Rafyyk follows along, letting the others lead as he is no tracker. He looks for what he thinks they are looking at, trying to see if he could have done this on his own. But no, he loses the trail several times, misses things several times. He smiles and thinks he might need to practice and learn more of survival, as traveling in the desert can be very dangerous and lethal to the unprepared.
He stops when he hears the child's cry. His eyes go wide and he glances at Korum. A child or babe alone out here? How did that - but no, the others say it is just a goat. THE goat actually.
He frowns. "Not alone? Someone lead it here? Into the cacti?" He almost asks why, but stops himself. His allies would not know either. He slowly looks around to see if there is someone else around watching them.
Nishv stared through the field of cactus plants at the goat. It was tied to a brush. Why was it tied to anything? ”A ruse to lure people away from the caravan? From the Princess, it could be, no?”
Nishv looked to Uzma,"That may take some time, yes?" His eyes focused on the rock face past Uzma, "What if we went over the thorns?"he pointed to the rocks.
You're right. This looks just like a trap. Stay ready in case someone tries to ambush us. I'll be the bait, I guess.
With that said, the Paladin moved across the field towards the goat.
Loran outstretches his arm and rolls up his sleeve, revealing his hawk tattoo on his shoulder.. As he reveals it, it shifts into Redwing, his hawk familiar. "Hey Redwing, could you go up above the cacti and see if you see anything other that the cacti or that goat?" He says. "Fly back here if you do."
You're right. This looks just like a trap. Stay ready in case someone tries to ambush us. I'll be the bait, I guess.
With that said, the Paladin moved across the field towards the goat.
Chakam moves nimbly through the cacti, carefully and quite gracefully avoiding the many sharp plants. He reaches the goat, who is not only tied, but has received a few slashes.
Redwing rises up into the desert sky peering down on Loran's companions, the cacti field, and the ravine below.
You see a small, jackal-like creature behind a rock to the right of the tied goat.
INITIATIVE:
[Korum, Uzma, Chakam, Rafyyk]
[Creature]
[Loran, Nishv]
Uzma suddenly seems like a mere mirage under the hot desert sun. He plants his staff on the ground, and prays to Gozreh. Then, he attempts to move into the cactus field to come to the aid of his companion.
Rafyyk looked around and then stopped suddenly. He hissed out, "I see something! A creature, over there!" He pointed out the creature and then unlimbered his crossbow. He didn't have very good aim but going through the cacti field didn't seem that safe (or fun).
He called out, "You there! Who are you? Why did you take the goat?"
Chakam doesn't move; rather, he looks around trying to see who his companions are talking to, keeping his sword drawn while near the goat.
He doesn't sees anyone or anything, so he stays in place, ready to attack if someone comes closer with aggressive intentions.
Uzma carefully maneuvers through the cacti, following a few steps behind Chakam, also able to avoid getting caught on any of the barbs or needles extending from the plants.
Rafyyk calls out at something behind the rock, to the right of Chakam and the goat. As it springs up onto the large boulder, he fires a crossbow bolt, but being a small creature of about two feet, the shot misses and the bolt sails overhead into the ravine.
The creature, a small jackal-headed thing, turns to Chakam and lets a small arrow fly in the direction of the Suli, though it misses terribly and clangs off the larger boulder behind Chakam.
Dashki strides to the right, blocking off the tiny jackal's escape.
[Korum, Uzma, Chakam, Rafyyk]
[Creature]
[Loran, Nishv]
Nishv took a moment to watch as the paladin bound through the cactus plants, I suppose that will work just as well, he thought.
He made his way to where the field was the most narrow by the rocks and attempted to make his way through the cacti to the rock. Rafyyk yells about a creature just as Nishv sees a bolt shoot out from the boulder. He watches it sail into the ravine before deciding that he definitely needed to get up onto the rocks.
"Redwing, attack it, whatever that was!" Loran the tries to move through the cactus.
Nishv and Loran attempt to run into the cactus field as well, but they both catch very unlucky breaks. Nishv's clothing gets caught on an nearby plant, pulling him into the cactus, and Loran trips on a rock he may have sworn wasn't there, stumbling, using a cactus to break his fall.
Redwing comes swooping down and the rock, but is unable to clutch the tiny jackal in its talons.
Rafyyk risks one more crossbow bolt at the creature before he thinks he needs to change tactics. Long distance fighting was never really his thing, but seeing two of his companions trip, he wasn't eager to go off in to there himself. Again, his shot goes wide, but at least it didn't hit the goat...or Chakam or Loran. He winces a bit and puts the crossbow away.
Initiative:
[Korum, Chakam, Uzma, Rafyyk]
[Creature]
[Loran, Nishv]
Korum snaps to his senses, addled as they were for a brief moment in the heat of the day. He steps a short bit to his right, drawing his sling and bullets from his pouch, and whirls the stone around over his head, loosing it at the creature beyond the cactus field.
Chakam charges to the boulder and attacks the hateful fey creature.
Korum's slung stone ricochets off of the tiny jackal's head, which in turn spins around to face the direction from which it came. In doing such, it never saw what took its life. A large sword swung down on the rock, severing it almost cleanly in two from top to bottom. The sight of blood spraying only causes the goat to panic further, which in turn, jerks the rope even tighter around its front quarters and neck, creating an even worse knotted jumble of rope around it and the bush.
