"No," Kalriya says, meaning stop asking me things. "I am not hurt. I am simply not used to long walks in the desert... I am accustomed to wealth and luxury, which includes travelling in a palanquin."

"Ah. Your feet hurt." Dim looked at the woman's feet which were probably dainty and dressed in shoes that were not at all suited for walking long distances. "Sorry.

"I'll go back to shutting up. I said I'd shut up, but I didn't, so I'll shut up now. I'm really very good at shutting up. People always tell me, 'Dim, shut up,' so I've gotten a lot of practice. Now when I need to shut up, I shut up real good. No more talking from me."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:52, Fri 18 Sept 2020.

Kalriya makes a long-suffering face, like one might if one:
--lived in the desert
--hated the sound of the howling wind
--experienced a momentary cessation of the howling wind, bringing brief solace
--knew that it might start back up at any time

...but she says nothing more for the moment.

Ahead, leading the exodus, Mum-Ra-Lud glanced back occasionally, keeping an eye on Dim and the others.

They walked in silence for a mile or so, and then Dim asked, "So what is it like in Enrasar?"

He could shut up... but staying that way was possibly beyond his abilities.

Kalriya is not pleased at the renewal of conversation. "Hot," she says.

Just before sundown, the group comes to an oasis.

It's just four palm trees growing around a large pond (less than 150 feet across), but the water is clear and seems safe.

There are signs that at least one caravan has camped here in the last three days, but no one else is here right now.

The paths leading to and from the oasis lead north (the way the group has just come), west-by-southwest, and east-by-southeast.

Everyone in the group is very relieved to have fresh water to drink. There's no food visible anywhere, but at least one can cross specifically dying of thirst off of the threat list for now.

Maybe a caravan will come here soon...?

Mum-Ra-Lud went about organising the entourage  for the night ... for what that was worth (maybe folks needed to be organised into orderly bathing such, I dunno.  He's just trying to be a good leader).

When everything settled for the evening, he intended to get the best night sleep he could, as he wanted to be up predawn to greet the rising Sun, and commune with it.

(Each of you roll Insightful, please...)

- rolled 8 using 2d6+1 with rolls of 2,5.  Mind/Insightful.

Dim rolled 6 using 2d6-1 ((5,2)).

(Dim gains 1 xp, but takes -1 forward on his next roll (-2 if it involves waking up suddenly. He's out like a light and sleeping like a rock and other cliches).)

Mum-Ra-Lud hears someone... moaning... Not often... just now and then... Something about it gradually stirs him to wakefulness...

Mum-Ra-Lud was woken by this subtle, but recurring and irritating sound.
And so, in the dark of the night, rose, and gently made his way towards its source, following his ears mostly.
He had to wonder what was going on.

Everyone but Mum-Ra-Lud is lying down.

Everyone but one other person: not far away, a woman is kneeling, bent over a man, like she's maybe whispering something to him?

He seems to have been the one moaning-- but he's gotten much quieter, has hardly made any more noise at all since Mum-Ra-Lud got up.

Mum-Ra-Lud, still, will approach quietly.
He wanted to better understand what was going on there, and what was being said.

(Hmmm. Mum-Ra-Lud, roll BODY for stealth.)

- rolled 7 using 2d6-1 with rolls of 4,4.

Mum-Ra-Lud gets close enough to observe that Kalriya seems to have her nose and mouth right in front of the nose and mouth of-- oh, it's Unakla, Dim's new follower. Is she just... smelling his breath? Is she whispering something? Both?

It's hard to say. He certainly can't hear any words she's whispering, if indeed that's what she's doing...

Because as he tries to inch closer, she apparently hears a footfall on the sand, and she looks up suddenly, straight at Mum-Ra-Lud.

Her expression speaks of surprise, fear, and anger-- or is it more like surprise and anger/frustration...?

