"Be right back. I want to make sure that's the last of them"
Kul heads in the opposite direction from Amiamble, checking to ensure this floor is clear.
Pent watches Ami bound off without a word, and snorts. He walks over to Aldebert, and starts pulling at his collar, examining the neck skin for signs of rot and decay. Depending on how patient the halfling proves to be, the gnome slips into a slightly bad habit of grabbing the halfling's chin, and trying to open the mouth to examine the teeth.
He stares at Aldebert while he tries to grab him by the cheeks to turn his head to the side. "You'd tell us if Ami were contagious, wouldn't you? Because that would be kinda important to, you know, our wellbeing, and the wellbeing of others. More than kinda, the more I think on it."
After a short moment Aldebert pulls back and slaps at Pent's hands. "What are you doing? No, my brother is not contagious. Calm down and keep your crossbow ready for more gnolls."
Aldebert looks for something to tie up the prisoner and then proceeds to do so.
Pent looks unsatisfied at Aldebert's response, but decides to wait for the others to finish putting their minds at ease. He takes a chair near to Kardswann, the bagged prize, and keeps his crossbow pointed at the fallen leader of gnolls.
"More gnolls? Kardswann would have killed any gnolls himself, that didn't remain between us and him, don't you think? We're done here, here in the Battle Market. Except for the gnoll bartender that better not be down there when we return. Then there's the matter of Haleen, and the merchants. Then there's the matter of what lies beneath the church, and getting Almah's approval before we clear out what's kept behind the Door."
Pent sets down his crossbow, patting it reassuring, then turns to Kardswann to separate all of his possessions from his prone body. "Any luck? Any duck? You got any unlikely gnolls hiding out up here, behind the locked door we had to bust dooow... hey. Do you think one of these keys would have worked on that?" Pent broods.
Aldebert has no problems finding something to use to tie Kardswann up.
Amiamble and Kul discover no further gnolls on this level. One of the two, moving towards the rooms closest to the staircase, discovers those rooms to be mere guard quarters, featuring simple beds and wardrobes containing various worthless personal items.
The other, moving to the opposite end of the hallway, finds a large, decadently decorated chamber, although there's little of note on the tables or in the shelves. A thick wall-to-wall curtain hides an equally opulently decorated bedchamber, where a locked chest is easily found underneath the bed itself.
Pent separates Kardswann from a magical greataxe, a pair of magical potions, a masterwork breastplate, and three keys. Two of these keys match the ones you got from Undrella, while the third is smaller and more suitable for a chest than a door.
Pent completely forgets about his crossbow and Kardswann, as he hears tell of a receptive little chest waiting for him. "A three key... for me to see... what be at sea... under the leaves..." Pent burbles a little bit longer, but the sound of the key turning in the lock is enough for him to quiet down, and lift the lid reverentially.
Ami and Yeen pad back to the group and Kardswann's body after their search of the place. Yeen licks his bloody lips...it is likely that more throats were torn out during the search.
Ami beams at his brother, leaning in to speak
"Brother, we have slain many gnolls today! It is a great victory for Sarenrae! We gave them the whatfor!" Ami smashes his tiny fist into his tiny hand. "Yeen was a beast today, too! We should find a way to celebrate...as if the battle was not celebration enough."
The chest contains a large amount of assorted coins (3,459 gp in all), and four large garnets worth 400 gp each.
Pent plucks up the four garnets, leaving the coins for someone more cumbersomerrable to take up the yoke of such metal wealth. "Heya, there's quite a bit of coin here, would someone mind the weight in their backpack? My joints are acting up at present from all the stairclimbing." Pent squats a little, then pops a knee to underscore his point.
He leaves the key in the lock, and bounds back to the crossbow, and at whom the crossbow was pointed.
"So, who's carrying him back?"
"So, who's carrying him back?"
Ami looks at Mahdi, beckoning the man to lean down to hear the whispers.
"We should leave him here and bring everyone else to us. We have won the day. Almah should come here."
"We should leave him here and bring everyone else to us. We have won the day. Almah should come here."
Aldebert ponders that one.
