Round 3, Init 10
Malki takes a few beautiful stones out of his pocket and begs Lalaci to let them strike true.
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Round 2, Init 10 "Lalaci, lend us luck that we might smite these minions of misfortune." Malki calls the Shepherd's blessing down upon the party, and draws his sling from his belt.
Round 1, Init 10 Malki runs toward the fight. "Lalaci grant us good fortune!"
Malki moves up and begins searching for signs of tracks.
Malki eventually seeks Dashki out, rather quietly gesturing a request: May I sit with you? Eventually, should his presence be welcome, he says quietly, "She is beautiful, no? I find my heart leads me in other directions, but I can see how she might pull upon the heartstrings."
"Lalaci would thank us for removing such a blight on mortals' fortunes. But let us approach our vanguard with care, letting misfortune remain at the outside extent of our slings and arrows." Later, Malki sits with Mahdi, Hazim and (if they are also present) the Brothers Piddlespot. "Tell me, my new friends, what fortune do you seek in this world? I hear your hatred for the jackalmen, but what hopes do you hold? What would you care to have accomplished when Pharasma comes to embrace you?"
Malki beams. "May Lalaci guide us toward our true path, and away from the mirages of gossip and prejudice."
Malki nods sagely. "These evil jani may have caused our Harrow man to lose his life, but Lalaci brings fortune born anew to all who'll hear her call. Thanks, stern Dashki. Let all the camp know your heart is true."
"Peace, brother. I believe you. We come asking about something else." Malki once again takes out the small corpse wrapped in his cloak, which has no doubt begun to smell almost as strong as Dashki. "Do you know what this is? Might it have caused the fire?"
Malki goes in search of Dashki. Even the black sheep deserves the shepherd's love.
Malki stirs himself from his reverie. The battle with the djinnling left him a bit speechless, and in need of some heavenly water. "We have, though, found evidence of a small creature stealing away our goats. A djinnling of mischievous mien. Could it be that it has been sewing other mischief in the camp?" If no one else picked up the body, he draws it forth. "I know not the name of this sort of mephit, but it looks capable of much ill will."
Surprising Round "Djinnling, I said leave Rombard alone! Lalaci, grant us healing that we may bat away the evils that plague your sands!" A great holy energy emanates from Malki, healing those who have been harmed (including the goat, but not this supposed djinnling).
Seeing that his new companions are willing to help, Malki touches Hazim and says, "Lalaci make your steps true and safe." He then attempts to enter in his own.
Malki shakes Hazim's hand, until he hears the bleats. As he hears the goat's distress, great light emerges from Malki's crooked staff. He begins moving in that direction. "Leave Rombard alone, djinnling!" DM: He uses his Daylight spell-like ability.
No, no. This time it's me. GM Slosh, please feel free to reel me in if it helps. :-p
Before Hazim leaves, Malki murmurs, "Ah, it looks to be one of the wee folk. Perhaps a mephit or a djinnling. We shall see." Despite Hazim's words, Malki indeed tops the hill and moves onward, a magic stone loaded in his sling. He calls out to the goat, hoping to elicit its bleats.
"If you like, do go fetch them. I'll be at the top of the hill waiting. If you see Lalaci's light in the dark, that means trouble." Malki climbs up to the top of the hill, intrepidly seeking to protect his flock.
Malki frowns. "No jackal prints these. Something dragging our beloved goat." With a meaning-laden look at Hazim, he takes out a few stones and says a prayer over them before moving onward, sling in hand.
"The man leaves footprints? Well that is certainly a relief. I was worried he might be an efreet, floating on hot air. It might explain the sulfur stench." Malki smiles mischievously, and laughs a bit. Malki, whose eyes see perfectly well in the dim light (to a point—that point being sixty feet away), sets about tracking with Hazim.
He keeps his ears alert for the bleats of the beloved Rombard il Hadi.
Malki bows to husband and wife il-Hadi. "Let me go see what can be done about Rombard." Such a strange name for a goat. Like one of those peculiar Avistani names. Seems they have a muse about them. He approaches Hazim, who appears to be the strongest of the lot. "Brother Al-Jabira, how goes the inquisition? Our friends the camel tenders had rumors to share about the smelly one, Dashki, but nothing more than rumor I'm afraid. I've promised to search for their prized goat though. Would you care to join me for a little look about? We could perhaps also see if there are tracks in the sands beyond."
That was the most cryptic (non)spoiler I have ever seen!
@Hadrah:
"Dashki, you say. He seems a strange sort, but being a black sheep doesn't make one a wolf. He smells strong, but so do I after a few days tending to camels... Hm... Have you known him to threaten any humans, other than with his odor?"
@Had(rod + rah): "Yes, indeed, our furry flock are truly our best companions, sometimes." Malki readies to go find one of his new companions, to aid with the tracking, then pauses. "I do not know, sister. There was no sign of a fight. But it seems we're to ask around to make certain. Why? Is there something we should know? Mind, let's not borrow trouble or trade in idle gossip. Sand can get confused for water in the desert sun."
Yes, you'll need ER puns if you're gaming with Punlord.
