IC - Mad King's Monkey

[Electric Wizard]

Sukri picks up one of the gnoll's short bows and fires an arrow into a tree. He had not handled one since his thieves' guild days. He had always preferred daggers. Not even the most piggish watchman would strip a fellow of his dagger, and there were certain ways to twist the blade that never failed. But the day's events have given him an appreciation for ranged weapons. He fixes a quiver of arrows to his backpack and walks to the cottage.

He does not feel as exhausted as everyone else looks. If anything, the night has invigorated him. He plops down, cross-legged, next to Jan and investigates the bone discs.

OOC: Appraise check +5. What do they say? How are they used?

 

[Axel]

Bayar

After collecting equipment from the fallen Gnolls (and weapons from the captured), Bayar drags the dead bodies around the side of the house and away from the heads on the fence. He starts to dig shallow graves. If anyone asks why, he grunts "Keeps wolves away," in reply.

 

[doghead]

Knowledge: ? to determine if discs are some sort of currency?

Nothing comes to mind as Jan examines the discs. But some time later as Jan dozes off, he is startled awake by a thought. If the "animal like savages cloaked in fur" of Walcalski's King of Morr are actually gnolls rather than fur clad barbarian humans as widely believed, then the discs are ancestor tokens of spiritual significance. The description matches perfectly. The discs are carved by the shamen from the bones of the dead, and served as some form of payment for passage into the afterlife. At least they are in the tales. They had great value to the owners, but their Jan suspects that their exchange is governed by complex social conventions. Use of them as 'currency' could be fraught with danger, the most likely the giving of serious offence.

Jan's thought raises the question, what were gnoll emissaries doing in the halls of the King of Morr?

Once the Gnolls have been stabilised and the house re-secured, he finds a quiet cornet and tries to rest so he can recover his spells.

Dawn arrives. The birds sing. The world becomes visible again. Spell casters recover their spells. A couple of crows feast on the heads of the dead gnolls, noisily devouring the soft bits.

 

[doghead]

After collecting equipment from the fallen Gnolls (and weapons from the captured), Bayar drags the dead bodies around the side of the house and away from the heads on the fence. He starts to dig shallow graves. If anyone asks why, he grunts "Keeps wolves away," in reply.

Good thinking. Henri's will probably appreciate not coming home to find two gnoll corpses in his front yard.

He does not feel as exhausted as everyone else looks. If anything, the night has invigorated him. He plops down, cross-legged, next to Jan and investigates the bone discs.

ooc: Appraise check +5. What do they say? How are they used?

Sukri has no idea what they are, or are used for. They do not appear to be inscribed with words so much as images and symbols.

What are they worth? Around here, in the country, not some much. A traveller may be able to exchange one as a curio for a meal and bed, perhaps even a drink or two if it comes with a good story.

In the big cities, especially gate cities and harbour cities with their greater exposure to the rest of the world and the collectors that tend to gather there, Sukri thinks he could get more than the cost of a nights food and accommodation. Find the right collector, and it could be quite a bit more.

 

[Fangor the Fierce]

Eban helps out with the digging of the graves, keeping quiet as well. The fight had taken much out of them, yet he somehow felt a little more enlightened. Something had changed, as he felt something was nearby. Something that was friendly, and even helpful. Something that felt like someone was watching over him...

His curse as an Oracle was well known to him, and the random happenings were always surrounding him. Yet this time, something else seemed to be there, in the calm of the turmoil he usually finds surrounding him. When the graves are completed, he offers the small prayer to Torag that helped protect his follower. Once the prayer is completed, the feeling of being watched becomes more of being approved. Feeling that Torag has blessed him, Eban rests peacefully through the night.

When dawn approaches, his prayers completed, and his weary eyes are ready for the day, he makes sure that everyone is ready to move on for the day. "Everyone feeling alright or are there some more wounds that still need tending to?" The last part is said as he grabs his healer's kit and inspects its contents.

(Checking HP totals for everyone. Eban was at full HP. Who is down HP after the nights rest? I would like to get a HP tally to heal those that need it)

 

[Scott DeWar]

in the morning Jan shows Sukri the different symbols and figures on the bone discs.

"these discs were mentioned in the annuals of the King of Morr that they were a traditional ancestoral connection through a shamanisic connection. Kind of like a spirit guide. possession of one in the hands of any but a gnoll would elicit a less then friendly reaction, I believe."

 

[Axel]

Bayar

Bayar was sitting, bathing his wounds and binding them and couldn't help but overhear Sukri and Jan discussing the little disks. He barks in laughter, genuinely amused. "NOT having these discs means they attack without warning in the night. How could they possibly get LESS friendly???!" He continues to chortle as he finishes.

"I will take one of these discs then. See if I can make myself a better target." Taking one of the discs Bayar eyes it while turning it around, not really understanding it, and rubs it a few times. Finally, he tucks it into his swordbelt (or loops it around his neck if it's got a hole and strap) and heads inside to eat a little before beginning the trip back. His new claimed double-curve shortbow made of bone and horn - far superior to his old one of ash - sits on his pack, beside his now battered and scarred shield and a collection of various smaller items that can be sold as salvage. Should replace that shield when we get back. No good trying to repair it...

Finishing his food, Bayar calls to the others as he begins collecting his kit. "We should go. We be lucky to still be here, so let's not be pushing the Gods' favour."

[sblock=ooc]
Current HP total is 6/12. Bayar did not rest last night, so no recovery on that front. Does he need a Fort save/Con check to avoid being fatigued, or can we assume a 19 year old can manage an all-nighter without too much bother?
[/sblock]

 

[Scott DeWar]

Jan walk over and sings a rousing battle stanza.

[curelight on Baryar]1d8+1=9

As everyone prepares their "Kit", Jan focuses his magically attuned eye on every one and every thing that was gathered from the gnolls and the house. He turns down taking any of the bows as he finds them a bit too taunt to his liking.

 

[doghead]

DAY THREE, AT HENRI'S HOUSE, EARLY MORNING

The sun continues its daily journey across the sky. It remains hidden for now behind the hills and trees. But its passage is evident in the slow brightening of the light. The forest slowly comes alive with the sounds of birds and small animals. An hawk makes a couple of lazy circles overhead before banking and sliding off out of sight.

A man approaches on the path from the village heading into the clearing. He crests the small rise and continues walking down the slope towards. He is of average height, bald, but has a fine moustache. He wears a wool cloak and carries a stout staff. His cloak is clean, but his clothes and boots are heavily travel stained and filthy. Beneath his cloak there is the suggestion of a bag and possibly armour of some form. There is a dagger at his belt, but no signs of more sizeable weapons.

A few paces into the clearing he raises his hand in greeting.

"Hello. I see that you found my house. I am Henri."

He looks around.

"Is everyone all right?"

 

[Scott DeWar]

"Apparently the most important one is, you." says Jan, "Any idea why gnolls would attack your home?"