In this game, since we're travelling, and I hate to waste dead time, I used Naia to explore the players' ideas about their past, to flesh them out more fully. It's an old trick, get an NPC to get them talking about themselves. Of course, buried in the conversation were some subtle hints about Naia, and a couple of not-so-subtle hints. I'm pretty big on building suspense before laying the cards on the table. Is Naia hiding something? Probably. Is she trustworthy? Difficult to tell. Well, the GM knows...
(28) GM: The suns beat down on the travelers. As the afternoon wears on, you get thirsty a bit.
(28) GM: You're now well out of sight of Kasir, and have been since early this morning.
** (43) Merduk is used to not having enough to eat or drink. His childhood was a lot like that. **
(28) Merdmira: "Now I remember. I hate the desert."
** Naia seems to be travelling well enough, only occasionally sipping from her waterskin. **
(40) Laj: "Eh, it's all right."
(40) Laj: "Keep an eye on your water. Worth more than gold out here."
** (40) Laj keeps an eye open for trouble. **
** Naia nods, and puts down her waterskin. **
(40) Laj: In the meantime, he massages his numb arm.
(28) GM: The horizons seem clear enough, no dust clouds or dark spots.
(43) Merduk: Oooh! Scrubland!
(28) GM: The aht-ras occasionally pause to bite off a nibble of a scrub brush or two.
** Merdmira 's greymane seems to be faring ok, despite the heat. **
** (40) Laj adjusts his robes and headdress to keep out the sun. **
(28) GM: The feeling returns to Laj's arm, only a minor ache persists.
(28) GM: The day wears on, and evening draws near. You get a bit hungry and thirsty, and the suns are near setting.
** (40) Laj keeps working on his arm, stretching and flexing the muscles. Hopefully he'll be back to normal in a few days. **
** (43) Merduk is the same as always. Unfortunately. **
(40) Laj: "Look for a place to camp. Overhang or cleft, maybe a clump of trees."
(43) Merduk: (And now, the Marukan National Anthem!.... "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat worms....")
(28) GM: After a brief search, you find a depression which will keep most of the night winds off of you.
(28) Naia: "Are we camping here?"
(43) Merduk: "Sorry there isn't a five-star hotel around."
(40) Laj: "Good enough. Small fire only."
** Naia get's off her tatra and begins unrolling one of her bundles, which proves to be a tent. **
(28) Naia: (s/get's/gets/)
** Merdmira lends Naia a hand pitching her tent. **
(28) GM: The Greater sun sets first, bathing the sands in red light.
** Naia 's tent seems surprisingly desertworthy, made of light and strong spinifax. **
(40) Laj: "Good material. Glad you can pull your weight." Laj nods at the Cymrillian.
(40) Laj: He unrolls his own tent and bedroll. Soon he has a small fire going for cooking.
** Merdmira admires the tent. **
(28) Merdmira: "Looks expensive. Cost a lot?"
(28) Naia: "Not really, it just seemed a good fit for the desert."
(28) GM: After sunset, the night cools the landscape quickly.
** Naia sits near the fire. **
(43) Merduk: "So do you know magic? A lot of Cymrilians do. Most are just curious dabblers."
** Naia smiles shyly. "I know a little. I guess I'm just a curious dabbler." **
(40) Laj: "Who prefers white scorpion flesh? Dark scorpion flesh?"
** Naia makes a face. **
** (40) Laj pokes at whatever he's cooking. "Desert joke." **
(40) Laj: "Tradition to pick on newcomers."
** Merdmira snickers. "I love that joke." **
(43) Merduk: "That was a joke? Sorry. I grew up eating whatever I could find,"
** Naia smiles goodnaturedly. **
(28) Naia: "Where did you grow up? In the desert?"
(43) Merduk: "Maruk"
(40) Laj: "The best part of it is that scorpion's don't have white or dark meat. Ha ha ha."
(40) Laj: *scorpions
(43) Merduk: "True. Mostly they have gook inside."
(28) Naia: "What is Maruk like?"
(40) Laj: "Tastes best boiled, if you have the water."
(40) Laj: "Um, not Maruk. Scorpions."
(28) Naia: "Boiled scorpions? Seems like an exotic dish."
(40) Laj: "Delicious, but don't eat the tails." Seeing that his subtle humor is lost on his companions, Laj goes about making a kind of flatbread from provender root, spices, salt, and water.
(28) Merdmira: "Save the tails for the fellers you don't like."
** (43) Merduk considers the question. "Next time you go into an outhouse, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Now imagine a country that smells like that." **
(28) Naia: "Does Maruk really smell so awful?"
** (40) Laj nods. **
(43) Merduk: "Well, we had a curse placed on us long ago. So farming and other stuff doesn't pan out. Nothing does. Our country only scrapes by collecting and selling ogront dung."
