More Gnoll News!
Urah grumbles as he looks about getting maps of the stated area to study. He was getting used to the comfortable life with side bribes being slipped to him in exchange for better prospects. He had discovered a knack for knowing just who to play off against each other and how much leeway in providing the merchants who arrived to give. Just like when he was a thug, there was a pecking order.
As for the Gnolls, he was expecting his companions to also be making preparations.
Having seen the increase in Gnoll activity, Gnasher suspected something was up. Returning to Kelmarane he listened carefully to the Sarenrae priest. Excited to be back in action with his tribe Gnasher went from Manor to Manor telling his companions. "Hurry! Tribe must tell Lady Almah tribe go fight Carrion King!"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Malgrim will approach Zayifed and say, "These are sad tidings that you bring. Did you see these gathering Gnolls or did Sarenrae provide you with the information?"
Towards the end of Spring the town is visited by a travelling priest named Zayifed, a self-proclaimed prophet of Sarenrae and compared in size to Gnasher. While visiting the tavern in the battle market he spreads tales of doom and gloom, claiming that the gnoll tribes are gathering on the far slopes of the Pale Mountain, and the Carrion King is preparing to attack Kelmarane and retake it with an army of gnolls.
Having gone to Malgrims manor and not found his friend there, Gnasher begins his search in the battle market. Finding Malgrim in the tavern speaking with the sizable prophet, Gnasher listens intently to what the priest has to say.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Noticing the priest and seeing some of his fellow adventurers converging on the tavern, Tarak follows in and leans against a back wall to watch the conversation.
"Ah, you must be one of the liberators of Kelmarane that I have heard so much of. Malgrim, if I am correct. Id so it seems I have come to the right place after all."
"I do not belong to a single church. I do not mock those priests who choose to remain in one location and tend to one building — not at all, for they provide a needed service. But I am not at ease if I stay in one location. I am a traveler, as I have said, and have walked the billowing sands of Osirion, the westernmost veldt of Nex, and much of our own beloved Katapesh in between. I have seen much in my travels, and have brought the word and redemption of the Dawnflower to many. Yet also have I seen much in the way of cruelty and war in those travels, and it is a warning of such I bring to you today."
"You have distinguished yourselves by defeating the Kulldis. You know that word of the liberation of Kelmarane has reached all the way to the coast by now, and you are enjoying the fruits of that success even as we speak in the form of trade and tax. Yet word spreads not only to friends, but also to enemies. The Carrion King knows of what you’ve done to the Kulldis, and though he did not reply in kind at once, I have heard dire rumors in my travels. Rumors of gnoll tribes gathering on the far slopes of Pale Mountain, tribes united under one banner — the sign of the Carrion King!"
"My path is not one of war. Sarenrae teaches redemption and forgiveness, but I know well that many do not seek these ends, and that war is often inevitable. Yet sometimes, there are other ways. The gnolls are ever a bickering lot, and if the Carrion King has managed to unite these tribes, then his word is mighty indeed. And although I despair to think on the death of any living creature, if the Carrion King’s death would mean that the gnoll tribes would stand down — a war could be averted."
"And so I bring this news to you. I shall not stay long, for I have no desire to be caught up in the folly of battle. But you would do well, heroes, to take my warning to heart. Seek out the Carrion King and bring him low before he raises high the flags of war. You will find him in the House of the Beast, the rumors say, an ancient temple upon the far side of Pale Mountain from which he has long ruled. May your efforts be swift and just, that needless suffering be averted."
"I have not heard of this House of the Beast. Can you tell me anything more of it? Or is it a massive edifice that would be easy to find on the side of the Pale Mountain?" Malgrim asks as he considers the idea of cutting of the head of this snake.
Noticing the Chief joining them Gnasher gives a grim smile. He listens rolling his eyes in a very human like fashion as the priest blathers on about his own wanderings. Feeling a small amount of pride as the priest speaks of the tribes accomplishments, his ears perk up when the Sarenite speaks of the Carrion King.
