Oh, how unlucky! As Javeed approaches the goat with sack in hand to try to calm it down, the goat appears to get even more afraid. It runs around Javeed, wrapping the rope around his legs, right when he is near the edge of the ravine!
"blasted goat! hold still!
Oh!! How unlucky!!!!
As the tether wraps itself around Javeed's legs, he loses his balance and falls over the side of the ravine, landing in the outstretched arms of the massive cactus.
Falling on Cactus damage (1d6+2=3)
When Javeed falls, a tiny creature appears from behind a rock 5 feet from the goat, shrieking something in Gnoll.
It looks like the world's most revolting lapdog given humanoid form.
The creature points at Martika's javelin, and there is a high-pitched noise.
Kara tenses up, seeing the creature finally reveal itself. Here it is, hundreds of them are going to attack us, and we're all going to die. Letting out a sigh, she makes a quick motion and a dart appears in her hand. She remains crouched and hidden, ready to attack at the first sign of trouble.
slight of hand (1d20+8=27, 1d20+8=20)
Martika steps back from the creature and hurls her javelin at it.
"Sarenrae bless us and end this creatures curse. Please shine on your devoted followers." With that, she shifts her scimitar back to her right hand.
Before Martika can react, her javelin vibrates, and then shatters into flinders! How unlucky!
Martika flinches and shakes the remaining splinters of her javelin from her hand, then grabs her scimitar as she steps towards the hideous creature. As soon as she is within reach, she slices at it with her scimitar.
Mirama tries to get out of the cacti field, to check for any obvious opponents.
Khalit casts shield, preparing for the other attackers to descend.
Mirama
Are you trying to go forward or back?
Javeed scrambles up the cliff to strike at the insideout dog thing
Init=6; acrobatcs[21,9], to hit [23, 21], to damage [12,14].
"Javeed!"
At the sight of the creature, Ikethru entered into a prayer echoing Martika. "Holy Dawnflower, please guide us through this trial!" She then pointed at the the beast, hurling a bolt of flame a bit too hurriedly.
The creature moves away, shrieking and giggling, and fires an arrow at Martika.
Kara subtly readies her dagger.
Mirama joins the others on the ledge, after blundering through the cacti.
Dashki calls out, "Have you found the pugwampi yet?"
Javeed disentangles himself from the huge cactus, and climbs out of the ravine.
Martika moves towards the creature and slashes at it with her scimitar, but it's hard to hit such a tiny target.
Khalit casts a spell, which has no apparent effect on the fight.
Ikethru shoots a bolt of fire from her outstretched hand, which flies past the creature and Martika.
The goat continues to bleat piteously.
The creature giggles some more, as it moves out of range of Martika's scimitar and fires at her again.Shortbow (1d20+3=15, 1d3=1)
Ouch!
Kara stands up, now unhidden, and attempts to conjure up another dart, but her hand catches on her dress, revealing several more darts and a dagger strapped to her thigh for a moment before she gets her dress untangled. Ok, calm down, we're not dead yet, I need to help them!
slight of hand (1d20+8=11, 1d20+8=21)
She hurls another of her darts at the creature, only to watch in horror as it yet again completely misses, getting lost in the ravine with the other one.
Javeed swings at the dog thing
Javeed surges towards the creature, and hews it down with his falchion! The strange thing lies bleeding into the sand.
The goat continues to thrash about, its hide bristling with cactus spines.
Kara walks calmly over to the carcass, stares at it blankly for a moment, then kicks it roughly. Lost a couple of darts due to this turd... She glances up at everyone else, "This the only one? Then someone grab that goat and let's get back to camp. I'd like to get some sleep before dawn."
Ikethru let out a sigh of relief after Javeed cut the beast down. "I pray it was the only one." she responded to Kara's question, looking at her with concern, but not judgment, after her display of anger.
"And yes, we should hurry." She approached Martika and Javeed; she was worried about the injuries they had suffered just then, especially with Javeed's fall. "Are both of you alright for now? Or do you need healing before we make our way out of this mess?" She stressed the question toward Javeed, in case he should be the one to step forward again to try and calm the goat.
"Thank you Ikethru, I'm sure I'll be fine." Martika smiles and sheathes her scimitar. Staying clear of the thrashing goat, she picks up the strange creature by the tail. "I've never seen one of these 'pugwampis' before. Ugly critter."
Showing a great deal more caution and forethought than before, Martika looks for a safe way through the cacti. When she reaches Dashki's position, she throws the pugwampi at his chest.
