A Merc's Life: Howl of the Carrion King [03]

[Maidhc O Casain]

OOC:

Years ago Kelmarane was a small but thriving town, centered around the Battle Market - a center for the selling and buying of weapons of war. The Battle Market, and the town, was abandoned (for some unknown reason) and fell into disrepair. It then became a haven for the various gnoll tribes of the area, as well as bandits and other unsavory creatures (these are the current inhabitants, some of which you've fought).

Almah was tasked by the mysterious Pactmasters of Katapesh - the rulers of the kingdom - with clearing the town and re-establishing the Battle Market. She hired the Bronagh's Bees, Captain Bronagh sent his best new team of mercenaries (that would be you), and off you went.

Your recon and spying on the town has revealed that there is some organization to the place now - regular patrols of Gnolls, some traffic going in and out, etc. This would seem to indicate that someone is in charge of the place; Houwlou knows quite well that Gnolls are lazy, worthless scum that won't stir from their beds unless there's trouble to be made or there's a whip to their back.

 

[Leif]

Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger4

"I suspect that there is a stronger, fiercer foe at work here behind the scenes who is 'pulling the chain' (as it were) of the gnolls. Were this not the case, those lazy louts would doubtless spend their days lounging and fornicating in the nearest shady spot they could find. No, with this much activity being seen from the gnolls, they are being driven by a taskmaster, or I am a kitten!"

[sblock=Stat Block]

   Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger
   Level: Ranger 4
   HP: 44/44     AC: 17  AC(T): 11   AC(FF): 16
 Init: +01    ST(F):+05  ST(R):+04    ST(W):+05
  Per: 15 (+2 Undead or Desert) HERO Points: 03

  BAB: 04       CMB: +7     CMD: 18

Weapon                  Attack    Damage      Critical     Special
Longsword (MW)          +9        1d8+3       19-20/x2     +1 TH Gnolls
Dagger +1 (T)           +8 (+6)   1d4+2       19-20/x2     +3 TH/Damage
Longsword (MW)          +7        1d8+3       19-20/x2        (Undead)
  & Dagger +1           +6        1d4+2       19-20/x2     
Longsword (MW)          +5        1d8+3       19-20/x2     
  & Longsword           +4        1d8+1       19-20/x2     
Javelin   (M)           +5 (+3)   1d6+3          20/x2     Range 30'

Selected Skills (not all are shown)
Acrobatics -5; Appraise +4; Bluff +5; Climb +2; Diplomacy +3; 
Intimidate +3; Knowledge (nature) +9; Handle Animal +10; Heal +10;  
Perception +15; Profession (Guide) +10; Ride +3; Sense Motive +7; 
Spellcraft +10; Stealth +2; Survival +10; Swim -9

Spells Prepared:
Summon Nature's Ally I

[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

ooc: if there are bandits and other unsavories-then maybe we can get a better recon with us going in as bandits?

 

[Leif]

Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger4

OOC: Just one problem with that plan: Olcán and gnolls are sworn enemies, so Houwlou would be marked for death as soon as we did so.

[sblock=Stat Block]

   Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger
   Level: Ranger 4
   HP: 44/44     AC: 17  AC(T): 11   AC(FF): 16
 Init: +01    ST(F):+05  ST(R):+04    ST(W):+05
  Per: 15 (+2 Undead or Desert) HERO Points: 03

  BAB: 04       CMB: +7     CMD: 18

Weapon                  Attack    Damage      Critical     Special
Longsword (MW)          +9        1d8+3       19-20/x2     +1 TH Gnolls
Dagger +1 (T)           +8 (+6)   1d4+2       19-20/x2     +3 TH/Damage
Longsword (MW)          +7        1d8+3       19-20/x2        (Undead)
  & Dagger +1           +6        1d4+2       19-20/x2     
Longsword (MW)          +5        1d8+3       19-20/x2     
  & Longsword           +4        1d8+1       19-20/x2     
Javelin   (M)           +5 (+3)   1d6+3          20/x2     Range 30'

Selected Skills (not all are shown)
Acrobatics -5; Appraise +4; Bluff +5; Climb +2; Diplomacy +3; 
Intimidate +3; Knowledge (nature) +9; Handle Animal +10; Heal +10;  
Perception +15; Profession (Guide) +10; Ride +3; Sense Motive +7; 
Spellcraft +10; Stealth +2; Survival +10; Swim -9

Spells Prepared:
Summon Nature's Ally I

[/sblock]

 

[mleibrock]

ooc: if there are bandits and other unsavories-then maybe we can get a better recon with us going in as bandits?

