Post by xerxez on Jun 1, 2023 20:57:03 GMT -6
THE NEXT DAY.....
The Livyani warrior arrives precisely at a half hour to noon.
He looks you over and nods, giving approval of your threads.
"It will have to do," he says.
(I am assuming that all of our PC's are going, correct me if wrong, please)
Karunaz leads you out the gates of the Foreigner's district and into finer precincts.
You arrive at a long Clanhouse set up high on a hill terraced with fragrant gardens and steps lead up to a pillared porch.
Passing through an open double iron barred gate you cross a long hall and a large gathering of people, most of them bareskinned except for a cloth or flimsy gauze veil. They are seated crosslegged upon mats at low tables which are laden with fruit, cups and bottles.
They sit on a strange system of terraces which is odd to you, so that certain may look down upon others. Scantily clad servants, male and female, walk to and from among them pouring wine, taking away empty platters, etc. You all note that these wear the bronze collar of the slave...
These gawk at you momentarily and whisper but you quickly cross the hall and exit into a large courtyard where three other double tiered long buildings form a square with lawns and gardens in the courtyard.
Passing under a covered porch hall you ascend a set of stairs and arrive at a door.
Karunaz opens it and leads you all through.
You are in an open chamber with vaulted ceiling and sitting on a cushioned dais overlooking dining tables is a very heavy man of fifty or so.
He is very large (Think of the Baron Harkonnen in size...)and dressed in fine robes.
His head is shiny with oil and not a strand of hair.
Below the dais the tables are loaded with steaming H'ma meat, cups and bottles, and all manner of mollusks and fish. Two female servants stand by with pitchers, looking upon you. At one table below the dais reclines a bored looking, very handsome but somewhat sullen looking young man of perhaps thirty, clad in a black tunic...he regards you all somewhat coolly, as opposed to the smiling lord.
Karunaz bows deeply in the direction of the Fat Lord, somewhat less so towards the youth, and then gives you all a small shoulder bow and beckons to the tables.
As you are all seated the Lord claps and the servants begin to pour rich wine into your cups, smiling at all of you and maintaining perfect poise.
VRIMESHTU: "Greetings, Southerners! Greetings! I welcome you to Jakalla and my Clanhouse! By the looks of you, I see I am well served by Karunaz in finding good help.
Now, no talk of business until you have all been nourished. Eat, more will come if needed. Try the H'ma-- dip it in the sauce with your right hand, of course--it's excellent!
But first, let me introduce my nephew, Vortumoi hiChusu, a learned and skilled priest in the Fifth Circle of the Temple of Hu'ru. He is involved with our matter. Now enjoy!"
The feast is indeed surpassing and even opulent.
During the meal Vrimeshtu inquires about your land, the history of your tribe, and your progress.
His nephew is not inclined to engage in the conversation and in fact at one point even interjects.
VORTUMOI: "Uncle, such familiarity with Strangers is not comely in a Noble Lord-it is unseemly enough that this meeting takes place in our Clanhouse..."
But his uncles holds up his hand, grunts, and brushes him off.
When you have done and the servants have provided bowls and cloths for washing your hands, the Fat Lord dismisses the slaves and then speaks his matter.
VRIMESHTU: "And now to business, goodly Strangers. In business, I am of few words.
The long and short of it is that I wish to employ a half dozen or so warriors, scouts and porters to go with my nephew on an expedition into the palmetto swamps, westward.
There is a tomb there, and within it are certain artifacts I wish to recover.
I deem it the labor of a week, and for that I will pay each of you 200 Kaitar--enough to keep one person for a year in Jakalla's Foreign Quarters--as well as a share in other treasures in the tomb.
I am willing to pay your company 25% of the monetary value of any gems, jewelry or precious metals you may recover.
However, if your party should find any magical artifacts, writings or arcane devices, they are to be mine.
This trip will involve danger and, it is certain, fighting!
My only other terms are that you speak to no one of your task and that you agree to be under orders of Vortumoi, who I have charged with the foray.
Karunaz, too, will accompany you.
I will give you tomorrow to think about it all and if you decide yes, you will be guided by Vortumoi under cover of darkness tomorrow night to a small boat waiting near the Prison of Little Ease.
I will provide water and rations-- choose four porters from among your tribe to bear goods and, of course, and treasure that is found. Have any of you questions?"
