1: New Arrivals -- the game begins

[burke]

Through various mishaps and a grueling journey through the desert, you have all arrived at the northern oasis. This large pond, surrounded by growths of date palms and peach trees, is controlled by the Bahadi tribe, the strongest of the four tribes residing in the Kteph desert. Sheik Bahad ibn Tayseeb, the tribal elder, is known as a shrewd leader. He has no sons and only one daughter, Minah, who is renowned for her beauty, though few have seen her unveiled.

The Bedouins keep a tight watch on the pond and only their designated slaves are allowed to draw water from it. Fresh water can be purchased in one gallon gourds.

Some distance from the lavish Bedouin camp is the ajami (outsider) encampment, comprising about 30 tents of different sizes. Here tents can be purchased and rented and all manner of services are available. To the other side of the Bedouin camp lie the well guarded camel and horse corrals. The Bedouin horses are generally known to be the finest horses in existence.

Those fluent in Arabic are allowed to move about both camps freely, but the rest are courteously shown to the ajami quarters.

Like most newcomers, you have all gathered around the more respectable drinking tent (the other being a very bawdy brothel). Drinks (coffee, tea, wine) go for one copper and meals for three coppers and more. Small, one person, tents can be rented for a silver piece per day. Large, four person, tents go for three. Housing a camel or horse in the corral costs three coppers per day.

The sun is at its peak and it is swelteringly hot. Over the dunes to the south, a few dark spires and towers, of what must be an awesome height, can be seen reaching towards the sky. You are among the first to reach the outskirts of the fabled lost city.

Hadi, you are of a faraway tribe and thus treated courteously, but with an ounce of suspicion. You are allowed to move about both camps and can do so inconspicuously. The other tribes occupying the oases around the lost city are the Lajaafi to the west and the Simuthi to the southeast. The fourth tribe of the Kteph is the disgraced Huzuhi tribe, whose young Sheik, Samander ibn Huzuh, has reputedly declared war against the other tribes.

Black Jacques, as a outsider who is fluent in their language and customs you are treated with the utmost courtesy. You are also allowed to move about both camps, but since you stick out like a sore thumb you cannot go unnoticed.

OOC: The game has now begun and you can now do what you want. When you decide to do a expedition to the tower, begin by describing which route you take (the hexes are numbered).

I usually wait for someone to "second" any suggestion before acting on it. So those that are active have a larger chance of affecting the course of the game.

Be aware that water is of the utmost importance in the desert. A man can remain healthy on a half gallon per day and horses require the same. Camels can go without water for very long times, but will need to drink until contented after any long journey.

Please phrase all your actions so that they include your characters name. This makes it easier for everyone to keep the identities straight.

Since all die rolls are kept in the log, it is usually enough to just announce the result of a roll. This keeps the text more fluent.

Jacques (to his companions):

"Well, here we are. I believe should start our expedition as soon as we are prepared, perhaps at dawn tomorrow when the sun is low. Maybe those of you with coinage should secure food and tents for the night for the party, in the spirit of fraternity, oui ?"

[snorri]

"Well, the is as much water in this country than light in the stomach of a troll", answers Rollo while removing his impressive horned helmet to clean his face from sweat - revealing a young, blonde moustached grown-up teenager.

"My brother gave me gold from his last looting party, so don't worry about money, Jacques, we can afford anything we want. That strange thing they call tea, that spicy thing they call food - regardless there is no fish - and..."

He looks toward the other tent, but as his checks getting red, he quickly puts his helmet back.

[tavis]

Jochi (to Jacques and Rollo):

"Strange-talking metal-man, tell them I want to buy horses. A good destrier for each of us, also a camel for the tents, rations, rope, picks, and shovels. I will know if they try to cheat us. Tell them if they do I will come back after I die and haunt their wives. You flatter, I'll grimace."

He grins, revealing a hardscrabble life's worth of missing teeth. "Help me hoard enough coin, and I'll sponsor a seed-scattering expedition for me, you, and yellow lip-sweeper in that other tent before we leave."

[salass00]

Iseul to Jochi: "If you're going to do the bartering for us you can have my gold pieces as well. I think we should also get some gourds with water before we leave here. Judging from the landscape here it might take several days before we can find another source of water."

[danhem]

Nestor begins a series of long raking coughs. Afterward he wipes his mouth with a white cloth that comes away red with blood.

"Your generosity is most appreciated Rollo and Iseul. This land is indeed unmerciful to those who are unprepared and ill equipped. There are several mercenaries rotting in this sun who can attest to that."

Nestor coughs again and mutters a few choice swears under his wheezing breath.

"I agree that we should head out in the morning. No sense hanging around here spending money when we can be making some."

