End of combat:
Jes wear & tear: 1d6 = 4
Theo wear & tear: 1d6 = 2
A "1" on a wear & tear roll means the weapon loses a point of durability.
1 supply used to treat Theo's wound.
Theo begins to limp over to see if the grey-haired woman is alright, clutching at his bleeding chest, but Jes steps in front of him. “You first,” she insists, and makes him sit down while she binds up the deep gash with some clean rags. “Watch out for those cowards while I’m concentrating – the enemy of my enemy is only my friend until the first enemy is dead… or something.”
She pauses for a moment and then murmurs to herself: “Fuckers better give back my spear.”
They find the old woman after a bit of searching through the undergrowth.
“It’s safe now”, says Theo in a soft rumble, helping her up.
“The others?” she asks
“Three of them ran away,” Jes tells her. “The other one…”
They guide her to the body. After giving her a minute, Jes asks “What was that thing?”
“I don’t know,” the woman says shakily. “Tesfaya – he leads the pilgrimage – said the Oasis was peaceful. We were just walking and then we met it. It spoke to us and seemed like a person – it was curious why were here.”
Jes: “You seem to have seriously pissed it off.” She pauses and looks around. “I want to hear more about this, but the light’s fading. We should get somewhere safe in case there’s another angry cactus man… owl around. I’m Jes by the way, and this is Theophilus.”
“I’m Zema. You’re right,” she takes a deep shuddering breath. “You would be welcome at our camp. Tesfaya will welcome you as guests.” Neither of them miss the emphasis on “guest” – she is promising the sacred duties of host to them. “Will you… will you help me carry Fana? We’ve seen scavengers slinking around.”
Theo wordlessly hands her his club to use as a walking stick, and then lifts up the body easily. Zema’s eyes go wide at how strong he must be.
The setting sun flashes in and out of the long grass as they head cautiously south to the oasis, following the river again.
After a minute, Zema continues: “Like I said, it was curious about us. We told it about our pilgrimage to the Inbada, to worship the Waters of the Sun. It seemed offended we didn’t worship Mama Cactus. That’s a local god, I think?”
“That is interesting,” intones Theo, “We are seeking flow-“
“Flounders,” interrupts Jes, glaring at him. “We heard the oasis has tasty fish.”
Zema gives them a puzzled look. “…there are a few fish, I suppose.”
Jes: “Good. What happened next?”
Zema: “We tried to explain more about the joy we find in the Waters; Mamo showed it one of our dances. But it kept getting angrier, so we tried to part ways. It said our worship was foolish – that we should seek vengeance not joy. I tried to bid it farewell, but Fana” – she glances sadly at the limp body – “Fana got angry too. A feud took her brother; that’s why she joined the pilgrimage.”
She gives a big sigh. “Then it attacked us.”
They emerge from the long grass and before them is a broad, still lake, with the orange light of the sun shining across it. Nearby a large party of the pilgrims is camped, their tents and livestock covered in colourful patterns matching the saris and scarves of the people. From a blazing fire come delicious spicy smells of cooking.
Shouts of joy and consternation erupt as they welcome Zema and mourn Fana, taking the body to be prepared for a funeral. After a few minutes, they pay attention to the strangers, and an old man approaches Jes and Theo, dressed in sari of pink and green and holding a staff carved with flowers.
“Thank you for saving my people. I am Tesfaya, Water-bearer. You are our honoured guests. Blessings of the Sun to you.”
Jes is itching to ask for her spear – and in the slums they didn’t much stand on ceremony. But she keeps her mouth shut. Theo’s monastery upbringing will be helpful here.
1d10+1(background) = 10
“May its rays reflect to you,” Theo rumbles, “and give light to your eyes, and quench your thirst.”
Tesfaya seems surprised and delighted. “Come, refresh yourselves. We must feast and celebrate Fana’s life, but later we will take council regarding the danger that hides in these grasses.”