Sailors on the Seas of Fate - Rana Mor!

[wysiwyg]

Artemis Marsei. Human male, Ranger/Swashbuckler/Fighter

"Aha! You see this my friends", claim Artemis with great enthusiasm. "This here is a true relic of a bygone era. Is it not true Indo, my little artefact collector?" Upon seeing the stunned face of the peddler, Artemis continues: "This here is none other than a fragment of the holy rock of the great demi-god Dung. But unfortunately, I do already have two dozen of these already. Now if you'll excuse me, I must attend to my afternoon chores." Artemis goes down to his cabin to resume his afternoon siesta."

 

[Lorthanoth]

"Ah now, no mockery, young sir, no mockery!" Indo cries after Artemis as he swaggers off, "A man who will appreciate fine things!" the company-starved trader says to Esteban, "You carry so many!" he pokes and prods the Belcadiz sailor's rapier and accoutrements. He carries on his chatter, reamrking on Esteban's obvious means and intelligence.

 

[Wik]

Zariv takes one look at the items, and smiles sardonically. Chtat, on Zariv's staff, caws at the sky. Zariv chuckles, and walks to the ship's railing, keeping an eye on the shoreline.

 

[Redclaw]

Theon, grateful for a bit of room between him and the crazy man, quickly checks his valuable items, to make sure they haven't been lifted. We don't want your trinkets, Indo. If you know anything that might be of use to us as we travel upriver, however, I might see fit to pay you for sharing it.

 

[Lorthanoth]

The little man's face falls when he hears Theon say that he doesn't want any items, "But, but... exquisite sculpture, rare woods..." he babbles sadly. Theon pats himself down and finds nothing out of place.

OOC: Diplomacy check, please Theon!

 

[Redclaw]

Diplomacy check (1d20+5)=16

 

[Lorthanoth]

Indo trots back to Theon, "You sir, at least, are a kind soul; kind to an old fellow! I'm the last outpost of civilization! Nothing but snakes and monsters from this point south!"

He gathers up some of his junk and continues, "About twenty miles upstream of here lies the Banda territory, sir. Oh yes." he babbles as he picks up his trifles.

The riverman then turns to Anemone and with wide eyes says dramatically, "The Banda! They're murderous savages who will gladly cut all your throats given half a chance!"

Indo turns back to Theon, clutching his treasures in the crooks of his arms and holding the palm of one of his hands, in the universal gesture of expected payment. "Where are you bound, sir? I know this river well!"

 

[Lorthanoth]

Seeing that payment is not forthcoming, Indo burbles some further details about the conditions ahead, "Roughly forty miles upstream the river widens out into a large lake surrounded by swamp; it's flooded now, due to the rainy season. You'll have a hard time finding a channel!"

He drops some rocks in his excitement and bends down to pick them up, whereupon he continues, "Past the Black Swamp there's a set of ruins. They're sacred to the Banda. Best to leave them alone." he adds solemnly.

 

[Redclaw]

Theon finally hears the old crackpot say something useful and he tries to be subtle as he digs for more information. Probably not even really ruins, just some broken down rocks in the middle of a swamp. You can't even trust native creatures like the Banda. Things get exaggerated way too often. It's not like you've even seen the ruins, right?

 

[Lorthanoth]

Indo nods, "Oh indeed I have sir, it's just a pile of rubble mainly, but those Banda hold it mighty sacred! And of course beyond that, so about 120 miles upstream of here you get to the Ran Pe falls, at the foot of a gorge of black rock. And Rana Mor lies about ten miles beyond the far end of that gorge!"

His eyes grow wide and his voice becomes fearful and dramatic, "A cursed place! The city is haunted by something that sings in a terrible voice. No words... just purpose. Horrible to hear." He shivers at the memory of it, and then holds out his hand again gingerly.

"Now, you did say, sir." he admonishes Theon.