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It would be a grand trek from The Sword in the southern reaches of Anauroch to Baldur’s Gate. In the Bedine encampment, sitting in his tent, Kiley and Shaggar debate the possible routes.
The northern route was likely safest. North to the Black Road then turn west. The trail between the Graypeak Mountains was littered with villages. They would just follow the river until it met the sea at the Sword Coast. Take the road south and eventually they would arrive… Baldur’s Gate. But it was a long, roundabout course - probably 3000 miles or more. And while Kiley could hide what she was, Shaggar could not. A well-traveled route meant patrols and watchmen… and that could mean trouble for a gnoll even with a ‘human’ companion.
The southern route was more dangerous, wild, and also far, far shorter. Head southwest across the trail-less lands. Avoid the serpent-folk of Najara and skirt the Battle of Bones, Skull Gorge, and the Hill of Lost Souls. Psshh… what’s in a name? Follow the River Reaching toward Elturgard and pass into that land through the hills nestled between the Forest of Wyrms and the Reaching Wood. From there, it was roads and trails to Baldur’s Gate. Elturgard carried its own set of risks for the pair… but it was just a 1700-mile journey instead of 3000 miles or more.
In the end, Shaggar’s trepidation of the more populated route and Kiley’s exuberance to see Baldur’s Gate sooner rather than later compelled them to take the southern route.
Would fortune favor them? We shall see…
Weeks later, with a thousand miles of road dust ground into their boots, our travelers find themselves leaving the steep eastern foothills and entering the rolling grasslands of Elturgard. They are on a trail that should lead them, in a few days’ time, to the village of Triel. Kiley, in particular, is relieved to be out from under the shadow of the Hill of Lost Souls. While they didn’t see the ghost armies that allegedly haunt the spot (looking for rest they will never find) there were strange noises on the wind – like forlorn voices – that set the young woman’s teeth on edge. Ironically, as her discomfort has lessened, Shaggar’s has seemingly increased.
For the dozenth time, as evening falls, the gnoll pulls out the worn compass and compares their position, the trail, and the distant visual clues around them, to his sketched map. With a more-or-less-satisfied chuff, he places the compass and map back in his bandolier. Shaggar makes an elaborate after you motion with his clawed hand to the small woman at his side, directing her along the trail before them.
Kiley smiles as she gives Shaggar a bow and leads the way, or rather follows the ranger's lead from in front. Her mood has brightened considerably since leaving the Hill of Lost Souls well behind them. A cool evening breeze ruffles fine hair and fur as they make their way down the trail to Tirel.
"So, a few more days and we'll be in Tirel, right," she asks as she looks back over her shoulder at Shaggar. "Hey, don't make that face, I promise that not everyone's as bad a cook as I am."
Despite her protestations to the contrary, her cooking so far hasn't been all that bad, probably thanks more to the simple dishes and seasonings than to any skill she is trying to downplay.
Bisht swishing in the breeze, Shaggar catches up to Kiley in three long, reverse-jointed strides. ”Triel.” He corrects her gently. ”Yes, we should be in Triel in two - perhaps three - days.”
He gives consideration to her other comment, puzzling over it. ”Your cooking is quite fine. Rattlesnakes are easy to ruin. Yours were juicy… But.. what was my face doing?” Shaggar had learned that his subtler moods were difficult for flat-faced races to read. The small motions of his face were hidden beneath his fur. He had tried to make faces to convey subtler moods… with mixed success. Now, it seemed perhaps he had displayed a mood without even trying! It was curious.
"Oh, Oops," Kiley says as she realizes that she got the town's name wrong. "I guess it's a good thing I misspoke where no one from Triel nor Tirel could hear me," she laughs. She's gotten to know Shaggar in the months after being freed from the Zhentarim and feels rather pleased at the reassurance he gives. She'd never had rattlesnake before, and it had turned out quite tasty. His question about what his face was doing is a little harder to answer.
She ponders a moment, wondering what it was that had tipped her off to his nervousness.
"I don't know if it was your face, actually," she admits after a few dozen yards. "You just seemed nervous, to me."
