This will be the In-character game thread for my Legacy of Fire PbP game.
After nearly a weeks journey from the city of Solku garavel informs you that you will be reaching your destination shortly "Mistress Almah and her company are waiting for us at the Sultan's Claw." When asked about the Sultan's Claw, Garavel says that you'll see soon enough. Shortly after the sun has passed it's zenith you find yourself entering a series of hills, the jagged peaks of the Brazen Peak stretch across the horizon in the distance, like a series of jagged tombstones.
After another hour of travel you see a column of black smoke rising into the air from behind the next hillock. A look of worry crosses Garavel's face as he spurs his camel into a gallop. As you crest the hill you find a scene of chaos as six wagons and a large pavilion are clustered around a huge five limbed, barren tree stretching into the sky like a skeletal talon. A pack of camels prance around nervously, a wooden pen the only thing keeping them from bolting into the afternoon sun. Meanwhile a herd of goats and other livestock confusedly mill about the campground.
About a dozen men and women rush about the camp. Some chasing down the loose livestock while other rush from the center of the camp near the tree carrying buckets of water in each hand. Eyes following the bucket carriers you notice the cause of the smoke column. One of the wagons is ablaze.
Red and orange flames almost completely engulf an oddly decorated wagon. Peeling painted stars and moons decorate the sides of the burning wagon and smoke billows from an open door in the rear. As you approach the campsite a dust devil disturbs a scattering of brightly decorated cards lifting them into the air. One of the cards strikes Badi square in the chest before the others settle back to the ground. The wizard looks down at the card plastered to his chest only to find that it is the Cyclone, one of the cards from a fortune telling or, Harrow deck.
The Cyclone signifies a destructive force controlled by an intelligent being. It portends an ill wind that brings Arson, Destruction, and War.
As you watch sparks fly from the wagon to land on the old tree causing the Sultan's Claw to erupt in flame. Just then a regal looking woman emerges from the central pavilion "Douse that flame" she shouts at a group of men dressed in the red chitin armor of the Packmaster's Guard. Turning away she seems to notice you for the first time. A weary smile creases her face as she addresses Garavel "Ah, Garavel. And just a moment later than the nick of time, as usual." The caravan master bows low, silent as ever. Turning to you she shouts in a voice used to command "Find some way to help" before turning towards a barrel of water and grabbing a bucket to join the others trying to douse the flaming wagon.
During their journey, Beatrix keeps to herself for the most part, rarely speaking unless addressed, but is happy to assist in making and breaking camp, and joins the other members of her faith within the group for morning prayer.
As the column of smoke comes into view over the crest of the hill, she wastes no time in following Garavel to the scene, quickly dismounting her own camel and hurrying forward. She takes a second to appraise the situation before deciding on the best course of action, particularly looking to see if anyone inside or near the wagon is imperilled by the blaze.
Perception:
Though not inhospitable to the others, Mujahid kept mostly to himself during the journey from Solku. If asked questions directly, he would be attentive and hospitable and answer them as best he could, but he did not ask many himself. He preferred to watch and listen.
As the burning tree of the Sultan's Claw cast more light over the tableau, Mujahid jumped off his horse and ran to join the line of water-bearers taking buckets to the blazing wagon.
Almah, Garavel, and the four guardsmen are shuttling buckets of water between the burning wagon and another wagon 20 feet away. This other wagon has a large barrel filled with water, five extra buckets sit unused on the wagon's floorboards. You figure at the present rate it will take the four of them almost one minute to douse the flames. By assisting in this task you feel you can reduce the amount of time significantly.
Nearby, four other guardsmen struggle trying to move another nearby wagon away from the conflagration before it too can catch fire. You can help these men move the endangered wagon to a safe distance before it's too late.
Away from the blaze a lone gray haired human kneels beside two badly burned men tending their wounds. unfortunately with all his attention focused on one of the wounded men, the other is slowly dying. You could assist the healer and rescue the dying man.
A male and female human dart back and forth trying to bring the frightened animals under control and keep them from getting underfoot and hampering the firefighting efforts. You could assist these two and save the poor animals from themselves and the flames.
