Glad to not be at the review, Dark quickly turns his thoughts to the best way to approach his task. "Any ideas, mate? On the one hand, the direct approach would illicit the least amount of suspicion from the locals; on the other, if there are nasties about, we give up the advantage of surprise."
"We can go either way, straight in or through tha window, either way I'm game fer. roofs to window sounds like it will takes tha longest an tha longer were gone tha better fer us."
Grusk and Darkbiter take their time and transfer from ground to roof to roof to window and into Holmburg's room... making sure to be sure not only to prevent surprises, but also to ensure that the parade will be well over by the time they return. You find Holmburg's room exactly as you left it - it does not look as though it has been touched since you were here last.
Parade
The chelish woman and the Captain make their way languidly back and forth across the assembled troops. She seems in no hurry to make her decision, and the Captain looks happy to indulge her at this point... that generally means that a great deal of money has been flashed around.
Holmburg is thankful for the palliative attention and continues to slowly return to his usual faculties with the barracks.
Sentis was more than happy to not be out under some new client's eye. Being sized up like a side of beef didnt appeal at all the young half elf.
I sure am glad that you're alright mister Holmburg. Do you remember much of what the rakshasa did to you? or anything in particular that he was after?
Grusk looks around more this time....
"Make a list o tha items in tha room an make a full report tah Holmburg o tha contents."
Pilfers around for a few minutes, checking under the bed for dwarves.....
Sentis:
Holmburg shakes his head "No my boy... it's just hazy... All I can remember is him having the book open... Sorry" he scratches at his noggin as though trying to force the memories back into it.
Blaze:
Blaze observes the rest of the inspection, and is just struck with a slight sense of wrongness. The ground of the barracks is broken, but she does not slip on any loose stones, her posture is not just good... it's perfect. The Captain definitely seems under his own faculties, so there's nothing to worry about there... but there's just a something off.
After the parade, the Chelish woman and the Captain return to the Captain's office... no doubt to discuss terms. As soon as they're out of eyeline, the parade disperses rapidly with much cursing and grumbling.
Grusk:
You poke around through the items and make a decent list and note of what's there. It's the usual stuff - books and geegaws and doodads of likely archaeological value... not too much by way of wealth. You do stumble over something promising though... a sheaf of writing paper that has hand sketched letters and words upon it... words akin to the language of the dead and one-eyed...
Dark keeps an eye out as Grusk searches the room, particularly watchful for scents of sulfur and the perfume from earlier.
Do you remember any of what yo uread in the book? Maybe an idea of what he was looking for?
Sentis stayed kneeling on the floor of the barracks scratching Baran's ears and hoping that they miss out on the roll call outside.
Perception
+2 monsterous humanoids
Searching the room.
Sensing the off nature of this spectacle Blaze decides to leave nothing to chance after the earlier encounter and casts a spell to open his senses to any magickal auras
Grusk and Dark find nothing out of the ordinary in Holmburg's room, and no signs of the scents of interest either.
Holmburg can only offer a shrug and shaken head to Sentis' query "I don't know... but if the book is missing it must have something to do with that."
Blaze casts his eyes towards the pair and can pick up several magical auras as they move to the Captain's office... which is not unexpected given that the captain is an experienced soldier. The visitor also has a number of auras surrounding her form. However they are secreted away inside the office before anything more could be discovered.
"Holmburgs room was a bust, no sign o nothin tah be found there, seems tha ol fuzz-face is lookin fer some ting o tha cyclopses."
Sentis was only mildly disappointed in Holmburg's lack of memory. He understood that the man had been through an awful lot in the last couple of days and might take at least that long before he back to his normal faculties.
That must mean that we missed something in those Ghol-gan temples we've been too or there are more of them and there is something in them that that Rakshasa wants.
THe half elf realized he was more than likely stating the obvious but he was also hoping that he would jar the scholar's memory.
Returning shortly before Grusk and Dark, Blaze takes a few minutes to talk quietly with Sentis about Holmburg's health.
Once the two half-orcs return, he explains what he saw "Definitely a little suspicious, if not a lot so. Of course, after our earlier run in, most everything will be for awhile now." As he says all this, he fingers the hilt of Sunstrike.
The half elf had no desire to meet this strange female visitor that was speaking with the captain but replied to Blaze's questions...Doc's remedy seems to be working wonders Sunny...he just needs rest now...I wish his memory was better though...that Ghol-gan book was the key...
Sentis listened intently while Dark and Grusk gave a report.
Did you see any notes or anything with the Ghol-gan language written on it? We need to jog Holmburg's memory somehow to try to figure out what the Rakshasa is after.
"Whoever, or whatever, that "thing" and his allies are, they took everything of value on that subject. Even if we did have anything to work off of, I'm not sure we have the skills and knowledge needed to deal with the situation appropriately."
"Might see if Holmburg wants to keep tha wolves on retainer, or if we need tah find other employment."
The Chelish lady that provoked the assemblage leaves the Captain's office with a self-satisfied smirk and the Captain himself has a wide grin as well. Farewells are said and once the lass has left the Captain sends a runner to Blaze to request his presence.
Holmburg struggles with recollection for a few minutes longer before succumbing to mental exhaustion and seeking rest in order to recuperate. Unless allowed to return to his room at the inn, he will seek to use one of your own bunks in the barracks.
Doc, in his usual way, takes over the barracks communal kitchen, cooking dinner, glue, magical elixirs, explosives and toxins in an unsettlingly haphazard fashion.
