The Barber and the Brother - Chapter 11

[Vardaen]

The sleeping goddess shall awake
And start her lovely dance of doom
When seven tasks ye undertake
And seven wefts pass on the loom.
The second task has now been done:
The twin-soul was slain and rose.
The third weft is now begun:
The seventh bhuts great power grows.
Now the six shall start to fall,
Their death heralding the final doom.
The seventh one shall take them all
And string their souls upon the loom.
The third task now awaits your hands:
To find the talisman the goddess bore,
The skull-crowned glyph that wasted lands
And gave her bones the goddess wore.
Then shall the third weft cross the loom,
The seventh bhut arise in power;
Then shall Suaramas final doom
Draw nearer to the final hour.
Karttika 22, Year 1096

One week ago today the Deva Afyalupagrah was reincarnated through the efforts of the Harbingers of Doom, and the Lions of Tomorrow. Through a series of test and struggles the two groups collected nine figurines of wonderous power that unlocked the tomb to the ancient banished deva of Mahasarpa. It was here on the Isle of the Elephant that this world changing event took place, and the balance of the universe was shifted. In his infinite wisdom and power Afyal turned back the karmic wheel for the two slain companions of the two groups - Rhokti the Hengeyokai Monkey and Rambad ibn Marwan "The Ghulslayer". Reincarnated the two souls were plucked out of the celestial realms and returned to the world of the living. The great stress of this once in a death time event, coupled with the newly reincarnated Deva's waxing power mingled the two - man and monkey. Both were reincarnated into their old bodies, but as Vanarans, half-human half-monkey like people found in the Mahavana Jungle of Mahasarpa and the Grey Jungles of Zakhara.

For four days the Harbingers remained on at the Gathering Place, the ziggurat of The Lost One. During these days Rhokti and Rambad regained their strength and adjusted to their new bodies while the others debated the next course of action, and themselves took a well needed rest. There were hard choices to make, for both groups. In the end the hardest choice would come from Sujata Prasad, the betrothed of Shamad Prasad. Sujata ultimately choose to remain with The Lost One, to guide his people on their return to Mahasarpa in the east. Her training as a Devapala, and her strong faith, made her the best choice for this monumental task. Spreading the faith of a returned from the dead Deva will not be an easy one, but Sujata is certain she can lead the charge. Others from the Lions of Tomorrow also have chosen this path, notably among them Rambad the very man reincarnated by this 'Ajami' Savage God.

Shamad and Sujata's parting has not been easy on either of them, but the promises to remain faithful in body soul and spirit will hold them both for a time. The knowledge that Shamad will eventually return home also makes parting tolerable for the two.

Three days ago the Harbingers left the Meeting Place and The Lost One , The Lions of Tomorrow, and Sujata behind. Under an escort of elephants they have traveled north the length of the isle through the jungle without incident. In less than half an hour they hope to reach the city state of Medina al-Afyal, the great Zakharan city that dominates life on the isle. When they left the city the first time, a task was left behind, to free the Barber Babazayd the Boisterous from an Oathbound Genie and its Sha'ir master, and in so doing so gain what information they group needs to track down Anoop Daruka, Toranoshi's brother, and leader of a Cult of Saurama.

You ride along the top of the elephants, nearing the edge of the jungle, and the civilized lands of Medina al-Afyal. The day is hot and humid, a hot wind blows from the northwest bringing with it the smell of firewood and seasalt. Birds circle over head in small flocks, and the noises of the jungle seem hushed and quiet in your passing. A curious monkey gazes down from one of the branches at Rhokti and Pazi who ride atop one of the elephants.

Ghanji sits comfortably atop another elephant, he's been quiet most of the trip, a wary eye on Shamad ever since Sujata left. The Shikari's hair has finally come in since the fire in Chun three months ago. He pushes a few stray locks out of his eye and swats a bug away. His bow lays over his lap as he sways forwards and backwards from the motion of the elephant under him. "We are nearly there." His voice breaks the silence of the last hour. He is in fact correct as the trees are thinning ahead, and the lumberjack trail you are following widens. The great grey beasts under you begin to slow and stop.

OOC

Welcome BACK to Mahasarpa! Its been 1 week since the end of the chapter. Please let's post in with some great descriptions and the like. I hope we can get back into the swing of things, sorry for the long delay.

We can chat in OOC about your mission, and where the group is heading and the like so we can all refresh our memories.

