Arina stands nearly a foot above everyone else in the crowd but one. She is in a hooded leaf green cloak, and carries a bow and a gnarled oaken quarterstaff. Lavona carries a book and looks eagerly from face to face. Malak, dressed only in a skin loincloth, has his wolf by his side whom he calls Cousin. Dabar stands in his bright armor, a bastion of Truth Justice and Righteousness. Kohuru, stands a head above the crowd, and even a bit taller than Arina.
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| Kohuru |
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| Dabar, Bulwark of Alwin |
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| Malek |
Ba-En-Nafer asks what the five are in town for, and tells them of some difficulties the town is having. He offers:
80 gold Orsem Val and prove that it is free from the dead,
scout out Bar'tak Kentak--40 gold apiece for those that make it back,
ingredients for Nabal's Cure are worth hundreds apiece. Arashad is the woman to talk to about it. The company decides to help the leader of the town by finding the cure to his illness. .
Dabar knocks on the door with the hilt of his spear and Arashad answers. She is glad for help finding the ingredients. At the start of the year, during the sacred times, Japeth fell ill. He is not young--but neither elderly. She was unable to do anything to help. He is withering away, and the best she can do is keep him comfortable. Even Nabal's prayers had no effect. As part of the rennovation two months ago Nabal found scrolls for the driving away of the spirits of disease. We have been gathering the ingredients ever since. All that are left to recover are the most difficult ones. The heart of a green ayal. The Aco deer are very rare, and special to the woods. They are prized by the beastmen. I'm told that if the need of the hunter is great and the correct beast cut is delivered, the deer will return in the new year. There is a prayer to Alwayn--" She pulls a long narrow blade from a drawer, "You are to say the prayer, explain your need, and the ayal will bare it's breast to you and you have one chance to strike. If you do it will be reborn later in the year."
Arina and Kohuru reveal themselves to the others, to the surprise of the others. Arashad seems more hopeful of the outcome of their mission. She gives the tablet with the prayer and the dagger to Arina, along with four doses of acacia resin. It comes from a plant called Lavona, it has resin that can be chewed like gum. It can be burned as an incense to ward against evil spirits, or chewed to neutralize poison.
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| Lavona |
The party quickly purchases supplies, and Twara attempts to cast a ceremony into a trinket but fails and is unable to use magic until she purifies. and heads toward Desim. As they are crossing the plain they find three wagons circled and being attacked by 8 beastmen. 9 Luathi are desperately trying to fight them off, while another 6 beastmen are dragging a fourth wagon toward the south.
Dabar says a prayer as he readies his javelin. Malek sneaks up to a nearby beastman and attacks it, but fails to do any damage. Dabar takes advantage of the distraction and drives the spear through the beastman. Kohuru spins in with swords flashing and strikes two mighty blows to another beastman while one of the Luathai takes another one out with a spear. Arina sends an arrow speeding at the leader, and it buries in his chest. He pulls it out and gives a guttural shout as he bites off his own flesh from the barbed tip.
A beastman attacks Kohuru with a small tree and he looks like he is about to fall, but instead keeps his feet and remains. He moves in with his sword, and the beastman throws him off kilter with the tree.
Twara charges in with her staff and tries to beat the beastman. He turns and snarls at her as she lands another hit with her quarterstaff and there is a crack as his skull breaks. Malak distracts the beastman leader and Cousin, Malak's dog, rips at his throat. Dabar charges him.
Kohuru is attacked once more by the tree-beastman and crumples to the ground. Arina hurries to him and applies the Acacia resin. As he comes to she realizes that his hand has been crushed. He is dying.
The rest of the party hurries after the now retreating beastmen. Malak first, but not fastest. The beastman leader turns and grabs him by the arms and headbutts him. Dabar is just behind him, and shouts, "Malak, No!" There is a swift glimmer of deadly bronze like a sharp, dark, deadly sunset.
Dabar lays hands on Kohuru as Arina heals Malak with some acasia resin--he has lost a couple teeth. She is able to heal two of the wounded commoners also.
Note: Remind Dabar to buy goats back at town. Sacrifice time.
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