Sunday, 4.July.1888 (cont.)
There ensued a battle that lasted 3 rounds and 1 segment.
The mass of skeletons swarmed the Party's hut. Miss Courtney, Penrington, and Umbopa held the door down to their last bullets. Miss Costorari and Mr. Smith took turns defending a breech in the southern wall. Outside, Mr. Steele swatted skeletons at the SE side of the hut, while Mr. Blake, on the NW side, cast repeated radiation blasts, destroying a nearby hut and numerous undead (although, thankfully, not himself.)
Po, having only just been awakened by the report of Miss Courtney's rifle, added to the excitement by slipping between the defenders at the door and rushing out to confront the invaders. Unfortunately, what he saw so startled him that the skeletons - wielding the shields, spears and bronze throwing daggers of Zulu warriors - were able to inflict serious injury on the lad even as he took down one of the skeletons. Showing amazing speed and dexterity [SPD 4, DEX 20], Umbopa bravely rushed out to impose himself as a shield, shouting, "Inshoki Po, go back into the hut!" Unluckily, the press of attackers and the unfortunate proximity of one of Mr. Blake's blasts meant that both boy and native took injury in the next couple of rounds. Po collapsed. Having proved himself the skilled and decorated warrior he'd claimed to be, heroically, Umbopa disengaged from his opponents, lifted the fallen Chinese boy, and raced back into the hut, calling for Dr. Davis' assistance.
As the fighting progressed, the embattled Heroes noted that swords and melee did more damage to the skeletons than bullets seemed to. Out of ammunition, Penrington still held the door and took mortal injury. Fortunately, Mr. Steele's and Mr. Blake's efforts were even then turning the tide. Dr. Davis' healing was able to bring around both Po and Penrington before the battle had quite ended and Our Heroes were able to declare victory.
As they emerged from the hut, the Party was greeted by the horrific sounds of screaming men and feasting great cats. The porters, who had been sleeping near the edge of the village, had fled from the skeletons over the low village wall and into the jaws of numerous predatory wild beasts. Mustering resources, Our Heroes were able to save the lives of half of their porters.
Suspicious of the resulting uncanny stillness in the village and prepared for further unearthly foes, Our Heroes investigated hut by hut. In the two huts from which the skeletons had emerged were found two clay pots from which a foul stench wafted on sickly smoke. Apparently this had been part of the spell to animate the skeletons. Some villager had lit the pots and then, Miss Courtney's tracking skills indicated, had run for the jungle.
All others huts were empty save one wherein lay a sick and feverish man. Dr. Davis, undeterred by the possibilities of jungle fever, immediately began caring for the patient who barely clung to life. She found that, in addition to jungle fever and extreme dehydration, the man suffered from a bronze dagger protruding from his side. Apparently some villager had hurriedly tried to kill this man as they abandoned their homes under cover of night.
[Segue to a Back in Time] As she worked over the sick man, Dr. Davis' mind wandered back to her all-night conversation with the woman who was her mother. She'd hoped to learn of some healing herbs there and now hoped that her lack of success would not cost her present patient. She had waited until the group was well away from the White Druid's hermitage before trying to tell what little she had learned. Her tale had been somewhat hesitant and disjointed; she'd been still in shock from what she had learned, horrified and bitter. It had been hard getting past her personal feeling to anything of worth for the rest of her Companions.
Mother and Father Davis had deliberately chosen to separate their twin daughters and raise them in ignorance of each other. Dr. Davis' eldest sister back in Anglia had been complicit in the matter as well. Dark Moon - Cynthia - had, until 6 years ago, grown up in the jungle hermitage. However, she had chosen to study vundun - what Mother Moon called witchcraft - which, apparently, was the African equivalent of mesmerism. Dark Moon could read other's surface thoughts.
Six years ago Dark Moon/ Cynthia had joined forces with Lord Cardiff's illegitimate son - Dr. Davis referred to him as "Cowper-Smith-fitzCardiff" - who "had a plan to impress his father." Cynthia would have been about 17 or 18 at the time and "fond of" "fitzCardiff". As "fitzCardiff" in his role as Smith, worked at the Aries stele dig both before and after the wreck of the Wings of Cardiff, it seemed more than likely that it was he who brought Cynthia to the dig site. A chronology could be worked out as follows.
