The Boogie to Boujie
This covers some travels in the the third month of the nineteenth year of the reign of Pharaoh Ptolomy, son of Ptolomy.
This covers some travels in the the third month of the nineteenth year of the reign of Pharaoh Ptolomy, son of Ptolomy.
From Sammus’s Boast:
When Baal-Shaq returned from the feast at midnight he told the Kel Ayr that we would be leaving at dusk that evening. We were all warned to get some sleep during the day while the Kel Ayr packed.
Mago, Toxoanassa, Si'aspiqo, Agripinus and I accompanied Baal-Shaq to the market, but Amphius stayed to sleep. Mago bought some ivory trinkets, Toxoanassa bought a necklace of carved ivory, Si'aspiqo traded some powders for a flask of aromatic oils, and I bought two large and strange ivory figures — people with large heads and small bodies carved out of ivory. Si'aspiqo thought them strikingly ugly but considered they could be used in rituals, even though they were not intrinsically magic. Baal-Shaq sold a stock of high-quality sea salt. We returned to camp to get some rest for the remainder of a very warm day.
By the end of the afternoon on 3rd March, the Key Ayr had collected large quantities of water and other supplies and had packed the containers on the camels, and we made ready to depart. Baal-Shaq told us we would travel all night before stopping to avoid any risk of interference from anyone following from Kuku.
We set out with Si'aspiqo on one of the camels, four packed with our containers, supplies and water and Barsoom riding the largest camel. We travelled without incident and camped for the day.
We travelled for three more nights. Amphius turned his ankle and needed some healing the first night. We made good progress as we headed north and slightly east with high ground to the east with some rocky outcrops and flat sand north and west.
As we rested during the fourth day clouds started to cover the desert skies and it became very humid with a light wind. During that night the wind swung round to come from the north, blowing sand in our faces which slowed our progress.
The wind continued during the day but slowly dropped that evening, 9th March. I fell after two days of little sleep and was quite tired by the end of the night and Si'aspiqo fell off his camel. When we stopped, Agripinus carried out a healing ritual and Mago gave us both massages and we soon felt recovered.
On the evening of 10th March, we set out again. Half-way through a cloudy dark night with no wind, Amphius, scouting a little ahead, saw shapes moving in the desert ahead and heard a noise. He returned to the caravan and warned Baal-Shaq and Barsoom. It was soon apparent that many camels were heading in our direction and the Kel Ayr thought it was more of their own people. There seem to be a couple of dozen camels, including two larger ones being ridden.
Barsoom rode out to meet them, and Asmun, Baal-Shaq, Toxoanassa, Mago and I followed on foot. Baal-Shaq gestured to Toxoanassa to bring her bow. The caravan stopped and Barsoom and the other two riders talked. They seemed to know each other, although they were evidently not close.
Barsoom returned with us to the rest of the party, and we moved off the trail slightly and waited for the other caravan to pass. It took a while. There were a few people walking amongst the camels and a couple of others being transported on camel back like Si'aspiqo. There was some staring in the darkness between the two groups but no hostilities. Those in the caravan had similar equipment to our guides. They were well armed and had obviously been carrying a lot of water along with plenty of trade goods although it looked as though quite a lot of the water had been consumed. There were 15 or 16 people altogether none of whom looked like a foreigner, but then without looking closely it was probably not evident that any of us were foreigners either, although Baal-Shaq and I were extremely large figures. They were clearly on the trail to Kuku and Baal-Shaq commented that it was a large caravan and quite late in the season, which seemed strange. As nothing had arrived in the two weeks we had been in Kuku, he had thought we might be the last for the season.
Once the caravan had passed, we resumed our journey for what remained of the night and then rested for the day. As the morning wore on the wind got up and became gusty from the south and we saw lighting and heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. There was a brief sprinkling of rain after which it was cooler.
The next evening, 11th March, the weather cleared, and we could see stars. We saw the outline of Adjel Fort and were met by a couple of Kel Ayr when we arrived and Barsoom paid a toll.
From Sammus’s Boast:
There were a small number of Kel Ayr based at Fort Adjel, maybe for the season. We rested for the day in the lea of a pitched tent and set watches, while the Kel Ayr refilled our water. We all had a very hot and fitful sleep and took turns with the cooling gourd. By evening the Kel Ayr had prepared a meal to eat before we set off. Si'aspiqo was uneasy about something – he thought we had company in his dreams. He had heard something, and thought something was watching us. He suspected that it was since we left Kuku. He believed there might be two things and Amphius suspected my ivory carvings. Si'aspiqo said there was no evidence that it was these.
The night’s march was uneventful. That day Si'aspiqo set up a protective circle around me. Si'aspiqo concluded that I was haunted, and it was connected to the ivory carvings. He thought they wanted my body and that of Toxoanassa. I left the trinkets in the protective circle and stepped out of it. Si'aspiqo then went back to sleep and tried to reach out to them in his dreams.
When he awoke, he reported that we had incarnations of envy and lust, looking for something to do. They were currently only able to look out, not take any action. Si'aspiqo asked me about the transaction. I told him there had been other figures, and the stall had been right in the corner of the market. The seller was an old, local man. Baal-Shaq looked at the figures and said they were very unusual in style. They were distorted caricatures of humans with strange hairstyles and features, unlike most people. Looking at the expressions we could determine which was envy and which lust. Baal-Shaq suggested they were a juju object and Si'aspiqo added that they were a means of communicating with spirits. Baal-Shaq chuckled and said the night was full of spirits, questing things we could not see. Agripinus thought they were idols. Si'aspiqo told us that they allowed something to see the world but not interact. He had heard them talk about lust for Toxoanassa and envy of my gold.
As we were packing at the end of the day the wind started to rise from the north. After a little of the night the sand was stinging in our faces, and we stopped while the Kel Ayr took time to put up the tent in adverse conditions. The rest of that night and the following day, the 13th March, we were stuck in the storm. The next night the wind started to shift erratically and lessened, and we thought about setting out, but then the wind rose just as strong from the south and the sand continued to blow all through the day.
During the night of 14th to 15th March, the storm continued and Si'aspiqo maintained a protective circle around my pack with the idols. In his dream Si'aspiqo heard the idols much as before. During the first watch of the night, I was awoken by a call for help. It was very dark, and the sandstorm still raged.
I could hear sounds of fighting as I tried to get out of the tent along with chanting from Agripinus and muttering from Si'aspiqo. Suddenly all became clearer as the light of Tanit shone forth from the priest’s orb. Just outside the tent, I saw Baal-Shaq was fighting with an undead armed with a large khopesh held in two hands. Further on I could see Amphius, Toxoanassa and one of the Kel Ayr were fighting more of them and I could hear Mago in combat on the other side of the tent.
Amphius backed away from his opponent, while Si'aspiqo cast protection from evil on Toxoanassa. The undead she was fighting recoiled. I hit the undead armed with the khopesh hard and it staggered, but Baal-Shaq missed. In the confusion Agripinus was jostled and stumbled over the words of another ritual. Si'aspiqo cast another protection from evil, this time on Amphius and I caught sight of Mago, who was being grappled by another undead but managed to stab it.
