"I don't see why not. A city has been unearthed and we are off to explore it." He smiled to the man and tilted his tri corner hat.

"Ah... Have you... heard... I don't suppose... rumors... about the dangers there...? Because I have..."

"Quite dangerous," Myra agrees. "But the people in the area need our help -- and SO THE BOLD CREW RIDES!" Myra looks up at the tree tops, then glances at Evan. "Yeah, ok, maybe it needs work."

After a second she looks back at the man. "What rumors have you heard?"
This message was last edited by the player at 04:41, Sun 13 Nov 2022.

"That things from the ancient past, the forgotten-by-most Anadi Empire, are magically returning from out of time... mad, dangerous things from the end of the Empire, mostly, shortly before it fell apart. If it were even a little less dangerous, I would go and bear witness myself-- I-- Pardon me. I have not introduced myself. I am the Sage Harran."

In reply to The GM (msg # 20):

"Greetings, Sage Harran," Myra replies. "I'm Myra and that's Evan... and together we are -- THE BOLD CREW! Or something, we haven't quite settled on the name yet." She shrugs, then leans forward with curiosity on her face. "You are familiar with the Anadi Empire? I'd love to hear more of your expertise on it. What should we expect?"

Evan nods, "Our crew was a bit larger. Sage Harran, why not share a meal with us and we can talk more. Always good to share tales."

"Certainly, certainly. These figs should have been harvested already, but those who would normally do so have apparently fled the area. Unfortunate, but at least your lizards are enjoying them-- and we can, too."

Myra nods at Evan's suggestion.

"That's a great idea!" She climbs down from her lizard, and takes a few moments to tie it (and Evan's, if he wants) to one of the trees before pulling out some of the rations to share with the Sage. "It's not fancy, but we're happy to share."

"Yes, please," says Harran. "My own rations are, well, meager. Their key characteristics are 'don't take up too much space' and 'won't go bad for a very long time.' You'll notice that I didn't mention 'yummy' on that short list."

"Thank you, Sir. We have to get used to food from out the deserts way and I am pretty sure they won't be very yummy either."

He helps set up the impromptu pic-nic.

"Ah, well, it just depends. The nomadic tribes eat very well when they're entertaining company."


(Harran's pic is not 100% the way I wanted it, but it's the best I've been able to find.)

"So, Sage, what is your specialty? What is your favorite subject?"
He relaxed back and shared some of their own food as well and tried some figs.

"I am a student of culture-- both the cultures of history, and of the present-day."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 29):

Myra looks like she's bursting with questions, but she spares a wry glance at Evan. "We should definitely tell him the Tale of the Dread Pirate Harkaway," she says, before turning back to Harran. "But first... you said that you've studied the Anadi Empire? And that they created dangerous, mad things before the Empire fell? What happened to them? Why is the city such a threat?"

Harran spreads his empty hands. "No one really knows. Although based on what's happening now, I'm guessing that it involved magic getting out of hand. But whether that was the usual arcane magic or the divine magic of the gods-- or whether what's going on now involves either..." He shakes his head.



"Those were dangerous times, especially when the empire was collapsing. They had magical constructs that they used as war machines, or to enforce their theocratic law systems... They probably, among other things, made those a bit too powerful, or made too many of them, or perhaps both."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 31):

Myra nods as she nibbles at her food absentmindedly. "They sound like they were magically powerful..." She pauses to think about this before asking her next question. "Do you think that the Lost City is simply displaced through time? Or is it a portal to the distant past?  I mean -- do you think there's a chance that visitors could get stuck there?"

"Boy, I hope not. Though constructs would be a different sort of thing then we are used to huh Myra ?" His eyebrows rose.

In reply to Evan (msg # 33):

"... yeah." Myra shudders as the memory of a ghost-infused set of armor crosses her mind.

Shaking it off, she looks back at Harran. "Anything else you can share with us would be very appreciated," she says. "And we'd be happy to share some of our stories with you as well. Have you ever visited the town of Hanging Tree?"

"I do not know. I can make no guarantees. But since you are asking my professional opinion-- my guess is that no, the whole city is not lost in time. One of-- you see..." Harran sighs. "Theology is very important for understanding the lost Empire. Without knowledge of their theology, it's harder to understand the rest. Most of their gods wouldn't mean much to many people alive today. Moridin, Master of Coils. Sati-Arjun, the Arbiter. Meheli, the Twisted Weaver. Only Noric, Lord of Freedom is still active today, or at least he's the only one still called by his original name of Noric. But the god of the sun was N'resh, The Shining, and he was pretty important. If the large sandstorm that was reported a couple of weeks ago uncovered... something... that, say, operated by having sunlight shine on it... that might have been enough to start setting certain events into motion..."



"Well, do you have any other questions...?"



"I have, once or twice, yes..."

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 35):

Myra nods as she sees what Harran could be describing.

"So, if there were some kind of focus for sunlight -- for N'resh's power -- it might be what's causing these things!" She looks at Evan as she speaks. "Maybe it's not that the city is lost in time, but instead some kind of magical device is now being powered, and it's continuing with a task that's no longer relevant to the world. Hmm." She looks back at Harran, nodding again in appreciation.

"We owe you a story," she says, "and since you've been to Hanging Tree, then you'll appreciate this one all the more." She opens her mouth to begin, but then looks at Evan. "Wait, did you have any more questions about the city?"

"I am not sure, I guess are there any old magics that still effect how things work in the city ?  Any lore that might affect those destined to walk within it ?" He glanced to Myra.

"That's certainly possible."




"I'm not sure about the first part. As for lore... yes, I could tell you many things... so many, it's hard to know where to begin..." Harran frowns, thinking...

In reply to The Sage Harran (msg # 38):

Myra nods her approval of Evan's line of thinking.

"Well, you could start with things that would definitely keep us from coming out again -- like deadly poisons, or mind control, or sticky plants that slowly sap your will to run away? And then move to less and less dangerous things after that?" She smiles brightly at the sage as she speaks, clearly quite interested in whatever he has to share with them.

"'Coming out again'? ...Oh! I see, 'in one piece' you mean. Er. Well. Yes. Um."

(Roll Charming, please-- not to convince him to talk, but to try to spark/inspire his memory...)

I had to go back and look over the rule changes! Is it ok for me to update my character sheet?

Myra nods enthusiastically, and leaps to her feet, allowing her cape to billow in the wind behind her.

"It wouldn't be a proper adventure if the Bold Crew did not return in one piece, right?" She glances down at herself, then at Evan. "Well, two pieces ideally... err, that is, one piece each. Like we are right now."

Charming Roll: 14:50, Today: Myra rolled 7 using 3d4 ((1,4,2)).