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Anapa's blade carves another bloody wound into the wereleopard's chest, drawing yet another spray of blood. Still, Haidar stands tall, even with all his burns and bloody wounds. He lets out a defiant roar... but the sound quickly transitions into more of a gargle. The crazed hermit's eyes roll into the back of his head, and his body crumples, collapsing onto the deck in a muscular heap.
Combat Over
Haidar's form still visibly heaves with each breath, but it is only a matter of time before he bleeds out.
Anapa bends down. At first he wants to end him. But that would violate his code. This man is now under their protection. A prisoner.
He tries to treat his wounds
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With his still-gigantic form, Anapa has no trouble flipping Haidar onto his back and binding the worst of his wounds with strips of the man's already torn clothing. The wereleopard is still unconscious and gravely wounded, but at the very least, he is in no immediate danger of bleeding to death.
As the paladin treats Haidar, he notes that he is carrying the following:
Anapa will give the items to hos companions. Magic is not his forte
"Make sure these weapons are not a danger to us" he himself will use detect evil to make sure the weapons and armor are not tainted
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"Still hurt, not anymore." she says in a gruff voice intoning upon the spirits to open the strength of her companions.
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Sarala rubs her brow and then quickly scurries up the dungeon wall back onto the barge to peer at Haidar. "That dagger thing looked sharp and painful. It's dangerous when the pointy end gets into you. I found Team B, though, I think ... not looking so hot... but maybe I'm hallucinating."
She rubs her forehead and tries to check for vital signs on Dashki, Khasra, Khatijah, and Sami, as well as try her meagre healing skills on anyone she can who seems like they can be saved.
On the weapon:
On the vials:
On the chain shirt:
"I was unable to tell what magic abilities the weapon has, or the armor, but those vials at least are filled with a mild curative. I shall try again tomorrow."
Sarala quickly finds that Khasra, Khatijah, and Sami are all still breathing. Their wounds have already been treated by someone, but only just enough to stop them from bleeding to death. Dashki is not so fortunate. Almah's "gnoll expert" is dead, having likely been killed instantly, judging by the placement of his injuries.
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"Dashki's dead... but the rest of these guys are alive. We need to get them back to the camp right away, though, or else... well, nothing really, doesn't seem like they're dying or anything. Eventually they'll wake up, but I'm not sharing my food. So let's get them out of here!" says Sarala, gesturing towards the door. "I guess I'll have to get them down, huh, 'cause you guys are the worst climbers ever? Give me a second, I will get them down."
She puts down her equipment, taking what might seem like a comical amount of shuriken out of her sleeves and clothes, piling them up on top of each other before topping them off with her temple sword. "You wouldn't believe how heavy these are," she comments, "Maybe when we go back, I should pick up some fancier shuriken than these old things. Haidar barely seemed to feel it when I nailed him with them and I've got a pretty good arm."
Her backpack goes down next, adjacent to her pile of clanking shuriken. One by one, she picks up the B team, hauling them down the rope carefully, zipping back up Narkû's rope to get the next. She finishes by hauling Dashki down, commenting grimly, "They might want to give him a proper sendoff or something... Looks like he died instantly."
Sarala climbs back up the rope a last time in order to gather up all her equipment again, tucking everything into their proper places. "Narks, Anapa and I can carry our living allies back, 'cause we're super fit... As for Dashki, I dunno, any of you think you want carry him? If you need to wrap him up and drag him, he's not getting deader..." She looks over to Haidar and says, "I dunno what to do with kitty kitty now that we've got him. Maybe we tie him up and a couple of us can drag him by his feet. Let me know if he starts stirring at all, I have some techniques good for subduing guys."
Anapa looks them over
"I still have some divine reserves left, should i heal them now? May make the trip back easier?"
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"Yeah, Napper, though make them feel better one at a time... this place can make reality look... different," says Sarala, rubbing the back of her neck and saying towards Julius, with a bit of a sheepish tone, "Sorry, buddy, looks like I bumped into you pretty hard... We'll get someone to look at your eye back at the monastery."