Agripinus muttered a prayer and the undead facing Toxoanassa turned and retreated. Mago scored his dagger on the skull of the undead grappling him, which forced it back. I hit the undead I was fighting on the arm and sheered it off and it was left ineffectively holding the khopesh in one hand. Baal-Shaq missed again. Si'aspiqo cast protection from undead on me. Mago’s opponent retreated far enough for him to use his sling and there was a crack as the slingshot hit the undead on the leg, breaking it, and it retreated limping.
Si'aspiqo cast a protection on Mago. One of the Kel Ayr stabbed a retreating undead in the head and Mago struck his opponent with another slingshot. My opponent parried my blow with the khopesh and my sword bit into the blade, but Baal-Shaq crunched it in the head, and it collapsed. Mago hit a retreating undead with another slingshot and its left arm went numb and then it was finished off. All the undead had now either been dispatched or had fled into the sandstorm.
I searched the remains. On the leader I found a very large bronze khopesh with a jet handle and Egyptian hieroglyphs on the blade and a strange pectoral carved of stone or semi-precious stone, marked with what Si'aspiqo called a shen ring – a circle with a crosspiece. He explained this was an Egyptian protection ring, which offered eternal protection. It was a variation on a scarab. The leader also had ragged remains of ancient Egyptian armour. One of the other undead had a large intricately carved ivory amulet on one arm, but I found nothing else. Si'aspiqo said that only the shen ring pectoral had any magical virtue, although I thought the khopesh was unusually well-balanced.
Meanwhile Mago used his healing hands to massage Amphius and Agripinus carried out some healing. The rest of the night passed quietly but the sandstorm continued.
From Sammus’s Boast:
After some reflection Si'aspiqo told us that he believed that the hieroglyphs on the khopesh were the name of a pharaoh, but he wasn’t sure which one. This indicated that it was to be borne by an officer of the king, maybe even a royal guard from over 500 years ago. Like the sword the shen was likely to be a badge of rank or mark of favour and might still offer some sort of protection. He asked permission from the party to sleep upon the question.
The sandstorm started to die down through the rest of the night and as the day of 15th March wore on the weather and visibility cleared. We were running low on water, but it was probably only one or two nights to the next source of water. We set off at dusk and as we made camp after an uneventful march, a viper bit a camel as we were making camp. Si'aspiqo could still hear muttering from the spirits of envy and lust as he slept
We set out again at dusk. It was bright clear night, and we pressed on to Tessault Springs despite the limping of the camel that had been bitten. Here we saw again the remains of a shrine with the fallen stone pillars marking a rectangular area around it and a wooden cover which our guides removed and then descended to refill our water containers. Baal-Shaq warned us that we would be spending more time than anticipated here as we needed to wait for the limping camel to recover. It was now 17th March, and the wind was rising again, visibility was very limited as the sand started to blow around. Despite this, Si'aspiqo wanted to look at the ruins and Toxoanassa and I went with him. We saw the remains of plenty of pillars, but little was left of the roof, except for piles of rubble. There had probably been a paved are surrounded by a rectangular arrangement of pyramids, but any paving was buried below the sand. Si'aspiqo investigated one of the piles of rubble and used magic to feel for some creatures. He told us he could feel a snake in the first pile and moved to a different pile.
The pillars were not Egyptian or Greek, and the stone must have come from far away, so it seemed a lot of work to build a temple here, and he wasn’t sure why a temple had been built and not just a fort. Si'aspiqo found part of a sculpture – a face with a long square beard, which seem to be on a crouched quadruped, which might have had wings, rather than a human body. Si'aspiqo made a small sacrifice and gave thanks to the ancient statue.
During the night Toxoanassa heard sounds, and by morning the wind had died and so we investigated. I found some small tracks around the campsite in the sand – left by a large mouse or rat, I thought. Then I found a whisp of light grey and sandy fur with slightly larger tracks. The Kel Ayr thought it might be a sand cat, and the smaller tracks were sand rats. Baal-Shaq said there were lots of stories of sand cats being lucky or unlucky and it might be unwise to kill one. Si'aspiqo took the fur and use the fur to make a fetish.
Si'aspiqo, Toxoanassa and I again spent part of the day looking at the ruins. The rectangular area of the ruined temple was about 20 paces across and maybe 40 paces long. There had been 8 pillars along the 40 paces of the long side we thought. The sculpture was to the east and outside of the pillars. It might have originally been part of the frontage and either toppled or have been pulled down. Si'aspiqo went back to the statue and cleared more sand away. Toxoanassa spotted a form slinking away in some vegetation and thought it might have been the sand cat as it had been the size of a large domestic cat or a wildcat.
Si'aspiqo gathered a pile of shredded, dried meat and added a drop of his own blood, then stepped away from it. He used his fetish and felt for the animal and sensed it out there at the edge of his range. He then carried out a ritual and a large greyish cat with sandy marks scuttled out and ate from the pile of shredded dried meat and then sat and looked at the magician. Si'aspiqo asked it to sniff around; it wandered away from the pile of stone and dug a hole in the desert. Rather than relieving itself in the hole, it sat beside it and Si'aspiqo wandered over. He released it and it strolled away.
Si'aspiqo dug down in the hole and found crumbling cloth and a dagger and then a desiccated corpse. It was about 30 metres southeast from the entrance to the temple area and was buried shallowly in the sand. I went to give him a hand to clear it out. The robes were similar in style to the desert robes we were wearing, probably Numidian. It looked like a formal burial, as the body was arranged neatly with the arms folded over the body. The iron dagger was small and slightly curved, in a desiccated sheath and had a slight patina of rust; it was like those carried by the Kel Ayr. There were several fragile bones around the neck of the corpse, probably human vertebrae and Si'aspiqo spotted sigils marked upon them. The sigils were not Egyptian, Greek or Punic, but might have been Numidian. They were joined by a very fragile cord. Si'aspiqo thought they were a ritual object, used in magic rather than being magic themselves. Si'aspiqo recovered the corpse with earth and sacrificed small amount of water, saying a few words of apology for disturbing the sleeper.
Si'aspiqo found it difficult to sleep deeply. He saw a glitter out in the darkness about a foot above the ground and woke Amphius to take a look. The Greek saw a cat sitting a short distance from our camp, watching us. Si'aspiqo took some more dried meat and left it for the cat.
Most of us slept first thing during the day so we would be ready to depart that night, when the injured camel should be ready to resume. I repaired the damage I had caused to the khopesh and spent time practising with it, sparring with Baal-Shaq. Unfortunately I hit him when he mistimed a parry. Agripinus was able to heal him with a priestly ritual. The khopesh hit hard and would be effective at breaking bones, but less effective at penetrating than a spear or shortsword. It needed a strong man to wield it and needed to be held in two hands, but it was very well balanced.
