Manuun fires, but the bolt is deflected by the hard skin of the animal.
Heshan drops his staff and gets out his already loaded? crossbow, firing it at the snake. The snake bites at Heshan as he does, but misses.
The snake drops to the ground.
"Yes! Well done Heshan!" as the combat ends and the adrenaline stops to pump in, Ohrmizd feels the weakness and sits "I think I am going to faint..."
Fortunately Ohrmizds body finally reacts and stops the extension of the poison "Oh my... am I going to die? That snake almost took half my leg... how are you Heshan? It bit you too..."
Heshan checked his wound. The bleeding seemed to have stopped as he breathed a sigh of relief.
"I don't think it had the time to inject the poison on me, thank the gods. Oh, you look woozy.
He frowned as be helped Ohrmizd lean on a wall. "Regardless, I think we've staked out long enough. We need to heal ourselves.[/B]
"Ok, let me try and see what the Dawnflower can do" approaching to Heshan, Ohrmizd takes his holy symbol in one hand and puts the other on the man's wounds "Healing Flame renew our strength so we can bring this town back to its former glory"
Feeling considerably better Ohrmizd approaches the unconscious snake and makes sure it will not bite them again "We can use this building now to rest while we have an eye at the town"
"I do feel we have too little still to go back and report. I suggest we wait a bit more and observe what else happens at town during the day, or at least that we explore the buildings near the river before we walk back" Ohrmizd cleans the sweat on his front "The patrol did not seem to approach that area"
"Ok, deal, we go back home two hours before nightfall. Seems reasonable" finishing to fix as well as possible his injuries, Ohrmizd takes the lead and moves forward to the nearby walls to inspect the river building from there.
Ohrmizd sneaks over to the ruin closest to the river to check this building at the river docks. The wheel of this roofless mill still turns with the flow of the river.
"It appears that the mill still works," Heshan acknowledged. "That can be useful for some work."
Even though the wheel is still turning it looks not really well kept. And the creaking noises a mills gears usually make are missing. Maybe the wheel is turning without any load?
But so far there are also no enemies outside.
"I do not feel completely sure... but the place seems calm. We definitely will have to check the mill eventually" Ohrmizd points to the buildings before the bridge "I am worried those buildings there have a trail like if someone is walking by regularly. Considering the doors appear to face this side of the town, I would first suggest to check there for activity before risking crossing the bridge, so we can make sure there is no one there that can spot us or cut our retreat. Are you in?"
Ohrmid nods "Ok, let's do it!"
The Keleshite moves to the edge of the ruins and waits for Man's signal to sneak.
Before he goes, Ohrmizd raises a small guidance prayer on him.
The building is a stable, but currently no horses or other riding animals are there. What you notice though is a humanoid creature cowering in a corner.
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”... wait, you’re not a Gnoll? What are you doing here?” a hoarse yet feminine voice calls out as Manuun approaches and speaks. Her skin is blue with various patchy bits of scales, with unnervingly bright blue eyes.
Ohrmizd sneaks past the main street following Manuun's sign and enters the building.
The man startles when he sees his friend is talking with a mysterious humanoid "You are not a gnoll... gnolls have fur, not blue scales" Ohrmizd winkles "Who are are you? Are you working with the gnolls?"
Ohrmizd inquisitive eye stares at Rahav while his hand grasps the scimitar pommel.
You can easily tell, that the person is no threat at the moment. Dried blood all over the clothes and all in all badly wounded.
"And definitely not a gnoll." he remarked at the girl before speaking. "Do not worry, that man treats all newcomers the same, but he is quite amiable once he knows you better."
Has Man got in love at first sight? We know nothing about this one. Ohrmizd growls "Ok. Ok. I mean we are at enemy territory, we cannot easily trust on anyone we find here. Mmm... you seem like you have been in a gore carnage... what happened to you girl?"
Ohrmizd taps Manuun's shoulder softly and smiles "You are probably right Manuun. I would not discard though for her being the Lady of pugwampis" the Keleshite chuckles at Manuun's idea.
Rahav blinks occasionally, gazing at each of the newcomers as they pile into the room and begin questioning her. ”Lady of Pugwampis... sure. My name is Rahav and I’m... I was a member of the Lions of Senara. We came here searching for the treasure in the ruined temple but the forces were too much for us and we were captured. They’ve been picking us off one by one. I’m all that’s left.”
"A Treasure? Is there a treasure in the ruined temple?" Ohrmizd eyes light on as he catches interest on the woman's words "Good to meet you then Rahav, better than meeting your attackers. Mmm... those Lions of Senara... was there a woman called Haleen in your group?"
Ohrmizd looks back at Manuun a bit amused Who is being suspicious now...
"Oh, besides, my name is Ohrmizd. And this is Manuun and he is Heshan. We are... we are Garavel's Ops Team, better known as the Goat Herders or the Monastery Cleaning Ladies"
"Yes, that is a common situation here," he admitted with a sigh. When Ohrmidz began the introductions, he bowed slightly while holding her hand. "Condolences for the loss of your party. We can take you back to the nearest town to regroup once we're through here."
Ohrmizd nods reinforcing Heshan proposal but also adds "Or perhaps you could join us. We recently lost three members. One decided to work restoring a monastery and the other two fall abnormally ill just this morning when we had to enter gnoll territory"
"You know more about this town than us, and you should be an able adventurer or soldier if you were working with a group of treasure hunters" Ohrmizd smiles wide "What do you say? Would you help us? I am sure we can convince Garavel to accept you in the team and pay you accordingly"
”Because I can’t make a run for it in my condition and the Gnolls enjoy hunting me.” Rahav flatly tells Manuun. ”They were an adventuring company from Cheliax, some were Pathfinders, I joined up with them when they came south and were exploring some sunken ruins off the coast.“
She resists arching a brow when Ormizd’s mood changes at the mention of treasure. ”Supposedly. We didn’t get a chance to explore. Haleen doesn’t ring any bells”
At Heshan’s kinder fretting she smiles, showing off her sharp teeth. ”A thousand thank yous.”
