Chapter 3: A Dangerous Detour

[MevlyTM]

Maju gives the thief a look of derision. He then takes the daggers from Jaali and walks back to Teruk, handing them to him. Maju says to Teruk, "He was keeping them safe from the ogres, but then in all the excitement he forgot about them. He asked me to thank you for reminding him. We release you from our service. You and your men have been stout companions, and I'm sorry to see you go. Still, I understand that you wish to return to your now liberated village. As a Mage, I'm deeply interested in the magic of this place. So I hope you'll understand that I wish to continue to explore here. When you get back to the surface, you can release Kyo if she hasn't already escaped. If I have opportunity and need, I'll track her down after we finish here. I give thanks to you for your assistance, and the sacrifice of your people. Perhaps fortune will cross our paths at some future time. Until then, I wish you and your people peace and prosperity." Maju then holds out his hand to shake Teruk's.

OOC: I assume that Maju doesn't even know about the dagger that Jaali kept.

[Woe]

Kanya looks pissed. "They are not our personal guards. They are labor to help repair the Ari-Ari. Why are you dismissing them?"

OOC: Unless I missed a post somewhere?

[MevlyTM]

OOC: Unless I missed a post somewhere?

Yeah. Here it is:

Maju conveys Teruk's words. He then adds, "Teruk is correct. We need to decide what our goals are here. This place, and especially its magic intrigues me. So I'm fine with exploring further, as opposed to just getting back to the ship and leaving this island. However, if we go on, we should release Teruk and his men from our service."

Maju didn't hear any objections. So we followed through on it.

[Longman]

I'll just leave this here to simmer for a bit and give Woe a chance to respond further before I push ahead.

[Woe]

Oh ok. Thanks. Yeah, Kanya would object. She's been focused on getting the extra laborers back to the ship so we can all get off this forsaken island. She wouldn't let them disappear w/o comment.

"What? The goals here are to get these villagers back to the Ari Ari and repair the ship. Unless you're planning on going hermitic on us and living here, Teruk and his men can cool their heels outside for the few hours we're going to be detouring in this temple."

[SerGavin]

Kanya makes a good point. we should be out in a few hours, and if not then we will probably have died and thus will have no need to worry about it.

[Longman]

Teruk obviously does not believe Maju, but takes the stolen artifacts with good grace.

We will wait up top for your return, he says. Then, if you no longer need us, we will depart.

One final thing, while we are talking in this way. It has always been a mystery to me that you choose to travel with that Zargh (Saracen). He is as bloodthirsty as all his race, and killed some of my men in cold blood, when we first met. I have numerous times persuaded my men not to kill him, and I must admit that when he tried to explore the shipwreck, I knew he would likely be attacked, and I said nothing to stop it.

I do not know how you will fare with such folk for company. The Zargh around here are wicked. It is said their people have spread throughout the whole sea, but that this place is their original home. I pray you do not meet any more of them. I suspect your friend would not be on your side, in such an encounter.

Teruk and his men now depart, leaving you in the dungeon. Kanya and Apinya have understood that Teruk's men are being released, but they did not hear the bit about Saracen.

The monk is still in the new room, preparing to grab the loot. (Does he?). The thief may go back in to the new room if he wishes. Everyone else is still in the long hall of the apes, outside the north-west door to the new room.

Let's keep this moving.

[mTeasdale]

Jaali will definitely inspect more the stuff of value in the new room, now that his bag have been emptied.

[MevlyTM]

Maju thanks Teruk for the information. He also says, "It seems that this location is safe for you and your men, especially considering the healing spring. If you wait above ground for more than two days, then I suggest that you go back to your village with my well wishes."

After Teruk and his men leave the large hall, Maju says to the others, "They say that they'll wait a couple of days for us. If we don't return by then, I told them that they should go back to their village." Maju then goes to the side room to inspect the scroll found there.

[quozl]

YC will grab the keys and look at the book's cover. Is there a title written on it in a language he can read?