Beatrix, you cannot see into the interior of the wagon due to the thick clouds of smoke billowing out the doorway. The only casualties you can see are the two bodies being tended to by the old man.
Mujahid, since you posted your action before I posted the scenarios you may change your action if you wish.
Seeing nobody inside the wagon, Beatrix's first inclination is to help douse the fire, but when she notices the injured men, she quickly walks over to them without hesitation -- lives take priority. Kneeling beside the unattended one, she pulls her cloak hood back, and realizes he is already on the verge of death. Knowing she has no time to lose, Beatrix grips her silver ankh pendant in one hand while waving the other across the unconscious man's body, speaking a brief prayer of succour. A faint glow gathers at the fingertips of her gesturing hand, which surges through the man as she gently touches his burnt chest.
Cure Light Wounds:
Badi made small talk whenever possible, if he was going to be travelling with these folk, then he wanted to know a little about him. However, at times the wizard seemed absorbed in hos own matters as well, always scanning the horizon ahead of them, as if seeing something that the others couldn't spot. Though he had said that he use to work in the Nightstalls, he had never been specific beyond that and anyone from Katapesh would wonder how such a slim man could survive in the cramped and chaotic streets of that marketplace. One oddity about the half-elf was that he never seemed to sweat. Even in the morning, the dessert was already starting to heat up, yet Badi had not a single drop marring his exposed forehead.
As teh caravan crested the hill and the smoke was spotted, Badi stepped up the pace of his camel, whom he had nammed Aa-need. As the caravan approached and the wind carried the card to Badi's chest, the man gazed at the chaos for but a moment before looking at the card. Eyes widening, Badi hoped that his interpretation of the card was mistaken, for he would admit that he had met few Varisians,even in the city of katapesh, so he was not completely sure of what he saw. Slipping the card into the folds of his robe, Badi slipped off of Aa-need's saddle to lend a hand where he could. Not gifted in animal rearing, nor gifted with reserves of strength, Badi makes for the water brigade, grabbing a spare bucket and doing what he could to put the fire out.
Knowledge Arcana:
"A pleasure to meet you all as well." Mujahid replied, bowing to Badi, Nasir, and Beatrix in turn. Then he turned to the slave. "And who might you be?" he asked before adding to her, "I am Mujahid."
Marossa looks up from her flute towards the man who speaks at her. Marossa opens her mouth for a moment before closing it again and a flush forms on her face as she stammers out, "I... I am... Marossa"
Her voice is soft, almost as if the sound is barely reaching your ears and she goes back to cleaning her flute almost immediately after answering.
As the newcomer joins the others by the camels the caravan master, Garavel, shouts to everyone. "All right, Mount up!" and even though the sun has barely risen above the horizon, he adds "We have wasted enough daylight. Mistress Almah awaits."
Putting away her rag and flute, Marossa stands up and walks towards one of the horses that has been left for her. Sliding up into the saddle with a noticable lack of grace compared to her other movements, making it rather obvious that Marossa has not ridden horses very often in her life. Still, she sits well enough on the beast as the caravan sets out. After awhile, she pulls out her flute and begins to play on the short wind instrument. Humming out an easy marching song to pass the time with.
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Once the caravan crosses the top of the hill and looks out on the the burning pillar of smoke rising from the wagon, Marossa's eyes widen in shock at the bright light that fills her vision. The heat radiates up the hill and washes over Marossa, blowing back her hair slightly, as several cards seem to fly up the hill towards the party as they rush to the caravan. Marossa gives one startled look towards Almah before dismounting from her horse and quickly tieing it's reins to one of the farther wagons' wheels. Rushing to the water wagon, Marossa picks up a bucket and fills it with water...
Mujahid
After tossing a bucket of water on the blazing wagon, Mujahid sees the other guardsmen struggling to move another wagon away from the fire. Realizing the danger he abandons the bucket brigade and runs over to help. While Mujahid grabs the wagon's tongue the others run to the back of the wagon and begin to push from behind.
Grabbing the wagon's tongue, Mujahid dug his feet into the ground and heaved with all of his strength.