Si'aspiqo made a small sacrifice thanking the statue for hospitality and reburied it as before. We all rested during the day and then got ready to depart at dusk on 19th March.
From Sammus’s Boast:
We left Tessault Springs at dusk on 19th March. There were gusty winds as we headed north but we made good progress that night. We camped under clear skies on a very warm day and then marched on the following night under a full moon. Again, the night’s march and the following days rest were uneventful, and we set out once more on 21st on a very still night, under a very full moon. We could see Moktar oasis ahead at dawn. Agripinus, Baal-Shaq and I were chatting at the rear when we became aware of some commotion ahead. I saw Si'aspiqo kick his camel into action and then it galloped ahead along the track. There were lots of shadow in the moonlight from the plantations around us, but I could not see what was happening ahead. As the three of us tried to push through the discontented and restless camels ahead of us, I could hear shouting and confusion ahead.
We eventually got past the camels to see Amphius and one of the guides engaged with some humanoid figures and Mago and Toxoanassa loosing missiles into the combat. I saw Amphius shoot an opponent in the body, forcing it back and then Mago struck another in the head with a sling stone and it crumpled to the ground. Toxoanassa hit a third figure in the head as it fought a guide. It too went down. Agripinus and I pushed past Amphius, and I hacked into the leg of his opponent and Agripinus chopped off its arm.
As Si'aspiqo reappeared from further up the track no longer on his camel, I struck the head of the remaining undead, for such these figures were, and the skull smashed to pieces. We were masters of the field. On the four corpses we found: an iron sword, of Kel Ayr curved pattern; an iron spear; a silver bangle; a necklace of six Carthaginian gold coins; and a fancy snakeskin belt. The belt was on a corpse which seemed less desiccated and fresher than the other three.
The guides sorted out the unhappy camels and we walked into Moktar oasis, where Barsoom met us with Si'aspiqo’s camel. Mago massaged Amphius and the guide who had both taken some damage. The camels were taken into the canton, and our guides replenished our water supplies as the sun rose and we rested for the day.
When he awoke Agripinus told us he had had a strange dream. In his dream he had been sleeping in his old bed, in the army barracks in the walls of Carthage. He had heard the dawn trumpet and a cockerel crowing, but he had turned over to snooze as he had no duty today. A voice had spoken in his ear, “Wake Agripinus, and listen to me: shadow gathers in the deep desert. Malice is awake and watching for your steps home. They hunger for blood and the life of a woman. Take courage and let my light shine when all around is darkness”. Then he had awoken to the heat of the night in the oasis of Moktar.
Baal-Shaq told us that north of us lay the Erg, and we remembered the darklings we had encountered and that we suspected had been watching when we camped in the cave in the Erg.
Baal-Shaq told the guides of Agrpinus’s dream and they told us that at Moktar the trail split and we had the option of avoiding the Erg and taking the trail east rather than northeast, which would cross the desert and then lead to Carthage. We all agreed however that we should return the way we had come. Baal-Shaq warned we should keep careful watch especially around that cave. “Forewarned is fore-armed” said Si'aspiqo but he also warned of the danger from whatever led the darklings – the equivalent of the Shedim we had encountered at Kaskator.
During the day the wind rose and there was a sandstorm, so we had to rest another day, but by the dusk on 23rd March we were ready to leave.
From Sammus’s Boast:
Baal-Shaq called for an all-hands discussion, and invited our Kel Ayr guides, who sat in a tight group with Barsoom at the front. There was much translation and hand-waving by Baal-Shaq to keep communications going. Between Arma, Punic and Desert Berber he seemed to manage. The guides said that the three secret sites for water were the only way to fill all the camel water sacks, unless the heavens opened, and the great rains came. Apparently, a man might see that perhaps once or twice in his lifetime, so no-one was holding their breath. There were other water holes, but they were much smaller and unreliable. They would rather avoid the Erg altogether than try that, and we would have to change guides at least twice before we finally got to Carthage that way; and we would have to survive the heat of summer. Even he looked pained at the thought.
The Kel Ayr felt they would come at night, for they saw clearly then. A cunning attack would try and put arrows in the camel waterbags, shooting and evading and holding back our progress until we were out of water, or gave up the woman. Barsoom had heard of such things before, from the starwatchers in his tribe. He would not give them your woman in any case, as a life without honour was no life at all. They were our guides and kept their word. The safest way was to go back to Kuku. The longest way was to go to Carthage. The darkest way was to cross the Erg. They would not abandon us, whichever way we chose.
Baal-Shaq said that they were honourable men, and he was grateful. They shared in the danger, and so they would share in anything taken from the desert. He personally would also double the money they had been promised. Then Baal-Shaq asked if anyone had any other ideas, as he would hear from all before we set off.
The Kel-Ayr said that we could travel by day, and laager the camels at night, with the water in the middle: “But that was a very hard way to travel. Very hot, very thirsty. No margin of water on the longest leg; a sandstorm might be the end of everyone. But maybe the path of a Righteous Man, though beset on all sides, will not be blocked by evil. They would have to attack by night, while we defend”. He looked at Si'Aspiqo: “Even riding a camel, this is a hard way”.
From Moktar oasis it was three or four days travel to the ruined fort then six more to the halfway cave and then eight more days to the northern reach where there was just a camp and kraal with a tunnel to the water supply. We all agreed that we should water at the halfway cave in daylight and then move on while it was still daylight for a little way before resting. The Kel Ayr wrapped extra skins around the waterskins to protect them from darkling arrows. We also changed the march order to have Amphius and Mago skirmish out in front, while I swapped with Toxoanassa, so she was in the centre of the party, and I was rearguard. Si'aspiqo prepared fetishes for Darklings, bats and Jabba worms. He found no trace of Darklings or bats, before we set out. He thought there might have been a Jabba worm well off to the northwest, but he wasn’t sure as it was at the end of his range.
By the evening of 23rd March, the sandstorm had faded away and a light warm wind blew from the south as we left the oasis heading northwest. Each time we paused, Si'aspiqo checked again for Darklings, bats and Jabba worms, but felt nothing and our march was undisturbed. During the middle of the day as we rested, Buna noticed a restless camel and spotted something moving near the camp and we were all awoken. He found the tracks of a creature with feet and a long trail, which he told us was a big lizard, twice as long as a spear. We ignored it and rested quietly until dusk.
There were light winds from the northeast and when we stopped around midnight, Si'aspiqo felt there were several Darklings off a little way ahead in the desert. As we set off again with Barsoom riding ahead of us we heard him call a war cry and Mago shouted a warning to the rest as he and Amphius followed Barsoom.
At the back of the party, I saw motion above me out of the corner of my eye. I tried, unsuccessfully to dodge, and something with very large wings and claws bashed into me and then failed to grasp me with its claws as it flew back up. I heard unhappy bleats from the camels and the beating of large wings and then saw a humanoid shape flying off. I suspected it was a Shedim.