The Livyani warrior arrives precisely at a half hour to noon.
He looks you over and nods, giving approval of your threads.
"It will have to do," he says.
(I am assuming that all of our PC's are going, correct me if wrong, please)
Karunaz leads you out the gates of the Foreigner's district and into finer precincts.
You arrive at a long Clanhouse set up high on a hill terraced with fragrant gardens and steps lead up to a pillared porch.
Passing through an open double iron barred gate you cross a long hall and a large gathering of people, most of them bareskinned except for a cloth or flimsy gauze veil. They are seated crosslegged upon mats at low tables which are laden with fruit, cups and bottles.
They sit on a strange system of terraces which is odd to you, so that certain may look down upon others. Scantily clad servants, male and female, walk to and from among them pouring wine, taking away empty platters, etc. You all note that these wear the bronze collar of the slave...
These gawk at you momentarily and whisper but you quickly cross the hall and exit into a large courtyard where three other double tiered long buildings form a square with lawns and gardens in the courtyard.
Passing under a covered porch hall you ascend a set of stairs and arrive at a door.
Karunaz opens it and leads you all through.
You are in an open chamber with vaulted ceiling and sitting on a cushioned dais overlooking dining tables is a very heavy man of fifty or so.
He is very large (Think of the Baron Harkonnen in size...)and dressed in fine robes.
His head is shiny with oil and not a strand of hair.
Below the dais the tables are loaded with steaming H'ma meat, cups and bottles, and all manner of mollusks and fish. Two female servants stand by with pitchers, looking upon you. At one table below the dais reclines a bored looking, very handsome but somewhat sullen looking young man of perhaps thirty, clad in a black tunic...he regards you all somewhat coolly, as opposed to the smiling lord.
Karunaz bows deeply in the direction of the Fat Lord, somewhat less so towards the youth, and then gives you all a small shoulder bow and beckons to the tables.
As you are all seated the Lord claps and the servants begin to pour rich wine into your cups, smiling at all of you and maintaining perfect poise.
VRIMESHTU: "Greetings, Southerners! Greetings! I welcome you to Jakalla and my Clanhouse! By the looks of you, I see I am well served by Karunaz in finding good help.
Now, no talk of business until you have all been nourished. Eat, more will come if needed. Try the H'ma-- dip it in the sauce with your right hand, of course--it's excellent!
But first, let me introduce my nephew, Vortumoi hiChusu, a learned and skilled priest in the Fifth Circle of the Temple of Hu'ru. He is involved with our matter. Now enjoy!"
The feast is indeed surpassing and even opulent.
During the meal Vrimeshtu inquires about your land, the history of your tribe, and your progress.
His nephew is not inclined to engage in the conversation and in fact at one point even interjects.
VORTUMOI: "Uncle, such familiarity with Strangers is not comely in a Noble Lord-it is unseemly enough that this meeting takes place in our Clanhouse..."
But his uncles holds up his hand, grunts, and brushes him off.
When you have done and the servants have provided bowls and cloths for washing your hands, the Fat Lord dismisses the slaves and then speaks his matter.
VRIMESHTU: "And now to business, goodly Strangers. In business, I am of few words.
The long and short of it is that I wish to employ a half dozen or so warriors, scouts and porters to go with my nephew on an expedition into the palmetto swamps, westward.
There is a tomb there, and within it are certain artifacts I wish to recover.
I deem it the labor of a week, and for that I will pay each of you 200 Kaitar--enough to keep one person for a year in Jakalla's Foreign Quarters--as well as a share in other treasures in the tomb.
I am willing to pay your company 25% of the monetary value of any gems, jewelry or precious metals you may recover.
However, if your party should find any magical artifacts, writings or arcane devices, they are to be mine.
This trip will involve danger and, it is certain, fighting!
My only other terms are that you speak to no one of your task and that you agree to be under orders of Vortumoi, who I have charged with the foray.
Karunaz, too, will accompany you.
I will give you tomorrow to think about it all and if you decide yes, you will be guided by Vortumoi under cover of darkness tomorrow night to a small boat waiting near the Prison of Little Ease.
I will provide water and rations-- choose four porters from among your tribe to bear goods and, of course, and treasure that is found. Have any of you questions?"