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Undrella eyes Haleen severely, clacking her taloned fingers together at Razif's words.
"You are flashy sword fighter from battle stage. I know your tricks; I see you." Haleen scowls. The harpy then steps aside, eager to see Drael's face.
"I knew you would triumph and kill him!" Undrella smiles in a terrifying way as she spies Drael, almost ignoring the bloodied Layaali. She slips one arm under the other side of the wounded oracle for support, but also with the added benefit of being close to the suli. "You will tell me glorious tale of the combat when we rest, lover."
Haleen's giggles can be heard audibly from up ahead.
The ragtag gang of adventurers descend quickly through the battle market, not-too shocked to find the swift flight of most of the unsavoury denizens of the city. The ranger realises with a growing sense of swelling pride that he has succeeded in scouring the remains of Kelmarane of the Kulldis occupation, and perhaps even scattering the tribe altogether.
The horrid howling keen takes on an unearthly tone as the group exits the Battle Market, as if something was being sucked down a drain. The echoes sound out in the first rays of dawn's light to the west of the battle market, and though the howl eventually fades, the gang clearly identifies a forlorn ruin of a church at the cliff of the upper city as the source of the faint howls.
The team makes their way swiftly across the abandoned pesh fields south to the monastery. Fatigued, beaten, anaemic, and victorious, the agents of Princess Almah gain swift entry to the monastery headquarters. Haleen gets introduced, Undrella reclaims her disguise as a surly halfling woman, and a hearty cheer sounds out from Garavel and the guards on duty when you announce that the gnoll stronghold has been purged of the Herald to the Carrion King and the Kulldis tribe. Garavel smiles and immediately brings you to Princess Almah's chambers.
"I have heard a cheer and you return to me once more, bloodied and bruised, my agents," Almah says with a smile from behind her desk as Vodrave patrols the room. The princess blinks at Haleen. "And you bring yet another rescued soul from the----"
"Oh no. They didn't rescue me. That didn't happen." Haleen snaps, shaking her head.
Princess Almah blinks in surprise, not used to being cut off in such a fashion.
Razif bows. "If anything, Princess, she rescued us. She came to our help during the final confrontation with Kardswann, and with her help he has been slain."
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Princess Almah levels a severe glare at Haleen.
"Yes, and for that she should be commended. Yet, I would caution her to mind her tone when speaking to those in benevolent authority."
The princess turns her now-placid gaze upon Razif. Undrella makes a guttural noise from the back of the group that could be interpreted as throat-clearing, if one wasn't familiar.
"You will remind her of that when you speak to her next, yes, Razif?" Almah pronounces with a lack of interrogative inflection, indicating both her displeasure and her authoritative direction. "Now, I would hear more of this Kardswann and what happened during your last assault upon Kelmarane to collapse the considerable defences therein, good dunewalker."
Razif nods, and starts recounting their actions, skipping essentially nothing. From entering the Battle Market, to fighting in the arena, to Undrella's infusions, to meeting Haleen, to breaking through the last defenses, to fighting Kardswann himself. He also specifically mentions the moment Kardswann appeared to be fighting himself, and the things he said during it.
"All signs are pointing to there being something dangerous left in Kelmarane, hidden under the church."
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Princess Almah nods at Razif's efficient and erudite report. She glances once at Haleen's face when Razif utters her name for the first time, a line of worry marring her forehead. When the ranger finishes with his pronouncement, she smiles a patient smile.
"Yes," the princess indicates hearkening back to a previous conversation, "as you will recall, I told you of the doom that befell the previous Sarenrite clergy of Kelmarane, and how that evil is locked beneath their former sanctuary. It may be that this Kardswann fell under its fell influence as well. There will be only one way to determine if that is what happened: you will need to confront that evil."
The princess rises from her desk and walks to the lacquered chest from which she previously drew the cap that Undrella currently wears. She lifts the lid and searches briefly, speaking as she does so.
