On entering into the bustling Battle Market, you are greeted by Garavel who asks you to join him upstairs for a report.
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"Thank you." Garavel replies to Omari and Roryx. "I'll inform the Princess." "Once you had time to refresh yourself, please inform me, that we can have a proper meeting to discuss the situation."
"Do they have an army? And what are your plans for now?" Garavel inquires.
"It's good to have you back again." Garavel greets the group. "Do you need some rest first, or can you come to give a report right away?"
"I see you're properly prepared to take care of town. That is good to see. We can keep Dashki if you think he is a valueable addition. Of course we keep the merchants. I suggest you look if you can hire some more to get about ten guards." "I like the idea to have some visibility to give all new citizens the feeling that safety is taken care of. Both, for those with a desire for safety - and those who try to challenge this safety." Garavel comments. "About that ideas for fortification though, I don't know... The greatest threat are gnolls. They are not known for bringing siege weapons to towns. And the downside of fortifications is that they hinder the town from growing. We want to be an open place for all to come in and trade." "But you should have a plan how to nib everything that flares up in town in the bud. A system that allows you to focus forces within minutes to any place in town. There is this huge trumpet at the watch tower, but that is too unspecific. If you could come up with something to alarm the guards you need and tell them where to come and what for. Like four guards to arrest a thief at the inn? It's sophisticated, but I've seen it done. And I'd like to impress some people from the capital. You're up for the challenge?"
For Aith this starts with another meeting.
"How about you ask Dashki. He's our hired Gnoll expert after all." Garavel suggests. "If you find him. I haven't seen him in a while."
"No offense, but in my experience people are either creative, inspiring, entertaining and have a heart for the arts - or they like forms and processes. And both jobs will be full time." Garavel comments on Yasmeena's ideas. As Aithaloessa speaks up and mentions: "I can help keep the peace..." Garavel jumps the opportunity. "So you're applying as head of the guard? Great, you're hired. Budget, troop strength and detailed planning will be discussed in a separate meeting."
"You must avoid at all costs, that the gnolls get wind of our planned intervention, or we might start the war we want to prevent." Garavel states.
"Thank you for bringing this to our attention." Garavel addresses Zayifid. "Safe travels to you." Zayafid then leaves the meeting, that is already deep in plannig the further steps.
"Please meet me and Princess Almah in an hour on the third floor for a proper report then." Garavel requests and leaves.
Aithaloessa walking nonchalantly into her shop, followed be some of the group, to investigate the items found draws the interest of Garavel. After all they were off to fight a great evil and not doing next weeks grocery shopping. Garavel enters the infusium too. "You're back already? How did it go?" he inquires.
The meeting table is set up upstairs. At the entrance to the third floor two of Almah's guards receive the guest and guide him to the meeting room. Garavel sits at the far end of the table, the other two guards standing behind him. He offers Zayifid the seat on the opposite side. Between are the seats for the group as well as Father Zastoran, who has taken the seat to the right of Garavel. "Welcome to Kelmarane. I'm Garavel - representative of Princess Almah Roveshki. Please introduce yourself and state what message you have."
"I'll prepare the room for a meeting." Garavel replies to Manuun's request. "Ask Father Zastoran to join this too please."
"Sounds like a plan. Please set up a board at the bridge. But the details of the recruitment I leave to you."
Garavel invites Roryx to a meeting on the second floor. With all the shabby furniture and blankets gone that the gnolls used the typical smell is gone too. With the furniture Garavel and the princess brought in the room looks very elegant. An escritoire made of mahogany with intricate boiserie. Waxed and polished to the point where the surface shines. A matching dining table and chairs complete the furnishings. Carpets depicting Katapesh history adorn the walls. A large carpet with an elaborate pattern covers most of the floor. Only the curtain that seperated the sleeping are seems to be the same - though it seems to be cleaned. Garavel listens carefully to Roryx suggestions about building up the guard. "I see you have made plans to prepare Kelmarane for different kinds of threats up to a full on invasion of gnolls." he starts. "If I may make some suggestions..." Creating a quick sketch of the most prominent features in Kelmarane he puts in the numbers where Roryx plans to put guards. "As for now I assume, you are the captain of the guard. There might arise the need for a second in command once we reach the numbers you suggest." "But right now, we need to compromise a bit, as we neither have the people to fill the ranks, nor the steady income to pay that many." "The natural place to set up the city guard is the guard tower. I agree with you, that it is not perfect to monitor traffic to and from town, which will be at the bridge. But I'd rather not lose such a place like the former slave market with the ring of buildings around as a marketplace to put garrison. There is this dock building next to the bridge, how about placing some guards there?" "And until we have Kelmarane populated and most of the buildings restored, I fear you will have to manage with about ten guards, maybe a dozen, because of the budget limitations." Sense Motive DC18: That last sentence is Garavel's diplomatic way of not demoralizing Roryx with his grand plans. But he can be as generous, as it's clear that it will take quite a while until that dozen guards can be hired.
