"Before it comes to that, I will have us out. We will not rot in cages like animals." He looks to the weretiger, then the actual tiger, and adds, "Not to offend."
The next morning, the PCs are awakened by the Gnolls bringing them some food, just bread and cheese, from their packs, for breakfast. Again though, the gnolls on guard seem to watch the food until it's completely consumed, then go back to being disinterested guards.
About an hour after breakfast, there is a slow steady 'THUD THUD' that comes from the hallways, getting louder and louder. Eventually, a massive white gnoll with obvious demonic blood steps into the room. His solid white eyes flickering around at the various cells. The two gnolls in their cell both whimper and move back to the back corner, as far away from him as possible.
Then there's a 'WHACK' sound like wood hitting something very solid, and the bulky gnoll moves, revealing a wizened old gnoll woman with similar solid white fur, and bright red eyes. "Let me past, Gav! I can't see the murderers if you're in the way!"
The huge gnoll moves and ducks it's head, it's toothy maw flashing in the light of the enchanted torches. It's voice rumbles through the cells, bounces off the walls, and then tries to crawl into everyone's bones.
The wizened old woman looks around, eying everyone in turn. "Pseudodragon, chatty talky, one. Alseid, taciturn, one. Tiger, animal, one. Weretiger, Angry, one. Demon-Blooded Drow, Calm, one. Wooden Golem, Psychic, one. Hobgoblin, nervous, one." She categories everyone in the cells, and the sound of her voice makes the gnolls in the cell whimper and cringe further into the corner of the cell. "Now Gav, watch me, and try not to break them this time."
The huge gnoll moves and ducks it's head, it's toothy maw flashing in the light of the enchanted torches again. It's voice rumbles through the cells, bounces off the walls, and then tries to crawl into everyone's bones yet again, making their skin crawl.
The old woman turns her head toward Kincaid, Hylar, and the Tiger. The cell for a moment feels as if more air were inside it, and the air was pushing down on the trio, making the tiger growl and whine unhappily. But then the pressure amps up signficantly, as if someone had dropped a million feathers on Kincaid, Hylar, and the poor tiger. The tiger whimpers and tries to crawl into the corner of the cell, much as the gnoll prisoners did.
The old woman's voice is clear as she speaks in Common. "Who are you? What do you here? How big is your Army? When are they going to attack?"
The huge gnoll rumbles and repeats her questions in very broken common.
The witch is pushing out a telepathic field that's strong, but highly refined. The very big gnoll is pushing out a telepathic field that's massively overwhelming and insanely powerful, but wielded like a tree trunk, not a sword.
Rokas eats his breakfast without looking at the guards. Trying to pretend they aren't there. When the hulking Gnoll shows up with the old one, he steps a bit closer. Looking with interest at what they are doing. When he hears the line of questions that is first asked, he sighs and head back at the back end of the cell where he sits down. Muttering to himself. "Straight with the accusations of invading army..."
Abbo looks from afar to Hylar, then shakes his head on agreement. He sits on the floor of the cell and rests until the two new distinct gnolls arrive.
The Fashtali looks at them with curiosity, but keeps it to himself. He scratches his fur slowly and calmly while the others are interviewed. In his core, the monk is now more balanced again, but annoyed with the fact the tiger is somehow suffering or put in an uncomfortable situation.
Calm down, big guy. - he thinks, and his facial hair move friendly - If it's on our power, we won't let them do you any harm.
He shakes his head. If they were on the wild, he'd be already by the animal's side.
Terex winces at the big gnoll's psychic presence. Did he have to be so loud about mind-reading? He didn't look forward at all to facing his attention.
Kincaid woke up early and spent the morning in quiet prayer, there was little else he could do. Brooding on their current predicament would do no good, besides Sithana taught 'do not hate your enemies, they are unworthy of such feelings'. He would just have to wait, but as fate would have it, not for very long...
He eyed the huge gnoll with a certain amount of apprehension, that brute was pure muscle and any fight would be horrendously punishing even if he was armed and armored. The witch started asking questions... Kincaid was of the opinion it was best never to lie, but that didn't mean he was obliged to tell the whole truth, nor was he obliged to be helpful with his answers.
