After his short, very unsuccessful and deeply dissatisfying stint as a goat herder, Aki tried hard not to feel deeply disappointed by himself. Sure, given the situation, it might have been the best use of his skills - but they were just not up to the task. No matter how much he tried not to think about it, he was pretty sure it had been beneath his station, too.
Destruction about him doesn't seem to faze the sahir at all. He finds his attention drawn to Almah almost exclusively for a long while but when Garavel gives instructions Khaliq snaps back to reality.
"Ah yes, no doubt it is a glorious thing to guard the lady Almah." He says with a particular flourish unsuitable to the situation. "But if we are charged with seeking out this vagabond perhaps we could do with more information? Garavel you stumbled upon the situation with the rest of us so you would know nothing. The lady on the other hand-"
"Actually," Garavel starts to reply, "I have dealt with most of the..." but he trails off as Khaliq takes off without waiting to hear his answer.
Khaliq's voice trails off as his lips curl upwards in a slightly devious smile. He approaches Almah, obviously relishing the opportunity to discuss anything at all with her, and once again his voice rings out.
"I am Khaliq Aziz," He begins joyfully. "Charged with finding the dastardly thief who stole into your camp and took with him a life and much more." Khaliq's ability for stating the obvious is punctuated with some annoying mannerisms. "But we require a little help in this task, a bit of information perhaps? Did you notice anything suspicious this evening? Somebody with a motive to inflict such violence upon your group? I suspect not many would wish ill upon you Almah al-Hazaad, for that is who you must be, but maybe one of the other members of your caravan?"
Almah blinks somewhat in surprise at Khaliq's manner, but she shrugs as she settles herself on the ground in front of her tent. "Doesn't seem likely to have been an attack on me anyway," she answers. "It was Eloais' wagon, not my tent, that burned. Eloais was one of the Ra'Shari, a diviner, and I hired him about a month ago to read his cards for me. My family... well, my great-grandfather spent several months traveling with a Ra'Shari caravan, learning about their mystical traditions, and when he returned to Medinaat al-Salaam, he brought a Ra'Shari wife with him. So some of that blood runs in my veins, and somehow, having a diviner at my side felt... 'right,' in a way." She pauses thoughtfully, but shakes her head after a moment. "He only read his cards for me, so I can't imagine why anyone might have been angry with him. He mostly stayed in his wagon, only came out on occasion for meals. That's where he was tonight, as far as I know. I was inside my tent, and only knew something was wrong when I heard the flames and shouting."
Ammon watches Khaliq as he gets near Almah and narrows his eyes. He managed to remain in place instead of going to the side of the lady when dealing with the Sahir as it was he didn't really put much stock in those that treaded with the jinn. He spoke to Garavel as he watched Almah and Khaliq, "You were going to say something to the Sahir. Does it deal with the situation?"
Ammon watches Khaliq as he gets near Almah and narrows his eyes. He managed to remain in place instead of going to the side of the lady when dealing with the Sahir as it was he didn't really put much stock in those that treaded with the jinn. He spoke to Garavel as he watched Almah and Khaliq, "You were going to say something to the Sahir. Does it deal with the situation?"
Garavel opens his mouth to reply, hesitates, then says, "Ah... nothing important, no. Perhaps you would like to start by examining the wagon? I believe the fire is out, and it should be cool enough to approach or touch things within it if you need to."
"I would ask you to undertake this investigation," he continues, "for it is my duty to protect Almah, and if this was a deliberate fire, whoever did this has already killed two people."
Two people at least.. the Caliphate guard thinks to herself as she surveys the damage. One group had already dropped out of contact, and now the group following had been attacked or sabotaged. Perhaps the fortune teller had discovered something he shouldn't have. But that was merely conjecture - she would need to investigate thoroughly to discover the facts
Layali nods her head to both Garavel and Almah. "I shall look into this," she says, agreeing to their request. This group was her group for now, and in any case, it was too early to rule out this incident as being linked with her own task.
