Wultram Denka |
"That assumes we could deal with the group that has taken it for their own in the first place. And to be honest I am not too keen on putting my neck out to save people who try to kill me, be it misguided but that is their own fault." Wultram comments on the discussion off handedly, still keeping his attention at the halfling.
Rehil Ecraish |
Rehil thinks about the information.
"Sounds like the raiders are big and well-organized. There's serious money or power behind them. They've started this crisis because they don't care what happens as long as they get what they're after.
"We know the lizardfolk won't back down. They want to kill everything that they thinks threatens their holy sites.
"If we go to Daa'Sheth now, we'll have no power, nothing to bargain with. We won't be able to negotiate anything.
"We have a clear trail to follow. Let's see where they've taken this relic."
Cole. |
Cole nods along to Rehild's words, then looks at the draconic-speakers in the group, "Ask them how long ago this site was disturbed." He looks out at the mud, "It'd be good to take our own closer look here. Maybe they left something useful behind."
Rehil Ecraish |
Rehil nods, "And tell them we're going to hunt down and kill the ones who took the relic."
Then, taking Cole at his word, the elf slogs into the muddy pit. "Keep some rope handy." He begins to search for -- something, anything that looks out of place.
perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
William Kazzar |
Now that we do have some time shall we get down to business Wultram? I would greatly appreciate i you would swear by everything you hold dear to never raise an undead creature of any kind. It is rather not very polite so summon on's vessel that has passed away back into the world even if it is just for a few seconds. It speaks of bad manners to disturb what is left of those who are at rest. I do understand that these bodies are just soulless and everything but still the dead are dead and should be left alone even if you think and have the power to do otherwise. It is just very non polite you see. he says nicely to him.
Wultram Denka |
Wultram looks for a bit with a bit forced expression before taking in a deep breath. "Well I will grant you that you are a lot more pleasant about your ignorance than most people from around your parts." He takes a small pause to glance at the prisoners before turning his full attention the halfling. "Well first of all the spell I used was of the conjuration school, a summoning spell to be excat no true body or undead was ever affected by my spell. Truly raising the dead is far beyond my skill at the moment. That all being said I am first and last a necromancer and had I the power to do so each and every fallen enemy at our feet would be swelling our ranks at the moment. This is something I have dedicated my life to, I have studied the secrets of the craft before I had known a woman's touch. There is not one person present here that has any business in lecturing me about any aspect of necromancy." His voice is coming more agited as he goes on.
The Karn takes a small pause to calm himself. "This is the magic that saved my country, my family and myself. I now what the fools say about my kind, ignorant people talking about things they don't even try to comprehend. Trying to argue about some moral high-ground. Oh and in case someone was about to mention Kaius banning it's use in military campaigns? F#&% the king. Some deity's teachings say it is bad? F&$& them too, those are their values not mine don't push that s!+% on me. I did not see anyone complaining about the elemental that was bound to the boat we arrived in. And using someones remains? You think pretty much every necromancer doesn't at some point contemplate on what bodies is justifiable to use and what not? And you actually think I would swear to abandon essentially what I am? Please don't insult me like that." It is quite clear that William is getting a lot of flak that is more directed at people he has had this discussion with before.
Rehil Ecraish |
Rehil's head jerks up. Trouble between Will and Wultram will just be trouble. If it comes to a fight who do I back? He shifts his area of search in the direction of the two casters and listens to their conversation as he continues to scan the ground for clues.
William Kazzar |
" You can justify as many ways as you want and we can stay at it for days if not more. I am not going to fight over this right know as it would not be polite when there much to do." he tone that pretty much always jovial since you meet William goes flat and neutral Do head this warning I object to the use of undead, reanimated and / or summoned. This is my only warning as of courtesy. While I will not directly harm you since we are all in a rather dire position, I will not defend nor help you in the future. and simple statement James turns around and heads back to the center of the gaping hole
"So i suppose we can track the large thing that moves the artifact away from its resting place"
Survival: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16
William Kazzar |
"You cole are an awakened construct, your kind may have started as just animated construct but you clearly show sentience and feeling. Now as to the debate if you have souls, i really don't know and it doesn't really mater to me. And as to was others may think well i can't speak for all of them. Just myself"
Wultram Denka |
"Well someone definetly never was a soldier." He mostly just thinks outloud. As he turns his attention back towards the prisoner he spits on the ground. "Typical worshipper of the overglorified bonfire." Need to keep an eye on the little man, don't trust one bit that once things are looking up he does not try to stick a dagger in my back.
Nalverren |
Nalverren remains silent throughout the little argument, a mask of indifference.
Rehil Ecraish |
That's settled for now.
Rehil re-applies himself to searching the mud.
Aubrey, any clues to find in the mud or have Cole and Rehil soiled themselves for no good reason?
...
"So I suppose we can track the large thing that moves the artifact away from its resting place"
"The trail looks obvious. Hopefully they didn't use the airship to lift it later."
Cole. |
Thoroughly self-soiled (nice!), Cole stares unblinking at the halfling, then over at Wultram. He turns to Rehil briefly, “I’ll be right back to help.”
