Great. It looks like we have gotten some attention... I doubt he will be here alone...
Feeling a sudden premonition of deep foreboding, Rashid glances around him, spotting quite a few approaching Gnolls...
...he tightens his grip on his scimitar and shield, and steps forward beside Yousef, chastising the Genie in a firm, but saddened voice.
"Kardswann, you have changed so much, fallen so far, yet there must be something of the great Defender Kardswann within you. Turn aside from this madness!"
Lavender takes a Shield and a Scimitar, even though she has no idea how to use them...
Perception
Diplomacy (assist)
"YOU feel the need to take a hostage? Pathetic! I thought you were some all powerful Janni? I never thought you would stoop this low. You must feel horribly threatened by us... Not surprising, we did single-handedly take out all of your little baddies all over the city, without even breaking a sweat! Zaina, are you sure this is even Kardswann and not some sort of wannabe Genie that has to resort to idle threats?! Ohh look, you even need to back yourself up with the few puppies you have remaining... What's wrong? Afraid to act like a real Genie?"
If things go south, Lavender attempts to ready herself to cast grease, either on zaina or if she is let go on Kardswan's Axe.
percep
Bahram's stomach sinks as he sees little Zaina in Kardswaan's clutches. 'Zaina..' he says, half reaching for her. "Let her " he manages, shaking his fist at the janni.
perception
Beharam spots the crouching Ugruk and the approching gnolls. Following Lavenders example he too picks up a sword and shield.
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Kardswann's brow furrows at the words of admonition from the group, his eye darkening in anger and his mouth curling into a sneer...
... suddenly his expression of disdain and anger changes to a frown of worry and regret... his entire body starts shaking, and he rapidly descends, shrinking down to his usual seven-foot height as he does so, and dropping to his knees as he lands on the top of the gatehouse, in front of the group. His arms drop, limp by his sides, his massive axe clattering to the floor, and Zaina spiralling, unconcious, from his grip, as the furrow of his brow deepens, and he speaks through clenched teeth with obvious effort...
'You... must... destroy... Xulthos.' the janni forces out the words, each one a struggle, sweat begining to pour off his still shaking form as he does so, 'Below the...' he gasps a breath, his fists clenching as he manages - barely - to continue, '... below the ruined church. Cannot hold on... Bind me... or cut me... within an inch of... of death... His will is... is so much stronger... then mine...' He hisses, as if in pain, the veins on his temple bulging. Snarling, he punches his fist into the stone floor, shaking his head, then looks up, fixing Yousef with his eyes - eyes, for the moment, no longer glowing red... 'Do it!' he snarls, then yells,
A glance up at the cruel flind Ugruk shows a confused expression on his face as he behold's Kardswann's performance... an expression which quickly turns to a teeth-baring snarl. Howling at the approaching gnolls...
... he leaps from the high statue! Soaring through the air, the gnoll hurtles down towards the group - flind-bar twirling... only to slow moments before hitting the top of the bridge, instead landing light as a feather...
Giving a worried glance at the approaching Gnollish horde, Rashid approaches Kardswann.
"Mighty warrior, we have need of you; the approaching Gnolls may be too much for us to handle. I can only offer you a temporary respite for the moment, but think of it as a partial opportunity at Redemption..."
He then casts Protection from Evil on Kardswann...
He then casts Protection from Evil on Kardswann...
Yousef lowers his voice and says to Kardswann. "I'll do as you request, but you need to help us fight thise gnolls." Yousef raises Tempest high in the air over Kardswann's neck and then shouts in gnollish.
And then brings down the blade, turning in the last second to bring against the attacking flind.
int interpose between Ugruk and others and eqiup shield
Init
Seeing the Gnoll twirl that strange looking unique weapon... Lavender cast's her favorite spell on it... Grease!
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"Mighty warrior, we have need of you; the approaching Gnolls may be too much for us to handle. I can only offer you a temporary respite for the moment, but think of it as a partial opportunity at Redemption..."
