Insight's "The Shadow of Set" - IC Thread

[Insight]

[sblock=Group 2]

Dirk nods to Asad and G'sharn and leads off to the south, his bow still ready if the scorpitaurs show up.

Asad nods as Dirk points out the tracks heading toward Majoor. He looks with interest at the wooden box, but decides it's too big to carry. He then beckons to G'Sharn and starts heading south.

G'sharn frowns, looking towards the South. "Majoor," he says sourly. "Such a surprise, that these killers should be headed there. I can almost smell the stink of the place from here."

Pulling a piece of burned wood from one of the wagons, he uses the charred tip to draw a crude copy of the symbol on a piece of cloth, which he carefully folds and stows in a pouch.

Having done this, he changes shape once more and paces off to rejoin Asad and Dirk.

It is a quiet journey across the hazy sands of the Blasted Desert. More than an hour passes before the group spots a dot on the horizon and a blue-green sea beyond. This could only be the port of Majoor.

Your canteens running dry, you are fortunate to catch on with a merchant caravan headed to Majoor. The merchants are all too happy to exchange some water for protection the rest of the way. The head merchant, a man named Gulaan, speaks of scorpitaur attacks and a sighting of strange bandits not too long ago, and is glad to see someone along who could help protect his precious cargo.

There is a priest along for this journey, a man named Shub'Nagal, of unknown ancestry. He bears the holy symbols of several gods, including Muir, Thyr, Arden, and the local gods Anubis and Horus, and mutters to himself in a tongue none of you recognize.

OOC: Post if you wish to do anything prior to arriving in Majoor (buying items, asking questions of those in the caravan, etc). Otherwise, your next actions will be in Majoor itself.
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[Rolzup]

[sblock=Group 2]
In a quiet moment, if any such exist during the caravan's journey, G'Sharn will approach Shub'Nagal and ask to speak privately to him for a few moments. Should the holy man agree, G'sharn will then show him the scrap of cloth upon which he copied the symbol and ask him if he recognizes it.
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[Insight]

[sblock=Group 2]
In a quiet moment, if any such exist during the caravan's journey, G'Sharn will approach Shub'Nagal and ask to speak privately to him for a few moments. Should the holy man agree, G'sharn will then show him the scrap of cloth upon which he copied the symbol and ask him if he recognizes it.
[/sblock]

[sblock=Rolzup]
Shub'Nagal smiles. "This appears to be the symbol of the Temple of the Eternal Sun," he replies. "I would recognize it anywhere. In fact, I am traveling with this caravan on a pilgrimage to the Temple right now."

"The Temple of the Eternal Sun was once dedicated to the god Arden, but is now more of a general religious center... too bad. I was hoping to learn more about Arden and his worship. Perhaps some of that lore yet remains within the Temple."

He looks towards Majoor and points. "You should be able to see the top of the Temple from here, look to the middle of the city."

Shub'Nagal produces a small book, its cover featuring a number of inscribed religious symbols. "I've long searched for a time to make this pilgrimage. Dark clouds though... something evil is coming."[/sblock]

 

[Redclaw]

[sblock=group2] Asad spends the rest of the journey staring out at the desert. Those who somehow get a chance to see him when he thinks he is out of anyone's view might even catch him rubbing a ring that hangs on a chain around his neck.
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[Necro_Kinder]

[Sblock=Group 2]
Dirk leads the caravan into Majoor, keeping to himself unless anyone needs to talk to him.[/sblock]

 

[Insight]

[sblock=Group 2]

In a quiet moment, if any such exist during the caravan's journey, G'Sharn will approach Shub'Nagal and ask to speak privately to him for a few moments. Should the holy man agree, G'sharn will then show him the scrap of cloth upon which he copied the symbol and ask him if he recognizes it.

Shub'Nagal smiles. "This appears to be the symbol of the Temple of the Eternal Sun," he replies. "I would recognize it anywhere. In fact, I am traveling with this caravan on a pilgrimage to the Temple right now."

"The Temple of the Eternal Sun was once dedicated to the god Arden, but is now more of a general religious center... too bad. I was hoping to learn more about Arden and his worship. Perhaps some of that lore yet remains within the Temple."

He looks towards Majoor and points. "You should be able to see the top of the Temple from here, look to the middle of the city."

Shub'Nagal produces a small book, its cover featuring a number of inscribed religious symbols. "I've long searched for a time to make this pilgrimage. Dark clouds though... something evil is coming."

Asad spends the rest of the journey staring out at the desert. Those who somehow get a chance to see him when he thinks he is out of anyone's view might even catch him rubbing a ring that hangs on a chain around his neck.

Dirk leads the caravan into Majoor, keeping to himself unless anyone needs to talk to him.

The journey to Majoor is without incident. The group arrives, sandblasted and fatigued, at the inscribed steel gates to the Jewel of the Cerulean. A pair of armed and armored guards look through the caravan wagons for contraband, then wave the merchants (and our heroes) into Majoor proper.

Inside, Majoor is not the place you remember. Though each of you has been to Majoor at least once in recent times (some moreso than others), this city itself seems changed. You see quite a few more beggars and transients choking the dusty city streets. Priests of Thyr and Muir wander seemingly aimless, blessing the sick and the poor as they go.