Six years represents a great deal of skill-acquisition time for the Bad Guys. Cynthia had returned to the hermitage several times in those 6 years seeking to learn more from her mother about the "Snake and the Turtle." Mother Moon had explained to Dr. Davis that, according to local myth, the Creator had granted the gift of immortality to the two animals who had responded to his first call: the Snake and the Turtle. They are immortal, they are in competition, they have never had the power to destroy one another. The Snake chooses eternal life by renewing his youth, shedding his skin with every life. He is a clever and deadly hunter. Many people favour His Way. The Turtle stretches out his days, taking them one by one, and is the tender caretaker of growing things.
Mother Moon had, with Dr. Davis' assent, spoken with one of the stele pieces. It was revealed to be Tuan, a local Old One, part of the Turtle. He was desperate to go north because a servant of the Dark Snake had a piece of him and was intent on finding his refuge and destroying it - which would destroy the Old One. That might upset the balance of power between Turtle and Snake. It would certainly grant the destroyer power to "trade for a great service", to summon something even more powerful and devastating than the karkalanza/ karaal. Karkalanza, Mother Moon had said, have their origin in the Plain of the Bones in Rock, to the North. There, also, are the Old Ones who have already been destroyed.
The group finally understood why Dr. Davis had returned from talking with her mother looking like someone who had been drenched and was still in the process of drying out: Tuan was responsible for the rain that followed the Expedition. He had chosen Our Heroes because we were the most powerful people available to him at the time. Mr. Blake had laughed long and without mirth at that revelation. [Hey, when you are a rock you take what you can get. What, they should have stuck with the survivors of the wreck?]
Finally Dr. Davis had told the group that her mother had known of the Flower of Memory. Chewed, it can enhance or take away memory at the spirit's will. Dr. Davis remembered turning to Mr. Blake and saying, "Knowing that, it is still possible that the false record book was not forged." Understandably, Mr. Blake did not appear happy to hear that. The Bad Guys had had access to the Flower of Memory, during the accident that transformed Mr. Steele, at least. Dr. Davis had continued her recital on the Flower of Memory. Prepared "with the blood of a king" as the drug taduki, it allowed "kings of old to leave their old body and enter a younger one." At that point, Dr. Davis had looked at Po. In a moment she turned to Umbopa and asked, "Could you tell us more about this?"
The story teller said, "I will tell you a story, the tale of the Fall of a Kingdom." Once upon a time the great king Mansa Masa had, indeed, used taduki to live 990 years. Young warriors had proudly volunteered to become his new body. Every seven years was held a contest in which the next warrior - and those who would accompany him - were chosen. They would then prepare for seven years for the transition. This practise brought peace and prosperity to the land for hundreds of years. Then came the last time when the three - the One to Go Before, the Girl to Light the Sacred Flame, and the Warrior - were chosen. The first of those was Far-li-mas the great story teller; the second was the king's own niece. As the allotted seven years neared its end, Mansa Masa was sad and sent for his storyteller. Far-li-mas entered into the king's presence and saw there the Girl, the king's niece, and fell in love. So great was that love that the story Far-li-mas told kept all in the throne room enthralled in a drug-like dream all that night. Far-li-mas and the girl met, as the others dreamt, and pledged their love. Thereafter, Far-li-mas told his story to larger and larger audiences and the result was the same: enthrallment. There came a time that even the priests who watch the stars for the right date to perform the taduki ceremony were so enthralled that they lost track of the time. The priests protested, so Far-li-mas told his story to the entire city. When the story was done and the listeners came to themselves again, the priests were all dead. So the tradition changed. Mansa Masa changed no more bodies. Far-li-mas married the king's niece. In time, Mansa Masa died and Far-li-mas became king. But, without the guidance so long provided by Mansa Masa, the kingdom could not survive when its neighbors jealously rose up to bring it down.