"I hesitate to ask this, but, ummm, how can we be sure they aren't infected?"
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"Yeah, well, how can we be sure that Anapa and I aren't affected now that we have these weird catcut wounds and this is our werecat way of eating you all back at the monastery?" replies Sarala, "I'm sure someone can help them out there even if they do have inner panthers waiting to spring out. We only need them well enough to walk, but not so well that a punch to the face won't make them go back to sleep."
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As the wave of positive energy washes over him, Julius probably broken nose reverses into a more healthy form. The swelling of his now-shut eye goes down and the bruising settles into the ugly yellow-black of mostly healed. Touching the puffy area, he winces but seems less pained.
"Did I hear someone is doing the one job I can do without failing?" Julius demands playfully. "I can examine the artifacts and other magics in this temple. In fact I am glad to do so."
When Sarala announces her intentions and recommends getting people out of the Breath of Nethys, Julius reluctantly agrees. "This mist can be unsettling for many. We should move those affected as soon as possible."
As Sarala approaches him regarding the hard knock from earlier, Julius shrugs. "I know I was getting a little carried away with my talking." Rubbing his eye, he says to her, "Maybe next time, a 'Shut up, Julius' would be enough."
He winks at her with a grin and playfully punches her arm.
As they begin to move people and get ready to bring the other group back to the base camp, Julius eyes the marvels of the temple sadly. Looking at the clawed doors, Julius glances at the unconscious Haidar. "I guess we solved this riddle. I really do need more time with this place though..."
Between Anapa and Sarala, it takes very little time to get everyone down from the barque. As they work, they both note that there is only one other thing left on the vessel - a set of worn saddlebags, fit for a camel. Ruika's channeled energy pulses throughout the chamber, healing everyone, Haidar and your fallen comrades included. The latter three stir, but despite being brought back from the brink of death, none of them wake. The wereleopard does not wake either, evidently still too wounded to do so.
At a glance, there are two exits: a tunnel that leads to the west, and the way you initially came through.
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"You know I like hearing you go on about stuff. It's adorable!" says Sarala, ruffling Julius's hair, "Everything just looked weird for a little bit there. It was like that time when I drank that bottle that I thought was full of fruit juice." The Vanaran climbs back up onto the ship to take a last little look around, noting, "Let's come back here tomorrow and check out that other path. Or maybe the day after... we still have to find Felliped's buddy, our fellow Pathfinder."
She picks up the saddlebags to check if there's anything inside and then does a last lookaround for anything of interest.
"Does 'adorable' have an alternate meaning in the Vanaran tongue?"
Sarala sifts through the contents of the bulging, battered saddlebags and finds the following:
The monk glances about, but sees nothing else of note within the chamber.
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Once the party is ready to set out, you leave the chamber through the way you came. The greatest challenge proves to be ascending the shaft that leads to the upper level. It is a tight squeeze, but with some rope work you are able to get everyone out. During this effort, the fog finally lifts from Ruika and Sarala’s minds, leaving their sanity intact.
By the time you depart from the ruin, the sky has gone pitch black. Obscured by clouds, even the moon does not illuminate the area as it usually would. Visibility is poor even for those with darkvision, but regardless, the party’s survivalists are skilled enough to retrace your steps. Traversing the hilly area is made a hassle by your precious cargo, especially Haidar’s body, which is almost twice as large as any one of you. Steering clear of Kelmarane and the pesh fields, you ford the Pale River and make your way toward the monastery. Fortunately, the journey is uneventful, punctuated only by the occasional cry of nearby predators, none of which challenge your group. After over two hours you approach the looming silhouette of the edifice, utterly exhausted.
