The Shadow Over Carthage, part I

Leonardo de Cefiro’s personal diary

In which our heroes arrive in Carthage and get involved in the local politics, whether they wanted to or not…

Freezeday, Illusionweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

Well, it looks like we can get goin’. Joaquina has got her allied spirit, a Storm Crow named Arashi (it can speak lots of different lingos, so that’s got to be useful) and she’s lookin’ a real tank in all that spanky iron. Course we’re not goin’ to be able to wear armour much out ‘ere in this ‘eat like.

We’re stayin’ with some flunky of the Sultan called Farooq – in fact we even get to meet the ‘ead ‘oncho once who says ‘es’s goin’ to ‘elp with our trip to Carthage by arrangin’ a ship (that’s a sand ship you understand) to travel under the effects of a Trade Wind runespell. Should make the journey a bit shorter. It’ll cost us 20 bob each, though that gets ‘alved if we ‘ave to beat off some pirates. Oh, and Xavier’s goin’ to be workin’ as part of the ships’ crew, so we don’t have to pay for ‘im. Of course, Esteban’s got a lot of cash for expenses, so it doesn’t affect my purse at all.

Waterday, Illusionweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

We gets a real cool breeze just before we sets off – feels really refreshin’ after the ‘eat of the last season or so. Our captain (Idris Ghat) meets us and we goes through that weird spitting over the side ceremony again, but eventually we’re off, sailin’ over the sands once more.

It’s nice and quiet for the first few days, though the temperature soars unbearably. Cpt Ghat ‘elps pass the time by regailin’ us with stories of what ‘orrors we might encounter. We’ve ‘eard of a few of ‘em before like, but apparently there’s such thin’s as sandworms! And they ‘as diamond teeth! Cor, wouldn’t mind getting’ one of those. Course, tryin’ to damage a creature the size of an ‘ouse with skin armour to match I’d wager wouldn’t be easy. Maybe findin’ one dead of old age would be easier? Apparently, they’ve been ‘unted to near extinction – well, I’m not surprised – most people would off their granny if she was sportin’ diamond teeth to the world…

Clayday, Illusionweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

We ain’t seen nothin’ apart from the odd other ship that steers well clear, but on Clayday one of the crew spots a ship that’s runnin’ us down. It’s got black sails (which screams pirate even to a land-lubber like me) and someone says it might be a Mazdian privateer. They mess with your souls so I gets ready to put me armour on even in the punishing ‘eat. ‘Owever, Cpt Ghat plays it real cool and just barks some orders to the crew, who go about “trimmin’ the mains’l” (whatever that means) and we starts to “tack” (which means change direction – why do seamen ‘ave to make up all these strange words?) Soon the pirate ship gets left behind which is a relief – I wasn’t lookin’ forward to puttin’ me metal armour on that’s for sure.

Windsday to Wildday, Illusionweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

It’s still really ‘ot, but the ship starts to veer up and down more as we ‘it some dunes. At first I don’t think nothin’ of it (though Ramos looks a little green), but it gets worse the next day and suddenly I’m vomitin’ up me guts. I feel just as bad as I did on that blimin’ sea crossin’, and after a day of agony I pass out, thankfully.

Godsday, Illusionweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

We’ve arrived in Carthage! The ship pulls up in the sand ‘arbour in the evenin’ but we’re warned not to get out until the next mornin’ as apparently we’re in “The Killin’ Fields”. According to Cpt Ghat it’s one of the ‘orrors of the known world (along with my Auntie Amelia I’d wager) which ‘as a load of ‘orrid ghosts in it as for thousands of years Carthage executed its criminals by stakin’ them out in the sun to die of exposure. I mean wot? Who would do such a stupid thin’, and then build an ‘arbour right on the edge of it? These Carthaginians sure are crazy.

