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Dark Days in Sion - Act 3: Scene 3
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<blockquote data-quote="narayan" data-source="post: 7495705" data-attributes="member: 6677509"><p><strong>High in the Great Drakeshvar Valley; Part III</strong></p><p></p><p><em>Ra'd Alim dosed off several times for the remaining few hours of the afternoon. While the sun fell close above the surrounding peaks, Guo Jiang got a fire going and prepared to cook a large catch of fish. Suddenly a strange tone echoed across the lake startling Ra'd Alim from his dozing. He'd recognize that sound anywhere; the pipes of the Djondarma bandits!</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ra'd Alim:</strong> <span style="color: #008080">"BANDITS!"</span></em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> <span style="color: #330099">"Good, they're right on time." </span>He says calmly, producing a strange bronze pipe-whistle from within his garments responding to the call across the lake with a short tone-blast of his own.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ra'd Alim:</strong> <span style="color: #008080">"What are you doing?!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> <span style="color: #330099">"I'm inviting our friends to dinner." </span>He answers</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ra'd Alim:</strong> <span style="color: #008080">"Friends?!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> Nods <span style="color: #330099">"I have spent enough time among the mountain tribes to learn their ways. They gave me one of their whistles as a token of their trust."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Ra'd Alim could hardly believe his ears. All his life the Djonfang spoke with hatred towards the reclusive bandit tribes lurking above them high up in the peaks. Long ago the Djondarma tribes of the mountains and the Djonfang tribes of the valley were related, even friendly with each other. Ancient scrolls and texts within the libraries of the Fortress of the Sovereign indicated a rich history with the so-called 'RajKhan' or Bandit King, including pacts, trade agreements, and extended family ties.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>This close neighborly relationship carried on for centuries before the RajKhan inexplicably declared war against the valley dwellers, sending his tribal warriors forth into battle from the air on trained Wyverns, and from the ground saddled on the backs of sure-footed mountain rams beside shape-changing druids in beastly forms. Though their numbers were not as great as the valley tribes, their surprise attack ensured a terrible slaughter. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Were it not for the dragons who came to call of the Dragon Shamans to defend the Djonfang people, the casualties of that great battle might have equaled the more recent invasion of the Ogre King.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Ra'd Alim:</strong> Glared angrily at the old man with disgust. <span style="color: #008080">"You are a fool!"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> Snorts. "<span style="color: #330099">...Says the young shaman betrayed by his own elders! You must learn to see with fresh eyes and an open mind. The more you think the way they taught you to think, the more likely it is they'll find you and finish the job."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Ra'd Alim turned to stare across the lake, a feeling of dread and discomfort setting into his gut watching a small group of Djondarma paddle across the lake in three hide canoe's. As they draw up to shore, Ra'd Alim counts their number at four, each wearing similar garb of loose long sleeve wool coats called a Chuba. Underneath the Chuba are plain cotton tunics, furred vests of animal skin, or some sort of armored cuirass (usually boiled hide, sometimes studded with iron or reinforced with overlapping steel plates). </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Beneath the Chuba are long woolen breeches tucked into knee-high boots designed to stomp through deep snow and keep out the cold and piercing winds of high altitude lined with fur. Around their waist they wear a sash, tucked with pouches, tools, flint-and-steel, daggers, axes or other weapons.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The overall quality and style of Djondarma garb is cheap and plain compared to the Djonfang, yet some adornment of jewelry fashioned from natural bone, claws, precious metals (silver & gold medallions), and beads (tourquoise, silver, gold) are worn proudly by Djondarma men and women. As often as not, they are known to keep and wear armor, weapons and other valuables captured in ambushes. </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>The most telling garment typically worn by the Djondarma is a stylized embroidered silken scarf, presently pulled up over their noses like a mask. These scarfs are dyed in bright colors and delicately sewn with embroidery, each patterned for a particular tribe and individual families within the tribe. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Ra'd Alim notes the scarfs of these four were very similar, all green with silver embroidery. Three of these four were likely directly related to each other.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The tallest and strongest of these has shoulder-length grey hair tied into braids with a well-used studded leather cuirass, gloves, bracers, and bronze armor caps strapped over his knees stylized in the fashion of rams heads. Across his back is a large hand-and-a-half broadsword with a short sword and a dagger tucked into his sash.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The one with a dissimilar scarf wears a bearskin cloak with very long, nearly white hair draped flowing over his back. A similarly long beard drapes below his scarf. A a boiled hide curiass is worn beneath his Chuba. While he wears no gloves, his boots are softer, more like over-sized moccasins. He carries no steel blades, but holds a long spear tipped with carved antler horn, a polished stone mace, and a long dragonglass dagger (obsidian) tucked through his sash.