"Who are you?"
Kincaid replied carefully, "My name is Kincaid, a citizen of Kotelia. I had another name as a child but that is lost to me now."
"What do you here?"
Her odd phrasing made him scratch his chin before he answered, "Uhh. Why am I here? We are explorers, this tower is very ancient but has been repaired recently. In my mind that merits investigation."
"How big is your Army?"
An easier question, Kincaid knew how to answer that truthfully but unhelpfully, "I am no longer in the army, I am a citizen, When I was in the Army, it was large enough to defend against any likely or even unlikely foe."
"When are they going to attack?"
"As far as I'm aware the army is guarding Kotelia. It would be nice if they where to come to our rescue but I think that's extremely unlikely." replied Kincaid simply.
When Kincaid speaks, the huge gnoll rumbles. He rumbles loudly, his white eyes burning into Kincaids.
The old woman cackles. "He did, did he?"
Hylar looks around the cage at Abbo and Kasha, then looks back to the gnolls with undisguised disgust. He takes a few breaths. Best not to lose one's head, lest one lose one's head. He does not necessarily try to hide his thoughts, though he's being mildly evasive. "I am Hylar. I was a soldier, I am now a scout. Our army, which is not on its way here, is massive. I reiterate it is not coming here, at least not as yet or to my knowledge. Why would we attack you?"
Hylar successfully keeps thoughts of their true mission from his mind, and sticks to basics which are completely true.
As Hylar answers, the old woman looks up at the big Gnoll, but he's staring at Kinaid as if he can somehow stare through the Tiefling's skull and see his brain directly if he tries hard enough, and the old woman raps the big gnoll on his snout with her stick, making him jerk back and slam into the iron bars of the cell with the two Gnolls who cry out in terror when he does. "Pay attention, Gav!"
The big gnoll rubs his snout, and bits of water appear in his eyes.
The old woman cackles and looks back. "This one hides things too. Everyone thinks they can hide things from Ol' Falla. I ain't senile yet. Now you watch how it's done Gav, don't try it, you ain't ready." She stares at Kincaid. "You're the leader.. you will answer." She speaks finally in Common.
Then her eyes seem to glow and fill all of Kincaid's vision, as if he were being swallowed up by them. Her words echo through his brain.
1) Are you intending my people Harm?
2) Will your people attack us?
3) Where are you from?
4) Why are you here?
5) Who are you and your Friends?
The old woman's mind spears out into Kincaid's, like an arrow launched from a ballista.
Unbidden thoughts are ripped out of his head. Kincaid desperately tries to think of something, anything else but his mind is twisted by her power.
I was hoping to help your people, now I'm not so sure.
I don't know. If it came to a fight they would squash you like a bug.
The city.
The city has been running blind, we are correcting that.
In the army they where my squad mates, now we are the eyes and ears of the city.
Feeling violated Kincaid grinds out his words, "That was rude!" Opening his senses he stares at her, deeply, gazing into her soul. If there was evil in her heart, he would know.
The old gnoll cackles again, then coughs up blood on her sleeve. She breaths hard for a dozen breaths, the huge gnoll hovering over her, moving from one foot to another.
The old woman smacks his nose with one hand, but not very hard. "Don't *hack* be silly. Just old." She tells the gnoll, wiping blood from her mouth with her sleeve. Then she folds the sleeve up to cover the blood. "Hah, rude huh, Paladin? Lot less rude than old ways, using hot irons under fingernail to get answers. Answers more true too, hot irons make people say anything." She takes the wooden staff up and turns, smacking Gav to get him out of the way. "I'll tell the Kapitan she can let you out. I need to take a nap, I'm too old for this stuff. Gav, keep an eye on them. Don't break them."
The huge gnoll says, his eyes lingering on the old woman as she vanishes, and continues looking in her direction after she leaves.
After the old gnoll leaves, Terex 'says' to his squad, fighting through the pressure of the big gnoll's presence, Well, that could have been a lot worse, even though that was really unpleasant. Especially for Kincaid. Are you feeling okay, Kincaid?
