Round 3
[dice=Confusion]1d100
Grim's will managing to keep control of his body will swing once again at the deamon
Always he has the Hover feat.
Hits
15 more damage to the Bug
Grim's Attacks
Crit confirm Crit
Hit
Hit
Holy Crap Grim does 34 damage!
Hajar's round 4 Actions
Gunk
Gunk babbles again.
Although he is technically dead...
Xulthos Bleeding from many orifices speaks to Hajar with his dying breath Save me Paladin. I can give you power you have only dreamed of!
Hajar of course reply's no.
Xulthos in turn lashes out at the party one last time.
Crit confirm
Crit confirm
Xulthos Dies.
Ok Year of downtime will start now. Tell me what you are doing right after the fight. I will respond in turn.
Your level 5 now.
Night Shade you can join in the roleplaying introduce yourself to the other PC's
take 20 (is possible to search everything (secret room, secret treasures, etc...) looking also is the daemon has a soul box etc...
Grim you find an amulet of mighty fists +1, an a ring of protection +2 on Xulthos. The room goes back to the worked stone as the illusion fades of the cave like room you were standing in moments before.
With the Kulldis tribe defeated, the battle market liberated, and the daemon Xulthos destroyed, Kelmarane is once again ready for habitation.
Almah grants you the 500 gold you agreed upon, and names each of you “Knight Protector of Kelmarane,” she welcomes you to remain in the town as its rightful heroes. You need to negotiate with Almah regarding
the fate of certain disreputable survivors such as the gnoll bartender Kurellak (Night Shade), the smugglers, Janx the goblin, and especially
Undrella, who takes a disturbing liking to you and demands that she be allowed to continue her alchemical work in the village tannery. The merchant princess is willing to trust your judgment in these matters,
and grants you the Wharfmaster’s Manor in part so you can keep an eye on Undrella’s workshop if you decide to let her stay.
The sole Surviving member of the Lions of Senara, Gandrik, decides to
remain in Kelmarane and will help you in anyway he can. Gunk and Hamzah also stick around as NPC's that can Heal you or make potions for you. Gandrik is happy to indoctrinate any members of the party in the ways of the Pathfinder Society, should you decide you’d like to become a pathfinder.
Kardswann regains his senses and is horrified by what he has been forced to do. He stoically asks forgiveness for his actions, and says that he
must take leave of Kelmarane to notify his mistress, the djinni princess Nefeshti, of events here. He must also tell her about the moldspeaker, Hajar, and the fate of their fallen comrade Vardishal. Before you can ask Kardswann any questions about Nefeshti he dissapears.
Over the following weeks and months, scores of merchants and settlers arrive and the work of rebuilding the village begins in earnest. Some of these merchants bring magical gear with them that you may be interested in buying with the loot gained in your recent exploits. By the end of a year, Kelmarane is a thriving village with a population of nearly 500 souls (and a 200 gp limit for purchasing goods).
Yet despite the turn of events for the better, rare are the nights that pass for Kelmarane’s new keepers that are not punctuated by distant howls. The Carrion King still lives, and soon, his attention shall fall upon Kelmarane!
End of Book 1
We have the following items that need to be claimed. If they aren't claimed soon, they will be counted as sold during the yearlong downtime.
Ring of Climbing
Ring of Protection +2
Cold Iron Mace
Silversheen x4
Potion of CMW x2
Amulet of Mighty Fists +1
Mace +1
During the downtime Hajar will focus his efforts on rebuilding both the church of Sarenrae and the Monastery of St. Vardishal.
Regarding the survivors, Hajar is ok with each staying in the town provided they obey all the laws of the town and walk in the path of light. Hajar will be watching them all closely. But not too closely in Undrella's case.
Yes Kardswann took his axe.
That night The Gnoll Bartender nervously awaits the fate that will be decided for him. As he does he falls asleep, and dreams yet again the a Lion chasing him. He is terrified, running for his life! But this time as he runs something changes.
No! He says I will not run any more! I am sick of this! He turns around to face the terrible blood thirsty lion. As it sprints toward him, Kuralaak shouts:
Stop, Lion! Who are you? Tell me your name?!
