Kiwa takes another long breath then leans over her fathers body once more, " Was Seto working with any others?"
The corpse twitch and the head lurched sideways a little, " Only those who followed him.......I don't believe he had other allies of standing."
As the final word left its cold ruined lips the body instantly became utterly still.
Kiwa shuffled back a bit and then buried her face in her hands as she stood and moved away.
Guru Jujur immediately seemed to lose interest in proceedings and turned away, " Yano, if they are burning it assist them with taking it away. I have research to do."
Kiwa looks up and places a hand over Khutulans with a gentle smile.
" I will ask them to bring fathers body to the compound and we will burn him so that he can be free and not able to return to us."
She looked round, " As for the rest of you, you have done as I asked and I am thankful for your service. Perhaps come and see me in a few days and I might have more work for you, but until then I'm sure theres plenty to keep you busy hereabouts."
" If you wouldn't mind I would like to ask Khutulan to keep accompanying you so you are recognised as being affiliated with my family and people.......if you could do what you can to leave a positive impression on the other communities it would go a long way to easing tensions I think."
She patted Khutulans hand, " I will be alright. The servants know everything to do for the immoliation and I need to be alone for the three days of cleansing anyway. Besides, I know it is strange for your folk to burn the dead and I saw how troubled you were when we sent mother off those many years go."
Yano came forward and offered his assistance to transport the body along with that of a number of acolytes, " I am sorry for the Gurus words, he is old and sometimes neglects politeness over directness."
Isow also approached and put a hand gently on Kiwas shoulder, his eyes flicking to Khutulans for a brief moment as if slightly worried his hand would be leaving his wrist soon....., " Come and see me when you are ready, Little One. I will do what I can to help."
( The world is yours for the next few days at least.)
Mal nods. "I'd like to take care of a couple of things with a little bit of that silver we earned, but I'll be back tonight to sleep at the compound if that's what we're doing."
Mal thinks for a moment. "It's not that big a deal, po, but if you'd like to come along, I can introduce you to some people."
He outlines his general plan. He wants to take about half his share, and bring it to Abeguwo's Kitchen, and spread it around the staff a little. He'll take the rest of it, keeping 5 silver for himself, and the rest he'll give to his family (about seven of the younger street rat kids he looks after).
After that, he remembers the newcomers wanted to know more about the area, and he had suggested talking to the Elders, so depending on their questions, Mal will introduce them to the right people.
Upon hearing his plan, Krikoris speaks up quietly, "With everyone's approval, the coin doesn't really split evenly between us, so why don't we each take thirty, and we can split the remaining twenty between the kitchen and any others groups like that that may be in need? It would be good for them, and casually stating where the coin came from would be good for your mistress as well, Khutulun."
She nodes, "I think that is a good idea. I am pleasantly surprised at all of your care and compassion for my Mistress and your willingness to aide her and the people. I have looked for to long at the division in this town and to my shame, never did anything about it until now.. with your help."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Mal nods. "I'd like to take care of a couple of things with a little bit of that silver we earned, but I'll be back tonight to sleep at the compound if that's what we're doing."
Mal thinks for a moment. "It's not that big a deal, po, but if you'd like to come along, I can introduce you to some people."
He outlines his general plan. He wants to take about half his share, and bring it to Abeguwo's Kitchen, and spread it around the staff a little. He'll take the rest of it, keeping 5 silver for himself, and the rest he'll give to his family (about seven of the younger street rat kids he looks after).
After that, he remembers the newcomers wanted to know more about the area, and he had suggested talking to the Elders, so depending on their questions, Mal will introduce them to the right people.
Upon hearing his plan, Krikoris speaks up quietly, "With everyone's approval, the coin doesn't really split evenly between us, so why don't we each take thirty, and we can split the remaining twenty between the kitchen and any others groups like that that may be in need? It would be good for them, and casually stating where the coin came from would be good for your mistress as well, Khutulun."
She nodes, "I think that is a good idea. I am pleasantly surprised at all of your care and compassion for my Mistress and your willingness to aide her and the people. I have looked for to long at the division in this town and to my shame, never did anything about it until now.. with your help."