Strength Check (with +4 from help):
Mujahid
Unable to move the wagon on their first try, Mujahid and the guards keep pulling and pushing the obstinate wagon.
No. But, I hadn't really thought about them. I'll post something in the OOC thread and see what everyone wants to do. But for right now I'm not using them.
Mujahid heaved again at the stubborn wagon.
... and again...
... and again...
... and one last time...
... but the wagon refused to move.
Beatrix
As you approach the wounded men you notice that one of them is not a man at all, but a woman. Her body is covered with horrible burns and her breathing is shallow and labored. Thankfully she is unconscious or her pain would be unbearable.
Kneeling beside the woman you place your hands on her slowly rising chest and call forth the healing power of your god. As the power suffuses her body most, but not all, of wounds her heal and her breathing becomes much deeper and steadier.
As the old man turns to look at you, you notice a holy symbol, that of a human face half black/half white.
The holy symbol is that of Nethys, the God of Magic
he looks at you appreciatively and says "Thank you, I was afraid I was going to lose her. I had expended all my energies healing the others. I was too focused on saving Trevvis here that I didn't have the time to spare to save Kallien. You have my gratitude, and I'm sure hers as well when she wakes up."
The man introduces himself as Zastoran, and, as he puts away his healing kit, he asks if you have any further healing available to use on the other wounded man, Trevis.
The bucket brigade
With Badi, Marossa, and Nasir helping Almah, Garavel and the other remaining guardsmen soon have the fire almost completely extinguished when, perhaps sensing it's imminent demise, the flames flare up one last time, sending an errant ember arcing into the sky where an ill-timed gust of wind sends it sailing over to the wagon which Mujahid and the other guardsmen are frantically trying to move.
All assembled can only watch in stunned silence as the ember lands atop the wagon, and fanned by the same wind which carried it, flares to life.
Reacting quickly the firemen spend precious seconds completely dousing the original fire before turning to face the new threat.
Several rounds pass before everyone has this new conflagration under control, leaving little more than several scorch marks atop the wagon.
Knowledge (Religion):
Beatrix turns her eyes to the older man and shows a calm smile once he addresses her. "Well met, Master Zastoran. I am called Beatrix." She unclasps her cloak and lays it across the one called Kallien to shield her from the elements until she could be moved to one of the wagons, then steps over to the unconscious man and kneels next to him, repeating the process to cast a healing spell upon him.
Cure Light Wounds:
After doing so, she turns to the burning wagon and narrows her eyes, noticing with some relief that the others seem to have gotten it under control.
Meanwhile
After several minutes of chasing down the livestock the camel driver approaches each of you in turn and asks you desperately "Have you seen Rombard? He's gone missing in all the chaos." He then runs off searching frantically around the campsite whistling and calling Rombard's name.
As the wounded man's eyes flutter open and he sees Beatrix kneeling over him he says in a hoarse whisper ?"I must have died and gone to heaven" Shaking his head he says in a stronger voice "What happened? Where's Kallien? The last thing I remember was we were trying to rescue Eloais from the wagon before the smoke became too thick and I passed out. Is Eloais alright?" he looks over at the unconscious woman lying next to him "Is Kallien going to be OK?"
Even with the furious work and working so close to the fire, Badi is barely sweating. Smiling as the last of the fire gets put out, he too introduces himself, "Mistress Almah, I am Badi Al'Mukhabat Nabih Ka'im of Katapesh. I am glad that we were able to help as we could. I do wonder however, what caused this accident to happen?"
Beatrix can't help but return an amused smile at Trevvis's first comment. "I do not ken anyone by that name," she says in reply to his question about Eloais, "But Kallien will live. Exert thyself not; thou hast sustained great injury." She holds out a hand over his chest, as though urging him not to try getting up, then turns to Zastoran. "Master Zastoran, be there perchance a place for them in one of the wagons?"
Mujahid paused to catch his breath and to work the kinks out of his muscles. His failed attempts at moving the wagon had left some of his muscles with knots. He was glad the fire got put out, though, especially since it had spread briefly.