At Garavel's suggestion, the assassin nods. "It may be worth examining the outside of the caravan also, and surrounding ground. If somebody approached the wagon there may have been some trace of their passing left.. although with the rush to put out the fire, that is not guaranteed, of course."
Stepping over to the wagon, Layali carefully checks the outside of the caravan and the ground it stands on for anything amiss or any signs of foul play. Her intention was to move inside the caravan after she had checked the outside thoroughly first.
Garavel opens his mouth to reply, hesitates, then says, "Ah... nothing important, no. Perhaps you would like to start by examining the wagon? I believe the fire is out, and it should be cool enough to approach or touch things within it if you need to."
"I will investigate the inside of the wagon but any information could be important even if we first think that it isn't important."
His eyes switched between following Layali Alzair progress and watching Almah as he tried to get the information that Garavel had been able to give freely to the sahir.
At Garavel's suggestion, the assassin nods. "It may be worth examining the outside of the caravan also, and surrounding ground. If somebody approached the wagon there may have been some trace of their passing left.. although with the rush to put out the fire, that is not guaranteed, of course."
Stepping over to the wagon, Layali carefully checks the outside of the caravan and the ground it stands on for anything amiss or any signs of foul play. Her intention was to move inside the caravan after she had checked the outside thoroughly first.
The ground outside the charred skeleton of the wagon is churned up with mud and littered with soot and tattered bits of fabric and paper, including the bits of Tarot cards Garavel pointed out before. Within the wreckage, Layali finds some broken bottles, a large, cracked crystal ball, and several pools of wax that must have once been candles. In the center of the wagon's remains is the mostly-skeletal body of Eloais, the flesh having been crisped to ash in several places, leaving only sooty bone behind.
"I will investigate the inside of the wagon but any information could be important even if we first think that it isn't important."
His eyes switched between following Layali Alzair progress and watching Almah as he tried to get the information that Garavel had been able to give freely to the sahir.
"I would prefer not to bias your investigations with my suspicions, my friend," Garavel replies, but there is a twist to his mouth that suggests those suspicions run deep.
|
Taumadu, seeing there's no one else to heal, will begin to investigate...horribly...investigation is not one of his strong suits.
Perhaps someone could instruct him in the art of investigation he thinks, getting sidetracked, he begins to watch how others investigate, asking questions, trying to learn...
"Ah!" The sahir exclaims with surprising joy. "It is fortunate indeed that I have come at this time. You have lost your diviner, that is truly a shame. But as luck would have it I am quite skilled in reading omens and predicting the future. Let us see what the stars tell me this evening."
Khaliq moves about studying the landscape, looking skyward, drafting some notes in the sand with his fingers, and back toward Almah. He seems to be constantly pausing to stroke his beard and there are plenty of moments he seems frustrated. In the end he has a 'eureka' moment and smiles proudly.
Perception/Investigation (Search) 5k3=37
Perception/Hunting (unskilled) 3k3=13
Perception/Investigation (Notice) 5k3+2=28
The Keeper spends some time carefully picking through the remains of the wagon, looking for any hints to the source of the fire. She approaches the remains of the diviner, examining him carefully before she stands up again. "It doesn't look like he was subjected to any violence before the fire - either the smoke or the flames themselves killed the diviner," she comments to the other people looking around the wreckage. She falls quiet after this, seeming to think to herself as she gazes around the camp. After a moment, her attention seems to focus on another wagon a short distance away and she frowns faintly.
Aki trudged back towards the main body of the caravan, surveying the damage wrought, and pursed his lips "Feuds can go back long ways, and sometimes are avenged at the strangest times" he mumbled, in his strange pitch and accent.
For the moment, he was not going to humiliate himself further, though - so he refrained from further comments out of line.
"Ah!" The sahir exclaims with surprising joy. "It is fortunate indeed that I have come at this time. You have lost your diviner, that is truly a shame. But as luck would have it I am quite skilled in reading omens and predicting the future. Let us see what the stars tell me this evening."
