"Yes, certainly incapable. Though, let's hope that I become capable enough to cure you, hm?" Yhizir's nose flares. "And how wonderful it will be when I'm able to tell Imsan of his helpful subordinates and their merry band of strangers–he'll be able put a face to the name and...reward you adequately. Perhaps he'll even be able to send word along to the sultan, who we know loves ambitious little pups." It's fairly well known to the population of Keltar that the sultan had secured his position and marriage to and through the el Ahimar crime family with a hefty amount of insubordination and blackmail. Despite having used those channels himself, he's known for having a fear of people equally ambitious.
Yhizir turns to Niyin when she speaks. "Very well. No need to return. If Imsan comes, he comes. If not, it won't be a shock and we'll make do and you all can go back to milling amongst the tents." He waves his hand and suddenly the dim room and the smell of sweet smoke is replaced with the scorching bright light of the sun and the sounds and smells of the camp. Durug clutches his stomach and spits on the ground. "I prefer walking."
The group now stands on the path in front of the tower they were just in. To the south are the large medical tents, where people are still slowly moving about, showing no signs of shock from the transformation and attack of Didna. The tower is set back from where the boundaries of the encampment have come to a stop, and the Calim Desert is in plain view to the east, the heat creating a wavy shimmer just over the sands. Small dust devils spin around in the distance.
Durug puts his fist against Vimak's chest and pushes playfully. "Well, now you've met the Guild. Great aren't they? Always trying to help a neighbor out." He makes a rude gesture with a finger or two towards the tower. "Nice to meet you all, by the way," he says, looking at Niyin and Akela, "Welcome to Keltar." He turns back to Vimak. "If you want to go along to Imsan, I'll head back to the other guards and let the captain know that we met with Yhizir. Not that I'll have anything to report." He snorts and scratches at the back of his neck. "Shame about that old man. Imsan might be able to grant permission into the city if you all want to do a rescue. Not sure else how you'd go about it, unless you wanted to march through the canals like Yhizir was saying. Sounds miserable."
“Akela and Niyin,” Vimak says, ““I am Vimak Stormforged Katho-Laga of the Keltar Guard.” He puts his hand on his chin. “I may have made an enemy of Yhizir,” he says. “But for now, should we go directly to the old man through the canals or to Imsan first? What do you think?”
Akela frowned as she watched the goblin tottle off and mulled over what they had said. Was Dhara paid to steal the map for the robed men? From who? And why? As Akela turned to rejoin the others, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something deeper going on here. She'd have to keep an eye out.
Before too long they found themselves outside the tower. Akela had agreed with Durug that she preferred to leave on her own two feet. There was just something about traveling by teleportation that unsettled her.
"They sure are something," Akela replied to Durug. She had caught the hint of sarcasm in his voice and smiled. "Though I don't think 'great' would be the word I'd use."
She turned to Vimak and Niyin, finally fully acknowledging both of them with a slight dip of her head.
"We should try speaking with this Imsan first, I think. And if that doesn't yield us the results we need then we can go through the canals. A river will tend to take the easiest path before seeking to carve a new one."
Niyin shook her head, feeling a little dizzy with having her surroundings changed so quickly once again without being ready for it. The imp chuckled in her ear. "It's good to make your acquaintance, Vimak," she said in reply. "And you, too, Akela. As it was said, I am Niyin. I came here to see if I could help, but I feel like we've become twisted in a strange knot of fate, or maybe we're all the same level of unlucky."
Nodding as Akela spoke, she sighed. "I agree. Let's go see this Imsan. I promised a little girl that I would find her Babaye , but knowing he's been seen alive is good enough for now. It won't do us any good trying to charge our way over to him, but if we pass within sight of their tent, I would like to let them know what I know." Adjusting her bag, she took a steadying step and looked around. Then she smiled shyly. "I'm afraid I had just arrived when all the commotion started. Lead, and I will follow."
Durug crosses his arms and grunts in thought. He looks to the south, through the pathway between the refugee and medical tents. "Well, if that's the plan, I'll head out." He turns to face Vimak. "Flash your sabban emblem to the guards Yhizir said were at the door. They should let you in." Addressing Niyin and Akela, he continues, "Might not be as keen on you following him in, but you look like a creative bunch. Since you're new here and the map might not mean as much to you, that bastion there," he points to a round tower on the other side of the tents, "is where you'll find Imsan." With a quick jerk, Durug cracks his neck with a loud pop. He nods and starts off down towards the training ground where he and Vimak had been only a short while ago.