Glancing at Rashid the strain of effort etched on Kardswann's face seems to ease a little,
'The caress of the Dawnflower,' he mutters softly, 'I'd all but given up hope of ever feeling it again...'
Features hardening into a look of grim determination the genie's fingers curl once more round the shaft of his greataxe as he stands. Looking to Yousef he nods,
'Let us fight once more like brothers, General. I have your vow that you'll deal with me before the grace of Sarenrae departs me?'
Turning to face the approaching Ugruk, Lavender casts her spell . There's a sound like sloshing oil, and suddenly the gnoll second-in-command's flindbar twirls out of his hand to skitter across the bridge!
Snarling as he spares a glance for his lost weapon, Ugruk pulls out a dagger (one of several he seems to keep on his person) and charges Lavender - his movements fast... too fast (similar to how Felliped was moving earlier when he chased down the fleeing gnoll)... his swipe furious... but deflecting off the invisible mage armour still surrounding the sorceress...
Seeing Yousef about to attack Kardswann, Ugruk lets his guard down for just a second... but that second proves enough as Yousef brings Tempest round at the last moment to open a bloody slash in the flind's side...
As Keldar moves to intercept Ugruk, the trapdoor in the roof of the outer tower (the one with the drop to the river below) bangs open, and the rest of the gnoll tribe start to pour through...
Features hardening into a look of grim determination the genie's fingers curl once more round the shaft of his greataxe as he stands. Looking to Yousef he nods,
'Let us fight once more like brothers, General. I have your vow that you'll deal with me before the grace of Sarenrae departs me?'
"You can count on it, comrade." Yousef nods back as he dives around the flind, placing the nimble gnoll between him and his former brother in arms. "Now, Kardswann. Redemption!" He yells as he brings Tempest around in a horizontal arc, aiming for the gnoll's head.
Standing over Zaina Bahram brandishes his claimed scimitar at anyone aproching, slashing at any gnoll that get's near.
Rashid moves to flank with Lavender (or Keldar; I am not picky - anyone with a weapon in hand will do.), and does his best to gut Ugruk!
Lavender moves out of the way of the dagger wielding gnoll and tries to get into a good position to use her final 1st level spell. She tries to get as many of the gnolls as she can in her color spray as they pour onto the roof.
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Moving over to the fallen Zaina, Bahram stands guard, scimitar held ready in what he no doubt hopes is a menacing fashion... At the very least, a concerned glance tells him that the zhyen is still breathing...
Stepping to trap Ugruk between himself and Keldar, Rashid's scimitar flashes in the moonlight as it arcs through the cool night air, carving a deep and bloodly wound across the flind's snout and face!
Nodding to Yousef, Kardswann hefts his massive axe in both hands... then charges the approaching torrent of gnolls! With a single swing the genie cleaves the lead two gnolls, bisecting them both and sending the four separate pieces tumbling over the parapet to the mist enshrouded ground below!
Moving up next to the axe-wielding genie, Lavender blasts away with her mystical spray of clashing colours - and the next four gnolls drop where they stand, each staring blindly into space, tongues lolling out, as they drool, unconscious, on the floor of the roof...
Obviously in a bad way, blood gushing from both ruined face and side, Ugruk lurches for Yousef, claws grasping for Tempest... but the 'General' manages to fend off the attempt to relieve him of the mighty weapon, countering by rolling under Ugruk's clutching claws, and into a flanking position, before swinging at the Flind once more... only to see his attack glance harmlessly off Ugruk's breastplate...
Exchanging worried and confused glances, the six gnolls which remain after Kardswann and Lavender's efforts, seem to come to a decision as they all surge forwards at once. Kardswann takes the brunt of the assault, receiving several wounds from the gnolls' scimitars as he tries to keep them back; but two of the gnolls rush Lavender - one managing to force her backwards, away from the genie's side, even as Kardswann's axe takes the second gnoll's head clean off its shoulders...
