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Trench's Legacy of Fire (A Ptolus Gestalt): The Trouble With Pugwampis (Updated 1/27)
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<blockquote data-quote="Trench" data-source="post: 6031256" data-attributes="member: 40464"><p>Gerber looks for a smaller receptacle he can pour himself a drink with to take with him to the tent.</p><p></p><p>Mahjub hangs back with Dashki as the others walk into the tent. Most are taken aback by the opulence inside compared to the rest of the camp, although Abud seems to already be enjoying the comfy pillows in front of the table as Jadid and Gerber wander in. </p><p></p><p>"Is that all of them?" </p><p></p><p>"The rest are coming." Garavel tries to get Mahjub's attention. </p><p></p><p>"Well, to start. What do you all think?" Almah addresses those in the tent already. "Was it arson?"</p><p></p><p>"No one I spoke to saw anything,” Jadid says. “Suspicions were aired, but they were based on no facts to speak of. I wish to ask you a question about the dead mystic. Do you believe his powers were real, or was he an entertainer?"</p><p></p><p>"I wouldn't have bothered to hire him on if I didn't think his visions had merit,” Almah says. “So yes, I believed he had the sight."</p><p></p><p>"Then we must take into account that perhaps the fire was also of supernatural nature."</p><p></p><p>Almah nods after a time. "How do you mean? I confess it would make this all easier if we could say it was that." </p><p></p><p>"Although not as comforting for the camp, it must be said," Garavel says.</p><p></p><p>"They all seemed to think your dirty friend had something to do with it," Gerber pipes in between gulps.</p><p></p><p>Almah looks at Gerber with some distaste, as Garavel translates for her. </p><p></p><p>"Do you think they have reason to?" she asks as Garavel translates.</p><p></p><p>"Couldn't say for sure," the knight answers.</p><p></p><p>"We'll speak later, my friend," Mahjub assures Dashki, turning to walk toward the tent. </p><p></p><p>He finally enters, catching most of what has been said. "Unless the injured or deceased were gnolls in secret, I highly doubt Dashki had anything to do with the fire."</p><p></p><p>"So everyone thinks he does, but you say he doesn't. Why is that now?"</p><p></p><p>"For one thing, because he's an easy target," Mahjub answers. "He's dirty, he smells, and lacks in many of the social graces we all take for granted. Who better to blame? I know something of being misjudged as refuse, did a single person in this caravan not point the finger at the foul scented one they'd all rather do without? I think we both know Dashki would never intentionally do anything to displease you, mistress," he says pointedly. </p><p></p><p>Almah looks befuddled by the comment and looks toward Garavel, who clears his throat and looks away.</p><p></p><p>"Ah," Mahjub says simply as he smiles, looking from Almah to Garavel, and back again. "Awkward." </p><p></p><p>"From what I understand, the deceased went through candles like this one goes through alcohol," Mahjub says, thumbing sideways toward the lush knight. "Unless anyone actually saw how the fire started, I'd say it was an unfortunate accident and nothing more." </p><p></p><p>"So you're saying it was merely bad luck? I don't if simply that is enough to assuage our concerns." </p><p></p><p>"Quite frankly, mystical fires and bad luck aside- I would prefer tangible evidence. There isn't any speculation as to what could have caused this?"</p><p></p><p>"Along with Dashki's detailed knowledge of gnolls, he mentioned some variety of creature known as pugwampis, or 'Jackal Rats' as they may be known," Mahjub begins. "They apparently worship the gnolls as gods, though the gnolls would rather have nothing to do with them. The pugwampis infest their communities like rats, so much so that the gnolls frequently try to kill them, but the they always come back. It is said that wherever pugwampis go, bad luck follows. Dashki suspected, seeing as how this is gnoll territory, that it wouldn't be unheard of for a few pugwampi to enter camp to start some mischief."</p><p></p><p>Jadid interjects. "And when I say we must consider magical causes, I say it because no one saw anything to speak of. Not your loyal, alert guardsmen, not your talkative animal-handlers, no one. Perhaps it is these jackal rats, perhaps the mystic dabbled too deeply in powerful forces; I mean only to say I do not believe a member of your camp lit his wagon on fire without notice."</p><p></p><p>Almah nods at Jadid's clarification and considers Mahjub. </p><p></p><p>"Has anyone else ever heard of these creatures?" </p><p></p><p>After a moment, it's obvious no one has. </p><p></p><p>"It is possible, Almah-Haanim, that Dashki may be lying," Garavel offers. </p><p></p><p>"It is possible," she muses. "But if my expert is correct, the hills around here should be crawling with them, or at least some sign of their passage. It should be easy for Dashki to find one and bring it back to me." </p><p></p><p>"But the others may not believe him," Garavel says. </p><p></p><p>"No," she agrees. "As he is suspected in this affair, rightly or wrongly," she nods toward Mahjub, "it would not do to send him out into the darkness alone." </p><p></p><p>"So I'm afraid this is not yet finished. I want you all to go out into the desert with Dashki and find me one of these pugwampis."