FRIDAY, MARCH 6TH - KINGDOM OF KESHANAR : SESSION 5 RECAP ; PART 2
The group decided they should head back home to avoid worrying their mother, Elaria. They brought Bek with them, though they were still not completely convinced they could trust him. They soon saw the familiar gate of their estate and the recognizable figure of their mother standing on the front steps.
“I thought you might not make it on time,” she called out to them as they approached. “Yara is about to set the table. Oh! Who is this?”
She gestured at Bek, then took in the tattered, filthy, and somewhat bloody clothing and the slight limp displayed by the stranger with the bandage around his right thigh. She immediately looked at Khephri, who had something of a reputation for bringing home ‘strays’.
“This is Bek,” Kharu said. “He works for an associate of father and we meet him in the city. We invited him to dinner.”
Zafira half expected a look of annoyance from their mother, but her face remained friendly, the smile locked in place.
“Of course,” Elaria said, “I will have Yara set another place setting.”
She turned to go inside, then stopped at the door. “The three of you might consider cleaning up. Your father will be none too pleased at the state of your clothing.”
The siblings led Bek into the foyer, the imposing figure of the Anubis headed golem standing guard near the front door. The head of the construct turned briefly to regard the newcomer, but sensing no threat it returned to its previous position and did not move again.
Kharu showed Bek to a guest suite where he could clean up while the sisters went up to their rooms to bathe and change clothes. Zafira hid the dagger under her pillows while she cleaned up. She moved quickly through the process, not wanting to leave the blade too long unattended. She dressed in clean robes, retrieved the dagger, then went down to dinner. Her brother, sister and Bek joined her, entering to find her mother and father already seated.
Dinner was served, roasted pheasant, steamed vegetables, and fresh baked bread. The servants kept the wine flowing as small talk was made. Khephri introduced their guest formerly to her mother and father. Semat seemed surprised that Bek worked in the employ in Ulrik. Their father did not elaborate on Ulbrik or how he knew of the man, but Kharu could tell from his father’s clipped tone that he was less than enthusiastic to have one of Ulbrik’s men in his home.
After dessert was finished Semat excused himself, retiring to his study for work. Elaria likewise excused herself and left the children to talk and entertain their guest alone.
“What have you decided to do?” Bek asked once they had the room to themselves.
“Perhaps we should take the artifact to the Temple of Khonshu,” Zafira said. “It belongs to my god after all, and perhaps it belongs in the safekeeping of his chosen.”
Khephri nodded agreement. “I had thought to consult my own goddess for guidance. It seems we are out of our depth here.”
Kharu stared at the now empty crystal wine glass in front of him. “It is an avenue worth exploring. If nothing else perhaps they can confirm that the dagger is what we believe it to be.”
Zafira looked at him sharply. Had Khonshu not told her himself what the blade was? She felt her blood cool as she considered her half brother. He was ever thinking, looking at a problem from multiple sides, trying to make sense of things and determine a course forward. He meant no disrespect with his words, he only sought a means of moving forward and doing the right thing for the city.
“It is settled then,” Zafira said. “We shall visit the temple tomorrow and get their advice on the matter.”
“I shall go back to Ulrik and report that I am still following you,” Bek said.
“You will not tell him we have the dagger?” Khephri asked, suspicious.
“I think it best, at least for now, that he does not know,” Bek replied. “I fear his wrath more than that of the Pharaoh. To not give him an update is to invite his ire. I’d rather not do that without cause.”
“I agree,”Kharu said. “The fewer that know what we have, the better, at least until we know who we can trust and why they want the dagger.”
Bek nodded and took his leave, telling them he would see them the next morning to accompany them to the temple.
The rogue made his way out of the Soulkresh Cauldera and made his was back toward the Troll Cauldera. He made his way in a random pattern, using alleys and switchbacks to make sure he was not being followed. It took far longer with the precautions, but experience had taught him that he it was best to spend the time to ensure his safety and the identity of those he worked for at the moment.
In time he made his way to a nondescript tavern, The Four Moons. Sliding through the door, the bouncer looked him over briefly and nodded, and Bek slid into the dark establishment. This was not the normal rowdy drinking house that one expected to find in the Troll Cauldera, this particular place was a gathering place for those that wished anonymity. Information passed hands here, dealings that were best done in the shadows away from the eyes of the citizens.
