Turn 84 – Towards Lost Scale
Talbot's eyes narrow down even more if that were possible and his forehead wrinkles in thought, "Never! Never stranger go Lost Scale with weapons while I alive. You give weapons, all and we travel with you. If no, you go no more!" The saurian seems adamant and the two riders with the four worms approach the party as they see their leader agitated and hear him raising his voice…
Mendi nodded at Talbot, and said: "I UndeRRRstand... uouRR teRRRMs... KoRReTh and Gaigin will keep their daGGeRRsss... Ptellac tells me you ARRR gRReat waRRRRRioRRSSS, so I'm not afRRaid of beasts, but one neveRR nowZ. What say You?"
The pterran's tongue darts in and out before his tooth-filled maw opens and harsh sounding words spew forth, "You no give weapons then you no go. Beasts are trained and only attack two times…when me tell them or when hungry. You be good, me no tell attack." The pterran points toward the beast that had given its rider trouble a while back and told the party, "Stay away from that worm…only one very hungry." The pterran seemed to cough and his eyes lit up only for a moment leaving the party in doubts whether he was serious or not. His demeanor changed drastically once more as he demanded the weapons again, "If you Ptellac friend, we take care of you and weapon returned later in village. Now give all weapons!"
Elric's hands instinctively went to the hilts of his short swords. Their familiar weight had been with him since he had left home. The day seemed fresh in his mind as Elric remembered that it was indeed not to far in the past. Elric had left his childhood home, a traveling caravan of entertainers, to roam the desert with a group of nomads. It wasn't long before he had found his way to Tyr. His time with the Rhau Tribe of nomads, short as it was, had taught him many things. One of the first lessons learned in the harsh waste of the Tyr region was never, under any circumstances leave your weapons far from hand.
Yet Mendi had already offered his weapons in good faith. With a slow hand Elric reached for his weapons belt and stopped. Once again he looked up to take in Talbot's measure, along with that of the giant snakes. With a sigh of resignation, Elric stepped forward and began to add his many daggers and bone short swords to the pile Mendi had started. Stepping back from the weapons his hand on the hilt of Tempest, still strapped to his waist. Elric give a small hand gesture cupping air to his thigh. Whisper moved from behind him to stand at his side, eyes alert. Silently he thanked the elements that his stand would not be ruined by a stubborn tagster.
Looking straight forward to Talbot "I have relinquished all my weapons as asked, save one. At my side I carry Tempest, the Storms Fury. I have taken on this burden in honor and will not allow myself to soil that honor. The weapon stays with me or as you say I go no further."
Before Talbot had the time to answer in anger, Mendi interjected in a placating tone: "PeRRRhapz Elric can tie it to dze scabaRRRd? So zzzat you RRest in peace?"
Elric cuts Mendi a hard look, one not seen often on the face of the carefree half-elf. A moment passes as the warlock contemplates his honor bound oath to carry Tempest. Finding compromise more alluring than bringing trouble to the Pack, Elric nods slowly to Mendi and relaxes his stance if but somewhat. "That would be acceptable, I have a bit of leather from my old cloak. I can use that to tie the blade into the scabard. I am sure our host have ample skill to turn me into mince meat before I could clear Tempest from the scabbard."
"Honor will only get you into trouble," Koreth muttered, almost to himself as he watched the half-elf argue over having to give up his new sword, he then spoke up "the sword is no doubt valuable and in your place I would not be quick to give it up, but there is no choice. We are going into their land. Honor or not, you have to obey their laws. We will all have to."
Talbot's eyes narrow to two yellow slits in anger as he confers quickly with his brawny mate. The young pterran approaches Elric with a determined walk that could only mean trouble. His free hand clenched at his side and his polearm carried with an ease that told of proficient use. Violence and possible death hung in the air and walked closer to the warlock by the second. "Halt!", Talbot's voice broke the spell. Again conversation issued back and forth between the two pterrans as the other two rider on top of the snakes listened intently. Gaigin and Mendi caught only words of the fast talk, "…honor…special weapon…think of your own 'sluga'" The youth seemed adamant, "…no weapons…danger…protect village…I watch him close." Finally Talbot spoke again, "You only one keep weapon. Pingo tie sword and he watch you. You walk separate from party."
