I...do not think so Mistress Yazi. Hajar responds This Kardswann....might be genai.
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"Ain't no rule that says Jennies can't be Carrion Kings. Or Queens... Yazi the Carrion Queen, pay homage to me with your last breath!" Yazi ends her tangent with a gleeful cackle that, once again, sounds like something coming from a beast rather than a person before returning to focus on the conversation.
Khayal gets some rest. Today was a long day, tomorrow will be longer.
He uses his armor as a pillow and sleeps simply, on the ground.
Before everyone heads to sleep, Bartan offers to perform a harrowing for the group regarding their upcoming plan, and then for any individuals that would wish one.
The Bridge (guidance about specific action, 1gp)
-> The Desert (Chaotic Good, Constitution)
-> The Midwife (Neutral Good, Wisdom)
-> The Sickness (Neutral Evil, Constitution)
-> The Waxworks (Chaotic Evil, Constitution)
-> The Big Sky (Chaotic Good, Strength)
-> The Peacock (True Neutral, Dexterity)
-> The Unicorn (Chaotic Good, Charisma)
Anjali checks on Avenka and picks a sleeping spot next to the younger girl.
Anakhsunamun: It is funny you ask about our interest in Vardishal's weapon, and also who we mean by "Kardswann". Obviously you do not know the truth of how the Carrion King took Kelmarane. she snorts. I am surprised your "princess" has not told you the truth.
Celanka to the old Gnoll: It is not their fault, mother-gnoll, they have not lived in the hinterlands as we have. She turns to you. No, Kardswann is not the Carrion King. He was once a great Gennie lord.
Anakhsunamun: Yes, Kardswann is a traveler. A planes-walker. For generations the gnoll tribes would see him sometimes, walking on starlight in the open desert. But he never harmed anyone. Now he is but a shadow and a puppet.
Before everyone heads to sleep, Bartan offers to perform a harrowing for the group regarding their upcoming plan, and then for any individuals that would wish one.
** spoiler omitted **
"Our journey began with hardship and trial, the reversed Desert signifying both our long journeys and the loss of our comrade.
We move against these gnolls for the good of less bloodthirsty gnolls, to save them from the threat of dangerous creatures, but the reversal of this card may be telling us that they are already lost to our help.
We will face trials including poison or sickness, the possibility of having to torture some creature for information, and perhaps even enslavement.
Our goal is to bring back the beauty of this forgotten city, returning it to its former glory.
And our sacrifice... oh my. This card could either signify that we must be generous with the gifts that we have to give, or... it could mean the sacrifice of the princess herself, since this card represented her in her own harrowing. I truly hope that is not the case."
You would wield Tempest against the Carrion King? asks Hajar incredulously And Kardswann the Genai, he is a puppet of the Carrion King. How could one of the Templar of Nefeshti be turned so? Hajar says, now interested more in what the gnolls have to say.
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Once she finished with other tasks, Yazi seeks out Bartan for a harrowing. He sits down in front of her, blushing slightly as she seats herself just a little too close to him and places her hand on his back, and he begins her harrowing.
Standard Harrowing (5sp)
-> The Bear (True Neutral, Strength)
"Mon cherie, your role card is the Bear. You've become less erratic since I last read the cards for you, and it shows in the pure strength of your convictions."
-> The Big Sky (Chaotic Good, Strength)
-> The Forge (Lawful Neutral, Strength)
-> The Owl (True Neutral, Wisdom)
-> The Sickness (Neutral Evil, Constitution)
-> The Cyclone (Chaotic Evil, Strength)
-> The Cricket (Neutral Good, Dexterity)
-> The Inquisitor (Lawful Neutral, Intelligence)
-> The Keep (Neutral Good, Strength)
-> The Betrayal (Neutral Evil, Charisma)
"Ah, your past column is fortunate indeed. The Forge is in its perfect alignment, showing us that the strength of each member of our group is working toward a united front which has led us through hardship to our current fortunes.
The misaligned Sickness verifies that right now our friend Avenka is overcoming her malady, and will recover fully, but the misaligned Cricket suggests that it will slow our progress considerably until then.
Finally, the Betrayal indicates that you may make a selfish decision that could hurt the group, so you must be cautious of your actions while we move forward."
"I hope that my reading has given you some things to think on, and also rested your worries." He reaches out and touches her cheek. "You are a lovely woman and an even more lovely person, and i am glad to be accompanied by you on this journey."