As the camel driver passed by inquiring about Rombard, Mujahid ran to catch up to the man. "Someone named Rombard is missing? What does he look like?"
Marossa drops her empty bucket as the fire is finally put out. Quietly stepping off to the side so as not to be in the way of anybody, Marossa has one arm crossed over her torso, holding the elbow of her other arm as she waits to be introduced to her new Mistress. Her brow beads with sweat from the recent fire, and her usually pale skin is flushed with all the exercise and close proximity to the heat.
Zastoran looks gratefully at Beatrix, nodding his head. I'm sure we can find room somewhere mistress. Although looking around at the caravan, Zastoran's face falls slightly.
At Mujahid's words some of the guards laugh out loud. Wondering at their rudeness he catches up to the man who turns to him. Oh thank you sir. He can't have gotten too far. He's got a light brown-ish coat, with a distinctive mark over the fetlock. With some embarassment Mujahid realizes that the man is looking for his lost goat amongst the chaos.
Nasir and Badi move to introduce themselves and hear Almah talking to her major domo Garavel. At their words she turns and gives them a brief nod. My thanks to you. This could have ended much more disastrously than it already did. I'm already out one astrologer as it is. The impression you get is that the loss of the person is more a hit to her resources rather than any feeling of remorse for the loss of a companion.
As it so happens, I was instructing Garavel to investigate the potential cause of this fire. I don't want to believe it was set by someone intentionally but it is odd. Seeing as how you arived with him, I'd say its fairly safe to assume you had no hand in any potential arson. Work with Garavel and help him to determine the cause of the blaze. With a nod, she turns back to getting the caravan reorganzied leaving you with Garavel.
Beatrix glances around for a wagon that seems as if it would be used for tending to the injured, or otherwise is unoccupied. If she can find one, she will look for a pair of blankets or bedrolls to lay down inside it, then request Zastoran's assistance, or that of a passer-by, to move Kallien and Trevvis. If she cannot find one, she'll simply get a blanket underneath the two and begin to treat their burns on the spot.
Being the Major Domo, Garavel would have the most authority of the newly arrived group to get the answers that the Mistress would want. Badi turns to Garavel and says, "If I may suggest, it would be prudent to find the source of the fire before too much time has passed. Additionally, it might be wise to get to know more about this astrologer and who here might want him dead, if we are to assume that this was murder. With your leave, I shall investigate the caravan and see what I can find." It is clear that the man is one of discipline as he waits for the Domo's response to his statement before taking any other actions.
Hearing the wishes of Mistress Almah, Marossa steps forward next to Badi and bows for a moment, "If I can be of any help Master..." Her expression serene on the outside, keeping the cool respectfulness she has learned to adopt when among those who own her collar, almost like a mask to hide her true self.
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Upon learning of the fatality, Nasir smile vanishes and his face becomes sober. "I agree with Badi, we need to investigate. But I'd hesitate to call it murder until we know more. Perhaps a careless spark from the campfire set his wagon ablaze, much like the one from his wagon had started the one nearest it on fire."
Before going to investigate the wagon Nasir will ask Garavel "What can you tell us about this astrologer? Was their anyone here who might have wished him harm?"
After listening to Garavel's answers, Nasir will go inside the burned out wagon and search for any signs of foul play.
Garavel steps towards the rest of you as Almah moves off. The lady is not suggesting murder, at least not directly. But there could be any number of people who might want to sabotage her mission to Kelmarane. Investigating the wagon is key and you should also speak with the others, find out what they might know of what happened. Perhaps it was targeted at the astrologer but it might have been targeted at Mistress Almah. Or it simply could have been a stroke of bad luck. This is what she needs you, us, to find out.
As to the astrologer, he was a Varisian named Eloais. He practiced a form of divination using the Harrow deck but other than that I didn't know him well enough to be able to tell you whether he had any enemies.
Examining the burned out wagon, Nasir you see the charred remains of Eloais laying on the floor. Its unclear exactly of the state of the body at the time of death.
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Unable to spot any extraneous wounds on the charred body, Nasir says a few words of blessing over the remains and sighs "I cannot find any wounds on the body that might suggest anything other than an accident, but due to the condition of the body I cannot say for certain." Looking up he says "Perhaps Lady Beatrix should examine him, though I had wished to spare her this."
