Our heroes, having learned that the Kurrim that the insidious Uktannu was trading with are under threat from a seaborne threat now have a new challenge, what to do with that information.
Our cast
- Farshad – Merchant of the Rule of Ishtir, musician and Agent of the Rule
- Utana – Noble of the Rule of Haraxa, Agent and Acting-Databdara (Magistrate) of the nation
- José Juan – Foreigner from the far west, warrior, healer and Agent of the Rule
- Jalabu – Noble of Dilmun, Merchant-Adventurer and agent of the Rule, currently coming to terms with his inner demon, literally
Absent
- Fetnah – Shaman from a long time ago, and a forgotten and lost land, and agent of the Rule
- Smersh – Larcenous Priest from long time ago, and a nation long gone, Databdara (Magistrate) and agent of the Rule
- Arpaesis – From the far western land of Ta-Khemet, student of Arcane Lore, and agent of the Rule, currently studying books of Lore
- Dhran the White – of humble origin in Ishtir, warrior, agent of the Rule, currently studying in the capital and trying to unionise
The Chief of the Marsh Kurrim, Yayhil, turns back from the carving of Keteaorum on the ancient Temple, and draws the group aside.
“You have come here, Uktannu, with these strangers, though by the sea, in breach of the instructions we gave you. Instructions meant to reassure us. Friends will come from land, and we can watch the seas clear in the knowledge that only things that come from the sea are threats.
“There are already those who whisper against you, call your presence here proof of ill intent, they look to Mablil the Shaman as leader. Your presence here confuses us.”
Farshad, presenting himself as Uktannu, the same one who had impersonated Farshad, undermining trust in that name along the trade routes of the world, hummed and hawed a bit, and there was a bit of digression into the nature of Uktannu’s enemy, the loathesome Farshad, described as a despicable sort who was much abused by his companions.
In order to show that he was nothing like that, Uktannu is then much abused by his companions.
Bringing things back into line, Yayhil says that there are ways to show her folk that Uktannu and his crew can be trusted. The Keteaorum is not the only concern. If the Ketaorum prevail, the Kurrim will have to retreat, but the main route is blocked.
When the Kurrim came, they found that the marsh was home to a great legged worm, known by some as a crocodile, they called Gal-Kušu. This they interpreted as the a messenger from their Great Mother, Gal-Ama. For centuries Gal-Kushu left them alone, but now it has started to hunt ant take Kurrim. The Kurrim cannot harm it, it is a messenger of their goddess, but outsiders could drive it off, or, if necessary, kill it, and that would stay within the strictures of their laws.
The group retreated to their ship to plan, as Hamid and Jalabu further discussed ownership of the vessel, Jalabu insisting that, as a member of the family, he also had a right to consider what might, and might not be fair compensation for the great debts owed their family.
Short discussion on what tribe as a reality means in our own world, and examples experienced in life.
The group took council from Ishram, the Master of Scouts, about the nature of the swamp. There are two obvious ways to get to the lair of Gal-Kušu. By the river Ishtanu-Eyd seems simple, but the river meanders, and is much longer than trying to go straight. The straight road is more fraught with potential dangers, not the least of which is getting lost.
No Kurrim can aid them directly, but one of the sailors on the Farshad’s Bounty offers to steer a boat, should they prefer to use one of them, on the understanding that the group will always be between the sailor and Gal-Kušu. Jalabu, seeking more appropriate weaponry, finds boar spears in short supply, but they are given vicious bronze headed fishing spears, not so effective going in, but doing great damage going out.
José Juan and Jalabu suggest looking for plants or creatures that might provide a poison or other substance that might aid against the giant crocodile, and this idea met with general approval. Leaving Hamid and the sailors behind, they eventually took their new supplies and set off overland.
Despite being an expert in deserts and mountains, Utana proved equal to the task of Navigating marshes, a path was found, leading more or less straight to the lair. Utana guiding, José Juan trail-breaking, and searching for plants. He came across a branch, covered in moss and fungi that looked of interest. As he picked the moss off, it looked useful for staunching wounds, but, consulting the herbalists book he had been given, the fungi seemed interesting. As it was it would be a severe irritant if ingested, but dried, ground, boiled in alcohol and dried into pills, it had more beneficial qualities.
However the branch proved to be an arm bone, revealing most of a human skeleton, with a fire scraps of cloth and a cracked leather pouch. Inside that was a stoppered clay phial and four bone tokens, like large coins but carved with symbols. None there could read them but Farshad knew what they were , share tokens in a cooperative trade venture, possibly of value.
Utana, in generosity, buried the skeleton, with some reverence. Aribu, Farshad’s wooden crow spirit companion, seemed agitated. Farshad tried some magic, using a spell “speak to spirits”, but he was unable to get through, only getting, as he usually did, surface impressions. Jo?e Juan Joking suggested Farshad try communing with Nibbles, the hamster José Juan used as a, err, guinea-pig, in his medical experiments. Farshad did, and this time succeeded, but, Nibbles only being a hamster, could only communicate a little, saying “You do good. Spirit quiet now.“, which they interpreted to mean that the spirit of the deceased was happy with them.
Setting off, Utana found a long, shallow ridge, hidden by reeds, which they followed a good way towards their destination, until they heard a strange noise ahead, churning away, a mysterious sound. Farshad attempted to talk to Aribu, but failed again, so the crow would not be scouting.
Farshad should have been paying the cost for the spell. As he is unskilled, and has no focus to concentrate his powers, the cost is high. With a focus, and more skill, the cost would be reduce. I let him off some of it as that was my fault.
Sighing, Farshad scouted ahead, seeing a pool fed by a spring, in which brightly coloured fish with scales of a metallic sheen were seemingly dancing and rubbing against each other, moving away, then coming close. The group views this, and speculated, somewhat surprised.
Thet stood for a while, though Jalabu came to a conclusion, the others were getting taller.
No, he was getting shorter, he was sinking, QUICKSAND! (*)
It took a couple of hefty tugs, but Utana and José Juan heaved Utana out.
And with this traumatic incident, we called it a night.
(*) Just a wee throwaway to an earlier reference to the old joke about thinking quicksand would be a bigger danger in life than it is. However, bit more digression than usual, but fun. All seriousness next time though!