"Here you go. I wasn't very impressed when I found out that you've been skulking in the shadows around the woman you supposedly love, or when you ran out of the camp during the fire. But I thought you'd at least participate in saving your own skin."
Turning to the others, she says "Let's get back to the camp."
Mirama stares down at that little doggy thing, which others call a pugwhat? again?!
"Another sign, that you don't have to be big to hurt someone or cause troubles!"
"I am fine, Ikethru, thanx!"
"Dashki, do we have to fear more of these little pests?"
While waiting for an answer, Mirama pulls out all those cacti covering her skin, letting the others handle the goat.
Showing a great deal more caution and forethought than before, Martika looks for a safe way through the cacti. When she reaches Dashki's position, she throws the pugwampi at his chest.
"Here you go. I wasn't very impressed when I found out that you've been skulking in the shadows around the woman you supposedly love, or when you ran out of the camp during the fire. But I thought you'd at least participate in saving your own skin."
The party meets Dashki in the midst of the cactus forest, as the strange man is very slowly and carefully limping along and leaning on his staff. Yet, his hand darts out quickly to catch the dead pugwampi when Martika throws it at him. He sneers at the paladin, and mutters, "Sure, forgive me for not wanting to look like a seamstress' pin cushion...see how fast you'd go with only one good leg." Turning pointedly away from Martika, Dashki scowls at the dead pugwampi, then shakes the corpse upside down by one leg. A rusty dagger falls out of the thing's pockets, followed by several light weight objects that flutter to the ground. A closer inspection reveals the final implicating evidence as to the fire's origin...scorched harrow cards. "Told you."
"Dashki, do we have to fear more of these little pests?"
"Doubtless there are more. But, I'm not going to wait around looking for them. We've got what we came for." Dashki turns around and is about to start back toward the camp, when he asks, "Where's that cursed goat?"
Javeed collects his gnoll hide armor and lantern, he dons the hide carcass, "I think that goat has it out for me, can someone else try to calm it" Javeed states mocking himself.
Wild Empathy, 12; Survival, 13.
"here Rombard, aren't you a lovely goat, everything is better now, let us get you home..."
Javeed collects his gnoll hide armor and lantern, he dons the hide carcass, "I think that goat has it out for me, can someone else try to calm it" Javeed states mocking himself.
Wild Empathy, 12; Survival, 13.
"here Rombard, aren't you a lovely goat, everything is better now, let us get you home..."
Javeed's soothing tones notwithstanding, Rombard is still running back and forth in a panicked state, nearly choking itself on the tether around its neck and bleating forlornly.
Though haunted by memories of being dragged through the dirt just hours earlier, Kara approaches the panicked animal. This was my fault, I've got to do something to help fix it. She starts singling gently a hauntingly beautiful tune, her arm outstretched towards him.
Rombard Will Save:1d20=19
The haunting refrain that resounds so melodiously from Kara's tongue goes unheeded by Rombard. Unfortunately, the goat is so worked up, that even this magical song cannot calm the animal down.
Seeing her soothing song not having any affect on the frightened goat, Kara changes her tune slightly, as her voice gets louder and shifts from a minor to major key. She continues to focus on the animal, attempting to draw its eyes into hers.
Khalit carefully picks his way out of the cactus patch, not wanting anything to do with the livestock.
Seeing her soothing song not having any affect on the frightened goat, Kara changes her tune slightly, as her voice gets louder and shifts from a minor to major key. She continues to focus on the animal, attempting to draw its eyes into hers.
Kara's vocal modulation has a dramatic effect on Rombard! The goat abruptly stops his crazed behavior, and gently sits on its haunches. Rombard tilts his head and emits a soft bleat, as he placidly listens to Kara's song.
Ikethru reached down to lay a hand on Kara's shoulder. "It looks as if you were the one meant to get him back after all." she said with a smile. "Thank you."
She offered Dashki the same smile. Unpleasant though he was, she was glad his innocence in Eloais' murder was proven. Still, she wished they wouldn't be so rough with the pugwampi's corpse.
"Trying to grab the goat now won't set him off again, will it?" she asked, uncertain whether she should be asking Kara or Javeed.
Kara continues her song and steps directly in front of the goat, placing one hand on its snout. She beckons to Ikethru, pointing at the tangled rope. As soon as the rope's undone, she will take the end of it and lead Rombard out of the thicket, singing all the way.
