"An explorer. I welcome such company," he grinned brightly. "And as poetic as it could have been to bring the snake with us for food, it would have likely given away our position," he shrugged. Before focusing on the newcomer.
"So what are your specialties?"
Ohrmizd smiles "Ok, no Pathfinder, sorry that was my misunderstanding."
"The Boundless Sea... is that the Plane of Water?" the man just slips away the Dragon word, that must have been just another misinterpretation and Rahav probably meant some sort of inner power or might "I have heard about the planes, it was hard to believe before. But now... you seem truly otherworldly... still I believe you are a good person anyway" Ohrmizd observes the undine intrigued "The trip of your family to Golarion and its motivations shall make for an incredible story I would like to hear at some point."
As they walk through the pesh fields, Ohrmizd keeps trying to learn more about the Lions of Samara "This Filliped, you talk in the past, do you think he did not manage to escape like you and now remains dead? If any of them survived like you, maybe we are still in time to help them" he goes then a bit pensive "I am worried Haleen might be in trouble too... why the heck she decided to come to Kelmarane?"
"If you like diving into ruins you are in the good place" Ohrmizd smiles to Rahav and looks forward for the healing.
"Wow, thanks for the healing Father. That was impressive" Ohrmizd whistles relieved "Still, I feel some sickness... I believe the snake inoculated some poison on me. Would you have some herbs or other remedies to accelerate the recovery?"
Zastoran takes another look at Ohrmizd. "You look a bit pale. Go to bed early and stay in there for the next two days, and you'd be as good as new."
"Or you just go on with your normal days and it'll take a bit longer."
|
Manuun enjoys Hadrahs stew with the others but is more than happy to avoid Father Zastorans Stern looks for now. With Garavel otherwise employed he decides to spend some more time with his new book about the fice templars.
"Ah here are the other memebers of the five winds. Davshuum, Kardswann, Pazhvann, Vardishal and Zayfid. Each representing one of the five winds and aspect. Vardishal represented the Northwind and the battlecry off all armies. Now I understnd why he was the one to defeat this Jhavhu guy."
When the others return from the visit to the cellar, Manuun offers to show Rahav around the compound.
"The caravan is mostly staying in the main living area of the Monastery. Over there in the library lives the princess Almah and Garavel her Captain, who are leading the whole expedition. Garavel is a bit grumpy sometimes, but mostly about reasonable things."
"Hadrah you have met already, she and her Husband Hadroh are responsible for the kitchen and the animals. They have a herd of goats, which we had to rescue already. And this little fellow is Rombard, Ohrmizd Favorite goat. We had to rescue him on the first night, and he has taken quite a fancy to him."
"Faster Zastoran down in the cellar is a priest of Nethys. He has helped us a lot already, but he doesn't like us to come for healing constantly. But of course we don anyway, with us being the ones doding all the exploring around here."
"There are also a few more guards and Mercenaries, but for now they are mostly for show. And finally there is Dashki our Gnoll expert. He lives over at the inner sanctum, where is is constantly trying to steal the gold plating without Ohrmizd noticing it."
Afterwards he leads Rahav to the group quarters (A18). " And this is where we stay. Soraya is a follower of the Dawnflower like Ohrmizd, but she is mostly concerned with reopening that monastery here. And Lofnaiali and Tahlumilali have currently taking a n illness, but we jhope they will be with us tomorrow again. "
As all are in the quarters, Garavel joins them. "I was informed you're back again. Surprisingly early. But let me hear - what have you found out?"
"We managed to reach Kelmarane outskirts apparently unnoticed. The pesh fields around are growing wild, no one was currently collecting them. Many of the buildings are in ruins but a few are still in good condition. Specially the largest structure in the middle, it seems some kind of market. We surveyed the town for hours." Ohrmizd delivers the report with a detached tone almost as if he had not been there himself "Every now and then we could hear the laughter of some hyena, but could not spot anyone, some might have thought the town was deserted, but it is clear the gnolls are just protecting themselves from the crushing sun during the day warmer hours. Eventually we spot a patrol of four gnolls coming out of the market and patrolling in circles. We noticed they avoid one building at the center of the town, but we could not see anything that might tell us why. Next we decided to check the ruined houses at the outskirt of town. While trying to secure a resting base, we stomped with a giant snake." only at this point Ohrmizd allows himself some emotion "It almost ate Heshan, and while I was trying to cut the head of the thing, it bite me badly. I am still sweating from the poison, but Father Zastoran says I will get well after a couple of days rest"
"After that we decided to cross the river and see what was at the other side. Apparently there is a mill in good conditions. We could use it to grind crops or maybe power a workshop. When we were trying to cross the river to find out if the mill was active, we found out this Undine cowering and moribund. Her name is Rahav" the man points to the undine and smiles "We find out she is a member of an adventuring group called the Lions of Senara, and decided it was the best to retreat for the day so we can heal her and she can explain you first hand about all she and her group have found about Kelmarane during their exploration"
"But she can probably explain herself that part better"
Then he turns to Heshan and Manuun "Have I left anything relevant?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Rahav introduces herself to Garavel and adds some to the information Ohrmizd gave. "I haven't seen too much myself, but what we faced and what I observed during my hiding I can add. There is a flying woman which lives in the building at the river - not the mill. I don't know what her connection to the gnolls is. I just have seen her leave and come back sometimes."