Bidding farewell to Kiwa after Isow dedicates a detachment of guardsmen to escort her home the companions seem happy to follow Mals lead.
Mal nods and leads you up the hill and past the Mayoral Palace of carved mahogany surveys the streets that spill out from this central hill. Clustered at its flanks, the houses of the rich clans take up the whole of the hill’s crown with their peaked and carved roofs a jealous echo of the palaces splendor. Toward the base of the hill, a few more modest houses have been constructed by high merchants and the heads of guilds.
You see no special watch charged with guarding this district. Instead, the servants of the noble houses here seem vigilant, and quick to note strangers; climbing the straight road up you pass the more modest building where the Mayor holds court on ordinary matters, Mal hurries you on avoiding any questions.
You descend the hill again and enter a small pleasure district. The Veiled Garden is named for the leafy well-yard at its centre, where a dozen slender wooden buildings boast balconies adorned with beauties and handsomes clad in sheer Merubat shanku. Looking around, sailors, traders, and unmarried mercenaries seem to make up the greater part of their custom, and locals are rarely seen apart from a few small groups.
You see that most folk here go about with their knives at their hips and in groups when they may.
Perusing the architecture you see that though the best houses of the district are favored by the nobility and the richest traders, there are drinking-dens, restaurants and gambling houses to suit any purse.
Mal leads you towards a particularly beautiful building, two Lokanan guards clad only in light sashes about their waists stand at the door, chosen as much for their aesthetics as their skill with the kris at their waists. The taller one nods to Mal, " Good afternoon, Little Macaque. Head on in."
They ran practised eyes over the group smiling in a friendly manner at them all as you head inside.
The group walked into Abeguwos Kitchen - the building was built of exquisitely carved teak divided by brightly coloured bamboo screens, blinds and hangings, the staff moved about clad in brief vests and sheer sarongs of bright orange, red and yellow, they were young Lokanan and Merubat men and women with easy smiles and shining hair that smelled of honey. A commanding looking Lokanan woman in her mid 30s comes out to greet you dressed in a batik cheong-sam and bejewelled fingers and ears, " Good Afternoon, Friends and Strangers. I am Pilla, this is my business and we are at your service.".
"Hi, Pilla - Is Samnang around? I wanted to- Oh, there we go. Hey! How are you?" Mal wanders in for a few minutes, chatting up everyone. When he notices his companions are a little lost, he comes back out with the gossip.
"So, Samnang reminded me of some things we talked about before. If we've got a few days, we can look into some of these things if we want to help the people.
-Ahsai of the Five Blossoms is the finest courtesan in the city- and rumours say mistress of a ring of thieves all besotted with her charms.
-A foreign band of musicians have stolen a golden necklace from a nobleman and fled into the jungle. The noble needs that necklace back discreetly lest his wives discover where he was.
-A small group from far Minji have set up a splendid little house where they are secretly gathering occult connections to nobles, the better to later bewitch them to their service.
-In a secret tryst outside the walls, a young married nobleman and his paramour were ambushed by Memedi (She explains that Memedi are tall red haired humanoids who live in great trees in the forest, they occasionally kidnap children..or at least are rumoured to do so). He escaped, but is desperate to find someone to rescue the man quickly.
-A spirit-beast in the form of a huge crocodile has provoked a secret cult among some of the fishermen, and rumours say it demands sacrifices of struggling young flesh.
Any of those would help the village a lot, if there's anything you think you'd like to assist with?"
Krikoris listens and thinks for a moment, “I wonder if there’s a link between those first two? But I do think the cult group would be the most detrimental to the community and would top my list of problems to address.”
"Good thinking, po. We could start poking around the docks, looking for signs if you want. Those rivermen, though, are really secretive, but with Khutulun here we should have better leverage." Mal shudders at the thought of a giant crocodile eating him.
Samnang comes out and introduces herself, she is a very small, rather hirsute Orang Pendek with a cheerful smile, she introduces the human woman accompanying her as her girlfriend Ni Made. After taking some of the monies from Mal she takes Jupp by the hand and leads him out to the kitchen and out of sight.
