Once everyone is back at the caravan, and before supper, Arizhel calls Zerika to her side before approaching the small cleric, "Excuse me, Fionn, Before you head to bed, could you possibly heal my Eidolon if possible before you head to bed? She won't heal naturally... ever."
"Oh, my, I didn't know she was hurt or that she doesn't heal naturally. Of course I'll heal her." She calls on the power of Sarenrae to heal Zerika.
"Is that enough or does she need more? I can do several more if she needs it. Ooh, we should make sure everyone else is alright, and gather anyone who needs healing together as this heals all within range."
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Zerika is healed. Those of you who choose not to head out please describe what you do during the day in order to make this place more habitable/defensible.
A ruined structure at the foot of the hill seems to contain a large beast. It's impossible to make out the details, but a squad of about a half-dozen gnolls armed with swords and crossbows brings latge hunks of meat to this location three times.
At noon a group of four gnolls bearing a fat goat walks down the road from the battle market to the ruined mill. They emerge a few minutes later without the goat.
Tolus arrives back at camp after scouting dusty and tired. He takes a moment before reporting the scouting party's findings to the Lady to attempt making himself presentable. He shakes out his cloak and the folds of his hot weather garments, rearranges how the clothes fit in his belt, and does his best to mask the smell of sweat.
Zerika will follow Tolus on the scouting mission, and report her findings as they happen to Arizhel, who will in turn relay the findings to the group as a whole.
"They seem to be feeding something. I think we would be safest setting up an ambush somewhere along the path they seem to favor. I doubt whatever they are feeding meat to will be very friendly though.."
Fionn wrinkles her nose a little at the idea of gnolls and what they might be feeding.
"I agree that setting up an ambush sounds like a good idea... maybe catch them a few at a time and lessen their numbers... who knows, perhaps even capture one alive and find out more about them - how many of them there are and what they're feeding, that sort of thing. Can anyone here speak their lingo? If not, I can prepare a spell that allows me to understand and speak with them."
Kara shyly speaks up, "I've picked up a bit of their language. I don't know if I've got the accent right but I could at least talk to them...that is if they wanted to talk to me."
"You feel free to talk to Dashki, I want to check on the fortune teller. It has been a long time since we checked on her burns."
Tolus finishes his cleaning ritual quickly and discovers a nasty bruise on his shoulder in the process. His usually patterned, scale-like skin was well into the process of becoming a rather unhealthy shade of blue-green. He doesn't fuss over the wound too much, but he is more tender when strapping on his leather armor.
Fionn heads off to talk to Dashki with whoever wants to accompany her.
Tolus spots Fionn heading toward Dashki's tent and jogs up to match pace with her. He conciders knowing as much as possible about their enemy is a very good thing.
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Those going to see Dashki a greeted by a fierce snarl followed by a short What!?!
Those on watch can spot the distant fires of the Three Jaws tribe of gnolls. Also, a lone pugwampi had made it's way back to camp. This is the conclusion of Night 2 if anyone has any other business to take care of please PM or spoiler it.
Other Business to take care of Taldor... two fort rolls. Let's see if that nasty filth fever has taken hold or you have fought it off.
Kara tries to make herself useful around the camp during dinner, and as the group prepares to bed down for the night stands in front of the fire pit and begins to sing a hauntingly beautiful song.
her heart underneath
cries quietly
this part of me
I choose not to see
what lives must I take
for fealty's sake?
how much blood must stain
this warrior's blade?
war leaves its trail
in moonlight so pale
its shadows they flow
in rivers, in rivers
so put on my mask
I'll go where they ask
so I might once again see the
Roses of May
Staining my soul and stinging my eyes
the red on my hands
won't wash away, wash away
no where to run from what I have done
I'm no longer, no longer
a Rose of May
fate holds the blade before you
mirrored in maiden's eyes
far from myself I fly
into the perilous skies
and they said
follow the blade before you
fear fall and courage rise
leave all your tears behind you
far from where innocence lies
Cage of the kings
No need for wings
So turn them to stone
from roses to bone
when you look at me
what do you see?
this costume I weave
disfiguring me...
war leaves its trail
in moonlight so pale
its shadows they flow
in rivers, in rivers
so put on my mask
I'll go where they ask
so I might once again see the
Roses of May
Staining my soul and stinging my eyes
the red on my hands
won't wash away, wash away
no where to run from what I have done
I'm no longer, no longer
a Rose of May
Storm clouds are creeping closer
danger is drawing near
why am I not protecting all that
I once held dear?
and you said
break free from all that holds you
kings hand and maiden's tear
run now into my arms
together we'll conquer our fears
Led here by fate
No longer afraid
So here now I lay
My Roses of May
Taking advantage of the power to kind of be in two places at once, Arizhel sends Zerika off with those heading to the gnoll hunter. "Fionn, I know you can heal with magic, but maybe you can do something more mundane for Taldor?"
