, that's not luck, that is good business strategy. You are clearly a cat of skill and persuasion." Branch chuckled a throaty purr, "Well this is a small town and the caravans are a well-established thing so we generally aren't running out of space and it to be honest, it was luck more than anything that got me the buildings. I was in the right place to do a small favor the Thri-Kreen High Queen and she gave me the warehouses about thirty years back as a reward...I'm told that before the Kreen converted them, they were barracks." "Really," asked Ell, astonished, "I'm surprised that someone with such lofty ties wasn't granted a title or public recognition. You must be a close friend of the queen to have done such a service and want no public accolades." The tabaxi shook his head, "It was nothing like that, as I said, it was a small service and due to chance more than anything. My brothers and I were on our way home from a hunting trip. This was during the rainy season, you see, and the grannies had warned us that we were due for a major squall. It had already been raining steadily for a few hours, but the winds weren't too bad and we happened to run across her party one day on the road near our clan home. They had been forced down with the storm and were looking for shelter and so as eldest I offered them the hospitality of the longhouse." Branch chuckle/purred again, "That storm lasted for five suns as I recall...forty or so of the bugs and near a hundred of my kin all stuck in one place as the storm battered itself on the Spine. The elders weren't exactly happy with me, but when the storm abated, High-Queen Khelmenar wanted to thank the clan for its hospitality. I had always been good with numbers and after consulting with the elders it was decided that as I had been the one to make the offer, I should receive the reward and so she gave me the warehouses here in Jaxal and I send a portion of the proceeds back to the clan. I've rather enjoyed it, I've learned quite a bit about book-keeping and lots of interesting people pass through here. The world comes to me and at the end of the day I get to fall asleep in my own bed." "There are times when that sounds nice," acknowledged Ell, "but I think at the end of the day, I find the road more interesting." After a moment he added, "You clearly have found your niche, but I must ask, since you seem to be in the middle of everything, I've heard...let's say rumors of corruption or graft here in Jaxal. Have you heard such tales or know of any such dealings?" "Not that I can think of," replied Branch of the Roaring Lake, "There are only maybe two or three dozen people who live here full time. Fully two-thirds of the townies are Thri-Kreen and trying to think of a corrupt Thri-Kreen is laughable. And I can't think of any of the others who are untrustworthy, Attera over at the Rock is a doll and my cousin Sparkle doesn't have the head for numbers so I do her books too so I can vouch for her. Perhaps there is some sharp dealing among the caravan captains, but as long as they pay their bills on time, it's not my business." "That is reassuring," Ell said smoothy, "I do prefer honest businessmen. Now I've surely taken up enough of your time. Just out of curiosity, would it be possible to get a servant or someone to take me on a tour of one or two of your warehouses. Never know when you might see a workflow somewhere else that you could copy." Branch blinked in surprise but nodded, "I can show you around myself, I needed to go out there shortly anyway. We are getting a delivery at Warehouse 7 and I believe old Grynold was planning on headed out today so the porters are probably loading." The middle-aged tabaxi led the group back outside and down a side street to a row of what appeared to be 15 or 20 large warehouses. As Branch had predicted there was activity around two of them. The porters all greeted the tabaxi with a wave as did one of caravan captains. Branch excused himself for a moment to go speak to the captain and Ell took the opportunity to speak to a couple of the workers. Most of what he learned matched with the vibe he was getting off of Branch and none of them had anything bad to say about the tabaxi. Even the prices that he was charging seemed reasonable. About that time Branch of the Roaring Lake returned and began showing Ell and the others around the warehouse, a building filled with tall metal shelves and about 300 sq ft. Over the party link, Ell said, "We can go over findings later, but I'm fairly certain there is nothing here....which is disappointing. We'll give the tour another minute or two and then we can make our excuses and head back to the inn."When the group got back to the inn, they found Vellikar and Jilken sitting with Janora next to a pile of large backpack-sized water skins that sloshed when Jilken slapped one. "Water is heavy, but if we don't