An Artifact Is Revealed at Tarn's Rest

Xaz Elephas nods to Hith, pleased he was able to make it, "I trust the river was smooth and the ship did not rock too much? I am pleased you made it." grins at Aya, "Tal, Aya."

Ba'ta lifts her hand to wave at Aya and the other girl

Hith Mordant dipped his head in respect and offered a "Tal Killers" to each of the Assassins. His gaze then turned towards Farmer offering "Tal lad" and back to Ba'ta "Tal girl.

Ormr: hears the footfalls behind him and looks to see the MA from SCC.. in the company of some lovely half nakedy slaves.. he nods respectfully to the man saying.. "Tal master assassin"..

Hith Mordant: "Tal Mentor" he stated formally, perhaps more so than at other times. "Yes, the ... the travel was fine. In his hands he held a pouch tightly.

Trinket: "Tal, Masters. Tal , kajira."

Xaz Elephas: "B, go to my tent, fetch the object I wrapped up in the larl hides." he glanced over at her a moment, "Something I need for you to see, Hith." sees Kiya behind, "Ah, Kiya too, just now see you."

Ba'ta: yes, my Master.

Xaz Elephas shouts: "B, push out a table too to sit it upon." his voice raised as the girl could hear him.

Xaz Elephas shouts: "Gold and Steel Ha!"

Ormr: he smiles slightly at the slave as she walks by.. and then to the others that were with Hith.. then shook his head slightly.. he really needed a good long run.. or.. cut down a tree.. or something.. cold dip in the river.. taking another deep breath and lets it out slow.. concentrating hard on the conversation between the men instead..

Ba'ta hurries to the tent, and grabs the fur wrapped package. She picks it up, carefully, and cradles it under one arm as she hears Xaz. Her free hand grabs the small table, and she drags it along behind her. She places the table close to him, then gingerly hands over th fur wrapped bundle

Xaz Elephas accepts the wrapped object as he awaits for the Girl to secure the table before he begins to unwrap it. Assisting her a little. He starts to unwrap the object and then places it upon the table not saying a word.

Ba'ta glances at Aya and Kiya, and already feeling as if she dwarfs them when they stand, she feels ever taller and more ungainly to see them knelt so prettily. With a soft sigh, she steps back, and folds down to the soft grass, watching quietly

Ormr: looks between the master assassins and then at the table as he trys to see what is being taken out.. then wonders if he should be making an exit.. if he was somewhere he should be and intruding.. then shaking that thought knowing they would tell him to get lost if he was.. so he watches closely instead

Trinket smiles in a friendly manner at the other girl, admiring her pretty blue silks

Hith Mordant moved over to the table. His eyes darting to the fur wrapped package. He pushed back his hood and removed his mask, tucking it between his belt and his body in a carefully folded manner. As the object was uncovered he moved towards it and cocked his head to the side. "Kurii? Is there some significance to this?" To Hith, all he was looking at...in all likelihood was a Kurii skull. But knowing Xaz, there had to be something more.

Aya slips a little closer as Master Hith steps up, then stops and stares at the strange thing on the table, emerald eyes going wide. She swallows hard, unsure of what it is, but feeling deep inside herself that it isnt good.

Trinket sees the other lad come up and whispers "Tal, Master," but returns her fascinated gaze to the skull on the table

Ormr: stepped forward instinctively hearing the word.. his face instantly furrowed.. he had had dealing of his own with the Kuri and wanted to see..

Xaz Elephas nods to Hith, "There is and yes it is of the Kurri." Few of here found it and began to examine it.... we really found it by accident. Come closer and I will show you." he states, "Ah you got a vials correct?"

Kurst: he had finished his business and headed back to the DI encampment, seeing the familar form of his former partner and his current Mentor along with the MA of the camp he made his way over ot where the three men were gathered, quietly observing them.

Hith Mordant moved closer holding the pouch, which he opened for the first time. "Yes Mentor, I've got the vials."

Ba'ta shivers a little, the huge skull making her very nervous, especially with the reports she's heard of Kurri in the area, and the flag she'd found the other day.

