Approaching Phrada your group exchanges various bits of information you have acquired, mostly through Mehdi.
The city is ruled by a Council of Tyrants. They are reputed to be just rulers. The merchant family of Tissaphrenes dominates much of the city’s trade. Eskander’s Legion, a mounted mercenary regiment, calls the city home. Once fabulously wealthy, the city is in an accelerating decline. With the region’s primary north-south trade route now going through the Sind Killers, the caravans of days past are few. The sack a Saeedah-Bel, the next city north of Phrada and a vital link on the Path of Riches, a decade ago appears to be the seal on Phrada’s fate.
At the Lion’s gate, adorned by two carved lions facing each other, your band is eagerly eyed by tax men. They are quickly discouraged by the letter of introduction you fortuitously acquired the previous day. Your tale of the dead camp of Metazernes is received with great pleasure, the guards seem not to notice when you say the slavers were eliminated before your arrival. Their hard stares dissolve into back-slaps, smiles, and invitations to “down a few” when you can. Runners scurry off to inform the appropriate officials of the welcome news. Also, you quickly learn that a large contingent of Jehna’s population is finding shelter within the city wall.
Inside the city, you find its residential areas amazingly empty. It is recalled that Mehdi once mentioned that the city can hold twice the number of people who now live in it.
Reaching the slum set aside for Jehna’s refugees brings relief and sadness. Indeed, some of you are reminded of the squalor in which the orcs subsisting outside Jehna’s wall lived. The refugees have food and shelter, but only just. They are mostly women, children, the old and infirmed. Trash, growing foul in the hot sun, lines the streets.
An overwhelmed Aeschylus, Cato’s fellow servant of Avasara, is the first familiar face you meet. He seems both relieved and crushed at Naraka’s return. Cato’s patient lessons bear fruit when Naraka approaches Aeschylus and grips the symbol hanging from the young man’s neck.
“I….to learn….of…..Avasara,” he slowly sounds out. Aeshchylus’s tears fall without shame. He has his former master led off, to be initiated into the service of the Creator.
News of your family, friends, and other people of concern comes first.
Deinon’s fate is unknown.
Alexandra, with a letter penned by Deinon, was received at the home of Kamshad Tissaphrenes. She is staying there in comfort, guarded by the long-serving Cyrus.
Equlia resides within the hastily established Sanctum serving the refugee community. Her reason has returned, but she is troubled by fits of violent shaking during which she screams aloud names, Arrousha’s speech, and occasionally bits of disturbing, oddly phrased poetry. In her lucid moments she insist the names are those souls being sucked in the Abyss following sacrifice. The language of the poetry has been identified as Abyssal; its meanings are praises to Sin. Her habit of spontaneously shouting “traitor god” after the mention of Avasara’s name is generating some hostility among the refugees. At times she can be heard muttering, “the best among us did not survive.” Another common utterance is Athanatos, Ionian for immortal. She denies any knowledge of such statements.
Just in view of where you stand, Bull sits legless in front of a ramshackle building whose roof may or may not be intact.
It is known that qadi Diyala and Emar Hazar were killed. Ismail and his Wearers of White went to make Epiphilates and his supporters pay in blood for their treachery, but exactly who in both groups was killed is unknown. It is well known that Thulyaar and the Paree were massacred before Jehna was opened to the enemy.
With the exception of Pardu Afrid, Jehna’s leadership is in the mountains with their warriors. Word is the Ghinn are constructing fortifications along the opening where the Darya River exits the mountains.
Catrika and Yasmeen the Fars are reputed to be living in a house near Phrada’s White Sanctum. Aeschylus notes that Zakariyah the Sanctist of the White Sanctum, has been greatly involved in feeding Jehna’s refugees, but his Redeemer views are at odds with Naraka’s teachings.
Your return is hailed among the refugees. Within moments of your greeting Aeschylus, Cato -the well-known servant of Avasara- and Cyris -the gate guard- are surrounded by well-wishers. Ajax too, is recognized by some and receives a few back-slaps. When it is learned that Tariq is with you, the good-will is extended to him as well.
Your defeat of the Ghinn at the tower is met with applause, the tale of your escape from Malficiance also generates a measure of happiness in these people who have been denied any good news for some time.
Pardu Afrid proclaims you all “of my house.” This statement confers upon you honorary membership in his tribe. He expresses his sincere hope you will fight at his side in the upcoming struggle and then goes off to see to his people. Leeya is also greeted by several unfamiliar members of the Nefrat tribe, and after her tale is related, they look upon Ajax with respect. You receive offers of accommodations from them.
Aeschylus has the mindless survivors taken to the building that serves as a Sanctum. You note that it is already spilling over with those in need of compassion.
Slowly, the crowd dissolves and –under a sun rising to its zenith-you are left to decide your course of action.