Khaliq moves about studying the landscape, looking skyward, drafting some notes in the sand with his fingers, and back toward Almah. He seems to be constantly pausing to stroke his beard and there are plenty of moments he seems frustrated. In the end he has a 'eureka' moment and smiles proudly.
Almah watches with a combination of astonishment, amusement, and curiosity as the sahir goes though his routine.
After a moment, her attention seems to focus on another wagon a short distance away and she frowns faintly.
** spoiler omitted **
"I would prefer not to bias your investigations with my suspicions, my friend," Garavel replies, but there is a twist to his mouth that suggests those suspicions run deep.
Ammon shakes his head, "I think we have enough people investigating to curb any bias that I could form by you relating your own thoughts. You had felt it important enough when the Sahir was speaking and you obviously have deep-sitted suspicions as well. Any and all information is going to be helpful in solving these problems."
Ammon shakes his head, "I think we have enough people investigating to curb any bias that I could form by you relating your own thoughts. You had felt it important enough when the Sahir was speaking and you obviously have deep-sitted suspicions as well. Any and all information is going to be helpful in solving these problems."
Garavel sighs. "As part of her preparations for this mission," he finally says, "Almah hired an 'expert' on the Jackal cult, a man named Dashki, since rumors suggested that it was Jackal refugees from Medinaat al-Salaam that had claimed Kelmarane for themselves. Truth be told, Dashki is little more than a jackal himself, and I have never trusted him. Were anyone here revealed to be a murderer, I would be least surprised if it were he."
Garavel shakes his head, then waves away his previous words. He says, "Regardless, I suggest you interview the entire camp; not even I would convict Dashki, or anyone else, on the basis of my dislike alone. Actual evidence would help most, and someone must have seen something."
Time passes unbeknownst to the sahir and he spends a great deal of time reading the stars. Although it keeps him preoccupied for a long while he appears thoughtful when finished and calls for Hashouk to come closer.
"Hashouk I suppose we should be on alert. It seems someone or something wishes violence upon me and we can not have that, can we?"
Garavel sighs. "As part of her preparations for this mission," he finally says, "Almah hired an 'expert' on the Jackal cult, a man named Dashki, since rumors suggested that it was Jackal refugees from Medinaat al-Salaam that had claimed Kelmarane for themselves. Truth be told, Dashki is little more than a jackal himself, and I have never trusted him. Were anyone here revealed to be a murderer, I would be least surprised if it were he."Garavel shakes his head, then waves away his previous words. He says, "Regardless, I suggest you interview the entire camp; not even I would convict Dashki, or anyone else, on the basis of my dislike alone. Actual evidence would help most, and someone must have seen something."
"I will file the information away. Since it appears that our companions have taken to investigating the wagon it seems that I will be left to investigate the people." Ammon will start to question people about the fire and the Diviner.
"I will file the information away. Since it appears that our companions have taken to investigating the wagon it seems that I will be left to investigate the people." Ammon will start to question people about the fire and the Diviner.
You find the healer - an older man with sun-tanned leathery skin, a full beard and shoulder-length hair, both snow-white, and a colorful woven cap - murmuring prayers over the bodies of the fallen mercenary and the remains of Eloais the fortune-teller. Nearby, the rest of the mercenaries are digging a pair of graves in the unyielding earth.
The man looks up at your approach, rising and bowing slightly. "In Shilah's name I greet you," he says formally, grief weighing down on any smile he might have otherwise produced. "I am called Father Zastoran. How can I help you?"
Aki bowed at the old healer as was customary in his homeland, and smiled despite it. He felt a bit foolish, acting all like the proper Samurai, even when he had so obviously walked into the opposite direction.
"If you have the time, might we ask you a few questions?"
Ammon glanced at Aki as he appeared and started asking questions but ignored him for a moment as he refocuses on the healer. "Greetings in Shilah's name" Ammon replies in the same manner as the healer. "Father Zastoran, I would like ask you a few questions about the fire and Eloais."
Layali's frown only deepens as she seems to consider something for a moment. She turns to glance behind herself, before moving her gaze back to where it was.
