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Dashki starts at Shimei's words, he cannot seem to stop Erizi staring at him.
"Jackal rats. Terrible critters what crawled up from the Darklands below the earth. Jackal rats cos they have pointy heads and floppy ears."
"They worship gnolls like gods and infest their communities like rats. Wherever pugwampis go, bad luck is sure to follow. Them gnolls hate them with a passion because of it, and try to kill them all the time. But they always come back. Perhaps their bad luck caused the fortune-tellers candles to start a fire. Yes pugwampis, I am certain it was pugwampis."
"Isn't there anything that can be done that can stop these jackal rats from causing mayhem and accidents within a camp, like using a certain scent or something."
She shrugs her shoulders as she says this.
" Thanks for the information". He then goes over to Zaid and says "find anything of interest? If not, I suggest we find the others and see how they are getting on".
"There is nothing in the remains of the wagon to indicate that this was anything other than an accident." Zaid tells Nombir."Yes, let us see what the others have found."
At the approach of Zaid and Nombir, Shimei steps away from Dashki to address the two new arrivals quietly.
"We found no tracks entering or leaving the camp, but the ground is hard and the light is bad. We did find Dashki here Almah's honored scout and font of wisdom on the subject of gnolls and pugwampis. What did you learn?"
"The mercenaries have no knowledge of how the fire started. The wagon that burned belonged to the camp's diviner, and she perished in it. I examined the remains found nothing that indicated how it started. I think most likely it was an unfortunate accident."
"A font of knowledge about gnolls and pugwampi's you say?"
Knowledge (the panes)?: 1d20+8=14
At the approach of Zaid and Nombir, Shimei steps away from Dashki to address the two new arrivals quietly.
"We found no tracks entering or leaving the camp, but the ground is hard and the light is bad. We did find Dashki here Almah's honored scout and font of wisdom on the subject of gnolls and pugwampis. What did you learn?"
"I have no idea what a pugwumpis is Shimei, but Zaid might possibly"
Nomibir looks at Erizi and says "keep an eye on that one please", as Nomibr points toward Dashki.|
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"The mercenaries have no knowledge of how the fire started. The wagon that burned belonged to the camp's diviner, and she perished in it. I examined the remains found nothing that indicated how it started. I think most likely it was an unfortunate accident."
"A font of knowledge about gnolls and pugwampi's you say?"
Knowledge (the panes)?: 1d20+8=14
The scout relaxes until Erizi's name is mentioned again and then he waits.
"We should split up to talk to the rest of the camp. I'll go to the livestock herders. They are like my people."
Shimei walks across camp to the animal handlers. On the way he thinks about how to better treat this interview since the one with Dashki did not go well. He grew up with farmers and then sometimes with the nomads, he should be able to relate to these people.
When he arrives at the herders, he begins with, "Peace of the light, be upon you. I am Shimei. You are ...?"
Erizi is very happy to keep his eye on the insane tribesman. Making sure that his muscles are flexed in every movement.
"Nombir and I can talk to the Pactmaster guards."
Zaid approaches one of the guards and asks him if he saw anything suspicious in the time leading up to and during the fire.
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Erizi stays with Dashki. The scout eventually limps up to him, "you believe me don't you? Us warriors have to stick together when the sorcerers begin to twist our words. Yes?"
Zaid gets to Almah's tent where the four guards gaze back at him impassively. One eventually speaks, "we belong to the Pactmasters, I am Fixx and these are Keldon, Podarn and Vodrave. We did not see the fire start. That is all we know."
Fixx sizes up Zaid, as if deciding how many blows of his falchion would cut the man in two.
Shimei finds the man still being consoled by his woman. "I am Hadrah," answers the woman, "and this is Hadrod, my husband. We have lost our dear Rombard, sorry but he loved his father so. Gone in the night, afraid of the fire. Woe, oh woe, woe for such a thing to happen to us."
The woman grips Shimei's front like a vice, "you will find him, wont you?"
Shimei finds the man still being consoled by his woman. "I am Hadrah," answers the woman, "and this is Hadrod, my husband. We have lost our dear Rombard, sorry but he loved his father so. Gone in the night, afraid of the fire. Woe, oh woe, woe for such a thing to happen to us."The woman grips Shimei's front like a vice, "you will find him, wont you?"
