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Xenos ponders what they might be carrying in those saddlebags that has caused them to run the horses to exhaustion "The mines?" he thinks to himself, but keeps quiet.

Cyril

"My apologies. I may have missed you sharing from where you are coming...I tend to lose focus, especially after spending time like this in the desert."

Sik follows the lead of the others and remains silent, purposefully avoiding eye contact with the raiders as they look him over.

Taibhse

Takes note of the exhausted condition, and weighs if the others are considering it as well. Outwardly he appears the same focused and non-committal.

The Zakath Desert
The Anthropophagi Camp
Morning

The man laughs at the comment about the owed money, nodding his covered head in understanding. “Now that I can understand. We came through here four days ago, but a little earlier than this. We saw a big group of his kind…..”, he motions to Sik. “They must have been slaves, heading back to their masters houses or workplaces to serve out the day.”

Two more men urge their horses down the dune towards Xambaala, one of them shouting back. “Leave them! We have business to attend to!”

Their leader seems to get irritated by his men’s actions, tugging the reigns in his hands towards the others. He looks at Cyril but doesn’t answer, turning back to Kain. “We met an insane hermit out there. That way. In a cave along a high ridge.” He points almost due south. (you are headed southeast) “He told us the people who use this camp burn and eat people. Make of that what you will, but probably a good place to avoid.”

He starts to head off towards the others. “Fare well, and stay alert out here. Dangers can lurk where you least expect them.”

Actions?

Xenos (DS3) AC5 17/17
Drest (Sc4) AC7 22/22
Kainaxarthos (C2) AC6 11/11
Cyril (Pr2) AC8 7/7
Ceana (D2) AC5 13/13
Akhilleus (F3) AC4 32/32
Taibhse (Sh1) AC7 7/7
Belloc (M1) AC6 9/9
Sik (Ba1) AC5 12/12

Drest

Drest nods to them as they leave. Once they are out of sight he will start back towards the ruin.

Kainaxarthos

He returns the nod and bids the man farewell. "You as well. Good luck with your business. May the scales be in your favor."

Once they are out of earshot, he keeps an eye on them but converses with the group. "Well, that was interesting. You all saw the bulging bags, right? We should note where they came from, and how far. What would you say, about eight hours hard ride? I don't think horses can go all day, and night is cooler for them."

"There are mines all over the desert, most of which belong to the Witch-Queen. But there are forgotten ones."

"What do you make of this insane hermit?"

Monsieur Rose wrote: ↑Tue Aug 29, 2023 10:57 am Kainaxarthos
"What do you make of this insane hermit?"

Cyril
"I've been mistaken for an insane hermit myself. I'm sure this gentleman is mostly sane. Could be a good source of information. Clearly he knew the truth of the cannibals."

Ceana

The druidess watches the riders disappear into the distance, while listening to the conversations of her companions. She relaxes a bit once they are out of sight, but keeps an arrow ready for whatever may come out of the ruins.
"How do we know they were telling the truth about the hermit? Or about anything for that matter?"

Xenos

"I was thinking rubies too. Lost mine or not, they'll be too hot for the likes of us. I can only assume they got the means to get them quickly away to avoid to queen's ire. As for the hermit, I suppose he might know something useful."

Drest

"Worth talking to if we wander across him, not so sure it is worth trying to find him in this wasteland. If we had horses or magic to create water it might be worth trying but on foot our worst enemy out here is the desert itself."

Akhilleus goes back to walking towards the fortress with the group.

"Who is this witch-queen you're all talking about?

Anyway, visiting this hermit sounds something we should do at some point definetely."

Xenos

"The witch-queen rules the Zakath desert from the city of Yithorium, and she does so with an iron first. She uses her dark sorcery to stay young and has ruled for centuries. Woe betide anyone who seeks to steal from her."

Kainaxarthos

Kain nods in agreement with a slight smile as Xenos tells of the Witch-Queen. "She has many ways of finding things out, some magical, some not. If they did take from one of her mines, they'd gain an audience in sort order."

"But what kind of Cleric would I be if I didn't know how to make water in the desert." He winks at Drest. "Anyway, back to this place. Is it just the three posts, anything else? Why would people come out here just to burn people?"

Drest

Drest chuckles, "Hadn't seen anything yet to tell me you were anything other than a charlatan. If you can keep us supplied with water I will be very pleased."

Taibhse

"As with any religious site its hard to know why unless you know the religion. What is important is that for some reason they come here and perform their abominable acts here. Rather than go to the ruins might it be a good thing to ambush and kill them here in the act of treachery. I'm sure their victims would appreciate it, and probably join us as they would have no other real options."

Sik glares at Taibhse, disconcerted by the thought of ambushing his one time allies. He decides to ignore him, however, and turns his attention south.

"I've heard tales of this hermit," Sik says loudly for the group to hear. "The riders tell the truth. Though strange I believe he has wisdom of this place and may be able to assist us in our journey. Perhaps he knows of safer routes, alternative entrances. The True Allattaasitoqaq may be expecting us on our return."

Drest

"The who?"