The More You Gnoll

It takes some sidetracking to get around where the land mines were deployed but Shiruba finally rides into Eas village upon her peko. Little surprise to find it quiet, but at high tensions should the Palace Lands make another siege attempt.

Ayame is sat outside the tavern. Her hair is in the usual bun, but the wand is absent, and she leans back - her shield, yes, on her back, as she rests against the wall, comparing two lists. Ah, there's the wand! She taps the lists with it, one after the other, words sliding around the page as she organises and collates. Her usual faintly preoccupied air is somewhat intensified

Shiruba reigns her Peko to a stop as she sees one of the people she's looking for outside the tavern. "Hello Ayame!" the wolf girl calls out to get her attention as she dismounts.

Yeowang was here the entire time, she's been training in stealth lately, and she finds herself lurking sometimes when she's not thinking about it. But seeing the Guild Leader arrive, she will step into view and nod a greeting. Known more for her mercantile and organizational skill, she's trying to establish herself as a generally useful person, with limited success.

Ayame looks up to Shiruba. She gives a halfhearted smile, and lifts a hand in what's almost a wave - and then her eyes drag back to her lists almost eagerly. She scratches the back of her neck with her wand, and then responds "Oh. Hello. Sorry, These are a bit ... " She trails off. Another tap, staring at the lists again, and then back up "Oh! Sorry" Her smile is wavering "I didn't see you there. You're well, I hope?"

"Hello Yeowang. I shouldn't be surprised you're working out here again should I? Helping the supply chains after the assault attempt?" Then her attention turns back to Ayame, with a tilt of her head. "Are you busy? I have more information on those demon summoning Gnolls we encountered with Robert a few weeks ago."

Yeowang smiles to Shiruba, bows her head to take in Shiruba and Ayame both. "I'm sorry I missed the defense, urgent business has kept me in Ninetails lately." Possibly to do with the Piyon cave thing, which she had scouted the path to originally for the Guild. "But yes, making sure supplies are still coming in. Ironically, by taking Mac Anu, the Palace Landers left us access to ports at Takamatsu and Tokushima, and both send supplies to Eas."

"I'm sort of - did you know your stats change with what you equip? Slightly?" Ayame asks, blinking "But we know there's invisible stats, so it's like that's something affected by ..." She trails off "Oh! Yes. The gnolls. What happened there?" She asks, flipping the notebook closed and leaning forward with an eager expression. Her eyes flick to Yeowang, and she blinks "Mac .. oh. Do we know how many of the Crowned are there yet?"

Shiruba nods a bit to Yeowang. "I guess they were more interested in Anu for being the Root Town... cripple anyone we has Fourlands as their kingdom from respawning." A harrowing thought but not what she's here for right now.

"It turns out," she continues as she goes back to Ayame again, "The demon worshipping Gnolls are a different sect from the standard tribal pack hunters we usually dealt with."

Yeowang says to Ayame, "I don't know how many Crowned there are. I've heard reports that /all/ the enemy are crowned, or perhaps 'most', and I find either case unlikely. If they are, that implies that the Palace Landers can either make crowns on demand, which is a level of skill no one else has, or have a nearly imitless supply of spare relics, which I think is equally unlikely." She nods to Shiruba abut the Root Town being a motivator for taking Mac Anu. "It's the only likely reason, I think. And they can rebind themselves to Mac Anu now also, so they don't respawn across the ocean, which will be annoying for quite some time."

She blinks at mention of demon-worshipping gnolls, and sighs. "The regular problems don't stop just because we have an outside crisis," she laments and listes carefully to Shiruba.

".. have they been taken over by something?" Ayame asks Shiruba with a frown "Maybe we should try to find more of them. Or are they doing it willingly?" She asks, with a series of quick blinks "The idea of those things choosing to summon demons is pretty interesting, really. What else did you find?" She asks. Then she looks back to Yeowand, thinking a moment "Or that being crowned is a state" She starts "And it transforms your own into ... that would explain why we see such a variety" She gives a halfhearted smile, and scribbles some more notes on her files

"They do not," Shiruba replies to Yeowang. "That is why we were investigating this. Smarter monster tribes might try to take advantage of our divided attention."

