Taldor speaks up "Let me take the middle watch, me darkvision will help with dat"
"I'll take first. Better your eyes than mine in the dark, my friend."
Khatijah puts the shirt of chain links and padding back on before retying the sash at her waist. One of her hands is covered in thick bandages to help with gripping her scimitar. The other though, is covered in a finger-less glove with studded steel plates covering the knuckles and the back of her hand. She takes out block of flint and quietly hones her blade as teh night grows dark.
Taldor speaks up "Let me take the middle watch, me darkvision will help with dat"
"I will take first watch. I cant see in the dark, so the middle of the night is not the best for my eyes. Mind you, if I am needed on second watch Zerika can see in the dark."
Besides, if I take first watch, I have time to clean my blankets and let them dry by the fire..."
"Last watch" calls a voice from the vicinity of Tolus's bedroll.
"I'll sit last watch with Tolus, that way I'll be up in time to make breakfast!" comes a voice from under a blanket by the fire.
Khatijah looks at Arizhel with a mischievous grin across her face.
"Our little friend might wish to be careful. Her cooking will spoil us and make us fat as merchants."
Khatijah looks at Arizhel with a mischievous grin across her face.
"Our little friend might wish to be careful. Her cooking will spoil us and make us fat as merchants."
Tolus's bedrool chuckles sleepily at that.
"Well, that seems to leave me on mid watch with Taldor, then. Fair enough. Must be time for a nap . . ..
About 5 minutes later Tolus is asleep. Thankfully his exhaustion keeps his occasional nightmares at bay and he sleeps deeply.
Kara wonders why they should worry about keeping a watch now that they've joined the main camp, when it never came up before during their trip.
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After you finish your dinner, and start to bed for the night you are approached by a familiar face. The beardless dwarf, Garavel, approaches you. My lady has summoned you to her tent. He says in his usual monotone form, you have noticed that he doesn't speak like any other dwarf you may have ever met. There is no emotion, no spark of compassion or hate in it. Its as if he simply exists to do as he is told.
Inside Almah's tent you notice that it is elaborate filled with silks and gold and all things that a wealthy merchant could afford, perhaps more so than some kings. There are two beds in the tent. One is a simple cot and the other is a bed of luxury. You can only imagine how soft it must be.
She says in a concerned, frustrated voice I have asked Garavel to lead an investigation into whether or not the fire might have been set by someone in camp. I trust him beyond all doubt, and since you were with him when the fire broke out and not in camp yet, I implore you to aid my major domo to determine if there is a mystery afoot, and if so, solve it quickly.
Garavel quickly ushers you outside and tells you that the destroyed wagon belongs to Almah's personal fortune teller, Delphina, an exotic woman from Almah's distant homeland.
"Is there any reason why anyone would target Delphina? Anyone have a problem with her, or an argument recently?"
"Anyone in the caravan that knows her personally, perhaps any friends she might have made while with the caravan?"
When Garavel arrives Tolus is suddenly quite awake. It isn't every day you get to meet with the Merchant Princess. He pulls his over-robes over his head and quickly orders them into an acceptable state of order. Well, acceptable enough under the circumstances.
He says nothing to the Lady herself. To do so would be unseemly, possibly deadly, for someone of his distinction and history. His fatigue seems to melt when he enters the lush surroundings of the tent. He was at home here. Everything was as it should be. The books were in proper order (alphabetical by category, then height), the carpets and cushions were all brushed and positioned adequately (though he did notice that two had been brushed the wrong direction), and the curtains were all tied with the proper woven knots that prevented kinks and bends in the rich fibers.
At the thought of treachery his mind whirls and his brow knits together. Who would want to blind Lady Almah to the future?
"My Lord,"he addresses Garavel in turn "We need to know which of these men are not in your absolute confidence. Any suspicious watch changes? Any absences for sickness themselves or in their family? Any suspicious leave requests? Also we need to know who is relatively new to this troop. Say within 6 months. Anything you know that we can use as a lead would be useful in the protection of our Lady."
Tolus has a grim determination about him. He is taking this situation very seriously, as if the Lady's life in is danger.
Arizhel fumbles with something small in her hands, as if nervous as the others ask questions. Once they are finished she asks, "Does this mean anything in particular to you?" showing the burned remains of the card that had stuck to her to Almah and Garavel.
"It kind of stuck to me as it blew out of the wagon . . . during the fire. . "
"Oh, and has anyone disappeared or failed to show up recently?"
Khatijah merely listens. She doesn't bow to merchant princess, bu then again, she didn't bow to anyone. Other than that, she makes no other overtly disrespectful act.
As Tolus finishes his requests, the scarred woman gives a quiet snort and speaks softly to Taldor,
She turns her eyes about before asking much more loudly. "Do we know how the fire started? If we know that, then our search may be a simple matter of finding a mage."
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Taldor keeps his head down, listening and thinking. The guards, we were told the shifts and which one was working. I need to learn more about them. Taldor looks between the two people in the room to talk to, and decides that he wouldn't do well with either. The girl is right, a man who serves longer knows where to strike Taldor moves to a corner and observes, keeping a diligent eye on the beardless dwarf
Mas'ud listens to the story, and to the questions his companions ask before asking the questions that come to his mind.