"umm, boss? It looks like the pugwampi we captured that first night is gone. No longer on the noose the hunter made for it. Might spell bad news."
"Meh! That is indeed bad news, best to let the others know. Might be foul magic afoot again soon..."
In keeping with her master's opinion, Zerika whispers to Fionn, "Look there. That noose. It used to be home to a pugwampi neck, now it is empty. Keep your eyes open."
Realizing that something might be amiss, Zerika does her best to vanish.
Tolus settles in after his report, waiting for further orders.
Fionn grimaces in disgust at the thought of even a dead pugwampi. She'd learned to hate the little things. She only only gives a moment's thought to the missing corpse though.
She looks at Arizhel and frowns slightly. "What's wrong with Taldor? Does he need further healing?"
What does he tell us specifically about gnolls? Want to learn as much as possible - How tough are they? What language do they speak? What might they be feeding in there? How many might be in a tribe? That sort of thing.
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Almah further explains that she wants you to gather a weeks worth of survellience.
Dashki answers the questions as concisely as possible. I am only answering specific questions addressed, if there are more or follow ups ask.
Gnolls are tough and strong. Their hides are like armor. Gnolls speak Gnoll. I speak Gnoll and apparantly I speak badgering Gnome as well. Might be feeding a chieftan, or slaves, or something else? What did it look like? A tribe could be as little as 20 or as many as 250 depending how strong the leader is. What tribe are you asking about, bend?
Tolus will go scouting daily, trying to take a new route or reach a new vantage point every day to get as complete a view of Gnoll activities as possible.
"I was asking about the tribe or group that's currently in the city."
Fionn describes the gnolls as best she can from the scouting reports, and recounts their activities, mode of dress, any insignia that might have been spotted.
"Do you think you might be able to learn more if we capture one or two to question?"
Arizhel will tend the fortune teller while Zerika keeps an eye on Tolus' back during the varied, various, vigorous attempts at vivacious vagary.
Day 1:
Day 2:
Day 3:
Day 4:
Day 5:
Day 6:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
And a few survivals, just in case
Khatijah can be light on her feet, but is not much of a scout. Instead of risking exposing the ones who are better at than she is she finds the the Fortune Teller and Fionn and asks if they can meet her somewhere private.
Fionn and Deliah find the fighter at the place she asked them to meet her, sitting in the sand with the scimitar she had found in the ruins leaning on her shoulder. Khatijah chews the back of her bottom lip and intently studies a patch of sand a few feet in front of her crossed legs. she doesn't acknowledge your presence and jumps a little when someone greets her.
"I do not understand this, this strangeness. Mold that moves, visions of burning cities and demons seen through eyes that belong to men long dead. I am-- I feel lost, sc-scared." A shadow of the fear and hysteria creeps into her expression. Her voice trembles as she admits to something she's not accustomed to. "Please, I am not skilled, or learned in the lore of this place or the arts of healing. I don't want this! I just want to be me again. Not the mouth-piece for some long dead warrior."
"I... I think you've been chosen, Khati, whether by chance or plan. I'm not sure there's anything that can be done to change that. It is not something that can be 'healed' away. There might be magics that could release you, but they would be far beyond what I am capable of. I understand that you feel more cursed than blessed by this event, but I don't know what can be done, if anything, to change it. I will pray on it, but true divination into the nature of the blade and you being a conduit are beyond my abilities."
Fionn looks truly perplexed and dismayed at her own limitations as she speaks and sighs deeply.
"Perhaps as we search the city, we might find more information on the nature of what has happened to you and how to release you from it."
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You go to speak once again to Delphina, who has taken to wearing rather sheer linens, that allow palpable heat filter unshielded to those around her. Her hands are still blackened but she seems to be in rather good spirits with a slightly mischevious smile on her face, the kind you might expect to see on genie rather than a young varisian girl who had just been rescued from the fire. Upon the conversation she merely says I agree with the little one. Some are chosen she looks at her scorched flesh ...and must embrace their destiny. This mold, that sword is your destiny.
Your nights rest is disturbed by an impossibly loud, yelping sound that seems to becoming from Kelmarane. Almost immediately you here it in the distance at the Pale Mountain.
When going to Kelmare those with a Perception of 15 or better check notice a small pugwampi with a noose fashioned around his neck.
On Day 3 notices some unusual activity in addition to what you see daily, which is what I listed earlier, at noon a group of six gnolls lead a human prisoner from the battle market to the open square west of the battle market. There, they stake the man to the ground and pull out his intestines and inner organs with red-hot iron tongs. The screams of the man echo as far as the old monastery and 30 minutes later, after the man finally dies, the gnolls leave the body for the vultures.
Tolus reports witnessing the man's death soberly. What would happen to him, we're he captured? He shuddered visibly at the thought.
After he gives his report to the Lady on the fifth day, he humbly asks, Might this servant inquire when you intend to move against these foul creatures, mistress?