Freezeday, Truthweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

In the mornin’ I feels a little better (though I ‘aven’t eaten anythin’ for a few days like) and we all trapes off the gang plank (that’s a bit of wood they put between the dock and the ship – I’m really gettin’ used to the sea lingo now) ‘eadin’ towards the ‘arbour master’s lodge to report in. ‘Owever, as we proceed along the dock, a spirit manifests in front of Xavier! It’s got an ‘orrible visage, with its face all puckered and marked – you can see most of its skull through its rotten flesh – yuck! Joaquina tries to cast Spirit Shield to ‘elp but she keeps on forgettin’ the words.

I run back to the ship to see if Cpt Ghat can ‘elp, but ‘e’s all busy securin’ ropes to the jetty and doesn’t seem to notice my frantic yellin’. Eventually I manages to catch ‘is attention, and after takin’ in the scene (poor old Xavier is gettin’ beaten up somethin’ rotten by the ghost who’s dead powerful. Hmm, poor choice of words…) ‘e gestures & shouts to a guy who’s sittin on some sort of raised chair by the dock (don’t quite know why we didn’t clock ‘im earlier). I reckon ‘e was asleep, cos suddenly this guy comes runnin’ down to where Xavier is and orders the spirit away, and with a snarl it departs! Cor, that’s some ability that is.

Turns out the guy is a shaman and ‘is job is to make sure no spirits from the Killin’ Fields come out and attack people in town, especially ones that ‘ave sold their soul to a demon. Well, ‘ow about upping your game mate? Me friend almost got murdered by a dead dude that your city put there in the first place! I’m thinkin’ of makin’ a formal complaint right ‘ere and now.

Anyways, we ‘ead into the ‘arbour masters office and Esteban presents ‘is letters of accreditation. Looks like we were expected, and we gets given directions to the Byrsa’s office where we’ll be told where to go next. There are no ships from ‘ere to Khem leavin’ just at the moment, so it looks like we’ll be ‘ere for a week or more.

We join the queue to get in the city, and a group of 4 amazonian warriors look suspiciously at us (well, mostly at the men in the party) before lettin’ us through. Carthage is one big city – even bigger than Ursara! Everyone’s wearing loose fittin’ clothin’ of course, but most of the men seem to be wearing somethin’ on their ‘ead which looks like wound up loo roll. I mean wot? Do they’s keep their purses up there for safe keepin’ like?

We eventually reach the Byrsa’s office after passin’ through the crowds on the street. I recognise a few temples (Humakti for one), but it’s really confusin’ as there seems to be city walls everywhere. I mean, you normally ‘ave just one set outside defendin’ the town right? Not 4 or 5 sets seemin’ly built at random in all different directions. I also notice that there’s no statues anywhere, and that any pictures are abstract in design. Looks like Azraeli fundamentalism to me. These Carthaginians are crazy.

At the Byrsa’s office Joaquina’s crow introduces us and it seems all is already arranged. After some snacks (at last – I’m famished!) we gets taken off to our ‘suite’ – a central lounge with 3 double bedrooms off it – by Ellisa, the court Chamberlin. We’re told to get ready for a mornin’ audience with the Sufret (that means President apparently) and we each ‘ave a private servant to ‘elp us! Cor, I could get used to this sort of ‘ospitality.

We eventually get taken to a large chamber where sits the Sufret around a table next to 3 other real important blokes. ‘E looks real frail though, and there’s lots of courtiers all ‘angin’ around the place as well. I just bets we’re goin’ to ‘ave to navigate all this court intrigue now.

Then the Sufret greets us and says ‘e will make sure we gets a ship to Khem, as we’s famous ‘eros savin’ the world. (We are?). We then gets a chance to go and meet the local nobs. I’m not sure who to speak to, but there’s this one bloke in dragon robes and I’m guessin’ ‘e’ll be real interested in our tale of dragons.

