Following Valik down to the southern end of the nave Dross checks behind pillars and under rubble from the collapsed roof. " Should we check out these other rooms before we head down? " poking his head through a door as he passes.
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Dross leaves his guisarme on the ground outside not expecting to need it to much inside. He loosens his longsword in its sheath and draws and strings his bow notching an arrow and nodding to Valik. "No that sounds good, let's do this. "
Dross nods at Valik. " Right, you heard him men, grab your gear and let's get moving! Ameera. Garavel. " he says first addressing the other mercenaries and then bowing to Almah and Garavel before turning and leaving the tent. He dons his armour and weapons and straps a cloth to his head to protect from the sun.
" Oh this sounds like fun... " Dross comments his voice dripping with sarcasm. " Really though, it shouldn't be to tricky, they don't really like being hit. Maybe if we go in and make a lot of noise they'll all clear out? What do you think Dashki? "
Dross eats his breakfast in silence, listening in to the conversation of others trying to get a sense of the camps mood. After eating he gathers and checks his gear. Why tie the goat up? Why not just kill it?
Dross bows and heads out of Almah's tent. He walks straight to Father Zastoran's hospital pavilion looking around for the old man.
" Well your name is cleared in my book, sorry I suspected you Dashki. " Dross relaxes when Dashki emerges from the bushes with the Pugwumpi held aloft. " Let's get back to the camp. "
Dross takes out his bow and sends a shaft at the Pugwampi.
Dross grabs hold of the rope and gives it a tug to make sure it's properly caught. Then bracing against the wall he begins to climb. " Should be easy enough now, take care of that bloody pugwampi! "
Dross stops scrambling at the cliff and takes his rope and grappling hook out of his pack. He pauses to take aim at the top of the cliff before hurling the hook hoping it catches on something.
Dross stands stretching aching muscles and dusting himself off he looks up at the goat and shakes his head. He looks at the cliff and shrugs searching for hand holds he attempts to climb.
" Damn goat! Woh.. Woh S#1T " Dross exclaims with his arms flailing wildly as he tries to keep his balance.
" Just the goat, just think years from now we'll be able to tell our grandchildren of the night we hunted the dangerous pugwampi beast to save the baby goat... If we can track them down that is! "
Dross's sword glitters in the torch light as he swings it back and forth though the scrub clearing a path while keeping an eye out for the goat and the pugwampi.
Dross nods to Valik and steps into the gap he's made hacking as he goes.
Dross looks the thicket up and down. " Should we try to hack our way through or try to crawl under it? I don't like the idea of being on my belly when we come across this thing. " holding his guisarme in his left hand he makes an experimental hack at the thorny bush with his longsword.
Dross charges after Valik ready to back him up. Apparently this is an important goat
" A goat? " Dross shudders at the sound already skittish with his guisarme at the ready from all the scampering noises he looks to Valik or Dashki for direction.
Dross looks from Dashki to Valik with a quizzical expression on his face. " Pugwumpis? " When Valik's expression doesn't change Dross shrugs and say " Ok then, let's go. "
Dross looks at the bowl in his hands and back over to Valik. What the hell is he doing following that maniac around! Well I can't let Dashki lead Valik into the desert alone. Dross takes the bowl back to the fire where he retrieves his Guisarme. " Sorry Hadrah but it seems Valik has found something. " Dross then hurries to meet Valik and Dashki at the animal pen. " Ok I'm ready. What have you found? "
" Yeah I might as well give it another go. " Dross takes another bowl and heads out to the guards keeping an eye out.
" I get yer point Valik. Nothin like doing a job yourself to make sure its done right. Want me to take the first or the second? "
Dross shrugs at Dashki as he storms off and goes to see the cracked remains of the bowl he dropped. He picks up the pieces and takes them back to Hadrah. " Sorry, I dropped this in the commotion. " He says looking from Hadrah to Valik.
At the sound of the shouting Dross fumbles the bowl of stew. There's a brief moment where it seems he may not drop it before the clay bowl tumbles and smashes in the dirt. " S#1t " Dross turns sharing a look with Valik before running towards the Armeera's tent drawing his longsword on the way while wishing for his Guisarme that's sitting by the fire.
Dross takes the bowl from Hadrah " Yeah one would probably be best. It would be a shame to see such a meal in the dirt. " he moves out into the camp seeking out a different guard than the one before.
Well now that's clearly tampered with and on the other side of the camp from the wagon. Dashki by the bush, the wagon set on fire and the animal gate broken open! I wonder if there is anyone in this camp who is trustworthy! " Get off! " he exclaims at one particularly stubborn goat. He looks around and wonders what he should do next. Maybe go around the camp and talk to the guards again? He heads back to the fire and addresses Hadrah " Those guards must be getting hungry out there, perhaps there is some stew left over I could take to them? "
Dross watches Dashki walk over to the armeera's tent Well that was easy... I wonder if she will be upset that I just sent him instead of 'bringing him'. Perhaps I should go stand by the side of the tent? I could listen to them... Probably best not to. Though he is a bit of a brute but then so am I. Dross gets up and instead decides to head over to the animal pen to check the 'broken' gate. " I'm gonna go check that gate " he says bluntly to Hadrod. " don't worry I'll be careful. " he heads over to the gate to see in what manner it was sabotaged or if it was merely opened.
