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The nod and wink set Gima a bit more at ease, realizing she may not be alone but her mood is still unstable from outside appearances.
She looks at Muddy for a moment but continues shifting, the group isn't sure what to make of her state but as he talks to her Muddy realizes she is eyeing the horizon away from the ruins.
Dimak and Goran also spot her tensing her legs and subtlety working her wrist chains off with some cacti needles. The other two slaves keep to themselves, far calmer than Gima.
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"You better watch them good. If we lose them then you can be replacements" they call out to the other slavers in the group.
"I will!" the dwarf exclaims.
When the gnolls begin to doze, Dimak starts his watch by standing near the slaves, hammer drawn, with his back to the gnolls. He lowers his voice a bit.
"I can see you're on edge. Don’t even think about trying something now."
He looks pointedly at Gima, shaking his head just a little.
"If you need a reminder what will happen, well...", the dwarf raises his voice while demonstrating his skill with his weapon by crushing a small cactus with the head of his longhammer, "This should ring a bell! Hahahahaha!"
He laughs at his own crude rhyme.
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Nilah walks up behind Dima, whispering so that only he can hear.
She is clearly anxious to affect some sort of change here but needs to pick her spots. She looks over at the dozing gnolls.
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The group feels that they almost convinced her with their affiliations and mentions of a later escape but the she shakes her head, her chains and collar dropping to the sand before she starts to sprint full force.
Gima sprints but the two gnolls spot the commotion and quickly send their hyena fast on her trail.
---
Snapper
Jaakko
Nilah
Dimak
Muddy
Hargur
Goran
Perrine
Vangru
Gima
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Dimak moves quickly and easily grabs the fleeing Gima, who slumps down and turns to the dwarf with a despondent look. She falls silent and stares ahead confused and waiting for the punishment of the gnolls.
The gnolls appear impressed but more anxious to return the slaves.
"Not bad! I would have let Snapper have a taste though...slaves who run are no good."
"Beat her and leave her!"
The two gnolls state out loud but make no move to do so with the situation under control. Nilah's comment doesn't go over well but they are convinced by Dimak's grasp.
"Fine, you can deal with her." Hargur snarls.
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On the morning of the third day of travel, a roc flies high overhead, casting its shadow across the group. The gnolls seem worried and order their prisoners to hustle for the remainder of the trip.
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With the group hustling, they reach Fort Stonejaws before sunset on the third day. For a moment the thought of rest overrides the dour appearance for some. A wall of ochre bricks bristles at its base with sharp stakes, barring entrance to a deep round hollow in the red rocky cliff. The wall curves at a small watchtower with a leather tent roof. Beyond the wall, the cliff rises over a hundred feet, its lower reaches dotted with shallow caves. If you squint, the jagged rock appears to be fanglike.
As the gates are opened and the group moves inside a gnoll watchman shouts down to Hargru and Vangru.
"You missed it! Chief finally ran the veiled lady off! We’re gonna celebrate tonight with her best wine!”
Even if you cannot understand the words, the tone is cheerful and one word sounds like wine. Yet the cheerful tone is quickly drowned out by yipping and growling of two hyenas in the courtyard. The group is pushed past them and near a large iron portcullis over over the entrance to the cave. It is attached to a thick rope and winch, a lever nearby likely can slam it shut in a moment's notice.
The freestanding structure is in disrepair but through the barely solid doors you spot hammocks and gnolls lazing about.
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Dimak moves quickly and easily grabs the fleeing Gima, who slumps down and turns to the dwarf with a despondent look. She falls silent and stares ahead confused and waiting for the punishment of the gnolls.
The dwarf whispers in her ear: "I told you - you will be free, but not right now! Be patient!"
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Having to chase after and capture Gima seems to have taken a number on the quieter than usual dwarf. He seems a bit exhausted when arriving at Fort Stonejaws.
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The group is then lead or dragged inside to an area that appears to be kennels; a stone dais painted with a hyena-like face occupies the center of this round chamber. A wide, eight-foot-high ledge runs around the perimeter of the room with a crude ladder to the east connecting the floor and elevated area. To the south, an iron portcullis hangs over the entrance to the caves. Several shallow caves with wooden gates and floors covered in straw open into this room from the north. A door to the east and a door with a barred grille to the west lead to other parts of the stronghold. A shattered wooden box and several dozen scraps of sodden, torn paper lie scattered across the floor.
"Stuff goes there." Hargur points next to the dais.
"Snack-slaves go there" Vangru adds, point to the east.
"Now we let the boss know but you wait out here. Don't mess anything up!" Hargur adds as they enter the door to the west, shutting it behind them.
Muddy and Goran both spot a horse-sized creature that is similar in appearance to a hyena looming on the ledge above.
Jaako on the other hand notices some odd things about the paper strewn about the floor. What’s most noteworthy are a few surviving signatures, including one by “—orn Desimire,” one by “M. Sloan,” and one from “Jacquo Dals—.”
