Erizi looks at the developing and/or existing relationship between the others with sadness, and apprehension. I've been there. I've felt that connection... but it is temporary like everything. They die. Then they are sad. It is better to not be sad.
"This was not the way your training was meant to go." Solomon said to Zhalet as they walked. He seemed apologetic. "Finding Haleen is not something I can leave to others. I will teach you as best as I am able. If you wish it, I can message to Temple and see if another tutor can be found. If you stay with me, you will learn much, but the lessons will not always be easy. Or safe."
Zhalet puts her hand on Soloman's forearm to stop him. "Hojam if I may speak candidly, I believe this IS how my training was meant to go. You are still bound for Kelmarane are you not? So am I. I have spent my life at the Temple in Gurat, absorbing it's lessons. But I am not foolish enough to believe that those are the only lessons one needs."
"My mother secured my place here because she knows the same. The Temple is a place of tranquility. With its routines and carefully constructed rules and strictures, one can focus on the divine without interruption. Outside the Temple the world is more complicated, messier, and yes dangerous. That is the lesson for me to learn now."
Zhalet smiles at Solomon and, removing her hand, begins to walk again. "I know how to walk and how to juggle. Now I must show that I can do both at the same time. I will see that the Temple in Kalmarane is reconsecrated. I will also assist you however I can in finding your mother."
As they walk, Zhalet remarks to Solomon:
"You know, my mother said on occasion that I saved her life. If I had not been born, she would never have settled. Eventually she would have met more than her match somewhere, somehow. I think she is returning the favor to me, but in reverse. This is her way to seeing to it that I don't lead just half of a life. The reconsecration of the the Temple is my main task, but my mother set a number of more....private goals that she wishes for me to achieve. Even my own journey will not be a simple one."
Solomon smiled. "The Birth of Light and Truth begins with the journeys of Sarenrae before she claimed her ascension to divinity. Those who wish to walk in her footsteps must walk the road as she did. Through the lessons of the road we know Her better, and ourselves. Your mother has given you a dangerous, but very important gift."
The road from Solku has been long, hot, and boring. You have all spent more than a week atop a camel, swaying your way out into the northern scrublands of Katapesh, to some destination Garavel will not disclose. In the haze far to the west, you can just make out the massive outline of the Pale Mountain looming like a tombstone.
Garavel’s demeanor informs you that you are getting close to your destination. As you ascend the next rise, a strangely craggy tree comes into view. With five immense, mostly leafless branches, it looks like nothing so much as a skeletal claw reaching to the sky. This must be the Sultan’s Claw, a unique tree used as a landmark by travelers in this region.
As you top the rise, a caravan of a half-dozen wagons and a large tent clustered around the distinctive tree comes into view. Camels in a nearby pen prance in agitation, and a clutch of confused goats and livestock wander the grounds around the wagons. Perhaps a dozen men and women rush around the campsite, chasing down an animal or hastening toward the center of the cluster, near the Sultan’s Claw, with pails of water in their hands. One of the wagons is on fire!
Garavel leads the way as you hurry your camels closer. Beautiful orange and red flames engulf an elaborate wooden wagon emblazoned with painted moons and stars. A thick plume of smoke pours from its open door. As your camels slow near the edge of the caravan, gust of wind blows the smoke and a number of colorfully fluttering rectangles of paper directly at you. One of the rectangles catches against Zhalet’s chest in a puff of orange cinders. It is The Cyclone.
As your eyes shift back from The Cyclone to the burning wagon, the whole of the Sultan’s Claw erupts into brilliant flames.
The central flap on the largest tent, an elaborate affair of silks and fine cloth, flies open and a regally elegant woman who can only be the merchant Princess Almah stalks out into the night. she shouts to the men surrounding the burning wagon.
Turning to survey the rest of the scene, her eyes fall upon Garavel and the rest of you, ”Ah, Garavel! You have returned to us finally. And just a moment later than the nick of time, as usual.” Her glance travels past the shocked majordomo to the rest of you, ”The rest of you! If you would join us, find some way to help!”
She then turns back to the fire and the men fighting it.
Without a word, Garavel rushes forward to help her and the others fight the fire raging in the ornately painted wagon.
The night is inferno and confusion with caravaners rushing to and fro and the flaming wagon and tree lighting the area with bright light and madly dancing shadows. As you survey the scene in front of you, you perceive some pattern to the chaos. There are four individual struggles in which the caravaners are currently engaged:
Alexander notes the card - and his eyes narrow.