Ni Made talks with Pilla for a moment and then nods to Mal, " Pleased to meet you all. Mistress Pilla, I will go and attend to the baths now. Samnang has the kitchen well in hand."
Some time later.....
The companions venture through the city and down to the docks once more, looking about they note the main locations once more. some of which they spent some time in just a couple of days ago now.
The House of the Sea Not every wayfarer who lands here is a rich merchant, and the bargemen and porters who halt here sometimes lack kinsmen to take them in for a night. The House of the Sea offers minimally tolerable lodging at cheap prices. A mat in the common room and a bowl of steamed rice and fish soup will run most strangers six copper ingots- or three if they do without the meal. The house’s keeper is a bottomlessly cynical old man, Eso, who keeps it with his elderly wife Osa and their cheery, unreasonably innocent granddaughter Ellya.
The Tuak Cup This drinking house is for both Parakans and foreigners. The humidity of the day seeps in through the thin woven walls of the tavern, and the tuak (palm wine) and beer they serve gives a warmth that’s less pleasant than the usual jungle heat. The higher classes do not come here, but instead drink at better Guest Houses or in the homes of friends. The fishermen and common laborers have no special love for outsiders, but they can often be persuaded to speak for a drink or two.
Crippled Asa’s Sundries Selling his wares out of a sea-damped hut by the docks, Crippled Asan’s leg was torn by an enemies spear in his youth, and his clan arranged for him to sell small sundries to fishermen that he might have a living. He is graying now, but still powerful across the shoulders, and with a gleaming smile that does not waver even when he’s busy strangling some troublesome fellow. Mal also mentions quietly that if you need to fence something here then Asa is the one to see....
Ikyon the Boatwright Parakan makes its own share of outriggers and djong, and the old man is the best of its boatwrights.
Krikoris is still very new to these lands, and would cheerfully follow the others around, alternating between gawking like a tourist at the strange buildings and strutting like a lord to impress some of the populace.
"You have all aided with a task that I was part of setting before you. It is only right that I defer my choice and help others with there wish... once."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
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Kiwa takes another long breath then leans over her fathers body once more, " Was Seto working with any others?"
The corpse twitch and the head lurched sideways a little, " Only those who followed him.......I don't believe he had other allies of standing."
As the final word left its cold ruined lips the body instantly became utterly still.
Kiwa shuffled back a bit and then buried her face in her hands as she stood and moved away.
Guru Jujur immediately seemed to lose interest in proceedings and turned away, " Yano, if they are burning it assist them with taking it away. I have research to do."
Khutulan puts her hand on Kiwa's shoulder to comfort her.
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Krikoris turns to the others, apparently as if this magical ritual was nothing new, "So what do we do now?"
Kiwa looks up and places a hand over Khutulans with a gentle smile.
" I will ask them to bring fathers body to the compound and we will burn him so that he can be free and not able to return to us."
She looked round, " As for the rest of you, you have done as I asked and I am thankful for your service. Perhaps come and see me in a few days and I might have more work for you, but until then I'm sure theres plenty to keep you busy hereabouts."
" If you wouldn't mind I would like to ask Khutulan to keep accompanying you so you are recognised as being affiliated with my family and people.......if you could do what you can to leave a positive impression on the other communities it would go a long way to easing tensions I think."
She patted Khutulans hand, " I will be alright. The servants know everything to do for the immoliation and I need to be alone for the three days of cleansing anyway. Besides, I know it is strange for your folk to burn the dead and I saw how troubled you were when we sent mother off those many years go."
Yano came forward and offered his assistance to transport the body along with that of a number of acolytes, " I am sorry for the Gurus words, he is old and sometimes neglects politeness over directness."
Isow also approached and put a hand gently on Kiwas shoulder, his eyes flicking to Khutulans for a brief moment as if slightly worried his hand would be leaving his wrist soon....., " Come and see me when you are ready, Little One. I will do what I can to help."
( The world is yours for the next few days at least.)
Uce glances to everyone. "I don't know about you all, but I'm fine with exploring this place."
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
Cinta bows, "It would be ideal to watch over this place, just in case."
