Tristain ponders a bit more, thinking. He moves to whisper at Al.
"When you're done trying to get Lothan and the Princess to join the Rude Illiterates Book Club, maybe ask about the Biting Lash? We need to know about that too."
Putting her trust in Al to keep negotiations civil, Starflit calls upon her discern lies ability to make sure the Hyena Princess's answers are not laced with untruths.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Yes, it seems silly, I know, a book that could destroy the world. At first I thought it was a conspiracy by book haters, illiterates, and control freaks, but it's a much more serious threat to all of us than you can image. We found an angel, a higher being, corrupted by just the book's presence. Think of what it would do to every market, system, structure of power in place. All of it would be destroyed, every leader toppled, and the wealthy will be the first to lose everything I might add." Al finishes with an appeal to the creature's greed, hoping that shifts the conversation.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Al, ask about the Biting Lash. That's the thing." Tristain pushes, keeping his eye on the important thing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I will, just not when she wants to bite us, or in front of her weird cronies that are spies in this crap hole of a town, and I'll totally tell her I'm a normal human being as well." Al whispers back to Tristain in an old man way that is piercing and audible to everyone in the kennel chamber.
Shaking his head at Tristain's persistence, Lothan can't help but crack a slight smile at the old man retort. He then remembers 'something' important to tell Al while sporting a wry smile. "Also, Big Al, don't forget the Biting Lash for crying out loud! And for the gods sake, don't forget to tell her you're a normal human being! Sheesh! I can't believe T hasn't reminded you of that!" he looks over at Tristain incredulously, shaking his head while grinning like a punk.
"Well, I know nothing of whatever this book is you speak of," the Hyena Princess says, "but I can try to find it if you need. However, I will need a little help of my own, first. One of my beloved—a friend called Dahab—has been kidnapped. If you can return him to me, then I will see what I can find out about this book."
Tristain nods at Lothan, surprised the man gets it, missing any sarcasm.
”Al, the Biting Lash. We need to find the Biting Lash.” Tristain nods in encouragement, and lets the totally normal human figure out more about the missing friend and where to find them.
Kyffin smiles as things seem to be going their way. Until her 'beloved' is mentioned. This... is going to get messy, he thinks to himself.
He nods to Al, encouraging him to make whatever arrangements he feels are just. He trusts him in this negotiation.
"Actually, we need someone as well, a certain 'Biting Lash' has the information we require, and that's who led us to you. We can trade, we'll find your Dahab in exchange for the Lash, and the answers we need. Agreed?"
"Excellent," Njano says.
She explains that she has many rivals and is unsure who would do such a cruel thing to such a kind man, but those who have him have sent a part of him—his right ear—with an message saying that other parts will follow unless the princess meets the kidnapper at a place called the Shipwreck at dawn, though the day is not specified.
The note and ear appeared outside her home here yesterday. Naturally she does not wish to meet with this extortionist. However, the arrival of strangers who might help is fortuitous. She tells you that if you find and retrieve Dahab alive, she may be able to remember what Biting Lash means and where this figure might be found.
[b]"I will send Kisetz and Hakoor along, to keep an eye on you from a discreet distance," she says, gesturing to the unpleasant woman and the halfling you previously encountered. She would of course be furious if any harm came to her assistants or her friend, she says. Okeno can be such an unpleasant place at times ... but it had better not be this time.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Tristain nods, happy to agree to this, but not exactly trusting anything.
"Oh yeah, Al, let's get out of here. You did good," Tristain urges. "C'mon, I'll buy you a bag of celebration for managing not to talk them into attacking and enslaving us."
Tristain turns to leave, but then spins back to ask something.
"We should probably start at the home, where is that?" Tristain thinks looking at the crime (or note) scene might be a good place to start.
When the princess mentions her personal guards will be following, Lothan can't stop his lips from forming a diabolical smile. Rubbing his hands together, he takes a few confident steps toward the woman that could easily break him in half and says, "Welp, it looks like we finally get to go on that date, sweetheart. Should be fun," he winks.
"If you kind folks will guard me for a couple of minutes, I can commune with the city and try to gather some information about our targets," Starflit tells her friends (and, presumably, the princess's minions). Chipping a bit of brick off a nearby building with her starknife, the inquisitor casts a spell and enters a trance....
Nodding, "You got it." Lothan then turns his back to her and keeps an eye out for everything.