His step hitches for a moment before he continues walking. They are halfway down the hill before he responds. "I have... concerns. These people are strangled by their… theocracy. I may bring trouble on you. And your blood... they must not learn of it.”
Kiley slows to a stop and turns to look at Shaggar. The smile that had become more and more customary as she started to recover from the ordeal, though hell would likely have been more accurate, she'd endured under the Zhentarim is gone. She considers what her friend and guide says, and wonders if it would be worse for him than for her.
"If you have concerns, then I'd be a poor friend to not listen to them and a bigger fool than I'd like to think myself to ignore them," she says. "Do you think we should try avoiding the towns and villages until we're past these lands? You know more than I do, and I trust your judgement more than mine."
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"Your instincts are good, Kiley. Trust them." He awkwardly rests a clawed hand on her shoulder as he's seen humans do, trying to be reassuring. "To be safe, we should stay on trails and avoid roads, where we can. I think you can go through villages. I should circle around them and meet you on the other side."
He starts walking again, shaking his head. "What I've read of this country confuses me. They are dedicated to gods that are good and lawful. But their many laws are very strict and punishing. That seems odd to me." He looks to the small woman, hoping she can explain it.
Kiley reaches up and pats Shaggar's hand, trying to let him know he's doing fine as far as she is concerned.
"I think that will work," she says as her smile returns.
The question Shaggar asks next sends her mind back to when she asked something similar of her parents.
"My papa told me that some people believe that the best way to make people moral is to have laws covering everything and the best way to make sure those laws are obeyed is to make the punishment as harsh as reasonable, or even harsher. A people that wants to be good and just and believes those things could write laws that seem to be, or even are, unjust. Unfortunately for a lot of people, it's also possible for people seeking power or riches to also come up with laws like that to cow the people and dress it up as following the will of a just god to make themselves look better." Kiley grimaces as she remembers overhearing her captors laughing about some of the corrupt nobles, councilors, and priests they'd used over the years to get their way. "I couldn't tell which is the case here, though."
The gnoll nods, considering her father’s wisdom. ”When a government’s actions are harmful, I question if their intentions - good or ill - matter at all.” Shaggar emits a wary growl, ”Let us hope that any patrols we meet know the difference between law and justice.”
"I think there are situations where intention matters. What if someone just makes a mistake? What's the difference between someone following the letter of the law and another twisting it to their own ends? I agree, outcomes matter far more than intentions, but that's not the same as them not mattering at all." Kiley chuckles, enjoying the conversation despite the heaviness of the topic. "Having said that, I think you're right about governments. Doesn't matter what someone's intentions were once other people get involved."
She laces her fingers together and stretches her arms over her head as she walks along.
"As for any patrols, I hope the same, but there's no shame in running if it looks like things are going to turn violent, is there? Especially if we have nothing to gain by staying and fighting."
She puts her hands behind her head and looks up at the much taller gnoll.
"Be kinda weird to have a law against people that aren't bothering anyone walking on a trail, though. You don't have a boun--" she begins to say before Shaggar's likely worries finally register. Her expression falls as she remembers the bounties put on giants, orcs, goblins, and other monsters in the wilder places of the world.
"Bounties, right. I forgot about those."
”For people, yes. Intent can be important. Had I a wound and you – knowing nothing about healing – tried to pack the wound with mud instead of moss… you would hurt me, not heal me. But you tried to help, you just failed to do so. That is important.”
"As for any patrols, I hope the same, but there's no shame in running if it looks like things are going to turn violent, is there? Especially if we have nothing to gain by staying and fighting."
Shaggar bares his fangs, a disturbing sign of amusement. ”I will run or hide before killing a good man for his foolish notions. But cornering a gnoll is never wise. I would not kill merely because my clan said I should… And I will not surrender myself to death merely because a government thinks it is right.”
The gnoll is about to comment on bounties when he suddenly stops. He looks down the trail, ears perking, then sniffs the air. He says quietly, ”I think I see firelight ahead and there is conversation.” He quickly loops his keffiyeh over his head and neck, hiding his most non-human features. ”Shall we greet these travelers to test these ideas about people of good intent and other matters?”