Si'aspiqo caught sight of it and agreed it was a Shedim. He cast protection from evil on Toxoanassa in case it returned. Barsoom rode back and reported that he had found a small number of Darklings and killed one, but the rest scattered and fled. Si'aspiqo got out the Shedim token that had been sealed in Agripinus’s box and had it ready to use to help detect the Shedim and then we resumed our march. Mago saw a few bats and then far off in the East the first light of dawn appeared as the moon set. Amphius caught sight of a man-sized figure with large wings high up in the darkening sky ahead to the north, but lost sight of it as it flew behind a dune. Barsoom rode off a little in that direction and then circled back, and we continued our march.
Agripinus and Amphius caught sight of something flying off to the West across the setting moon about 150 metres away and we stopped our march and prepared a defensive camp as it was almost dawn. Agripinus started singing a hymn which he continued singing until dawn arrived and it grew warmer and brighter. The wind was a little stronger from the southwest, and the day was clear and bright. Si'aspiqo cast a protection from evil around the camp centre and we spent a hot day resting undisturbed.
We resumed our march on the evening of 25th March. Twice during the night Si'aspiqo spotted large bats flying around but nothing attacked. As dawn approached the Kel Ayr thought we were near the next watering place, so we marched on. We broke off the trail and ascended to reach a collapsed, mud brick fort or ziggurat which might have been damaged by fire. Our guides found the concealed hole and tunnel in the corner and replenished our water.
Si'aspiqo sensed Darklings nearby and Agripinus thought he saw movement amongst the rocks. Toxoanassa spotted a figure and loosed an arrow, and it let out a squawk. She saw it crawling away but missed with a second arrow. Amphius and Mago went to investigate down the rocky slope and the Greek missed with an arrow but as he charged the Darkling, it ran and Toxoanassa slew it with another arrow. The Darkling was very hairy and had a bag of pebbles and a stone mace. One of the coloured pebbles might have been jet. The mace was made of dense wood, with a hard smooth basalt head. Si'aspiqo thought it was an Egyptian heavy infantry weapon. The rest of the day was hot, but the guides gave the camels extra water, and we all drank as much as we needed. As dusk approached on 26th March we descended back down to the trail. The wind had dropped, and the sky had clouded over. Although the moon was up, the night would be darker because of the cloud.
From Sammus’s Boast:
As we set off along the trail after descending from our camp we adjusted our line of march with Amphius dropping back close to Baal-Shaq and Asmun at the front; Toxoanassa and Agripinus alongside Si'aspiqo and Buna in the centre; and Mago and I as the rearguard with Mezian. Barsoom still rode his camel ranging ahead and around the caravan. We headed north.
Si'aspiqo detected bats with his fetishes and cantrips, but no darklings. He also sensed the Shedim far above us. There was no trace of Jabba worms. There was a light, warm wind from the south and very low clouds. Si'aspiqo’s camel stumbled, and he almost fell out, but he clung on and regained his seat.
At midnight we paused for a break as the moon started to rise. Si'aspiqo cast more cantrips and had more traces of bats. As we marched on Amphius caught sight of a large shadow flying across the moon, but there were no more attacks. We made camp on the morning of the 27th March at dawn with dark clouds and very little wind.
We set off again at dusk after Si'aspiqo had cast more cantrips and found no trace of bats, darklings, Jabba worms or the Shedim. It was very dark under the low, threatening clouds and all of us apart from Amphius had to hold on to a camel and shuffle our way forward. Baal-Shaq and Toxoanassa both fell but suffered no harm. Si'aspiqo cast his cantrips once more and detected bats but no darklings. He caught a glimpse of a flicker off to the north and then heard a rumble. As we stopped at midnight there were more flickers and sounds of rumbling from the north. The camels were sniffing the air and the guides thought it might rain. As we marched on Barsoom checked we were not crossing a dried-up waterway. We made camp early a little way off the trail. We could all feel the wind cool and freshen from west of north and knew rain was on its way. Around dawn it started to rain quite heavily for a few minutes.
We set off again at sunset on 28th March. Si'aspiqo had cast his cantrips and found no traces of bats, darklings and Jabba worms. Once more it was very dark, and we had to shuffle through the sand following the camels. Si'aspiqo fell off his camel and we took an early break so Mago could give him a healing massage and Apgipinus carried out a healing rite.
As we waited, Amphius spotted something out in the darkness. The clouds were breaking up and there were a few stars as the wind turned to come from southwest. Soon Amphius made out three camels and then heard shuffling movement and saw a fourth camel. Barsoom called into the desert and Amphius could see four camels, three with riders and one carrying baggage. There were shouts back and forth in Berber and Si'aspiqo lit a torch. Three men in desert dress came into sight leading four camels. One of them called out: “Greetings! Who have we here?”, in Arma. Agripinus introduced himself and the man replied: “Well met, I am Hannibal of Uttica”. He knew that Agripinus was a priest from the Sacred Band.
Hannibal was a former cavalry officer. He had a grizzled beard and shaved head, and was stocky, medium height and hardy looking. He looked and sounded very Carthaginian. One guide was older than the other younger; one had a sword in his belt and the other held a spear. They were both quiet and were wrapped in desert garb. Hannibal explained that he was exploring, trying to cross the desert in search of ivory, and in particular elephants. There was a talk of war in Sicily and Carthage had put a new bounty on elephants for the war.
He had left Carthage in the late autumn and had headed south from Regane with guides. He and Baal-Shaq spoke in Punic. Baal-Shaq told Hannibal that he was from the most western Carthaginian settlements and was also a Carthaginian citizen. Hannibal knew the cavalry units I had served in and seemed genuine to me. As we introduced ourselves, he commented on how far Kush was, and was very surprised by Seeing Toxoanassa, calling Scythia the end of the world. We told him of our journey and when we told him there had been no elephants in Kuku, he thought he might be better to return to Regane, especially as the weather was getting hotter and hotter now. Baal-Shaq felt we would be stronger together. Hannibal vouched for his guides - Iken and his son Usidene. The Kel Ayr discussed and decided that they were not at war, and it was agreed we would travel north in convoy.
The three new arrivals formed a parallel line to the left of us with Hannibal roughly alongside Baal-Shaq and Amphius and we resumed our march until we made a larger camp than usual at dawn on 29th March. When Hannibal put his kit aside, I noticed a small shield with a red and white galloping horse, which I recognised as a device from a Carthaginian cavalry unit. He had a short spear with a spike at one end and a ball at the other. The wood was burnt black and highly polished, with marks and sigils on it. I learnt that Hannibal had retired as a unit commander of about 500. He walked with a limp but was very solidly built.
Hannibal told us that his guides had been good and kept them from trouble. He commented on Agripinus being a priest of Tanit and then told us that he had a holy tablet to keep off evil and keep him safe. Baal-Shaq was interested in this and Hannibal told him that he was welcome to pray at it. He congratulated Agripinus on putting together such a stout and widely travelled group. He asked about our encounters, and we mentioned the Jabba worm, undead and a few other things and he took out a scroll and noted the answers to his questions. Agripinus noticed that he had tattoo very similar to the design on his shield. Baal-Shaq prayed with him at his tablet.