Before he could disagree, the tall pterran was tying the sword and doing a very good job at it. Right after he finished, Elric was herded towards the western flank and Pingo called his snake over. The snake was released and quickly slithered towards its master without making any noise. The beast dipped its head and quickly came up again with a pterran rider on top. Elric noticed that the youth did not strap himself in as the other riders were, Pingo placed his polearm in his scabbard and grabbed two javelins, the red and purple blood stains standing out along its otherwise white shaft told of past uses.
Koreth slowly unbuckles his heavy bone sword. He looks upon it almost sadly as he set it down along with his spear and pair of wrist razors. He didn't pay much attention to the half-elf's response to his words.
Elric always had to have the last word it seemed, that didn't mean that he had to listen to it. Koreth tries to hide his smile as he looks over towards Elric and his mangy cat with personal guard.
<Blood and bloody ashes, laying down our weapons is one thing, but I'll not give up my shield!> the noble warrior thinks defensively <I may not be able to put up much of a fight, but I'll not give up the right to defend myself!>
Koreth watched somberly as the others in the group disarmed themselves. He understood the pterrans' reasoning, even if he disliked it. The noble warrior consoled himself with the fact that life could only get better after this mission. He would have a purse heavy with coins, a shield that bore some form of magic, and the knowledge that he was more a man than his father thought he was. He could once again search for his sister....
Gaigin shrugged quietly, scooping his weapons off the ground and tying them in a quick bundle. He handled all with great care, despite their flaws and slipshod craftsmanship. Taking the final bundle, Gaigin slipped a scrap of shark's hide free of its binding and wrapped it about his collection of weapons. Taking the final product carefully in both hands, he eyed the Pterrans, choosing the one who looked toughest and most suspicious, the leader, Talbot. Gaigin gave the Pterran commander a stony glare as he carefully passed the bundle up to the warrior.
"CarRe, with weaponss , will be taken, yess? OrR harrd worrrds we weell be havings in Lost Scale, yess? A warRiorrs life, hiss weaponss arRe."
Talbot matches Gaigin's gaze without faltering, "Care be taken with weapons." He looks at the shoddy obsidian battleaxe and sighs, "Pterran warrior proud of his weapon. We take care of weapon but appears you no do. This axe never survive the great lizard hunt."
Ignoring the Pterran's return glare, Gaigin stretched and took a swig from his waterskin, eyeing the big wyrms and their pterran masters. There shouldn't be any problems, as long as Ptellac was where he should be tomorrow.
Gaigin crouched over his waterskin, waiting for the strange caravan to get moving. Elric and Mendi had argued with the Pterrans over Elric's sword. Gaigin shook his head, deciding not to step in. As a former guard, Gaigin agreed whole heartedly with the Pterrans petition and was surprised with final decision. What use to take away his little wooden club, or Tak's daggers, yet leave the party's most powerful weapon in the hands of one who knew well how to use its powers. Still, Gaigin couldn't help rooting silently for the young warlock. Since the Pterrans did agree to the leather bindings, and trouble did hit, Gaigin could have those bindings free quick enough with his own obsidian razor. At least then Elric could defend himself.
Gaigin watched carefully how the Pterrans perceived Elric's being "Honor Bound." In Tyr, Templars would be rolling in the streets howling with laughter over that one, despite the warlock's seriousness. But Gaigin
suspected these Pterrans were more honorable creatures. Gaigin took another sip of water and sat down to wait.
While Talbot spoke, the harsh Pterran dialect unintelligible to Tak’s ears, the halfling concentrated on more than mere words. The body language of the Pterran was clear – he was defensive, and cautious. These traits, while not friendly at the moment were not to be derided. There were some things that warranted caution – safety of family and race was reason enough.