Kiley nods, agreeing with Shaggar. If it was fight or die, she'd fight too, and she'd never leave Shaggar or any companion behind if she could help it.
Seeing her friend's ears perk up and his nose twitching as he sniffs the air, she wonders what he's noticed. She hadn't realized how nervous she is for Shaggar though until he mentions that they are not far from some fellow travelers. She pushes it way, realizing that worrying is only borrowing trouble, and both of her parents had always tried to warn her from doing that.
"I think we shall. Let us hope that the test is successful, even if we learn more from our failures," she says, her voice matching his as she checks to make sure her scarves are still in place and her tail and ears are hidden. Once she's certain that she'll just appear as any other human, albeit a short one, she grins up at Shaggar. "Not to demean your skill with people, but I think I should take the lead."
Once they are both ready, she leads the way to the camp, at least once Shaggar's pointed it out to her.
"Hello and well met," she says once she's close enough to the camp that she doesn't have to shout. "May a couple of travelers share your fire for a while?"
Once she's certain that she'll just appear as any other human, albeit a short one, she grins up at Shaggar. "Not to demean your skill with people, but I think I should take the lead."
The gnoll barks out a laugh, ”I would insist you lead, even if I was demeaned.”
Shaggar shadows Kiley, staying several steps back, as she approaches what quickly proves to be a makeshift campsite. The setting appears clearly to her enhanced vision well before she is revealed by the firelight.
Beside the trail, there are two modest covered wagons forming a semi-circle as protection against the wind. Within the semi-circle is a small cooking fire with pots on the boil. A group of humans are sitting around the fire or are busy at dinner-related tasks. Clearly overseeing the process, is a chubby woman in her 40’s. A man of equal years is carrying a pile of kindling and a few logs towards the fire. There is a younger man (20’s) skinning an animal of some sort near one of the wagons. Near the fire is a woman in her 20’s rocking a baby in her arms. Two young boys are playing some game with sticks and rocks. Kiley sees family resemblances in many of the people.
She steps into the outer ring of firelight…
"Hello and well met," she says once she's close enough to the camp that she doesn't have to shout. "May a couple of travelers share your fire for a while?"
Everyone stops their various activities and looks toward Kiley. The matriarch eyes and assesses the stranger. It takes a moment, but an open smile creeps across her face. ”Of course, you are welcome, girl! We believe in the hospitality of the road. You said a coupl…” Her voice fades off as Shaggar steps into the light.
Shaggar stoops as he steps quietly forward, thinking that he might be less intimidating if he appears closer to 6’ tall. Unfortunately, 6’ of gnoll or 7’ of gnoll made little difference… the gnoll part garners near instantaneous reaction. Any smiles fade and the older couple look poleaxed. The young woman clutches the baby, eyes going wide. The boys are slack-jawed. The young man, being a young man, drops his skinning knife and reaches for the nearest thing that passes for a weapon. He leaps to interpose himself between the others and the dangerous strangers, threatening them with the long wooden tines of a pitchfork.
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Shaggar stands still as a statue, red eyes regarding the young man in front of him placidly. Having been his constant companion for many months, Kiley was getting quite skilled at reading the gnoll’s subtle moods conveyed through his nearly monotonal voice. While it sounds like a mere recitation of boring fact, Kiley hears the amusement and incredulity in his voice, ”Am I being threatened with a farming implement?”
The scene strikes Shaggar as so ridiculous, he might have said, ”Are you attacking me with a seat cushion?”
He clears his throat and says, "I wish you a good evening, gentlemen and ladies."
Kiley, seeing the young man going for a weapon, of sorts anyway, steps between him and Shaggar.
"I'm Kiley, and this is my traveling companion, Shaggar," she says, hoping that introductions will help calm everyone's nerves. "He saved me from a bunch of slavers months ago. He's sweet as sugar, so don't let the big bad wolf impression fool you." Kiley smiles, despite the tension singing in the air. Knowing her seven foot tall friend and guide is closer to laughing than anything else goes a long way towards calming her nerves.