Terex winces. Ow, that was loud, he 'says' without thinking. Then, thinking he probably shouldn't be rude to the giant mind-crushing gnoll, he asks, Um, what's your name? I'm Terexaltherin.
Rubbing his temple, Kincaid admits, "I uh have a headache Terex, I'll be alright presently."
The large gnoll turns toward Kincaid as he speaks.
Now that he's expecting it, the words don't hurt as much. I'm glad you're okay, Kincaid. Gav, um... Saying 'good to meet you' would be manifestly untrue at present. Most people just call me Terex, since my full name is so long.
The little pseudodragon considers he huge gnoll for a little while. He certainly seemed to like 'Mo Mo'--which was probably a nickname--and he had restrained himself at her orders. Which wasn't to say he wasn't dangerous. Though... Terex wonders what life has been like for Gav. Between his size and the terrifying power he holds, Terex guesses he hasn't had many friends. He's almost like... a giant, trying to tiptoe through a village. It's not his fault he's all scary.
Then again, maybe he likes it. Terex has no way of knowing.
Umm, if you don't mind me asking, Gav... are you related to Mo Mo? Terex asks, not really wanting to let the conversation lapse, and honestly curious about this odd gnoll.
Xaeken watches and catalogs. The power was real. The assault...interesting. Though not a being without feeling Xaeken found that watching the work of other mins sometimes displaced his more temperamental or sensitive self...
When will it be time for them to peer into me? What will they see I wonder...
The gnoll repeats, several times, as if trying to memorize it.
At the second question, the gnolls brow winkles in confusion. Then very slowly, the gnoll thinks at Terex, as if speaking to a small child. He thinks slowly and clearly. Terex and Xaeken pick up an emotional overlay, and realize that Mo Mo is Mo's Mo, mother's mother... grandmother. Gav seems to be thinking Terex is not too bright at this point...
Terex laughs aloud, his tiny voice a sharp contrast to Gav's powerful 'voice' or even the pseudodragon's own mental baritone. Oh, I get it now! You see, where I come from, we say Ma instead of Mo, which is why I was confused. You care a lot about your Mo Mo, don't you, Gav?
He pauses a moment. What sorts of things do you like to do, Gav? the little dragon asks.
The 'voice' blasts back at Terex, nearly blowing his little brain out of one of his nostrils. The huge gnoll smacks an armored fist against the ground, cracking a paving stone. The two gnolls in the cell piss their pants.
After a second or two, the big gnoll seems to calm down.
Several long seconds go by...
"Terex, please don't make him angry. We are about to get out of this place, I'd like to be able to still think." Rokas then look at the two guards. "You think you could start getting our stuff and opening some of the cells?"
It's a credit to the resilience of Terex's mind that he recovers from the 'shout' quickly enough to gasp out a quiet, Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you.
It's less clear whether his continued speaking is a credit to his courage or a sign of out-of-control curiosity.
Oh, you like to paint? What kinds of things do you paint, Gav? Terex tried to make sure his mental voice shared his honest interest. Oh... I've been asking a lot of questions, haven't I? Maybe you would like to ask questions instead?
Is the very straight forward response.
The two guards shake their heads. One responds. "Kapitan will release you, not us."
About that time, a pair of guards enter, and nod at the two guards. They speak in gnoll for a second. Terex can translate and explain that they have been ordered to return the groups equipment and release them.
Once the cells are open, one of the guards turns to the group, and gives something of a salute, one fist going from his chest to his chin and back. "Kapitan offers you tea, if you wish to take it. You are free to go if you do not wish to talk to her again."
The big gnoll blasts everyone's mind, images of cups of tea steaming flashing into their visual cortex.
Terex winces at Gav's 'shouting', though he can't help but grin just the tiniest bit at his enthusiasm. I think we should take the invitation. Maybe we can work to build some trust now that we've established we're not here as the advanced scouts of an invading army, he 'says', mostly to Kincaid, but he broadcasts it to the rest of his squad (and figures that Gav will overhear).
