As more details of the Battle Market become known Ayish asks,
"How do the smugglers and others come and go? Could we not disguise ourselves as some of these people and simply walk in?" She suggests.
"We could go in the back door," the gnome says, "Markhet doesn't think it will be well guarded."
"Good idea. We'll go in the back, look for slaves and offer them a chance for freedom. Once that's done, we go after the leader, Kadaswan I think Undrella called him, killing any gnoll we come across along the way. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm ready for this."
As you move toward the batlemarket, you notice while you have not seen any Gnolls come from the batlemarket you now see a group of Gnolls coming toward both it and you. It looks to be a group of six, five of them being Gnolls with a sixth being Human. They have not seen you so your are able to hid in one of the buildings as they near.
As they grow closer to your hiding spot you see it is indeed a human with a group of heavily scarred and priced Gnolls. But not just any Human, he walks with a limp and leans on a staff, Almah's Gnoll tracker Dashki seems to be with this group of Gnolls.
Vrealk draws an arrow in his bow back, drawing a bead on Dashki. He looks to Kelden and N'Djamena, waiting for a nod before he releases ...
stealth
Ayish peers at this strange gathering,
She gasps in surprise.
Markhet rides out towards the group
"Hello Dashki," the gnome says, "Would you like to explain to Markhet what you are doing with these gnolls? This one would like to inform you that if you have betrayed our master you will suffer the fate of all traitors. There are of course archers trained on you and your friends. Markhet is here to talk to you because she is the most expendable."
Vrealk gives a low hiss as the gnome betrays the group's position. At the same time, his eyes grow wide with worry, and readies an action to release an arrow the second any of the creatures acts hostile towards Markhet. He tries to slink back as far into the sahdows and remain hidden as possible.
Ayish does not frown nor worry. Instead, she too, stands and walks towards the Gnolls and thier Human 'freind'.
"Indeed Dashki. Why do we all not introduce ourselves that we can become better friends?"
Celena face palms and groans quietly to herself as her group seem to be overcome with a bout of insanity.
Kelden lets out a sigh as he prepares himself for the need to rescue the two earnest ladies.
N'Djamena stoically accepts that battle is to be their fate and he draws his morningstar in anticipation of an attack on Markhet.
Dashki holds his hands up stopping the Gnolls from attacking Market and Ayish. "We have come in search of you" One of the scarred Gnolls nods and in rough Common Barks {b]"We come to kill Kulldis"[/b] He spats, "They disgust us! Allowing themselves to be lead by a non gnolls, we will kill them and eat their young together yesss?" The Gnoll says , as the others look on weapons ready.
"Yes" Dashki says "They are enemy of the Gnolls here and have come to help clear them out."
The tiny druid nods, "Then it was your torches we saw last night approaching the abbey, Markhet assumes that you've already talked with the mistress and she has agreed with your plan? Well as it turns out your timing is perfect. Markhet and her companions were planing to assault the battle market today, perhaps we can now make it a two pronged assault? The south gates are always open but Markhet and her companions are very sneaky and think we can get in through the north gate. Markhet thinks we could have a two pronged attack, Dashki and his gnoll friends go through the front, and we attack from behind. Markhet would ask that you give us ten minutes to get into position. Picking locks and getting into ambush position will take time."
sense motive
Vrealk keeps his arrow trained on Dashki from the shadows.
Ayish will stand beside Markhet and Larrs, one hand resting upon her hip and the whips handle coiled about her waist.
Vrealk
Ayish
The Larger Gnoll nods at market "Kill Kulldis is good" Dashki however seems a bit more reluctant. "Are they weak enough for that to work or will we just be slaughtered? He seems very wary and Guarded bout it.
Ayish looks to the Gnoll who speaks, "We have...disagreements with this Kuldis." She pauses,
"Perhaps we could come to some...accord?" She suggests.
"Markhet and her companions haven't seen any patrols lately, and the rest of this town is cleared, Markhet is unsure how many remain inside of the battle market itself but Markhet thinks their numbers have been greatly reduced. If Dashki and his gnoll friends are afraid perhaps they can hide in the temple till we deal with the these Kildis. Markhet would understand if they are afraid."
