Ohrmizd looks at the holy symbol, almost reverently, then he raises his eyes to met with Soraya's once more "I do not take lightly swearing, and less even in the name of the Dawnflower. But given that what I say is true, I will do it to put you at ease"
Placing his hand over the holy symbol he swears "Heba Hezami has not sent me to protect her daughter" he then quickly retreats his hand "So that's it. Unless Sarenrae has played a role on our destiny, that is all there is"
"I am in my way to Kelmarane only to find out about an old friend that apparently traveled there recently, and hopefully my family" Ohrmizd looks thoughtful through the window "It has been at least two lives since I was here for the last time. Most probably my own mother died long ago"
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"Now! Together! Push!" with a last effort Ohrmizd unites his muscles to those ones of Tahl and the guards, and thanks to Manuun's grease the wagon is finally saved.
With a broad smile of success as the fire is put out the man pads in the shoulders with Manuun, Tahl and the others around "Wow! That was close. I mean... did you see how that collapsed almost over us?"
Just before he is to join on the animal hunting new orders arise. When Almah and Garavel both disappear into the tent he sighs "Ok, it seems this day is going to be long. Why don't we start by inspecting what is left of the wagon?"
Ohrmizd helps the others to find if there are any obvious sources of the fire sprung in the wagon, signs of how did it propagate, or any relevant hints about this person or the fire event.
Likewise he studies the corpse, trying to determine if it was dead before the obviously mortal force of the fire "Is some of you here an expert medical examiner?"
Finally Ohrmizd uses detect magic to see if there are any lingering magical auras in the wagon or its surroundings.
Physical examination of the ruined wagon reveals sooty ashes, a few broken bottles or potion vials, a cracked nonmagical crystal ball, and several pools of melted wax where candles must once have stood. Eloais’s charred remains are near the center of the wagon.
No signs of struggle or violence are found, suggesting that the fortune-teller was killed by the fire itself or from inhaling the smoke the fire caused. There are some blackened coins on a piece of leather that must have been a pouch.
Ohrmzid detects no magic in the burned reamins. Neither the cards, nor the crystal ball detect as magic.
"Tsk. The dude is really dead. Nothing else to do for him" after the examination of the wagon, Ohrmizd picks up the coins and the shatters of the crystal ball and tries to clean the coins to see if they have anything special. Then he looks around for what witnesses the party can interrogate.
To the nearby guards that helped save the wagon he asks with stern gaze "What happened here? Did any of you see anything?" if they seem receptive he adds "Who was the dead one?"
Remembering something that happened when they arrived Ohrmizd approaches Soraya "Are you ok?" if the woman seems ok he asks her "What was that card that hit you when we arrived?"
"That was Eloais, Princess Almah's fortune teller." one of the mercenaries tells.
"And the only thing we noticed here is the wagon on fire."
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Manuun joined the others in searching the Wagon, showing only casual interest in the dead body.
Instead he tries to determine where the fire started by looking for patterns in the burn marks.
When Ohrmizd finds the burnt purse Manuun asks:[b]"Anything special about those coins? Can I have a look at them?"
After checking them , when Ohrmizd starts talking to the witnesses, Manuun checks the area around the wagon for any untrampled traces (unlikely) or items which might have fallen from the wagon during the fire.
"Eloais... I assume that was her wagon. Was he living alone in the wagon? Do you remember if he was behaving oddly lately or if she was at odds with someone else?" the man looks towards Almah's tent "For being the Princess personal fortune teller Almah does not seem very shaken by the loss. Is she always like that or she just did not like her fortune teller?"
"You are supposed to guard the camp, isn't it? Well, I guess if you were guarding some of you should have seen how the fire started at least" Ohrmizd tries to soften his tone as much as possible, he is only trying to get more information, not to confront the guards or remembering them their duties.
"Sure... take the coins Manuun" he hands the blackened coins and helps at looking for tracks around the wagon "Good idea Manuun"
Tahlumilali scans the area trying to notice anyone who seems uncomfortable.
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"Maybe you take the next watch, if you think you can do it better. And why don't you ask the Princess herself?" Ohrmizd not trusting that the mercenary told the truth and asking him to badmouth the princess is enough to put the guy off.
Tahlumaliali notices an unkempt man with long black hair, that watches closely what they are doing with their investigation from the shadows. But everytime soneone looks in his direction he turns his attention somewhere else. He seems generally uncomfortable.
The coins are simply money. Summed up it's 55gp in all kinds of coins.
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Manuun puts the gp in a piece of cloth and reminds himself to check later if there are any next of kin.
