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As Haafiz walks, he doesn't realize that he is rushing and has gotten ahead, until he is awakened from his revelry by a sharp CRACK! of a whip hitting him.
"Back in line, you hairless monkey!" bellows out Hargur... or was it Chengu. Must be the former, 'cause he was speaking in decent common. "Next time I send Cuddles after you, and you aren't gonna like that."
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The gears spin in Pooka's mind as he processes the hidden clue in Miro's words. He ducks instinctively when he fears the guards might hear the click in his brain when he gets it at last. The screwed up confused look on his face melts into an 'ah-ha' and then quickly flashes to morose. Pooka wipes his nose with his sleeve, sniffling a little and rubbing the dirt on his cheeks in a little more. He passes the briefest of smirks to Miro, acknowledging his superior observational skills.
Stealing one more chance to speak before something happens to break them up, Pooka continues. "My parents were farmers too. That's how I got into that life. I sure miss it. The animals, the earth. Maybe sometime if we aren't trying to avoid getting beaten half to death, the three of us kin can chat about it."
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With slaves in tow, Hargur and Vangru lead their tiny caravan northeast past cultivated fields of pesh cacti that surround Okeno and to a small ruin near the road with just enough of a superstructure left to provide some shade. Here the gnolls, who are naturally nocturnal, decide to
stop for a rest.
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As they sit down to rest, Haafiz, Ibid, and Miro all notice that Gima seems agitated. She looks like she wants to take advantage of the drowsiness of the guards to try and make a run for it, and she is starting to mess with the lock on her slave collar.
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"Miss Gima, please, now is not the time for escape," Haafiz cautions as quietly as he can, "We have plans, but we need to infiltrate the slave market first. Please, there is much more at stake than a simple escape. The other two are not with us, freeing us is not necessary. Not yet, anyway. Please have patience. Please. If you wish to escape and take those other two, we will have to remain behind, and we will likely be beaten for not warning them of your escape. I will gladly take the beating, but know that there is a better time to leave our chains behind."
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"We are Pathfinders," Haafiz can see no cause for deception with this halfling woman, "I belong to the Liberty's Edge faction, formerly of the Andoren nation. As does your counterpart, Pooka there. Miro is also a Pathfinder. We have a plan to infiltrate a particular slave ring. I haven't the time to discuss details right now, but we do not intend to stay chained for many more days. For now, though, it would be wonderful if we could avoid drawing attention to ourselves."
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Watching the events unfold before them, Finarin moves closer to Haafiz. Hoping that the presence of a friend will calm the man, Finarin makes eye contact. Slightly widening his eyes, Finarin raises and lowers his eyebrows, then motions with his head.
There, now that is all sorted out.
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Miro grits his teeth as he resists the urge to leap to his feet as though a combat had started. There would be time to visit vengeance upon the mangy captors later. The plan came first. The halfling still winced as he saw Haafiz take another lash, hoping that a change of plans wouldn't need to be made to accommodate and unconscious and/or dead counterpart.
From a distance away, Miro gives Gima the barest of nods, green eyes steady before he dropped them again lest he invite any scrutiny.
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"Yes master," Haafiz winces as he moves with the fresh whip wound on his back, but he does not complain or look up at the slaver. His eyes might betray him. He does, however steal a glance back at Gima. He tries to seem as apologetic as possible. The keleshite has had a lot of practice at that particular type of glance.
Finarin's presence does indeed calm him, and he gives the elf a brotherly pat on the shoulder as he wanders past, taking his position at the far end of the column from Gima.
"I am going to enjoy killing these fools..." Haafiz mutters almost imperceptibly under his breath to Pooka as he trots past.
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Pooka bristles at the derogatory racial name for him and those like him.
It takes all of his restraint, and the knowledge that he will get his opportunity soon enough, to keep in line as his new companion and the scared halfling lady are beaten.
"It cannot come soon enough." Pooka grumbles back, then morphing into a lung-hacking cough to cover his words. He wipes the spittle onto his dirty sleeve again as he shuffles along to keep up.
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When the slavers' whip comes down on Haafiz and Gima, Amaranti's hands start involuntarily testing the strenght of his chains. But as the Garundi sees Haafiz keep his calm, he relaxes. Time for fighting will be later, now they must just keep their cover.