Ikethru looked where Kara pointed and nodded, quickly catching on to the idea that the halfling had to continue singing to keep the goat calm.
She gingerly stepped around Rombard, giving him plenty of space, and tried to approach his tangled rope from behind the goat. She slowly sawed through the rope with her scimitar, keeping a grip on the end that would soon be coming loose and handing it over to Kara.
Ikethru's sharp blade cuts through the rope easily, and Kara takes the end in hand like a leash. Still singing her tune the whole while, she and Ikethru turn and join the others as they head back through the cactus patch. Rombard contentedly allows himself to be led along, the animal's eyes continually fixed on the halfling songstress.
The party makes an odd procession, but by proceeding very slowly and carefuly, the group is able to come out of the cacti without any further mishap. Dashki casts an incredulous look toward Kara, still singing, as she leads Rombard along, but he keeps his thoughts to himself as he stumps along, cradling the dead pugwampi in his arms. The night is still full of odd shadows and sounds, but the oppressive feeling of wrongness has passed.
Returning to the campsite without incident, the group sees that Almah and Garavel have waited up for their return, with Keldon and Vodrave of the pactmaster guard lingering not far off. Despite the late hour, Hadrod and Hadrah have also remained awake, and they are the first to rush forward to greet the returning group as they enter the firelight. "Rombard! Oh, you've found him!" Hadrah calls out joyously, while Hadrod can only smile. He looks each party member in the eyes with a sincere nod of thanks, while his wife prattles on, "Oh, you poor thing, what's happened to you? You've been in the cactus patch, haven't you?" Kara finally is able to stop singing, and as the tune ends, Rombard gives a start. But, the goat recognizes its master and gives Hadrod a quick lick of the face and a happy bleat. Hadrod says, "Thanks for bringing him back. Especially you, little lady," with a wink to Kara. The happy pair excuse themselves, and lead Rombard off toward the animal pens, Hadrah fussing all the while about the cactus needles dotting Rombard's flank.
With that done, Dashki steps up and triumphantly holds the pugwampi corpse up for Almah and Garavel to see. "It's just like I said, a pugwampi. The damned thing even had some of those stupid fortune telling cards in its pocket."
Almah distastefully takes and examines the corpse for a moment, then hands it back to Dashki with a nod of satisfaction. Obviously, the dead creature before her settles the matter in her mind as to the origin of the deadly fire. "Dashki, as far as I'm concerned, this absolves of you of any blame for the fire. Please accept my apologies, and know that your name has been cleared."
Turning then to the party, Almah adds, "The investigation has been concluded to my satisfaction. You have proven your worth to me and to the endeavor to liberate Kelmarane. Well done! Tomorrow morning, I wish to discuss terms of permanent employment with you, if you are willing. But for now, it is late, and I wish to get some sleep. Tents have been erected for your use. Until tomorrow then, I bid you a good night."
Kara's Song:
"Silently into the night I go,
Into the fragrant night,
I know not where;
The path is strange-
My weary steps are slow-
I do not find you there.
I turn my gaze toward the morning sun
As from the east he comes thro' the dark and the dew;
The flowers lift their heads-the night is gone-
But where are you?
The countless weary steps I do not heed
Tho' they be over land or boundless sea;
I care not where the road may lead
If I but come again to thee.
Silently into the night I go,
Into the starry night of heavenly blue;
What matters where the road may lead
If I but come again at last to you!?"
Upon relinquishing the goat to its master, whom she acknowledges with a nod, she wordlessly trods off towards the tents to sleep, exhausted from the days travel and the recent ordeal.
Before they left, Ikethru retrieved the singed cards Dashki had dumped from the pugwampi's pockets. She couldn't just leave them behind.
She had difficulty not getting lost in Kara's song herself as they made their way out of the patch. What is she doing out here with our lot. She should be performing in a city somewhere, making a living in a safer place than this. She would have to find out more about the halfling, if she was willing to share her story of course.
She was glad to see the relief on Hadrah and Hadrod's faces, and especially glad that they thanked Kara. Almah declaring Dashki's innocence proven and her approval of the new arrivals to the caravan also lifted her heart. We've done some good today, at least. I must be in the right place then.
Still, she could not retire for the night until she was certain Eloais' remains had been laid to rest. She excused herself from the others with a short prayer to call on Sarenrae for healing, looking for Father Zastoran or anyone else who may have taken charge of that task. She wanted to offer her prayers for the man and place what cards she had gathered with his remains, hoping that he was now at peace at the very least.
