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If sold as a slave, Poresh could go for as much as a few thousand gold in an auction.
The flaming wagon is quickly put out after a few castings (4 rounds), and the other wagons moved successfully away from the flames. A few men begin to calm the animal, led by the driver and his wife. A halfling prays over the burnt bodies of two men, healing their wounds.
Garavel and a Woman aproach the party. Why, these are the adventures I hired, as you can see they are fully capable of handling themselves.... says Garavel, the man who hired you. The woman smiles and bows. Then i give them my thanks, I am Almah Roveshki, leader of this caravan.
Gurrr comes out of the shadows as soon as the fire begins to go out. He hangs to the back of the party, peering out at the longshanks man and lady as they approach.
Abdalrahman looks around at the chaotic scene. When Almah introduces herself, he bows respectfully. "I am Abdalrahman, a follower of the most merciful Sarenrae. It is a pleasure to meet you. If I can assist with anything, such as healing the wounded, or repairing things, I am happy to do so."
He stands with his bow in hand, arrow nocked but not yet drawn, watching in case whoever did this returns.
Yrdex approaches Garavel with a sour look on his face. He's trying - and failing - to clean the clods of mud already hardening on his feet as he walks. With a sigh of exasperation he addresses the caravan leader. "My name is Yrdex. I am an emissary of Aspu, the true god of dragons. What happened here?" His inquiry is accentuated by a sweeping motion toward the charred remains of the wagon behind him.
"you are most welcome. My companions and I were happy to help."
Releasing the rage, Gnasher approaches Poresh, "Well done Poresh. You are an exotic and valuable slave, I am surprised your master released you to earn your freedom. Gnasher welcomes you as an equal, Gnasher was not sure at first, but seeing your effort on wagon has been very convincing."
Walking over to their employers 'Happy? to do work? does he think she will believe that?' Gnasher looks from Kona to the two humans. Giving a nod, "I am Gnasher, big fire not a good idea, this is Gnoll country."
Gurrr tilts his head to one side quizzically. What furry longshanks talking about? Fire always good idea! Big fire better idea!
Poresh turns his large eyes on the gnoll. "I'm so pleased, Gnasher. But no master finds me worth anything- no one wants a slave smarter than them." He grins.
He bows deeply to Garavel. "I know you are my master until we succeed in our quest. You might understand my desire for haste considering that. What is our assignment?"
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Garavel chuckles and motions to Almah. "Well," she begins, "We are to retake Kelmarane from the gnolls who now ocupy it... but first we must find who started this god forsaken fire!" she says.
As she talks a man aproches, he is dark skinned and he glares at Gnasher. "It appears you have a monster with you..." he says, hands on his weapons, ready to draw them. "Its strange how you hire a Gnoll to kill gnolls..." Garavel sighs at the man.
"Truly Dashki? Your advice on the creatures is good, and your skills have no equal, but truly you emotions are far too involved in this affair! You must know the significance of having one of them on our side, yes? The chance for infiltration and reconosance?" Garavel says.
the man, Dashki doesn't say a word, he just walks off, watching Gnasher...
Almah sighs as he leaves. "no worries... Dashki knows not to kill you. All his life gnolls have been his enemy and its only gotten worse as he grew older... anyways, I would like you to begin looking for the sorce of this fire... if you can."
Garavel nods. "ah yes, they wheren't here, clearing them as the arsons. so they should provode much help... ah.. well as much as they can"
’A monster? He has no idea.’ Gnasher scratches the ground with his paw, in a Gnoll challenge, and glares at the mouthy new comer. Watching him as he walks away he growls in his native tongue. ”ბავშვთა და მშიშრები ზარის სახელები და ფეხით მოშორებით, რომელიც ხარ?”
Gnasher returns his attention to Garavel, ’If human want to kill Gnasher let human try. Dashki learn Gnasher not like Gnolls who serve carrion king.” Shaking his head, in a very human way. ”Foolish to make enemy of entire race, like trying to stop wind.” Lulling his tongue in a gnoll smile he continues. ”Besides, it is unprofitable. Dashki not first human Gnasher work with who has hate Gnasher and not be last.”
Waiving his hand at his fellow travelers, ”Gnasher and others will find source, prove we are good investment to Lady Almah and Garavel.”
Pointing to the people standing around and then the wagon, Gnasher addresses his companions. ”Gnasher frighten Humans, no answer questions from Gnasher, Gnasher search for tracks before traffic hide them.”
He then begins to search the area around the fire very carefully, first the wagon that burned and then the area around it. Occasionally looking over his shoulder to make sure Dashki isn’t trying to sneak up on him.
Gurrr doesn't speak gnoll, but he gets the tone of an insult when he hears one... He glowers at the retreating human. "Him big stoopid head longshanks." He turns to Garavel and Almah. "You sure someone make fire? How you know? Maybe fire ax... axxa... not on purpose? Just happen?"
