Adventure Log #58

THE CHARACTERS

Ross-Rogue
Estryellia-Sorcerer
Garu-Elf Ranger
Trynn-Human Fighter

The party looks down into the great valley, both Ross and Estryellia remember the future they have seen where this plain is a vast battle field where the forces of the last enclave of humans fights the vangfur (vampire) hoard and how they both helped stave off the threat in that dark future. As the party makes their way down from the hills they make the acquaintance of a former partner called Trynn who agrees to join the party.

They reach the floor of the valley they see a fort flying the flag of Deserata and beyond that a large river with a bridge over it. Near the other side of the bridge is an obviously Sadakadishian village. As they are passing by the fortification they decide to stop in and see what’s inside. They buy a few things from the open-air market and wander around sampling Deseratan food like Peck Peck on a stick and baked pattie.

The group notices that several Deseratan Altmen led by a young officer dressed as if for a parade is following them. When they acknowledge the group the officer gushes about how he recognized Van Estryllia (not sure how, she was wearing a full burka) and that they had met when she was five, he introduces himself as Ian Hough. Ian tells the party that his uncle the commander of the fort would be honored if they party would dine with them and then spend the night before heading into “native” Sadikadish.

The party agrees and makes ready for dinner later that eve. The dinner is such that even Ross the Tok is stretched to his limit. Some of the food served was: Baked pattie with white and yellow sauce, Pressure-cooked squabs, Fish soup, Jellied peck peck, Sand (rice)Hassa baked ham, Custard soup and Small Smoog steak (without the stones.)

After dinner uncle Hough holds court telling Estryellia how he met her father several time back in “old” Deserata and how much he admired the Peace Lord. Commander Hoagh asks Ross to sing for them since he is obviously an entertainer (he was dressed in Do clothing, which the commander found “cute”). Ross sings a song that leaves the old man in tears (Maybe Ross has a career as a bard?). A servant comes in and reminds the commander that it’s the last hour of the afternoon (6:00pm) they all rise and toast the goddess Chaldisaya and Emror Jun Sailon. Garu enquires about the fate of thieves in the fort (while looking at Ross). The commander says that they mostly follow Deseratan custom and execute the offender but he uses his prerogative as commander to commute the offence from impaling to hanging. Commander Hough mentions that that is the difference between the civilized Deseratans and the “thieving sado’s” (Sadakadishians).

In deference to their host the characters say nothing. As the evening is coming to an end and everyone’s smoking some good Deseteran (aka Tok) pipe weed, Ian asks permission of his uncle to escort the party (meaning Van Estrellia) to the bridge. In their rooms that night Estrellia had a nightmare of her reflection in the mirror holding the ring the Lord of Light in her palm. The rest of the night goes without incident with only the forts guards calling off the hours of the night and morning to break the silence.

The next morning fortified with a quick breakfast and hot mugs of Byter Bean the party leaves the manor only to find about 20 soldiers lined up to escort them the ½ mile to the bridge. Ian is dressed even flashier than before and he helps Estryellia on to a horse (side saddle of course) for the grueling march. They cover the distance and Estryllia dismounts and along with the rest of the party crosses the bridge into Sadakadish proper.

The party passes through the town of Near Water without incident and soon finds themselves on the Southern Trade road. They pass several small shrines to the local Sadakadishian totems. Later in the day the road makes a noticeable rise and they see in the distance the ruins of Stand Town.

The party discusses the history of the city, which even predates the Sadakasian Empire. The small plateau, which the town sits on, is the only feature of the plane for miles and miles. Stand town is the traditional refuge of armies in retreat from larger foes and in many cases armies that have retreated here have been victorious against superior numbers, primarily the dreaded Tre Hum Da from the south. As the party draws closer they see hundreds of Sadakadishian laborers working on building a new foundation for the towns fortifications. Both Ross and Estryellia can see the outlines of the city of Stand Town they saw in the future being laid out.

The characters attempt to talk with several of the workers but get no response eventually they find an overseer who directs them to the current Peace lords encampment. The current Peace lord is the Lord in Brown who is overseeing the construction while Estryellia's father Lord Red is in the north. They go through Sadakadishian greeting formalities and ask permission to ask permission (common way of doing things in Sadakadish) to explore the ruins of the town for the Fountain of Chaldisaya.

The Lord in Brown gives both permission to ask for permission and permission to conduct the search. He adds that the city has had many of the buildings covered over with time and that what they are looking for is probably buried in a sub basement, maybe even a subsubsub basement. After a good nights sleep (Ross notices that there is a place to hang up his soul aka his sword) the party goes exploring the ruins.