'So the Carrion King would unite the gnolls and move against us.' As the priest describes where to find the Carrion King, Gnashers lips curl back in a snarl. Realizing Malgrim was asking about the exact location, Gnasher turns towards the priest and wonders the same thing himself giving a low peculiar laugh.
When Gnasher joins the discussion, Zayifid becomes noticeably uneasy for some reason.
"I assume it will be easy to find. Look for something large with lots of gnolls going in and out of it. And, as you may have noticed, the Pale Mountain will not be hard to find. Other than that I really don't have much to tell. Visions are strange that way. You would think that when the gods send visions they would include something meaningful, like an address."
Meanwhile...
Urah picks up a waterskin and checks it.
"Looks good and should be able to last us some time. Where we're travelling we might need stores of this. Now for rations. Perhaps 20 days of rations should be enough for us..."
"Carrion King. Damm You. You couldn't find another place to go? "
”I should be able to spot them once we get close, if they are as many as you say” Tarak rumbles from his spot against the wall, eavesdropping.
"Well, then we should prepare and see if we can stop this invasion before it begins." Malgrim says before looking back at the priest and saying, "Thank you for your insight."
Raising an eyebrow as the priest seems to become ueasy, Gnasher, having been in the capital and seen the little numbers on the main streets, can't help but chuckle at the mans comment about addresses.
Nodding his head in agreement with Tarak, "Chief right, finding gnolls should not be hard." Turning towards Malgrim, "Malrim right we should prepare." then the priest. "Yes priest, thank you."
As Gnasher get's ready to leave the tavern, he puases looking at Tarak, "Gnasher get Firestarted, should tribe tell Lady Almah tribe leaving?"
"She is quite busy. It would probably be good to at least send a message through Garavel so that she knows. If she wants to see us before we leave, I am sure that she will send word." Malgrim suggests as he remembers his first meeting with Garavel and how the man took his position suriously.
almost as if summoned Garavel and Almah show up.
"I sent some of my men to summon you so we could talk to the man and it seems I was beaten to it. What have we learned?"
Malgrim looks grimly at Garavel and says, "This man had a vision of the Carrion King gathering his followers in the Pale Mountain. We feel it would be wise to gather our supplies and strike out at them some place called the House of the Beast. We were just trying to determine where on the mountain this place might be."
Urah by now would have prepared 6 travelling backpacks.
Each with two waterskins, 20 days ration, sleeping bag and a tent for the stronger ones to carry. Of course with other sundries for camping and overland travels as well.
Gnasher would find Urah doing the finishing work of checking each pack after obtaining supplies with permission from Almah via Garavan of course.
He may not like it but he knew that his little group would likely make arrangements to strike out instead. Any thing else they learn he could ask them about it later.
As one of the heroes of Kelmarane and a high up muckety muck in the administration he basically waves his hand and the supplies are assembled.
Approaching the tavern door, Gnasher see's the Lady Almah and Garavel enter. Nodding politely, he returns to his friends listening to Malgrim's explanation. As he finishes, Gnasher adds. "Ghost right tribe need to find Carrion King." Giving a toothy smile that has nothing to do with humor. "Then kill him."
Looking expectantly from Lady Almah to Garavel, for the permission to attack the Carrion King, so he would be able to share the good news with his friend Urah.
Zayifid nods in agreement and gets up.
"Well, I will be on my way now. I feel that Sarenrae has removed the burden I had for sharing the visions and now the wanderlust on me. I hope we meet again after you have done her will."
And with that he exits the tavern.
Tarak bounces off the wall at the completion of the conversation.
"No time like the present, get out before the tides and all that." he mutters, using his odd sayings that desert folk probably don't understand.
Watching the priest leave the tavern, Gnasher turns towards Tarak, nodding, "Chief right, Tribe should go to." He looks from Tarak to Lady Almah, nodding politely he turns towards the door. "Tribe find Firestarter and prepare to leave." He then heads out the tavern door towards Urah's manor house.
