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”Among my people I am quite beautiful. Twice your height, tapered like a cone, with three scarlet eyes, a long and graceful thought probe, and delicate pedipalps perfect for polite conversation.”
The old woman needs help to move and reaches for the support of any Watchmen nearby.
”As for why you? That answer is complex, for I did not choose you. Our connection is the doing of Haserton Lowls, though he is unaware of how far the corruption of the inmost blot reaches.”
”I believe he chose you because he needs… or rather needed, to make a sacrifice. Each of you offers something different - devotion, depravity, fanaticism, corruption, innocence…” She blinks. ”Where is the Twin? Or the Child? Have you lost them so soon? Temporal magic hurls events through time and space, and sometimes they arrive out of order. Have you not yet encountered the Mad Poet? You should ask him about… oh, I see, you have, but I have yet to see it. I’ll try to remind you when that happens. Which reminds me, beware toying with time, for the Hounds of Tindalos can smell even the smallest rifts.”
She looks back into the cell, staring at one of the corners. ”Hmm.. it seems they have tracked you to the Mysterium.” Her eyes dart to the other corner, and she sniffs. ”And also to Carcosa, following Zann’s impossible music to the Fall tower in Paree.”
Turning back to the Watchmen she gathers her strength and stands a little straighter. ”Lowls travels the Parchlands, and onward to Neruzavin. I can show you the way.”
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"When you say tapered like a cone. Do you mean at like the top of your head?" He shapes his hands around his head like a cone. "Like a conehead or is that more lower shaped?" He tries to picture her strannge form. "Also careful mentioning the word probe. Shapeshifter begins to sweat around that word."
He listens to her tale, knowing full well he must certainly be the innocence. "We had several with us. Some were killed and others will be joining back with us a little later. We were all separated."
When he hears Lowls is nearby he grow excited. "Can you help us cut him off. We have been chasing him for months but can't seem to get ahead of him."
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"And where exactly do you stick that thought probe?" Cats asks the important exact question that everyone was asking even as he clinches his backside. "I'm not sure Catterfly will mind, mind you, but I would hate for it to be a shock to him."
Cats crosses his arms, wondering how they could catch up to Lowls without Catterfly shunting them off track again.
” - devotion, depravity, fanaticism, corruption, innocence…”
The Mariner recognizes himself in one of the sentiments. His attention distracted, he lowers the sword and examines the crone from a distance.
"When you say tapered like a cone."
"And where exactly do you stick that thought probe?"
It kind of sounds like a plug…, the Mariner frowns and shakes away trying to rational some strange geometry. Addressing Kaklatath, ”You said you can show us the way, tell us of this, now that we have freed you.”
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BB takes in the creatures description of itself. His feet shift from putting weight on one foot, then to the other as he hears the others talk about probes.
Yes, let's catch up to Haserton Lowls IV. But I must ask about this Biting Lash person that has imprisoned you. Do we "take care" of her first?
Is there a greater good to be had about confronting her? Is there information we can squeeze out of her that might also be helpful? Or do we just head out now? I can teleport us all back to the city - to Mariner's ship.
"Well for luck sake - she's been yammering that cur's name in our minds for so long, I can't get it out of my head. Is he upstairs?", the Mariner looks upwards, he mock's what he remembers of Biting Lash, "Leth's th'go th'see him."
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Okay, Mariner is right. We need to head upstairs. So, I need clarification - is Biting Lash a boy gnoll or a female gnoll? I understood it was a female and yet Mariner is calling the leader a male. Also, is Biting Lash's demeanor going to be confrontational, or are we able to parlay and negotiate a buy out for her freedom?
If, as the Watchmen's mouthpiece, we are going to transact with the slaver - I need to know these things. Also, how much is an acceptable buy out price we are willing to spend? At some point in price, it's worth it to just unleash Mariner to start killing everyone in a 50 foot radius. I need to get an idea of the tipping point our group is willing to accept. What say you all?
"I never lifted the tail to check", the Mariner squint say the thought. "Who cares, they're big, they stink, they lick themselves. Better throw them a bone or two in that bargain."
”She is evil, but of the lesser variety.” Kaklatath muses a moment, her eyes distant.
”She… may also have information and resources that could be useful on this journey.”
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"We should leave this Biting Lash be. Head for the a+#$!#@ that did this to us before he gets any further away." Fearless suggests. "Right now slavers are the lest of our worries. Lowls is planning something bigger than all of us."
"Alright, no need to pick this fight. Let's get out of here", the Mariner puckers, spoiling a good brawl with a bunch of animals. He then remembers the cosmic slingshot that got them here and was about to protest, when Brother invokes the spell. The Mariner disappears with a dog-like yelp.