"Toward the west gate, then?" Vimak says. He begins walking that way, hoping that Akela and Niyin will follow. Vimak does not know as many people in the city as he would like. "How do you find yourselves here," he asks, "and which tent was that girl's family in? Are we close to it?"
Akela bowed her head in thanks to Durug before turning to follow after Vimak and Niyin.
"The Matriarch of my tribe received word of the great illness that had taken hold of the city," she answered Vimak. "So she sent me to help. She also thought it would be a good be a time to start my..." Akela trailed off, trying to find a way to describe the path all Loxodon took when chosen to become the next Matriarch. (I honestly don't know what to call this. Keyleth does the same thing in Critical Role, but what would it be called for a Loxodon?) "...my journey, as it were, into adulthood."
Akela glanced toward Niyin.
"I'm afraid I do not know this girl you speak of."
Did a quick search through some MTG flavor text and the UA docs for Ravnica and didn't see anything. On the MTG wiki I found this line of text:
Inhabiting the Razor Fields, these Loxodons believed in the Modest Truth, a code of absolute morality that was taken at face value and passed on from generation to generation.
Which might suggest some sort of understanding of that could be part of the rite of passage. There was also this homebrew variant, which had a description of the matriarchal leader being chosen at birth via ritual. If that's what we're rolling with, then perhaps something like Ascendancy could be the term used when the new replaces the old. So the maybe Akela is on her Path to Ascendancy, or perhaps something like her Pursuit of Modest Truth. Or for something less wordy, maybe it's her Clearing, in reference to both clearing away non-truths and a pun on clearings like typical loxodon lands.
(Yeah, I was wanting to go with the homebrew variant that you linked so I would think the Path to Ascendancy would be the better choice for her. I would think part of that would be learning all that she can about the world outside of her Tribe (or Herd). )
"I have been traveling for a few years now to any place where sickness has taken hold, to learn what happened, or trying my best to aid in recovering the health of the people. Sometimes its magic, sometimes its plague, another time a farmer was dumping waste upstream. I heard rumors of this place and what was happeneing to the people. They warned me to stay away but I felt compelled."
"Guilty you mean," hissed the imp.
"Shh-" she snapped and then drew out the word. "Shhhhuuuurely these people are in need of help, I thought and found a ride here." She shifted her bag, roughly rolling her shoulder but the unseen imp hung on.
Speaking again quickly, she pointed in the direction of where they had first come together. "Their tent was not far from where the fight took place."
4
(I'm going to roll perception to see if she can spot it.)
(Edit: I am short and walking slightly behind two much bigger entities. I don't see shit! Lol)
Though Niyin remembers the girl and the tent where her family sat, it's not really clear where it was situated from this new angle. There are too many tents in the way and the pathways to others are obscured by them. The trio continues their conversation as they begin to make their way towards where Durug had pointed.
Feel free to finish out the conversation. I figured I'd create a time space for it to play out, but also figured I'd give a little push.
Built out from the city wall, very near to the gate into the city, Imsan's temporary housing rises and looks out high above the tent camps. The wooden door is decorated with a rough cloth banner with the emblem of the guard printed on its center in a rich black color. Two Keltar guards wearing gold colored braided cords stand on either side of the door, hands on the hilts of their blades, keeping watch. A window two thirds of the way up has its curtains drawn open, but with the glare from the sun, it's difficult to see inside. However, it's safe to assume that that's the floor that Imsan stays in.
A number of people are milling past, giving a wide berth to the guards and the tower. Some even increase their pace as they move past it. Though many of them might like to be able to dip into a tent to move around the block, nearly none of the tents on the other side of the path from the tower have any openings on this side. Those that do have had their fabric openings stitched shut.
As you all approach, the guards stand straighter and inspect the group, but say nothing.
Something odd about the way Niyin is talking? Vimak’s not sure. Have to listen in the future, but for now, he says, “I came down out of the mountains once the only competition in the tribe was my old mother. I was second in command, helped her keep peace in the tribe, but soon my younger brothers were asking who was really in charge, me or her.” Vimak sniffs. “When one of the merchants the tribe sold to offered me a job guarding him I took it, you know, because, well, my old mother and I . . . I didn’t really want to be chief of the tribe anyway,” he says. “And I’ve been guarding stuff ever since!”
Vimak has a general idea of where the family might be, given that he's more familiar with the camp, but he can't quite pinpoint where. He knows that it's further south than where the Guild Arcane's tower stands.