Kyffin nods along with the challenge. "Not very polite removing one's ear. We'll see what we can find."
When Starflit goes into a trance, Kyffin waits to see what she learns. "A real time saver that."
"Well, that ear is a blessing at least, you can always restore him from that, for the right price. Of course, he would need to be dead first. Probably best if we find the rest of him before that happens. Come on, you lackeys, let's get to it." Al commands the dwarf and sour lady as he strides away.
Throwing up his hands in mock annoyance as he follows in step with the others, "C'mon, Big Al, you know that's my girl you're talking to. The sour one, by the way, is who I mean just so I'm clear. You can't just go around calling her 'lackey' and all that. That's just disrespectful, you should know that. Even though you are a normal human you should still know that, Al," he says in a matter of fact manner, shaking his head as if Al is just silly for not knowing that.
He then taps on his chin in 'fake thought' a moment, "You know, now I'm thinking a good pet name could be... 'Babycakes'. Yeah, 'Babycakes'. That'll do it." Lothan grins wryly, slightly angling his head in her direction while cocking an eyebrow and taking note of the angrier-than-a-pissed-off-dragon-scowling, under-her-breath-cursing, burning-holes-through-his-back-glaring, hand-on-her-sword-twitching... super great gal. At least, that's the story he's sticking with.
The half-elf can't help but smile devilishly.
"I do not know where he lived," Njana says. "He came here to my palace, for where better could there be to go?"
She ponders for a moment, and then tells you that Dahab acted as one of her spies and information brokers. He had contacts around and about Okeno, in particular at the Black Circus where he knew a beast tamer called Rahmir, and he frequented the domed temple of Gozreh, where he knew a builder called Azeem.
She also hands you the note, which reads “Esteemed Princess, greetings from the unworthy. I am honored to bring your beloved serf to bosom as my guest, but his appetite is so great that unless I act, he’ll eat everything I have. I therefore return him to you piece by piece, part by part, unless you wish to discuss his fate at the Shipwreck at dawn."
The grammar used in the note is peculiar -- it is highly likely the writer primarily communicates in Infernal.
As you go out to begin your search, the woman and halfling scowl in your wake. "Is she just going to stand there being as useless as you," Kisetz acidly asks Lothan as Starflit gives herself over to her spell. "I assumed one of you would be useful for something. Perhaps the sniveling one in the back." She gestures with her thumb toward Tristain.
As far as Starflit, the spell lets her know more about Biting Lash: The gnoll has a fortress with a small, but well-drilled, private army. She can be an implacable foe -- if you cross her and try to flee, she will come after you -- but she is also in the end a merchant, and may always be open to new deals or alliances.
She learns that Dahab has taken a new lover, named Faraz, who works in the Tanner's Quarter. Further, he has recently been wearing a number of fine leather clothes colored a uniquely vivid shade of ocher.
Lastly, Starflight learns that Kisetz and Hakoor are incredibly loyal bodyguards of the Hyena Princess'.
Know (Local) - Black Circus
Linguistics
Tristain studies and reads the note when he finishes thinking about the Black Circus. If he realizes anything, he does not say anything yet.
"Yes, yes, we're all useless. Look, you can hinder us and dog our every step if you like. But. There's someone loosing body parts every time we lose ground and delay. I hope you will keep that in mind, and instead chose to help us as much as possible."
"I don't like you, and you don't like us, but let's together save a life here huh?"
He looks to Tristain and the others, including the woman and halfling, "So where do you think we should start?"
As you go out to begin your search, the woman and halfling scowl in your wake. "Is she just going to stand there being as useless as you," Kisetz acidly asks Lothan as Starflit gives herself over to her spell. "I assumed one of you would be useful for something. Perhaps the sniveling one in the back." She gestures with her thumb toward Tristain.
Pondering that a moment, the half-elf simply shakes his head. "Nope. I can actually be pretty useless, dollface. So I have to give you props on that."
So where do you think we should start?
"We find Dahab first, before worse things happen to him. Let's start with the tanner, Faraz, a few coins should pry a clue from him."
"We find Dahab first, before worse things happen to him. Let's start with the tanner, Faraz, a few coins should pry a clue from him."
”This is a good plan,” Tristain says, still resisting the urge to bonk. ”Let’s do that.”
