"Might be withholden jus tah give us a break, rather tha sendin us right back onna mission."
"Nah, he isn't callin me back. He just wants us to be ready whenever he needs us. Doc, you wanna come talk to the quartermaster with me about finding somebody to watch over the Ankhegs? There's no way we're gonna be able to just leave them outside for too long, plus it's a little rude to Sentis and Dark. After that, I plan to go talk to Holmburg bout that book we found."
Dark sets to work trying to wrangle the little critters into shape as he teaches Sentis polyglot. Lucky seems apprehensive, but eventually accepts their presence, even if he does tend to avoid getting close to them.
"Ya, good call. Ah need t' pick up some supplies anyways."
Putting the lids on his pots he lifted them onto a higher rack to simmer while he was away.
"Ah've got some ideas fer th' wagon ye might like..."
Doc's voice faded to a low grumble as they pair went toward the supply tents.
"Oh yea? What's the crazy mind of yours cooked up this time? The Magus says with a grin.
"Tha' big trident we picked up? Ah'm pretty sure it'd come back if any o' us could throw it. We can't though, so Ah thought Ah might build some kinda canon to fire it. Ah'm also gonna mount modified versions o' those harpoon traps we made t' trap th' bugs on it. Ah'm toyin' wit' the idea o' a Grusk-launcher too..."
A quick visit to the quartermaster and an explanation of where Dark and Sentis have holed up elicits a relatively speedly response from one of the locals who have been trained up as handlers. A burly mwangi gent who's scarred and scratched skin betrays his profession, though his face is blessed with a big gap toothed grin. Once bade he hustles off through the barracks and away. The quartermaster explains that the ankheg will be brought round to an old farm that the company has taken over in the fields surrounding the West of the city.
Sentis worked with Dark to try to at least get the little bugs to stop spitting acid at every opportunity as he stumbled over his language lessons.
jibba, jorba, jabba...munto, moonto, moontu...
They were interrupted by the mwangi and the druid waved back and was a bit shocked at the man's apparent first hand knowledge.
Youre familiar with ankhegs? And raising them? Impressive.
Eager for a hot meal and news Sentis would rather return to the barracks but will stay outside if Dark prefers.
Grusk actually grabs a large pot and the freshest foods as he makes his way back to the guys hanging out with the bugs.
No sense in them missing out on a fresh loaf of bread, the one with honey and nuts seemed to have Sentis's name written upon it.
Choosing a loaf for Dark was a bit harder he went with the hearty rye grain bread.
and a small cask of ale was also in order to clear the throats, will make it easier for them to swallow.
Seeing their companion half orc laden with food; Sentis smiles even as his belly grumbles.
Hey thanks Grusk! Ive been craving fresh baked bread. We dont get near enough of this on the road.
At the ankheg pen:
The gap toothed mwangi smiles and shows off one of the more impressive scars on his leg "Got a little kiss when me was younger... been aroun these'uns for a while."
"No way fer me tah know how long makin rangements would take in gettin tha bugs in an cared fer, looks like yall could ave got yer own bread, they must o asked bout a bug wrangler an this guy was at tha first place they looked.....thought it would take longer tah find one."
We're pretty fortunate to have someone that actually knows what theyre about handle these things. Lets go if Sunny found out anything from the captain.
Sentis was curious to get the book to Holmburg to see if the wise old man could piece more of this mystery together also.
Once he's done speaking with the quartermaster, Blaze heads back to the barracks to see if anybody else wants to accompany him to visit Holmburg and to pick up the book.
With half the squad in tow Blaze heads off through town to the Laughing Monkey inn where Holmburg keeps a room. Checking in with the innkeep, he's told that the man himself is upstairs. Moving through to his private room a knock at the door is met by a thump and clutter within the room "A minute, a minute.... Who is it?" as you hear shuffling and thumping as he obviously moves around in chaos.
"Steel wolves! A pack at mah back!"
Sentis smiled, suppressed the urge to chuckle and didnt feel the need to add anything at Grusk's perfect greeting.
The door creaks open only a crack and Holmburg's cautious face peeks out... before he opens the door fully as he recognizes the squad. His room is as cluttered as before, though you notice that some of his equipment seems much improved from last you came. It would appear that he's come into a little wealth. Smiling wide he invites you in "Ah, welcome welcome, come in. I was hoping that you might grace my presence again... our last encounter proved most interesting"
Well then youre going to like what we have for you Holgrim.
Sentis will retrieve the tome they recently found and hand it over to the old man.
Blaze smiles faintly at Holmburg "And perhaps a bit profitable?"
"Seems like everone is profitin."
"Holmburg iffen yer a sage now, yer sure tah become a mage later iffen yah keep yer nose in tha dusty books. I hear tell tha will make one a mage."
Holmburg's smile deepens and he wrings ink stained hands together "Yes, yes - true it is that your acquaintance has done well for me... well indeed. Though I would not profess myself a sage, merely a scibe."
Taking the tome from Sentis gently with soft hands he unceremoniously clears a place on a nearby table by sweeping the collected papers onto the floor and lays the book down. Eyes bright with interest he smooths some of the dust from the cover and turns the page. The brightness of his eyes slowly deepens to concern as he flips through the first few pages. Focused as he is on the book he asks in a neutral voice "And where... exactly... did you find this tome?"
"Took it right out o Doc's backpack, jus this morning."
Holmburg lifts his face from the book to regard Grusk with a raised eyebrow and a clearly questioning expression.
Blaze elbows Grusk "Not helpful. Speaking of Doc, I hear he has a new experiment he wants to try out on you. Something about a silence potion."