Sensing that Ugruk is on his last legs, and noting with concern that Lavender is currently being sorely pressed by one of the other Gnolls, Rashid directs a broad, powerful slash at Ugruk...
...and then hustles as fast as his Dwarven legs can carry him in Lavender's direction, hoping to distract the Gnoll after her...
Seeing Ugrok fall to his friend and mentor's blade, Yousef charges at the gnoll that is close to Lavender.
Seeing that no gnolls are coming anywhere near him Bahram waryly knees down to check on Zaina, relieved to see her breathing he drops the scimitar and gently picks her up. Clutching her to his chest he slowlie back away from the gnoll horde.
Acrobatics
Lavender wheels back from the Gnoll, keeping herself defended. As she moves back she pulls out one of her alchemist fires and lobs it at one of the gnolls, trying to get as many of them in the splash range without getting any allies at the same time.
Ranged (Touch): Alchemist fire /Fire Damage
position so can use burning hands only on gnolls. DC=13
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Stepping into the spot Lavender was recently forced from, Keldar unleashes a wave of flame to crash over the four gnolls facing Kardswann - all yelp as they're singed and burned, although two of the four are hit more squarely than their (faster to duck) fellows...
As Bahram picks up the unconcious Zaina and backs away, Rashid, almost casually , swipes a powerful left-right blow, the tip of his scimitar opening up Ugruk's neck! For a brief moment the flind's eyes stare wildly, as he drops his flindbar, one hand scrabbling at the torrent of warm blood streaming from his opened throat and down his breastplate, as the other fumbles with a small vial he has in a belt pouch... a vial he fails to draw in time. Whatever final words or insults the cruel beast may have had are lost in a pitiful gurgling, even as Rashid turns and hurries off... Ugruk crashing to the ground somewhere behind him with a dull 'thud'...
A determined look on his face, Kardswann presses the (singed) gnolls once more, one swing of his mighty axe instantly felling two of them!
Pulling out a flask of alchemist's fire, Lavender backs off from the gnoll threatening her, and lobs the flask high over its head, past Keldar and Kardswann, to strike the more badly burned of the two remaining gnolls - his screams re-doubling as he's set alight twice in as many seconds! His companion swats frantically at the few splashes which catch him also...
Seeing the last remaining unharmed gnoll menacing Lavender, Yousef charges - his blow with Tempest slicing through the gnoll's leather armour to cut a nasty gash up its side!
The two gnolls left facing Kardswann - one badly burnt, the other quite singed - exchange a quick glance... then run... or at least try too, as the genie warrior's reflexes prove to fast for them, his axe blade singing as it slices through the air to fell first one, then the other, as if chopping down the hyena-men were as simple as splintering logs...
The last remaining gnoll, now facing Yousef, looks left... then right... realising that he's left alone... then his jaws split in a wide grin as he lets slip a loud, mocking, hyena-laugh,
... he cries aloud, swinging his scimitar two-handed at Yousef in a wide, near-frenzied, blow which misses by a mile...
Glancing over his shoulder Bahram throws out his hand, launching lightning at the last remaining gnoll. ,
Rashid charges forward, taking a swing at the remaining Gnoll with his trusty scimitar...
Lavender goes and picks up Ugruk's knife and starts to slit the unconcious gnoll's throats. Assuming they are out of the remaining living one.
Yousef laughs at the gnoll, not even moving or trying to dodge the wild swing and then sheathes Tempest and removes the manacles from his belt, all the while looking at Kardswann. He looks more thoughtful, as well as sad, then the feisty half-orc usually is.
"Old comrade, I promised to deal with you . It would be best if you turned around and I bind you before we continue any further." Yousef shackles the outsider with his manacles. "These might not be enough."
He then pulls a silk rope out of his pack and uses it to bind Kardswann's arms further. "Will this be enough?" he asks Kardswann.
"Yousef, genies tend to be quite powerful. I doubt that simply restraining him with manacles and rope will prove to be enough. It might be best if we did as he suggested, and 'cut him to within an inch of death', until we are able to lift the possession from him..."
