Epic - Journey to Marûn

Escape from the Kharash

The cowardly and despicable massacre of innocents that the Kharash inflicted on my people is recorded elsewhere, so I will not dwell on it here. At least some of us were not slaughtered and were instead taken prisoner. Shameful, but also an opportunity to escape and seek justice. I begin the telling when I was in the cages of one of their convoys...

Next to me in the cage was Grelt, a friend and companion on my former mission, who had not yet gained consciousness. Why did they keep us alive? I also caught sight of the white tiger "Khat"; she was in another cage, alone, similarly mounted on a wagon... and looking miserable. Grelt grunted and shook his head. “What happened?” he asked without yet having opened his eyes. The cart had left the river and was climbing the slope as it continued to head south. “We have been caught by the Kharash.” I answered plainly. “What?” shrieked Grelt now with eyes wide open. He was immediately silent again as he took in the enormity of the situation. Then he seemed to panic... “They have got it!” He yelled, before hurriedly whispering, “the Runestone…”

I understood – Grelt had been given the sacred Runestone to take to the festival. That explained why he had accompanied them and why I had been given an otherwise mundane task. The Runestone would have been placed in front of the shrine to Shang-Ti to proclaim the tribe’s respect to the God. Grelt was a devout follower and a trusted disciple of the Temple to Shang-Ti; he would have seen this as a great honour. The Runestone had mystical powers too... we knew well the stories of the miraculous cures that the stone had performed.

Later that evening, after the Kharash had stopped to make camp, there was a considerable commotion. More Kharash arrived bringing prisoners, although the deafening, high-pitched howling and wailing coming from the nets the Kharash had slung across their horses signalled that these prisoners were not human. Eventually, and with much brutality, two wolves were deposited into a spare cage and hoisted onto the back of a wagon. One was white as the clouds that hurtled across the wide, endless sky; the other was as grey as the mountain slopes. Few slept that night as the howling continued despite the guards’ abundant use of the rod. (The Kharash hit their prisoners with iron rods, designed to fit through the bars of the cage.)

Grelt and I had spoken little – mostly to avoid being hit with a metal rod – but, as a Kharash horseman rode past, Grelt whispered, “He’s the leader.” I was not terribly interested, instead focusing on escape; I had considered attempting to break the lock the previous night and, using the howling to mask the sound, I had tried to prise open the padlock when the guard that was assigned to his cage had been preoccupied. Unfortunately it had proved too strong, but that was definitely the time – if escape was even a possibility that was.

“He is wearing a Runestone, look.” Grelt nodded at the leader as the Kharash turned to look over their cage into the distant Steppe beyond. True enough, there was a Runestone hung around the Kharash’s armoured neck on a black-metal chain. It was subtly different though – the same gold marking on black stone, but the marks were different from our family Runestone. “It’s different,” whispered Grelt who had come to the same conclusion. There were rumoured to be 6 stones – each a key to the entrance to some great temple somewhere. Was it one for each religion or one for each region of Minnerwe... or was it Khagul Gurung? I had focused more on my warrior training than being forced to listen to tedious lectures. Grelt could not take his eye off the leader, which drew unwanted attention. The leader shouted for the caravan to stop and he ordered that Grelt be brought out of the cage. I did my best to protest but received such a blow to my head with the metal rod that I passed out. When I came to Grelt was gone and the wagons were lumbering once again along the path that followed the mountains south towards the desert. I was more careful then to avoid the leader’s gaze as he moved up and down inspecting his prisoners.

Another day passed, ending with the usual routine of corralling the wagons and posting guards. This time the evening brought prisoners from different directions and under the control of very different people. The leader himself, with just two other Kharash, brought in an unconscious humanoid, the likes of which I had never seen. It was taller and thinner than a human, with sharper features and a long face. Slumped forward as it was dragged to its cage, it was alive but only just. I realised that it was quite tall – easily over six feet – and was definitely skinny. As it passed my cage, heading towards its own confinement, I saw that its skin was rough and yellow and its head was shaved save for a single braid which ran down its back. Its ears were definitely pointed.

Pointed too were the ears of the other prisoners brought in from over the mountains. Elves I realised, having read about them but having never seen one in the flesh. They were rumoured to have lived widely in these lands before the Great War but since had all but vanished to the edges of Minnerwe. There were two – a male and a female – both too tired to struggle against their captors, who were not Kharash. In fact they bore more resemblance to the yellow skinned humanoid who had been thrown into the cage with the elves a moment before. There were eight of them, all dressed in bejewelled armour and carrying huge swords and axes. They stood apart from the Kharash and only the leader of the evil troop spoke with them in a tongue I did not understand. In the cold moonlight, emanating from a moon that had begun to wane since its completeness three days before, I saw the leader hand over the Runestone of Shang-Ti. I also noted that the strange looking creature was careful not to touch the stone; instead, he held open a bag into which the Kharash commander dropped the artefact. Then the leader of the yellow skins noticed one of their kin had been imprisoned along with with the elves. A rapid conversation followed but I was surprised to see that the yellow skins seemed happy with whatever the Kharash had said. Suddenly these strange, yellow-skinned creatures disappeared – quite literally, disappeared!

