[HQ Ignorance] Scene 117: The Cycle of Lei Tabor

[Lev Lafayette]

On Mon, 2010-11-22 at 23:01 +0000, Nicolas Hughes wrote:
> 
> The horseman looked round at his diminutive companion "I'm a messenger
> with no horse and a leg that won't carry me far or fast, I'm
> struggling to know how I can help without making things worse. How
> about you, do you know more about what's going on around here than I
> do?"

General Ho Ki looks unmoving at the horseless courier. The silence of
chirping crickets implies an answer; that nothing ever changes in these
semi-arid with the dry loose soil and eroded layers.

(Example of your location
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Toadstool_Geologic_Park.jpg )

The General wheels on his horse and others beckon the courier and the
diminutive darkman to follow. Travel through this region is rough and
unpleasant, and the courier gives a considered opinion that this is
possibly the worst travelling country that he has encountered - with
perhaps the exception of Dilis Swamp. 

It is not until nightfall of the second day that the party eventually
makes it to a small village of crude huts, load roosters, lazy dogs and
a handful of people who miserably scratch out an existence.

The member of the General's force who originally spoke up has since
introduced himself to Aalmon and The Fourth; Komzet. He speaks again to
the two strangers with the most remarkable story. He has just returned
from the hut where his female friend lives with her family, and by great
coincidence the Yao Fune cultist uncle, Pyotr, is present. He has
informed the family that strangers from across the Wastes have come to
see members of the Yao Fune cult and the family insists that you attend
for dinner.

General Ho Ki's forces seem to be settling in and the general is talking
to what appears to be village headmen. The conversation is strong,
animated but seemingly neutral at worst. Ho Ki is continuing his line
that the despots of Lei Tabor need to be overthrown and the headmen are
discussing the viability of alternative rulers, the possibility of them
becoming corrupt and the ruthlessness of the current rulers.

Aalmon and The Fourth enter the small house owned by Petelinji, an older
farmer, his wife, his two sons, his daughter, their elderly grandmother,
their second son's wife, her two toddlers, and the visiting uncle. All
are enjoying what appears to be a vegetable stew... They serve The
Fourth and Aalmon first. Pyotr smiles and says.. "You must be tired and
hungry after such a long journey.."