Al nods and smiles as the woman talks, freely letting her inspect and feel his clothing, and answering her questions in detail. He talks of his own move from home to the city, and assures the couple that their children no doubt miss them as much as he misses is own parents. He tells Hadrah that he will be sure to acquire some of the silk for her when they get back to Katapesh.
‘Yes, I to wish we could have arrived earlier and helped more, but this is life I guess ey? I am very sorry for your friend, Eloais was it? Not from around here ey? Where was he from? Do you think anyone may have wished him harm, perhaps because he was a foreigner? What strange topics for him to talk about, what did he say about them?’
‘Hahaha yes, Mus’ad, he is a good man, though I have only known him a short time. And Zaphoran, his genie, quite a character too, and would do his best to grant the wish of his master! He is as faithful a servant as I have ever seen ey? Ah, that is Nasir, and you are right, she is pretty indeed! But I agree that sometimes it is much more alluring to be wondering what is being hidden rather than not having to wonder at all ey?’
‘So the goats pulled there stakes but the camels did not? Isn’t this some what strange? Surely the camels would have much more strength to break free than the goats. Or are camels not as scared of fire? Did you or Hadrod actually see the animals break free?’
‘Who is Dashki? It sounds to me as if you don’t like the man ey?’
Mus'ad thanks the priest and the others once more, and with a final wink for the soot-smudged warrior-woman makes his way from the fire.
"Zephyr, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" The half-elf softly asks his miniature companion once they are safely out of earshot of the fire.
"Oh most assuredly Master!" The tiny blue Gen declares, nodding vigorously.
"But as I do not read minds, and I am not as wise as you Master, perhaps you would be so kind as to enlighten your servant to make certain that I mirror your thoughts?" The little blue man humbly suggests.
Mus'ad grins at his Gen. "Be a good servant, and fetch me 'Detect Magic', would you noble Zephyr? I want to try and see if the wagons' door was spell-locked before any residual mystic energy fades."
The hovering Gen bows smartly. "Yes Master! Your wish is my command! I shall return Faster than a camel can drink his daily ration!" And winks from sight.
With a smile that any close observer would be able to tell indicated fondness for his Gen, Mus'ad looks around the camp for another likely, and hopefully as informative, conversation,...
Al nods and smiles as the woman talks, freely letting her inspect and feel his clothing, and answering her questions in detail. He talks of his own move from home to the city, and assures the couple that their children no doubt miss them as much as he misses is own parents. He tells Hadrah that he will be sure to acquire some of the silk for her when they get back to Katapesh.
“Oh Eloais, he’s from one of those cold northern countries originally, I don’t know where exactly, do you dearest?” – “Varisia I think it was my love.” – “Well the Lady Almah liked him of course – he was quite a looker after all, and a northerner like her family, not that I would ever hold that against her! And I saw the Father talk to him quite often, though they often argued … but then the Father can be quite grumpy sometimes, he’s so changeable that one! But I would never speak ill of the clergy of course… I don’t think any of the warriors liked him much – Eloais that is – or Garavel from what I gather, though it’s always so hard to know what that one thinks, he’s got the personality of a stone really, hasn’t he? Oh, but he’s good at his job or so I hear. And Dashki, well, he would give Eloais the most filthy looks sometimes.”
Here Hadrah pauses, looks about, leans down and whispers in a conspiratorial tone, “We knew Dashki a bit from back Solku-way. Used to take rich folk into the scrublands to hunt up gnolls like trophies. Most people here don’t trust him, especially the way he leers at Lady Almah with his mouth all watering like at the smell of a fresh steak. Maybe he done it to Eloais, to remove a rival for Lady Almah’s attention?”
She straightens up again and returns to her usual tone. “At any rate, Eloais was always talking about them cards he carried about everywhere, dark omens, and cyclones and fire. You maybe should ask the Lady Almah more about that, she put most store in his fortune tellings, well, one never knows, do they now?”
