Zastoran looks expectantly at Aodhán. "Something I can do for you, my friend?"
"Yeah, well at least I hope so. I'm wondering if you've seen anything out of the ordinary before the fires? I really want to get to the bottom of this mess. My name's Aodhán, faithful servant of Lonrach and yourself?" Aodhán replies, reaching out to shake the fellows hand.
"Lonrach, eh? Now that's a name one doesn't hear often! I follow Nethys myself.
Very sad about Elaois. He was a charlatan, of course - complete drivel, all that stuff about reading the Harrow cards and such. Still, Almah seemed fond of him, and he was the only one here who could discuss the poetry of Bellianais and the music of far off Absalom. I'll miss our conversations.
Unusual? Hmmm. Well, I can clear the other group of mercenaries - I remember I was trying to read near the fire pit and had to move because they were being so loud. Yes, all six of them were definitely around the pit when the fire broke out, so none of them could have done it.
I suppose you might ask Dashki where he was. I don't remember seeing him around, and he has a positively unhealthy fixation on the Lady Almah. Always lurking about, trying to get a glimpse and to stay close to her.
OOC
Trying to get the momentum going again, so I didn't make you work for all that like I should have.
Aodhán concludes his conversation with the diminutive cleric and rejoins the others.
Having gotten together and discussed your findings, it appears that Dashki is the most likely suspect . . . none of your conversations yielded information that would exonerate him, and he is quite the suspicious sort. Houwlou grumbles a bit at the accusation of a fellow gnoll hater, but reluctantly accompanies the rest to the Lady Almah's tent to present your findings. Kecil flags down Garavel and asks him to bring Dashki as well.
Soon everyone is gathered before the beautiful merchant princess . . .
Location: columbia, missouri, u.s. of north america, terra, sol III, Milky way, third demension
Posts: 4,843
"Mi' Lady, we have questioned those wheere are here with us and all seem to be noting that one individual is noted as being in the vicinity of the wagon at the time of the fire. one known as Dashki."
Harn repeats the gathered comments as spoken by his fellow mercenary company members for refrence.
"I wish to say, M'Lady, before these proceedings get underway, that this accusation weighs heavily upon me, because I feel a certain amount of kinship of spirit with this Dashki. This does not excuse his crime, if such he has, indeed, committed, but I am still moved to plead with M'Lady for all leniency for Dashki that is within your discretion, under the law, to grant."
Stat Block
Houwlou Groulenas - Male Olcán Ranger 1
Initiative: +1, Perception: +8(?)(+2 more smell/sound,+2 more vs. undead), Low Light Vision 60'
AC: 17 (4Chain Shirt + 2Lg. Shield + 1Dex);FF16;T11
Fort:+2 | Ref:+3 | Will:+4
HP: 21/21
"After talking to Zastoran he also mentioned that none of the mercenaries were missing before the blaze, so they couldn't be suspect, and his thoughts also leaned towards Dashki as the culprit. I confirmed that Elaois had died in the blaze and not due to any events before that time" Aodhán adds
As Aodhán is finishing his statement to Almah, there is a scratch on the wall of the tent next to the flap. Garavel enters, Dashki in tow.
The lady presents your findings to her Gnoll expert, who blusters and fumes as she recites the charges. "My Lady, I did not do this thing! I swear to you I was having my lunch by the campfire when the fire started . . . this fire was not my doing!" The greasy man glances frantically from person to person in the tent. "How do we even know the fire was set? That idiot burned a hundred candles in his wagon. Perhaps he just got unlucky. We’re in gnoll country. It was probably pugwampis!”
"Pugwampis?" you ask. "What the heck are Pugwampis?"
I'm so glad you asked . . . please allow me to explain!
Noting the skeptical look in Houwlou's cold eyes, Dashki rushes to elucidate.
“Terrible critters what crawled up from the Darklands below the earth. ‘Jackal rats,’ some folks call ’em, on account of their pointed little heads. They worship gnolls as gods and infest their communities like rats. Wherever pugwampis go, bad luck is sure to follow. The gnolls hate pugwampis because of it, and try to kill them all the time. But they always come back. Perhaps their bad luck caused the fortune-man’s candles to start a fire? Yes, pugwampis. I am certain it was pugwampis.”
