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13:43, 29th March 2024 (GMT+0)

The Karrows.

Posted by The DealerFor group 0
The Dealer
GM, 1362 posts
Fri 14 Apr 2017
at 04:47
  • msg #1

The Karrows

Chandanar passes around the canteens he's refilled and lets his spell go.  The small fountain of clean water he materialized gurgles and then begins to dry up.  You take a long, cool drink and recap your canteen, glancing around the landscape as you do.

You are three days out of the Kaer.  Travel across the Cinderlands has been as miserable as you would expect.  But other than a run in with a giant gecko (he was surprisingly delicious), you haven't had any trouble to speak of.  Chandanar has been casting some spells to help with the heat and to keep you in fresh water.  And Belgar has proven to be surprisingly handy in finding decent grub.  You haven't even had to dent into your provisions.

You finish packing the tents you had put up from last night and finish breakfast.  The directions you were given indicated about another day's worth of travel.  If all goes well, you should see these Karrows by late afternoon.

Oddly, you haven't seen a single barbarian since you left the city.  The Shoanti must either not be hunting around these areas or are very good at keeping a distance.  You wish you could be sure of which it is.

The day heats up quickly.  The fine layer of dust which seems to cover you inside and out makes you itchy.  And your horses seem as weary as you are.  So when you come over a ridge and come face to face with a Shoanti, you have to admit to being a bit surprised.

The young man was not there one minute and then just suddenly there.  Even Selvin and Zac's ariel scouting missed him.  He stands in your path with a spear held parallel to the ground,forming a line in mid air he seems to be daring you to cross. Plates of what looks to be bone are strapped to his forearms, shins, and woven into his shirt.  A necklace with what might be two fangs and a lizard claw hangs limply around his neck.  His eyes are as wide a saucers.

He eyes each of you and speaks very slowly.  Ooooookay.  Oooookay now.  Just gonna ask you folks to kinda back up a step or three there.  Yes.  Yeeees.  I think that will do us all jus' fine.  Uh huh.

He blinks at you.  You get the feeling he is just as surprised of you as you might be of him.
Belgar Ironclad
player, 157 posts
Sun 16 Apr 2017
at 11:49
  • msg #2

The Karrows

A wry smile crosses Belgar's face as surprise turns into appreciation for the tribesman's utilization of his home turf.  He reigns back gently, urging his mount to take a couple steps back as he quickly scans his surroundings for more hidden desertfolk.

06:43, Today: Belgar Ironclad rolled 26 using 1d20+14.  Perception. (30 vs humans and goblinoids)
The Dealer
GM, 1363 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2017
at 02:31
  • msg #3

The Karrows

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 2):

Belgar, you see no signs of movement or indication there are others.

The young man slowly takes a step back.  So...uhmmm...you guys probably wanna turn around and head back the way you came an' all.  I'd do so real quick if'r I was you.
Selvin Larst
player, 773 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Mon 17 Apr 2017
at 18:58
  • msg #4

The Karrows

Selvin frowned at the odd-sounding person blocking their way. He seemed to be trying to get them to turn back like he was speaking to children about a danger. "Why would we turn around? We're headed in the right direction. The Karrows. We're on our way there t'speak with...well, not a friend, more like an associate. Someone I met before an' helped. Thousand Bones."

He stared at the person to see if they recognized the name and what reaction they had to his words.
Izzick
player, 325 posts
Mon 17 Apr 2017
at 20:35
  • msg #5

The Karrows

Izzick took a step back, staying behind the others just enough that he felt his spells wouldn't be caught off guard by a spear between the ribs. Why was this man alone in the middle of, well, no where. "Something wrong with the way we're going?" He stayed on edge, hoping the barbarian didn't have just as many stealthy allies around.
Belgar Ironclad
player, 158 posts
Tue 18 Apr 2017
at 12:56
  • msg #6

The Karrows

I mean, clearly this fella is some kina sentry.  He's probably thinkin' he might just be in over he's head here, and he'd for sure be right about that.  If we weren't the good guys that is. Belgar chuckles to himself and abruptly cuts it short with an awkward cough.  I uh... Don't think there's any more by the way.
The Dealer
GM, 1364 posts
Wed 19 Apr 2017
at 00:23
  • msg #7

The Karrows

In reply to Belgar Ironclad (msg # 6):

He blinks at you all. And then blinks again when Selvin mentions Thousand Bones. Oh, He says in a nonplussed manner. You all are summa his oheke. Whatever that is suposed to mean. It's not a word any of you are familiar with.