When you enter the nave of the monastery, almost immediately you are set upon by the caravan’s mercenary guardsmen. Perhaps sensing the urgency of the situation, they are uncharacteristically helpful, taking the wounded adventurers off of your hands. Father Zastoran, evidently roused from his slumber just moments before, sleepily inspects the wounded. None are so eager to approach the unconscious wereleopard; they can only stare in awe and disbelief. They do not even seem to realize that the witch in your group was not with you when you first departed.
“What in the Nine Hells is that?” Dullen asks helpfully, his expression one of revulsion.
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"That's some kind of crazy hobo who turned into a cat monster and we only know that we beat him into submission and dragged him across a desert, and that he had a fight with the other team... Unfortunately, I'm sorry to say, Dashki died in the fight before we got there." Sarala bows her head slightly in respect for the dead, saying a small prayer to her tribal gods.
"We figured we should bring Dashki back so you could attend to his burial. The rest of Team B looks like they got roughed up. Seems like hobocat might know some stuff about the area and the place we found him in, and maybe he can get some kind of help with either the crazy or the cat thing... Either way, we're going to need him to be tied up and closely watched," says Sarala, glancing over towards Haidar. "But I don't know much about that... That's for our brainy folks to figure out. I do know that I'm tired, hungry, tired, thirsty and tired."
She waves at Father Zastoran and says, "Do you know if anyone around these parts can uncattify someone? Because we have a guy in serious need of uncattification."
Quietly with more than a hint of reverence Ruika does as Sarala requested and wraps up Dashki's body in a blanket and carries him from the temple. Though she realises the groups banter is to lighten the spirits of warriors surrounded by death and magic for prolonged periods; a trifle different to her tribe that seemed to shrug off conflict with an ease that she couldn't feel.
The cowled witch follows the group back to the caravan, keeping slightly behind the others trying not to be noticed too much.
"He is afflicted or possessed. Either way. I hope you can help him. Otherwise. It may be best to help him out of the suffering he must be in" Anapa states calmly
"Noone deserves this kind of pain"
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"Ahhh.. an exorcism. Good plan. Shaman-Grumnash did exorcisms, mostly staking people in sun. Results generally not good.... you better at driving out spirits?" She asks towards the others and the caravan folk, before leaning over to casually mention to Julius. "Pectoral worth twice gold found, scarab on stick opens doors - is simple key."
"Is there anything that I can do to assist?"
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Julius shows far less concern for Haidar than the others. Having already determined the man is afflicted with lycanthropy, Julius is satisfied by knowing he is no longer in danger of death and does not pay Haidar's current unconsciousness any mind. Instead, he spends much of the return trip in reverie and making occasional notes in his journal about the Temple of Nethys. Julius does express what can only be called disappointment that Haidar had not shown any evidence of magical aptitude or inclination to use magic during the prior conflict. The arcanist seems to have had high hopes for a man trying to maintain exclusive possession of a complex dedicated to the All-Seeing Eye.
Upon arriving at the camp, Julius allows the others to fuss over those injured by the wereleopard and the lycanthrope himself. He chooses to take this time to examine each of the items they had encountered.
His mind still seems to be affected by the Breath of Nethys while not having succumbed to its more torporific effects, the heavy magic must have overloaded his senses for the time being. Sighing, Julius thanks Thurrios and Ruika on their insights for the items they were able to identify.
Approaching Sarala, Julius nods to his friend tiredly, his blackened eye not as obvious in the longer shadows of the darkening sky.
"Oi, Sarala. Let's get some grub. This lot can handle their own," he says referring to the injured and afflicted.
Glancing over to the "white orc" and her lovely Lyssa, Julius gestures for the pair to join their meal. "Would you like to discuss magic, Lady Ruika?"
If she joins them, Julius will begin to make near endless conversation about magic and ask Ruika about her powers and how they work.
As Zastoran tends to the wounded, Almah steps forward with Garavel at her side. She glances at the alchemist's patients, and then looks to Dashki's corpse wistfully. Her gaze lingers for several seconds before finally, she turns her attention to Haidar, her eyes narrowing.
