"We want to run, come back when there isn't a gnoll tribe looking to make examples of the old regime." Gorundal says. "I know a small village a day's walk from here. Mostly goat herders overlooked by the bandit raids. We could hide there, then make for Katapesh in the morning."
"And I need to escort them to Katapesh." Haleen added. "With my cut of the proceeds, afterwards."
Hajar begins to distrust these that travel with his sister.
You will come with us. We return to the Monastery of St. Vardishal, Mistress Almah will want to speak with all of you
Nobody detects as evil. Chaotic Neutral isn't evil, neither is greed. If you had a Detect Avarice the needle would be buried in the red zone, and Detect Addictions when pointed at Kalyx would be smoking the handheld detector. (Good thing Yazi doesn't have her dog Doc around. He could get high just sniffing at the woman.) But being opportunistic, especially over being short-changed (perceived or not) isn't inherently evil...unless taken to an extreme.
"I agree, we must report in to the princess in any event, so you should join us. If you need enticement, realize that once princess Almah reclaims the city, she will need some merchants to fill the purchasing needs of the small populace while the city is being repopulated... it may be a very lucrative endeavor."
Bartan makes a small sign with his fingers and thumb, rubbing them together, trying to imply that money could be had, and winks at the merchants. He's essentially trying to let them know surreptitiously that they may be able to charge any price they'd like for their wares in a city in the process of rebuilding.
Hajar nods at Bartan.
And princesses have money, may want one on your side. Khayal says trying to think of a good reason to get them to come with.
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"Regardless of what option you decide we still have to take the pretty birdie into account. When we were sneaking into town she alerted everyone to where we were. Who's to say she won't do it again while we're sneaking out. I figure some nice words and some good wine might go aways to not having her paint a bullseye on us when we leave." She continues walking in the direction Undrela fled as she talks.
Haleen watched the three merchants for their reaction to her brother and adopted brother, and their friends. The three merchants huddled together for a minute. Gorundal looks up and says "We accept your offer to meet the princess, if you will escort us to her."
"You mean Undrella. She comes and goes, using the third floor windows. I think she might have a hideout to the north near the falls. But her and Kardswann had an on-again, off-again relationship. Hot and cold, you might say. We were uh, collecting her potions from the second floor above. The harpy has some kind of brewery up there, and Kalyx was able to extract most of the concoctions so we could um, sell them later."
Hajar looks around and says We should return then. You have what you want correct?
Juluce is neutral to the offer, but Kalyx and Gorundal are definitely interested. Haleen has something on her mind, likely that bounty, that makes her slightly impatient. All would rather get out of Kelmarane has soon as possible, as they keep looking around for more sign of gnolls.
"Agreed, we should go. I must rest and regain my spells... I am all tapped out for the day."
"That's why they asked me to escort. Once we get past the river, we should be safe from any wandering Kulldis tribe members. Besides," Haleen said, giving Hajar a playful punch on his shoulder, "we have the slayers of Kardswann here. Anybody seeing you together is bound to think twice."
Exiting the battle market , you see and hear that not much has changed. The skirmishes appear to be moving westward, but a few hyena dogs still bark at you from the safety of adobe houses.
Khayal is brave but not stupid, the group is in no condition to keep fighting, he tries to stay to the shaddows. Perhaps the route allong the river is best. A direct route could allow someone to figure out where we are staying.
I won't decide which direction to go, however. That will be left to those with better tactical knowledge than I.
Nobody rolled a 1, let's see what happens.
several
sees them
no
oh, yes
Amid all the fighting, which your group barely bluffs and intimidates their way through, the humans do manage to get to the nearby river. Turning South, they used stealth to get back to the Old Monastery. Nearing the end of a long, long day, it is already past dusk you arrive. You are met by Garavel and Almah's guards, who have been anxiously awaiting your return.
Hajar makes his way, painfully slow with his new lame leg, to Almah. He bows low
Most Noble Princess Almah, the Kuldis tribe has been scattered, the Daemon Xulthos destroyed, Kelmerane is yours.