[TetNak]

Shamad has been obviously downtrodden since they left the Lost One and Sujata. Much had happened lately. He was the Lord of his House, House Prasad, and proud and strong house that had stood for hundreds of years. Now very little was left. In fact, Shamad was not sure what was left, he had not been back to Bhalluka since the scouring. Now, likely all that remained was rubble and ash. After years of careful rules, social stigmas, and political maneuvers he had done what he always wanted. Declare his love and have it reciprocated. It was more than a kiss, or a look, but a declaration. They were not kids anymore, this prophecy stole his naivety and made him a man. Lives depend upon him. Lives that had depended on him died. He was not a perfect leader of men. He was inexperienced and foolish. Shamad's outward stoic demeanor had been rattled. He had killed the traitor Tej Keji in the halls of his own house. He had threatened Ghanji. He had wept in the eyes of a new God, declaring his shortcomings of leadership, faith, and dedication.

In truth, all he wanted to do was be home, raising a family. Now that adventure had found him, he wanted nothing less.

Shamad, of course, has rarely spoken on the way to Medina al-Afyal. He still sports the dark burn on the right side of his face. He wears a dark glove on his right hand, covering a badly burnt hand there was well. Likely, the entire right side of his body hold similar scars. Shamad never complains, of course, though the pain is likely terrible at times. On his chin, a strange patterned scar runs down onto his neck, the product of acid thrown onto his face months ago, those months seem like years now. His hair, also burnt from his head, has grown back and is now cropped short, not nearly as long as Shamad typically keeps his hair.

He wears all his typical armor and weapons, his grandfather's tulwar, Vashal's Heart, hanging off his side. He has asked guidance from his Grandfather's spirit many times. Alas, it appears he shall receive no insight, and so struggles along, leading their path under his own judgment. He often wonders if he was fated to lead the destruction of mankind by fulfilling the prophecy and bringing back the Destroyer to the world.

[Trogdor]

Janak has no trouble traveling in silence. He has been contemplative since the Lost One returned and Rhokti was brought back to them. To witness the rebirth of a god, and then the return of a friend to the wheel of life was a monumental thing, and not one to be processed easily. Throughout the days of waiting he has spent his time creating numerous works of art, some sculpture, some woodcarvings, some paintings and drawings, even a gem carved with the cameo of the Lost One. He proved eager to create these works while his memory was still fresh that the events of that evening would be properly recorded. Some of these treasures he has left with the mystics - particularly the larger ones; some he has sent with Sujata and the others; some he has given to his companions as a memento of their adventure; and some he has kept for himself.

Once on the road, however, he falls into talking with Rhokti, curious at first about his experience with death and rebirth, and also to help him adjust to his new form. Janak has long been a friend to the Vanaran, and is familiar with their ways - not that Rhokti is likely to be a stranger to them. Also, he suspects, Rhokti will be eager to reconnect with the living world again. And with Ghanji and Shamad contemplative, he tries to take up the slack.

As they approach the city, he quickly focuses on the possible danger ahead. "We should be very cautious approaching the city. The enemies we faced were dangerous." The memory of his twin killing Rhokti and then of having to fight, and eventually kill, that mirror image of himself still haunts him.

[Bitom]

Rhokti has been... different.

Part of the difference is there in his face and body. The brown monkey fur has been replaced by the grayish fur of a Vanaran, and it's much longer, but this is a pretty small change. Not too long ago, Rhokti decided to stop pretending to be something he wasn't, and from that time forward, he has almost never taken his human form. His new form is not so different from his old, although the length of his hair seems to bother him and he comments frequently about how he's going to make the barber 'fix' him once they free the man.

The rest of the change is less apparent to those who don't know Rhokti well, and more to those who do. Rhokti has become much more contemplative since returning from the dead. He speaks honestly with Janak about his conversations with Durjaya while dead, but he often spoke to the dead Hengeyoki when he was still alive, too. Janak's attempts to get him to fully reconnect with life are frustrated by the Mantrika's meditations on the nature of Death and the Void.

Once again, the group has Rhokti's magic shelter every night, and Pazi seems to be rapidly regaining the intelligence she was losing when Rhokti was dead. In spite of his return to power, Rhokti does not teleport the group to the city, allowing the Elephants to carry them this last way.

[Wargie]

Toranoshi sits upon his elephant and considers the latest events in his life. He looks over the group while distantly scratching at a new set of scars upon his skin and his eyes linger a while longer upon Rhokti, returned from the dead.

...back from the dead, heh, a little different, color so far being the biggest, but perhaps he is even a bit more serious now than before, grown perhaps with the task that lies ahead...

The dhuka shakes his head, thinking of how the Hengeyoki was the single fun point in his life while he was standing knee deep in yuan-ti and undead baboons. He gives an involuntary shudder at the memory of the undead monkey trying to chew him up alive and then looks at Shamad and Ghanji, the leader and his constant follower.

...once they questioned me, questioned if I were trustworthy... he grins at the memory, ..then like now I tell myself that they would be dead if I wasn't. And now I have almost killed them again, well Shamad again.. he thinks about that night, the fight with his brother, how he stumbled out of the shop setting it on fire, not knowing that Shamad who was passing by outside would run inside, getting those scars while saving the owner. And now ...I've almost killed him again..

