Honaire drifts over to the other rat, hefting the memory of his sword as he goes, but his mind is clearly with Amiri's battle against the rat that threatened his widow.
Meligaster races down past Amiri and the slain rat as quickly as he can, attempting to corner the creature nearest Seltyiel. He summons his will as he moves, staring the creature down.
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Honaire misses the overgrown mouse but Valeros compensates by killing it with praticed ease. Megalister rushes forward and prepares to intercept the last remaining ratfolk who decides things are turning way too dangerous to keep fighting and suddenly retreats out of the room.
Round 2 - Bold may post
Ratfolk (yellow)
Estra
Erasmus 06/10hp
Seltyiel
Megalister
Valeros 14/16hp
Honaire
Amiri
Seltyiel follows the enemy and, if he ends his turn adjacent to him againt, he attacks. Otherwise, he double moves towards the enemy.
Honaire and Estra rush forward as Estra tries to befuddle the mind of the fleeing Ratfolk.
Amiri shrugs slightly, not really caring if the ratfolk escapes. She follows along after Valeros, assuming he knows where he's going.
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Intimidated by your numbers and prowess the last remaining ratfolk literally jumps into the bolthole and flees the temple. You consider following but in the end you realize the creature has a decisive advantage in terms of knowledge and size scurrying through the claustrophobic passages of Oppara's sewers, besides your employer, Remaio, doesn't seem to care at all if the ratfolk lives or dies.
Done with the catacombs you quickly get back to the upper floor of the basilica. Here you meet Brother Valicus again. Remaio doesn't even need to speak as the aging monk just nods his head:"Fine, fine, keep the damned bust!" he mumbles then looks at you as he's expecting something...
"Feh, trinkets." Amiri snorts at any mention of keeping the religious knickknacks.
Meligaster approaches Brother Valicus, a sneer of disdain on his face, obviously not happy with this whole ordeal. "We've dealt with your damned problem, and have your doo-dads and tchotchkes."
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The majority of you agree to return Aroden's relics to his church. This pleases brother Valicus who leads you to Father Basri, the venerable half elf who presides over the basilica and one of the few priests of Aroden old enough to remember when the Last Azlanti yet lived.
Father Basri is overjoyed by the recovery of the relics and gives you his approval:"In the name of Aroden, the Last Azlanti, be blessed! May you find triumph in any endeavour you choose to pursue as He did and shall do again!" the old priest blesses you but you don't feel any change or mystical force coursing through you, possibly because Aroden's a dead god now, you think as you leave the Basilica behind you to join Remaio in one of Oppara's best restaurant where he compliments you for your success and pays for your stay in the city.
A few days later one of Remaio's men brings you a new missive. Seems like this time you are headed for Qadira...
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Thanks to Remaio's contacts the trip to Omash proves safe and uneventful. As you approach the city you find out the guards are willing to help you locate the Ghazali family manor, a luxurious estate on the outskirts of Omash, outside of the fortress-city’s towering walls.
The two-story building boasts intricately patterned stone floors, rich wall hangings, and floor-to-ceiling windows.
A sandstone wall decorated with geometric mosaics surrounds the opulent Ghazali manor. Through the brass front gates, white cobblestone paths wind through a garden of flowering cacti and acacia trees to the manor’s entrance. A pair of guards clad in polished armor flanks the heavy wooden door to the residence. As you approach a lone guard seems to have noticed you as well.
Estra smiles reassuringly at the guard, Honaire once more returned to her mind.
Seltyiel stays some steps behind Valeros and just waits for the guard's answer.
Meligaster steps imperiously in front of the group, approaching the guard, leaning on his cane. "Excuse me, you are the help, yes? Would you be a good lad and fetch the Mistress of the house? We've business with her, and it would not do to discuss it with the riff-raff, nor for her to discover you've delayed our arrival."
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The guard snickers at Megalister's words and turns to Valeros instead:"You say you have business with Lady Arajida, Taldan? Follow me then but remember to keep your slave's temper under control or it's liable to lose its tongue and you with it. You may be guests but we won't tolerate insults here, and especially not from one such as it..."