"The Pactmasters are mysterious and wise, their ways known only to those who wear their mien. I am but a servant," she pronounces with solemnity, pulling out an odd-looking metal plate with a handle on one side and a series of grooves and prongs on the other. She handles it delicately. "This is the interdict key, designed to meld with and deactivate the interdict seal warding off the chambers beneath the ruined church of Sarenrae in Kelmarane. It has been enchanted by the Pactmasters themselves to measure the mettle of those who would bear it, to ensure that their investment in this operation would have the highest chance of success. Be you of power sufficient to hold this key? I will then send you forth to use it and may the Dawnflower watch over you. Need you further honing? The key will reveal. Come, dunewalker, let us see your progress."
Princess Almah holds out the metal tool to the Keleshite ranger. Razif approaches slowly, cautiously, and extends his hand to lift the key from Princess Almah's grip!
"Give it to your colleague, the Moldspeaker, the Thrice-Born oracle, the vessel of the North Wind. Give the key to Layaali, Razif."
Razif walks slowly towards Layaali and offers the cloudy-eyed oracle the key. She lifts it from his hands!
"Layaali, provide the key to the rabbit-lover, please. Rab-rab, let us see if you and Jack-jack are yet ready for this challenge."
Layaali comes to Rab-rab and extends her arm. The pink-haired gnome goes to pluck the key from the oracle but her hand repels away from the key! Shocked, Rab-rab tries again, but her hand deflects off a force emanating off the object. After a few attempts (including one by Jack-jack), the gnome shakes her head sadly, eyes brimming with tears.
"Do not weep, young elemental phenom," Almah says with a motherly tone to her voice. "The interdict key simply indicates that your potential has yet to be fully realised. It is a safety measure, designed to ensure your survival. I am glad we will continue to see your growth; I'm certain that the villains that lie in wait under the church in Kelmarane will tremble when you come for them."
The princess in turn tests the halfling Undrella (able), the newly-met swordswoman Haleen (able), and Rab-rab's brother Min (unable) before coming to Drael. "What of you, bloodrager? You who have shed so much blood and rage to see Kelmarane freed. Does the key see you?"
Drael takes the offered key from the princess, staring at the strange item with suspicion.
Princess Almah looks with favour upon the gnome siblings as she takes the interdict key from Drael and places it back in the lacquered box. She closes and locks it, then turns to the pair. "Fear not, young heroes. I see great things in you, and you will go with your team-mates when they enter the tomb under Kelmarane's former temple." She addresses the entire gang. "For now, you will rest. We have much to do as you gather your strength. We will pack and leave this monastery on the morrow so as to relocate within the walls of Kelmarane. Today, we prepare to enter the city that you all have liberated!"
Princess Almah dismisses you all, but asks for a word to Razif apart from the others.
"This matter is... complicated. I do not trust Haleen. But I do trust Drael, and he trusts her. But it's not that easy. I must admit that when we were in Kelmarane and met her, her betrayal of the Pathfinders did not come to mind. But remembering this, many questions arise. Why betray the Lions if her goal was to kill Kardswann? To get in their good graces? Who is she working for?"
A brief silence before he continues, with a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"...And why didn't Drael tell us? There are many dots, but they appear impossible to connect. What would you have me do, Princess? Should I work to find out what exactly she's up to?"
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Rab-rab looks super sad that she couldn't pick up the key. As soon as they leave she room she cheers. "Yay! We saved that town! Wahoo! Wahoo!"
She heads to the rooms to rest -- and make sure Layaali rests! She looks pretty much dead again.
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"Good night, Rab-rab!" Min says. Not wanting his sister to have bad dreams from the bad day they've had, he adds. "Oh, hey. You didn't have a chance to say hi to your animal friends outside on the farm today. Do you want to go do it before bed? I'll read you all a bedtime story."
If Rab-rab wants to, Min walks with her outside to watch his sister while she plays with the goats and animals. After a while, Min tells them all a story about a flying rabbit made of clouds that spreads good dreams wherever it hops.
Then he heads back inside with his sister and makes sure he goes to bed. When she does, he finally settles in to sleep. He sure is tired!
Drael shrugs as he holds the key, Apparently so. I wonder why only some of us can touch the key, when the young ones fought as hard as the rest.
He says little as the group leaves, bedding down for the night as he ponders the day's events.
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Later that night, after assuring that Rab-rab has settled to bed, but before tucking in to go to sleep himself, Min goes over the magical plunder looted from Kardswann and his flind bodyguard, Ugruk.
