Garavel nods at Llathander and Abbas, gesturing to the side of the road. When Badi arrives, he looks mildly surprised. His face never seemed to suggest he could do so. "I was not aware you had your own camel. Can I ask of you to handle the reins while I return one to the stables?"
It is barely a question - he hands Badi six of the seven reins, going to the stables with the last one.
Durant joins the others at the gate. "Lovely morning for a walk....or a ride." Durant was clearly not expecting camels.
Gilfroy comes trudging up to the gate, his sash of knotted scarves tied around his forehead and pulled low over his eyes. "Oh, thrillsville! Camels, of course, I should have known. Damned things heave like a bluff-bowed frigate at the best of tomes."
Gil looks decidedly green as he climbs aboard.
After the completion of the prayers, which Llathander greets in a uncharacteristic silence. He climbs aboard one of the camels, ready to go.
"Indeed," bellows Garavel as he returns from the stables, carrying saddlebags. "We will spend at least seven days on the way to Kelmarane."
He takes back the reins from Badi, not unkindly, while handing him the saddlebags. "Waterskins. I already loaded the other camels." As Bahram arrives at the northern gate, Garavel hands everyone a camel. "If you do not know how to ride one, do not hesitate to ask. Badi also has some experience, it seems."
He mounts his camel, looking at you all. [B]"The camels' saddlebags contains empty waterskins. There is a well about an hour north, we will fill the skins and then set course to the expedition camp."
"Water will not be a problem, so long as I am with you," Gil says. He casts a spell and it rains on the paladin for a moment.
Casts create water.
"An impressive talent, Mr. Gilfroy, and certain to be beneficial. Maybe a minor delay so you can fill the waterskins here could prove to hasten our journey - it would be impractical to stop in the midst of the desert to retrieve the skins from the bags."
You can gauge that it is difficult to fetch the waterskins from the saddlebags while moving.
"Ah, Gilfroy, we think more alike than I thought" Abbas quips, and it rains momentarily on Gilfroy.
Abbas proceeds to take water skins from the camel saddlebags, and any empty one is now filled with drinkable water. After that is done, "Ready to go now Master Garavel he says, and climbs onto the camel, ready to go.
-- Abbas Garshta
"Water will not be a problem, so long as I am with you," Gil says. He casts a spell and it rains on the paladin for a moment.
Casts create water.
Not minding helping out, he takes the reins reins while they waited for Garavel to return. However, as Garavel hands him the saddlebags, Badi strains a bit and lets out an audible *oof* as he takes the weight and transfers it to his camel's saddle. "Truth be told, I had bought this camel for the trek from Katapesh and only have that as way of experience." Then, tapping the back of Aa-need's leg, as he was shown by the camel merchant he had bought the beast from, Badi frowns a moment as the camel refuses to respond. Then, tapping once more with his cane, but with a little more force, he gives up and starts to clamor up the side of the creature. Then, when Badi was still hanging from the edge of the saddle, Aa-need stooped down on his knees, the shift in weight sending Badi sprawling to the ground.
Recovering, Badi simply glares at the camel while he dusted himself off. The creature simply crouched there, waiting for Badi to mount up.
After Llathander's morning shower he looks at Gilfroy and quips, Be careful gnome remember where you stand and I have not rid my bladder of last nights festivities yet. Upon seeing Abbas make it rain on Gilfroy he lets out a hearty laugh.
He mounts the camel and and doesn't make too bad of a showing for himself.
Let's make our way then and find Haleen and reclaim this Kelmarne for the Merchant Lady.
Knowledge Nature check to identify a natural predator camels would fear.
If that's enough, he'll use a ghost sound orison to make the sound of that animal right behind the ears of Llathander's camel. If it's not enough, Gil uses some generic monster sound. Will DC 17 for the camel to disbelieve if it is able.
You do not identify a more extravagant predator for camels than a venomous scorpion.
