Lysander launches a bomb over the thicket but just as it leaves his hand a bat flyes into its path which causes it to bounce off of a cactus and then fall to the ground just over the thicket.
"Bad luck on that throw." Dashki says from behind you. "Pugwampi will do that to you."
The Pugwampi attacks Kol-Relden's other knee
Raikdar continues to pick his way through the bristling foliage.
Lysander mutters under his breath "Confusing. My ballistic calculations accounted for air velocity, uncertainty in position, everything..." But the stubborn student of chemistry tries again, launching another ball of flaming tar.
"Lysander, please stop throwing things that burn where you can't really see them!" shouts Amelia as the ball of burning tar explodes near her.
Lysander nods, content to follow directions from those who can actually see what's going on, and stops throwing bombs.
Stepping away from the tiny creature, Kol-Relden will try to hit it once again. "Stay still!"
lower
Kol-Relden ends the little creatures life with a mighty blow. You hear rustling and small yips as all the other Pugwampi in the area retreat unseen.
Hearing things calm down, Lysander calls through the plants "What is the tactical status of our situation? I cannot see much from here."
Iraonar walks quickly past Kol-Relden and his dead assailant to the unconscious pugwampi. When he gets there he checks to see that it is still alive
"This one is quite dead."
Looking over at the other Pugwampi body, Kol-Relden quickly examines it to verify Iraonar's findings.
"Actually, I am pretty sure it is just knocked out. Now, I suggest we return to camp with the goat. I suggest someone other than I carry it with them, as I will have a predator trailing behind me, which might frighten the goat." Gesturing down at the unconscious Pugwampi, he continues "What do we wish to do with this one? Should we leave it here, or take it back to camp as a prisoner?"
Lysander calls through the thorny vegetation "A live prisoner may prove most useful from an informational and tactics perspective!"
Amelia punches the creature again, hoping to knock it out.
Lysander looks through the vegetation, somewhat unsure what he is seeing. He calls out "Amelia, are you pugilistically striking the dead one or the unconscious one? I am certain they habe committed unjust actions but I believe they are already incapacitated."
"We've got to bring it back. Not only do we need to have a proper trial to decide what the fair punishment for rustling a goat is. We should probably also know where the inevitable ambush will be, and get some knowledge of the big boss who will seek to stop the meddlesome heroes from thwarting his nefarious plans."Iraonar tells the group as if this is a very real inevitability.
Then adds as an afterthought,"I only hope there nefarious plan was to have stolen goat for diner and not something more dire, but I'm sure well find out in the monologue."
"Tie up the unconscious one." Raikdar does this once he has navigated the cactus barrier, if no one else does so. Then he looks around. "They must have come from somewhere..." The magus begins to look around at the cliff faces. Perhaps there is a crack, or tunnel into the earth, where the little buggers have gone.
"It doesn't matter where they came from Raikdar, since we're not going to be here long enough to have to deal with them on a more permanent basis."
You return to camp and are ushered into Almah's tent. You wait for a few minutes and then she enters and goes to her throne and sits.
"I am guessing that you have news for me. What have you found?"
Lysander nods. "Indeed. The missing bovid was apparently absconded with by these creatures." He points to the unconscious pugwampi. "They were exceptionally hostile when we attempted to retrieve said unit of livestock. I am uncertain of the significance of this. But he" pointing to Dashki "Understood what their strange language and may have more information."
Iraonar tells Lysander,"I think the significance was we took away there ill-gotten meal. No one hates being robed more then a thief." Then he turns to Almah. "Aaannyway we should hold his trial soon. More of the little scamps out there got away. And I believe they mentioned feeding us to the tribe in bloody vengeance for our interference. That being before we scared them off, I can only imagine how mad they are now that they had to go home in defeat."
"We should probably just keep moving. If these creatures choose to follow us, they can do so at their peril."
Dashki steps forward, "The pugwampi speak the language of the gnolls. They worship the gnoll as gods but the gnolls hate them because they bring bad luck to anyone near them."
Almah ponders the information she receives, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Guards, remove the creature and dispatch it."