Whistler - Lost Mines of Phandelver [Lvl 8 Barbarian] | Cinta Yuliani Lestari - My Island Home [Lvl 3 Fighter] | Shalana - Allansia Wildlands [Lvl 4 Monk] | Roger Durant - Storm King's Thunder [Lvl 8 Monster Hunter] | Rotthran - The Waterdeep Heist [Lvl 5 Thief]
Mal nods. "I'd like to take care of a couple of things with a little bit of that silver we earned, but I'll be back tonight to sleep at the compound if that's what we're doing."
"Would you like some company Mal?" Jupp will ask, "I don't know the area well and feel like you could use a hand?"
DJ
Mal thinks for a moment. "It's not that big a deal, po, but if you'd like to come along, I can introduce you to some people."
He outlines his general plan. He wants to take about half his share, and bring it to Abeguwo's Kitchen, and spread it around the staff a little. He'll take the rest of it, keeping 5 silver for himself, and the rest he'll give to his family (about seven of the younger street rat kids he looks after).
After that, he remembers the newcomers wanted to know more about the area, and he had suggested talking to the Elders, so depending on their questions, Mal will introduce them to the right people.
Upon hearing his plan, Krikoris speaks up quietly, "With everyone's approval, the coin doesn't really split evenly between us, so why don't we each take thirty, and we can split the remaining twenty between the kitchen and any others groups like that that may be in need? It would be good for them, and casually stating where the coin came from would be good for your mistress as well, Khutulun."
She nodes, "I think that is a good idea. I am pleasantly surprised at all of your care and compassion for my Mistress and your willingness to aide her and the people. I have looked for to long at the division in this town and to my shame, never did anything about it until now.. with your help."
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Bidding farewell to Kiwa after Isow dedicates a detachment of guardsmen to escort her home the companions seem happy to follow Mals lead.
Mal nods and leads you up the hill and past the Mayoral Palace of carved mahogany surveys the streets that spill out from this central hill. Clustered at its flanks, the houses
of the rich clans take up the whole of the hill’s crown with their peaked and carved roofs a jealous echo of the palaces splendor. Toward the base of the hill, a few more modest houses have been constructed by high merchants and the heads of guilds.
You see no special watch charged with guarding this district. Instead, the servants of the noble houses here seem vigilant, and quick to note strangers; climbing the straight road up you pass the more modest building where the Mayor holds court on ordinary matters, Mal hurries you on avoiding any questions.
You descend the hill again and enter a small pleasure district. The Veiled Garden is named for the leafy well-yard at its centre, where a dozen slender wooden buildings
boast balconies adorned with beauties and handsomes clad in sheer Merubat shanku. Looking around, sailors, traders, and unmarried mercenaries seem to make up the greater part of their custom, and locals are rarely seen apart from a few small groups.
You see that most folk here go about with their knives at their hips and in groups when they may.
Perusing the architecture you see that though the best houses of the district are favored by the nobility and the richest traders, there are drinking-dens, restaurants and gambling houses to suit any purse.
Mal leads you towards a particularly beautiful building, two Lokanan guards clad only in light sashes about their waists stand at the door, chosen as much for their aesthetics as their skill with the kris at their waists. The taller one nods to Mal, " Good afternoon, Little Macaque. Head on in."
They ran practised eyes over the group smiling in a friendly manner at them all as you head inside.
The group walked into Abeguwos Kitchen - the building was built of exquisitely carved teak divided by brightly coloured bamboo screens, blinds and hangings, the staff moved about clad in brief vests and sheer sarongs of bright orange, red and yellow, they were young Lokanan and Merubat men and women with easy smiles and shining hair that smelled of honey. A commanding looking Lokanan woman in her mid 30s comes out to greet you dressed in a batik cheong-sam and bejewelled fingers and ears, " Good Afternoon, Friends and Strangers. I am Pilla, this is my business and we are at your service.".
Khutulun give Pilla a nod in response but looks to Mal for an answer.
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder
Uce will do that as well.
I have an intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.
"Hi, Pilla - Is Samnang around? I wanted to- Oh, there we go. Hey! How are you?" Mal wanders in for a few minutes, chatting up everyone. When he notices his companions are a little lost, he comes back out with the gossip.