Llathander's camel starts twitching and sets off into a vicious sprint, past Garavel, out the northern gate. Garavel lets out a quiet, emotionless groan as he turns to the rest of you. "Llathander has set the course for us. We begin."
He follows Llathander, almost with the same speed, out the north gate. The desert sea is quite the sight in the early morn.
Smiling to himself, Abbas thinks he will not turn his back on Gilfroy, since his pranks are getting worse.
Spurring the camel on, following Llathander and Garavel, "And so it begins."
-- Abbas Garshta
Llathander's camel starts twitching and sets off into a vicious sprint, past Garavel, out the northern gate. Garavel lets out a quiet, emotionless groan as he turns to the rest of you. "Llathander has set the course for us. We begin."
He follows Llathander, almost with the same speed, out the north gate. The desert sea is quite the sight in the early morn.
With that I will bring the camel around and start singing while we travel and make sure Gil is right next to me.
"when did you find time to teach your camel to sing," Gil asks, grimacing.
He refrains from any more pranks for awhile.
Durant finally manages to get the camel moving in something resembling the correct direction. Actually I think the camel is just following the others.
As the camel sets into its loping rolling stride Durant sits lightly on its back and scans the skyline. He lets his eyes rest without judgement on sand and rock and lizard.
After about an hour, you pass the Solku Well; a lush, beautiful oasis with foliage around the edges. The camels all rush to the water to drink. The minor detour costs very little time, and within the hour you have made great progress. Garavel keeps quiet, though his mood does seem pleasant.
The day passes without incident. Come nightfall, the sun slips into the horizon far to the west, and the cloudless sky is scattered with stars. Illuminating the desert is the moon, hovering behind you all, arriving with the intense chill of the night.
Garavel halts the caravan. "We will set up camp here for the night. The cold will bite into us otherwise."
He dismounts and begins pulling out parts of a big tent from his saddlebags. "There are pieces of the pavilion in your saddlebags as well. Take them out and help me set it up."
Upon hearing Garaval's orders Llathander acts on instinct and begins following them without question.
Durant is off his camel nearly before garavel finishes speaking.
"Allow me to assist you brother."
He works quickly assisting the others and soon the pavilion stands in the moonlight.
While pulling on a cord to raise the pavilion Durant finds himself staring at the new risen moon.
"The moon still is
though it seems far from home.
Solku in winter"
"Sorry." Durant stammers and returns to his work.
Abbas dismounts from the camel, and rummages thru the saddlebags. "Got my piece!" he quips and sets to work with the others in setting up the tent. After the tent is set up, he asks "I hope someone has fire starter. What are we doing for dinner? I hope more than trail rations" as his stomach rumbles.
Garavel halts the caravan. "We will set up camp here for the night. The cold will bite into us otherwise."
He dismounts and begins pulling out parts of a big tent from his saddlebags. "There are pieces of the pavilion in your saddlebags as well. Take them out and help me set it up."
Unsteadily dismounting from Aa-need's back, Badi pulls out his portion of the pavilion and sets about helping the others erect the structure. Even with the biting cold, and he only wearing thin robes suited for the heat, Badi doesn't show a sign of discomfort and actual seems comfortable in the chill air. With the pavilion up, he joins the others inside and says, "I am no expert when it comes to hunting for food, but I can assist with the fire." With that, the half-elf pulls out a pouch from his robes and, finding a patch of sand in a place safe to start a fire, pours some of the fine, black powder into the sand and starts mixing in for a second or two. Once he starts to feel it heat up, he stands and steps back moments before the mixture bursts, creating a fire that will keep them warm and heat anything they feel like cooking.
Garavel seems pleased by Badi's fire, as it warms the pavilion and keeps the night chill out. When Abbas asks for food, Garavel turns to the man:
"I have nothing but rations, Abbas. Unless anybody else brought along something, it will have to sustain you until we arrive at the expedition."
