What has gone before #5

June 26th - The group of weary adventures slowly made their way toward the only spot in Nol where they might find help, the Ibisi campsight. The hustle and bustle of the Nol trading grounds flowed around them. The ordinary, every-day activities were almost errie after the weeks of hard riding and wild adventures that the small group had faced during the trip to Nostrilia. The constant danger and tense edge resulting from those times would be a long time in easing. Each glance thrown their way seemed malevolent and full of evil intent. Paranoia, perhaps, but the things they had witnessed left little room for belief in random circumstance. There was more than enough reason to believe that they were not unknown here, and rumors could bring unwanted attention. The large, liquid filled bag on the carrying pole slung between Rocky and Jake was certainly creating some attention. Elwood almost smiled as he pictured the scene it would create if the people passing by knew of its contents; Guido, the hobbit, pickled in Chen Kunda preservation fluid in order to save him from dying. The horrible paralysis from the attack of the undead had almost cost them a party member.

The Ibisi campsight slowly wound into view as they snaked their way through the trading stalls. As they entered the grounds, a number of Ibisi backed away, some scattering to unknown destinations to announce the visitors. Baldar felt a momentary unease; it seemed a less than friendly welcome. He was about to speak when Arab Mycain stepped out of a tent. Baldar's best smile automatically clicked into place, along with the other mannerisms he had studied with an eye toward taking advantage of his good looks. He greeted Mycain for the rest of the party. Mycain was momentarily taken aback; then a strained smile came to his face. "So, my friends, you have survived. This is more than I had hoped for. Please, come in. You must be weary after so long a trip." The inside of Mycains tent was tastefully if not lavishly decored, and a junior tribesman quickly brought food and drink. The band of friends, feeling safe for the first time in weeks, relaxed. Baldar quickly brought Mycain up to date on the mishaps of the trip. When he judged the time was right, he looked steadily into Mycain's eyes. "We need somewhere to keep Guido safe until we can find a cure for the undead paralysis. Kethem Naval Intelligence is going to be hot on our backs for a while. We can't afford to let them know the extent of our activities during this fiasco. Nor can we take a chance on some gold digger deciding the preservation fluid is worth enough to try to steal it. Guido won't survive the experience. Mycain looked troubled. He sighed. Finally he spoke. "This much I will do for you, my friends. I am sorry I cannot do more to help you, but this is a tribal matter, and the Ibisi loyalties come first, even over you, who have saved my brother from death." Baldar stood in alarm, hand falling to the hilt of his razor sharp sword. The tent flap swung back, revealing many armed Ibisi. "Don't try" said Mycain quietly. Baldar and the rest of the group realized a losing situation. One of the Ibisi in front motioned for the party to follow him. Baldar noted that they were allowed to retain their weapons. Whether this was a good sign, or an indication that the Ibisi thought little of their fighting capability, he could not tell.

The group was quickly taken to Arab Relict's tent. The chief of the Ibisi had more sumptuous quarters than Mycain, as might be expected. Baldar took the lead again, the rest of the party more than happy to let him bring his obvious charisma to bear on the problem. The story was told again, while Rellet and his advisors listened on, interuppting with occasional questions. Hours later, Baldar fell back, spent. Rellet took his advisors • m council, then though heavily for a while. Finally, he spoke. The party, in his opinion, hadmerely attempted to fulfill their obligations to Fra Rentec, the Hectlac priest. Fra was to blame for the breach of faith with the Ibisi guides. Additionally, the information about the Chen Kunda egg lair and the apparently active Chen Kunda teleportal was especially significant to the Ibisi, with their current clerical problems. Rellet agreed as Legum suggested the teleportal be watched, but not disturbed. His last words to the party as they were released was an offer for help in the future should they need it.

June 30th

The group was well rested after four days of waiting for a Kethem ship to pull in. They were hardly surprised when the KNI representative on the Kethem Light Warship Pith's Hammer immediately arrested them all. Three days of monotony followed, the only break in the routine provided by the stories of an obviously well travelled individual named Vlem Quertsky, who was returning from a failed attempt to open a brewery in Nol. Vlem quickly became friends with the group, and agreed to help them on arrival in Bythe. He mentioned casually that he knew a few people in high places who stilled owed him favors. July 1st The cells in Bythe were clean, but not comfortable, particularly to a group used to the freedom of the trail. Mr. Magoo sat back against the bars, thinking about his old architecture profession, and his nice house, which was likely to be repossessed in the near future. The sound of boot soles on the rock floor brought him out of his revery. His initial glance up showed him a nattily dressed individual whom Magoo disliked on sight. The dislike deepened quickly as the individual in question suggested he might be able to help him with his problem if Magoo would give up a certain dagger thought to be in his possession. Magoo thought back on the dagger they had picked up during the trip to Herido a while back. Something about it was clearly important to someone. But Magoo stuck to the party line. "Dagger, what dagger?" The stranger grinned in a way Magoo did not like. "Well, hope you manage to avoid rotting in a cell the rest of your life, buddy. And who knows? Maybe we'll run into each other again some time" he said in way of parting. He sweeped off down the hall. A few minutes later, the guard wandered by, making his rounds. "Who was that guy that came down to visit?" asked Magoo, casually. The guard looked at him strangely. "Guy? No one has been down here today". Magoo thought about that particular statement for a long time after the guard had continued on.

July 5th

Vlem had proved good on his promise, and Legum was released on his own cognizance to prepare for the trial. It was to be held in Salta a few days hence, at the Great Hold of Bradford. The KNI was clearly going for blood. Legum pointed this out in great detail to Archpriest Vanderhoven of the Hectlac temple, along with the fact that the Hectlacs were the direct cause of he and his friend's problems. Vanderhoven was clearly not easy to impress, but he just as clearly was an individual who was used to taking responsibility for his actions. He admitted that Fra Rentec was a Hectlac troubleshooter, brought in specifically to conduct the covert operation to gain the STAM crystal under the noses of the KNI. The party of adventures had merely been a necessary subterfuge to throw the KNI off the scent. In light of this, he agreed to have Hectlac representatives at the trial to assist the party. Any other payment, he added with cold eyes, was more than compensated by the magic items Fra had left with them when he teleported out from the ruins of Nostrilia. Legum thought about Guido, back in Nol, and did not agree. He new better than to push it, though, and left it at that. His path out of the temple was slower than his rush in. The conversations about the trial between the KNI and the Hectlacs at the Bradford Great Hold was very interesting news.

July 9th

The trial was short and to the point. The Kethem legal system had not degenerated to the ridiculousness of lawyers. The KNI reps stood and gave a short, not completely accurate story and list of charges. Baldar answered for the group, providing their own slightly inaccurate story, leaving out the details on the death of Boffin, the KNI member of the expedition, and Guido. Finally, the Hectlac representative, a quiet, dignified, balding man named Seyah Sotin, stood and declared that the inexperienced group had merely been following the lead of a very senior Hectlac priest. The burden of the situation should be resolved with him, as was currently being decided in other hearings. The KNI rep jumped up to argue. "Enough!" cried Bradford. He sat back, staring at Baldar. Finally he smiled. "Ranee's wife asked me to say she's missed you" he laughed, "and she is more of a punishment than anywhere I could send you. Go, then, and try to stay out of trouble." The party quickly scuttled out of the room, everyone but Baldar thanking him profusely. Baldar contained his rage at the slur against his love ... barely. Finally, freedom was theirs.

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