One of the guards picks up the creature by the neck and carries it out of the tent. The creature growls and whines as it is taken outside. The noise suddenly stops and the guard returns.
"In the morning we will be moving out. There is an old monastery that sits to the south of Kelmarane. I am hoping that it will provide us with some protection while we find out what is happening inside the village. I would like your group to go ahead of the caravan and secure the monastery.
Lysander nods. "Recoinnassance is will within our skills and stated objectives. Is there any information regarding this monastery and the route to it that may increase our efficiency and security?"
Kol-Relden nods at Lysander's question. "Yes, and could you provide us with a map that does the way to this monastery? Also, what is the terrain like between here and there?"
"Any information about the monastery you can provide will be helpful." chimes in Amelia.
Raikdar goes along with the guard, he wants his rope back. He stands and re-coils the rope while waiting for Almah to tell what she knows about the monastery.
Iraonar looks puzzled, not sure he understood Almah at first."They couldn't mean to execute him. After all he still has both hands and we're like the most strict community I know on robbers." Then as the squealing quiets, confusion turn to worry and discomfort.
"Well...You...sure take theft seriously...in these parts..."He says follow by quite passably the most awkward and forced chuckle you have ever heard. "IfwearegoingtoleavethatearlyI'dbettergofindaservanttosetupmytent...Good night." And he quickly walks out of the tent to find someone who knows how to set up a tent.
It is only then he realizes he didn't think to pack a tent.
You head back to the tents that are already set up for you. You find Alexandra waiting for you. She has selected the large tent as where the ladies will sleep.
Alexandra looks up as the party returns from whatever they were doing. Some new faces, some old faces missing, and most of the group seemed to have small scratches here and there as well as various fine prickles attached stubbornly to armour, cloth, and skin alike.
"Well, well. Seems as though I missed out on an adventure. Have the brave heroes saved the kid from being killed by thieves? Excellent. Iraonar, Lysander, Amelia. I hope my absence hasn't been too much of concern for you."
She looks over at the new members of the party. By the way they carried themselves, they were at least of noble birth, but she wasn't sure how much they knew, thus her avoidance of using any titles when addressing her old companions.
"Alexandra, from the north. I traveled with this group for a time before our paths suddenly diverged from each other. I gather we shall be working together to whatever end we are currently working towards." she says with a soft smile.
While not ideal, this place was much better than the stench soaked ruins that they had previously been, and so she could better hide her brash personality.
"Speaking of our current goal, could anyone brief me on the events since my absence? I've only just gotten to the camp and know less about what is happening than I'd prefer."
The least that dragon could've done is fill me in. I hate being this uninformed... Oh no, my vocabulary is getting bigger. Damn Lysander and his high education babble.
"Rolling in cactus to rescue a goat, m'lady." Raikdar tells Alexandra with a bow and grin. "You didn't miss much." The magus extends his hand. "I'm Raikdar Silvershrike. Pleased to meet you."
Lysander nods in greeting. "Your return bodes well for logistical success regarding our current objectives." In his opinion, Lysander had just given Alexandra a very warm welcome. "Namely, the Battlemarket of Kelmarane." Making sure nobody is close enough to listen in, Lysander continues in a low tone. "Our Draconic employer has surmised that another gem may be obscured there. The Pactmasters of Khatapesh have commissioned Almah to reconnoiter and secure the locale. We are aiding her while seeking the artifact. Our proximate task is to secure an abandoned monastic institution along our route."
"We brought Justice to those who stole, and we returned that which was stolen. We're on our way to a ruined town to...help rebuild it I believe?"
Iraonar wanders over when he sees Alexandra but at his leisurely pace is beaten to her by the others. When he gets there he confirms for Amelia,"Yes its just that and the other thing"
He then waves casually to Alexandra"It is wonderful to see you again Alexandra. Were did you get off to? It seemed odd not seeing you when we got to the mansion on the mountain."
Alexandra smiles before daintily accepting the hand shake.
"Pleasure is mine. Perhaps we should wait until morning to talk further. Something to spice up traveling with. Let's hope the rest of the night is less eventual than it has been thus far."