Abdalrahman places the arrow back into his quiver and slings his bow. Turning to Gnasher, he says, "ვსაუბრობ თქვენს მშობლიურ ენაზე. რომ იცოდე. თუ თქვენ ოდესმე სურვილი გაიგო, ჩვენ შეგვიძლია.", the Gnollish language tripping oddly from a human mouth.
Turning to Garavel and Almah, he bows slightly. "I am happy to speak with people and see what I can learn. Do you have any suggestions on where to begin? Has anyone been acting different lately? Any unusual happenings?"
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Garavel huffs and says, "I'm sure many here speak that language... But anyways, the cart belonged to Eloais, a Varisian foreigner that Almah kept around for his fortune telling... he kept a myriad of candles and such... and Lady Almah often sought his fortunes."
Gnasher finds the burnt corpse of a man inside the wagon... likely the man Eloais... there is no sign of a struggle, meaning the fortuneteller likely died in the fire.
"Candles, that's it. One of those falls over and you've got a wagon fire on your hands." Yrdex folds his arms in triumph at his perceived solution to the case.
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Gnasher notices some Tarot cards laying about... relatively unharmed, although only a few are here, seems the rest are missing... of those here you find "the fire", "the fool", and "The cyclone"
Garavel sighs. Unlikely... although not impossible. He made sure not to use them unnecessarily. Mostly to read or when it was dark... we actually woke and began work... then suddenly the fire started... hmm... perhaps we should talk with the mercenaries about who was at breakfast...
"Can anyone see if the fire was made by magic?"
Gnasher nods to Abdalrahman, "გმადლობთ' and then heads to the burned wagon.
Finding the charred body in the wagon, 'It looks like he died in the flame.' after searching the wagon he moves outside.
'Tarot cards, I'm not that familiar with thoese.' Finding the tarot cards outside of the wagon, Gnasher gathered up the three tarot cards and takes them to his friends, Approaching the small dragon like creature, he holds the three tarot cares out. "Kona, Man burned in wagaon, no sruggle. Gnasher find cards, Gnasher not know them. Will Kona look?"
After handing the cards to Kona, he returns to the exterior of the wagon, and continues searching.
Kona flips through the cards, then stands on one leg while he holds the card in one of his backlegs and takes notes about it in his notebook. "I've seen these before, some of the other Pathfinders carry them. They're used for divination of some sort."
Poresh takes a long look over the wagon, looking for signs of magical influence.
Abdalrahman nods at Garavel. "I would be happy to go speak with the mercenaries." Saying that, he turns and heads in the direction of the other wagons.
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The cart has a faint aura, mostly of Divination magic, however there os a underlying trace of something else...
Garavel leads you to the wagon where the mercenaries are talking with each other. The four men are playing cards on a makeshift table in the back of a wagon while the rest are roaming about.
As you walk it is clear to you all that the man from earlier, Dashki, is following you, and it is easily told by the way he smells. Seems this man hasn't bathed in years... he is just watching and isn't moving in. His dimenor is of one simply trying to appear casual, as if he happens to just be heading the same way you are, however it is clear he isnt.
The mercenaries smile and thank you for the help earlier, one man steps forward and even introduceintroduces himself as Nero, a half-elf armed like the rest of his crew. Oi? How may we 'elp ye'fine gentlemen?" He asks, his accent foreign and thick
With a smile, Abdalrahman says,"I am Abdalrahman, servant of the most merciful Sarenrae, but please call me Abdal. And it was nothing. We must look out for each other, or the desert will have us all. There were two things I wanted to ask about. First, can you tell me who was at breakfast with you this morning? And second..." he lowers his voice so as to only be heard by Nero and Garavel, "...do you know why this man might be following us?" he asks, gesturing surreptitiously at Dashki.
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The aura reminds you of curaes, however it is very faint and seems to be only trace.
The mercenary leader thinks for a moment before turning to his troop and asking them a few questions, mostly about who they remember seeing. whelp, well everyone 'ere was presant, although the gaurds for our fair lady where, like always, at her tent. one of the men pipes up. Yeah Dashki wasn't round, but he'd likely been spyin' on Almah, like we all knows he was. If I had an idea, The lady was oft found with the foreigner. a deep coiced man chimes in- I bet they was having a meaningful relationship, if you know what I mean, and Dashki got jealous, decided ta off the man, get rid of competition...
The leader scoffs and shakes his head. Eh, in any case, Dashki wasn't 'ere, might ask him yourself why he's following you, after all he isn't making it very hard to notice
Garavel shifts his weight a little at the mention of a relationship. But remains silent.
Meanwhile Dashki realizes he's been made and leaves.
Yrdex sighs and speaks with a condescending tone. "This relationship business muddies things up too much and too often. We Kobold only engage in physical intimacy for procreation and only during the mating season. We experience none of this jealousy nonsense." He notices the offended glances of at least few guards and clears his throat to relieve the tension. "I, uh, I mean, D-Dashki's has an eye for, um, Almah?" If Kobolds could sweat, Yrdex would be drenched.
