Khemia Occulta: Prologue Report

The party finished their buying and selling of goods. Alexandru sold Calixtus' ring of two serpents entwined around an amethyst and his lover Georgios’ fine clothes. The merchant paid too dearly for the ring, which Alex found suspicious but also knew that his party was cash-strapped. When he returned he found that Teleptyon had checked the fine dagger, warhammer and earring of Gallienus that Asbjørn had taken, and found that the dagger had enchantments. A small voice told Alex that he had made a terrible blunder and regret gnawed at him. He recommended that future loot be pooled, assessed and scried for magic systematically. Teleptyon and Theo agreed to use their skills to that end. Alex sought out a sage to divine the contents of the potions, but the price was high and the alchemist needed more time than the party had.

They next visited Flavio and informed him that they regretted not being able to journey back with him to Fort Merula, but that they had other business they must attend to first. He was disappointed, but told them they’d always be welcome in Merula and to seek him out when they next passed that way.

The party pressed on to the Inn of the Shemites where Telly’s unnamed contact was surprised by the size of the party, but invited them to sit and discuss the terms of their service. He asked probing questions of Teleptyon’s abilities and whether he was currently under the aegis of a master who might find the Library of the Myrmex tempting enough that he might keep the map for himself once it had been retrieved. Telly assured him that was not the case and the would-be benefactor seemed delighted and offered that his master could also help Telly in his mastery of the Ar once they returned.

With all of the talking about paths of the Ar, the barbarians became restless and Kegho began leering at the exotic women in the inn. He tried to get Alex to join in, but Alex was focused on the mysterious man and Telly’s negotiations. Keg began muttering—in Ashkuzi—most lascivious comments about the Shemite women to entertain himself.

Alex realized that the offer was great for his frequent verbal-sparring-partner, but as he didn’t know this man from Asdona, he interjected that he felt like they had been rude in not properly introducing themselves, but hoped that the introductions would be mutual. Their host gave only a surname, al-Hashmi. He addressed Kegho in Ashkuz, catching the barbarian off-guard and chiding him for his earlier comments.

Al-Hashmi attempted to allay the party’s concerns that the knowledge his master sought would not be in service of the necromancers, but would not elaborate further, citing his--as well as Teleptyon’s--need for discretion in the current age. Alex was dubious, and Teleptyon later confided to the party that he did not believe the man would live up to his end of the bargain and they might even be killed once al-Hashmi had the map for his mysterious master.

No member of the party had a well-developed sense of self preservation or else they’d be farmers somewhere and they decided to take al-Hashmi up on this offer. He gave them a Ghamadi Caravan map and pointers on local custom and the best way to get to the ruins out in the desert near the Omsala Oasis. He warned them of the "dogheads.” When the group stared blankly he suggested that they might know the creatures as the Sebatsu'a or the Belbi and called them enemies of men who steal away the goods and people of caravans, and eat the captives. He also recommended bringing plenty of water, food and firewood.

The party still being relatively light on coin, debated taking passage in steerage, Alex booked them passage in the main cabin with some of his rotgut earnings and they set off for Nekhsemeru.

While they debated whether they wanted to join a caravan or not and what the cost would be for a proper outfitting, Alex’s quite heavy purse was lifted by some brazen Oamen urchins. While understandably upset at himself for having been careless and the youths for their impertinence at robbing a member of the tribe, he was unwilling to do them serious harm, batting with the flat of his blade. Kegho and Asbjorn had no such compunction with Kegho, though struggling to use his new hammers, managed to exploded the first halfling’s skull, splattering grey matter all over the nearby Alex. Alex continued running after the next closest halfling, but Asbjorn impaled him as he caught up. Alex sprinted after the one with his purse and dove to tackle him, but narrowly missed.