11 April 451
Glorm and Tristan sat at the corner table of the Gutted Halaxi talking business. The normally gregarious dwarf was very serious; as a dwarf, greed came before partying, if only barely.
"Well Tristan, little backwater here is perfect place to make a killing" Glorm chuckled. "I sure local self styled lords will be happy to pay top dollar for some decent pipe weed and brandy. You can butter up with some line about their fine taste and obvious sof... sof..."
"Sophistication?" prompted Tristan.
Glorm nodded. "Sophistication. I have used this line before with much success, and with good looks and smooth tongue you have it will work even better. Of course also never know when one of these local spots will come up with some decent brandy or pipe weed, we will leave no stone unturned."
Tristan chuckled back. "Ahh, my short friend, this could be the start of a beautiful friendship. Of course, I am most interested in the information we obtain, but if a quick profit allows us to buy my friend Aron a suit of chain or plate, perhaps he won't be lying on a cot next time. Plus we need to recoup some of our losses" he added, sounding a little irritated. He had been completely unable to argue the Vodan cleric down, and five gold for a cure disease was outrageous. He sighed and turned back to business. "Hmm, but let us not limit our selves to two commodities. And once Aron is on his feet, he could be a big help... "
The dwarf nodded sagely. "Yes, yes, I have noticed also the many half breeds." Over four hundred years of warfare between man and orc had left Pranan with a large population of half "And I agree also you never know when you will spot an old weapon that when sharpened and polished reveals a fine blade. There is always the chance to find a trace of mitheral here or there in an old weapon. Mitheral." sighed the dwarf wistfully. "We should search the bazaar end to end. Did I forget to mention gems" he said perking up again.
"Yes" Tristan said. "I am also thinking about what El Sid said concerning a number of prefall battle sites and ruins about. You never know what artifact a farmer might dig up his fields accidentally. We must be most thorough."
The pair continued to plot and scheme for some time while waiting for a break in the weather, but it continued to poor rain outside. They briefly discussed heading for the bazaar the innkeeper had told them about, but finally agreed they would not going to get a good price bargaining with a wet, depressed merchant.
12 April 451
The next morning was overcast, but breaks in the clouds were already letting in some sun and the promise of a much nicer day. They grabbed a quick breakfast of cold mutton and headed off for the bazaar. Things were very different than in Kethem; there were no neat rows of tents and shops with the weapons district here and the leather goods there. Odd types were hawking everything from rare birds to a supposed Urakai aphrodisiac. Both men kept their ears and eyes open, and Glorm's nostrils flared, as if he could smell a fine ruby or a mitheral sword. The morning passed uneventfully, as they were checking prices and sizing up the market. One couldn't rush business...
DELRIN AND KRINN
Delrin walked slowly up the stairs. Krinn, muttering some of the more colorful phrases she had picked up from Aron, walked beside him. The cure disease had done the trick, and she was feeling fine, but dehydration and other after affects of the fever left her feeling a little weak. The Vodan cleric had promised that she would be back to normal in a couple of days, and suggested she get out for a little exercise.
Uncle Wolf, as Vodan clerics were typically called, had been odd and familiar at the same time. The wolf cloak (which Delrin has seemed mildly bothered by) and coarse but friendly mannerisms were the same as those expected of a Vodan Cleric of Kethem. But the almost gaudy garments under the cloak, instead of the grey wool tunics, the Wolf clasp... or pin... on the man's nose, the odd accent that prevailed in Pranan, all had set her off a bit. Still, the spell was certainly as effective as any in Kethem, and that was what counted.
Now she wondered. The "little morning stroll" he had suggested would have been fine in any decent place, but Micaforo was all staircases and steep inclines. She would have been tired even if she hadn't been sick. She momentarily wished they had headed farther into the walled section of the city, instead of out the West Gate... at least it would have been downhill on the way back. She squinted, then breathed a sigh of relief. A sign in the distance with four legs sticking up into the air told her they were close to the Gutted Halaxi.
Five minutes later, they arrived. The clouds had broken earlier than morning, and the sudden transition from the resultant sunlight to the dim interior of the inn blinded her for a moment. A looming shape made her reach for a sword, but it was only the innkeeper, Jasper.
"Lady, lady, give it a break" he cried. Little pieces of gold jewelry addorned his fingers and ears. "You Kethemers, I swear, y'all be paranoid."
"How many Kethemers have you met, Jasper?" asked Delrin, mildly curious.
"Oh, maybe a half dozen in the past year. Most lookin for ancient ruins, and the like... but ya know, down here, most o' the ones with anything decent are stripped. You have to head north to really hope to find anything, unless you're feelin suicidal."
"Suicidal?" echoed Krinn, also becomming curious.
"Well, there's Ullmagag Morkit" replied the man, suddenly looking uncomfortable.
"Ullma... Ullmakug Morkath?" said Krinn, saying it slightly differently. Delrin raised his eyebrows questioningly. "Urakai... Morkath is 'curse of,' and Ullmakug is ‘banded Warrior,' I think, which makes the place "The curse of the banded warrior."
"Banded?" echoed Delrin.