He then turns to Kardwann.
"However, before we do so, what can you tell us about the remaining forces within the town (since I know there is at the very least a bugbear kicking around somewhere), and about the force that is holding you in thrall?"
clw wand on Zaina
If Bahram's Blow is not enough to fell the gnoll, Lavender blasts it with her final Lightning Lance...
Ranged (Touch): Lightning Lance /Electricity Damage /19x2
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Is everything ok Profpotts? Or are you waiting on someone/thing?
An arc of lightning connects Bahram's outstretched hand to the last remaining gnoll for a second or two, dancing and crackling as the gnoll's fur stands on end, smoke pouring from its ears, nostrels, and mouth as it fries from the inside out. A few moments after the blast ceases, the gnoll collapses to the ground, a charred patch flickering with a few small flames on the centre of its chest the visibly external reminder of the elemental assault...
As Lavender goes about the grissly duty of executing their foes, and Keldar moves to heal little Zaina, Yousef approaches Kardswann,
"Old comrade, I promised to deal with you . It would be best if you turned around and I bind you before we continue any further... These might not be enough."
'They won't...' Kardswann agrees as he tosses his axe to one side and offers his wrists, behind his back, for Yousef to manacle.
"Will this be enough?"
'No...' the genie replies, grimly.
"Yousef, genies tend to be quite powerful. I doubt that simply restraining him with manacles and rope will prove to be enough. It might be best if we did as he suggested, and 'cut him to within an inch of death', until we are able to lift the possession from him..."
'Exactly,' Kardswann nods in agreement with Rashid's words, 'even in such a pathetic and weakened state as I am... having lost the blessed wishcrafted powers of my Princess... it is a simple matter to shrink in size to slip such bonds... or grow enough to burst them... or simply turn immaterial and let them fall... or...' he offers Yousef a sad smile, '... I trust you see the point, General. I am better left near death or...' he sighs and bows his head, '... just dead, if you deem that my fate. I can hardly claim to deserve any better after the atrocities I have commited...'
"However, before we do so, what can you tell us about the remaining forces within the town (since I know there is at the very least a bugbear kicking around somewhere), and about the force that is holding you in thrall?"
'The remaining forces are nothing,' Kardswann confirms, 'the last of the Kulldis pack lie dead around us... saving one runt acting as barkeep in the battlemarket... There you will find your bugbear... as well as Hurvank the Strangler - the orge who was champion of the battlemarket arena until a human swordswoman - Haleen - arrived and defeated him. I can't see you having problems with any of them... the bugbear still smarts that you killed his brothers, of course, and Hurvank may try to draw one of you into single combat... but after they realise what you've done here I can't imagine either of them... or the handful of others in the battlemarket... will offer you any resistance. They're the sort more likely to cut their losses and run.'
'The one holding a grip on my mind is another story - the daemon Xulthos. It's an immense insectile fiend, with impressive powers of illusion... more advanced than most of its kind. It caused the destruction of this town years ago, by turning brother against brother, child against parent. It can cause a maddening drone, and reflect a dazzling light off its carapace... even before considering its magical talents. The Pactmasters chose to seal it away, rather than send their forces to face it... at least they did then... It wants to be free to spread its evil in the name of its master, the archdaemon Szuriel, the Angel of Desolation and Horseman of War... I underestimated its power when I went to confront it... don't make the mistake I did... but above all, do not let it escape, for it will cause untold suffering in this region, and relish every moment of it...'
I may be able to help a little against that "drone",' Felliped offers, adding with a touch of embarrasment, 'at least more than I helped in this fight...'
Opening her eyes, Zaina peers around, blinking a little and, still lying on the ground, asks quietly,
'Did we win?'
Rashid turns to Kardwann, true regret in his eyes.
"I am extremely sorry that it has come to this. You have my word that I will do whatever I can to free you from this Daemon..."
He sighs.