“Oh! I was the first to raise the alarm on the fire, I smelled smoke, then turned and saw smoke pouring out of the wagon windows. Well, I screamed for help, didn’t I dearest? But before we two could do much more the goats and such were free and we were chasing hither and thither after them. I don’t know why the camels didn’t stampede, well, they’re over there, a bit further from the fire of course, and they’re mebbe a bit less flighty than the small beasts … Funny though now you mention it, mebbe a scorpion stung one of them – the goats and pigs and such that is, and that set the others off …”
Farasha, nothing out of the ordinary around the body. However, looking around, you catch a glimpse through the open wagon door of someone in dark clothing, standing in the shadows next to the Sultan’s Claw, leaning on a cane and watching you and Bashad investigate the wagon.
As you turn your head in his direction, the man quickly turns and hobbles away out of your line of sight.
Farasha's dark eyes narrow
"Interesting .."
She turns to Bashad
"Did you see the man with a cane watching us?"
" Him again ? I'll stay here to protect the wagon . Go see what the others are doing "
Mus'ad grins at his Gen. "Be a good servant, and fetch me 'Detect Magic', would you noble Zephyr? I want to try and see if the wagons' door was spell-locked before any residual mystic energy fades."
The hovering Gen bows smartly. "Yes Master! Your wish is my command! I shall return Faster than a camel can drink his daily ration!" And winks from sight.
Zephyr returns less than a minute later, with your spell (or without).
The Gen reappears, and solemnly bows to his master, holding out his tiny fist which holds a brilliant sparkle of gleaming white.
"As promised Master! Zephyr is not only OF the wind, but faster as well!" The little man declares proudly.
Mus'ad's mouth stiffens under the pressure of showing his Gen the respect he deserves, without laughing at his demeanor. He returns Zephyr's bow and accepts the gleam of white from his grasp. When the half-elf opens his hand it is empty. He breathes deep as the knowledge floods into his mind.
"Excellent work Zephyr. And your timing is impeccable, as always. Come. Let us put this to good use while the trail is still warm." He frowns at the unexpected pun, then smirks to himself and quickly walks over to the wagon.
The half-elf greets the warrior and the dancing bard with a smile.
"Hello there. I heard something that disturbed me a little bit. Seems the guards that first tried to rescue the fortune-teller couldn't get the door open." He tells them in a quiet voice that won't carry far.
"I thought I'd try to take a look for magic, make sure that it wasn't anything more serious than a heat-warped old wooden frame." He explains.
He takes a breath, then makes a few, simple gestures, and murmurs a short phrase under his breath. When he opens his eyes, they are glowing with a soft, blue light.
"Now then, let us see what we have here,..." He murmurs to no one in particular as he gazes at the wagon's doorway,...
Mu’sad:
Al thanks the two animal handlersfor their time, and walks back to the blackened caravan, joining his companions there. Seeing Mus'ad deep in concentration Al waits silently until he seems finished with his magic.
'My talk with Hadrah and her husband was quite interesting ey? It seems that the animals may have been intentionally let loose. They didn't say it but i suspect it is so. One of the goats is missing altogether. Looks like someone may have wanted to add to the chaos of the fire. Maybe to stop people helping with the fire, or to make good their escape ey?'
'Also, who is this Dashki? Has anyone talked to him yet? Hadrah seems to suspect that he would have a motive to have started the fire.'
Mu’sad arrives at the wagon just a few moments after Farasha’s comment to Bashad about seeing someone watching her. Al turns up just afterwards. Nasir is around the other side of camp talking to some patrolling guards, and Sefu is out in the night somewhere, outside of camp.
" Him again ? I'll stay here to protect the wagon . Go see what the others are doing "
Farasha begins to comply, then halts as the others arrive.
"Do you know this cane-using man, Bashad?"
Sefu:
Mus'ad looks up from his examination of the wagon's remains. The blue glow fades from his eyes.
