Good thing for me you guys haven't picked up the Gnoll language yet... ^^;
Erizi's reaction to the spate or words spewed forth by Alexander consist of a raised eyebrow, and a look at the unassuming man who has proven to be more dangerous than he appears.
After the return and debriefing with Almah, Zhalter returns to work on the alter for a while. She is troubled by Almah's offer, and Alexander's enthusiasm for assisting. His hatred of gnolls is obvious. She is not sure how to balance the possibility of great cruelties being inflicted upon the gnoll captive against the information they need.
She prays there upon the subject, then decides to seek out Dashki to ask him his thoughts on it.
Rukn realises he is not a good interrogator.
-I shall leave you to it, since all I'll do here is disturb you. But one thing I'd like you to ask him: if a female elf has been seen around Kelmarane.
Rukn leaves, with the intention to ask Andrus about Haleen.
Solomon let the others worry about the gnoll. He busied himself taking care of Andrus and learning more about the Lions.
Not one to turn to torture readily, Kilarra's personal moral compass sees such things as taboo only when it comes to her friends, allies and the innocent. Aside from that she can be pretty ruthless to her enemies when needed and not loose sleep over it.
Oh, I also don't speak gnoll, but anyway... still would believe it's just a fluff.
Andrus is a well spoken man native to Katapesh, and is very relieved to be rescued. The gnolls had decided to kill him slowly, brutally, and painfully. There are a very few of his fellow Lions of Senara left alive in the battle market, and he offers to join his skills to yours if you are planning to continue to kill the gnolls. He is a trained warrior and, with the loan of some equipment, can be a strong sword arm.
This gnoll is an aberration among its kin; it is smart and quick to read more from people than they say. It quickly realizes that some of you are quite willing and able to inflict terrible pain to get the information you desire. It grudgingly shares the following information to try and escape torture.
-So she's there... and she's posing as one of them. I refuse to believe she's with them... she must be posing. But why? Is there something she wants from them? Haleen...
"Have you seen a Gnoll who owns a ring such as this?" he asks in a deathly voice. "Or any other creature?"
There is an assortment of other races in the battle market; some humans, some bugbears, an ogre, a goblin, and an elven woman that matches Rukn's description; none of these are slaves or prisoners.
Upon hearing this Kilarra gives Rukn and Solomon a meaningful and concerned look. "Well, if it is her, at least she is alive and well." Kilarra falls into a moment of introspection as if considering the problem. Not liking what she is thinking, she mulls it over in her head, trying to think of a better way and coming up empty she finally says, "While I know it would be very risky and would put at least one of us in danger, perhaps before we kill any other gnolls we might use this 'market' situation to gain much needed intelligence first hand as to the lay-out and forces inside the battle market. One person could enter under the guise of doing some trading. look about, maybe even make contact with this elven woman and see if she is indeed Haleen, then simply walk out to other parts. If this is acceptable I would be willing to volunteer, as I would not have to lie in order to maintain my story, I am apart of a Thieves Guild out of Katapesh that recently fell on hard times and I am working to get back on my feet while also looking to make contact with some associates that were rumored to have come to this region. All of which is true and sounds rather unscrupulous."
"If we decide to do this I would want to know from the Gnoll how people are supposed to hear about this market they are setting up...how does the word get out?"
-But... he said there's a half-goat who kills everyone who's not of the band...
Yes, that is true. However, it was my understanding that the half-goat patrolled the town for outsiders. If I come riding up the road on a camel in plain sight and head straight to the market I don't think I will be attacked. Otherwise how are they ever going to get any business?
"Much the same idea had occurred to me. You are probably the better choice for the role though Kilarra. I would have to pose as a wandering evangelist, which may be more difficult to do successfully. There would be no guarantee that I would be welcome even if I were believed."
"I'm not sure it is wise to go alone. Not only is that dangerous, but might be suspicious... who travels the waste alone. I for one would be glad to accompany you. It would feel good to be useful".
"While I am not strictly against it, I have a few concerns about adding people. First it complicates the story and increases the likelihood that someone sees thru any falsehood that we need tell. Second, if it is a trap and we are caught I would rather have more people out here that can mount a rescue. Last, they will most likely see a lone wanderer as less threatening than a lone wanderer and her bodyguards. Then again, if things go south, I would certainly welcome the aid. In the end I would say that I think it is tactically more wise to send someone in alone but if you feel strongly about it I will not resist others coming with."
"A lone wanderer is also prey," Alexander says. "Take Erizi. He can watch your back and you, his."
The gnoll's eyes study the ring for several moments and it seems like the he has to struggle with his instinct to cause pain where he can. But he can read your mood about this question and masters his body language and tone before responding, "I did not get a close look at it, but there was a gnoll that came to us from the Carrion King that wore a large gold ring similar to this one on a thong around his neck. I do not know if it matches this one, but it is the only thing like it I have seen."
The gnoll also provides you with a brief description of the battle market's lower two floors. Enough to draw a crude map.
"Carrion King. Tell me about him. Who is he, where does he live? And where is the Gnoll with the ring now?"
"Based on what we know now, one more day will not hurt Haleen, if it is Haleen." Solomon said grimly. "Taking the shrine today would give us a forward base of operations. From there, Kilarra can go ahead with her plan in the morning."
"Not alone though." he added with a pointed look at his adopted sister. "We can discuss who would be best to accompany you tonight."
Okay. So proceeding to the shrine today then? it is about 2PM when you are finished questioning the gnoll and Andrus.
"Agreed. Let's proceed to the shrine."
Solomon lead the scouting party toward the shrine, taking the most direct route possible while still avoiding open areas, or anywhere obviously heavily trafficked.
