You can't see any activity that would suggest that the gnolls follow you.
"It seems we are not being followed" Ohrmizd nods reassured after waiting for a patrol.
When they resume their approach to the town, the Keleshite points to the mill where Manuun was surprised by the peryton "Before going around the town, we shall take the opportunity the beast is gone to explore the mill"
Ohrmizd will go cautiously into the mill and open the door to search the place the peryton was guarding.
The wheel of this roofless mill still turns with the flow of the river, but it has not been used for its intended purpose in decades. Instead of grain a nest is built on the millstone. A sword is incorporated into the nest.
"Look what I found" after removing the dirt of the nest Ohrmizd picks up the sword "Seems our flying friend had a stash of his own. Is it magical?"
"Well hello there." Heshan looked intrigued as he looked intensely at the item.
"There is only one way to find out then."
"What can I say? I'm s privy to beautiful weaponry," He shrugs cheekily.
"And yes, this will do nicely against the beast. That and... it might give you antlers," he grinned widely.
"Antlers...?" Ohrmizd takes the hands to the head alarmed when he notices there is nothing growing there. He smiles "Bad boy Man..."
"A magical scimitar, really Heshan!" the Keleshite admires the beautiful engravings that denotes this should have been the possession of a warrior of the desert "This is a beautiful tool, we should keep it"
Once done with the mill, Ohrmizd points to the next building north and the watchtower "Ok, let's try to do this detour"
"Just go around the northern part of the town to reach the watchtower from north as proposed by Manuun I guess next"
Once the group spots the northern area is open and difficult to approach in stealth Ohrmizd points towards the building north of the mill "What if we continue our explorations on that one?"
"Waiting for the patrol to go seems like a good precaution" Ohrmizd nods in agreement.
"How often does the patrol move out of the way again," Heshan asked.
It takes a long boring wait until something happens. The gnolls don't seem too eager to walk around in the midday sun. The first gnolls to show are the group with the goat for the peryton. As usual, fully armed.
They enter the building and after a while come back out without the goat. They look around and into the sky on their way back.
"It seems reasonable. Let's hope they just think the peryton abandoned the village, we cannot manage the full gnoll tribe going over us" Ohrmizd yawns a bit bored of the long wait "So you two have family?"
Once the wait finishes, Ohrmizd follows Manuun closely.
You approach the house carefully and try to get a look inside. But the old tannery isn't just a ruin with a nest inside. Someone too the time to put curtains up, which isn't helping. As you try to get a peek by slowly moving it aside with a stick a beutiful voice adresses you from inside. "Why are you skulking around. How about you come in beautiful." The curtain is pulled aside and an interesting looking woman smiles at Manuun. She would pass as a beauty if her arms, legs and hair didn't end in feathers or bird like claws. With that her look is rather special.
"Wow!" Ohrmizd is interested and impressed, he pushes Manuun inside the structure "What is your name beauty? I am Ohrmizd. There is no much girls around in the desert. Well, there is the Princess, but she only allows the boss in her room"
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"Hey don't push me!". Manuun also steps inside and looks interested at the beautiful woman.
"Well Soraya is much prettier. But she certainly looks interesting."
Manuun checks out the "room" created by the curtains, traing to understand its purpose. "I wonder what she is doing out here with the gnolls?"
Heshan snickers at the possible innuendo, but composes himself as he steps inside with the others.
"And who might you be?" he asked.
The room is filled with a half-dozen cauldrons previously employed by Kelmarane’s tanner. The place is now kind of an alchemy workshop. The mixtures are foul unguents composed of loose body parts, narcotic oils, blood, and less savory substances.
"I'm Undrella. And you are?" she asks not letting her eyes off Manuun. "Admit it. You want to fight the gnolls. I've seen you. I can help you."
"If you prove your worth by bringing me the head of the giant snake that lives in the slave market for my stew. I'll betray my lover for you."
"My lover, the current Kulldis chieftain, a genie named Kardswann, slew the old chief about 2 months ago." She comes closer to Manuun and traces his cheek with a talon-like fingernail, getting close to seductively smell his scent.
