A dejected looking and trembling human walks out from behind a wall, an old rusted spear in hand which drops from a limp hand and he raises them in surrender. He is wearing an old helmet and a leather breastplate.
"Well, you finally found me. I guess it was inevitable."
The voice is laced with cynicism and his body slumps with resigned hopelessness.
A dejected looking and trembling human walks out from behind a wall, an old rusted spear in hand which drops from a limp hand and he raises them in surrender. He is wearing an old helmet and a leather breastplate.
"Well, you finally found me. I guess it was inevitable."
The voice is laced with cynicism and his body slumps with resigned hopelessness.
"Indeed it was, for none have ever evaded the keen skills of our expert trackers!:
"Now, come out, and present yourself with raised hands, and pray earnestly to whatever deity you care to address your pleas that we shall be merciful."
In a very human like manner, Gnasher raises an eyebrow as Casper encourages the bedraggled human to pray for mercy. He waives the prisoner out of the barn with his Fauchard, looking from the prisoner to Lupe and the others. Not saying anything, his gaze returns to the prisoner. Sniffing at the human while waiting to see if the chief or one of the other will question him.
In a very human like manner, Gnasher raises an eyebrow as Casper encourages the bedraggled human to pray for mercy. He waives the prisoner out of the barn with his Fauchard, looking from the prisoner to Lupe and the others. Not saying anything, his gaze returns to the prisoner. Sniffing at the human while waiting to see if the chief or one of the other will question him.
[dice=perception: any thing stand out?]1d20+5
[dice=sense motive]1d20
Casper bares an unsettling rictus at the hapless man as the gnoll inspects him,
"Watch that one, my prisoner, for he bites!"
A little surprised at finding a dishevelled human instead of a pack of gnolls, Tarak simply listens and watches his fellows deal with the man.
Urah looks at the human.
No attempt at resisting. Looks dejected. Really terrible equipment and hiding from us.
Making a decision, Urah asks a single question.
"Who are you? You don't look or sound like you're with the gnolls."
The man comes out but he hesitates before exiting the barn, scanning the sky first. He does not seem to have had a bath for a while and he carries the smell of stables on him, and he stinks of fear, but that is all pretty normal in Gnasher's mine I expect.
He looks a little confused by Urah's questions and looks at Gnasher, uncertain how to reply.
"Uh, no, I'M not with the gnolls. You want my name? Felliped."
Chuckling at the humans statement, Gnasher relaxes slightly. Pointing to Casper then the others. "We not with Kelmarane Gnolls either." moving his mouth awkwardly to form the 'F' sound. "Feliped." Having gotten the difficult word out, he rests his fauchard vertically on its butt-end. "How you get here?"
Chuckling at the humans statement, Gnasher relaxes slightly. Pointing to Casper then the others. "We not with Kelmarane Gnolls either." moving his mouth awkwardly to form the 'F' sound. "Feliped." Having gotten the difficult word out, he rests his fauchard vertically on its butt-end. "How you get here?"
Casper issues further encouragement in a raw, angry bark,
"Come on, speak up, prisoner, the gnoll hasn't even it's dinner yet and might get ideas if you don't turn out to be useful for anything else..."
Still a little hesitant to chat with a gnoll, but also too afraid not to answer, he finally replies.
"Me and my buddies were here to explore the place on behalf of a an organization we belong to. Perhaps you've heard of them? Called the Pathfinders Society. We go around looking for items of historical interest and we think there might be something significant in the old church on the other side of town. Valuable too..."
He pauses to let that sink in and see what your reaction might be.
"I have heard of them. I used to read stories from their chronicles."
"Used to extort gold from some of them before too." mentions the ifrit .
"Your gear looks terrible, you sure you with the society? Where's the rest of your crew?"]
"Pathfinders, yeah, thieves and graverobbers who always say it's for the greater good or some nonsense." Tarak growls as he approaches the group once they start talking, "had a few runins with them in tha islands."
Felliped laughs nervously and chooses to answer Lupe
"Ah, yes, the chronicles. I was hoping I might get into one by exploring that chapel."
Looking rather concerned he adds, "The rest of our group was captured. A couple of them have died, or so I think from the screams. I think only Andrus is left, but it won't be long before they torture and kill him too. Bastard gnolls."
Realizing what he just said his head jerks toward Gnasher and he stammers something unintelligible.
Felliped laughs nervously and chooses to answer Lupe
"Ah, yes, the chronicles. I was hoping I might get into one by exploring that chapel."
Looking rather concerned he adds, "The rest of our group was captured. A couple of them have died, or so I think from the screams. I think only Andrus is left, but it won't be long before they torture and kill him too. Bastard gnolls."
Realizing what he just said his head jerks toward Gnasher and he stammers something unintelligible.
Casper's eyes narrow with suspicion,
"Torture... do you know something they want to learn? If so, speak up quickly and tell us whatever it is, or I'm of half a mind to see if we can't do one better than the gnolls."