Rokas holds his head in his hands when the big gnoll start screaming inside his head. "That was painful..." Once he is able to think again, Rokas looks at Terex while going through his gear to make sure nothing is missing. "She owes us an apology and I want some answers. The least she could have done is come here herself to release us."
Hey, we did show up out of nowhere and then lie a little bit about where we were from, Terex argues. While I didn't like being imprisoned either, I think it's perfectly understandable why she did it.
Kincaid still had a lingering headache which suddenly got much worse. Surpresses a wince, he felt it important to at least try for cordial relations.
Rubbing his temple he said, "Terex is right, although trust me I understand your feelings."
To the gnoll guard he returned the salute and replied, "I would be glad to accept your Kapitan's invitation."
The gnolls nod, once Gav translates, beating Terex to the point (although his translation is 'DRINK TEA YAY DRINK TEA YAY!' but it gets the point across. The big gnoll tags along, scraping the walls here and there with his armor, or his head on the roofs.
Unlike the last time, there are a lot of gnolls out, in fact, you get the feeling a lot of gnolls managed to find a reason to be in the common area of the underground portion of the tower in order to get a better look at the group.
A dozen gnoll children run up to Gav and form a ring around him, two climb up on top of him, and yip and yap excitedly too fast for Terex to understand. The huge gnoll laughs aloud, booming, and transmits much softer at the kids, soft enough only Terex and Xaeken can hear him chattering about getting to drink tea, and the jealous responses from the other kids.
In general, the gnolls all look underfed, other than the children (And Gav), who seem to be well fed.
The group is led back up to the same room. This time there are only four guards against the back wall, and they seem relaxed. Kapitan is sitting at her table, and there are steaming pitchers of tea on hot pans (metal pans with hot coals in them) to keep them warm. Seeing Gav, the Capitan chuffs. "Hello Gav, I see you tagged along. Very well, but you have to be quiet and use your voice." She raises one finger. "Your voice!" She reminds the gnoll.
The big Gnoll slumps for a second, and then nods. His voice is just as 'loud' as his mind, but less painful. He moves to a corner of the table, and pushes two chairs out of the way so he can sit on the floor. His head is still much above the top of the table. The gnolls putting out the tea and roasted tubers look to the Kapitan, who nods. One heads over to a doorway and returns quickly with another pitcher of tea. She puts it down in front of Gav, who grabs it and noisily drinks a third of it with happy sounds. The other gnoll serving goes to the corner and pulls a dozen colored blocks, each about the size of a coconut, from the shelf all in a basket. She puts the basket down next to Gav, who immediately begins to play with the blocks happily.
Turning back to everyone else, she waves a pawhand. "Please, take a seat. My apologies, I have been assured you mean us no harm, and that we have been lied to by the merchants." Her tone of voice does not bode well for said merchants. "Please, if you wish to be angry over your time in the cell, be angry with me, not my people. If Kotelia demands retribution, I will offer myself instead of my people."
Terex takes everything in quickly as they are led back in to the Kapitan. He wonders why they're having so much trouble feeding their people--is the hunting here just bad, or do they face other troubles besides? Certainly the issues with the city to the south sound bad...
He glances over at Kincaid as the Kapitan speaks. Permission to speak? he asks Kincaid alone.
While we can't speak for our superiors, Terex broadcasts to everyone in the room, I doubt Kotelia will demand any kind of retribution. Your caution is understandable, and your concern for your people is admirable. We're not happy about the whole thing, but... we did lie to you, even if for good reason. It sounds like just announcing we're Kotelian scouts would have been a good way to get full of arrows, after all.
It would help us, though, if you could tell us more about these merchants. It sounds as if they're trying to stir up trouble for Kotelia, which we will definitely want to report and track. Who are they, and how often have you seen them?
He pauses a moment, shoots Kincaid another look, but then presses on without asking for more permission. For our part, we would like to prove to you that Kotelia would rather be a friend than an enemy. It's not hard for us to see that your people face many challenges. Is there any way we could assist? While we cannot divert too far from our own mission, we have enough freedom to spend some time establishing friendly relations, I think.
'Yes of course you can talk.' thought Kincaid. He listened to what Terex had to say and found that for the moment he had little to add.