"Although it was your hand that was responsible for many of the atrocities in recent years, your will was not behind that hand; you have been a puppet, and therefore not entirely to blame. Remember, the Dawnflower teaches that Redemption is a special thing, available to all that truly desire it. It would be my pleasure to see that you achieve it."
Once Kardwann has been reduced to unconscious, and comprehensively pummeled, Rashid does his best to provide first aid to the Genie's wounds, cleaning and dressing them.
----------------
Healing for Rashid:
Healing for Yousef:
Healing for Felliped and Zaina:
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Once the party is restored to full strength, Rashid turns to them, and smiles.
"We have achieved a momentous thing today; we have ended the grip of the Gnolls upon Kelmarane! However, there is still much to do. I know that many of us are tired, and that some of us," he nods to Bahram, Lavender, and Felliped, "have essentially exhausted their resources for the day. However, there remains but one more Gnoll, a Bugbear, and an Ogre in the main building. We should strike whilst we have the element of surprise, cleanse the last vestiges of the Gnoll's taint, and present Almah with a town that is essentially ready to be rebuilt. What say you?"
----------------
Stat increace: +1 charisma,
BAB+1
Will Save +1
HP +
Skills: [2 sorcerer +1 human +1 int +1 FC) Bluff +1, Diplomacy +1, Knowledge(arcana) +1, Knowledge (planes) +1, Spellcraft +1
Spells: 0- Message. 1st- swapped Endure Elements for Magic Missile. 2nd- Summon Monster II
'Oh! Zaina!' Bahram moans in relief as Zaina opens her eyes. 'I thought I'd lost you.' Piking her up he hugs her tightly to his chest. 'Don't ever do thet again, ok?' He admonishes her holding her out to eye-level, 'But yes, we won.' he says hugging her again.
----
Watching out of the corner of his eye as Kardswaan is beaten and then healed Bahram does his best to turn his back, slicing the troats of sleeping baboons or gnolls was one thing, but he could find no mercy in brutalizing the genie.
----
Listening to Rashid's plan Bahram nods in agreement. 'I'm game.' he says firmly. 'I'm sure I can sqeese out another blast of lightning and I'm fairly sure I can replicate the spell I cast of the scroll earlyer to summon monster (II) to aid us in battle.'
'Exactly,' Kardswann nods in agreement with Rashid's words, 'even in such a pathetic and weakened state as I am... having lost the blessed wishcrafted powers of my Princess... it is a simple matter to shrink in size to slip such bonds... or grow enough to burst them... or simply turn immaterial and let them fall... or...' he offers Yousef a sad smile, '... I trust you see the point, General. I am better left near death or...' he sighs and bows his head, '... just dead, if you deem that my fate. I can hardly claim to deserve any better after the atrocities I have commited...'
Yousef smiles.
"Just for the record, this still counts as me kicking your ass," he says good-naturedly, then proceeds to beat Kardwann with a crowbar until Rashid determines it was enough.
We should strike whilst we have the element of surprise, cleanse the last vestiges of the Gnoll's taint, and present Almah with a town that is essentially ready to be rebuilt. What say you?"
Breathing heavily, "Adrenaline is hot! Let's do this!"
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Kardswann is quickly , pummelled into unconsciousness, a which stage Rashid makes sure none of his wounds will prove fatal.
'Don't ever do thet again, ok?.. But yes, we won.'
'Don't ever again go toe-to-toe with the giant genie so that he doesn't swoop down and ambush you all whilst you're still dealing with the gnolls on guard again, Master?' Zaina asks, a smile on her lips beneath her gossamer veil, 'I wasn't planning to...' wriggling a little in Bahram's grip she adds, '... after all, being crushed once a day is enough for anyone...'
