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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 7789084" data-attributes="member: 9255">DARKSUN: THE ELEMENTS OF EVILSEGMENT 048“LEAVE TOWN WHILE YOU CAN”08/20/19SEASON: FRIEND’S VENGEANCE  YEAR 24MONTH: THE DEADDAY: 02KA: 190The lose of Koe has impacted the group deeply.  Olan and Drak both wait to hear from Lilapaul about Hark and his where-a-bouts.  Choro continues to do many of his conditioning and balance exercises (though with less enthusiasm).  Even Yaesha is quiet.More conflicts between Raam and Draj are occurring.   It is clearly pre-war conditions.  Tetuktitlay, the Sorcerer-king of Draj has given orders to gather any beggars and homeless.   They are being secured somewhere within the mud flats for an unknown purpose.  Slaves of non-templar and nobles are also being taken.  They are joining the military as aids.  They bring food and supplies to the Jaguar riders and the army itself.Yaesha has a hard decision to make.  Anyone left within the compound are most likely to be taken as slaves or military agents.  He needs to get them out of the city before then.   The war, when it breaks out, will begin between the two cities on King’s Road.  So they need to go north.  They are not ready for the forgotten cities and he is in truth not sure if any trade house is.   Perhaps the village the girl mentioned…. The Village of Ravish.Yaesha only recently discovered this enigma named Orthenta Naybi.   A young girl with psionic talents and either cursed or tangled with the wrong people.  Her appearance is that of an average teenaged young girl with boundless energy except for her eye.  Yaesha can scarcely look at it.  It is red and reflective.   At times he believes it glows even.  She carries a strange and foreign looking stringed instrument.   Not a lute, not a banjo…… something else.He met her near the city gate.  She was being bothered by the templars.   They were suggesting that needed to show her papers or be placed into prison.   Yaesha knew that would equal death or worse- rape then death.  He bribed the two templars into accepting he was the girl’s slave owner and she was the property of House Tsalaxa.Sharing a meal of roasted Z’tal and sweet water, he learned she was a traveler from the north.  She lacked clear details of the villages he had heard existed there but she knew more than he did.  This included the village of Ravish.Ravish is a slave tribe village made up of ex-Drajians.  Perhaps they would be open to trade.  Without clearing it with Yadda, the head of the trade house, Yaesha came to a conclusion.He contacted the storage building slaves and had them begin to pack a cart as he located Drak.  Koe’s replacement was not an easy decision.  Drak showed little loyalty to the house but Olan’s loyality was also in question with his close connection to Lilapaul of Silver Springs.  Choro was too simple and innocent for the job.  He spotted the unlikely new Clutch leader and called him over.  Olan watched as Drak walked over to Yaesha and grew curious.  He too got up and started over.“Drak, I know we have not always agreed on how things are to be done but I find myself in a strange position.  I need to trust someone.  I choose…. You.”“Klik kik…. Choose,,,, Drak?” Asks the tall thri-kreen with his antennae waving and crossing in uncertainty and unease.“I have a mission that requires agents that can survive in the desert….. away from the settled Trade roads.   You and the others proved you can do this and that you have resources to further help you on this trip.”“Clutch leader…. I like.  What would you…kik…. Have us do? Cilkik.”“We’re rolling out?” asks Olan as he arrives hearing only a little bit of the conversation.Yaesha hands Drak a map.  He looks it over then hands it to Olan.  “No towns listed…. Not even klik… Draj.”“Security.   The red line begins at Draj of course.    The next dot on the line is Bitter well.  It is a coastal trade center that we sometimes use.  Then Ket which you have been too.  There is a marker on a Standing Stone with the same symbol as what you see there on the map.   Go into the desert towards the White Mountains.”Olan thinks about how Lilapaul said his sister was to the north.    What are the odds…..“There are ruins on the edge of the Badlands named Hogalay.  I am curious if they could be used for a outpost or safe house for if we create a trade route that way.  Learn if any are living there and if so, can we work with them.  If there are dangers there, what and can they be removed.”“Anything else?” asks the kreen.“Be sure to supply yourselves well before leaving to Ravish.   There are days of travel before you reach Ravish.  Ravish, according to my new contact and your guide, is made up of ex-Drajians.   We hope to make trade contacts with them.  Learn what they have for resources and offer trade.”“Wait….. a guide?” questions Olan.“Yes.  A young girl with psionic talents that should be useful in ways Choro lacks.  She should be helping with the loading of the wagon.” And with that, Yaesha motions for them to walk to the storage building.  A small crowd has gathered here (about 6 of the remaining slaves and workers) and seem entranced.  As they get closer they can hear music.  The music is coming from inside the barn.Choro joins the three as he has heard the music and left the Kest’rel Roost to investigate.   The music is a welcomed escape from the thoughts and memories of losing Koe and the impending war.The young girl with an infectious smile and aura of joy sits on a crate while singing and playing a long necked three string lute.  It is a happy tale and everyone is enjoying it- even the slaves that were supposed to be packing the wagon.“She is kik-kik…. A runt” Drak comments with whatever humor he can muster.“She is.  But I still like her.” Adds Olan.“She is weird.” Comments Choro staring at her red unnatural eye.Yaesha introduces her to the group once she stops.  Choro is very distracted by her eye.   Then he learns she is to join them on a quest.“She is too young.” The half-giant says.“Young?   I am not…. Kik half her age.” Says the thri-kreen with some annoyance.A bell rings and Yaesha knows it is a warning.  The templars are on the move.“Go!   Go now!  Take whatever supplies are packed and move out.   Go through the northern gate!”They quickly hitch up a Crodlu to pull the cart and two others to use and travel through the gates.  They exit the city and begin up the crumbled King’s Road to the north.Orthenta pulls out her instrument to begin playing.  Choro, still cautious, asks if he can see the strange instrument.  She has no issues with that but stresses not to damage it.  She has not noticed he is wearing gloves now.  As he walks beside the wagon he “reads” the instrument’s psychic impressions. She has not lied to him about anything and she is not a bad person.  He hands it back to her and she smiles and begins to play a merry tune.“No Runt.  No play …. Instru…kik…ment.”Laughing…. “Why?  Don’t like music?”“Sound carries.  Alert predators.  Attack.”“Attack?  Why attack someone whom makes them happy?”“No. Music.”Teasing she draws her fingers and a oddly shaped pick across the strings once more.  Drak whorls his insectoid head around.  “Okay……” and sadly she puts it aside.  The constant thumping of the wheels as they travel over the rarely used road to the north is annoying.  The young girl whispers to herself and the wagon…. “That includes you.” And Olan squints in consideration as the wagon’s wheels no longer squeak or creak.Before he can ask about it Choro suddenly cries out-   “THE BOOK!   I Forgot my book!”</blockquote>

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