"Is anyone else in your group related to Delphina? Or from the same general part of the world?"
"Does Delphina normally place lit candles in a pattern on the floor of her wagon? Perhaps as part of a fortune-telling ritual?"
"Is it normal for Delphina to perform such rituals alone, while the normal day's camp business is still ongoing?"
"Are there any interesting stories about the claw-hand shaped tree which also burnt with her wagon?"
Arizhel looks about to ask another question. Her expression quickly turns to quizzical, then she bites her bites her lower lip.
"Was she . . . " Arizhel fidgets with her fingers a moment, then blurts out, "Did she have a paramour of any sort?"
Blushing, Arizhel attempts to subtly retreat to the rear of the group.
If Diplomacy needed again...
Hadassah mutters more to herself than anyone else.
Stop fidgeting, that is what will get you in trouble. . . Thats what I get for listening to so many stories about slaves. . . Just because you ask a possibly offensive question doesn't mean the will sell you off . . .
Tolus is way too focused on the task at hand to overhear what is being whispered.
Khatijah catches some of what Arizhel is whispering, but not enough to understand what she said.
Timid one, this. Taldor seems to be trying to help. Ah, what strange creatures slavery makes.
Other than a side long glance to see what is going on, she keeps her attention on Almah, waiting for her answer.
Inside the tent, Kara steps closer and with a small curtsy says "Of course you have my cooperation."
Outside, Kara looks over at the burnt wreckage, raising an eyebrow at the mention of fortune telling.
"You may not want to put too much weight in her readings anyways, if she couldn't even foresee her own wagon burning down." I can't believe how gullible people are, believing nonsense like Harrow cards.
Thinking along the same lines as Taldor, Kara will talk to the guards. She strolls up to the group of mercenaries, putting on her most charming smile and flashing her eyelashes at the men. After a brief introduction, she inquires about their individual relationships with the fortune teller, as well as their whereabouts when the fire started. She stands very closely to each man, so while they look down at her they have a difficult time keeping their gaze focused on her face.
(23 if they’re attracted to me)
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"Who is Dashki and what was his (or her) relationship with the injured fortune teller like? Would it be possible to talk to Dashki?"
"I certainly understand your wanting her to rest, however I do have some healing abilities left for today. Does she need additional healing?"
Tolus can think of no better questions than the ones Finn asked, so he remains silent for now, contemplating the answers.
After receiving their information, Kara curtsies to the mercenaries with a flourish and turns away from them to search for Dashki.
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"Who is Dashki and what was his (or her) relationship with the injured fortune teller like? Would it be possible to talk to Dashki?"
"I certainly understand your wanting her to rest, however I do have some healing abilities left for today. Does she need additional healing?"
Garavel speaks Dashki is Almah's Gnoll expert, hired on about a month ago. He is probably sulking around here somewhere. Perhaps by the campfire or maybe around Almah's tent.
Almah tells you No little one, Zastoran healed her as much as anyone could. I think this is just mental exhaustion. Something a good nights rest should take care.
Fionn thanks Almah for her time and information and goes off in search of Dashki along with anyone else who wants to come along.
"If any among us has any investigative skills, you might want to take a look at the wreckage of the wagon. See if you can tell how and where the fire began. That might help us understand how the fire was started. This might help us learn WHO started it as well."
Mas'ud nods, and heads to the wagon. "There were pools of wax scattered about the floor of the wagon. Since this is not how she normally does things, they must have been scatered as she fell, or in a struggle. I'm not sure what the fire will have left for us to find, but once we are dome with that effort, I have another idea."
Once the physical inspection concludes, Mas'ud will cast Detect Magic and look for any magical residue that might be present.
Whether or not Delphina is being watched, Khatijah finds out where she is recovering and guards her. Turning aside any questions with a simple, curt reply.
"I'm here to protect the girl."
"Zerika, let me know if anything stands out."
Zerika dutifully examines the wreckage with Arizhel.
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Following Mas'ud's lead, after the primary search is complete, Arizhel casts Detect Magic on Zerika, then heads to Delphina to help Khatijah keep watch over the injured girl.
Share Spells (Ex) The summoner may cast a spell with a target of “you” on his eidolon (as a spell with a range of touch) instead of on himself. A summoner may cast spells on his eidolon even if the spells normally do not affect creatures of the eidolon’s type (outsider). Spells cast in this way must come from the summoner spell list.
This ability does not allow the eidolon to share abilities that are not spells, even if they function like spells.
Both found here.
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Fionn walks around the wagon from the other side and up behind the bedraggled man, so if he runs, he has to run toward the wagon where so many of her companions currently are searching around.
When she gets near him, she speaks softly. "Hullo there. My name is Fionn. Who are you and why are you watching us? Do you know something about what happened here?"
Zerika follows Fionn, keeping a little distance behind in case the mysterious stranger tries to run and manages to bolt past the gnome.
"I think I may have found him, boss, just keeping an eye on him for now.. Don't know if Fionn knows I am here though. If he tries anything, you want me to try to keep her safe?"
I would appreciate that, yes. Thank you, Zerika, and be careful.
Not a problem, they probably won't even notice I am here.
Zerika seems to have followed you around the wagon, staying about 10 feet behind you. Sneaky little snake people...