"We have taken the battle market little brother, but the entire complex may not yet be ours. Let us see if Haleen can guard our prisoner while we clear the rest of the hill shall we?"
If the party is in agreement, Aldebert talks to Haleen about guarding the 'man' while the party does a house to house search of the rest of the hill, killing gnolls as they go.
"Haleen, can you help us?"
Aldebert will help to carry what gear he can (not too much really) and leave the rest with their prisoner to drag out later.
"Let us see if Haleen can guard our prisoner while we clear the rest of the hill, shall we?"
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, haaaay, hey." Pent wanders over to the balcony's edge, to make sure that Haleen is not readily observable, before continuing.
"You are asking us to trust Haleen like we trust Yaki, on your word, not her actions. I'm finding that hard to do, considering that Kardswann is a pretty big fish in our nets. Yaki has proven himself over and over again. What is Haleen even doing in this Market, walking around like a gnoll ally?" Pent looks seriously at Aldebert, expecting answers.
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Ami looks at Aldebert, already knowing what his brother is thinking about Pent's concerns.
Well, he'll trust a harpy, but not....
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...another halfling.
"Haleen can be trusted. If she'll do it, Pent, she'll do it well and trustworthily. What's wrong, you only trust creatures with wings?"
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"Aw come on now. Harpies are obviously selfish creatures intent on taking advantage of their circumstances. They're really transparent. Halflings are way more dense." Pent chuckles, breaking from his stern looking, as it's getting really hard to hold onto.
Mahdi brushes off his hands and is more than willing to let Kul and the diseased (?) Amiamble run around the market killing gnolls. He watches with interest as Aldebert restrains their non-human prisoner, and helps Pent part Kardswann of his finery.
As for the discussion on where to go, and what to do, next:
"I agree with Aldebert that the village itself may not be cleared. But before we go racing off anywhere, to do anything, I believe we might all do with some answers: Aldebert and Amiamble, will you explain, now that we are not in a pitched battle for our lives, who Haleen is in greater detail? And why you did not see fit to bring her up before now? It would have been quite tragic had one of us attacked her in battle, not knowing that there was a potential friend in the city to look out for."
"We should sit down with Haleen and hear, from her, the status of things: if she has been living here, she can advise us of the current inhabitants, who might yet remain in the village to be cleared out, other people who could be trusted to guard Kardswann. I don't care to drag him miles across the desert-- it was hard enough with the emir. If we can leave him here, under guard of Haleen in others, verify that the city is safe, and then go to inform Almah of victory, all is well: but let us talk to Haleen, first."
Mahdi is unable to detect the properties of any of the three items, but his detection does let him see that there are other magical items nearby; specifically upon the flind's body.
***
Kul returns and sits near Kardswann. He starts bandaging his wounds and says, "I'm sure she's nice and I don't want to be a jerk, but she was, at the very least, allied with Kardswann. Maybe he was blackmailing her and still has leverage over her. I don't know. I just don't think it is safe to leave him with her. I'd rather drag the both of them back to the camp and sort things out. I'll carry or drag Kardswann."
Mahdi frowns as he realizes he cannot identify the spells. Hrmf! Well, then. However... a little glitter from the other corpse...
Mahdi looks over to Kul as he starts divesting the burnt flind of his valuables.
"If you wish to haul a body back several miles, I won't stop you," he says with a shrug. "It would still be good to hear, now, an accounting from Haleen and our dear brothers-in-arms as to what the situation is. Before we trek for several miles."
"Perhaps Haleen would be so good as to explain and introduce herself to us while we search this market for useful goods, or any hiding gnolls that you might have theoretically missed.
"And perhaps Messire Pent would be so good as to see if 'Sarah' has blessings of healing for us? Kul took a blow or two. As did I," he says, in case anyone missed his badass manly bravery in getting cut up.
Mahdi identifies a ring of feather falling and a potion of expeditious retreat after retreaving them from the flind, but a second potion remains unidentified. In addition, the flind has a masterwork breastplate and a masterwork flindbar , plus 5 ordinary daggers (one of which he threw, so it's found somewhere near the staircase).