'Ware treachery!" he shouts, his voice hoarse from days of dust and disuse. "Someone may have directed this blaze. Stand ready for attack."
The old man clumsily disembarks from his camel and limps over to the burning wagon. At a safe distance, he barks a single Word of Power and directs a beam of wintry chill into the fire.
Rukn takes a quick look to the two burnt bodies. -That could be Haleen- he thinks.
In a matter of seconds, though, his survival instinct kicks in.
-We need to make sure the fire doesn't spread.- He rushes to help the ones moving the wagon. -Quick!
-Even if it means...
Zhalet snatches the card away from her clothing to prevent scorching or fire. She notices a picture on the paper and gives it a look. The Cyclone, an ill omen for sure! She pats the card out and scans the chaotic scene. Seeing there are injured, she slides off her camel and rushes to assist them.
The halfling is attending one of the injured so Zhalet takes the other, an elven woman. She places her hands on the her and uses curative magic.
Erizi springs into... indecision... He knows how terrible flames can be, but sees so many places he is needed, just as he starts towards the people trying to move the wagon, he sees companion called Rukn rush off in that direction, he runs towards the bucket brigade.
"I have fought fires in the arena before. Here follow my lead".
Knowing her own Strengths...and her weaknesses, Kilarra sees only one place that she may be of service...throwing water on the flames. However, heeding Alexander's warning of potential hostiles she takes a quick look around to try and spot anything out of place.
The Fire:
Erizi, Kilarra, and Alexander all head toward the fire to help extinguish it. Alexander unleashes the icy cold of the north upon the flames and the intensity of the blaze is reduced by a fair margin. Kilarra pauses to look for anything unusual, but nothing unusual is there to be seen, aside from the wagon on fire.
Spreading Flames:
Rukn joins the four strong mercenaries trying to shove the second wagon away from the burning one.
Healing the wounded:
Zhalet brings the healing power of the Dawnflower to the injured elf. The woman immediately relaxes and her pained breathing eases becoming deeper and more regular, though she remains unconscious.
"Bucket chain!" Alexander shouts. "Get organized! Bucket chain!"
Regardless the effects of his attempt to impose order on the chaos, the old man again speaks his Word of Power and fires cold into the flames.
When the woman's pain and distress eases, Zhalet looks up at the Halfling tending the wounded man. "Sir, what is his condition? Will he recover?"
Kilarra, seeing that Alexander is a little out of his 'element' when it comes to persuasive speeches, applies the 'divide and conquer' approach by grabbing the attention of just two of the men and assists them by getting them to listen to and follow Alexander's instructions. "Hey, listen!! We will never get that fire under control if we don't work together! Listen that man and do what he says or Garavel will have our hides for spinning about like a dust devil!!"
-Here! Let me help you!
Rukn is a bit distracted by the possibility of having Haleen nearby, unconscious. -Focus yourself, damnit, or there's going to be more people unconscious.
-Ok, this time let us push all at once!
Erizi decides to try and push the wagon closer as the others try to arrange the bucket brigade.
STR Check
CHA Check
"Follow what they say. It is the only way".
But his old shoes keep him from getting a good grip on the ground, and he only succeeds in ripping a new hole in the heel of one.
Solomon moved with Zhalet, kneeling to aid with the medical work, looking over the wounded with a studied eye.
Fire Fighting:
A bucket chain is quickly formed under the party's leadership, and Alexander directs another icy blast at the fire. Though he tries mightily, Erizi is unable to shift the heavy wagon. The fire is definitely showing the effects of the cold blasts and the unrelenting water, but so far it stubbornly continues to burn. Almah and Garavel stand with the Pactmasters' Guardsmen and work to extinguish the flames.
Garavel calls encouragement to the others, "Keep it up! The flames are nearly out!" And in between buckets, Almah nods in approval for the quick thinking of the newcomers.
Only YOU can prevent caravan fires!
Rukn, working with the four mercenaries manages to shift the wagon slightly; it will be possible, but the thing is very heavy. The mercenaries put their backs into it once more as Rukn calls for another effort.
BE HEALED!
The halfling looks up as Zhalet inquires after his patient, "Thank you, child, your intervention was most timely. And thanks to Sarenrae for her power. Yes this one will also survive, though I do not doubt that your actions saved her life. I simply did not have enough time."