Garavel goes to sleep shortly after. The night passes by as Badi's fire dies slowly. The desert sea remains quiet, with whisks of sand rattling against the fabric of the tent, carried by the night wind. It is morning when the fire dies out.
When you wake up, Garavel is already outside of the tent. The others are asleep, shifting and stirring, not far from waking. Garavel gestures you over, with a rare smile. "You are awake. Have the others woken up?"
Llathander awakens to meet The majordomo still unarmored and a little groggy eyed he quickly ties his hair into a pony tail and goes back into the tent only to say sternly Hey time to wake up we got a lot of sand to stare at today!. Hey proceeds to greet the sun and gear up.
"Rations it is then" replies Abbas, with a small grimace. After warming himself by the fire and chatting with Gilfroy for a bit, he heads into the pavilion, takes his bedroll from his pack and settles down for the night.
-- Abbas Garshta
When Abbas asks for food, Garavel turns to the man:
"I have nothing but rations, Abbas. Unless anybody else brought along something, it will have to sustain you until we arrive at the expedition."
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Abbas gets up, dresses and goes outside the pavilion. Seeing Llathander and Garavel, "Good morning. Time for my devotions. I will be ready to leave in a little over an hour. Abbas moves slightly east and kneels down, with holy symbol in his left hand, and his right holding the handle of his sheathed scimitar and prays for an hour.
After that time, if the fire is still going, or at least putting out some heat, he will try to heat his rations. If not he will eat breakfast cold. If the pavilion is not down yet, he will also help breaking camp.
-- Abbas Garshta
Llathander awakens to meet The majordomo still unarmored and a little groggy eyed he quickly ties his hair into a pony tail and goes back into the tent only to say sternly Hey time to wake up we got a lot of sand to stare at today!. Hey proceeds to greet the sun and gear up.
Garavel seems pleased by Badi's fire, as it warms the pavilion and keeps the night chill out. When Abbas asks for food, Garavel turns to the man:
"I have nothing but rations, Abbas. Unless anybody else brought along something, it will have to sustain you until we arrive at the expedition."
"Ah, simple food to satisfy hunger and clear the mind. You are an excellent host friend Garavel."
Llathander: Hey time to wake up we got a lot of sand to stare at today!
"And miles of it to cross. Let the journey be swift." Durant begins to break camp. Carfully taking dpwn the pavillion so as not to disturb the sleepers, the morning sun will wake them quickly enough.
Once the majority of the camp is broken down Llathander will quietly cook breakfast while waitin for people to wake he will say So siblings and friends we will be travelling together for sometime. Perchance now is the te to know one another and our strengths and where we come from.
Gilfroy helps set up the tent, and, momentarily chastised by Llathander's singing, he refrains from any pranks for the evening.
Once the tent is set up, Gilfroy finds a clear space along one wall. He kneels, facing the canvas wall with the fire to his back. He unwraps the sash from his waist, unfurls one of the scarves and drapes it over his head and face. Then, along with muted chanting, he begins slowly moving about, a sombre kind of dance, all the while, his eyes are transfixed by his own shadow. The shadows about him begin to move in a way you cannot account for.
When an hour has passed, he puts the scarves back around his waist and comes to sit at the fire.
The next morning, he's up early, performing some ascetic exercises in the morning light. Durant can probably tell that he's not very good at them.
Sarenrae's blessings upon you Llathander for this hot food, as he grabs a plate and starts eating.
In between bites of hot food, Greetings friends. I am Abbas Garshta, Priest of Sarenrae. The head of my temple, Dawnmother Patrice, has sent me to Kelmarane to help re-take it from the creatures that have overrun it, and to re-open the temple to Sarenrae that was there, he says to the assembled group.
My strengths are my devotion to Sarenrae, the spells She grants to me, and the strength of my sword arm, he says as he holds forth his holy symbol and puts his hand on the scimitar hilt belted to his side.
