"No you stay here." One growls annoyed.
In this slave pen with you, are three other slaves besides the ones that came in with you. One, a Kelishite man wearing a pale linen scarf about his head and an excessively wide grin on his face greets you.
“Welcome! I am Korshad, overseer for our masters. Though I wear a collar, you’ll fid it’s best to do as I say! Now, they lock us in at night when they go hunting, but mostly we have the run of the place, nearly as much liberty as the hyenas. You’ll be trained to be excellent house slaves, then taken back to the ships to be sold to nice noble families. It may seem harsh, but if you take to it, it’s probably a better life than you were used to before. Meanwhile you should get some rest and we can begin your lessons in the morning. As the proverb says, ‘When the day is hottest, even the busy must rest and wait.’”
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(auto-fail sound; +3 on visually-based check, -4 on opposed checks)
Beltin grumbles loudly at Truk's negatory. Conveniently, focused on Truk he fails to hear the dronings of the sycophant, and only turns around in time to catch the bit about staying out of the heat. He looks confused. "Uh, ok man. That seems pretty obvious." Beltin looks the overseer and the other three slaves over. "Hey friends, my name is Beltin. Kind of a bummer being poked and prodded by dog people; I feel you, folks. Listen, you wouldn't have happened to see a veiled lady-dude, or maybe a big, fancy mirror? We heard them when we learned about this place, and we were kind of curious."
"You should not ask so many questions. Disobedience will only anger our masters." Korshad says narrowing his eyes at Beltin.
"Hey! If you don't stop with that attitude, I'll call the guards." As he waves his arms to try to ward off Beltin, you all see a strange mark on his right arm that looks like the holy symbol for Sarenrae.
Korshad shrinks down after Truk threatens him. He goes to sit in the corner.
Eventually the gnolls go further in, leaving you two alone.
"What would you know of the dawnflower? I am lost to her." Korshad says his voice much more humbled than before.
Zirt sneaks away into the next room to find it to be a kennel. Gregarius and Jadrek are in separate cages while a large mutated breed of hyena sleeps in another corner. In this room is the magical chest with the party's belongings.
It is a hyenadon, a large cousin of the hyena. This one seems to have trollhound blood as well. It is vulnerable to bright light but it regenerates much like a troll does.
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The way to the rest of the party is being blocked by the creature. If you want to follow the gnolls or leave entirely, it is in theory free and clear.
"I..Perhaps you're right. What can I do to help?"
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After a short pause, Zirt moves to the side of the room opposite the hyenadon and clears her throat.
The Hyenadon gets up and slowly walks over to the gnome.
The large Hyenadon continues walking to you. It licks you on the face and walks out to the front to sleep in the open.
"The leader of the gnolls is a flind named Chau. Her right hand is a witch named Rothur. But you won't get to them unless you get past Farug and his lackeys. That is all I know unfortunately."
You peak into the hallway that leads to the next room to find a musclebound gnoll, wielding a greataxe. He seems to be guarding the next room. He has not noticed you.