The next day after the prisoners had been fed a meagre portion of mutton stew and weevil-infested bread, the wagons rolled off, unwinding from the circle in which they had been arranged. I saw that the yellow skinned humanoid was in the second-to-last wagon, just ahead of the wolves who had calmed their misery a little. I was in the second wagon from the front (and alone) with the tigress at the front, heavily guarded. It was still early and the sun had only just crested the mountain peaks to our left when chaos broke out.

Sprinting down the scree slopes to the caravan’s left came a score or more of wolf-men. I knew them to be Hengeyokai – a part-human part-animal race – in this case wolves. I had heard that a pack had claimed territory in the hills, mountains and Steppe to the north of the Frostfall – the river I could just make out in the distance to the south and east. They split into two formations and attacked the front and rear of the caravan simultaneously. At last, a chance to be free! I tried again to break the padlock whilst my keepers were distracted – this time with success.

Just as the padlock broke at the back of the cage, I looked up to see the wolves set free their kin from the last cage, and watched as four of the great beasts shoved over the next wagon and broke the cage’s lock. That cage contained the strange humanoid and the elves. The elves made a run for it, north and slightly uphill, hand in hand. I had lost sight of the humanoid in the confusion; the last I recalled was the creature staring at a dying wolf as it tumbled down the slope. This wolf, moments before, had leapt at a Kharash horseman, unseating him and smashing his fists into his neck. The human landed on his back and flailed his spear wildly, his dark eyes bulging in pain and fear. The wolf’s fist struck at the Kharash’s neck, splintering the lamé that joined cuirass with helmet, penetrating the carotid artery. Where had the humanoid gone? No time to wonder – he probably did the same vanishing act as the similar creatures that brought the elves, yesterday.

Other Hengeyokai were dying - the biggest of the rear group was stuck by three or four flaming bolts which seemed to weave through the air before striking, just before a Karash pierced its chest with a wicked-looking spear at full charge. Some wolves closer to me simply fell where they stood – dead or unconscious he did not know. I saw one of the Kharash close by leap from his mount and slice deep into a massive wolf-man with a wickedly sharp, serrated blade before he chanted something - rendering all nearby lifeless. Indeed, had I not been completely focused on making my escape the words may have threatened to engulf my mind too. Finally, as I tumbled free of the cage, a long-legged black wolf near the front of the assault howled loudly before an arrow struck his neck and more pierced his thick mane, which tumbled down his back. The last sound this wolf-man made was a hideous wail that issued from his gaping maul as a Kharash spear entered his chest.

The Kharash were too busy to notice his escape; the wolves were soon dispatched or rounded up and caged along with the other prisoners. I realised that I would not be able to flee across the Steppe in broad daylight, nor would I have time to run up the slope before the Kharash spotted me, so I rolled back under my former wagon and lifted myself off the ground. As the Kharash regained control, orders were barked and cages hoisted back onto wagons. To my surprise, the horseman appeared in too much of a rush to spend time looking for me. He heard the Kharash leader bark some orders; then, as the wagons began to lumber forward, the leader joined one of his men right beside the wagon under which I hid. “Hinghest, take the caravan to Oracal. Malaki will reward you for her capture.” “Yes, my Lord,” answered the Kharash before spurring his horse forward. “Load the bodies too,” the leader barked after Hinghest.

Maybe that was my chance... I knew I could not hold on this way for very long. I might be able to hide under some bodies until nightfall and make my escape in the dark. I waited until the bodies had been loaded – some into the cage above me. As the cart began to trundle forward once more, I stretched my body and neck to my right and looked to see if anyone would notice if I moved. To my relief, I was under the last cage; there were, however, two guards bringing up the rear. They were about fifty yards behind sauntering forward on their black steeds. I noted they would close up if the cart was about to turn a corner along its winding journey. However, there was potentially enough time to drop down and spring into the cage before they re-appeared. I did not have to wait long and, as the cart took a sharp turn to the left following the path, I dropped to the ground and waited for the cart to pass before jumping into the cage and covering himself with dead wolf-men.

