Session One Hundred Three: The Slave and His Noble

Day 13, Week 1, Fifthover, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, Sun Descending

The group awoke and Dimitria caught up with Selia, as they passed out their daily rations. Yusef had used some string to fasten Raco's skull to his severed wrist and was talking to it, as if Raco were still alive. Everyone worried about Yusef's mental state; he had lost three friends and his hand in a very short time.
The group returned to the cloud ray carcass and carved off the meat they thought they could carry, leaving the rest for vultures and other scavengers.
They continued their hike through the mountain and, after a few hours, came upon a ravine. They were prepared to navigate around the ravine, as they had done so many times before, when something caught Kraah's eye. He saw some unusual colors on an outcropping, inside the ravine. He flew closer and saw two human men huddled together.

Kraah landed on the cliff above them and spoke to them in Tyrian. They spoke perfect Tyrian. That morning, they explained, they had been attacked by a vicious pack of Jhakars and received some injuries. In fact, one of the men claimed to be a master of the way, but was mentally exhausted. Kraah informed the rest of the group about what he had found.
A rope was lowered and the men were able to climb up. Yusef recognized one of the men immediately.

Clavis, in polished Chitin armor.

He was Clavis, a famous Tyrian gladiator. Yusef had seen him fight a dozen times and was thrilled to see his famous bone scimitar, Jolene, at his side. Yusef asked Clavis if he had escaped Tyr, as he was a slave. Clavis said he had not and his owner was the other man.
Yusef offered to kill the other man for Clavis, but Clavis didn't understand why. Yusef asked Clavis if he wanted to be freed, but Clavis wasn't really sure. Just to be sure, Yusef pushed the other man back into the ravine. He landed on the outcropping of rock.
Yusef explained that Clavis was now free and told the man in the ravine that he and Raco would kill him. The man in the ravine said his name was Rafiq and he was a noble from Tyr, but he was not Clavis' master. He said that his father was the slave owner, not him, and he considered Clavis a free man, not a slave.
Yusef didn't believe him, but Dimitria did. After a lengthy discussion, it became apparent that Clavis did not understand the concept of freedom. He had been enslaved his entire life and was not educated, outside of combat. Yusef attempted to explain, but Clavis just became confused.
A rope was thrown down for Rafiq and he rejoined the group. Some healing magic was used on Clavis and Rafiq. They began walking, while Rafiq told his tale.

Rafiq, handsome Tyrian Noble

He was a noble from Tyr and had studied at the School of Thought and the Psiumarkh. He was a psychoporter and had come to love the freedom that that discipline had granted him. He saw slavery as anathema to that love of freedom. In addition, he was not truly free himself. His father was going to force him to wed a girl from Balic, whom he had never met. So, he freed Clavis and ran away. He thought no one would find him in the Ringing Mountains and, so far, no one had.
Everyone, except Yusef, began to trust Rafiq. Yusef did not hide his suspicions, that Rafiq was probably lying and working for Kalak in secret. He claimed that Raco agreed with his assessment of Rafiq.
After hiking for hours, the sun was low in the sky. The group began a search for shelter and found a cave. Inside the cave was a clear, cool pool of water.
The pool nearly filled the cave, so they could not camp inside. They did, however, fill their waterskins and enjoy a hearty drink. Selia thought she saw movement in the pool, but everyone else said it was just her reflection.
They set up camp near the cave, but not too close, as they were sure it would attract animals from all around. They had to start setting up a proper watch rotation, as their mul was dead. Surprisingly, Yusef demanded that Rafiq not watch and that he would watch instead. Everyone agreed and Yusef took the first watch.
The first watch passed without any unusual goings on. The second watch was Selia's. During her watch, she heard a loud splash from the nearby pool.

Join us next time for another exciting session of Adventures Under the Dark Sun. 
2nd edition AD&D Dark Sun Cast of Player Characters 
Dimitria: Human female druid. 20 years old. Played by Mary. Speaks Urikite, Raamin, and Tyrian.
Clavis: Human male gladiator. 30 years old. Played by Dave. Speaks Drajish and Tyrian.
Rafiq: Human male psychoporter. 25 years old. Played by Ben. Speaks Tyrian, Balican, Raamin, and Urkite.
Kraah: Aarakocra male air cleric.17 years old. Played by Chad. Speaks Aarakocra, Tyrian, Balician, and Gulgish.
Selia: Half-elf female ranger. 27 years old. Played by my wife. Speaks Elf and Tyrian.
Yusef: Human male thief. 24 years old. NPC party member. Speaks Tyrian, Nibnese, and Urikite.