Bek moved around the end of the bar toward a heavy curtain that led to the back areas of the tavern. A minotaur, large, muscular, with jagged scar running down his face, over a missing eye, to his jaw line. He stood as the rogue approached, held up his massive hand to stop Bek before he proceeded. The silent guard stepped past the curtain and was gone for a few moments before returning. He held the curtain back to allow Bek to go back to the single door that stood partially open at the end of the corridor.
When he made it to the door and reached for the handle a voice inside called out to him. “Come in Bek.”
The rogue pushed the door open wide enough to allow him to slip past it, then he closed it behind him. The room was spartan, little in the way of furnishings, a couple of plain, wooden chairs sat in front of the large stone desk behind which sat the person that he bid him to enter. A human, his white hair pulled back into a tight ponytail at the back of his head. Unremarkable, dark clothing covered him, finely tailored and made of imported fabrics, but not flashy in a way that would draw attention.
Ulrik.
The man was looking over a ledger, with several parchments unrolled in front of him on the desk’s large surface. Bek made his way to one of the wooden chairs and sat down quietly, not wanting to disturb his employer from whatever it was that had his attention. Ulrik ignored his guest for several minutes, continuing to read over the ledger. It was a means of showing Bek his status. A simple ploy to establish dominance. Bek ignored it and looked around the room to occupy himself until Ulrik deemed to acknowledge him.
After a bit of time, Ulrik closed the ledger, pushed it away from himself and looked up at Bek. He steepled his fingers together in front of him, his elbows resting on the arms of his chair.
“Tell me,” Ulrik said. “Did the children of Semat find what they sought?”
Bek looked at him, his face impassive. “The left the Vaults. They fought some sort of creatures there from the corpses I saw. I am not certain if they found anything.”
An orange gemstone flashed briefly on a silver ring on the index finger of Ulrik’s left hand. Bek knew it once it was some sort of magical ring, and no doubt the flash meant that it had detected the lie the rogue had just told the man. Bek did his best to keep his face impassive, but knew he had just been caught in a lie. The paradigm had just taken a very dangerous turn and his mind raced on how to extricate himself from this situation.
The look on the older man’s face became a bit harder, taking on a dangerous edge that Bek had seen before.
“Let’s try again,” Ulrik said. “Do the children of Semat have the dagger.”
The rogue decided to take another tactic, one less of a lie, but still non-commital. “They have something, It could be the dagger. I am not entirely certain.”
Ulrik seemed satisfied with his response. “Continue following them.”
The man went back to reading his paperwork as a means of dismissal.
Bek got up and turned to leave. He was at the door, about to open it when Ulrik spoke again. “Bek, do not disappoint me.”
He did not give voice to a threat, but it hung there in the air unspoken, but no less real. Bek moved out into the night wondering how he would come out of this job with his hide intact.
Kharu walked into his bed chamber, exhausted from the long day and in desperate need of a rest. He walked over to the wardrobe, tossing his cloak onto a hook nearby. As he turned around to light a lamp, that is when he noticed someone sitting in the chair near the fireplace.
“We need to talk son,” Elaria said standing.
“Mother,” Kharu replied. “ I did not see you there. Is everything alright?”
“You tell me, son,” she replied. “The three of you come home covered in dirt, dust and blood and your clothing tattered. You have obviously been into some sort of fight. What is it exactly that the three of you are up to?”
Kharu started to speak, but before he could honor a word, his mother held up a hand to stop him.
“Before you speak, let me remind you I am your mother. I know more than you think I do and at the very least, I deserve the truth,” she said.
The Tiefling knew instinctively that lying to her would not only hurt her, and perhaps put him and his sisters into a bad spot with his parents. He decided it best to tell her all that he could safely.
“We are working for the pharaoh in much the same way that father does,” he said. ”We were tasked with finding a lost dagger in the Vaults of Duat. We encountered a strange Dusker and we could not avoid a fight. The three of us worked together, and we were able to defeat it.”
“Is it not enough that I must worry about your father?” she said, turning to look out the open terrace door into the night. “Now I must add concern for my children to my burdens?”
“We are careful Mother,” Kharu said but it felt hollow, even as the words left his mouth.