look like we are carrying any, any Aiel who spots us will question why." The fighter pointed to a stack of folded fabric and continued, "We also got robes for everyone...we tried to guess at the size, but if we need to we can hem them quickly. You want it long enough to drag a bit behind you, but not so long you are tripping over it." "It didn't sound like you were very happy with what you learned," said Janora fanning herself, "did things not go well?" Ell sat down with a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, "It was a perfectly pleasant meeting and Branch was quite nice...which is the problem because that means the...that means my information was incorrect." As the young man began to relate the details of the meeting, Ranunkel wandered over to the bar and spoke to the dwarven barmistress about some lunch. He returned just in time to hear Ell say, "According to Branch, the Thri-Kreen are basically the best neighbors you could have." Jilken barked a laugh, "Well maybe...if you don't have anything the Hive wants. They can be just as bloodthirsty and determined as anyone else when they feel the colony needs to expand. They will be your best friends, right up to the point where they decide that you have resources they need." "So," began Ell, "do you think the Thri-Kreen would have anything to do with this rumor? Maybe it's something political?" "I don't think so," said Denye shaking her head, "It doesn't really sound like what Jilken was describing. This sounds more like if the Queen decided she wanted your city, she would just send troops to take it." Jilken nodded in agreement, "Your average bug has some personality, but all of their desires and drives are focused on the good of the Hive and they follow their Queen without question. And even if the Queen would consider such subterfuge she would have no reason to try it here...she already owns this town." Ell sighed and threw up his hands, "You are probably right. I guess I'm done here." Under his breath he muttered, "And we'll find out what happens when I fail to complete another job." Over lunch Jilken refreshed everyone on the basics of desert travel and reminded them that she would have to teach them to walk again for the sand, but that it would be easier to do so once they were actually on the sand. As everyone finished she stood up excitedly and reached for one of the water skins, "No time like the present, it will take a couple of hours walking to get out of the pass. Should put us there just about sunset...I've always loved the desert at sunset." Shaking her head, Jilken added, "Then I figure a good hike into the sands and we should be able to make it to a waystation I know." "If we're going to be traveling at night," said Janora, "I'm not sure how much the raven will want to fly. Give me a few moments to switch mounts." The witch went outside to begin casting her spell once more and by the time the rest of the party had gathered, Janora had called up the Mountain Goat. Jilken led the party down the road, out of town and toward the looming wall. Before they had gone twenty steps, Vellikar suddenly became nervous and cast Disguise Self, changing his appearance to that of a human, the jackalope still riding in a sling across his chest. The wall that cut off this pass was 30ft high with crenelations and ran from sheer mountain wall to the other. Aiel warriors could be seen patrolling along the 150-200ft wall. A single gate, easily 20ft tall was placed where the road intersected the wall. As the party approached, the gates were open and another wagon train was emerging from the far side, while eight Aiel guards with spears stood watching. As they walked, Janora asked, "Genuinely, what are they guarding against? All the sentient people we've met don't seem like that big of threats." "Invaders," replied Jilken with a shrug, "You never know. Things change...it wasn't more than a handful of generations ago that the Thri-Kreen tried to invade our desert. They weren't the first and likely won't be the last either" "Oh," said Janora snidely, "Tradition." Denye trilled a laugh and said, "Looks to me like they are guarding against modernity." Jilken blushed slightly and ducked her head a bit, "You aren't far wrong. There are quite a few things that could be changed...that's part of the reason I am out here." The fighter had timed her steps well and as they neared the gate, the last of the wagons had rumbled past and half of the guards had returned inside. All four stepped forward, spears raised as the team approached. Over the link, Jilken said, "Stop here, let me do the talking for a moment." As she did so, she stepped forward, hands empty and held at waist height and said in Aiel (a dialect of Elvish), "I am Jilken Jesop, daughter and Shieldmaiden of Sietch Fernis and I stand before you under the One. I and my Amela'bat'shaidar have business