Funeral

[enter Peter in disguise]

Clymestria: [smirks at Peter's disguise] Not excited to return home?

Peter: [to Clymestria loud enough for others to hear] You are a woman of wisdom and yet you do not see your arrogance... Do you speak to others with compassion and understanding or do you speak to them from a metaphorical podium from which you dictate their actions and responses? Just because you do not understand what I do does not mean that what I do is no good. Granted we've gotten off to a less then jovial start but, is it I who is not trying for friendship, or is it you?

As everything is packed and the journey nearly underway a guard comes to the wagon with a frazzled looking githzerai. As he draws near you notice that it's Flederoth, the barkeep that had been arrested for the murder of Renik Crawthson. He's no longer in chains and has a large bag on his back. He's armed with sword on his belt. He looks at the party nervously and sees Peter's silly disguise and smiles.

Guard: Hail, heroes of Crux! We have one prisoner to be freed and released into your custody. Master Veridis Mov has ordered his release due to information received proving he was not involved int he murder of one Renik Crawthson. Do you willingly accept him into your party?

Flederoth: Well met again cutters, eh? Mayhaps you have room for a poor old inn keeper to join you to the cage? For this favor mayhaps I can help you in the cage, I do know many bloods there. For this favor I would pledge my allegiance to the party and promise to do no cross-trades to you. For this I show my gratitude and my people will consider you an ally. [Bows deeply]

Clymestria: Well met Flederoth, I accept your oath in the spirit in which it was given. [Seeing this disheveled Githzerai brings to mind again the plight of Karzoka and the mission upon which they now set out]


Snatch: I DO ALSO ACCEPT YOUR BODY INTO OUR GROUP, BUT ONE MUST BE SURE TO CONSIDER THE FULL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE OATH YOU ARE TAKING. ARE YOU READY TO SHED BLOOD WITH US? THEN, OF COURSE, WITH MY OWN LIFE I WILL PROTECT YOURS AS WELL, IF IT BE NECESSARY.

Brilligh: [sucks her teeth and gazes balefully down upon the fetid creature] Another rusted sod? [she thinks] What, am I running a bleeding orphanage?

Pfepftzet: [nods to Flederoth] I shall enjoy the company of a fellow Githzerai.

Flederoth: [in Githzerai] I shall enjoy feasting mine eyes upon your lovliness madam. [bows to kiss Pfepftzet's hand]

[Grumbling to herself, Brilligh ambles to the front of the party and dipping her spindly fingers into a dark leathery pouch begins to draw an arrow on the ground surrounded by a square with black, sparkling iron filament.]

Brilligh: [Brilligh walks back to the back of the wagon and tries to be within earshot of most party members.] (rasping) Mark this, Tarsheva, and th' rest o' ye, drive th' wagon through th' glyph, an' ye stomp it, an' focus on y'r goal.[her gaze sweeps over the party members]

Snatch: [walks across the glyph, stomping three time her left foot, resounding the ground with the enormity of her stature]

Clymestria:[steps confidently on the sigil, knowing it has proved its worth many times over] Through Funeral to Sigil.

Peter:[walks over to the glyph reluctantly and cautiously taps his right toe on it] [to Brilligh in a lisp] Oh, you dear sweet thing, what is this for?


It's a short walk outside of town to the portal. The portal is made from the ruins of a doorway that's been over grown by mighty Yggdrasil. The path leading to it was once paved but branches have broken the paving stones and laying them asunder haphazardly. No portal keys are necessary on Yggdrasil and passing through the portal leads you to Funeral on the top of the trunk of a dead tree lying on it's side.


Clymestria: Ranged weapons ready! I want you, Snatch, and you, Pfepftzet, to spread out. [Readies her shield and spear. Helm balanced on her brow and moves to the front of the party]

Snatch: (takes a mid left position and readies her short bow just after walking over the glyph)

There is a distant moon that sheds little illumination over a ruined city. The air cold and still. It is very quiet, almost peaceful, though you get the feeling that something awful happened here. The psychic impressions here are very strong. Dead trees stand as a grim reminder that life flourished in this barren land. Remnants of buildings lie gutted and derelict like skeletons. The statues and monuments of this once great land lie broken where they lay.

Brilligh: [grits her teeth under the psychic pressure as her eyes take in the bleak, morose surrounding, still a little weirded out by her experience in the Guards Tower two nights before. Briefly, she considers trying to break a smaller branch off some tree or shrub close to the edge of the road, but then she remembers stories of travelers on the Styx, and how just one finger trailing in the water, just one glance at the rippling surface, and whole lives can be wiped clean, a Groke's entire book erased. She shakes herself all over, wraps her arms around herself, and continues walking, preferring not to attract anymore attention with her flying, keeping a wide eye towards the monuments and buildings around her, looking for anyone trying to lay out the red carpet (an ambush).]

Snatch: (Feeling a little uneasy, remembering the story of the traveler who came through this 'peaceful, dead' land only to feel the effects of an energy drain, weakened, beaten... but alive, lucky berk. This too must be a land that was once ruled by another dead god... what is this mess that is happening to the planes... infinite possibilities, and yet someone is exploiting a trick of some sort to shuck masters from their willful followers... they have been tested, and yet they continually fail... We will succeed, we will continue to travel safely across even the most barren of landscapes if necessary, to know the plush unity of our goddesses' bountiful presence.)

The path seems well marked. As you follow the trail you find trash and refuse from previous travellers. The fact that even rotting food debris is left undisturbed shows the desolation of this land. Perhaps even the scavengers themselves have died off.

