The Heart Of Ruhir

[Malchik]

OOC> Unless anyone argues with Kyrika I will assume you go by sea. Please post anything further you want to say before embarking. I will not role play the voyage as nothing exciting happens but you can assume Aldhelm continues to train Kyrika in the use of the dagger. For information here is some information on where you are going.

 

Extract from The Blue Guide to Bashkher

 

Dohoti

 

Dohoti is the smallest of Bashkher's so-called 'Great' cities with a population of around the million mark. It is easily accessible from Papred by land and sea and has several tourist attractions.

 

Unfortunately we cannot wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone but the most diehard.

 

The problem is the sandstorms. Dohoti gets an average of one a week. They vary from the inconvenient, where there is mild nuisance of getting sand in the eyes or food, to the deadly, where the sand shreds clothes and flays skin. Normally they blow themselves out within a few hours but two or three times a year they get storms lasting as long as five days. As no external travel is possible in these conditions it can be a problem to travellers on a deadline.

 

The force of the sand destroys all but the toughest plants and scours paint from buildings. It makes the city seem dour and shabby. After each storm there is a prolonged sand clearing session involving the whole population. A combination of these problems has made the cityfolk singleminded to the point of sounding impolite.

 

For any of you intrepid enough to make the journey notwithstanding there are several points of interest.

 

The Walls

 

For reasons lost now in the mists of time, when sand threatens to overwhelm Dohoti, the citizens simply build the walls higher and add a new level to their buildings within the walls. From the three landward approaches the walls appear one or two storeys high but from the docks the full 30 storeys can be seen. It is awe-inspiring and in its own way terrifying.

 

The Winch Gate

 

The black tower used to bring men, goods and animals from the docks is a marvel of engineering. The winching mechanism is so precisely calibrated that it can be operated by only one man. For security reasons the mechanism is not open to public view but you may admire the tower from outside or take a ride in it.

 

The Honeycomb

 

The sandstorms prevent expansion beyond or above the city walls and so as the city grows it digs downwards. The impacted sand of millennia has metamorphosed into hard sandstone rock. It presents the city as a kind of three dimensional maze in which it is very easy to get lost. Only the main street between the two gates is not affected. With very few exceptions the rooms so constructed have no external wall. This may come as a shock to the more prudish visitors as there is no privacy of any kind in these building.

 

The Jade Temple

 

One of the eight ancient temples of Bashkher it is famous for its jade statue of the god Puri. Unfortunately the figure is so swathed in votive sashes you are unlikely to see more than the eyes. The lower levels of the temple are off limits without specific written approval from the central government in Papred.

 

The City Museum

 

This houses a fine collection of art and artifacts from all over Bashkher. The prize exhibit is one of the Swords of the Master of Zooz.

 

The Museum of Local History

 

This rather more parochial collection (by its description) is also said to house one of the Master's swords. Unfortunately despite the stated opening time our travellers have always found the place closed.

 

Nightlife

 

None.

[DragonDudeAW]

As the bartender brings him a glass of a dark, amber liquid, Aldhelm is both surprised and relieved that this liquor is much like the regional liquors he and Thereon were able to scavenge from the archmage's traveling caravans. It is cool and refreshing to his parched throat.

 

As he sets the glass down and wipes his mouth, he turns to see Kyrika walking towards him.

 

"Thank you, Aldhelm. I would be very grateful if you could teach me how to use this dagger to protect myself. At the moment, I fear, I am as likely to cut myself as I am to injure an opponent. I am eager to begin, whenever you are ready."

 

She pauses briefly. "Ah, but what of our quest? Who will make the arrangements for our travel? Personally I would prefer travelling by ship where possible - on board a ship, I hope, there is at least a slight chance of a cooling breeze."

 

" I am pleased you have chosen to accept my offer, Kyrika and I think traveling in a boat would be best as well. I don't know what kind of creatures may lurk in the seas but I know that the roads in Tagfier are littered with the corpses of adventurers suprise attacked by the wandering fiends. "

 

" Now before we go, may I see the dagger that I saw you wielding earlier during the "battle"? I thought it looked rather odd... but I may have been seeing things."