Xaz Elephas goes to pick the skull up, his fingers pressing the hidden knob as the artifact drops out as he picks up the skull.

Ormr: he looked long and hard at the skull.. he had not been invited to do so but could not help it.. his own recent past had been greatly affected by one of these creatures.. and alstered his life forever.. he grit his teeth slightly.. only wishing it wasnt dead so he could kill it again.. a risky thought for sure.. but in the moment he felt he could have..

Hith Mordant pulled in a breath and let it out slowly as his gloved hand reached towards it upon the table, and then stopped in mid reach. "I don't hear it?" he looked around "Does anyone hear it?" and then up at Xaz.

Ba'ta cocks her head to listen, hearing nothing but the waterfall, and the tarsk baby rooting at Xaz's feet

Ormr: shakes his head.. not hearing a sound... "no master assassin.. I hear nothing"

Trinket shivers, hearing Master, hunching her shoulders a little, and tilting her head to fix her eyes, beseeching, on Master Xaz' face

Aya rises up on her knees to peek at what is on the table, then glances at Master Hith and shivers just a little, biting at her lip at his words.

Kurst watches the Master Assassin Hith more then the artifact, his face painfully blank.

Xaz Elephas reaches out and carefully with the tip of his finfers moved the object to the center of the small table, "Hear what?" he asked confused. Looking at all gathered, "Alright, has any of you seen anything like this?"

Ba'ta shakes her head, looking just a little afraid.

Ormr: "I have seen a kuri skull before yes.. but as for what that is that came from it.. no master assassin.. I have not"

Aya shakes her head slightly, but her eyes watch Master Hith, the worry evident in thier depths.

Trinket's gaze travels back and forth between the two Killers, watchful and cautious, then the artifcat, and responds quietly,"No, Master."

Kurst: He compares it to the prizes that he saw in the Port, looking for similarities and differences. He does not touch it, nor even reach for it, His carefully schooled gaze flicks from Hith's face to the triangular shape on the table, and he remains silent.

alia she came in to the camp seeing the Masters she knelt quietly to not interrupt she offered a smile in silent greetings and wiggled her fingers at the girls

Hith Mordant shook his head and waved his hand. "Nothing, sorry...sorry, it's nothing. No singing...just...it's..it's nothing." He played it off as if it was some bizarre joke. "I've seen something like this once. Once only. I'm not sure if I care to again."

Xaz Elephas: "It seems to be a part... of something more complexed. " He looked upon Hith, watching him, "What did you mean if we could hear it?" something told him that perhaps the Assassin was becoming attune to the objects, "The chest is with Lilith, she knows people who can decipher the markings. Also and know this Hith, Kurr are around. There coming down from the hills." shook his head, "Are you sure its nothing?"

Ba'ta tries her best to silence the baby tarsk, convinced that's what the Master is hearing. She draws the squirming body close to her, and pets it, hoping that will help

Ormr: he looked to Xaz and then to Hith.. and then back to Xaz as they spoke.. trying to follow what was being said about objects and signing and importance.. he studied the small object as close as he could from where he stood.. seeing some marks there.. there was something odly familiar about them but he couldnt place it.. but hearing the news of the kuri coming down from the hills snapped him off that train of thought. and again he was furrowed in his brow..

Kurst: 'it is like an ache in the jaw, or the way you can feel the herds when they move across the plain." he interjects into the silence. Not so loud as the others, nor yet like... " his voice trails off and his gaze seems locked on the fragment.

Trinket's shoulders slump a little in relief that Master hears no singing, but her head comes up sharply, her eyes widening at the mention of kurii being seen. She shivers instinctively, her gaze raising to the wooded hills, scanning the trees and shadows.. .perhaps one was up there, watching, even now....

Aya finally pulls her gaze away from Master Hith, looking to Master Xaz with something akin to panic in her eyes at mention of the huge beasts, remembering her few times of being near them.