From the rank-and-file gnolls, the bugbears, and the ogre, plus one of the guard rooms below, the following equipment is gathered: 3 morningstars, 5 battleaxes, 9 javelins, 10 spears, 15 longbows, 18 leather armors, 15 heavy wooden shields, 3 light wooden shields, 1 hide armor, 290 arrows, and 100 gp.
Another guard room contains a wealth of items Kul recognizes as belonging to his former companions among the Lions of Senara. In total, there's a magical ring, a magical cloak, a magical dagger, a magical wand, a magical amulet, a magical headband, a magical splint mail, a magical pair of slippers, and four magical vials, as well as two mundane items; a masterwork chainmail and a cold iron heavy mace.
The bulky contraption found in the only operating store on the second floor seems to be some kind of alchemical laboratory. There are seven compartments on it, each connected to a syringe-like needle, containing fluids that all radiate magic (as if they were potions).
In addition, each of the three humans operate shops (featuring numerous items) on the ground floor.
Beyond all the other readily available items, you notice a tiny silver masterwork flute among the raised bleachers.
Mahdi is rather like an eager child on his name-day. He moves from item to item, picking it up and examining it and gleefully informing the others of his discoveries, while jamming the ring of feather fall onto his finger.
But he is not keen-eyed enough to notice whatever there is to be noticed.
If the shopkeeps have come out of hiding, he will cheerfully greet them. And show off the slash he took in battle. And apologize again for Ami.
"Perhaps Haleen would be so good as to explain and introduce herself to us while we search this market for useful goods, or any hiding gnolls that you might have theoretically missed."
"I agree, there is much to the story I do not know, but Haleen can be trusted completely to do what she offers to do. I just don't know if she'll offer to help us guard him."
"You see, Haleen is our sister."
Aldebert helps to lug the found loot into a central pile by Kardswann's body and he continues to guard him.
He lowers his voice to only be heard by the party,
"We're not going to be able to haul all of this back to camp. I say we cherry pick what we want, grab the magical loot of course, and the bows (with a few arrows too I guess just in case) and try to sell the rest to the merchants here if we can before getting the others and taking control of the Battle Market and the town."
He watches with interest as Mahdi identifies many of the items they've found. It's a skill beyond him, and he appreciates Mahdi's intellect.
Mahdi identifies the following items:
+1 dagger
amulet of natural armor +1
headband of alluring charisma +2
+1 splint mail
3 vials of silversheen
He's unable to identify the ring, cloak, wand, or slippers.
The identifiable liquids are: mage armor, magic fang, cat's grace, invisibility, and spider climb, leaving two of the liquids unidentified. It does, however, look like alchemical training would be needed to extract the liquids in another form than through syringe-injection.
Kul will take a look at the contraption to see how it works:
To extract the liquids(?):
With his alchemical knowledge, Kul figures out both how to extract the liquids as normal potions, and also how they work if injected.
Extracting them requires a DC 10 Craft (alchemy) or Profession (alchemist) check, but a failed check ruins the potion.
Injecting the liquids directly doubles the duration of the potions, due to the extra potency of being injected directly into the target's bloodstream.
He also figures out that the device functions as if it was a fully stocked alchemical laboratory, granting a +2 bonus to Craft (alchemy) checks made to infuse liquids into it. The value of the device to the right alchemist would be about 8,000 gp, but the considerable weight (900 lb) would make it difficult or impossible to move.
At the mention of Haleen (and after the place has been searched), Ami and Yeen will return downstairs for another reunion of tickles and scritches and laughter and giggles and more tickles.
"Haleen! Haleen! Look how big I am! I've killed many gnolls too!"
Pent eyes Mahdi sifting through the magic items like a master eyes a hungry dog working on a meat-laced bone. You don't reach your hand anywhere close, until the dog looks like it's no longer interested...
"If I may, Maddie...?" He asks permission to look over the items seemingly set aside without descriptions.
"You see, Haleen is our sister."
Pent raises both eyebrows, likes the feeling, and alternates raising one then the other. "Like, your actual sister? I've got brother gnomes, but they have different mothers, my other brothers. I must say, it's fortuitous to have her waiting for us all, unless you came to Kelmarane looking for her, which you haven't offered up in the vicinity of my ears any time in the recent past. Ami looks genuinely surprised to find her here, so search is the perch I'll take for now. Let's hope she's as trustworthy as a harpy, then."