"How much longer?" he whispers, to no one particular.
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Pooka reaches down to scratch a bothersome spot in his crotchal region, also double checking that his heavy flail is in its proper, dangling position.
Once we get out of this, I wonder what legendary songs Miro could write about this. Pooka "Balls of Alchemically Silvered Steel" Bladespinner. Nah, that just doesn't flow well. "Silver Balls". Nah, sounds like a holiday song. Something more fierce...
Hrmm...
I got nothing. I guess that is why he is the bard and I am the cavalier.
Pooka looks around, hopeful they will be at their destination soon. He was anxious to get his armor out of the chest, and longed to be close to his companion, Luna again.
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On the morning of the third day of travel, a roc flies high overhead, casting its shadow across the group. The gnolls seem worried and order their prisoners to hustle for the remainder of the trip.
You are brought to a fortress in the sands. A wall of ochre bricks bristles at its base with sharp stakes, barring entrance to a deep round hollow in the red rocky cliff. The wall curves at a small watchtower with a leather tent roof. Beyond the wall, the cliff rises over a hundred feet, its lower reaches dotted with shallow caves.
The gnoll on the watchtower yells out, "You missed it! Chief
finally ran the veiled lady off! We’re gonna celebrate tonight with her best wine!". In the courtyard, several gnolls lounge around playing dice. There are also a couple of the very large hyenas loping around. You are brought back through the kennels (where the chest is dropped off, as well as Pooka's puppy), into a closed room.
A stone dais painted with a hyena-like face occupies the center of this round chamber. A wide, eight-foot-high ledge runs around the perimeter of the room with a crude ladder to the east connecting the floor and elevated area. To the south, an iron portcullis hangs over the entrance to the caves. Several shallow caves with wooden gates and floors covered in straw open into this room from the north. A door to the east and a door with a barred grille to the west lead to other parts of the stronghold. A shattered wooden box and several dozen scraps of sodden, torn paper lie scattered across the floor.
The slave quarters consist of a single long room with several bunk beds against the back wall, a pair of buckets in the corner, and a heavy wood door that can be barred from outside.
One of the slaves comes forward, and says, "Welcome! I am Korshad, overseer for our masters. Though I wear a collar, you’ll find it’s best to do as I say! Now, they lock us in at night when they go hunting, but mostly we have the run of the place, nearly as much liberty as the hyenas. You’ll be trained to be excellent house slaves, then taken back to the ships to be sold to nice noble families. It may seem harsh, but
if you take to it, it’s probably a better life than you were used to before. Meanwhile you should get some rest and we can begin your lessons in the morning. As the proverb says, ‘When the day is hottest, even the busy must rest and wait.’"
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Haafiz quickly moves to Amaranti and utters a prayer to Desna.
"Lesser Restoration," he intones.
"There you are, friend," Haafiz pats the big man on the back, "I am afraid I did not ask Desna for a healing spell this morn, but I will make sure to be better prepared on the morrow. My mind has been elsewhere, it seems. This business of pretending to be a slave. It still... irks me."
Haafiz looks through a crack in the door (or pretends to if he cannot see out). "By all that is holy, would you look at her! I think they are sending a pleasure girl to keep us happy this night. Praise Callistria!"
In the general commotion that follows as the slaves clamor for a better view, Haafiz steps back and attempts to disguise his casting as he quickly casts a spell on the big Garundi.
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Amaranti falters in his step, feeling suddenly very weak. It not just the heat, after all he spent his childhood in the hot deserts of Garund. But he is a big man, and his body needs a lot of water - something the slavers are not about to give him. And then the Garundi also realises just how dependant he is of Kaisharga. Their life forces are bound with strength he couldn't have believed, and now he walks in chains without the eidolon, struggling to move his feet.
At times it is very hard to resist the temptation to call Kaisharga. But he is too proud to ask for help. Too proud to admit weakness. "Thank you. I is fine." Amaranti whispers when Haafiz offers his aid. But even his voice is weak.