"It still stinks of gnoll, but once set up properly this will be a nice place for Princess Almah to stay." Garavel concludes as the tour reaches the upper floor. "Also a perfect place for her guards to shield from intruders." "I must say, you did a good job. You're all in one piece and the battle market is too. I suggest you use the time to celebrate your victory, while we're all settling in here. I'll instruct Hadrah to provide with a few bottles of the good wine." Garavel moves back out to get everything going and tells Hadrah as told.
"Please give me a quick tour of the place, before we move in."
"No. If that harpy has things that belong to her in the battle market, you better hurry to move that out. It's one thing to tolerate her on the fringe of town. But she for sure won't be seen here." Garavel clarifies that pooint.
"Understood" - Roryx nodded - "I will wait for your summons, once the initial evaluation is complete, and the hiring process can begin" "That's also ok. Once you finished the initial evaluation, come to me. At the moment I'm flexible with my time, as most of my work is writing letters. Those don't mind to be postponed by an hour or two." Garavel nods in agreement to Omari and Heshan.
"History is written by the victors. Lets use that privilege wisely and not encourage others to try their luck against us." Garavel suggests. Looking around he inquires "Who else is left in the Battle Market, that does not originally belong to our enterprise, and what are their alliances?" Garavel inquires, being all business.
"Pleased to meet you. What a lucky coincidence your friends met you here." Garavel greets Haleen.
"That sealed crypt of the temple is indeed something that needs to be resolved, even before we start wtih rebuilding. But Princess Almah will address this topic. As for the healing, Father Zastoran can take care of that." "In time you should introduce me to this Haleen." Garavel tells. But something else catches his attention. "You mentioned tension with the leadership. Does that refer to that gnoll behind the bar? Or is that one of the people working for coin here?" It's hard to tell what Garavel's sentiment towards that creature is - as always when it comes to reading his expressions.
"Having a good alchemist around is a good thing. And from the looks of what is offered at the moment it would at least spark competition and improve the supply." Garavel comments on Manuun's idea. But he becomes almost lively in his tone about Roryx inquiry. "Well, after some initial agreements about the needed numbers and qualifications as well as the budget for the guard, you can take over the hiring process. I don't need to monitor all decisions down to the last man hired." Turning to Heshan Garavel tells "I haven't heard of 'archaeologic' expeditions in this part of Katapesh. But maybe because no one has tried yet. But if your proposition bears fruit and you need a booth in the battle market to sell the goods let me know."
"I'm not searching for apprentices. If you have experience in the area that is worth something, you tell me." Garavel replies.
"Hello?" he calls into the mostly empty dome. He and the guards have their weapons ready, just in case.
Garavel is one of the few who stayed 'til the end. As he hears his name he comes over. "Currently there is no task that needs your immediate attention. The remaining mercenaries are sent to the watchtower to keep an eye out for gnoll retribution." "We will have a guard for Kelmarane as soon as enough people arrive here to recruit some. If some of you are interested in a leading position there we'd be glad to hire you for that." "Our initial agreement comes to an end soon. You should decide what your future position in Kelmarane will be. Besides the guard there will be positions in the administration. And of course there are always the great opportunities to start a business of your own. I'd be glad to have any of you for the positions I have to fill. But decide quick, before the town is swarming with applicants."
Garavel takes a stand to Almah's right. "Citicens of Kelmarane." he addresses the ones present, making a long pause to assure he has everyone's attention. Most present move from the bar to the ranks opposite the balcony to see and hear what's going on. Garavel is holding a formerly sealed scroll that he is readin galoud. "By decree of the Pactmasters, merchant princess Almah Roveshki is empowered to reinstate the rule over Kelmarane. ..." A long list of goals for the enterprise are named, which basically sums up to: make trade work again to earn money for the pactmasters, all of which Garavel reads to the small audience. "... The means to reinstate this desired state again are for merchant princess Almah Roveshki to decide as she sees fit." Those who know the ways of Katapesh realize what that means.