By going south to the road and following it until it crosses the river, then north on the east side of the river, you are able to approach the Shrine of Nethys unseen from the town of Kelmarane.
Approaching the Ruins:
Harsh winds whisper through the badlands, their cruel touch withering all but the hardiest of desert life. Dust and bits of debris dance across the ground, carried by the scorching breezes. Ahead, the ruins of ancient walls sprawl along the eroded bed of a long-dried wash. Two towering statues rise from the scree, their features sand-blasted into anonymity.
Alexander shares all that he knows of the Shrine.
"I am feeling the Wizard's greed," he admits, grimly. "This place should be very useful if any trace of the monks' research remains."
Throughout most of the trip to the Shrine of Nethys Zhalet is withdrawn and her face shows concern.
"Truthfully I cannot say why, but this place makes me more anxious than the idea of facing the gnolls in Kelmarane."
"Come now, don't you find the mysteries of arcane magic the least bit intriguing? After all, we all understand and respect the power of the divine.....but the arcane....why does it exist in the first place? Why does it both seek to destroy and protect? Who made it and taught man to first tap into it or was it always there? Could it be that it is what remains of the power that created everything in the beginning, even the Gods themselves?!?! To me these are questions that are riveting and while I admit that it is unlikely that they will ever be answered enjoyable to learn about none the less.
After staring off into the distance with wonder in her eyes for a few moments Kilarra turns back and sees everyone staring at her.
What, Can't a girl dream? pfffttt.
With that she turns back and presses forward toward the shrine looking for trouble.
Erizi follows along in the main party, waiting for the scouting group to find out what is in store. He seems to be deep in thought, frowning every now and then, and occasionally whipping his massive hammer free and swinging it around a few times, as if replaying the last battle in his head. He's only semi alert and seems to sigh to himself a lot.
When the group is ready to enter the building however he has his seemingly perpetual smile on his face, and seems eager to proceed.
"Focus." Solomon said. He was curt, but clearly was not upset. It was the soldier's voice coming out and drawing attention to the task at hand.
"I want a full circuit of this place before we enter. Zhalet and Killara will go left. Rukn and I will go right. We'll meet on the other side and come back to this position to compare notes. Keep distance, be careful and do not engage. This is scouting only. Once we have made our loop, we'll choose an entry point."
"The rest of you, hold here. We will be back shortly. If there's trouble, come rescue us." he said with a partial grin.
Then he started moving.
After making a complete circuit around the shrine, there is very little of note. There are the ruins of some smaller buildings around the larger, main building.
The only things that have been coming and going have been small desert animals.
Back with the rest of the group, Solomon gives his report, drawing a rough outline of the place in the dirt, noting potential points of entry.
"Ruhk doesn't think there are any real signs of the place being occupied, or of any particularly dangerous animal tracks. It could be that the place is just an abandoned ruin. I'm guessing it's more likely that there's something nasty in there that doesn't come and go much, keeping everything else at bay."
"Without anymore information than that, I'm thinking we go in through the front door. Any objections?"
Even though it may seem irrelevant, Rukn catches the small animals coming and going, and wonders whether any of them is rather unusual for this part of the desert.
Even though it may seem irrelevant, Rukn catches the small animals coming and going, and wonders whether any of them is rather unusual for this part of the desert.
Rukn finds nothing unusual about the tracks around the shrine.
Zhalet gives Solomon a wry smile.
"Ah, as opposed to all the other doors?"
"Let us be going," Alexander says. "But as this is a monastery of Nethys, I recommend we clear areas by scanning them with Detect magic before we move into them physically. Agreed?"
"I like Front Doors".
Erizi seems to become more animated as the scouting party reports their findings.
Crumbling after centuries of neglect, the ancient monastery’s walls loom 20 feet high. As you move in past the two statues, you see that elaborate friezes once covered the battered limestone, but scouring winds have destroyed many of the ancient carvings. There are no traces of danger as you pass into the ruin, and no lingering auras of magic.
Beyond the outer ruins, a wide doorway leads into a forest of stone pillars: the roofless, colonnaded hall of a temple interior. The breeze here carries a pungent stench of decay. Two rectangular depressions run across the pillared hall’s rubble-strewn floor, perhaps once filled with water, but now choked with thorny desert weeds.
The rectangular depressions are what remains of reflecting pools that once decorated this chamber; tiny amounts of water still trickle into the pools.
"Alexander, it's a large area. If you take the left, I'll take the right and we can fan out more with magic detection."
Solomon had grown up on the streets and among soldiers and had heard more jokes about 'alternate entrances' and 'back doors' than he cared to admit. He doubted a lady as cultured as Zhalet would appreciate the humor, so he just cleared his throat and focused on the job.
"You're the expert, Alexander. You're also the one most likely to recognize any magic auras. I was thinking we might need to change things up this time anyway. That's another good reason." Solomon said.
"This place looks like there's not much in the way of sound breaks. Once we're in, anything loud is probably going to carry. Since it doesn't look occupied, there ain't much reason to try to play it quiet. This is more of a ruin delve than an infiltration."
"How's this sound- A 'V' formation. Killara at the front on trap duty. Erizi 10 feet behind her. Next to him, ten feet to his right and left are Alexander and Zhalet on magic sweep. Rukn and I on the rear flanks as ranged support."
"Sound good?"
-I'm not too good with tactics, you the experts- Rukn says, shrugging, -though I can't seem to find the 'V'- he ends up with a light cackle.
"That plan is sound to my thinking."
Zhalet prepares to fall in her place when they move onward.