Shaggar's eyes glitter with laughter as Kiley interposes her tiny body between him and the overzealous farmer. He rests a massive clawed paw lightly on her shoulder, adding, "Kiley is also my self-appointed bodyguard, apparently."
He lets the quip sink in before gently pulling out the necklaces from within his bisht. He holds them out for observation - two wooden necklaces with holy symbols upon them. "I serve Elah, whom you may call Selune. I swear I am no danger to any here."
Kiley grins up at Shaggar and gives a sheepish shrug.
You're my friend, and you'd do the same for me.
She turns her attention back to the family as Shaggar pulls out his holy symbols. She and Shaggar have said their piece, now it is the family's turn.
Blood up, the young man seems largely unmoved… but the matriarch knows things aren’t always as simple as they appear. Between the initial impression Kiley made , the companionable air of the two strange figures, and the odd eloquence of the gnoll, she is… swayed.
Her silky voice carries a hint of steel directed toward the young man. ”Janno, that badger won’t skin itself. Get to it.” In a time-honored tradition, the son-in-law knows enough to not cross his wife’s mother. He slowly retreats back to the wagon and continues his task, all the while casting distrusting eyes at the gnoll.
The matriarch looks to the older man and the younger woman. ”We’ll need more wood and pans. It seems we have guests for dinner.” They both mobilize without complaint. The older woman comes forward, wiping her hands on her skirt before offering a hand to her guests.
”I’m Maribel – lay priestess of Lliira. Our goddesses were friends - I see no reason we should not be friends, too. That’s my husband Thom. Our daughter Elis, her husband Janno, and her son - our grandson - Elon.” She points at the two boys, ”Those hellions are ours as well – Shlem and Issok. Would either of you like some tea?” She glances at Shaggar’s exotic clothing, ”I’d love to hear of your travels. I think you’ve come from far away…”
"Thank you for your hospitality," Kiley says with a small bow. "Yes, I'd love some tea. What about you, Shaggar?" She smiles up at the stooped, yet still tall enough to tower over her, form of the gnoll.
Once Shaggar has made his preferences know, Kiley turns back to Maribel and asks, "Is there anything I may do to help?"
Shaggar nods, "Tea would be greatly appreciated. Thank you."
Before he sits down, he places his massive greataxe against one of the wagon wheels... far from where he sits.
Maribel replies to Kiley's offer, "Just keep an eye on the kettle while I get some cups, if you would. That'd be a help."
"Yes ma'am," Kiley says as she takes off her pack and follows Shaggar's lead and leans her greatsword next to his axe. her daggers and shortsword, however stay on her belt.
As she settles down next to Shaggar, she feels herself relaxing.
"So, other than having a pitchfork waved in our faces, this has gone well," she says softly so only Shaggar can hear.
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"The pitchfork was expected... but the tea and badger stew are surprising. Very civilized."
"If you ever want to stop being a guide, you should open a tavern. A gourmand such as yourself should not be hidden away."
Kiley looks around the camp to see how they did things compared to the Bedine. She especially tries to keep an eye on the "hellions" and make sure they didn't get up to too much mischief.
The gnoll cocks his head sideways, like a dog hearing something curious. ”I hope you meant gourmet. A gourmand is not…”
The rest of the conversation is curtailed by Maribel serving tea and then dinner.
Kiley looks up at Shaggar, not quite sure what he is getting at when tea and supper are served. After thank Maribel again for her and her family's hospitality, she starts doing what she can to learn more about their path ahead.
The dinner starts somewhat awkward and stilted as there are some concerns about whether a gnoll can use tableware. Once Shaggar proves he is, in fact, comfortable using a spoon and doesn’t just bury his muzzle in a pot to wolf down food… the dinner goes from tense to polite to almost jovial by evening’s end.
