Well done, everyone. I need water. And rest. Time for that later, I guess.
Hazim takes another lookover of this room, inspecting for more traps.
Perception 20+4=24/25 vs traps.
After doing this, he will attempt to climb up and inspect up top, especially the hole the pugs came out of. He will do all of this cautiously, taking his time, searching for traps, strange noises, things out of the ordinary, etc.
Just in case, here are:
Climb
Perception
Acrobatics
To Mahdi I am alright, brother. And you? Well done with the fire. Singed the little pug and kept my eyebrows trim.
Hazim pats his brother on the shoulder quickly and continues on the search up top.
Aldebert holds the magical hammer up to the group. "I'm already carrying a magical mace we found so someone else should carry this hammer. Just in case." he looks at the assembled, "Anybody want the hammer? Or if you prefer, the mace, and I can carry the hammer? I'm comfortable either way."
He cleans his weapons carefully and takes out his crossbow, loading it. He stands ready to support those in the rafters if further pugs should come to light.
"Give the mace to my brother," Mahdi says with a nod of his chin and a small grin. "Your fingers will fit easier around the haft of this, I think."
Pent shuffles over alongside Mahdi, as Hazim pats his shoulder, and smiles at Hazim.
Pent hears the conversation over the hammer, and lends his two pence. "The hammer becomes you Aldebert. Your size, your swing. Leave the big things to the big boys." Pent mimics Aldebert with a load of his crossbow, standing ready to support those in the rafters if further pugs should come to light.
Hazim gladly takes the mace from Aldie, thanking him.
Ami refrains from scritching the newcomer, Pent, and instead only offers a narrow look of distrust and 'stay-the-heck-back-i-don't-know-you'.
Ami silently points to the crossbow bolt litter on the floor, somewhat peeved that the gnome would think about leaving his shootings about the temple of Sarenrae.
When the party is ready, Ami will follow Hazim up the ladder.
Pent looks in the direction of the halfling's finger, and takes a moment, before yelling. "YES!! You didn't forget!! That's grand dandy, thank you so much!!" Pent puts his crossbow down, and carefully sorts through the carasses for bolts on the salvage.
"Like picking daisies, if bolts were flowers and dead pugwampis were the soil. Looka here! Got two back, got the pugblood on 'em. These two will be more vicious when they fly again, got the taste for blood, sure as they are straight. Gotta keep them separate, otherwise they'll spoil surprises for the others." Pent takes care to tuck away the two bolts in his quiver, a thread tied across the opening to segregate them.
"Are we done then? Can we leave for visiting with Gravel and his crew? Are they expecting you back for dinner? How much longer we got here?" Pent moves over to his previous position next to Aldebert and, sensing something is wrong, looks down to pick up his crossbow for a third time.
"Hey, wait. Is anyone hurting? Except for me? No one? Ok, then." Pent looks back and forth, trying to suss out injuries after all that hammer swinging.
As Hazim carefully navigates the rickety planks of the suspended loft, the smell is quite overwhelming. The sound of scurrying and yelping can be heard fleeing through holes in the roof, as it seems the remaining gremlins have fled at the sight of their king's demise.
As the rogue searches around, the only thing of value that is discovered is a tiny box with a leather cord affixed to it. The size of the cord suggests it could probably fit on one's brow.
When Mahdi examines it, it radiates a faint divination aura.
So, did we scout the entire place? I feel as if I missed something.
Hazim thanks everyone in the group, including the gnome. The fact that the pug bolt wounds and spider bites are healed amaze him, and Hazim is very thankful. If we are done here, he suggests heading back to camp.
With the monastery cleared of all threats, the caravan eventually makes their way over to the abandoned structure. Almah thanks each of you for your excellent work, seeming very pleased at the work you all have displayed in your short time with the expedition. Garaval, despite his lack of emotions, congratulates you all on a mission well-done.
As the caravan members begin to move within the walls and explore a bit, various rooms are quickly seized as personal quarters.
Almah insists that she settles in the library (A14) with Garavel. She claims it is a prime central location within the building.
Dashki seems immediately taken with the shrine devoted to Vardishal (A12) and settles in without discussion. It also seems he is sporting a familiar headless corpse of a pugwampi, tied with string and dangling from the top of his walking staff.