"And perhaps Messire Pent would be so good as to see if 'Sarah' has blessings of healing for us? Kul took a blow or two. As did I."
Pent nods vigorously as Mahdi requests Sarah's healing energies. Look a that, Sarah! He's slowly coming around! Your touch is well-remembered, and will ever so continue to be, praise You and Your strength.
Pent clenches a couple of times.
A light, semi-wet peal of bottom burp occurs on his first pass of healing, the aroma a mixture of cheeky sweat and digestive gnome noxiousness.
"Yes Pent, she's our actual sister, not just another Halfling, but actual blood kin. Part of the reason we joined this expedition to Kelmarane was to find her - we had a lead that she was here. I do not know why however, and that is certainly an answer she'll have to provide."
Aldebert continues to guard the prisoner, though he longs to speak with Haleen about her presence here under what are, to him, unusual circumstances.
"Yes Pent, she's our actual sister, not just another Halfling, but actual blood kin. Part of the reason we joined this expedition to Kelmarane was to find her - we had a lead that she was here. I do not know why however, and that is certainly an answer she'll have to provide."
Ami returns to the pack as Aldebert defends Haleen, pausing to look over Alde's shoulder and glare at Pent for suggesting anything untoward about his sister.
Yeah, you tell 'em, Alde!
When Mahdi explains what the headband does, Ami looks around at everyone before trying it on, hoping that it will bring him closer to Sarenrae.
Pent identifies a ring of protection +1, but is unable to identify the properties of the cloak, wand, or slippers.
***
When the group returns to the ground floor to approach Haleen and the three merchants, they find them all waiting (Haleen on the stage, the others in front of their respective market stalls), eyeing the warriors. Haleen smiles encouragingly to Amiamble, replying "I can see that, and Yeen too, judging by his bloody mouth!"
The three merchants don't seem entirely trusting of Amiamble, especially the one who's nursing a rather large bump on his forehead. Haleen, for her part, stares daggers into Pent, clearly unhappy about him calling her a 'harlot' earlier.
Pent notices Haleen, and takes the attention for overt animal lust. He wiggles his eyebrows at her, finishing with a wink.
He does not, however, begin any conversation with the halfling, deferring to Aldebert's obvious intent on doing so.
He does, however, put on the newly identified Ring.
Aldebert greets Haleen warmly, setting aside his weapon a moment to give her a big hug.
"It's good to see you. We've been worried."
He steps back to look at her. Seeing she's healthy and free he inquires, "So what are you doing here? What's going on?"
Also...
Ami stops Yeen from joining in on the big hug between Haleen and Aldebert, coaxing and twisting the overly hyped-up-on-gnoll-blood-and-sister's-reunion euphoria.
"We can tackle Alde and Haleen later when they are not expecting it. Don't you worry...we'll play more pounce'em kitty!"
Ami leans in to hear what Haleenie has to say for herself.
You can't sense any enchantment-induced influences on Haleen's behavior.
Noting Pent's wiggle and wink, Haleen glares at him for a few moments until Aldebert approaches to hug her, then files the gnome's insufferable behavior away to be dealt with at a more opportune time.
She gladly, and fiercely, accepts Aldebert's hug. "It's good to see you, too. Not even a day has gone by when I haven't thought of you and Ami, wondering how you've been and what you've been doing." She grins as she finishes the sentence, looking from brother to brother, and to their companions. "I hope you haven't arranged all of this just for me!"
Haleen's grin vanishes, and her expression grows more somber, as Aldebert begins asking questions. "Why am I here, you ask? To answer that, I must go back to the beginning.. or almost to the beginning. I owe you an explanation for leaving so abruptly, and without telling you why or where I went." She stops, hesitating briefly in the company of so many strangers, then sighs and continues. "I got into trouble with some people back home, you see, and, well, I simply had to leave. It wouldn't be safe if I stayed, for me or you. The note I left had to be vague, in case they found it before you or Ami did. Besides, at the time I didn't really know where to go."
