Some instinct wakes you up. You deliberately placed your camp close to the outside and from the outside you hear fragments of a raised voice, coming from somewhere in the vicinity of the camel enclosure.
….belong here! …time for you….. own kind…. see that you do!
At your words, your challenge, Dullen looks intimidated, involuntarily (or perhaps voluntarily) taking a step backwards.
Brotis looks angry. Your just a gnoll! Nothing special. I’ve killed plenty. We watch the camp while you, a slave (!) gets the glory, the treasure. Maybe I should teach you some....
He cuts off as Utarchus takes a step forward. He doesn’t seem to have heard you at all.
Kara, eight years old and with her own pony. Serilla, only four, with hair like her mother. Do not fear my girls. Daddy is coming to save you. I won’t let the gnolls hurt you. Not any more. He draws his scimitar. The other two mercenaries gape at him.
At your response Monkey’s features flash with anger but only for an instant. It smiles at you, that same smile that doesn’t manage to reach its eyes.
You’ve made a mistake Sajan my boy. Tiger can’t prepare you for what is to come. He’s too soft and now I see your too soft as well. Soft and stupid.
That smile widens.
But know that by the Code I can ask you twice more. I won’t do so now. I will wait. There will come a time when you will see that you need me. When despair grips your heart. You will accept me and I will burn that softness out of you. Burn. It. Right. Out.
Now. Begone!
You return to your body and more normal dreams.
Your still asleep.
Your still asleep.
They were all clumped pretty close together (no more than 10'). Describing the triangle was more trying to set the scene than describe a tactical position. They are at the edge of the camel pen. Your about thirty feet from the closest. Still dim light conditions in the moonlight, no real dark areas.
Oops, sorry. Disregard my posted actions then.
About the color, only reason i brought it up was that i thought it was blue and yellow because of "Sarenrae" pictures seem to have those colors (Kyra's dress, Sarenrae's robe on the front cover of Gods and Magic, the NPC priest in the Sarenrae article in the second LoF book) and it was some kind of "clue" that the priest was wearing red and yellow :)
You go outside, making more noise than your used to.
Voices are coming from the western edge of the camel enclosure but from here the wagons are blocking your sight.
You can hear what sounds like Grall's low, gravelly voice ringing out in challenge against a person or group you can't see.
After quite a speech, you hear angry tones in reply. Then for a few moments silence.
You make your way toward the sound.
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Courts of Stone and Flame
The book describes many personages of the various jinn courts. It will take some time to go through it in detail but there are several references to the djinn princess Nefeshti and her primary servitors, the Templars of the Five Winds.
Nefeshti’s history is storied, going back several thousand years beyond available records. The book notes her crusade against the abuse, mortal and otherwise, of wish magic but there are also references to her opposing mortal genie-binders, including the legendary Katapeshi wizard Andrathi. Her actions, particularly the former, frequently brought her into armed conflict with other jinn, particularly the efreet and the shaitan.
The book sets out several theories in relation to her Templars. The primary, taken from the Song of Edrehu is that they were jann (lesser jinn from the prime material plane) made immortal through Nefeshti’s wishcraft for as long as they retained her favour. Another is that they were once human and made into jann by Nefeshti but the book notes this would have been a breach of dictates set down by the djinn court and is therefore unlikely.
Whatever their origins, the book makes clear that the Templars where the primary enforcers of Nefeshti’s will, and the leaders of her followers which included djinn, marids, jann as well as some few mortals.
The book contains a short description of the five Templars. Each was associated with a specific aspect of the wind and wielded a distinct magic weapon, forged by Azer from the Elemental Flame of Fire.
- Vardishal of the North Wind. Also known as the Great General, Vardishal was said to be the most powerful and loyal of the Templars and the leader of Nefeshti’s army. He wielded a sentient magical scimitar known as Tempest.
- Pazhvann of the East Wind. Nefeshti’s advisor and spiritual guide, he was the conscience of the Templars and wielded a tremendous burning flail.
- Zayifid of the West Wind. Nefeshti’s messenger, diplomat and sometimes spy, Zayifid was said to be a careful and patient planner. His weapon is a delicate but razor-sharp scimitar.
- Kardswann of the South Wind. Nefeshti’s scout and a traveller of all the planes, Kardswann was said to be an impulsive but powerful warrior with a love for combat and the strength of a giant. He wielded an elaborate greataxe.
- Davashuum. Said to represent the destructive power of all of the winds, Davashuum is described as an amoral and deadly creature that served Nefeshti as executioner and, in extremes, assassin. She was a master of unarmed combat and wore magic handwraps.
