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While Nombir and Zaid visit Undrella, Shimei watches and naps. In the afternoon, prompted by a sudden fervor for community building, he draws together the remaining party members. "We have many unfilled hours before us which will seem unending. Stories would shorten the time. Who will speak of themselves first?"
FW: Spoiler:
I plan to calm animal the boar, waltz it down the street by leading it with truffles (handle animal) , and turn it loose in the market. It would work better if I could speak with animals, but I kept dog instead. Shimei settles in a shaded spot. He suggests watch be kept on Kelmarane and the surrounding area and stands his turn. Dog lies down or wanders the camp begging food, water, or attention. Map links:
Dog trots over to sniff Erizi's target. He apparently likes what he smells because he drops on his back and begins wriggling through it.
"Good eyes to see the foe and an easy retreat are the best defense if we are outnumbered. The trouble with the cave was its single exit. Here we can retreat on the trail we came in on, or cut to that ridge and follow it below the rim." " The longer we wait the more chance that a Gnoll patrol will discover us, but Shimei is correct about the guards and Livvy is correct about the healing. On that basis, we attack tomorrow morning at first light while the village is still sleeping. That will give us time to heal and prepare. Zaid and Shimei can create distractions once the rest of us start to infiltrate the village. Then they can also used their ranged weapons and spells to support the attack initially and then join us in the village once things kick off. I will lead the attack with Erizi and the rest of you follow us. We head straight for the building that Rova has indicated. If it all goes wrong we all run and meet back here. All we all agreed?" "You speak with the sphinx' wisdom. We will be well-rested and Zaid can rally his winged ally. I agree." *** Shimei listens to Felliped's suggestion, but knows it is not the task for him.
"The guards in the tower will be a problem until nightfall. I would counsel that we wait a hand of days before striking but the haste of some eclipses the wisdom of others." He grins. "Bow-father willing, I have a distraction at hand if that great boar still breathes."
Standing up Shimei smiles as he stashes his prizes in his bag. Perfect. Reaching Kelmarane, Shimei says, "What is the plan now?"
Survival --
Shimei grunts in agreement with Nombir. He has his gear assembled and is ready to go in a few moments. He leads the party in a wide day-spanning arc to the far end of the village. FW: Spoiler: I want to end up near the big boar house. I also want to look for boar food on the way. (animal carcasses , roots, mushrooms, anything the boar might like)
"If they spurn the blessings of the Bow-father, let them go. May they die without sons."
Livvy stands and bows. "Thank you, Shimei. I did not bring him, that was the workings of another. But I have accepted him." "No little one. Others made him our prisoner. You made him one of the group. Without you he would be dead by now."
Shimei kneels, head pressed to the ground in front of his bow. "Ahr!" He straightens, then stands. "The Bow-father conceals his face from me. I can receive no guidance in this matter. Sometimes it is for men to choose." He calls out to the departing gladiator, "Erizi, stay. Hear me." He walks back toward the others. "I have no love for hyena men. They are walking jackals. Trustworthy as scorpions. Slavers, killers. Since they destroyed Merraketh, the home of my birth, I have hunted gnolls where I could to kill them and make this land safe for families and towns. But I was alone and accomplished little, save causing my prey to double its guard. " "The Bow-father led me to you with a vision of a shining city of white and gold at the foot of the mountains. Kelmarane reborn! Home to men's families and halfling clans.A strong redoubt against the savages of the wilderness beyond. " "Together can we achieve this aim. As a community it is within our reach. And the Bow-father smiles." "Erizi, I say to you, if you go I bear you no ill will, but you reject the blessings of the Bow-father and will receive his curse. You will not know the comfort of friendship and family. You will die alone and unremembered. If you walk away you break our fellowship no less than the gnolls broke my family." "Livvy, for better or ill you brought Rova into our fellowship. I do not like it. I do not like him. But for your sake, and the sake of our bonds, I say he may stay."