Having walked with Nasir, Badi also surveys the area. However, not notting anything of particular value to their investigation, Badi nods to Nasir's comment and says, "Agreed. I will go speak with some of the others in the camp while you fetch Beatrix." With that, Badi will move off to speak with the camp's gnoll expert.
Approaching Dashki, Badi says, "Good day, I am Badi Al'Mukhabat Nabih Ka'im of Katapesh. Mind if I sit with you for a moment?"
Perception:
Once Trevvis and Kallien had been tended to for the time being, Beatrix leaves them in Zastoran's care, making to the others near the ruined wagon. Upon sighting the dead astrologer, she frowns, giving the departed a brief and solemn prayer. She then kneels to investigate, trying to find any indication as to the cause of death.
Heal:
Perception:
Marossa nods and bows again as she steps back from Master Garavel and the rest to set off on her own questioning. After spending long years under the watchful eye of so many guards before, Marossa knows that the guards of the Packmasters miss little of what happens around them. Holding her long skirt up for a moment as she hops over a bit of charred wood from the wagon Marossa steps up to one of the guards. Initially intimidated by the red chitin-plate of the Packmasters uniform, her voice is nearly quiet before picking up a bit of confidence.
"Greetings Sir, I hope I am not intruding on your duties but Mistress Almah and Master Garavel wish to know what you may have seen before the fire started," Marossa says with her eyes not quite looking directly into the guardsman's mask.
Mujahid rolled his eyes when Hadrod wasn't looking, but then again the man was clearly distraught. Circling the camp, he looked around for any goat tracks that led away from the camp.
Survival (Tracking):
Beatrix examining the body you are able to determine that there doesn't seem to be any evidence of a struggle or violence and that the astrologer appears to have simply died from the heat and smoke inhalation due to the fire.
As Marossa humbly approaches the Packmaster guards, the men break out in smiles. There's the lass that helped put out the damnable fire. Glad to see you weren't singed by the flames. After listening to her question, Keldon leans back. Sorry hun we were guarding Lady Almah's tent when the fire started up. Couldn't really see to much of what caused it. And of course we had our eye on that Dashki kid. It was clear he was trying to get a look into Almah's tent. He chuckles with the rest of the guards. That boy is obsessed with her.
Mujahid you are able to follow some track briefly but in all the confusion of the fire, you quickly lose sight of them off in the waste. Hadrod does thank you for the help though.
As Badi approaches he immediately can tell that Dashki isn't the most pleasant person to be around. There is a smell to him as if he hadn't known a cleaning in some time and his clothes were matted and covered in dirt. At Badi's approach Dashki gives him a reproachful look. Well I certainly don't own the dirt. Sit where you want I guess.
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Leaving Beatrix to her grisly task, Nasir will wander over to the mercenaries wagon.
"Glad to see that your wagon was not lost as well. You've been with Mistress Almah awhile now, do you know of anyone who might have wished her astrologer ill? Did any of you see anything...unusual before the fire erupted?"
"'Twas the fire what did claim his life ... yet, I cannot say if it was accident or arson." She frowns, glancing up to Nasir as he steps away. After a moment, she likewise leaves the others to speak to the other members of the caravan, returning to the two injured mercenaries for the time being, taking the opportunity to speak with Zastoran if she can. "Father Zastoran, pray, couldst thou tell what thou saw'st ere we arrived?"
Marossa smiles graciously, showing a ray of emotion behind her usually nervous demeanor, as she looks up at the Packmaster guardsman for a moment. "I understand Sir, thank you for helping me in my task."
Giving the guardsman a curtsy before stepping away and wandering about the camp for a few moments. Finding herself near to Beatrix by random chance, the young girl steps up beside the woman and quietly listens in, not wanting to intrude in her conversation with the elderly man.
Taking a seat with the dirty man, Badi gets straight to the point. "I have been tasked to investigate the fire that turned the diviner's carriage to burnt rubble. Did you happen to see anything, either before the fire or during it to hint at any possible foul play?"