" Leave it to me. " Dross says nodding " I think I may even be able to get some of the others to help if it comes to that. Just keep an ear out " Dross wanders over to the fire and plonks himself down by the fire next to Asad " This investigations going nowhere! " he says in a voice he hopes is just loud enough to carry to Dashki. " Just gave the report to the Ameera and she wasn't to pleased! " at this he leans forward and looks over to Dashki. " Oh, Dashki the Ameera asked to see you in her tent. " Social Check if required:
Dross follows valik's example bowing and retreating out of the tent. " Damn I don't remember that order at all! " He whispers to Valik while he scan s the camp for Dashki. " There he is still by the fire. Hmm but who's that with Father Zastoran "
Dross looks to Valik and then back at Almah. " Well Ameera, Father Zastoran seems to believe that Dashki lusts after you... and that he may have imagined a reason to be jealous of Elois. It doesn't seem enough to prove he is guilty. I fear that we have failed you." Dross bows his head fearful of the Armeera's response to such base comments concerning her.
Dross nods along as Valik shares what he found before launching into his own report." Well Ameera, Dashki your guide was seen by one of the guards hiding in the scrub behind your tent right before the fire was lit. Trying to see your silhouette the guard believed. I'm not sure if he could have made it to the wagon to start the fire but in my experience people don't hide unless they are doing something wrong. Perhaps the fire and the letting go of the animals were designed to be distraction while something else was carried out? Have you found anything missing from your tent since the fire?"
" Not much I'm afraid. Dashki was hiding behind a bush near the Ameera's tent perhaps watching her just before the fire started. I'm not sure if he could have got to the wagon in time to set the fire. I still think he had something to do with it though maybe he had an accomplice? What about you? " Dross says after leaning in to whisper.
Dross scratches his greasy hair releasing flakes of scalp. Well perhaps this isn't so open and shut and the only person here that can help is our only suspect... Dross wanders around to the burnt out wagon again and to see if he can find any prints that might match those behind the bush, though he's not hopeful.
He then heads back to the fire to meet up with Valik.
Dross shakes his head slowly and then looks up from the bush to Elois burnt out wagon. Trying to work out if it would be likely if Dashki lit the fire or not. Trying to catch a glimps of the Ameera was a little creepy but it was far from proof that it was he that started the blaze.
"Thanks effendi, I've got to go check out that tree but if you remember anything else let me know alright? Here, no guard can watch on an empty stomach!" Dross says handing the guard some bread and a bit of slightly mouldy cheese from his rations to go with the jerky before heading over to the tree to see if he can find anything that could pin Dashki.
"Seems no one really likes this Dashki... Which tree did you see him behind?"
"Actually I'm trying to work out how the fire started." He pulls out some jerky from his rations and starts chewing. "Jerky?" he says offering the guard some. "Do you know anything that could help? Like where people were when the fire started and directly before?" he asks spitting out a rather tough piece of jerky and ripping off another bit with his teeth.
Dross nods to Valik "Good luck with the drovers, they seemed a narky lot. Someone should keep an eye on Daski in case he tries to run." He says looking to the others from their small group. Dross heads over to the nearest guard. "Any sign of Gnolls around?"
"Accident or something more sinister?" Dross almost growls the question not liking this guys tone. "Where have you been while Elois' wagon was burning to the ground?"
"Well just be careful with your speculation. I'd hate to condemn the wrong man. If Almah found out we might not get paid!... I can't see anything obvious in all this mess," Dross says indicating the ashes. "Let's go question someone else." He looks around the camp trying to pick out who to question next.
" It never looks good when a culprit is needed and a man is missing. Sounds like there's a good chance it was this Dashki! What do you reckon Valik? Case closed hmm? "
Dross prods a melted candle with his boot "Hmm! You sign on hoping to get out into the wastes, stretch your muscles and kill a few Gnolls and what do you get instead?! Police work!" he grumbles as he sifts through the burnt out wagon. Then he turns to Father Zastoran. "Can you think of anyone who may have had a reason to do this sort of thing? Almah said your guide was missing, what was he like?"
Dross shrugs and then kneels down to untie the litter from the camel. He takes one end and gets ready to lift with Valik.
Dross walks back into the camp muttering about animals. He checks on Garavel, making sure he didnt get trodden on in the commotion.
Handle Animal:
"ARRGH! Stupid beast!" Dross exclaims as the camel he was sneaking up on sees him and runs even further a field.
With the Wagon moved Dross looks about. Camels are life in the desert! "Good luck with the fire." he runs after the camels trying his best not to chase them further away. Handle Animal:
Tossing his bucket aside and moving to the other wagon Dross put his shoulder to the back of it. "One more time men!"! heaving with everything he has as the wagon rocks on its wheels. Str check:
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