Malki nods with worry at the news of a missing goat. "Have no worry, frend. I'll gladly track him, and they say I have uncommon good nightvision. Let me see if I ca get a friend to join me. But do tell me more about what you saw as the fire made itself known."
"Brother, what worries you so?" Malki puts his hand on Hadrod's shoulder. He does his best to sooth the man and non-verbally coax words out of him.
"As Lalaci says, hot sands require supple sandels, if one is to find one's fortune under the desert sun." Malki smiles and bows deeply in turn. "I am a shepherd of flocks by birth. On this day I worry about our two-legged flock here. I am greatly saddened by the loss of the Varisian, whom I would have liked to have known. What can you tell me of him?"
"I shall chat with our pack masters." Malki wanders off to greet the camel tenders and offer their beasts heavenly water.
"What can you tell us of how the others related to Eloais? I understand you feel most suspicious of Dashki, but fairness means considering everyone. Even Garavel, for instance."
"It is true those cards of his seem strange and, well, unnecessary. Why look to paper when fortune is written in the sands? But tell me, was there a particular incident that made you think Eloais may be a charlatan?"
Malki smiles at Mahdi's exuberance, and laughs at the priest's words. "Mercenaries? I am but a wandering child of the desert, making sure Lalaci's flock is guided towards fertile pasture. Though I suppose some of that flock includes caravans and mercenaries... Tell me, Father, what impression have you of the others in this camp? Were any of them frequent visitors of the Harrower?" Why one would look to cards for divination, and not the sands themselves, I shall never understand. These Varisians are strange folk.
Malki shrugs as the smelly misanthrope withdraws. This man has given up on finding what fortune has in store for him. May Lalaci grant him happiness anyway. Turning back toward the heart of the camp, he searches for Father Zastoran. He almost leaves him be once he sees the skittish halfling watching the man. He thinks better on it and gives Ami a friendly nod as he approaches the priest. "Father Zastoran? I am Malki. A shepherd of Lalaci's flocks. Might I have a word with you?"
Malki joins Aldebert's conversation with Dashki and listens for a moment. He adds in, "We'd indeed be grateful to know what you may have seen around the tent." He catches a whiff of the man's stench and absently scratches his nose. "Also, what was your impression of Eloais, the Harrower? Who might have felt ill will towards him?"
Malki also examines the body to verify that it was indeed fire that killed it (and not, say, a blunt object on the noggin).
As he sees the hovering figure, Malki calls out in friendly fashion, moving towards the figure. "Hello, my good friend. Have we met? They call me Malki Zedek."
Malki nods at the others' words and proceeds to investigate the wagon site, making sure not to crowd the skittish Ami.
My new friend Mahdi is intent on his fortune. May the legacy he seeks not be a fiery blight on others. Malki listens quietly, gauging the speakers. What fortunes do my friends here seek, that Eloais might have drawn out. She thinks it's to rebuild her town. Will that be the true destination for her journey? The wizard begins to suspect this legacy of fire as the end of his journey. Has he the right of it? And what of these others? Haleen's whispering brother gnashes his teeth at the mention of gnolls. What lies after that will light up his face with joy? It shall be for me to divine. He nods his head as the group gets ready to begin its investigation. He takes the Cyclone card from his turban and hands it to Almah. "Lalaci delivered the cyclone to me on the wind. There will certain be tests for us in the coming days. Opportunities no doubt to hate and hurt, but also opportunities for each of us to learn what we most treasure. May this first investigation lead us onto such a path."
"I am Malki Zedek, and I bring blessings from Lalaci, who guides travelers to their fortune. I offer my prayers, that you may drink and be well. And I bring some skill with the beasts that bear us and our provisions." He bows in a humble but not subservient fashion. You need Lalaci's blessing far more than I need yours. And yet... "It is my pleasure to travel alongside you at present."
Malki looks somewhat crossly at the presumptuous caravan owner. Neither the desert winds nor I are bound to your word. He speaks to the man, @ the man:
"Please. I am a healer and well acquainted with the desert. If this Rombard is missing or injured, I should like to help him. Er, or her. It?"
Shaking his head at the man's recalcitrance, he joins the confab with Almah. He soon lets the worry pass. From fire and the final fate of some comes good as well as ill. Listen and wait.
Malki smiles patiently at Garavel but goes about his work. The shepherd tends all of his flock, not just those of downiest fleece. @the woman: "Rombard? Who? Where was Rombard?" Malki readies himself to find this Rombard and perhaps heal grievous wounds.
Round 3 Once he ascertains that the flames are under control, Malki moves to wrangle te frightened livestock, giving a melodic "Lu loo lu loo" as needed.
Reto RP @ Ye Brothers Piddlespot: Seeing Amiamble shrink away, Malki withdraws his hand. He puts the bowl of water down on the ground and moves behind Aldebert's shoulder. "I pray we find your sister well, and that she has found what fortune lies before her. May we all be like the noble djinn, helping each others' wishes bear fruit." He nods, gives a smile to Aldebert if he'll match gazes, and withdraws.
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