You have been traveling together for more than a week on a dreary camel caravan from the town of Solku to an unknown location in the northern scrublands of Katapesh.
The man who hired you is Garavel, the no-nonsense major-domo of a merchant princess awaiting you at your destination.
In the distant haze to the west, you can just make out the immense outline of Pale Mountain looming over the mid-evening horizon like a tombstone.
Pausing to take a drink of water Boramyr wipes the sweat off his brow and then puts his helmet back on.
I wonder how much further. It has been to long since I was near here.
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Kat sits in the wagon watching the others about her. She sees their lips move from time to time and is able to pick up some of their conversations by reading their lips, but generally is left to her own. When the mountain comes into view, she thinks, for about the hundredth time, that she could be at their destination in a matter of minutes, if only the others could move so quickly.
With that, she reaches up and brushes the sweat from her forehead before looking over at the major domo and wondering what will be required when the group arrives at their destination. What is happening at this Kelmarane town?
Morrigan rides her camel close enough to the caravan to maintain her guard but far enough away from the rest of the travelers to avoid distraction. Distraction can get one killed after all. She looks towards the horizon, welcoming the coming night; the time of day when Morrigan fells most comfortable. The cool embrace of darkness is her only true friend. Well, darkness and her pig familiar, Bacon, an intended sacrifice to the god Zon-Kuthon that was saved during Morrigan's escape to freedom, who now bounces loyally behind her on its short, stubby legs.
Noonan once again wipes his face as he rides along, the bent-backed young man is mostly silent during the trek, only muttering when spoken to. It seems the heat has sapped his energy and he is focusing on finishing this journey as soon as possible.
Belros rides mostly in silence, thinking about all the wonderful information he can send back to his venture captain. Every once and a while he'll open up to the group asking simple questions as he gets a feel for those around him.
Why are you guys here?
He asks
I myself am looking for any and all information about our destination,where ever that may be to help the society better understand this region, any historical artifacts we may find would be helpful as well
He starts playing with a flying insect that has landed on his camel as he listens to his fellow party members.
Anaara trudges along the path next to the caravan to stretch her legs, reaching up every so often to give the pale-furred, large-eared fox draped over her shoulders and backpack an affectionate scratch between the ears.
"Well, Kevi, it's certainly a change." The fox snorts, seemingly in disdain. "I know it's hot and you're tired, but it's better than Lord Kelemar's council chambers. At least it's not hot AND stinking of ten different perfumes and old men."
She playfully flicks the creature's ears. "Besides, we get to travel without being cooped up in some rich lady's palanquin or forced to drive the animals in the caravan's dust. And just think of what we get in return, Kevi..."
Grabbing the waterskin hanging from the camel to her side, she fills a small tin mug, drinks from it, then tops it off and offers it to the fox, who laps greedily.
"Well, let's keep going, sweet."
You near your destination.
As soon as the craggy tree appears over the next hill,
it becomes obvious why it is called the Sultan’s Claw.
With five immense, mostly leafless branches, the growth
looks more like a giant skeletal talon than a thing
of living wood.
As you top the last rise, a caravan of a half-dozen
wagons and a large tent clustered around the distinctive
tree comes into view. Camels in a nearby pen prance in
agitation, and a clutch of confused goats and livestock
wander the grounds around the wagons. Perhaps a dozen
men and women rush around the campsite, chasing down
an animal or hastening toward the center of the cluster,
near the Sultan’s Claw, with pails of water in their hands.
One of the wagons is on fire!
Lush orange and red flames engulf an elaborate wooden
wagon emblazoned with painted moons and stars. A gout
of smoke pours from an open door, and as you approach an
ill wind blows a number of colorful fortune-telling Harrow
cards from inside the wagon.
One of the cards blows directly toward Katenui, catching
against her chest in a burst of orange cinders. It is the
Cyclone! Signifying a force that tears through whatever it
meets at the behest of an intelligent being. The card portends
war, arson, and destructive plans.
As you shift the focus of your eyes from the Cyclone to the
wagon, the whole of the Sultan's Claw erupts into brilliant
flame.
The central flap of an elaborate tent flies open and a regal
woman who can only be Almah steps out into the firelit night.
“Douse that flame!” she shouts to the men surrounding the
wagon before turning in your direction. “Ah, Garavel!” she
says. “And just a moment later than the nick of time, as usual.”
