Now, in this game, the guys had been in Kasmir. Kasmir is a big trading city, the gateway of the Seven Kingdoms to the Western Nations. I realized I hadn't quite planned out enough about such a city, and I wanted to get things moving along anyway. So, we get a little hint that Naia isn't what she appears to be...
There's sure to be a note about this session when the game comes to completion.
** Naia leads the way to a rather nice looking tavern in the foreign quarter. **
** Merdmira follows Merduk. **
(177) Merduk: (Now that I have a picture of Naia, Merduk is even more twitchy and shy around her.)
(170) GM: (HA!)
** Naia orders aquavit, and a pitcher of water. **
(170) GM: The tavern sports the usual array of tables, but they don't seem terribly worn. The floor is clean despite the many patrons, and Cymrilian glow globes throw a cheery light from overhead.
(186) Laj: "New place, or just few foreigners?"
(170) GM: The waitress brings the aquavit, water, and four tall amberglass glasses.
(170) GM: There are very few Kasmirans in the place. It's mostly Cymrilians, otherwise. But you see a few desert dwellers from east of here.
(170) Naia: "It looked nice from the outside."
** Naia pours herself a half glass of aquavit. **
** Merdmira raises an eyebrow, and pours herself a whole glass. **
** (186) Laj pours a glass of water and puts a splash of aquavit on top. **
** (177) Merduk drinks a glass of aquavit. **
** Merdmira sips slowly at her glass. **
(186) Laj: "So why did you leave Cymril?"
(170) Naia: "Hmmm? Collecting, of course. My friends used to tease me, and say I should have been a Sindaran."
** Naia laughs her silver bell laugh. **
(170) Naia: "But I don't think I'm that bad, really."
(170) Naia: "Haven't you ever just wanted to wander?"
(170) Naia: "Collecting is a nice excuse, but I do enjoy getting out from the big city."
(186) Laj: "Not for pleasure."
(186) Laj: "Wander often?"
** Naia smiles. "No wanderlust at all?" **
(186) Laj: "Purely business, but not always rewarding." Laj shrugs.
(170) Naia: "More frequently lately. I visited Sindar last year, before that Aaman war that nobody talks about."
** (177) Merduk downs his aquavit quickly. Damn beautiful face, and damn beautiful laugh. *grumble* **
(170) Naia: "Merduk, you should drink slowly, you know, take the time to enjoy it."
** Naia sips at her drink. **
(170) Naia: "See, your sister has the idea."
** Merdmira smirks, and nods. **
(170) GM: There is a musician playing, a Cymrilian in bright flashy garb with something resembling a guitar.
** (177) Merduk watches the musician, making sure he isn't putting some kind of spell on us. **
** (186) Laj nods at the musician. "Not bad." **
(170) GM: He sings a slow song, one you've heard in Cymril at least a hundred times. He's not bad, but he'll never play for royalty.
** Naia hums along with the music. **
(170) Naia: "Want to see some more of the city? There's got to be more than just the marketplace."
** Merdmira nods. "Maybe I can sell some of these luck charms." **
** Naia finishes her drink. "Come on, let's see what we can find." **
** (186) Laj nods. **
(186) Laj: He finishes his water.
(177) Merduk: "Let's go!"
** Naia leads the way out into the afternoon sunlight. **
** Merdmira follows Naia and Merduk. "You comin, Laj?" **
(170) GM: A well dressed servant bumps into Naia. He mutters "Sorry" then pauses, staring at her.
** (177) Merduk observes this. **
(170) GM: He says "My Lady! I didn't recognize you at all! Are you here to visit His Lordship?"
** Naia looks nervous. **
(170) Naia: "I'm just here a short time, I'm afraid I won't have time for a visit."
** (186) Laj follows, just catching the conversation between the servant and Naia. **
(186) Laj: (Of course, his suspicions are confirmed!)
(170) GM: "A shame, a real shame. Still, you should come by, I'll tell everyone to expect you!" He runs off excitedly through the crowd.
** (186) Laj looks at Naia with an arched eyebrow, but says nothing. **
(170) Naia: "I think perhaps we should move on," she says quietly.
** Naia heads back to the stables, walking quickly. **
** Merdmira looks questioningly at Laj and Merduk. **
(186) Laj: "We're leaving Kasmir." Laj nods.
(170) Merdmira: "Now what can that mean?"