Having found nothing of interest so far he still has no idea how the fire started. He walks up to Lofnaiali and suggests: "Maybe you can get slightly friendly reaction from the woman whose life you have saved."
Then he checks if he can see Father Zastoran around.
"You're looking for me?" Father Zastoran tells as he notices Manuun looking around and stopping at him.
"Sorry man, I did not mind to infer you are making a bad job, just wanted to check if you had seen something odd" feeling his interrogation is going badly he leaves the guard for someone else to try question "This was a bad introduction. Find me later and we can have a drink at the fire of the camp more calmly"
Ohrmizd looks around, noticing Tahlumilali following people with the eyes and Manuun engaging with and old man.
The Keleshite decides to approach the people who is still trying to manage the animals "Me and animals, we do not understand much each other, but is there a way I can help you?" Ohrmizd tries to assist the people with the animals, hoping more to engage in conversation with them rather than being able to provide real help.
After Ohrmizd swears his oath, Soraya's demeanor with him softens.
"Well, I take your word then. And I am happy to have you as a traveling companion."
The second of Soraya's reservations remains. Ohrmizd could be aligned with the Cult of the Dawnflower. But figuring his politics out one way or another will have to be a longer and more delicate project.
For her part in the ordered investigation Soraya first inspects the body of the man killed. She looks for any suggestions it may have been other than an accident, including the use of drugs or poisons to make him unconscious and therefore unable to escape the fire.
Next she questions members of the caravan looking for anything someone may have saw or heard to suggest the fire was (or was not) arson.
Seems to me the answer is a whole lot of candles in a combustible room...
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"Good Evening Father!" he greets the Priest. "The princess has ordered us to find out what happened and how the poor Eloais ended up with such a horrible fate."
"But as you know we only arrived when the fire was already fully burning for a while. So maybe you could help me out and tell me how it all started?"
Asking aound gets you nothing specific and a lot of prejudice towards Dashki, whom no one has seen doing anything wrong in regards to the fire, but think he is the most possible culprit nonetheless.
"A bit to late for that evening to become good again." Zastoran sighs. "Everyone was minding their own business. Most at or close to the campfire, the rest at or inside the tent."
"And of course Eloais in his own wagon."
"Then the flames suddenly burst out of the wagon. When we all got up to help and put out the fire, you came along already. You have missed it by moments. I don't think there is more to it - at least nothing I have noticed."[/b]
"Thank you, but I guess we'll manage." Hadrod replies, herding the animal away from Ohrmizd's attempts.
"On the other hand, while we're trying to get the animals back in the pen, you could search for Rombard" Hadrod adds, and Hadrah adds "Our favorite goat! He must have run away in the chaos."
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"Yes of course. So you didn't hear anything unusual in the camp before the fire? Or know of anybody who wanted to visit Eloais tonight?" Manuun continues.
Meanwhile he thinks to himself "that was a pretty hefty fire for a few candles. Eloais didnt manage to get out of the wagon when he noticed it and the guards got burned quite a lot in just a few moments"
"Rombard? Mmmm... sure, what color is she? I do not want to bring you the wrong goat" Ohrmizd attempts a smile but he realizes this is not the right moment "Nice to meet you Hadrod and Hadrah. I am Ohrmizd, it seems we are going to travel together in the caravan. Are you the caravan herders?"
At some point after the conversation with Hadrod and Hadrah, Ohrmizd will look for the lost goat.
Hadrod: "We are camel drivers."
Hadrah: "And we take care of the other animals too."
"Rombard is colored beige and on the head and back more brownish"
Hadrod: "And he is a boy goat."
Looking for the goat's hoof prints shows interesting results. inside the wagons everything is trampled and to follow a single track is almost impossible. But as the goat is lost, searching outside is more promising anyway. And indeed there is a track of a cloven hoofed animal that leads away from the camp.
"A boy beige boy goat! With some brown by the back" Ohrmizd nods in acknowledgement to both Hadrod and Hadrah "When I was a child traveling with the caravans with my fathers my favorite goat was also brownish. She was called Lucero"
The man sneezes and rubs his nose before asking "Sorry to ask but Almah ordered us to investigate: What do you know of the one dead in the wagon fire? Eloais"
Later, after discovering the tracks of the goat leave away of the camp, Ohrmizd will return to join with the others and join information "There is one goat missing, Rombard. His tracks leave out of the camp"
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Ohrmizd returns to the camp waving his arms about some missing goat. Manuun can't resist a huge grin at the Inquisitor. " Sorry, but I don't have any experience as a goat herder." with the emphasis on the "I".
