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With a sigh, Amir -- now literally saddled with the deceased wereleopard -- just runs a hand through his hair sheepishly at the idea of leaving the man-beast with the guards. Something about dumping a corpse on in someone's arms just rubbed him the wrong way; doubly so for ruining some Average Joe's night shift. Dumping it in the butcher's basement was an even worse prospect though, given the potential mutilation of their proof of success all for the chance to make a few quick coins.
"Nah. Khayal's right. 'Sides, this way means I won't get stuck dragging his carcass back to the Princess in the morning," mused the Pathfinder, still astride his faithful (albeit unruly) camel. "Go ahead and get started ordering those drinks. I'll catch up once I've dropped off our Osirian friend here."
And with that, Amir set off along the streets of Kelmarane, intent on finding someone trustworthy enough to deposit this corpse on for safekeeping. As almost an afterthought, the travel-weary man yells back as he began to saunter off, "And whores! Get some whores!"
Shameless in his decree, Amir was determined that if this was destined to turn into some sort of drunken debacle, he might as well make it the most absurd debacle he could muster. Not like he was getting any younger anyway.
Amir managed to find the night patrol to hand over the corpse to, and only his association with the Heroes of Kelmarane kept him from joining the deceased in a holding cell.
In the morning after a good time was had by all, perhaps too good a time for some...
Among the breakfast crew rumors about the adventurers' battle in the Old Shrine flew quickly, with everything from multiple leopards found to the corpse belonging to a circus trainer of great cats.
Hajar went to his room, he did not go "out". Hajar will report to the Princess Almah as soon as possible Mistress, we have slain the leopard as requested. It was a man, not a beast. A man cursed to walk the land as a halfbeast, he was quite mad.
Paige wakes up and notices Hajar making his way to the Battle Market. She follows him to report to the princess. If she passed her save. Otherwise she will vomit on whatever it is she drank sleeping down by the river alone;)
Bartan does not fare so well in the morning, and is definitely slow in joining the rest of the group.
Khayal's wife had kept him up all night. He seems noticeably tired in the morning. When he wakes up all he wants to do is go back to sleep, but there is a job to be done. He heads to the battle market to meet up with his companions.
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Some say partying is like making a deal with a devil, exchanging a great deal of pleasure now for a world of grief later. If ever there was a living embodiment of such a tenant to such a concept, Amir was proving it by serving as its avatar.
Eyes bloodshot, head pounding, and bearing the brunt of soreness in muscles the Pathfinder hadn't even been aware of, the trials of his highly unprofessional nightlife shenanigans were coming back to bite him now in force. As he hobbled his way into the common room of the Lucky Cup shoeless and disheveled, the explorer couldn't help but feel a little on edge, eyes twitching ever-so-slightly at the slightest sound of pots, pans, and mugs of the morning crew, now magnified to absurd levels in his ears; everything seemed so focused and intent on doing the man indirect harm, it may as well have been orchestrated!
But it was totally worth it.
Sliding up to the bar, Amir rapped his knuckles against the counter top, quietly motioning for some form of ale, coffee, greasy food... anything to help stem the tide of dizziness and discomfort taking up residence in his noggin.
"Any word from Princess Almah for the Heroes of Kelmarane?" moaned the bard to the barkeep, his voice a hushed whisper amidst a din of goings-on as he fought a war on two fronts; one to keep from vomiting all over the establishment, the other in a vain struggle to sober up.
Hajar went to his room, he did not go "out". Hajar will report to the Princess Almah as soon as possible Mistress, we have slain the leopard as requested. It was a man, not a beast. A man cursed to walk the land as a halfbeast, he was quite mad.
"It was a sad thing to kill him, but as our friend Hajar mentioned, he had been driven mad. May his god or gods find him and take him from his anguished life."
An expedition should be mounted to dismantle that temple at once. Nasty place. return the site to nature, Princess!
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After sobering up to a mild degree and getting himself properly clothed, the Pathfinder arrived -- albeit somewhat late -- to the aforementioned meeting. Perfectly content to let the Abbot Protector explain the situation, it wasn't until Paige pitched the idea of tearing down the undeniably dangerous -- but also significantly valuable -- All-Seeing Temple.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold on now! Let's not do anything hasty," interrupted the Pathfinder, literally stepping between the druidess and the Princess as if to plead his own case. "Yeah, okay, sure, it's a dangerous plcae; that mist in the lower levels was driving us all a little crazy, our dead friend included. It's full of spiders. It's got a choker problem. Don't even get me started on the magical snakes! But it's still historically important. Just hear me out: there're things in that temple that could be wildly invaluable not just for Kelmarane, but for Nethys' faithful or, if you're willing, the Society."
He paused momentarily, switching his focus between the assembled heroes and the ever-appealing Princess Almah, now addressing the patrons therein as a whole.
