Hex Crawl 23 #271: The Road to Eryptos

Eleven hexes northwest, three north of Alakran.

  

Cutting through the waste, but with green watered fields within sight to the north, this is the first stretch of that thoroughfare simply known as the "road to Eryptos." The paving is not so grand and mighty as the cracked and tilted stones of the Road of Flowers which it pays tribute to. Because it is only packed gravel laced with melted tar, it has lasted longer and in better condition than the more ancient road. But nobody would think of resurfacing the great Nama'a, Road of Flowers - it is simply not done!

If on this stretch of road you meet someone coming from the south, where Mehershal's Caravanserai is close, or from the north, where a longer journey leads to Eryptos, let it be a man, spurring on a galloping donkey (unusual sight!) As he passes you, he leans over and whispers (d6):

1. "Shalmurra is pregnant!"

2. "The golden key is found!"

3. "Ennusat is dead!"

4. "Ikuppi-Adad says yes!"

5. "The red house burned last night!"

6. "Beware! Zuuthusu will betray you!"

As he gallops away he shouts "Tell that to Ugurnazir!" And if the party are heading to Eryptos, add "of the Street of Copper Plates!"

If the party do deliver the phrase to Ugurnazir in the Caravanserai or at home in Eryptos, he turns out to be (d6):

1. A ruffian with a large retinue of goons, who move to beat the bearer of the message senseless.

2. A quivering old man, who breaks down sobbing, and in the morning is found dead.

3. A wealthy merchant with a large entourage, who breaks out laughing and showers the bearer of news with gifts.

4. A nervous-looking young man, who throws a few gold pieces at the bearer, whispering, "You never saw me! You never gave me this news!" and flees the scene immediately.

5. A powerful, tall man with piercing eyes, who mutters "In that case..." and points to a neighboring house (Eryptos) or group of travelers (Caravanserai). "Ripa'a in Gesshed will give you a thousand gold pieces if you bring him the head of the oldest man in that house (caravan)."

6. A placid, self-satisfied tradesman, who blinks and asks, "Excuse me? What gibberish is that?"

The GM is invited to make up a rationale for the recipient's behavior, or to simply treat the phrase as some codeword in an inscrutable intrigue.