I was right. His name is Optat and apparently ‘es the leader of some sort of monk order of dragons, and ‘e wears a fairly impressive gown with dragons sown into it (not a patch on the bint with golden tooth’s dress though). ‘E listens rapturously as I tell ‘im the story of ‘ow we met 3 dragons, which is dead nice of ‘im cos I don’t tell it very well. ‘E says ‘e wants to meet us all later and swop stories of dragons and in return ‘e’ll tell us some info about the local politics. Sounds riveting…

When we gets back to our chambers we ‘ave lunch and swop stories. Xavier reports that there’s a sea monster in the bay which is a real danger to shippin’. (Looks like we’re not gettin’ a sea boat then – ‘ooray!) Esteban says we are the ‘onoured guests of the Sufret and there’s a ball and banquet this evenin’ in our ‘onour. Sounds good to me.

That afternoon Optat pays us a visit and we go over our dragon stories again. Apparently there’s a number of different factions supportin’ various different Gods, but interestin’ly there’s one that’s started to worship a dragon called Tiamat, who is the mother of sea monsters! I bet that’s linked to Xavier’s tale of the monster in the bay.

Well, the ball and dinner go as I sort of expected. The foods OK (for foreign food like) and I tries a bit of dancin’ and do alright – though I’m really disappointed that Esteban doesn’t give it a go. When’s the dancin’ bear actually goin’ to dance? Later on, Esteban, Xavier and Joaquina all get a little trio goin’, and it ain’t ‘alf bad – reminds me a bit of ‘ome. The locals think it’s a bit odd & quaint/rustic at first, but I think they come round to the idea eventually – especially as Esteban’s dead good on those guitar power chords.

As this is goin’ on, I ‘as the bright idea to cast Det Enemies with respect to Esteban, and a number of blokes blip around the room. It seems they’re all members of the Mubtakirun faction, a fundamentalist Azraeli sect that wants to reconquer Iberia! Well, good luck with that folks…

Esteban reports to us later that a stranger asked ‘im for some ‘elp with a ‘bank job’. ‘E sounded dead shady, and Esteban played it cool by sayin’ ‘e’d ‘ave to check whether we ‘ad the time to ‘elp like. That’s about it for the day – we turns in for the night, but set watches in case one of them Det Enemy blips tries somethin’ in the night.

Waterday, Truthweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

Nothin’ ‘appens overnight, so it’s onto the tourist trail today. Ellisa the Chamberlin introduces us to Rufart who will be our guide – ‘e even speaks Hispanic!

First stop on the tour is the Tomb of Queen Dido. She’s one of the most famous bints in the city apparently and she’s got this ‘uge tomb made out of Tin! What a waste of runemetal! Why ‘ave the dead any need of it? Is anyone plannin’ on floating the thin’ out to sea at some point? Anyway, behind the main sepulchre are 2 dead bodies! With a red gem next to them! I’m thinkin’ the resident caretakers ‘ave been a bit lax like, but apparently they’ve been left ‘ere as a warnin’ to would be thieves. Sounds barkin’ to me, but what do I know?

But then we’re told we ‘as permission to go inside the Sepulchre itself! Rufart waits outside, but we goes in through several tonnes of tin wall to see a chamber with a body in it – presumably Dido’s. Lo and behold – she was a dragonewt! With a tail and everythin’! There’s some writin’ around the tomb and Xavier translates it – apparently she was killed in some battle thousands of years ago. ‘Owever, she divinted to the dragon Tiamat who reincarnated ‘er as a dragonewt! That can’t be a coincidence – that’s the third time we’ve ‘eard that dragon mentioned.

Just then, Xavier comes over all weird like (well, weirder - ‘e’s a Poseidon cultist so ‘e’s already a bit strange to start with, and I still ain’t forgiven ‘im for is ‘advice’ on that sea crossin’…) When ‘e comes to ‘e says the bones of the Queen came alive! ‘Er ‘ead swivelled to ‘im and said she wants to talk to us, or at least Tiamat does, at the Qrbous promontory (we find out later that it’s across the bay from Carthage). Well, that’s dead strange that is – I presume it affected Xavier cos of ‘is magic eye bandana. As we exit the Sepulchre we don’t mention anythin’ to Rufart about it, in case ‘e thinks we’ve lost our marbles like.