"Nothing. If there was a spell used, Either the fire destroyed the remnants, or it was a simple charm which would have faded quickly anyway. So, no proof one way or the other. It was just a thought." He shrugs as he rises and brushes ashes from his hands.
"What's that Al? Did you say 'Dashki'?" The half-elf turns towards the halfling with a raised eyebrow.
"The priest and the guards said much the same thing. That if Eloias had an enemy, or if any were to be suspected of foul play, it would be Dashki the Gnoll expert. They pointed out that he made no effort to help with the fire, and seemed to be jealous of the amount of time the princess spent with the fortune teller."
"Still, if being unlikeable were a crime, I'm sure we'd all be in trouble at one time or another!" He says with a laugh. "But He seems a good place to start. If only to eliminate him as a suspect since he seems to be the first choice as 'most likely'."
Garavel earlier indicated where Dashki’s tent was, if any want to try to question him.
'I agree, we should not jump to conclusions about the man based on camp gossip, but we may as well see what he has to say ey?. I will go talk to him, I would welcome company if any of you would wish to go as well.'
Al'Kazeer waits for the others to indicate whether they wish to accompany him or not, and then heads to Dashki's tent
Al (and any who accompany him) see a man clothed in dark clothing, with long, tangled hair partially covering his face, settling himself down in a cross-legged position with the help of a walking cane in front of the tent that was indicated as belonging to Dashki.
I think I saw him earlier . I'm not sure but he might have been keeping an eye for danger outside
The man sitting in front of the tent wears ragged and travel stained clothing of dark hue. A gnarled wooden walking stick rests over his crossed legs, and he wears a curved blade in a scabbard at his hip. He watches you approach through the curtain of his long, tangled hair, offering no greeting, the expression on his dark face unreadable in the night.
"I'll go with you Al. But if he's the hostile sort, maybe you should handle most of the talking. I'll just be the pleasant, agreeable friend. With his stalwart Gen companion." Mus'ad adds at the end hastily after a tiny glare from Zephyr.
As they approach the man with the cane, Mus'ad Salaams in greeting. But waits for Al to handle the actual introductions.
DM
The man sitting in front of the tent wears ragged and travel stained clothing of dark hue. A gnarled wooden walking stick rests over his crossed legs, and he wears a curved blade in a scabbard at his hip. He watches you approach through the curtain of his long, tangled hair, offering no greeting, the expression on his dark face unreadable in the night.
As they approach the man, Al'Kazeer nods to the man, smilling. 'Greetings friend, I am Al'Kazeer, and these are my companions, Mus'ad and Zephyr. Quite a night ey? I wish we had joined you in better circumstances! Anyway, the Lady Almah has asked us to interview all here tonigt to try and piece together how this tragedy occured. May we sit and talk with you friend? Who are you and what position do you occupy in this mission ey?'
The man reaches up to tuck his unruly fringe behind an ear and looks at Al suspiciously, his gaze almost level with the halflings. After a brief, tense moment he shrugs, and indicates the ground in front of him with a spread of his hands.
“Sit, I will not prevent it. I am called Dashki. Princess Almah hired me due to my knowledge of the habits of the gnolls who occupy these hills.”
A wave of strong body odour washes over you as the man moves his arms. Up close it can be seen that the darkness of Dashki’s clothing and skin has as much to do with dirt and grime as natural colour.
Al nods in thanks, and sits on the floor, cross legged and leaning back on his arms, as much to try to avoid the smell of the man as to appear comfortable and non-threatening. ‘So how have you come to know so much about gnolls ey? Did you know the princess before this expedition?’ AL talks in a friendly and respectful tone, but listens intently to Dashki’s answers, trying to sense if he speaks the truth.
“I have known Princess Almah only for a few months. I was hired by her in Solku; the princess is as wise as she is beautiful, and upon learning that gnolls had occupied Kelmarane, she sought out the best gnoll expert in the area; me.
“I know gnolls because I have studied them; their habits, the way they hunt, the way they fight. I have seen their savagery and their power up close and I have survived; although not without injury,” he rubs his left leg briefly.