The current (this book is about a hundred years old) status of Nefeshti and her Templars is unknown. The author cites several fragmentary references to Nefeshti’s forces fighting a series of battles about 400 years before the current date against a powerful cult of Rovagug whose power was centred at a great temple, the House of the Beast, situated on the slopes of Pale Mountain in the Brazen Peaks.
These battles were said to have raged across all of the surrounding area with Nefeshti’s army fighting against the cultists and dread creatures of flame and shadow.
The consensus from all available records is that the power of the cult was broken but the author concludes that neither Nefeshti nor her Templars have been heard from since, although travellers in the northern reaches of Katapesh and the southern bounds of Osirion still sometimes attribute miracles or victories to the laters guidance.
The section concludes with a brief mention of the very monastery in which you sit. Travellers to the area reported sightings of a spirit which investigating priests of Saranrae concluded was that of Vardishal, a minor saint of the Dawnflower. The spirit appeared to be benign and there are reports of it seemingly providing warnings along with the typical stories of healing and other miracles. As the area began to attract pilgrims, the church built and dedicated a shrine to Vardishal on the spot of his most frequent appearances, expanding the monastery around it years later. The author poses the question of whether the spirit Vardishal and the lost Templar are one in the same and, if so, what would keep a warrior of such reputed loyalty bound to the area for so long.
Queen to pawn 6...Dan I believe its your move.
Initiative
Brotis
Dullen
Utarchus
Brotis stays where he is, delaying and clearly not quite sure what is happening, although his hand dips to his scimitar as if he might draw it.
Utarchus on the other charges toward you across the open ground, hacking at your head with his scimitar. His attack is more aggression than skill and he seems to have little care for defense. Your slightly too slow in getting your guard up but take only a scratch to the arm.
Charge scimitar hit
Dullen has not yet acted but at this stage seems too cowered by your challenge to take action. If anything he looks like he is about to back away.
You sneak far more succesfully toward the wagons and the noise.
You hear the sound of steel being drawn from leather. Then there is a shout and you hear the sound of steel clashing.
OK give me an initiative roll please. I'll slot you into the actions occuring.
You hear, two voices. This close you identify them as the mercenaries.
Try me you bastard! Dullen! Find your courage.
Hes a demon! And Almah's property! Leave off Brotis.
It isn't your cleanest blow but you manage to club the mercenary in the head with the flat of your falchion. He stumbles back, managing to keep his feet but its clear he can't take another blow like that.
Seeing his compainion get hit Brotis draws his scimitar and moves up to support Utarchus though he takes a defensive stance. Try me you bastard! Dullen! Find your courage.
But Dullen isn't having any of it. Hes a demon! And Almah's property! Leave off Brotis. He stays where he is, weapon undrawn.
Brrrotis, don't be a fool, I am not trrrying to hurrrt him, just trrrying to knock him out. I could kill him at any time...
Snore.
In round 1 you sense nothing. Top of round 2 however you see Nuveril (having aced her perception check), hammer in hand but unarmored, make her way round the nearest wagon about thirty feet away.
Abandoning stealth you run around the wagon.
About thirty feet west of the enclosure you see Grall and the mercenaries Brotis and Utarchus. Utarchus and Grall are locked in combat although Utarchus wears no armour and wields only a scimitar. He staggers but doesn't appear wounded. Brotis is just out of melee, armored, with scimitar and shield in hand.
Back near the camel enclosure, also about thirty feet from you, is Dullen. He is armored but hasn't drawn a weapon.
As Nuveril comes into view, Dullen spots her and says The halfling!
Brotis turns to Nuveril, The gnolls crazy! Lets take him together!
Utarchus swings his scimitar at Grall with little attempt at defense but the barbarian easily avoids the clumsy attacks.
Scimitar
Nuverrril, this is not yourrr fight, let me settle this with the humans once and for all.
Grall stikes Utarchus again with the flat of his blade.
Grall blocks a sidewise cut and lands a solid hit to Utarchus' temple with the side of his falchion. The mercenary's eyes roll back in his head and he falls to the ground unconscious.
Brotis doesn't seem eager to fight Grall alone. He stays where he is about ten feet away from the barbarian, sword ready. C'mon Dullen, halfing.
Dullen stays where he is, swinging his gaze between the group and Nuveril.
New Round
- Nuveril
- Grall
- Brotis
- Dullen
Nuveril is thirty feet away from Grall and Dullen, twenty from Brotis.
Well Brrrotis, now is yourrr chance, strrrike me down, slay the hated Gnoll in your midst, he yells.
Something wakes you from sleep just about simultaneously. The sound of steel on steel. Distant. From outside the monastery you think.
But shortly after you leap out of bed ready to confront the threat the sound ceases.