Korum packs up his sling once more, sighing a breath of relief that nobody had been badly hurt. "It is dangerous to fight. I am glad we are all well." The half-orc takes his time working through the cactus field, approaching the panicked, shaking goat, holding one hand out for the creature to sniff, his voice crooning in low, soft noises. "Shhhh shh shh no need to be upset now, little one. Be still, and we will free you." Without changing the tone of his voice, he mutters up toward Chakam, keeping his eyes fixed on the goat. "Dashki had to know of this. I don't trust that one."
Nishv was struggling to free himself from the cactus thorns when he heard the shclink of Chakam's sword as it came down of the creature. This is most dishonorable, he thought as he pulled a thorn, gingerly, from his clothing with his thumb and forefinger. ”I will be staying over here, I think. Loose clothing, while a good idea in the sand, has proven to be a terrible idea when navigating this," Nishv gestured to the field of cactus plants.
Rafyyk pauses in his attempt to get his weapon ready and to wade in to the cactus field. Seeing the creature no longer a threat, he gives a nod looks at Korum and Chakam. "Good work."
He puts his weapon away but then frowns. "So...this creature...whatever it is...took the goat to...what? Lure us here?" He pauses, "Actually...does anyone know what that creature is...er, was?"
He slowly looks around to see if there was any more danger, anything else hidden around, and else sees what Dashki is up to (and his reaction to things).
Dashki draws closer to the lot of you and the goat, continuing to circle in from the right.
"So...this creature...whatever it is...took the goat to...what? Lure us here?" He pauses, "Actually...does anyone know what that creature is...er, was?"
"Ha!" Dashki shouts, pointing to the mess Chakam's sword left on the rock. "Daski told you this was work of Pugwampi!" Maybe now you listen to Dashki." He puffs out his chest a little in indignation.
Agreed, Uzma. - says Chakam. The paladin looks deeply at Dashki - So, we're still listening. What else do you actually know?
The paladin seems ready to go back already, worried it was all a clever trap.
Agreed, Uzma. - says Chakam. The paladin looks deeply at Dashki - So, we're still listening. What else do you actually know?
"Dashki knows that this is all work of the pugwampi."
Dashki is probably too simple to conceal some sort of conspiracy, either put on by himself or anyone else he may be aware of.
Korum leaves the goat to Uzma's far-more-capable care, and stands, brushing the dust from his loose-fitting shirt. Why did I not suspect this was to lure us away? I must be getting dull-headed. He turns, making his way slowly back through the cactus field and approaching Dashki. "What more does the Pugwampi have in store? Tell me all you know of this creature's plans, while my colleagues prepare to head back to camp."
”This was not the most dangerous of creatures, it would seem.” Nishv paused to pluck a thorn from his sleeve as he made his way back to the group, ”We should hurry back. And bring both the goat and remains of the pugwampi, he almost struggled with the ridiculous word, ”surely Garavel will be interested in proof of such a creature.”
-Posted with Wayfinder
Rafyyk frowns as Korum seems determined to prove that Dashki is in league with the Pugwampi. He clears his throat loudly and narrows his eyes at Korum slightly. "Korum! We need to go. Stop playing around. Dashki isn't a part of this."
Shaking his head, he turns and begins heading back towards the camp at a heightened pace.
Korum nods at Rafyyk's words. I am not thinking clearly. Halfmoon is right. "Come back with us, Dashki. We must be quick."
Korum follows after Uzma and Rafyyk, trudging behind the pair of men and the goat.
Dashki turns to follow behind Uzma and the goat he was leading back toward the Claw.
Chakam agrees with the others and moves with the group. Dashki was probably as much of a simpleton as the paladin himself (as he'd hate to admit), and simple people don't know much of elaborate plans.
Rafyyk pauses and checks back to see if everyone is following. Then he realizes that he had trouble even getting to this place and would have gotten lost. He lets others that knew where they were going pass him and take the lead. But he tries to keep the pace hurried.
Uzma leads the seven of you back to the Sultan's Claw, while Dashki brings up the rear careful to scuff most of the tracks out to prevent any by chance followers.
Rafyyk follows along hurriedly behind Uzma. Once the camp is in site, he claps Uzma on the shoulder. "Well done! And in good time as well." He gives the man a closed-mouth smile.
Then he begins walking towards the princess's tent, trying not to be appear to be in too great a hurry to alarm anyone, but not taking his sweet time either. He wants to make sure there everything is fine here, so he also looks around as he walks to see if he spots their employer Garavel.
Korum follows beside the Halfmoon, a dour expression on his face, his eyes scanning the horizon and fixing on the Princess' tent immediately upon it coming into view.
"It is good to have returned so quickly. Now let us find Garavel"
As Rafyyk and Korum look around the camp, they see everyone except Lady Almah and Garavel. Two guards, stand armed outside of Almah's tent, keeping watch.
Korum hefts his axe over his shoulder and beckons Jobu to follow him, walking quickly toward the tent. "Thank you for guarding the princess. It is good to be careful for her safety. Please, we must speak with her now."
Nishv shoved the stopper back into his waterskin. The trip to find the goat seemed to have taken a week. Maybe more. The desert sun liked to play tricks like that. He was more than glad to be back at the Sultan's Claw.
Nishv kept in tow with the others as they made their way to the Princess's tent.
-Posted with Wayfinder
One of the guards outside Princess Almah's tent opens the flap, allowing you to enter. Upon seeing you at the entry way, Almah and Garavel cut their discussion short and the merchant princess motions for you to enter.
"Back so soon? That's good. It's rather dark now. Who knows what we could find out here in the desert night? So..." she looks to each of you and then her eyes land on Dashki, and then back to the rest of you. "Any news of this Pegwanty?"