Campaign6/session15
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First Contact
Trailer: Now that Nymvayas is safely stored (for now) in the Ysyryl, will the intrepid party move south to make contact with the lake people that Anna spotted?
Synopsis:
Assynt 34, 1022
In the morning, the party decamps from the clearing across the river, their last close view of the Drysophian collective before they enter an overgrown forest path. Unlike the travels in the Drysophian forest, the path makes easy passage as the party heads south toward the tower Anna scouted yesterday.
After four hours of travel, the party cautiously approaches the tower, which appears to be an abandoned guardpost at a crossroads. A well-beaten path from the east joins the overgrown path here, and continues it's run southward from the tower. The party climb the tower to survey the lake to the west, and a village on it's southern shore. The lake is apparently formed by a massive stone dam that blocks the river flowing from the north. A tall stone wall made of 10 - 20ft pillars runs from the western shore of the lake up to the rocky outcrops of the mountains beyond.
The observe that there are no boats, either on the lake or along the shoreline, which seems odd.
The party travels south to the dam, where they decide to park the wagon and leave Anna to stand guard. Everyone else gingerly walks across the top of the dam and along the lakeshore to the village. They simply walk right up to the edge of the village, where they are quickly spotted, and a moment later are confronted by at least a dozen men that make up the village guard. One of the guards tries to ask what they're doing here, but they speak a completely different language. A tense moment passes before an official and two of his adjutants join the guard, and try to communicate with the party.
Through gestures and drawing in the dirt, the learn that the official's name is Shimura, and that the people call themselves "Nith". While this exchange is going on, Feiruhn rips language knowledge out of one of the guards, giving him a splitting migraine. He manages not to arouse suspicions in doing this, and obtains through his effort a very basic understanding of the language. Feiruhn keeps his new language talent a secret, but uses it to relay information to the party in a way that would simply be interpreted as "insightful" by the official.
The party tells Shimura that they come from the north, beyond the "trees" which Shimura seems uneasy about. The portray themselves as traders, and Shimura accepts this explanation, asking where their trade goods are, and if there are any others with them. He seems especially interested in Triella. Shimura invites them into a one-story building constructed of wood to confer in a more comfortable setting, and after everyone has placed their weapons on a ceremonial rack just inside the door, they seat themselves around low tables in a receiving room.
Shimura instructs one of the adjutants to bring a sand table, which Shimura uses with grace to draw pictograms to communicate with the party. They learn that the lake and wall are used to protect the village from the "trees" in the north. They also learn that there are other peoples in the general area: the Akura to the northeast, and the Kronnach to the south and east.
By now, the party has noticed that they have not seen any women in the village or among the servants. Shimura tells them that while they are staying in the village, that any women in their group will have to wear the traditional garb of the Nith women (called a Chiaki) to avoid any "trouble". A fine silk chiaki is brought by a young woman (the first Nith female they have seen) for Triella, and a plain cotton chiaki is given to Ban to take to Anna when they fetch the wagons. At first Triella balks, and openly contemplates burning the whole village down (of course Shimura does not know the content of the conversation). Ban and Feiruhn finally convince her to go with female servant to learn how the robe is worn.
While Triella is gone, Shimura suggests that the rest of the party go to fetch their wagon and any additional people that may be travelling with them, and instructs the two adjutants to go with them to provide guidance to the bridge a few miles to the south where they can cross the river. Feiruhn indicates that he will stay behind to keep an eye on Triella. Shimura tries to suggest that Triella will be fine without an escort, but Feiruhn insists. The rest of the party departs with the adjutants to rendezvous with the Anna and the Wagon.
Meanwhile, the woman takes Triella to a small room deeper in the structure and shows how to put on the chiaki, and also where to hide small weapons for protection. Triella manages to find a comfortable place to wedge the Ysyryl, and returns to find Feiruhn alone in the receiving room. Feiruhn explains that the others have gone back to the wagon to bring everything back to the village. While they wait, the woman brings in a tray of fruit and sets it in front of Feiruhn. She looks expectantly at Triella, and when Triella does nothing, she sighs and starts cutting the fruit and offering it to Feiruhn. Taking the clue, Triella takes over so that she doesn't have to put up with the Nith woman's dark looks. Once she leaves, Triella lets Feiruhn feed himself.
Back at the wagon, Anna is found fishing from the lakeshore with some success: two large carp. The adjutants are unsure how to react, but it is clear that they think Anna should be separated from the fish and not allowed to do any further work. Ban has to work very hard to convince Anna to wear the chiaki, but finally prevails.
The party works its way south on the road, finally reaching a bridge that crosses over the river. Anna rides the wagon south, while Ban drives. They make it to the village uneventfully.
Previously Session 14: Exorcising Nymvayas?
Continued Sesson 16: Nemuro
Campaign 6 Index