upon the sands of my birthright, may we pass?" Before any of the guards could speak, a voice from above called, “Oy Jilken, is that you?” She looked up, shading her eyes, but the figure had already vanished behind the wall. A few moments later, a tall elven male with Aiel features and a scar over his right cheek, wearing a short cape on one shoulder, came out the gate, “So you have not drowned yet?" "You have know idea how many times that has almost come true," replied Jilken with a small smile. She gave him a complicated bow (equal to equal), "Kendel Umeran, it is good to see a familiar face." Kendel returned the bow (Protector to Maiden), "It is good to see you as well, have you decided to return to the desert and your home to take up your place?" Jilken blew out a breath, "Well, to pass through the desert certainly, but I'm not entirely sure if we will make it to Fenris on this trip. I have found some of what I sought...and larger problems than could be believed and on that business we must cross the Muspati." "You keep saying we," said Kendel with a furrowed brow, "surely you don't mean these Outsiders?" Jilken nodded, "Outsiders they may be, but all are Amela'bat'shaidar to me and I will vouch for them all. Let me make them know to you as is proper." Switching back to Common, Jilken began introducing each of the party members." The Aiel centurion looked skeptical as she did so and spent a long time staring at the giant mountain goat. "Are you sure this is wise? I know that Outsiders are permitted on the trade road, but you cannot guard them alone." Janora growled a bit under her breath before straightening her hat and glaring daggers at Kendel. Jilken nodded her head, "I tell you twice that I vouch for all of them. We are on a mission and need to get to the Northern Teeth as quickly as possible...which means we need to cross the desert." "So you are planning to..." began Kendel before trailing off, wide-eyed in shock. "I tell you a third time and be done," said Jilken firmly, "On my honor, they are Amela'bat'shaidar and will walk the sands with respect to the homeland." Kendel held up his hands in surrender, "I shall not stand in your way, but I will have to report this of course." Waving a hand to the other guards, they relaxed once more and moved out of the gate. Jilken flashed him her teeth in what could charitably be called a smile, "That's fine. If anyone wants to find me, we're heading directly for the Northern Teeth and will be working our way south. I'm sure the Reverend Mothers will be interested." Waving her own hand, the party followed her through the gate. About 10 paces past the gate, Denye stopped and turned back to look up at Kenel Umeran and asked, "So who is vouching for you?" Without waiting for an answer, the Corva wizard whirled around and ran to catch up with the others. The other side of the gate was almost a different world than the solid imposing face of the sheer wall. Stairs and platforms crisscrossed the walls and there appeared to be rooms and buildings carved into the rock walls of the pass and a sea of tents, large and small filled large portions of space on either side of the road. Jilken began laughing heartily at Denye's comment and led the party on a brisk pace down the road, past most of the tents. Spotting a banner waving outside one tent, Jilken told the others to wait there and then ducked inside. She returned a few minutes later with four, 3-4ft poles with strange paddle-like hooks strapped to her pack. "Okay, now we are ready to head out into the desert. Let get moving and I'll show you want I mean about walking." And with that, the Aiel elf turned and started following the road eastward toward the desert. The team walked for another 20-30 minutes until they well and truly out of sight of the camp. At this point sand had begun to pile up in windswept corners and trailed in whirling patterns across the road. Jilken smiled at the sight and called a halt to the party. "So this won't be all that easy at first," admitted Jilken, "but it will get easier with practice and vital if you are to walk upon the Muspati. The key is to not walk in a rhythmic pattern, like so." Jilken demonstrated what she meant, taking a step normally, before coming down on tiptoe with the other foot, and then dragging the first foot forward. As the others began to try to mimic the Aiel way, Denye asked, "Why exactly is this so important?" "There is a large subterrain predator," explained Jilken, "and they are drawn to rhythmic sounds like footsteps. So we walk this way as to not draw the attention of the behel'kaa." Janora who had been sitting on the back of her mountain goat suddenly cursed as she realized that there was no way the steed could move like what Jilken was describing. "How common are these things?" Jilken shrugged, "They don't like rocks, so around here, never. But once we get