The best thing to do would probably be to ask Almah about her group and if everyone was accounted for during the fire.. the keeper decides. Picking her way carefully back over the wreckage, Layali heads back to find Almah, wishing to ask her a few questions.
Aki bowed at the old healer as was customary in his homeland, and smiled despite it. He felt a bit foolish, acting all like the proper Samurai, even when he had so obviously walked into the opposite direction.
"If you have the time, might we ask you a few questions?"
Ammon glanced at Aki as he appeared and started asking questions but ignored him for a moment as he refocuses on the healer. "Greetings in Shilah's name" Ammon replies in the same manner as the healer. "Father Zastoran, I would like ask you a few questions about the fire and Eloais."
Zastoran sighs, nodding to you both. "Please, please, sit," he says. "It is indeed a tragedy. Eloais was a good man, if - your pardon if I offend you - something of a charlatan, what with his cards and crystals and all. He kept Almah happy, though, and focused on her goals, so he was useful enough; I also must say, I will miss our discussions of Bellinais' poetry and the music of Maabad." He sighs again, looking away for a moment, then back at you. "What would you want to know?"
Layali's frown only deepens as she seems to consider something for a moment. She turns to glance behind herself, before moving her gaze back to where it was.
The best thing to do would probably be to ask Almah about her group and if everyone was accounted for during the fire.. the keeper decides. Picking her way carefully back over the wreckage, Layali heads back to find Almah, wishing to ask her a few questions.
Almah, watching Khaliq go through his motions, turns to look up at Layali as she approaches. "Hello," she says, a little warily. "I greet you in the name of Shilah... Daughter." Her eyes seem to search you. "What can I do for you?"
Almah, watching Khaliq go through his motions, turns to look up at Layali as she approaches. "Hello," she says, a little warily. "I greet you in the name of Shilah... Daughter." Her eyes seem to search you. "What can I do for you?"Layali's frown only deepens as she seems to consider something for a moment. She turns to glance behind herself, before moving her gaze back to where it was.
The best thing to do would probably be to ask Almah about her group and if everyone was accounted for during the fire.. the keeper decides. Picking her way carefully back over the wreckage, Layali heads back to find Almah, wishing to ask her a few questions.
"Greetings in Shilah's name," Layali formally replies, returning the greeting. She noted Almah's wariness as she spoke - something to consider later, perhaps. But, for now, she had more pressing concerns.
"I wished to ask you about your people, if I may. Did you notice if anybody from your camp was unaccounted for during the fight against the fire?"
"Greetings in Shilah's name," Layali formally replies, returning the greeting. She noted Almah's wariness as she spoke - something to consider later, perhaps. But, for now, she had more pressing concerns.
"I wished to ask you about your people, if I may. Did you notice if anybody from your camp was unaccounted for during the fight against the fire?"
"No, I didn't. I was in my tent, reviewing my research on Kelmarane, when the shouting began and I heard the burning. I actually arrived on the scene just as you did, and so I know no more than you do about where anyone was." She looks around the camp, making a sweeping gesture with her hand. "As far as I know, though, everyone else - or nearly everyone, at least - was outside; someone should be able to tell you that."
"Greetings in Shilah's name," Layali formally replies, returning the greeting. She noted Almah's wariness as she spoke - something to consider later, perhaps. But, for now, she had more pressing concerns.** spoiler omitted **
"I wished to ask you about your people, if I may. Did you notice if anybody from your camp was unaccounted for during the fight against the fire?""No, I didn't. I was in my tent, reviewing my research on Kelmarane, when the shouting began and I heard the burning. I actually arrived on the scene just as you did, and so I know no more than you do about where anyone was." She looks around the camp, making a sweeping gesture with her hand. "As far as I know, though, everyone else - or nearly everyone, at least - was outside; someone should be able to tell you that."
Layali nods in response. "I shall ask around. The reason I ask you this is that I saw a man around by one of the wagons that I did not see assisting with the fire - I wondered if he was one of your men or not."
The Assassin will describe the man she saw to Almah, watching the other woman carefully as she does so.