The lion skids to a halt! It looks at Kuralaak. Then speaks: I am your courage. Why do you run from me every night? Then the lion leaps through the air and plows into Kuralaak's chest. There is pain and the two beings meld into one.
In the morning Kuralaak awakes and arises. Breathing deep, Kuralaak steps out into the brightness of a new day.
Never again. Never again will I run.
He turns and heads off toward our Heros, knowing that they may decree execution. But he doesn't care, not any more. All he hopes for is to face his fate...like a lion. Like a Gnoll!
Since you have freed him and the city the dwarf has sworn a life debt to you. Every night he sings songs of your bravery in his deep baritone. He has also taken upon himself to act as your Herald.
The first duty he has assigned himself is to gather up the unsavory bunch that has stayed behind. The goblin, Gnoll, various smugglers and Harpy. So far these persons have been given unlocked cells in the old battle market. This is something he disagrees with fully. But if it his masters wish then who is he to go against their judgment.
Gandrik has infomrmed the four of you that he will be setting up and audience with each of the "prisoners" today so you may pass your swift and bloody justice.
The dwarf leaves the Wharfmaster's Mannor (on the map now) early in the morning and begins the walk to the battle market.
Before Gandrik gets even halfway to the Battle Market he sees the dirty stinking Gnoll sneaking around.
What trouble are you up to this early Gnoll? The dwarf puts his hand on his longsword as he says this.
Do not call me Gnoll, unless you want to be called 'Dwarf', sir. Where are the Heros? Kuralaak would speak to them!
Having come out of his miserable self-loathing, Kuralaak has donned his old armor and taken his dilapidated, but fabulously effective, crossbow onto his shoulder.
Humph. You that ready to die Eh? Well come on then. The dwarf who you do not know his name motions you past him the way he was just walking.
No. You go in front of me. I can have you biting my ankles like a dog while I am trying to walk.
With probably some more banter (respond and roleplay if you wish) you are lead to the Wharfmaster's Mannor where the rest of the party is staying.
Kuralaak walks with his head turned to keep one eye on this Dwarf. When he arrives at the mannor he sits down to wait for the Heros. He scratches the left side of his furry neck with the claws of his inverted-kneed leg.
Aaaah, that always feels so good.
Gandrik tells you the first creature is ready for your judgement heroes. Although it is eairlier than you expected.
Kuralaak looks around the room where his judges will stand over him. He rehearses what he plans to say, if they even bother to let him speak. Although it matters little to him now.
Sounds good to me lol
Oh yea you can tell me what you do with your year as well.
May I suggest a romance with Underalla the Harpy? Uglyiest babies ever! HaHa
That is exactly what Kuralaak does for a year while he has awaited his trial!
Finding comfort in the arms of a harpy isn't most peoples idea of romance, but Kuralaak is not 'a people', he's a freakin' Gnoll! And he gets sort of testy when you talk about his harpy lover in the wrong way...
Kuralaak knew going in to the affair the Harpies are not the most faithfull of creatures. But one can only hope. Is true love behind that feathered face??
Rofl [vomit]
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*gagging noises*
Raj watched as Xulthos' broken body tumbled to the ground, landing almost on top of the little mud elemental he had been summoning. It did it's work well though, within a few seconds the elemental had stopped the accursed sound of the daemon's still humming wings, and all was still.
Suddenly, color entered into Raj's black and white darkvision. A red light seemed to be eminating from... behind him? He wheels around, fearing some new trick of the daemon, but is stunned when Kardswann's ax that he had been lugging around falls off his back, surrounded by a red aura growing stronger by the second. Before his eyes, he watches as the infernal appearance of the great ax turns to mist, which coalesces a stream and pours into Xulthos' dead body. Left on the ground the ax has regained it's former appearance, an effigy for all battle lusty axes. It's shining silver blade seems to reflect light that isn't even there, the polished handle, beautifully scarred, the golden bands mounting the blade. It gives a tremble, and is still.
Congratulations everyone. Xulthos' power is broken.