Hith Mordant took in a deeper breath and puled his hand back, "Mentor..." he paused and pushed his hand up to his brow and pinched the bridged of his nose knowing that he would have to admit it to this man...and that he would have to do so knowing it would mean his death if his Mentor felt he was no longer of purpose to the caste, if he was no longer sane enough to handle his duties. "I have been hearing singing. I thought it was the object that Hannibal once showed me in Tarnwald. I had brought it back to camp and tried to hide it." He pointed to Kurst. "It had an effect on me and Kurst took it away. I thought it would stop when the object was gone. But I still hear singing Mentor. And it drives me half mad. And I find myself coming into the middle of conversations now with everyone around me staring at me as if I am mad and I've no idea how I got there or what I've been saying." He paused a moment. "It feels as if something is happening again. The Kurii moving us or the Priest-Kings moving us."

Hith Mordant: "The writing is Sumerian Cuneiform from Earth...that is all I know."

Xaz Elephas looks to Rafe, then to Hith, watching them both, "Is that what it is?" he ask to Hith and starts to listen to what he speaks of, "Then step back!" His tone now had some concern in it concered of what the affects maybe, "Step back both of you that is affected by this till we know what is happening."

Trinket slides a cautious, alarmed glance to Master Kurst when he spoke of feeling thing. She bites her lips anxiously, gazing from face to face.

Aya seems to relax a little as Master Xaz tells them to stand back, glancing once more to Master Hith as she hears the strange tone in his voice, one she has not heard since he passed the training.

alia her silver like eyes looking at the Master she shifted as she lissen she observerd the other girls watching how they reacted

Kurst maintains his distance, and looks to Xaz briefly blinking as if in a bright patch of sunlight. "like the hive of bees, you understand dont you?" he asks sounding slightly puzzled

Xaz Elephas looks to Farmer, "It holds no affect on you?" he questions him, his tone still showing concern, "B, gather the hide and cover it that we try to protect them till we know what this is about." he command to the slave, "Hith, Rafe, till we know what is going on stay back from this."

Hith Mordant fingers clenched into a fist. "I'm fine." he said lying to his Mentor for the first time ever....and then he paused and winced knowing that if any man would need to hear the truth from him, it was his Mentor. "I'm not fine." he said as he stepped back. "But I can control it, I'm working on controlling it. It's...I could be fine. Maybe if I'm around it long enough I will be fine."

Ormr: watches Hith as he tells his story of the thing on the table. his expression going slightly slack in surprise.. he had thought these men impervious to the weaknesses average men would experience.. and was.. taken back.. to discover they were not. 'of course they arent idiot' he said to himself in his head.. 'they are men.. skilled and wise.. but men".. he looked at the object again.. trying to hear what Hith and Kurst spoke of.. but he still heard nothing.. felt.. nothing.. he shook his head toward Xaz as he was asked.. "No master assassin.. it has so far no affect on me"..

Aya glances at the strange thing then and shudders, wondering if it will have the strange effect on her Master, her body tensing with fear now.

Xaz Elephas shakes his head, "Ah so fine you hear what no other does but Rafe here... no I say we do not know what we are dealing with here. These are happenings we have to tread careful. " he stated still his tone rick with concern, "Is to be safe as we can and you would do the same if it was I affected as you two are."

Hith Mordant looked to Kurst, "Buzzing of bees? You hear something? From this one or at our camp?"

alia she lowered her eyes remain still she took deep breaths as she tensed just watching

Ba'ta picks up the fur, and gently covers the object on the table

Kurst shakes his head, as if to clear it. He looks to Hith, and states, "Hann knows" and then his brows draw together. "Late at night, when the hive is quiet the bees all asleep, you can walk up and put your hand on the box and feel the hum, yes?" as he says this one hand makes a tentative motion as if to touch the chip that was there. "They all are different, that one is quiet, but you can hear can't you?" he asks seemingly puzzled

Ba'ta steps quickly away, not wanting to be any closer to it than she has to.

Xaz Elephas: "Then is good the chest is with Lilith if this is the affect it is having on you two. We do not know what we are dealing with here and till we do, do not take this lightly as to what is happening." he did his best to speak on reason. "Surly you all agree on what I say?"

