"That sounds like a sensible plan my friend. That's why your are the brains around" says Nombir nodding approvingly with a chuckle at Zaid. He then addresses the entire party "We need to get away from this place before the Gnolls come back in force, then make our plan in detail, then we go and find the Gnoll chief in Kelmarane. Rova, you will tell us where the chief is likely to be and no funny business or I'll leave you to him" says Nombir sternly and pointing at Erizi. "Shimei, please lead us to a place near a suitable entry point into the village where we can make our final preparations and we'll go from there. Now everybody grab your gear please and get into our usual party order for the move. Shimei, please lead on when you are ready"
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:
Livvy packs quickly, still more than a little concerned about Rova's wounds, but she does her best to keep up with the others and keep her eyes open for threats as the party follows Shimei.
Survival --
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As Shimei leads the group, including the staggering Rova and slightly tired Felliped back towards the village, he digs up a few roots and tubers along the way. Eventually the party is looking across at the village from the direction of the slave market. It is just as sleepy as before.
Shimei
Standing up Shimei smiles as he stashes his prizes in his bag. Perfect.
Reaching Kelmarane, Shimei says, "What is the plan now?"
"Thank you Shimei, this good. Please keep watch on the surrounding area with Erizi and Norn. See if you can spot all of their look outs ". Nombir then looks at Rova and Livvy. "Rova, you need to tell me where the Chief is likely to be and don't lie or you die with us if things go wrong!"
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Rova points up towards the battle market, and up towards the higher floors. It may be two or three storeys high, "that where chief Kardswann lives."
Nombir can see the blood dripping out his wounds, the gnoll is shaking slightly as he speaks, the last walk and approach following Shimei had used up some of his reserves.
Nombir can see the blood dripping out his wounds, the gnoll is shaking slightly as he speaks, the last walk and approach following Shimei had used up some of his reserves.
Heal
"I think we will need a distraction. We've alerted them to our presence, they are expecting us to return."
"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."
"I can also provide distractions if need be, both real and not."
"A wait is good. We can heal up," xhe gives Rova a significant look, "and we can watch them to see their patterns better. They might get bored and fall back to normal routine if they think we gave up and moved on."
Looking around, she adds, "But we will need a more defensible camp than the cave. With time today, we should be able to prepare one, right, Shimei?"
Nombir listens to everybody, ponders and then makes a decision. " 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?"
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.
Looking around, she adds, "But we will need a more defensible camp than the cave. With time today, we should be able to prepare one, right, Shimei?"
"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.
"What do you mean, 'back it up in the pit' - that doesn't sound like something I can do. Not if you have to enter the pit alone."
FW:
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:
Area Map
In the late afternoon Zaid makes his way to the tannery where Undrella lives .
"Undrella my dear," he tells her, bowing and smiling sweetly "tomorrow morning at first light we go to the battle market to kill Kardswann. You promised you would do something to disable the gnolls there."
Livvy is torn between accompanying the wizard and staying to keep an eye on Rova. She decides to stay behind, "Someone should go with Zaid. Maybe Nombir or Norn?"
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Zaid
"What did you say? Tomorrow, right. But the patrols are all out now. They look for Three Jaws or another tribe of gnolls that killed a pack. One of the leaders was killed in an ambush yesterday."
"They are hunting wild and searching the valley high and low for revenge. Kardswann is hopping mad."
The harpy grins at Zaid and scratches one of her blackened teeth, "I can do it, but its hard. Show me why I should help you again." She licks her lips and purses them.
FW:
Nombir will accompany Zaid, as he's his best friend in the world after all. Well actually, he's is only friend!!
FW, Nombir:
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?"
After a moment of silence Erizi surprisingly speaks up.
"I have a story".
"It was a few years back". "The place and the time are unimportant". "I belonged to a man named Sythys". He owned many slaves, but was most proud of his stock of gladiators". "It was a brutal life, but if you performed well and helped him win his wagers the rewards were plentiful". "After several successful performances I was finally matched with a Gnoll warrior as a partner match". "We were billed as A barbarian and his pet". "We did well and slept in nicer surroundings with food, wine, and women at our call". "We also were provided with the best of equipment and medical care".
"This wasn't enough for the pet". "He was rough with the slave girls provided to him, and never thought he was given girls worthy of his great prowess". "He was convinced that he was the stronger of us, and we would lose but for his great strength". "For the last time I came to the point where I trusted him, and almost called him friend".
"Then his jealously grew". "He began to resent me, though I wasn't aware at the time". "To shorten the story, he betrayed me during a match, and almost cost me my life". "I learned a good lesson from this". "It is not what you might think...It is not never trust a gnoll". "It is a person is who and what they are, and no amount of honeyed words, or pretended 'good'deeds changes that".
"Three weeks later when I recovered from this wound", Erizi stops and shows a deep and massive scar across his lower back, and side, I went to him in his sleep, and broke his neck with my own hands".
"Thus I ended up working the salt mines with a pick instead of an Sword".
Erizi then silently begins to whittle at a small block of wood, and whistle a wordless tune.
perform Whistling
Zaid/FW
Erizi rises in the early morning light, fog and mist swirling about the ground, and gazes at the rising sun. I wonder what this day holds in store he thinks to himself quietly. Then as he watches the beauty of the sun rise and one by one reveal the slumbering forms of his friends, he smiles as a giant crocodile tear slowly makes it's convoluted way down his scarred face.