Journey to Akbyset VI: And Dust You Will Eat

In the darkness Kegho saw the glint of something metallic about 50 feet away from where he sat alert but admiring the moons hanging in the sky half-full. He took notice and his focus narrowed; he heard the faint sound of sand shifting and scales gliding across it. A viper’s hiss confirmed his suspicions. Ükhilflin had become alert at the same time, and driven by an instinct to protect her pack, dove headlong into the night. Keg tried to call her back, but she could not or would not hear him. He screamed to wake the others before chasing after her and into battle.

The viper and Ükhiflin circled and snapped at each other but neither did damage. In the distance, Brother Theo lit a torch and began to move closer and Asbjørn woke wroth at having his sleep interrupted. Ükhiflin and the viper, tired of feints, struck ferociously at each other. Both landed their blow, but while the hound had a stronger jaw, the viper’s bite was laced with poison. Kegho attempted to chase off the serpent by waving a torch at it, but the serpent was unusually determined. Aided by the torchlight, Riven shot it in the neck. Alex lit a lantern, but hung back to let the barbarians do their work.

The viper’s venom spread like fire through Ükhiflin’s veins.

Teleptyon Marathonos summoned a bolt of Ar which spread from his fingers as a fanged serpent that lunged at the viper. The serpent became overwhelmed by the arcane bolt and began to flee. Riven fired another arrow and grazed the serpent. Ükhiflin fought through her pain to latch into the viper’s throat. Theo summoned the hammer of Ator to pummel it, and finally Asbørn, in a rage, decapitated it.

The viper was dead, but its poison still wended through Ükihiflin.

The priest calmed Asbjørn’s rage before turning to the ailing hound. The tools of his medical bag did not help. Kegho and Asbjørn clumsily attempted all the wilderness tricks they could think of, but were unable to save her.

The beheaded viper claimed its last victim that night.

La Compagnia responded with muted shock. Kegho trudged back to Mercy to get a shovel and dig a grave that befitted a warrior and friend. Alex pulled his cloak tight around him and droned prayers for a dead loved one and marked her brow with the signs of Dhureus and Cesdia, death and life. Kegho laid her in the grave he had dug and Asbjørn brought the head of the serpent and tucked it gently between her forepaws, so that she might be known in the afterlife as a warrior who had fallen in battle. Kegho filled the grave with sand as the rest gathered stones to build a cairn for their fallen comrade.

Teleptyon dug up the hoard of the viper [gold and gems/contents?].

The following morning Brother Theo prayed over the morning meal and healed some of Alex’s wounds from the battle with Tef-Amen. Riven guided them eastward and in the distance they saw palm trees and hoped that it was Akbyset and not a trick of the sands and their tired minds. The wind howled and the sky was grey as they numbly set up camp. Teleptyon took the first watch and circumscribed the camp in a great circle bound with arcane sigils. It glowed a faint blue even to the untrained eye. The barbarians were vaguely discomfited and Theo almost protested, but trusted that Teleptyon was not engaged in anything nefarious. The night passed without incident and the company continued their journey toward the ever-clearer, palm-lined oasis with structures dug into and built around a hillside.

At the gates they were stopped by guards who demanded a paltry tax compared to those in Merula and Kegho paid them over the cleric’s protests. They entered the shelter of Akbyset, but whether they were safer with the storm or the city remained to be seen.

Teleptyon took the initiative to restore some of the supplies which had been lost or damaged in their treacherous journey through the desert. He met a merchant, Avi, and offered gems in exchange for goods such as a tent and a Oameni-sized backpack, but when he left the shop to discuss the trade Alex was shocked by the offer and sent Teleptyon back to play hard-ball with the merchant after examining the gems and realizing they were worth more than twice what the merchant had offered.

The barbarians and Riven sought out a weapons merchant and Asbjørn finds a cruel looking scimitar made of Nanoi steele. He shows the armor of Khab Senout Ahmed-Mehr to the merchant and [lore drop about history and where to get shield]. Riven found some fine arrows, and Asbjørn was concerned that she was being swindled, but after examining the arrows she realized they were the finest she had ever handled and purchased more. Kegho purchased a dagger.

Avi and Teleptyon begin bartering information about the mines under Rexan rule, the Rusati and the Oubasti, and he suggested that they seek out Naldus, the head of the settlement.

The evening drew tighter and the merchants began closing shop for the night. The company thanked their shop keepers and headed into the tavern which was filled with Oubasti serving girls and dancers. Teleptyon found himself a cushion near the fire and Kegho attempted to find rooms for the group. Alex saw the triskeles dragon crest of House Bascio on the mantle and became immediately concerned. He would warn his companions to use his alias, Mihai Reinhold of Varim, while in Akbyset.

A tall, veiled Neshite stood in the corner aloof from the dancers and carousing. Riven caught him staring at her and walked over to him to find out why.

He introduced himself as Abet, a Royal Medjai of Khemia’s Queen. He had heard stories of the Green Cloaks and was enthused by a chance to meet one of their members. Abet told her that he was one of the Queen’s rangers and that he had come to Akbyset due to a rising evil, but needed help.