After lunch, Rufart takes us through the main street (lots of beggars there – Joaquina throws a coin to one of them) to a large garden (there’s quite a few gardens in Carthage). Looks like we’re bein’ followed by one of the beggars (who limps off when discovered) and by a dragonewt as well. ‘Owever, in the garden are several monks wearin’ orange robes, and we all get a bit suspicious as it looks like we’ve come into a Mahatman grove, and those monks will mess with your souls if you listen to ‘em too ‘ard.

Sure enough, their leader comes over to talk to us and starts spoutin’ some nonsense about ‘shared peril’, ‘transcendence’ and somethin’ about a new God called Ktooloo, but ‘e offers to give us a revelatory dream to ‘elp us on our quest. ‘E warns us first that it will be informative but potentially dangerous and asks for volunteers.

Well, if I’ve learnt anythin’ from life it’s to not volunteer for anythin’ ever, especially if it’s offered by a bloke in orange robes with a group of chantin’ monks behind ‘im, but to my amazement both Joaquina and Ramos agree. They both go into some sort of trance, and after a bit come out of it lookin’ a little ashen. Apparently, their vision was somethin’ to do with a tentacular ‘orror causin’ the end of the world, which is what’ll ‘appen if we don’t succeed. No pressure then.

After this, the monk bloke tells us to meet up with a Piscator lady that can be found in the Poseidon temple. ‘E then gives us each 2 berries which ‘e says is from the tree of knowledge. We all eats them on the spot and gain different insights into skills! My Stormspeech is better and I know a few more things about lookin’ after animals than I used to. Why thanks guv – what a gent! I guess ‘e’s not all bad after all.

We return to our chambers for the evening meal, this time with Ellisa present. She asks us ‘ow the day went and we’re a little coy till she mentions that she ‘as also seen the bones in the sarcophagus. She’s got no insights into it, but warns us not to tell the dragon monk Optat – ‘e’s not to be trusted apparently.

Clayday, Truthweek, Fireseason, 514 TA

The tourist trail continues today, firstly at the train station in the mornin’. This involves goin’ down a flight of movin’ stairs, through a few ticket offices, the last one manned by a dwarven automaton, and finally onto somethin’ called a platform.

The metal train eventually chugs in (I’m guessing made of iron), and people alight before others board the thin’. (There’s even some weirdos doin’ a quick sketch of the engine for some reason). Finally, it chugs off again. Rufart thinks it’s the best thin’ since roast lamb, but I can’t say I really agree with ‘im. Apparently, the line goes all the way to the dwarf city of Irondelve in the south, but a branch line will ‘opefully be opened in the future that connects the coastal cities. That’ll reduce the need to use a boat, so I defo ‘opes the dwarfs get on and build the thin’.

In the afternoon it’s a visit to the naval port. There’s some big island in the middle of an inlet with a couple of dozen ships moored around it. As soon as I see’s a ship I start to feel queezy again, so I’m happy when the afternoon is over.

In the evenin’ we ‘ave dinner as a private audience with Ellisa and the Sufret ‘imself! Shows ‘ow far I’ve come up the social ladder that I don’t even blink as I shares food with the ‘ead ‘oncho. Apparently ‘e ‘as commanded a sand ship for us to travel all the way to Khem and it leaves on Waterday next week. Oh, and we ‘ave an ‘escort’ job to do on Fireday this week.

So that’s about it for today. Tomorrow it’s a visit to the Wind temple (to pray) and then a visit to this Piscator lady mentioned by the monk. And we got to visit the Qrbous promontory, do the escort duty on Fireday, and there’s this ‘bank job’ thing as well, whatever that is.

I’ve got to keep remindin’ meself – we’ve dealt with 3 dragons already – what’s another one to add to the list?