"Niyin and Akela, friends," Vimak says, "do you mind if we talk to Imsan before searching for the family? He might have news that relates to the illness that drove the family out of the city, after all. What say ye?"
Akela looked off in the direction to see if she could spot the tent of the family Niyin spoke of.
"I think it would be best if we go to Imsan," she said in a agreement with Vimak. She then looked to Niyin. "If we come across this family you spoke of we can let them know about their Babaye. But if not perhaps we could see to them after."
5
(I added +2 for Perception. Let me know if it's wrong and if I need to reroll.)
"I would like to tell them, but it's not nearly as pressing as the matter at hand. Let's speak to Imsan." Niyin nodded and then looked over Vimak. "You're a Goliath, correct? I've seen your people a few times but never haven't had the pleasure of working with one. And Akela, you are a..." She mumbles a little, trying to remember the word.
"The elephant in every room," chuckled the imp, slapping his own knee at his horrible joke.
Niyin's face twisted in reply, eyes rolling but then she pushed it into a smile. "Luxodon, right? I've read tales of your people in my research but you are the first I have laid eyes on." Niyin's eyes darted around, taking in details. Too big to imitate an adult, but perhaps a child? The situation may never come up, but still it's good to have the information ready. Her eyes paused on one feature: the trunk. The trunk might be a problem. She looked meekly up at Akela's eyes. "I'm curious, your trunk. Does it work just like another appendage, a hand, or is there more to it?"
“I am a Goliath indeed.” Vimak is listening while Niyin and Akela talk, but he turns toward Imsan’s shelter. Interesting that none of the tents face it.
Vimak searches his memory, his history, hoping to recognize one or both of the guards. 2
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vimak had hoped to know the guards. That might make getting in easier, but no such luck. "Stick close to me, friends," he says. Instead of flashing a smile, he walks towards the guards and flashes his sabban emblem, thinking of what Durug said. "We are here to see Imsan," he says. It should be a formality getting inside. He is one of the Keltar guard. No reason to look mean, necessarily, but nothing wrong with looking powerful and intimidating: 6
"Yes, certainly incapable. Though, let's hope that I become capable enough to cure you, hm?" Yhizir's nose flares. "And how wonderful it will be when I'm able to tell Imsan of his helpful subordinates and their merry band of strangers–he'll be able put a face to the name and...reward you adequately. Perhaps he'll even be able to send word along to the sultan, who we know loves ambitious little pups." It's fairly well known to the population of Keltar that the sultan had secured his position and marriage to and through the el Ahimar crime family with a hefty amount of insubordination and blackmail. Despite having used those channels himself, he's known for having a fear of people equally ambitious.
Yhizir turns to Niyin when she speaks. "Very well. No need to return. If Imsan comes, he comes. If not, it won't be a shock and we'll make do and you all can go back to milling amongst the tents." He waves his hand and suddenly the dim room and the smell of sweet smoke is replaced with the scorching bright light of the sun and the sounds and smells of the camp. Durug clutches his stomach and spits on the ground. "I prefer walking."
The group now stands on the path in front of the tower they were just in. To the south are the large medical tents, where people are still slowly moving about, showing no signs of shock from the transformation and attack of Didna. The tower is set back from where the boundaries of the encampment have come to a stop, and the Calim Desert is in plain view to the east, the heat creating a wavy shimmer just over the sands. Small dust devils spin around in the distance.
Durug puts his fist against Vimak's chest and pushes playfully. "Well, now you've met the Guild. Great aren't they? Always trying to help a neighbor out." He makes a rude gesture with a finger or two towards the tower. "Nice to meet you all, by the way," he says, looking at Niyin and Akela, "Welcome to Keltar." He turns back to Vimak. "If you want to go along to Imsan, I'll head back to the other guards and let the captain know that we met with Yhizir. Not that I'll have anything to report." He snorts and scratches at the back of his neck. "Shame about that old man. Imsan might be able to grant permission into the city if you all want to do a rescue. Not sure else how you'd go about it, unless you wanted to march through the canals like Yhizir was saying. Sounds miserable."
“Akela and Niyin,” Vimak says, ““I am Vimak Stormforged Katho-Laga of the Keltar Guard.” He puts his hand on his chin. “I may have made an enemy of Yhizir,” he says. “But for now, should we go directly to the old man through the canals or to Imsan first? What do you think?”