Bowls of delicious smelling stew hit the table just before Blaze has to leave. Doc chuckles at the timing.
"I'll try t' keep Grusk from eatin' yers."
Dark offers his bed to Holmburg while he goes to the door to watch the hustle and bustle of the compound, trying to get his mind of of the strange creatures that the group will almost certainly have to end up dealing with.
Blaze scoops up the bowl and heads to the Captain's office, eating on the way there.
Sentis dug into Doc's stew and tried to remember the last time they ate. He was glad that Holmburg was getting some sleep and couldnt help but worry about what the captain had to say to Sunny.
Grusk tucks Holmburg into Doc's bed, knowing the dwarf prefers his fancy mechanical hide covered chair in the corner.......
Blaze fills in the Captain about what happened with Holmburg, including the possible true identity of Vankerman and his wariness of the Chelish girl. "I'm guessing you have another assignment for us, yes?"
"Oh and sorry about bringing my dinner in here, but it was the only way I could be sure that that sort of domesticated animal Grusk wouldn't eat it before I got back" This should elicit a chuckle from the Captain, as Grusk is a bit infamous.
On Holmburg he purses his lips and is reflective for a span of seconds before shaking his head. "Bad for business when responsibilities cross like this... but you seemed to handle it well enough. If the man's still got coin and a desire do you still want to stick it out with him?"
Day passes to night and then back to dawn where you find Holmburg having awoken early to find parchment and charcoal and he is sketching in the courtyard of the barracks. A few pages seem to have patterns and designs on them while the one he is at work on presently holds the early scratchings of a map upon it.
Sentis stayed close to Holmburg and began to get excited when the old man started to sketch...he does remember!... The half elf said nothing not wanting to disturb the sage until he was finished with his drawing.
"Sure, not a problem. I think the Wolves have grown a little fond of the old man" And with that, he takes his leave.
Upon rising in the morning, he asks Sentis to stick with Holmburg, and keep an eye on him. "Make sure he's alright, and send Baran if something happens"
He walks over to where Doc is sure to be practicing his mad scientist skills "What's in the cook pot for today Doc?"
"Glue, acid, mash fer distillation, quickset paint, an experimental poison, essence of Grusk, and mutton stew. Still hungry?"
Holmburg continues to work on the map for a few minutes before sitting up on his haunches and both smiling and nodding in satisfaction.
Sentis couldn't help but smile also. Both from seeing Holmburg in better health and because he had figured something out...and something important too judging by his reaction...
What is it sir?
"By Doc's creature creatin creavace!"
Exclaims Grusk upon spotting the finished map
"Mah what now?" Doc says with a glance to Blaze.
The other man just shakes his head "Doc, I gave up on trying to really understand what Grusk says about an hour after I met him. I'm sure it was super intelligent though" He says with a big grin.
"Ah don't think Ah'm interest'd in any maps o mah crevices." Doc says wandering over to take a look at Holmberg's drawing. "Somehow Ah'm not really surprised that Grusk is though."
Looking at the map, you see a clear resemblance to the plains and jungle East of Kalabuto... however there is also a clear difference. Rivers run on a varied course and the jungle is alot larger than you know it to be today.
Holmburg points at his head and then at the pages "Coming back my boy... coming back. Glyphs and maps and symbols... but coming back." picking up one of the intricate pictures of a symbol that he's sketched and adding "I can't say what it means... but it's in my head."
Dark watches the whole scene with his usual taciturn expression, waiting for the time he is needed.
"Looks like an older map o tha area, bet we found jus part o what was tah be found."
Grusk smiles at Doc.
Sentis was wishing that he had studied the Ghol-Gan language so he could maybe help out but there wasn't time for that now.
If only we had that book or if you had taken notes. But it is no matter. You'll remember more I'm sure of it Mr. Holmburg.
The half elf patted the old man on the shoulder and gave him so room. He wanted to push the sage but was considerate enough not to. He went to the quarter master's shed to get some food for Baran.
I know you are hungry friend.
He would get some of Doc's stew when they got back to where the Wolve's had staked there corner of the yard.
Blaze flashes a warm smile at Holmburg "Well, I'm not entirely sure what it all means either, but I have told the Captain we'll stick with you, as long as we keep getting paid. Which, I understand, if you can't at the moment."
Holmburg pushes his glasses back up onto the bridge of his nose and looks dumbstruck for a few moments before going on with a start "Oh I have money... they only took my notes... not my account with the bank here. I'm thinking that an expedition is in order don't you? I mean without my notes I can't help but think the only way I'm going to get any closure is by going there" pointing to the map that shows the path to the East of Kalabuto.
Cocking his head in thought "Do you have means of travel overland... or should I make arrangements for some horses?"
"If you think another expedition would be helpful, I am sure the rest of the Wolves would be on board. To be honest, my sword arm is startin to grow a little itchy"
Count me in! Just a few days behind these walls with no wind in my face has me feeling anxious. When can we leave?
Sentis grinned in spite of himself at Holmburg's last questions and waited for Doc to expound over his impressive...and quite deadly looking... contraption.
"Bah! Horses! When ye travel wit' th' Steel Wolves, ye travel in style! This'll be th' maiden voyage o' th' Pack Wagon."
"With tha wind howling in err faces tha wolves err ready!"
Aside to Blaze (outside)
"Yah think it's possible ol tigerhead put it in Holmburgs head tah go back?"