Once back Khayal finds some water and then tends to the wounds of Haleen before checking on his own. Once he has seen them at least looked at he sits down and removes his armor. Breathing heavy still from the days exertion he looks forward to some rest.
Garavel, in his characteristic even-handed voice, says "Avenka Thalma and Dhavyn Barr arrived with a most unusual cargo over a hour ago. The gnolls present wanted to immediately slay the new arrival, and even Dashki had to be severely reprimanded by her Highness. Your companions have been forced to watch over the sleeping form of the giant while we all have been preparing for a counterattack."
"Well done, Hajar nar Jundi" Almah says in reply.
Taking you aside from the others, she whispers when no one is looking "Dashki refused to sheathe his sword when the fallen janni was brought in, and if it was not for Garavel and my guards, I think he would have done violence to me when I ordered him to stand down. When your job in Kelmarane has ended, I want you to kill him, and kill his tame gnolls. I cannot trust him anymore, and his dogs offend me. We are too close to our goal to allow traitors in our midst."
"As for the janni, as Dhavyn Barr has told me of his nature, he will make a fine captive back to the Pactmasters in Katapesh, do you not agree?" she asked.
Haleen and the three merchants begin telling Garavel about the battle market of Kelmarane, of the cruel fights in the arena, and the likelihood that this may be the last day for the Kulldis tribe. Khayal stayed near Haleen, and Garavel finally arranges a spot in the main chapel for the merchants, under the open sky, but in the shade during the day .
"We shall wait for first light in the morning before scouting out to Kelmarane again." Garavel declares, after consulting with Almah.
-------------------------------
Father Zastoran and Anjali Nejem come up from the laboratory, the cleric loudly exclaiming "A good day! A blessed day for Nethys! Why, another day like this, and my stores would be back up to full!" Anjali, though weary, also greets the adventurers.
Everybody crowded around the warriors, wanting to hear how Kardswann was defeated, and what awaited them still in Kelmarane.
-------------------------------
The infighting of Kelmarane continues throughout the night, with occasional fires seen briefly among the ruined houses, but never the chapel or battle market itself.
The fires in the battle market town of Kelmarane congregate on a building near the battle market, then torches line up and move to the north. The torch-line fades away to the north, to the Falls, then fade away in the distance.
You push aside Anakhsunamun at the door, and find Dashki and Celanka scraping the gold layer off of the walls of the room with the blades of knives. They must have been doing this day and night, as nearly half of the filigree is gone. Bags filled with gold flakes litter the floor, and all of the Human and Gnolls' equipment is packed and ready to go.
Anakhsunamun meets you at the door to Shrine to Vardishal and the underground stairs, closing the door swiftly behind her. "The others are sleeping, and after that invader was brought in, it was all I could do to keep Master Dashki calm. We have not disturbed the guard's barricade to the lower levels. What do you want?" she asks belligerently, in broken Common, a Gnollish snap to the words.
"Go, look!" the crone insists, pointing down the hallway to where Kardswann sleeps, Avenka filing the points on her flail near him, "Slay the Mouth of the Carrion King, and you will have to be acknowledged as the strongest! Then the others will forget Rovagug and go back to Lamashtu!" The female gnoll looks at you. "We always follow the strongest." she declares.
----------------
Bartan checks in on Dashki and the gnolls:
But they have disappeared by the time he enters the room. He does see that much of the filigree on the walls is missing.
He then goes to find princess Almah. "My princess, all of my prophecies of late have come true. Lady Irez smiles on me and my predictions. Would you now like me to perform a Harrowing for you? I ask only the gift of your smile, and perhaps the opportunity to kiss your flawless hand, in payment."
Hajar's face remains impassive as Almah pronounces judgement on Dashki, the Gnolls and Kardswann. But his resolve does not waver, he would not save their souls only to have them slain by some Bureaucrat.