** (177) Merduk shrugs. **
(186) Laj: "But not before we know why."
(170) Merdmira: "Best follow the girl, she's getting way ahead."
** (177) Merduk walks up to Naia, and says to her quietly, "If.. If you are someone important, it doesn't matter. You can tell me if you want. Because it doesn't matter either way." **
** (186) Laj hurries after "Her Ladyship." **
(170) GM: You find Naia paying the stablehand, leading her tatra.
(186) Laj: When he reaches Naia, he says, "Better to know who's after you and if they'll kill us."
(170) Naia: "I've paid your fees, if you'll pardon me. I think it's best we leave quickly."
(170) Naia: "I... I'll explain. But after we're outside the city. There are ears everywhere."
** Naia looks genuinely frightened. **
** (186) Laj shrugs and mounts his tatra. **
** Naia climbs onto her tatra as well, and steers it for the east gate. **
** Merdmira shakes her head, and clambers laboriously onto Shovel. **
(170) GM: The greymane seems to barely tolerate Merdmira.
(170) Merdmira: "Now be good, or you'll get a whack with your namesake."
** (177) Merduk follows on his aht-ra **
** Naia is wasting no time, and has quite a lead. **
** (186) Laj follows as quickly as Her Grace allows, wondering what exactly is behind this Cymrillian's urgent need to depart. **
(170) GM: Regretfully, you leave what would probably have been a comfortable night's sleep and head once more into the scrublands. The suns shine at your back, drawing shadows in front of you.
** Naia takes a deep breath. **
** (177) Merduk is following Naia as best he can, but his aht-ra can't keep up. **
(186) Laj: "Talk."
(170) Naia: "Have you spent much time in Cymril?"
(186) Laj: "Some."
(186) Laj: "Friends there."
(170) Naia: "Well... It's like this... My father is very important there. And... when you're almost royalty, you really don't have much control over your own life."
(186) Laj: "
(186) Laj: "As a Yitek, wouldn't know."
(170) Naia: "And of course, in the interest of diplomacy, sometimes deals are made. Without any consideration for what's being traded."
(170) Naia: "Which, in this case, would be me."
(170) Naia: "I was supposed to be delivered to a certain Kasmiran lord, who fancied a foreigner for a concubine."
** (177) Merduk looks up suddenly. **
(170) Naia: "I have absolutely no intention of following through with it."
(186) Laj: "So you decided to head straight to Kasmir."
** Naia looks away as if trying to hide tears. **
(170) Naia: "I... I was leaving all of the Seven Kingdoms. Kasmir is a heavily traveled city, I thought... I thought I'd just blend in."
** (177) Merduk mutters. "I thought the Kasmirans had ethics, if nothing else." **
(170) Naia: "And once outside of Kasmir, I'd be free. Well, I'm free enough already. Free enough not to go back, anyway."
** Naia sniffs. "I should borrow Merdmira's shovel!" **
(186) Laj: "Keep moving."
** (186) Laj looks back apprehensively. **
(186) Laj: "Who's the bridegroom?"
(177) Merduk: "That shriveled liitle turd has no sense of ethics." Merduk considers, then adds, "Good taste, but no ethics."
(170) GM: The road behind is clear enough, only some walkers and a couple of carts, which couldn't keep up with your mounts.
(170) Naia: "Lord Algan abd Nura. He controls a lot of the trade between Kasmir and Cymril. He's even got money in the smugglers."
(170) Naia: "And, it wasn't even a marriage. Just a slave, unlike his servants, who actually draw wages. I'd be a prisoner... and worse."
(186) Laj: "Figures."
** (177) Merduk feels sick. **
(170) Naia: "They tell me it's like that for the upper crust. That it's the norm."
(170) Naia: "Maybe they were lying to make me more quiescent, maybe they were telling the truth. It doesn't matter, I won't go through with it."
** Merdmira rides beside Naia for a moment, not speaking, and fixes her turban and veil. **
(170) Merdmira: "Keep that on, missy. It keeps the sand out."
(186) Laj: "And keeps prying eyes out, too."
** Merdmira nods. **
(170) Naia: "Thank you for not making me stay there."
** Naia keeps her eyes on the horizon. "I just can't imagine living like that..." **
(186) Laj: "Then keep moving."
** Merdmira rides protectively beside Naia. **
** (186) Laj readies his crossbow. **
(177) Merduk: "Being a pampered prisoner wouldn't be so bad. Better than shovelling dung. It's the idea of you being some kasmiran's plaything that bugs me."