"If you destroy that temple, you run the risk of losing hundreds if not thousands of years of history, not to mention missing out on an opportunity to draw some valuable assets to the battle market. If we could somehow clear it out and convince some of the clergy of Nethys to return and reestablish it properly -- and keep an eye on the holy smoke below ground -- they'll need to visit Kelmarane to stock up and resupply, not to mention bring in some commodities of their own to barter with... say, something like magical trinkets. That's gold in your pockets and the pockets of the Pactmasters! If you think that's still too risky, then at least let an outside source have a look at it; let me call in the Pathfinders. The Society can root through it first, collect what they can, ship it back to the Grand Lodge in Absalom, lock it up tight in their massive vaults, then burn the site to the ground. Everyone gets what they want, and you don't even have to get your hands dirty."
Paige simply stands with an annoyed look her face, half-petting/half-scratching Docs's head to give him something to focus on...
Fine fine, leave it for a thousand years. Nature has a way of reclaiming it's space from blights like that temple built in its midst.
Awe, he's forgotten my earlier whomping! What a forgiving dog you are...I must return this favor one day *scratchity scratch.*
Great Desert Princess, surely you have more important tasks for the heros of Kelmarane! What can we do that you would entrust them, and I their loyal squiress, with your most needed tasks!? Paige attempts at high noble speech, like Hajars. But surely fails in the attempt...
Um Yes, I prolly could have chosen my words better:S
While the adventurers banter, Garavel escorted Princess Almah into the room, where she took her seat on a cushioned chair. The noises of the battle market below start up in the morning's usual activities, the vendors setting up their stalls. The smell of chicken sizzling on the bar's grills below also wafted upwards to your level. Several of the battle market's guards are present at the edges of the room, the young men wanting a glimpse of the threat to the caravans.
Princess Almah listened to Hajar, Bartan, Paige, and Amir, and was about to reply when Master Al-Hazeed came puffing up the stairs. "I came here as soon as I heard." the older man exclaimed. "If I'd known you came in during the night, I would have met you at the inn! Now, then, let's see this uh, great cat?" Al-Hazeed paused, seeing the dead vagabond instead on the floor.
"Our heroes were telling me how it was not just a leopard, Master Al-Hazeed." Almah explained. "It seems we had a were. I was about to ask if the creature had bitten any of our people, so that I could warn them of a were's curse, and have them watched during the next full moon."
Hajar says Perhaps we could arrange a burial for the man. He was from Ipeq. May the Goddess shine her brightness upon his Soul.
Finaly loosing some of his grogginess from last night Khayal speaks up, How does a were's curse manifest? And if someone was bit what can be done about it? He looks over his body trying to remember if he was bit or just scratched. It is hard to tell in battle sometimes.
@earlier arguing: "I agree that the temple should be reclaimed by the followers of Nethys. It is too special to lose."
"Princess, I don't believe anyone was bitten. He was using a strange knife that Miss Yazi now carries, which hurts its wielder each time it is used. Very curious."
"From Ipeq?" Al-Hazeed asked. He studied the man's face and clothes while Garavel talked. "Lycanthropes," the man rumbled in his bass voice, his hands folded behind his back, "are rare but not unknown in these parts. Some call it more of the chaos the beast-men in these mountains bring, the curse of being bitten and turning into a beast yourself. If any of you were injured severely, you should be watched, just in case. The only cures I have heard of involve ancient herbalism or venerable priests curing the condition."
"Sand and stars!" Master Al-Hazeed exclaimed, interrupting the majordomo. "I've seen this man before!" Garavael raised an eyebrow as Al-Hazeed continued. "In the court of the Sheikh of Ipeq, there was a rising young man named the 'Falcon Emir'. I think name was Haidar Yunan, yes. Four months ago his entire household was found slaughtered in a single night. Everyone assumed it was a rivalry between the Emirs of the court, albeit something that horrendous would raise the ire of the Sheikh, had it continued. Haidar Yunan was not found, but rumor had it that assassins had taken his body away. To think this was his fate!" The older man stood, smoothing his robes.
"I am glad the threat and the mystery is solved, Master Al-Hazeed." Almah said from her chair. "We should offer the poor man a burial here, in the sanctified cemetery. As for the Old Shrine, I think Pathfinder Amir has the best course of action. We will send word out with the caravan masters. If the priests of Nethys will not reclaim it, let the Pathfinders plumb its mysteries. Either way, more human habitation will be good for Kalmerane."
"As for the Emir's weapon, Cavalier Yazi," Almah suggested, "perhaps Father Zastoran should study it, and discern if it is dangerous or not."
Khayal nods at Yazi's quick comment. She is a fast one.
Hajar bows to the Princess while shooting a scowl at the irreverent Yazi. Thank you kind Princess for your wisdom. I will go now to prepare the rites of burial for the man Haidar. May the Goddess shine her light on his soul.
