Duplicity - Chapter 5

[Bitom]

As he passes out of the house with Shamad, Rhokti pauses. "Take this sword, Shamad.... you people seem to think it's important." He indicates what can only be the new lady Ravi's Tulwar, then goes to collect Pazi from the room where Durjaya died. The last thing he does before making his way to the temple is to become human again, stranding himself in his uncomfortable human skin for whatever comes next.

[TetNak]

Shamad takes the tulwar a tucks it into his belt hastily. He now carries two additional tulwars and the thought of having to do so is unnerving. 'œRhotki. Help Sujata,' he says, moving toward the exit quickly now. 'œI shall return,' he says to the Raja's Man, now picking up the pace to get the injured Ravi woman to the Temple as quick as he can do so.

[Brennor]

Azora rasps a word of thanks to Toranoshi as the other man lends his aid.

He tries to walk as well as he might under his own power, but the paralysis he suffered previously has weakened the big man.

He looks around for anything else he can help with, even though he is not likely to be able to provide much, and so he turns back to Toranoshi's aid.

Azora rasps to the other: "What happened? The last thing I remember is looking upon the children? And then I woke up covered in blood."

Tears begin to fill the corners of his eyes as he mentions the children again. Since when has Azora become such a wimp?

[Vardaen]

Twenty Minutes Later...

The group finds its way, beaten and battered, bloody and poisoned, to the Ziggurat of Mahabhalla. The plaza at its base, and nestled in the arms of various buildings of the Brahmins is filled with refugees of the fire. Mostly Vaishya and Shudra displace, they are dotted with Devapala guards, and Brahmins who aid the burned and sick and hungry and tired. The group arrives into the plaza from the north and turns right for the massive stairs of the Ziggurat that leads up four hundred feet into the air. Halfway up the stairs is an opening that delves into the inner chambers of the ziggurat, where statues, prayer chambers, and the High Brahmin are.

As you near the base of the stairs Devapala move to intercept you, seeing the bloody and wounded, they offer aid, and help with the bodies of those that need it. "Word arrived you would be coming." They nod to Suajta, one of their own, and half a dozen Devapala take your burdens and escort you not up the stairs, but across the square, to the house of healiing where not but 4 days ago Shamad lay in fevor from his terrible burns he experienced during the fire of the city, set by the Yuan-ti (so it is thought). "This way, to the Brahmins." You enter into the familar building, where cots are set for the wounded, the place is already full, young children and old people that suffered the greatest from the tragic flames are packed in here to be tended. At a quick glance, Tej Keji is no longer among the wounded as he was last time you were here.

The Devapala take you to a prive room, where two young Brahmin Acoyltes are clearing the room in a rush to make it ready for your arrival. The wounded are set on clean cots and the Devapala back out of the room, "The High Brahmin is on his way, he will be able to help."

A few minutes pass as everyone sets down their burdens, and takes a moment of rest...

Display

Everyone is faituged, its been an insane day.

[TetNak]

Shamad places the daughter of Lord Ravi upon the cot. 'œThis is Yanamora Ravi,' he says to the nearest Brahmin. 'œAnd Ghanji Prasad,' Shamad says, placing a hand upon Ghanji's chest, 'œHe is poisoned.' Shamad does not recap any further. He waves to Rhotki to come closer, leaning close, he whispers something to the Heneyoki. 'œProtect the group.'

'œI must return to House Ravi,' he announces and starts to turn away and leave. Suddenly, he looks over his shoulder and looks at the dhuka, 'œToranoshi. After you are healed I need to speak with you.' He says nothing further, his eyes flickering to Sujata for a passing moment before he finally heads out of the Temple and heads back to the scene of carnage.

[Wargie]

Toranoshi lends Azora a hand to move through the city towards the temple. As they walk, the dhuka speaks with a low voice of the events that occured in the house. Several times the black clad man staggers on the words, but in the end he manages to tell Azora what happened, and the story wraps up at about the same time they reach the temple.


The dhuka sits down and listens to the words from Shamad, he nods at the man, and then tries to get the attention of any healer that can cure him as fast as possible so he can set out after Shamad.

[Bitom]

Rhokti nods to Shamad, then plops down on his butt, takes out a knife and starts carving splinters off of one of the beams holding up the roof. How in all hell this constitutes protecting the group is something that you must have to be a monkey to understand, but he seems very intent on it.

[Vardaen]

Display

Thanks for splitting up again!

Shamad gives his orders amd Rhokti at once plops down on the floor and starts to make himself half a dozen wooden splinters from the beams that support the roof.

Hamin returns as once to tending to the poisoned Ghanji and Yanamora but he can't do much except buy them a little time untill someone else can arrive to help.

Sujata nods back to Shamad, and turns and sits, a hand on her throat, her eyes on Toranoshi. She is weak from bloodloss, but her resolution is strong, "Sit down shudra...you aren't going anyplace." She motions for Toranoshi to take a seat and wait with the rest of them.

Shamad is out of the door and racing back north through the plaza toward House Ravi once more. As he moves through the refuges he passes a fe Devapala, and catches sight of the High Brahmin and a few other Brahmins in their white jamas moving toward the healing house. In moments he on the road.

You have not been in the healer's house for very long when you begin to hear the wounded in the front chambers speaking and muttering as one, they ask for blessings nearly as one as the High Brahmin passes through the chamber before arriving in your room. Suryakant is young for his rank, but he appears to have aged greatly since you have last seen him. His shoulders are slumped, and his face is frozen in worry. On his flanks are two other Brahmins, both older than he. "Mahabhalla's Soul, what has happened to you all?" He begins to make motion with his hands, and calls on the Great Deva Mahabhalla, the Great Bear, and asks for aid from him, aid for you all, for your wounds of body and flesh, and mind and spirit, and a cool crisp feeling begins to spread throughout the group, each of you begins to feel your sores and bruises, your scrapes and cuts and flesh and bone begin to mend. The regenerative powers of the prayer will wash through the group for several minutes eventually restoring the physical harm you have taken from blade and bow.

Display

Casts Vigor, Mass Lesser. Everyone gains fast healing +1hp/round until they are full or the spell expires. In your cases, everyone is healed up by the end of this encounter, at least for HPs.

[Bitom]

Rhokti continues carving splinters as he speaks. "The children have died. The Ravi have died. The Swami has died. The Assassin has died. My charges have not died, but still, things are worse than before, and many are poisoned."

All of the explanation complete, Rhokti gathers up his splinters and places them in one of his many pockets.

"Soon, we will hear more prophecy."

[Brennor]

Azora stumbles through the streets as best he can, for even though he is a stout man, Narmanda toppled him like a tree.

He listens intently to the story, keeping his raspy voice quiet as Toranoshi speaks.

When the group finally reaches the healing house, he rasps out "Thank you for the aid, Toranoshi. I appreciate it."

He settles in, out of the way and awaits for the High Brahmin to arrive.

After Rhokti speaks out Azora nods and then adds his raspy comment. "Bali was a diversion. Narmanda was after the children."