Fifth Session - Recovery and Loss

Cast
Julius: Human male psychokinetic. Played by Dave. Speaks Balician and Tyrian.
Alaxander: Human male psychokinetic. Played by my 7 year old son, because Ben could not make it. Speaks Balician and Elf.
Kalino: Human male fighter/preserver. Played by DM. Speaks Rammin and Tyrian.
Vashti: Human female clairsentient/water cleric. Played by my wife. Speaks Nibnese, Gith, and Balician.
Grak (aka Guacamole): Pterran male ranger. Played by Clyde. Speaks Pterran and Giant.
Emir: Human male. 42 years old. Rancher. NPC. Speaks Balician, Nibnese, and Tyrian.
Dilay: Human female. 38 years old. Rancher. NPC. Speaks Balician, Nibnese, and Tyrian.
Lutfi: Human male. 17 years old. Rancher. NPC. Speaks Balician, and Nibnese.
Fikri: Human male.  19 years old. Rancher. NPC. Speaks Balician and Nibnese.
Havva: Human female. 14 years old. Domestic worker. NPC. Speaks Balician and Nibnese.
Riza: Human male. 22 years old. Ranch hand. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Amir: Human male. 18 years old. Ranch hand. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Essa: Human male. 20 years old. Ranch hand. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Hanif: Human male. 16 years old. Ranch hand. NPC. Speaks Nibnese and Tyrian.
Demetrius: Human male. 25 years old. Shepherd. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Salvador: Human male. 41 years old. Mason. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Agathon: Human male. 17 years old. Shepherd. NPC. Speaks Balician.


Note: For those unfamiliar with Dark Sun, psionics are called the Will for wild talents and the Way for trained psionicists.

Vashti helped Grak into the small home on the property. Inside she saw Dilay, Lutfi, Riza, Amir, Essa, and Hanif tied up on the floor and Emir unconscious, with blood leaking from a wound on the back of his head. Vashti helped Grak into a sitting position and rushed to helped Emir. She patched up his head and moved him to a straw mattress on the floor. She then began untying Dilay. Grak's eagle hopped into the house and began pecking at the ropes on Hanif.
When Dilay was untied, Julius, Fikri and Havva arrived and dismounted. Fikri ran to his mother and hugged her. They both started helping to untie the others when Dilay explained what had happened. They had problems with gith before, but were always able to chase them off by showing their daggers and clubs. However, this time they had charged in without warning and engaged the men. They had knocked out Emir with the butt of a spear before he had time to react. The boys had put up a fight and sent Fikri to find help.
Although the boys were badly outnumbered, they fought as well as they could. However, when the gith threatened to kill Emir, the boys had to surrender. The gith tied them up and she believed they wanted to sell them into slavery.

Who wouldn't want to carry someone else for the rest of their life and not get paid?

She thanked them all for saving the ranch. Fikri told them that he promised them erdlu eggs for helping and Dilay said they could have all they could carry. Kalino looted the fallen gith and shared the spoils with Fikri. Vashti was patching up the men's wounds and asked if they could stay at the ranch and recover. Dilay saw the way Havva was looking at Julius and readily agreed.


Day 5, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group rested and recuperated. Emir became conscious and thanked the player characters; he was surprised at Fikri's bravery in fighting the gith. Alaxander began training the farm hands and Emir's two sons to use the spear. Vashti began learning Balician from Julius. It was clear Hanif was not impressed with Julius and grimaced at him constantly.
Emir and Dilay talked to Julius and told him of Havva's many positive attributes. They told him that while they could not pay him much coin, they promised him that he would never go hungry if he stayed. Julius did not agree to stay.

Day 6, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group continued to rest and recuperate. Alaxander continued to train the ranchers and Hanif continued to grimace at Julius. Kalino began to used some of the ranches erdlu bones to make a spear for Alaxander. Vashti continued learning Balician from Julius.

