Mahdi looks over the things that shine with enchantment, his own eyes glittering in turn with interest as he turns over ring and blade in his hands.
"Ah, if only we'd had the sword in this fight!" he says with a wry head-shake. "The enchantments on the blade would have served us well. Alas, I know nothing of the sword, and for most of us it is much too large."
He shrugs and hands the blade in Kul's direction.
"This ring, however... my brother would get great use of this, but since Almah has requested he bolster defenses around the monastery, I suppose one of us may make use of it. It will let you leap and bound, if you're into that sort of thing."
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = Endure Elements
Smite Evil = 1/1 (+2 attack, +2 damage, +2 AC)
Lay on Hands = 3/3 (1d6 healing)
Yay!
Aldebert puts away his hammer, slowly - and feeling foolish, and picks up his guisarme. He glances at the doorway and spots something moving. He immediately rushes to the door and looks outside for a fleeing figure.
"Uh, gentlemen. We've been spotted." Pent points where last he saw the fleeting shadow. He starts towards the door, intent on preventing a look-out from sounding an alarm. "We need to move quickly. Quickly, quickly, quickly..." Pent looks down, backtracks to his crossbow, secures it, and returns to the door. "Like I said, quickly."
With the creature's death, Kul recovers from his fright and sheepishly walks back to the peryton's body, kicking it. Brushing his hair back from his scarred forehead, Kul searches the faces of his companions looking for sympathy.
"I am so very sorry for running. Terror clenched my heart when I saw it steal my shadow. I'm a sorry wretch for abandoning you. I will strive to make it up to you and do better."
When Kul sees the body, he visibly deflates further.
"Ahh, Grigory, this is where those foul jackals were taking you. Filliped and I are truly the last of the Lions. I only hope he made it out safely."
Turning back to the others, Kul says, "Evidently, this creature was a pet of the gnolls. My companion here, Grigory, was led away a couple of days ago by a team of our captors. He deserved better than this. I'll gladly carry his blade to honor him and use it to settle the unpaid debt these beasts owe."
Seeing Pent's distress, Kul makes ready to leave.
Grigory, once we have cleared this threat, I vow to return and see that you are offered up on a hero's pyre to Sarenrae with all the proper honors. The peryton, on the other hand, will be buried head down in a dark corner to be devoured by vermin.
"They eat the heart out of a man's chest..."
Good thing the man fled then and left the beast to us halflings. Ami titters to himself, then looks to his brother. And the beast would have choked on my brother's heart, for it beats too mightily for any beast.
Ami guides Yeen over to rip the peryton's throat out.
* * *
"Uh, gentlemen. We've been spotted."
Ami stops Pent before the gnome leaves, placing one hand on the gnome's shoulder, bidding him closer. He reaches into his pouch and draws two alchemist's fires and hands them to the gnome.
"Many creatures burn, gnome, and Sarenrae has given us fire. Next time, use these. I should think Sarenrae would be more able to spot our deeds if they are marked by fire...and maybe the burning smell of gnolls," Ami hands over the flasks.
Ami turns to move on, but then turns to whisper again. "If you value your beard, do not drop these, gnome."
Pent tucks his crossbow in his crotch, so he can hold forth open palms. "Fire? Yes! This will do nicely!" Pent takes the two clay pots, and before he fully realizes it, juggles them two times. He catches both, a shocked look on his face turned confident. "I never drop my juggle. Never." He pockets both, smooths his beard, and grabs for his crotch.
After dealing with the gnome, Ami gives Kul a hard look, his eyes somewhat judgmental through the wraps of his face scarf. His eyes flicker to Grigory's body as Ami's mind whirls.
Padding over to the body, Ami leaps off...
Ride vs DC 15 Quick Dismount
...landing easily on his feet. He tries to get the body on Yeen's back, oofing and grunting until the corpse is on. He will secure the body with rope before going to speak to his brother.
"We should return back to the Monastery. This body needs to be burned so that his soul might rise to the Sun and Sarenrae might personally see it to Pharasma's judgment."