Before retiring for the night, Garavel leads Ikethru to a simple burial mound on the outskirts of camp. The major domo explains that he had put the mercenaries to work burying Eloais while the party was out hunting the pugwampi. "Father Zastoran offered up a prayer to Pharasma for his soul," Garavel explains. "I'm sorry you missed the 'service', such as it was. I'll leave you alone now, if you wish to offer prayers of your own." Garavel excuses himself and leaves Ikethru to her thoughts.
Javeed approaches Dashki, "You are cleared, good news brother, but what darkens your mood all of the time, I would like to lend an ear, I think we two have shared similar experiences" Javeed states as he caresses his gnoll hide armor.
"Almah, I would like to follow up a few loose ends in this matter. While I agree that Dashki's name is clear, there may be some further depth to this matter. I know Eloias was a Harrower, but did he also use a crystal ball? Did he keep one in his wagon? I'd like to examine the remains of the ball and glass vials that Garavel discovered. It can, of course, wait until morning, but I do hope you will indulge my desire to be thorough."
"Well, all of this traipsing about the wilderness at night is not for me. I'm for bed."
Ikethru was comforted that Father Zastoran had seen to Eloais already, though she was disappointed in herself for not having returned the cards to the man sooner. She bowed to Garavel, thanking him for telling her, and then set about to what little she could do.
She gathered enough small stones to build a tiny ring at the foot of Eloais' grave, and set herself to building a fire in it with some of the nearby drybrush. She gave the cards, particularly The Cyclone, one last look before placing them in the fire. As they burned, she prayed to Sarenrae to safeguard the man's soul on his way to Pharasma's judgment. After letting the fire burn out, she spread the ashes of the harrow cards over Eloais' grave with a final word beseeching her goddess to look over him, and those he had left behind, such as Almah.
As she passed back through the campsite, she politely asked any still awake if there was anything they needed assistance with, and then retired for the night.
"Good Night, friends. I will go to sleep now, for tomorrow it seems, we have some topics to adress with Alma, and I want to have a clear mind than."
Kara, if you don't mind, I would love to hear another of your songs, while waiting for sleep to find me..."
Mirama, yawns, grabs her belongings and walks over to her tent, hoping that Kara sings another song at the campfire.
Javeed approaches Dashki, "You are cleared, good news brother, but what darkens your mood all of the time, I would like to lend an ear, I think we two have shared similar experiences" Javeed states as he caresses his gnoll hide armor.
Dashki stares at Javeed for a moment with haunted eyes, as though considering whether to answer the ranger's question. Finally, just as the silence has extended almost to the point of being unbearable, Dashki opens his mouth. His countenance grows distant as he relates his tale.
“Almah hired me about a month ago to tell her all about the gnolls living in these hills. Gnolls killed my mother and grandfather when I was a boy. They put fire to our village and slew hundreds. Somehow I escaped with my father to the town of Solku, not far from here. It was a long time ago, I’ve forgotten most of what I saw. Terrible things. But I find it’s the sounds that stay with me. The shrill howls and barks—hundreds of them at once—that sounded deliriously close to an audience. Laughing at us. Father raised me to know everything about the gnolls, their customs, their language. So as better to track them down and wipe them out. All of them. Together we scouted out their lairs, studied their tribes, listened to them speak until we could understand what they were saying. They’re not dumb animals, you know. Not like some might think. In some ways they’re even smarter than us. Dad didn’t survive our first raid on a gnoll camp of the Three Jaws tribe. I saw them fall on him like hyenas on an abandoned kill, slathering themselves in his blood and innards. I can still hear the tear of his scalp and the sound of his bones against frenzied teeth. Against this scene I was forgotten. Ignored. I escaped, and I carry on the work of my father.” Dashki can't keep the bitterness from his voice as he concludes his story.
"Almah, I would like to follow up a few loose ends in this matter. While I agree that Dashki's name is clear, there may be some further depth to this matter. I know Eloias was a Harrower, but did he also use a crystal ball? Did he keep one in his wagon? I'd like to examine the remains of the ball and glass vials that Garavel discovered. It can, of course, wait until morning, but I do hope you will indulge my desire to be thorough."
Before retiring, Almah answers Martika's question. "Eloais predominantly practiced his divinations as a Harrower, it's true. But he also dabbled in other arts, including clairvoyance with his crystal ball. You are welcome to have a look through the wreckage tomorrow morning if you like. I asked Trevvis and his crew to clean up the mess, but they aren't likely to make an early start of it. Good night, then."