"He walked through the magic-sealed door leading to the ruined church crypt, after which he was clearly under the control of some evil entity. He is cruel to me." she says, batting her crusty eyelids. "I want you to kill him."
"I think she likes you" Ohrmizd smiles pushing Manuun with the elbow "Mmm... a magic door? What is that about?"
"It seems fair Undrella, how could you help us? Can you tell us how to reach that slave market without being seen?" the Keleshite examines around the cauldrons. Ohrmizd looks at the harpy trying to understand if she is being honest.
"It's there. Just across the bridge." she tells pointing in the direction. "You're afraid to be seen by the gnolls?"
Heshan's eyes brightened as he recalled their previous encounter.
"That won't be a problem. We can bring you that head in little time at all."[B/]
He then nodded at the woman's point. [B]"To be honest, we have also been trying to find out their patrol patterns... with not much luck on our part."
"If you're afraid of their patrols then maybe you're not the right ones for the job." Undrella comments with a suspicious look at Manuun.
"I like your approach." Undrella tells smiling a flirty smile at Manuun again.
"Well I think you would make a great couple.
Chuckling aside, he talked more softly. "She already knows about us and she hasn't raised the alarm, so I suppose she can be trusted."
Ohrmizd chuckles at Heshan's pun "Well, I do not know, but we will find out soon enough"
The Keleshite leads the way to the snake body and assuming it is still there, he decapitates it with the scimitar and brings it back to the flying woman "The scaly thing, it's yours. Now you help us"
"So you're not only words, but also deeds. Good." Undrella says as she receives the snake head.
"One more thing. I've been here years before the gnolls moved in, and I intend to still be here, when they're long gone. And I want you to guarantee, that it will stay that way when you're done with them." Undrella demands.
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"Not so fast beautiful lady. You see that we brought you the head, but before you hand it over we want the goods. How do we know we can trust you."
When Undrella mentions her plans for staying here, Manuun shakes his head regretfully.
"Lets be open about it. The princess who is coming here wants to reclaim the place for her people. I don't think you staying here is something we can promise."
"But we could help you moving somewhere else if you want. I assume all your alchemical equipment is hard to move."
"As Manuun says we have yet not received anything from you and you are asking things that are not in our hands to provide" Ohrmizd shows his hands join by the wrists in a sign that they are locked "But if you show you can be useful to a civilized town, there is chance you might stay, and if you help us now and you are not allowed to stay later, we will help you relocate as Manuun says"
Detect evil.
"I'm talking to some minions? Then get someone who can make decisions or get lost." Undrella demands. Her flirty attitude gone.
That's not good. It seems like things are looking hostile pretty quickly. Heshan quickly moved in front of Ohrmizd to interject.
"What my hopeful yet naive friend is saying is that we have enough sway that you will likely stay here as soon as we deal with the genie here," he said.
"I am certain he will appreciate the help you had in bringing down the gnolls."
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"Hmm Guys what do you think? Looks like she wants to talk to Garavel. Has any of yopu seen him show a single emotion during the whole journey?"
Manuun turns himself back to Undrella. " I am sure all your charme and guile will work wonders on him. I am sure he will think you have an Eye soreness with all your twinkeling."
"If you want to strike a good deal it will when we put in a good word for you. So why don't we go back to being friendly to one another and discuss what you are willing to trade for this snakes head."
"This snake's head is only to prove you're worth my time. If you couldn't do that, you for sure can't kill Kardswann." Undrella tells.
"What I can give you in exchange for your cooperation is an easy access and inside information about the Battle Market."
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"Well we killed that giant snake and we chased away the flying wolf. I think we have proven our worth."
"I suggest you give us something in exchange for the head which you made us bring and we will discuss your suggestion with Garavel. I think it sounds reasoonable, but i dont plan on living here after all this is over."
"Ungrategul scum!" Undrella curses and attacks.
"Oh, really?" Ohrmizd moves to the door while drawing the magical scimitar. There he closes the door to prevent Undrella from escaping "If that is really what you want, then, this we will have"
Heshan merely shrugged his shoulders.
"To be fair, you probably should have taken up on the deal.
Heshan takes a step back before unleashing a splash of colors upon the woman.
The Harpy freezes in place.