Something the slavers said catches the Garundi's attention. Veiled woman, wasn't that the one Darchana wanted to find? He turns to Kershaw and the other slaves if they knew more. "Who is veiled lady. Why gnoll chief drive her away? "
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"Friends, I though that journey would never ... end. But it has and here we are. I am not sure our fate is ... better or worse. What think you, few days then then we .... well best left unsaid. We will need to study how to gain access to the kennels. And put down those ... untamed dogs."
Well out of the pan and into the fire I see we are. Let us see what we can find out while we are here.
"Korshad, well met. Thank you for the kind welcome after such a ... strenuous journey. I for one would like to avoid a beating at all costs. In your infinite wisdom, can you share with us what .... you know so we can pass through this chapter in our life as quickly as possible?"
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[ooc[Back on the trail[/ooc]
Haafiz casts his spell (which, unfortunately, is pretty obvious due to the nature of spellcasting). They seem to see through his ruse, and both Hargur and Vangru come over. "What did I tell you?!"
Vangru is obviously salivating, and the two start by whipping each of the two. However, they don't stop at just whipping on Haafiz, obviously trying to make an example of him.
Hargur yells, "I catch you doing that again, Snapper will get to discipline you. As I said, sometimes accidents happen!"
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[ooc[Back on the trail[/ooc]
Haafiz casts his spell (which, unfortunately, is pretty obvious due to the nature of spellcasting). They seem to see through his ruse, and both Hargur and Vangru come over. "What did I tell you?!"
Haafiz uses some of his meager portion of water to sooth the welts on his back. He is not too distracted by his pain to jump to Finarin's aid, though...
"... so we can pass through this chapter in our life as quickly as possible?"
"Yes, I am eager to be away from these whip-happy gnolls and sold to a new master," notes Haafiz quickly, catching on the elf's slip, "When do they normally hold the auctions?"
I'm sure Finarin didn't mean to imply that we wouldn't be slaves for too long. Actually, maybe he didn't. Still, best not to leave any doubt in Korshad's mind.
A little later, Haafiz takes Finarin and his companions aside and out of earshot says, "Be careful around Korshad. I have met his ilk before. He is likely to be quite institutionalized and proud of his position. He is no friend of ours. Until we know better, the safest thing to do is to treat him as you would a slaver."
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Miro smirks at Finarin's words, "Which dogs, friend? The ones on two legs, or four?"
He then steps up to Pooka, grinning, "My friend, I've come up with a most wonderful jingle, would you like to hear it? I call it Flailing Around."
When you walk around all day, in the heat.
At the end of the journey, you get a treat!
You're tired, you're sore, wore out, but that's okay.
Let's go and have some fun, any way!
Flailing Around!
Twist your hips and set your feet!
Flailing Around!
In just a moment you're ready for the beat!
Miro shares a smile with Korshad, recognizing him for what he is immediately...a broken man who likely delights in turning in his 'unruly' comrades to his masters to maintain his position. He couldn't bring himself to hate the man, though...after years of having any resistance beaten out of him, this was likely the best he could hope for, in his warped mind.
The halfling studies their surroundings as he casually asks, "So when do we eat, Korshad? Is there anything we need to know about our masters? Anything that might offend them or upset them, should we do it? I, for one, want to avoid any kind of punishment, at all costs.
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Pooka guffaws a few times at Miro's song. "You are talented my fine new friend. I can see why so many at the lodge speak so highly of you."
The halfling cavalier is reunited with his pooch, and wraps his arms around her big neck, scratching her ears and sides as he does.
"Who's a good girl? Luna yes she is. You were so good, not eating those bad Gnolls. Don't worry girl, you will get your chance." he says with his face buried in Luna's neck.
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For her part, Luna covers her master's face in licks and slobber, tail wagging so hard her whole body moves. She sits down as Pooka scratches her neck, eventually laying down and rolling to her back to expose her belly for a good scratch and belly rub. Her tail continues to wag, which gives her a good back scratch on the ground as her body wiggles back and forth.
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Pooka's ears perk up at the mention of the veiled lady. "Who is the veiled lady? And who drove her off?"
If this is indeed the woman we are looking for, the search may have just gotten harder.
Pooka once again reaches between his legs to scratch and discreetly check for his weapon. Hopefully the time to use it would be very soon.