Yeah, if I know Urah he probably turned his into a brothel or a discotheque
Yeah, if I know Urah he probably turned his into a brothel or a discotheque
Malgrim shoulders the pack that Urah prepared for him and says, ”Lead on. Hopefully, this places is not to well hiddden on the mountain.”
As fortune would have it, Gnasher's manor was right next to Urah's. So on the way there, he stopped by and gathered the gear he normally carried when he was out hunting gnolls, bidding major domo, Jank, to keep an eye on the place while he was gone.
"Come Firestarter, we are off to kill a king." Seeing the pack Urah prepared gnasher loaded the food into his and hooked the two waterskins to the side. Hefting his heavier pack, he asks. "Firestarter, are we going to put the rest on your mule?"
Once Urah has his mule packed Gnasher leads the group north west following the small river into the mountainous country.
Malgrim follows along and fires blasts of water at birds or other prey that might make good eating.
The group gathers their things one morning soon after being galvanized into action and sets off. At first the going is easy as they pass through gentle foothills and the mountains seem forever in getting to. The party keeps the river to their east at first, and then to the north, but eventually they get to the point where they are caught between the frigid and increasingly rapid river and the cluttered burgeoning mountains to their south. After travelling for 8 hours with frequent breaks (I blame it on Urah, though Malgrim's hunting slows things down quite a bit), you are all quite tired and decide to make camp where the river branches off to the north. You notice at this point that the terrain will be getting particularly obstinate. Malgrim was successful in bringing down a pair of ducks, a squirrel, and a small bag of apples that survived the winter up in a tree. Shriveled but quite delicious.
Urah of course would not object to Gnasher loading his equipment onto the Mule that Urah wrangled one from.
having spent a significant amount of time getting comfortable, He finds himseld whinging and making sue of Malgrim's hunting to get as much rest as possible for his sore feet, butt, sweaty palms, etc.
With the decision to make camp, Urah first sets up the tent and prepares fresh water for the mule and the others using his abilities to conjure up water. He lets someone else prepare the camp fire and hopefully it was sheltered. If need be, he could light it up with yet another cantrip.
He was looking forward to just curling up in his bedroll and blanket...He had gotten too comfortable in his mansion.
Does Urah volunteer for a watch or is he hoping to sleep through the night?
Does Urah volunteer for a watch or is he hoping to sleep through the night?
As they begin the journey towards the mountains, Gnasher uses his burgeoning magical ability to protect himself from the elements As the move along the river, taking plenty of time for Urah to rest and Malgrim to hunt. Gnasher watches with envy as the hobgoblin brings in quarry with his magical skills.
Once the decide to stop for the night near where the river branches towards the north, Gnasher drops his pack. "Good place to camp, fill up water skins in morning before tribe part from river. Realizing that Urah probably couldn't get the pack saddle off of the mule. Gnasher helps his friend unload the pack saddle so Urah could unload the tent. Then Gnasher works his way around the camp, in widening circles, gathering shrubs and branches for the fire while he makes sure there are no ant mounds, scorpion nests, snake pits or Pugwampi holes. Satisfied that the perimeter was fairly secure, he returned to the camp, dropping he wood and kindling he dug a shallow pit, surrounding it with stones and began building a fire. Once the wood was ready he approached Urah, asking, "Fire starter start fire?"
Pulling out a piece of jerky Gnasher relaxed, leaning on his pack, chewing on a piece of dried boar jerky. When the others had finished picking the bones off of the pair of ducks and squirrel, Ghasher approached, smiling his toothy smile. pointing at the remains. "Gnasher take?" Starting with the squirrel, he happily gnawed on the bones, cracking them open sucking out the marrow.
A while later, Once he was done with bones, around dusk he observed. "Tribe need to keep watch. Four of Tribe four watch." He looked at the relaxed Urah. "Who take first watch? Gnasher have good night eyes, gnasher take middle."