You learn that the family is moving from the Reaching Wood to a village near Soubar (northern Elturgard) where Maribel has been asked to serve the faithful of Lliira. Their home village was not in Elturgard, so dealing with the culture here is an ‘adjustment’. Their path will take them to Triel before they turn north on the main road to Soubar. They encountered an Elturgardian patrol in their travels two weeks ago. It was a group of 6 warriors on horseback. They were matter-of-fact – not friendly, not hostile – and they were led by a Paladin. Their understanding is that most patrols have Paladins, all from the same order that acts as the sword-arm of the theocrats. The patrol they met was ‘grim’ and asked about who they were, who they encountered on their path, and if they noted anything ‘strange’ – noises, shadows, anything out of the ordinary. Thom, a man of few words, says they seemed paranoid.
While Shaggar leaves most of the amiable chatting to Kiley (having no skill at it), he does pipe up at Thom’s point.
”They doubt themselves. Fifty years ago, this same government ruled. But one of their leaders… he was not what he pretended. A vampire, he created many more of his kind and brought in many other undead. They warred with these people and would have taken this country. A miracle destroyed the monsters and saved them. They know their weakness now.”
At the mention of vampires and undead, Kiley's grip on her bowl and spoon tighten and knuckles whiten. For a moment, she's a knot of tension threatening to snap, but it passes just as quickly as it came.
"I guess that'd be enough to make anyone a little paranoid," Kiley agrees before eating another spoonful of the soup. "The food is really good," she says, hoping to change the subject. "Could we get the recipe?"
"Hey, Shaggar, earlier you said something about hoping I meant gourmet instead of gourmand. Is there a difference," she asks quietly.
As a representative of a god, Maribel is curious. ”A Miracle? What kind of miracle?”
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Shaggar chuffs... it's not clear what that means in human terms. ”A ball of light – like a tiny sun – came down over the capital and blasted the dead away. That little sun still hovers above Elturel. It is said no undead can approach the city even now.” He looks to Kiley, ”Our course could take us past the capital… I thought you might like to get close enough to see this little sun?”
So much for changing the subject, Kiley thinks as her shoulders slump a little and she focuses on her stew.
Hearing about the capital, though, does pique her interest.
"That would be an amazing sight. I wonder if we'll be able to camp some where I can take a little time to paint it," she says, cheering up considerably at the thought of seeing something so wonderous.
Shaggar’s ears fold, pleased that he correctly guessed an activity that would interest his small companion. ”We shall go and see. And you will paint.”
That subject fades in favor of talk about recipes (which are exchanged), and Kiley’s paintings, and smaller matters. As the evening winds to a close, it is so successful (due largely to Kiley’s charm) that Maribel offers the two travelers a chance to sleep by their fire in the wind shelter provided by the wagons.
The family heads to bed. Maribel and Thom in one wagon, Janno, Elis, and baby Elon in the other, and the two rapscallions who like to ‘camp like warriors’ set up a tent under their parents’ wagon.
Kiley watches Shaggar closely when the offer is made to see if he thinks it's a good idea. Whatever is decided, the young woman thanks Maribel and the rest of her family for the hospitality they have shown.
Shaggar also thanks them for their hospitality and kindness to so strange a stranger. ‘Good nights’ exchanged, eventually our heroes bed down for the evening and have a quiet conversation.
"Hey, Shaggar, earlier you said something about hoping I meant gourmet instead of gourmand. Is there a difference," she asks quietly.
A small barking laugh creeps out of him. ”Yes. A gourmet enjoys fine food and drink. A gourmand overstuffs his belly with a lot of, not necessarily fine, food and drink… Before you fret about it, I know you weren’t insulting me.”
Kiley laughs as Shaggar explains the difference and she realizes her mistake.
"Sorry, Shaggar. I did mean gourmet. If anyone's the gourmand here, it's me." She yawns as a belly full of good food and the comfort of a warm blanket beckon her to the land of dreams. "I still think you should start a tavern if this adventuring thing doesn't work out," she murmurs before closing her eyes and falling asleep.
As soon as Kiley launches into an apology, the gnoll teases her around a jaw-snapping yawn. ”Fret fret fret. I forgive you, you have appealing ears.”
Between the filling meal, the pleasant conversation, and the warm fire, our heroes fall asleep… for awhile.