He blinks again at Izzick.  Well...yeah. You a' the type a' folks who go where they aren' supposed ta? See. If you-<Brown>

He stops and looks to his left. Your right. There is a large stone rise which defines the pass wall on that side. From over the top of it, about 150' away and 75' up, a large group of emaciated, pale, naked men come clambering up. They couldn't be more undead if they tried. From the noise it sounds like there are more on the other side of the rise.

<Brown>Tch,
your new friend tch's. Well if it's not somethin' it's always som'in else, huh?

Ghouls by the looks of them. At least 12. Maybe more coming. They are acting on init. 12, but there is quite a bit of distance and height between you and them. They do have the high ground, but do not seem to have weapons.
Zuni Runesong
player, 251 posts
Former Thief inspired by
a better way
Wed 19 Apr 2017
at 03:30
  • msg #8

The Karrows

"Friends of yours?" Zuni said to the stranger, hooking her thumb in the direction of the ghouls.  She studied the ghouls for a long moment.  "They're not moving too quickly.  I don't fancy leaving a troop of undead at our backs, especially if we have to come back this way."

She turned back to the stranger.  "Are they what you were warning us about?"
The Dealer
GM, 1365 posts
Wed 19 Apr 2017
at 04:39
  • msg #9

The Karrows

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 8):

He shrugs as he answers Zuni's question. Them's or somethin' the like. This is a place a' tha dead after all. 'S my job ta lay the likes a' them down.
Selvin Larst
player, 774 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Wed 19 Apr 2017
at 22:50
  • msg #10

The Karrows

Selvin let out a sigh as they sighted the undead. "always the same, dif'rent day, same crap, we never catch a break." He chuckled and shrugged. He wasn't too concerned. He was kind of getting used to the life of an adventurer being hunted all the time.

He eyeballed the distance. "Well...only long-range area effect spell I got is Glitterdust. An' I s'pose Grease. But for us I got Haste an' I can make myself invisible while we fight." He paused. "Maybe Protection from Evil too?" Having time to strategize and prepare was unusual.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:51, Wed 19 Apr 2017.
Zuni Runesong
player, 252 posts
Former Thief inspired by
a better way
Thu 20 Apr 2017
at 02:42
  • msg #11

The Karrows

It's his job to deal with these undead. Maybe we can use that.

Zuni gestured to her companions as she addressed the stranger.  "We're not novices at this sort of thing.  And looking at you I can tell that you're not a beginner either, so I'm sure that you would be more than capable of dealing with this crowd yourself.  Let's work together to dispatch this group, call it a truce or a prelude to an alliance."

She gave him her most winning smile.  "What do you say?"

OOC:
Diplomacy -> 17

The Dealer
GM, 1366 posts
Thu 20 Apr 2017
at 04:26
  • msg #12

The Karrows

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 11):

Well...if you are oheke to Thousand Bones, I wouldn' mind as such.  But as for these 'uns... he nods towards the ghouls who are starting to scurry down the sides of the pass.  ...you can leave 'em to us.  They's our dead.  We need ta lay them down to their rest.

He flips his spear around and points it at the horde.  He speaks a word that sounds like Scup and a gout of flame issues from the end of the spear.  It travels the distance in a nonce, and explodes in a firey impact you can almost feel from where you're standing.  The fireball destroys most of the ghouls.  The few stragglers retreat back up the hill.

He points down the pass.  If you all are lookin' for Thousand Bones, the camp is a half mile that way, along the ridge.  Jus' make sure you mind your manners.  Kay?
Selvin Larst
player, 775 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Thu 20 Apr 2017
at 20:17
  • msg #13

Re: The Karrows

Selvin's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out as he watched the man fling a fire ball of some sort with barely any effort and destroy most of the undead that were heading towards them and scattering the remaining ones. After a moment, he slowly turned his head to stare at the strange person with a lock of shock.

He recovered and cleared his throat. "Ehm. Yes. Well. Clearly you've got that in hand so we'll leave it t'you, an' besides we got important pressin' business with Thousand Bones an' all." Yeah, totally. He gave a nod. "Thanks."