Its followed by a deep pre-exposition breath. "It is a bit of both. Since demons often work by corruption. These Gnolls venerate a newer god named Yeenagi who encourages the use of dark magic and fel powers. Standard Gnolls typically stick to their tribal pack methods."

Yeowang considers for a moment that the gnolls have been Crowned and are under the direction of the Palace Landers, but shakes her head. That would be farther than she expects even they would go. Not out of altruism, she just doesn't think they'd consider it. As far as monsters doing bad things willingly, she shrugs. "A thousand years ago, people did horrible things to one another all the time. Summoning demons is probably small change to monsters." She nods about taking advantage of our divided attention. "That is a threat, but one we can counter with vigilance and decisive action."

She can only shrug to Ayame's suppositions about being crowned. That's /well/ outside her area of expertise. "Scale has several prisoners, perhaps they have learned more?"

As to the dark magic and tribal magic, she sighs. Magic is her Achilles heel, in this game, and it continues to frustrate her. "What can we do?" she wonders.

"I'll need access to the prisoners" Ayame mutters "Maybe we can see about scoping around Mac Anu and try to take some more - they're more likely to be of use if Scale haven't damaged them" She frowns, staring at the lists, and then looks back up "Oh no. I imagine demons are a lot worse. If you think in terms of sliding scales, what we saw at the camp would indicate the gnolls are ticking up along a meter with that summoning, right?" She asks Shiruba "So ... what can we do about it? I mean, are they doing this purely out of their free will, or are they being compelled. Compelled would be interesting ..." She mutters a moment

"I hope to find out more about what Scale has found with their prisoners when the Alliance leaders meet again," Shiruba replies. She isn't having much issue keeping track of the two seperate conversation threads at least.

She does cusp a hand thoughtfully to her chin. "At the very least their faith in this new god compels them to go against the standard affair of their monster type. The demon corrupted one we fought may be directly connected to Yeenagi, sent to spread his influence amongst the willing tribes. But that is mostly just theory on my part right now." She shakes her head. "The best strength we have is being informed and prepared. Since we know this alternative sect exists."

Yeowang can only shrug when it comes to Scale. "Prophylaxis is their leader, perhaps he can help you? As to scouting Mac Anu, that's a risky proposition. I am told the Palace Landers are have somehow subverted the Root City protections and are now considered by the Guardians to be the legitimate government. I would dearly love to know how they did that."

She nods at the Alliance meeting, and says, "I had hoped to attend that also, but I was not selected," she laments.

She nods to Ayame's question about what do we do, she's wondering the same, both about the Palace Landers and the Gnolls. "Though, people will be fighting gnolls no matter who they worship, so I suppose it's simply a matter of being prepared for a tougher foe, not a new enemy."

"But it also might be possible the two sects are fighting. We may not see the difference, the same way they wouldn't see the difference between ourselves and the Crowned" Ayame suggests to Yeowang, blinking slowly at her and then looking down to her lists "I don't know. It's something to think about."

She taps the lists again, distracted, and nods to Shiruba "Oh. But thank you. For telling me. Sorry, it ... slipped my mind to say" She mutters, shaking her head and looking up again

"Mmmhmmm." Shiruba nods to Yeowang, confirming the notion. "A stronger foe with different tactics. But knowing means we be prepared for the differences. I've sent word to the Hunter's Guild so they can be aware of it when assigning Gnoll related Duties."

Shiruba tilts her head. Ayame is showing the signs she's seen in other friends having 'strange moods' but she's too polite to be nosey about it. "I want to research the matter farther but dealing with the invasion comes first in my Guild Leader duties." After which she smiles softly. "And as such it is good to see we have people out here helping Eas and Wake deal with the situation. Wish we could of been as prepared with Shibuya."

Yeowang looks amused at the idea of the two sects fighting. "We should be so lucky," she says. "Sun Tsu says not to count on your enemies being enemies with each other." A paraphrase, of course. She nods at Shiruba's summation. As far as Shibuya goes, she says, "They brought their /full/ force to Shibuya, I think, and only a part of their forces here. And then again, Eas had been substantially fortified. There was nothing that could have been done to save Shibuya, I think. It is only forftunate that they consider it worth holding rather than demolishing it and moving on."