Shimei is amazed and concerned, "Your son is missing? Why did you not alert Almah? We could have been searching this whole time." He takes her hands from his robes. "We will tell Almah and, with her benevolent blessing, begin to look immediately."
For FW
"Son, no he's our billy goat. We have no sons." The wife bursts into tears at this, wailing for her lost goat and lack of a family.
The pair eventually calm down but are on the edge of being upset again if tested.
"How can we help, Shimei?"
Shimei is angry and embarrassed that he misunderstood the couple. Even if a goat is not as important as a son, he knows that for the herders livestock is wealth and a prize beast can be like part of the family. He remembers the white camel that belonged to his nomad friend Al-Firabi.
"Are you sure the goat is not hiding in the camp?"
If 'no', then : "We must search the camp. What does the goat look like?"
If 'yes', then : "We must ask Almah for permission to search in the morning. We were looking for tracks to see if anyone had entered camp and set fire to the wagon. There were no traces, but the light is bad. In the morning we will find his tracks."
Erizi stays with Dashki. The scout eventually limps up to him, "you believe me don't you? Us warriors have to stick together when the sorcerers begin to twist our words. Yes?"
Zaid gets to Almah's tent where the four guards gaze back at him impassively. One eventually speaks, "we belong to the Pactmasters, I am Fixx and these are Keldon, Podarn and Vodrave. We did not see the fire start. That is all we know."
Fixx sizes up Zaid, as if deciding how many blows of his falchion would cut the man in two.
Shimei finds the man still being consoled by his woman. "I am Hadrah," answers the woman, "and this is Hadrod, my husband. We have lost our dear Rombard, sorry but he loved his father so. Gone in the night, afraid of the fire. Woe, oh woe, woe for such a thing to happen to us."
The woman grips Shimei's front like a vice, "you will find him, wont you?"
Nombir slowly clutches the handle of his morning star as he sees the look the guards give Zaid.
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"Rombard was ran over towards the northwest of the camp. I am sure he is gone. He has returned still so I believe one of the desert scorpions will end his life. Or the giant roc." Hadrod looks about ready to well up again.
"Please, please without him the herd will dwindle and die. Get him back for us. Almah would wish it so," asks Hadrah clutching Shimei in anguish and pain.
"Rombard was ran over towards the northwest of the camp. I am sure he is gone. He has returned still so I believe one of the desert scorpions will end his life. Or the giant roc." Hadrod looks about ready to well up again.
"Please, please without him the herd will dwindle and die. Get him back for us. Almah would wish it so," asks Hadrah clutching Shimei in anguish and pain.
Shimei once again detaches the woman's hands from his robe. "It is dark. One should not walk these hills alone at night. I will ask Almah and Garavel if my companions and I can seek your Rombard. Wait here."
Shimei starts walking toward Almah's tent.
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Hadrod points into the dark, "it is not safe for my goat. Almah will help us do this. Maybe do these night spiders not attack too? I will come if you need me to bring Rombard. He is so stubborn like a mule."
----
At that point Garavel marches up to Zaid, "well are you finished with your questions? I said one hour and that sand has almost run dry. Almah awaits you and your friends."
He bustles past the guards into the large tent.
The Pactmaster Guard do not stop him.
Hadrod points into the dark, "it is not safe for my goat. Almah will help us do this. Maybe do these night spiders not attack too? I will come if you need me to bring Rombard. He is so stubborn like a mule."
"Accompany me then to Almah's tent. We will ask her together."
Nombir relaxes upon hearing Garavels words and will go into the tent with the others when they all arrive.
"Let's hope that whatever Alma has to say brings warmth to our hearts."
She say's to Erizi as she passes him on the way into the tent, at the tent mouth she turns and looks into the darkness beyond.
"And whatever awaits us may the dawns light banish your shadows."
With that she enters the tent.
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When all the party enter Almah's tent, the faint scent of jasmine floats about. Thin veils and coloured gauzes form flimsy walls allowing tantalising views of two bed chambers.
From one chamber, Garavel gets up from a small desk and divan, he is clean and fresh again. His clothes replaced with white robes.
"Come with me.....My lady, the Solku mercenaries are here. They have brought Hadrod."