Pfepftzet: [walks beside the wagon with her bow in hand while her eyes continuously scanning the desolate surroundings.]

Brilligh: [walks up to the front of the party (I'm assuming) and walks with Clymestria.] Hey Clym... [sticks out her real hand], I'll take yer oath. Clymestria Atticus, of any Body in the Multiverse, I think you say exactly what you mean.

Clymestria:[Takes Brilligh's forearm firmly in her hand and looks her in the eye] And you Brilligh do exactly as you must. I've grown accustomed to having your strength beside me.

Peter: Clemestria, I accept the pledge for this most worthy party of adventurer's. We are now bound by word and the word is law. Only death shall disband me from our kinship (Peter rotates his head around the group looking at everyone in the eye when he says this).

Tarsheva is very quiet as the Arcadian Mule pulls her small cart. She has a repeating cross bow in her hand loaded with bolts that glow softly. She quietly mutters a prayer to Tymora.

Tarsheva: [to mule] Easy Apple, keep your nerve. We'll be there soon.

Brilligh: [Walks alongside Tarsheva] Tarsheva, I understand you trade in flowers & herbs. Before we part ways, I would like to catch a skeg at your inventory, perhaps we can just barter our services.

Brilligh: Also, I'm wondering if you've heard any stype on a little bud called Desert's Night. Not sure if the name is a reference to Darkness or a blood. Just wondering what it does, and if it's available anywhere near here?

The sound of coins changing hands is defening as it breaks the silence of the surroundings.

Tarsheva: [quietly to Brilligh] Sure I know a bit o' dark about Desert Night. Won't do you much good tho. See, it only grows in Baator in the realm of Set. But he doesn't twig to the idea of sharing. Numerous times I've tried to get me some. The last time I saw a Desert Night blossom was when a Knight of the Post gave Set's proxy the laugh, that didn't last long. He wasn't two days in the cage before he was dragged kicking and screaming back to Baator by Set's minions. It's said to return the memories of poor sods who've lost them to the Styx. Works too, according those who're well-lanned on the subject.

Some quiet hours pass anxiously. The tour of the abandoned world is more akin to a solemn procession then a trade caravan. As the day goes on a fog rolls in sticking to the buildings obscuring vision.

Clymestria: [as the fog rolls in] Tighten up the line, keep close.

Brilligh: [While the party is stopped for food] Gah, rust! Do you know what I just tumbled to? That sodding berk Karzoaka has no rusting magic with him. I know he can sling spells but he had a black cloud of foul luck over him before he got taken to the dance. What a bleeding pain.

Snatch: [to Brilligh] DO YOU SUPPOSE THIS BOOK THAT VERIDIS GAVE US HAS THE POWER TO HOLD MAGIC? I KNOW ONLY THE FLOW OF MAGIC THROUGH MY HALLOWED BODY FOR THE RITES OF MY TRI FACED LADY. IF IT WOULD BENEFIT OUR FUTURE COMPANION I WILL DONATE IT TO HIM.

Clymestria: [before she eats she says a prayer to Athena thanking her for keeping them safe to another meal.] Snatch you had a good point earlier, I've already planned to take a trip to a smithy in Sigil, Tzet can lend me her fighters eye. Let's put those books to good use; Brilligh, Peter a spell or two wouldn't take long. Once we've found a place to hole up you should get some scribed down.

Snatch: [to peter, while eating slavishly and atleast twice as much as anyone else] HOW ARE YOU HOLDING UP, LAWYER? THIS IS A DESOLATE PLACE INDEED, IF YOU NEED A BODY TO STAND BEHIND JUST LET ME KNOW, THERE IS PLENTY OF PROTECTION IN MY SHADOW, FOR IT IS IN THE SHADOW OF A MUCH STRONGER SNAKE SHAPED FEMALE, [yelling] SHEKINESTRA!!

Peterpp: [to Snatch] I thank thee for all you have done and what you have offered. This is a grand gesture and will not be forgotten. I will do my best to guard your backside with the honor you so deserve. Please let me know when and where I may help.

After a quick break for food you approach a bridge that crosses a dry river bed. Through the fog you see a woman washing clothes. She sings an eerie song washed over with mournful tears of anguish. She stands as though she hears something and seems to gaze in your direction. With a look of terror she covers herself with her arms, as though to protect her self from some unseen force then disappears from view as her body is torn apart by some dire wind. [Roll save vs Fear (paralyzation)]

For those who missed their save: A ripple can be seen displacing the fog moving toward you like a shock wave. It moves so quickly that you hardly have time to react before it slams into you, leaving you short of breath. The terror of a million souls tear at you making you tremble, and cry. You drop your weapons or anything else you are holding and fall to your knees. [+2 initative, -2 Strike, -2 Damage]

For those who made their save: A cold wind blows chilling you. Your hands grow numb. Your heart races for a few moments then things return to normal.

Clymestria: [Trembling and weeping most of her words are hardly heard] ........By Athena, let us make our way with wisdom and safety. [party memebers are BLESSED (+1 to fear)] [2 minutes]

Flederoth: [Teeth chattering, falls to the ground weeping hysterically] [4 minutes]

Brilligh: [pulls out a stick of incense, lights it, and mutters to herself.] Now just calm down.

The smoke from Brilligh's incense swirls around her she walks along with the party. The smell is pungent, but not overwhelming.

Peter: I could go up ahead and scout for any dangers if it so pleases our lovely mistress of employment. [his sad eyes droop down peering from a dirty face peeking out of an even dirtier burlap bag, used as a makeshift hood.