"War paint, used by high ranking Urakai to make it easier to recognize them on the battlefield... they call it banding."
"Don't know about that, Lady" said Jasper, "but it ain't good luck to be speaking about Ullmagag, that's the truth." Krinn just looked at him until he continued. "It's ruins of a town, bout a day, day and a half southeast of here. Tain't much interest in it, a few tough types went there and found nothin', but some people have disappeared there... and a few, well they came back, but also not in a manner of speakin, cause their brains were scrambled. Non' of em lasted a year. But one of em did come out with something... Urakai battlemagic, one of those rings you can trigger even in combat, a blur I think. That's when the big guns went in, but like I said, they came out with nothin."
Delrin listened, but his attention wandered a bit. Old Urakai ruins didn't particularly interest him. If only the innkeeper could be as informative on the crystal forest... but, like Ullmakug Morkath, it was just a bad place where a lot of people died from weird diseases. He had found a couple of people in the common room yesterday that told him a bit of useful information, but not much. People who actually handled the crystals had special gear that was made out of some tough fiber. They typically went during the day, because it seemed that much of the life inside the crystal forest was nocturnal. Most of them did not go beyond the perifery of the forest and collected twigs and leaves. Some had caught small crystiline insects and embedded them in glass to sell. Some had claimed to have seen much larger things. Apparently, things like the attack of the cyrstal beetles they had gone through were unusual, but not completely unheard of. Other than that, he could find very little.
Frustratingly enough, he had been unable to find one of the actual crystal pickers despite spending most of the previous day out in the rain looking tracking down possible leads. They apparently moved around quite a bit. In retrospect, it wasn't surprising, since the market for their goods would become saturated pretty quickly.
He tuned back into the conversation. "The reason I was lookin for you, though, is the pardy-hardy brothers are back, and they was lookin for you..." Jasper was saying. It had to be Fuji and Tanaka he was talking about, and Delrin immediately headed to the common room. Krinn exused herself, telling Delrin she needed to lie down for a while, and headed to her room after getting Delrin to promise that he would stop off with any information Tanaka or Fuji had discovered. The two brothers were indeed in the common room, returning from a morning at Brewer's End. Delrin joined them at their table.
"So, what's the news?" asked Delrin anxiously.
Tanaka smiled and looked himself over. "News? What is this news? Like dirt?"
Delrin paused, then said more slowly "what did you find out about your brothers?"
"We search many of the pubs."
Fuji broke in, adding "twice sometimes," then chuckling.
Tanaka gave him an irritated look. "Just checking, in case we miss someone. We found old friend Yamato Perigren, Bear Sa Kajok. He saw brothers, they head north some weeks ago. They think they be back, maybe, in two, three month. They looking for Urakai raiding party... no, sorry, they join Urakai raiding party... ummm, they join group who try to beat up Urakai, Urakou in Urakou land. This be, how you say, like not so good idea. These Urakai, they be tough guys. Ketan, Patel good fighters, but still this be not so safe thing to do."
As they talked, the rest of the group gradually wandered in until everyone was there. Glorm and Tristan were chuckling evily and rubbing their hands together. Krinn recalled they had spent the day in the common marketplace farther in.
"What we do now not obvious" said Tanaka.
"It might help if you told us what the plan was, Tanaka" threw in Tristan. "There has to be more to this than just finding your brothers."
"Yes" agreed Tanaka. "I did not want to proceed so quickly after finding brothers Katen and Patel, but I rethink. We must go to Kanday some soon time. The Elf has proven herself in battle, she has honor. I think is necessary to allow her to join Sa Kajok, but we can not do this without blessing of Sonsang. The SonsangNim are teachers in Kanday. They are the greatest of all warriors. The have passed the test of Chioke and joined the greater brotherhood of Gods. They become messengers of Gods in Chioke and are only ones who may declare new ways."
Fuji, eyes twinkling mischievously, prodded Tanaka, "tell them what Chioke mean."
"Haji ma, Fuji, an ukio," chided the older brother. "Fuji finds humor in strange place. In Kethem language, Chioke most nearly translate "Hell." But no worry, we not go in Chioke. Very few men ever go in Red Forest; many fewer ever come out. Legend say that why Chioke now Red Forest, tree color comes from blood of many thousands of unworthy warriors. Still, we go to edge of Chioke to find Sonsang. SonsangNim travel all over Kanday freely. They welcome everywhere, but if we not go near Sonsang home maybe wait months for meeting. No time for that. We go to Red Forest and wait, then see teacher in day maybe two, I think. We ask then for Krinn. There is many risk, Brothers. Maybe Sonsang not bless female Sa Kajok. Maybe Sonsang even reject Tanaka and Fuji for joining with Warriors not native to Kanday. We never before hear of such thing in Kanday, but is not so, um, strange that Sonsang had to be sought out first. Tanaka and Fuji make honorable guess. Female in Sa Kajok, though, very strange. For this must ask permission first. If Sonsang not approve then we must sepulchre or choose excommunicate. Excommunicate mean we cursed in Kanday. We will forever be hunted by Kanday clans." Tanaka turned to Glorm, "die is cast, Hyung Nim, Krinn has called for rite of Sa Kajok. If we not seek out answer from Sonsang, then we not honor Warrior Elf and bring dishonor to ourselves, I think. you are Hyung Nim to our clan now, you must lead path for Mitheril."