He turned back to Izzick and widened his eyes, mouthing a "Wow." Then he started heading in the direction indicated, staying on the ground for the moment so as not to alarm anyone...and not getting shot out of the air was high on his to-do list.
The Dealer
GM, 1367 posts
Fri 21 Apr 2017
at 00:30
  • msg #14

Re: The Karrows

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 13):

The pass continues as you were told by Mister-I'm-Too-Sexy-For-These-Ghouls.  You start to see more signs of humanity.  Most of those signs involve tombs and decoratively placed skulls and odd glyphs your green skinned Necromancer easily identifies as wards and charms against the undead.  Large portions of this area seem to be made to serve as graves and memorials, albeit of a more primitive design than Korvosa inters it's dead.

You come over a small rise and there are four men on horse back before you.  Like your new friend, these are younger men but have the moves of well trained warriors.  One of them holds up a hand.  Halt.  How do you come to be here?

He listens as you speak about Thousand Bones, and then frowns.  He sighs and you just catch him muttering the words ...his damn oheke... before he tells you to stay put and turns his horse around.

The other three stand watch over you in a stoic kind of silence.  The sun moves across the sky.

After a while, the rider returns.  But he has someone riding behind him.  An old man covered in intricate tattoos and clothing made of various kinds of bones.  Well.  Thousand Bones did strike you as the kind of man who wanted to live up to his name.

The old shaman alights from the horse easily and looks you all over.  His eyes pass quickly over Zuni, Belgar, and Chandanar before he stops on Izzick and Selvin.

He nods to the two of you.  It has been some time Green-of-Death and Glowy-Animal-Man.  You seem a bit out of the usual paths your people travel.  What brings you to the Karrows?
Zuni Runesong
player, 253 posts
Former Thief inspired by
a better way
Sat 22 Apr 2017
at 17:21
  • msg #15

Re: The Karrows

Zuni glanced over at Selvin and Izzick, better known as Glowy-Animal-Man and Green-of-Death.  She was almost ready to chuckle at the silly nicknames but then realized that the Shaman might come up with something equally silly for her.

Speaking of the Shaman, Zuni turned to face him and took a step forward.  "We're looking for you." she said to the Shaman, trying to sound respectful.  "We need some information about the land that Korvosa was built on, and we were told that you could help us with that."
The Dealer
GM, 1368 posts
Mon 24 Apr 2017
at 02:14
  • msg #16

Re: The Karrows

In reply to Zuni Runesong (msg # 15):

The old man cocks a large, hairy eyebrow and nods. The Old Lands? Hmm. I know a little of the history. But honestly not much. Who are you three please? Come. We can get out from under the sun as we talk.

He leads you along the pass and then up an incline. The top levels out to a large plane of stone that overlooks a chasm. Along the rim of the ledge, large yurts are pitched in the stony ground. Small children wearing horee leather pants and small loops of bone around their arms stare at you as you pass. Women c0me rushing out of the yurts to snatch the children up and drag them inside, lest your outsiderness infect them.

Thpusand Bpnes leads you into one yurt and asks you to sit around a brazier lit with a small fire. He nods at an old woman, who eyes you all suspiciously, but pours you cool water from a jug and offers you dried pieces of figs and fresh tomatoes.

Thousand Bones sips at his water. So. Am I to asssume your visit has something to do with the Queen?
Selvin Larst
player, 776 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Mon 24 Apr 2017
at 02:40
  • msg #17

Re: The Karrows

Selvin gave a nod of respect to the old shaman when he arrived. His lips twitched at the nickname that Thousand Bones had for him."Indeed it has, an' indeed we are." He then let Zuni speak. She had a way with words and put things fairly succinctly. He let the others introduce themselves, and followed along when they were beckoned out of the sun.

To the shaman's question, Selvin gave a nod to answer. "Yeah. She...found somethin' an' then become kinda not herself." He paused and ordered his thoughts. This wasn't his forte.

"So, the city's on top o'what apparently used to be sacred lands to the Ashlanders, an' there was a temple where the palace now sits. The Queen got in to a section o'the old temple that hadn't been discovered before. A chamber covered in runes, an' in the middle there was a pedestal with what looked like a dragon skull, one that glowed and changed the Queen."