"I believe you mentioned a reward for the beast's capture, Master Al-Hazeed?" Almah mentioned to the older man, who had stood back after his identification of the corpse. "Eh? Yes, yes I did." the merchant said, his hand on his chin. "I'll pay the reward, of course. Getting rid of a were is more than I bargained for, but well worth the money! I will have to examine my own guards, make sure they were not bitten."
"And I agreed to match it, and shall, for the same reasons." Princess Almah stated. She rose from her chair, and moved to the doors in the back of the room. "It is time for me to open the battle market to visitors." Almah said. "Ask Garavael and the guards if you need any help with the burial." as she left the chamber.
Going to Father Z's lab downstairs, you show him the magical katar. The old man is pleased you would come to him, and when he finds out your tale of battle, he proclaims himself a cleric of Nethys, and wishes he had gone with you, had he known. He can definitely get the word out to the nearby towns via the merchant caravans, and call for clerics of Nethys to come and restore the Old Shrine.
As for the katar, it takes the elderly cleric a few days to study the blade , and after that time, he tells you that you did well in bringing the katar to him. (He catches Undrella playing with the katar one afternoon, and that sets him back a bit chasing the harpy down.)
It turns out En-Nebi, Blade of the Leopard is indeed cursed. If the weapon is used for too long (i.e., a critical hit is confirmed with the blade upon a target), the wielder will contract lycanthropy, becoming a Katapeshi wereleopard lycanthrope. Its' advanced age (300 years since it was crafted) means the blade was made from the start to have such a curse, and not added recently. But Father Zastoran is at a loss to explain why someone would make such a blade, and why someone would willingly give it to another, once the curse was known. "Weres don't spread their curse in this fashion!" the cleric exclaims, bewildered. The vicious property of the blade is also a mystery, because no sane warrior would willingly put such a determent on a favored weapon.
Father Zastoran recommends not using En-Nebi, Blade of the Leopard at all, and keeping it locked up here at the battle market until it can be dispelled by a proper cleric. Or the blade could be melted down and completely destroyed...
Undrella is disappointed she wasn't allowed to play with the new shiny thing.
---------------------END OF "The Refuge of Nethys"------------------
---------------------NEXT, BOOK TWO: The House of the Beast---------
Hajar nods at Almah in thanks. After he performs the Rite of Burial he says to his friends I will retire to the Monastery if anyone requires me.
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Yazi spends those days almost literally perched on Z's shoulder, observing everything involving the blade like a vulture. Even she becomes agitated at the harpy's interference. As the final results come in she can't help but run a finger over the blade's patterns as she finally speaks she uses a very wistful tone. "Thank you... I will keep your... Recommendation... close in my mind."
Paige spends some time preparing potions, knowing full well that the hero's of Kelmarane will need them in the upcoming battles.
Bartan spends several days at the gambling house, perfecting his craft. He has been tirelessly studying his deck of magical cards, and has learned some wonderful new things about using harrow cards in combat. He's also learning from Yazi that paying attention to the world around him is more important than he realized, and decides to force himself to pay more attention.
Paige spends some time preparing potions, knowing full well that the hero's of Kelmarane will need them in the upcoming battles.
Paige visits Undrella a few for tips on potion making. She will buy a few potions of CLW for future need. Then Paige plies her trade as a Candle Maker.
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Nodding her thanks she'll take up the offered seat, momentarily forgetting her reason for coming here as she watches Khayal get scolded. After a while of looking over the room she'll snap back to the present. "Um, yes, sorry to bother you two when your being intimate but I was curious, do either of you like dogs?"
Yazi faintly smiles as the Paladin's poeticism seems to have returned. "I was just wanting to check up on you, I had wanted to forget all about those caves and the crazy gasses I forget you're running a body for two. Didn't want to bring it up in front of Classy or Paige but I was wanting to just make sure you and Tortoiseshell were doing okay, no idea what those gasses might have done to someone like you."
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"It relieves me to know your okay, and know that if you choose to act against the Carrion King you must merely ask of me and I'll lend you whatever aide I can." Letting a moment pass where she shifts her weight to one foot then the other she'll then step up close to the Paladin. "Now then, I wasn't merely teasing when I said I'd like to thank you for keeping me from an early meeting with my Goddess." She'll then step even closer, placing her hands on the Paladin's shoulders.
Placing his bandage back on his shoulder, Khayal adds,
And they can keep you company when my friends pull me away.
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A hurt look begins to spread across Yazi's face. "... Do you... Not find me attractive?"
A sigh of relief escapes from Yazi. "That's nice to hear. You see, I was wondering if you two would be open to taking Doc in? He's getting on in years and I don't feel comfortable dragging him along when we go out... And explore crazy ass caves..."