As the party gathers their possessions (and Grigory) and prepares to leave, the source of Pent's paranoia moments before reveals itself. A female humanoid with large bird-like wings steps into the doorway of the mill. She has a barbed club in one hand and the other rests on her hip.
"Where ya'll going so fast? That was awful impressive what you did to that nasty critter. Are you here to kill my lover, that big, muscular brute of a man that rules these mongrels?"
Ami freezes as the 'woman' comes into view.
What in Sarenrae's light is that? Ami's hands curl around the SunStaff, another stone loaded, but the weapon does not twirl yet.
"At the moment, we have thoughts of enjoying not being killed." Pent lowers his crossbow as the creature pays them the courtesy of words.
"Would that upset you? If we came to blows against your lover?"
"Zul, never fear. Uh I mean, don't worry about it. We all have our little failures. We just do the best we can - brick by brick we build."
The rest of his comments are cut off by the appearance of the new creature. Aldebert takes the time to check her for evil (Detect Evil as a paladin so I get all three rounds in one happy move action).
"We're here to drive off the mongrels, but we have no specific quarrel with your lover I think. But then we haven't met, so I don't know what sort of man he is."
Aldebert: She definitely radiates evil, though only a faint aura.
She smiles a bit before responding. "Well, if you're not here to offer yourselves into slavery, then why else would you be here? He rules the gnolls, so if you're here to slay them, I'm afraid he won't take too kindly to that."
She turns to Pent. "Hmm. I guess I haven't considered it, seeing that no one in this village so far is remotely capable of challenging him. How about a challenge?" She begins to seductively walk towards Mahdi, one of her talon-like fingers extended to run it over the wizard's cheek (if he doesn't pull away.)
"If you kill that damned snake that lives in the building across the river... Yes, bring me it's head for my stew, and I'll betray my lover for you!"
"Too bad you didn't just ask for a fang. Kul has a fang for you, but not the head. It's still there, and by your wings, I'd bet you'd be able to retrieve it without betraying our presence here. We're all pretty worn out from the viper and the petty-tongue." Pent forces a smile. The whiskers help even it out some.
Kul, uncertain what to do, nervously rubs the scars of his left forearm. His eyes shift back and forth between the winged woman and his companions. He remains wound up and ready to act.
"The snake is dead."
Ami nods along with Pent's words.
We done slain that snake, I think. Kul did it, mostly.
She smiles a crooked-toothed grin at Pent. "It's already dead, eh? Then it shouldn't be trouble to prove it! Bring me the head, and maybe I'll tell you everything you want to know."
She winks at Mahdi and licks her lips. "Everything."
Kul seems nervous and uncertain what to do.
"Shall we all take a trip across the river, then?"
"Harpy," he murmurs, but it's all he has time to say before the woman is sashaying closer to-- to come to him? Oh hells.
He gropes for a smile, and holds very still for the clawed finger that runs along his jaw, conscious that a quick movement on her part could wind up with himself missing a trachea.
"Madam," he says after a throat-clearing, "your offer is as enticing as you yourself are. We-- I-- should be more than happy to present such a magnificent creature as yourself with the tribute of this snake's head. By your leave, we go to fetch it now, and return with all possible haste."
This is the charming, white smile he would have used on the mercenary soldier women if they hadn't all been total ho-bags. Smile, Mahdi, Smile!
Aldebert remains quiet as his inner demons rage against each other in a battle no less epic than the one just fought. Well OK, maybe a little less epic.
She's evil - strike her down now!
It is foolish to attack every evil as it presents itself. There are greater and lesser evils.
Awwww, come on! She's just one harpy, whatever that is. She bleeds I know it!
Just as there are gnolls in Katapesh supporting civilization there, so to may there be evil here that we can use for the greater accomplishment.
Chicken! You're afraid of losing the fight, or looking bad in front of Kul again. Smiter her!
Yes, it's true that I have a smite left today - but she'll just fly away - then what, sprout wings and fly after her?
Oh. Er. Uh. yeah...
Aldebert grits his teeth and says between them, "The snake head is right over here." and he starts angrily walking back across the bridge.