Jacques smiles at Hadi, " Hadi, will you come to barter for horses with us, or maybe go into the camp for water with me later ? Maybe see if we can find anything out to our advantage...."

Jacques taps his large Gallic nose and winks.

[burke]

Hadi knows that Bedouin horses cost at least 50 gold. Camels usually go for about 30.

[tavis]

Jochi hoists his saddlebags to his shoulder with a resigned air. "We'll come back here for horses, then, when we're rich. Let's buy provisions for the trip, and extra sacks to haul out the treasure. See if they have tools we could use to gain entry to the ruins, like picks, shovels, rope, chisels and iron spikes."

After informing Jacques as to the price for beasts, Hadi agrees to seek water and rumors in the camp later. He speaks softly but firmly, not wasting strength nor water under the brutal sun, saying, "Until then, water, talk, and also shade can be found in here, by your generosity," and gestures toward the respectable drinking tent.

[coffee]

Seamus joins the others at the respectable drinking tent.

"If it's camels you're after," he says with a smile, pouring himself to some tea, "I've got a fine camel of me own. A group such as yours could carry plenty of provisions on such a beast. And, I dare say, plenty of loot back out."

He smiles and sips his tea.

[burke]

You move in to the shade of the tent and take seat on the comfortable pillows. The bustling proprietor comes over and exchanges pleasentries with Hadi and Jacques until the serving boy brings over the tea.

The tent houses only a few other customers. A French knight recovering from consumption and a Bavarian scholar, furious, because he was denied an audience with the Sheik. The proprietor tries to calm the man down, but receives only a torrent of abuse in a strange mix of german, latin and arabic.

OOC: Someone needs to pony up one silver piece to pay for the tea.

Jacques calls to the Bavarian:

"Monsieur, I understand your frustration but surely it is unwise to abuse the hospitality here, as this is the only place for miles that serves food and drink to we ajami, non ? Come sit with us..."

[burke]

The man huffs and puffs some more, but finally seats himself. He introduces himself as Kunibert, a scholar from Munich. His french is not much better than his arabic, but he seems completely unaware of the fact.

Kunibert is currently working on a encyclopedia of the world and is delighted that the lost city has reappeared. He plans on expanding the entry for Athl-Yith from one sentence to a couple of paragraphs at least. He is however vexed that the entries for Sheik and Bedouin will have to remain brief.

[kesher]

Romeo steps into the shade of the tent, shaking back his long, carefully oiled, locks. He laughs and drops down next to the group, resting an enormous sword on the tent pole next to him.

"Signore, I can add to your encyclopedia: 'Bedouin' is heathen for 'greedy sand spider' and 'sheik' means 'the same, only moreso'." He grins broadly. "I chanced upon your compagni buying supplies. I was intent on selling my horrid beast of a camel, but we agreed instead that both my camel and my sword might be of more mutual benefit. My name is Romeo, and I hail from the light of the world, mighty Mother Rome. I would not refuse the offer of a cup of wine."

Hadi quietly sips his tea, pauses after Romeo finishes speaking, then says to Kunibert, "I recommend the tea. It has just the right amount of cardamom."

[danhem]

Nestor takes a drink of tea and it seems to calm his raking cough. As he sits in the shade of the tent he absently rubs a claw pendant that hangs around his neck.

"Rome eh," he says to Romeo. "You're a long way from home. What took you from such a fine city to this place? I myself have little to offer to this world but my skill with a sword. It has not done me much good I'm afraid."

[coffee]

"Skill with a sword isn't meant to do good, surely," Seamus says. "It's more to do harm, if you take my meaning..."

He smiles and takes another sip of his tea.

[burke]

When Kunibert hears that you are planning a expedition to the lost city, he becomes enthusiastic, "Dieser Bedouiner art afraid of ze place ant zell me only fantastik tales. But immer beink eine skholar ant needs fakts!".

He is willing to pay one of the literate Europeans in the party 25 gold pieces for geographical and architectural facts concerning the city. He is also interested in purchasing artifacts from the ruins.

OOC: Feel free to sit and talk or take care of business, but please indicate when you're done for the day.

[snorri]

"I must admit their horses are wonderful, but I won't try to ride these beast they cåll cåmels for all the maidens of my homeland. They look like being smiten by a drunken God. I fear we'll håve to use our boots. I wonder if skiying is possible on the sand?!", suggests Rollo to Seamus and Hadi.

Aug 30, 2009 2:43:06 GMT -6 burke said:

OOC: Feel free to sit and talk or take care of business, but please indicate when you're done for the day.