"Do we look like bandits?" LOL

 

[mleibrock]

OOC: Just one problem with that plan: Olcán and gnolls are sworn enemies, so Houwlou would be marked for death as soon as we did so.

[sblock=Stat Block]

   Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger
   Level: Ranger 4
   HP: 44/44     AC: 17  AC(T): 11   AC(FF): 16
 Init: +01    ST(F):+05  ST(R):+04    ST(W):+05
  Per: 15 (+2 Undead or Desert) HERO Points: 03

  BAB: 04       CMB: +7     CMD: 18

Weapon                  Attack    Damage      Critical     Special
Longsword (MW)          +9        1d8+3       19-20/x2     +1 TH Gnolls
Dagger +1 (T)           +8 (+6)   1d4+2       19-20/x2     +3 TH/Damage
Longsword (MW)          +7        1d8+3       19-20/x2        (Undead)
  & Dagger +1           +6        1d4+2       19-20/x2     
Longsword (MW)          +5        1d8+3       19-20/x2     
  & Longsword           +4        1d8+1       19-20/x2     
Javelin   (M)           +5 (+3)   1d6+3          20/x2     Range 30'

Selected Skills (not all are shown)
Acrobatics -5; Appraise +4; Bluff +5; Climb +2; Diplomacy +3; 
Intimidate +3; Knowledge (nature) +9; Handle Animal +10; Heal +10;  
Perception +15; Profession (Guide) +10; Ride +3; Sense Motive +7; 
Spellcraft +10; Stealth +2; Survival +10; Swim -9

Spells Prepared:
Summon Nature's Ally I

[/sblock]

What's the problem? Just kidding buddy!

 

[Scott DeWar]

ooc: it wouldn't take much to look like a bandit, also you (Leif)could look like a slave or pet or something!

 

[Leif]

Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger4

Houwlou doesn't favor the idea of posing as a pet to casually stroll amongst some of his most hated foes. "That's a bad idea. Even if you could convince me to be amongst gnolls without immediately attacking them, which is in some doubt, said gnolls, who aslo bear enmity toward the Olcán race, would doubtless torture and kill me at the first opportunity. As an alternative, perhaps you could infiltrate an edge of their encampment, and I could then approach your position from the outside. We could at least gain a foothold, as it were, into their midst that way."

[sblock=Stat Block]

   Houwlou Groulenas, Olcán Ranger
   Level: Ranger 4
   HP: 44/44     AC: 17  AC(T): 11   AC(FF): 16
 Init: +01    ST(F):+05  ST(R):+04    ST(W):+05
  Per: 15 (+2 Undead or Desert) HERO Points: 03

  BAB: 04       CMB: +7     CMD: 18

Weapon                  Attack    Damage      Critical     Special
Longsword (MW)          +9        1d8+3       19-20/x2     +1 TH Gnolls
Dagger +1 (T)           +8 (+6)   1d4+2       19-20/x2     +3 TH/Damage
Longsword (MW)          +7        1d8+3       19-20/x2        (Undead)
  & Dagger +1           +6        1d4+2       19-20/x2     
Longsword (MW)          +5        1d8+3       19-20/x2     
  & Longsword           +4        1d8+1       19-20/x2     
Javelin   (M)           +5 (+3)   1d6+3          20/x2     Range 30'

Selected Skills (not all are shown)
Acrobatics -5; Appraise +4; Bluff +5; Climb +2; Diplomacy +3; 
Intimidate +3; Knowledge (nature) +9; Handle Animal +10; Heal +10;  
Perception +15; Profession (Guide) +10; Ride +3; Sense Motive +7; 
Spellcraft +10; Stealth +2; Survival +10; Swim -9

Spells Prepared:
Summon Nature's Ally I

[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

*shrug* "OK"

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

As you nurse your wounds and formulate your plans for the retaking of Kelmarane, there's a commotion outside the door to your chambers - running steps approach down the hall, and a guardsman's gravelly voice calls out, "My lady! My lady Almah, you must come quickly . . . there's something happening in the town!"

Almah quickly responds to the call, and after listening to the man's brief report she summons you to accompany her to the wall. You are provided with telescopes and the guard directs your attention to the square just west of the Battle Market. There a group of six Gnolls has staked a man to the ground and are busy working to pull out his intestines with a set of red hot tongs. The man's screams can be heard - albeit faintly - even here in the monastery (over a mile away). It takes the man about 30 minutes to die, after which the Gnolls leave the body staked to the ground for the vultures.