Pent swings his head forward to watch Aldebert and Kul move into the lead, while watching over his shoulder at the harpy, hoping she's comfortable waiting for their return.
"See Kul, I knew you should have taken the whole head, though I didn't know you'd lose your head, well both heads, so at least you have one of them back, and you'll have a second to carry across a bridge and hand off for stew. I suggest you remember which head you aim to give the harpy."
The harpy seems very flattered by Mahdi's words. "Name's Undrella. I'll be waitin' for you right over there," she points to the other building on this side of the river (B7). "Don't keep me waiting too long... My feathers are in dire need of some rufflin'." Undrella struts across the way into the building she pointed to, presumably her home, and disappears from sight as she enters.
As the party heads back across the bridge towards the abandoned market...
Everything seems clear. No patrols or gnolls walking about.
Does the party return the viper's head, or do they take this opportunity to get out of Kelmarane and back to the monastery?
Ami goes to get ahead. And a head.
If necessary, he will use his mighty halfling muscles to *oof* drag the head back to the harpy.
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Aldebert helps to carry/drag the head to Undrella's dwelling.
He whispers to the others while they're carving up the head. "Remember, if we get in a jam, we can always flee east now that we're across the river, and head to the ruins. Lots of narrow passages there will help us defend ourselves if need be."
He tells Kul where the ruins are in relation to their current location as best he can.
Feeling headstrong, Ami looks about the tannery while he is 'heading' in.
Perception
Entering the tannery, some oddly familiar smells fill the air of the building. It seems the tannery has been converted to some sort of make-shift alcehemy lab, with various liquids brewing in a half-dozen cauldrons and all sorts of unsavory reagents scattered about. Loose human-looking body parts, oils (that Kul would recognize as being used in the creation of narcotics), vials of blood, dead rodents, and so forth.
Undrella squeals at the sight of the massive snake head being carried in. "Oh my, you are big and strong. You might just be able to take down Kardswann after all." She bats her crusty eyelids at Mahdi and in her best cutesy-romantic voice that she can muster, says, "He is cruel to me. I want you to kill him. For me?"
Ami feels torn between his natural curiosity and desire to shop and the standing hair on the back of Yeen.
Careful, Yeen. She has not yet shown herself to be wicked. Perhaps she works here for her own salvation as Sarenrae suggests.
Ami leans over to his brother, awhisper.
"Brother, see if she has goods for sale. I could use more of the fires of Sarenrae, those little pots that explode with fire."
You hear the familiar voice of Vardishal in your head again. "K... Kardswann? Why does that name sound so familiar?"
Kul begins to mentally inventory the contents of the lab. He grows more and more concerned as he realizes that this is the lab of an insane person -- not a simple drug lab.
Regardless of any deals we make, this bird creature needs to go. She's an abomination and cannot remain.
"So, we cut off the head. And you're asking us again, to cut off the head?" Pent shifts back and forth uncomfortably, eying the contents of the table.
"We're here to gain the lay of the land, not lay heads at your feet, uh... yeah. No offense, but we'll need some good reasons to throw down against Kardswann. If he dies, who leads? Will the gnolls scatter? He's allowed several beasts to reside amongst these buildings." Pent is quick to point outside the current building.
"You said everything."
As they walk to fetch the head, Mahdi speaks in a quick, low voice to tell the others what he knows of harpies-- their cruel and sadistic nature, but more dangerously, the magical properties of their 'song'.
"Legends tell of men following harpies right off of cliffs, or into rivers or lakes, only to die of exhaustion," he mutters. "I suggest we use this moment to hunt for things we might jam in our ears-- small things that she might not see. Candle wax is ideal but I have none on my person."
But in this parched landscape, he sees no plants with soft leaves that might suffice as impromptu earplugs-- only dust and thorns and rubble. Mahdi stands restless as the others harvest the head and they make their way back.
He finds another smile for the harpy woman. Crusted with filth and dried gore as it is, he's not sure he can bring himself to kiss her hand. Think of Almah, think of Almah, perfumed and clean and sparkling-eyed...
Mind fixed firmly on thoughts of their much prettier employer, Mahdi holds his breath and steels himself to take her vicious taloned hand. He bows over it and brushes a light kiss to her skin.