out a ways, and especially once we get into the deep desert they will be around. They have fantastic senses and you almost never know one is near until it's too late...so it's generally better to be safe than sorry." Janora slid off the goat and looked down at her heavy boots before sighing, "I'm not even sure I know how to walk quietly." "Quiet isn't really the issue," assured Jilken, "there are plenty of sounds in the desert; sand being blown around by the wind, rocks falling, even other creatures. The important bit is to not walk rhythmically. I know that it is difficult at first, but if even our children can learn it, I'm sure you all will get it. This is a good place to practice...we've got at least 25-30 miles to walk before we're onto the open sands." Janora sighed again and shook her head before taking the packs off the mountain goat. Laying a hand on its nose, the witch dismissed the steed before shouldering the packs and began walking as Jilken had shown them. Several of the party picked it up quite quickly, although all of them had to spend a lot more time concentrating on their footing than they were used to. Jilken kept them on a brisk pace and as the Aiel had predicted, it was shortly before sunset when they emerged from the pass and everyone got their first look at the Muspati desert. The trade road turned and headed north along the edge of the mountians, but Jilken dismissed it completely, taking in the sight of her homeland. The sun was dropping behind the Spine and the sky was a riot of reds and orange that cast long shadows over everything. Rock outcroppings were visible in the near distance and there were occasional scrubby looking bushes and clumps of black-bladed grass scattered around, but beyond that it was only open, rolling dunes of sand all the way to the horizon. Janora cursed once more, "You told us about the desert, but I assumed you were exaggerating." "No," replied Jilken, "you all come from a wet, comfortable land that could drown you with the summer air or rainshowers. Here it is survival on the edge of a knife, but there is also a beauty and a peace to the rolling sands." Denye nodded, "I agree, it has a stark beauty...almost like a blank canvas. Anything could be out there." Jilken chuckled at that, "Aye, there is more than meets the eye, so keep your eyes up and watching." With that, Jilken turned and began leading them out into the desert, stopping near one of the clumps of grass to pull out a few stalks, Jilken absently began chewing on the roots as she walked.
The party traveled for several hours into the night as the stars burned brightly overhead and Rilar appeared, no more than a waning sliver of a crescent. Once the stars had fully come out, Jilken began checking the sky and calculating the party's location and direction and adjusted their course appropriately. As the party crossed between two rocky strips, piled high with sand, Ranunkel spotted a beast looking over the top of one. The head was cat-like, but was on a long flexible neck and covered in yellows scales like a snake. The dwarf had just enough time to call out a warning to Jilken before the beast leapt for her. Vellikar backed away and laid a hand protectively on the jackalope. Tear leapt and rolled to the right to get a better line of sight and fired the force pistol as the serpopard pounced. The force blast hit and was followed quickly by two arrows from Jilken. That was enough to disrupt it slightly and neither the bite or the claws caught the elf. Ranunkel pointed his staff and shot a thick bolt of lighting at the beast, but it was too quickly and so missed the bulk of the strike. As the serpopard squealed in pain, another of the beasts appeared around the edge of the dune and charged at the party. Ell cast Guidance on Denye as two more appeared on top of the other bluff and leapt down. One wasn't near any of the party, but the other landed next to both Ranunkel and Janora. It bit the stone druid in the shoulder before whirling and lashing out with both claws at the witch. Denye took a step back, saying "Cover your eyes." Lifting her talons, she cast Fireball and sent a glowing bead of light into the center of the fight. Jilken, Ell, and Ranunkel were briefly surrounded by shields of glowing golden light as the inferno exploded with a loud *WOMP*. As the fire vanished, leaving a glassy crater, Janora quickly cast Armor of Agathys on herself. All of the surrounding moisture in the air suddenly coalesced into shards of ice covering her shoulders and arms as she quickly backed away to stand next to Vellikar. The serpopard swiped a claw at her as she did, but it was still reeling from the Fireball and was too slow. Seeing that these creatures were a genuine threat, Vellikar pointed a finger toward the edge of the fused sand and cast Erupting Earth. The sand within a 20ft square shot up into the air as