Now I had to wait until dark before making my escape; however, the carts came to a halt in the late afternoon and did not form a circle... something else was happening. The two rear guards cantered forward, passing either side of my wagon in a rush. I saw an opportunity and took it. Moments after the Kharash cantered by I slipped out from under the corpses and slid, snake-like, down the slope away from the caravan. I was certain I had not been noticed, but I needed to make sure. Making it to the bank of the Frostfall, I lay still and looked back. I was about two hundred yards from the caravan, to its south east. The river tumbled fiercely here and the bank was steep – providing excellent cover.

There was a group assembled at the front and only the tigress was guarded. The group consisted of those strange, yellow-skinned humanoids who captured and sold the elves, he was sure. Suddenly, appearing behind these strange people was a ship. A ship which seemed to float. It was over one hundred feet long and was made from a combination of strange wood and metals which seemed woven into the shape of a barge. Huge sails were unfurled on masts that stuck out in all directions from the floating vessel. Despite being unfurled, the mountain breeze seemed to have no effect on them. A ramp was lowered as I watched and the wagons were carefully loaded. It seemed to me that the horses were accustomed to this form of transport. Once all was loaded, including all but two of the Kharash, the barge simply disappeared in a shimmer of silver light.

The horsemen seemed deep in conversation as they trotted back northwards along the path. I had nowhere else to go; I needed to know whether Kran Ghul had suffered the same fate at the hands of the Kharash as my family and all the nobility. I already knew the answer, but I needed to be certain. I began heading north, paralleling the Kharash looking for an opportunity. It was then that I saw the prisoner – the one that had disappeared – heading, it seemed, southeast towards the Frostfall. That made sense, he would clearly be thirsty. Perhaps he could help; perhaps he knew what that strange vessel was – after all, he looked the same as the strange yellow-skins. He was dressed only in brown linen, presumably stripped as I had been, with a single braid of russet hair down his back and moving slowly.

It was early spring, so it was still cold even as new life bloomed across the steppe. The air gave crystal-clear vision and it was late morning. The high mountain range was to the east (my right) and the vast steppe to my left. We were on a high trail but still below the snow line, with the Frostfall behind us. I was very aware that I would need to find clothes and/or shelter if I was to survive the night! Then I noticed another survivor - one of the wolf Hengeyokai was loping towards the yellow/green humanoid at pace. He wore no clothes, instead having his thick fur (that I was slightly envious of right now), but he did wear a small leather backpack that looked quite out of place on his lupine form. Did he mean to attack? His intentions were not clear.

I was focused on the Kharash but I did try to get the attention of the humanoid... however he seemed to be shimmering and somehow there and then not there intermittently, crouching and still now. It was weird to see, but then I had seen many strange things recently and this was but one more. I tried gesturing at him to join me in an attack on the Kharash anyway, but I was not sure if he had even seen me. The Kharash were well armed and armoured, with multiple weapons stowed around their saddles in a complex arrangement to enable them to be drawn quickly. The horses were black and slightly bigger than the average riding horse.

I approached swiftly from behind, my bare feet an advantage as they had not noticed me yet, and leapt onto one of the horses, throwing the rider aside. He landed awkwardly, his head striking a rock, and was knocked out. I tried to take control of the horse but it was fighting me and it was all I could do to keep it in place. The other escapees had seen my attack and were thankfully hurrying to join me, again unseen as the other rider's attention was on me. The Hengeyokai reached him first, leaping at him, but his timing was unfortunate as the horse shifted towards him and the weight effectively body-blocked him. He slid to the ground, unharmed but unable to unseat the rider. Unfortunately the yellow thing tried the same thing with much the same effect... he did seem a bit thin to be trying to tackle someone off a horse anyway.

Thankfully I grabbed the halberd from the saddle of the horse and as I swung it around at the Kharash, bracing it to use my weight to give the blow some force, the horse twisted just the right way to give it some extra power. The other rider's head was taken clean off by the impact! The horse was still struggling, which was unusual as I could usually control horses well. It seemed as objectionable as its previous owners, so I dismounted and reluctantly watched as it ran after the other horse, which had already bolted.

I greeted my new, if temporary, allies. I was surprised to find that the Hengeyokai invoked Shang-Ti's name! Apparently the law bringer had set him on the right path, so we had more common ground than I thought. The other... thing... claimed not to be the same as the others we had seen, and in fact was quite offended that we might think that. The ones in league with our captors he called the "Githyanki", whereas he was of the "Githzerai". The Githyanki used to be slavers of his people. He did not seem to have heard of Shang-Ti, or of Chih-Chiang Fyu-Ya (the God the Kharash claimed to follow).