“It is difficult for me to fight them now, but I still lead others into the hills, even into the Brazen Peaks themselves, to kill gnolls, drive them from the lands they have reclaimed from humans.”
Dashki looks at Al, Mu’sad and any others there. “What of you? Why have you joined this expedition?”
The man speaks in an even tone, with little trace of emotion in his voice.
There is a hint of obsession and lust, tempered by grudging respect in his voice when he speaks of Almah.
He seems to be completely sincere when he speaks of his great knowledge of gnolls, and his study of them. He believes in what he is saying, and does not lie … but you get the definite sense he is hiding something (or more than one thing); he tells the truth, but not the whole truth.
There is quiet aggression in his voice when he speaks of gnolls but also … something else. Respect? Admiration? Perhaps. Loss, sadness and anger all lurk there under the surface too.
There is pain in his voice when he speaks of his injury, but something makes you sense that the pain is more emotional or spiritual than physical. This man guards himself carefully, aiming to give his opponents no advantage over him … something makes you wonder if his bad leg is as bad as it appears.
It is an odd turn of phrase for this man to say “from humans”.
When he asks of you, he does not sound hostile, but he is certainly suspicious.
Sefu:
Mus'ad joins Al on the ground, (After Zephyr makes him wait a moment while the ground is swept). He leans back and also listens poiltely, but intently, to the gnoll-hunters responses,...
Al leans forward as Dashki talks about his experience with gnolls. 'That is a worthy endeavour indeed friend, if we could only wipe all those abominable creatures from the world, never to see them back again.’ Al spits to the side (away from those sitting nearby) his face distorted with a look of hatred. ‘To answer your question, that is why I am here, to kill gnolls, as many as I can. I cannot speak for the rest of my companions.’ Al clenches the hilt of his rapier will speaking before lapsing into silence.
Dashki gazes at you for a moment before nodding once, slowly.
Mus'ad notices a slight change in dark man's demeanor during Al's response. Then seeing Al lapse into a brooding silence, and familiar with these bouts from their journey here, Mus'ad cheerfully picks up the conversation.
"Well, actually, I'm hoping to find a clue to the whereabouts of some family of mine." Mus'ad interjects enthusiastically. "I can't vouch for all of the others of course, but I saw an opportunity to do something with my life. Get out, see the world, help others, discover lost and forgotten lore, you know,... hopefully do something worthy of a tale or two!" He grins with youthful enthusiasm.
He nods at the greasy man's cane, "You must be good indeed at what you do. To not only have faced such perils, but to have survived them, and then to return and face them again,... You are a very brave soul. The princess is lucky to have found a man of your knowledge and courage to join this expedition. I am grateful to have such a knowledgeable guide to ensure that I don't do anything foolish. And to protect us from the gnolls." He nods respectfully, touching his forehead in salute.
"Tell me master guide, did you know the poor fortune-teller well? He seems to have been a surprisingly solitary man for one who makes his living telling the fortunes of others." Mus'ad asks curiously as they chat.
Dashki looks bored during Mu’sad’s conversation, he does not seem to take to the Sha’ir much. He looks up at the mention of Eloais though.
“No, I had little to do with him. Why would I? We are in the Age of Lost Omens, when even the gods cannot predict what the future will bring. How could a northerner with a set of colourful cards know more? Bah. It seems that he could not predict his own death.”
“I had no need for him, nor he for me,” says Dashki. “Perhaps he was friends with some of the others, I do not know.”
Mu’sad:
The Cyclone, the card that was blown to you, signifies a force that tears through whatever it meets – but it is not blind destruction, it is destruction at the behest of an intelligent being. The card portends things such as war, arson and destructive plans.
Dashki gazes at you for a moment before nodding once, slowly.
** spoiler omitted **
Al shakes his head as if dismissing a thought, and his smile returns to his face. 'Sorry, i am weary after our journey and the nights activities. So how did the fire first come to your attention Dashki? And what was your response to it?'
