Nuveril gives the man a suspicious and unfriendly glare as her only greeting. She does not make any hostile movements but does position herself so that the hammer hanging at her side is clearly visible.
The contents of the letter Zeladiel handed to her occupies her thoughs as Linah walks with her companions to meet Almah and the newly arrived priest.
Linah takes a moment to gaze around at the crowd and stalls of the battle market, as she always does as when she enters the great domed hall. It is always a comfort to see rebuilt that what the Kuldis tore down, and a welcomed sight this morning. She has no doubt that she would not approve of some of the things that went on here, but it was still encouraging to see Kelmare flourish free from Xulthos's influence. She smiles warmly at Father Zantus, Arjun, Felliped and Undrella as she passes and follows the servant up the stairs to Almah's chambers, suppresssing her troubles as best she could.
"Blessings upon you as well, brother!", Linah greets Kadisa with a smile and a graceful curtsey. "My work could not persist if it was not for the people of Kelmare and the priceless help of my friends. I have expected your arrival."
Linah accepts the parchment and starts to read, her eyes growing larger with every word. The distress is plain to read on the clerics face as she places the paper on the table. She sits in silence lost for words. Zeladiel's behavior was cause for alarm but she could never have imagined something like this. Linah takes a deep breath before speaking. "I am saddened to hear about your father, but however much it pains me his passing is eclipsed by the words on this parchment." Her first words after hearing of a father's passing should be comforting, but she had no choice. "Does a rough seed imply what i think it implies? If it is, what could your father possible have traded in return for one? You must tell me what you know of this!"
Zeladiel bows politely, but distractedly.
He looks guiltily at Grall, then goes on.
"I knew nothing of this until the letter appeared. It would make sense that a Rough Seed may have something to do with the Rough Beast. I know nothing more. I must do more research. Thank you both for your concern."
A pleasure, a pleasure! I do apologise for the rudeness of the summons but I managed to convince Lady Almah that the need was urgent.
You might say that I have a special interest in affairs here in the north, the activities of the various gnoll tribes in particular. Over the years I have built a network of contacts and correspondents which provide me with information.
You have distinguished yourselves by defeating the Kulldis. Word of the liberation of Kelmarane has reached all the way to the coast by now, and you are enjoying the fruits of that success even as we speak in the form of trade and tax. He nods at Almah. Yet word spreads not only to your friends, but also to your enemies.
No doubt the Carrion King knows of what you’ve done to the Kulldis, and though he did not reply in kind at once, I have heard dire rumors. Rumors of vassal tribes gathering on the far slopes of Pale Mountain. The gnolls are ever a bickering lot. If it is true that they are gathering under the Carrion banner then it bodes ill for the entire region.
My path is not one of war. Sarenrae teaches redemption and forgiveness, but I know well that many do not seek these ends, and that battle is often inevitable. If war does come, well Kelmarane is the closest human settlement and it seems logical that it will come here first.
By all accounts the Carrion tribe includes hundreds of warriors, the strongest and most disciplined the gnolls have to offer. No man knows accurate numbers of the vassal tribes but alltogether they might exceed a thousand. Kelmarane would be ... hard pressed ... if the Carrion King sent them here.
You can see why I thought we should speak urgently.
"You seem to have gathered quite a great deal of information about the gnoll activities. Would you suggest that we take the battle to the Carrion King before he can move on Kelmarane?"
The priest takes his time to respond, regarding Khalid closely and seemingly thinking carefully about his answer.
As you've seen yourselves, gnolls are strong and fierce warriors. He turns his attention to Grall for a moment. If they have a weakness its their propensity to fight amongst themselves. Perhaps only the Gods know how many innocent lives have been saved over the centuries because they spent their strength fighting each other.
Unified, they present a much more significant threat and that unification seems to depend on the Carrion King or more correctly the gnolls' fear of him. You'd need an army to defeat the entire Carrion tribe but removing the King himself might be an option. It may not neutralise the threat entirely but I'd say we could certainly expect the resulting power struggle to significantly diminish it at the very least.
But of course such a venture would be dangerous, extremely dangerous. And he is said to be a mighty warrior.
You detect no lies. You've got a bit of duration remaining. A round per level isn't a lot of time. Given you can do this as an immediate action I'm reasonably OK with you switching it off while others talk and switching it back on when he talks in order to extend the duration.
Grall walks to the front of the group so that everyone's attention turns to him...
I just had a visit frrrom one of the Carrrion Kings commanderrrs. She stated she was what you would call my Aunt. I see no rrreason to think she was lying.
She trrried to convince me to join theirr cause, to come to the Carrrion King and swearrr my alligence to him.
She would not have come if the day of theirrr eventual move was not grrrowing close.