"He has not awakened yet. He looks like he was in a fight with at least two foes - here's a sword or axe wound, this on his head looks like a club strike. I've stopped the bleeding, I think. Can you - would you - or Nombir use your god's blessing to provide healing - Erizi and Rova both could use it." Shimei glances at Rova, the nomad's face is hard. "Gnolls raided my village. They killed or tool my family and my friends. The Bow-father calls me to drive the hyena-men from Kelmarane and save this land from their predations." Shimei looks over the ridgeline in the direction of Kelmarane. "He has shown me a shining city of white and gold at the foot of the mountains where children can play safely and families raise their crops. Where in this city is there a place for his kind?" He prods Rova with the tip of his bow. Shimei looks down at Livvy. "I would kill him where he lies, but for you. Perhaps Nombir will be quicker to aid him." Shimei sighs. "You have bandaged him well. I think he will last a little while. I must pray on this. "
Shimei trots back to the party. "I see no pursuit. For now. What is his story?"
Shimei levers himself on his feet and begins stringing his bow. He scowls in the gnoll's direction. Why is he back? And has he lead others to us. "Norn." Shimei points along the back trail and to the left. "Dog. " Shimei heads out on the right side of the trail.
Shimei will whistle a halt after about an hour. He's looking for a spot where crouching or recumbent men will be hidden from a distance and we can see down our backtrail a good distance. Caves with one exit need not apply. Some shade once the sun comes up would be a bonus. Finding such a place he stretches out on the ground, "Zaid, Erizi. It's still your watch."
"You are lucky he left you alive." "Let's go that way. " Shimei points in the direction away from Almah's camp at the old monastery.
"No, you stay in the middle. Norn and Erizi lead. What happened with Rova?"
Shimei draws and nocks another arrow and sits listening and watching. He knows better than to pursue gnolls in the dark. Perception, If he hears nothing, Shimei waits a while longer. When he is convinced the gnolls are gone, the nomad slips through the darkness back to the cave. "We move now before they bring more." He looks at the party sizing up the people. "Rova and Livvy on point. Erizi, Nombir, Zaid and Norn in the middle. I'll watch the backtrail with dog. Keep moving away from Kelmarane. Three whistles means stop."
Shimei straightens up as if startled and looks around. He whispers something and pauses, then looks around again. Livvy, FW: Spoiler:
What Shimei whispers is "Little one? Livvy, where are you? Livvy ...?"
Shimei gives up on looking and shouts, "Move the lights. We can shoot the gnolls."
Shimei hesitates, torn between helping Erizi and the two targets to the left. The lure of gnolls in his sights is too much. He begins easing to the left hoping for a clear shot. FW: Spoiler: In game terms, ready an action to fire on a gnoll if Zaid moves his dancing lights to reveal one. If I get a target
Long Bow ... damage .. includes gnoll killer bonus, if they are inside 30' add another +1 to hit and damage for point blank shot
Shimei yells out," Erizi, I hear something ahead of you."
Perception
Shimei crouches behind a rock with his bow in his left hand and his morningstar in his right. He peers into the surroundings, epecially the left, trying to see or hear something.
Perception
"Dog, stay, " Shimei commands in a low voice. Bow in one hand, morningstar in the other, Shimei circles out of the cave toward Erizi. He stays low and dodges behind rocks to stay hidden and protected from javelins.
Perception on the way,
cure light on Shimei during flind attack at monastery
and 2 (?) channels. (I might have counted one twice while going back and forth.) As a 2nd level cleric with 16 wis Nombir gets 2 + 1 first level spells and gets a bonus spell for wisdom. His 13 wisdom gives him 4 channels. To be perfectly fair, Nombir was first level when he prepped spells. We leveled after that.
Shimei crouches against the left wall of the cave. He scoops up a small stone and asks, "Bow-father, grant us light that we may better hunt these walking hyenas." He throws the stone out into the rocks, hoping that he doesn't accidentally shine a light on his allies.