 

OOC> Theta, I'll take this section out if there is a probem with playing Kyrika. Couldn't really make it a training session without doing it :)

 

As Kyrika hands Aldhelm her dagger, he is instantly aware of the problem.

 

" This dagger was not meant to be used as a close range weapon at all! Its weight and design are that of a throwing dagger."

 

" Well before I can begin to help you with your short blade skills, I guess you'll need to see a real short blade, hmm? "

 

Reaching into his satchel, he retrieves his SandCrab Claw Dagger and hands it to Kyrika. " See how much heavier the blade is compared to your throwing dagger? It greatly changes how you blanace the blade and attack with it. "

 

He begins showing Kyrika the basic techniques.

 

OOC> Malchik, do the characters have access to the Blue Guide? If so Aldhelm will seek out someone before they leave to get permission to enter all levels of the Jade Temple.

[Malchik]

OOC> Bharat will have given that permission for all temples as he has asked you to investigate them. It does not mean the locals will agree in all cases but you will be fine in Dohoti as it is sufficiently close to Papred not to tweak the capital's nose.

 

If Kyrika needs a different dagger I would prefer we agreed she bought it in Papred before you left for the boat. The selection in Dohoti will be very limited.

[ixnos]

OOC: heh I'm more than sure Kane could persuade the locals if some do decide to refuse ;) although you would think the locals wouldn't refuse a 6ft 2" broad muscular warrior with an attitude problem hehe

 

Kane nods to Kyrika, in a way he was glad that she declined, it meant he didn't have to babysit someone for a few hours forcing things into their head then explaining it again since they missed it the first time. He did offer but with Kane, he rarely doubts anyone would accept...he watches Aldhelm and Kyrika for a moment, although he carries an arsenal around with him, he does know how to use other weapons and a dagger is one of them, after all if he happened to lose his other swords in battle, the dagger hidden under his armour can very well safe his life when the enemy is too close for comfort.

 

He was now done with his training, he remembers being in Dohoti a few years back, the blistering sandstorms, one thing no one can forget the experience of...even he couldn't withstand the storm, he got further through it than most due to stubborness yet it was too much and luckily a large rock gave him cover for the last few minutes of the storm dying down, he sighs with a shudder as he remembers about having to peel off most of his skin on his arms afterwards then have them wrapped up in bandages soaked within alcohol until he could make it back to a healer. eventually he perks up

 

"I would wrap up tight if I were ya...that standstorm can get pretty nasty, trust me...been there, done that and not really happy about going through it all again...just thought I would give some advice so later I can say told you so"

 

Kane smirks, now that his training was done, there wasn't much else for him to do than wait for the others to finish what they're doing and wait the go ahead

[DragonDudeAW]

As Aldhelm begins to show Kyrika the basic techniques, including thrusting and parrying, he speaks to her.

 

“These techniques are simple enough to learn and I can let you practice with my dagger for the time being and if need be, you can use it in Dohoti. But I suggest that before we leave here, you and I could go browse and some of these local merchants to see if you can find a blade that you can use permanently. I'm sure Bashker would give us a few coins to purchase something for you to defend yourself. We might go ask him for some money while we give him a report on what we saw in Papred. You can give him a report about what that "woman" said and I can give him a report on what my detections picked up. Then we can ask for some money and can go select a dagger for you. How does that sound, Kyrika?"

[Morgoth]

Chucahau has been even more silent than usual during the trip back to Papred and their stay at the tavern.

Silently, he observes the conversation between Kyrika, Aldhelm and Kane and the training session afterwards. He is well aware of the fact that the others in the group know more about fighting with a dagger than him (who uses his dagger only for various rituals).

When he notices that Aldhelm has apparently finished his lesson for now, he approaches the two and says:

 

"It is good to see that you are eager to learn how to protect yourself. But be careful. The knowledge of what to do in a fight is one thing. To possess the strength of mind and calmness to use that knowledge in battle is another. Do not put too much trust in your new abilities. Our enemies are strong. Your real talents lie beyond the field of battle. There is no reason to risk your life when there are others whose sole task is to fight.