Garavel takes everyone to meet her in a large central chamber. The young Merchant Lady waves everyone to cushions on her left and right down either side of a red and gold rug. Several silver cups and a hot steaming pot of coffee bubbles away on the rug.
Hadrod doesn't take a seat but stands nearest the exit, his hands flexing a little. He cannot relax.
Garavel starts proceedings, "I have examined Eloais charred body and the wagon and can find no sign of violence. I can not be sure because of the damage caused by the fire."
He bows a little from the neck to Almah and then they both turn as one to look at the party.
"I also examined the wagon and the body and also found no signs of violence or anything else suspicious."
Nombir bows a little to Almah and says "peace be upon you Lady and we thank you for your hospitality. I am Nombir Kadesh, servant of Abadar and I can confirm what my friend Zaid says". Nombir glances at Zaid.
Nombir then looks at Almah and says "I am not sure what our comrades found. We were summoned here before I had chance to ask my Lady".
Shimei enters and bows very low to Almah and Garavel, before taking his seat in the cushions.
When it is his turn, Shimei says, "Oh, shining and gracious daughter of Katapesh, I am Shimei. I was with Zsithreminni, Morgrym, and the silent warrior. We scouted the camp's edge for signs of anyone entering or leaving the camp. We found none, but the ground is hard, and the light is bad. Perhaps in the morning we should look again. We did find Dashki, who says he left camp before the fire started, and did not return to help tame the raging blaze. He suggests pugwampis started the blaze."
Shimei draws a deep breath. "Hadrod is here for another matter, not the fire."
Erizi is torn for a moment about whether to keep following his last duty or to attempt to fulfill his earlier commitment. He finally decides that he can do both, and insists that his prisoner proceed him to the meeting.
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Dashki and then Erizi enter the large chamber. Whereupon the scout lowers himself to the end of the rug, facing Almah. He grabs a coffeee and starts guzzling it.
Worse the jasmine loses the battle and everyone catches the acrid taint of stale sweat from Dashki's armpits. He smells awful. It would not be a surprise if those clothes haven't been washed in weeks.
Even Garavel wrinkles his nose at this.
Almah manages to give Shimei her full attention despite this. "Thanks for telling me about the tracks but I asked someone to tell me what caused the fire, not what didn't or how there are no signs in the sand of a murderer saying it's me!"
"So I ask again, who or what killed Eloais? You have had an hour to get me the answer. Well?" The woman stares hard at each of the party and Garavel.
"And why is my herdsman here, did you kill Eloais?" The herder Hardod quails before her obvious annoyance. "If you work for me you must learn to speak plainly. I asked a question and I demand the answer not dancing around the subject. We are not in the souk bartering now. I will tell you if I get offended. I or my guards that is."
Almah manages to give Shimei her full attention despite this. "Thanks for telling me about the tracks but I asked someone to tell me what caused the fire, not what didn't or how there are no signs in the sand of a murderer saying it's me!""So I ask again, who or what killed Eloais? You have had an hour to get me the answer. Well?" The woman stares hard at each of the party and Garavel.
"And why is my herdsman here, did you kill Eloais?" The herder Hardod quails before her obvious annoyance. "If you work for me you must learn to speak plainly. I asked a question and I demand the answer not dancing around the subject. We are not in the souk bartering now. I will tell you if I get offended. I or my guards that is."
"Please do not be angry, Majestic One. I did what I could to determine if an outside attack caused the fire. Zaid, Nombir and Garavel examined the wagon and found no cause. Sometimes the gods are cruel."
"As I said when I entered, Hadrod is here on another matter, not the fire. His prize goat is missing."
Almah visibly calms and tries again, "does anyone have any ideas?" There is a good deal of disappointment growing with her words.
"What has Dashki done to deserve this."
Nombir looks Almah straight in the eyes and says "With respect my Lady, we only arrived after the incident. Perhaps you should ask those you pay to guard you and your wagon train? With time we may find out more"
"My lady, someone said something about 'pugwampys'," giving Dashki a sidelong glance. "I have never heard that name before."
She remains silent watching listening and observing the interractions going on between the occupants of the tent. At times if gazed upon she will smile a polite smile, give a nod but otherwise stay silent.