The Hengeyokai cocked his head to one side (thankfully not his leg) and his ear appeared to perk up. After a moment he told us that the Spiritfolk had warned him of more Kharash approaching, but then he looked up the steep slope next to us and got quite excited. He claimed that a sign from Shang-Ti was guiding us north and that the spirits would protect us, urging us to follow. I grabbed the unconscious Kharash, wanting to question him about what was going on, and ran to get out of sight up behind the Hengeyokai that was loping easily up the steep slope. He took us up a small riverlet and the way got even steeper; I had to work hard to keep up with the body across my shoulders, but I welcomed the burning muscles after several days without exercise.

The spirits told him that there was another caravan with prisoners approaching, and we saw two outriders riding ahead of them drawing close on the track below. We hid in the craggy rocks to the sides of the riverlet, and I rested the body below me against a rock, pinning him down in case he came to. We had a moment to at least exchange names, and I learned that the Hengeyokai was called "Fulgar" and the strange creature that called himself a Githzerai was called "Garuk". The outriders stopped below where we were hiding, one held a bow casually but ready to fire, and the other dismounted. He looked closely at the floor, looking for tracks perhaps? It was clear that the spooked horses had alerted them to potential danger.

We thought that we were relatively safe so far above them, but then another (quite different) Hengeyokai appeared just above us on the mountain slope. It was a baboon and started calling a challenge, standing tall and making quite the racket. Fulgar translated, although I think we got the gist of it - it was saying that we were their meat, and that we would die alone and vulnerable. Others of its kind answered the call around and above us, and it was clear that we were outnumbered and wouldn't be able to move as freely as they could in the rocks. Fulgar was worried that we had entered their territory, and that his requests for peaceful passage were being ignored. He had bared his teeth and his fur was standing up, looking ready for a fight himself.

I was concerned that the commotion would alert the Kharash, and I was proved right as an arrow flew up with a humming and then a flash of a small explosion... probably a warning to the convoy behind them. We had no time to look down, though, as a dozen baboon creatures appeared above us and leapt down, charging to engage us. Suddenly an eruption of rock spikes rose up in a line just above us, cutting off their advance and providing cover around us. Fulgar heard a shout of "flee!" in his tongue, and we did not need much encouragement to follow him.

I glanced ruefully down at the Kharash captive, wanting to take him but knowing that we had to move quickly. In a moment of anger at what they had done to my family and my people I decided that he had earned the death penalty and stabbed the halberd into his neck, easily ending his life. Then I sprinted after Fulgar, heading south. The rocks seemed to move to make our path easier as we ran; the spirits were truly with us! We kept going back to the Frostfall, knowing that we would be chased and trying to find somewhere we could defend. The noise of a waterfall ahead guided us to the source of the river, and another Hengeyokai was stood in the water below it; this one was half fish, looking into the pool whilst poised with a trident ready to strike at something within the water.

We stopped about fifty yards short, again looking to Fulgar for guidance as he was speaking with the spirits. He seemed nervous and unsure, though, worried that the spirits had taken us into a trap before and might do so again. It later became clear that the Frostfall was the limit of his people's territory and he did not like the idea of going further. I tried to reassure him, saying that we must follow Shang-Ti; that is the way. At this he stiffened slightly and bowed his head, then repeated: "that is the way" and moved forward towards the waterfall. He also saw an apparition of a human woman's torso. She told him that those chasing did not come here, they only attacked because they were linked to the Kharash. She warned him not to attack others of his folk, saying that he was not like them. He moved forward more at peace with himself, resolved to ask the creature ahead for aid.

Thankfully this Hengeyokai was much more welcoming. It introduced itself as "Shim-Ti", and said that it would help us. In truth it looked quite nervous and put the trident behind its back to seem non-threatening. Shim-Ti offered to hide us as we were unable to swim, and took us through the waterfall and a crack in the rock that couldn't be seen from even a few feet away. This led to a cave where five of his kind were gathered, and one transformed into a human before our eyes so that it could speak in a language that we all understood. The (rather naked I noticed) human that was Hengeyokai expressed sympathy for our loss, knowing of the slaughter that had taken place.

I questioned whether they knew of the place called "Oracal" that I had overheard their leader talking about. It was volcanic, and a place of power. They apologised but we could not talk more as we brought danger here and must leave at once. They offered us vials of a strange liquid and explained that we needed to drink and jump down the waterfall, letting the river take us to safety. We did as they asked, and as the oily liquid slipped down my throat and I jumped I felt myself transform into a fish! We plunged down the river, following the current as it guided us between the rocks and over several smaller waterfalls until we reached a pool near where the track forded the river. We were aware of horsemen crossing near us as we made one more jump down into a lower pool before returning to our normal form. That was wondrous and exhilarating, but we had no time to dwell on it as we pressed ourselves into cover in the rocks lining the river.