Then he turns back to the Priest. " Can you tell me anything about Eloais? How long was he with the princess? Was he close to her?"
While talking he tries to check from time to time on the man Tahlumilali spotted.
"He is with her since I now Princess Almah. And I think they knew each other well even back then. But if you want details, I suggest asking Almah herself."
"He was Princess Almah's fortune teller." Hadrod tells. "Tragic his death."Harah adds.
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Manunn nods: " Yes seems to be the best way." buts looks very unsure. "Thank you for your time," he bids his farewell.
Manuun walks slowly to the tent of the princess, looking for Soraya or one of the others to come along.
Then he steps up to the guards and asks "Can I talk to the princess Almah about Eloais and the incident?"
"Yes, come in." Princess Almah calls from inside.
The guard, a man of impressive build does the 'I'm wathich you' gesture while giving Manuun aa stern look.
"Tragic his death" Ohrmizd says to Hadrod and Harah and makes a blessing sign with a hand "Do you know what kind of man he was? Did he have any enemies at camp?"
Later, after coming back to camp Ohrmizd will laugh at Manuun's comment "Neither I am a goat herder, but well!" and he will join on the conversation with Almah.
"I don't know. He was a likeable guy." Hadrod tells. "Only the gnoll expert maybe, he has a crush on Princess Almah. As the Princess and Eloais were close, he might have taken things in his own hands." Hadrah adds.
"Who is the gnoll expert?" Ohrmizd looks around trying to find someone that would match with that description "Why do you think he would take things so far as to fire Eloais wagon?"
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The cloud tattoo on Manuuns cheeks shines brightly as he enters the tent ducking under the stern glance of the guard.
"Greetings your highness." he bows deeply when standing in front of her.
"I am sorry for the loss of your fortune teller Eloais, even more so after hearing he was an old friend of yours. We are looking into what happpened "
"Do you know if he was afraid anything might happen to him."
"Eloais was my fortune teller for a long time. I knew him since my time back in Varisia."
"I don't think he was afraid, but his readings got a bit dark recently."
Tahlumaliali notices an unkempt man with long black hair, that watches closely what they are doing with their investigation from the shadows. But everytime soneone looks in his direction he turns his attention somewhere else. He seems generally uncomfortable.
Tahlumilali notices the unkept man and decides to ask him some questions.
”Hail friend are you doing alright? If you got burnt or anything my wife knows some healing. You know I was wondering how such a fire could have gotten out of hand like that, you didn’t notice anything did you?”
He calls out as he approaches trying to keep the man at ease.
Lofnaiali glances over to Tahlumilali to gather some strength, then back over father Zastorian. The nauseating scent of burnt flesh, dust and smoke clung to the air descending her into a sea of painful memories. With a deep breath she resurfaces to her current reality.
”Father Zastorian, might I ask you something,”
Lofnaiali understood that not all are open to the idea of what she was about to offer, but nevertheless she proceeded with slight apprehension.
”I have a gift to hear the voices of the departed. I may be able to get some answers as to what transpired. May I have your permission to attempt this? I can assure it will not harm the body or the spirit.”
She carefully caressed her bone bracelet, tracing the worn edges with her fingertips. A habit she picked up in life to comfort herself.
"You're asking the wrong man. I'm a follower of Nethys. That means magic first, personal priorities second, morals a distant third."
"If anyone got the right to a veto, it's Princess Almah."
He then changes to whispering. "But if you can do so quick, and without drawing attention to it... he looks aorund quickly that no one listens in "go for it."
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"Who is the gnoll expert?" Ohrmizd looks around trying to find someone that would match with that description "Why do you think he would take things so far as to fire Eloais wagon?"
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+6
"That one lurking around in the shadows." Hadrah tells with a nod in the direction.
"Well, I only count one and one together." Hadrod explains. "Why would I know. But the wagon burnt."
”Hail friend are you doing alright? If you got burnt or anything my wife knows some healing. You know I was wondering how such a fire could have gotten out of hand like that, you didn’t notice anything did you?”
He calls out as he approaches trying to keep the man at ease.
[dice=Diplomacy]1d20+
Dashki shruigs. "No. Didn't notice anything."
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"His last reading centered on an auspicious card, the Cyclone, portending death by fire and schemes by powerful evil.." Almah tells. "But he thought of that on a much larger scale. Larger than our endeavor in Kelmarene. He told something about the Legacy of Fire - whatever that meant."
