Ahh rolls for breakfast. Pass the syrup.
Actions:
I enter the shop and ask For Thoth's blessing on my quest, and some advice on where to start searching(who better to ask than a servant of the god of wisdom?)
[action: 4]
Purchase, steal, create, divine or otherwise obtain a map.
[action: 1]
[guard 1] attack: 1
[guard 2] attack: 4 N dodge: 3 damage: 1
[guard 3] attack: 4 n dodge: 4
[merchant] call for help: 3
Bid the women farewell and head to the market in search of some fairly cheap traveling supplies
[action: 4]
Go out on the street and listen to the word on aforementioned.
[action: 2]
Hmm...examine the brass statue carefully, and continue waiting for the fake bartender who killed the real bartender and will try to poison us. By which I mean, don't eat or drink anything served to me here. 
[action: 3]
[Background: 6] Everyone gets informed of where the fighting is, and several of them hear the approaching city guards.
---
Dragnar enters the small shop in the alleyway. Bookcases filled with their intended contents line the walls, and piles of unsorted books are scattered around each corner. Finding a path through the books, He makes his way through the smokey and dimly lit interior to the back of the shop.
Sitting on a short table is a very old gentleman. Quite wrinkled and bald, he puffs on a large stick of incense as he quietly watches Dragnar approach. Raising one nearly skeletal hand, the old man stops the question before it can be finished. "Lord Thoth's blessings are not easily given young one."
Reaching to one side, the small shopkeeper pulls out a similarly small velvet bag. From the bag he takes out three cards, and places them face down before him.
The first card is turned up to reveal the reverse tower. "Hm, you have had major changes in the past, changes related to imprisonment of your own desires." The shopkeeper looks at Dragnar's face as he adds, "Changes out of your control."
Flipping the next card reveals an upright moon. "Your dreams are currently powerful, leading you to seek help from one who is not well looked upon here in this city." The elderly man ponders a moment, then turns to the last card.
The last card shows the shining form of the Empress. When the card is revealed a warm glow seems to slide over Dragnar's skin for a moment before it dissipates. "Hmm, Lord Thoth approves, Let the paternal guidance of the empress show you the way young one."
Gathering the cards again, the old man stops for a moment, and randomly pulls one final card from the Book of Thoth. The two of cups, reversed. Putting the cards away quickly, the leathery elder tells Dragnar that his friends seem to be in trouble. If he wishes to continue traveling with them, he should seek them out immediately.
-
Back in the Scarab, Gates decides now would be a good time to exit the bar and listen to the word on the street. However little can be heard from camels tied up outside, and there seems to be a distinct lack of people at this particular moment. He does however hear a large amount of noise, coming from the street behind the Scarab.
Standing up from the booth, Paneb also bids both women farewell, thanking them for the company and information. He turns to head out when one of the women lightly touches his arm. Placing a single rare silver coin in his hand, she mentions that if he gets in trouble he should head to the east side of the city and look for a black domed building. Show that coin, and they will help him. Taking the coin, the man thanks them both, and heads out to the marketplace.
Upon reaching the marketplace however, there seems to be a large argument going on. Making his way through the crowd, Paneb finds Neberhar standing and looking sheepish, holding a piece of silk cloth. Three very large Caravan guards have cornered him, and behind them a man with a torn silk outfit is yelling at them to stop the ruffian.
From Neberhar's point of view, he entered the market with the intent on getting a map. No matter what it took. Searching for a few moments he turned up nothing. A decent stall selling writing equipment is hard to come by in a city where most people can't read.
Deciding a more brash option, he slid behind a large pile of baskets, trying to find one that held cloth he could describe a map upon if nothing else. Finding a decent sized piece of silk, he seemed quite pleased with himself. Grabbing it, he pulled, finding resistance, he pulled
harder. Eventually it ripped, and he tumbled back through the baskets, having a few of them fall on him. That's when Neberhar realized the cloth was being worn by the merchant as the other man sat in the shade of his baskets.
The merchant quickly rose to anger at seeing what Neberhar held in his hands, and the state of his clothing. Releasing a short whistle, the three hired thugs came around the corner ready for trouble.
Each of the three guards are shirtless, wearing large baggy silk pants, and a cloth belt holding the hilt of at least one hidden weapon each. They are bare-footed, but seem not to care about the heat of the sands.
The first guard advances, ready to try and pummel Neberhar into a meaty lump. However this particular guard wasn't thinking about the baskets rolling around. One of the scattered reed objects gets caught up in the guard's legs, causing him to fall backwards and thump hard against the packed sand ground.