"I have heard the stories of such creatures," she muses, taking a step closer to the wereleopard. "They are men cursed to become beasts, compelled to destroy everything that they hold dear. They are driven mad by their bloodlust." She looks to Anapa pointedly. "If this curse was afflicted upon him as you say, then our wounded are in no danger of sharing his fate. Nonetheless, we will keep an eye on them, just in case.
"As for this one... curing him is far beyond our means. Once the curse of the beast sets in, there is no going back. Not without powerful magic. Above that, he killed one of our own. It would be for the best to just put him out of his misery."
Father Zastoran looks up at Sarala and sighs, shaking his head. "It is as Lady Almah says, I'm afraid. And even if he turns human again, there is no guarantee that he won't go on another rampage."
"If there is any hope of redeeming him. Or returning hom to his former self, i urge you to seek it. Exicution should be our last option." he sighs. Then continues
"But if it is the will of those he has wronged, I will take the burden of setting his soul free of this torment"
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Ever using his whetstoneon his falchion, Narkû looks over solemnly and says, "Narkû can make it quick."
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"Huh? I mean, yeah, he's dangerous... but he knows so much about the place we visited. We're sure there's no recourse for a guy like that? Seems like a fate worse than death to lose yourself and become a monster."
Sarala puts her hands in her pockets, looking over towards Julius, nodding as he suggests to go get food and mouthing the words, 'One second.' "At least we need to give Julius the chance to extract information from the guy, could save our butts somewhere down the line, or keep us from meeting this kind of fate."
She shrugs to Father Zastoran, "I don't know much about this sort of thing. I've never seen one of my kind turn into a weremonster. I woulda thought that a cleric or something would be able to appeal to their deity to help out, but if we can at least bind him and get info... Seems like it could be handy."
"The Dawnflower teaches that all deserve a chance at redemption. We must give him that chance first. After which, should redemption not be an option, we can determine the manner of his death."
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"Hey, hey now!" comes the concerned cry from Julius when executing Haidar is brought up. "You can't be seriously suggesting killing what amounts to an innocent man! Er, werecat, leopard man..." Julius rolls his hand as if that will assist the stumbling for words he is experiencing. "Whatever we want to call him though Haidar works well enough and leaves out the confusion, I suppose."
Julius eyes shift to the sand to contemplate the wereleopard as he momentarily considers the correct vocabulary. He shakes himself and returns to Haidar's defense earnestly.
"Hey! That's not important! The lycanthropic shift generally is only triggered some of the time. I'm pretty sure that he was only able to make this change because of some magic within the Temple. As long as some care is taken around then full moon to restrain him in a stout and sturdy cage, Haidar's knowledge of this area and the Temple will be invaluable."
Julius begins to beam as he mentions the Temple of Nethys. "If this rather unmagey mage is able to use the magics there to cause his transformation, I'm certain I will be able to solve the riddle of it. Maybe we could even find an answer to restoring him from it! Just think of it!"
Julius eyes are alight with future glory and amazing impossible magic.
"Finding the solution to lycanthropy! We would be hailed as heroes! Being able to control it—turning it on and off at whim! Think of the applications! Think of respect and access to powerful tomes...! I would be renowned as one of the greatest wizards ever..."
Julius is long gone at this point. He sees nothing but himself casting spells to change his cadre of warriors into wereanimals to destroy the evil hordes that exist to prevent his access to the world's mystical secrets.
Almah is silent for several seconds as she takes your words into consideration, stroking her chin thoughtfully. Several of the warriors present shuffle around uncomfortably, growing increasingly wary in the presence of the werebeast. Still unconscious, the wereleopard remains utterly oblivious to the judgment about to be cast onto it.
Garavel leans toward her, a hand resting on the pommel of his scimitar “Almah…?”