Kyffin nods to Al, "That is a good plan. We definitely want Dahab first, though I suspect some of these threads are connected somehow."
He's glad to have someone as grounded as Al to speak for the group.
Kisetz sneers. "The princess wants you to handle this," she says. "We're just here to see if you actually can!"
As you all decide where to go, she and Hakoor drop back. They dog your steps, remaining about 120-360 feet away depending upon the surroundings. They don’t try to hide, and you can easily see them keeping track of you.
You make your way to the Tanners’ Quarter, where some subtle questions about the ocher dye brings you to the door of Salir’s Fine Leathers, a well-known tannery that attracts merchants from all around. It consists of a single-story mud-brick building wrapped around two sides of a tanning yard; an 8-foot-high mud-brick wall encloses the other two sides. Two sturdy, locked wooden gates provide entrances for deliveries. On the western side of the building, beneath a sign that reads “Salir’s Fine Leathers,” stands the primary entrance to the tannery.
Kisetz sneers. "The princess wants you to handle this," she says. "We're just here to see if you actually can!"
Tristain glances back at the pair, deciding that he decisively hates them both. No wonder they and Lothan seem to be getting along. They are three stench cows in a gam.
He will seek to help whichever yahoo feels social in dealing with the no-doubt fine, normal folks within Salir’s Fine Leathers. He hopes that Al speaks, and also that he doesn’t louse it up.
Starflit offers to hang back and try to determine if the folks within are being honest (probably through the use of her discern lies ability).
Kyffin shrugs at their watchers, "At least they're keeping their distance. Annoying curs."
He too nudges Al forward as he opens the door for the speaker.
"Someone should keep watch on the back of the place when I go in the front door, if they have anything to hide they'll likely be running." Al waits for the party to setup, then strides through the open door.
"Hello, hello! I'm in need of some fine leather goods." Al picks out the employee most likely to be Salir and approaches. "Are you Salir, the renowned craftsperson? I'd like to place an order."
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Tristain nods at Al’s reasonable request and thinks it through. He doesn’t like it, but will…cast Telepathetic Bond, binding the minds of the party together for the next 2 hours or so. He shudders as he offers it to Lothan, and then goes to keep an eye on the back knowing he can call for help at a moment’s thought.
Saluting, "You got it, Big Al! I'm on it." He's about to turn and make his way to the back before Tristain's offer. "So all I have to do is think my words to you? Anything at all?" the half-elf grins wryly. "Sure, why not?! This oughta be interesting." He then makes his way to the back, right along with the loon.
Tristain and Lothan retreat to the rear of the building to watch for any possible runners. A few moments later, Al, Kyffin and Starflit enter the tannery, where folded stacks of dyed leather fill the well-organized shelves, each labeled with the type of animal the skins are from as well as the going price for wholesale and individual purchases. Boots, gloves, pouches, satchels, and clothing serve as just some of the examples of the fine wares provided here.
A human woman looks up as you enter, her expression turning sour as you approach. "No, I am Abren. Salir is not here at the moment, but i suppose I can help you."
Kyffin accepts the telepathic communication gladly and almost immediately thinks to the others, "Hey, this is neat. Everyone on their toes, and remember Al... In this town, just 'cause it's evil doesn't mean we can kill it."
He strides in after Al and just behind him trying to look nonchalant and uninterested.
Kyffin is keyed up and ready to attack. He keeps fidgeting with his sheathed scimitar.
He much prefers the dungeons and unspeakable horrors that lurk in the night, then dealing with what he assumes are evil folks on their own terms like this.
- - -
Tristain begrudgingly accepts Lothan’s company, hoping it won’t be completely awful. He considers the back door, moving 10’ away from it in case a flood of blood spiders decides to exist. Not that a flood of blood spiders is expected, but it’s probably going to happen.
”Say, Lothan? You think you could jimmy this door locked? I mean, make it so it’s tough to open? Then we can join the others at the front when the blood spiders arrive. If they arrive.”
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Starflit reads the validity of the woman's words and mentally passes on her assessment to the others.
According to the Telepathic Bond spell description:
You forge a telepathic bond among yourself and a number of
willing creatures, each of which must have an Intelligence score
of 3 or higher.
Wow, I'm surprised Lothan qualified as a target!
Also.... Wow! 5 posts while I was napping!