Father Zastoran claims the basement laboratory (A19) as his own, claiming it is an ideal location to continue his alchemical studies.
Almah's personal guards move into the deanery (A15) that was previously inhabited by the baboons. Despite the smell, they explain that they will not rest anywhere else as this room provides the closest proximity to Almah in case of trouble.
The caravan mercenaries grumble and complain that everyone has already taken the good rooms, and unpack their belongings in the chapter house (A10).
The camel drivers quickly discover the kitchen (A16) and claim it as theirs, proclaiming it a valuable resource in providing food for the caravan.
Garavel approaches you all and explains that the dormitory (A18) would be an ideal location for you to settle.
"Partly because I want you close for protection in case Almah is in danger, and also because I want to keep an eye on you all... You've done well in the last day, but I still don't completely trust you. Yet."
The rest of the day consists of unpacking and settling into the new base. As you recover from your battles, you feel more experienced and battle-wisened than before.
Mahdi feels drained but pleased as they hike back to the caravan. He'd used every last spell he'd known for the day, and been reduced to swinging with his stick-- but he's seen combat against something more than the thugs of Katapesh, and he's survived. He helped his brother-- proved himself to him-- and his knowledge has come in handy.
Over the next few hours, Mahdi is back to his usual talkative, mercurial self. He tells Father Zastoran all about their exploits in clearing out the monastery (perhaps inflating his own role just a bit), with a good deal of dramatic embellishment, and he shows him the brooch and the magical tube they had uncovered with an explanation that he is not entirely sure what enchantments are upon them, and would be indebted for the priest's insight.
He will also study them again, in the morning, to try and decipher the enchantments for his own knowledge.
As they settle down for the evening, Mahdi thinks about the day and the spells that he cast, the nature of fire and what possible glorious destiny awaits him with the rumored legacy of fire. He is in the right place, he feels.
He closes his eyes and works to recall spells that he cast today: there was the armoring spell that he read off the scroll, but it is more useful if he needs no paper for it. And he has no need for a shield at all, if fire can take away the enemy's weapon before they can even attack...
Mahdi joins the others for dinner, and asks questions of everyone-- well, everyone who has not already managed to offend him, at least. His intellectual curiosity is whetted by the life experiences of those in the caravan-- everyone from those who fought with him today to those who merely tend the animals, and he listens and learns to as much as he can.
He also points out the greier eggs to those selfsame animal tenders-- let them take care of the birds that might result, and perhaps net themselves a tidy sum.
Pent sniffs around Mahdi, and his studies. He's been bitten. He's in it, deep. The moon and stars would spin above his head, and he wouldn't know it, if he found deep interest.
"Uh, whatcha doing?"
Pent burbles a bit, trying to remain quiet, but musing over the bits of magic, which also intrigue him to no end.
Aldebert puts his things on a bunk near his brother and takes off his sweaty armor.
I wish there were some way to keep these things clean and less, ugh, odorous!
He spends some time cleaning their new home of the larger detritus taking the trash and dumping it somewhere outside out of site - maybe even burying it. When he's satisfied our area is relatively clean (or at least less 'rustic') he looks to his brothers needs, if any.
He sits with the party members that evening and goes over the various items of loot. He looks to be fair as much as possible with the distributions so that everyone can get what they need out of their shares to better themselves.
"Though it's not really my weapon, I'll hold onto this hammer until I can get my guisarme ensorceled. Hazim you should carry that magic dagger, it suits you. As for the rest, I suggest we sell what we know and keep the rest until Mahdi can identify it properly."
He holds the ring of feather fall overlong before adding it to the 'sell' pile.
"I hope we can send runners back to town for supplies. I'd have my guisarme improved, I'll need more bolts for my crossbow eventually, and other things."
"Is there anything I'm missing? Anything I can do for the group?"
Amiamble grins under his scarf as the newcomer, the gnome, Pent, describes how he is going to treat his arrows.
Maybe he'll get lucky and kill a gnoll before I do. That's a good trick with the bloody arrows.
* * *
Ami approaches Aldebert while everyone is moving in.