"I'd prefer you not to break into the palace. At least not with force. If it is properly locked, and has no other signs of breaking and entering, then hopefully everything is still in order inside." "As for the basement of the temple - that is also for later to care about. Princess Almah has the key, but we don't want to deal with that, as long as other enemies are around. The next steps should be to secure the battle market." "As for the harpy... that sounds like a worthy ally for now and an unknown risk for later. I'll leave that choice to you, if you want to make that deal and take the responsibility for her actions." Garavel decides.
"You're back quickly. Was it such an easy task, or did you forget somethin gimportant?" Garavel greets you.
Garavel steps up to 'answer' the questions. "We have no further information about what to expect. But our best guess is an evil outsider. How challenging of an encounter this will be, I don't know."
"If you come up with a plan to get rid of such an possesion, I'd hold the attack. You never know what happens if you slay a possessed creature." Garavel answers.
"That's nice. You got any idea what to expect when we go in full force?" Garavel replies to Heshan.
Garavel is with Princess Almah in the former library smoking hookah.
"For 75 gold I can hire an army to do the job for me. I suggest you think of a better plan." Garavel tells to the request about the scroll.
"The assault will be all of us, but Hadrod, Hadrah and the goats. We have no intel about the inside of the Battle Market yet, but within two days you should be able to reduce their numbers significantly." Garavel tells. The people around here are the mercenaries, which seem to be four, the guards of Princess Almah which are also four, some stinking guy who's job is not clear and Father Zastoran, whose name you have heard several times, but whom you have not seen yet.
"To add some relevant information for your planning: All this scouting is nice and good, but this has been going on for several days. Sometime in the future they might get suspicious and come for us instead. So the time for just looking is over." "The group is back to full strength, and now we need results. You get two more days until we take the battle market. Everything you haven't dealt with until then, you'd have to fight then at once."
"That's out of the window. With her throwing you in jail, it's time to end that mionster."
"I see Ohrmizd can confirm your backstory." Garavel tells as he emerges from his quarters again. In fron tof which stand the more formally dressed and more impressive guards that care for the princess and Garavel. "As your goal seem to match mine, how about you join Ohrmizd's employment with me? As two of the original members of the group continue to be indisposed due to illness. Ohrmizd can fill you in on the details." "Take you time to consider. Until then, take a seat in the mess hall and Ohrmizd - please see to it, that our guests get a warm meal."
"My name is Garavel and I'm here with Pricess Almah Rovehski on behalf of the Pactmasters of Katapesh." After a short pause for effect he continues. "That Ohrmizd you're speaking of is in my service. I don't know when exactly he will be back, but you can wait inside, if you leave your weapons with the guards until Ohrmizd can confirm what you're telling. Or if you prefer not to part with your weapons, you can of course wait outside."
From the inside appears Garavel to check on the visitors. "Friends of Ohrmizd you say... interesting." He musters the new arrivals for a while, then he adds "What kind of friends are you? Does he owe you money that you follow him out here?"
"Garavel pats Tariq on his shoulder. No false humility - you'll manage that!" Garavel tells and then retreats to the chamber he and the princess reside in.
"That sounds promising. So we'll be ready by the end of the week to take the Battle Market?"
Garavel is eager to hear of this days progress. At least one could conclude that, as he comes out of his quarters when he hears of the groups arrival. "Welcome back. You seem to be in a good mood."
"I have to consult with Princess Almah about that. Go see Father Zastoran to have yourself patched up and to get some new gear." Garavel tells and retreats into the former library.
The details of battle Garavel just listens to without any reaction, but the information about Kardswann piques his interest. "So the leader is no gnoll but a genie - and supposedly possessed. That would make for a powerful enemy." "This harpy, what kind of help did she offer? To have such a monster permanently around in Kelmarene is a high price, that should bring a big advantage to be worth it."
The mercenaries break out in laughter as they see the group coming back. The princess guards are unmoved. At least on the outside. Your return is reported to Garavel and he comes out of the Princess' room to greet you. He musters all three of you with a stern look. "On the plus side, you're still alive. I was concerned you could have met sincere complications as you didn't report back yesterday." "What misfortune has befallen you?"
Garavel looks up and down the guy. "Get him to Father Zastoran to patch him up and start the interrogation immediately."
The quabble in the fields hasn't gone unnoticed and Garavel greets you outside the monastery. "Greetings. This is an interesting turn of events. Whom have you brought here?"
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