did a number of loose rocks and other debris that had been buried. The first serpopard, already weakened, wasn't fast enough to escape the blast and flew up into the air before falling to the ground unmoving. Tear of Midnight Sorrow fired two more force blasts at the nearest monster as Jilken fired two more bolts at one of the others. The first one caught the beast in the throat, but the second bounced off a scale. With a muttered word from Jilken, and a flick of her finger, the second shot adjusted course and caught the other serpopard in the eye, driving straight into the beast's brain. Ell leaned around Ranunkel and fired off two Eldritch Blasts at the monster menacing the dwarf. Both stuck home and the beast went flying into the rocky dune and as the serpopard picked itself up and turned it's gaze upon Ell. Rushing forward the sepopard spit a thick, black glob of something that smelled both rotten and musky that filled the air in an arc. Ell managed to back out of range, but both Denye and Ranunkel were covered in the foul smelling goo. The other serpopard ran at Jilken and attacked. The Aiel blocked the bite with the heavy crossbow and dodged the first claw strike, but the second caught her on her right thigh. Grinning back at the monster, the fighter sent a jolt of lightning up to the beast and it's muscles locked up for a moment. Denye held out her wings in disgused as she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her. "These things need to die," she declared, "no one should have to smell like this." Throwing her claws up the wizard created another ball of flame, this one a Flaming Sphere and sent it to slam into the two creatures. Carefully she backed out of the cloud of funk and away from the other party members. Janora coughed at the smell before turning her glare on the serpopard who had vomited the cloud and casting Withering Gaze, weaving in a muttered curse of pain. The poor beast froze for a second before it's eyes rolled back and it fell to the ground, scared to death. Vellikar moved over to stand next to Janora and saying, "Let me do something about those slash marks," laid a hand on the witch's shoulder and cast Cure Wounds. Jilken meanwhile had dropped the bow and pulled out her spear. Lunging forward, she struck the beast at the base of the throat and then levered the blade up, slicing the serpopard open before jamming the tip into it's brain. With the immediate threat to the party eliminated, attention turned to the aftermath, particularly the two covered in the musky goo. After a brief conversation the party decided to take a short rest and give the two time to scrub themselves clean. It took most of the water, but that meant the packs were lighter and Jilken suggested waiting to refill them until they got to the waypoint. While Denye and Ranunkel were vigorously cleaning, Jilken skinned and cleaned two of the beasts, collecting another 40lbs of meat.
9 Sov'van
The party had made good time, all things being considered and an hour or so after dawn, Jilken led the party up into a largish rock outcropping and into an open cave inside. Janora sets up the Tiny Hut and they settle in for the day. The next evening, as Tear cooked some of the meat, Jilken explained a bit more about what riding the worm would entail. Denye was able to Create Food and Water, refilling the waterskins. Jilken directed them to pack up the food and bring them out onto the sands. After sending the others to wait at the top of a nearby dune, the Aiel warrior activated one of the thumping rods and thrust it into the sand among the food. As the rod released a series of deep bass drum beats, Jilken began a structured and rhythmic ritual dance around the pile, including striking the ground with the hilt of her spear. Finishing her dance, Jilken ran over and positioned herself near the others. A minute or so later a wave of sand appeared on the horizon approaching quickly. As it neared it vanished into the sand before an enormous worm burst out of the ground, swallowing the rod, food, and quite a bit of sand. It landed back down on the sands and Jilken ran forward, clambering up the side of the beast and setting her riding hooks, began another dance to communicate with the great worm. After a moment, the worm came to a stop before moving forward once more and turning under Jilken’s directions. Setting some anchor points, Jilken dropped the ropes down the side, the signal for the others to run forward and clamber up. Tear and Ranunkel with short legs stumbled a bit but everyone managed to get up to the top and settled in for the ride as Jilken turned the worm eastward and a bit north.Character(s) interacted with
Branch of the Roaring Lake (he/him, tortoiseshell Tabaxi - Warehouse Owner in Jaxal
Kendel Umeran (he/him, Aiel) - Centurion at the Niaton Pass
Kendel Umeran (he/him, Aiel) - Centurion at the Niaton Pass
