Inside the tent, Kieran continued to struggle with the compulsion upon him; to no avail.
The most powerful aura in the room is of moderate strength and you detect a few auras in the room; unsurprising given the amount of magical equipment you, Tebati and Kieran possess.
You think it unlikely that the summoner would have used a spell to escape only to remain.
The two apes completely ignored Jakob as they slew another of the helpless horses. While the mammals were strong and able to defend themselves, they were tied up so effectively that they were unable to maneuver themselves into position to really pose a threat to the gorillas.
The soldier struck by one of the poisonous darts succumbed to its effects and slumped into unconsciousness, the first of the 24 man firing formation to fall.
On the west wall, the two near-surrounded soldiers raised their shields high and withdrew from their six opponents, retreating north. They were almost clear when a desperate lunge took the fresher soldier in the collarbone with a powerful spear lunge; much to his companion's dismay he crumpled. The survivor almost reached his ally from the north-west watch tower.
The warrior left on the east wall was still relatively unharmed and continued to fight defensively, holding off four attackers mostly by virtue of far heavier armour. Above him in the south-east watchtower, another soldier supported his efforts with longbow fire, his first arrow striking only the wood of the wall itself.
Stephanie faced her new foe and dispelled any illusions the man might have about a woman's weakness as a soldier as she bashed his spear aside with brute force and cut him down with her looted Terbutje, cutting him from shoulder to stomach. She followed Albert's squad, who had formed a tight defensive shield formation as they advanced.
Armed with expensive composite longbows, Morvius' disciplined warriors continued to hail arrows upon the remaining attackers. Their volley was far less effective this time, most arrows narrowly missing their targets. Two more attackers were dispatched and two further wounded. The attackers were now down to about half of their original number; surely the fight was now almost won...
Move to BU,15 That should but the downed horses in my friendly animal field. If it applied it might help vs the Coups de Grace if the apes are being thorough. Pity it doesn't help stabilization checks.
More after ooc thread question answered. Thinking of throwing spear to cut the picket line holding the horses if that is how they are restrained.
Never mind. Long-Spear can't be thrown. Would still like the answer.
Standard Action: Cast Charm Animal on nearest ape DC 16.
With no actual threat of attack or any physical attacker, the ape's mind was susceptible to Jakob's magic and he managed to charm it, projecting a sense of warmth, comfort and friendship through his enchantment. It ceased slaying horses and seemed ready to scurry over to join and protect him in the chaos of the camp.
Round 9-
Ordered Initiative-
Jakob- 23
Attackers- 21
Tebati- 15
Qhude- 14
N'bellocq- 8
Morvius- 6
Kieran- 5a
Ansha- 5b
Gorillas- 4
Soldiers & Albert's Squad- 4
Active Effects-
Shield of Faith on Kieran
Charm Animal on Jakob's Menagerie
Longstrider on Tebati
Barkskin on Jakob
N'bellocq 3 perfect strikes used.
Bless on party
Maps-
Notes-
Action-
Along the west wall, the squad of attackers had met with particular success and none had yet fallen. Exultant in their success thus far, the squad split in two. Three of their number pursued the soldier fleeing to join his tired ally, who had ran from the north-west watch tower; while the other three took up positions in front of the ramp, hurling javelins down at Unwe below.
The soldier got his shield up in time to block one over-zealous spear lunge; but a second plunged into his gut and he fell to the wound. The third soldier continued past the fallen defender to engage the newcomer.
All three javelins hit their mark, sending the squad's medic staggering back. Two of the wounds were almost completely superficial but a javelin that embedded itself deeply into Unwe's thigh seemed more serious. The Mwangi soldier growled in anger as she yanked it clear.
Seeking cover from the firing line, the squad of attackers moving around the armoury tent stumbled across Albert's squad. Two javelins were swiftly thrown at Thenjiwee by two men that hung back from the melee, while two spear-armed attackers rushed to engage the soldier and Albert, who turned to meet the charge, dodging or parrying the spear thrusts that were levelled their way.
Trampling over the bedrolls by the fire, two of Jakob's attackers changed direction and hurled their last javelins at Qhude. Both struck the enraged Bas'o, the blood pouring from the latest of his wounds evidence that Tebati's healing had now been undone, in his case. The number of wounds the Bas'o had been subjected to now approaching double digits, it was difficult to believe that he could absorb much more punishment...