"So, Samnang reminded me of some things we talked about before. If we've got a few days, we can look into some of these things if we want to help the people.
-Ahsai of the Five Blossoms is the finest courtesan in the city- and rumours say mistress of a ring of thieves all besotted with her charms.
-A foreign band of musicians have stolen a golden necklace from a nobleman and fled into the jungle. The noble needs that necklace back discreetly lest his wives discover where he was.
-A small group from far Minji have set up a splendid little house where they are secretly gathering occult connections to nobles, the better to later bewitch them to their service.
-In a secret tryst outside the walls, a young married nobleman and his paramour were ambushed by Memedi (She explains that Memedi are tall red haired humanoids who live in great trees in the forest, they occasionally kidnap children..or at least are rumoured to do so). He escaped, but is desperate to find someone to rescue the man quickly.
-A spirit-beast in the form of a huge crocodile has provoked a secret cult among some of the fishermen, and rumours say it demands sacrifices of struggling young flesh.
Any of those would help the village a lot, if there's anything you think you'd like to assist with?"
Krikoris listens and thinks for a moment, “I wonder if there’s a link between those first two? But I do think the cult group would be the most detrimental to the community and would top my list of problems to address.”
"Good thinking, po. We could start poking around the docks, looking for signs if you want. Those rivermen, though, are really secretive, but with Khutulun here we should have better leverage." Mal shudders at the thought of a giant crocodile eating him.
Samnang comes out and introduces herself, she is a very small, rather hirsute Orang Pendek with a cheerful smile, she introduces the human woman accompanying her as her girlfriend Ni Made. After taking some of the monies from Mal she takes Jupp by the hand and leads him out to the kitchen and out of sight.
Ni Made talks with Pilla for a moment and then nods to Mal, " Pleased to meet you all. Mistress Pilla, I will go and attend to the baths now. Samnang has the kitchen well in hand."
Some time later.....
The companions venture through the city and down to the docks once more, looking about they note the main locations once more. some of which they spent some time in just a couple of days ago now.
The House of the Sea
Not every wayfarer who lands here is a rich merchant, and the bargemen and porters who halt here sometimes lack kinsmen to take them in for a night. The House of the Sea
offers minimally tolerable lodging at cheap prices. A mat in the common room and a bowl of steamed rice and fish soup will run most strangers six copper ingots- or three if they do without the meal. The house’s keeper is a bottomlessly cynical old man, Eso, who keeps it with his elderly wife Osa and their cheery, unreasonably innocent granddaughter Ellya.
The Tuak Cup
This drinking house is for both Parakans and foreigners. The humidity of the day seeps in through the thin woven walls of the tavern, and the tuak (palm wine) and beer they serve gives a warmth that’s less pleasant than the usual jungle heat. The higher classes do not come here, but instead drink at better Guest Houses or in the homes of friends. The fishermen and common laborers have no special love for outsiders, but they can often be persuaded to speak for a drink or two.
Crippled Asa’s Sundries
Selling his wares out of a sea-damped hut by the docks, Crippled Asan’s leg was torn by an enemies spear in his youth, and his clan arranged for him to sell small sundries to fishermen
that he might have a living. He is graying now, but still powerful across the shoulders, and with a gleaming smile that does not waver even when he’s busy strangling some troublesome fellow. Mal also mentions quietly that if you need to fence something here then Asa is the one to see....
Ikyon the Boatwright
Parakan makes its own share of outriggers and djong, and the old man is the best of its boatwrights.
Krikoris is still very new to these lands, and would cheerfully follow the others around, alternating between gawking like a tourist at the strange buildings and strutting like a lord to impress some of the populace.
"You have all aided with a task that I was part of setting before you. It is only right that I defer my choice and help others with there wish... once."
Yevna Galanodel - Wood Elf | Level 8 | Druid/Circle of Spores 6 - Ranger 2 - Ravnica
Nyx - Satyr | Level 9 | Rouge/Swashbuckler 5 - Bard/Collage of Lore 4 - Lost Mine of Phandelver/Storm King's Thunder