"Lover, we are triumphant!" Undrella exclaims to Drael as they leave Princess Almah's quarters. "I said you would kill Kardswann for me, and I was right! We should go and properly celebrate---"
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Undrella's suggestion is promptly cut off as a pale shell of the man known as Dashki stumbles into the hallway, wide-eyed, gaunt, sweating profusely, and his skin the colour of hot-burning ash. The desert guide and member of the Three Jaws gnoll tribe splutters in grateful sobs as he espies Drael, dropping to his knees and grabbing at his hand.
"Please! Please!" Dashki's clammy wet hands scrabble at the bloodrager. "You -- ONLY you can help! The Three Jaws....The Three Jaws....there is----DEAD! They're all dead, oh Mother of Monsters HEAR our howl! Something CAME for them CAME from the dark CAME with claws CAME with darkness I RAN I did I ran and HERE Dashki sits tail between legs JUST a whelping..." Words pour out of his mouth like so much sand into an hourglass.
Drael begins a tight-lipped response, but is cut short by Dashki's appearance. He stares in bewilderment at the panicked guide, Slow down Dashki, what came for them? Where is it now? How did you escape? One thing at a time.
He then excuses himself.
"Is that Dashki? What happened?"
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Min slips the ring onto his finger, knowing if push came to shove he and Rab-rab could leap out of a window or off of a cliff and flee together -- not that he'd thought about that before...
He puts the potion or expeditious retreat with his sister's things, knowing she and he were the slowest and wanting to keep her safe.
He looks at the potion and considers it for a while. Eventually he puts it in his things. He'd probably need to feed it to Layaali one day soon. She had a habit of dying a lot.
He puts aside the axe, knowing it might be good for Drael. He'd have to examine it more tomorrow, though, just in case there was something fishy with it...
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Rab-rab as lots of fun playing with the animals and listening to her bedtime story.
”Good night Min-min! Love you!” She hops into bed with king Jack-jack and has sweet dreams.
Layaali stumbles out of the meeting hall, heading right to her chambers to rest and recover.
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"Darkness," Dashki says with wide eyes, grasping at Drael's sleeves, "the DARKNESS come for us ALL of us ALL of the THREE jaws it CONSUMED them I saw and WATCHED and could do NOTHING then it came for ME and I ran I RAN so far AWAY I ran ALL night IT WAS IN MY HEAD oh LADY of LUPINE hell...." Dashki collapses on the ground as Garavel rounds the corner at a trot, Kallien behind him, sword drawn.
"Dashki! By Abadar's Scales, what happened to him?" Garavel's eyes flash with concern, fear, and a hint of derision as he looks at the scout.
Great question, that's what I'm trying to find out. Drael doesn't look up from Dashki, barely paying attention to Garavel as he continues to interrogate Dashki. What do you mean by the darkness? Was it a monster?
Razif joins in trying to calm Dashki down. "You're safe now, you're among friends. Deep breaths, take a moment to collect yourself, then tell us what happened."
Layaali tries to focus on Dashki's tale, but she's still weak from blood loss...
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Dashki continues muttering to himself "the darkness, the darkness..." but makes little more sense. Kalien soon returns with Father Zastoran in tow.
The alchemist clucks his tongue in concern at the guide, then levels a judgmental stare at Razif, Drael, and Layaali. "And it looks like the three of you have found yourself in a mess of trouble as well, yeah. What do you know of what happened to Dashki here, eh? What - or who - broke his mind?"
Layaali shakes her head, then almost swoons at the motion. 'I don't know..."
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Father Zastoran gives you all a haunted look, then, with Kallien's assistance, helps Dashki up to his feet and ushers him off for ministrations.
Garavel watches the three of them go, then turns back to you all.
"Good riddance to the Three Jaws if true, I say," the surly quartermaster offers, "yet the loss of Dashki and his specific skills will be felt, especially as we are moving closer to the belly of the beast, as it were, in reclaiming Kelmarane." He trails off, lost in thought for a moment, then shakes his head and moves off.
"Get some rest and see to healing your wounds. You will be needed, healthy and whole, upon your waking," he barks as he walks briskly out of sight.