"Brother, where do you wish to set up our camp? We should fix up the chapel, don't you think? We could be close to the entrance and you could help me make the chapel nice again."
Amiamble's eyes plead with askance.
Ami approaches Aldebert while everyone is moving in.
"Brother, where do you wish to set up our camp? We should fix up the chapel, don't you think? We could be close to the entrance and you could help me make the chapel nice again."
Aldebert looks longingly at the bed he's prepared, and shrugs, Amiamble is not to be deterred with that look on his face!
He wipes his brow and joins his brother in the chapel.
"This will take some doing to fix up properly. Are you sure we should sleep here as well - or just fix up the chapel for worship and reflection? It might be a nice place to escape the group for a moment of solace."
As he speaks Aldebert begins to make piles of the debris and moves the broken pews to the entrance for use as firewood in the kitchen. He takes the remaining pews and re-spaces them so the place still looks 'full'. He sweats freely as he works in the evening warmth.
Normally Ami would want to be running free or hunting with Yeenoghu on a night like this. However, tonight, there are more important things to do: like caring for this Chapel.
If we are going to stay here, it's going to be made right.
Amiamble will spend more than a few moments using his new cantrip (mending) to repair what can be repaired.
Working with his brother makes Amiamble very happy and working to restore the Sun to the chapel is even better.
Ami whistles through his scarf.
Yeenoghu passes time hunting rats and snuffing around and looking for more pugwamps to eat.
Pent breaks away from his distractions, suddenly aware of his obligation. He bolts straightaway to Garavel's location, to make his proper report.
"Garavel, sir. My name is Pent Arotha, and I was to report to you sooner, but was delayed in my passage. No excuses, I know. It's unbecoming a new soldier, so you won't hear me complain, should you need to see me punished. I've already participated in some work with the others. I can tell you, they are a sight in action. You did well in shaping them for battle. I humbly ask the same. Mold me. I'm quite moldy." Pent only then takes his hat off, and wrings it like a disobedient child.
Hazim takes the bed near the door that leads to A13. He holds the mace for a while, feels its balance in his hands. He has no skull smashing weapons, and this would fit his fighting style well. A good back up. But, money is tight. He throws it on the sell pile.
Hazim spends the evening cleaning and prepping his gear, telling local ghost stories, and scouting the perimeter during his shift. And then sleeping when it's his turn.
Regarding the phylactery... Mahdi, having deduced its purpose, shrugs and hands it off to... anyone but him.
"This is an item of the gods. I'm sure it's very useful if one is worried about straying from the chosen path of the god you worship. As I pray to Nethys, there is practically no path I could follow that would anger him. An advantage of a god who has utterly conflicting aspects of his personality," the young fire mage says wryly.
@Pent: Garavel looks you over, his face inexpressive. "So, you're the slave we bought and didn't show. I had half a mind to report you to the Pactmasters directly, but it would've taken longer than it's worth. You have a lot of nerve to show up late... But the fact that you're here at all I guess is better than nothing. Check in with Almah, I'm sure she'll love to hear your story."
@Mahdi: As you relax and unwind, Father Zastoran eventually finds you, seemingly interested in chatting with you. "Ah, I was looking for you!" the halfling says with a smile. "Did you find anything interesting during your exploration? I was hoping some old alchemical items or notes would turn up, but so far I've found nothing."
Hadrod and Hadrah are very happy to take the grier eggs off your hands, claiming they'd make lovely pets... or breakfast. They haven't decided yet.
As you approach, you find Yeen digging in the middle of the overgrown garden of weeds, where the grier nest formerly was located. The cat doesn't seem himself, softly growling while digging, his pupils dilated. No amount of calling to the cat seems to calm or stop it.
After roughly a minute of digging away at the ground, the cat finally stops, panting and looking down at the hole it made. It doesn't move, just staring at the mess it made. When you step closer to examine, you realize there is something buried in the dirt. It seems to be a staff, very old and ancient looking, but despite its obvious age, no cracks or flaws are visible.
As soon as your hand touches it, Yeenoghu begins to purr uncontrollably. The purring becomes louder and louder, before suddenly, a strange voice speaks directly in your head.