Turning, she smiles towards each of the three merchants. "I went upriver by boat to start, as far as Pale River, and I met these three not long after I got there. They told me of a place called Kelmarane, where an old battle market had recently been reopened, and that they were headed there to see if there would be coin to be had for their wares. I figured a battle market might be a good fit for me, too. I might earn enough there, fighting, to return and pay my debts."
Haleen glances at the slain bodies of gnolls, bugbears, and ogre nearby, grimacing. "It wasn't quite what we expected.. but we'd travelled pretty far to get here, so we all tried to make the best of it. To be honest, things were becoming a bit.. unpleasant. Hurvank there got pretty upset about me beating him in a fight, and I'm pretty sure he was plotting to kill me in my sleep.."
She regards Kul, Mahdi, and Pent for a few moments. "So. Enough about me. My skinny friend here is Juluce, the woman is Kalyx, and the one with the nasty bump is Gorundal. Who are your companions?"
Ami, wincing as he is introduced to Gorundal, dismounts from Yeen.
"Stay." He whispers to Yeen.
He walks slowly, with hand outstretched to make is apology to Haleen's friend.
"Sorry. I thought you were with *them*," Ami states with hand out.
If the man will allow, Ami will try to cure his wound with a bit of recovery magic.
healing
Pent springs forward, happy to hear the names being exchanged. Sign of good faith, wanting to know names. Once you know a man's name, he's more relatable. More locate-able. More placate-able.
"The name's Pent Arotha, first and last born of Bruger and Balinda. Gringlib raised me to be a riper age." Pent sniffs his armpit, and nods when he receives confirmation. "I walk in Sarah's light, bringing Her love to those deserving of it." Pent smiles grandly at Haleen, and her companions.
"Are you still in debt, mistress Haleen? You'll find your brothers are making quite a name for themselves with our organization. I'm sure they'll consider your debts their own, and step up, well, with stepstools, and make good on your family arrears. Not good to have your rear exposed. Not unless you want to. Not that I want to. Not now. It needs its time in the sun like the rest of Pent, but all in good day's time."
Aldebert listens to Haleen's story with concern. "Yes, Pent here has the meat of it - are you still in debt? How much do you need to be clear of it?"
Aldebert looks around at the group and the Battle Market, "Er, and also we're here on an expedition to clear this place of Gnolls and other evils so that it may be returned to the village it once was. In fact we have a larger contingent an hour or so away to the south."
"We need to notify them of our success, sort out what to do with our prisoner, and search the temple basement - apparently there's a deeply rooted evil there yet." he turns to the party, "Have I forgotten anything?"
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She regards Kul, Mahdi, and Pent for a few moments. "So. Enough about me. My skinny friend here is Juluce, the woman is Kalyx, and the one with the nasty bump is Gorundal. Who are your companions?"
Kul sheaths his falchion after staring hard at the three merchants. "I am Kul Tiryaki, the sole survivor of the Lions of Senara. My companions and I were held hostage and tortured just outside the doors of your battle market. I hope their death rattles didn't hurt sales."
Kul spits on the ground and then heads back upstairs to drag the body of Kardswann downstairs.
Mahdi absently passes items on to Pent to be looked over.
"...thank you. Or thank Sarah," he mutters for the healing, while wrinkling his nose and moving to stand somewhere not so close to Pent's aromatic self. Gods, gnomes.
He gives Haleen a bow. "A pleasure, mistress Haleen. Your brothers have proved staunch comrades. I am Mahdi al-Jabira, a student of the secrets of fire."
The young wizard offers a white smile to the three merchant-men. "With all the unpleasantries of battle behind us, perhaps we might talk business...? I'm in the market for a certain herb, you see..."
Pent grins till his eyes aren't visible, as Mahdi addresses him. Yes, yes, yes! Thank Sarah!! Love Her like I do, and your Flame will burn ever brighter, Mahtchstick!!
"With all the unpleasantries... certain herb, you see..."
Pent wipes his hands on his chest, patting briskly, as if looking for invisible suspenders to stretch and occupy his hands. Finding none, he approaches each merchant, and gives each hand a good shaking, putting in the effort to chase down each hand that plays shy and hides away from a firm grip.