It was a fair day, and the clouds rolled away to leave clear skies. Before we set out Baal-Shaq told us that he thought Hannibal was genuine. He was a devout follower of Baal, and the holy tablet was genuine.
We set off at dusk on 29th March on a starlit night. Si'aspiqo cast a cantrip and did not find traces of darklings. Shortly before midnight Amphius caught sight of a dark shadow up in the sky ahead to the north, but no-one else could see it. Si'aspiqo cast cantrips and detected some bats to the north and south, but not very close. Amphius caught sight of the dark shadow a few more times to the north and then to the south. Si'aspiqo cast his cantrip to search for darklings but found no trace. Amphius thought there were two large shapes up high; one to the north and one to the south, He warned everyone to be ready. Hannibal prepared his shield and spear and muttered a prayer, and we all made ready for an attack.
From Sammus’s Boast:
After Amphius’s warning about the Shedim, Baal-Shaq spoke to Barsoom, and we paused. No attack ensued, so after a few minutes we pressed on. As we got closer to our break at the halfway point of the night, Amphius saw one of the Shedim slightly ahead of the caravan circling. The horizon was brightening slightly, presaging the rising of the moon and both Mago and Amphius spotted a large shape blocking a couple of stars in the improving light. Mago loosed a sling shot but missed the distant target. Amphius saw it swoop down ahead narrowly missing Barsoom. Several camels began braying and Si'aspiqo descended from his camel. Some of the camels spat out something dark and glowing and Agripinus cast remove fear on his camel, which brayed even more loudly and spat out another dark, glowing pebble.
Mago spotted a blur from behind and above and dropped flat as it whistled past. I was looking in the wrong direction and just felt the draft as it flew past. Si'aspiqo worked up and then cast protection from evil on Toxoanassa, while Agripinus summoned an arcane weapon and looked around for a target. Hannibal was praying to Baal to protect him from the creatures of the night. Si'aspiqo announced that there was a protected zone around Toxoanassa.
Mago loosed again and struck a Shedim with a stone, which glanced off the target and Toxoanassa narrowly missed with an arrow. Mago was disappointed with the impact as it seemed like bouncing off a tree and there was no reaction from the Shedim, but the two dark shapes did seem to retreat to the east with one heading further north and the other further south. The moon was now rising in the west, although still hidden by folds in the land and Barsoom said this was a good time for a break. The guides calmed the camels and fed them more dark treats.
After the rest we resumed our journey by moonlight. Si'aspiqo checked used various fetishes and his cantrips to feel out for bats, Jabba worms, dark spiders, ghouls and the Shedim but felt no nearby contacts. We marched on until about 4am and nothing had interfered with our progress, but at this point clusters of bones rose out of the sand just behind me at the rear of the caravan. They lurched towards me, and I drew my sword, enarmed a bucker and gave a shout of warning. Baal-Shaq drew a blade and headed towards the rear, while Si'aspiqo began to descend carefully from his camel. As Agripinus summoned an arcane weapon, he saw Hannibal and his camel rushing to the rear. Mago retreated to give himself room to use his sling. I was faced with three of the ghouls and more were appearing from the sand.
Mago missed with a slingshot, but I struck a ghoul on the head, it collapsed, and I shielded off a blow from a club. Hannibal arrived on my right and I could hear Si'aspiqo chanting as he prepared a spell. Mezian, armed with a spear, joined Mago, who struck one of the ghouls with a slingshot. I hit another ghoul in the head, and it went down. Hannibal arrived and struck one of his opponents, but I took two blows from clubs.
Si'aspiqo cast protection against evil on me. Agripinus came in range of his arcane weapon and struck at one of the ghouls to my left, which was also struck by another slingshot, which did check it, but then it closed in on Mezian. Agripinus hit the same ghoul again and it dropped its spear. I missed again and took another blow from a club. Hannibal struck again, but the ghoul fought on as Baal-Shaq joined the fray.
More blows were exchanged and Agripinus’s arcane weapon knocked a ghoul to its knees. I could hear Barsoom cantering up on his camel to my right. I sheared the leg off a ghoul with my sword, but it was still moving, and I took another blow from a club. Hannibal hit a ghoul in the chest, and it collapsed. Baal-Shaq and Agripinus both landed blows, as Barsoom joined the combat from our right. I struck the upright ghoul and took off its left arm and Agripinus struck the one with one leg on the head and Hannibal hit another in the torso and spine and Hannibal hit a third in the head and all collapsed. I severed the right leg of the remaining ghoul and Barsoom impaled it with his spear.
We found three bone clubs, two usable spears, a gold bangle and a gold finger ring set with a piece of jet. Si'aspiqo felt no tingle of magic and thought both gold items looked Mediterranean rather than African. He thought the ring might be Punic. I was bruised, so Mago gave me a massage and Agripinus carried out three rites for cure serious and I felt much better.
We travelled on until a little after dawn to make up for lost time, then set up camp for the day, which passed quietly. Our guides told us that we had about two more nights travel to reach the halfway cave.
We set out again at dusk on 30th March and the first half of the night passed without incident. As we neared the point to take a break, Amphius spotted figures just off the trail to the right and some movement. He thought the figures were in desert clothes but could see no camels. Initially he wasn’t sure whether they were camping or set up for ambush. The guides stopped the camels as Amphius explained to Barsoom what he could see. The moon was just starting to show above the horizon and Amphius decided it was an ambush line. He could see at least a couple of spears and some small round shields. Barsoom thought they must be Iwillmiden, from an outcast tribe and enemies of the Kel Ayr. There were at least 10, but probably more, and maybe 300 yards away.
They discussed avoiding them, but Barsoom thought it best to face off against them, keeping the camels behind us. Hannibal started to rummage in his pack and dragged out and started donning his armour. By now the Iwillmiden had noticed our delay and started moving forward in a skirmish line.
From Sammus’s Boast:
Si'aspiqo used tokens and cantrips to feel for darklings and the Shedim but felt nothing nearby. The guides gathered our camels in a laager and Si'aspiqo joined Toxoanassa ahead of the group of camels while I joined Baal-Shaq, Hannibal and Agripinus in a fighting line in front of them and Amphius disappeared into the darkness. Soon we could hear him to loosing arrows.
We could see the odd glitter in the darkness and a sliver of moon was starting to rise above the horizon. Mago called for luck from Baal and starting shooting stones from his sling into the darkness ahead and after one of his slingshots we heard an oof, so he must have struck home. Agripinus chanted a prayer and suddenly a brilliant light appeared high above our line and slightly behind us in the darkness. Fortunately, we were not blinded by the sudden bright light, and we saw Amphius running towards us followed by men in desert robes. They seemed to be in two lines — with skirmishers ahead and then a fighting line beyond. Their lines had been disrupted by the light of Tanit.