"Ah, you found it. I was wondering if anyone ever would."
Looking around, no one else is present. But the voice was so clear, as if he was talking directly in your ear. The only other creature around is Yeenoghu, but Yeen doesn't talk...
"I have to say, I wasn't expecting to attach to this vessel. Certainly... hairier than I anticipated. But, I suppose it will do."
As the voice speaks, Yeen sits and stares directly at you, as if communicating something to its master. The cat obviously hasn't spoken, but... Where is the voice coming from?
@Mahdi: The following morning, you are able to properly identify the two items as a Chime of Opening and a Brooch of Shielding.
Mahdi is quite eager to tell Father Zastoran everything about the alchemical lab, from the strange oozes to the notes he found.
"Yes, yes, we did find some interesting formulae," he says, reaching for his pack. "I'm no alchemist, but these papers might prove interesting to one who is. I didn't know it was one of your hobbies, Father," he says with a grin.
@Mahdi: The halfling's eyes widen upon examination of the formulae. "By Nethys, this is exactly what I was hoping for! Excellent, lad! Thank you! You know, with this, and the appropriate materials of course, I could make these items for you with my equipment. Just let me know if you ever want any of them! Oh, and here's some gold for them, as my way of say thanks. Once we set up business in Kelmarane, I'm sure these recipes will make me a lot more money than that!"
Amiamble holds up the staff with a look of bewilderment, talking as much to himself as to to Yeenoghu.
"Yeen, what have you found?" Ami takes the staff in hand and twirls it with precision. "What has gotten into you, Yeenoghu? You've never spoken to me before...but then again, many strange things have happened this day."
Ami considers blowing the Whistle of Uh-Oh, but realizes he doesn't need his brother just yet.
Reaching over to Yeenoghu, Ami checks the cat's eyes, ears, and mouth.
"Are you okay, Yeenoghu? You can tell me."
Mahdi grins and offers the halfling an elaborate bow. "For my next trick, I will produce a baby grier... in a few weeks," he jokes.
----
When Pent noses in on his studying, Mahdi offers him a wry look and a smile, and waves at the gnome to sit if, he is so inclined.
"Studying these items we found. I'm told gnomes know much of magic. What do you make of them? And for that matter-- what skills do you bring to our little company? Now that we have the time to talk."
----
He agrees with the others that the chime and brooch can be sold. What need for a chime, when his brother is so skilled with locks?
"Ah, I see the confusion. You think I'm your... well, whatever this thing is. No no, my conscience has merely transferred itself over to this vessel in an attempt to communicate. Oh, but I'm sorry, I'm being rude. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Vardishal.
"Hmm... It seems that is all I can remember. I recall sensing life forces nearby, as my mind slithered and sloshed along the walls and floor. I don't recall what I was doing... But, as I reached out to make contact with someone... Well, it seems this, 'Yeenoghu' was the one that I happened to bond with.
"Unfortunately, this creature isn't as intelligent as I was hoping to find, so I needed another way to communicate. I sensed something important to me, long buried in the monastery here. I used every ounce of will that I had to urge this creature to discover it. And now that you are in possession of it, I can communicate directly from this creature's mind to yours."
As you look at the staff in your hands, you feel your fingers grow a bit colder. A patch of mold seems to be suddenly growing over your hand, but not painful to the touch. In fact, the coldness feels pleasant. Looking down at Yeenoghu, you can see a similar growth of green mold again on the paw that struck the mold ooze earlier in the day. The voice in your head begins speaking again.
"That staff you wield was once a great weapon I held... It had a name... T-T-Tem... Tempest. Ah, yes. That is its name. Though... Hmm. It does seem a bit large for you. This is not what I had intended... But, we can improvise. Especially if you are to be my Moldspeaker."
The ancient staff begins to convulse a bit, and two holes appear near the tip of the weapon, while it also shrinks a bit in size.
"I changed Tempest to match a bit like that one you are carrying. If you wish, you may modify it as you wish and it will impart its power as you like."
The staff can be easily modified into a staff sling. Even though it's a tiny bit longer than you're used to, it's light in your hands and feels as comfortable as the one you've grown up with.