On the east wall, the last soldier fighting alone in a melee took another wound as he fought off his four attackers. His shield saving him from being stabbed through the throat and his sword parrying a spear while his armour saved him from a third, the man simply had nothing left to prevent a spear piercing his shoulder. Despite three separate wounds the man simply refused to be brought down, grimly fighting on despite the terrible odds stacked against him.
Tebati snatches Ansha's dagger from the proffered sword belt, not wanting to be unarmed if an enemy should stumble upon the held swordsman and distracted wizard. Touching Kieran's shoulder lightly, she leans in to whisper in his ear.
Round 9:
Though more wounds were added onto his grim tally... the bas'o refused to fall. Body and armor slick with blood, his fist gripped white knuckled upon the borrowed trident he refused to let it slip from his grasp. His movements were deliberate and narrowed snarling eyes scanned for a target that he could spend his anger upon. Fixating upon those that hurled the missiles that most recently shed his blood... he charged.
There was no finesse, no deception, Qhude merely levelled the tines of Shimye-Magalla's chosen weapon and sought to drive it through the gullet of one of the assaulting soldiers...
The ferocity of Qhude's charge caught his attackers off guard. One of the warriors was frantically reaching for his spear even as Qhude's accelerated pace and bestial lunge took him in the throat, killing him instantly.
As Qhude whirled to face a fresh attack from the surviving attacker, he saw an arrow whistle overhead. The attacker grinned, thinking himself lucky that the arrow missed so badly. Qhude knew better, even in his rage- N'bellocq was simply finding his range. The arrow that followed mere seconds later hit the man right in his chest and he fell with a look of surprise transfixed on his dying face.
Inside the tent, Kieran struggled with the paralysis holding him; but with Shimye-Magalla's blessing and a great deal of physical effort, he broke free with a gasp of relief.
Well, i've never claimed to learn from my mistakes he quipped with a thankful grin, flourishing his sword.
With a glance at the Umkhaya, General Morvius strode confidently to the centre of his battle line, hands clasped behind his back; taking on the persona of a strategist general rather than the warrior he had been before. His subsequent offer of fair quarter seemed to fall on deaf ears, as not a single one of the attackers seemed inclined to cease their desperate fight.
Ansha continues to concentrate upon the auras in the tent.
Your concentration continuing, you see the various strengths and location of each aura in the room as your senses attune to the sensations of magic. You spot no unaccounted for auras- the shaman is gone...
Jakob's newly summoned ape ignored his former ally, which in turn continued to attack the horses- bringing another of the docile beasts down with powerful fists. Instead, the freshly enchanted ape moved to flank Jakob with his other charmed gorilla; each of the simians eyeing each other with distrust and clenched fists.
Another powerful volley of arrows from the assembled double line of Sargavan soldiers slew the majority of the remaining attackers and Albert and his squad made short work of the rest, despite some wounds. N'bellocq's arrows and Qhude's ferocious charges also contributed to the deaths and wounds that followed; but with Tebati's exceptional speed she was able to bring many back from the brink. Jakob himself tended to the horses, although he was too late to save them all. His charmed apes faded away while he was tending the horses, their expressions forlorn as they mirrored Jakob's own mood.
A tense few minutes followed while order was restored to the camp, but no secondary attack seemed forthcoming. Unwe worked with Tebati to tally the slain.
True fanatics, most of the foe were slain to a man; and in truth, the Sargavan soldiers had taken the attack very personally. Tebati suspected that some wounds had been delivered to attackers that could have been saved. Nevertheless, General Morvius saw the need for intelligence on what had just happened. Three of the attackers were locked up in the armoury for later questioning.
When Kieran leaves the tent, once more master of his own movement, Tebati quickly follows, clutching Ansha's dagger but intending to use it only in defense, seeking rather to keep what warriors her power could reach on their feet; those trained in warfare will be more effective in combat than a healer with a borrowed knife. When Qhude falls out of his battle trance and begins to swoon from blood loss from his many wounds, Tebati is there to revive him; when it is clear the battle is won, she makes sure that Kieran is nearby to benefit from her channeling also.
When she and Unwe have ensured that the last of the survivors are stable, she sighs, exhausted. She doesn't fault the Sargavan soldiers for their enmity; she herself saw the mercilessness of the attackers, stopping to slaughter the helpless. Still, she wonders, as she has since she made common cause with the Grand Custodian, if these bloodthirsty men had good reason for their assault, as had the Freeman Brotherhood.
When her healing skills are no longer in urgent need, she retreats to the umkhaya, leaning into Kieran's embrace. "I am spent," she tells him, "empty until the dawn. Did you see the man who summoned the apes? Was it--?" She glances around the disordered campsite, wondering if Kamishah has been seen since the attack.
