A funny thing happened on the way from the caravanserai...

The caravan turned up without any fanfare or warning, the two large mekillot wagons appearing over the dunes on the near horizon a few hours after dawn. The adults in the village rushed to arm themselves as mothers hid children inside the Headsman's hut. A small group of adults, including the sibling herders walked out to meet the wagon and negotiate a price for the use of the waterhole. One of the brothers looked around and realised that the old ashik was nowhere to be seen, but he thought nothing of it at the time. Inside the Headman’s hut the old ashik sat cross legged on the floor and calmed the children by continuing with his tale.

On the sixth day the Company of the Cloaked Inix left Kled. All of them were now freemen, unmarked by slave brands thanks to Ferulah, and as they passed through the village gates they were waved off by the Dwarves of Kled with hails of thanks and good lucks ringing in their ears. The night before, they had agreed to travel as the Aaracokra flies to the caravan road and then head south to the caravanserai that the Druid of Silver Spring informed them of. They then planned to follow the trade route on to Altaruk, then Grak’s Pool, and finally South Ledopolus.

As they near the trade road they can see a caravan coming along the road from the direction of the caravanserai. They wait at the side of the road and when the wagon is within hailing distance Balboa shouts a greeting and asks for news of the caravanserai. The lead wagoneer greets him and tells him that all is well at the waterhole, but warns that there is talk of disease in Altaruk. Balboa tells them that the oasis at Silver Spring is clear, but that they should be aware of Elven bandits in the area. The wagoneer thanks him, and without ever stopping, the caravan continues on its way.

The rest of the day and night passes uneventfully for the Company and half a days travel the following day brings them to within a few hours of the caravanserai, it is then that the Company spot a group of Erdlu riders high on a dune overlooking the trade road from a few hundred yards back. Both Arthur and Scar pull out their telescopes to get a better look, but the riders are on the move before the big Dwarf can line up his instrument. Scar, however, catches sight of long dark haired and moustached tribesmen, one of which is flying a bright blue pennant adorned with a white bow nocked with three arrows.

Three hours later and the Company can see the caravanserai laid out in front of them. The oasis at the centre of the caravanserai is contained within a high wall and the main caravanserai building is built within this wall. In front of the caravanserai are two settlements of yurt tents and a full bizarre of brightly coloured tents and stalls. To the side of the road leading up to the main gate are three large wooden crosses, two of which appear to have bodies lashed to them. Draped from the walls of the caravanserai is a large flag showing a white bow nocked with three arrows on a blue field.

As the Company draws closer to the gates they can see that two of the three crosses are indeed occupied. But only one of the occupants is lashed to the cross, the other is nailed with bone spikes through his wrists and ankles. Both have signs hung around their necks, but neither Balboa or Scar can decipher the words written there. As the Company approaches the main gate they are hailed by a guard, the guard tells them the rules of the caravanserai and that one of the crosses holds a thief and the other a sorcerer. It is the sorcerer that is nailed to the cross, and the guard delights in saying that the vacant cross is reserved for any Elves that cross the caravanserai.

Following the guards instructions they paddock their kank and head in through the gate into the caravanserai proper. Once inside they are greeted by a charming serving girl who asks if she can help, Balboa tells her that they wish for a room for the night, a good meal, a couple of bottles of wine, and stabling for their kank. The serving girl says;

That will be five and a half gold coins please.

Arthur almost faints on the spot, but begrudgingly fishes the coins out of one of his pouches. The pain of separation from the money writ large across his weather worn features. The young girl shows the Company to a single large room, with six cots and a lock on the door. They pile their stuff in the room and strip off their armour before heading back out into the central courtyard for their meal. Around the outside of the courtyard are many low tables surrounded by soft cushions and the Company settle down and watch the comings and goings as they eat the best meal that they have had since escaping from the slave wagon months before.

When the sun is very low in the sky there is an obvious change of guard, and not long after that a large, well put together man in military dress comes out of the private quarters and moves around the guards talking in hushed tones. He is accompanied by another man in robes. Balboa asks a serving boy who is passing the table who the pair are and is told;

That is Drogon Shalback, Captain of the Guard and Vishnar the Priest of the wind.

Drogon visits the gates last and makes sure that they are sealed, the two men then walk about the courtyard passing pleasantries with the traders and caravan masters.

The inside of the caravanserai feels very safe and with good food and wine the company relaxes and begins to move around talking to the other groups inside and listening to both storytellers and musicians. As they separate and move around the tables they start to hear rumours. Arthur hears that the estuary of the Forked Tongue is overrun with Giants and that the Giants eat people and should be avoided at all costs. Kank hears one trader tell another that Merchant House Blisten is still transporting slaves through Tyr’s lands from the south to Urik. Kank asks what the merchant houses’ emblem is and is told that it is a purple Erdlu on a cream field. As soon as he hears this he realises that the merchant wagon that they met near Kled was flying the exact same flag.

Scar and Ferulah listen to one trader try to impress them with his tales of travels to the forest of Gulg and of the sorceress Lalali-Puy, who he claims is worshiped as a forest goddess. Miloch and Balboa talk to one merchant about Altaruk and discover that it is governed by a man called Gunflas Rijend who is assisted by his trade minister Inamin and that there are several mercenary companies based out of Altaruk the most notable of which are the Midnight Talons lead by Unt-Raku. There are also The Sand Runners, an exclusively Elven merchant house, that is deeply disliked by Gunflas.

Eventually the courtyard starts to quieten down as the merchants head to bed, and so the Company follows suit. When in their room, Ferulah and Kank throw their mattresses onto the floor in front of the door and curl up to sleep together making sure that no one can gain entry without awakening them. The night passes uneventfully and the Company sleep very well, in the morning Kank gets up early and treats everyone to breakfast before they pack up and head onwards towards Altaruk. At the end of their first days travel Scar finds the Company a place to camp and they set up overlapping watches, but the night passes uneventfully.

Not long after they break camp they encounter another merchant wagon, with Erdlu outriders. Once again, Balboa greets them and they pass wary pleasantries. This happens a couple of more times during the day as the trade road seems to be busier, but with no trade heading south. That night Balboa finds the Company a place to camp, and as the sun sets they can make out the mountain range in front of them that marks where Altaruk is situated.

The following morning they set out and start to enter the foothills. The Company is brought up short when they hear a voice from above shout;

Stay where you are! And keep your hands off of your weapons!

Looking up they can see a woman one hundred yards away, up a steep incline, holding a bow with an arrow nocked and pointed at them. Scar whispers;

There are more of them in the rocks!

The Company of the Cloaked Inix all slowly raise their hands.