I rrrefused herrr. I asked that she join us. You arrre rrright that my people arrre used to fighting each otherrr, but this time may be differrrent. She told me that he is binding severrral thousand warrriorrrs to his cause.
The rrresulting warrr would be a disasterrr for my people. Any victorrries would be shorrrt lived at as the full might of Katapesh was thrrown at them. The death of all of the Gnoll warrriors would cause furrrtherrr death among my kind that could not be imagined and shatterrr my kind herrre once and forrr all.
I say this so you underrrstand my motives. I go to fight and kill this Carrrion King. I do it forrr the innocents herrre, forrr Sarrenrrrae, but mostly to trrry and save and change my kind. Therrre must be otherrrs like me who want morrre for my people than what we arrre now. I want to save them and offerrr them the rrredemption I have found.
But firrrst this Carrrion King must die, whateverrr it is. He is the lash that binds them togetherrr.
I know little else, but I will answerrr any questions you have.
Nuveril regards the priest through narrowed eyes. She still does not trust him, but he is offering her an opportunity too tempting to pass up. "One gnoll is much the same as the next to me," she says shortly, "but if this Carrion King is the mightiest of his tribe, then there is much glory to be had in slaying him. I will take up the charge to kill him -- and any others who place themselves in my way."
If I questioned your motives Grall, I would have said something when I came across the two of you. Nothing needed to be said. My own experiences on patrol agree with yours, Kadisa. A storm is coming. I will help Nuveril and Grall.
The priest makes no attempt to conceal his surprise at Grall's revelation.
Sajan, I wanted all herrre to know what was coming. You arrre my frrriends, I have no worrries about you trusting me, but I still know that therrre arrre many among the people in Kelmarrrane that do not trrrust me. To them I will still tell the trrruth. We should move as quickly as we can to counterrr the Carrrion King beforrre he starrrts to move his arrrmy.
Well if you all decide this is your course I will not seek to dissuade you, rather you'll have my blessing.
Assuming he is not already in the field, locating him should be the easiest part. It is well known that he makes his seat in the House of the Beast on the very slopes of Pale Mountain itself. Of course in recent times thats a trek very few other than gnolls have made even in better travelling conditions. The mountains are crawling with monsters.
Perhaps there is assistance that I could offer? There is a ranger, often seen in Solku and its neighboring settlements. I doubt any human living has greater knowledge of the area near the mountain. I could contact him, perhaps arrange for a meeting when you arrive at your destination?
"The mountains are crawling with monsters" pings as an untruth although you might expect its the hyperbole.
I'd say thats 30 seconds.
Almah has stayed quiet during the discussions to this point. Outwardly she looks calm enough but by now you've known her long enough to realise she is a bit tense.
I'm not sure what I think of this course of action.
Brave, most certainly. But the six of you travelling alone through gnoll-infested territory to slay the Carrion King. Are we that desperate? I could always beg the pactmasters for more men?
She doesn't sound particularly confident about the last.
Linah sits to the side watching the conversation. Was this what Khalib meant in his letter, could he have known about this? "If you think this gnoll is beyond reason and redemption, we are left with little choice. But we speak of slaying the carrion king as if it posed no challenge. If he is gathering an army, how are we supposed to get near him?" she asks. "And what about the people of Kelmare? The pactmasters must be able to send forces to see to the safety of this city."
"Like Grall, I am also painfully aware that others cannot be judged solely by their appearances. Not all the pactmasters want Kelmarane to succeed. It would be unwise to rely on them to send an army in time to save our tiny outpost, which holds little interest for many of them. And while we cannot take on an army of gnolls, if this ranger can guide us close to the Carrion King, we may be able to neutralise him before he turns his troops on us. However, Lady Almah, if you tell me this course of action is unnecessary I would trust your judgement."
If this Carrrion King is even a Gnoll he will most likely have spies in the town alrrready, I suggest we leave south with the next carrravan and make whisperrs of us perrrsonally going to request aid frrrom the pactmasterrs and as soon arrre out of rrrange of the town we head forrr the Carrrion Kings "House of the Beast"...whatever that is.
Do you have any inforrrmation on this "House"?
Depending upon the answer...
Khalid, what do you think is ourrr best courrse of action?
Almah responds to Zeladiel's question.
I cannot say unnecessary. You are right, we are largely on our own here. Even the pactmasters that supported this venture made that clear. A small increase in the militia to guard the trade route is about all we can realistically expect and even that will take time.
I simply fear that the task is too great even for you. I'd not have you spending your lives needlessly.
And Kadisa to Gralls.