With a brief look around to acknowledge everyone, Alexandra retires into the ladies tent.
Mansion on a mountain? That does sound nice, but it wasn't a castle, so no real loss there. Maybe on the way back, if I don't get teleported elsewhere again.
She gives her dragon tattoo a brief glance before beginning her nightly routine; face wash, clean teeth, brush hair. She may be sleeping in a tent but she was going to bed a princess and waking up a princess, so that is how she would treat herself.
Looking over the new individual, Kol-Relden gives her a polite nod. "Greetings Alexandra. My name is Kol-Relden, and it is a pleasure to meet you." Looking back from the direction they had come from, he gestures towards a low reptilian form slowly ambling up after them. "And that is Nippy, a crocodilian companion of mine. Now, if you will excuse me, I am off to sleep." He will then retire to one of the nearby tents.
Lysander nods. "Yes. We should be well rested and prepared for our morning excursion." He then retires to his tent. In the morning, he readies his alchemical supplies and tightens his pack, ready to go whenever the others are.
Raikdar sits up awhile, sitting by the campfire. He checks over his gear, and picks the cactus needles out of his clothing, and thinks about the journey they face on the morrow.
Iraonar also sits at the fire. After playing a healing tune for himself and his companion, he continues to play his harp well into the night.
Amelia will use the rest of her magic to heal people's wounds then heads for bed.
You set out the next morning as the caravan begins preparations to move. You travel several miles before arriving at the old monastery.
Scrub brush and a light , patchy carpet of weeds invade the monastery through two huge fallen sections of the western wall. The exposed nave beyond is a huge hallway littered with bits of debris ranging from tiny rocks to enormous section of collapsed masonry. Most of the roof above the long promenade is gone, but several jagged pillars remain.
Lysander eyes the monastery with interest, wondering if he knows anything about who built it and how long it's likely to stay standing.
Then he noses up to the door as quietly as he can and peeks inside.
Amelia stares in something akin to sad wonder at the place. "This building is about the size of the church in my home city. It's a shame such a nice structure has fallen to disrepair."
"Come friends, let us go see what we can see." says Amelia as she begins moving into the ruins.
Kol-Relden will approach the ruins of the monastery alongside Amelia, whistling for Nippy to follow along as best the lumbering reptile can manage. As he approaches the building, he readies his shield on his arm, but does not yet draw his blade. "Everyone stay sharp, we don't want to run into any surprises in here." He will then attempt to look around the area of the ruins he can see.
Following along behind Amelia, Iraonar asks,"Does anyone know who is, or was worshiped here, and if they still notice this place?"
Lysander's keen eyes and knowledge quickly let him identify the building as a temple of Sarenrae.
As the group approaches the entrance, Kol-Relden notices that the sand is covered in tracks. Most are the same as those you followed while looking for the pugwampi but there are several that seem to be made by some sort of primate.
The young alchemist prince continues sneaking forward into the abandoned monastery, looking for hazards. I cannot surmise what pairings of potential adversaries are boded by the tracks Kol-Relden observed...
"It looks like the main sanctuary is over there."Iraonar stats,"Maybe that would be a good place to start?"
Alexandra steps over the rocks and debris cautiously, pushing smaller objects out of her with her foot. Her expression is mostly blank, as she is with new people and using her years in court to not make her inner thoughts make themselves known by unregulated facial expressions.
Why can't any of these orbs be somewhere modern, or at least maintained? she thinks, as a trickle of loose rubble crumbles down the collapsed wall.
Like be in the possession of a wealthy collectior, or museum, or even as decoration in a statue? At least it's dry and doesn't smell...
"We are meant to be repairing this place? If that is the situation I feel we may have come grossly underprepared. What was this building used for in the first place? What happened to the monks? I thought that their whole thing was maintenance and praying?"
She carefully steps and hops her way through the rubble until she finds a piece of wall to sit on. She hoped that they would be sleeping somewhere more comfortable tonight.
Despite how unimpressed she was by the ruined monastery, her mind did wonder to what treasures mayb lie waiting inside.