The two are both rather equally hurt at the moment and as Zhalet heals the elven woman, Solomon calls upon Sarenrae's mercy to heal the human man. They both groggily regain consciousness, though they are still too wounded to be moving very much and seem rather disoriented.
Having a look sideways, Rukn sees Solomon and another tending the wounds of Haleen and the other mercenary. -Must be Zhalet. Well, if she is really Haleen, I guess two priests should keep her safe. Now focus on this thing, Rukn, or the fire will spread.
-Uuughhhhh!!!- Rukn waits until everyone pushes, to properly combine the strengths in a collective effort. -Ok, let's drive it to that spot there- he signals while shouting -and, when we're done, let's rush back to help!
Alexander fires another blast of arctic cold at the flames.
With the injured taken care of, Zhalet gets up and rushes to assist with the bucket brigade.
Kilarra sees other people rushing to assist the 'Bucket Brigade' and quickly moves to get them worked into the team. "Quickly, take this bucket and aim for the base of the flames...Don't throw the water on the flames themselves...at the Base...the Base!!"
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Erizi hates to be thwarted by inanimate objects, so he digs in again, shifting his weight to his toes, and lifting as he pushes.
STR Test
But only ends up falling flat on his face in the fresh mud created from filling the buckets. He shamefully rises to his feet, and joins the bucket brigade, moving closer to the front.
"I have coated myself with mud, to help keep the heat close from the fire from burning me. Bring the buckets faster".
Solomon heals the mercenary, hoping to get him on his feet so he can help with hauling the wagon.
Shove!
Rukn and the mercenaries shove the other wagon a good twenty feet away, and then rush back to help in putting out the fire. A few well deserved high-fives are exchanged, then they get to work with buckets.
Laying on of hands.
Zhalet gets up to the sound of the Elven woman's groggy thanks, and goes to help manage the last of the fire.
The rush of healing energy restores much of the man's ability to move and clears his head and his gratitude is most fervent, "Thank you, wise one," he says before he tries to struggle stiffly to his feet. The Halfling puts a hand on his shoulder and presses him back to the ground, "Not just yet, Traavis, rest a bit more. You have done enough and the others seem to have the crisis well in hand, aside from these obnoxious animals."
fire?
The steady application of intense cold, soaking wet, and organized firefighting have done their job, the last of the fire gutters out leaving a much darker and rather somber camp.
Almah addresses Garavel with a rather detached demeanor despite the stains on her clothing, ”Garavel, if you would be so kind, please uncover the cause of this fire. Was it simply carelessness on the part of Eloais, or was it caused by someone? While I regret the loss of a useful astrologer, I must know if we are yet in some amount of danger.”
Almah turns to the newcomers, ”My apologies for your rather abrupt introduction to my expedition. I am Almah, merchant princess of Katapesh. You have met Garavel. I must ask further forbearance from you at this point. Since it seems rather unlikely that any of you were involved in any alleged misdeeds here in camp, I would request that you assist Garavel with his investigation as you are able. Please get to the bottom of this, be it ever so banal as bad luck with candles. I will hereby confirm the terms under which you were hired for the duration of the evening, and we will speak more in the morning on the topic of your continued employment here with me. If you need me, I will be in my tent.” With that, she sweeps off towards her tent as regally as if she were processing along an Lord’s audience chamber.
Garavel bows to Almah in acceptance of his task. After she leaves, he turns to the gathered party, ”Welcome to the Sultan’s Claw,” he says with an ironic twist to the words. ”I will begin investigating immediately, starting with gathering the accounts of those who were here when the fire started. Would you like to assist with that or examine the site of the fire first? Or do you have other questions before we begin?”
Zhalet holds up the charred card that blew into her for Garavel to see. "One question Sir, what is the significance of the cards blowing about?"
Rukn looks at Garavel. -Well, we could do both. After all, each of us has different abilities.
He turns around and proceeds to have a close look at the wagon, but not before stopping by to check the elven woman. -Is it you, Haleen? None of the others have said anything about it...
I will start with the fortune teller, Eloais I believe her name is? From there I will ask around the group." Kilarra says and heads off to talk to Eloais and the others.
The mud covered, and eyebrow singed Erizi steps forward.
"I will scout the perimeter of the area to see if there are any signs of someone, or something entering the camp. If it was sabotaged then sometimes the saboteur sticks around to gloat at his accomplishments".