Anakhsunamun: Celank, you tell him.
Celanka: very well. Celanka sits down on the stone ground. The Gnolls of this region say they took Kelmarane from the Pactmasters of Katapesh in a great battle. The pactmasters say the same thing, and claim it was the forces of the Carrion King that took the City. But it's a lie to cover up the truth. I have divined with the spirits of the desert to find what really happened...
Celanka falls silent and waits for you reactions.
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"So the Gnolls merely inherited the corpse of a city, and it was the Pactmaster's doing that slew the city." she hems and haws as she processes this information before adding "Although the corruption by the Daemon would explain why Death has always been my constant companion. I'm simply cursed."
Dhavyn yawns as the heavy curtain of night grows deeper. Satisfied to his bargains with Almah and oblivious to the ongoing Gnoll interrogation he finds a secluded spot in the Minaret and pulls out the book about genies.
The faint light from his necklace sheds just enough light to banish the darkness to corners of the room, the book casting its long shadows as he flips through the pages. I could get used to this traveling he thinks to himself as he flips through the pages idly.
As the night grows older he falls asleep dreaming of Genies and of their power. Soon to be his - or so he would like to think.
Your story certainly sheds light on the fate of Kelmerane... Hajar says to Celanka We should free Kardswann from this evil bondage. He would be a most welcome ally in the fight against the Carrion King!
Hajar looks to the Crone. What does this gain you? The retaking of Kelmerane, how does the Follower of the Demon Queen benefit?
The crone narrows her eyes at Hajar: I would do anything to retake my tribe from slavery to the Carrion King and his evil bastard of a god.
Hajar looks sidelong at Yazi's pet names for the deities.
We do not quest for the glory of the Mother of Monsters. Our holy mission is one of Sun and Glory, for the Dawnflower.
Reluctantly, the old crone tells you her tale. She speaks in Gnoll with Hajar translating faithfully...A sad sad story
From his throne upon Pale Mountain’s slopes, the Carrion King commands hundreds of gnolls, his emissaries and slaves having compelled or subjugated numerous tribes of slavering warriors into his service. For eons the Gnolls of the hinterlands followed Lamashtu. But one by one, they have fallen from her service, into the service of Rovagug. Of all the tribes, only ours, the Three Jaws, refused to bow down.
But the fate of our tribe changed during a nighttime thunderstorm. It began when Vaskjaw, the tribe’s white-crowned leader, stumbled from his harem pavilion, his belly distended and shuddering like a frog’s bladder. A labored and gurgling moan grated from his clenched teeth as his limbs flailed like a dropped marionette. A moment later the old chief collapsed and the rest of the tribe hurried to surround him, his writhing form illuminated by bursts of harsh light in the driving rains. I was there. I saw it all.
His eyes widened underneath the lightning flashes and his lips curled back in pain so terrible none could forget the sound of his cracking, clenched fangs. No one dared touch their leader out of abject fear and revulsion. Then, with a widening of eyes and a simple, sick pop, all life fled the old hunter. All was silent for a moment, and even the thunder seemed to pause as gnoll looked to gnoll, knowing that bloodshed always marks the passing of a leader. It was Vaskjaw’s corpse that broke the silence, his broken jaws falling open, spilling the fragments of yellow teeth into the mud. Slowly, from pale lips, crooked legs picked their way out of the dead chief’s mouth and the opalescent form of a vhagshea—a deadly div blood scorpion—crawled forth into the rain. Shocked, few noticed the naked form of Akivasha the Foot Washer, third wife of Vaskjaw, stride from the harem pavilion. At her passing, the mud swirled with blood, fat drops slipping from her long knife and draining from the severed heads of Dhorhaalva and Jhokgral, Vaskjaw’s first and second wives.
Standing over the soaked body of the dead old gnoll, Akivasha threw her dagger down, impaling the scorpion there. Lifting the still squirming arachnid upon her knife, the gnoll concubine devoured the deadly insect in a swift series of small bites. Looking to the tribe’s eldest members, most skilled hunters, and deadliest warriors, the bloody gnoll threw down the heads of her mistresses and claimed her kill: “By my venom the feeble have fallen,” she said. “Follow me now, or suffer far worse a death.” With her words, young scorpions crawled from the usurper and the assembled gnolls drew back in fear. None of the Three Jaws defied their new chieftain.