He looks down towards the city, and then back over his shoulder and the place he witnessed the rebirth of both people, well vanarans and a deva. He eyes turns back to the city and he sighs,

...behind me lie battles with seamonsters, elementals, bhuks, assassins, Janak's mirror image and a lot of other stuff that wants us dead. I believe the in my past life I must have done something good but the kharmic wheel had a bad day and decided to have fun with me, hence being a lowly shudra, and everytime I am close to dying it takes pity on me and sends me back. I guess I am in for a treat in my next life. Still... he looks over the group and then pats his elephant, ..perhaps I should abandon the group and join up with those Zakharans, they appeared to be easier going, no cast system to speak off.. he looks at Ghanji ...and no Ghanji..then again not all of them appeared to be easy going..so I shall stick with this, get on top of my game and search for that rat bastard brother of mine, slice him in tiny pieces and feed him to the crows..

And so Toranoshi cracks up in a malicious grin before he starts to whistle a tune he once picked up at the red lotus and awaits what the city before them has to offer.

[Vardaen]

Things have changed, and not just Rhokti's appearance. The change is almost palpable in the air around these five. So many have come and gone into the lives of these Harbingers. Dead now are the Brahmins Vivec and Hamin, so to is Nakan the vassal of Prasad. Kalyani Ravi has been reborn as a Devatta, Durjaya haunts Rhokti be he alive or dead. Lost is Azora, his whereabouts and status unknown, and now Sujata Prasad is left them as well.

Shamad, Ghanji and Toranoshi started this adventure together, joined shortly by Rhokti, and only recently by Janak. Yet this the bonds among them are strong, even Ghanji's attitude seems different. In the past weeks he's mellowed, perhaps because of the absence of Azora, for it was always with the Casteless Mhuktar that he had issue with, and not with the Shudra or the Hengeyokai. Now with Rhokti no longer a Hengeyokai, but a Vanaran, Ghanji's outlook might have changed, or it might not have.

The Shikari stands with one hand on the elephant that bore him this far. On his belt are his family blades, the Tulwar and Kriss, both rarely used. Over his back hangs the yuan-ti bow, taken as a trophy, and to intimidate his hated foe with. Silent for a few moment he glances over at Janak. "I agree Brahmin. Perhaps Shamad would care to have Toranoshi and I do a bit of recon before the rest of you approach. Last time we were in this area were were attacked by the ghostly bhut of Narmada." He nearly spits the healer's name, the woman once thought to be an ally in Pequot, but who turned out to be an assassin and a spy working along with Anoop, Toranoshi's brother.

[Wargie]

Toranoshi who still sits on his elephant, rises up on its back and then vaults sideways of it and lands on the ground. He dusts himself off and then walks up to the bags hanging from his elephant and begins to go through his collection of clothes. A few scraps of clothes are withdrawn, the fez he got when he arrived to the island. He gives the fez a look, then shrugs and shoves it back into the bag and begins to rip an old shirt to pieces and wraps it around his head like a turban.

He looks over to Ghanji and nods, "Aye, perhaps we should ask a few discreet questions around the city again." he looks down at his rugged appearance and then shrugs, "I think I will fit in in the harbour area or any poor district." he smirks, "Perhaps I should spend some coin again for another set of clothes, as I reckon my 'work' outfit may cause a stir..." he draws out the sleeve of his dark black blue shirt which allows him to vanish in shadows with ease, and then stuffs it into the bag again.

He looks over to Rhotki and then janak, "Either of you cannot change one our appearances with some magice can you?" he grins as he continues, "We could speed things up perhaps if one of us could appear as the barber. Our, or rather his enemies might jump at him, well us, and we could catch them..." he looks back at Ghanji and then Shamad and then back at their two companions who wields some arcane power. "So?"

[TetNak]

Shamad does not have any sort of magic. He just nods to the pair scouting ahead. "Go ahead," he says, "Not too long, and do not get into any fights, eh?" He remains on top of his elephant, looking out onto the city from afar as he waits for the others.

[Trogdor]

"I'm afraid that's outside of my abilities," Janak replies. "I've been working on training my ability to cloud men's minds, though. With some effort I can make a person completely unnoticeable for a short time to about a dozen people. I'm afraid it's not likely to be useful in this situation. But you should keep it in mind for the future."

[Bitom]

Rhokti just shakes his head. He doesn't know who the barber's enemy even is, except for what second-hand knowledge he got from the group. He was dead at the time that the group got their current mission.

"I don't think that would work anyway. The genie thing would probably know who he was actually binding. His enemies don't want to kill him, if what you told me is true. They want to keep him a slave."