OOC
None of you has ever heard of these creatures.
Almah listens attentively at Dashki goes on about the 'jackal rats,' carefully noting the mercenaries' reactions. When he finishes, she leans back in her chair.
“I hired Dashki for his knowledge of Gnolls and of this area," she says. "It would seem foolish then to ignore his advice on the subject. If my expert is correct the hills around here should be crawling with these Pugwampis, or at least some sign of their passage. If what he says is true, it should be easy for him to find one and bring it back to me.”
The merchant princess turns to the PCs. “As he is, however, our best suspect in this affair, it would not do to send him out into the darkness alone. I’m afraid that your investigation is not yet at and end. Please accompany Dashki out into the desert and find me one of these pugwampis.”
"M'Lady, if I might make a suggestion -- An these 'pugwampis,' whose very existence I tend to doubt, are as prevalent as he claims, then we should have no trouble locating one or more of them on our own. Especially, since we have just very recently done battle with a quite large gnoll in this area, and, if I may say, I am not totally without skill as a tracker and guide. Having this Dashki to watch out for as well would be a drain on our vigilance and a distraction from the task at hand. I pray you, M'Lady, please keep watch over Dashki here, and my compatriots and I will do this task alone. If we cannot complete the task with reasonable facility, then we will admit that we might make use of his assistance and return to take him with us. Is this an acceptable alternative?"
Stat Block
Houwlou Groulenas - Male Olcán Ranger 1
Initiative: +1, Perception: +8(?)(+2 more smell/sound,+2 more vs. undead), Low Light Vision 60'
AC: 17 (4Chain Shirt + 2Lg. Shield + 1Dex);FF16;T11
Fort:+2 | Ref:+3 | Will:+4
HP: 21/21
"My Lady, I beg you to allow me to participate in clearing my name. Plainly these mercenaries know nothing of the pugwampis, or they would not be suggesting they could track them at this time. The jackal rats abhor the light of day and avoid it wherever possible. There may very well be a nest close by - close enough their influence lapped into the Harrower's wagon - but they'll not be found until nightfall, and almost certainly not without my help."
"Houwlou, you and your company will attempt to find signs of these 'Pugwampis' around the camp, especially in the area occupied by Elaois' wagon. If you can find one of the beasts, bring it or its corpse to me. If not, Dashki will accompany you on another hunt after dark tonight."
She looks at you expectantly as she concludes her speech.
"Very well, we shall look for your jackal rats. And since you are expert here perhaps you could tells us about the very large Gnoll we encountered. Is this normal?"
"I have heard rumors of such things, but most are too outrageous to be credited. Breeding programs and experiments . . . but Gnolls haven't the patience or the intelligence for either of these."
"Houwlou, you and your company will attempt to find signs of these 'Pugwampis' around the camp, especially in the area occupied by Elaois' wagon. If you can find one of the beasts, bring it or its corpse to me. If not, Dashki will accompany you on another hunt after dark tonight."
She looks at you expectantly as she concludes her speech.
Houwlou says, "Yes, Milady! We shall attend to that duty straighaway!"
Stat Block
Houwlou Groulenas - Male Olcán Ranger 1
Initiative: +1, Perception: +8(?)(+2 more smell/sound,+2 more vs. undead), Low Light Vision 60'
AC: 17 (4Chain Shirt + 2Lg. Shield + 1Dex);FF16;T11
Fort:+2 | Ref:+3 | Will:+4
HP: 21/21
Location: columbia, missouri, u.s. of north america, terra, sol III, Milky way, third demension
Posts: 4,843
"Mi lady, Tis true we be nothing more then mercenaries, however i must say that we are very skillful mercenaries. I would have to say that the idea of us going out to the desert at night alone is s best, however, if we cannot find out quary at first, we may need the services of your scout. He does, in my humble opinion, deserve a chance to be fully given the chance to have his innocense proved. be warned, thaough, if what he says about these vcreatures do , um, gather unluck about themselves, they may cause some consternation if brought into the camp."
to dashki he then turs and says, " if what you say has proof of truth about these jacklerats, then what signs do you know of that are signs of their prescense and what is the best way to catch them, dead or alive?"
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