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"Please, Korshad," the old man says, sounding and looking more than a little bit pathetic. He shuffles closer to the slave, he means to make his motion seem pained and sore, but finds he does not need to act at all, and that the trip in has certainly wore him out. Admittedly, he is also playing into Korshad's ego, because Ibid doesn't yet know if they can trust the soul. "Perhaps you could tell an old man how to make himself useful around here..."
"I don't think I could survive our host's treatment, if I do something to draw their ire," he adds.
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Pooka gathers up his companions during the first available downtime. He is glad to see Haafiz heal the fatigue of the large Garundi. Yes, this group would cooperate extremely well.
"I do not like being separated from my gear, and I like being separated from Luna even less. The sooner we break down these walls and kill these slavers, the better. What are we up against? There is no way we can count on Korshad, Haafiz is correct. At best, he will do nothing, at worst, he may as well be a slaver himself."
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There are about a half dozen slaves in the room with the Drongos (and friends). The doors are heavy wooden doors, that open outward from where you are. There are no apparent locks or even handles, but you did hear the sound of a bar being placed on the other side.
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Haafiz and Pooka notice an odd shaped birthmark on Korshad's arm, which Haafiz identifies as being very similar to Saranrae's holy symbol.
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Amaranti breathes a sigh of relief as Haafiz' spell lifts the exhaustion that came upon him. Feeling much better now, the Garundi starts looking around the room, and gives the door a light measuring push. The door feels sturdy, but good shoulderwork should be able to get through it. Or using their hidden weapons the smash it down.
Amaranti gathers his fellow Pathfinders into a very suspicious-looking huddle.
"If woman not here, we must go look for woman, yes? Break door?"
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"Breaking down the door would be a good idea in the end... but it's a bit noisy. Let's see if Gima can help - and it would not hurt to speak with our fellow inmates either to see if any more of them are special," Haafiz suggests, "Also, I wouldn't mind waiting until later at night. The gnoll said they would be drinking wine tonight. Escape over the desert is easier at night time, and if they will be drunk - easier still. First, though, I have noticed something odd about Korshad that I would like to follow up on. See if you can convince Gima to help removing the bonds of the slaves who have not got the 'loose collar' advantage we do."
While any Pathfinders who wish to do so speak to Gima and the other slaves, Haafiz approaches Korshad once more.
"Greetings, overseer Korshad," Haafiz bows deferentially, overtly behaving like a cowed slave, "Thank you for looking over us for our masters. We would not wish for them to miss out on the chance to whip us for our wrongs." Haafiz gets up and walks around pensively, making sure to give Korshad a view of his whip marks. When Korshad notices (or ignores them), Haafiz speaks up, "Oh, those? Yes, I earned those for talking to my fellow slave. We were resting, and I foolishly thought it was a good time to find out who we were to be serving with. Gima has also been whipped. She deserved it. We both did.
"Have you been whipped before?" Haafiz asks casually, "I am sure that you have. It is hard to be a good slave without whippings. Even those who were born to it, like I was, occasionally yearn for freedom and the kindness shown to all humanity by those free cities of this world," Haafiz deliberately accentuates the word 'kindness', "But there is no kindness for those like us. Yes, they are right to whip those illusions from our backs, strip by strip. We are slaves, and the only kindness we have is that shown to one another. Thank you again, for keeping us in line."
Haafiz makes to leave, and pretends to notice the symbol for the first time ( ), "Speaking of kindness... that birthmark, it reminds me of the holy symbol of Sarenrae," Haafiz looks upon it in wonder for a while, "You must have been destined for great deeds and things before becoming a slave. Alas for Sarenrae that you were made a slave: there are no great deeds for our lot."
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Pooka takes Haafiz's suggestion and makes his way over to Gima while he speaks with Korshad.
Making sure that the two are alone he comes clean for the young woman.
"Gima, friend, how are you holding up? I cannot thank you enough for listening to Haafiz earlier. I know what you must be going through. We couldn't talk about it earlier, but I grew up on a farm that was a part of that network of helping slaves to escape as well. I loved what I did, and would happily die to defend that cause.