Are you sure of this course of action My Princess? The Gnolls would make excellent resources when governing this area, and Dashki has shown his worth.
Hajar though has other ideas, no matter her response he will gather his allies, including Anjali, Dhavyn and Avenka, out of sight and hearing of the others.
Friends. We have fought here and bled here, and indeed my adopted Brother has died here, all for Almah and the Pactmasters. I acknowledge their supremacy in the matters of Law and Government. But what Almah has proposed goes beyond that, it goes into the realms of Evil that I cannot countenance. Hajar says to the assemblage and then he continues
Almah has ordered me to slay the gnoll captives, as well as the man Dashki. She has also said that she will keep the Janni Kardswann as a captive "present" for the Pactmasters. I will not do these things, in fact, I will do the opposite. I will go this very night and free Kardswann and the others and bide them flee with all haste. It is my sincere wish that you all help me with this task. However, at the very least do not inform the Princess of my actions until they are finished.
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Catching on to the conversation Yazi manages to bite her tongue instead of voicing her thoughts on the matter, for the moment, as the merchant makers her request to the paladin.
Later that night when she goes to check on the gnolls and Dashki and sees them happily and hastily breaking down the murals for wealth she can't help but smirk a little before disappearing back to her comrades. Had she not heard the merchant's words she might have said something to the defacers but as it was now she was just glad they were still breathing. While she had no doubt that Hajar would refuse such a request the merchant was not without plenty of other minions.
Even later that night when Hajar makes his plea Yazi has a serene smile on her face as she puts her hand on his shoulder. "Tortoiseshell my friend, I would help you kick down the gates of hell if you asked of me. Without boots on too!"
When told of the plans, Bartan immediately sits down and begins a harrowing to determine the correctness of the course of action that Hajar is suggesting.
The Bridge (guidance about specific action, 1gp)
=> 8: The Beating (Neutral Evil, Strength)
=> 27: The Waxworks (Chaotic Evil, Constitution) [Reversed]
=> 19: The Trumpet (Lawful Good, Constitution) [Reversed]
=> 17: The Crows (Neutral Evil, Dexterity)
=> 25: The Tangled Briar (Lawful Evil, Constitution)
=> 34: The Rakshasa (Lawful Evil, Intelligence) [Reversed]
=> 52: The Tyrant (Lawful Evil, Charisma)
"My friends, I am worried about this decision, though I agree with your intentions completely. The cards are telling me things that I wish not to hear."
"If we are to follow this course of action, betraying the princess, we will be forced into direct confrontation with her and her guards, likely requiring physical violence. The reversed Waxworks suggests that our impetus for this course of action is fueled by adrenaline and quick decisions, not thoughtful reasoning. We will likely find that some of our closest allies do not have noble intentions, and may even find that we must steal from those we care for to complete our goals. The Tangled Briar card, shown here, suggests that an ancient object or person will have a great influence on our likelihood of success... perhaps the demon has not been exorcised as well as we wished?"
"The Rakshasa here suggests that enslavement can be cast off, so we may yet be able to truly redeem Kardswann. Finally, the Tyrant in this alignment suggests that princess Almah knows not what she does in requesting that Hajar kill these prisoners... she will likely cause harm to herself and her subjects through these misguided efforts."
"In conclusion, I believe that Lady Irez is telling me that our best option is to convince Almah to change her mind, not to go against her directly."
Khayal spent most of the evening tending after Haleen. He felt little reason to venture around. Once Hajar asks for his aid he will reply, I know nothing of fate or politics, but lady Alma has been wise in the past. Perhaps we can come to a better conclusion. We delivered a city to her, she owes us a favor.
He then goes to find princess Almah. "My princess, all of my prophecies of late have come true. Lady Irez smiles on me and my predictions. Would you now like me to perform a Harrowing for you? I ask only the gift of your smile, and perhaps the opportunity to kiss your flawless hand, in payment."