On the way to the marketplace, you notice a large, flat building converted to some sort of triage. Inside, dozens of dirty mats comprise a sort of hospice for the very sick. The beds are filled with twisted and tortured souls waiting to die. Though virulent disease is nothing new in the desert, the amount of sick seems high to you.

Shub'Nagal nudges G'Sharn. "You see it now, the Curse," the old man explains. "A fever, boils, then a tortuous death. It it a curse upon the land. It is a curse for our impiety. It is a curse for what is to come. I would be careful here in Majoor if I were you."

The caravan travels the rest of the way to the bazaar, and drops you off. Caravan leaders thank each of you, and pays you each 35gp for your efforts, despite the fact that it turned out you weren't really needed as guards after all

You are now in the Majoor bazaar, within sight of the Temple of the Eternal Sun (to the north) and a great fountain bearing a large iron merchant's scale (to the south). The marketplace is busy with activity, and you notice a seeming dearth of guards in a place likely rife with pickpockets and con-men.
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[Insight]

[sblock=Group 1]

Droban raises a bushy eyebrow in the direction of the 'mad' beggar, keeping one ear affixed to the conversation between he and Avardis. To T'Shara he states, "We need no leather goods today, woman. Captain Jobbor sent us to you...something about an errand you would assign to gague our fitness for service in the guard. What would you ask of us?" The glower on the dwarf's face makes it all too clear that he considers this entire exercise a waste of time.

"Jobbor sent the three of you?" T'shara spits. "What a fine mess this is then. Well, I guess you'll have to do."

The leathery old merchant woman fishes through her goods for a moment, then emerges with a large purse. "Here, dwarf, since you seem to be the smartest among you, take this purse. Don't worry yourself with what it contains; I well know what is within, down to the last coin." She winks at this last word. "Take this purse with you across the bazaar to the armory across the way, you can see the sign, yonder, the shield and the scimitar."

"Take this purse to the duty sergeant," she continues. "If you make it safely, the duty sergeant will reward you and give you a letter of recommendation. Return to Chief Jobbor with that letter and I suppose you'll be made a member of the city guard."

T'shara hands Droban the leather purse. "Go then, and be wary."

"Tis a fool's errand," the blind beggar former priest remarks.

"Shush you," T'shara barks at the beggar.
[/sblock]

 

[YeOldeAlbatross]

Droban Ironthane

[sblock=Group 1]

"Jobbor sent the three of you?" T'shara spits. "What a fine mess this is then. Well, I guess you'll have to do."

The leathery old merchant woman fishes through her goods for a moment, then emerges with a large purse. "Here, dwarf, since you seem to be the smartest among you, take this purse. Don't worry yourself with what it contains; I well know what is within, down to the last coin." She winks at this last word. "Take this purse with you across the bazaar to the armory across the way, you can see the sign, yonder, the shield and the scimitar."

"Take this purse to the duty sergeant," she continues. "If you make it safely, the duty sergeant will reward you and give you a letter of recommendation. Return to Chief Jobbor with that letter and I suppose you'll be made a member of the city guard."

T'shara hands Droban the leather purse. "Go then, and be wary."

Droban smirks at T'shara's comment about being the smartest. The dwarf reaches out a calloused hand, and grabs the outstretched purse. "You needn't fret about the purse's arrival at its destination, and not a coin shall be missed. The task is easy enough. Consider it done!" Still, the dwarven warrior clutches Marakul's haft just a little tighter.

"Tis a fool's errand," the blind beggar former priest remarks.

"Shush you," T'shara barks at the beggar.

"Let the man speak," Droban growls at T'shara. Before setting out across the crowded marketplace, he turns his full attention toward the beggar and asks respectfully, "Why do you say so, priest?"[/sblock]

 

[Ilium]

[SBLOCK=Group 1]Avardis flashes a lopsided grin and says, "I suppose we are the fools, then." He holds his hand out for a moment, as if bidding some unseen person to stop and mutters a few words. A rosy glow surrounds him briefly, then fades. "Let's be off, my friends."

OOC: I suppose it would be extremely bad form to draw my sword and carry it out across the bazaar. Regardless, casting Shield on myself and keeping a wary eye out. This seems like such a simple assignment, I'm assuming they have something planned for us.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Rolzup]

[sblock=Group 2]

"You see it now, the Curse," the old man explains. "A fever, boils, then a tortuous death. It it a curse upon the land. It is a curse for our impiety. It is a curse for what is to come. I would be careful here in Majoor if I were you."

"That I will," G'harn agrees. "It's a stain upon the sands, this place."

You are now in the Majoor bazaar, within sight of the Temple of the Eternal Sun (to the north) and a great fountain bearing a large iron merchant's scale (to the south). The marketplace is busy with activity, and you notice a seeming dearth of guards in a place likely rife with pickpockets and con-men.

G'Sharn grimaces, disgust plain upon his face. "Still stinks," he mutters, glaring about the bazaar with his hand hovering near the hilt of his scimitar. "What now? It's a lot easier when there's tracks to follow."

He's clearly uncomfortable surrounded by so many people....
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