-- Abbas Garshta
Once the majority of the camp is broken down Llathander will quietly cook breakfast while waiting for people to wake he will say So siblings and friends we will be traveling together for sometime. Perchance now is the time to know one another and our strengths and where we come from.
The next morning, he's up early, performing some ascetic exercises in the morning light. Durant can probably tell that he's not very good at them.
Durant, dressed as before in dusty light tan and faded yellow, joins Gilfroy at his excersises. He focuses on hip and spine stretches that will make the coming long ride comfortable.
He does not comment on Gilfroy's efforts, Durant simply moves slowly and carefully through his own, allowing the gnome to copy or adapt or ignore as he wishes.
"Thank you master Fezziwig. It is always better to train with a partner."
Durant carefully checks the waterskins/bags before we leave the oasis.
"My strengths are my devotion to Sarenrae, the spells She grants to me, and the strength of my sword arm," he says as he holds forth his holy symbol and puts his hand on the scimitar hilt belted to his side.
"It is good to see so many of our company so devout. I myself have never felt the sheltering embrace of a faith. Some of my masters at the Three Mountain temple followed the dawnflower and others the path of self-perfection set out by Irori. Still others thought it was best for one to walk one's own path. I remain undecided on this question.
As far as my strengths, we were taught that movement is the basic nature of life so our early training focuses on that. If I have skills they are focused on avoiding conflict though it is a dark age and even the neophytes learn to defend themselves."
At Durant's comment, Gilfroy blushes furiously, a very faint tinge of pink to his pale skin. "Yes, well, you're welcome."
At the breakfast table, Gilfroy says, "I have lots of magic to bring to bear, as you've no doubt already figured. Many of my spells specialize in illusions and deception. I can also usually spin a good wool cap over people's eyes. I am also a member of the Pathfinder Society. I...well, I actually have very little to do with the following of Irori, though it sometimes benefit me to pretend such abilities." He looks at Durant and blushes again.
He looks at Durant and blushes again.
Durant laughs, "A master of illusion is truly a master of reality. The moon in still water,
the moon in the night sky,the moon in your memory,
all are the same moon and not the same."
"I will be happy to aid you in polishing your pretence. Who knows perhaps pretence and reality will flow into the same sea."
I have always felt strength in standing up for something though recently it seems to be more primal than ever before.
Garavel waits for them all to wake up and he does not complain when Llathander prepares a warm breakfast as opposed to the cold and dry rations. During the preparation, while Priest Abbas is off for his prayers, he begins dismantling the pavilion. "Help me dismantle this; when Priest Abbas has returned, we will eat and set off north."
When Abbas returns, the pavilion has been dismantled and Garavel is feeding the camels. It doesn't take long before you all mount your camels, and set to the north once more.
With a bit of coaxing. Durant's camel reaches the head of the pack. After riding beside Garavel in the morning light.
"Tell me master Garavel, why do you ride this path? My brothers seek one who is lost, Abbas if fired by faith, the gnome is a pathfinder and they need no reason to walk into the dark, but you? Why is a decrepit monestary important to you. Why is the city important? Please forgive me if I pry, it is a personal failing."
Also rising early, Badi sets about memorizing his spells in the pavilion using candlelight handing about him by magical mean and is undisturbed when Llathander wakes and heads outside. After he has finished viewing his spellbook, Badi goes through his own morning ritual, mumbling arcane phrases and accompanying movements identical to what he daid yesterday morning before leaving the pavilion to enjoy breakfast in the morning light. Hearing others talk of religion, Badi interjects with, "I am not one for religion myself, but as I help keep order in the chaos of the Nightstalls, I have been known to say the occasional prayer to Abadar." As dutifully as yesterday, Badi helps to dismantle the pavilion, though it is obvious with his effort that he doesn;t possess the stength of many of this comrades.
With a bit of coaxing. Durant's camel reaches the head of the pack. After riding beside Garavel in the morning light.