"Charming as ever. I bet all of the pretty ladies want you," Kiley mutters as she drifts off to sleep with a smile on her face.
Arrows (20):
Effects: None
Kiley is having a pleasant dream involving a handsome man with a prehensile tail like her own. Their tails twine around each other and then... a tinny bell ring disturbs the scene. It is an innocuous sound and yet it disturbs her.
It seems like a moment later, she is shaken awake by Shaggar crouching over her. ”Get up. Something woke me, something feels wrong…” Kiley rolls to her feet and both of them look around.
All seems quiet… Then they see the body of Janno halfway hanging out of the back of the covered wagon – unconscious or dead it is impossible to say. That is followed by a greater surprise… baby Elon, wrapped in swaddling is ‘floating’ perhaps 10’ above the top of the wagon. Shaggar is about to do ‘something’ when Kiley spots a flicker of motion below the wagon, something small and agile moving behind the wheels…
Round 1
INIT: Kiley, Shaggar, ???, NPCs
Kiley's eyes pop open as she comes to with Shaggar kneeling over her. The memory of the rather pleasant dream flies away as she stands up and takes in the scene around them.
"Something is wrong," she says as she focuses on the movement she saw.
"There, under the wagon. Whatever it is is small and quick," she tells Shaggar before focusing on the babe and trying to figure out the best way to get to him.
Kiley races toward the front of the wagon. She jumps onto the wheel, vaults onto the driver’s seat, and then tries to clamber onto the canvas cover. She manages to get onto the first set of wooden ‘ribs’ that support the cover… but the rib starts to bend. They were not designed to carry bodyweight. If Kiley were much heavier, the rib would have already broke. From where she crouches on the flexing top of the wagon, the child is still 8’ above her and two sets of ribs away.
Shaggar grabs his greataxe and stalks forward in a crouch toward the center of the wagon trying to spot the creature, hopefully bring his axe to bear, and prevent the creature from racing beneath the other wagon where the young boys are sleeping.
He spots the creature behind a wheel, using it for cover. All Kiley hears is the gnoll’s astonishment, ”Nine Hells…” He tries to smash the creature but the haft of his axe spangs off the wheel, throwing off his aim.
Arrows (20):
Effects: None
From beneath the wagon, a tiny bone-china doll dressed in a gaudy red and black jester’s outfit cartwheels and backflips past Shaggar before he can strike, the tiny bells on his floppy red satin feet jingle playfully. The doll stops and its head rotates backwards. Its black button eyes regard the heroes for only a moment. It raises its tiny hand, displaying a long-bladed kitchen knife in its fist. It may be a salute… or a warning.
Kiley is trying to process what she’s seeing when she notices that baby Elon has floated off. The child hovers above the clown, 20’ off the ground.
Somewhere between the distressed wagon cover and the axe hit on the wheel, Elis awakens to find her child gone and her husband slumped halfway in the wagon. She starts screaming. In short order, all the family is up – disheveled, sleepy, and trying to understand what’s happening.
Maribel looks from her daughter to her son-in-law that they’re trying to drag free of the wagon to the armed gnoll and the girl standing on top of her daughter’s wagon. She focuses, ”What the hell is going on?!”
Round 2
INIT: Kiley, Shaggar, Doll, NPCs
"Creepy doll trying to take the baby," Kiley guesses. She has no clue what that thing is, but she doesn't like that it has a knife and the baby is apparently hovering over it. Unfortunately, she can't see a way to get to the infant, so she decides that their best bet to save the child is to smash the doll.
"Shaggar, smash it! I'll catch the kid!"
Kiley jumps off the wagon and tucks into a roll as she lands. It's not her most graceful display, but it should help her avoid hurting herself. She circles around Shaggar and starts to work her way in closer when she's past the knife-wielding doll.
Maribel looks around til she sees her grand-child and the doll. She searches her memory. "I think that's a Soulbound Poppet! They're created to serve witches. They're dangerous and hard to destroy. Let me get my gear, I can help." She pulls a kit from beneath the driver's seat.