"Yes." Almah says pensively. "If what you and the others say is true, we may be moving to Kelmarane before the sun is hot tomorrow."
Along with Garavel, Almah takes you to the library in the Monastery, and has you perform a Harrowing for her specifically. Almah wants to know about her task from the Pactmasters in taking over and opening the battle market of Kelmarane to Human-led trade.
Bartan sits down in front of lady Almah, bowing deeply to her before pulling out his cards. "My lady, it is my honor to read your future. Hopefully lady Irez smiles on your plans to reopen the battle market."
The Bridge (guidance about specific action)
=> 25: The Tangled Briar (Lawful Evil, Constitution) [Reversed]
=> 45: The Lost (Chaotic Evil, Wisdom)
=> 11: The Cricket (Neutral Good, Dexterity)
=> 37: The Winged Serpent (Lawful Good, Wisdom)
=> 51: The Courtesan (Chaotic Neutral, Charisma)
=> 14: The Peacock (True Neutral, Dexterity)
=> 10: The Dance (Lawful Good, Dexterity) [Reversed]
"The Tangled Briar reversed, here, suggests that the beginning of your task will be influenced greatly by some person or thing from your past, who has brought you great pain, but also brings hope for the future."
"The Lost card signifies that the reason behind your plans may.... not be wholely sound in logic. This could be the product of a miscommunication with someone who asks the task of you."
"The Cricket suggests that you may be required to travel a long way to accomplish your goal, but will be well rewarded for it."
"The Winged Serpent, here, suggests that knowing the right time to take advantage of your situation will be absolutely necessary for success in your goal."
"The Courtesan could indicate several things... it could be that a woman of power (not yourself) is key to shaping events, or that a person must be wooed with political grace."
"Your ultimate goal is to restore the beauty of Kelmarane, bringing it back to its former glory, and you will succeed at that goal, though you may have to push some others out of your way to reach it."
"Finally, your sacrifice card is the Dance. The meaning of this card is unclear to me... it could be that you must abide by the patterns that have been placed in front of you, but the card's reversal suggests that your plans may not be for the good of the many, and that your dance may entrance and ultimately destroy those who you hold dear."
"So, my princess, given what I see in the cards, I would tread very lightly, and think very hard on any actions in the near future. If you allow the Lost to influence you too much, you may fall to the insanity that it represents. You may also need to court favor with someone in a faraway place to convince them that Kelmarane is worth salvaging. And finally, you must watch your step in your dance of political intrigue, or you may crush those you care for underfoot."
At some point after talking with the others Hajar will go and see the Princess Almah.
Before he does this he pulls Yazi aside and says to her Go to the gnolls and prepare them for flight. I will go and speak with Almah, but be prepared to force the issue if we must. I do not know how much the others support us in this, we may act alone. and before he leaves he embraces her as a brother would a sister Thank you. Thank you for your trust in this matter.
Hajar moves swiftly, in full armor and carrying Tempest sheathed as normal on his back. He heads for Almah's apartments and seeing Garavel he says I wish to speak with the Princess. It is urgent.
Assuming Garavel lets him through to speak with her, Hajar sees Bartan leaving after his Harrowing.
Hajar bows low to the Princess and says I must first apologize for a lie by omission my Lady. seeing the confusion on her face Hajar says I cannot do as you asked me earlier today. I cannot slay the gnolls nor can I allow the Noble Janni Kardswann to be held prisoner against his will. The Daemon which held him enthralled is defeated and it is my firm belief that Kardswann did not follow the creature by his own free will. He was ensorcelled somehow, we saw evidence of this in the Battle Market when he had the chance to resist us but chose to be defeated. Hajar says this in a rush but then slows down and continues As a boon for gifting you with Kelmerane, please allow me to occupy this most Holy Monastery of St. Vardishal. I will take responsibility for the Gnolls, Dashki and the Templar Kardswann. They will remain here or be banished from the lands of Kelmerane on pain of death. Please Princess, do not ask this of me, I cannot do this. Hajar pleads with the Princess.