Qhude slumps to his knees as the white heat fades from his body and limbs are overcome by quick blossoming fatigue... and the true depth of the harm his body had endured bore down upon him. Head bowed and breath drawn in ragged and heavy he used the haft of Tebati's trident to painfully wrest himself back to his feet. He slicked sweat from his brow with a blood stained hand and looked about the camp, seeing disarray and death surrounding him.
It was only when Tebati found him and used the grace of Shimye-Magalla to return him to some semblance of health that he was able to more freely move and act. The still gore streaked trident was turned haft over point and held to Tebati "Ngiyabonga Sangoma..." distracted slightly by thought, but not enough to speak of it.
Curiously though, after the camp was made safe and safeguarded against further assault... Qhude returned to his bedroll only momentarily to retrieve his guisarme. He then proceeded back to the workbench where he stood before he spied the great ape, and took stock of what remained of his leatherwork.
Pausing only to grasp the first apes leathery hand for a moment Jakob tends to the horses.
Moving from body to body, attacker or defender, human or horse Jakob does what he can.
Covered in gore to his elbows Jakob finally turns away from the horses and men to see to his own wounds.
Jakob, no longer made of oak, and wearing a borrowed cloak works through the night assisting with the wounded.
The still gore streaked trident was turned haft over point and held to Tebati "Ngiyabonga Sangoma..." distracted slightly by thought, but not enough to speak of it.
Already covered with blood, both her own and that of others, the shamaness doesn't scruple to accept the gory weapon. She pauses to rest a hand on his sweat-slicked shoulder. "You wielded it well," she tells him with a smile. "Its tines have seen the insides of more enemies tonight than they could ever aspire to in my possession." Once she is sure he is stable, she continues on to seek out more wounded in need of her healing.
Returning the embrace lovingly, Kieran places a soft kiss on Tebati's hair. "It did not seem to be him, no. Then again, everything happened quite fast, not to mention that the man's tribal mask concealed most of his face," he admits with a shrug. As he lets the priestess go to continue with tending to the wounded, albeit reluctantly, he takes in the battle's aftermath. Despite the initial surprise, the soldiers and guards seem to have managed well enough, although not without a price. Still, considering the alternative, all is well that ends well.
Seeing Ansha, Jakob and N'bellocq more or less unscathed, the half-elf approaches Qhude, placing a hand on the Bas' o's shoulder. "How are you? Your wounds?"
Ansha curses softly when it becomes apparent that the shaman escaped. Charging out of the tent, she sees that the battle is dying down. Replacing her scroll in a scroll case, she watches from a distance until the last attackers are dealt with.
Seeing a handful of survivors being moved to captivity, she approaches General Morvius. "I assume you want answers from them," she states more than asks.
Returning the embrace lovingly, Kieran places a soft kiss on Tebati's hair. "It did not seem to be him, no. Then again, everything happened quite fast, not to mention that the man's tribal mask concealed most of his face," he admits with a shrug.
She frowns. "I have not yet seen him. I'll ask Unwe. If he is among neither the dead nor the survivors....," she trails off grimly.
She goes in search of the healer, finding her in a section of camp set aside for the injured, moving from casualty to casualty to monitor their condition. "Unwe," she calls softly, not wishing to disturb the rest of the wounded, "have you seen the cook Kamishah? Is he here?"
Qhude nods matter of factly at her assertion that the trident had been wielded to end life, but does not show any pride at the killing. "It was lucky that I did not choose to sleep tonight... go, others need you more than Qhude"
"I have yet blood to bleed." downplaying the severity of his wounds. "Though death has danced through this place"
Tebati, Unwe took a toll of the fallen. Despite the surprise nature of the attack, fatalities were surprisingly light. Five soldiers had perished before they could be treated and three camp workers had been slain. Some of the dead were known to the Umkhaya on first name terms. Ansha's golem had been destroyed as well. The gorillas had been especially brutal in slaying the horses; especially the first few struck Jakob was too late to save four of them.
The majority of the attackers were Zenj, but a little under half of them were Bekyar. All of those that were taken alive happened to be Bekyar in ethnicity.
Qhude's leatherwork was untouched despite the carnage of the camp. Unwe nodded to Tebati.
I saw him inside the main worker's sleeping quarters. He looked pretty shaken.
Ansha curses softly when it becomes apparent that the shaman escaped. Charging out of the tent, she sees that the battle is dying down. Replacing her scroll in a scroll case, she watches from a distance until the last attackers are dealt with.