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The slave quarters consist of a single long room with several bunk beds against the back wall, a pair of buckets in the corner,
and a heavy wood door that can be barred from outside. A Kelishite man wearing a pale linen scarf about his head and an excessively wide
grin on his face, resides here with two other slaves.
“Welcome! I am Korshad, overseer for our masters. Though I wear a collar, you’ll find it’s best to do as I say! Now, they lock
us in at night when they go hunting, but mostly we have the run of the place, nearly as much liberty as the hyenas. You’ll be trained to be excellent house slaves, then taken back to the ships to be sold to nice noble families. It may seem harsh, but if you take to it, it’s probably a better life than you were used to before. Meanwhile you should get some rest and we can begin your lessons in the morning. As the proverb says, ‘When the day is hottest, even the busy must rest and wait.’”
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Nilah watches their faux "slaves" being taken away, her nerves activated as the door shuts. She yells after them
Keep the grippli moist or he won't be much use to us!
Here is the moment after which if things go wrong, we could never see them again. Time is of the essence now...
Any observing her notice that she seems more rigid and on edge from this point.
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Muddy eyes the large hyena-like creature on the ledge above before being led into the slave quarters.
ooh. Bad doggy. me remember that one.
He hears Nilah call out...
"Keep the grippli moist or he won't be much use to us!"
He nods to the slave keepers leading him in.
"Me was fly-eater at public latrine before here. Send me to noble manor with outside latrine with big pond. I eat all flies when people make stinky logs."Yes! Nilah! She gets it!
He dips to bend his knees in joy, smiling for a moment even though he's in a most despicable situation. His thoughts run through his little swamp-logged brain.
Must think of way to get us all together...
”Tell us more about the masters, Korshad. How long have they and you been here?”
Muddy acts as if he's itchy again and reaches into the front of his loincloth, ready to pull out his miniature bow
He's ready to start killing talky-talky humans that believe other living beings are below them."Sorry. Lotsa sand. I itchy down there."
He points a webbed finger at his loincloth, trying to send the message to his companions.
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Perrine was almost overcomeby the heat anyway, so if there was an opportunity to get rest, she was going to take it. The investigation proper could wait until the morning. ”Tell us more about the masters, Korshad. How long have they and you been here?”
"Well, they listen to me which makes me a master in this area. It is what it is, they don't kill you or hurt you unless you step out of line but if you do then there are plenty of hungry mouths waiting for you. So LISTEN." Korshad responds loudly.
Korshad has a birthmark on his right arm that resembles an angelic ankh.
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This symbol is of Sarenrae.
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Jaako on the other hand notices some odd things about the paper strewn about the floor. What’s most noteworthy are a few surviving signatures, including one by “—orn Desimire,” one by “M. Sloan,” and one from “Jacquo Dals—.”
Jaakko picks up papers and takes hard look, then asks Nilah and Dimak "Do you recognize these names? If I recall correctly they have been mentioned several times in past, but I may not have paid enough attention."
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Korshad continues to tell them about the upcoming changes to their life.
"Well, tomorrow morning your training begins. The furry boys our there are going to go hunting or whatever they do at night while we take a rest. I imagine you are tired anyways."
He takes a sideway glance at Muddy, "I heard you are a mess cleaner, yeah? That will help but they also make you act proper...noble houses pay more. Anything else?" he asks.
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The Pathfinders wait for a time, discussing the papers, but the hours begin to pass. Their two handlers return with good news:
"Chief is ready, you can get payment before we go hunting." they say as they lead you further into the fort.
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The two gnolls kneel down subserviently as two gnolls exit the door into the kennel, before the group gets too far in.
"These slaves? Oh no these are the ones wanting payment. How do we know your slaves are good?" the large female gnoll growls holding a bag of coins.
"Perhaps they get paid after a day of training?" a cloaked and older female gnoll says up into the ear of the large one.
"Chau will let you stay the night if you wish, then you can be paid when we see how training goes? Tonight we celebrate while. You can rest in the training room." she offers pointing further in.
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"Want me to curse the loud one, Chau." the older gnoll whispers.
"I like this one! Still no payment till tomorrow unless you want to try taking it." the larger one, apparently named Chau laughs. "You can't celebrate with us but you can sleep inside."
"We got water...not much but I can be thirsty if it keeps your skin going. I will ask for more but they lock us in here, even I don't have the key." he replies showing Muddy where they keep some jugs in the corner, making it clear to use a specific pile. "Other pile...you don't want to be pouring on you. We empty those in the morning."
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Brink us back some drink, hyenas!
She twirls her scimitar in an artful fashion, practicing its place in her dervish dance. It's clear what the implication is if her demand isn't met. Her graceful form seems to float about in a confined space as she does the dance, her blade not getting anywhere near a specific individual.
Nilah looks to see who might be planning to go, and who might be staying.