Grall faces up to Brotis and for a moment you think he is going to take the strike, such is the anger revealed in his face.
But he doesn't.
He takes a step back. Your just a bloody gnoll. Your not worth it.
But you can see and hear his fear and shame in having backed down.
He moves to drag away the unmoving Utarchus.
Awakened by the sounds of a distant fight Khalid and Grall wake Linah. Grabbing their weapons the three exit the dormitory to the hallway, encountering Almah (in not much more than a nightshirt), two of her guards and a shirtless Garavel also moving to investigate.
You speed to the nave to find Grall and Nuveril returning some way ahead of two of the mercenaries, Brotis and Dullen, the former carrying a third, an unsconscious Utarchus.
Brotis and Dullen would have been on watch and wear their armour. The unconscious Utarchus wears none. Brotis is red faced, his eyes downcast.
What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?!
Nuveril shrugs. "I missed the beginning."
Slight retcon...
Grall moves up on the other side of Brotis and helps to get the unconscious man up. THey are all helping him when the rest of the camp arrives.
What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?!
We arrre sorry mistrrress.
he gives Brotis a curious look and then proceeds before anyone else can get a word in,Brrrotis and I werrre sparrring, he almost had the best of me and I yelled out. I know it is late, but when have we had time to trrrain with the men? We got carrried away, it will not happen again...I am to blame...please forgive me mistrrress!
When Grall sees Linah, as long as Almah seems satisfied with his answer...I think there is something wrrrong with this man. Utarrrchus attacked me, but he seemed spelled, in a daze, can you tend to him and see if he is okay?
Slight retcon...
Grall moves up on the other side of Brotis and helps to get the unconscious man up. THey are all helping him when the rest of the camp arrives.What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?!We arrre sorry mistrrress.
he gives Brotis a curious look and then proceeds before anyone else can get a word in,
Brrrotis and I werrre sparrring, he almost had the best of me and I yelled out. I know it is late, but when have we had time to trrrain with the men? We got carrried away, it will not happen again...I am to blame...please forgive me mistrrress!
Almah looks to Brotis and Dullen but neither contradict Grall's version, indeed they seem more interested in their feet.
Almah is silent for a moment, she doesn't seem wholly convinced.
Very well. Then let us all find our beds.
Brotis and Dullen return Utarchus to the mercenaries barracks and everyone else disperses.
Linah tries to shake the lasting images from her dreams and follows Sajan and Khalid to the nave. She rushes forward to Utarchus unconsious form to check his wounds.
"Is anyone else hurt?", she asks as she examines the downed guard's wounds.
[ooc]Channel positive energy:
When Grall sees Linah, as long as Almah seems satisfied with his answer...I think there is something wrrrong with this man. Utarrrchus attacked me, but he seemed spelled, in a daze, can you tend to him and see if he is okay?
"What happened here?", Linah asks out of earshot of Almah. Linah recites a prayer as she examines the guard.
Arjun hums a jaunty tune while he works in the basement alchemical lab.
My first post disappeared...not sure what happened.
Linahrrr, I don't know what happened to Utarrrchus. He seemed in a daze and attacked me as I said earrrlierrr. Let's wake him and see what he says.
As farrr as the rrrest. The matterrr is over and should be finished. I don't wish to say morrre.
Linah takes charge of the wounded Utarchus, ordering the mercenaries to carry him to the chapel and leave him there.
Grall follows and the two speak.
Linah then examines the mercenary before healing him with her spell.
You cast your detect spell.
For a brief moment you think you see something. A fragment of a fragment of an aura but when you concentrate you see no sign of enchantment. Perhaps you imagined it.
Physically the man is bruised and out cold but no worse than that.
Linah's powerful healing spell removes the bruises in an instant, bringing the mercenary back to consciousness.
Some of you do your best to get some sleep during the remainder of the night while others are occupied with their own tasks. Khalid spends several hours with his head deep in the book you salvaged from the library, while Linah prays in the chapel.
Oblivious to the disruption, Arjun works hard into the night only finding his bed exhausted at about 4am. But his work bears fruit, two potions of enlarge person.
It is morning. Day 6 of the Reclamation of Kelmarane. 6th day of Gozren, 4708.
You breakfast late, strips of dried geir meat featuring prominently and over coffee discuss your next steps.
Linah takes charge of the wounded Utarchus, ordering the mercenaries to carry him to the chapel and leave him there.
Grall follows and the two speak.
Linah then examines the mercenary before healing him with her spell.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Grall is still there...
Sajan merely nibbles at breakfast, the giant's mind clearly elsewhere this morning.
Arjun hands Grall the completed potion. "So, I believe it is off to Kelmarane again as soon as we finish breakfast?"