Would this Talbot provide safe passage? Tak’ felt in his gut that things he would – but he would check further, just to be sure…
MINDSCAPE:
Tak’ let his Will fill him, exhaling sharply as his awareness of the mindscape grew. It was always a feeling of exhilaration - as if for a small moment he was able to see the world as it truly was, not blind to half of
existence.
His companions were arrayed about him, their mental forms in various states of illumination. But it was Talbot he was interested in, and Talbot he approached. Pouring his energy and concentration into his work, Tak’ focused the light around Talbot, trying to examine the intent and character of the Pterran. Past actions and deeds left a mark on the mindscape, a faint one to be sure, but one that a talented mindbender could find and analyze.
Talbot's aura was strange indeed, while it was strong and distinct it seemed red and violent sometimes covered by the colors that Tak had learned to identify of pure of deed and heart. The halfling was perplexed, the closest thing he had seen was the aura of an old halfling rumored to have committed evil deeds in his youth who had somehow repented himself. For a moment Tak was unsure but then the color of pure deeds and heart washed over the pterran and shimmered in place letting other colors be seen momentarily.
THE PHYSICAL WORLD:
Tak’ returned to the physical world, the only sign of his effort a faint sheen on his brow and a distant look in his eyes for a moment. The conversation between the Pterran leader and the party continued for a short
while and stopped.
Mendi had translated Talbot's terms to the party, and Tak’ immediately nodded to his companions. "Ptellac has shown us some of the Pterran way – and this Talbot is of the same mold. I feel we will be safe under his custody – this is merely part of culture and custom – designed to keep his people safe."
With that, Tak’ unslung his shortbow, placing it on the ground in front of him along with his quiver. Next came his spear, its feathered head and carved shaft lain down reverently by the halfling. Finally Tak’ pulled his daggers from his belt, the ancient life-dagger, and the two made of hard-won Sloth-tooth. The collection made quite a pile – Athas was a place that demanded preparedness.
Tak’ felt far from unarmed. He was able to crush most opponents with his mind alone, and had been taught ways to fight without weapons. He was confident of his actions, and respectful of his custodians. So it was with a high head Tak’ walked - alert and proud of himself and his heritage.
WALKING AGAIN
The strange party lost itself into the afternoon sun and the scrublands did not change all that much; while it wasn't as lush as the jungle they just traversed, it did sport short, sparse, yellow grasses, and even clumps of trees near the mud-water holes. Many a character breathed easier with a load of their backs but they tended to stay together for protection. The main party walked in the middle outflanked by two riders while the other riders were in back and front respectively. Elric and Whisper walked a distance away from the party being flanked by the over anxious pterran youth who had taken his duty rather seriously. It would take Elric's dexterity and then some to get away from the snake and the javelins. The afternoon bore off without any surprises but conversation was maintained amongst the respective groups.
Night quickly overtook the groups and camp was setup. The riders brought the snakes together and took turns keeping watch over them. The other three pterrans joined the group in an amiable way as most of the harsh treatment had been left behind as Talbot started to trust the mammalians a little bit more. The pterrans broke their saddle bags and brought dried fruits and salted meats out to share with the group.
The pterrans noticed the strange armor and armament that the group possessed: spears made from chitin, weapons made from shiny black crystal, Koreth's shield with the strange red, flying lizard and Tak's bone daggers. What caught his attention the most were the light, yet surprisingly strong chitin plates Gaigin and Rayne had. Talbot addressed the group in his broken common, "You travel far, tell me, what is behind the endless rocky badlands where snakes no go?"
Your actions…
OUT OF CHARACTER
HEALTH STATUS
Remember the scale:
Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining
Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining
Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining
Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining
Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining
Gaigin (H)
Koreth (H)
Ayrus (H)
Tak (H), (SiW)
Rayne (H)
Mendi (H)
Elric (H)
Whisper (H)
GENERAL
Please roleplay the following.
Next turn will have you meet up with Ptellac for sure.
Questions, comments, and suggestions please.
L8r,
Fabian