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The younger pair (probably teenagers), have shorter black hair. One of these youth was quite muscular with a hide cuirass and a shaved head. In his non-gloved hands he holds a heavy hewn-bone battle axe and four stone-tipped javelins slung low on his back. The shorter, leaner one has wilder hair cut at shoulder level, gloved hands tucked into steel bracers clearly visible with arms crossed above a pair of masterwork hand axes (of foreign make). There is also a fine short blow and arrows slung over their shoulder.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> Steps forward to meet the Djondarma as they stand on the beach. Guo Jiang does an serviceable job speaking their old-fashioned dialect of the Djonfang language, albeit with a thick Caishian accent. "<span style="color: #330099">Welcome friends. Please share a meal with us by the fire."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>The one with the braids takes a half-step closer indicating he speaks for the others. </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Djondarma Leader:</strong> Stares over the old Caishians shoulder towards the cart upon which R'ad Alim still sat fuming and beleagured. -Speaking Djondarma Dialect- <span style="color: #696969">"Is he the Djonfang Dragon Shaman you spoke about?" </span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> "<span style="color: #330099">Yes. His name is R'ad Alim."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Djondarma Leader:</strong> <span style="color: #696969">"...Doesn't look much pleased to see us." </span>He comments.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> "<span style="color: #330099">He is seriously injured, and very angry." </span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Djondarma Leader:</strong> <span style="color: #696969">"I will not hesitate to kill him if he attempts to harm us. If that happens, I will still expect you to hold to your end of the agreement."</span> </em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> Nods <span style="color: #330099">"He will cooperate if he hopes to live. Whatever happens, I am a man of my word."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Djondarma Leader:</strong> Nods <span style="color: #696969">"Very well. We will share your fire. Tomorrow at first light we will escort you through the mountains as promised."</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>Guo Jiang:</strong> Bows his head respectfully and gestures for the four to move over near the cart where the the cook fire has been lit within a circle of stones. The leader jerks his head and says something curt to the younger pair who quickly move away, apparently scouting and keeping watch.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>Meanwhile the white-haired Djondarma steps over to the cart to get a better look at you, pulling down his scarf revealing the craggy features of a stubborn old man with two fangs piercing his lower lip. Twenty years ago he would have been very strong indeed, but now much of his bulk has leaned and wrinkled. There is yet much vigor and clarity in his sunken dark eyes as he sizes you up and speaks in a rough slightly tremulous voice.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em><strong>White-Haired Djondarma:</strong> -Speaking Djonfang Dialect with a heavy Djondarma accent- <span style="color: #a9a9a9">"I am Ayuoso. Among my people I am known as 'White Bear'. I am a druid and a healer. If you wish it I can give you something to help you rest and ease your pain?"</span></em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><strong>[R'ad Alim:</strong> What do you do?<strong>]</strong></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="narayan, post: 7495705, member: 6677509"] [B]High in the Great Drakeshvar Valley; Part III[/B] [I]Ra'd Alim dosed off several times for the remaining few hours of the afternoon. While the sun fell close above the surrounding peaks, Guo Jiang got a fire going and prepared to cook a large catch of fish. Suddenly a strange tone echoed across the lake startling Ra'd Alim from his dozing. He'd recognize that sound anywhere; the pipes of the Djondarma bandits! [B]Ra'd Alim:[/B] [COLOR=#008080]"BANDITS!"[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] [COLOR=#330099]"Good, they're right on time." [/COLOR]He says calmly, producing a strange bronze pipe-whistle from within his garments responding to the call across the lake with a short tone-blast of his own. [B]Ra'd Alim:[/B] [COLOR=#008080]"What are you doing?!"[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] [COLOR=#330099]"I'm inviting our friends to dinner." [/COLOR]He answers [B]Ra'd Alim:[/B] [COLOR=#008080]"Friends?!"[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] Nods [COLOR=#330099]"I have spent enough time among the mountain tribes to learn their ways. They gave me one of their whistles as a token of their trust."[/COLOR] Ra'd Alim could hardly believe his ears. All his life the Djonfang spoke with hatred towards the reclusive bandit tribes lurking above them high up in the peaks. Long ago the Djondarma tribes of the mountains and the Djonfang tribes of the valley were related, even friendly with each other. Ancient scrolls and texts within the libraries of the Fortress of the Sovereign indicated a rich history with the so-called 'RajKhan' or Bandit King, including pacts, trade agreements, and extended family ties. This close neighborly relationship carried on for centuries before the RajKhan inexplicably declared war against the valley dwellers, sending his tribal warriors forth into battle from the air on trained Wyverns, and from the ground saddled on the backs of sure-footed mountain rams beside shape-changing druids in beastly forms. Though their numbers were not as great as the valley tribes, their surprise attack ensured a terrible slaughter. Were it not for the dragons who came to call of the Dragon Shamans to defend the Djonfang people, the casualties of that great battle might have equaled the more recent invasion of the Ogre King. [B]Ra'd Alim:[/B] Glared angrily at the old man with disgust. [COLOR=#008080]"You are a fool!"