Game Date: 2-5 Harvestmonth, 994 KC; Play Date: 9/2/2000
2 Harvestmonth (continued): Al-Zaki reported that while hunting, he had seen some pools of water to the east, and thinks he could just make a river about two days' travel away.
Ruqayyah questioned Umok about whether his people would be likely to kill them, and if so, how to avoid that. He replied that Starn's and Vadim's Mynars would try to, but Umok would protect her. Klur's Mynars might also, but he would protect her and speak to them. His old friends might help his new friends "smite evil." He explained that these friends lived two days eastward, near the river, and that Perbor began a few days east of there.
3 Harvestmonth: The next morning, Umok's wounds were improving, but his leg was still weak and his arm still useless. He could now walk--slowly--and spent some time in very awkward practice with the captured greataxe. The group broke camp, and with frequent breaks for Umok to rest, they resumed their journey.
That night, during Ruqayyah's watch, she heard an animal-like cry from the northeast, with an answering cry to the southeast. She woke the others as the cries continued, then went to investigate (in cat form). Umok recognized the calls as Mynars, but could not tell whether they were friend or foe. Ruqayyah approached one of the Mynars close enough to see some distinguishing marks (a broken horn, and a jagged scar across the snout), then returned to camp. Umok recognized her description as his cousin, Dorg. He called to the Mynars, who met him outside the camp. After conversing for a short time, Umok called Darra out to him. He showed them the effect that her touch had on his statuette--which proved even more dramatic this time. Al-Zaki dropped his Mystic Mist spell so the two Mynars could enter the camp and meet Umok's new friends. The second Mynar, Birkum, was a huge, old male who was introduced as the leader of a group of Mynars. He agreed to help Umok and Darra in their quest.
4 Harvestmonth: The next morning, Ruqayyah's healing magic worked on Umok, and he was able to walk normally again. However, her spells had reached their limit on his crippled arm; only time could restore its use. Darra also examined his arm, then prayed for Kuldor's aid. The arm was mended, to the surprise of all--especially Darra! Umok exclaimed, "Klur hears you!" then told his breathren of the miracle. They resumed their trek with Umok joyfully swinging his axe about with both hands.
Dorg and Birkum went ahead to tell the sentries about the strangers. He returned to lead them to a river gorge, which they reached just before sunset. (They saw several sentries watching from cover as they approached.) A cleft offering a path down the cliffside was too narrow for the dragon. After getting a promise from the Mynars to provide him with meat before they left again, Al-Zaki changed to his human form. (Ruqayyah, embarrassed by his nudity, asked him to give her more warning next time.) Umok used his figurine to cast a torch-like light, and led the way down a path to a cave. The path edged in a small ledge before a cave mouth. A low passage led back to a small chamber. Umok placed the glowing carving on a large rock placed as an altar before a huge, crude, but striking painting of a Mynar. The three Mynars paid their respects to the shrine, then Dorg and Birkum left. When Darra explained that Laylah and Ruqayyah preferred sleeping outside, Umok replied that the ledge and path were safe, but no further.
[Ever since Naima first witnessed Laylah climbing atop rocks to commune with her goddess, she has fallen into the habit of periodically thanking that deity again by placing a small rock on top of the largest rock near each campsite they found. Tonight, after all the others were asleep, Naima went up to the glowing statuette of Klur and spoke to it: "I usually give Laylah's god rocks, but I don't think you want rocks. I don't know what you want, but thanks." She dreamed that night of a rock that followed her--she never saw it moving, but it was closer each time she looked at it.]
[Darra dreamed of the painting of Klur above the altar. It began to breathe smoke and fire, and the head grew to fill her vision. She then saw a miniature version of herself standing inside the mouth--and not being harmed by the flames.]
5 Harvestmonth: Umok spent part of the morning in devotions, thanking Klur. The party was told that the top of the cleft would be safe, and give them more room to wait. As they ate, practiced, and spoke together, Naima told of her dream. Darra mentioned she had a dream, but no more. When Ruqayyah asked Al-Zaki if he had had any dreams, he replied that he had dreamed of home, as he often did when sleeping in caves.
Laylah noticed ravens flying about the gorge, and spent some time watching them. Ruqayyah asked about them, and was annoyed to learn that ravens might be able to hurt her if she hunted them. Al-Zaki mentioned that the Ranae claim that the ravens of the badlands can get quite large--easily as big as Ruqayyah's caracal form.
When Umok emerged, Darra asked him about the Mouth of Klur. It looks like Klur, but huge, and is said to speak like him (?). It would take about four days to reach Perbor, but no Mynar knew just how far beyond that to the Mouth. Birkum was able to tell them more, with Umok as translator: Perbor was once Mynar land, until Vadim's worshipers drove them out. Perbor is a region of mountains and foothills; the Mouth was located where the river came out of the mountains. The Mouth was a sacred place, once visited by Mynars, but the "Horns of Klur" at the center of the mountains has never been reached by any Mynar.
Seevn Mynars would accompany the women and dragon:
The party left around midday. They went south to another cleft, which led down to a crude rope bridge that stretched between two rocky outcroppings on either side of the river. On the far side, a Mynar guarded a carcass for Al-Zaki's meal. He stripped and shifted to dragon form. (This is the first time he has allowed the women to see this change, and Laylah found it very impressive. The Mynars were simply awed.) The party trekked eastward, and the dragon caught up with them after having his meal.
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