Brief Recap: Last turn, Blade killed Bruce. He was expelled from the party and ended up leaving as part of Gayrlana's mercenary company. Bibi spoke with the Prophet, who gave her disturbing news that Bibi interpreted to mean the Obsidian Stone is in danger. The company headed north, on their way back to Dunore.

Up north, Humphrey rode a ship across the channel to the mainland and met a strange monk who provided a distraction, probably saving Humphrey from the Protectors who had come to apprehend him.

Strange Travelers

Humphrey huddles beneath his cloak in the crowded common room of the bar. He avoids looking at people, as when he meets someone's gaze he invariably thinks of them writhing in the hellfire with which Shwolv imbued him. The hunger waxes and wanes in his mind, and he is often distracted battling it. He knows it is Shwolv's wish that he burn people with the soul-devouring hellfire. Humphrey grimly recognized many days ago that he is slave to an evil power.

The monk appears from out of the crowd, and sits beside the mage at the table. The monk is guarded, but does not appear repulsed by Humphrey's mere presence, as everyone else he has met seems.

"Tell me Monk, what do you know of me? Why did you offer your assistance to one so foul? Why did you help me?" Humphrey allows his gaze to settle on the Monk for only a moment, as the hunger to consume his soul nearly overwhelms him.

" You are like a one-legged bird on a narrow fence..." The monk then says with a smile. "One way that you could fall off would not be good but that is one of the ways you want to lean." The Monk seems to be playing with his robe. "The other way which is the way you also want to lean towards...is the better way...and the right way. You want both so you try to stay balanced as long as you can...but...you think you have failed and chosen the wrong way." The Monk then grins and stands up. "Little do you realize HUMPHREY.....that you have a choice in the matter and that you haven't strayed as much as you think." The Monk then stands up to walk away and says " I'll tell you this much mage....if you do not choose soon the right way....the ONLY way that you should choose....the choice might be made for you....and not by whom you think. I will be in touch....but remember this....I may very well be the last friend that you have on this planet right now." The monk starts to walk away and then halfway out the bar...stops and turns around and says one final thing as he rubs his chin with a smirk on his face..... "Then again.....maybe i'm not. That's your choice in the matter I guess huh??"

Humphrey gets up and walks to the monk. "Perhaps you would explain more if I bought you a meal. I am famished. I know the perfect place to get a quiet meal and right now, I could use any friend I could get. Soon enough we may all count ourselves without friends if I do not find a way to reach my companions. Perhaps with that you could help me? A meal then?" Humphrey vainly tries to look his previously charasmatic self when asking the monk, but he is also careful to speak quietly and to remain hidden with his hood up, to avoid the gaze of onlookers.

"I have pressing matters Humphrey that I must attend to this evening. I will though have breakfast with you here in the morning. The sun always seems brightest in the morning to me." The Monk then says. " My name is Kuchin Sune" He smiles again...and bows to humphrey. "I am honored....but again I must take leave for the night. Sleep so that you may be refreshed in the morning." with that.the monk turns...and heads out.

[What do you say to one another? Last time you spoke, it was on the ship and the monk told Humphrey to meet him here at this inn. Please post what you say to one another. After this scene, if appropriate, I will advance your journey by adding more to this turn. Brian, please include all preparations you will make for Humphrey once you reach your keep.]

Journey Journey Journey...

The company charters a ship north. The trip is a long one, and Mog is once again seasick for much of the trip. "Orcs not be sailors," he says when asked how he feels.

Ghotu spends most of his time on deck, watching the endless ocean to the west. He wonders what one would find if they set sail that direction and never stopped.

Bibi and Fyona try to make the best of the trip. Bibi is thankful that Mog uses his magic to create food and drink several times on the journey. Because of this, the company is welcomed by the crew. Bibi is also able to maintain her vegetarian diet--the ship rations included only cheap wine, moldy bread, salted meat, and a giant vat full of lemons. Mog's created food is much better.

Fyona spends most of her time reading a book written by the Prophet. When Bibi notices that she has started from the beginning again she decides to ask her about the book. Fyona tells her that she was so impressed with the power and generosity of the Prophet that she wanted to know more about him. Further, she has learn that he, the Prophet, is just the vessel through which the God Modi works and that it was actually Modi that healed her arm.

They arrive in Trajia many weeks later. They consider journeying to Heklamar first, but it is so far out of their way that Bibi does not want the delay. So once again, they plan to travel north, across the lands of the warring states.

They decide to stay in Trajia at least two nights, so they can spend one day gathering supplies and finding suitable mounts for the journey. But when they enter the Trajia bazaar, they notice that things have changed. Gone are the many stalls with merchants hawking their wares, gone is the throng of people, and stranger still, gone is any member of the Brotherhood. When last the company came through Trajia (a couple of months ago, on their way south), the Brotherhood had been the main force providing law and order in the city. But the sight of Brothers standing at every corner is no more.

Instead, a single mage watches over the few people passing through the common grounds that once held the bazaar.

The mage wears black, and he takes notice of the company as they enter from a side street. He watches them as they survey the unfamiliar setting.

[What do you do? Approach the mage or leave and look elsewhere in the city to buy supplies? I will try to advance the story a bit more before break, depending on the actions you choose.]

Trenin sees teh party he had last encounterred in Dunore. He moves to interceptthem befor ethey get themselves in trouble. "Well met my friends. Much has changed in Trajia since last you were here no doubt. Come, it is not safe to talk about such matters here in the open." As he leads them away from the market place he explains what has happened.

"After my stay in Dunore I headed souuth and ended up in Trajia, where I witnessed the coming of the mages and the decimation of the Brotherhood. Mages from the west, some said Galay itself, others say the Magocracy, arrived in Trajia and took over. One day the Brotherhood and the Uniter were in power, the next day the Uniter was in chains and most of the Brotherhood faithful were dead or imprisoned.

The mages said they came for the betterment of the townsfolk, to free them from the theocratic rule of the Brotherhood. But the townsfolk didn't mind the brotherhood, they provided law and order. Now the Mages have banned all public gatherings, confiscated every magic item they could get their hands on, imposed heavy taxes on nearly everything, and have imprisoned many people for speaking out against what was going on. Many fled the city.

I have watched what is going on, avoiding the mages. I was here less than a week before I decided to leave. When I tried, I found that mages guarded all the gates. I was just about to figure out the best place to scale the wall when I noticed you heading to the Bazaar.

I'm not sure, but I suspect there are at least twenty mages in the city, with a sizeable number of very skilled fighters--calling themselves 'Protectors.'"

Posting Instructions: Please post your actions for the round.

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