Day 7, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group rested and recuperated. Alaxander continued to train the ranchers and Hanif continued to grimace at Julius. Kalino continued to make a spear for Alaxander. Vashti continued learning Balician from Julius.

Day 8, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group rested and recuperated. Alaxander continued to train the ranchers and Hanif continued to grimace at Julius. Kalino continued to make a spear for Alaxander. Vashti continued learning Balician from Julius. Julius felt better and asked if he could help around the ranch. Emir had him help Havva with her chores.

Day 9, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group rested and recuperated. Alaxander continued to train the ranchers and Hanif continued to grimace at Julius. Kalino continued to make a spear for Alaxander. Vashti continued learning Balician from Julius. Julius continued to help Havva with her chores. She was fascinated by his stories of fighting giants in Balic.

Day 10, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

The group thanked Emir and Dilay for their hospitality. They gathered their few belongings and their erdlu eggs, Emir gave them a sack to carry them in, and they set off to the village of Magosa.

Once they arrived, they set about buying things. Julius and Grak bought new leather armor, although Grak's had to be altered to fit him. They bought waterskins, backpacks, belts, belt pouches, and wide brimmed hats. The available clothes were crafted of yucca and the group thought they might be too itchy. Although, Julius and Vashti did buy yucca-leather sandals.

Yucca dress or itchy dress?

They next turned their attention to food and liquid nourishment. Kalino was happy to be able to buy an ale and eat some imported greens and peppers from Gulg. Grak was happy to get meat, other than erdlu. Everyone else was just happy to have some variety. Alaxander was able to finish the chitin shield he had been working on for many days.

After Grak's armor was done, he picked it up. Then, the group decided to stay the night at the Magosa inn. Most of the group just decided to stay in the common room, bunched up together, away from the other patrons. Grak got his own room.

Day 11, Week 1, Dominary, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, High Sun

After making sure their group was stocked up on water, they set out to Vashti's village. After two hours of walking some members of the group heard a buzzing noise. A five foot long hornet flew up to the group and despite Grak engaging the giant insect, it stung Agathon. Agathon collapsed and Demetrius pulled him away. The rest of the group attacked, including Salvador and Grak's eagle.

Five feet long? AAAAAARRRRGHHHHH!

 The hornet then turned on Alaxander and stung him. Alaxander crumpled to the ground. The group continued to beat on the insect, trying to beat through it's tough exoskeleton. The hornet turned on Julius and tried to sting him, but Julius jumped out of the way.
Vashti finally used her magic and finished off the deadly giant insect. She then rushed over to check on Agathon. He was dead. Grak took his waterskin.
While Grak began separating the stinger and chitin from the insect, the rest of the group prepared a burial site for Agathon. When he was buried Vashti gave him a prayer, asking the elemental lords of water to watch over his soul. The group left in solemn silence.
They walked quietly, watching their backs and being more alert for danger. So, an hour before high sun, when a Mul attempted to sneak up behind the group, they were not surprised. The Mul held a bone dagger in front of him and demanded water. Julius was not impressed and asked if the Mul was alone.
The Mul thought for a few seconds and proclaimed that he was not alone and his comrades were hiding in the rocks nearby. Julius did not believe him. Vashti had no idea what the Mul was saying, but could see that the Mul had gone at least a day without water. She took one of their extra gallons and handed it to him.

Give me some water!

The Mul backed away and began thirstily drinking the water. Vashti noticed his many scars, many obviously from the whip. She informed Julius of her observation. Julius offered to allow the Mul to travel with the group, but the Mul did not believe him and fled into the nearby rocks. The group let him go and continued on their own journey.
Grak found rocks that were tall enough to hang their tattered hemp cloaks to provide shade during high sun. They gathered together and hung their clothes to shade themselves. They sat down to rest and wait out the hottest part of the day.

Come back in two weeks for another exciting episode of Adventures under the Dark Sun.