"In the mill lives a strange beast, that the gnolls bring a fat goat once a day. It's like a wolf with antlers and wings. I don't know if they pay it for a service, or just they don't get eaten themself I don't know."
"In the most southern building, the one without the southern wall, lives an even wilder beast. I haven't seen it, but thrice a day half a dozen armed gnolls with their weapons out come and throw meat into the beasts lair. Even the gnolls are afraid of it."
"At the river, but further in town there is a watchtower, which is manned with gnolls. But all other live seems to happen in the battle market. Only during night another strange creature, like a ram on two legs patrols the city."
"That gives us even more reason not to walk around during the night..." Ohrmizd tries to trace some possible plans next given the information the group has secured "Mmm... that beast at the south they throw meat... that might be the reason the gnoll patrol made a detour... Maybe it is best if we avoid that building too. At least until we have managed the other dangers around town"
"Mmm... this wolf with antlers... do you know at what time of the day they deliver the goat? Maybe if we manage to steal the goat somehow, we can put the wolf against the gnolls" the Keleshite looks around for other ideas or further touches to the plan.
"The flying woman... do you think we can try to talk with her? Maybe we can strike an alliance with her" Ohrmizd soothes his chin pensive then adds "I think before we go into the inner area of the city we have to manage the watchtower. We have to find a way to permanently silence those gnolls you talk about"
"Thanks Rahav! Your information is going to be of much help."
|
|
"I think now that we savely brought Rahav back here we should go back tomorrow and try to see these creatures for ourselves and find out about the rhythm of the place. Your plans definitely need a bit of refining before they can be put into action."
Manuun tries to come up with a mental image of the place. "I think we heard nothing about the temple on the other slde of town. I thinkwe should visit that area tomorrow."
"Flying woman?" Heshan's eyes perk up. "Seems to be too good to be true. She could also be with someone else for all we know, so we better be careful."
"I see you're planning further travels to Kelmarane already. That's good. Just be careful to not get killed. And also make sure they don't find out we're up to them."
"If you feel up to the task, you can take out the guardians of the town one by one, if the possibility arises. But keep in mind: As soon as they realize what is coming, they might retaliate and come here for an attack."
"I can scout and sneak... but when the people I'm with get caught that doesn't account for much. I'm also decent with a blade, I prefer being aware of my opponent and openings rather than flying into a frenzy." she tells.
"That is the mundane name for it ,yes. The stories there were more entertaining if I had to guess, my mother came to this plane because it was more hospitable to her kind she told me." Rahav explains to the warming Inquisitor. "As for Filliped... I don't know, but I don't have high hopes for him or any of the others. Too many screams."
As the Sylph leads her around the monastery Rahav feels more at ease, smiling when they come upon the goats, a smile that turns into a smirk when he brings up the wannabe thief.
"So hit and one run tactics to eliminate key targets and destabilize the town before taking it?" Rahav thinks aloud.
While you ponder your options for the next day's mission you hear Almah's guards call out "Intruders!"
Just as you turn to see what it is, the creature comes into your sleeping room and passes by under the beds. Through the door down the stairs, where you hear father Zastoran curse as the creature runs like a wrecking ball through the lab.
"... friends?"
"Take them one by one. Ok boss. That seems like a plan. Maybe if we make it seem like those creatures are defecting, simply disappearing, they will take more time to realize they are being attacked" Ohrmizd is happy to comment and make plans for the morning.
Before going to sleep, Ohrmizd starts to work on fabricating a shield for himself, using the remains of his own and improvised materials like logs from the broken beds.
While he is affixing a piece of wood to his old shield handle Ohrmizd hears the commotion "What the f+!%?!"
Standing up and looking for his scimitar the Keleshite rushes towards Zastoran lab "What the hell is happening Father?!"
"It passed through toppleing everything over and ran there." Zastoran tells with a red head and gesturing wildly.
He points to the passage into the crypt.
"Did you see what it was?" Ohrmizd casts light on his scimitar and quickly dashes into the crypt "Maybe one of us should go up and reach the crypt through the statue stairs. Closing the statue and approaching us from the other side to make sure we trap it here below"
"One of those ugly pugwampis."