Glorm looked a bit uncomfortable with the suggestion, but answered back. "OK, so we need to find these... Sonsang. But I don’t understand. How is finding your brothers related to this?"
Fuji, eyes narrowing and smile waning, stepped up. "Hyung Nim, I will challenge any who not want to honor Krinn. We are all Sa Kajok now, I know we all act with honor. Elf has true heart, we go to Kanday, we tell Sonsang new law. Tanaka, I tell our brothers about Barac now. We have to go Kanday anyway, like you say, is good time to proceed." Fuji, suddenly laughing hardily, jumped wildly at Sid, "Sid, sneaky dog, we have fun now! You great slippery eel, you help us take Oak castle back from Gruun. It will be Mitheril soon enough." Fuji was slapping Sid on the back and winking at the Don. "Oh boy. Gonna be big fun! BIG FUN! Let me tell you first need. First need to have Tristan make friend with Barac. Barac is Hyung Nim to Pahp (rice) clan. He kill my father in challenge. This not usual, that warrior die in challenge. Very strange that it happen when Ketan, Patel, Tanaka, Fuji and most of Oak brothers far away. Oak is my father's clan. Then Gruun, my Uncle, challenge Ketan, oldest brother, for all Castle and land. Challenge is tradition, is honorable, but challenge like this require much thought. Many warriors not eat for weeks waiting for sign or Sonsang to tell them is honorable. Gruun act very quickly. Maybe Gruun and Barac have dishonorable plan. We find out. Right, Tanaka?"
"Right, Fuj. Glorm if you want to take first step now is probably good idea, but dangerous. Here is plan. Listen closely, here is Kanday RULE OF HONOR," Tanaka's clear emphasis signaled all the men that they should take note of these codes of behavior. It was clear that, in Kanday at least, they would be expected to abide by the code governing all bonded warriors. "No clan member will ever make deal with another family clan unless Hyung Nim has blessed the exchange. Glorm is Hyung Nim to our clan. He must always know BEFORE any of us accept money or chattel from another Sa Kajok. No matter what happen or how tempting, if Kanday Warrior offer any of you money or goods you must refuse unless Glorm say is OK. Only food, drink, and drugs may be accepted without Hyung Nim knowing. So now you understand rule, you will understand plan. I send messenger back to Kanday to talk to Oak warriors. They will tell us who in Pahp clan is traveling now. We must meet him on his way back to Barac castle. One of Mitheril brothers must talk Pahp warrior into deal.... he never ever expect Kethemer to be Sa Kajok."
"Ya Ha!" yelled Fuji, "is great trick, right Sid?" Fuji was obviously excited. Adrenaline was virtually beading upon his chest. His smile shone huge white teeth and his eyes, tucked between sun baked crows feet, twinkled merrily. "Once stupid Pahp warrior make deal, Tanaka and me step forward and greet him with BIG SURPRISE. Kethemer is Mitheril Warrior!!! Barac man then must sepulchre.... has acted dishonorably. If he not choose sepulchre then whole party can sneak attack, is honorable attack because Barac man then excommunicated by own choice, see?"
Fuji, bobbing like a freshly laid rooster, started singing an old Kanday war song and wandered away oblivious to the concern and action of the gathered men. Wispy visions of glorious battle and dismembered enemies enveloped his wake.
Tanaka watched for a moment, then turned back to the group laughing. "Fuji dropped on head when very young. Anyway, once Barac man is dead. Then we complete dangerous part of first step. Tristan must return body to Barac for burning. Tristan will conceal Mitheril mark and we paint passable Pahp mark on other hand. He then convince Barac that he is joined to Pahp clan in battlefield commission. Very strange thing, but maybe happen. When Barac convinced that Tristan not want anything but return body of brother then we done with first part of plan. Tristan leave and we all go to Kethem for long time, do other things. Barac alwys remember Tristan, but never expect to see again....Tristan will tell this to Barac, he will not come back to Kanday. But, Barac will see Tristan again, long time later. Tristan will return to tell Barac of plot against Gruun...... that part two. Sneaky Sid, you help with part two of plan."
Glorm, struggling gamely to keep up with the story, finally spoke up again. "I’m still missing something. Again, what does this have to do with your brothers?"
"Well, lot of this is to make father’s castle Mitheral. For this, Tanaka needs to be rightful heir. For this, older brothers must, how you say, release? No, give in? No, abandon right to lead family. They right now no have interest in unseating Gruun. Is somewhat unusual for rechallenge, since loss is sign that you, ummm, unqualified to lead family, so Ketan and Patel move on. But also not like to abandon claim, since to do this they cut off finger. However, we can do some of plan without this part yet. This is good plan Glorm, but you must decide for us. You are Oldest Brother, you speak for Mitheril clan. Do we go to Kanday now or later or never? It be maybe month, month and half by horse to reach."