Later he will need to disinfect his mouth with alcohol.
"My lady Undrella, a glorious creature such as yourself should be showered only with jewels and reverence, not cruelty. What can you tell us of this foul monster that needs killing? This brute is a gnoll, I take it?
"Uh, Maddie, it's Umbrella, I believe. No need to be disrespectful." Pent sticks a finger in his ear, and wiggles it a bit. He then gives Mahdi a thumbs up.
Undrella smiles at Mahdi, her crooked and sharp teeth showing. "My my, for being so handsome, you sure have a hard time hearing. I said he was a man, not a gnoll, silly. More than a man, really. He came about two months ago, calling himself Kardswann, and he killed the leader of the Kuldis gnolls at the time. Lopped his head off with one swing of that big 'ole axe that he carries around. Don't know why, but he then took over as their leader. Maybe it was because they were all 'fraid of him and he felt sorry for them."
As she continues, she begins to circle around Mahdi, getting within inches of the Keleshite's face. Undrella inhales deep through her nostrils, taking in Mahdi's scent. She leans in close to his ear and whispers,
She leans back and laughs before continuing. "Anyway, after killing their leader, Kardswann went over to the ruined church up the hill and walked right through that magically-sealed door. No man that I know of can do that... I think he's a genie or somethin', perhaps. He sure makes wishes come true in the bedchamber... Anyway, after he came back out of the church, he was different. Lot meaner than before. I think something got in his head or somethin'."
Pent can't help but chuckle. He doesn't even try to mask his amusement.
"That's interesting. Plenty now to think about regarding Kardswann. If we're trying for the King on the board, how many pawns do we need to paw to get to him?"
"Brother, see if she has goods for sale. I could use more of the fires of Sarenrae, those little pots that explode with fire."
Aldebert leans over and whispers back to his brother some quiet counsel. "My brother, you don't want anything from her. There's no knowing what she used to create it, and no knowing if it will work when we're in true need. No, we'll get more at camp I'm sure. Stuff that will work too."
Aldebert grips his guisarme and itches for a misstep - something that would give him an excuse. But he does not instigate. He remains quiet and listens carefully.
Ugh!
"Brother, please! Ask for me." Ami pleads with his words and eyes.
Perception
Edit:
Undrella's eyes begin to narrow on Pent and the others. Except for Mahdi, of course.
"I'm startin' to think you're asking me a whole lot of questions, but aren't gonna come through on your part. I can tell you what you need to know, but first... Little gnome, tell me something I need to hear."
She begins to turn her body in a full circle before adding, "Which part of me is clearly my best asset?"
"Ah," says Mahdi with a forced smile. "Well, if my hearing is going it is because my ears are too filled with the beauty of your voice..?"
He swallows rather visibly at the idea she won't use her claws (too much). Maybe someone back at the monastery has ranks in Craft: Protective Cup.
Anyway, just because he's been called out for the falsity of his words is no reason not to keep trying. (This has been his dating philosophy all his life.)
"Your best? Lady, you would ask me to pick the best color of a sunset. The keenness of your talons, the fierceness of your gaze, the, ah, fine feathers on your marvelous rump, the dulcet tones of your legendary voice-- how can I choose?"
Pent's eyes open wide, expecting a riddle of the sphinx. When he's asked his genuine opinion of the harpy's physique, he gives it.
"It's obvious to me that your breasts are the best. It doesn't mean the other parts are worse, it's just that those two mounds rise above the rest." Pent is not bluffing.
Ami stares at the harpy with jaw dropped (not that anyone can see that).
"Best...part...?" Ami squeaks out, his mind aghast at having to speak to a stranger.
That your fleas seem numerous and well fed.
That there are some parts of this room where your stench does not reach.
That your lice infestation has constrained itself to your lower half.
"Feathers...fluffy?" Is all Ami is able to squeak out.
"Brother, please! Ask for me." Ami pleads with his words and eyes.
Aldebert looks inside himself and down at the pleading eyes of his brother. His whisper is a hiss as he replies, "I... I can't!"