"Sorry, Hadrod." Mujahid said as he returned empty-handed to the camel driver. "It looks like he wandered away from camp out into the wastes. I'll see if I pick up his trail again once things calm down a bit here." He looked over to the wreckage of the astrologer's wagon. "Bad luck for the astrologer, if it was bad luck. Do you know if anyone had it in for him?"
Nasir's nose crinkles slightly at the smell as he approaches the mercenaries. Although hesitant at first, with a few words they seem to open up a bit to him. We'd just enjoyed our after dinner drink, this said with some laughter around the cook fire when suddenly the stargazer's wagon went up. Not too big a loss honestly, the man was a bit of a dandy. Although rumor is he was nailing the Lady Almah, hehe.
One of the mercenaries chuckled. Yeah I heard they were getting it good. Hell it was probably that love-sick idiot Dashki lit the damn thing up, remove his competition. He was always mooning over her.
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Zastoran nods at Beatrix's words, his face lost in thought. I didn't see much. I was attempting to read a book near the cook fire but thanks to those louts over there with a shrug towards Nashir and the mercenaries, it proved difficult to say the least. But I saw them around the cook fire so if it was arson it certainly didn't seem to be them. I'm not sure where Dashki was but I didn't see him or the camel drivers, Hadrod and Hadrah. That boy Dashki's obsession with Almah wasn't quite right though if you ask me. No one with healthy desires skulks around a pretty woman the way he does; who knows what a scoundrel like him could be capable of.
With a sigh he looks back at the burned out wagon. I always felt the man was a charlatan and bad influence on Almah but truth be told I will miss his conversations. Not a one of these others here can discuss the poetry of Bellianais or the music of far-off Absalom. Eloias was well traveled and intelligent. I'll miss him for that.
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Dashki looks Badi over before shrugging his shoulders. I didn't see nothing about the fire starting. I was finishing up my dinner when I heard the cries and saw the flames.
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Hadrod and Hadrah seem an excitable couple in general as Mujahid returns to tell them of the goat. Hadrod particularly seems to be on the verge of tears but thanks him for his help in searching.
At the mention of the fire the two of them begin talking rapidly, finishing each other sentences naturally. Oh that's a shame isn't it. That Eloais fellow was nice enough for a foreigner. Didn't really get all of his talk about "Cyclones and Fiends and Uprisings" and the like. But the Lady Almah trusted him and that was enough for us to know that he must have been a good enough man.
Hadrah leans forward lowering her voice conspiratorially. we used to know Dashki a bit from back Solku-way. Used to take rich folk into the scrublands to hunt up gnolls like trophies. Most people here don't trust him, especially the way he lears at Lady Almah with his mouth all watering like at the smell of a fresh steak. Maybe he done it to Eloais, you know to remove a rival for Lady Almah's attention?
Trevvis waves his hand towards Beatrix and Father Zastoran. The old cleric was there for a while reading although he apparently didn't care for the company. The rest of the mercenaries laugh at the joke.
Rubbing his chin in thought, Badi then continues by saying, "I hear that you are quite knowledgable about gnolls. Does your knowledge extent to other creatures of the desert and plains? Mostly I am hoping to keep the options open, thinking of anything that might be able to start a fire, in case it is determined by my compatriots that the fire was more than just an accident."
"Could be," Mujahid replied to Hadrah. He looked around the camp and saw that the others were talking with various people around the camp. They should probably get together and pool their information. Turning back to Hadrod and Hadrah, Mujahid smiled and said, "Thanks. I need to go, but I'll let you know if I turn up anything else about Rombard." He bowed to them and walked over to the burned and gutted wagon.
Marossa looks up in shock as Father Zastoran mentions the poetry of Bellianais. While she has not heard of the poet, she is surprised to find another soul out here who takes interest in poetry. "Perhaps I could be of help later Father, I do not know of Bellianais, but I have been taught in many forms of poetry by my previous Master... but, Al anesah Beatrix, I believe the others may be waiting for us." Indicating with a sweep of her hand towards Mujahid and Nasir who stands once again by the burned wagon.