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Akela frowned as she watched the goblin tottle off and mulled over what they had said. Was Dhara paid to steal the map for the robed men? From who? And why? As Akela turned to rejoin the others, she couldn't help but wonder if there was something deeper going on here. She'd have to keep an eye out.
Before too long they found themselves outside the tower. Akela had agreed with Durug that she preferred to leave on her own two feet. There was just something about traveling by teleportation that unsettled her.
"They sure are something," Akela replied to Durug. She had caught the hint of sarcasm in his voice and smiled. "Though I don't think 'great' would be the word I'd use."
She turned to Vimak and Niyin, finally fully acknowledging both of them with a slight dip of her head.
"We should try speaking with this Imsan first, I think. And if that doesn't yield us the results we need then we can go through the canals. A river will tend to take the easiest path before seeking to carve a new one."
Niyin shook her head, feeling a little dizzy with having her surroundings changed so quickly once again without being ready for it. The imp chuckled in her ear. "It's good to make your acquaintance, Vimak," she said in reply. "And you, too, Akela. As it was said, I am Niyin. I came here to see if I could help, but I feel like we've become twisted in a strange knot of fate, or maybe we're all the same level of unlucky."
Nodding as Akela spoke, she sighed. "I agree. Let's go see this Imsan. I promised a little girl that I would find her Babaye , but knowing he's been seen alive is good enough for now. It won't do us any good trying to charge our way over to him, but if we pass within sight of their tent, I would like to let them know what I know." Adjusting her bag, she took a steadying step and looked around. Then she smiled shyly. "I'm afraid I had just arrived when all the commotion started. Lead, and I will follow."
Durug crosses his arms and grunts in thought. He looks to the south, through the pathway between the refugee and medical tents. "Well, if that's the plan, I'll head out." He turns to face Vimak. "Flash your sabban emblem to the guards Yhizir said were at the door. They should let you in." Addressing Niyin and Akela, he continues, "Might not be as keen on you following him in, but you look like a creative bunch. Since you're new here and the map might not mean as much to you, that bastion there," he points to a round tower on the other side of the tents, "is where you'll find Imsan." With a quick jerk, Durug cracks his neck with a loud pop. He nods and starts off down towards the training ground where he and Vimak had been only a short while ago.
"Toward the west gate, then?" Vimak says. He begins walking that way, hoping that Akela and Niyin will follow. Vimak does not know as many people in the city as he would like. "How do you find yourselves here," he asks, "and which tent was that girl's family in? Are we close to it?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Akela bowed her head in thanks to Durug before turning to follow after Vimak and Niyin.
"The Matriarch of my tribe received word of the great illness that had taken hold of the city," she answered Vimak. "So she sent me to help. She also thought it would be a good be a time to start my..." Akela trailed off, trying to find a way to describe the path all Loxodon took when chosen to become the next Matriarch. (I honestly don't know what to call this. Keyleth does the same thing in Critical Role, but what would it be called for a Loxodon?) "...my journey, as it were, into adulthood."
Akela glanced toward Niyin.
"I'm afraid I do not know this girl you speak of."
Did a quick search through some MTG flavor text and the UA docs for Ravnica and didn't see anything. On the MTG wiki I found this line of text:
Inhabiting the Razor Fields, these Loxodons believed in the Modest Truth, a code of absolute morality that was taken at face value and passed on from generation to generation.
Which might suggest some sort of understanding of that could be part of the rite of passage. There was also this homebrew variant, which had a description of the matriarchal leader being chosen at birth via ritual. If that's what we're rolling with, then perhaps something like Ascendancy could be the term used when the new replaces the old. So the maybe Akela is on her Path to Ascendancy, or perhaps something like her Pursuit of Modest Truth. Or for something less wordy, maybe it's her Clearing, in reference to both clearing away non-truths and a pun on clearings like typical loxodon lands.
(Yeah, I was wanting to go with the homebrew variant that you linked so I would think the Path to Ascendancy would be the better choice for her. I would think part of that would be learning all that she can about the world outside of her Tribe (or Herd). )
"I have been traveling for a few years now to any place where sickness has taken hold, to learn what happened, or trying my best to aid in recovering the health of the people. Sometimes its magic, sometimes its plague, another time a farmer was dumping waste upstream. I heard rumors of this place and what was happeneing to the people. They warned me to stay away but I felt compelled."
"Guilty you mean," hissed the imp.
"Shh-" she snapped and then drew out the word. "Shhhhuuuurely these people are in need of help, I thought and found a ride here." She shifted her bag, roughly rolling her shoulder but the unseen imp hung on.