"As long as you are in possession of Tempest, I will be able to communicate through this creature of yours directly into your mind. I hope that is not too invasive."
"Wait...you're in my cat?" Ami opens up Yeenoghu's mouth and peers inside. Seeing nothing, Ami continues to speak to the air, admiring how the staff is now a slingstaff.
"Wait...Vardishal? VARDISHAL? Didn't I see on the walls around here?" Ami asks while walking to area A4...meandering through to A8.
"You're saying that's you? You're a saint of Sarenrae?"
Ami's inquisitive and exploratory mind begins to ask questions as fast as he can think of them...a bursted dam of unconscious thoughts freed from inhibition by the knowledge that he is speaking to one of Sarenrae's saints.
"So...what is a Moldspeaker? I heard Pent talk about being moldy earlier...am I now like that? And how long have you been dead? Are you a djinni? Or an efreet...oh, I see..." Ami reads the walls again. "...you're a good guy, fighting against the bad guys. And you've been trapped here? Wow. And then you turned to delicious mold for my cat to eat? That's weird."
Ami takes a deep breath before continuing.
"And then there are 5 winds, sort of? And you're one of them? That's neat...and now you're in my cat. That's pretty accurate too because my cat often breaks wind. Such is what happens when you eat a lot of meat."
Ami takes a deep breath again and continues.
"How did you become a Saint? Do you talk to Sarenrae often? Is she as radiant as I believe? Oh...wait...if you're dead, did you want to be laid to rest forever...to find Pharasma's slumber?"
Ami will spend as much time as he can asking questions of the mold saint.
Aldebert continues lifting heavy rubble and moving piles around while Amiamble chats, as far as Aldebert knows, with Yeenoghu. Eventually, sweating and dirty, he stops for the day and meets with the party (after cleaning up a little at least) for the discussion of the loots.
The group is able to gather the items they've found that might be valuable and discover trade with Almah and Garavel. They are both willing to buy these things from you, as they are hoping to acquire additional wares to help set up trade and business immediately upon retaking Kelmarane.
In the morning, he goes off to find Father Zastoran to beg him to cast Masterwork Transformation on his guisarme. He pays him the 300gp costs to do so and thanks him profusely for his time and support - making this oasis a bit more civilized.
He then practices in the yard for a time with his newly minted weapon to get it's feel.
As night falls, Almah and Garavel gathers the party together and head outside of the monastery towards the edge of the large hill the site is built on. Across a large field, craggy hills and stony badlands, the lights of civilzation flicker about a mile or so away. A town, perched upon a rising hill, stands out amidst the darkness of the desert.
Almah looks out towards the lights with a stern expression. "That is our goal. Kelmarane."
She turns to the party and nods. "Now that we've established our presence here, it's only a matter of time until the current occupants notice. While we certainly don't have the manpower to launch a head-on assault against the entireity of the Kullid gnolls, we hope that by hiding out here, we can launch a series of guerrila assaults on their base, whittling their numbers down slowly until you are ready to assault the battle market. It is there that we believe their leaders reside."
As she speaks, a loud, yelping howl emanates from the roof of the distant round citadel on the top of the hill. Almah squints hard at distant Kelmarane.
"Set up watch duty tonight and see if you can gather anything from observing the village. From this point on, you are all on your own. Handle the Kelmarane problem as you feel is best. I do not expect you to defeat the entire tribe tomorrow, as that would be foolish. But know the longer you take to retake the village, the more eminent the danger we are in. If the gnolls catch on to our location and launch an assault..."
Suddenly, another howl, faint but similar, is heard coming from the Pale Mountain that looms over Kelmarane.
"The Howl of the Carrion King," a voice says from the shadows. As the group turns, the hunter Dashki makes himself known. "I have heard of it. It is a nightly message from the tribes, reporting to their gnoll king within the mountain. I have never heard it myself before... It's quite beautiful, really..." he mumbles to himself as he hobbles away.
Garavel sighs. "I hope that one doesn't end up being more trouble than he's worth, Almah." The two turn to leave, but Garavel suddenly remembers something. "Some of the others in our caravan might know more about this region as well, if you wish for additional insight. Good night."