(186) Laj: "Heroes again, eh Merduk."
** (177) Merduk grunts. **
(170) GM: The city disappears behind you, and the road traffic thins out until you can only see dots behind you, and no one on the road ahead.
(186) Laj: "Being anyone's unwilling plaything is dung."
** Merdmira only shakes her head. **
(186) Laj: "Now where?"
(177) Merduk: "No, dung is better. Dung has some productive value. Taking a girl like this and locking her away until someone wants to dust her off and play with her is a collossal waste."
(170) Naia: "I'd thought... I'd thought maybe Akmir. There won't be anyone there who would know me."
(170) Naia: "And if there was, well, they wouldn't be on their home ground, would they? Who would march an army after me? One or two, and well, I think I would be fine..."
** Naia produces and ornate dagger, with a blade of blue iron and a jeweled silver handle. **
(177) Merduk: "You could stay with us for a while. We'd keep you out of danger until you get settled somewhere."
(170) Naia: "Where are you going? And could you really tolerate me along?"
(186) Laj: "Deep desert. Looking for someone."
(177) Merduk: "Sure, I'd be.. we'd be happy to have you along. And as for where we are going, we aren't really sure." Merduk sneers slightly, "Following our dreams, I guess."
(186) Laj: "What he said."
(186) Laj: "By the way, who's your father?"
(170) Naia: "I... I shouldn't say, but his name is Lord Tercean."
(186) Laj: "As long as it isn't Azradamus."
(170) Naia: "He's Koresian, but his family has ties to the Tanasians, and was in power even before Azradamus."
** Naia smiles broadly at you both. "Thank you so much for being my friends!" **
(170) Merdmira: "Put your veil back on, you'll have eaten the whole desert by nightfall."
** (177) Merduk smiles a little, working through his usual mixed feelings. **
** (177) Merduk chuckles. "Yeah, you're not Marukan, you're not used to surviving on bugs." **
** Naia smiles, and pulls her veil over her face. **
(186) Laj: "Not friends yet, but consider us close acquaintances. Fight together, then we're allies. Loot a tomb together and we're friends."
** Naia laughs her silver laughter. "Me? Rob a tomb? Who would ever believe that?" **
** (177) Merduk shrugs, "Spend a week shovelling dung together and we're friends, but I don't hold others to that." **
(177) Merduk: "That's our version of it."
** (186) Laj shrugs. "No worse than running away from an arranged marriage." **
(170) Merdmira: "Share water in the deep desert, that's friendship."
** (186) Laj laughs. "Merdmira's right. That is true friendship." **
** Merdmira laughs like a mother hen. **
(170) GM: The day trudges onward, slipping slowly into twilight. Kasmir is far behind, and the border can't be more that two days away.
(170) Merdmira: "We'd best spot somewhere to camp, off the road a ways."
(186) Laj: "Aye."
** (186) Laj looks for a likely spot well away from the road--a place that is easily defended but secluded. **
(177) Merduk: "Yeah, he sounds like a spoiled rich type. He'll probably throw a hissy fit if he's denied his poonanner. We should keep a low profile."
(177) Merduk: (Naia is probably speaking High Talislan?)
(170) GM: Laj soon spots a copse of leafless trees on the side of a tall dune. Not defensible, but the best there is.
(186) Laj: "There." Laj points to the trees.
(170) GM: (High Talislan is to Low Talislan like Early Modern English (King James English) to Modern English.)
(186) Laj: "I'll take first watch. No fire tonight."
(170) GM: (And no, Naia has spoken Low Talislan the entire time.)
(170) GM: The night draws close in the desert, and the temperature, which had been so high before, falls rapidly.
** Naia and Merdmira raise the spinifax tent. **
** Naia eats little of her rations, and soon goes to sleep in her tent. **
** (186) Laj makes the best meal he can without a fire, then sets up his tent. **
(170) Merdmira: "Poor girl, she's tired."
(186) Laj: "Aye. Worried, too. Hope your dream doesn't come true."
(170) Merdmira: "I've been thinking about it, and I hope it doesn't either."
** Merdmira pinches Merduk's arm painfully. **
(170) Merdmira: "And you be nice to her!"
(177) Merduk: "I've been nothing but nice to her! I'm the one who invited her to stick with us, remember?"