Of course whatever the Kapitan had to say in reply was of great interest, Kincaid watched closely.
"While my friends here are of a forgiving nature. I am not. You will have to work hard to gain my trust. We lied because Kotelia as a lot of enemies. But, even though we had just as many reasons to not trust you, we took a leap of faith towards you. That leap of faith was met with fear, anger and a dark cell." Rokas looks straight in the Kapitan eyes. "I have to wonder how these merchants were received and how come they were not subject to the same treatment we had. Their story didn't make sense, yet you chose to believe them."
He looks around the room, surveying the people there. "Your tower is about a week of walk from Kotelia. You would stand to gain much from a trade relation with the city, and yet you didn't. You told us you were afraid of the city, yet they never have attacked you. All you had was those false information from merchants and you never once thought of investigating. Then, the one time you have someone of Kotelia willing to parlay, you throw them in a jail because they are cautious of the information they are willing to share. So yeah, you have a lot of work to do here."
Abbo stays on the back, but his expression doesn't show much friendship at the moment - he still can't trust them and despises the past occurrences, but keeps his will and tries to behave in a way that is not threatening.
Hylar isn't quite certain why Rokas is so angry, this could have gone quite a bit worse. All things being equal, the mistreatment of Kincaid is what would have Hylar upset.
Hylar has been present as a guard a couple of times when Merchants come to the city. They typically show up twice a year with outside goods, and charge an arm and a leg and a spleen for them. Their wagons are usually damaged, and their guards wounded. They always tell tales of how harrowing and dangerous the outside world is, and how they had to fight through savages to get to the city.
"The merchants keep everyone afraid of everyone so they can turn a profit..." Hylar muses, lost in thought. "What better excuse than a harrowing ordeal to charge everyone more?" Hylar doesn't necessarily seem to be saying this to anyone in particular, more of an open statement or question.
"Could all the fearmongering be a construct of the merchants for their own profit?"
The Gnoll gestures toward Hylar. "I am coming to suspect the same, Alseid Hylar. It appears the merchants were lying to both parties, if I read your friend's musing correctly. Did they also tell you of how dangerous we were out here? Which is why you lied about who you are? It seems to me, Hobgoblin, that your self righteousness is somewhat hypocritical. It is much easier to treat people with caution when you speak from place of power, such as those of Kotelia do, than when you are the guardian of your entire species. We have encountered no other gnolls in decades, and we may be the last of our kind. I do not have the luxury of kindness, not when my people's existence is at stake. The centuries since the Great Human Purge have not been kind to my kind. We have had to endure much, and we have learned the hard way that we must be strong and united, unlike our forebears." She speaks with a strength of conviction.
Her words are, indeed, very convincing.
She takes a drink of the tea, and then continues. "As to wishing to be our friends, friendship is not something we have been honestly offered. However, my Witch tells me that while you are as varied in your codes of honor as the flowers in the field, you are not, overall, interested in our harm. That does not mean that those you serve are not, for leadership often requires one act against ones own nature for the protection of those one has dominion over. But it is enough, at least, to start. At the very least, we are more than willing to agree to a non-hostility pact with Kotelia. We have no more interest in attacking The Fortress than we do of slitting our own throats. If you are willing to sell us meat at a decent price, we would be willing to buy, but the Merchants prices are too dear by far already. I will be honest, we are having trouble feeding ourselves. The demons to the south and the mountains to the west and north mean that the prey in the area do not replenish as they normally would. We are already having to go several days to find things to hunt, and unlike most of you, we cannot survive on plants." The admission seems to be difficult, and several of the people in the room look away.
The Kapitan is ashamed she cannot feed her people, and her people are avoiding looking at her to avoid compounding the shame of having to all but grovel at strangers for food.
Kincaid often found it best to listen, others had many points of view. All valid to one degree or another, he found that the Kapitan's words moved him.
With grudging respect, Kincaid replies, "Yet against the odds you have survived, and claimed something that is now your own." He indicates the tower.