Trying to Learn More

Fulgar sniffed the air and warned that there was another convoy near, but that the river should hide our scent. I suggested that the convoy was an opportunity to stow aboard the strange ship that disappears, but I got a rather strange look from Fulgar suggesting that he wasn't so sure. His way was to wait to strike on the weak and isolated, as we had before, and then seek understanding of the ways of our enemy. I saw the wisdom in this, as it had been what I was trying to do before. The convoy was passing so we had to be quiet for a while. As before there were outriders ahead, a group of warriors leading the wagons, a warrior and a driver on each wagon, warriors to the sides, but a weaker guard behind. The cages held some of my people, some elves, Hengeyokai cats, Bandalok (this is what the baboon creatures were properly called), some half-sized humanoids, and one humanoid like a nomad with their usual desert wrappings but that seemed to be something other than human.

Fulgar warned us that they were strong in spirit and could strike at our minds, so we should not challenge them directly. Although I burned with the desire to do so I had seen his people fall without wounds so I knew he spoke the truth and held myself in check, waiting for the right moment. We followed them at a distance, easily able to wait for them to move out of sight before catching and observing their progress again. This continued for a few hours, but eventually the leader halted them and threw down something onto the floor. At once the strange ship appeared as before out of nowhere. Two riders peeled away and started coming back towards Fulgar, and separately two Kharash and two Githyanki moved away in different directions.

Fulgar was noticed as they drew near, but leapt at the nearest rider and knocked him off the horse. He landed heavily and didn't move. The other one swung his halberd at Fulgar but thankfully just missed him by an inch. Garuk was busy shovelling sand into a pouch. His kind had some weird ways about them. Fulgar turned on him and threw him to the floor. Again a rock was his ally and the rider's head cracked wetly. I had to turn away as Fulgar delighted in ripping them open and eating their organs!

A separate party of two Kharash wheeled to engage us, but the Githyanki they were escorting kept going. They charged, using their horses in an attempt to run us down and then finish us off afterwards, a tactic I knew well. Garuk was ahead and I set my halberd to receive the charge just behind him. I connected solidly, lifting the rider out of his saddle and letting the momentum swing him over our heads and dump him on the ground behind me, dead. The second rider turned and aimed his lance at me, and it broke on my scavenged lame armour leaving just a few shards embedded. This was fortunate, though, as the lance breaking brought him suddenly closer and my halberd struck true again. Another one fell dead.

The strange vessel had disappeared, so it seemed we had no choice but to follow the Githyanki if we wanted any answers. We took what we could from the dead, and Garuk armed himself and took a shield despite complaining that "all the swords were tiny". Fulgar joined us, saying that he respected the fight and that we should enjoy the spoils of the kill. He seemed genuinely grateful when I suggested that he was welcome to eat. In return he offered me Shang-Ti's blessing, which I took gladly, and I was surprised to see my wounds miraculously knit and splinters of the lance were pushed out of my shoulder before my eyes!

We followed the Githyanki as best we could, keeping them in view as much as possible as the ground began to level off and open onto the great steppe. They were heading south or southwest, that much was clear, but where they were going was a mystery. After a couple of hours Fulgar said that he could see some things flying towards us and advised us to hide in the shelter of some rocks until we understood the threat, which was a sound plan. The trail should be easy to follow now they were in open country anyway. Ahead we saw the riders halt and three half-eagle half land animal creatures landed to talk with them. It was not long, though, before they took to the air and continued towards us. We hunkered down and Garuk shed his armour saying that he needed to be free of the metal for this fight. I still could not fathom his ways.

The creature at the centre of the trio called out, having seen us, and they all dived towards us. Garuk threw a handful of sand into the air that turned into a fan of colours as he shouted a word we didn't understand. The first creature entered this colourful display and its screeching call ended quickly as it piled straight into the earth, a broken mess of feathers... Garuk just managed to step aside at the last moment. One of the others grabbed me in its talons, piercing the skin, but it could not lift me as my halberd bit deeply and cleaved almost straight through it. It fell into two pieces, dragging me backwards with its momentum but then coming to a halt in a pool of gore.

Other one failed to grab Garuk.

Continue to follow until late afternoon when grass starts to get more arid and patchy. The ones we pursue stopped so we cautiously approached to a point that we could observe them clearly.

Night about to fall so needed to be aware of temperature.

Wait until just about dark. Brilliant starry night. Lose sight of them as the light fades.

They move off when night falls. We continue for as long as we can in the cold night, sandy underfoot. They are moving more slowly. They make a fire.

We stop and huddle together with bedrolls covering most of us. Fulgar watching enemy as we cover ourselves with waxed cover and sleep.

