No matter how hard Murron tried to suppress that welling feeling of dread, it still leaked through his internal barriers and slowly filled him up.  He was mildly surprised to hear that T'Vala would be joining them, but he kept that emotion off his face.  The Marukan knew his place well and kept his head low and his mouth shut.

The Sauran keeps silent for the moment, but his head tracks from speaker to speaker, watching as each takes their turn.

A'Semna smiles and speaks again; "It seems this is something you will need to finish discussing amongst yourselves later. I know you are all eager to hear more information, if for no other reason then to move forward."

A'Semna gestures towards a table set with a veritable cornucopia of food and drink; "Please, sit and refresh yourselves while I fill you in with what we know to this point. As you well know on the night of The Ghost Moon a strange meteor fell to the earth, somewhere in the west. That somewhere was the citadel of Anasa, a center for both trade and military defense against our enemies. The cloud from the impact was large and also the same strange purple as the meteor glowed. For some time afterwards a strange purple dust was seen to fall in the area around Anasa as we tended to the few survivors and buried our dead. Our patrols and rescue parties returned with the few survivors, reporting that the citadel was almost entirely destroyed, a substantial crater in the ground."

A'Semna stops to take a breath and drink from his goblet before continuing, all his entourage watching him raptly; "We basically wrote off Anasa for now and went on with our business, drawing up plans to eventually begin its rebuilding. Within a week caravans were arriving telling of their fellows who were attacked by groups of wandering dead, even those caravans that were very heavily guarded. The dead attack with no concern for themselves, only what flesh they can grab onto. Patrols sent to investigate the trade route found destroyed caravans but no bodies. What few tracks were found seemed to head back to Anasa. At this time we sent out our requests for aid from all over Talislanta to investigate the ruins. While waiting we sent more patrols to carefully investigate the road leading to Anasa and its surroundings. What they found was groups of the dead, including those who had previously been with the attacked caravans. The dead seem to home in on the living but are easily outpaced by our Aht-ra, fortunately for our patrols who found themselves nearly surrounded by the dead."

A'Semna pauses again and his features take on a more serious mein; "We sent one last patrol to try and circumvent the dead to reach Anasa and see what goes on there. The patrol returned not long before you all arrived, minus some of its members unfortunately. The news they brought was grim indeed. They saw Rajan windships over the ruins, apparently looking over the hordes of the dead I am sure with no good intention. I am sure they wish to find out what is causing the dead to rise spontaneously and harness it for their own foul uses. That guess must hit close to home in light of the Rajan assassin who attacked your group and in his ensuing capture created more havoc when foul magics exploded his body. The Rajan obviously don't want anyone disturbing their research and finding out what they are planning and the attack came sooner that we ever expected. We will be searching diligently to see if there are more Rajan assassins among us. We want to know what the Rajan are doing, what they have found, and what is animating the dead. This is why you are all here, to gain as much information about these things and maybe even putting a stop to some of them if possible. Knowing all this are you still willing to aid us with this task?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:23, Thu 10 Mar 2011.

Sathras starts to nod, but stops and quickly looks around at his compatriots for confirmation.

"The balance of nature must be restored," she replies with a small shrug.  "I am here, able, and willing to lend a hand."

Califax had taken a seat to listen to the king's words, taking advantage of the offered refreshments.  When A'Semna had finished he nodded and after taking a sip from his goblet smiled.

My services were offered with the knowledge that danger would be involved, so nothing has changed and my offer still stands.  It is a honour to serve in such a noble task.

Burikan takes a long pull from his vessel filled with a foamy adult Talislan beverages then leans forward saying "As I said before, I am here as a mercenary. I have no interest in the balance of nature or anything so noble. My goal here is the acquisition of coin, that simple. What are you offering as payment for this task?"
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Sat 26 Feb 2011.

Perhaps this is my cursed fate? Murron thinks to himself with a mixed feeling of dread and excitement.

"I agree, your Highness," Murron says formally, "however, Burikan does bring up a good point.  If any of us survive the Curse of Anasa, what recompense may we expect?"

Aaban, listens to the questions of the others, curious as to payment that might be offered.  He also takes a measured gaze around at his companions, curious why after this strange lot has been put together, they are suddenly asked if they would like to accept a new member.

In reply to Aaban (msg #175):

"I am here til the end whatever it may be, on behalf of Danuvia." Dii makes a small head bow to A'Semna and then begins planning her strategic attack on the refreshment table.

