Tebati notices the depleted state of the camp when she emerges from the tent. Asking the nearest Sargavan, she learns that Morvius, Qhude, N'bellocq, and Albert's squad have departed to look for enemy stragglers and frowns. Heading back to the party's shared tent, she looks to retrieve the rest of her belongings and try to find Kieran.
Heading back to the party's shared tent, she looks to retrieve the rest of her belongings and try to find Kieran.
And finds Jakob fast asleep.
Heading back to the party's shared tent, she looks to retrieve the rest of her belongings and try to find Kieran.And finds Jakob fast asleep.
"Hello, love," Kieran greets Tebati as soon as she enters the tent. "How goes the tending of the wounded?" The half-elf seems absorbed in making sure his weapon is clean, a little ritual of his he seems to take part in after almost every battle. "This new sword's blade is not only made of adamantine, but it is also enchanted, making it rather hard to damage. Still," he shrugs with a half-smile, "it served me well during the fighting, so it stands to reason that I should at least try to return the favor, yes?"
"We were too late to save eight," she sighs, sitting down on the edge of a cot to watch him work, seeming to take as much comfort in the familiar ritual as he does. "Three workers who fell to the apes, and five soldiers killed in cold blood by the attackers. Early on in the battle, it looked as if the toll could be far worse, however. There is no reason the wounded should not make a full recovery, given enough time and no immediate second attempt on the camp. The general has led Albert's squadron and some of the other soldiers to try to cut down any remaining attackers who might have fled, and Qhude and N'bellocq have gone with them." She takes a breath. "I spoke with Kamishah. Ansha is sure he was the man in the kitchen, but there is no evidence with which to accuse him." She pauses again. "I suspect the general may have gone out hoping to catch the ape-summoner in the jungle, running away. But what if he is still here among us and Morvius has taken away the most able of the remaining warriors? Present company excepted, of course," she smiles at him.
It is at about that moment that Ansha bursts into the tent. "Oh, good! I was hoping I'd find a few of you here. Has anyone seen Kamishah?" she says, glancing at Tebati and Kieran as she hastily throws on clothing. "His real name is Chausiku, and he should have an exquisite sword hidden away among his belongings."
"There's more. These guys are with 'the order'--of Arioch, presumably. Given their murderous intent with us, I'm going to guess it's not the ones who were trying to protect the world from the Gorilla-King."
"Or perhaps they see the liberation of whatever lies in the heart of that pyramid as so unthinkable that they are willing to kill and die to the last man to prevent its theft," Tebati points out. "It's not like the Grand Custodian is open to negotiation on the subject -- or like he knows what it is he's so desperate to claim for his use."
"Chausiku--I mean Kamishah--already tried to kill Kieran. If I were not there to distract the beast and call for aid, the ape Qhude dispatched would have rended Kieran in two. The Grand Custodian may not know what's in there, but neither do we," Ansha rejoins. "What we do know is that the man responsible for a number of deaths, and who would have slain us all if he could, is either still in this camp or soon to depart from it. If he escapes, we will neither be closer to any answers about why he was trying to kill us, nor will we be safe from any subsequent attempts at sabotaging this expedition."
Ansha moves toward the tent exit again. "I, for one, would like to know why he's trying to kill us. Don't you?"
"I would indeed." She pauses. "He was in the workers' sleeping tent, but if he sees you coming, he will avoid you. I would suggest looking less like yourself when you enter."
"Wait," Kieran says, raising his head from his own curved blade, "did you say something about a sword? An exquisite sword? It may be a mere coincidence, but the elven mage, Zesaste, had a strange sword in his possession." Pausing for a moment to better remember, he then goes on. "Strange for an elf, at least. Somewhat demonic-looking, I recall it was enchanted and of undeniable craftsmanship."
Ansha nods over her shoulder. "It's probably just a coincidence, but that thought had occurred to me too. But Zesaste didn't try to kill us--I'm expecting that won't be a consideration we receive if we confront Kamishah."
She motions for the other two to come with her. "I'd just as soon the company," she says as she ties a small section of her hair with her enchanted hair-ribbon. A moment later, she looks like a nondescript Zenj girl and steps out of the tent to hurry toward Kamishah's last known location.