Looking specifically past her major domo and directly at you,
Almah barks out a simple order before running off
toward the fire: “Find some way to help!”
- Put Out the Fire: Almah, Garavel, and four soldiers
dressed in the distinctive red chitin-plate armor of the
Pactmaster Guard run back and forth between the burning
fortune teller’s wagon and an uncovered wagon about
20 feet away. The latter contains a huge barrel holding
enough drinking water to serve the entire campsite for a
week.
- Pull Wagon Out of the Way: Four burly mercenaries
struggle with an enclosed wooden wagon within feet of the
burning wagon, hoping to move it to safety before an errant
spark causes it too to burst into flame.
- Heal Wounded Firefighters: A red-headed halfling
cleric kneels next to two severely burned mercenaries
who tried to enter the burning wagon. He is tending to a
badly wounded mercenary, but he is unable to focus on
his second patient, a female sworder, who lies near death
from terrible burns and smoke inhalation.
- Deal with Frightened Animals: A modest collection
of pigs, goats, and sheep accompanies Almah’s party on the
journey to Kelmarane. The flaming wagon has unsettled
these creatures, which somehow escaped from their pen in
the confusion surrounding the fire’s outbreak. The
middle-aged human camel driver and his wife do their
best to wrangle the panicking animals, but their efforts
are quickly being overrun by the chaos of the situation.
What are you going to do in Round 1
Anaara
Katenui
Morrigan
Belrose
Boramyr
Noonan
Bahram
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Knowing that she can not do everything herself, Kat calls out, her speech understandable, although curt, as she jumps down and seeks to help the wounded firefighter.
Looking at Anaara, she calls out.
Help animals.
Then glancing and the more physical members of the group.
Help move wagon.
Kat then crouches down and touches the wounded firefighter, calling on her connection with the sun to bring its healing and life giving power to the woman. As she does so, Kat's eyes flare brightly for a brief instant like the sun, before returning to their normal hazel hue. A moment later, Kat's hand takes on a pinkish glow, like the first rays of the morning sun. These rays project from her hand into the injured woman where they warm up and heal some of her wounds, causing the burns to lighten and any bleeding to cease.
Cast CLW:
Before she even hears Katenai's call, Anaara is rushing toward the frightened animals. She isn't skilled in handling them, but she knows there is something she can do...
She quickly identifies the strongest-looking of the panicked animals and begins a low, eerie chant in Kelish. As she chants, the frightened animal visibly weakens and becomes more manageable.
Morrigan steels herself from the chaos and dismounts from her camel, her dark cloak flowing like a living shadow behind her. She heads towards the largest grouping of panicked animals and casts a spell hoping to knock some of them out so they can be carried to safety.
Speaking in Orcish, "Consider yourselves blessed my animal friends. I shall do my best to save you. Zon-Kuthon has deemed that you need not be sacrificed this day. Color spray!"
Bacon assists by acting similar to a sheep-dog, hopping and squealing around the animals to guide them in the right direction.
Noonan hustles over to where the guards are trying to move the wagon. Let me help! He says and grabs hold of a free surface to move the wagon away from the flames.
Boramyr dismounts and runs near the Burning wagon.
Torag grant your servant your assistance
Creating a downpour of water over the burning wagon in an attempt to put it out.
Having been dealing with animals for most of his life, Belros instinctively heads towards the frightened animals, however after seeing so many others head that direction he instead turns is attention to the cart that needs to be moved. He calls out in common I'm here friends, Let's move this away from the fire. He grabs the cart and begins to push.
Noonan puts his humpback into it.
Kat sits in the wagon watching the others about her. She sees their lips move from time to time and is able to pick up some of their conversations by reading their lips, but generally is left to her own. When the mountain comes into view, she thinks, for about the hundredth time, that she could be at their destination in a matter of minutes, if only the others could move so quickly.
With that, she reaches up and brushes the sweat from her forehead before looking over at the major domo and wondering what will be required when the group arrives at their destination. What is happening at this Kelmarane town?
Bahram was riding along trying to avoid the full brunt of the sun as best he could. he missed the shade of the awnings of the city, there were plenty of places there to hide from the heat when need be, and plenty of places to find drink and food at the perfect price.
finally he decided to ride along side of the wagon an old friend was in. he flips open the flap. greeting kat with his roguish grin. he signs to her, you comfy? don't suppose there is room for another by your side?