Toxoanassa spotted a gap between us and loosed an arrow that narrowly missed an Iwillmiden, but Mago struck a skirmisher with a slingshot, and he went down with a grunt. A few missiles, mainly rocks were thrown at us, but none struck home and Amphius ducked behind our line, just as Barsoom joined on the far end. Mago loosed a slingshot at a skirmisher who was readying a javelin and knocked him down with a cry of pain and I shielded off a rock.
Their combat line tried to organize, and they seemed much more like drilled troops than we would have expected. Mago struck the man on the far end of the combat line who seemed to be giving orders with another slingshot and both Toxoanassa and Amphius struck skirmishers with their arrows, but Amphius was struck by a javelin. As the Iwillmiden rushed towards us, Mago struck a skirmisher with a slingshot to the head, and he went down. As they closed on us Mago evaded a skirmisher as he closed on the slinger. Toxoanassa struck with another arrow, but Amphius narrowly missed.
Our combat line was now fully engaged. I shielded off a blow, and Agripinus struck one of the Iwillmiden. Baal-Shaq and his opponent exchanged blows and Hannibal struck another with his spear. Barsoom and another enemy shielded blows, but he was struck by a skirmisher on his flank, armed with a club. Mago was being pursued by another of the Iwillmiden skirmishers.
I now also had two opponents, but I cleaved into the leg of a skirmisher, and he collapsed, but the spearman thrust past my shield. Agripinus hit his opponent in the arm, preventing him from riposting. Baal-Shaq and his opponent both missed, and Hannibal struck his opponent in the guts, and he doubled over in pain, while Barsoom continued fighting two opponents. Amphius struck a skirmisher in the head, and he collapsed at the Greek’s feet. Toxoanassa struck the skirmisher chasing Mago with an arrow, while Si'aspiqo prepared a fire torch and threw it at the same opponent who was closing in on the stumbling Mago. The fire torch struck the pursuer and there was a shower of sparks, which prevented him from reaching our comrade.
My opponent hit me again with his spear, but I stabbed him with my shortsword. Agripinus and Baal-Shaq and their opponents all missed, but Hannibal thrust a spear into his doubled over opponent, who went down. Barsoom staggered back holding his head from a blow from a curved bronze sword. Toxoanassa missed with her bow and the pursuer continued after Mago, as Si'aspiqo picked up another torch and lit it with a cantrip.
Amphius put another arrow into the guts of the man with the curved bronze sword and staggered him slightly as he turned to engage Hannibal, but another skirmisher closed on the Greek. My opponent shielded but I got past and sheared off his right arm and he collapsed. Agripinus and his opponent both missed again. Baal-Shaq parried and countered and struck his opponent, while Hannibal stuck his sword into the Iwillmiden with the bronze sword, who collapsed. Toxoanassa put an arrow into the leg of the pursuing skirmisher in the leg, and he went sprawling.
Amphius dropped his bow, and tried to dodge and draw his sword, but was struck by the club of the skirmisher. Barsoom went to the Greek’s aid and stabbed the skirmisher in the torso and the Iwillmiden went down. Agripinus’s opponent turned to flee, and I chased him, but he was slightly faster, so I gave up. Baal-Shaq hit his opponent in the back as he turned to flee, and he tottered off. Mago reached the guides, and a camel spat sparks in his direction. Toxoanassa struck the skirmisher with another arrow as he tried to get up and he went down. Amphius picked up his bow and he and Toxoanassa went after the two fleeing Iwillmiden. Toxoanassa missed and but Amphius put an arrow into one of them and he collapsed. Toxoanassa hit the last fleeing ambusher, but then she lost sight of him in the gloom, but Amphius was still able to see him and knocked him down with another arrow and then went and made sure they were dead and stripped the bodies. Meanwhile Baal-Shaq, Hannibal and I ensured all the others were dead and stripped the bodies.
We had 12 corpses altogether. Their hair seemed normal, but their eyes were completely jet black and did not look human, being more like those of a snake; some of their teeth seemed far too sharp, like fangs. Their skin was brown and patterned as though covered in paint or tattoos. Si'aspiqo took a few samples to use for a fetish.
The guides buried the bodies, and we counted the loot, while Agripinus carried out a healing rite on Barsoom who had a head wound. Apart from the clubs and stones which we discarded, we found: a leather thong which we assumed was a sling and some stone bullets; some small shields; some javelins; some knives of assorted shape and size; a curved two-handed bronze axe of Egyptian make; a gold coin necklace of six modern gold coins with holes, threaded on a leather loop (5gp); a carved amulet of semi-precious green stone, which might depict Anubis (10gp); a battered bronze bangle (2gp); a large curved bronze sword, a kopech, with Egyptian gold hieroglyphs cut into it; a gold amulet. The last two both had a tingle of arcane virtue and were Egyptian from a few dynasties ago, Si'aspiqo informed us.
From Sammus’s Boast:
Amphius lopped off the heads of the bodies of the Iwillmiden and they were buried in a separate pit, both dug by the Kel Ayr. The Kel Ayr were pleased as they thought it a great deed to wipe out the Iwillmiden for no loss. Agripinus healed me with a short ceremony but was unable to do the same for Barsoom as he was a follower of Baal. Mago massaged him to aid his recovery. We set out again for a couple of hours under a sliver of moonlight and then, as the sun started to rise, decided to continue for another 45 minutes before we made camp. It was a very warm day.
That evening we set out again at dusk on the last day of March. Barsoom thought a night’s travel would get us close to the halfway camp. Si'aspiqo fell off his camel, but otherwise the march was quiet until dawn. There was a bright dawn with a warm light wind from the south and after an hour or two a hill with a jagged arc of cliffs and a notch came into view. We continued with Barsoom a little ahead checking the trail and approached the notch around 9 in the morning. We saw the bowl which was our destination with the cliffs above and caves high up. Si'aspiqo was exhausted and Amphius felt faint. Agripinus healed Amphius and we had a short break.
We set out again, for the last stretch to the halfway camp, but Mago fell full length into soft sand, and almost disappeared from view. I knelt down at the edge of the trail and reached for him. His head and an arm reappeared, and I was able to drag him out. We soon joined the others in the cave, but Mago was exhausted. The Kel Ayr started to fill out watersacks, and we all drank extra water and rested.
Si'aspiqo used his fetishes and cast cantrips to feel for different creatures. He told us that there were jabba worms out in the sand and darklings high above us, but he felt nothing else. We were all very tired and Agripinus carried out a short healing ceremony on each of us, apart from the Kel Ayr, Baal-Shaq and Hannibal as they were followers of Baal. After a couple more hours we set out again in the early afternoon and headed back down to the trail led by Barsoom. We all had the feeling we were being watched. It was very bright, so it probably wasn’t darklings but something else.