In fact, Mum-Ra-Lud was confused.  But confusion gave way to his own frustration and suspicion, as Kalriya looked up at him.
"What in the name of The Living Sun are you doing?" he demanded, feeling pretty sure that he was seeing something unnatural and wrong happening before his eyes.
"WHAT are you doing to that man?", as he now strode towards the two.

I am suspecting an impending 'Talk' roll, so:
- rolled 9 using 2d6 with rolls of 3,6.  Talk

Kalriya sits up suddenly (though she doesn't actually get up). "I-- I-- ...I'm in love with him," she says quietly. "It's the... custom of my people to whisper sweet things to one who is loved from afar, to attract their attention during the day. Is... is he not handsome...?"

Unakla stays asleep (and no one else quite wakes up yet, although Mum-Ra-Lud could start waking them up if he gets louder)... but Unakla's sleep seems much more peaceful now...
This message was last edited by the player at 16:05, Wed 28 Oct 2020.

no, Mum-Ra-Lud didn't buy it.
Not only would Unakla have reacted to her presence earlier ... it just sound suspect.

He shook his head, "As a priest of the Living Sun, I know that creatures of the darkness exist to feed upon man when the Holy One cannot protect them", he said ... his voice raising by the moment, "Explain yourself in truth, woman ... if that be what thou art" he almost yelled, stepping forward further to better see Unakla, and to protect the man if need be.

"All right, fine!" She stands up very straight, and--

--oops--

--and spreads feathered wings that come out of her back.

Her feet are like the feet of a hawk or eagle-- no wonder she was careful walking, making sure her long dress hid them.

She flaps, rising about five feet above the ground. "Fine! Have it your way! I'm a shedim, a creature of the air! So I was stealing his breath! It's how I live! He wasn't going to die from it! No one would have to die! Not with all these people to take from! But you had to spoil it! What are you going to do about it, dealer-in-names? Try to cast me out? You think you're my equal? You can't even find what you're looking for to heal your friend! You're stranded out in the desert! You think it's safe out here? You don't know what you're doing!"

Everyone starts waking up (fast, but some faster than others...)

Mum-Ra-Lud watched in shocked awe as the scene unfolded before him.

And as his people awoke, and as the demon challenged him, Mum-Ra-Lud felt himself rising to her threats ... the anger and tension growing within him.

But then, as though the light shone within his thoughts, he realised that this was not the path, not the way.
Perhaps The Living Sun, even in the night now, was guiding his way.
Mum-Ra-Lud knew that this was not who he was; not who he wanted to be.


Slamming his staff-end into the ground, he pulled himself to his full height, and called then to the woman-thing in the sky.
He spoke clearly, so those around them waking could hear,
"The Join Us.
We are all starving here.  But if you pray upon us, then you mark yourself as our enemy.

Join us, and I for one will share my breath with you.  Maybe, in time, you will earn the trust of others, and they too will do so.
And in return, share your strengths and abilities with us.

Together, we can feed everyone.
But mark my words, if you choose not to join us ... but continue to feed upon our community ... you will be named enemy, and I will bring the wrath of the Living Sun down upon you!"

(Mum-Ra-Lud gains 1 xp.)

Kalriya... almost bought what Mum-Ra-Lud had to offer, he could see it. She was very tempted. But in the end, something changed in her face and bearing, and her pride conflicted with something she heard in his tone-- Scorn? Pity? Arrogance? More than one of the above?

It doesn't matter. She flaps even a little higher (like seven feet away from the ground). "How dare you speak to me in that manner, earthbound worm!"

She swoops to attack...

(09:47, Today: Kalriya rolled 10 using 2d6 ((5,5)).

Mud-Ra-Lud, I think I will give you a choice-- does Kalriya claw at you with her feet-talons, giving you a Wound, or does she humiliate/lessen you in the eyes of the group? Choose, and then describe the results of your choice.)

Dim awoke to the sounds of screeching, and people running away.

"Whu's goin' on?" he muttered. Instinctively, he reached for his hammer, but couldn't process if he was supposed to be swinging it at something or not just yet. "Who's making all the noise?"