Shimei bites his tongue while the others speak. Thank the bow-father someone else has spoken. Almah is no flower of the desert. He shivers inside his robes remembering her tone when she said, "Prize goat."
He glances in irritation at Hadrod and then Dashki.
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Almah takes in the words of Nombir, said tactfully and with the weight of Abadar behind them, "you took a risk saying that so I will answer. I am paying you to find the answers. Just as I am paying you to help me retake Kelmarane, some would suggest a far more difficult task."
"Perhaps you should view this as a test of your abilities. Since I am the one in charge not you. But thank you, it is refreshing for a servant to suggest to his Mistress that she do all the work."
She turns back to Zaid, "someone mentioned about pugwammiss? who and what are you talking about."
Almah then looks at Hadrod, "what is the problem with your goat." Hadrod tells her that the prize goat escaped into the night and has not returned. With a wave of her hand, the herder gratefully leaves. Quickly.
"So now we have to search for a goat."
Almah takes a moment to sip her cooling coffee. She looks around to make sure everyone has enough coffee, "does anyone wish for more?" as the Lady holds up the pot.
"someone mentioned about pugwammiss? who and what are you talking about."
"It was your scout that mentioned them, my Lady. I do not know what a pugwampy is, but according to my friend Shimei, your scout is a font of knowledge on the subject."
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Dashki eventually speaks. "He is right. The pugwampis are bad luck that killed Eloais and probably took the goat. These things happen because of the jackal rats. That is who to blame, My Lady."
The scout waves one arm spreading his sweaty stench about the party.
"I can track them. I could find the goat and prove that those creatures are to blame. That is my job. The pugwampis are like fleas on the backs of gnolls, and I know them."
She looks about to see if anyone has anything to add.
Dashki eventually speaks. "He is right. The pugwampis are bad luck that killed Eloais and probably took the goat. These things happen because of the jackal rats. That is who to blame, My Lady."
The scout waves one arm spreading his sweaty stench about the party.
"I can track them. I could find the goat and prove that those creatures are to blame. That is my job. The pugwampis are like fleas on the backs of gnolls, and I know them."
She looks about to see if anyone has anything to add.
SHimei shakes his head slightly to delcine the offered coffee and maitains his silence until Dashki speaks. Then he says, "I too would like to like recover the goat. It would mean much to Hadrod, who seems a good man."
Been sat quiet for a while she chirps up"I can help in the tracking of anything, just point me in its last known direction and let me go. Well almost "She says sheepishly and with a smile as she takes a sip of the coffee,looks up and tilts her head to one side and to the other as if to release a stiff neck.
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"Dashki, I have never heard of such a thing as a pugwampi. Find me one to show they exist, if you can."
"But Hadrod's goat is important. Take these with you for safety at night." As Dashki moves to argue, Almah raises a hand. "No, scout, I have decided until I know how or what killed Eloais you will travel in groups. Especially at night. No discussion."
The Lady points at Zsithreminni and Shimei, "you can go with him. Take your friends for protection too."
The woman gracefully rises before Dashki. Garavel gets up too to signify the end of the meeting.
The scout pushes out first, muttering to himself.
"Dashki, I have never heard of such a thing as a pugwampi. Find me one to show they exist, if you can."
"But Hadrod's goat is important. Take these with you for safety at night." As Dashki moves to argue, Almah raises a hand. "No, scout, I have decided until I know how or what killed Eloais you will travel in groups. Especially at night. No discussion."
The Lady points at Zsithreminni and Shimei, "you can go with him. Take your friends for protection too."
The woman gracefully rises before Dashki. Garavel gets up too to signify the end of the meeting.
The scout pushes out first, muttering to himself.
Nombir stands up and leaves the tent wondering if he and Zaid are on another wild goat chase! Once outside he waits for the others and says to them all "ok, it looks like we are going to have to search for this damn goat and find out what these Pugwampis are. Do any of you have any ideas how we are going to do this?"
...Once outside he waits for the others and says to them all "ok, it looks like we are going to have to search for this damn goat and find out what these Pugwampis are. Do any of you have any ideas how we are going to do this?"
"Northwest. Hadrod told me he saw the goat going northwest. We go that way and look for tracks. And we should bring Hadrod. He says the goat can be stubborn."