Hadi is patiently waiting until the sun retreats before assisting the party in purchasing provisions and seeking rumors. In addition to the equipment mentioned so far, he will suggest acquiring torches or a lamp, and plenty of water and food. Hadi encourages the party to enter the city at dawn, in hopes of finding shelter from the sun before the full heat of the day sets in.

[coffee]

"Those are all good points, my friend," Seamus says, rising. "And with that, I'll be off to my bed."

[burke]

As the sun sets the camp springs to life. Children come out to play and the adults seat themselves under the palm trees to eat and drink.

Hadi and Jacques set out to purchase provisions. This is what they get:

16 x   water              16 cp
 1 x   pick                3 gp
 1 x   shovel              3 gp
 1 x   rope                1 gp
 1 x   grappling hook      6 gp
 1 x   block & tackle      5 gp
 8 x   standard rations    5 gp
 8 x   iron rations       15 gp
 4 x   large sacks         8 gp
 1 x   hammer              2 gp
12 x   spikes              1 gp
12 x   torches             2 gp
 2 x   tent rental         6 sp
 2 x   corral fee          6 cp

       total: 50 gp 6 sp 22 cp

Only Hadi's exceptional haggling manages to bring the price down to the 49 gold pieces that comprise the totality of your funds. You are now skint, but at least you have somewhere to sleep and provisions for the expedition tomorrow!

OOC: Please detail the stuff somewhere (perhaps by the camels). If it's not written down somewhere, it's not with you.

While out and about Hadi and Jacques keep their ears open. This is what they learn:

1. Sand Uruks have been spotted to the east.
2. A caravan that passed near the outskirts of the city, reported that they had seen many foot prints in the sand. They all came from the ruins.
3. A Beduoin scout came in late one night, reporting that he had seen a strange glow, deep inside the ruins. The Bedouins now call it The Evil Beacon.
4. Kunibert the Scholar was denied an audience with the Sheik, because he insulted the Chamberlain.

OOC: In the future when I say, "please indicate when you are done for the day", just assumes that it is whatever time you need it to be and describe what you want to do and how you go about doing it. And now, if there is nothing else you want to take care of...

As the next day dawns, you are already up and about, collecting your belongings and strapping your provisions to Romeo's and Seamus' camels.

OOC: Where are you heading? (Hex #.)

As dawn approaches, Hadi is ready to go. He checks to make sure everyone is prepared for travel, then suggests the party make directly for the Tower of Obsidian. Along that path, he hopes to encounter adventure or at least a ruin sufficient to shelter during the heat of midday. With Romeo's agreement, he sets forth, unless anyone else objects.

OOC: Hex 2801 if others agree.

[coffee]

Seamus agrees.

as does Jacques.

[salass00]

Iseul agrees.

[snorri]

"That tower name is a cåll for adventure by itself, my friends! I'd love to have a look on the landscape from the summit of the Tower", agrees Rollo.

[burke]

You set off towards the south. Soon the glistening, dark peak of the tower is visible over the dunes.

An hour or so later you reach a high spot with a good view of the landscape. The city is located in a deep valley between the rolling sand dunes of the desert. It is incredibly vast, at least 25 miles across. The outer rim seems to be mostly buried under sand, but further in the ground rises and many strange structures are visible.

Dominating the center of the city is the enigmatic Palace of Dreams. Surrounded by a high and impenetrable, octagonal wall, only the towers are visible and they bear no resemblance to contemporary architecture. Many of the angles and shapes seem to be in defiance of nature and the materials used are transparent or metallic, glittering in the sunlight.

Closer to you, the Tower of Obsidian rises towards the sky. It must be at least a thousand feet high. What purpose such a ominous looking structure could serve is unknown.

To the west of the tower lies the Demon Crack, a mile long fissure, said to reach down into the core of the earth. Billows of smoke and steam rise regularly from the pit and the wind brings a hint of sulfur.

You descend down into the valley. The area is completely arid and no plant life is visible. An hour or so later, when you approach the edge of the city, huge boulders and remains of stone structures begin to populate the landscape.

The place where you have decided to enter the city is a maze of crumbled and half buried stone buildings. Large roof slabs, walls, chimneys, windows and doorways poke up through the loose sand and slow your progress.

Ahead a few houses and what looks like the tower of a temple seem to be intact, albeit mostly buried under the sand.

"Here we are, friends. Use all of your senses to watch for any who might wait for us under the bones of this city."

As much as a regular pace allows, Hadi attempts to be alert and on guard as the party proceeds. The grip of his sword disappears inside his sleeve as he rests his hand upon it. He is also watching for footprints in the sand.

Aug 31, 2009 5:21:46 GMT -6 burke said:

Ahead a few houses and what looks like the tower of a temple seem to be intact, albeit mostly buried under the sand.

"Those houses and tower may conceal an entrance. Shall we seek it?"