Now it was a couple days later, the celebrations were over, and the restoration had begun. Raj had already begun rebuilding his home with the help of magic, and he was nearly done drawing up some magical diagrams for a project, but unfortunately, for now at least he would have to take a break from all of that and go take care of the former residents of Kelmarane who had surrendered, a task he was not looking forward to. First up, the bartender.
Raj had no personal quarrel with the gnoll who ran the drinks at the battle market; as he saw things, it was the only gnoll in the entire place that hadn't tried to eat them. Not that this scored points for him, just took away penalties. Hajar was in the room to judge as well... that meant the gnoll would probably get off scott free as long as it promised to 'be a good boy'. Raj decided he wouldn't mind this too much, after all, it was Xulthos who was the destructive force in Kelmarane, not the gnolls.
Welcome Kuralaak, we have much to discuss.
Hajar sits and watches the Gnoll named Kuralaak. He thinks back to his failures with Lak and the Pugwampi Rukk. His success in finding Haleen gives him heart as does his friendship with Dashki the reformed monk of Sarenrae.
He speaks to the gnoll Kuralaak
You make a solemn oath to defend Kelmarane and obey the laws of the Pactmasters and their agent Almah?
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Schrrnch! Gunk tightened the last last buckle on the harness he and Raj had invented. It appeared to be a stiff seat that sat waaay back, with a panel for one to brace their feet against,
[Gunk] I still say you're crazy, but if this works it's going to be one of the most awesome inventions in history.
Raj chuckles to himself as he seats himself and buckles himself in. Don't you worry Gunk, there'll be a model of this thing in the vault of every church of Abadar in the inner sea within a month.
It had taken all of Raj's engineering skills and Gunk's tinkering abilities, plus a substantial amount of leather they had convinced Kuralaak to get from the harpy, to make this thing. It was simple, yet beautiful. The passenger would sit in the leather seat, and cast a floating disk spell underneath him to make the seat levitate. The seat was then cinched to the disk, and the passenger would then summon a horse. The reins were attached to the seat, and with a command off they would go at top speed. As soon as one horse was pushed to it's limit, which was farther than normal horses since the passenger didn't have to worry about a real horse's health, the horse would be dismissed and a new one summoned, making it possible to travel for hours upon hours at speeds over 10 mph, or in an emergency up to 40mph. . Even better, as long as the horse had it's directions, the rider could sleep on the smooth moving disk while a horse kept on going through the night.
Raj casts the necessary spells, and a shimmering disk of force bears him up while a white stallion prances in front. He tightens some straps and leans back. Ready Nemaides?
Nemaides sticks his head out of a little pouch in the back and turns to Hajar with a pleading look. Save Me! He whispers hoarsely.
Off we go then! Be back in a week or two everyone. Yah! And Raj and his levitating carriage begin the 200 mile journey to Katapesh, arriving the following afternoon.
Raj spends 2 weeks in Katapesh, where he seeks out wizards in the area to exchange spells. He learns many, some of them mundane, others rare. He purchases the material components and reagents for his spells and creations, and makes a magical purchase or two for himself. The last couple days though he doesn't buy anything, but not for want of looking. While he himself is no good at wood carving, his old staff is already getting dry and cracked, and it's time for a new staff, worthy of the power he will one day put into it. Finally, a few days before he leaves, he hears of a druid famous for his carvings. Raj tracks him down, and after cleansing a field of a fiendish viper infestation and making a healthy donation to the druids, he carves for him a staff of fine darkwood. The staff is set with with tiny topazes, a large piece of nearly transparent jade adorns the top.
Finally, Raj returns the way he left.
As he ponders his response to Hajar Kuralaak toys with the small ring Underalla gave him last winter
Kurlakk your beau gets you a present you choice of one magic item up to 2500 gp in value.
.
Finally he looks up, and answers.
I, Kuralaak, do not understand the oaths Holy Men like you prescribe. However, I no longer fear death. I do promise to protect Almah and ensure the safety of this place. And I also offer myself to the service of your cause, if you will accept me. He looks down at the delapidated home-made mechinizations of his repeating crossbow. I was once Chief Engineer of the Gnoll army in Beausephalak. Though that was long long ago. Before I lost everything. I do not know if a prideless Gnoll can even be effective in battle. But perhaps you will give me the chance to find out. Unless you prefer death for me. In which case, I go willingly for it is a relief, Sir.