Almah sits quietly during the Harrowing, Garavel standing behind her. When you are finished, she says "The Pactmasters, masked rulers of Katapesh, are as mysterious as they are fickle. Entire wealthy families can be brought up in a single fortnight by their favor, or dashed to pieces, the survivors exiled on pain of death, and without explanation, if they lose that favor. Katapesh itself has both humans and non-humans alike, but there are many gnolls in the city, too many for most Humans, but the Pactmasters are ambiguous. The brutish hyena-men often impose their 'survival of the strongest' upon others, even passers-by in the marketplace, since they know their nature is not limited in the city, nor the city's courts. When my family was given the task of re-opening Kelmarane, many, including myself, saw it not as a banishment, but a chance to establish a Human center where laws of propriety and decency are upheld as greatly as the business opportunities the Pactmasters hold sacrosanct."
Almah paused. "However," she continued, "trade items from the gnolls in the Brazen Peaks can be...profitable. What I am cautious of is becoming a flower blooming in the desert without protective thorns. Too many-" the princess almost spat out "gnolls", but checked herself and said "brigands would see us as a fat meal. Kelmarane is a battle market for a reason. I had thought a gnoll expert would help keep them at bay, but he is turning native on us."
"I must think about this." the princess declared. I thank you for the divination, Harrower." she told Bartan. "You have shown the cards fairly. Now I must decide what to do about them."
--------------------
Princess Almah stood with her arms folded, her face blank, her majordomo Garavel impassive as they hear your objection. When you are done, the woman is silent for several minutes, her eyes boring into yours. Finally, she speaks.
"A paladin's gift?" she asks rhetorically. "I had thought better of one sworn to upheld the Dawnflower's Code of steadfastness against evil. Still, Almah said, turning to one of the empty bookshelves in the room, "'nothing succeeds like success', as my uncle would say. If Kelmarane is indeed conquered as you say, then we will be leaving this place and heading to the battle market in the morning. Then, and only then, I might feel more merciful to the one who the desert caravan leaders called 'The Mouth of the Carrion King'."
"As for Dashki and his gnolls." the woman added, "I need someone to keep the worst of the gnolls away, not a man trying to become a gnoll in all but appearance. Kelmarane will not be just a marketplace where anything is allowed for the right price, like Katapesh."
She looks back at you. "Perhaps Sarenrae can teach common decency where nature does not." Almah questioned. "We would not have, of course, harmed this monastery when we left, even if it became a redoubt for any gnoll tribesmen you failed to slay. I know some of my guards' loyalties lie with the Pactmasters, and not with me. Now I know where your loyalty lies, as well."
Almah waves a hand at you. "Go!" she commanded. "I shall sleep with one hand on my dagger tonight, as before. The morning comes none too soon, for me."
The impromptu dinner party winds down, the merchants finding places to bed down for the night, as well as Haleen. The guards change their shift, and the cool desert night sky is quiet at the Monastery once more.
Hajar falls to his knees in thanks to Almah My Lady, forgive me if I offended. It is my Faith in the Dawnflower which bides me to stay my hand and offer kindness. I will work diligently to repay the Lady's generosity by turning this Monastery into a beacon of hope, contemplation and prayer. I believe that with time and faith all of them can serve as loyal patrons and servitors of Sarenrae and Kelmerane. Hajar says to the Princess, before standing and departing.
Hajar finds Khayal and Yazi as soon as possible. The Lady grants me a boon. She will allow me to keep the four here in the Monastery. he continues I will stand Vigil this night, until Almah has taken Kelmerane I do not believe them truly safe.
Much relived that the situation was handled amicably, Khayal gives a warm big smile. Happy both for Hajar and for the fact that at least for now he would not need to see between whom his loyalties most lied.
He take a cup of goat milk and warms it by the fire, not too hot, just warm. Sips on it before finally getting some rest.