Tebati looks startled, the thought that the charming Zenj could be the arrogant elf never having occurred to her. "What has his power play in Freehold to do with the Order of Arioch?" Having retrieved her own equipment, she returns Ansha's dagger. "Ansha," she warns her, "I have no healing. If there is a confrontation ... there is nothing I can do." And you and Kieran could not handle him earlier..., she does not add.
Ansha entered the tent with Tebati and Kieran only a short distance behind her. The tent was reasonably crowded. Much of the camp were still at work in the aftermath of the attack, or were waiting to see what Morvius' expedition wrought. The tension in the air was palpable and very few people had already gone back to sleep. Kamishah noted Tebati and Kieran's entry- the Zenj was unpacking his large backpack, apparently looking to gather the objects he needed to reassemble his tent, judging from the poles and canvas he had laid out. It was clear that some of the tension in the tent was due to his presence. Many people were giving him a wide berth, while his closest friends from his kitchen work crew seemed to be watching for anyone that might try to accost him. The man himself still looked quite nervous.
Haven't forgotten you but nothing yet on the timeline.
Zenj-Ansha quietly hurries toward Kamishah, painting a very worried and concerned look on her face. Fully expecting that one of his friends will intercept her, she is ready with a light touch on his or her forearm if he or she does ().
Tebati pauses as she enters the tent, watching Kamishah's activity with seemingly unwarranted interest. She touches Kieran's arm and whispers,
She follows closely enough behind the disguised Ansha to witness whatever might ensue.
Zenj-Ansha was able to reach Kamishah without much incident, but the chef looked straight at her as she approached, his eyes fixed upon her. They did not move from her face as he expectantly gazed upon her, anxiety written into his face.
That doesn't much look like a man intent on escape... the elf thinks, second-guessing her earlier conclusions. "We should talk, Kamishah," she starts, making no effort to disguise her voice. Motioning with her head at the tent-poles, she asks, "Planning on settling in here?"
The chef narrowed his eyes at the newcomer, pointing a finger at her and raising his voice.
Ansha and Kamishah now had the twenty or so inhabitants of the tent looking directly at them. Heads were shaken and voices raised stating that they did not know the stranger. The word "Mchawi" could be heard muttered by more than one and the mood was quickly threatening to turn ugly.
Nope, never mind, the enchantress thinks. "A clever ploy, diverting attention away from yourself, Chausiku!"
Ansha wills her magical disguise to drop now that she is so near him. Gesturing with her hands in grand oratory fashion, she continues, "Your compatriots have already given you up. I must admit, hiding in plain sight until your fellows attacked us was brilliant. But it was very unwise to launch the diversion from the kitchen tent, where you were so often found! Surrender, and we promise to treat you fairly--more than can be said of the victims your apes and warriors claimed this night!"
Tebati grimly watches things spiral out of control. "Everyone, out of the tent until this is settled!" she urges the civilian bystanders. "Whom did the general leave in command?"
Most of the workers began to leave the tent at Tebati's command, even as Ansha orated and Kamishah replied in heated fashion. The six or seven gathered around Kamishah edged closer to him, refusing to leave him.
The cook first responded to Ansha, having found some confidence and indignance with his friends close to him. Ansha' words were quite compelling though, and a couple of them looked to be wavering.
This is not a large camp, Mchawi. Your form may change but the arrogant way in which you carry yourself does not, Ansha! Why do you continue to spit your venomous lies at me?
Looking to Tebati and Kieran as the voices of reason, Kamishah's tone of voice took on a slightly pleading tone as he addressed the shamaness.
Tebati, did I not tell you she would come for me, with her accusations, her lies? She has no rational basis with which to accuse me. Is this truly her jealousy at play, as you feared? Of course I frequented the kitchen tent; I am the camp's cook! If I wished you harm surely I would just poison your meals! I demand that these false accusations end, tonight. You are not the authority in this camp. I demand to speak to General Morvius or Lieutenant Braxis.
He seems genuine to you. Or an incredibly able liar. You can see that your words have not won over his fellow kitchen staff. You are not certain that Kieran and Tebati are convinced of his guilt either.
