Contract: The Don's Request
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We picked up with Zuri of House Du'Mansia moving with all haste towards the Rune Obelisk. #Team High Turnover Rate stepped up to assist when Bash fell under the same compulsion to run. Roquesta (Rocket) Strauss saw some of those evil Kaukarikis coming to feast on the enthralled party and took some preliminary shots at them. Suddenly the flowers at the base of the tower detached as a large lumbering creature that moved in towards Zuri. Zuri broke free from the control in time to be paralyzed by the scent coming off the creature.
The kaukariki arrived and swept towards the party despite being wounded by some of Jerzac Scarlewe's grenades. When they got into range one successfully poisoned Zuri while the others held up the rest of the party. In the midst of this melee a shot rang out, punching through Rocket's armor and seriously injuring her. Jerzac threw out a smoke grenade to provide some cover for Bash and Roswell Mogul to clear the way towards the plant creature. Just before Rocket could retreat into the smoke she was nailed by another round. The 2 kaukarikis nearby followed her in and with an odd electrical discharge noise they weren't seen alive again.
Back over at the pillar Zuri was flanked, further poisoned, and knocked unconscious. Bash arrived with Roswell to save her and destroy the plant creature. Wanting to get back in the fight, Rocket exited the smoke cloud to get shot again. Figuring discretion was the better part of valor she ran back into the cloud and curled up into a nearby rootball to nurse her wounds. Since all other enemies were eliminated Bash, Zuri, and Roswell ran into the jungle trying to get to the sniper. No other shots rang out. Zuri found the sniper nest up in a tree but was unable to find a trail leading away despite searching a wide radius.
While most of you were searching for the sniper, Jerzac took Professor Muhali to the obelisk to inspect for any clues. Finding some runes under the vines, she asked you to cut back the vegetation. After it was cleared she spent some time trying to translate it. She only found fragments that indicated it may have acted as a signpost. One side contained a bas relief of 12 Fear Neimhe and a picture of the Singing Range with a dot "Loskialua" "Ministry of Starsong" "Embassy of the Spheres" "Piercer of the Veil" and ""Temple of the Twelve." The other sides had fragmentary words that mentioned paying respect, messengers from beyond, and academy, and "interpreters of the Beacon." After Zuri returned and you rested she confirmed the tracks of Eyrub Paqual's party lead towards the mountains as indicated in the obelisk's diagram.
Zuri led the party on the trail for a couple of hours until Bash suddenly fell into a rather deep pit trap. Realizing that there may be further traps ahead, Zuri slowed down looking carefully. She successfully found and disarmed a swinging log trap but failed to do so on the second one that was slightly further down the path. Diving out of the way she adroitly avoided a potentially lethal trap. When you all joined her you figured that travelling off of the path would be worth the added safety at the cost of speed. Zuri remained in the trees so she could observe the trail and guide the way. As dark approached and you were thinking of turning in for the night Bash, Jerzac, and Rocket all crumpled to the ground asleep while Zuri and Roswell maintained consciousness. Stepping out of the forest was someone the sleeping party members would recognize from their first contract together. Someone much harder and more battle worn than they would remember.