I know the folklore. The House was built many centuries ago by a cult dedicated to Rovagug. Its adherents were said to have been bequeathed strange powers and abilities in return for their worship. The cult was finally defeated in a war that ranged across this region. I understand some scholars believe that battles were fought here where the town now stands.
It is said that the Carrion King reclaimed the House and made it his own. Certainly Pale Mountain has become the focus of gnoll activity in the region with several tribes located on or around it.
Almah responds to Zeladiel's question.
I cannot say unnecessary. You are right, we are largely on our own here. Even the pactmasters that supported this venture made that clear. A small increase in the militia to guard the trade route is about all we can realistically expect and even that will take time.
I simply fear that the task is too great even for you. I'd not have you spending your lives needlessly.
Nuveril shrugs. "If the gnolls are intent on coming here, we will soon be fighting them anyway. Better to face them in a place and time they do not expect than when they have mustered their forces and have us penned in. As long as you insist on claiming one particular area of land, we are easy to find and the battlefield is the enemy's to shape. If we go to kill this Carrion King and we fail, however...." she shrugs again. "The gnolls will still come, but we will not be here to fight with you."
Linah shifts uncomfortably in her seat. Even from his prision, the rough beast continues to claw upon the world. "Then we must not fail", she says before adressing Kadisa. "Master Kadisa, Who is this ranger you speak of? Will he have a way to infiltrate the house of the beast?" Just mentioning the name sends a uneasy chill down her spine.
If we're fast enough Nuveril, the Gnolls will never arrive. That is the whole point of removing the horde's head; the body will fall to chaos. Its not a situation of protect Kelmarana OR slay the Carrion King.
Linah shifts uncomfortably in her seat. Even from his prision, the rough beast continues to claw upon the world. "Then we must not fail", she says before adressing Kadisa. "Master Kadisa, Who is this ranger you speak of? Will he have a way to infiltrate the house of the beast?" Just mentioning the name sends a uneasy chill down her spine.
He goes by the name of Rasoul Mehdi and comes and goes between Solku and the northlands. He is difficult for most to contact but fortunately I have means of reaching him quickly. If you wish it, I will try and arrange for him to meet you at Pale Mountain. I doubt he will wish to join with you in your assault but he may well know of an entry or at least be able to find one in the time it takes you to arrive. That could save you a great deal of time. He may wish payment but I can take care of that.
Garavel strokes his chin as he muses.
I could have Zantus look through his maps and see if he has any that would assist? The distances aren't great as the roc flies, but a ten-day seems a conservative estimate through the mountains.
Travel options will be limited. Wagons are right out and I doubt horses or camels could make it through. Maybe a mule or two for supplies? Tents, blankets, warm clothing, it will get cold at night. You'll need to take plenty of food and water. Theres no telling what you'll be able to forage and I wouldn't want to have to try and live off what the gnolls do..
He looks at Grall and says absently. No offense.
Giving him a toothy grin, None taken masterrr Garrravel, I have become soft herrre with in this city, it will be good to be out in the wilds again, figting our enemies.
If we're fast enough Nuveril, the Gnolls will never arrive. That is the whole point of removing the horde's head; the body will fall to chaos. Its not a situation of protect Kelmarana OR slay the Carrion King.
"Yet if we fail to slay the Carrion King, we will most likely be slain by him or his followers. Then Kelmarane will stand or fall without us." She speaks of her own death and that of the others as if it were a matter of little concern like the weather.
If we're fast enough Nuveril, the Gnolls will never arrive. That is the whole point of removing the horde's head; the body will fall to chaos. Its not a situation of protect Kelmarana OR slay the Carrion King."Yet if we fail to slay the Carrion King, we will most likely be slain by him or his followers. Then Kelmarane will stand or fall without us." She speaks of her own death and that of the others as if it were a matter of little concern like the weather.
Sajan shrugs.
We cannot stand against a thousand or more Gnolls anyway, so there is no alternative to worry about. We do this or this fledgling town is doomed.
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He goes by the name of Rasoul Mehdi and comes and goes between Solku and the northlands. He is difficult for most to contact but fortunately I have means of reaching him quickly. If you wish it, I will try and arrange for him to meet you at Pale Mountain. I doubt he will wish to join with you in your assault but he may well know of an entry or at least be able to find one in the time it takes you to arrive. That could save you a great deal of time. He may wish payment but I can take care of that.
"Kasida, please make the arrangements for Rasoul to meet us at Pale Mountain."
The inquisitor then turns to the remainder of the group...
"Gather whatever provisions you think we will need. The sooner we dispose of the Carrion King the better."
Linah lingers behind as the group leave to make their preparations. "Master Kasida, may i speak with you of another matter? I do not think it is related to the Carrion King but is no less grave. What can you tell me about the Sunset Ship and about a artifact called the rough seed. Is it what i fear it is?", she asks the priest her worry reflected in her words.