Lastly, when Umbopa's story was finished, Dr. Davis turned to Miss Costorari. "Can you please tell me what it means to have Venus and Mars in ascension in Taurus, with a new moon in the first part of Gemini, and Jupiter retrograde in Aquarius?" The gypsy astrologer replied, "If that is the horoscope for someone's birth, it speaks of the powers of great creation and great destruction and the necessity to do both." Penrington guessed, "Yours?", turning to the doctor. Dr. Davis made a Freudian slip, "And Black Moon's." Mr. Blake added, "Twins." The gypsy said, "They would split the horoscope. One creative, one destructive." "Dark and Light," chortled someone. "I hope ours is the Light one."
[Don: I think Sheryl did actually say Black Moon, but various folks corrected her: it's Dark Moon.
I still wonder about parents (flaky or not) who could name their twins Silver Moon and Dark Moon and yet claim not to know which was light and which was dark. Shoulda' named them Grey Moon and Clouded Moon, just to keep people guessing!][GM: Each parent addressed their daughter as Silver Moon, and thought of the other as Dark Moon. Both of them think they are Silver Moon and the other is Dark Moon. Mom continued the charade when she spoke with Dr. Davis. Shhh, don't tell Sheryl, it is a secret.]
Monday, 5.July.1888
Admitting that his powers included healing disease, Mr. Blake joined the doctor and her dying patient. Between them, Dr. Davis and Mr. Blake were able to save this last victim. Once the doctor felt he had taken enough water and was strong enough, the sick man was questioned. Miss Courtney knew his language: that of the Desert Dwellers. The man appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, bronzed by sun and wind, and black-bearded. He gave his name as Nbutoma, son of Nama Tirashari of the Bamana. "He's very grateful," Miss Courtney translated.
Nbutoma had led a caravan of 24 other people plus camels and goods to trade, as was their custom, with this village. Upon entering the jungle, he'd fallen ill; a not uncommon problem for his people in this alien terrain. He recalled his people negotiating for a hut for him, and of the presence of some white men. His next recollection was of shouting and fighting.
Those who had assessed the Expedition's recent battle realized that there had been 24 skeletons. Searching the nearby jungle and utilizing Miss Courtney's tracking skills, the Expedition located a rather gruesome dump of 24 corpses - minus their skeletons. The only indication of camels seemed to be in the direction of the desert; perhaps they had been returned to the desert. Nbutoma was very distressed at the loss of his camels, claiming that the villagers had "broken the bonds of hospitality", according to Miss Courtney's translation. Mr. Blake and the desert man seemed in agreement that this particular village should be reduced to ashes for its offense, even though the Party as a whole believed that the villagers must have been under some compulsion placed upon them by the Bad Guys. The desert people take hospitality - and their camels -- very seriously.
Dr. Davis, speaking through Miss Courtney's translation, told Nbutoma that the Expedition was heading into the desert and would welcome his company, extending to him the Party's protection. Nbutoma said they would find aid from the tribe into which his sister had married, to the west. He recommended that the Expedition should take as much water as possible and, at the halfway point, send half of the remaining porters back to the jungle. By so doing, there would be enough water for the Expedition to survive to reach his sister's family. "You will have to wear the garb of the desert, however," Nbutoma said, glancing at the white women's attire disapprovingly. Another search of the huts revealed a cache of desert clothing, looted from the remains of Nbutoma's caravan.
Dr. Davis confided to Our Heroes, "I'm worried - about the power of those who could do this to an entire village: compel them to inhospitality, summon skeletons, and lure in a quantity of hungry jungle cats."
Master Po answered, "It is good that you are worried."
Mr. Blake growled, "I am worried and angry."
Umbopa said, "If I am even again surrounded, do not fear hitting me with your weapon of light and burning, Inshoki Blake, if you can get them."
Dr. Davis replied with concern, "You would not fault us for trying to save you?"
The black man held himself silent.
In a tone that left no doubt as to the equity he felt with the heroic native, Mr. Blake declared, "If we are victorious in the long run, it will be in part because of your assistance. Killing you would be a poor reward."
The Expedition once again stripped itself of equipment, trying to take only absolute necessities: water, guns and ammunition, medicines, fuel for Steele, and minimal food supplies. The rest was cached, away from the doomed village but where the returning porters could find it.