He seems genuine to you. Or an incredibly able liar. Ansha's accusations are looking increasingly baseless.
He seems genuine to you, but you have a hunch there is still more to Kamishah than he claims. His skill with oratory, body language and voice projection is clearly no less than Ansha's, if not greater.
"He is right. We cannot go on distrusting one another. One way or another, this must be settled tonight. Ansha," she addresses the elf, "think: If he can change his face, why would he keep the one you are accusing? Kamishah," she turns to the chef, "will you consent to having your belongings searched to prove you have nothing to hide?"
"Did I not come to you quietly before you attempted to turn the crowd upon me? Is that arrogance or bluster? I attempted to prevent this from escalating--to keep this a private matter where you could clear your own name!" Ansha replies. "But what sort of paranoia would motivate a man to so quickly escalate a private tete-a-tete into demagoguery? If you are so innocent, explain to me that!"
She nods at Tebati, then looks to Kamishah's belongings. "There are pieces that do not make sense, I admit; but your possessions will tell a great deal of the truth or lie of your claims, Kamishah."
Kieran sighs and rolls his eyes, his lips forming a half-smile just as his hand comes to rest on his sheathed sword's pommel, even though he makes no move to draw it. Still, it does not hurt to be prepared in case things get out of hand, even if it is only to intimidate and scare away.
"My my my, such big words being flung around," the half-elf quips amusedly in an attempt to bring some levity into what has become a somewhat volatile situation. "I for one would prefer to keep enjoying our fine cook's even finer meals without having to worry of any... unsavory ingredients being added into them," he adds before turning to Kamishah. "So, what say you? Would you give us your consent to search through your belongings and be done with all this unpleasantness?"
A tense moment followed but eventually, Kamishah responded.
I'll let you rifle through my possessions- but only on a condition. Once you've searched it to your satisfaction, I want Ansha to publicly apologise for slandering my good name. If that is not acceptable to you and yours, then stand aside. I'll take up my case with Lieutenant Braxis.
"If I was wrong about you, then I will gladly apologize," Ansha replies with a nod. "I am not so 'arrogant' as to believe I cannot mistake--but it remains to be proven that I was."
If he's this confident about this, he's either hidden the incriminating sword away or he isn't the man we're looking for...or he doesn't realize we know what to look for....
With a glance to Tebati warning the shamaness to be on her guard, Ansha moves forward to look through the cook's belongings.
Kamishah nodded grimly and tossed the backpack over. Inside was a large array of gear suggesting an lifetime of different hobbies, collecting habits and enough mundane gear to make a would-be adventurer green with envy. It included fishing rods, collections of non-precious gemstones, trapping & hunting equipment, cooking gear, a collection of locksmith's tools... Amongst a small hoard of other keepsakes and tools. The backpack itself was of masterwork quality.
Kamishah raised an eyebrow as the search finished.
Are we quite done?
Ansha shakes her head slightly. "Not just yet." Murmuring a cantrip, she reviews the backpack again with a mind toward illusion auras.
Assuming that the second search likewise comes up without a suspicious aura that might mask a glamered sword, she reviews Kamishah's form himself and hands the backpack over to Tebati to search as well.
Neither the backpack, its contents, or Kamishah himself detected as magical.
Tebati conducts her own search by removing the jumbled items within the backpack and laying them out neatly on the ground. "Have you no weapon, Kamishah?" she asks. "What did you use to defend yourself before you joined the caravan?"
In answer, Kamishah pulled a well-crafted dagger from a hidden sheath under his clothing, apparently concealed upon his back under his clothing.
Sargava is a dangerous place. This dagger has served me well since my youth. I owned a crossbow a few months ago, but I lost that to a wild animal.
Tebati nods. A man wandering the countryside alone without a weapon would be more suspicious than one carrying a concealed blade. "Are you satisfied, Ansha?" she asks the elf.
Ansha frowns. "It's obvious that you are not the ape-summoner," she concedes. "And I will publicly apologize. It is also obvious that you are not simply a cook. Why don't you clear the air and tell us who you really are? Did Ntisi send you?"
I'm really grasping at straws, but who knows? she thinks. "Whoever you are, we are likely to need your help to locate the real spy among us."