You are left at the edge of the hill, overlooking the distant objective of your mission.
Amiamble asks more questions of the Vardishal, but the poignant ones are:
"What did you want me to do for Sarenrae?"
"What does it mean to be a Moldspeaker?"
"Can I tell others about you?"
"Can you talk to others too?"
"Do I get to keep this new slingstaff?"
"And Yeenoghu is going to be okay, right?"
Amiamble goes back to the chapel, a mix of thought and action and need for sleep. Eventually, he curls up next to Yeenoghu and his new Sarenraen Saint Slingstaff (S3?) and falls happily asleep.
* * *
The next morning, Ami arises early to wake Aldebert and explains everything (in the spoilers above) to his brother, his bestest friend, and confidant. Ami is certain that Aldebert will have wise counsel on what happened last night.
"...so...what do you think? Did you want to try this new slingstaff, too? It's nice, huh?" Ami hands over the +1 slingstaff for Aldebert to test out, while Ami awaits his brother's reaction.
2. You are able to speak on his behalf now.
3. Sure
4. Unfortunately, no.
5. Yes.
6. Yes. Yeen will still be Yeen, but he is simply present now in the cat's subconcious.
"So, you're the slave we bought and didn't show. I had half a mind to report you to the Pactmasters directly, but it would've taken longer than it's worth. You have a lot of nerve to show up late... But the fact that you're here at all I guess is better than nothing. Check in with Almah, I'm sure she'll love to hear your story."
Pent's upraised cheeks belie his bodily muscular tension, as he waits for the first blow. When no physical blow comes, he takes the information in from the first sentence with some confusion.
"Slave you say...? Bought from... You have got to be..." Pent bursts out with guinea pig squeals of laughter. "He sold me!!! That ol' bastard told me to my face... enlistment and glory and new lands and... and... awwwwhahahahaha!! Pent doesn't wait around. "Almah, you say? Right away, master, don't have to tell me twice, the first hit home with resonance to carry your message to the heavens and back for clarification! Message divinely clear! Right away!!" Pent runs off to visit with his new master.
Upon locating Almah, Pent takes his hat off again, keeping his hands occupied and behind his back as he approaches. "All due apologies, mistress Almah. Pent Arotha, tardy slave reporting for duty, duty recently done after meeting up with Aldi, Ami, Hazi, and Maddie. They took me in, showed me some ropes, and brought me here. Strength in numbers, am I right? It was foolish of me to travel here without that strength, but Saranrae was with me the whole time, so I had all the strength I needed, really. Please forgive me, as I would have been here sooner, but my previous master had several errands for me to complete before I knew to show here." Pent starts to take his shirt off, and he knees to the floor. "I await my punishment, and I'll yell as loud as you need me to. If you have a script, I'm good with memorization." Pent bows his head, but it pops back up with the buoyancy of a question as yet unasked. "Before I forget... how much? How much was I worth? I never had that answer, until now, and I'd really like to know. What does a gnome go for on the slave market?"
"Studying these items we found. I'm told gnomes know much of magic. What do you make of them? And for that matter-- what skills do you bring to our little company? Now that we have the time to talk."
Pent nods as he's not swatted away, and pulls up the chair to look over Mahdi's studies. "These items, any items really, with the touch of magic about them, they smile at me, do they ever. Can't always tell what the smile means, if you get me. Sometimes the smile is quite understandable, like they were to you in getting them to show their purpose. Sometimes, though, those smiles are kinda condescending, and I can't get a read about them, no matter how I look 'em over." Pent fondles both items, before gently placing them back in Mahdi's care.
"Ours? You could have said 'mine', but you didn't, and I thank you for that kindness, really, because I'm not too sure about who I can consider the least hostile in these parts. Least hostile is most friendly, all things considered." Pent looks back down at the table, the items, smiles and looks back at Mahdi. "I think I'm here to look after others. Myself, I'm looked after by Sarah, wonderful lady She, and She tells me to keep the sunrise in the cheeks of others. I aim to listen to Her, I do."
@Pent: Almah eyes you curiously the entire time, not saying a word or lifting a finger until you are finished. She finally clears her throat to address you.
