Episode 2, Part 4: Journey's End; A Wedding!

The caravan has continued it's trip North. Three days later the caravan is about a day’s journey south of the town of Desh Ava. Tsorvano calls for a stop at Desh Ava; he has an errand to perform at the abbey, and he wants Strike Team Alpha to come along. The caravan will go on to Desh Ava and spend two days there, lodging their camels and transferring their goods to horses and mules.

The abbey is a cluster of gleaming white buildings on a hillside to the west of Desh Ava. It is a shrine and home devoted to the homeless and orphaned. Anyone who has nowhere else to go is brought here; this is where mothers who can’t care for their children bring them, for instance. Everyone there is expected to work to earn their keep, including visitors.The sisters don’t ask Tsorvano to do any physical work; he is just asked to play his kalba (a musical instrument resembling a seven-stringed balalaika) in the evenings.

Riana

Bob volunteers his duties as a chef. Asharra offers to entertain. Alex and Noah get hit with stable duty. Dee gets stuck with kitchen duty; while there he meets the beautiful Riana, Halmaro's other daughter.

Riana

Riana didn't know that she was a merchant princess, but she does now, and it's explained to her that she's to be married to a prince of Mashandi. As they are getting ready to leave, they notice that Tsorvano is saddling up an extra horse. Riana emerges from the abbey, dressed for travel and carrying a bundle (this contains everything she owns). The group meets back up with the caravan.

The caravan stops in a small valley two days’ journey from Ein Arris. Tsorvano meets with Strike Team Alpha and about 30 other guards to explain the situation. Katsaya (Halmaro’s wife and mother of Kira) found out about Riana and exploded in anger. Taking her personal retinue of some 40 guards and servants, she left the caravan, saying she was going back home. Halmaro doesn't believe her.

The Vigil

As part of the wedding ritual, Riana is to spend a night in vigil. Tsorvano has made arrangements to have Riana perform her vigil at a small church on the hill above the valley. He is almost certain that Katsaya will try something before the wedding, and he wants plenty of able-bodied guards around Riana. Tsorvano, Riana, the PCs, and the guards will go up to the church.

Tsorvano divides the guards into shifts; he assigns the PCs to the third shift (roughly three hours, starting at midnight). They will be able to sleep or relax for a few hours so long as they are at their posts at midnight.

An hour after midnight Dee starts hearing the theme from Jaws and a knock occurs at the door. Alex has already come up with some neat plan and when the attackers come through the door, they are surprised, overwhelmed, and repulsed. One of the attackers is captured by Asharra and it’s confirmed that the attackers came from Katsaya.

When the fight is over the survivors are praised for their dedication; each gets medical treatment. There are no more attacks, and the caravan reaches Ein Arris; Tsorvano is in a good mood, and Halmaro is very thoughtful. His domestic problems are getting out of hand, and are beginning to affect national politics. Fortunately, Katsaya overstepped herself when she ordered the attack on the church; that’s far worse than simple assassination. By using that against her, he can keep her in line. For a while.

Ein Arris

Two days later, Halmaro, Riana and the caravan make it to Ein Arris. Halmaro calls the PCs in, invites them to work for him at an even better pay than before and pays the following:

• Dee: $2500
• Alex, Asharra, Bob: $2000
• Noah: $500

The Wedding

The job is over, and at the suggestion of Tsorvano (hey, if you see anything out there, let me know) the PCs decide to stick around for two days to see and attend the wedding – it’s a public spectacle. Halmaro is on the dais with Riana and her bridegroom, and the king and queen of Mashanda. Katsaya is conspicuous by her absence, and is represented by an empty chair. And after the wedding, there will be celebrations for days. The PCs will have a chance to spend all the money they’ve made, if not more.