With the question of coin being offered, Kafa was going to offer that he is still quite interested, but he didn't want to sound to eager before the amount of coin was announced first. He didn't want to alter the amount to a smaller amount if it could be considered negotiable.

Calisfax poured drink into another goblet and pushed it in Dii's direction with a smile.  He was curious to find out the payment terms of this adventure into the unknown too but with good food and wine to be had he was being realxed about it.

King A'Semna smiles and nods a few times, having expected things to come to this eventually, especially with the mention of the Rajan; "Of course you are not expected to risk your lives for the mere thanks of a desert nation, there is reward to be had as well. Number one, any spoils you find on any of the dead and among the ruins of Anasa are yours. We took much of what we could find but be assured more is probably still secreted amongst the ruins. Number two, each member of your group will be paid the value of 1500 gold lumens in Dracartan pyramids; 500 now and 1000 more upon successful return. Number three, each member of the group will be given a healing elixir, poison antidote, and a moisture-tight flask containing powdered water that when reconstituted is equivalent to 4 gallons of pure water. Number four, the last but not the least, each member of the group will be able to work with our thaumaturgists to either have one of their possessions transformed or to craft a singularly unique item of use. Does this whet your appetites a bit more than mere promises and gratitude?"

A'Semna gestures to a nearby scribe to approach him and be ready to write down these terms if they are agreeable to the group. T'Vala hears the level of reward offered and his eyes widen at the generosity of his king to these unknown travellers.

Sathras bends his bulk down closer as if to conspiratorially whisper in Murron's ear.

However, instead of whispering, the Sauran's voice is as loud as ever. "What Murron think? Murron think this good price? Sathras usually paid in scraps or cast-off tools." He spreads his hands out in front of the Marukan, fingers splayed wide. "Sathras not even count to five hundreds easily."

Her gaze still distant she places her small hand on Sathras' arm.

"It s a good price," she tells him quietly.

Murron nods in agreement with Shadow's response, and says, "yes, my friend, it is a good offer."

Speaking up to be heard, Murron says respectfully to the Dracartan king, "your Highness, it is a most generous offer.  Thank you."

Califax stared at his goblet for a few moments getting control of himself so he didn't sound too overwelmed when he spoke.  He gave a short cough.

That is a generous and well accepted offer.  A fine physical reward to be put along side that of the thanks of this great nation.

In his head Califax's mind reeled, what would he do with the offer.... what was it he wanted.

Aaban bows his head sligthly, "A most generous offer," he says, solemnly.

Sathras looks back to the king and nods his head towards his companions, all the while his fingers rising and falling. "What Sathras's friends say."

Burikan juts out his lower lip and nods his head slowly. "A fair offer, your Highness. I gladly accept."

He sets his hand on his ever present tarak and wonders what powers the Kings magicians could bestow upon an already fearsome weapon.

In reply to Burikan (msg #186):

"Your highness, although you do very well in reciprocating us for this upcoming adventure, I wish to make it known to you that your gratitude and continued alliance with Danuvia is the greatest of these awards to me." With that, she raises her goblet given to her by Califax and nods penitently to A'Semna.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:28, Thu 03 Mar 2011.

King A'Semna listens to all the responses, nodding his head in acknowledgement to each person. When Dii Ahnah finishes her statement he addresses her directly briefly; "The alliance we have with Danuvia is of great value to us as well and we are grateful they send one of their own to aid us."

With that being said King A'Semna bows slightly to the group before continuing; "Know this; regardless of what may take place all your names will be placed in the annals of Carantheum for your bravery. For now please continue to take part in refreshment here and you will be led back to the inn afterwards under guard. Rest through the night then you will begin tomorrow, being escorted to the main trade road by a contingent of our desert scouts. Now, is there anything any of you wish to say further?"

In reply to A'Semna (msg #188):

Dii looks to A'Semna and nods again in demonstrative silence. Then she turns toward the table and Califax, producing a vacant goblet...

After the king has finished speaking, Satras stands with an array of fingers held out before him (two fingers on his left hand, one on his right). He nudges Murron with a thick elbow, still holding his fingers out. "Murron and Sathras get paid now, yes?" He wiggles the three fingers. "Five hundreds of coin. Sathras going to need a bigger sack."

Califax smiles at Dii and fills the proffered goblet and then lifts his own in a salute to the king.

To your health and generosity your highness.