Looking at Casper, Gnasher pauses, wondering if cuffing the knife master in the back of the head would be wise. Shaking his head, he turns to the prisoner. Trying to put the nervous man at ease. "Gnasher raised by human, heard of pathfinder. Tribe here to kill gnolls, take back Kelmarane. Where Gnolls take Andrus?" He makes a sweeping gesture towards his new tribe. "Our employer at temple you seek. We go there later" Looking at Lupe raising an eyebrow in a very human like expression, nodding towards the man, as if to ask what to do with him for now.
The ifrit studies the man further as the others cajole and threaten in equal measures.
What did concern him was how many of them entered and if they had any idea of the gnolls strength....
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If the man wasn't confused before, you guys are close to giving him brain freeze, otherwise known as analysis paralysis. The gnoll is acting like a human, the human is acting like a gnoll, half of you seem to respect the pathfinders and half of you seem to dislike them. He doesn't know what to make of you.
One thing he understood. You guys are working for someone in the temple who wants the gnolls gone. After a long pause where he looks from PC to PC he finally replies.
"I don't know what I can do to help. Please don't torture me! I have no idea where they keep the prisoners but I can tell you that the screams came from over near the center of town."
"If you go down into the river then south you will find an old church as for father he will help you. If you can't make it along you can wait for us.
The man makes another furtive glance at the skies and says he'd rather stick with you guys.
Urah notices that movement easily.
"Why do you keep looking at the skies? Was there something that attacked from the skies? Also did you see what killed your companions?"
The man makes another furtive glance at the skies and says he'd rather stick with you guys.
Casper sniffs derisively,
"Well, all I can say, is that, if you want to stick with us, you'd better pull your own weight. Doesn't seem like you did so well for your late associates, does it?"
He smiles wickedly, and his eyes open wide as he concludes,
"I'll tell you what, you can begin your redemption by taking up the lead of our little company."
Looking at Casper, Gnasher pauses, wondering if cuffing the knife master in the back of the head would be wise. Shaking his head, he turns to the prisoner. Trying to put the nervous man at ease. "Gnasher raised by human, heard of pathfinder. Tribe here to kill gnolls, take back Kelmarane. Where Gnolls take Andrus?" He makes a sweeping gesture towards his new tribe. "Our employer at temple you seek. We go there later" Looking at Lupe raising an eyebrow in a very human like expression, nodding towards the man, as if to ask what to do with him for now.
Casper pointedly returns Gnasher's glance,
"Something you want to say to me?"
Following Felliped's gaze to the sky, Gnasher looks at Urah, realizing the observation and question were solid ideas, he nods in approval. Waiting for the man to answer, Gnasher looks to Lupe; still trying to sort out the social rhythms of the wolf rider and the knife master.
Giving a very human sigh the Gnoll responds to Caspers question. Shaking his large carnivorous muzzle while pointing a razor sharp claw towards the 'Pathfinder.' "Him not take point, Tribe end up like his."
Turning his back on the humans, Gnasher steps into the darkness of the stables. Moving through the stalls taking a look around and returning with the man's spear.
Once Felliped answers Urah's question. Looking at the rusty tip of the spear, Gnasher hands it to Felliped. "Rusty spear good. Scratch gnoll when kill you. Gnoll still die of blood sickness." Pointing to the rear with his fauchard, he continues. "Follow Stormblessed, protect rear."
Turning to Casper, touching the mans shoulder with the knuckles of his paw then himself. "Gnasher, Casper, take point. Kill gnolls good." Turning he carefully proceeds to the entrance of the next building.
Again looking up he responds by saying
"I've seen a couple of really nasty things go by. There is a monstrous bird like thing that seems to be a jumble of all kinds of beasts that lairs over there."
He points in the direction of where the Peryton lairs, then scratches one of his many itches. You will have noticed by now that he does a lot of scratching.
"And next door is a harpy. If she caught sight of me I have no doubt she would charm me and have me for dinner, after torturing me. Seems like everything around here is into torture."
As he says this he glances at Casper.
"Then there are the patrols that come by once in a while, sometimes accompanied by a demon. It really isn't safe out there, but I don't want to die of starvation in here either. Until you guys showed up I was in a pretty hopeless position!"
Again looking up he responds by saying
"I've seen a couple of really nasty things go by. There is a monstrous bird like thing that seems to be a jumble of all kinds of beasts that lairs over there."
He points in the direction of where the Peryton lairs, then scratches one of his many itches. You will have noticed by now that he does a lot of scratching.
"And next door is a harpy. If she caught sight of me I have no doubt she would charm me and have me for dinner, after torturing me. Seems like everything around here is into torture."
As he says this he glances at Casper.
"Then there are the patrols that come by once in a while, sometimes accompanied by a demon. It really isn't safe out there, but I don't want to die of starvation in here either. Until you guys showed up I was in a pretty hopeless position!"
Casper stretches out his muscular arms in an an expansive, demonstrative gesture, extending the flats of his palms questioning attitude,
"Well then, associates, we have been apprised of not one, but two areal foes in our near vicinity, shall we not then properly prepare against this perilous threat -- lest we come to an end no better than these helpless spelunkers from the Pathfinders?"