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Night 3.
Tonight the gnolls seem to have fun with another prisoner, instead of torturing the poor lout right next to the battle market, they instead lead him all the way through Kelmarane and into the pesh cactus fields not far from the old monastary. The gnolls lead their bound prisoner to a large cleared area in the middle of the pesh cactus fields, where they force him to his knees. Thereafter, the gnolls each use an oversized staff to bear the ground.
... more tomorrow.
"So am I not even in control of my fate?"
She looks into the eyes of the fortune teller, her features a cloud of despair.
The horrid yipping makes Khatijah's skin crawl. She can't quite block the sound from her thoughts the next day when they rip a prisoner apart and leave him screaming. Her dreams that night are filled with images of snarling jackal-faced beastmen trying to rip her apart.
"In some ways, none of us are in complete control of our fates. But such shouldn't be foreign to you, who were a slave until recently. However, you shouldn't think of this as a form of slavery. You aren't 'owned' by this. You can, though, embrace it, if you will, let the will of the goddess flow through you. This must be her will, as Vardishal was her Templar. Rather than cursed, you've been chosen, it seems. Let that be a comfort to you, rather than a source of distress."
Fionn looks at Khat with a look mixed of enlightened enthusiasm and distress. "I'm afraid I am not as eloquent as I would wish to be... I want to help alleviate your fears, and all I do make them worse. But please, dear Khat, it would be best if perhaps you don't fight this, but see where it takes you, instead."
The pit fighter looks out towards the distant horizon and sighs.
"But I think you have the better of it. Perhaps it will not be so bad."
So I hope...
If Tolus had been forced to serve in a different capacity over his 40 years he may have been better prepared for the brutality he was now witnessing. By the time he gets back to camp he is shaking visibly and has trouble recounting what happened in the Pesh fields. After his report is complete, he lays out his camp gear as perfectly as possible, using the familiar motions of making up a bed to try to calm his nerves. Deep within him, however, he feels like a snake is coiled in his gut and is thrashing about. He also feels a need. A desperate need to bring justice in the name of those who have died. No, not justice. Vengence.
On his way back from scouting on the fourth day, Tolus will stop by the Pesh cactus fields and attempt to find dead specimens to use as a base for crafting a poison.
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As Tolus lays out his gear methodically, Taldor has a knowing look on his face. After a minute he makes his way over "Care to help me start up the fire this evening? Afraid I was having a bit of trouble" assuming Tolus agrees, Taldor continues on after a bit "I know how it is ta see wrong things done ta good people. There's only two ways ta think about it. One: Ye can't change something, so stop worrying yerself. Two: Ye can do something, so either do it or get it off yer mind" After a moment, he smiles and puts a hand on his hammer "I'll tell ya which one is in my mind right now"
Tolus doesn't say much as he sets up the fire with Taldor. His movements are rigid, almost mechanical. Very unlike his usual fluid grace. Taldor's words are exactly what he needs. The twisting hunger for vengence bursts into flame in his chest, cracking to life at the same moment as the campfire he was working on.
As Taldor's calloused hands tap on the Dwarven hammer, a spine chilling smile creeps up Tolus's serpentine face. Neither of the men these past two days have died slowly. I'm afraid your hammer may be too kind, friend Dwarf.
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As the gnolls continue to beat the ground with their staves. They eventually summon a large starfish like creature that swallows the poor man whole. With the dead done the creature burrows down and the gnolls depart back to kelmarane.
On day four a giant bird comes and starts harrassing anyone in the courtyard. Violently engaging anyone who comes close to some overgrowth in the courtyard.
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Taldor suddenly looks wary and puts a hand on Tolus's shoulder "They deserve justice, but we cannot stoop to their level, it makes us no better. We have to hold our 'eads high above them, setting an example" He grips his shoulder and looks him dead in the eye "To deliver justice one must be kind, not vengeful. It is to make right for the dead, not to appease our own sense of injustice" He takes out his hammer and smiles at its weight in his hand"Now than, let's show them what enemies they have made!"
The fire in Tolus's eyes doesn't diminish. When he smiles his signature green poison spit can be seen on his large, nearly fang-like eye teeth.
I won't be avenging them for my sence of injustice, Taldor. I'll make them squeal and scream to pay tribute to the pain of the families those men left behind. And when they fall shrieking into the Abyss, they will know they have erred, and that their pain has only just begun.
"We have to move on those Gnolls as soon as possible. We can't just sit idly by while they slaughter gods know how many prisoners. A good plan today is worth a better plan tomorrow I think."
"Lure some of them out and cut them down."
Dark circles line the bottoms of her eyes. Khatijah looks at the others with fire in her eyes and a glare that would give dragons pause.
"Does our 'expert' know of any bait that gnolls would never resist going after."
A savage grin spreads across her strained face.
"I hope to show them why keeping slaves is never wise."