The city is ruled by a Council of Tyrants. They are reputed to be just rulers. The merchant family of Tissaphrenes dominates much of the city’s trade. Eskander’s Legion, a mounted mercenary regiment, calls the city home. Once fabulously wealthy, the city is in an accelerating decline. With the region’s primary north-south trade route now going through the Sind Killers, the caravans of days past are few. The sack a Saeedah-Bel, the next city north of Phrada and a vital link on the Path of Riches, a decade ago appears to be the seal on Phrada’s fate.
At the Lion’s gate, adorned by two carved lions facing each other, your band is eagerly eyed by tax men. They are quickly discouraged by the letter of introduction you fortuitously acquired the previous day. Your tale of the dead camp of Metazernes is received with great pleasure, the guards seem not to notice when you say the slavers were eliminated before your arrival. Their hard stares dissolve into back-slaps, smiles, and invitations to “down a few” when you can. Runners scurry off to inform the appropriate officials of the welcome news. Also, you quickly learn that a large contingent of Jehna’s population is finding shelter within the city wall.
Inside the city, you find its residential areas amazingly empty. It is recalled that Mehdi once mentioned that the city can hold twice the number of people who now live in it.
Reaching the slum set aside for Jehna’s refugees brings relief and sadness. Indeed, some of you are reminded of the squalor in which the orcs subsisting outside Jehna’s wall lived. The refugees have food and shelter, but only just. They are mostly women, children, the old and infirmed. Trash, growing foul in the hot sun, lines the streets.
An overwhelmed Aeschylus, Cato’s fellow servant of Avasara, is the first familiar face you meet. He seems both relieved and crushed at Naraka’s return. Cato’s patient lessons bear fruit when Naraka approaches Aeschylus and grips the symbol hanging from the young man’s neck.
“I….to learn….of…..Avasara,” he slowly sounds out. Aeshchylus’s tears fall without shame. He has his former master led off, to be initiated into the service of the Creator.
News of your family, friends, and other people of concern comes first.
Deinon’s fate is unknown.
Alexandra, with a letter penned by Deinon, was received at the home of Kamshad Tissaphrenes. She is staying there in comfort, guarded by the long-serving Cyrus.
Equlia resides within the hastily established Sanctum serving the refugee community. Her reason has returned, but she is troubled by fits of violent shaking during which she screams aloud names, Arrousha’s speech, and occasionally bits of disturbing, oddly phrased poetry. In her lucid moments she insist the names are those souls being sucked in the Abyss following sacrifice. The language of the poetry has been identified as Abyssal; its meanings are praises to Sin. Her habit of spontaneously shouting “traitor god” after the mention of Avasara’s name is generating some hostility among the refugees. At times she can be heard muttering, “the best among us did not survive.” Another common utterance is Athanatos, Ionian for immortal. She denies any knowledge of such statements.
Just in view of where you stand, Bull sits legless in front of a ramshackle building whose roof may or may not be intact.
It is known that qadi Diyala and Emar Hazar were killed. Ismail and his Wearers of White went to make Epiphilates and his supporters pay in blood for their treachery, but exactly who in both groups was killed is unknown. It is well known that Thulyaar and the Paree were massacred before Jehna was opened to the enemy.
With the exception of Pardu Afrid, Jehna’s leadership is in the mountains with their warriors. Word is the Ghinn are constructing fortifications along the opening where the Darya River exits the mountains.
Catrika and Yasmeen the Fars are reputed to be living in a house near Phrada’s White Sanctum. Aeschylus notes that Zakariyah the Sanctist of the White Sanctum, has been greatly involved in feeding Jehna’s refugees, but his Redeemer views are at odds with Naraka’s teachings.
Your return is hailed among the refugees. Within moments of your greeting Aeschylus, Cato -the well-known servant of Avasara- and Cyris -the gate guard- are surrounded by well-wishers. Ajax too, is recognized by some and receives a few back-slaps. When it is learned that Tariq is with you, the good-will is extended to him as well.
Your defeat of the Ghinn at the tower is met with applause, the tale of your escape from Malficiance also generates a measure of happiness in these people who have been denied any good news for some time.
Pardu Afrid proclaims you all “of my house.” This statement confers upon you honorary membership in his tribe. He expresses his sincere hope you will fight at his side in the upcoming struggle and then goes off to see to his people. Leeya is also greeted by several unfamiliar members of the Nefrat tribe, and after her tale is related, they look upon Ajax with respect. You receive offers of accommodations from them.
Aeschylus has the mindless survivors taken to the building that serves as a Sanctum. You note that it is already spilling over with those in need of compassion.
Slowly, the crowd dissolves and –under a sun rising to its zenith-you are left to decide your course of action.
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