Sand and Secrets- GM Story Lead in #4

Ahl'Kamed once again brought the whip down with a vicious kerack when the pace of one of the slaves loading goods onto one of the dozens of royal wagons, began to slow. If they were going to start showing weakness now, before they had even started into the killing desert, he had to get them motivated.

He knew the names of all the slaves. Most of them he had chosen himself, on one of his many trips to the auction. He knew the names of everyone who would be on the caravan. It was his job to know. Not just anyone could travel with the Queen. Information was vital, and information was Ahl'Kamed's job. He grinned through his glistening gold teeth and brought the whip down again, drawing blood from the thighs of one of the sweating staggering slaves. His cries of pain were drowned out by the shouts of apology from the other workers around him. One of the other workers pulled a sleeve off his shirt and began to bandage his wounded comrade. This made Ahl'Kamed nod in approval. It was good to see brotherhood among the slaves. It meant they worked well together. If there was any fear of an uprising, he did not feel it.

This was going to be a very interesting journey. He had traveled from Camdella to Den Mezzier more times than there were needles on a cactus, and he had seen some real danger, and real intrigue. He had come face to face with starvation, burning alive under the relentless gaze of Brenn, and even the poison of the deadly Nanktarri. He didn't fear anything. Still something about this trip gave rise to that feeling that danced up and down his spine, warning him, like hounds barking before a sand storm.

Perhaps it was the strange arrival of the early gray moon that followed their footsteps here on the journey south. Perhaps it was the foreboding news from back home about the new leadership amongst the guilds. This news even seemed to affect things this far from the motherland, it showed in how the people around town acted. How people just vanished. Or Perhaps it was the group of newcomers who had offered their services in guarding the wagon....

They could fight, or had some power in them. Ahl'Kamed had an eye for that. He had studied them carefully during their interview, and had kept an eye on them when they moved about town.

One wore the signet ring of the red tower of magic. An arcane user, but of no renown. If he was well known, Ahl'Kamed would know him. He looked ill, yet seemed to give off a strange energy. Probably new to the arts of magic, and no real threat...Save for the staff he carried. No mere apprentices walking stick.

The Orc-man looked like trouble. He had more muscle than he did brains, but still enough brains to be inclined to an opinion about things. He could be a fight waiting to happen, and from the looks of the sword he carried, it would be an unfair fight. He would need to keep an eye on him.

The Elf-man seemed friendly enough. He carried himself well, didn't seem to carry many weapons, and looked to be more of a performer than a warrior. Music was as much an ally in the heart of the desert as any shield or blade could be. He seemed to drift between charming and disinterested. Perhaps he knew many secrets. Ahl'Kamed would keep this in mind.

And they had a Gnome with them! In all his travels Ahl'Kamed had seen only a few, and never for more than a moment at a time. This one seemed to be traveling with the others for some time now. He wondered if there were more Gnomes in their home world of Mendiera. All of the little folk he had ever encountered before seemed rather light spirited. They seemed quite jolly and charismatic. This gnome seemed quite cold and self contained. Despite his small stature he still gave Ahl'Kamed a shiver. Something about the way he looked at him..like he was taking him apart with his eyes..

But the young man was the one who caught Ahl'Kameds attention more so than the others. He looked so familiar...He saw the boots they boy wore. He didn't know where he got them, but he knew for sure he wasn't awarded them in the manner of the other figures who wore such items. The red feather was a give away. He wasn't sure if the lad knew what it meant, but the way he tried to hide them under his leggings showed that he knew they could be trouble. Perhaps he would have to have a small talk with the boy some time on the road. If there was one thing Ahl'Kamed couldn't stand, it was a mystery right under his nose. That and laziness.

With that thought he brought the whip down in two swift motions, splitting the ears of two workers who had dropped a heavy crate. They cried out but immediately began to work together to get the big crate back onto their shoulders. This made Ahl'Kamed smile. He did so love to see brothers working together.