(43) Merduk: "Ogronts make a lot of dung, and it's very strong fertilizer."
(28) Naia: "I see. Seems rather depressing. No wonder you left."
(43) Merduk: "Ogront dung can make anything grow, unless you are trying to grow it around Maruk."
(40) Laj: "Bad luck there."
(43) Merduk: 'Yeah, me and Merd decided we had to get out after mom and dad died. We didn't want to spend our lives shoveling."
** Merdmira offers her bag of spices to Laj. **
(28) Merdmira: "I kept my shovel," Merdmira says matter-of-factly.
** (40) Laj nods and accepts the spices. With a bit of this and that, even fried provender root dough tastes pretty good. Coupled with some avir jerky and dried fruit, it isn't a half bad meal. **
** (43) Merduk is rather attracted to the new green girl, so he acts like he usually does around attractive women, He gets quiet, and tries not to bother her too much. **
** Merdmira eats her flatbread, chewing thoughtfully. "Thanks, Laj." **
(28) Naia: "This is an excellent recipe, Laj."
(40) Laj: "Uncle taught me just before he died horribly. Good flavor, though. Enjoy."
(28) Naia: "Do you travel the deserts often?"
** (40) Laj munches on his repast. **
(40) Laj: "Often enough."
(40) Laj: "Seen many places. Some better than others."
(28) Naia: "I haven't been this way before. I'm a bit of a collector, you see."
(43) Merduk: "Lately we have been staying in the Seven Kingdoms. Though we made a side trip to Aaman and Zandu recently."
(28) Naia: "Cymril is beautiful, but it can wear on you after a while. Sometimes you need to get out, and collect some items for yourself."
(28) Naia: "I collect these little statues, they stand about so high, and sometimes are made of sandstone, sometimes other stone. They look like people, some standing regally, others holding staves."
(43) Merduk: "Ah, not all collectors are Sindaran, then."
** Naia smiles. "No, not all." **
(40) Laj: "What are they?"
(28) Naia: "Curiousities, really. I like the appeal. I have only a couple back in Cymril, and I thought I might find some in better condition closer to their native land."
(28) Naia: "Rather like the ones that were in the Djaffir's shop in Kasir, but those just didn't appeal to me."
(28) Naia: "Perhaps when we reach the city of Kasmir there will be a larger selection."
(43) Merduk: "I think the ones in the shops are for tourists."
** (40) Laj looks at Merduk and Merdmira meaningfully. "Sometimes it rains in the desert." **
** Naia laughs. "Probably they are, but I am a tourist, sometimes." **
(43) Merduk: (Is she the Talislanta equivalent of a Beanie Baby fanatic? hehe.)
(28) GM: (Not the driven behavior of a Sindaran, but she seems serious enough about collecting statues.)
(40) Laj: "Old desert proverb meaning sometimes you get lucky."
(28) Naia: "Ah, I wondered about not seeing rainclouds."
** (40) Laj reaches for his saddle bags containing the statues. **
(40) Laj: He removes one and lets the firelight play over its surface.
(28) Naia: "That's lovely, may I look it over?"
(43) Merduk: (Naia bonks Laj and runs off with the statues!)
(28) GM: (Ha!)
** Naia turns the statue over, and looks at the base. **
(28) Naia: "Hmmm. 'The Satrap's Own,' you are brave lads."
(43) Merduk: "I'm not brave. I was just following that guy." *points at Laj*
(28) Naia: "This is remarkably close to what I am looking for. Is there another? A bit smaller, with gold inlay and painted faces?"
(28) GM: (Her description sounds a lot like the statue Darandor took.)
** (40) Laj rouses himself from a greedy reverie. **
(43) Merduk: (Darn it.)
(40) Laj: "Can tell you where it went. Saw it but didn't get it."
** Naia looks interested. **
(28) Naia: "Where did it go?"
(40) Laj: "Other Cymrillian. Smuggler. Name of Torin."
(40) Laj: (Or is it Toril?)
(28) Naia: "Tolin? He got the statue? Damn. That's alright, I know where it will end up."
(28) Naia: "What would you like for this one?"
(40) Laj: (I have no idea what they're worth, but Laj has Antiquarian and Merchant. Does that help?)
(28) GM: (Roll Antiquarian...)
(40) Laj: [1d20+6] -> [16,6] = (22) Antiquarian.
(28) GM: The statues are worth a good deal, but only to collectors. Kasmirans value them, but only for monetary value. The can be sold for 40 lumens, 50 if you're a shrewd merchant.
(40) Laj: "Forty five lumens each."
(28) GM: The gold trimmed ones can be more expensive because of the gold.
(40) Laj: "For the unpainted ones."
