Antar scratches the thickening beard on his face, "Not a gnoll. He looked like a man, but big- maybe seven feet tall. Bald and thickly muscled and scarred. He had a wicked looking greataxe with him. I only saw him twice: once when we were captured and once before we were led out here today."
Where was he? Did you see in what building? And how many gnolls he have with him? We have already killed a half dozen or more, but the more information we have, the faster we will eliminate this festering gnoll wound.
"In the Battle Market." He points out the main feature of the city on the hill- a round three-story domed building. "There were plenty of people in there, but I'm not sure how many gnoll warriors. There were a few merchants, traders, and pesh junkies. That sort. I would guess maybe a score of actual gnoll fighters."
"And he communicates with his mind like I do, and passes them his bloody minded commands..."
Antar starts at the unseen voice. "Who said that?! It doesn't sound like the Whisperer. The big man has an evil spirit that spies and whispers in a vile voice inside your head. Hmm, and there is an ogre as well. I think that's everything I saw."
"Undra spoke true, not that I didn't believe her but I did not wish to fight a Genie. Why would a Genie decide to rule over a group of Gnolls and an abandoned town though?"
"I said that" The dragon peers at him.
"I hope these other prisoners live, the best I could do at the time was set the fire to create a distraction"
I turn to face Aurichalcum, "Do not worry; powerful Aurichalcum, I am sure that when we are facing this Genie you will be of more use than I."
Antar laughs aloud at the curious dragonette and then bows, "Well, I knew you were magical creature, but intelligent as well. Ha-Ha! Greetings, Shining one!"
Who and what is this Whisperer?
Turning to Auri - How did you know he could communicate with his mind?
"Hmmm...Ogre's are not known for their brains or quickness, I may be able to help with him somewhat. It's the sheer number of foes that is going to be a problem here, and this mysterious "whisperer". I wonder if we can arrange a distraction to pull off a number of Kardswann's minions? We should finish exploring the lower town today after we get Antar back to the monastery. Hopefully we can find a few more of those minions and take them down."
"We should pay a visit to Undra as well, she has our reward for dealing with the snake. So would we be going and just taking out a few patrols, going to the guard house or the Church?"
"If Kardswann is aware of our presence, then he may not be sending out any more patrols. We may catch some gnolls in tasks that can not wait, though. I say we explore those other buildings after visiting Undra."
Antar says he does not wish to delay you any further and he will go offer his services to the Princess in the monastery. He doesn't pose any sort of threat anyway with nothing but the rags on his back.
Your short journey through town shows no more signs of gnoll patrols or anything other than the occasional tortoise shell or tarantula. You cross the bridge and Undra quickly answers your knocks falling upon her knees, crying, and attempting to kiss Faelar's feet.
"Oh, my beautiful Master! I was so worried. Kardswann visited early this morning looking for you. He was cruel, but I told him nothing. He said he would make a trap and let the monsters in the fields deal with you. I am so happy you have survived!"
While the others are in with Undra, I stay outside and carefully scan the town looking for any movement. If any can be seen, I will try to take them down from a distance once the others return.
Perception:
Seeing the lady fall to her knee's I look confused, but when she starts to attempt to kiss my feet I look nervous. I reach down and offer her a hand up, gently helping her back to her feet. "Please; my dear Undra, I am not your master. You are your own master and have to take no orders from anyone, no matter who they are. I hope he did not hurt you, I would feel really bad if he had hurt you because he found out that you have been speaking with us. As for his trap, not only did we survive; thanks to Kzrira, but we also managed to save one of the captives he was using for bait. Did Kardswann say if he knew where our camp is?"
This is said out of the hearing of Undra.
Hmmm, perhaps we could set a trap for them. Lets try to take out a few more patrols and gnoll stragglers today. And tonight, we create a fake camp with a small fire. Then we hide in the undergrowth near the camp and when they try to attack us, we turn the table and take down the raiding party.
Essentially, force them to fight us on terrain we have selected, not on their home turf. Faelar and Karethas can use their magic to make it appear we are asleep and that our guard has nodded off.
Amir grins slightly at Kzrira and takes a mock stern face at the casters, I like this plan but only if it is not hate "old man" who looks as though to nodded off at his post. Amir smooths his moustache, I see no harm in the trying. Either they see through the deception and we are forced to fight or they do not and we fight. If they run, we have lost nothing, they already know we are lurking about.
Kzrira give Amir a girlish smile. They would never expect a nice gal like me ta hurt them.
Her face then takes on its usual serious demeanor. The more carnage we can cause to them out here, the less of them we will have to face up there. I took one out from about 200 paces after they dumped those poor slaves this morning. I figure I should be able to get a few more moving about during the day.