Casper appears to have another thought,
"Does anyone of us possess ranged weapons? If not, we need to consider our course of action carefully in order not to be drawn into an impossible combat."
Hearing the descriptions of the Peryton and harpy, Gnasher looks towards the two building. Then towards, Casper. "Gnasher have sling. Casper right, fighting Fliers in open not good. Tribe should corner them in building."
He shrugs gesturing towards the next building. "Tribe stay near buildings. Force Fliers to come in if hungry."
"Flying things don't generally like lightning, I've found." Tarak growls, looking at the sky.
"I have some magics that are good at range, though limited ... but potent. I also have my sling." he adds as he idly twirls his sling a bit.
Lupe has been telling everyone to buy or get ranged weapons over and over.
He lays out three medium slings with 13 bullets each.
"I have ear plugs will those help against the harpy?"
"I can toss acid or cold at fliers if needed to. Just not as far as what bows can reach..." Urah volunteers out.
Having seen the passageway in the stable that appears to go to the next building, Gnasher turns to Felliped, pointing to the building. "Pathfinder, what in building?"
"That is the common house where folks that used to visit this placed stayed to rest. Nobody is there right now but occasionally some of the patrols come in and check it out. Nobody until now has bothered to search the stables."
Furrowing his brow, Gnasher pointing his fauchard towards the building on the end. "Has Felliped been to end building?" He looks towards Lupe then Casper, Urah and Tarak to see if anyone has an opinion where they should go next.
Urah shrugs.
"We're already here. My view is that we simply sweep this building for dangers and proceed on."
Furrowing his brow, Gnasher pointing his fauchard towards the building on the end. "Has Felliped been to end building?" He looks towards Lupe then Casper, Urah and Tarak to see if anyone has an opinion where they should go next.
Casper nods, "Let us proceed, but with caution." The merchant brandishes his short sword as if to underscore his response.
Seeing Casper draw the blade, Gnasher nods in agreement. Turning he heads to the door of the building that is joined to the stables. Double checking the door is not trapped he opens it.
Furrowing his brow, Gnasher pointing his fauchard towards the building on the end. "Has Felliped been to end building?"
"Not a chance. I 've heard some great beast noises come from that direction a few times a day. I'd stay away from there if I were you."
You sweep the building without incident. It is as he described it. If it weren't for his fear of discovery, Felliped could have been sleeping in much better accommodations than a bed of old mouse ridden straw. The building is largely intact, has sturdy walls and generally sound construction, and oddly, given the comfort level compared ot most of the other buildings in the town, unused.
Furrowing his brow, Gnasher pointing his fauchard towards the building on the end. "Has Felliped been to end building?""Not a chance. I 've heard some great beast noises come from that direction a few times a day. I'd stay away from there if I were you."
You sweep the building without incident. It is as he described it. If it weren't for his fear of discovery, Felliped could have been sleeping in much better accommodations than a bed of old mouse ridden straw. The building is largely intact, has sturdy walls and generally sound construction, and oddly, given the comfort level compared ot most of the other buildings in the town, unused.
Casper, always suspicious, searches the building for himself,
Furrowing his brow, Gnasher pointing his fauchard towards the building on the end. "Has Felliped been to end building?""Not a chance. I 've heard some great beast noises come from that direction a few times a day. I'd stay away from there if I were you."
You sweep the building without incident. It is as he described it. If it weren't for his fear of discovery, Felliped could have been sleeping in much better accommodations than a bed of old mouse ridden straw. The building is largely intact, has sturdy walls and generally sound construction, and oddly, given the comfort level compared ot most of the other buildings in the town, unused.
Casper, always suspicious, searches the building for himself,
[dice=Perception]1d20+1
When they were done searching the hotel like building, Gnasher, Hearing that the end building had Noises that sounded like a great beast, smiles in a toothy grin that looks like a growl turning to the knife master. "What think Casper? We Go kill beast in building?"
"We're in good health, might be the best time to tackle a magic beast." Tarak answers Gnasher as they move along.
Nodding his muzzle in agreement with Tarak, Gnasher waives his large paw. "Come let us find this monster." Hugging the east side of the dilapidated buildings Gnasher moves towards the south and the reported noise.
You approach the bestial sounds wondering if the source is properly contained. Felliped is following you all at about 15' behind the last PC, chattering nervously about the aborted mission he was on and how they should all probably just explore the temple and leave this hellish place.
"So, the monster is the harpies? Ok, I'm putting in my earplugs."
Turning back from the building they are approaching Gnasher shakes his head pointing to the other building. "Harpy live over there." He gives a toothy grin to Lupe. "We not know what monster here." Then continues moving forward in the shadow of the destroyed buildings.
"I don't care where we go to as long it's something we can beat up and kill. Harpies seemed like Trouble." Urah confesses. He wanted treasure. Hadn't seen any so far.