The second however has no such trouble, easily leaping over one of the parcels rolling about, he aims a powerful uppercut at Neberhar's gut. Be it luck or skill, the unfortunate party member manages to twist out of the way, gaining only a light bruise on his left side from the strike.
Planning to strike with force as well, the last guard sees Neberhar twist away out of his reach, so instead pulls a large metallic-looking club with a rounded end out of his waist sash and prepares to put it to good use.
While this is all happening, the insulted merchant is yelling "Thief! Ruffian! Rogue! Outlaw!" And while Neberhar is occupied with keeping his skin intact, Paneb makes out the sound of metal armor moving closer to the location.
-
Meanwhile, back in the silence of the bar, Darwishi takes his time examining the statue. Nothing really comes to mind as far as he can tell. The statue is crafted from bronze or brass, into the shape of a woman wearing a two piece cloth wrap(also out of bronze), that leaves her shoulders bare, as well as a good amount of thigh. Quite risque for what you've seen of women in this city.
Darwishi leans in closer hoping to learn more, when a quiet metalic sound seems to echo about the bar. Stunned, Darwishi leaps back. The statue just blinked.
However, before anything can be done, a man with the distinct look of a warrior, clad in bronze plated link armor bearing the symbol of a Djed pushes his way out of a booth, and apologizes to his companion loud enough for Darwishi to hear. The guard apparently has been summoned because of an incident in the market nearby. Picking up a wicked looking stone spear, the warrior rushes from the building.
--------------
Status:
-Gates
Standing outside the Golden Scarab near the Marketplace. Unharmed. Wearing white wrap tunic, camel leather sandals. Carrying small bag with scrap of papyrus note, and 6 lower Egypt marks.
-Darwishi
Standing in the Golden Scarab near the bar. Unharmed. Wearing white wrap tunic, camel leather sandals. Carrying small bag with scrap of papyrus note, and 6 lower Egypt marks.
-Neberhar
Standing in the Memphis Marketplace against the white wall of a nearby building. Lightly bruised(no modifers). Wearing white wrap tunic, camel leather sandals. Carrying small bag with scrap of papyrus note, a torn scrap of silk robe, and 6 lower Egypt marks.
-Paneb
Standing in the Memphis market, near Neberhar. Unharmed. Wearing white wrap tunic, camel leather sandals. Carrying small bag with scrap of papyrus note, one rare silver coin with the stamp of the lion on it, and 6 lower Egypt marks. Skills: +1 to charm actions.
-Dragnar
Standing inside a small door in a dark alleyway with the mark of Thoth outside. Unharmed. Wearing white wrap tunic, camel leather sandals. Carrying small bag with scrap of papyrus note, and 6 lower Egypt marks. Skill gain: Blessing of Thoth, +2 to mental actions for three turns.
Locations(currently known):
-The City of Memphis Also known as Mn-nfr, the original name for the city was inb-hD "the White Wall(s)", a reference to the white walls surrounding it. Located at the place where the Nile splits up into different branches, to form the Nile Delta, Memphis marks the separation between what is known as Lower Egypt, and Upper Egypt. The ruling divine here is Ptah, and there seems to be a general dislike of visitors from Heliopolis
A white mud and grass structure containing a small obsidian topped bar, several sandstone booths, and the occasional sitting pillow and dining rug on the open floor.
A collection of traders who move about the city setting up areas to sell various goods of any description. Common 'stalls' are made from cloth tents, unrolled rugs laden with goods, or even something as simple as a Merchant sitting on a stone stool under the shade of a cut tree branch.
A small door in a dark alleyway bearing the ibis mark of Thoth. The smoke filled interior contains many bookshelves and piled books. Along with one toad-like shopkeeper.
NPCS:
- Statue This is a yellow-metallic statue made from bronze or brass. Exquisitely formed into a scantily clad peasant woman. Darwishi has seen her blink.
A large bare chested caravan guard, dressed in baggy pants, belt sash with a weapon hilt visible, and no footwear. Currently sitting on the sand with a rather large bruise to both his rump and his ego.
A large bare chested caravan guard, dressed in baggy pants, belt sash with a weapon hilt visible, and no footwear. Standing near Neberhar, looking menacing.
A large bare chested caravan guard, dressed in baggy pants, belt sash with a weapon hilt visible, and no footwear. Wielding metal club. Standing near Guard 2
A thin dark skinned man wearing a torn silk robe, and fitted leather boots. He is currently standing near the guards, and shouting for more help.
That and I've always thought the ancient Egypt era had potential for great stories.