"Thanks Hadrah and Hadrod. We are now following Almah's orders to investigate the fire, but once we are done I will help you find Rombard. I think I spot a promising track" with a small bend Ohrmizd says goodbye to the couple and looks to join with the others.
Spotting Tahlumilali already talking with the shadowy man pointed by the herders, Ohrmizd decides to approach there first "Hi there! I am Ohrmizd, I think we are new companions on this caravan. I see you have already come to meet Thal. What is your name?"
Once the presentations are done "Others point you knew the fortune teller. What was your relation with him?"
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"What an ominous prophecy considering todays events. I think we should look into that further.", answers Manuun thoughtful. "One last question from me though! We heard of some jealousy between the new gnoll expert and Eloais. did you notice anything like that? Do you know how serious it was?"
Afterwards Manuun looks to Soraya if she has any further questions and decides to have a closer look at that crystal ball. Maybe Soraya or one of the elves has the power to fix it?
"What would they be jealous of?" Amlah inquires, visible confusion on her face.
Dashki looks puzzled at Ohrmizd. "Dashki not geh!?"
"Eh? No, I am not inferring you are gay" Ohrmizd rejects with his head and tries to approach this in a different way "Nice to meet you Dashki. I have heard you are a gnoll expert. Is that the reason you were enrolled in the caravan?"
"Yes. I guess." Dahski replies. "And for knowing area."
"I was enslaved by gnolls. Brought out of my family while we were doing the caravans... I do not guard them good feelings, you know? What is your story about the gnolls? How do you learned so much about them?" Ohrmizd opens his bag taking a piece of cheese and cutting a slice of it, eating it while he listens and offering another slice to Dashki.
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"Gnolls killed mother and granddad when I was a boy. They put fire to village and killed most. I got away with father to the Solku, not far from here. That long time ago, I forgot most of that. Terrible things. But the sounds I still hear. The shrill howls and barks — hundreds at once — that sound close. Laughing at us.
"Father raised Dashki to know everything about gnolls, what gnolls do, gnoll language. To better track gmnolls and kill them. All gnolls. Together we scouted out lairs, studied tribes, listened to gnolls speak
until we understand what gnolls saying. Gnolls not dumb animals, you know. In some way gnolls smarter than us."
"Dad was killed on our first raid on a gnoll camp of Three Jaws tribe. I saw gnolls fall on him like hyenas on an abandoned kill, slathering
themselves in his blood and innards. I can still hear tear of his scalp and sound of bones against frenzied teeth. Against this scene I was forgotten. Ignored."
"I ran away, and I carry on work of my father."
"Yes, they are harsh. They can be cunning, I do agree, a kind of bestial smartasses" Ohrmizd makes a gesture with his head, and tries to softly pad Dashki shoulder with a hand, touched by his similar life experience although he was lucky to find his Sarenrite mentor "I am sorry about your loss Dashki."
Ohrmizd offers the gnoll expert a new slice of cheese "I still remember some of the words the gnolls were using. Maybe you can help me refresh that and learn more about the gnolls language during our shared time with the caravan. Would you help me? If we are to face gnolls, perhaps you can even teach me one or two secrets on how to better fight them"
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"What would they be jealous of?" Amlah inquires, visible confusion on her face.
" I wouldn't know either. It was just ome camp rumour and I wanted to know if there was something to it."
Manuuns bows deeply once more and says: "Thanks for taking time for my questions your Highness. I will go meet with my friends and find out if they got any new information that allow us to conclude our search."
Manuun leaves the tent and tells the others what the princess has told him. He also tells Ohrmizd, "If you need someone who can see during the night, I'm willing to help you out on your other important mission."
If Ohrmizd doesn't need him right now Manuun will take a very close look at the crystal ball and ask each of the others if they can fix it.
”Gnoll slaughtered both Lofnaiali’s family and mine so we understand both of your feelings better than most.” Tahlumilali says upon hearing that both Dashki and his new companion. ”Ormizhid I’m also proficient in the course tongue those beasts use it makes it easier to track them when you know what their saying.”
"I guess it does not come as a surprise Tahl. Those are beasts. How many lives have they broken..." Ohrmizd negates with the head, while he accepts practicing Gnoll with Tahl as well.
"It is good we have someone with your ability to face the gnolls Dashki" then coming back to the fire investigation "I think you really respect Almah, isn't it?"
"She ordered us to investigate the wagon fire. You would help us fulfill her desires if you explain us any detail you remember about how the fire started or if you saw something suspicious going on in the wagon or about the fortune teller" he closes by and whispers to the man's ear "We can keep this conversation even more private if you wish"