"Ah, we can talk herbs all day, teas and tease, but what we really want to get into is whatever supply you might have of the harder-to-find salts. You know, a pinch of nagri makes the world turn, and the senses burn. I'd learn what you have of it. You'd earn my deep respects. My stomach's been churning, you know, so be good soul, and let's do some negotiating. Which one is Kalyx, and which two is Juluce, again? Undrella said you'd be just the person...z to whom to talk."
Ami, after holding back Yeen for several seconds (for which he is quite proud), joins in with Yeen in pouncing on both Alde and Haleen.
CMD vs. Haleenie
CMD vs. Aldebert
If successful, there is tickling (Ami to Haleen) or pawing and gumming (Yeen to Alde).
Gorundal at first pulls his hand away from Amiamble's outstretched one, still not quite trusting Haleen's brother, but after a moment's consideration he reluctantly accepts the hand and the apology. He gasps as the healing magic courses through him, and causes all signs of the bump to vanish as if it was never there.
Rubbing the spot vigorously, it almost seems like he's trying to conjure the bump back into existence. Smiling gratefully, he shakes Amiamble's hand with much greater enthusiasm than before. "Thank you! I understand completely; heat of the battle and all that. I should simply have gotten out of the way sooner."
***
Haleen gives Pent an incredulous look, her hand twitching as if she's of half a mind to give him a resounding slap.
First he names me harlot, and now he wants me to expose my behind! Who does he think he is? And what does he think I am?!
"If I had earned enough to pay my debts, I wouldn't still be here now. I'm still a long ways off." She turns her attention to her brother. "It's not your concern, Aldi, and it's far too much for me to borrow from you. It's my mess, and mine to get out of. I could raise the gold quickly enough, in a pinch, if I sold our father's rapier and buckler. But.. they're all I have left that was his."
Taken completely by surprise as Ami and Yeen pounce on her again, just as she's contemplating her troubles, she's unable to keep her youngest brother's hands from finding her most ticklish spots. "No, no, no! Stop, Ami! Please!" Laughing uncontrollably, she finds it difficult to wrestle his hands away.
***
The three merchants can find no words to answer Kul's harsh tone, their eyes nervously searching for potential allies if that tone should be translated to action. They breathe a collective sigh of relief once he vanishes up the staircase, while Mahdi and Pent approach in the interest of making business deals.
The woman among them steps forward, her eyes constantly darting this way and that and sometimes even momentarily twitching shut. She offers her hand to Pent. "Kalyx is the name. If you're after nagri, I'm your girl. I might even have some refined pesh lying about." Taking Pent by the shoulders, she begins leading him towards one of the market stalls. "Come, let me show you what I've got."
The last merchant, neither bump-addled or woman, is a rail-thin, middle-aged man. He returns Mahdi's smile. "A herb, you say? I've got plenty of herbs among my goods. What're you after? I'm sure between myself and Kalyx, there's nothing plant-like we couldn't get you." Almost as an afterthought, he holds out his hand. "I'm Juluce, by the way."
Aldebert fends off Yeen's pawing and licking as best he can, though he's been through this before. He laughs a bit, letting the stresses of the day rest a moment though what Kul said rubs him a little and he avoids the merchants.
Once Haleen is clear of Amiamble he gets her attention again. "I was not suggesting a loan. We've come into some little cash of late and I would share it with you as a gift. You'd do the same if I were in a jam and that's a truth you cannot deny."
He stands back up and gathers his guisarme. "This is not the time however. We'll discuss it further later. For now, will you do a bit of work for us? We need this man guarded while we return and make our report. I expect they'll move the camp here today as a result of that report - or we'll return ourselves to take control of the prisoner."
"What do you say? Will you help us?"
"Yeah, Haleenie," Ami stops tickling long enough to agree with his brother. "If you won't accept it as a gift, at least take it as a loan. I'm sure my brother's terms are going to be slightly less awful than the ones you've signed up with."
Ami disentangles himself from Haleen and calls Yeen of Alde'. He remounts and waits the response their queries.
Mahdi follows the interchange of halfling sibling...ness with a bemused brow arch.