The crone stands and paces the room slightly, her old body sore from the flight and from age. The rest she speaks softer.
There is an underground temple in the lands of the Three Jaws Pack, so old even the genie do not remember who built it. In the bowels of the temple is a portal to Pale Mountain, and it's here that our special priestesses like Celanka have used powerful magic to prevent the forces of the carrion king from entering the hinterlands.
The first thing that b+!!% Akivasha did is descend into the ancient halls and kill all the poor priestesses! We ran. The old crone appears to tear up at this point. I got as many out as I could. I tried to save as many of the young priestesses as I could. Pursued by her scorpion guard, we sought to make the monastery here, where we believe the great guardian Kakooyapesh could give us shelter. And just mabe, we could find the "artifact". We didn't know what else to do.
Hajar nods at the Crone. Your story is one of blood and death and despair. I understand this, but things must not always follow that path. Each day we all have the chance to make our Path brighter. Hajar pauses to bow briefly to each gnoll We work to end the Carrion King's influence in Kelmerane, and then we can speak again about your Tribe. with that Hajar leaves to report his information to Almah.
Waking up in the morning Khayal dons his armor and packs his kit. Perhaps we can discuss more on the way. If all of this is true it is a little disconcerting.
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Giving a slight bow to the Gnolls Yazi speaks softly, "Thank you for time, this has been most helpful." before turning to Doc. "Why don't you keep the little sister company for the night?" He gives Yazi a longing look before cautiously approaching the child Gnoll and sniffing the distance between them. After what he has deemed the appropriate amount of inspection if the scent ways he will go and nuzzle his snout up against the child's hand in a manner that friendly dogs are apt to do.
Taking her leave of the room she begins to mull all the information have over a slight tangent enters her head. Wait, they said they went into the courtyard, but I don't remember seeing a courtyard here, maybe it was around the other way we went before going into the garden? Her curiosity getting the better of her Yazi will head to the central courtyard of the monastery. Upon entering...
Huge branches and overgrown weeds clog the central open-air courtyard of the monastery’s cloister walk. In better times,
the monastic priests would have contemplated the open space while circling the cloister, but today it is barely possible to see
a few feet into the tangled mess, let alone all the way to the opposite cloister walk. Here and there the brush thins out
enough that a dedicated explorer might be able to create a sort of passage, but mostly it is an impassable mess.
As Yazi pushes her way through this mess she eventually comes to the middle and realizes:
The sticks and branches comprise the nest which spans the entire courtyard. Whoever's nest this is does not appear to be home right now. And it has left alone a small clutch of 3 watermelon sized eggs beset in a bed soft feathers.
gp, or the hatchling can be raised as an animal companion
or cohort, with the egg hatching within a month and the
bird growing to full maturity in just 3 years.
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Those are some bigass eggs, Almah might be interested to hear about them in the morning. Or we could have omelets. Her curiosity quenched for the moment she will leave the courtyard and go to take Bartan up on his Harrowing offer. It's fun when he gives me those readings, I wonder what I'll do to him in return this time.
Hajar wakes up after the night's rest and invites the Gnoll mistress and youngling to take a walk with him into the garden before he leaves.
Come, we can speak again in the light of the morning sun.
The Gnolls are glad to accompany Hajar. They listen respectfully to the the doctrines Hajar shares with them.
Celanka: I have never heard anyone explain the teachings of saranrae like this. I will give your words some thought.
Both Gnolls are helpful from now on. Until someone tries to kill them or treat them bad of course. At your request, Almah agrees to allow them free reign in the monastery and in exchange they will continue to offer intel and insight into gnoll culture. They hope one day you will help them save the Three Jaws from the Carrion King.
The next morning, as Hajar is buttering up the gnolls, Bartan readies himself, preparing spells for the upcoming assault. He's now ready to face some evil gnolls!
Avenka, You are miraculously healed due to your unwavering fortitude and Yazi's potion gift.
Anjali rises, spending little time luxuriating in her bedroll. The Badawi girl is swift to gather her gear and weapons to ready herself for the day that awaits them. She takes the time to wash the previous day's grime off of her, utilizing the clean silver bowl and fresh water she conjured herself to freshen up.
That done, she checks on Avenka. "How are you feeling this morning?"
You travel swift and light in the morning sun. The air is still cool from desert night until about 9:00am. Then it starts to get hot. By the time you finally reach the foothills the air is so hot and dry that the moisture on your eyeballs is evaporating. The air feels like it's reaching into your lungs and pulling the moisture of your body out. You are about a mile from the waterfall.