Tarak moves with the group, packing light himself but making sure to bring his small supply of magical berries () keeping on the look out while members hunt and gather for more scrub berries to enchant a new day's supply. As they travel he will offer them to the group, knowing each will sustain a person for a good time, relaxing the hunting and ration needs of the group.
For part of the journey Tarak will scout ahead in the form of an eagle, looking for danger or obstacles and trying to relay the information to Gnasher in the form of bird charades, pointing with wings, cawing, the works.
As the group settles in for the evening, Tarak helps prepare food and eats with the group, and responds to Gnasher "I can take first watch, my eyes aren't the sharpest in human form for the deep night, and I be needing to meditate with the dawn."
Malgrim turns over what he brings down to Gnasher or Tarak who he thinks are better skilled at skinning and getting the meat from the small animals he brings down.
When they settle to camp and start discussing the watches he says, "I also see well in the dark, so if Gnasher takes the second watch, I will take the third. Or vice versa if he prefers."
Tarak has a tough time finding berries. It is now late March (or whatever goes for March in this world). He has enough berries to keep the cycle going for a week, but finding them fresh on the trail will be nearly impossible.
Having finished with the bones of the squirrel Gnasher goes back to the fire, finding the picked over carcass of the first duck. He begins to happily crunch on the hollow bones of the bird. Gesturing towards Tarak with a drumstick, "Chief has decided, chief take first watch Chief wake Ghost." Turning towards Malgrim, 'Ghost take second watch, Ghost wake Gnasher." He then gives a toothy smile. "Gnasher wake Firestarter for last watch. Good plan."
After finishing the carcasses of the two birds, Gnasher strips off his heavy chainmail, exposing the lighter sleeveless chain shirt underneath. Tapping his chest "Gnasher learn lesson, sleep in chain shirt now." Rolling out his bedroll, he places the bardiche on one side and the flindbar and shield on the other. Satisfied with his preparations he goes to sleep.
You all enjoy a peaceful meal over a nice fire with no troubles that night and continue travelling the next day, with Tarak taking an occasional overhead watch.
Malgrim lays down and says, "That watch works for me." He then drifts off to sleep and waits for Gnasher to wake him for his turn and hopes for a mostly uneventful hike to this mountain.
...and waits for Gnasher to wake him ...
Having dozed back off to sleep during Urah's watch, Gnasher woke a couple of hours later. Having eaten the second duck carcass during his watch, Gnasher at a little of the boar jerky he had in his pack. Relieving his bladder on the fire to help put it out, Gnasher put on his heavier armor and rolled up his bedroll and tied it back to his pack.
Once everyone was good to go, he slung his pack on his shoulders, pulling his sling out and fitting a stone. "Gnasher keep sling read to use for small prey, maybe get lucky if ghost miss with magic water missile."
Taking point, his head low, bardiche in on hand sling in the other, Gnasher continues moving towards the mountainous area.
Malgrim keeps an eye out for game.
Taking part of the march on the wing, Tarak flys above and around the group for a number of hours of the day, keeping an eagle eye out for marauding monsters, ambushing gnolls or just tasty animals that would be fine in the cook pot.
Gnasher is particularly fierce during the hunt, using his size and loudness, and eerie laugh to good effect, flushing out a number of birds. Malgrim is able to bump a few of them off, though they are so small they are devilishly hard to hit. Urah jumps every time the prey is spooked, nearly as spooked as they are, and does not help at all. Tarak is constantly being drawn away by this or that, chasing down shadows that turn out to be shadows. In the end it is not all that fruitful of a day, though between the birds and some leafy greens Tarak is able to spot and guide you to, you do have a decent meal when supplemented by the supplies.
You all bed down for the night but are rudely awoken as your camp is rushed by a group of goblins mounted on wolves and one that hangs back mounted on a worg, hoping to surprise the group.
Normally goblins are pretty sneaky, but the wolves and Worg are not nearly as talented, and Gnasher is ready and waiting for them. Malgrim and Tarak awaken almost immediately and may take an action in the surprise round. Urah, as might be expected, manages to sleep through the first few seconds of the combat.
Init Rolls