Speaking again quickly, she pointed in the direction of where they had first come together. "Their tent was not far from where the fight took place."
4
(I'm going to roll perception to see if she can spot it.)
(Edit: I am short and walking slightly behind two much bigger entities. I don't see shit! Lol)
(@Kudama What race is Niyin if I may ask?)
Though Niyin remembers the girl and the tent where her family sat, it's not really clear where it was situated from this new angle. There are too many tents in the way and the pathways to others are obscured by them. The trio continues their conversation as they begin to make their way towards where Durug had pointed.
Feel free to finish out the conversation. I figured I'd create a time space for it to play out, but also figured I'd give a little push.
Built out from the city wall, very near to the gate into the city, Imsan's temporary housing rises and looks out high above the tent camps. The wooden door is decorated with a rough cloth banner with the emblem of the guard printed on its center in a rich black color. Two Keltar guards wearing gold colored braided cords stand on either side of the door, hands on the hilts of their blades, keeping watch. A window two thirds of the way up has its curtains drawn open, but with the glare from the sun, it's difficult to see inside. However, it's safe to assume that that's the floor that Imsan stays in.
A number of people are milling past, giving a wide berth to the guards and the tower. Some even increase their pace as they move past it. Though many of them might like to be able to dip into a tent to move around the block, nearly none of the tents on the other side of the path from the tower have any openings on this side. Those that do have had their fabric openings stitched shut.
As you all approach, the guards stand straighter and inspect the group, but say nothing.
( Changeling. :) )
(Sheet: https://www.dndbeyond.com/profile/Kudama/characters/6994547 )
Something odd about the way Niyin is talking? Vimak’s not sure. Have to listen in the future, but for now, he says, “I came down out of the mountains once the only competition in the tribe was my old mother. I was second in command, helped her keep peace in the tribe, but soon my younger brothers were asking who was really in charge, me or her.” Vimak sniffs. “When one of the merchants the tribe sold to offered me a job guarding him I took it, you know, because, well, my old mother and I . . . I didn’t really want to be chief of the tribe anyway,” he says. “And I’ve been guarding stuff ever since!”
Vimak scans the tents for the family. 13
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Vimak has a general idea of where the family might be, given that he's more familiar with the camp, but he can't quite pinpoint where. He knows that it's further south than where the Guild Arcane's tower stands.
"Niyin and Akela, friends," Vimak says, "do you mind if we talk to Imsan before searching for the family? He might have news that relates to the illness that drove the family out of the city, after all. What say ye?"
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Akela looked off in the direction to see if she could spot the tent of the family Niyin spoke of.
"I think it would be best if we go to Imsan," she said in a agreement with Vimak. She then looked to Niyin. "If we come across this family you spoke of we can let them know about their Babaye. But if not perhaps we could see to them after."
5
(I added +2 for Perception. Let me know if it's wrong and if I need to reroll.)
"I would like to tell them, but it's not nearly as pressing as the matter at hand. Let's speak to Imsan." Niyin nodded and then looked over Vimak. "You're a Goliath, correct? I've seen your people a few times but never haven't had the pleasure of working with one. And Akela, you are a..." She mumbles a little, trying to remember the word.
"The elephant in every room," chuckled the imp, slapping his own knee at his horrible joke.
Niyin's face twisted in reply, eyes rolling but then she pushed it into a smile. "Luxodon, right? I've read tales of your people in my research but you are the first I have laid eyes on." Niyin's eyes darted around, taking in details. Too big to imitate an adult, but perhaps a child? The situation may never come up, but still it's good to have the information ready. Her eyes paused on one feature: the trunk. The trunk might be a problem. She looked meekly up at Akela's eyes. "I'm curious, your trunk. Does it work just like another appendage, a hand, or is there more to it?"
“I am a Goliath indeed.” Vimak is listening while Niyin and Akela talk, but he turns toward Imsan’s shelter. Interesting that none of the tents face it.
Vimak searches his memory, his history, hoping to recognize one or both of the guards. 2
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard
Vimak had hoped to know the guards. That might make getting in easier, but no such luck. "Stick close to me, friends," he says. Instead of flashing a smile, he walks towards the guards and flashes his sabban emblem, thinking of what Durug said. "We are here to see Imsan," he says. It should be a formality getting inside. He is one of the Keltar guard. No reason to look mean, necessarily, but nothing wrong with looking powerful and intimidating: 6
Death on the Water and Baldur's Gate Bodyguard