Tristain begrudgingly accepts Lothan’s company, hoping it won’t be completely awful. He considers the back door, moving 10’ away from it in case a flood of blood spiders decides to exist. Not that a flood of blood spiders is expected, but it’s probably going to happen.
”Say, Lothan? You think you could jimmy this door locked? I mean, make it so it’s tough to open? Then we can join the others at the front when the blood spiders arrive. If they arrive.”
Looking to the loon with a cocked eyebrow, "Seriously, T? Blood spiders?" Shaking his head, :: Watch out for the Blood Spiders, folks. T thinks they're headed this way.:: He then swears he hears something from Starflit. :: What was that, Butterfly? Did you say something? No? My bad. Could've sworn I heard you say something. Sorry for the interruption, Big Al. So far so good on the Blood Spiders front. And remember: just make sure they know you are a normal human.::
Then cutting his attention back to Tristain, "So you want me to jimmy the lock so no one can get out, hm? I mean, I'm sure I could. I'm usually breaking into locked places rather than locking them. But what if the others need to escape out the back because the front is surrounded? That would put them in a pickle. Here, how about this, you go up front and keep an eye on them there and I can stay back here. How's that sound? I can handle this, no prob. I've got my bow," he holds it out front, "so I'm good," he says in a matter-of-fact tone with a look that displays no concern whatsoever.
...and then I'll kill every last pitiful slaver in this forsaken place! Oh crap, they can hear me.
As the thoughts of the party swirl around them, Albert shuts down his inner dialogue, tunes out the Tristain/Lothan blood spider debate, and focuses on Starflit. Abren may be our source, but is she honest? Let's find out. "Well met, Abren, you may be able to help us even more than Salir." Albert pulls several gold coins and slyly hands them to Abren. "We need to talk to Faraz, do you know where we can find him? It's just talking, nothing bad will happen to him, unless he, or someone else, forces our hand." Al smiles the friendly old man smile, and waits for Starflit to confirm the truth of Abren's response.
The woman's face seems to brighten a bit as she slips the coins into a pouch.
"Fazar is busy -- he's running the operation for Salir -- and can’t be bothered at the moment," she says. "Perhaps if you come back tomorrow?"
Tristain does leave Lothan and return to the front of the building. He hopes the blood spiders fill up on Lothan and are too hungry to eat any of Tristain when they pour forth out of the door that Tristain wisely counseled should be wedged shut.
"The matter is very urgent, I'm sure you understand urgency." Al slides another five gold coins to Abren. "We'll be less than five minutes, a gold coin per minute, and then we'll be on our way. We appreciate you understanding that we can't leave without speaking to him." Al smiles again, just slightly less friendly than last time.
"I'm sorry, he's quite busy. You need to leave," she replies, not taking the coins.
Starflit mentally passes on what she's learned to her comrades.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"He's not busy, and if you lie to me again I'm gonna cut you open and dye the next set of leather with your innards, then burn this place to the ground. We are speaking to him, now, and you're going to tell us exactly where he is or I'll make good on that threat." The old man smile has vanished completely, and although Al has no intention of burning anything to the ground, he figures that Abren doesn't know that.
"...I'm gonna cut you open and dye the next set of leather with your innards, then burn this place to the ground. We are speaking to him, now, and you're going to tell us exactly where he is or I'll make good on that threat."
What? Is Lothan telling you what to say, Al? Tristain ponders as he walks in on the back half of the conversation.
Kyffin is a little surprised at Al's change of tactics, but he can't fault the guy. The little rat is stonewalling us.
He tries to look menacing in case it helps.
...probably not much.
Starflit maintains her discern lies ability as Al presses the lying woman.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Abren looks as surprised as about everyone else in the room by Al's change of attitude. Unfortunately, she doesn't react quite as well.
"Guards!" she calls as she steps back. Starflit does not think she's lying.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Albert's limbs elongate and his skin turns a sickly grey while his eyes start glowing. A long blue tongue snakes from his mouth and the alien wail rises in the room. "I CAN EAT YOUR BRAIN TO GAIN THE KNOWLEDGE! TELL ME NOW AND YOU MAY STILL LIVE!" Albert's alien hand pushes the coins back on the counter. "NOOOOW I SAID, YOU HAVE NO IDEA THE FORCES YOU ARE DEALING WITH! NOOOOOOW, BEFORE YOUR BRAINS ARE MY LUNCH!"