Hajar, being used to such conditions, perseveres.
We are almost there Honored Companions.
The hot sun warms Bartan's dark-colored cloak too much, and he begins panting profusely. "Mes amies, does anyone have some magic that may cool us in this hot weather? I do not wish to waste my snowball spell just keeping cool..."
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Caution drives Anjali to cast a spell to ward against the weather on herself before the sun gets hot enough to bake the sand beneath them. Soon enough though, Bartan's panting becomes too pronounced for her to endure. He likely made such sounds in that woman's company last night, she thought peevishly.
Still, Anjali marches over to Bartan, her back ramrod straight. She utters a few words, smacking his shoulder harder than was necessary to deliver a spell that required touch.
"There," she says tightly before marching back to her spot next to Khayal and Avenka.
Just as things start to get really uncomfortable you make the foothills. Finding a path along the waddi in the shadow of the mountains you eventually break into a pleasant oasis clearing. It's much cooler up here. ENCOUNTER MAP UPDATED.
Here a beautiful waterfall cascades into a pool, the headwaters of the waddi. In the center of the pool is a strange outcropping of blue crystals on a small island. There is also an alchemical water pump here sucking water from the pond. A small vortex is created by the suction end of the pump. There does not appear to be any gnolls present.
Dhavyn's morning started slowly having spent a large part of night reading. He is still yawning when the company prepares to take the next step on the journey, content to let others to do the talking and planning.
As the morning sun graces the desert with its first rays and the heat starts to slowly build up he begins to stir as well. פאַרטראָגן עלעמענץ Dhavyn utters and sighs contently as the enchantment drives away the oppressive heat.
He notes Anjali doing what she does best - looking after others - and chooses to preserve his own power.
Onwards to the next step on our adventure. I hope it does not end up being the last one, too... he muses and chuckles to himself.
As the company approaches the pool he looks up from his thoughts. "This place looks fascinating... home of the... Nixie... was it?" he says recalling the words of the Gnoll guardian.
Surprised at Anjali's seemingly cold treatment, especially in the hot sun, Bartan stammers "Th... thank you, mon chere." Why would she hit me like that? he wonders to himself. Did I do something wrong?
As they arrive at the waterfall, Bartan whistles appreciatively at the alchemical pump. "Is an impressive machine, no? I hope we do not have to break it... it may be of use when we rebuild the city once it is free of gnolls, I think."
to determine if there is some way to disable the magic running it.
"Anjali, I feel revigorated!", then Avenka lifts her friend on her shoulder to demonstrate how good she feels, laughing.
"It's a great view, isn't it? This water looks tasty"...
Hajar nods at the pump. I think this is what sends the water to Kelmerane yes?
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Getting up slightly sore but with a bit more spring in her step she is about to set out after Doc when fortunately Hajar and Gnolls enter the garden while in the middle of a conversation, Doc following aside Celanka faithfully.
Before they leave Yazi makes sure to tell Almah about the really big Gopher eggs in the courtyard.
While the romp through the Hinterlands is nice and the familiar comforting warmth is upon her she can't help but notice an unnatural coldness that wasn't there before. Seeing Anjali acting a lot more rigid than she usually allows herself in addition to her treatment of Bartan confirms Yazi's suspicions. I'll talk with her later, poor girl doesn't know she doesn't have anything to be jealous of.
Finding the jewel that is the oasis Yazi let's out a sound of awe. "I wonder if the Nixie will let us take a dip?"
"I'm sure they will be delighted. I got the impression they own this pond and the Gnolls are now draining the waters without permission. Water is worth its weight in gold here for the natives. Isn't that right?" he pauses.
"Apparently they are not powerful enough to drive the Gnolls away on their own. I wonder if they have a settlement nearby. I doubt it's just one man or woman looking after the pond. I wonder if those crystal are magical..."
דעטעקט מאַגיק he intones and starts scanning the area for magical auras. He moves closer to pond to better see the crystals. Oblivious to danger.
Khayal washes the sweat from his brow with the cool water.
We must be ready for a counter attack before we let known our presence. I would like to have a look around for places from which we can surprise the gnolls when they attack.
If he has time Khayal will look around for places we can set ambushes as well as any defiles and probable routs the gnolls will take. He will also attempt to set up these along probable lines of approach.