Bahram sees Kat take charge of the situation, she is definitely just like Haleen, and that was what he liked about her.
Well this is one fire I surely can't be blamed for. he says to himself as he ponders the direction he is needed, animals hated him. he wasn't much of a healer, the muscle-heads had the wagon. but he needed to prove his worth, after all it was a wonder he even got hired for this journey, had it not been for some greased palms and some higher ups that though it best to be rid of him.
still he was certain that girl was not anyone important...was she? oh well no time to ponder those thoughts.
Bahram took the best course of action he could think of, and joined the buck brigade
Belros snickers to himself as he watches Noonan do what he can to try and push the cart, He knows he has the heart, will and strength but in his haste he appears to be doing more leaning than pushing. Belros offers his advice Push with your legs friend!
Trying! Noonan sweats and huffs.
A larger pig looks at Anaara, moves back a few steps, snorts and slinks away.
It, along with six other pigs, goats, and assorted other animals is caught in Morrigan's color spray, five of the animals fall to the ground unconscious and the remaining two scamper away.
Katenui's healing saves the life of the female sworder. The red-haired halfling cleric says "Thank you, my name is Father Zastoran. Your arrival at this time is very welcome." While pointing to the sworder you have saved he says, Kallien I'm sure will thank you when she comes to."
Noonan can't get a good grip on the wagon, but Belros, along with three of the mercenaries manages to move the wagon far enough away from the fire that it will be unlikely to be seriously damaged by any errant sparks.
Water provided by Boramyr and Bahram help to stop the spread of the fire, but it looks like it requires more water to stop it completely.
What are you going to do in Round 2
Anaara
Katenui
Morrigan
Belrose
Bahram
Boramyr
Noonan
Boramyr continues to slowly make his way towards the burning wagon, and continues to call a downpour on the wagon.
Seeing that the herd appears to be under control, Anaara moves forward, scoops up a goat, and asks the animal handlers if the unconscious animals need to be moved elsewhere, while Kevi peeks worriedly from her shoulder.
Noonan grabs a bucket and scurries over to the waterline. Anything important in the wagon? He will fill the bucket and start tossing.
Morrigan glances over and sees that Boramyr and Bahram are doing a good job managing the fire. Confident that her allies will get the fire doused, she returns to helping round up the animals.
Morrigan dashes after one of the animals that scampered away and attempts to grab it.
She coos to the animal in Orcish, "Fear not my little friend. Your flesh shall not burn in the eternal fires of the Abyss this day. Allow me to return you to the safety of you pen so you can joyously spend your remaining days there waiting for your master to determine your ultimate fate."
Bacon bounds after the remaining animal and continues to try to guide it in the right direction.
After straining to help push the cart to safety, Belros steps away and joins the bucket brigade, easily tossing bucket after bucket to the next member in line.
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Seeing that the injured swordswoman is healed and should survive, Kat turns her attention to the raging fire. Knowing that her strength is better used through magic, she calls again and again on the life giving power of the sun to cause rain to pour down upon the fire.
Cast Create Water over the fire.
Bahram continues with the bucket brigade. He has seen the ravages of fire on the city streets. it is always the poor that suffer in the end. he just knew it had to be contained.
as he helps he notices Kat offering her magic. He doubles up his efforts appearing to "take charge" organizing the line keeping order.
Round 2
The camel-driver takes the goat from Anaara, and thanks her. His wife scoops up another and they both start moving the unconscious animals back into a makeshift pen. They both thank Morrigan as he brings an animal to the pen.
Both Katenui and Boramyr continue to bring water onto the fire.
Noonan, Bahram, and Belros help bring water to put out the fire.
The fire, with the impressive amount of water bring brought to it is being quenched.
In another round, , the fire will be completely put out.
The immediate crisis averted, Almah calls out to Garavel, "Garavel! Find out what happened here. Oh, and the hirelings your brought with you -- since they weren't here, they can have nothing to do with this -- have them help you figure out what caused this. If it is anything more than just a random fire, I need to know." With that, she begins ordering others to begin the cleanup of the camp.
Seeing that others have the firefighting well in hand, Anaara turns her gaze toward the burning wagon and focuses on it, muttering a low chant and turning an upraised palm toward the dying conflagration.