'I will let the friendly peaceful looking ones do the talking, I will continue searching for clues. I wonder if there are any tracks, we may be able to figure if it is an inside job or not. Gnasher continues searching around the wagon. Trying to sort out the footprints; identifying the ones who were putting out the fire, he looks to see if there are any others.
Poresh decides to take the mercenary leader's advice. "Dashki, hold!" he calls out, hustling to catch the man before he disappears.
Kona eagerly observes the discussion between his groupmates and the guards, taking notes, and saying nothing. When Poresh goes to talk to Dashki, Kona will follow.
Abdalrahman will also follow Poresh and Kona. "Yes, Dashki, we would speak with you for a moment!"
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@Gnasher: among the reckage there appears to be a strange set of tracks. They appear dog-like, and are really small, the creature that made them weighs no more than 20lbs.
As you are talking to the gaurds, one of you noticed the Cammel drivers are looking around, asking about something frantically. They come up to Abraham before he could catch up with Dashki. The ranger takes this advantage to head back to camp
The woman begins, Hello, have you seen-" suddenly the man, who's face is covered in dry tears, interups "our sweet goat, Rombard, she disappeared during the fire,-" back to the woman And she cannot possibly survive out in this heat... the two of them seem to be very close, finishing their sentences and such.
Gurr listens to Yrdex's description of kobold sexual habits with a smirk. Kobolds be much smarter... everyone mate with everyone but chiefs always go first. Whelps raised together in cages until old enough to survive outside. No one care. He shrugs, then runs off to try to catch Dashki before he can slip away completely.
"Now, now" says the little dragon "no need for hostility or name calling. We just want to know why you're following us around. Did someone ask you to, or are you just being cautious?"
'These tracks are very interesting, of every one here at the camp only one of our halflings could have made them. I need to be careful who I ask.' After finding the small tracks Gnasher looks around for his team members.
Seeing the three smaller memebers speaking to Dashki he approaches them. "Gnasher find tracks Gnasher not recognize, Dashki called expert, come look at tracks. Time for Dashki to do work instead of lurk about."
Then in gnollish. "კვალის პატარა, მე არ მინდა, ჩემი ერთ-ერთი თანმხლები შემთხვევით დაადანაშაულა"
"ვეთანხმები. კარგი აზროვნება, Gnasher. მე არ ვენდობი ამ კაცს, რა ღირს."
Abdalrahman stands there, one hand draped casually over the hilt of his scimitar, watching Dashki.
Poresh replies to the smelly man, "Not too busy to follow us around, not too busy to talk to us. Explain yourself, Dashki."
Noticing all his companions have moved on, Yrdex shuffles across the sand to join them. By the time he stops he is well out of breath.
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Dashki curses, and knowing enough Gnollish, it is clear what language it is. I am simply making sure you don't do anything stupid. We are in gnoll contry after all, and here even the littlest things can happen...
When gnasher aproaches he listens to their words and smiles. "Ha! The man wasn't careful, and fell victim to Pugwampi did he? Dashki chuckles. "well then, you have found your culprit, it was Pugwampi!"
"Who, or what, is Pugwampi? And we are traveling with a gnoll, and I am trained to hunt gnolls... so, while accidents do happen, I think we'll be alright."
"Is Pugwampi some sort of deity? Should it's name be spelled with a capital letter? Do tell!"
"What be Pug-Whomp=ee?"
Pugwampi? Why does that sound familiar?' Gnasher looks from Dashki to Gurrr, "Curious, from size of footprint, Pugwampi some kind of little creature like other halflings." He looks back to Dashki. "Tell us more Dashki."
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Dashki huffs. You should know it... your a gnoll... I guess not. Pugwampi are gremlins, they are tiny and weak, unable to protect themselves. So they hang around gnoll comunities, thinking the larger gnoll would protect them. But they are worse than rats! Gnoll kill them on sight, because having them around tends to bring disaster... you happy? Now, go tell the lady what you found... and leave me alone... Dashki walks off, heading twards his own tent.
'I don't have to explain myself to this human, but if it will help make peace for the tribe I will try.' Gnasher shakes his head and tells Dashki as he walks away. "მე არ ვიცი, ბევრი ტრადიციული რამ. მე დააყენა ადამიანები, ჩემი ტომის წითელი კლანჭები "განადგურდა მიერ ლეში მეფე და მისი მიმდევრები, როდესაც მე ვიყავი ნაკრები. სწორედ ამიტომ, მე ომი მას."
'Well at least I tried.' Not waiting for a response from the smelly human, Gnasher turns to his new tribe, lulling his tongue in a gnoll smile. "Dashki right, Almah must be told of Pugwampi. Then Tribe follow tracks Gnasher find, hunt down Pugwampi."
"I agree. This seems like our best option." Abdalrahman checks over his gear over, making sure everything is ready.
"Indeed, our path seems clear. We must find this Pugwampi."