Aldebert turns away from his brother as he is wracked with guilt. He loses track of the conversation for a moment and very nearly loses the grip of his guisarme, but he eventually, mostly, recovers. He stands a little off from his brother though, and cannot meet his eyes due to the shame of failure.
"I'll get you some back at the camp." he mumbles almost under his breath.
Weapon Equipped = Guisarme
Conditions = Endure Elements, Family Failure (-2 wis & cha checks)
Smite Evil = 1/1 (+2 attack, +2 damage, +2 AC)
Lay on Hands = 3/3 (1d6 healing)
Sarenrae, it seems that we are all trying to say something nice to this monster?
Kul smiles weakly and says, "Based on your laboratory, your chemical acumen does not seem to be limited by conventional thinking or mores."
Undrella seems very pleases with Pent's... compliments?
She turns to acknowledge Kul's statement, but just stares at him with a blank expression before turning back to the gnome.
"Ooh, you are a fiesty little one! Okay okay, I think I remember Kardswann saying just yesterday that there were 29 in his tribe, countin' himself. Some of them are usually out patroling in the hinterlands though."
The harpy smiles at Pent with the same seductive eyes that were previously locked on to Mahdi.
"If you're goin' up the hill to take down Kardswann, how about we make a deal? If you promise to let me live here in peace after you've driven out the gnolls, I won't warn him you're comin'. I'll even stay out of the fight." She rummages through her pocket and produces two brass keys. "I'll also give you these. They'll open the door to the battle market, as well as all the locks inside. Kardswann's got a few prisoners left if I remember, so these'll open their cells."
She extends her crusty, razor-sharp claw forward towards Pent.
"Do we have a deal?"
Ami crestfalls as his brother lets him down.
He says nothing more, not even acknowledging the offer from the harpy.
What is more important than family?
Pent looks at each member of the away team, more with curiosity than with doubt. He turns back to Undrella with a determined look on his face.
"You offer a very reasonable assistance, and I would be a fool at your feet to decline it with undue animosities. Please know that I can make promises, I've made my share of them, most of which were kept, but you ask me to make a promise that will hold promise only until we can ask a higher authority. Will that do?" He holds his hand forward, allowing the rosebush of claw to envelop his own, rather than stick his hand rashly into thorns.
Mahdi's brows arch at Pent's words (and the transferring of the harpy's fickle 'affections'), but for once he says nothing. He simply watches, hands clenched around his quarterstaff in case she reacts poorly to Pent's condition.
Undrella takes Pent's hand and shakes it. Her talon is dry and stiff, but she makes sure not to scratch him.
"I have faith that you'll convince your 'superiors' of the right thing in this situation. In the mean time, I'll go convince some of th' smugglers that have come into town recently to... opt out of supportin' Kardswann, when the conflict comes. If ya'll are movin' in, you'll want some people here to do business with, right?"
Undrella winks again at Mahdi, not forgetting about her new toy.
"And if you need a place to live, I've got plenty of room in my nest for ya."
With that, she walks away from the conversation towards the back of the tannery, looking occupied with varioud alchemical devices.
Pent trots up to Mahdi, brows starting to descend. He speaks in hushed tones. "I'm only speaking with her to convince her to not hinder us, good man. I'll not compete with you for her affections. Her handshake was purely platonic. She's likely to give you quite the handshake when you offer yours." Pent winks at Mahdi. He then pats Mahdi on the side, as if to suggest that the human would be no match should both decide to woo the woman...ish...she...creature.
"Where to, now? A little time to allow her the chance to speak easy, or can we head straight out? Or... are we returning to the monastery?"
Aldebert grips his guisarme tightly and grinds his teeth during most of the discussion. How much of it is his failure to please his brother, and how much is their new 'companion' is hard to say.
Never the less, he leaves quickly, and first, when the negotiation is complete. He takes big gulps of air in the street and shakes to clear his head.
By my soul - I hope she double crosses us!
Aldebert makes it part way back across the bridge when Pent's question finally catches up with him. He turns to the large nosed fellow and shrugs - uncertain what to do next.
"Let's kill some gnolls." he says simply.