[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] Snorts. "[COLOR=#330099]...Says the young shaman betrayed by his own elders! You must learn to see with fresh eyes and an open mind. The more you think the way they taught you to think, the more likely it is they'll find you and finish the job."[/COLOR] Ra'd Alim turned to stare across the lake, a feeling of dread and discomfort setting into his gut watching a small group of Djondarma paddle across the lake in three hide canoe's. As they draw up to shore, Ra'd Alim counts their number at four, each wearing similar garb of loose long sleeve wool coats called a Chuba. Underneath the Chuba are plain cotton tunics, furred vests of animal skin, or some sort of armored cuirass (usually boiled hide, sometimes studded with iron or reinforced with overlapping steel plates). Beneath the Chuba are long woolen breeches tucked into knee-high boots designed to stomp through deep snow and keep out the cold and piercing winds of high altitude lined with fur. Around their waist they wear a sash, tucked with pouches, tools, flint-and-steel, daggers, axes or other weapons. The overall quality and style of Djondarma garb is cheap and plain compared to the Djonfang, yet some adornment of jewelry fashioned from natural bone, claws, precious metals (silver & gold medallions), and beads (tourquoise, silver, gold) are worn proudly by Djondarma men and women. As often as not, they are known to keep and wear armor, weapons and other valuables captured in ambushes. The most telling garment typically worn by the Djondarma is a stylized embroidered silken scarf, presently pulled up over their noses like a mask. These scarfs are dyed in bright colors and delicately sewn with embroidery, each patterned for a particular tribe and individual families within the tribe. Ra'd Alim notes the scarfs of these four were very similar, all green with silver embroidery. Three of these four were likely directly related to each other. The tallest and strongest of these has shoulder-length grey hair tied into braids with a well-used studded leather cuirass, gloves, bracers, and bronze armor caps strapped over his knees stylized in the fashion of rams heads. Across his back is a large hand-and-a-half broadsword with a short sword and a dagger tucked into his sash. The one with a dissimilar scarf wears a bearskin cloak with very long, nearly white hair draped flowing over his back. A similarly long beard drapes below his scarf. A a boiled hide curiass is worn beneath his Chuba. While he wears no gloves, his boots are softer, more like over-sized moccasins. He carries no steel blades, but holds a long spear tipped with carved antler horn, a polished stone mace, and a long dragonglass dagger (obsidian) tucked through his sash. The younger pair (probably teenagers), have shorter black hair. One of these youth was quite muscular with a hide cuirass and a shaved head. In his non-gloved hands he holds a heavy hewn-bone battle axe and four stone-tipped javelins slung low on his back. The shorter, leaner one has wilder hair cut at shoulder level, gloved hands tucked into steel bracers clearly visible with arms crossed above a pair of masterwork hand axes (of foreign make). There is also a fine short blow and arrows slung over their shoulder. [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] Steps forward to meet the Djondarma as they stand on the beach. Guo Jiang does an serviceable job speaking their old-fashioned dialect of the Djonfang language, albeit with a thick Caishian accent. "[COLOR=#330099]Welcome friends. Please share a meal with us by the fire."[/COLOR] The one with the braids takes a half-step closer indicating he speaks for the others. [B]Djondarma Leader:[/B] Stares over the old Caishians shoulder towards the cart upon which R'ad Alim still sat fuming and beleagured. -Speaking Djondarma Dialect- [COLOR=#696969]"Is he the Djonfang Dragon Shaman you spoke about?" [/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] "[COLOR=#330099]Yes. His name is R'ad Alim."[/COLOR] [B]Djondarma Leader:[/B] [COLOR=#696969]"...Doesn't look much pleased to see us." [/COLOR]He comments. [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] "[COLOR=#330099]He is seriously injured, and very angry." [/COLOR] [B]Djondarma Leader:[/B] [COLOR=#696969]"I will not hesitate to kill him if he attempts to harm us. If that happens, I will still expect you to hold to your end of the agreement."[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] Nods [COLOR=#330099]"He will cooperate if he hopes to live. Whatever happens, I am a man of my word."[/COLOR] [B]Djondarma Leader:[/B] Nods [COLOR=#696969]"Very well. We will share your fire. Tomorrow at first light we will escort you through the mountains as promised."[/COLOR] [B]Guo Jiang:[/B] Bows his head respectfully and gestures for the four to move over near the cart where the the cook fire has been lit within a circle of stones. The leader jerks his head and says something curt to the younger pair who quickly move away, apparently scouting and keeping watch. Meanwhile the white-haired Djondarma steps over to the cart to get a better look at you, pulling down his scarf revealing the craggy features of a stubborn old man with two fangs piercing his lower lip. Twenty years ago he would have been very strong indeed, but now much of his bulk has leaned and wrinkled. There is yet much vigor and clarity in his sunken dark eyes as he sizes you up and speaks in a rough slightly tremulous voice. [B]White-Haired Djondarma:[/B] -Speaking Djonfang Dialect with a heavy Djondarma accent- [COLOR=#a9a9a9]"I am Ayuoso. Among my people I am known as 'White Bear'. I am a druid and a healer. If you wish it I can give you something to help you rest and ease your pain?"[/COLOR] [B][R'ad Alim:[/B] What do you do?[B]][/B][/I] [/QUOTE]
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