"More to the point than how much she owes... who does she owe it to? Because I somehow doubt messire Kardswann will be in any position to collect on debts," he says, brushing dirt from the sleeves of his robe.
"I confess I fail to understand the exact situation here. I came to the city expecting, essentially, gnoll bandits and slavers using Kelmarene as little more than a home lair for their raids. Instead we find a fairly thriving little ecosystem, and it can't all be operating by brute force if Haleen here considers herself 'in debt'. Is there some sort of authority here beyond Kardswann's? Because if so, that 'authority' is being evicted. By us. ...and Lady Almah, of course. Anyway, I should think that Kardswann's defeat would clear any 'debts', Mahdi finishes with a sniff.
After giving the brothers his (unasked-for) opinion, Mahdi saunters after the merchants, pasting a bright smile on his face as he did in the Katapeshi bazaars.
"Juluce, Kalyx, a pleasure indeed." He bows and shakes hands. "In my studies I have found need for a certain herb: aconite, also called belladonna or wolfsbane. I am sure such worldly individuals as yourselves won't feel the need to enquire overmuch into my...uses for it," he says smoothly. Sa'amm picks that moment (nudged by his master) to scurry out of Mahdi's robe and perch on his shoulder, bright red-and-black tail waving gently.
As far as Mahdi is concerned, better the merchants think him a poisoner than to know he is actually trying to cure a werewolf. If they think a life hangs in the balance, well... their prices may go up.
Extracting herself from Amiamble, Haleen gets back up, dusting herself off. "Of course I'd have done the same, but I'm.." She abruptly stops talking, although her brothers can clearly imagine her next words; "but I'm the elder! It's my duty to take care of my younger siblings!"
Instead, she looks up towards Kardswann's balcony, gruffly changing the subject. "If he's out, and bound, I could certainly keep watch over him until you return." The halfling takes another glance around at the bodies near the bar, while mentally adding the death rattles from the fighting above. "You've taken out all of his guards and likely allies, I think, and I haven't seen that awful demon since yesterday morning.."
Tapering off, she casts her eyes towards the skylight. "What of Undrella? The harpy? If you're the ones she mentioned might attack the market, I'm sure you've spoken more freely with her than I've been able to. Do you trust her? We'd be ripe for the picking while you're gone, if she's of a mind to take this place for herself."
***
Her concerns voiced, Haleen turns her attention to Mahdi. "My debts are in Katapesh, not here. I came here because I thought I might earn some gold quickly in a place like this. As a gladiator, right? None of us expected a town filled with gnolls, and that demon wandering about didn't make it much appealing to leave, either."
***
Juluce's eyes widen at the sight of the scorpion crawling onto Mahdi's shoulder, then quickly nods while smiling his most pearly-white of merchant smiles. "Of course, of course! I can't see why it would be any of my business, once business is concluded!" The man laughs at his own dry quip. "I'm sure I've got some wolfsbane. Not much, mind you.. It's not easy to come by around here."
"Kalyx is the name. If you're after nagri, I'm your girl. I might even have some refined pesh lying about." Taking Pent by the shoulders, she begins leading him towards one of the market stalls. "Come, let me show you what I've got."
Pent offers no resistance, and would take Kalyx's hand himself to lead her, but he doesn't know exactly which one of the stall's is hers. "Ah, you are so very kind! I'm glad Ami didn't kill you, truely. They are quite a bloodthirsty lot. One of them likes to set people on fire, one of them cuts clean through with his falchion, one of them pierces from a distance, and the other saddles the cat. They are industrious enough, to be sure! Kul protests too quickly, never you mind. I'm sure you had no knowledge of battles taking place in and around this place, nor would you be in a position to enter the fray and lose your life to a dog-faced foe. You're here as new life is to the desert. Sarah's seen to that, so you have my promise that no harm will come to you now that the gnoll tribe has been wrested from its position here. We only have to deal with a harpy, as I'm sure you've dealt with her." Pent sucks in air, his thought finished.
"So. Whatcha got?" Pent's eyes gleam in anticipation.
