A Merc's Life: Howl of the Carrion King [01]

[Maidhc O Casain]

Let's Move This Along . . .

[sblock=OOC]"Pugwampis?" you ask. "What the heck are Pugwampis?"

I'm so glad you asked . . . please allow me to explain! [/sblock]

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.”

[sblock=OOC]None of you has ever heard of these creatures.[/sblock]

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.”

 

[Leif]

Houwlou Groulenas

"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?"

[sblock=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
[/sblock]

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Dashki

"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."

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Almah

"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.

 

[Scotley]

Keeland

"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?"

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Dashki

"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."

 

[Leif]

Houwlou Groulenas

"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!"

[sblock=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
[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

Harnrey is very dubious of the conversation.
sense motive:
1d20+3=8

he also searches his mind for what his studies might have picked up on the subject.
Knowledge arcana:
1d20+8=13
Knowledge dungeneering:
1d20+8=28

(does he know anything about these jacklerats?)

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

[sblock=Harnry]Harnry has never heard of Pugwampis, either by that name or by the name 'Jackal Rats.'[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

"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?"