VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, [6], 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 14:45:14 01/21/02 Mon
Author: Ebessa
Subject: Info on Twilight and the Sharm
In reply to: Laurel Goldleaf 's message, "What's in a name?" on 13:59:21 01/21/02 Mon

The other centaurs moved aside when Ebessa's sister, Narur approached the guests with a large bowl in her hands. "I do not mean to interrupt but you all must drink water with me to create a bond of friendship between the Awati clan and your group."

The Jann nodded immediately since they knew that the sharing of water was equivalent to the sharing of salt that was held between a host and his guests. "ARRRH!" Sheik Daraba said, remembering his ogre persona. He rose to his full seven feet, accepted the bowl from Narur and took a sip before passing it to his men. When the last of the Jann finished with the bowl it was handed to Justin. The merc took a big gulp of the fresh water then the bowl was passed from one person to another until everyone had drank from it.

When the water ceremony was completed, Narur nodded to her sister who now stood among the other centaurs. Ebessa came forward, gracing her guests with a smile before she began to speak. "The Awati clan has hunted along the barren shores of the Sea of Salt for decades. One night, a priest of a religious cult calling themselves the Sharm, captured me while I was out searching for moon snakes. This priest, named Jurast infuriated me by ordering his followers to shave my head immediately. I managed to escape from their clutches with the help of my sister, Narur, but not before the foul priests cut off my warrior's braid and most of my hair."

Slowly, Ebessa removed her turban, revealing very short auburn hair that had been cut rather haphazardly. "To avenge this insult, my entire clan has devoted itself to destroying the Sharm. My sister Narur's auguries have warned that the Sharm present a deadly threat to our clan, therefore we do not attack them outright in the city of Twilight where they have taken up residency. Instead, we conduct surprise raids on them when small numbers of their group leave Twilight and travel near our domains."

With her right hoof, Ebessa drew a rough picture of the ruins of Twilight in the dirt. "The ancient city is surrounded by a six foot tall brick wall that has collapsed in many places," she told them. "Within the walls are numerous old buildings with two tall towers; one to the east and one at the west portion of the city. The Sharm used to post a watch outside the walls each night, but because of our excellent night vision and marksmanship we were able to inflict enough casualties on them to make them stop that practice."

Ebessa's hoof pointed to the west tower. "I advise you to enter Twilight in the darkest of night for during the day the Sharm can see most of the ruined city rather well from their lofty position in this tower where they keep guard at all times. And, carry no lights for them to see!"

The centaur leader took a step back from the map she had drawn then wrapped the turban around her head before continuing. "Heed my warning, dear guests. If the Sharm catch any of you, they will shave the hair off every part of your body then torture you until you convert to their misguided religion! The ruins of Twilight lay thirty minutes from here by camel. I suggest that you eat, rest and enjoy the remainder of the day here at our oasis, then a few of us will lead you to the outskirts of the city at an hour before midnight when the night will be at its darkest."

"ARRRGGH!" the Sheik grunted loudly, while nodding his head in agreement to the centaur's advice.

"You are very quiet for an ogre," Ebessa said, grinning when her remark caused the Sheik to grunt and groan even more. When she noticed that hardly any of the moon snakes had been consumed she instructed one of her clan members to remove the bowl and replace it with one filled with cactus fruit.

Ebessa turned back to her guests, the grin still playing upon her mouth. "Since we hunt at night for the snakes that make up most of our food, we sleep during the day. Please continue to make yourselves at home here at the oasis while we are resting. If you need us for anything you can find us at the far north end of the oasis where our tents are set up under the shade trees that grow the tallest in that area."

Once a large bowl of cactus fruit was set upon the ground before the guests, Ebessa led her brethren from the campfire. They headed to the tents she had mentioned that were located some sixty yards away. The centaurs entered the tents and made ready to get some sleep just as the sun began to rise.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Forum timezone: GMT-6
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.