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The thin, straw-filled mattresses never felt more comfortable. Garavel wakes the group roughly by repeatedly dropping a metal shield a few times on the dormitory floor. At the first stirring, the major-domo exits the room, leaving the door open. His barking voice echoes down the hall.
"You are already as beautiful as Shelyn ever likely will see. It is time to leave your slumber!"
The spicy smell of a thin soup helps to hoist the gang onto their feet. The monastery is a busy hive of activity as soldiers, mercenaries, and hirelings pack their possessions strewn about in the past ten days into crates, sacks, cages, and bins. The dining room table features a large tureen and a number of mismatched goblets and flagons for soup scooping and slurping. Hadrod and Hadrah pack foodstuffs and utensils away into a large crate, stopping briefly to poke their heads in as the adventurers tuck in to their dinner.
"We thought you were going to sleep through until dawn!" Hadrah calls out with a laugh before she disappears back into the kitchen.
At that remark, and a cursory glance out the window off of the dining room at the dark sky, you all realise that you must have slept well past sundown. Garavel's biting remarks make a touch more sense.
Father Zastoran sidles into the dining hall at this point. He eyes the group shrewdly, then addresses Layaali, passing her a small vial.
"Layaali, yes, you do not look well still. Better than earlier today, to be sure, yes. Do drink that."
The elderly healer does a double-take at the lack of considerable improvement to Layaali, sighs deeply, and launches into what he came to say.
"Dashki, yes. His brain is addled. He makes little sense, yes. Keeps on talking about 'the darkness', hmmm. Claims the Three Jaws are all dead - I assume some of this makes sense to you all, yes?"
He awaits an answer, then continues.
"He is stable, but not worth a fart in a conversation, hmm. Still, he did say that some THING flew at him within the darkness, yes. Mentioned wings and claws, yes. I say this as I had heard you all had been seen travelling with a harpy, last you were seen at camp, yes? Seemed important to mention to you all. Anyhow, must attempt to pack AND continue to tend to my critically-ill patient, yes." As he moves out of the room, he drops another identical potion on the table in front of Layaali. "No more of these for the day have I. Do make this one count, yes? Evening, gentlemen, ladies..." Zastoran does another double-take at the halfling female staring daggers at him as he leaves.
Seated next to Drael and greedily devouring her fourth bowl of the soup, Undrella stares at each of the party members in turn after Zastoran leaves the room.
"What?!" she finally spits out, eyes on Drael.
Razif listens attentively to Father Zastoran's words, and theorizes when
"I mean... it can't have been Undrella, right? She was with us in the Battle Market, and while she did leave for a little while, I doubt it was long enough for her to fly over to the Three Jaws, kill 'em all, and get back in time to escape with us."
Drael calmly stares down Undrella, Undrella, did you attack Dashki and kill the Three Jaws?
The halfling laughs loudly at Drael's question, looking around in mirth at the others. She then returns to eating her next bowl of soup.
After a few mouthfuls, she acknowledges that Drael continues to stare at her.
"NO! How could I have done such thing, my love?" She then lowers her voice and bats her eyes. "Of course, if you wished me to do such thing, lover, then I would kill Dashki for you as you killed Kardswann for me. It would be exchange of vows..."
Grimacing at the thought, Drael doesn't look away. You left us for a bit in the Battle Market, where did you go?
"Hmph," Undrella sniffs dismissively at Drael's follow-up query. "I did not leave YOU, lover - you left ME in Infusium. It is valuable and needed tending lest you need another injection as I gave for battle with Kardswann to you. And you. And you," Undrella says, nodding at each of the members of the party in turn.
Rab-rab nods her head. "I believe you, Undrella!" She claps Drael on the back. "Why are you being so weird about it? She's not a teleporter!"
Min adjusts his glasses and looks at Drael in between bites of soup. "Rab-rab's right. The timing couldn't possibly add up. Undrella's innocent."
He takes another gulp of soup, then turns to Undrella. "You've been here a long time. What other flying predators are in the region we need worry over? Are there any other harpies? What about the peryton? Are there more? What about manticores? Drakes? Wyverns?"
"I'd like to examine the Three Jaws camp. Seeing the bodies and site of the attack could help determine what kind of creature did this. And rule out those that didn't."