If you need a roll for the throw, (added BAB and dex)
Light: Spoiler: This spell causes a touched object to glow like a torch, shedding normal light in a 20-foot radius, and increasing the light level for an additional 20 feet by one step, up to normal light (darkness becomes dim light, and dim light becomes normal light). In an area of normal or bright light, this spell has no effect. The effect is immobile, but it can be cast on a movable object.
You can only have one light spell active at any one time. If you cast this spell while another casting is still in effect, the previous casting is dispelled. If you make this spell permanent (through permanency or a similar effect), it does not count against this limit. Light can be used to counter or dispel any darkness spell of equal or lower spell level.
Initiative Dog stirs and growls softly, jostling Shimei. The desert son hisses,"Shhh. Sleep, dog." Then the clatter of javelins against the stone cavemouth wakes him fully. He gropes for his bow and quiver and shambles toward the mouth of the cave. "What is it?"
Shimei will wait until Norn is back with Erizi before going to get Zaid. He'll quietly address the mage, "Zaid, there has been little rancor between you and Erizi. Remind him that he is our eyes and ears now, especially while you study your book. If anything happens on your watch wake Norn, and I first. Livvy and Nombir must rest if possible." Perception:
"May a hundred ravens feast on your beating heart! You could have burned me!" Shimei steps around her and keeps on going. Once clear of the cave he does a quick sweep of the area about 100 yards out from the cave. Perception
The sweep provides time for the adrenaline to wear off and for his mind to clear. When he returns to the cave he pulls Livvy aside. "Sorry, little one, I should not have yelled at you. The labors of the day and terror of the night set me on edge. You did well." A long pause..... "Thank you." Shimei wraps himself up in his traveling robe and couches himself next to dog again. He is determined to get every bit of sleep possible before it is his shift.
Shimei stoops to light the oil just as Livvy's sheet of flame showers a across the swarm. Shimei reels back, throwing his arms across his face. "May a hundred ravens feast on your beating heart! You could have burned me!" Shimei looks at the gnoll for solidarity, after all they were side by side. Then he realizes he's looking at a gnoll for support. "I'll see if there are any more of these vermin around. Dog, stay." Shimei pushes his way out of the cave. Dog circles his spot on the cave floor and lies down, looking at Norn with arched brows.
Dog starts to bark and backs further into the cave. Shimei draws his flint and iron and moves toward Rova. "Pour it out! I'll light it."
Shimei grabs his bow. "Dog! Wake up! NOMBIR!"
Shimei Perception: Dog Perception: Shimei hears the halfling's cries and pulls himself into a kneeling position. Dog rolls vertical and struggles to his feet.
Shimei pulls aside Nombir and Livvy, "Beware the gnoll, even if he sleeps. Livvy, I know you eyes are better in the dark than ours, but sit apart from the cave a bit and listen too with your ears. Trust also your nose in the dark. It may reveal what is hidden from your eyes and ears." After this conversation Shimei wraps his cloak around him and lies down near dog. The stone is hard, but may keep my senses alert, even in sleep.
Dog collapses in a hollow near one wall. "No fires." Shimei drops his pack. He quickly searches the cave for signs of habitation or other entrances. Perception Then he begins to unpack food, especially the snakemeat. "Here, it would be better cooked, but it will still fill your belly." He even offers some to Rova. Then he crouches next to dog and cuts small pieces of the meat which he feeds to dog or to himself with his fingers. "You fought well today, dog." As he does so, he puzzles out the watches.
FW: Spoiler: Shimei was focused on the old shrine as a convenient sheltered spot, but I think not now that the gnoll is with us and we may have gnolls on our trail. He just wants a high place where the party can be hidden from sight and still watch for anyone coming up their trail.
His experience is all hit and run. If pursued he's going to want to flee. Also getting rest for the casters is high on his list. We need to recharge.