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Trench, post: 6031256, member: 40464"] Gerber looks for a smaller receptacle he can pour himself a drink with to take with him to the tent. Mahjub hangs back with Dashki as the others walk into the tent. Most are taken aback by the opulence inside compared to the rest of the camp, although Abud seems to already be enjoying the comfy pillows in front of the table as Jadid and Gerber wander in. "Is that all of them?" "The rest are coming." Garavel tries to get Mahjub's attention. "Well, to start. What do you all think?" Almah addresses those in the tent already. "Was it arson?" "No one I spoke to saw anything,” Jadid says. “Suspicions were aired, but they were based on no facts to speak of. I wish to ask you a question about the dead mystic. Do you believe his powers were real, or was he an entertainer?" "I wouldn't have bothered to hire him on if I didn't think his visions had merit,” Almah says. “So yes, I believed he had the sight." "Then we must take into account that perhaps the fire was also of supernatural nature." Almah nods after a time. "How do you mean? I confess it would make this all easier if we could say it was that." "Although not as comforting for the camp, it must be said," Garavel says. "They all seemed to think your dirty friend had something to do with it," Gerber pipes in between gulps. Almah looks at Gerber with some distaste, as Garavel translates for her. "Do you think they have reason to?" she asks as Garavel translates. "Couldn't say for sure," the knight answers. "We'll speak later, my friend," Mahjub assures Dashki, turning to walk toward the tent. He finally enters, catching most of what has been said. "Unless the injured or deceased were gnolls in secret, I highly doubt Dashki had anything to do with the fire." "So everyone thinks he does, but you say he doesn't. Why is that now?" "For one thing, because he's an easy target," Mahjub answers. "He's dirty, he smells, and lacks in many of the social graces we all take for granted. Who better to blame? I know something of being misjudged as refuse, did a single person in this caravan not point the finger at the foul scented one they'd all rather do without? I think we both know Dashki would never intentionally do anything to displease you, mistress," he says pointedly. Almah looks befuddled by the comment and looks toward Garavel, who clears his throat and looks away. "Ah," Mahjub says simply as he smiles, looking from Almah to Garavel, and back again. "Awkward." "From what I understand, the deceased went through candles like this one goes through alcohol," Mahjub says, thumbing sideways toward the lush knight. "Unless anyone actually saw how the fire started, I'd say it was an unfortunate accident and nothing more." "So you're saying it was merely bad luck? I don't if simply that is enough to assuage our concerns." "Quite frankly, mystical fires and bad luck aside- I would prefer tangible evidence. There isn't any speculation as to what could have caused this?" "Along with Dashki's detailed knowledge of gnolls, he mentioned some variety of creature known as pugwampis, or 'Jackal Rats' as they may be known," Mahjub begins. "They apparently worship the gnolls as gods, though the gnolls would rather have nothing to do with them. The pugwampis infest their communities like rats, so much so that the gnolls frequently try to kill them, but the they always come back. It is said that wherever pugwampis go, bad luck follows. Dashki suspected, seeing as how this is gnoll territory, that it wouldn't be unheard of for a few pugwampi to enter camp to start some mischief." Jadid interjects. "And when I say we must consider magical causes, I say it because no one saw anything to speak of. Not your loyal, alert guardsmen, not your talkative animal-handlers, no one. Perhaps it is these jackal rats, perhaps the mystic dabbled too deeply in powerful forces; I mean only to say I do not believe a member of your camp lit his wagon on fire without notice." Almah nods at Jadid's clarification and considers Mahjub. "Has anyone else ever heard of these creatures?" After a moment, it's obvious no one has. "It is possible, Almah-Haanim, that Dashki may be lying," Garavel offers. "It is possible," she muses. "But if my expert is correct, the hills around here should be crawling with them, or at least some sign of their passage. It should be easy for Dashki to find one and bring it back to me." "But the others may not believe him," Garavel says. "No," she agrees. "As he is suspected in this affair, rightly or wrongly," she nods toward Mahjub, "it would not do to send him out into the darkness alone." "So I'm afraid this is not yet finished. I want you all to go out into the desert with Dashki and find me one of these pugwampis." [/QUOTE]
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Trench's Legacy of Fire (A Ptolus Gestalt): The Trouble With Pugwampis (Updated 1/27)
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