At the Inquisitor’s offer she gives him a look. ”If you have any healing I could try, it’s hard enough for me to breathe and talk as is.”
"Sure, the Dawnflower would never leave a good person injured in time of need. Let me come by, this will be short and relieving" Ohrmizd slowly approaches the blue woman, bringing his hand to the holy symbol on his neck while extending the other hand to touch the worst injury "The blue skin, the scales... you are a samsaran, aren't you? I have never healed one like you, I hope the magic makes effect"
The hand illuminates shortly and the wound only closes slightly "I am sorry, it seems I am exhausted... the poison of the snake is still paying its toll. Maybe we should consider retreating now to our base. Rahav probably knows already more about Kelmarane than we will be able to gather if we continue exploring now..."
"I am confident our boss, Garavel, will have enough for today by hearing whatever information you have"
At the man's-some sort of priest apparently-words Rahav was heartened for a moment. A moment later she tried not to let her disappointment show. "I have no idea what that is. I'm an Undine."
"I wasn't able to commit much of this place to memory before it all went to hell, but I remember seeing a few oddities among the Gnolls. A vicious goat man, in the mill I saw a flying wolf deer thing nesting, and across from the mill I saw a winged woman flying to."
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" I agree, we have found a reasonable save way to Kelmarane and a few first Infos on the town. And somebody who has inside knowledge about a few more things."
"But if there are harppies flying around near the mill, we should try to stay hidden untill we return to the Pesh fields. Shall I leqd the way again?"
"Ok, lead the way then Manuun. Was the healing enough for you to walk Rahav?" Ohrmizd offers a hand to the Undine to help her stand up "Back at the monastery I can try to bandage your wounds, and we have also Father Zastoran who might know better how to heal an Undine"
Ohrmizd will follow Manuun back to the Pesh fields, helping Rahav if needed, and spotting at the next building as they pass by.
The group quickly retreats on the way they came and leaves Kelmarane behind. It is a long way, especially for those wounded, or feeling the lasting effects of being poisoned.
But finally, you arrive at the monastery. You are greeted by Hadrah. "Oh, my! You don't look well! Can I help you? Maybe with some stew?" She ogles the new person with suspicion. Being even more blue than Manuun she isn't sure if that is due to being sick.
As they walk by, Ohrmizd uses his Inquisitor eye to study the new one, detecting her alignment without being too obvious. He profits the opportunity to assess Heshan and Manuun, feeling reassured by Heshan's good nature, and smiling amused at Manuun's chaotic spirit "You said you are a Pahtfinder Rahav. I have heard stories about them, would it be too personal to ask how did you enroll? Are they as rich and full of treasures as they say?"
When they reach the monastery, Ohrmizd feels relieved "Sure Hadrah! The thought of your stew kept me going for the last few miles! Our friend here is Rahav. We rescued her from the gnolls. Is Father Zastoran available? We are indeed ragged. We will need to talk with Garavel too"
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"Actually the thought of your stew was they main reason why he let himself be bitten by that snake. He was just hoping that it would earn him a second helping."
"But lets get the report to Garavel over with, I am looking forward for diner too. And lets check of Lofnaia and Thalumilali. I hope they are fit again to join us tomorrow"
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Earlier on the way back
While slowly drudging back through the pesh fields Manuun tries to think about the undines words and what kind of creatures she was referring too.
Garavel is informed about your return. He let's you know that he will join you in a while.
Heshan's head leaned back slightly when he saw the teeth, but nodded accordingly. "Ah, so you are genie-kin as well.
Heshan smiled at the prospect of more stew. "You should have seen the size of that snake. He nearly filled the entire room and nearly bit my leg off at that."
"Yup. It was a giant snake, the largest you have ever seen" Ohrmizd retells the story while he eats stew with delight "It would have made a good snake stew actually, ha! A pity it was too cumbersome to bring the carcass here back"
Once the group had dinner, Ohrmizd conducts Rahav to Father Zastoran "We found an Undine in the ruins. She was battered by the gnolls, can you help heal her wounds Zastoran. Rahav, this is Father Zastoran"
Ohrmizd will help, using the Father medical tools to try close some of the wounds of Rahav and himself.
"Is anyone else wounded? I don't want to waste my magic here." Father Zastoran tells in his usual grumpy manner, when it comes to ahnding out his healing. Once all are there who are in need of healing, he holds up the silver mask and has healing energy flow from him to all around.
Taking another look at all around he concludes "Good enough. Now get back to work."
"Tech. Nic. Ally." she flatly responds when Heshan calls her a Geniekin. "I'm an Undine, my grandmother is a great Dragon of the Brine from The Boundless Sea."
"Yes, thank you," She tells Ohrmzid as she takes the offered hand, shaking she is still careful as she grips him with her clawed hand.
"I did not say that." she responds when asked about being a Pathfinder. "Some of the Lions of Senara were, Filliped, he was a bard, he liked to chronicle things and write things and talk about things. I just like diving into ruins and shipwrecks and exploring."
Stew sounded wonderful right now, anything did honestly, but she didn't know how much they had and if there would be enough for an tagalong.
"A thousand thank yous," she gratefully tells Zastoren after she's healed, becoming much more lively it shows in her long finned tails as it begins to sway on it's own.