Clearing his throat, he continues, "Such fortitude and hard work does your people great honor, alas one can't eat honor... I believe there's several ways Kotelia could help with that. Firstly I believe your people would actually be made welcome inside the city. Kotelia is remarkably diverse, there's practically every race represented among the Citizens. Speaking of which, to earn citizenship you'd need to serve in the army like we all did. Life in Kotelia will be very different from here, food isn't a problem but there's so many folk. Honestly I don't know if that would suit you." Speaking to the Kapitan directly, Kincaid tells her, "Personally I think it would be a shame to give this up after all the effort that's been put into it. You may not have much in the way of natural resources, but even a lowly scout such as myself can see the strategic value of this locale. I believe it would be possible to broker a deal where your people hold this area and keep watch for Kotelia and they will pay you fairly for it. With money you can trade for food, weapons, whatever you need. I can't guarantee the powers that run the city will listen but I'm willing to try and help, if you would like me to."
The Kapitan rubs her wound with one finger, and looks thoughtful. "My people are not used to living in a walled fortress with many people. I do not think they would be able to survive such. If any wish to go and join, I will not stop them, but it is not something many will choose I think. Perhaps some of the younger males, they tend to think of nothing but adventure." She chuffs in amusement, and several of the other gnolls in the room join her. "However, I would have no moral issues with performing the duty of watching your southern flank in exchange for compensation." The heads of those around the room nod, as if this is a good thing. "We have fought for coin before." She looks to several of the others, and they nod. The Kapitan then ducks her head slightly. "To be completely honest, I may have overemphasized the issues with the demons. While we have had trouble with them..." She glances at Gav and sighs, the large gnoll completely unaware apparently as he plays with his colored blocks. "The demon city is actually somewhat farther south than I probably left you the impression of. The lack of game is more likely the minotaur and goblin city to the south east. We originally came west much farther to the south, coming through a Lathan Trade City to the south. Then we ran into demons in the forest, and moved north to avoid them, only to have to fight our way through the lands controlled by the Minotaurs and their goblin slaves. We assume they were slaves, they had chains on them, but they fought with almost animal ferocity at their Minotaur master's orders. You would do well to avoid them and the Demons. Between the two..." She lifts one shoulder in a gesture of 'meh, what to do'. "If you desire peaceful contact, you would do much better to go east and south, around the Minotaurs, to the land of the Lathan. They are prickly, but honorable. I can at least write a letter of introduction to you, so you can avoid being put in a cell." She chuffs in amusement. "Your Alsaid friend will be much welcome among the Lathan, without a letter. They are Centaur."
That's valuable information. - says Abbo, finally breaking his silence. The weretiger's voice sounded like he had just learned something - Your letter would be very helpful, milady.
The pronoun sounded strange, but sincere. Abbo wasn't skilled socially.
We should go visit the Lathan, my friends. - he completed, looking towards his companions while gesturing with his large right paw.
Xaeken bobs his head after Abbo but otherwise just listens...
Kincaid nods and solemnly promises, "I will do what I can to broker a deal. If you wish to send a letter I would be honoured to carry it for you."
He listened to the further revelations of what was to the south with great interest. Their job was to fill in the blanks and meeting the Centaur tribe was imperative.
Terex nods. Yes, that sounds good!
He hesitates a moment, then asks, If it would not be rude for me to ask, Kapitan Bel'gra'grah, why did your people leave their homeland? Was there trouble there, too?
The Kapitan shrugs. "My people lived on the plains far to the east of here. Unfortunately, there was a large Imperial City to the north of us, taken over by Dragons. To the south, a large hilled forest owned by Ogres. The two warred quite often, every decade there would be one or the other attacking, and we were trampled by their armies." She says, moving her left hand to indicate the dragons, and right to indicate the ogres, and then bringing both together to indicate her people being smushed. "My mother mother finally decided to move our people to avoid them being destroyed. Her two daughters disagreed on where they should go, my mother sister wanted to go east, to live with the Fashtali. My mother felt that we would be safe, but lose our culture, as we would need to assimilate with them. So she advocated to go west, past the Lathan. My mother mother agreed with both, feeling it made it more likely her people would survive if they were in two places. So most of our people went to live with the Fashtali, and the rest came west."