Listening to Rashid's words, as well as Bahram and Yousef's responses, Felliped smiles, shakes his head as if in disbelief, then shrugs,
'Why not?' he replies, then casts the scimitar he's been carrying aside, adding, 'But let me find some other weapon first - I can't get the hang of a curved blade... I don't suppose you'd consider letting me use that longsword you found? I'll feel a lot more useful with a straight blade and one of these shields in hand.' Looking over a couple of the dead gnoll's shields, he picks out a more servicable one, then glances up, 'Lavender, Keldar... what thoughts do the two of you have on Father Rashid's plan?'
"Rashid, you don't mind digging that glowing for for Feliped to use for now, do you? If he knows how to use it, and none of us do, it seems logical."
Rashid nods to Yousef, and smiles at Felliped.
"I think we can certainly justify letting you use the sword for the moment, Felliped. Give me a moment to dig it out..."
He then carefully removes the longsword from his pack, and hands it over to Felliped.
"The sooner we finish these vile gnolls off, the better!" Lavender says in a malicious tone, returning from her task. She then looks over at Bahram and Zaina. "Its good to see your ok Zaina... You had me worried for a minute there!" Lavender says with a smile, an opposite tone from her last statement. She doesn't acknowledge or even look at Kardswann at all, regardless of his state of consciousness.
"If you think it best, I'll take a potion. I did use a weaker one earlier on Yousef."
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"I think we can certainly justify letting you use the sword for the moment, Felliped. Give me a moment to dig it out..."
Taking the sword with a nod, Felliped draws it, giving it a few testing swings, a smile spreading across his lips as he feels the weight and sees the mystic glow the enchanted blade gives off,
'A fine weapon indeed, Father Rashid,' he comments, 'and much more suited to my chosen style of combat...' he sheathes the blade once more, buckling the scabbard to his belt, then chuckles, '... although having said that, I can almost guarantee that I'll end up doing something stupid in the next fight... the universe seems to have a way of sticking a pin in inflated egos, after all...'
Once all the wanted equipment is recovered, and Rashid has the hefty form of the unconscious Kardswann across his shoulder, the group head up the road (heading down through one of the gatehouse towers this time, rather than needing to mountaineer about with ropes) towards the battlemarket...
'Oh, sorry.' Bahram loosens his grip on Zaina with a sheepish grin. 'I'll do my best not to rush into any genies or gnoll packs dear,' Bahram shrugs and gestures at the party, 'but the companie we keep..' he trails off with a shrug, his grin turning lopsided.
Taking the ring and potion of Rashid Bahram reverantly places the ring on his finger, looking at it this way and that a grin creeps onto his face. 'It's beutifull.' he breathes.
Edit. Loaded crossbows sound good.
onwaed
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Spare gnollish gear stored in the towers, crossbows loaded and at the ready, the group reach the battlemarket soon enough, entering via the northernmst entrance (the nearest to the road leading up the hill... without scrambling up the sheer hillside, at least...).
The enormous set of double doors open (with the aid of a battlemarket key) revealing the torchlit passage beyond. About fifteen feet inside passages open to the left and right, following the curve of the battlemarket's outer wall: stairs leading up to the next floor to the right, while the passage to the left remains level as it curves out of sight. The main hall-like passageway proceeds perhaps another fifty feet before opening into a large well-lit cavernous chamber you all remember well...
The huge arena-like room is dominated by a massive circular wooden stage, its surface smeared and sticky with blood. Two rows of empty terraced wooden benches surround the stage. Natural moonlight streams through a large circular opening in the citadel’s domed stone roof a full sixty feet overhead, illuminating both the stage and the myriad motes of dust which lazily drift through the cool evening air; air pungent with foul aromas of stale sweat, old blood, animal waste, and the distinct scent of filth-matted fur known all too well to any who've ever encountered gnolls. Torches illuminate the darkened galleries beyond the central stage. In one quarter of the circular room (to your right as you enter) a raised platform along the inner wall sports four round tables, several wooden chairs, a long bar stocked with numerous bottles of dubious content (and staffed by a runt of a one-eyed gnoll), and the few non-gnoll visitors – two shifty looking humans (a rather overweight man in threadbare robes, and a pale, skinny, young woman who appears to be quite twitchy), a monsterous, dark-furred, lumbering goblinoid, (the last bugbear... whose tiny glittering milk-white eyes fix on you as you enter), and a lumbering, misshapen, giant seemingly made of nothing but muscles upon muscles, his oversized hands and arms wrapped with leather bands... hands which flex and unflex as the bugbear points out your group and the giant turns in your direction...