Trinket refrains from nodding in agreement, since this is of course, a matter for the Free, but she *fervently* agrees with Master Xaz and is relieved to see the thing covered up and to be kept away from the two Masters, who will be safe now. and she turns her head to Aya, smiling at her in vast relief.

Hith Mordant pulled off his gloves, the tops of his hands showing those pitted and gouged out scars, "The last time I saw something with markings like this....Hannibal had a box in front of him with an object that vibrated. Perhaps that is similar to the sound of bees. He opened it up on the great table in the lower caven of Tarnwald. He said simply 'Show me.....Angels." and suddenly the table was no more and each of us, Raven, Hannibal, and I were propelled back by a huge force. As if a Kurii would throw you against a wall. I had shrapnel from the table gouging my hands. The only thing that kept my upper body and head safe was the cloak and hood that I wore." He paused and then nodded, "Yes, yes, you are right."

Ba'ta looks at Xaz, for once happy to run off to do chores. "my Master, may I be excused to finish my chores in the tent?"

Hith Mordant then swiftly turned on Kurst, "You said that Hann still feels buzzing...that you've felt it. Did you give it to him? Does he have the box?"

Xaz Elephas listens to Hith's story, "Then for now we break from this. I do not want you two that can hear sounds from this... thing... exposed very long till we figure this all out. Its the sound thing to do. " looks to Farmer, "It does not affect you?"

Xaz Elephas nods to B

Ba'ta gives a soft smile of farewell to the entire group, then hurries to the tent, happy to be away from that tiny object on the table

Kurst: As his amber eyes widen shock or fear perhaps causing the response, he feels his jaw tighten, the boxes were safe Hith could not reach them that was all that mattered. "I- " he breaks off, "You can not swim" he says to Hith.

Ormr: still listens with heard concentration of what has been sad and discussed here.. looking to each man in turn as they speak.. and occasionally at the now covered object on the table.. he was of course relieved that he did not seem to be affected by the thing.. he again shakes his head and looks to Xaz.. recheing to scratch lightly at his beard.. "No master assassin.. I feel.. and hear.. nothing... perhaps my cold blood or thickness of skull prevents it?".. he had always been told he was thick headed.. maybe this was true..

Xaz Elephas listens to them hearing how these objects affect them. He reaches over not touching the artifact with his hands now but using the hides to wrap it up, "Famer, take this them to your tent, secure it away. " he hands his the now tightly wrapped up object, ""We can not chance what is happening here with you two."

Hith Mordant paused and thought upon the words of Hannibal so very long ago. "Hannibal wanted to find a Captain that would dredge the Vosk." He then looked to Xaz, "You do not find me insane enough to kill then?" and then he let a wry smirk crawl up his lip. "Then perhaps we should be going before you change your mind.'

Ormr he nods and takes the wrapped thing in his large hands.. and quickly moves off to his tent.. in his pack he had a small box with a lock in which he held a single small persoanl belonging.. that would be the place for this.. he doesnt say anything.. he just runs off quickly to get it away from those it seemed to harm..

Hith Mordant crooked his hands to the girls and Kurst, "It is time for us to leave. Gold and Steel Mentor." He looked at the vials in the pouch and tucked it again under his arm to head back to the ship"

Trinket "Yes ,Master."

alia she nods as she looked to the Masters..."i wish you well Masters"

Xaz Elephas: "Gold and Steel to you all and Girls... see to him that he is well on his way home..."

Aya nods, then gives a bow of her head to the other Masters "deepest shadows Masters.."

Ormr runs back in time to bid farwell to the master assassin as he left.. "gold and steel master assassin" he said slightly out of breath.. hoping the man would be alright

Trinket casts a cautious, shuttered glance under her lashes at Master Farmer, but bids all farewell. "I wish you well, Masters. Well wishes, kajira" and hurries after Master

Kurst quivers at the words of Hith, as if a sleen at a scent, nearing in on the rich fragrance. He looks to FArmer and grimaces as the opportunity is shredded. Glance back at Xaz, he nods, "I will keep him safe, Killer" he promises and trails after him ...