Minja

As the sun hit the horizon, black clouds raced to fill the sky and thunder rolled across the land.   A great downpour followed, accompanied by a tremendous display of lightning and cacophonous thunder.  Shortly the storm passed and the skies cleared.  Stars were visible but no moon dominated the sky.

The rest of the evening passed uneventfully.  When she arose Arvien headed further into the temple attempting to find nourishment.  Everywhere she met a priest they ignored her, to Arvien's mounting frustration.  No food was found or offered as she slowly plodded back to the main nave to enjoy(?) the stale foods in Seglun's haversack.
When all the party had eaten they again ventured out into the city, trying to find a friend, or at least someone who would acknowledge their existence.  It was clear today that the city at least, was divided into a caste system.  There were levels of dress and cleanliness that were obvious.  Arvien tried badgering an upper class gentleman into providing food, information, or some acknowledgement.  She was met with indifference but soon the man moved on signing another to block that little pest.  Ralom tried giving a copper piece to a beggar, who refused, at least at first.  When Ralom pulled out a gold piece the man's eyes lit up and he accepted it, trying to hide the transaction. 
Varrid tried turning on the charm, actively seeking out a lone towns-person and asking about the realm, where to stay, eat and more.  She was met with fear from the first young woman but finally had some luck with a man of middle caste.  His reaction was to tell her that outsiders were a danger.  "You are clearly outsiders," he stated.  If I help you I could be dragged away just like you.  Looking around quickly he said, "Follow me.  I know of a place that could help you."  Varrid followed with the rest of the party trying to not make a caravan out of their trail.
With nervous steps, the native led Varrid through a narrow street and to a small adobe and thatch hut ant the end of a dirty, foul-smelling alley.  He knocked sharply on the door and rushed in quickly when it opened, motioning Varrid to follow.
Varrid stepped in followed by Seglun and Drovic.  The rest stayed outside and milled around, disinterestedly.  Inside, they found themselves standing in a dimly lit, claustrophobic home.  An elderly couple sat at a small table, working with fine picks and probes to carve delicate images in pieces of ivory.  The couple looked up, worn faces looking like dark, wrinkled leather; they took no other notice of the entrance.
As the group's eyes began to adjust, a slender woman stepped forward from behind a door. She was dressed in a simple hooded robe with a decorative ceramic mask fitted over her face.  Looking Varrid and company up and down, she nodded to the guide.  With a quick tilt of his head he turned and headed back out the door and up the street.
After he left, the woman drew back her hood to reveal short-cropped, sandy hair.  She slipped the mask off, revealing herself to be both pretty and nor more a native of this land than the party.
"Welcome to our home," she said in a soft heavily accented voice.
The next hour was spent "getting to know" each other.  Varrid explained the party's predicament, to which the woman, Minja, explained that she understood the feeling being an outsider herself.  She did not know how the party had arrived here but she was willing to help.  She had tried to help many outsiders in the past, sometime with success and others not.  In response to questions about her origins, Minja replied that she lived most of her life here in Pakat, the jewel of Sri Raji, but she remembered her native land from childhood.
"My parents were merchants who traveled through her homeland.  One night a terrible storm swept across out campsite.  Throughout the night, a seemingly endless cascade of water battered our wagon.  The next morning, the storm had broken but we were in a mysterious land inhabited by a strange people.  We began to explore and entered the city of Muladi.
"We were clearly outsiders and not welcomed by the locals.  The Dark Sisters learned of out whereabouts and we tried to escape by boarding a boat on the Vedama River.  Sheets of fire fell from the sky and destroyed the boat.  I clung to a piece of wood, but my parents were gone. 
"The next morning father, Zind, found me on Lake Veda.  He and mother, Alissa, were committing the body of their deceased daughter to the lake.  I was a gift from the Gods, to replace the child taken from them. 
"In order to protect me, they left Muladi and headed to Pakat.  Father took up craftsmanship in ivory and jade and fashioned a mask for me.  They told everyone I had been mauled by a tiger and the mask was simply a cover for the horrible scars that were left by the attack."
Varrid asked about the young woman the party had found in the jungle.  "I would say that she was a follower of Kali, perhaps even a priestess of the Dark Sisters.  Did she have a tattoo of a pagoda?"
Varrid indicated that she did and wondered who the Dark Sisters were.  Minja replied that they were Kali worshipers who also searched for outsiders to sacrifice to Kali.
The matter of the were-tiger in the jungle was met not by surprise but Minja said, "I have heard stories of an outsider who came to Sri Raji many years ago.  It is said that he could transform himself into the shape of a great tiger.  I believe that he lives in the wilderness somewhere between here and Tvashsti, but none can say if that is true or not."
Minja explained that the land was Sri Raji.  Pakat, the city where they stood was the jewel of Sri Raji.  Muladi is larger but crime and violence are much worse there, although hunger was not.  Ralom, having entered the hovel asked about the seeming lack of food.  Minja explained that the jungles around Pakat were savage and therefore the paddies were not large enough to satisfy the needs of the city.  Poverty is widespread, as is disease and suffering. The temple here is dedicated to Ratri, not Kali, and they are in opposition to each other.  That is why the priests wanted nothing to do with the Dark Sister you brought them.
Arvien, joining the group, unfurled the ceramic tiger she rescued from the jungle.  "What can you tell us about the figurine?" she inquired.
"I have never seen its like before.  No doubt the scholars at the Great University in Tvashsti could provide you with more information about it." was Minja's reply.
So a plan was hatched to head for Tvashsti to learn about the figurine and Minja would join the party on their quest.  It was only about ten miles to Tvashsti, but it might take the rest of the day to get there.
Off the group headed for the road out of Pakat.  Gradually, they came to notice that the press of people around the party had lessened.  IT was with some surprise that they found themselves standing at the center of an open circle some thirty feet in diameter.  The eyes of the locals, which had consistently avoided looking at the party, were now clearly focused on them with an expectant look.
As the group watched, a small party of women stepped into the open area from the crowd.  They were all dressed alike, in flowing black robes with silver skull clasps running down the front.  Their faces were painted black and white, giving the distinct impression that the group was facing some manner of grinning undead.
AS they moved forward, it was clear that each of them was carrying a long chain that ended in a cast iron skull.  Without warning, two of them began to whirl the skulls above their heads.  With each revolution, the objects gave off a mournful waling sound that chilled the marrow in the party's bones.
Ralom, hoping to avoid a battle invoked Divine Presence.  Seglun would have none of it and attacked instantly.  Drovic found himself face to face with a Priestess who touched him for massive damage.  The rest of the robed figures attacked with their skull flails.  Other party members joined in the battle to Ralom's disgust, then he found himself flanked by two robed women and felt the sting of the flails.  Arvien stepped away, and cast a fireball into the melee, managing to miss her friends.  Varrid was looking for flanking at all times and Grunyar fired arrows into the fray.  Baru helped attack the priestess, who cast a spiritual weapon at Ralom.  Drovic hit the ground as another Sister(?) hit him again.  Baru dispatched the priestess and the other women eventually were eliminated as the crowd fled from the area of the battle, including Minja. 
When the battle was over Ralom found Drovic on the brink of unconsciousness and healed the Elf back up.  Then the party, with Minja again in tow, fled the city as fast as they could.

DM's Notes:  The party earned 2000 XP for the evening.