Layali nods in response. "I shall ask around. The reason I ask you this is that I saw a man around by one of the wagons that I did not see assisting with the fire - I wondered if he was one of your men or not."
The Assassin will describe the man she saw to Almah, watching the other woman carefully as she does so.
Almah frowns at the description, but she is nodding as well. "Dashki," she says as soon as Layali finishes, "my expert on the Jackal cult. He should be around here somewhere, but I don't know why he wouldn't have been helping put out the fire. Now that you say that, though, I didn't see him either."
"Did you see anyone acting suspicious in the last day or so leading up to the fire?"
Ammon waits for an answer before proceeding to the next question.
"Did you notice anyone who had went missing before the mysterious fire began?"
Ammon begins to take mental notes of the conversation and the Healer's reaction to the events.
"Do you know anyone that has had problems with Eloais and would have liked to see him harmed or in his present condition?"
"Did you see anyone acting suspicious in the last day or so leading up to the fire?"
Zastoran ponders the question for a moment, but shakes his head at last. "No, everyone has behaved today as they have for the entire time we have traveled together."
"Did you notice anyone who had went missing before the mysterious fire began?"
"I was sitting by the fire-pit, reading, but the mercenaries were making too much noise (drunken louts), so I got up to return to my wagon. That was when the fire broke out. I know for certain that the mercenaries were all at the fire-pit... and I know for certain Dashki was not."
"Lady Almah's hired Jackal 'expert.' I've never cared for the man, and I make certain to stay as far from him as possible."
Ammon begins to take mental notes of the conversation and the Healer's reaction to the events.
"Do you know anyone that has had problems with Eloais and would have liked to see him harmed or in his present condition?"
Zastoran hesitates before replying. "I... do not wish to spread rumors," he finally says, "but it has been my impression that Dashki has an... unheathly interest in Lady Almah. Almah and Eloais spent a great deal of time together in his wagon, while he was, ah, 'reading his cards' or whatever he called it; I would not be surprised if there were some jealousy on Dashki's part as a result. The man is not completely well, I think - no man with healthy desires would skulk around a pretty woman the way he does. Who knows what he might be capable of?"
Ammon thanks the Healer and mental puts another mark that suggests the Jackal-expert may have been involved. He moves to the animal handlers after the conversation and will ask the same line of questions as he did with the Healer.
Almah frowns at the description, but she is nodding as well. "Dashki," she says as soon as Layali finishes, "my expert on the Jackal cult. He should be around here somewhere, but I don't know why he wouldn't have been helping put out the fire. Now that you say that, though, I didn't see him either."Layali nods in response. "I shall ask around. The reason I ask you this is that I saw a man around by one of the wagons that I did not see assisting with the fire - I wondered if he was one of your men or not."
The Assassin will describe the man she saw to Almah, watching the other woman carefully as she does so.
A Jackal expert? Interesting.. Layali thinks to herself as she nods her head again. "I should perhaps talk with him also. Has Dashki worked with you for long?"
Ammon thanks the Healer and mental puts another mark that suggests the Jackal-expert may have been involved. He moves to the animal handlers after the conversation and will ask the same line of questions as he did with the Healer.
The two camel drivers are a married couple named Hadrah and Hadrod. Hadrah is a hyperkinetic, excitable woman - her husband Hadrod, on the other hand, seems to be almost on the verge of tears, due to a missing goat named Rombard. "He's... he's... just such a wonderful little guy..." he sobs, while Hadrah pats his hand sympathetically before turning to Ammon to hear his questions.
"Well, truth be told, we didn't really know Eloais very well," Hadrah begins, "he was one of those Ra'Shari, you know, strange folks, and you hear they steal babies, though I never really believed that of course, and lady Almah trusted him, so that was good enough for us, yes indeed, but when he talked about towers and fiends and uprisings and all, well, I never really understood it, he was just so strange, you know?"
At the question of who might have wanted to do him harm, though, Hadrod and Hadrah exchange glances, but refuse to say more
A Jackal expert? Interesting.. Layali thinks to herself as she nods her head again. "I should perhaps talk with him also. Has Dashki worked with you for long?"