Since we've crossed the river, Shimei's plan is to keep falling back to the east another mile or two, and pick up some elevation in the hills. He'd like to find a sheltered place where we can see a portion of our backtrail and if possible, Kelmarane. While on the move Shimei watches Rova for any sign that he is leaving clues to their passage including "marking" the trail. Perception
Knowledge
Inwardly, Shimei recoils from the idea of a gnoll pack member, but he can see the utility of the ploy -- and the risk. "You can't trust a hyena. If we show any weakness he will turn on us! What if it is in a fight? What if he runs?" The desert rat thinks some more. "Nombir leads. If he agrees I will follow."
FW: Spoiler: Would Shimei have any idea how common the name Rova is? If so may I use that info?
Shimei scowls. He doesn't seem to understand any of these words either.
Dog lies next to Erizi licking his own wounds. Then he shifts position to scratch behind his ear. Then he starts licking Erizi's wounds. Shimei finishes caring for the bow and packs up his kit. In a much calmer frame of mind he returns to the others in camp. He affects to ignore the gnoll, but watches from the corner of his eye. "When will we move again? We need to get farther away and then rest."
Dog stalks Erizi carefully. He creeps up behind the gladiator slave before dashing in to nose the slave's buttocks in the friendly inquiring manner of dogs.
From the undergrowth Shimei sees the confrontation. Erizi has some sense at least, but he lacks the adder's patience. Shimei chuckles at his little joke. Then he glances back toward the main party. Must they take so long!? He finds a clearing and kneels down with his bow. He takes the oil and cloth from his pack and begins to rub down his bow. *** When Erizi walks off, Dog remains a while in camp growlig softly at the gnoll. Then he stands, shakes himself, and trots after the slave.
Shimei keeps quiet and circles around the campsite. He hates stopping this close to Kelmarane. He worries that he hasn't adquately covered their trail. He hates the possibility that two dozen gnolls could be on their trail right now. He hates this gnoll, but realizes the value of the information Livvy and Nombir are trying to get. He hopes he's well enough out of the gnoll's sight that he doesn't spook the hyenahead.
At the snake house Shimei deposits the first body and wakes Felliped. "We must leave. They will search everywhere when the patrol does not return and we are taking too long to leave." Shimei leads the way back to the others and the third corpse. He grimaces at the sight of the living gnoll. "That one will be trouble," he thinks angrily. He thrusts the greatsword into Nombir's hands. Then he hisses to the halfling rogue, "Norn, lead them straight that way down to the river. Single file. Walk in the river two hundred paces downstream and out on the far bank. Mark the spot where you get out by driving the greatsword into the bank so I can see it. Leave one person on your trail to watch the spot in case I miss it. "I will finish hiding the bodies and will cover your trail. Zaid, stay with me. Keep watch for gnolls and watch dog too. If he focuses on something look there." "Shhh. Dog, leave that. Ahh, you stupid animal." Shimei cuts the piece of liver that Dog was chewing on free of the flind. "Take it then. You fought well."
Survival ambush to snake house.
Shimei trots back to Erizi. "Well struck. Truly you are the champion of eternity." He picks up the flind's two-handed sword and makes sure the three gnolls are truly dead by decapitating them. Nombirs breathes a sigh of relief "Well done everybody! We're alive, just!". He keeps his morning star ready in case the Gnoll changes his mind. "We need to move away from this place. Livvy, please tell the Gnoll that he will live if he does what you say. Somebody bind his hands. Shimei, please lead us out of here to somewhere we can hide and question this creature" While he saws away on the flind's tough hide, he says to Nombir, "Question him now, then kill him. He will only slow us down or leave a trail for others to follow. " After the three down gnolls are doubly dispatched, Erizi scoops up the two-handed sword and approaches Dog. "Stupid dog, to get bitten by a jackal. Stupid, stupid dog." He turns to Nombir, gather the wounded. I will ask for the Bow-father's help for us." He channels a quick burst of healing energy. He begins to clean up the ambush site. "We should hide the bodies. The House of the Snake would be good. We must also wake Felliped. He must come with us." "Hurry. They may have heard the fight. They may investigate the jackal if it returns to the battle market."
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