Seeing a handful of survivors being moved to captivity, she approaches General Morvius. "I assume you want answers from them," she states more than asks.
General Morvius looked quite furious at the events of the night. He whirled on Ansha, his face twisted into a near-snarl.
I'll not sully my hands with these filth! he hissed, gesturing to the captives with one hand.
His hand holding the hilt of his sword tightly with the other, in a clenched fist. The General nodded his head towards where the prisoners were being kept.
Your band may employ whatever methods you see fit to question them. I will not have Jakob or Qhude challenge my authority again, not tonight. There has been enough blood shed for Sargava today. Tell me your findings when you have them. I don't need the details.
Once the wounded, two-legged and four, are stable. And the grooms know not to let anyone kill the wounded horses Jakob retires for a nap.
He pays no attention to the prisoners. He cannot help them, they are not his responsibility. At least that is what he tells himself as he tries to sleep.
His dreams are full of pirates.
Ansha weathers Morvius' outburst unflinchingly. Nodding wordlessly, Ansha makes a beeline for the tent where the prisoners were being held. Setting her swordbelt aside, she looks the three prisoners over and, selecting the most interesting-looking one, begins to weave her hands in the subtle gestures of enchantment as she whispers the entangling words of a spell ().
"Hello there, friend," she starts with a Cheshire smile, squatting down to look him in the eye.
Breathing a sigh of relief that his work was untouched, Qhude continued to work at the leather. Over time he constructed a tightly wound cord consisting of strips of his old flayleaf pouch. The cord was then tied around his left arm, high above the bicep and secured with a stout knot. The tassel of the corded leather was then teased free and cut to hang a few inches from the cord.
I saw him inside the main worker's sleeping quarters. He looked pretty shaken.
"Well he might," Tebati replies thoughtfully, heading to the tent in question in search of the cook.
Inside the tent, Tebati found Kamishah. He looked quite distressed, his movements quick and anxious. The Mwangi cook was garbed in travelling clothes and seemed to be stuffing a very large backpack full of his belongings. He did not notice her arrival into the bustling tent.
Inside the armoury, the man seemed to succumb to Ansha's spell. The three men had been chained to a metal post wedged into the ground and secured by makeshift weights. They had very little slack to move and their hands were manacled.
The two Bekyar hissed for their charmed companion to be silent as he nervously returned Ansha's greeting. Despite his magically induced warmer attitude to the enchantress, he was still a prisoner. She was still his captor.
With Ansha and Tebati occupied in the large tents, those still outside could not fail to notice that Albert's squad and ten other soldiers had taken the time to garb themselves in full scale mail armour. They had lined up in the centre of the camp, where General Morvius addressed them. N'bellocq stood beside him, the two men having spoken in private a few minutes earlier.
Men and women of Sargava. You did yourselves proud today in the defence of this fortification. Our attackers used deception. They used poison. They struck at night, from the shadows. Nonetheless, we held our ground. They were slain to a man or captured. N'bellocq here believes that this was the entirety of their force. We will verify this for ourselves, right now. We will not risk our enemy gathering strength to attack us again, more prepared for our tactics and methods. We will not permit a slow death by attrition. If there are any survivors, we will end them.
His words evoked slow nods and eyes full of determination from his men, rather than cheers. Blood had been spilled and friends had been lost. With the potential of more bloody business to come, the soldiers movements spoke of cold purpose and a certain numbness.
Ansha repeats the gesture with one of the other Bekyar after their hissed call for silence. (.)
The elf leans forward to whisper in the first charmed man's ear. "It's obvious that our plan didn't go so well," she starts quietly. "But then, I never met our inside man. Help me identify him, and maybe we can still get you out of here and accomplish our mission."
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Inside the tent, Tebati found Kamishah. He looked quite distressed, his movements quick and anxious. The Mwangi cook was garbed in travelling clothes and seemed to be stuffing a very large backpack full of his belongings. He did not notice her arrival into the bustling tent.
Tebati frowns, suddenly feeling very keenly her depleted state. She came only to question, but if he is as desperate to flee as Zesaste was, there is little she can do to stop him and no shortage of defenseless bystanders in range.
"Kamishah," she calls to him quietly as she approaches, not wanting to create a disturbance, "may I speak with you?"
It is just as Qhude has finished tying his new armband and walked back to his bedroll that Morvius emerged to give his speech. The bas'o frowned, but slung his travelling backpack across one shoulder and picked up his guisarme... though there was not time to don his rope. With purposeful yet slow gait he moved himself to stand before the group of heavily armed and armored men.