"The two conditions could run parallel to one another, though" Ayame nods, distracted "At least if we reduce the presence of the gnolls with links to Yeenagi, the others may be more inclined to assist us, or at least leave us alone. That would be quite something" A scratch with the tip of her wand again, before she sticks it into the messy bun at the back of her head

"I think they'll find it harder and harder going, unless they're seeking to supplement their forces" Ayame nods to Yeowang with a slightly concerned look "Fortifications are going up everywhere, after all. It's limiting their chance for action, and increasing the possibility of protracted events. But the more territory the take, they more they need to hold. That's where our chance to look at their members comes in"

"We also need to start being more active than reactive. Which is actually easier to do as they spread out. Less concentrated numbers per position." Shiruba chimes in. "If we can get the Alliances on a unified front to oppose them."

Then back to the Gnolls again. "I can confirm the two sects don't see eye to eye, and have had internal disputes in the past. But to research farther requires access to resources I don't have. I KNOW I've seen referenced materials in the Shibuya library."

Yeowang nods at what Ayame says about the PL's job becoming more difficult as time progresses. "It's their supply of Crowns that worries me. That's better than any sort of conscription. If they can crown everyone they meet, their army will swell. If there were something we could do about that, we would be in a much stronger condition. I think your research will benefit that substantially," she agrees.

To Shiruba, she says, "If it's in Shibuya's Library, it's almost certainly here at Eas, also, and at the Scale library. Uta is your point of contact about that." As far as being active, she says, "Sadly, organizing the Alliance is like herding cats. I find it difficult to get us all focused on anything."

"Killing, knowing what we do, just isn't the best of ideas" Ayame looks up, then stands. An absent brush, and she actually wobbles a little before correcting herself as her wings beat frantically against the shield hung over them, a momentary drumming sound "I'll be glad to assist, of course, but we need to ensure as many as possible are taken alive. Killing only returns them to their home towns, and that can now be local. If we can find a way to note which are the Crowned, we can then take steps to find ways to remove the condition"

Shiruba reaches over to rest a hand on Ayame's shoulder to help steadier. "When's the last time you ate Ayame? Your research is important to us finding a successful tactic, but it does no one any good if you work yourself to exhaustion and can't complete it."

With her previous experiences with friends in these moods Shiruba has found it easier to just point out they need to care for themselves to finish the job instead of force them.

Yeowang sighs, and says, "Alas, killing is easier than capturing by a substantial margin. We will do what we can, of course, and you should definitely get with Prophylaxis and his prisoners. I'm sure you will learn a lot." She acks as Shiruba has to reach out to steady Ayame, and will take her other shoulder to support her. She's only peripherally aware of how strange moods work, her own limited experience was ... well, she went it alone, and somehow got through, but she's got no memory of /how/.

"Uh, I had lunch. Then I came out to look over the notes I'd made, with a drink" Ayame supplies helpfully. She glances up at the sky "I guess that was a bit ago ..." There is an empty plate by her feet. And a glass! That's empty. And dry. "If someone lets him know I'll be coming to see him, of course, I'll speak to him as soon as I can, but we don't seem to meet up very much" She smiles absently.

"I mostly know him by his mushroom hat. Has he taken it off?" She wonders.

Then another slow blink "I guess I could get a snack. A small one. For the road. We need to get moving, after all."

Shiruba is satisfied with that being the best response she can get. "I will likely see him at the meeting and will let him know, if you do not get ahold of him first." She considers a moment. "I've also got so research materials stored away I can have sent to help you."

Reassured Ayame is at least vaguely aware of her own needs she gives the shoulder a pat as she releases it. "I should be going as well." Then nods to Yeowang. "If anything is needed out here be sure to contact us. I want people where they are needed to deal with our current issues."

Yeowang nods to Ayame, "I know him, I will arrange a meeting. And he was wearing that hat last I saw him, yes." With Ayame steadied up, she will nod about the snack, and then again to Shiruba. "I will keep you in the loop," she assures her. "Fare well. I must be about my tasks also."

Ayame nods to them all, and the usually so carefully polite Sylph simply turns, walking into the tavern with a faintly bleary look to her eyes

Shiruba sighs slightly once Ayame heads inside. "Make sure someone is keeping an eye on her?" She climbs on the back of her peko. "I'll give people a heads up after the meeting. Take care!" She turns Tradewind around and rides off.