The Cliff Road (Peek & Jaridan)

Continuation of Peek & Jaridan's adventures

On the road to AldaChur

Jaridan and Peek advance cautiously during the rest of the night, on guard against dangers around them and Jaridan senses the fury of the proud nomad.

At dawn, they stop for breakfast and Peek declares: "why didn't you let me kill her?"

Jaridan shrugs: "who says you would have managed. Ikarnos would have defended her."

Peek: "and you?"

Jaridan: "I did not want to be among those who kill each other. I long too much for peace for that."

Peek: "against chaos, there is never peace!"

Jaridan: "perhaps we will find a way to heal her. In any case, that is what I will seek in AldaChur, there are temples there and sages, perhaps they will know."

Peek: "and if they come back and we have no solution?"

Jaridan: "I would not travel with an ogre. I would tell Ikarnos the mission ends there for me and I suppose you should do the same."

He observes her: "disappointed, eh? Me too, you know, if I accepted it is also to defend the cause of peace and you?"

Peek: "the Sable tribe is strong because allied with the Lunars but I distrust them. I fear they weaken us in reality. I wanted to find something to turn the tables but instead I have even more suspicion toward them. Well, we shall see. You might find your family soon."

He darkens: "if that is the case, I would be a happy man to see my kin again but so unhappy because according to the Witch, I would never see peace arrive."

They rest a bit and after some debriefing on the route to take through the valley separating the two cliffs of the Dwarf Marches, they resume the road. "I am glad your antelope is fully recovered in any case."

The journey passes without incident. A few encounters with Orlanthis. Jaridan teaches Peek that the inhabitants of the Dragon Pass mainly venerate Orlanth for men and Ernalda for women. Orlanth is at war with the Red Moon and the Lunars have even forbidden openly practicing his cult. They use it to quell any rebellion, also taking the opportunity to procure slaves on the pretext of illegal cult, and the clan chiefs are so bewildered that they convert to the Seven Mothers or Yelmalio like Duke Harald of AldaChur. It is clever. They sow discord among the clans and only have to collect the points. Peek realizes they did a bit of the same in the end in Prax without the prohibition aspect but this aspect of the Empire does not please her. She thanks Jaridan for opening her eyes. Finally, they arrive before the great cliffs that lead to the plateau of the eastern lands on which the city of Aldachur lies further on, and Jaridan realizes it will be tough or even impossible to pass. Usually he takes the north by the main road but they are far from it. The Orlanthis told him of a road to the south however.

🎲 How to pass?

• Conflict:
  • Jaridan: information from encountered Orlanthis, cartography + Peek: orienteering
  • little frequented, arid lands at the foot of the cliff, they got lost
• Result 3 vs 3: Victory

They finally find traces of a trail that looks relatively frequented then with other clues, they reach to the south a wider road that seems to lead toward the cliff. And indeed they see before them a village and above it a road that winds along the cliff! They found it.

The village at the foot of the AldaChur high plateau cliff

Jaridan and Peek thus advance at a walk toward the village entrance forming a semicircle pressed against the cliff and surrounded by wooden ramparts. Two guards armed with lance and shield approach them. Jaridan addresses them: "Greetings! My name is Jaridan and I am a merchant. The nomad is with me as well and we come in peace. We are going to AldaChur and wish to take the cliff road."

One of the guards replies: "You are welcome and under the law of Orlanthi hospitality."

He seems to be watching for a reaction from the heroes. "We will accompany you to the Hall of our chief Sigmar where you will be able to dine and tell him of your journey. Follow me."

Jaridan signals Peek to dismount and continue on foot through the village, leading their mounts by the bridle. They advance under the gaze of the villagers who all have rather fierce looks. Peek meets their gazes. These people please her because she finds again a bit of the scent of the wild lands of the Wastes. The Hall is the largest building in the village. The mounts are taken to the stables and Peek makes sure Fta-ah is well treated. Many children come to see the antelope. The heroes enter the Hall and take some time to adjust to the dimness. It is mealtime and they are invited to a table where other men sit. The atmosphere is warm. At their table, they meet Jakran, one of the clan's warriors. He seems rather gruff but is curious to know these strange travelers, no doubt to know whether he should consider them a threat or not. Jaridan plays along and bonds a bit with the man. He explains subtly that he is going to Pavis to trade and that he managed to find a Nomad guide who had been recruited by the Lunars and is very happy to be returning home. The meal ends. Men and women share local problems then Jaridan and Peek are invited to present themselves to chief Sigmar who is seated a bit higher next to his wife, a woman of mature age, generously proportioned, bearing tattoos of the Earth rune, thus displaying her devotion to Ernalda the Great Goddess of the Earth.

Jaridan re-explains the situation and Sigmar replies: "you are welcome but do not linger in AldaChur it has become a viper's nest since Harald switched sides to pact with the Empire. You, the Nomad, what do you think of the Empire? Are you not allied with them in Prax?" Silence falls in the hall.

Jaridan prepares to answer for Peek but Sigmar signals him to stop: "let the Nomad answer."

🎲 Sigmar's personality: resources & relations. He seeks allies in his struggle against the Empire (medium) because he knows the clan is weak and would like to strengthen the clan's resources (objective)

🎲 Peek responds to Sigmar

• Conflict:
  • Defend the Tribe, Contempt for sedentaries
  • Hatred of the Lunars
• Result 2 vs 1: Defeat -3!

Peek true to herself looks at the assembled men and women with a rather contemptuous gaze. She does not seek to apologize for the Sables' alliance with the Lunars and explains that as a clan chief he should understand that a tribe does everything to defend itself and that they were thus able to defeat all their Nomad enemies and become the most powerful tribe of Prax.

Unfortunately this is totally counterproductive because with such arguments, it justifies the opportunistic behavior of Harvar Ironfist who became Duke of AldaChur by allying with the Lunars, dividing the tribes of the Confederation and even going so far as to abandon Orlanth and convert to Yelmalio.

Sigmar replies: "that is indeed what I thought. In that case you will easily understand that you cannot take the road of Orlanth, but go back north, you will find a fine road, often frequented by your friends. I will not insult you by attacking since you are under the law of Orlanthi hospitality but now that you are sated, you may remount your horses because you have road to make." And with that, he stands. The verdict is final!

Peek and Jaridan leave, casting an eye at the winding road that snakes along the cliff. They see young tattooed men practicing the Orlanthi sky-surfing. The marvel is impressive, they launch themselves along the cliff and dive into the void carried by the winds. They understand these young men are taunting them out of bravado but see no other way. The chief has spoken.