Layaali drinks the potion as he hands it to her, assuming its a temporary extract like last time.
As the others eat around her, Layaali sips at her soup, looking weak and frail -- like always.
"I agree. Such duplicity would have to be planned well in advance and incredibly well-timed. I doubt even if Undrella were capable of such rapid transportation, she would have made it back without us noticing anything amiss."
"Finding out what happened to Dashki and his kin is important," she agrees with Min. "We must find this creature, whatever it is, before it turns on our people."
Undrella grunts at Min and shrugs.
"Maybe there are other harpies further into Brazen Peaks, but I never have met. Stupid peryton was only one I ever met, and there is geier that you know of," Undrella gestures with her near-empty flagon of soup towards the courtyard. "There probably exist dragon and dragon-kin of sort?" she ponders more than agrees.
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Princess Almah walks abruptly into the mess hall. She holds out a hand gently as some of the group stop eating. "Please, as you were. Continue eating."
She sits down at the edge of the bench. "Garavel informed me that you had awoken." She smirks. "He obviously doesn't appreciate the severe harship you all have suffered recently, though I know for a fact he appreciates leaving this temporary domicile. I even caught him smiling to himself earlier today!" She silently titters, but then her face grows austere.
"He also informed me of Dashki's condition and the fate of the Three Jaws tribe. It is....troubling. On one hand, it simplifies the situation with Dashki and his problematic gnoll allies; on the other hand, Dashki has served admirably despite his deception, and I am not cruel in wishing painful death upon others." Almah looks torn, then shakes her head. "No matter; tomorrow we will leave this place and reclaim the walls of Kelmarane. We will plan on leaving here the hour before dawn so as to arrive in Kelmarane with Sarenrae's light. I ask you, skilled masters, to be our advance this night. Make certain that the villains that once held the city have not invoked squatters' rights, and that any who remain would pledge allegiance to our cause and our authority. You have my permission to drive out those who would thwart the establishment of peaceable civilisation once more. One exception: let lie undisturbed the former church to Sarenrae. We will address this threat in due course."
She stands, smoothing out her silks as she does so. "Tomorrow, once our forces arrive en masse, I will ask you by the light of day to look into the fall of the Three Jaws. I dare not send you by night to seek out the darkness, as Dashki repeatedly moans, that beset them; we will use the unflinching light of Sarenrae." She moves to leave, then turns back.
"You have performed admirably. The Pactmasters of Katapesh are sure to reward your group handsomely. I am proud of each of you - do be sure to let your new friend Haleen know of this when you see her again." And with that, Princess Almah leaves.
Wildly looking about the mess hall, the gang suddenly realises that Haleen isn't present, nor is she (or her gear) within the dormitory.
As Almah leaves and the silence falls over the group once more, Razif speaks up. "... We really did it, didn't we? We recaptured Kelmarane. It took us weeks and so many hardships, but we did it.
... And yet... Even if we do clear out the church and dot our i's... I feel like we're far from done."
"Hey Drael, where's your sister? What's with her and vanishing all the time?"
Great question, I have no idea. Drael scowls, looking around the room. Wasn't she with us this morning? Just once, I'd like for her to not disappear at random.
Min sighs along with Drawl. "Sisters."
Later, Min examines the big axe. "Ah, yes. Of course. A +1 Lawful outsider bane great axe. Handy, indeed." He tells everyone what it does and asks who wants to wield it. "Such a fine weapon shouldn't go to waste."
"Speaking of Haleen, I'd like to discuss something about her with you, but I'd like to do it outside of, well, this."
He gestures to the crowd of people around him.
"Mind if I ask something next time our little squad is on the trail?"
Sure thing.
Once Min has a chance to examine the axe, Drael looks at it curiously. I could do some damage with this, that's for sure. Razif, would you be interested in using my longsword while I try out this axe?
"Of course," Layaali replies.
She draws Min close. "Pray with me."
"Oh, yes, gladly. In the interest of handing things down, then, anyone interested in my scimitar?"
"Thanks, Layaali. I feel way better."
"Nope! Too big for me and Min-Min!"
"No thank you, Razif. I don't know how to wield one."