Turning back to the scribe "In tunnels originally created by Ankhegs, there was this ziggurat. Inside we found a bound Cyclops which begged for release." He goes on to explain the battle, and finding of the tome.
Its not that far Holgrim. Would you like to see it? It was strange. There were bodies of men and woman chained to the walls and these two big metal statues on six legs guarding him. We killed the one like Sunny said but the other one vanished just as Kaavel released Thronebound.
Sentis' suggestion of visiting the ruins receives a shiver and a grave shake of his head "No... I don't think I would like that at all." he moves to a stack of loose papers on one side-table, shuffles through them and then places a charcoal drawing of a creature much akin to the constructs you fought "Were these the statues?" and after receiving a nod continues.
"The ghol-gan call them Gad nan dyableman - the Guardians of the Damned... this one bound on the throne must have done something to draw their ire." licking his lips in scholarly anticipation "Might I be right that translation would be requested?"
He said that he and a few others stood up against the Ghol-Gan tyranny but they all failed. And yes, of course; we are curious as to what the book says. How long do you need?
Eludes the elbow and smirks at the idea of a silence potion or oil.
Some oils might indeed be in order and Doc is just the guy to make them!
Holmburg purses his lips and thinks a few moments "A day for the short version and probably a week for the finer details."
Blaze heads to the tavern and spreads a bit of coin around trying to learn what he can about the recent rumors and any impending troubles. He tries to shy away from other mercs, instead going after townsfolk, guards, etc.
Ill meet up with you guys back at the barracks. Got a friend to visit.
Sentis heads to go see the druid friend he met before with Baran and anyone else that wants to go in tow.
Dark will join Sentis, having found that druids tended to be more comfortable with him than most people.
Dark and Sentis head off in search of druidic counsel.
Blaze spends a few hours getting a general lay of the land as far as the Mzali threat is concerned. Although there is always talk... it's now seeming to get a bit more real. A few patrols have gone missing, there's reports of more movement in the field from the patrols that do return... and more tellingly most of the businesses in town are hiring up as much private muscle as they can muster. It definitely seems like a storm is coming, it's just a matter of how far off it is.
The others end up back at the barracks with the bubble bubble toil and trouble of Doc's cauldrons for entertainment... well that and the few other squads in at present who seem to be holding some sort of primitive machismo contest. Two of them don helmets before running at each other full pelt and meeting with a cacophonous thud and crash of metal.... you've only been watching a few minutes but you're thinking that the winner is the one that manages to stand back up after the contact.
That is exactly who Sentis will visit. In pursuit of establishing a friendship. Gonna share tales of our recent adventure and see if he'll look at the mask. Sentis will go in depth with his experience with it so far with the chanting in polyglot and no apparent effect.
________________
Night falls and after a restful sleep despite the oppressive heat, you awaken to the sound of a messenger entering the squad room in the early dawn "Coporal Blaze? - Cap'n wants ye"
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Grusk gives himself a proper bath, and services his armor, making certain the straps and everything are in order, before taking a long nap which is not interrupted until the early dawn hours.
Grusk takes the sudden awakening as a practice opportunity, leaping out of his bunk and grabbing the large trident with both hands, he attempts a forwards roll and coming to his feet.
Acrobatics check
"Yah lookin tah get stuck? Punk!"
Grusk brings the pointy end of the trident dangerously close to the chest of one of the Captain's adjuncts. The man merely cocks his head to one side and raises an eyebrow at the o'ereager half-orc.
"Thanks fer tha trainin time. Next time jus knock on tha door."
"Good job."
"I guess its time fer breakfast."
Sentis greets the old Mwangi warmly.
in Polyglot - Greetings Grandfather.
he hadnt had a chance to learn much more than that so he asked Dark to translate the rest. In response to the man's question.
It has certainly performed as promised and as expected. We cleared out a lair of ankhegs out on the plains. Im here to ask if you have ever seen the like as this.
The half elf will retrieve the mask and hand it over to the man.
When I first put it in on I heard many voices chanting in polyglot but felt no other effects. Can you shed any light on its function?
As its early dawn when the messenger arrives, Blaze is already awake, using the quite time to mediate and say personal prayers to his Goddess. When the man speaks the Keleshite's eyes open, and he nods his consent. Snatching up Suntrike he follows the man out.
Seeing Grusk coming just a bit close to stabbing one of the Captain's men, Blaze says "I'm pretty sure Doc could use some help cleaning up from his late and over night work. Why don't you go lend him a hand?"
When Blaze arrives at the Captain's office, he finds him already with a guest... who turns out to be Holmburg. The scholarly man doesn't look like he's slept a wink all night and is clutching the book you have lent him close to his chest protectively. His face is touched with a tinge of weary excitement.
The Captain waves you in and to a seat "I trust you know Mr Holmburg... he's just come to us with an interesting proposition, very interesting indeed... that is if the Wolves are interested."
Holmburg takes over "There is much of wonder in this book... much indeed... much of death, much of fear... but much of wonder. In particular there is a tale and snippets of a map that tell of a place similar to where you have been before." opening up the book to the latter pages where a pictograph of a structure very similar to the one that Vankerman brought you to a long time past - the vault with swarms and skeletal guardians, as well as relics and riches.
Stabbing a finger down excitedly "This is where the one that was bound held court. Plotted with his underlings and opposed the Ghol-Gan, and all that. The cyclopes found it of course when they took him... but I think they missed something." eyes wild with excitement.
Taken back by the man's reaction; Sentis withdraws the mask.
I got it off of a strange shaman deep in the jungle.
he druid will explain as well as he can where they were.
Whats wrong grandfather? Is it malign?