Kelden, still tense and ready to attack, fights to keep from making a comment about how he likes killing gnolls.
N'Djamena agrees. "It sounds like we have a common enemy. What do you say to a combined assault?"
the lead Gnoll growls at Markets words "We no scared of Kulldis! We eat Kulldis hearts, We suck marrow from Kulldis bones , eat pups screaming!" He says huffing before saying something in gnoll and moving toward the battlemarket.
Dashki looks worried but limps behind the Gnolls "Hurry, I'll see if I can buy you some time. The Gnome has them fired up" he says glancing at Markhet with anger.
Ayish does give a smile to Marhket,
"At least we seem to be about to simply walk in."
"That worked better then Markhet could have hopped," the gnome says to her friends, "we'd better hurry to that back gate. Markhet has found a great distraction!"
As Markhet begins to go through her amusing routine, Ayish casually reaches over and playfully ruffles the Gnome's hair as the group heads towards the battle Market.
"If I were with anyone else what just happend might seem a little strange." Celena mumbles whilst following behind the Gnolls
"May Nethys, the Lord of Destruction, channel their violence to a useful end! I agree that circumstances have given us strange bedfellows."
N'Djamena looks queasy for a moment when the word "bedfellows" reminds him of his "friend" the harpy.
Ayish's cheeks colour slightly at N'Djamena's comments about 'bedfellows'...
"The enemy of my enemy is my ally." She quietly quotes philosophically.
Vrealk's eyes narrow, but he lowers his bow while still hidden in the shadows. He waits until the gnolls and Dashki are out of sight until he comes out. "Dashki seemed to be honest, but me wonders about the gnolls ... me is afraid we might be given away. Maybe best to go quickly?"
Celena turns to the others "Well if I'm going to trust a Goblin, A Lion and a Harpy I may as well trust a group of Gnolls while I'm at it." She then continues to follow.
"The only thing Markhet trusts about those gnolls is their untrustworthyness, oh and their bloodthirsty hatred of every living thing."
As Markhet begins to go through her amusing routine, Ayish casually reaches over and playfully ruffles the Gnome's hair as the group heads towards the battle Market.
"Ayish please," the gnome protests, "it is very hard for Markhet to pretend to be an evil mastermind with you playing with her hair!"
Ayish twirls and curtsies to Markhet,
"I am sorry freind Markhet, but you make such a cute Evil Overlord." Ayish replies with a warm smile to her adventuring companion, her actions bringing a moment of levity to an otherwise tense situation.
Celena turns to the others "Well if I'm going to trust a Goblin, A Lion and a Harpy I may as well trust a group of Gnolls while I'm at it." She then continues to follow.
"True. Me has known many goblins, and me wouldn't trust a single one." It's a little unclear if Vrealk intended that to be ironic or not ...
"Markhet's adorableness is one of her most potent weapons."
Yes, hurrying to the north door.
Your make your way around the Battlemarket, but even as you make it to the northern door battle cries can be heard. It seems Market got the Gnolls very fired up.
You can make out two passageways, one to the left has a stairway leading up, to the right a hall. From where you stand you can make out the arena and the other entryway. The Gnolls and Dashki seem to be fighting four Kulldis Gnolls near the arena.
Ayish shrugs, "Well, the enemy of my enemy and all that..." So saying she heads towards Dashki and 'his' Gnolls, the better to give them aid.
Who else is around?
Perception Perception +2 v gnolls
"Nethys give us strength!" N'Djamena prays as he pulls out "Tempest".
Celena pulls out her hammer and stides into the arena
Kelden
Kelden points out the bar patrons to the group (read the spoiler). "Ayish, Markhet, maybe you two could go talk to those guys over there and use your feminine wiles to get them on our side."
Kelden points out the bar patrons to the group (read the spoiler). "Ayish, Markhet, maybe you two could go talk to those guys over there and use your feminine wiles to get them on our side."
At Kelden's comment Ayish at first looks puzzled then, after a moment, some slight colour rises in her cheeks.
"Should we not help our ally?" She points to where Dashki and the Gnolls are in conflict.
Ayish follows along with Celena and N'Djamena. She loosens the whip about her waist and clears her throat in preparation to sing and bolster her comrades and allies.