Dashki shrugs, spreading his open hands. “I was not in the camp when the fire broke out. I heard the alarm, but I am not a fast walker … by the time I returned the matter seemed well in hand.”
Farasha scans Dashki as he speaks
Dashki looks at Al, Mu’sad and any others there. “What of you? Why have you joined this expedition?”
Farasha looks at the unwashed gnoll hunter, her dark eyes glittering with holy fervor.
"I come to bring the light of the Dawnflower to the wilds and spread the blessings of civilization to this gnoll-afflicted land"
Farasha comes off as a priggish holier-than-thou zealot
Dashki shrugs, spreading his open hands. “I was not in the camp when the fire broke out. I heard the alarm, but I am not a fast walker … by the time I returned the matter seemed well in hand.”
Farasha looks at the unwashed gnoll hunter, her dark eyes glittering with holy fervor."I come to bring the light of the Dawnflower to the wilds and spread the blessings of civilization to this gnoll-afflicted land"
Farasha comes off as a priggish holier-than-thou zealot
Dashki sneers, shakes his head.
Dashki shrugs, spreading his open hands. “I was not in the camp when the fire broke out. I heard the alarm, but I am not a fast walker … by the time I returned the matter seemed well in hand.”
'I see, I see. Isn't it a little dangerous for you to be walking around outside of camp late at night? Many dangers around here ey? Do you often leave camp by yourself? And how far must you have wandered, to not be back in time to help?'
“I am hired to know gnolls. This region is thick with them, they hunt at night, and this is not a safe place to camp, too open, too close to Kelmarane. I was searching for signs of gnolls. Are you accusing me of something short one?” Dashki’s face and tone grow hard, and he grips his cane, though he remains seated.
Al holds out his hands in a sign of peace. 'No, not at all friend, just asking. The princess needs everyone accounted for, we just need to know this so we can let her know you had no part in the fire. I think it likely the man burnt down his own caravan, but you have to go through the motions when your getting paid to do so ey? Did you find any tracks or signs of gnoll activity? Is it possible that they caused this fire?'
“Gnolls?” Dashki snorts. “Unlikely. Oh, they would not be opposed to arson, but would follow up with a raid or a full scale assault during the confusion. No, I think as you, that idiot probably burnt the wagon down himself, he burnt half a hundred candles in there, he probably knocked one over, unlucky. Unlucky… We are in gnoll country, it was probably pugwampis.”
Sense Motive 9+
“Gnolls?” Dashki snorts. “Unlikely. Oh, they would not be opposed to arson, but would follow up with a raid or a full scale assault during the confusion. No, I think as you, that idiot probably burnt the wagon down himself, he burnt half a hundred candles in there, he probably knocked one over, unlucky. Unlucky… We are in gnoll country, it was probably pugwampis.”
Sense Motive 9+ ** spoiler omitted **
Al nods as Dashki talks. 'Hmm yes, that sounds like the cowardly tactics of such beasts. What is this pugwampis ey? I am not familiar with the word.'
“Pugwampis,” replies Dashki, getting to his feet with the help of his cane, seeming more animated than you have so far seen him.
“They. Jackalrats they are also called. They are tiny horrors from the depths of the world, the Darklands. They worship gnolls as gods and infest their communities like rats. Wherever pugwampis go, bad luck is sure to follow. The gnolls hate pugwampis because of it, and try to kill them all the time. But they always come back. Perhaps their bad luck caused the fortune-man’s candles to start a fire? Yes, pugwampis. I am certain it was pugwampis.”
"Pug,... Wumpus?" Mus'ad trips over the unfamiliar word.
"Jackalrats? They sound singularly unpleasant. And if they bring bad luck with them," He looks nervously over his shoulder into the darkness of the night. "Well, I hope they decide not to repay us with another visit! They can actually cause bad luck to befall A poor soul just by their presence?" He repeats a little nervously. He obviously believes, or is willing to believe, the possibility of Pugwumpus involvement whole-heartedly.