So, after we were kicked out of the Dipur we trekked off for
Zul-Bazir with a large group of men and about 100 camels. On the 2 nd day of the journey, we encountered a
nasty sandstorm that beat up nearly everyone in our caravan. When if finally
stopped, we made up camp and everyone took some much needed rest. Late in the night I heard a rustling. I thought it might be
Lothar and Roshana or Azam and Jimila having a good time, but I went to look
just in case. To my surprise we were being ambushed by the cannibal Ikunas. I
noticed six of them and yelled for help. Most of the other tents just grumbled and said they needed
rest, but luckily Lothar, Roshana, and Arshaf Abu came to check it out. We managed to kill most of them but not before one of them threw
JImila over his shoulder and took off into the desert. We kept one alive for
information. “I will take you to the desert, to the sacred place. Where you will be judged by the Ragged King”. We went to Haram Baal and asked if he would let us chase
after them. He agreed so we took off after them on our camels and Lothar’s war
horse being guided by the captured Ikuna. We shortly notice circling vultures. We go to investigate
and run into another group of Ikuna. This group was much tougher armed with
spears and slings. Roshana, emboldened by our previous success, charged after
them and let loose a shot. That was a mistake, The Ikuna circled her and eventually took her down. Lothar
charged up to the rest and nearly lost his horse who took a terrible blow and
was down. I jumped off my camel to join the fight and the Ikuna we had
captured took off. After a terrible bout of bad luck, we all managed to get the
upper hand and finish them off. Lothar was fiercely angry after losing Roshana. Once we killed them all, the one escapee came walking back
to us. He had fallen from the spooked camel. We looted the bodies and found
just a few silver pieces. 12SP 5CP each to Lothar and Severos. Also 2 long spears and 5 knives. We took time to
properly bury Rohana and tended to the horses wounds and then headed back on
our previous trail. We see ruins arising out of the sands to the west. It looks
thousands of years old. We find another group of slavers led by Chamash. “Did you
meet the black devils like we did?” “They’ve taken our slave girls and are
holed up in the citadel.” and rescue the captive women. First sight of the Citadel of
Akharon on a black crag rising from the desert sands; Borak says the SW wall
has deteriorated and can be climbed. We agree to work together to defeat the group in the citadel.
We are told that the citadel has a south side entrance. The
Ikuna says this is the only way in, through the open gates. “Meet the Ragged
King and you will be judged.” After some coercion, we get the Ikuna to tell us about
another way in There are old crumbly walls to west where we can enter directly into
the chamber of the Ragged King, apparently to be judged. We decide to rest up and heal our wound before proceeding. Azam curiously decides he is not going to go, “too wounded…”.
Lothar makes a joke about “taking care
of Jimila” in Azam’s absence… Surprisingly, Azam seem to care very little. Odd…