"Ah, I was wondering what had happened when Garavel showed up without a gnome in his company. My name is Almah Roveshki, leader of this operation. I'm glad to see that you finally made it... While I won't divulge the specifics of my business transactions, I will say that I personally paid a great deal to acquire you. Your master had many great things to say, and I sorely needed someone reliable for this task."
She stands up and circles around you, examining you closely. "Late, but reliable at least so far. Anyway, you'll find that I am no cruel master. I expect the best from everyone in my employment, slave or free-man. If you work hard, I reward each fairly. And if we are successful in our mission here in Kelmarane, I am willing to... renegotiate the terms of your contract," she says with a smile. "Now go, please, and get rested. You and your friends are going to have a long day ahead of you."
Pent shuffles to his feet, cinching his shirt over his shoulders. Gringlib, you right bastard. At least you turned me over to a fair master. Pent nods as he's dismissed.
He pauses before he leaves Almah's quarters. "You are very pretty." He doesn't wait for a reply as he returns to his quarters without delay.
...
Pent spends some time studying the newcomers from a distance. He avoids the guard outright, not interested in learning their cruelties.
Dashki gets his attention, with the pugwampi rabbit's foot. Stay clear of that one. He's not right in the head.
Eliminating the obvious threats, Pent strikes up conversation with Father Zastoran, and the camel drivers, seeking out more information regarding Kelmarane, and the best approaches to the next forays.
@Pent: Hadrod and Hadrah are very friendly to you, especially Hadrah (the wife), asking many questions. They eventually steer towards more sensitive subjects, inquiring about being a slave and life in slavery, and so forth. It seems she already knew, and it becomes quickly apparent that she is a queen of gossip and hearsay.
Father Zastoran is please to meet you as well. "Ah, more short folks! I like to see that we are pleasantly represented around here! Maybe Kelmarane will end up being a metropolis of three-foot tall people!" He exclaims with a broad grin.
You find that he loves to discuss all the fine things of society, from poetry, music, books, plays, and so on, many things that have heard others discussed but haven't had the opportunity to actually experience yourself. He inquires about your religious beliefs, and when realizing you are a devout worshipper of the Sun, goes back and forth on the different facets of the gods and goddesses. He reveals that he is a worshipper of Nethys himself, and uses his alchemical talents to further his studies of magic and the way it interacts with the world and the body.
"You know... I've heard stories of an old shrine to Nethys in the hills nearby. Did you know one of them human brothers is a follower of Nehtys as well? Anyway, I'd love to know if it actually existed. I bet it'd have all sorts of knowledge of magic, both divine and arcane. But sadly, I can't go off exploring. My duties keep me here tending to the caravan and Almah's needs. If you go out there though... Well, I hate to impose too much, but if you happened to come across it in your travels... I'd certainly love to know what's inside." His eyes beam with excitement at the prospect.
Pent tries to dot the conversation with any applicable life experiences of his own, but he quiets down when he realizes how limited his lifeline was with his own caravan. He contents himself nicely with someone as enthusiastic to talk as he often is. He asks open-ended questions, which encourage Zastoran to elaborate down colorful roads of conversation.
Pent perks up as Father Zastoran mentions the old shrine. "To Nethys, you say? That sounds quite intriguing, and rightly so. Magic has that way about it. We're tasked with going out there, well, maybe not to that shrine you mention, but we're going to be making excursions back and forth to Kelmarane, if I understand our orders correctly. Who's to say that a side venture doesn't present itself along the waysides? Well, you's to say that it's out there, so I guess I just answered my own question. But that question aside, I think I'll bring that up with the studier of magicks, Maddie. Uh, Mah-Di. He told me that once, and I mean to say it correctly because... if I don't... Hey. He's supposed to show me some papers he came across, and he told me I was going to summon demons since my tongue didn't follow the right syllables. He didn't remember to remind me not to forget them, so I gotta remind him to remember what he needed to." Pent gets up and clasps Father Zastoran's hands, before leaving to find Mahdi.
...
"Mahdi! Hello! Father Zastoran mentioned quite an interesting thing to me just moments ago..." Pent elaborates on almost everything shared between halfling and gnome, save for the last part about remembering.