"Tell me master Garavel, why do you ride this path? My brothers seek one who is lost, Abbas if fired by faith, the gnome is a pathfinder and they need no reason to walk into the dark, but you? Why is a decrepit monestary important to you. Why is the city important? Please forgive me if I pry, it is a personal failing."
Garavel glances at Durant before setting his gaze north.
"I act not on my own accord. I serve Princess Almah, your employer. She told me to go to Solku, to find proper, competent hirelings, mercenaries and adventurers, and so I have. Or I hope I have."
He does smile slightly. "I do think we will get even further today."
And in the years of service to our employeer have you found her to be fair, Master Garavel?
Not wishing to intrude on Llathander' conversation with Garavel, Abbas turns to the four other brothers, I understand that Haleen raised you all, and you are looking for her he says. What does she look like so when we find her, myself and Gilfroy will recognize her?
Not wishing to intrude on Llathander' conversation with Garavel, Abbas turns to the four other brothers, I understand that Haleen raised you all, and you are looking for her he says. What does she look like so when we find her, myself and Gilfroy will recognize her?
Durant listens to both conversations.
"Abbas, She wound be a woman of middle years. Strong of limb and feature. When last I saw her her hair was light brown and bound in a long braid. Though I also remember when it was red or as light as my turban."
"When we set up camp tonight, the four of your can describe her in more detail, and I will attempt to draw and paint a likeness of her, both for you to keep and so we may see with our own eyes."
As they worked on breaking camp, Badi also chimed in with, "Haleen plays many roles in our lives. While my 'brothers' count her as a figure that cared for them and nurtured them, she was there for me when we were both younger, possibly before the youngest of us was even born. She is akin to a sister to me, someone who watched my back as I watched hers. She inspired me to walk my own road and make my own views on the world. It has been many years since I had last seen her, but her dress often changed with her mood. Her and I were like minds on opposite ends of the same spectrum and had many disagreements. Fortunately, our differences often helped us to survive on the streets of Katapesh."
Garavel glances at Llathander, keeping the pace. "Princess Almah is stern and determined; she expects results, and does not hesitate to call you out if you make mistakes. Though do not be mistaken. Her job is not easy."
He turns his glance back to the sandy dunes up north. "I think she is fair. I have served Pactmasters before her - and they were not quite as gentle as she can be."
The rest of the day passes without incident. As the sun sets, you have arrived at an oasis, with lush grass and fresh water. The camels are drinking as you, with Garavel's assistance, set up the pavilion. He prepares his bedroll right away, yet does not go to sleep as he stretches his legs.
When he speaks he does not look up but merely stares at the sand beneath the camel, somehow he finds it easier to talk about her when not directly addressing someone.
Haleen was nice to me. That was all that mattered. I was starving in the streets of Katapesh when she and Badi found me. She took me in and taught me how to survive and more importantly she always taught me to persue my dreams. Unfortunately I can not offer any more information than they have already given because I was the last to come into the family and the first to leave for my training with the Dawnfather and my training in Rondelero.
Once the pavilion is set up, Gilfroy gets out his portrait supplies, and gets descriptions from the four brothers. He'll take twenty, for a result of 26, though I figure there should be some penalty for working off descriptions.
Gilfroy whips out a portrait of Haleen, whose features are astonishingly correct for somebody who has never laid eyes on her.
Gilfroy whips out a portrait of Haleen, whose features are astonishingly correct for somebody who has never laid eyes on her.
Bahram looks at the portrait with astonishment, not knowing what to say, but you can tell he clearly finds it's very impressive.
"...Haleen..." He remains silent and then his hands ball up into fists, walking away and deciding to take a rest or help out with setting things up if there is a need for his help.
At Bahram's response to the portrait, Badi interjects with, "Please forgive Bahram. He was very fond of Haleen and has taken her disappearance the hardest among us who know her." His choice of words hints at the fact that, though he isn't as expressive as Bahram, Badi hopes Haleen is still alive. "It is an excellent rendition Gilfroy."