The bas'o was not tall, but in his wounded and battle-hardened state he yet cut a picture of untamed aggression and power. His left arm held his rope-wrapped polearm across his shoulders and the freshly wrapped leather thong was in clear view. His leather armor and colonial shorts were covered with dirt and blood, and wounds upon his body yet weeped further. But his eyes were hard and his nostrils flared with intent as breath was drawn inward and expelled through them.
Without threatening motion, but with a hint of derision in his voice Qhude spoke "Wearing your steel you will crash through the jungle like a herd of izingulube. Your enemy will hear you and melt into the trees as an ilihlosi.
The metal skin weighs your legs, making you slow like an indlovu. The ones you seek are not burdened, and will bound from your swords like insephe." his chin proud and a challenge being made to the induna's wisdom within the field of conflict.
Gesturing to N'bellocq with his right hand "My umfowabo and I share none of your weakness. Let us be the uphondo to your isiphuba..." demonstrating a circling motion with his arm to show that the two of them would circle around behind the mwangi's position as they assault. "...or the ones you wish dead will fade into the jungle as ghosts to haunt you further."
Ansha repeats the gesture with one of the other Bekyar after their hissed call for silence. (.)
The elf leans forward to whisper in the first charmed man's ear. "It's obvious that our plan didn't go so well," she starts quietly. "But then, I never met our inside man. Help me identify him, and maybe we can still get you out of here and accomplish our mission."
The third man paled as he saw the other two completely change in attitude towards Ansha. He shrank back and hissed- Taint me not with your vileness, Mchawi!
The other two men shook their heads slowly.
Chausiku wears a different face inside the camp. We would not recognise him. Release us from our bonds and we will die like true warriors; they will not take us alive this time. We are prepared to die for the order.
It is just as Qhude has finished tying his new armband and walked back to his bedroll that Morvius emerged to give his speech. The bas'o frowned, but slung his travelling backpack across one shoulder and picked up his guisarme... though there was not time to don his rope. With purposeful yet slow gait he moved himself to stand before the group of heavily armed and armored men.
The bas'o was not tall, but in his wounded and battle-hardened state he yet cut a picture of untamed aggression and power. His left arm held his rope-wrapped polearm across his shoulders and the freshly wrapped leather thong was in clear view. His leather armor and colonial shorts were covered with dirt and blood, and wounds upon his body yet weeped further. But his eyes were hard and his nostrils flared with intent as breath was drawn inward and expelled through them.
Without threatening motion, but with a hint of derision in his voice Qhude spoke "Wearing your steel you will crash through the jungle like a herd of izingulube. Your enemy will hear you and melt into the trees as an ilihlosi.
The metal skin weighs your legs, making you slow like an indlovu. The ones you seek are not burdened, and will bound from your swords like insephe." his chin proud and a challenge being made to the induna's wisdom within the field of conflict.Gesturing to N'bellocq with his right hand "My umfowabo and I share none of your weakness. Let us be the uphondo to your isiphuba..." demonstrating a circling motion with his arm to show that the two of them would circle around behind the mwangi's position as they assault. "...or the ones you wish dead will fade into the jungle as ghosts to haunt you further."
...
The General did not seem surprised by the challenge. Perhaps he even expected it. He addressed Qhude with a strained voice, but it was the voice that he had spoken with since the attack had ended. The man was highly strung and had taken the deaths of his men and women hard.
I see no flaw in your plan, Qhude. If you and N'bellocq would act as our scouts and vanguard then by all means, do so. N'bellocq knows the route. We will follow your movements, from a distance.
Inside the tent, Tebati found Kamishah. He looked quite distressed, his movements quick and anxious. The Mwangi cook was garbed in travelling clothes and seemed to be stuffing a very large backpack full of his belongings. He did not notice her arrival into the bustling tent.Tebati frowns, suddenly feeling very keenly her depleted state. She came only to question, but if he is as desperate to flee as Zesaste was, there is little she can do to stop him and no shortage of defenseless bystanders in range.
"Kamishah," she calls to him quietly as she approaches, not wanting to create a disturbance, "may I speak with you?"
The chef turned to face Tebati, but did not stop his current action; stuffing a tent sheet into his sizeable backpack. He stepped close to speak somewhat privately.
Tebati. Of course. I mean to leave this place, however. If we are not safe inside this fortification, I fear death will come to all of us soon enough.