Now I do something else, for the same cause. I am a pathfinder, in service of the Eagle Knights of the Liberties Edge faction. While I may appear as a slave, I am not. In fact, there are several others who are also as I am. The society is here to uncover a spy network. I am loyal to that cause, but I took this mission so I might have a chance to crush this slave ring at its heart. We need your help. We need the heart of courage you had in running a stage of the underground network. What say you, will you aid us?"
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After speaking with Korshad, and learning what he can from the self-styled leader of the slaves, the old man makes his way to the door of their chamber. With each step the weariness of his bones sends waves of pain over his body, and he understands that he is truly getting old, and he cannot help but question how long he can continue in these adventures before he would have to leave the profession to the younger and smarter pathfinders.
At the door, Ibid runs his hand along the sill, then transitions to push gently upon the door itself. He knows their is probably some form of impediment barring their way, but with a smirk, he also knows that the gnolls have not disarmed him of his most deadly weapon. His gear was gone, likewise his weapons and armor, but his mind was still sharp and he would gladly test its mettle against that of these gnoll captors any day.
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"Veiled Lady?" Korshad asks. "Oh, you must mean the Mistress. what do you mean she's been run off? She runs this place, why would she leave?"
When Haafiz points out his birthmark, he replies, "Um... yes... It does look like Sarenrae's ankh. To be honest, I believe I was destined for great things, and took on the mantle of the Dawnflower's clergy. However, I was a weak man... and I made too many mistakes. I disgraced myself, and knew that even the Goddess of Redemption couldn't forgive everything. I lost my faith a long time ago, which caused me to end up here.
"You might think me a bad man, one that doesn't understand kindness, but I do try to help the slaves that come through here. If they pay attention to their lessons, they will be sold as house slaves, servants that have a much easier life than those sent to the fields, or to the mines. I do what I can, easing their pain, trying to teach them that there is a way to better their lot in life. I've tried. It is my penance to stay here, and help the slaves.
"As for the bluster, you realize that most people that come here are need that. They either don't know anything else, or just need to be woken up. However, I do hope that I am doing good work here... not making waves helps to make good slaves."
He looks at the whip marks, to see that they are not going to cause further problems. "So, my friends," he says to the room in general, "Have you learned now that talking back, or being otherwise less than obedient will earn you the whip? I am sorry to say that if you get whipped enough, it will leave scars, and enough of those, and you won't be able to get one of the cushy jobs that The Mistress is preparing for you!"
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Haafiz is shocked by Korshad's revelation. His mind reels as he paces furiously back and forth - impossibly fast. At last he turns to Korshad, anger and disbelief clearly still painted on his face.
"A former cleric of Sarenrae and you help perpetuate this?" Haafiz cannot help but have that last comment come out of his mouth, harsh though it may be, "The best kindness you can show these slaves will be to allow them to go free. I know you think your fellows' best hope is obedience, but there is another way. We are the other way. I know mostly of the teachings of Desna, but even still I know enough to know that - especially for the Dawnflower - there is always a path to redemption. Staying here and cowing slaves is not that path. Stand with us, help us escape from here and that act alone will help you on your new path.
"We have an exit strategy - we are not slaves and we are not here by mistake!" Haafiz feels he needs to make a compelling argument, so drops the ruse, "We are Pathfinder agents sent here to put a stop to your mistress and free as many slaves as we possibly can. That includes you. You think your goddess wants you here? If so, you are wrong. You think you cannot be redeemed? Nothing could be farther from the truth. Stand with us. Be a man. Be a servant of the Dawnflower and not this bïtch who keeps you here."
Haafiz rips the collar from his neck, "These bonds cannot hold us. What do you say, Korshad? Are you with us?"
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@Ibid
The door seems to be a stout wooden door, well built, and you are sure that there is a bar on the other side. It would take a massive blow to break it open, but there is room for four of you to try at once .
@all
The rest of the slaves seem like they want freedom, but seem skeptical. If only someone could inspire them.
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Sitting in stunned silence, Finarin thinks back to Lort and his inspired speech when they swayed the dock workers before the Taladean Ball.
Well, time to show the boys how to move a crowd.