Despite the tense atmosphere you follow the guard inside the manor like residence and are left withing a luxurious room. The domed ceiling of this grand room soars above red and white tiles whose pattern resembles roses in bloom. Between the mahogany bookshelves that line the chamber, suits of armor stand at attention. An empty weapon rack faces the doorway.
Arajida al-Fakhiri, Lady Ghazali, is a middle-aged Keleshite woman. She sits alone in the middle of the room with her head in her hands.
As she realizes she not alone anymore she raises her head and greets you:"Welcome, honored travellers and guests, may Sarenrae's light always shine upon your path and you find shelter under her shadow. Now... what can I do for you?" she intones her voice flat and dry as the air outside the residence.
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Lady Arajida just shakes her head and takes the documents from Valeros, examining them.
"Yes... I bought the sword you mention from this Remaio Alcasti a couple of years ago. As you can see he was properly compensated for the merchandise. It was a fine weapon, with magical properties too, and I was rather surprised a Taldan was willing to sell it to a Qadiran merchant. But as I underdstand it mr Alcasti was in dire need of monetary help at the time and I was willing to provide it for the sword. At teh time he did not seem overly anguished at the prospect of losing the weapon if I recall correctly at least. Anyway, why do you want to know about the sword? It's not even here right now..."
All these relics and keepsakes either tossed into a dusty storage closet, or lost who knows where. No one has respect for their heirlooms anymore!
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"The sword... my son took it and now he's gone!" the woman says as she stifles a sob.
After collecting herself she continues:"Apologies friends, unfortunately this whole situation is taking its toll on me. As I said I don't have the seord anymore, my son, Aayef, has it. I woke this morning to find him gone and the sword missing. He barely even knows how to use it. It was supposed to go to my eldest daughter. Now my son and the sword are both gone and I'm worried sick. Aayef is still just a child..."
No one takes care of their heirs anymore either...
Of course we'll find the child. Where should we begin?
Meligaster snorts in disdain. "We'll find the sword. With luck, your son will be on the proper end of it. Where might he have gone?"
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Lady Arajida considers your offer carefully:"Aayef has big dreams. He begged to be allowed to train at one of the war academies in the city, but I couldn’t bear the thought. I’m afraid he ran off on his own to slay some imaginary dragon and found himself a real one. I believe he left for the desert area near Omash..." she says before continuing:I’ll gladly give you the sword if you bring my son home. Otherwise, I cannot give it to you, even if I wanted to. Do we have a deal?"
Certainly, dear. Amiri, you'll likely be called on to do most of the tracking, I hope you're up to it.
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"It's settled then. Bring me back my son and you can have that cursed blade" delcares the lady.
You start with searching the manor's grounds but can't find nothing relevant as it's clear a great deal of searching has already happened, with the result of covering any trail the boy could have left while leaving his home. Even so your superior skills might yet uncover something useful...
Estra does her best to follow the tracks. She's used to watching for subtle signs in her old profession, though normally she watched for tells not trails
Meligaster nods his tacit agreement, and turns to follow the others, hoping they're more capable of such trifling activities as following tracks.
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Thanks to your excellent cooperation you are able to spot bright blue fabric partially emerging from the sand just outside the manor. Seems like Aayef tore it out of his shirt while running away and tried to bury it into the sand. His tracks should be somewhere nearby. You search for them but no matter what you can't find them until a guard, no doubt sent by the Lady Arajida comes to your help. With the man's expertise you are finally able to discover the boy's cleverly concealed tracks...
This young man certainly knows his way around the desert!
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Thanks to Estra and Erasmus's expertise you find the right trail and follow it into the desert ouside Omash. After walking for 3 miles under the unrelenting Qadiran sun you reach what looks like a makeshift camp. A chunk of twisted deadwood rests atop a pile of ashes in the lee of a fallen stone column. Cinders surrounding the driftwood suggest a recent fire.