Kadisa nods at Khalid's request. Of course inquisitor, immediately.
I put myself at your disposal if you would like to ask anything further. I'm sure you will be busy with preparations but I'd welcome the chance to talk before you leave. I've heard tales of your sword, a relic of some kind? I'd be most interested in hearing how it came into your possession.
As the group breaks up and Linah asks her question, the priest looks bemused.
Sunset Ship? Rough seed? I recall some tale about the former fom my time in Katapesh. A vessel thats been visiting the city for centuries. Odd traders who pay in rubies. Some of the same old wives tales they tell about genies, bargains that don't turn out the way one expects.
As for this seed. He pauses for a long moment, apparently thinking. I'm sorry, I don't know what that could be. If there is a connection with the Rough Beast though, a temple to that God might not be a bad place to look.
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Kadisa nods at Khalid's request. Of course inquisitor, immediately.
I put myself at your disposal if you would like to ask anything further. I'm sure you will be busy with preparations but I'd welcome the chance to talk before you leave. I've heard tales of your sword, a relic of some kind? I'd be most interested in hearing how it came into your possession.
"We shall speak again before we leave, Kadisa, but for now I must prepare." with that, the inquisitor nods in Almah and Garavel's direction and leaves.
Kno: Religion (ki point spent)
"Hmm, House of the Beast..."
"I guess a bunch of gnolls live there."
You hear Linah and Kadisa's converation as your walking away.
A Rough Seed is a piece of organic matter ejected from the dark God himself.
Aside from the near vicinity of the infamous Pit of Gormuz such things are exceedingly rare, millenia old. They are a particular obsession of the cult of Rovagug who believe that with the correct rituals a spawn of Rovagug could be created from the seed.
Linah, Khalid- I know what a Rough Seed is. Sajan tells them matter-of-factly.
Zeladiel staggers as if he's been physically hit and turns to Sajan.
"You do!? Tell me. Please." He seems about to say more, but gains control of himself and waits for Sajan's response.
Its the s$!@ of Rovagug he replies quickly, not wanting to cause the Elf anguish. Very rare. Cults worship them. They say they could make his spawn with such a thing.
Zeladiel furrows his brown. "Spawn of Rovagug..." he mutters to himself.
"Thank you very much for your assistance. I shall explain its importance once we leave. Now, I need to prepare for our departure. If I could borrow 175gp from the party, I can obtain and learn a spell to protect us at night from the desert's wrath. It is a spell called Tiny Hut, though it will accommodate almost a dozen people. It will keep us warm and protect us from almost all weather. We won't be needing tents, or even heavy blankets. I should have mastered it by the time we leave."
You return to the main level of the battle market by the way you came, Zeladiel determined to speak to Felliped and secure the scroll he saw earlier.
The half-orc you saw at the bar earlier is now loitering near the steps. As you descend he approaches, his attention fixed fully on Sajan.
Close up he has an impressive physique, not as big as Sajan but big enough. Coarse black hair is cut very short across his large head. He is wearing nothing but hide pants and a pair of simple leather bracers.
He clasps a pair of large hands together, nodding his head slightly.
Sajan Krama Sumna! I am Turm of the Sacred Mountain School, student of Grand Master Ignatz and disciple of Monkey. I have journeyed far to this Gods forsaken place to see whose skills are superior. I challenge you to fight!
Sajan approaches the monk slowly, bowing in greeting. He chooses his words carefully and warily.
Well met, Turm. I cannot yet oblige you, though I greet you with the humblest apologies. Now is not the time for us to fight- for the sake of this town I have sworn to protect, I must decline and ask you- will you wait for my return before such a contest between us? Or perhaps you will accompany us on our journey?
Of all of the possible responses Sajan could have given, asking the half-orc to wait does not seem to be one the fighter was prepared for. He just looks at Sajan for a few moments, one hand going up as if to scratch at his head before coming back down again.
Erm. But.. I have travelled far to see who is stronger. How long will this journey take .... ah perhaps you have heard my name and fear to fight? As the challenged the contest will not be to the death unless you wish it.
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Zeladiel furrows his brown. "Spawn of Rovagug..." he mutters to himself.
"Thank you very much for your assistance. I shall explain its importance once we leave. Now, I need to prepare for our departure. If I could borrow 175gp from the party, I can obtain and learn a spell to protect us at night from the desert's wrath. It is a spell called Tiny Hut, though it will accommodate almost a dozen people. It will keep us warm and protect us from almost all weather. We won't be needing tents, or even heavy blankets. I should have mastered it by the time we leave."
"Zeladiel, I will give you the money you need."
Knowledge (Religion):