"Brethren. I am from Kyonin, where gentle breezes sway verdant trees ... in an eternal summer. My years are like ... days to you. Many of your lives will I live before my time .... has come. As I look on you, I see so much more. To give your only life ... to what. So some obese lord can have his ass wiped, and more shellfish poured down his ... gullet only to expand his stomach so far that he can't see .... his own prick. While those you love, and left behind, while they .... dream of the days that you spent together, in laughter, in love, ... in happiness.
"Friends, we offer you a choice. You can have your ... freedom. You can have your ... life. All we need is your ... choice. What do you ... choose?"
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As Ibid moves to inspect the door and Haafiz appeals to Korshad personally, Miro keeps his eyes on the others around them. Those whose loyalties are in doubt. His keen green eyes roam over the surrounding faces and the halfling sees hope. It is buried under skepticism and the beginnings of the training that will see them as pacified servants for the remainder of their lives.
The halfling starts forward, standing next to Finarin. "Yes, choices! We are not as we seem, as you might have already guessed. Behold Pooka, the fierce halfling warrior! Though he is small of stature, he is great of heart and strong of arm, and many a larger foe has fallen to his lance!"
"And there Amaranti! A stronger man I have yet to see, and he fights for you and for freedom"
"Haafiz, blessed of the gods, who seeks justice for the many and inspires doom in his enemies!"
"Ibid! An old man though he looks, he can pierce a target at 200 yards and knows much that the average man does not. These walls are no match for his mind!"
"Finarin Moonstep, whose weapons glow with eldritch energy that even the mightiest creature can not withstand!"
"These are your allies, friends! We prepare to fight our way out of here, to seek answers, to buy your freedom with the blood of these despicable slavers. Your salvation is at hand...will you take it?"
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"Aid as much as you can?" Haafiz repeats, "That is as much as we can ask. Please, Gima, if you will, release the collars on these soon-to-be freedmen. Of course, you may need to wait for our speeches first." Haafiz smiles as Finarin and Miro, the courtly duo, naturally take the lead.
"Yes, Miro speaks true!" Haafiz joins in at the mention of his name, taking care - like the others - to keep his speech to a hush that the slavers don't come in early to squash the rebellion before they have agreement, "I humbly call myself Desna's disciple. With the Lady of Luck herself at our side, today will a day of fortune for everyone here. She does not abide the indolent, however. Your fortunes must be made by yourselves in the end, though we will help you. What say you? Will you help us to win your own freedom, or will you remain here to be beaten on a whim by half-animal savages?"
Haafiz rushes around the room, undoing his companions' collars while Gima undoes the collars of any slaves who agree to join the cause.
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Time for action I see. Well, I have been submissive long enough. Time to burn some gnoll
"Amaranti , if you please. Yes ... the clasp in the back. Right. OUCH! Careful." Finarin tries not to fidget as the large Garundi man unfastens his collar.
I never knew how wonderful it would be to be free again. I can only imagine what these slaves must feel
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The old man nods along with Miro's brilliant words and then watches as Finarin begins to remove his collar. Likewise, Ibid requests assistance from his friends in order to remove his own collar, and cranes his neck forward, stretching the tight muscles once he is free of it.
"Well said, Miro, as always," Ibid nods thankfully to his halfling friend, still twisting and stretching his neck. "You all," he begins, motioning to the remaining slaves. "Do not have to put yourselves in any danger. Putting ourselves into harm's way is what we signed up for... and it is what we do well."
"So, please, protect yourselves, be safe, and let us handle the dangers."
Now turning to his friends, the old man points toward the door. "This door is stout and is barred from the opposite side. The fastest way, and probably the way the will draw the least attention to us, is to break it open with a massive battering from our shoulder's. Four of us hitting it in unison."
"Or we could hack our way through it," he adds. "But it will take more time, and cause more of a racket."
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The group gets itself out of their collars, and prepare to open the door to their pen. The other slaves seem to be inspired by the Drongo's speeches, but none feel they are capable of helping too much.
The group throws their combined weight into the door, hoping to crack the
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The combined group hits the door together, and with a mighty crack, they hear the bar give way.
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Haafiz rushes out into the room, and flings open the chest.
Haafiz pulls out his component pouch and stands at the ready.
Haafiz moves out into the room, guarding the chest.