Totugo – The Party
Separate from Strongbow, Echo the Water/Air Warlock
(along with her Goblin companion Ackdor), Frederick, Priest of Apis (Freddy), Klyn
the Thief, and Eddy the Knight head into
town. Quietly, Klyn detaches himself
from the party to locate the local Thieves Guild and find what he can
find. The others locate an inn in which
to stay for the next several days. As
they walk, Ackdor, his muscles, trident, and demeanor imposing even for one so
small, clears the path ahead of them in this rough and tumble port. Echo looks on with approval of her well
chosen purchase.
In the privacy of their room, Echo examines the pink
orb they took with them from the Eldren temple back in Northern Timiro. Freddy
and Eddy choose to go out exploring and seeing the sights, mostly unwashed
pirates and ragamuffins.
Out in town, Freddy and Eddy encounter Roan, the
Wolfen Mind Mage and Mate off of the Virtuous
Maiden. He tells them that the rumor
mills are saying that a Hitari slaver ship, the same group that had tortured
the boy Malthus, has been spotted in nearby waters. If it is true, the ship, the Damascus, would likely be little match
for the Virtuous Maiden, especially re-enforced by the party’s firepower. With a hostile growl at the idea of
disemboweling the slavers, Roan turns and walks away.
Before Roan is out of site, they turn their heads to
the sound of someone frantically calling their names. Frederick goes to the
runner, a young boy.
“Hello, there! What need do you have
of me? “
"Please, come quick Sirs! To the
Dog Tired Inn!" He responds, breathlessly. “The one called Echo is
unconscious and not responding!”
Quickly they return to the inn and
as they open the door to Echo's room, they encounter an angry looking goblin
who quickly goes to a ready stance with trident at hand. He relaxes after
recognizing them and beckons to a bed where Echo is resting with her hands
across her chest.
"M'lady held a brilliant gem,
and after a few moments passed out!”
Frederick rushes to her and lays his
healing hands on her head. After several
minutes of healing Echo opens her eyes.
“Hello, Echo! Welcome back to us!
What happened to you?”
Echo blinks in confusion as she
tries to regain her thoughts.
Eddy, always conscious of others,
demands “Where’s the gem?”
Ackdor defense of his mistress,
snaps back “"That is M'lady's possession and her concern"
“I’ll hurt you” Eddy threatens back,
anxious for a fight.
Echo intervenes “It's safe, don't
worry. And no threatening my bodyguard.”
"I'll threaten as I damn well
please. You could've been dead." Eddy retorts.
In an attempt to sooth the upset in
the room, Frederick interjects with a suggestion “Let's all calm down and have
a good chat. Perhaps if the good sir Ackdor would run down and get us all a cup
of tea, and we can discuss this like the friends we are."
Following his lead, Echo adds “Tea
would be nice. Go ahead, Ackdor.”
With a last snipe towards Eddy
"Who do you think sent the runner you tin can?" Ackdor acquiesces to
his mistress "Yes m'lady".
Frederick asks Echo if she is
alright and if the gem harmed her.
“Not exactly”, she replies, “ I….
just wasn’t prepared”.
“Apis guided us to it,“ notes
Frederick”, so it must be important. Do
you require assistance?”
“If you wanted to stick around, I
could try examining again,” Echo suggests”, Though I don’t know how much more I
can get out of it.”
Eddy interjects “Should we get Roan
to look at it?”
“I’d prefer that we keep it a secret
among ourselves”, says Echo.
“Why?”, questions Eddy.
“Because it could draw unwanted
attention,” says Echo.
“Even from just Roan?” Eddy asks.
Echo explains “Roan seems like a
nice enough guy for a Wolfen, but we haven't known him that long.”
“Eddy, I also believe it better to have
faith in those we have more of a history with.”, Frederick agrees. “What
assistance do you need with the gem? I am more than happy to help.”
“Just having you around in case I
get overwhelmed again would be helpful.”, Echo states.
Thrilled at being able to help
Frederick exclaims “Absolutely! Let us wait for our tea, and then we shall
proceed. “
As if wishing became reality, Ackdor
returns with the tea.
“Did you get sugar?” Eddy demands.
Ackdor looks incredulously at Eddy,
"Is my skin green? Of course I got sugar. Also Rum. M'lady may serve
herself first."
Taking a sip, Echo opines “Good tea
doesn't need sugar.”
