The Path Forked, and They Took The Wetter One
Session Summary, May 23, 1996
Mrur and shedra watched gravely as, with lanterns and torches, our
most illustrious party made their way over the decayed corpses of
their undead brethren whom The Most Transcendent Dlarku had so
brilliantly slain. Akhan's Renyu's most delicate feet were
protected as the slaves ferried him over the carnage.
They came upon an intersection clean of the stench of Sarku's undead.
Akhan's Renyu named one as the "Way of Water" and the other as the
"Way of Weirdness." The party chose water over weirdness and continued
their way through the oppressive Bednalljan tunnels.
They took their rest in an antechamber. Shekkara's slave
Arjun cooked a most splendid meal, the likes of which will never
be forgotten and for which Ngaya expressed most eloquently her
appreciation. Sadly, dietary restrictions kept Akhan from partaking,
though fortunately his slave Sot was able to faithfully relay to him
the wonders of the repast.*
Refreshed, the party continued onward until they came across a
watercourse. Shekkara volunteered to cross to the other side and
bravely, lo! how bravely! explore alone, with none to protect her,
the tunnel as it continued into the darkness.
And into the darkness she went, carrying a single burning brand to
push the dark back into cowering shadows. How eagerly her companions
awaited her news of what lay beyond the cold, coursing water! How
they strained their ears and eyes for the first sign of her return.
When Lo! suddenly she was there, and with a triumphant cry, she
released upon those dark walls the light of a million suns and revealed
to her fellow travelers the most noble Pe Choi, diligent archeologists
who had faithfully charted their every step into this most historic of
places, Jakalla's Underworld.
Quickly, it was decided that they would team with the Pe Choi to find
their way back to a place where the sun's rays were still known.
With Ngaya's most gracious permission, Akhan offered Ngaya's addled
slave to the dark waters as a sacrifice so that all who follow may
cross safely. Arjun and Most Secret demonstrated proper leaping
technique, while Dlarku levitated himself and nonchalantly crossed,
a smile deep upon his silver face.*
Together, Pe Choi and Tsolyani nobles, they came across that most
magnificent and legend wrapped temples of travel and doom: an Ancients
Tube Station. Akhan had only just discovered that Ancients technology
can fail,
* when to their ears came the sounds of many approaching, and
to their eyes came the sight of the soldiery of the Scales of Brown. Quickly, so
quickly, they chose another tunnel only to hear more troops ahead of
them. Their options quickly became few, and they ducked down a smaller
corridor where Shekkara made quick acquaintance with a Ru'un, one of
the most marvelous of the Ancients' creations. The Ru'un, so alone
for so many millenia, joyfully struck up a conversation with Akhan and,
with largesse great enough to rival an Imperial prince, offered to
distract the Scales of Brown troops long enough for the party to escape.
*
Without delay, the party returned to the corridor, and when the Scales
of Brown soldiers hailed them, the Ru'un leapt out of the corridor and took them
by surprise. Unfortunately, the troops coming from the opposite
direction heard the fight, and our most brave party was forced to regroup
back in the Ru'un's spacious living room to devise a new plan. After an
excited brainstorming session between them and the Ru'un, Shekkara took
forth her Eye of Immediate Encapsulation and unencapsulated a flock of six hma,
which allowed her to hide the Ru'un within the eye.
*
Once again, they ventured forth into the tunnel. The Scales of Brown troops
moved to intercept them, and Shekkara released upon them the Ru'un,
who began to immediately provide cover. In haste the party departed,
slaying sentries as they ran, hearing behind them and from all
directions the tread of sandaled feet, the clack of chlen-hide armor
as the Scales of Brown closed in from all directions. La! Pe Choi
and Tsolyani together ran so speedily they had not even time to despair,
when to their sudden amazement they came upon a door of modern
construction from behind which came modern Tsolyani voices. At Akhan's
behest, they opened the door, and the Master of the estate personally
greeted each one of the weary travelers.
And there we must leave them, our noble Tsolyani and Pe Choi, who had,
without a quiver of fear, confronted the terrors of the Underworld, now
lounging in the gracious hospitality of their host, who so generously
offered to them a ship to ferry them away from Jakalla...
...and to Penom.
Lo! Wrote this, Lisa Leutheuser, horse of The Most Beautiful
Shekkara Tlakotani, on this 28th day of May, 1996 Anno Domini.