Fulgar meditating and notices in early morning that galloping horse is coming from behind us, foe still in camp ahead.

Fulgar wakes us up - Garuk panics slightly but Fulgar muffles noise with hand over mouth.

I scrabble for halberd - horseman without armour on horse with lantern. Making a noise to alert those ahead but doesn't seem to have noticed us.

Flatten to floor and let him pass. Listen as they ask what he wants. He stands up on saddle then leaps from horse, runs into camp and goes down on one knee.

You are off they have moved. One runs to satchel and rolls it out. Stoke fire and look at parchment. Some kind of shift. Look up at stars, then says "here then", making notes.

Urged to hurry and makes notes. Rider returns. Others mount up ready to move.

Visions in night - wake with a start "the bitch!" Start working through exercises. Fulgar wants us to move quickly as the scent grows fainter. Getting quickly warmer as the sun rises.

Move as fast as we can, running intermittently to keep our speed up.

After a couple of hours the terrain became more difficult and we were hopping across fissures and boulders, climbing at times.

Hop up and find a large black snake in front of us! Fifteen foot long head rearing up. Black with purple underside.

Body lifts up and tries to wrap around Fulgar, doesn't quite do that but felt power of blow as it struck him.

Fulgar leapt forward and smacked it in the face and it slumped in a daze, rolling into hole.

Concerned about gaze of snake, and Fulgar asked if anyone else felt the effect and laid his hand on Garuk's shoulder calling on Shang Ti to purge him of illness. Fulgar seemed drained by it, but insisted that it was worth it.

Carry on for another hour then Fulgar drops and we try to find cover. Scent had become strong so they must be close. Hear a horse.

Fulgar stalks forwards quietly, sees the two horses in a bowl of rock. Water at the bottom they drink from. Couple of cacti on far side.

Streaks of light flash into back of Garuk, causing him pain! Armoured Githyanki leapt from rock beside me, flaming sword swinging. I tried to dodge but caught my side and set my backpack on fire!

I drop halberd and draw Khopesh as Fulgar rushed in and punched foe in its back, looked painful! Followed up with a flurry of blows and it fell dead.

Chanting behind us, and bolt of electric discharge leaps into Fulgar who crumples and smells of burnt fur.

I leap down on mage and bash with shield, putting weight behind it and knocked him to floor unconsious.

Garuk put sword to its neck. Fulgar howls with victory - now we feast!

I stamp fire out on backpack, but not much left. Garuk searches mage (I had killed him it seems).

Try to catch horses as one has bags - Garuk spooks them so we sprint before they get away down gully. Fulgar grabs bags as I leap onto one.

Rest and train because the directions Garuk found depend on travelling at night.

Need to move at night but as swiftly as we can to match the pace of the Gith before us.

Bushes start moving as something approaches, all around us. Four large beetles with glowing red chest area and orange glowing rears. Have seen stars and following the right direction.

One of them collapses to left of Garuk. I take opportunity to jump over it and run forward, urging others to do the same. Nasty shit belches out near Garuk, but he avoids it. The others are engaged so when I see that I stop and turn.

One buzzes into air and follows me, the others attacked on the ground.

Fulgar kills one with two punches to its head. Glob of stuff landed near me from flying one.

Another beetle collapsed near Garuk.

Garuk leapt up and pushed it away, but it stays in the air. It bit me and I collapsed unconscious. Fulgar leapt into air and smashed it down, killing it.

Garuk finishes off beetles as Fulgar picks me up, meaning to get away but struggling with weight.

How is our friend? Heavy! Garuk takes my body as Fulgar keeps saddle bags to share load.

Then realise they don't have anything to run from and stop. Check me out but have no way to help us.

Thankfully I come round and regain my strength, if not my health. Interrupt debate about whether to rest with me or press on carrying me. Need to continue so set off south again.

Eventually get exhausted and set tent, eat and rest. Fulgar meditates and wakes us up - we are late because the sun rises.

Pray to Shang Ti and feel somewhat better in the morning. After a couple more hours the gorse thins out but there are more cacti, looking for pattern of three. See a Kharash warrior ahead. Also see three very large and distinctive cacti near him.

Fulgar runs forward, but ducks behind cacti to let horse pass then chases it. It lowers lance at Garuk but he misses. Passes then rears and turns tightly to charge back.

Charges back at Garuk, striking this time and leaving a deep wound. Fulgar heads to three cacti as Kharash draws bow and circles around. Garuk charges at him and tries to grapple him off horse but can't keep hold.

Arrow pings off my armour. Garuk struck down by another arrow.

I see him looking the other way and sprint for him, catching hold of his arm and managing to hold on despite horse and rider's efforts.