The night passes uneventfully, and the party members enjoy a restful sleep, gratefully wrapped in layers of blankets to ward off the wasteland's bitter chill.
Morning finds several members of the camp up early and taking breakfast around the firepit. Almah, Father Zastoran, and the Pactmaster guardsmen are being served bowls of spicy porridge by Hadrah. Dashki also is up, and seated well away from everyone else. He eats his porridge ravenously with his hands in an animalistic display that draws more than one offended glare from the cultured priest of Nethys. Perhaps more disturbingly, Dashki has tied the dead pugwampi to the end of his gnarled staff, where it swings from a tiny noose around its neck.
Almah welcomes each party member to sit near her by the fire, and Hadrah happily offers a bowl of her tasty porridge to anyone who is hungry. When the entire party has assembled for breakfast, Almah addresses the group.
"As I said last night, I am interested in retaining the services of each one of you as a permanent part of this expedition. You have displayed courage and resourcefulness, qualties that will be desperately needed if we are to liberate Kelmarane from the tribe of gnolls that occupies it currently. I am willing to pay each of you 200 gold pieces up front for your services, with future considerations to be established."
The merchant princess continues, "Should you wish to accept these terms, you should be apprised of my first assignment for you. One pugwampi has already caused us considerable trouble, and I would surmise that there must be more of the foul creatures living nearby. Clearly, the Sultan's Claw is too exposed to serve as a permanent location for this camp. However, I know of a monastery to Sarenrae that once stood near Kelmarane. The building has fallen into ruin, and is likely far from abandoned. But it would still serve us well as a base of operations for the coming battle for the gnoll-held village if it can be secured. This would be your first task. What say you?"
At Mirama's request, Kara follows her to the dying campfire, and without any fanfare starts singing a simple, mournful tune:
"Remember still the world of nothing
That’s full of praise for all things that can’t exist
And don’t, but in my mind
Where demons, devils play;
Joy is fine, the evil banishes
Was never there, if I want
No matter, Life keeps living
Turning, spinning, breathing it sees
The nothing, still something, isn’t there
It is seen, not heard,
Thought, not felt
By whom cannot do them at all…
Out of control, falling down
Wild, passionate, held tightly
Embraced, loved for the torment we crave
Done to ourselves ‘till the end
And Joy returns again with sadness,
Side by side and hand in hand
They hold my heart and won’t let go
Even if I wanted, I’m bound willingly
To nothing and everyone
Who sees the same in shadows
And dark, dismal peace, the calm we crave
Never-ending, never there in the first place."
Upon finishing her song, Kara retires to bed. She is up early with the morning light and sets to work finding and repairing any snags in her dress from the romp through cactus fields the night before.
After hearing Almah's proposal at breakfast, Kara looks confused. She finally speaks up, "Uh, Madam?" After a moments pause, clearly waiting for permission to speak, she continues, "I uh...who would receive my earnings? I understood you were to be my new master..." her voice trails off uncertainly.
Almah:"As I said last night, I am interested in retaining the services of each one of you as a permanent part of this expedition. You have displayed courage and resourcefulness, qualties that will be desperately needed if we are to liberate Kelmarane from the tribe of gnolls that occupies it currently. I am willing to pay each of you 200 gold pieces up front for your services, with future considerations to be established."
The merchant princess continues, [b]"Should you wish to accept these terms, you should be apprised of my first assignment for you. One pugwampi has already caused us considerable trouble, and I would surmise that there must be more of the foul creatures living nearby. Clearly, the Sultan's Claw is too exposed to serve as a permanent location for this camp. However, I know of a monastery to Sarenrae that once stood near Kelmarane. The building has fallen into ruin, and is likely far from abandoned. But...
"Lady Almah, I can only speak for myself, so don't consider my voice the voice of our group. I have my own reasons, why I am here, and freeing a monastery of Sarenrae from "trash", even if the monastery is only a ruin, is a good deed in itself. Sarenrae guided my way more than once!"
"I am more than willing to enter your services, as I am sure what I seek is somehow related to all of this. Where I go after my business is finished, I have no need of money, so keep it. I will work for you just for something to eat and a place to lay my head during the night."
With that, Mirama looks into Almahs eyes. It is clear that she won't bow before anyone else anymore. But she smiles a warm smile.