(28) Naia: "How many do you have?"
** (40) Laj pulls out the entire selection." **
(40) Laj: "One, some, or all. Depends on how much you want to spend."
(28) GM: (Which is two, if I remember correctly... Two statues, two jugs, and two chests.)
(28) Naia: "I can pay 85 for both."
** (40) Laj pulls out both statues. **
** (40) Laj shrugs. "Why not?" **
** Naia produces 85 lumens, in pentacles and other coins. **
(43) Merduk: (Laj bonks Naia and runs off with the money.)
(28) GM: (Ha!)
** Naia carefully wraps the statues in cloth, and places them in her tent. **
(28) Naia: "Thank you, Laj. These will look proudly over my table at home."
(28) Naia: "How did you get mixed up with Tolin?"
(28) Naia: "If you don't mind me asking, of course."
(40) Laj: "Didn't. Met someone who owed him money. Statue went to pay the tab."
(28) Naia: "That'll be that worm Darandor, I'll bet."
(40) Laj: "Know him?
(28) Naia: "I've heard of him, and Tolin. Everyone has heard of Tolin. Darandor used to travel a lot to Cymril, sometimes with interesting... collectibles. Conniving little rat, though."
(28) Naia: "I'm sorry, is he a friend of yours?"
(40) Laj: "Purely business between us."
(40) Laj: "Business is over. Move on."
(28) Naia: "I see. Wise choice."
(40) Laj: "Whatever he has is his problem."
(28) Naia: "If it weren't for the occasional good purchase, I'm sure someone would have made him a lot less irritating by now."
** Naia yawns. **
** (40) Laj shrugs. **
(28) Naia: "I'm a bit tired. I'm afraid I'm not the travellers you are. Mind if I get some sleep?"
(40) Laj: "Go ahead."
(28) Naia: "Until tomorrow, then. Good night."
** Naia smiles and crawls into her tent. **
(40) Laj: "Less trouble for us now."
** Merdmira looks at the closed tent flap for a moment, then back at the fire. **
** (40) Laj splits the money three ways and gives his companions their shares. **
(28) Merdmira: "Thank you, Laj."
** Merdmira looks genuinely surprised to be getting a share. **
(43) Merduk: (How much is that?)
(40) Laj: [85/3] -> 28
(40) Laj: "You helped, you get a cut."
** Merdmira lowers her voice. "Something's bothering me." **
(43) Merduk: "What?"
(28) Merdmira: "Shhh."
** Merdmira can barely be heard over the crackling fire. **
(28) Merdmira: "Never been in the desert before, and look at that tent."
(28) Merdmira: "And another thing, those statues had cryptographic runes on them. I can't read 'em, and she could?"
(28) Merdmira: (s/cryptographic/cryptomantic/)
(28) Merdmira: "Weren't magic runes, but still, she read 'em. Never been in the desert? Where'd she learn that?"
(28) Merdmira: "She might have learned to read them at that big Lyceum in Cymril, but that tent is nice, I'd trade my shovel for it, and some coin, too. Takes smarts to pick a light tent like that for desert livin."
** (40) Laj nods. He never trusted her to begin with, but now he's actively suspicious of Naia. "Desert holds many dangers." He points to her tent. **
(40) Laj: "Free with her money, too. Not poor."
** Merdmira unrolls her blankets near the fire. "Sleep light tonight." **
(28) GM: The stars shine brightly, illuminating the scrublands slightly.
** (40) Laj nods. **
(40) Laj: "First watch."
** (40) Laj settles down, loads his crossbow, and keeps an eye on things for 3 hours. **
(28) GM: You have a dream: The Ariane walks in the desert, leaving footprints. You look at the foot prints, and it looks like seven people were walking along the trail. The Ariane says "He waits, come." And you wake up.
(28) GM: (You each have the dream while Merdmira takes the third watch.)
(28) GM: The Greater Sun rises first, and until the Lesser Sun rises the landscape takes on a reddish hue.
** (40) Laj wakes abruptly. "Waits for what?" **
(43) Merduk: "Why can't I just dream about girls like everyone else?"
** Merdmira harumphs. **
** Naia emerges sleepily from her tent. "Good morning." **
(40) Laj: "Who are the other five?"
(28) Naia: "Who?"
(40) Laj: "Nothing. Just thinking out loud."
** Naia checks her waterskin, and sees to her tatra. **
(40) Laj: "Leftovers for breakfast. We move before dawn. Make time before it gets too hot."
** Naia nods. **
(28) GM: You begin your journey early enough. If your memory is any good, you have another full day of travel before reaching the city of Kasmir.
** Merdmira looks thoughtful, a new look for her. **
(28) Merdmira: "Hotter today, I think."
(28) Merdmira: "Shovel's going to need extra water."