He paused and watched Thousand Bones for his reaction.
The Dealer
GM, 1369 posts
Tue 25 Apr 2017
at 04:01
  • msg #18

Re: The Karrows

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 17):

Thousand Bones big, hairy eyebrows go up so high, it almost looks like he's suddenly sprouted hair on his bald head again.  Your story seems to be the last thing he was expecting.

Hmm, he hmmms and pokes at the coals in the brazier with a charred stick.  I am not sure what to say.  The Shoanti were once one people.  And we dwelt in that valley Korvosa now sits upon.  The old tales mention it as a holy place of import.  But my clan came to a dispute with the others very early on.  We split from the others and came to rest here in the Cinderlands before they did.  It is one reason we tend the places of the Shoanti dead.  But much of our shared history was lost to us.  I need to consider-

The flap of the yurt comes up and a man comes in, kneeling beside Thousand Bones and whispering something to him.  Thousand Bones is quiet a moment and then nods.  The fates have a strange way of favoring you my friends.  Stay here for now.  Rest.  This evening we shall gather as a clan and you shall join us.  There are some who have arrived who...well.  You may meet them as well and soon.  But let us talk more this evening.  Please excuse me.  I have a duty I need to attend to.

He gets up and walks out quickly.  A woman comes in after a moment and lays out bed rolls for you as well as sees to offering you more water and a light lunch.

From outside, a loud voice suddenly booms And are these Oheke here now?  The voice is deep and filled with a sort of acidity you would expect from the Queen or a demon lord.

The flap of the yurt opens and a tall, powerfully built warrior strides in as if this were his yurt.  He is Shoanti, but seems different from the others you've met up to now.  First of all, there are no bones on him.  His skin is tattooed and laced with old scars.  He couldn't be more than twenty four but he seems to have the poise of a warrior twice that age.  He puts his hands on his hips and studies you all, cocking his head to one side and smiling a smile so strained it could split his chin open at any moment from the tension.

Well, he says in a playful voice.  Enjoying ourselves Outsiders?
Selvin Larst
player, 777 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Tue 25 Apr 2017
at 15:44
  • msg #19

Re: The Karrows

Selvin tensed slightly as he heard the voice outside. It sounded arrogant or haughty or maybe just really angry - perhaps all of the above! He faced the tent's 'door' and waited. He didn't have to wait long. A warrior burst in and looked like was at least the arrogant and haughty part, maybe angry as well. But he also had the bearing of an experienced warrior, which meant they shouldn't underestimate him.

He gave a nod and stood up to face the warrior. "Greetings." He didn't know the proper Shoanti greetings and didn't speak their language. "Yes, Thousand Bones has been pleasant company thus far." He paused. "I am Selvin Larst. May I have the honor of your name?"

Selvin didn't look like he was worried. If things went south, which they usually did for him and his allies, he would react quickly and just had to hope it was quick enough.
The Dealer
GM, 1370 posts
Wed 26 Apr 2017
at 04:09
  • msg #20

Re: The Karrows

In reply to Selvin Larst (msg # 19):

He grunts and studies you all a bit longer in silence, obviously ignoring Selvin's question long enough to be rude.

Krojun.  Krojun Eats-What-He-Kills. he says with a bit of a smirk.  The name rings a bell. Apparently a few merchants back in Kaer Maga had mentioned he was a bit of a bandit.  And what gives you the right to trespass in the lands of our dead?  Not content with taking our land?  Want to build a summer home among our crypts?

Obviously he's not the biggest fan of non-Shoanti
Selvin Larst
player, 778 posts
My friend surrounds me
A strange companion
Wed 26 Apr 2017
at 17:44
  • msg #21

Re: The Karrows

Selvin tilted his head for a moment and his eyes narrowed. The man was deliberately being rude and aggressive. He carefully controlled his temper over this racist jerk. He turned his back on the man, deliberately and visibly, and then crouched down next to Izzick, but turned to where he could see the man and the tent flap.

"Yeah, that's it. You figured out our grand plan." He shook his head and waved a dismissive hand. But he stayed ready. The man seemed ready to take insult and act, so Selvin didn't lower his guard despite looking like he did. "We came t'talk to Thousand Bones, that's all."
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