Two Paths Diverge: Mahanaga - Chapter 8

[Connie_the_Fire_Element]

Sujata falters at the annoucement, but quickly covers it as though she misstepped slightly while walking. It seems a harsh and unnecessary edict, she can clearly see the trade is a valuable part of this place. She looks to Janak, whose town this is, and sympathizes with what the man must be going through. She keeps moving with the others. It is fate that brought us here at this time, in a few weeks it would have been much harder to come and go...

[JohnnyWeird]

Karma once again forces them to continue on their path. Toranoshi momentarily reflects on the image of the Harbingers, vomited forth from Lakshmana like a medicine too bitter to swallow.

No matter. Across the sea lies revenge, his brother's beating heart in his hand and his thumbs on a necklace. The Shadows will guide the dhuka's hand, and Angulimala will stoke the fires of his rage.

[Bitom]

Rhokti listens to the announcement and sniffs, "Humans!" he says, as if this explains any form of stupidity.

[Vardaen]

The group agrees, moving quickly is the best bet at this point. Shamad prods Toranoshi along, but the dhuka doesn't need much of it. The group hurries across the yard and down to the dock where the ship is waiting. There is however not so many other people that just accept the news. Shouts among sailors begin, and foriegners, come down off the docks and their ships to confirm what they heard.

"Outrageous!"

"Idiotic!"

"What is the Raja thinking?"

Shouts like this in both Mahasarpan and in Zakharan are shouted back and forth. The cryer repeats his decree in the Zakharan language and that really sets off the docks. Before you even realize what is happening the Kshatriya guards are stabbing and killing men who have attempted to take out their anger on the messanger. A full out riot is being born! Soliders waiting in the wings are signaled and march into the square just as one of the nearby warehouses is set on fire by an angry torch wielding sailor. The shouts, cries and battle noises rise louder than the sea gulls and you hurry just avoiding being sweept up in it. As Toranoshi leads you, racing down the dock, you see your ship at the end of it and the corsairs there are casting off the line, and the bosun is shouting orders, two Zakharan's grab the gang plank and are about to hoist it up on the ship as oars are being dipped out of portholes in the side of the sambuk.

Flavor

This image is just some Zakhara Corsair flavor for you.

[Connie_the_Fire_Element]

As the riot breaks out around them all, Sujata picks up speed. She begins running in earnest for their destination. She fervently prays that they will reach the boat in enough time to at least jump to it's relative safety.

[Trogdor]

Seeing the riot break out, Janak cries out. "Three of you, grab onto me. I can get us to the ship!"

Then, once whoever is coming has grabbed on, the shaper concentrates and disappears in a flash of rainbow light, along with whoever was holding onto him.

Action

Manifest Psionic Dimension Door. That'll get Janak up to 960 feet down the dock - hopefully enough to get to the ship. And he can take up to three people with him. (Sujata will definitely be one of them if more than three grab on.)

[Bitom]

Once Janak takes some of the party, the number of people is reduced sufficiently that Rhokti can do the same. He siezes those remaining and hauls them through the void to the ship.

Action

Teleport along behind Janak.

[TetNak]

Shamad is rushing forward, almost running, from the riot. His face is held in a scowl at what is happening. He has a hard time even believing the idiocy of this Raja. He grabs hold to Rhotki, knowing the drill, and waits for the Hengeyokai to get him and the others that Janak does not take on board.

[JohnnyWeird]

Trusting in Janak, Toranoshi grabs his shoulder. The man's actions decry either great wisdom or vast foolishness; either way, the jump would be simple for the dhuka should this fail.

[Vardaen]

The Mystic watches as Toranoshi grabs the Brahmin, and the man does the same. Janak steps sideways, taking Sujata, Toranoshi and the Mystic of Nog down the wharf and dock right to the bottom of the gang plank. You would think that the group would be used to strange travel, but they are not, this is much different than stepping through the Void with Rhokti, it is like racing through the air, the world warping past at breakneck speeds from once place to another, and when Janak stops, while he is fine, the other three are not so!

Rhokti makes the move to join Janak, his own powers starting to manifest, and Shamad and Ghanji grab hold of the monkey man along with Pazi who is screaming at the noise, only adding to it. The three step into the Void, and then back out, none of the discomfort of travel befallen the now veteran teleporters.

The riot is behind them, spilling into the wharf and down several docks. A few more minutes and it will reach your pier and spill down to engulf you as well. The screams of combat, the clash of weapons, and the cries of woman and children ring out as the foriegners resist shouting alien war cries.

On the ship, the bosun is shouting for the corsairs to draw up the gang plank as he looks over and down at Toranoshi and the Mystic. He shouts something its meaning clear enough, the group has just managed to arrive in time. The Mystic replies in the Zakharan language that none of you speak, and then he turns to Toranoshi, "<Ancient> He says the coffee is almost ready." Just like that, clam and cool the Mystic hovers up the gang plank as if there was no riot about to burn the docks to the waterline.