Tapering off, she casts her eyes towards the skylight. "What of Undrella? The harpy? If you're the ones she mentioned might attack the market, I'm sure you've spoken more freely with her than I've been able to. Do you trust her? We'd be ripe for the picking while you're gone, if she's of a mind to take this place for herself."Her concerns voiced, Haleen turns her attention to Mahdi. "My debts are in Katapesh, not here. I came here because I thought I might earn some gold quickly in a place like this. As a gladiator, right? None of us expected a town filled with gnolls, and that demon wandering about didn't make it much appealing to leave, either."
Mahdi looks over sharply, brow arched. "You say the harpy spoke of those who would attack the battle market--? To whom? Did she warn you and the others, or Kardswann and the gnolls? And I see, regarding your debts. That is much clearer, thank you."
Juluce's eyes widen at the sight of the scorpion crawling onto Mahdi's shoulder, then quickly nods while smiling his most pearly-white of merchant smiles. "Of course, of course! I can't see why it would be any of my business, once business is concluded!" The man laughs at his own dry quip. "I'm sure I've got some wolfsbane. Not much, mind you.. It's not easy to come by around here."
"Most kind of you, master Juluce," Mahdi says with an answering smile. "I shall be happy to take what stock I may off your hands. Much better that we all profit together."
"So. Whatcha got?" Pent's eyes gleam in anticipation.
Pent is led into a market stall featuring a large hookah in one corner, and several smaller hookahs and various kinds of pipes on a table. Kalyx fishes up a large keychain from one voluminous pocket, selects one of the keys, and opens a chest at the back of the stall. She begins retrieving objects from the chest, placing them on the table.
"I've got plain nagri, o'course," she says, as she puts up a small jar filled with the salt, "some raw pesh," as a box with milky pesh lumps follows the jar, "oh, and here's some very nice refined pesh, too!" as her rummaging forays into the chest produces a small tin can containing several black blocks.
Smiling at Pent's anticipation, she then leans over to whisper conspiratorially into his ear. "But I bet you want the really good stuff, amirite? I am, aren't I?" She pats one of her trouser pockets. "If you've got the gold, I might even have a few pinches of pho pesh for ya!"
***
Mahdi looks over sharply, brow arched. "You say the harpy spoke of those who would attack the battle market--? To whom? Did she warn you and the others, or Kardswann and the gnolls? And I see, regarding your debts. That is much clearer, thank you."
"Us, of course! Well, she spoke to Gorundal, and then he told us.. What would it have gained her to tell Kardswann? I'm not worried that she'd free him, only that she might, eh, seize the moment now that his guards are gone.. I'm just not sure, since she claimed she'd tell you not to attack any of us, and obviously didn't." She glances towards Amiamble and Gorundal as she finishes the sentence.
***
"Most kind of you, master Juluce," Mahdi says with an answering smile. "I shall be happy to take what stock I may off your hands. Much better that we all profit together."
Juluce keeps the merchant-smile plastered to his face. "Absolutely! Hold on, let me see what I've got." He ventures inside his market stall, where several tables are filled with copious amounts of various plants, herbs, and alchemical items. Making his way to a large travelling trunk, he opens it, and quickly brings out a smaller chest. "It's expensive stuff, you see. Can't keep stuff like that out in the open."
Reverently unlocking the small chest, he barely lifts the lid enough to peer inside. "You're in luck! I've got a full two vials of wolfsbane!" The merchant swiftly closes the lid again. "I'll want to see the gold first, I'm sure you understand. One can never be too careful with this kind of thing."
"What of Undrella? The harpy? If you're the ones she mentioned might attack the market, I'm sure you've spoken more freely with her than I've been able to. Do you trust her? "
"Trust her? No. But she didn't turn us in nor did she stop us. In fact, she gave us a key. And if she messes with you before we get back, then we'll give her the whatfor!" Ami smashes his tiny fist into his tiny hand to emphasize his point.
"Don't you worry about her, Haleenie. I even bought things from her, didn't I Aldebert?"
Ami continues to chat with Haleenie, trying to get her to take his money (for free or as a loan) or his brothers' money and pay off her debts.
When he is finished with that, he is ready to return to Almah, hoping that Haleen can guard the prisoner for a few hours until they can return.