Seeing the Gnoll respond in such a way, so defeated and lost, Hajar feels ... not pity, empathy.
Kuralaak, my holy Lady says that each sunrise is a way to begin anew. Tomorrow you will rise and be Kuralaak of Kelmerane. Your past means nothing, only the bright and shining future. Walk in the light and you will find no quarrel from me or mine. If you wish to hear more of my lady's teachings Master Hamzah gives sermons each morning from the temple.
I have heard your words. For me the Pack is everything. Almah, Hajar, Raj, even Grrrowl snap yelp that pip-squeek Gandrik...you are my pack now.
Naziri spends most of his year hunting Gnolls with Gandrik and some other young and up coming rangers. They almost completely wipe out the Three Jaws Gnolls as a result.
Almah awards his service with 250 gold a month or 3K gold total.
The Ranger crouched behind the scrubby bush and nearby boulder. Arranged around him at careful distances were the young rangers that Almah had assigned to his squad.
It took several months, but the experienced ranger had cultivated these young men and women's skills to a point nearing his own. They have learned to survive, hell even thrive in this desert. Kuralaak may be an accepted part of his organization (and a valuable one at that) but the Gnolls of the Three Jaws clan had continued to hound the Kelmarane Hinterlands, and it was the job of Naziri and squads like his to curtail these incursions.
"These aren't soldiers, but they listen..."thought Naziri.
Al-Akim, his keffiyeh waving lightly in the wind, peered into the distance, down into the valley where the caravan was supposed to be passing this morning. "Rangers! Listen up! You will hear screams, and cries for help, but we have to wait until the dogs have fully descended on the caravan. We have to avoid being ambushed ourselves. I want each of you to come home safe to Kelmarane tonight."
At this he turned and looked up the valley and he could just barely make out the upcoming caravan of traders. As the caravan curled its way through the valley, sharp howls began to echo off the ridges and boulders of the pass.
Dozens of gnolls, in two groups charged down the hill opposite of the rangers, yipping and howling, raising a disgusting noise.
Naziri, silently shook his head, looked at the rangers to his left, and motioned with one arm to stay in position.
The gnolls fully encircled the caravan, and started attacking the ill equipped guards. The creatures slayed the horses and mules pulling the front caravans, creating an impasse. Shouts from the traders, guards, and travelers carried up the side of the valley to Naziri and his squad.
"Now! Loose your arrows!"
Half of the rangers drew their bows, took careful aim, and let loose a small hail of arrows down into the valley towards the gnolls. Yelps of pain rose of above the din of combat. As the arrows took flight, the other half of the rangers charged down the hillside and began engaging the dog-like creatures. The archer rangers skirted the hillside, and moved down into the valley near the rear of the caravan, and started picking off gnolls one-by one.
"It will be a quick death for the Three Jaws today."thought Naziri. The Ranger, at one with the desert landscape drew his ancestral Falchion, with which he had slain many gnolls, and again charged into battle.
"SARREENNRAAAEEE!!"
Kuralaak ticks off arrows from his repeater, dropping Gnolls as they flank the charging Rangers, picking off anything living that could slow down the charge.
Do you see these shots, young rangers? The Charge must hit the caravan at full momentum. It is our job to clear their path. Every swing of Al-Akim's sword slows him down.
Kuralaak flips a lever with his bare-ly opposable thumb. The empty bolt cartridge slides out. He slams on another, and continues firing.
I wish we had some heaveir fire power, but I suppose we must not injure the poor camels...
Was that a joke? The young rangers never could tell when it came to Kuralaak.
Naziri you have been noticing increasing gnoll activivty over the past few months.A mysterious figure arrives in town—a soft-spoken but intimidating man who comes at dawn along with several other traveling merchants.
This mysterious figure is a towering human who stands nearly 7 feet in height. He travels up to the Kelmarane battle market and takes up a spot at the tavern there, while sending out word that he wishes to speak with the leaders of the village and the heroes who so recently liberated it from the gnolls.