[b]"Those bring bad luck, right? Or was it they like to break complex and expensive things?"[/n] Rahav asks to no one in particular as she heads off towards where Zastoran pointed, blinking her eyes reflexively as Ohrmizd floods the area with light.
Within the light no creature is seen.
Ohrmizd notices Rahav reels back from the light and nods "You can see in the dark? Good. Manuun, you said you also had good vision in the darkness, why don't you advance and block the other stairs. I will block this side while Rahav looks for the critter at the crypt alleys. Does that work for you?"
"On it." Rahav responds, still blinking as eyes her adjust. Time to earn my keep.
Exactly. The one that brings bad luck to those who are near them. One of which also viciously attacked me in this very building back then."
Heshan was not happy to hear of the monster's return.
"I can stay here with you where there is still light."
|
|
Manuun sat on one of the stil standing beds reading his precious book once more, when The cries started. He looked up trying to discern the meaning of the tumults when the door flew open a another one of this horrible little dogs flew through the room.
Manuun dropped the book and tried to grab its hindlegs, but promptly lost his balance and fell of the bed.
When he saw Ohrmizd, Hesahn and the new girl run after the critter he decided to follow Ohrmizd plan and run to Dashkis room to block that thing in.
After warning Dashki to make sure it didn't escape through here he slowly decended the stairs giving his eyes time to adjust to the darkness.
"Maybe you should look for a torch Heshan" Ohrmizd slightly repositions to the north to help more light reach Heshan's side.
From there, he tried to have a look at the southern side while still guarding the exit into the lab "Why the hell that meddler decided to come back here... can we not have a no-pugwampi day for a change?"
"That will not be a problem." Heshan moved over to the edge of the dimmed light and casts Dancing Light, letting the flickering lights to move to the end of the hallway.
"That's better" Ohrmizd smiles at Heshan "Perhaps I should search while you guard the exit Heshan. I have a keen, trained eye on finding those critters. Usually stepping over their dung or finding one stabbed at my back..."
The pugwampi still sits somewhere in the dark to be seen by noone.
"There is nothing here I'm afraid. I will check the other corridors."
Heshan moved back to the light before dispersing the Dancing Lights. He backtracked before going to the other side and using Dancing Lights the same way.
Heshan finds nothing, but with the sand in the eye he would have had to stumble over it to notice.
Increasingly unnerved by the quietness of the crypt Ohrmizd steps forward "Ar' you there Man?"
Still nothing. But it appeared there was some movement, and Heshan moved back towards the others in wait.
Seeing Rahav still by his side Ohrmizd point out "Can you protect this side Rahav? I fear for Manuun, I want to check out"
Ohrmizd advances himself, with his light to the second row of crypt alleys. Spotting there the other adventurer the Keleshite breaths calmer "I thought the pugi might have eaten you Man!"
"What's up? Have you found anything?" Ohrmizd looks towards where Manuun directed himself.
So far Manuun isn't eaten, but also there is no pugwampi in sight.
Spotting Manuun in the crypt alley thanks to his light, Ohrmizd approaches by looking at each of the crypt openings one by one "What's it Manuun. Did you hear something?"
Once this side is complete, if nothing is found, Ohrmizd walks by to the southern one and checks it too.
If again nothing is found, Ohrmizd tries to find the tracks of the pugwampi.
No pugwampi is found by Ohrmizd, neither in the northern, nor in the southern corridors.
"I can't see anything. Are you sure it did not go past you Man?" still Ohrmizd trusts the good eye of his friend and makes a last attempt before leaving the crypt.
The man puts his hand on his holy symbol and focuses in the surroundings "Sarenrae, we need your help on this dark crypt. Let me discern the evil of these critters that menace to swarm your sacred place"
Using detect evil, the area version of the spell, to walk by all the crypt alleys trying to find out where the critter is hidden.
As Ohrmizd takes a second round through every corridor he finally "finds" the pugwampi. Out from between the bones a handful of dirt is thrown at him and the pugwampi runs away.
"We shall not be outsmarted by this creature again." His angry declaration was quiet, but it hinted in his frustration with their futile search.
"Wait here my friend," he said to the undine as he went to the corridor opposite the other two. Casting Dancing Lights once he left the main corridor, he would let them follow him as he searched the side corridors for the creature.
Surprised by the dirt Ohrmizd goes blind "I found you f#!$ing pile of... what ouch! It throw bones dust to my eyes! You critter will repent all your sins at once"
"Where did it go?! Where?!" unable to see, Ohrmizd just lashes out with his scimitar at the last position he saw the pugwampi's hand, hitting only a pile of broken bones.