We reached the trail without incident and followed it north. Three hours later we paused and discussed whether to take a break or continue. We decided to rest until dusk and then set out again. Si'aspiqo checked for darklings and Shedim with cantrips. He told us there were darklings to the south, but when he tried a second time, something went wrong, and his eyes rolled up and we could see the whites of his eyes and he muttered to himself but then recovered. The Shedim certainly knew we were here now, if they had not already known.
Mago and Amphius swapped places, so that Amphius joined me as rearguard. Amphius soon spotted two winged forms flitting about, one to the east and the other to the west, a little way off paralleling Amphius and I. Amphius saw the western one closing from the left and warned me. When it was 100 yards way, he warned the party. Agripinus uttered a short prayer and summoned his arcane weapon, with which he could strike at a distance. Si'aspiqo cast protection from evil on Toxoanassa. The Shedim veered to the south and kept about 50 yards away and then switched over the east and Amphius lost sight of the other.
There was a warning shout from Barsoom near the front and Mago felt a chill, but after calling on Baal, he shook off the feeling. Toxoanassa spotted the Shedim above and behind Si'aspiqo and loosed an arrow, which either glanced off or narrowly missed the target, but Agripinus was able to strike it with his arcane weapon and we heard a hiss from the Shedim as it passed overhead.
Amphius spotted a Shedim around 100 yards off to the east, low down ahead of the party, but then lost sight of it. The two Shedim were flitting around like giant bats, and were difficult to keep in sight, even for Amphius with his night vision. There were also bats flying around.
Toxoanassa spotted a flying figure coming from the west and called out. She loosed an arrow, which struck the Shedim solidly, but seemed to just bounce off. The Shedim veered off as it got close to the centre, maybe dissuaded by the protection from evil that Si'aspiqo had cast.
By now we had come to a halt and had formed up in a circle with the camels in the centre and the rest of us around them. Some of the camels were braying and we could see sparks as they spat. I could hear the Kel Ayr muttering, and I caught the word Baal; both Baal-Shaq and Hannibal were muttering prayers.
Amphius spotted something to the northeast and as it flew past, Agripinus missed with his arcane weapon. Soon after I spotted something incoming from the west and I shouted a warning. As it passed narrowly over me, I felt cold in my chest and limbs and felt some of my strength ebb away. I felt tired and cold. Amphius tried to loose an arrow but his string broke. Si'aspiqo heard a voice speaking Egyptian in the night and told us it was a curse.
Again, a Shedim passed over the party and Mago got a cold feeling that spread around his chest and limbs and he also felt weakened. Agripinus slashed again with his arcane weapon as it passed close by but missed once more.
Si'aspiqo cast protection from evil on Amphius and then lit a torch and stuck it into the ground next to Toxoanassa. Amphius came closer, holding his unstrung bow, and wincing. Unfortunately, he looked at the torch and was momentarily blinded. Toxoanassa spotted something in the air, lit an arrow and then loosed it. It struck, but it still seemed to have no effect, glancing off and fiery sparks landed somewhere in the desert. Baal-Shaq and Hannibal waved their weapons in the air at the Shedim. Agripinus was the target this time and he felt coldness wash over him as the Shedim chanted something, but he shrugged it off.
Si'aspiqo took out his Shedim token and tried to target a cantrip but failed. Agripinus warned that something was coming from the north and recast his arcane weapon. He struck home with it and the Shedim hissed. Hannibal said something in Punic to Baal-Shaq who replied to him and then in Arma said to the priest: “wait until I say, get ready”, Agripinus warned us to avert our eyes. Si'aspiqo cast protection from evil on me. I spotted something from the East, as Baal-Shaq shouted: “Now!”, and Agripinus revealed the light of Tanit. The Shedim shied from the light. Si'aspiqo tried his cantrip but failed again. Mago slung a stone, Toxoanassa loosed a fire arrow and Hannibal threw his spear. The sling and arrow seemed to have no impact, but the spear struck the Shedim in the head and it crashed to the sand to the west. Baal-Shaq and I rushed in that direction. We arrived in the darkness and heard the flapping of leathery wings. We each got a blow at it, but I merely scratched it, and Baal-Shaq missed as he stumbled in the desert. It started to fly up. Si'aspiqo managed to cast a cantrip of shock, but there was no visible effect. Hannibal arrived looking for his spear, but the Shedim was out of reach of our weapons. It chanted again and I felt a dash of cold but shrugged it off. Si'aspiqo tried a cantrip to focus his luck and we heard the Shedim flapping off to the west, into the darkness. It did seem a little slower. Hannibal gave an exclamation in Punic; he had found his spear. He, Baal-Shaq and I returned to the bright light and our defensive formation.
Amphius saw something flying in quickly from the north. Si'aspiqo pulled out a fire flute. Amphius gave Toxoanassa two fire arrows as he hadn’t yet managed to restring his bow. She lit one but missed. Mago struck with a slingshot, but it bounced off to no effect and Agripinus gave Mago some holy water to pour over his stones. Again though, Hannibal struck the Shedim in the head with his thrown spear and the demon tumbled out of the sky. Baal-Shaq and I chased after it, but I tripped in the dark. Si'aspiqo blew on his fire flute, and a puff of fire enveloped the flapping form. Baal-Shaq hacked at it and narrowly missed, and the Shedim clawed at him as it tried to ascend. Mago struck the demon in the head with a stone that had been doused in holy water, and it reeled, but continued to fly. As it flew out of range, it lashed at me with its tail as I missed my counterstrike. Mago missed with another slingshot.
Hannibal again found his spear and we regrouped. Toxoanassa went up to Mago to get some of the holy water. Things went quiet for a few minutes apart from the groans of Barsoom who seemed to have been cursed with sickness. Agripinus cured him and five minutes passed by. Amphius thought he saw something far away to the south, hovering high up. Agripinus covered his orb of light.
Baal-Shaq spotted something flying in and called for light; Agripinus uncovered the light of Tanit. Toxoanassa loosed an arrow dipped in holy water at the Shedim as it flew towards her and Si'aspiqo, striking the Shedim in the arm, and the demon hissed. Hannibal cast a spear and hit it in the guts as it grasped at Si'aspiqo, narrowly missing him, and then flapped close to Toxoanassa, who missed with a second arrow. Si'aspiqo collapsed groaning after miscasting a spell.
The Shedim grabbed Toxoanassa’s clothing, as I missed again. Mago missed with slingshot, and Toxoanassa stabbed to no effect. However, the Shedim fell back to the ground still having a grasp of Toxoanassa. I guessed trying to cross the barrier of Si'aspiqo’s protection had damaged it. I missed again but Baal-Shaq sheared off an arm and as it collapsed to the ground flapping, I thrust my shortsword deep into its middle and it did not rise again.
Baal-Shaq gave Si'aspiqo a flask of water and ten minutes went by. Amphius restrung his bow. After another 20 minutes Si'aspiqo had recuperated and could do cantrips but had no mana for any spells. Barsoom and Baal-Shaq had a brief discussion in the desert tongue and then Baal-Shaq suggested to us that we had a choice — either wait it out here or move on. We decide to wait for dawn.