“Bind him with chains and lock him in the crypt,” Almah starts suddenly, without taking her eyes off Haidar. “I want two guards watching him at all times. Fearsome as he appears to be, he is in no shape to put up a struggle. He should be easy enough to put down, should he force our hand.” The guards dally for a moment, as though debating on who should approach the beast. Almah scoffs with annoyance. ”Well? Get to it, before he wakes up!” As an aside to Garavel, she adds, ”Please make sure they do not try anything foolish.” With a nod, the majordomo leaves her side to accompany the mercenaries.
With a heavy sigh, she then looks back to your group. “For all of our sakes, I hope that you are right about him. We cannot afford to have anything else go awry during this mission.”
With the matter of Haidar’s fate settled, Almah tiredly gathers the party and asks for your report on what happened in the village, as well on the events that led up to Haidar’s capture. She focuses much of her attention on the pale “orc” witch, watching her with interest. Garavel voices his suspicions as usual, suggesting that Ruika could be a Kulldis spy, but the merchant princess shrugs off his concerns. She offers the witch the very same contract that had been offered to the others; in exchange for her aid in the extermination of the Kulldis tribe and the liberation of Kelmarane, she is to receive payment, both from Almah as a representative of the Pactmasters of Katapesh, as well as from the spoils of war.
After the debriefing, Almah and Garavel return to their tent. The rest of the caravan’s mercenaries take Dashki’s body to the courtyard, the only defensible patch of earth he can be buried in. Zastoran continues treating the wounded, using curatives to heal the rest of their wounds. Despite being restored to good health however, they do not wake; the alchemist concludes that some other condition must be ailing them. Hadrah offers everyone a late dinner, consisting of some bread and a vegetable stew.
The rest of the night is quiet and somber. The peace is interrupted only once, when the Howl of the Carrion King rings out from Kelmarane, reminding you of your mission, and of what lies ahead.
Ruika replies in kind to Almah, carefully watching her and making an assessment. Whereas when Garavel voices his suspicions the unsubtle orc is not quick in her vehement retort; "What a 'Kulldis'? Me no Kulldis?!"
"Contract mean kill Gnoll. Kill gnoll good." She agrees to help the others with their agreement. "Ruika go to hut and get stuff."
Anapa listens carefully. Rrying to see if their was something else to her words
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Of Ruika, Sarala says on her behalf mostly to assure Almah and give some sort of peace of mind, "Ruika has already helped us out of some jams, I think she'll be a great ally. Trust me, I'm a great judge of character!"
Once Sarala has a meal and listens to Julius and Ruika talk about their magic, she decides that she has little to contribute to the conversation except for her interest. Once that concludes, she walks on over to where Father Zastoran is looking after Team B, who she's never actually officially met before. "You know," she says, "I don't really know these guys from any others of your kind or... whatever the heck kinds they are. But if there's anything I can do to help make 'em alright... Maybe Julius can figure it out after talking to Haidar? I feel like I have a lot to meditate on today. It has been a strange time out there... But! I wanted to make sure, you don't think me or Anapa could catch whatever it is Haidar's got? 'cause he tore into us pretty good."
She pauses and adds, "And maybe Julius's eye could get looked at. I accidentally ran my forehead into his face." She lets out an awkward chittering laugh.
Anapa smiles
"If it is some form of disease, I do not fear it. Anubis has granted me defences against such afflictions. But as for those less fortunate. Yes. They do need to be checked out and tended too if that is the case"
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Looking up from her conversation about how the spirits influence the world, permeating the energies of those in the land of the living like a shadow, when Sarala laughs. The scarfed lady inquires; "Was it scarabs on his face? Lots of scarabs in chamber, you use head to clear them off Julius' face. Good idea, your strikes probably would hurt him."
Clearly Ruika is still a trifle unnerved by the events in the chamber with all the insects. "Wonder if spirits could give a blessing to clear away the vermin - or at least heal Julius face."
"Knowledge of diseases and afflictions is certainly not my specialty, or of special interest to the Dawnflower."
After his third plate of food, Narkû becomes bored with all the jaw jacking of godly interests and diseases. Wishing to talk more about his glorious killing capabilities, he seeks out some of the other guards and camp followers.