Survival
Alexander executes a formal - and rather stiff - bow to Almah when she introduces herself. When the call to investigate goes forth, he turns in silemce and limps towards the pile of wet ashes. Muttering under his breath, the old man stirs the debris with the heel of his cane...
Erizi
Kilarra
Rukn
Zhalet
Solomon
Zhalet holds up the charred card that blew into her for Garavel to see. "One question Sir, what is the significance of the cards blowing about?"
Garavel looks at the card, "Undoubtedly Eloais would ascribe some significance to it, but to me they are just pieces of paper being blown about by the wind and the fire." He shrugs, "Doubtless they were blown out of Eloais' wagon when it burned."
Rukn looks at Garavel. -Well, we could do both. After all, each of us has different abilities.
He turns around and proceeds to have a close look at the wagon, but not before stopping by to check the elven woman. -Is it you, Haleen? None of the others have said anything about it...
Your examination of the ruined wagon reveals ashes, a handful of broken bottles or potion vials, a cracked crystal ball, and several pools of melted wax. A charred, skeletal corpse still rests near the center of the wagon.
I will start with the fortune teller, Eloais I believe her name is? From there I will ask around the group." Kilarra says and heads off to talk to Eloais and the others.
Garavel cocks his head at your statement, then glances back to look at the wagon, "You will have a hard time getting answers from Eloais. He doesn't look very talkative to me. You are welcome to join me in questioning the others."
The mud covered, and eyebrow singed Erizi steps forward.
"I will scout the perimeter of the area to see if there are any signs of someone, or something entering the camp. If it was sabotaged then sometimes the saboteur sticks around to gloat at his accomplishments".
Studying the ground around the caravan, you can tell that between caravaners running about, the animals going crazy, the darkness, and the time since the event, if there were any tracks to be found they are beyond your ability to sift from the chaos.
Alexander executes a formal - and rather stiff - bow to Almah when she introduces herself. When the call to investigate goes forth, he turns in silemce and limps towards the pile of wet ashes. Muttering under his breath, the old man stirs the debris with the heel of his cane...
There are no traces of magic anywhere in the vicinity of the ruined wagon.
Alexander mutters a Word, which causes three swirling, coruscating orbs of light to pop out of empty air above his head.
"Is there something you wish to say?" he asks as he slowly starts to limp towards the unkempt man.
-Mmmmh... Nothing special here, let's have a look around. Anyone coming?
Rukn walks away, bow in hand, and starts his search.
Solomon moved to take a better look at the burned corpse hoping it would give a clue as to how the fire might have started.
Zhalet's cheeks redden slightly with embarrassment. Her question has poorly worded. She had not meant to ask Garavel to interpret the card, merely why the cards were floating about. Now she appeared daft.
Her questions was answered though. They belonged to Eloais.
She decides to speak with the man who is watching them, and walks over to where he stands. "Good evening to you Sir, may I ask you about what you saw of the fire?"
Alexander mutters a Word, which causes three swirling, coruscating orbs of light to pop out of empty air above his head.
"Is there something you wish to say?" he asks as he slowly starts to limp towards the unkempt man.
The man flinches when the lights appear over his head, but recovers himself quickly. His hair is unclean and ragged, his clothing ill-fitting and filthy, and he props himself up on a gnarled staff. When Alexander speaks he smiles hesitantly. It seems he might speak, but he stops when Zhalet approaches.
Zhalet's cheeks redden slightly with embarrassment. Her question has poorly worded. She had not meant to ask Garavel to interpret the card, merely why the cards were floating about. Now she appeared daft.
Her questions was answered though. They belonged to Eloais.
She decides to speak with the man who is watching them, and walks over to where he stands. "Good evening to you Sir, may I ask you about what you saw of the fire?"
[dice=diplomacy]1d20 + 4
As you both approach the man, the most significant thing you notice is the powerful smell of unwashed human. He ducks his head in a short bow to Zhalet and Alexander, " Good evening, young miss. I am Dashki, guide and hunter of gnolls. I am sorry, I do not know anything about the fire. The first I knew of it was when the fortune teller's wagon was simply aflame. I was finishing my dinner over by the campfire when the fire was noticed."
Solomon moved to take a better look at the burned corpse hoping it would give a clue as to how the fire might have started.
[dice=Heal]1d20+8
You cannot tell any clear cause of the fire, but from the position of the corpse, you can see that the victim did not die of burns but rather of smoke inhalation.