“When your father brought you home all those years ago, I did not ask questions. He told me that his son needed a mother, and I became that to you without question. I treated you as if you were my own fleshing blood and in time you became that to me. I could not love you more if you were my own,” she said, turning back to him.
She ran a hand gently down the side of his face. “Please be safe. Bring your sisters home safely. Do not take unnecessary risks and do not let any man, including the Pharaoh, take my children away from me.”
The Elf turned and walked out the door and closed it quietly behind herself as she left.
Kharu went to bed, wondering how he had not seen that there was more to his mother than he had ever given her credit for.
The next morning, the three siblings had breakfast, not speaking a word as they ate their fill and then left the house. Kharu turned back to see his mother standing on the second floor terrace watching them leave. She did not wave but simply watched them as they walked down the street away from the house.
The siblings made their way to the temple area, finding the temple to Khonshu easily enough. They found Bek waiting for them near the front steps.
They exchanged pleasantries and then went inside. Zafira asked to speak with Weserkhonsu, the High Retharan of Khonsu. He led the temple here in Keshanar. If anyone would know about the dagger and how to help them, it would be him.
After a weight of about a half an hour, an alkali came out to fetch them from the waiting area. The young girl led them back through the temple into what appeared to be private chambers.
They were shown into what appeared to be an office. A large simple wooden desk stood in front of an open window that looked out over the river and the docks below.
A middle aged man with dark hair sat in a cushioned chair, looking up as they entered.
“Good morning,” the man said in a way of greeting. “I am Weserkhonsu. You wished to speak with me?”
“Yes,” Zafira said. “We have come into possession of a dagger and I have had a vision. A vision of Khonsu.”
“Visions are powerful things and are rare,” the high priest replied. “Tell me about it.”
Zafira relayed the vision as she remembered it to the high priest. She left nothing out. When she was done. Weserkhonsu looked from her to each of the others in turn.
“Do you have the dagger with you?” he asked.
Zafira nodded and despite the look of warning that Khephri shot her, she handed it to the high priest.
The priest spent a number of minutes studying the dagger. He removed it from its chief and looked at the hieroglyphics. He then turned to look at the siblings and their companion.
“It is indeed the Dagger of Eternal Night,” he finally said. “This is a great relic of our faith, one we thought lost. It must be guarded.”
“This is why we brought it here,” Zafira said. “The Pharaoh tasked us with finding it, but we are fearful of what he intends to do with it. We seek your guidance.”
“The Pharaoh has always been a devout man and leader. He has always done what is best for the city.,” Weserkhonsu replied. “If he wants it, it is without a doubt to protect it or to use it for the city. Regardless, your vision said that our God and trusted it to you therefore, I think you should keep it for now.”
The four left the temple and decided that they should seek the guidance of Arislene the Seer. After a bit of discussion it was decided and the four made Their Way to the tower of the seer.
Kato welcomed them as he always did with his usual cheerfulness. The four were shown into the study where the Sphinx waited. She smiled as they came in. Khephri thought the smile had almost a predatory look to it and it sent a feeling of apprehension through her she could not explain.
“Greetings,” she said cheerfully. “Please make yourselves comfortable.”
“Thank you for seeing us,” Kharu said.
“Were you successful?” Arislene asked. “Did you find it? Do you have it here?”
Was she too eager, the Paladin thought. Have we made a mistake coming here?
Zafira started to speak, but Khephri cut her off. “We have it, but it’s not here. We have it somewhere safe.”
The Sphinx’s smile faltered for a second, but Khephri saw it. As she watched one of the Seer’s paws dropped out of sight and her mouth began to move, mouthing words the Paladin could not hear, but she recognized as a spell of some sort.
“We’re leaving,” Khephri said, grabbing Zafira’s hand and pulling her behind her. “Now!”
Kharu and Bek looked from the sisters to the Seer and back, confused over what was happening.
Khephri ran to the door, but heard a commanding voice behind her.
“Stop!” the Sphinx called out.
The Paladin watched as an aura flickered across the door and she knew that Arislene had magically sealed the door barring their exit.
“No one is leaving,” the Sphinx said as the siblings all turned to face their host turned captor.
This is where we left off. Our next session is this coming Friday the 27th. We hope to see you all back here and until next time keep your torches lit and your sword arm free.
See you next time back here in The Maze.