Fulgar jogs over to Garuk and calls on Shang Ti to aid him and arrow pops out. He jerks to life. Grasps him on arm and thanks him, using his aid to get up. Pats him and thanks for aid again.

I manage to lunge and grab him again, better this time.

Fulgar finds a dull yellow metal symbol on the side of a rock to the west of the cacti. Vibrates with power as he picks it up.

Garuk runs up to help, trying to hit the horse but its moving too much.

Manage to drag rider to floor whilst Garuk entertains the horse by waving a sword around.

Fulgar finds that centre of decorated part of item could be depressed, but wary of pressing it. Runs back towards us.

Shows us his find and we move towards the small rocks where he found it.

Garuk eventually arrives - torn between attacking and joining us. Fulgar wraps arms around us and presses button and we are suddenly transported to a temple.

Three paths lead to entrance, three circles on the path we stood on, water between the paths. Evening, so time has changed. Cacti flanking entrance.

Rock wall just behind us, vertical. Through the entranceway we could just make out a statue beyond and a tall door beyond that.

Fulgar runs forward urging us to seek cover, but I call to be wary and stay together before we enter. Garuk warns to stay out of circles and walks forward warily.

Have to run behind as he doesn't slow down. I reach the entranceway and hear a bird cry from ahead beyond the doors. Statue is rough boulders with square plinth atop and then aztec style eagles head at the very top.

The doors do not open as they did for Fulgar. Large metal rings set into ears of skulls along the ring, does not pull open, and door does not shift when I put weight on it to push.

Garuk realises you have to turn the handles and starts to open so I lend my strength to him to push them open. Really difficult.

Enter a room and find Fulgar in centre of room, looking healthy and angry facing us. Three winged females with skulls strapped around waist flying at back of room.

Ceiling arched with pillars in relief down sides. Four in centre making a pagoda below the ceiling. Fulgar is standing in font of water with rim almost touching the pillars around him. Ankle deep.

Depictions of various birds of prey that vary in type - 3 on each pillar facing diagonally out. 12 in total.

Females fly up to ceiling as we enter. Garuk moves up to side of pagoda. Fulgar attacks! Only Garuk's armour saves him.

One of the winged females falls out of sky to the floor, landing heavily in a cloud of feathers dead.

I try to restrain Fulgar and manage to pin one arm. Fall backwards trying to take him with me but lose the grip and fall into the water.

I try throwing lighted lantern at flying thing but hits wall instead - burning oil running down.

Curse and grab at Fulgar and manage to get one arm again. Another thing falls to the ground and dies in a puff of feathers.

Still can't get Fulgar down. Last thing falls to floor and dies with a particularly bloody impact.

Now see the room full of bones with no decoration that is the reality. Women are actually hideous ugly beasts.

Fulgar drops to knees and offers neck to Garuk saying that he has shamed himself. Garuk pulls him to feet saying that there is no shame - they controlled your mind I have seen this before.

Search floor and find coins and ivory tube. Garuk finds dagger. Swap - he is very interested in case and scrolls, throws leather case away.

Gets suddenly darker. Look up and see panels opening showing night sky. I ask Garuk if any of these look like star we need to follow - are they showing us the way?

Find 12 darts wrapped in leather so take them - portentious number. Suddenly Fulgar disappears with a yelp. I rush over, looking to see what happened but also disappear down chute landing in chest high water. Garuk lands on us shortly afterwards, which was painful.

An opening in far side, but dark so I cannot see... others kind. Tie rope to Fulgar and boost him up. Narrow so cannot turn. Slippery and sloping up.

He finds something he didn't like, so starts to back up and finds a sharp catch on side, so examines it.

Manipulates it and opens in and up. Calls to us and we climb into tube with him. Pass torch forward with difficulty and he drops it - quickly hears it hit. Carefully moves into space and guides me out. Tight but opens one way so I shuffle down as he helps Garuk.

Try to light torch but splutters and cannot catch. Very enclosed.

Have to go dark - Fulgar leading an we follow. 20 mins in this fashion until reach opening suddenly. Another torch drop - a little longer falling so Fulgar carefully climbs down. Shaft above, with bats? maybe into another tube.

Fulgar lights lantern briefly and see exit to right. Go that way and it slopes down. Air changes into cooler fresher to breathe. Wet as well.

Slow pace to avoid slipping.

Fulgar sees creature ahead, warns us and calls forward that we seek passage but not a fight and will take no prey.

It jumps and barks something then runs away. We continue for 20 mins or so again. Head appears - bad ambush, but something projectile wise came towards us.

Back off, head back to shaft after heated discussion over options. Climbing only option. Use spikes and rope to minimise risk, and Fulgar changes into human form. Quickly move back as being attacked again! Grants Fulgar ability to see in the dark as a human.