"Did Kardswann say if he knew where our camp is?"
Undra reluctantly rises to her feet only because Faelar wishes it. "I do not think so. He was very angry, but you have made him nervous. He has withdrawn his gnolls to the upper town. The main path up is well guarded, but there is a hidden path behind the old Temple of Sarenrae. I think you might be able to surprise him that way although I fear for you, Beloved. Here is the cobra venom I have extracted. Be careful with it." She produces a small vial from beneath her dark robes.
Out of the hearing of Undra: We don't have anyone who can see well in the dark, so attacking at night might actually put us at a disadvantage. Perhaps we could sneak around below this temple, and then hide and camp out for the night, and hit them just as the dawn light breaks. I imagine they will be tired from spending the night on watch and we will not be at a disadvantage from darkness.
I gingerly take the vial and hold it nervously, "Thank-you; my dear lady, but fear not, for if we were not meant to release his hold over these lands, we would have failed some time ago. Thank-you for your information and this ..." I gingerly hold up the vial, "...I have spoken with the person in charge of this expedition and have convinced them to allow you to remain in your humble abode, once Kardswann has been removed from the area. But for now I must bid you farewell, for we must continue to release Kardswann's grip on this town. Please be safe and if he returns to you, just say that you have not spoken to us again willingly, we tried to force information out of you ... That should keep you safe."
"Sneaking around the back path seems to be a good idea, but I think a simultaneous distraction on the front path would make it even more effective."
Undra's eyes smile behind her veil as she bids Faelar good-bye and wishes you all good fortune. Joining Kzrira outside, you move away to discuss your plans.
It takes most of the rest of the day to travel the long way around to the back side of the mesa. You don't see any gnolls or anything else as you circle around. From this side a narrow trail leads up the side of the butte to the old church over 100 feet above. The way looks difficult and there are two gaps that require battered old rope bridges to cross.
Once arriving at the rope bridges, I slowly and carefully cross them.
Karethas studies the bridges with a critical eye. "This does not look safe by any stretch of the imagination."
Faelar sees no trouble ahead and is eager to explore the mesa top. The first rope bridge is forty feet above the ground and the second is somewhat higher at seventy feet. The bridges aren't particularly long, but the ropes are weathered and many of the wood slats have shattered or fallen.
Karethas shakes his head, "I will not be crossing those without being tied off to someone else. I would be more comfortable if given a night to prepare. I have a spell that can keep someone from dying from a spell, but I do not have it prepared today."
"WAIT" Auri warns, then he flies over the gap to the far side to check for any danger...
Perception +Blindsense
All is still on this side of the hilltop town. Auri circles, but sees nothing moving other than a hawk. You quickly set up camp and watches and prepare for the next day's assault.
I wake up after a restful nights sleep and look to the bridges.
Once across the first bridge, I start to give the others some encouragement.
Once across the second bridge, I start to give the others some more encouragement.
Karethas eyes the bridge warily again and begins his crossing, nice and slow. This is horrible, I should have studied a levitation spell.
Night passes without incident and the next morning dawns with the promise of adventure. Faelar leads the way up the narrow path and quickly crosses the fragile rope bridge over the first chasm. He offers his assistance to Amir, who waves him off and easily crosses the bridge.
Karethas hesitates as he looks nervously over the contraption of frayed rope and spitting wood and Falear launches into a song to ease the conjurer's nerves. Brimming with confidence, Karethas steps onto the ancient rope bridge and immediately steps through a broken slat!
Auri flies about, clearly agitated by the danger faced by his friends...
Karethas falls through the slat but manages to hold on to the unbroken slat in front of him. His legs churn in midair as if something to stand on is going appear out of thin air, but he hasn't learned THAT spell yet.
Karethas carefully pulls himself back onto the rickety bridge and proceeds, knuckles white on the guide ropes. He is nearly at the end when he stumbles over a gap and one of the guide ropes break throwing him sideways toward the chasm!
I can do this, bridges are made to be crossed after all. Then the guide rope breaks and Karethas is thrown over empty space. "I hate this!"
There are gasps as Karethas plummets head first off the broken bridge. With a shouted arcane command however, his descent is slowed and he lightly floats back to the valley floor. The bridge is severely damaged at this point and looks ready to fall with Faelar and Amir on one side and Kzrira and Karethas on the other.
Amir looks down at the valley floor to see Karethas fall slowly. Cute, but can he come back up?
Looking over at Kzrira Amir cocks an eyebrow, then pulls off his backpack and starts to root around. I have 50 feet of rope, a hook, 5 pitons and a hammer. Want to try to climb? I'm not sure I trust the bridge at this point and Auri could ferry these over to you...once you are here we can tie Karethas up and haul him over the lot of us...