Agripinus checked the corpse of the Shedim and found a jade ring, which was identical to the one Si'aspiqo wore, which had come from the last Shedim we had killed in Kaskator. He also found an ivory bangle, which was on the tail of the demon. Si'aspiqo thought they both had arcane virtue. The bangle was patinaed with age and had cuneiform carved in it.
Just before dawn Agripinus blessed some more water and gave it to the skirmishers for their missiles. As the light dawn arrived, we prepared to march on and Mago and I felt the chill cast by the Shedim lift from us and we recovered our strength. We propped the corpse up in the sun after opening it for easy access to scavengers and we headed north.
We travelled until noon by which time it was very hot, and the wind was blowing stinging sand. We decided to rest for the second half of the day and resume at dusk. Baal-Shaq suggested that in the future if Agripinus could shine a bright light when the Shedim was close, Hannibal could throw his spear. He had inspected the corpse and told us that there was a small amount of fire damage, but the most serious wounds were from the fighters’ swords and spear.
From Sammus’s Boast:
We set off just before dusk on 2nd April. There was stinging stand blowing in from the east and it was very dark with no moon, so Agripinus produced the light of Tanit from his orb, to help us travel. Amphius went ahead and looked forward to preserve his night vision. The march was uneventful and just before dawn Agripinus blessed more water to be used by the skirmishers. He then performed a Divination and asked the Goddess about the green ring and the ivory bangle looted from the corpse of the Shedim.
In his trance he heard the following:
A verdant gem, this graven stone
By burning day a vibrant hue is shown
In night's embrace, a silent grace
So green echoes through time and space
and:
The Assyrian came down like a wolf on the fold
And his chariot was gleaming in purple and gold
A whisper of chance, a breath of fate
Cherish the moment before it’s too late
We then camped for the day and the wind had dropped by the time we resumed our march at dusk. The night passed quietly, while we again travelled by the light of Tanit. The wind was rising as we went on and during the day on the 4th April there was a sandstorm, with no visibility and it was difficult to get much rest. Toxoanassa moved a little way from the camp at one point to relieve herself and saw a yellow cobra. Quickly pulling out her dagger, she cut off its head and was able to return with the meat and snakeskin. The sandstorm continued into the night, and we could not travel on. Agripinus held the light of Tanit aloft for the night and spent some time practising with a mirror and the light to try and concentrate its rays.
By the early hours of 5th April, the wind and sandstorm started to drop, but our guides thought it best to stay put as there was little of the night left and more bad weather might arrive. During the day there was still stinging sand from the northwest. Si'aspiqo cast cantrips seeking the Shedim, darklings, jabba worms and ghouls, but felt none of them within a few hundred yards. All the same he set up a protection from evil around us.
In the afternoon there was a drumming of hooves, and a small group of gazelles was seen. Toxoanassa, Amphius and Asmun went after them. After an hour of stalking, they had got into shooting range and Amphius managed to bring down a small gazelle with an arrow. Messian prepared the deer and gave Amphius a small beaker of the blood. At dusk we set off and the night’s march was quiet, the wind died, and the stars came out.
We camped for the day on 6th April and our guides thought we were now halfway. Another four nights should get to the north reach and then another three or four more to Fort Boujje. We set off at dusk, with a light wind from the north and marched undisturbed until dawn. We camped for the day and then set off again at dusk on 7th April. Si'aspiqo cast various cantrips and suspected there were many darklings out there, but no Shedim, and the weather would be fine for the night. The weather prediction fitted the clear skies, but we were unconvinced that we were surrounded by darklings. Barsoom rode round and saw no tracks or signs of them. The night was again quiet, although the wind was rising from the southwest, bringing stinging sand as we camped at dawn.
The night of 8th into 9th April was also uneventful and the moon rose in the east, lighting our way for the last couple of hours until dawn. Our guides issued extra water as they believed one more night of travel should get us to the north reach. We set out again at dusk on 9th April and marched undisturbed until dawn but had still not reached our destination, Our guides suggested pushing on as it wasn’t far to the north reach and after a few hours on the morning of 10th April we saw a ridge of rocks off to the northeast with a gap and then reached an ancient kraal and camp and a hidden tunnel. The day was spent resting and the guides refilled the watersacks.
Si'aspiqo investigated the jade ring and bangle. He thought the jade ring similar to the one he wore and probably brought luck or protection. I agreed to wear the ring for the next while to see if I noticed any effect. He learnt nothing about the bracelet and Toxoanassa took it and put it on her arm.
At dusk on 10th April Si'aspiqo again cast his cantrips and this time he thought bad weather was on the way. Baal-Shaq and the guides discussed his prediction, and the Kel Ayr shrugged and left the camels in the kraal when Baal-Shaq decided to stay for a day. The moon rose early and as it set with a red light, the wind suddenly rose, and a violent sandstorm rolled over our camp from the northwest. Baal-Shaq congratulated Si'aspiqo on his prediction. By dawn several feet of sand had blown around the side of the kraal. The 11th April was a blur of hot sand. Si'aspiqo investigated the ivory bangle further but found nothing new. Towards midnight the storm passed over the top of the camp and the hot wind veered to come from the south, spitting sand. The guides decided to wait the day and hope the weather improved. At least we had plenty of water.
At dusk on 12th April, the wind had dropped a little and it was possible to travel. The night passed quietly with moonlight until midnight at which point Agripinus provided the light of Tanit, and we continued uninterrupted until dawn on 13th April. During the day Si'aspiqo looked at bracelet again but had no new insights. Si'aspiqo thought the next night would be clear and fair and we set out at dusk on 13th April with the moon high above as the sun set. Amphius spotted two or three bats flittering around in the desert, soon after we set out. They were circling around us, but these were not the large bats we had encountered before and when Si'aspiqo cast a cantrip and felt for large bats, he felt none nearby.
Something flew just past Mago’s ear, and as he turned to follow its flight, something hit him in the back and bit him. I knocked the bat off, with the pommel of my shortsword and it fluttered away. The caravan paused but resumed after a brief halt. There was a rustle in the rocks and Amphius saw something low to the ground slither off to the east away from us. It was almost as large as a person. He watched its track as the caravan passed, and something swooped past his head as he waited. Once the caravan was past, he resumed his place a little ahead of it. An hour or so later something fluttered out of the darkness near Mago, he tried to duck and missed with a dagger as another medium sized bat went by. Dawn arrived without further attack on 14th April.
The day was hot and quiet, and we set out again at dusk. As we marched Amphius spoke to each of us and he told me that he had agreed to open a gate in the desert for Boujje using the magic key, in exchange for the “daylight” hat band he had been wearing since we had left Fort Boujje. I told him I would be happy to accompany him.
The night was quiet and at dawn on 15th April, we were travelling in deteriorating weather, but as a sandstorm arrived from south, we reached Fort Boujje safely.