Tuesday, 6.July.1888
Traveling in the cool of the night and early morning, the Expedition trekked off into the desert, passing stretches of bright yellow sand, trying to stick to the easier terrain of rocky ground. Rock outcroppings offered welcome shade from the blistering heat - as did the all-enveloping desert clothing. Nbutoma was amazed and pleased when a small rainsquall brought clouds and some of the always-precious water.
Wednesday, 7. July. 1888
As dusk fell, half of the porters were sent to retrace their footprints back to the jungle. The Expedition pushed on. There was another unusual, brief rainsquall. This trek ended within sight of an oasis. Armed figures on camelback rode out to accost the newcomers. Our Heroes allowed Nbutoma to speak for them. It was, indeed, his sister's people. The group was ushered into the relative coolness of tents and offered refreshment: water, dates, fresh roasted goat. Poor Po had to munch his dates with the strips of dried fish he'd manage to bring along.
The men of the Expedition were invited to join Nbutoma, his brother-in-law, and the other men of the desert tribe. Fortunately Umbopa could also speak the desert people's tongue and could act as translator in Miss Courtney's stead.
Dr. Davis and Miss Costorari had to rely on Miss Courtney in talking with the desert women, while wondering how things were progressing in the patriarchal tent.
Mr. Blake proceeded to explain to the desert warriors that the Expedition was "following a great evil" and that "another great evil follows behind." He told them our goal was Timbuktu. The desert people knew of no desert city, just occasional ruins buried and unburied by shifting sands. However, they did know of a "Road of Stones" which made a straight path in approximately the area the Expedition wanted to travel. Being covered with loose round pebbles, it was not a road suitable for camels.
Blake went on to tell about the party of white men who were intent on evil. The desert dwellers exclaimed, "Those led by Inshoki Courtney?" Blake explained that Courtney was being forced, probably believing that the Evil Ones held his daughter's life in their hands.
He explained that the "evil behind" -- the karkalanza -- meant that this tribe might not want to be in this oasis in another week or two; that the Expedition wanted to have as little interaction with natives as possible to protect them from the karkalanza. Nbutoma objected, saying that the Expedition's path, in leading north, would go to his father's tents. There they could meet his father, a nama, one who could speak with the great powers of the land.
Blake requested formally that Nbutoma accompany the Expedition as its guide, to his father and to Timbuktu.
"Vengeance is mine," saith the desert warrior.
Blake then negotiated with the tribal chieftain for camels suitable to continue the Expedition's travels. As the money-wise members of the party were in the women's tent and unsuitable for the masculine occupation of camel-trading, the tribe was undoubtedly pleased at the price they got for their camels. After tea, cakes, and dates, etc., to conclude the bargain, the tribal chieftain bade the Europeans farewell, "May the Snake be with you."
The Expedition reconvened, Mr. Blake summarizing what had happened in the men's tent. He had been somewhat startled when the chieftain's farewell had been translated: he'd equated The Snake with "the Great Evil" about which he'd been telling the desert folk. Dr. Davis tried to explain further what she had learned from her mother about Darkness and the Snake. There is a relationship between an Old One and its worshippers. As a druid's powers are actually the powers of their Old One(s), so too is the personality of the Old One an amalgam of all the personalities of its druids. Those who have darkness within, will have darkness in their Old One. The Snake attracts both kinds of servants; therefore there is a Dark Snake and a Light Snake. Whether they are truly two snakes or two aspects of the same snake does not seem relevant. The Dark Snake is a destroyer, a killer.
John Smith said, "Ah, gods are invented by their worshippers!"
Master Po corrected, "Gods are influenced by their worshippers."
Further discussion revealed Mr. Blake's concern that the native member of the Bad Guys was both a druid who summoned and controlled animals and a necromancer. Dr. Davis said that she had not thought of necromancy until the skeleton attack; the karkalanza might, for all the little she knew, be a druidic summoning. But now that necromancy was clearly part of the Evil skill set, she did not believe that the Evil Party's leader was simply a minor steam mage. If there were a powerful native necromancer-summoner and as effective and egotistical a mesmerist as Cynthia seemed, they would not follow a lesser man. His was the plan, it was he - she was convinced - who had made a pact with Evil. "FitzCardiff," Dr. Davis affirmed, "is the necromancer."
[Note: There will be no game next week as some people will be out of town.]
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