Kevi bounces lightly off of Anaara's shoulder and begins to poke and sniff around the wreck carefully as steam curls from the embers.
Boramyr continues to drop water on the fire.
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Coated in sweat from the heat of the fire, and the remaining heat of the day, Kat neither hears, nor sees, Almah call out to the others. Instead, she continues to aid dropping water on the fire, and when it is finished, she looks about to see if there is anything else that needs to be done. If she sees nothing, she will head back to the fallen soldier and make sure that the woman is ok. Kat will cast another CLW if it appears that the woman remains close to death.
Morrigan hears Almah shout and is enraged at the thought of sabotage.
She casts ghost sound to make her steps thunder as she walks and stomps over to Garavel.
"Garavel! I hear it is suspected that arson caused this outbreak." Morrigan clutches her breast with one hand and raises a trembling clenched fist into the air, "My anger burns hotter than Asmodeus' kingdom in Hell! That someone would threaten this travelers' haven is unbearable. I want to help you route out this vile criminal, but..." Morrigan suddenly quiets to a whisper, "I'm afraid I might scare the locals. I'm out of my element here." Her voice rising again, "When we find who is responsible for this, I will gladly personally skin him alive as an example if that would please you. Please direct me how you see fit."
Morrigan smiles baring her toothy orcish tusks, her eyes showing that she is eagerly awaiting instructions.
Noonan keeps hauling water until the fires are at last quenched. After Almah comes out and starts directing the others, he mops his face with a rag and searches out Garavel.
Belros throws water until the last of the fire is out. Then begins searching around the cart for clues as to what may have started the fire.
Once the flames seem under control, Bahram goes to his old friend Kat.
sitting across from her as she tends to the wounded.
he reaches out to get her to look at him.
with a smile Bahram relays the words Almah said. hoping she can understand the message. sometimes his street slang garbles what he is trying to say to her but Kat usually figures it out.
as he speaks to her Bahram makes the motions with his hands, hoping to expose her more to the sign language he learned. using many opportunities to teach kat.
Once the message is relayed, he stands and offers a hand to Kat indicating that there is other work to be done.
Garavel gathers you to him. With a lantern jaw and short black hair, the dashing Garvel looks more like a swordsman than an accountant and business expert, yet it is he who oversees much of Almah's personal business.
He wears a plain white keffiyeh over his head.
"Morrigan, I appreciate your... enthusiasm ... But, until we know what has happened, and by who, you will need to tame your expressions of anger."
He says to all of you, "The destroyed wagon belonged to Almah's personal fortuneteller Eloais, a man from Almah's distant homeland of Varisia. Eloais' specialty was a divinatory deck of cards know as Harrow, a few of which litter the ground outside the burned-out wagon. Just as Almah, since none of you have any connection to the people here, I am going to entrust you to investigate this. If you find something important, bring it to me. Otherwise try and figure out if -- and I emphasize 'if' -- this was more than just an accidental fire."
Interested in this harrow divination, Morrigan will pick up one of the scattered cards off the ground and look at it inquisitively.
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After finishing up, Kat smiles sweetly at Bahram, watching his hand motions, an intricate series of signals which she has studied, but still does not understand well enough to try on her own.
Perception: <-- sweet, now lets hope it is something she can see
--> Deafened - auto fail auditory checks, -4 on opposed checks if this is one
Kat watches Garavel's mouth keenly, understanding the majority of his words. Once he finishes, she immediately gets up and begins to scan the area, hoping to see something that her non-hearing impaired companions might not pick up.
Not really knowing what he should look for, Noonan casts about.
Boramyr looks around after the fire is out.
Searching Eloais' wagon
Anaara and Belros have been looking through Eloais' wagon successfully. They (and others who have searched it) find sooty ashes, a few broken bottles or potion vials, a cracked non-magical crystal ball, and several pools of melted wax where candles must once have stood. Eloais' charred skeletal form remains near the center of the wagon.
Additionally, Anaara and Belros are pretty sure that there were no signs of struggle or violence, suggesting that the fortune-teller was killed by the fire itself or from inhaling the smoke the fire caused.
Belros recalls (albeit vaguely) that the bolt in Garavel's neck is a Pactmaster's favor, and apart from ensuring loyalty and preventing emotional outbursts, it grants the wearer a bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting affects (but, at the cost of never being able to gain the benefits of a morale bonus of any sort).