Aldebert spends some time with his brother the next morning in hushed, but spirited, conversation.
- - -
Aldebert is willing to take on whatever watch duties seem to make the most sense. "I'm not sure what we're expected to see at night, but let's make sure we all get enough sleep so we're not fatigued tomorrow. It might be a very busy day."
When the gnome finds him again, Mahdi is seated cross-legged by a small fire-- really, more a few burning twigs-- he has built out in the bare stone courtyard. A brightly-colored, glossy scorpion is sitting on his knee, almost as if it were basking in the warmth from the tiny blaze.
Mahdi listens with mock-solemnity to the gnome's words, eyes gleaming with the fire's light and with his own amusement.
"Ah yes, I recall the scrolls of which you speak, messire Pent. Unfortunately, they are no longer in my possession," he says, unable to keep his lips from twitching. "I turned them over to the good Father Zastoran, you see. You would have to ask him, now."
Mahdi reaches into the small fire and plucks out one of the half-burned twigs, then uses it to start writing words on the flagstones around him. He doesn't really look at what he is writing, but instead his eyes watch Pent.
"In our earlier discussion you managed to talk a good deal and say almost nothing of import," he says, smile still curving his lips. "I also talk much-- but I say much, too. So. You worship 'Sarah' -- what, Saranrae? I pray to Nethys, but he does not care that I do so. Does your Sarah take a greater interest in you? Has she blessed you with insight to the desert? If we are to be in battle together, messire Pent-- if my brother's life depends on you as an ally-- I would know what it is you can do. Besides talk, and fire your crossbow."
"Ah, I get it. 'Fire' your crossbow. Because you like fire, right?" Pent looks over the scorpion, while talking with Mahdi. "Sarah, Sarenrae. It's actually pronounced 'Saer-en-ray', as she's not likely to 'ran away'. But I understand, as you're not a worshipper." Pent's eyes glimmer a bit with his wordy humour.
"So, alright. We're using words here too much, without moving us forward in understanding each other. Let's change that. Sarah lets me bring healing to others, gives me a chance to bring forth water when folk are thirsty, keep the heat bearable... you know, the more practical things for getting people along on the dusty, dry road. Now, for you and yours. I think I need to start studying more... pertinent prayers, especially because there's a bit of savagery about. I once asked Sarah for help, getting through a rather tight valley, known for its raiders, and I was able to help my soldiers fight a little better. Might have to remember that one again, and again. Nothing like what you can, a course, making him disappear like that. No better protection than having no target to target. Not sure I can help like that." Pent looks up.
"You know you have a scorpion on your leg, don't you?"
Mahdi listens, the charred (and still on-fire) stick scrawling across the flagstones. Words in the flowing Ignan script, black charcoal on the pitted sandstone.
"That is clearer," he says with a small nod when Pent finishes, although his teeth flash white in another smile, "although still said with a thousand more words than it needs."
He shrugs, no malice to his words. "But as I said, I also like to talk. I cannot fault you there. So. You are a god-servant. So is our friend Malki, but I do not know how much he will be traveling with us. Water in the desert is a useful skill, to be sure."
He is silent a moment, eyes dropping from the gnome to what he's written on the stones. Sometimes when the fire spurs his writing, he doesn't even know what words have come until he reads them later.
"Hm? Oh. Yes. This is Sa'amm. He will not harm you."
The howls of the Carrion King are returned by a matched low growls from both Yeenoghu and Ami.
Amiamble looks over the the desert area and Kelmarane and fights a rising wanderlust. He longs to get out there and run among the dunes and dust and sand...and to hunt them gnolls that took his home. Ami's small fists ball as he looks out from the monastery, restraining himself.
He moves closer to his brother so that he might whisper quietly.
"Brother, we are close, aren't we? I can't wait to show those gnolls the whatfor!" Ami smashes his tiny fist into his other tiny hand, a dramatic gesture of what the 'whatfor' entails.
"Maybe tomorrow, Yeenoghu and I will go out scouting. We can range far and wide quickly and scout the city. From there, you can plan a way to smash their defenses. You were always good at plans and fighting, brother."
@Aldebert: Neither the cat or the staff radiate any sort of evil.