AnAdventurousIntroductionToLeilm part 10

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12/05/2002 - gaming date

(372yp)

It is the 55th of spring and we are outside the ruins of a castle. Afalar is unconscious and our foe has just awoken.

Sjer begins to tend the man while Zali keeps a look out.

Sjer says, "So, it should be obvious to you that you are not dead."

The man seems unimpressed with Sjer's perspicacity. He asks, "You have another purpose?"

Zali says, "We have questions for you. Why did you follow us, why did you attack us. What are you doing here. What is your name"

"My name is Azimar"

"My name is Zali"

Sjer asks,"Do you belong to a group?"

Zali asks, "Who is in the ruins?"

"I was sent to meet a woman there and place myself under her service."

"Who sent you?"

"Her brother. I have been asked not to reveal their names."

Sjer pushes further, "Who are these people?"

"I gave an oath not to say"

"Was that oath to Chal?"

"No"

"When were you to meet?"

"Right about now."

Zali presses about the ruins.

"The ruins were destroyed 80 to 110 years ago. There are some safe approaches, but the castle is ringed by hazardous sand.

Sjer asks about the oath.

"I gave the oath to an individual."

"Your master?"

"No, I swore to the person whose names I swore not to reveal. It was a personal oath. I belong to an order whose beliefs I have been following since I was a very young boy. The order seeks the afterlife by disciplining one's mind and one's body. The discipline of the mind is the guiding principle behind oaths. An oath once given should be such a thing that can never be broken."

"But," interjects Sjer, "all oaths must be understood and the reason behind them must be understood."

"That is very true."

"To what order do you belong?" asks Zali'haro.

"Traj'amar." (TheTrajamar)

Sjer pushes him about what his duties will be.

"I do know what the goals of her and her brother are."

After much talking we decide to wait until Afalar awakens.

At midnight, 12 hours after the conflict, Afalar rouses himself. It is dark out and he takes a few minutes to gather his wits.

After being brought up to speed on the situation, Afalar directs Sjer to tell the man everything and kill him if this doesn't lead to an improved situation.

Sjer spills his guts about the jockey and the note. The man appears to think on the situation but cannot come to a decision.

Thus the decision is made and the man has been killed.

He only had a staff, a ring, and some letters. There are three letters (TheMonksLetters). Two of them are in the same language and one of them isn't. We nominate Zali for watch. Afalar and Sjer sleep til noon on the 56th.

When we awaken Zali goes off to get the horses while Afalar tries to understand the letters that the guy was carrying. One was beyond his abilities, but the other two he could make sense of. They confirmed Azimar's story as well as supplying some names. There is a brother and sister and an uncle.

After perusing the letters we decide to head back to the city. We arrive on the 57th and head straight to the doctor.

Sjer made a report to L'talas regarding the ruins, the man with the staff, and the letters. He offers to get them translated and Sjer accepts.

Afalar stays at the doctor. We receive the letters from L'talas and give them to Afalar on the way to the temple.

Sjer and Zali then continue to the temple. When we arrive a woman and child leave the building.

Chalam Fazool is the name of the priest on duty that night. While staking out the place, a woman came in screaming, "he tried to get me again." Then two men bust in and the priest confronted them. The woman went into the courtyard.

The priest tries to defend her but it is Zali that keeps the woman safe this night by refusing to allow the man access to the courtyard. The man, who is the woman's husband, leaves.

Nothing else happened of note that night. The jockey did not show up.

We meet back at the doctor's. Zali checks in and Afalar checks out.

[next: AMeetingWithMazidi]