Eddy’s spoiled noble side again
rears its results “Echo is stupid.” He mumbles as Frederick loads his own tea
with sugar.
“ I fear my sweet tooth takes my
better judgement.” Taking a sip “Shall we continue?”
Ackdor however, hears the Knight’s
comment. “Is there something that has caused you to insult m'lady so?" as
he fingers his throwing axe.
Eddy sneers "Sugar is awesome. Bad
Ackdor, bad!".
Trying to calm the belligerents,
Frederick tries to interject “ Come now,
friends, let us stay on the path we are walking and focus on the task on hand.
We can discuss the finer points of cuisine later, yes? “
Echo, however, has had enough from
the Knight, “Perhaps Eddy can help by shutting his mouth for once.”
“Nope”, Eddy snaps back. “Ackdor
isn’t my friend.”
“I've seen sailors with better
manners than this supposed nobleman.” Echo retorts.
“I've seen sailors with better
slaves than a good looking goblin”, Eddy responds “Better bait, I mean .”
Slamming his cup on the table, tea
spilling, Frederick loses his temper “SHUT UP!!!! We are companions and must
act decently towards one another! “
“I’ll….” Eddy yells before he slumps
down on the floor unconscious. Unperturbed
by this unexplained turn, Apis guides as she will, Frederick walks over to him
and makes a pillow out of a cloak to put under Eddy’s head.
Calmly he asks “Shall we continue
while our hotheaded friend sleeps off his temper? “
All tension seems to have left the
room. After a deep breath, Echo responds
to Frederick “Sure”. A slight smile
reaching her face.
“I will be right here to ensure your
safety” Frederick encourages.
Echo sets her teacup aside and holds
the gem in both hands. After a moment,
her brow furrows in concentration as she focuses on it. After a few minutes,
she looks up.
“Well, that went better.”
“Excellent!”, proclaims Frederick,
“What did we learn?”
“In a nutshell it is…. Sort of a
nutshell.” Echo explains, “ It’s a container holding a very old power. I don’t know how to use it or get at it
though.”
A cough comes from Frederick’s
hip. His sword, an intelligent being
known as An-Sehm, offers his wisdom.
"It's age is older than I was
before I was born,” An-Sehm says.
Echo asks, “Weren't you technically
born when Freddie assembled you a week or two ago?”
“I think I just woke him up”,
Frederick claims.
An-Sehm growls “"You don't know
what the 'An-Sehm' are do you?”
“I thought it was you”, Frederick
responds.
“In a way,” An-Sehm answers.
“Well then tell us a story, dear
sword,” Frederick says, adding more sugar and sipping his tea.
An-Sehm begins,” The An-Sehm are
those Eldren deemed worthy enough to serve Sehm for all time. We arise above our mortal shells to exist
forever as red stars, the symbol of highest power, called An. When we are bound
to the insturments of Sehm, we become the An-Sehm. Weapons of power to guide
those who bind us. The Gem you hold is
an old artifact, and only the highest of our order, the wizards and chosen,
were allowed to know of its existence. It is said that inside is something of
great power, but only a piece of knowledge. More than that wasn't revealed to
the An. Allegedly there is a place in the south that the gem is to be set into
to unlock its knowledge. Guarded by an ancient dragon. All this is tale and legend. I don't know if
said 'dragon' is even still there.”
Amidst the proclamations of talk of
a great dragon, Eddie begins to awaken and Klyn enters the room. Klyn informs the group that there is a bounty
on the head of a slaver by the name of Kraltos.
Hearing that name, the boy Malthes, who had been quietly sitting off to
the side, cries out, weeping uncontrollably. Kraltos is the same monster who
tortured and abused the boy, causing his unstable mental state, a member of the
Hitari slavers.
An-Sehm again offers his advice “Echo,
it would be wise to have your bodyguard escort young Malthes back to the ship.”
Echo has Ackdor leave with
Malthes. An-Sehm continues.
“As you said, Kraltos is a witch. Some witches, especially slavers, have
a way of imprinting commands into their brands.
Saying Kraltos' name lets him see and hear through Malthes' eyes.”
With this revelation, the party
decides that taking out the slaver and his ship, the same one that Roan
mentioned was in nearby waters, would be a worthwhile side-trek from their main
quest. They find it unlikely that it would be difficult to convince the other
party member, the Elf Strongbow, would be disinclined to agree. Shortly after, they pack up their belongings
and head back to the Virtuous Maiden,
their course set.