(40) Laj: "Probably. Dry heat though. Manageable."
** Merdmira pulls her veil across her face. **
(40) Laj: "Reach Kasmir by sunset tomorrow, if all goes well."
(40) Laj: "Keep the beast moving. I have extra water." Laj pats his four waterskins.
** (43) Merduk smirks, "Maybe you should keep that veil. It's kind of an improvement." **
(28) Merdmira: "Your wit's improving, brother."
(40) Laj: "Family. Pain in the neck. Like my brother who got decapitated."
(28) Naia: "You only mention your family with their deaths. Is your life so grim, Laj?"
(28) Merdmira: "You want grim..." Merdmira begins. "Ask my brother."
(43) Merduk: "Please. You can out-grim me any day."
(40) Laj: "Yitek are Death's children. Not an easy life. Has its amusing side, though. I owed my brother money when he died. Ha ha ha."
** Merdmira grins at Laj. **
** (40) Laj laughs hollowly. **
(28) Naia: "Death's children..." Naia mutters thoughtfully. "What a thought."
(28) Naia: "I imagine it's not an easy life."
(28) Naia: "Don't you have any good memories? Something to make you smile before you sleep?"
(40) Laj: "My people go into dangerous places. Sometimes we die. Everyone goes some day."
** (40) Laj shrugs. **
(28) Naia: "I remember when I was little, father teaching me to ride. That old greymane nag wouldn't hurt a flea, but I was still scared to death. But father calmed me, and I eventually learned to ride without fear. Sometimes, when I'm afraid, I think of that."
(40) Laj: "Memories of beautiful things thought long lost. The gleam of gold. The treasures of lost peoples. Aye. Dawn and dusk in the desert. The moons in winter near Carantheum. Those are good memories."
** Naia smiles. "They sound like good memories." **
(40) Laj: "Yitek don't smile much, but not unhappy. Friends, freedom, fortune. Who wants anything more?"
(28) Naia: "Freedom is certainly very important. Very... very important."
(43) Merduk: "Freedom is nice, for those lucky enough to have it. Marukans don't have luck."
(28) Naia: "Friends and fortune, they'll follow. But freedom has to be earned. Or stolen."
(43) Merduk: "I can travel all over the world, but I'll see be Marukan. How do I free myself from that?"
(28) Naia: "But you're not in Maruk now, something must have made you leave. You don't feel more free being away from there?"
(28) Naia: "The curse follows you, then?"
(43) Merduk: "It's... hard to explain."
(40) Laj: "They're with me. Looks like it did follow them. Ha ha ha."
** (40) Laj nearly falls off of Her Grace as he laughs at his own joke. **
** Merdmira laughs at Laj's lack of grace. **
(28) GM: The noon suns beat down fiercely. Merdmira's greymane keeps needing water.
(28) GM: The aht-ras are doing fine on the water they drank this morning.
(28) GM: The day turns to evening, and as the suns begin to set, you see a large city in the distance.
** (40) Laj passes a full waterskin to Merdmira. "For Shovel. Last he'll get. Need the rest for emergency." **
(28) Merdmira: "Thank you Laj. This fellow sure can't hold much water."
(28) GM: Shortly before total darkness, you enter the city, just as the great brass gates begin to close.
(28) Naia: "Well, that was an easy trip. Shall we find an inn, and have a bit of supper?"
(43) Merduk: "Sounds good."
(28) Merdmira: "Hungry. And thirsty, too, but not for water."
** (40) Laj nods. **
(40) Laj: "Water and aquavit."
** Naia leads the way to an inn. It's in the foreign quarter, you would have been surprised to find an inn anywhere else in Kasmir, given their nature. **
(28) GM: The inn looks respectable enough, and costs a fair coin, but the mounts are stabled right there, and the menu promises a variety of foods.
** Naia gets her room settled, then proceeds to order dinner, complete with a bottle of aquavit. **
(28) Naia: "You're welcome to share this, if you'd like."
** (40) Laj raises an eyebrow. "A drop." **
** (40) Laj pours a little into his water. **
(43) Merduk: "Don't hand the bottle to Merd first. You won't get anything back."
** Merdmira scowls at Merduk. **
(28) GM: The serving girls bring a large course of roast erd, mashed provender, and various other staples. The spicing is like what you would expect from Cymril, but it's very good all the same.
(28) Merdmira: "You watch your bottle, Merduk, and I'll pay attention to mine."
** (43) Merduk chows down. **
** Merdmira doesn't always overindulge in alcohol. Just when she's recovering from windship flight. **
** (40) Laj eats heartily, but drinks his water+aquavit sparingly. He doesn't trust Naia at all. **
(28) GM: After your meal, you retire for the evening.
(28) GM: (And that's where we'll leave it tonight.)