Reaches passageway using three spikes and sees three winged creatures asleep on roof. Wakes them with banging, two fly off and one lunges at him but then flies past and up.

Fulgar holds rope and pulls me up and I climb as things start pinging off walls around me. Still can't see! Get up to shaft with arrows pinging around me. Cheer from below as I disappear out of sight.

Fulgar notices air change so Garuk lights and passes lantern forward. Shaft rises vertically with side passages but then roof about 30' up.

Water below us about 20 feet. Fulgar ropes up and manages to reach nearest shaft. Explores without rope but finds vertical shaft filled by a heat source so not keen of going that way.

Fulgar climbs to next one and barely makes it, clinging to tube at the last moment as he slips.

Starts to climb out as he hears water and then torrent of water spits bat thing out at Garuk's feet. Fulgar asks us to keep it for a snack. Garuk sticks sword through it.

Fulgar reached highest tube but nowhere to brace for us to follow. We let him take the rope so he could explore futher.

I start doing some exercises in the confined space - press ups, sit ups... then hear some movements below - mechanical. Water lowers and disappears from shaft. Creature below us fills shaft - big mouth with tentacles around it.

Beast starts climbing up the walls with tentacles we back up down shaft some way. Thin tentacles reach in to shaft and grab at Garuk.

Tentacle grabs Garuk's sword - maw of beast right at end of shaft now. Garuk lets go of sword to get back and away. Move back out of reach.

Garuk reads a scroll, creating an electrical charge around his hands which he concentrates to build up a charge which he releases after a few minutes in a massive discharge with fluttering tentacles that sent it scuttling back down hole.

Fulgar exploring more tunnels alone, gets to a slightly larger one and some kind of open space (still dark). Finds a trapdoor in floor of area, checks for any mechanisms and finds ring, opens it and finds iron ladder going down, which he descends.

Follows a corridor leading to another room with a trapdoor... lightning as he opens it (Garuk) so closes again and finds another passage to follow. Leads to stairs spiralling in a square up.

Eventually leads to a door but when he tried to open it a portcullis dropped in front of him and whirring mechanism continues. Backs into stairs and floor falls away to spiked pit in front of him.

Finds a movable stone, braces himself and presses it. Seems to reset so portcullis rises and new floor lowers, door closes.

This time smashes into door a couple of times and rips hinges off. Force side of door back to make an opening. Stairs going up beyond.

Once Garuk has finished showing off, return to edge of shaft. Starting to fill up with water again, pattern of discharge seems to be that there is a five or six minute pause and then water discharge one after the other for the three tubes into shaft.

No option but to wait for Fulgar. Set alarms and rest because exhausted.

Fulgar ascends stairs and finds stone door to side at a dead end. Light behind it! Also music. Confidently opens door, but completely naked... lots of people (humans) around. Canyon with buildings in walls and pathway around edge that he has walked out onto.

Backs in and closes door to put some clothes on - humans can be funny about that. Robe thrown over him. Arse flapping though because of tail slit.

Turns to right and climbs stairs. Warm, especially in sun so removes cloak just leaving robe. Meets someone who agrees with him that his smell is offensive and he needs a bath. Also it would be good to cover his arse. Shows him way to bathhouse and market, as well as guard post (Harung).

Far to south - he mentioned Minnerwe and that is far to north apparently.

Takes a bath, eats, buys some clothes. Basically having a better time than us!

Eventually climbs to guard house, passing camel train. Great plain of rocky desert around the canyon.

Harung have red obi and grey sashes, sickle swords and metal rod. Metal helmet and cheek guards. Spiked buckler. Metal reinforced boots with spikes. Coins being passed.

Guards laugh at his story and Fulgar thinks they are a bit crazy.

Finds lodgings - running water! Equipment replen. One old person knows legend of Siren Hall to north of town, some kind of religious cult. No one has been that way since the great wars.

Sees large wall to north of town, guarded.

We do the swinging pots guy ropes featherfall plan. Manage to pull halberd up too pan in face.

Low crawl space that ends in narrow shaft. Do a weird balancing act standing on Garuk's hands and use halberd to pull myself up. Then lower guys ropes knotted together to pull Garuk up to join me.

Hear Fulgar calling and respond. He is in a shaft to our right but above us. Drops us on first attempt but then uses spikes and we pull ourselves up.

Garuk hands dead bat thing to him for snack. He shares water with us.

Takes us back to door to city. Fulgar will remain while we explore so that he can change back to wolf form.

Leave weapons with Fulgar. Head for bathhouse.

Marun (accent over u) is the name of the place.