** Merdmira gives Merduk the "I'm your big sister" look. **
** (177) Merduk pauses, then adds quietly, "Do you think she'll remember that?" **
(170) Merdmira: "Sure she will. She's just frazzled."
(170) Merdmira: "She had an upsetting day."
** (177) Merduk lies down to sleep, and lies awake for a long time, thinking about Naia in the next tent. He tries to keep his thoughts nice, out of respect. **
** (186) Laj takes the first watch. **
(170) GM: That night, you have a dream. The Ariane is there, in the desert. From the stars, you can see you face north. He's beckoning to you, and he points to the sky, where there are six cyan stars you didn't notice before. They're circling a bright yellow star. He says, "Come, he waits." Naia stands beside you, her dress night-black, so black you think you see stars through it. She smiles at you, and looks at the moons. Then you awaken.
** (186) Laj wakes with a deep frown. **
(177) Merduk: "Crap. Now he's sucking her into these things."
** Merdmira awakens. "Brrr. Wish we'd had a fire. Dang Ariane." **
** Naia peeks out of her tent. **
(170) Naia: "You're awake?"
(177) Merduk: "I am. Did you get the dream? Or was it just us."
(170) Naia: "I had the strangest dream."
(177) Merduk: "Was it an Arian in the desert? With stars and stuff?"
(170) Naia: "There was this city, and from a distance, it was so beautiful. But when I got closer, the buildings were all run down, the people were all pasty and sad, and looked poor. I think... I think I should go there."
(177) Merduk: "... In the dream. Did the city, um, smell like anything?"
(170) Naia: "Faintly, yes. As though I'd stepped in something unpleasant."
** (177) Merduk drops his head. "Crap." **
(170) Naia: "Yes, that's what I think it was."
** (186) Laj emerges from his tent. "Merduk. Northern skies. She was there, too." Laj jerks his thumb at Naia. "Any insights?" **
(177) Merduk: "Maruk. You want us to go to Maruk."
(170) Naia: "I... I just felt... I felt I had to go there. Is that what you meant when you said you follow your dreams?"
(177) Merduk: "She had a dream, Laj. She dreamed about Maruk. Apparently, the universe wants her to escape sexual slavery to become a dung merchant. Six of one, half a dozen of the other, I guess."
** Naia rubs her eye sleepily. **
(186) Laj: "But the stars!"
(170) Naia: "Stars? What do you mean?"
(186) Laj: "Dream. Six of them circling a yellow seventh."
(186) Laj: "Symbolic?"
(170) Naia: "I didn't see any stars, I don't think."
(170) Merdmira: "I saw them, Laj."
** (186) Laj nods. "And the mystic. And she was with us." **
(177) Merduk: "Me too. Don't ask what it means. I suck at this symbolism crap."
(186) Laj: "Wearing black..." states Laj flatly.
(186) Laj: "Color of death."
** Merdmira nods. "Night, death, quite a few things." **
(170) Merdmira: "Night means hiding, which I guess you are."
** Merdmira rummages through her bag and fishes out some flatbread. **
** Merdmira chews thoughtfully. **
(170) Merdmira: "Best get ready. The sooner we get travelling, the closer we'll be to Akmir."
** (186) Laj makes a small fire and cooks breakfast. **
** (186) Laj doles out the food, puts out the fire, and cleans up. **
(186) Laj: "Aye."
(170) Merdmira: "Where did you learn to cook, Laj?"
(186) Laj: "Much gound to cover. From mother."
(177) Merduk: "I learned to cook while mercenarying. They always gave me the crap jobs."
(170) Merdmira: "You learned well."
(186) Laj: "You could spit in the food. Look at bright side."
** Merdmira thinks that over. **
** (177) Merduk shrugs."True." **
** Naia and Merdmira take the tent apart, and roll it up, stowing it on the tatra. **
** (186) Laj rolls his tent and mounts Her Grace. "Onward." **
** Merdmira leads her grumbling greymane after Laj. **
** Naia fixes her veil and follows closely. **
(170) GM: As the day progresses, it gets even hotter than yesterday.
(186) Laj: "Look for signs of water."
** Merdmira nods. **
(170) Naia: "What sort of signs?"
(170) Merdmira: "You won't find water above ground, but you might see some of the plants a little greener than the others, or a cloud of bugs hovering over one spot, or something like that."
(186) Laj: "Trees, usually."