Rurgan Roulette

In a Crapstorm

Thoth 30th, 111 (Cont’d)

After I wrote my letters – which took surprisingly little time, to be sure – we made our way out of the kill zone. The ‘bait’ ran past us again, though this time to take up the front lines. We pulled back to the entrance of the room, to collect ourselves and to question the two survivors of our strategic, mighty blow. Ha-ha. That sounds funny. Sorry, I am a bit punch-drunk. My recent exertion took more out of me than I had expected.

The two servants of evil were beneficial to our cause, luckily. The Lady shone her favor on us, and the second captive was artistically talented enough, and had more than half a brain to remember strategic weaknesses of his tribe. The crude map he scrawled in the dusty cavern floor was enough to give us an idea. I copied the map, though I am not sure if it was entirely accurate. The luck continued, as the Gods deemed in that instant to grace us with a full-fledged cartographer! He easily scribbled a map, putting my overly artistic rendition to shame. Good thing I am not trying to become a Diabolist or Summoner, right? Where every missed line could mean life or death?

Kidding aside, the Cartographer, Indaris, came bearing a message from the God of Knowledge himself. It was thus, ‘You are in a dangerous place. Leave it as soon as you are able with reasonable expedition.’ So, as good servants of the light, we moved! Immediately, I might add!

And stopped, one room over. It was like the hurried expedition of a fat kid to a cake – short, sweaty, and with a perceived victory way too soon to be lasting. ‘There,’ our land-leader proclaimed, as we entered the next cavern over, ‘We have moved past the danger! Now, let’s wait and confront the danger head on, when it catches up!’

Now, these weren’t his exact words, but I paraphrased. The valiant and foolhardishly-brave ranger has my respect. But it wasn’t a time for blinded charges; it was a time for retreat. The chieftain, Xixin, had set up in this cavern a very ingenious trap. We had run into it, but luckily the Minotaur had his wits about him. We gave him the map, and a progress report. He thanked us, and we had to convince the Ranger and Captain that we needed to leave. They did not want to besmirch their honor, and further mar CrIsis’ reputation with labels of a selfish, unholy force of destruction, but eventually we left. We had removed the Idrijian’s advantage, and had leveled the playing field by barring the way of their Vampires, and gave them strategic intelligence. If the Serelan fail now, it’s on them.

We left the caverns, and there waiting for us was the friendly face of his fishiness himself, Old Gregg. I don’t know what inspired me, most-likely the euphoria of beating a ne’er-do-well with a piece of Osiris, or the lack of air to my brain from exhaustion, but I was glad to see his fishy fish face. I wasn’t afraid to show it, either. Everyone needs a hug sometimes, and I wanted to share my relief and joy with the world. We walked hand-in-hand on the long journey to his cavernous hovel. It was actually pretty enjoyable to hold the amphibian’s hand, as his slimy skin and constant water drinking kept his hands hydrated with a refreshing clamminess.

Unfortunately, he ran when we encountered some of Overkill’s old shipmates… well I think only one of them was, but he was a leader of the group – Old Gregg ran away, and Cava couldn’t find him. When we continued with the pirates, I left him a note so he wouldn’t worry. He might have been a Rape-ish Rogue, but everyone deserves friends. After this quest, I might return to drink a ‘bailey’s’ with the man.

Overkill’s old shipmate seems to hate him. From what I read, every one he’s met has hated him. He must have changed so much since he was a scoundrel pirate. Or we’re all scoundrels in CrIsis. Thousands of beings across Paladium seem to think as much.

I decided to nip off early to fight this pounding headache.

Thoth 31st, 111

Today we rested the entire day, though it wasn’t as bad as it could have been. I spent the day working on a song. My father’s passing has caused me to rethink how serious I have become. I have hundreds of years to spend, and they will pass slowly and painfully if I stop laughing! I am going to buy a Lute somewhere, and teach myself how to play it. My Violoncello doesn’t work as well, even if I remove the peg and strap it to my shouler. The following fits in to the tune “Baby bee dances with the daisies.”

Kym-Nark-Mar 1st, 111

We travelled all day today, and though it seems strange, I don’t remember much of today. It seems like one long sand-filled day. Dust storms hit us, and only after the first few did we learn how to handle them. Spunky little Iana is turning out to be invaluable.

It is so good to have a Priest with us. I felt that our spiritual energy was waning. Xerx’ses, who I thought was totally over the edge, has pulled back from the brink of eternal damnation by chance played on the Gods’ temperament, and has now been getting back to his old self, with the help of Indaris. His sacrifices and prayers have healed more than our broken bodies. Needless to say, his “Fireside Chat” was more formality than necessity. Everyone trusted him, we just needed to have the traditional trading of true names, and stories.

Kym-Nark-Mar 2nd, 111

Today was by far the most fun I’ve had so far in the Wastes. We traveled for most of the morning without a hiccup, but then we were set upon by a sand storm and a group of lizardy marauders. We were spread out, and were ready to fight.

I was the first to realize there was danger, but after my cry the rest sprang into battle-ready actions with dizzying efficiency. Sand was blasting everyone, and making it almost impossible to see anything. I could barely see even the Minotaur around me, and nothing through them. I was able to barely made out everyone firing arrows and swinging swords into the dusty tan walls of debris, though. My blood raced and a giddy excitement flowed through me! It was like a drug, to be in a group of roughly a dozen and a half warriors, all playing a life-sized game of Rurgan Roulette!!

Rurgan Roulette is a deadly game where a viper is placed in a box on a rotating table with eight boxes, seven of which remain empty. The players then take turns, usually in a trial-like setting, stating what they see as the truth. After one person says something, that person opens the box in front of him. If the viper is not in it, the other person takes a turn. After each has said something, the table is then thrown in a rotation. It is stopped by a third party, and the process is repeated. Rumor has it that the liar will be struck down by Rurga’s wrath. Really, it’s the Lady Luck that plays with the mortals’ fates.

I set up my magical defenses as I watched, mesmerized. Overkill’s viper struck to his side, and if Indaris were a few feet closer it would have bit him. Cava’s luck was with him as his bow deflected his viper’s fangs time after time. With my defenses active, I saw two unfortunate lizardmen, standing just a foot too close. I threw up a cloud of slumber over them, and they passed out. It killed me inside to ruin the game, but gambling with other peoples’ lives isn’t as fun as dicing is.

Power to Osiris, Glory to Ra.

>>Journal entries from Thoth 30th through Kym-nark-mar 2nd in the 22nd Year of Emperor Voelkian Itomas II, from Azariel, Apprentice Alchemist. Acolyte of Osiris and the Lady Luck.<<

First Picture Credit: www.designzzz.com
Second Picture: Osiris’ Right Femur.
Third Picture Credit: Craig Tuttle
Fourth Picture Credit: Alhaitham Jassar
Fifth Picture Credit: FlinkeLinks