I feel that we are safe here, and that Aldhelm is a good companion in this town - a better one than I may be, for I still feel uncomfortable here. If you allow, I shall go and look for a more quiet place."

 

Providing that no one prevents him from doing it, Chucahau leaves the tavern and goes looking for a bit more quiet place, preferrably a location where a bit vegetation grows (a sort of park, maybe - anything that is closer to the jungle than a crowded tavern or a busy market place).

[Malchik]

Papred is a huge city but there is the necropolis. It is called that, although no one knows what it really is. Attempts to find out if anyone or anything is buried there always fail. There have never been sightings or rumours of ghosts or spirits. It is in fact a city in miniature - about a third the size of a real city but with stone houses of two storeys complete with rooms and staircases (no furnishings or doors).

 

During the day tourists visit the two main 'streets' but at night and generally in other areas it is empty. To Chucahau it would seem as if it might be waiting for something but not for him. It is neither hostile nor threatening. Perhaps it is just old.

 

He can meditate there quietly in one of the 'houses' or in the open.

 

OOC> Is he intending to pass the night there?

[ThetaOrionis01]

Kyrika watches and listens attentively, and tries to copy the stances and moves Aldhelm is showing her. She gives an embarrassed smile when he points out that her dagger is a throwing dagger.

 

"I know it now... but I knew nothing whatever of weapons when I purchased it, and it was cheap. It had not occurred to me at the time that it might be suitable for throwing only... then, when I found out, I thought to make the best of it." She shrugs. "But the encounter today made me realise that I would really like to have something to hand, to defend myself when someone or something gets close. I doubt that I could have hurt the... apparition... today, had she meant me harm - but it would have been some reassurance not to have been so entirely helpless..."

 

She studies Aldhelm's dagger. "This dagger - it looks very unusual. An artifact of your home, surely? But I will gladly accept your offer to help me purchase a suitable dagger for myself. This city - its noise, its heat and the smell! - is not a place I would like to explore on my own. And it may be a good idea to seek an audience with Desani - if what Costanta told me was the truth, then perhaps there are some civic records we could consult to find out more about those whose names she gave me. Accessing such records may be easier if we have Bharat Desani's written permission."

[DragonDudeAW]

As he begins to show Kyrika the techniques again, he is glad that she supports his idea.

 

He finishes showing her the very basic and resheathes his dagger once he has allowed Kyrika to practice for a little while and then begins to answer her questions.

 

" Yes, this dagger was a weapon crafted by my own hands and has served me quite well when my magic has run dry. It is crafted from the claw of a SandCrab, a crab that has a tendency to hide in the Tagfierian sand dunes and ambush unwary travelers. I have a set of armor crafted from the creature's shells as well, but due to the heat we have been experiencing I have kept it off due to its poor ventilation. I hope as you do that Desani may help us further on our quest once we provide him with information. Hopefully he will give us sufficient funds to get you some decent armaments. By the way, I have begun to show you the techniques of a short blade, but during the battle I noticed that you and I were the only ones not wearing armor. Is this because you did not want to be weighted down or because you have not truly been trained in the use of such equipment? If it is the latter, perhaps we can find some light armor for you with Desani's funds that I can show you defense techniques as well."

 

After saying this Aldhelm gets up, and waiting for Kyrika to follow, goes to the door of the bar and opens the door for her to leave. He intends to accompany her when she seeks an audience with Desani and then on to the merchant stalls.

 

OOC> I should be able to post about these events, but this is just an outline in case I have problems posting.

[Morgoth]

After wandering a bit through the streets of Papred, Chucahau comes across the necropolis. As it seems to be the most quiet place he will be able to find in this huge city, he decides to stay there.

 

OOC> He would prefer to remain in the outside, but if going into one of the houses means an additional increase in quietness and loneliness, he will enter one of them.

 

Sitting on the ground in a meditative pose, he closes his eyes and begins humming some prayers at first, then falls silent. Feeling more and more tranquil in his mind and body, he sees no reason to leave his trance, and as the hours progress, he gradually falls asleep.