Gandrik finds the 4 of you and Keralakk as well begrudgingly.
When the 5 of you arrive the mysterious priest bows deeply and graciously, the sun tattoo on his brow almost seeming to glow. He introduces himself as a “traveler of the sand and scrub, a student of all things Sarenrae sees fit to shine upon, and an unwilling bearer of bad news,” he then offers to buy each of you a drink from the tavern and tells you this.
I do not belong to a single church. I do not mock those priests who choose to remain in one location and tend to one building— not at all, for they provide a needed service. But I am not at ease if I stay in one location. I am a traveler, as I have said, and have walked the billowing sands of Osirion, the westernmost veldt of Nex, and much of our own beloved Katapesh in between. I have seen much in my travels, and have brought the word and redemption of the Dawnflower to many. Yet also have I seen much in the way of cruelty and war in those travels, and it is a warning of such I bring to you today. You have distinguished yourselves by defeating the Kulldis. You know that 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. Yet word spreads not only to friends, but also to enemies. The Carrion King knows of what you’ve done to the Kuldis and though he did not reply in kind at once, I have heard dire rumors in my travels. Rumors of gnoll tribes gathering on the far slopes of Pale Mountain, tribes united under one banner— the sign of the Carrion King! 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 war is often inevitable. Yet sometimes, there are other ways. The gnolls are ever a bickering lot, and if the Carrion King has managed to unite these tribes, then his word is mighty indeed. And although despair to think on the death of any living creature, if the Carrion King’s death would mean that the gnoll tribes would stand down—a war could be averted. And so I bring this news to you. I shall not stay long, for I have no desire to be caught up in the folly of battle. But you would do well, heroes, to take my warning to heart. Seek out the Carrion King and bring him low before he raises high the flags of war. You will find him in the House of the Beast, the rumors say, an ancient temple upon the far side of Pale Mountain from which he has long ruled. May your efforts be swift and just, that needless suffering be averted.
Kuralaak laps the beer from his mug like the dog that he is. Then slams it on the table.
We need scouts.
So its back to being heroes then? I rather did enjoy that year of laid back unemployment and sipping cocktails as the sun sets. replied grim with a concerned look
My year wasn't quite so pleasant. Do you have any idea how much work it is to date a harpy?? I'm ready to travel. See the world. Kill - *big dog-yawn* - evil wizards.
The Tall Man
Yes the House of the Beast is a temple to Rovagug.
Hajar begins to eye Raj curiously
Please Master Raj, tell me about this House of the Beast. How do we know the depraved gnolls of the Carrion King worship Rovagug and not their traditional mother, Lamashtu.
From his constant hunting for the past year Naziri divulges the following information.
Even before he claimed the House of the Beast as his lair, Ghartok 'The Carrion King' was a legend among the gnoll tribes of Pale Mountain. His disdain for the traditional gnoll goddess Lamashtu was well known—he had long told his packmates that there were better gods deep in the earth. Gods who were not soft and fragile like pregnant b@+@$es— gods that deserved only the strongest and most potent of what the gnoll race had to offer. The gnolls also held the ruins on the north face of Pale Mountain in supernatural fear, but when Ghartok led a group of hand-picked gnolls into the ruins and emerged alone, victorious, armed with a powerful magic axe and nearly twice the size physically as he had been when he’d entered the ruins, his power only grew. As did his fame.
Once an Oracle came to my village when I was a child. He told us that Lamastu would be usurped by a god from 'deep in the earth' as you describe, Naziri. The Chieftan had him arrested, then the Gnoll priests sacrificed him for his blasphame. As his heart was being cut out, he was laughing...
My Godess is well known for the defeat of the Rough Beast. I will seek out the minions of the Rough Beast and destroy them.
To the traveler Hajar states
You never mentioned your name sir.
I am Zayifid. Now if you will excuse me I would like to be on my way.
Well lets get out stuff and head out. How long is that trip going to take us? i need to notify my landlord.
Knowledge Geography.
I will see you get within range for your spell, Raj Ajir. No beast of that mountain will take a swing at you without finding at least two full fletch crossbow bolts in it's neck...When do we depart?
30 miles through the mountains.