"A few months," Almah shrugs. "He has a... history... with the cult. It's made him useful in determining how to handle the ones that have claimed Kelmarane for themselves."
The two camel drivers are a married couple named Hadrah and Hadrod. Hadrah is a hyperkinetic, excitable woman - her husband Hadrod, on the other hand, seems to be almost on the verge of tears, due to a missing goat named Rombard. "He's... he's... just such a wonderful little guy..." he sobs, while Hadrah pats his hand sympathetically before turning to Ammon to hear his questions.
"Well, truth be told, we didn't really know Eloais very well," Hadrah begins, "he was one of those Ra'Shari, you know, strange folks, and you hear they steal babies, though I never really believed that of course, and lady Almah trusted him, so that was good enough for us, yes indeed, but when he talked about towers and fiends and uprisings and all, well, I never really understood it, he was just so strange, you know?"
At the question of who might have wanted to do him harm, though, Hadrod and Hadrah exchange glances, but refuse to say more
"I will not tell anyone where I have gotten the information so you will be safe if you fear someone's retribution." Ammon says trying to smooth them into giving the information that they seemed to be tight-lip about.
Once he finishes reading the stars the sahir decides to retreat with Hashouk a little distance away. After a moment of discussing the omen, and it seems Khaliq is doing most of the talking, the young man will walk around the camp attempting to overhear some of the investigations and conversations occurring. Should the sahir overhear something of interest he will offer his own input on the conversation.
A Jackal expert? Interesting.. Layali thinks to herself as she nods her head again. "I should perhaps talk with him also. Has Dashki worked with you for long?""A few months," Almah shrugs. "He has a... history... with the cult. It's made him useful in determining how to handle the ones that have claimed Kelmarane for themselves."
Useful perhaps, but a traitor has already turned once.. there's always the chance they can turn again.. Layali thinks to herself. It was perhaps time to have a word with the Jackal expert and at least find out why he did not help to put the fire out. She also wanted to get a measure of the man herself and decide whether he could be trusted given his history. Look them in the eye, talk to them, find out what kind of person they really are..
"Thank you for your assistance, Lady Almah. I will go and speak with Dashki to see if he perhaps saw anything."
The Assassin then heads back to look for the man she saw earlier.
"I will not tell anyone where I have gotten the information so you will be safe if you fear someone's retribution." Ammon says trying to smooth them into giving the information that they seemed to be tight-lip about.
Hadrah shakes her head, sighing. "No, no, it's not that, it's just... well, we don't like to spread bad stories about people, no matter what... well. When you asked about someone who might want to hurt Eloais, we thought almost at once of Dashki, the fellow Almah hired to help with the Jackals? We... well, we knew him a few years ago, back in Medinaat al-Salaam. Back then, he was working as a desert scout, taking nobles up here into the mountains for hunting trips. But we heard rumors that sometimes they weren't just hunting animals, you know, but... well, I won't say it, and that's that. But it's no secret at all that Dashki pays far too much attention to Almah, you know? And Eloias spent a lot of time with her. Who's to say what a man like that might do, if he got jealous enough?"
Should the sahir overhear something of interest he will offer his own input on the conversation.
Taumadu will skirt the edges of the camp, trying to see what he can see...
Useful perhaps, but a traitor has already turned once.. there's always the chance they can turn again.. Layali thinks to herself. It was perhaps time to have a word with the Jackal expert and at least find out why he did not help to put the fire out. She also wanted to get a measure of the man herself and decide whether he could be trusted given his history. Look them in the eye, talk to them, find out what kind of person they really are..
"Thank you for your assistance, Lady Almah. I will go and speak with Dashki to see if he perhaps saw anything."
The Assassin then heads back to look for the man she saw earlier.
Layali finds Dashki smoking a pipe and staring out across the desert, a scowl on his face. He looks up as she approaches, rising quickly to face her. "What do you want?" he snaps in annoyance.