Chapter 10 - Part 9

Orphan quickly realized a few things.

First, it was highly unlikely that he could defeat K'gah through conventional means. The gnoll captain was regarded by everyone in Blood Crescent as one of the best swordsman anyone had ever seen. Being a good warrior physically didn't mean one was a good warrior mentally, obviously. But Orphan would end up just as dead from K'gah's blade whether the gnoll knew what he was doing or not.

Second, the alien thing (flayer? - the headband wasn't that familiar) knew what it was doing, and knew its prey. Orphan now noticed rings on its hands and a rod in its belt, likely one or more had enabled the flayer to stay unseen while it stalked the party of orcs and gnolls. The flayer must have manipulated everyone into coming here.

Third, Orphan seemed to be the only one who was able to resist the flayer's mental abilities. While he dodged K'gah's blade, and attempted to get in a few kicks of his own, he could see the alien thing causing the orcs and gnolls to stand up and begin exploring the worship chamber.

K'gah didn't let Orphan into the chamber of course. And the chains on his wrist kept Orphan's sai from stealing the blade away.

Long seconds went by while K'gah successfully guarded the door, and the flayer began to send the mind-enslaved gnolls and orcs marching to the opposite side of the chamber, to the tunnel that lay to the right of the mural.

The traps were still enabled, and with bright flashes the helpless gnolls and orcs began to discharge them.

They didn't even scream, but their bodies did begin to make it safe for the flayer.

Which, Orphan realized, had been the point of the entire thing.