About twenty feet above is an open balcony, beyond which lie a series of what look to be small rooms on an upper level of the building. Several rows of empty bleachers peer down from the edge of this balcony, suggesting that the citadel was built with a far greater crowd in mind than its recent gnoll masters have been able to muster. Twenty feet above the balcony level is a final, half-circle, balcony marking the highest of the citadel’s terraces. Three thrones look down from this vantage, each positioned to give a commanding view of not only the stage below, but the entire structure.
Apart from the few at the bar area, the place appears empty. At sight of Kardswann slung across Rashid's shoulder, the one-eyed gnoll bartender lets our a high-pitched yelp and ducks out of sight behind the bar. The two humans exchange frantic whispers, their eyes never straying from your dangerous-looking band. The bugbear and ogre share a glance... then stand, their oversized chairs scraping backwards as they do so. As the seven or so foot tall bugbear readies a two-handed axe, the orge (who dwarfs even the bugbear in height at more than ten feet tall) steps forwards, the powerful fingers of his oversized hands flexing incessantly,
he demands in a booming voice, his rather poor kelish thickly accented, he gestures towards the central wooden stage to emphasize his point... a point rather spoilt by a light, female, laugh issuing from the corridor to the battlemarket's southern entrance, opposite the one you entered by...
'Really Hurvank?' declares the voice in a rather melodious, breathy, tone which contrasts the orge's rough pronounciation, 'You can't even beat me! What on Golarion makes you think you can beat someone who defeated Kardswann?'
Anyone moving far enough around the central stage to see the origin of the voice discovers that it comes from a good looking, athletic, Kelish woman clad in loose silk clothes (blouse, trousers tucked into pointed-toe soft leather boots), with a chain shirt on top. A patterned green silk headscarf is worn over her long dark hair, and a touch of kohl rims her dark eyes, while a long, thin, sword with just a slight curve to the blade is tucked into the sash-belt at her waist. She's leaning casually against the wall, eyes half-closed (but seeming to take in everything happening...), and a somewhat mocking smirk plays at the corner of her lips.
Turning towards the woman at the sound of her voice, the orge's piggy little eyes widen a little, and he appears to take a hesitant, unconscious, step backwards, his hands ceasing their flexing and tightening into fists. Brutish, lumpy, and scarred face twisting into a deep scowl, the muscles of the orge's shoulders and arms bulge, the veins across his deeply tanned skin threatening to pop as he grits his uneven, broken, teeth and hisses under his breath,
'... Haleen...'
Yousef raises one of the heavy crossbows and points it at the bugbear.
"Bars closed!" he growls as he pulls the trigger, then drops the crossbow.
Rashid nods grimly.
"We are here to take possession of Kelmarane, on behalf of Almah, an agent of the Pactmasters. Anyone who is willing to abide by Katapeshi Law will be allowed to continue to live here freely, or leave as they so choose."
(He looks pointedly at the three humans in the room when he says this.)
Then his voice hardens.
"However, some of you have proven to be creatures of irredeemable evil, and will be cleansed..."
He then carefully places Kardswann on the ground, and moves forward towards the Bugbear, scimitar and shield at the ready...
Bahram waits for the more talkative party elements to open up before following their examples and fireing on the bugbear. "Zaina. Would you be so kind as to enlarge Yousef again? I wish it, if you must."
Lavender casts web if possible, trying to snare as may of the people in this building as possible. At the very least she would like to entrap the monstrous humanoids (especially that last gnoll!).
If there is no way to make that viable, she instead casts grease on the bugbear's great-axe!
Init