His concern seems genuine to Tebati.
Ansha gives the third, unensorcelled man a wolfish grin. Walking over to her swordbelt, she retrieves a pearl from a pouch on the belt. Concentrating and murmuring a command word, she replaces the pearl in the pouch. ()
Returning to the uncharmed one, she says soothingly, "Don't worry; we'll all friends here." Before he can gainsay her, she repeats the same gestures and words as before ().
"Do not seek for death; it will find us soon enough," she says, turning to the man who had spoken a moment before. "When the opportunity presents itself, we will spring upon them like a great lion which only a moment before had seemed asleep."
She pauses. "So did Chausiku give you any gesture or word to communicate with him? Our masters did not tell me your or his purposes here; only to aid as I could. I must get in touch with him so that he can tell me how best to serve him."
The chef turned to face Tebati, but did not stop his current action; stuffing a tent sheet into his sizeable backpack. He stepped close to speak somewhat privately.
Tebati. Of course. I mean to leave this place, however. If we are not safe inside this fortification, I fear death will come to all of us soon enough.
"Why, Kamishah?" she asks. "Are you not safer behind these walls than in the jungle alone if there are still enemies about? Why do you fear, when the attack has been repulsed? What do you know that we don't?"
"zzzzzzzzzz"
Jakob sleeps the haunted sleep of the vaguely guilty.
If these Bekyar were truly Kamishah's men, they had not inherited his strong will or resistance to Ansha's magic. All three men were now charmed.
Chausiku lives inside the camp, as he instructed all of us. He promised chaos and confusion in the camp this evening and planned a full on assault to take advantage of it. We... failed him. Communication? The wind itself carries his instructions to us, such is his power. But he also saw us in person, once or twice.
The man speaking looked suspiciously at Ansha.
Our masters? Who do you refer to? The ancestors? Chausiku is our grand master, the most learned in the secrets. We all swore our oaths, forsook our homes and families for this cause...
__________________________________________________________________________
Tebati became uncomfortably aware that people in the tent seemed to be subtly moving away from her and Kamishah. In contrast, the handsome man stepped close to her, still pale, clutched her shoulder with a shaking grip and whispered to her.
My concern for my safety is founded not only on these attacks. I hope I can trust you to not speak too freely of these matters. Your Elven companion... Ansha... she has been watching me and taking an interest in me. Stalking me. I think she might even have tried to use magic on me, Tebati. She is a law unto herself in this camp... and a sorceress. I heard rumours and stories from friends in Freehold- that she bewitched an innocent merchant and assaulted him with magic. The man fled the town rather than see her again. She frightens me; and tonight she is turning the camp against me. Look at the space others have given us; some of them already believe her lies. She shouted that I summoned the gorillas that attacked us. Why would she do this to me? I wish to leave now... before I am the subject of some witch hunt. I am not a coward, I have fought before... But I do not know how to fight a Mchawi, or protect myself...
Again, the man seems genuine to you. You sense no deceit in his words and a lot of what he says about Ansha rings true.
The man was not reassured by your words. If anything, he looked more worried.
The kitchen is in the centre of the camp, it just happens to be where I work; along with several assistants! Then what am I to do, Tebati? I have been staying away from her, but I will not feel safe sleeping in my tent with these accusations spreading through the camp. I sought to leave before the General seized me at the Mchawi's behest.
Ansha nods. "Yes--master," brushing off the slip-up as if it were meaningless. "Can you think of nothing to help me find him? Does he bring roots and vegetables with him when he arrives at your camp, or speak of gathering them before he returns to this camp?"
She nods politely and leaves him in the tent.
Two of the men seem to have seen through Ansha's ruse and refused to speak any further on such matters despite their new found friendship with her. The third shook his head slowly.
Chausiku is always garbed in the clothes of the ancestors, dressed for war when he comes to us. Perhaps you could find his belongings; his sword is quite exquisite. But, Sister- he will surely seek you out in time. Be patient. He will not let this setback be the end of the cause.
Questions exhausted for the moment, the elven enchantress rises and grabs her swordbelt on her way out. "I'll be back when the time is right," she says as she departs the armory.
Ansha hurries to find General Morvius.
By this point, Ansha learns that the general already left with a squad of soldiers intent on finding the remainder of the enemy forces.
Softly cursing the incompetence of everyone whose name crosses her mind, the elf tries to find someone else who might be able to assist her in tracking down their likely spy--Albert or one of his squad, Kieran or Tebati or any of the remaining Umkhaya.