Kamishah sighed and folder his arms, his apparent nonchalance at Ntisi's name seeming genuine. Having vindicated himself in front of his fellow kitchen staff he seemed to have grown in confidence and seemed much less anxious.
No. I will not indulge your fantasies any longer, Ansha. I am nothing more than I ever claimed to be. I am a well-travelled, professional cook. My greatest claim to fame was probably competing in the Sargavan Chalice, something I have freely mentioned. Nothing in my past is relevant to you. I wish you luck finding the spy among us- but I have a tent to pitch. I look forward to your apology. Perhaps we can begin again on amiable terms once it is delivered.
Unless somebody planned to physically stop him, Kamishah made for the tent flap after gathering his things.
I don't believe you, Ansha thinks. "Perhaps we can," the enchantress agrees, making no move to stop him from leaving. Behind his back, she frowns at Tebati--less out of irritation at being wrong as out of conviction that the mystery was still unsolved.
Tebati waits for Kamishah to leave the tent, then says quietly to Ansha, "He all but had me convinced ... until he tried to turn the camp against you. That is not the act of a man as afraid as he claimed to be. Everything he says has the ring of truth about it, but I still feel that he is hiding something. Not the headdress and sword," she admits wryly, "not here, at least. But they must be somewhere unless...," she frowns, "unless Kamishah is his true face and they are the illusion. Could a spell, like the magic in your ribbon, make a man appear to be wearing a headdress when he has none, and a sword at his side when it is truly a dagger?"
Ansha nods. "It's why I thought to look for magical auras, but illusions can be hard to pierce. It didn't look like any of his belongings were magical, but that doesn't mean that there wasn't magic hiding the aura too."
Qhude and N'bellocq led a pincer attack on the enemy camp; only to find it completely abandoned. While several tents, mosquito nets and a large amount of rations and equipment was found, it seemed that every soul had been involved on the attack on the base camp. N'bellocq found no tertiary tracks suggesting flight or a second force.
Eventually, each of our heroes settled down to sleep and the rest of the night was relatively calm.
The next morning, General Morvius was quick to address all of the said heroes at breakfast. He spoke a little less formally than usual, entering into the talk quite abruptly.
I have been thinking about the threat that this "Chausiku" poses. While the apes were certainly a deadly force, they paled in comparison to the full attack on our walls. In truth, if we have slain all of his allies I would not expect another attack. Nevertheless, I have tripled the watch pattern for at least the next week, just in case. N'bellocq and I spoke on the way back from their camp and we are in agreement that a smaller raiding force of these saboteurs has been raiding our supply wagons. He has kindly volunteered to ride out as my scout and ascertain the effectiveness of the mercenaries I sent out in dissuading them. If we are lucky, the Ivory Cross men are worth their expense and have eliminated this secondary force and I can order them back.
N'bellocq nodded in confirmation of Morvius' words.
You all proved your worth again last night and I am grateful. I would ask that the rest of you enter the structure once again. Our work here is more important than ever, especially if these wicked men were so intent on stopping us. To slay soldiers is one thing, but to set feral animals upon the innocent... the General trailed off in anger.
I'll have the surviving attackers vigorously questioned.
Ansha nods at General Morvius. "Should I be of further use in interrogating them, let me know. From my initial discussions with them, it seems likely that our attackers--and this Chausiku--are surviving members or descendants of one of the factions of the Order of Arioch. Given their ruthlessness and willingness to utilize summoned apes as allies, I would hazard a guess that it was the faction in favor of using this artifact for their own purposes, probably corrupted by the Ravenous King's influence."
"If I may ask, why are we focusing on the structure now? We barely know anything about it. We certainly don't know enough to decide if unlocking who or whatever is locked in there is a good idea.
In the absence of other information, sure poking around among the wax golems and bound demons is worth it. But we have other sources for information. Chausiku and his order knows what is in there or at least knows something that has convinced them that it is worth dying to protect this place. Is it in the Sargavan interest to release another Tarrasque or an ancient Tar-Baphon sealed in that pile by Chausiku's forgotten ancestors?
We need to know what he knows. So why are we not asking him?"
"Because we don't know who he is or where he is...and he did try to kill us without so much as a 'how-do-you-do.'"