1d20+9
-Mmmmh... Nothing special here, let's have a look around. Anyone coming?
Rukn walks away, bow in hand, and starts his search.
1d20+9
1d20+10
Though he examines the area around the caravan out beyond the range of most of the tracks of the caravaners, Rukn finds no trace of anything out of the ordinary aside from the camel drivers continuing to slowly gather their scattered animals.
The man is calling out after a 'Rombard'. Though he seems quite worried about Rombard, his focus is on gathering his assorted flock.
"Gnolls," Alexander says in a musing tone, index finger tapping the head of his cane. "Apologies, but I am going to question you a bit. Are there any gnoll packs hereabouts? Any with strong magic or alchemical lore? Did you know the fortune-teller well? Any enemies - or indeed, a lamentable tendency to fall asleep with the candles still burning?"
Kilarra Norgorkin wrote:
I will start with the fortune teller, Eloais I believe her name is? From there I will ask around the group." Kilarra says and heads off to talk to Eloais and the others.
Diplomacy (Gather information)1d20+5
Sense Motive (detect lies) 1d20+10Garavel cocks his head at your statement, then glances back to look at the wagon, "You will have a hard time getting answers from Eloais. He doesn't look very talkative to me. You are welcome to join me in questioning the others."
"Lead on then"
Though he examines the area around the caravan out beyond the range of most of the tracks of the caravaners, Rukn finds no trace of anything out of the ordinary aside from the camel drivers continuing to slowly gather their scattered animals.The man is calling out after a 'Rombard'. Though he seems quite worried about Rombard, his focus is on gathering his assorted flock.
-Rombard?- Rukn seems a bit confused. -Who or what is Rombard?
Though he examines the area around the caravan out beyond the range of most of the tracks of the caravaners, Rukn finds no trace of anything out of the ordinary aside from the camel drivers continuing to slowly gather their scattered animals.The man is calling out after a 'Rombard'. Though he seems quite worried about Rombard, his focus is on gathering his assorted flock.
-Rombard?- Rukn seems a bit confused. -Who or what is Rombard?
The woman passes by leading a couple of goats but near enough to hear your question. She chuckles good naturedly, "My husband has a high degree of attachment to his favorite goat, Rombard. I hope we find him soon, or Hadrod will not be fit to live with." She continues leading the other goats, who are apparently not this Rombard, back to their pens.
"Gnolls," Alexander says in a musing tone, index finger tapping the head of his cane. "Apologies, but I am going to question you a bit. Are there any gnoll packs hereabouts? Any with strong magic or alchemical lore? Did you know the fortune-teller well? Any enemies - or indeed, a lamentable tendency to fall asleep with the candles still burning?"
Dashki looks at Alexander, "Yes, there are many gnolls in this region. Many. You have the Al'Choraiv, The Cirlce, Three Jaws, and Wormhollow. They are the major tribes in the region, but there are many others. Why are you so curious about gnolls? I do not personally know of any that have strong magic, but there are always rumors." He turns to consider the ruined wagon, and his voice holds hints of contempt when he speaks of the deceased, "Eloais had no enemies that I know of. He was very skilled in telling people what they wished to hear most of the time and seemed well-liked. I know nothing of his sleeping tendencies."
"My interest is easily explained," Alexander says. "I intend to start a collection. Now, the fortune-teller... Was he merely a charlatan, or did he have any genuine powers?"
"Lead on then"Kilarra Norgorkin wrote:
I will start with the fortune teller, Eloais I believe her name is? From there I will ask around the group." Kilarra says and heads off to talk to Eloais and the others.
Diplomacy (Gather information)1d20+5
Sense Motive (detect lies) 1d20+10Garavel cocks his head at your statement, then glances back to look at the wagon, "You will have a hard time getting answers from Eloais. He doesn't look very talkative to me. You are welcome to join me in questioning the others."
Garavel leads you over to a small knot of the other caravaners and introduces you to them.
The woman passes by leading a couple of goats but near enough to hear your question. She chuckles good naturedly, "My husband has a high degree of attachment to his favorite goat, Rombard. I hope we find him soon, or Hadrod will not be fit to live with." She continues leading the other goats, who are apparently not this Rombard, back to their pens.
-Ummm, erm... Yes, well. By the way, have you...- Rukn is not the best at asking people for things, after all -Have you noticed anything weird before the fire started?