Then he trudges back out of the mud towards Wultram, “May we speak?” After a pause for the Karnathi (Karn?) to agree, the warforged continues. “Are you fully in control of your powers and whatever creatures are created?” It’s not an antagonistic question. The huge warforged seems genuinely curious. “And when you use them, are others hurt?” You get the feeling he’s not only talking about physical pain, but further ramifications of Wultram’s abilities. “Maybe more important ... we can’t be getting in each others way if we’re going to survive out here.”
Wultram Denka |
Yeah it is Karn in the official sources. Not sure why, Karnathian would make more sense to me but I am not a native speaker. Oh and excuse the WoT folks.
"Sure." He appriciates the distraction. "Fully in control? Depends on the spell or power, some have variables in them. Like say the ray I launched against that blackscale when we were battling our way to the shore. When used against the living it always saps their strenght assuming I aim it correctly and they are not resistant to magic in general, but by how much varies. Also my spells and powers have limits apart those two things yes I am in control. As far as things I summon, yes and no. They are mindless creatures, they obey me without guestion to the best of their abilities but because they are mindless they do not have their own initiative. And I am talking mindless in a very spesific sense, obviously they are creatures and as such are not the same as something like a tree or a rock in their mind. To summarize they do not have feelings at all. That is why I shouted at you when you passed, it does not have thinking cabability necessary for regonizing you as ally without their controller establishing such things." He then takes small pause to think how to answer.
"Well I assume you mean other than whoever is the enemy they are attacking. Well that depends, for summoning spells no true creature is ever involved. When it comes to true undead it certainly can hurt people. As long as one is among the undead their spirit can not return to this realm, outside of few spesific exceptions. Also if we are not talking about the mindless undead, more than few of them have very nasty conditions that certainly could hurt them emotionally and mentally. Then there are of coarse the closed ones whoever the undead was in life and their emotions. The persons soul's too. This is why morally sound of my kind do not raise just any old corpse they find even if it would be an asset. I will admit one very real danger, should the controller of the undead ever perish before the ones they control...They will follow the last order given but after their instinct will take over and they are not nice instincts. But as I said such things are far beyond my skill yet. I could go in deeper but that would require in debth knowledge about arcane magic and time wich we do not have. As far as getting each others way? Should not be an issue. If you are talking about the....disagreement between myself and William, I have no intention of hindering him, but I ain't going to risk myself either. That being said we have a job to do here and that comes before my personal opinion on his worth as a person."
Cole. |
Cole only partially looks like he regrets asking, but he endures the lengthy answers with a stoic patience. "Understood," he answers simply, but you're fairly certain he doesn't follow it all.
"And no, I wasn't talking about you and Will, but you and me. But you've already partially touched on my worries. I'm good at dealing with threats in a pretty direct way." He hefts his longspear to clarify (as if it were needed), then continues. "We should just work together to make sure we don't literally get in each other's way. Work together or fail, right?"
Wultram Denka |
"Certainly being greater than some of it's parts and all that. I would say the group as a whole is experiencing some growing pains regarding this, but that is always the case when people start working together especially when it comes to tactics. Only thing that really comes to mind is when I am channeling negative energy around me. I can exclude people from it's effects but at most 5. So to not harm people on our side sometimes requires positioning myself. We did manage to concentrate fire pretty well on the blackscale in the last fight, considering we were at a serious disadvantage when the battle started. Oh and as afterthought should the situation come up let my summons take the hits rather than yourself as they are expendable." Wultram replies.
Cole. |
"I'll keep it in mind," the warforged says as he turns back to continue helping Rehil. "On the other hand, that can mean me being out of position to do what I do best. Either way, we'll figure it out."
He repositions the unconscious poisondusk lizard-man on his shoulder (who's been strapped to Cole this whole time) and moves back out towards Rehil.
As he moves back into the muck, he raises his voice for the whole group. "One other thing. We should consider sending these two back to their people with a message. If we say we're not here to attack them, and the proof is that we've let these two go, it may help us if we run into their warriors again."
Cole. |
"The choices seem to be bring them as captives, which only makes our jobs harder. Kill them. Or we let them go." He shrugs, but gives everyone a look that invites answers. "I say we send them back to their leaders with a message. Gets them out of our hands and is a show of goodwill."
Wultram Denka |
"I do not know about the poisondusk, but the other one surrendered and we accepted that surender. I ain't no saint but there has to be a line somewhere. But I would not just let them go either. I say we leave them tied up with some sort of delayed release system. Message? Sure would not hurt. I do not expect it to amount to anything, but fools chance is better than none."
Rehil Ecraish |
"Depends. Are they likely to tell the truth to their leaders? Will that truth find its way to their people?"
"Right now their story is, 'they killed everyone else, but let us go because they say they are on our side.'"
"They're more likely to say what we want them to say if they see us do something for their side. Something like hunt the relic down and recover it for them. In the mean time I'd say we're stuck with them."
Nalverren |
"And can kill them if things turn violent."
Wultram Denka |
"I am not keen on the idea of offering our heads on a plate to our enemies. Not one on their side has yet shown any capability of listening to reason. Surely there are some and the sample size has been small. But that is way too high risk high reward gamble for my taste."
Cole. |
"I agree with Wultram. I think moving on this other team is the way to go. We figure out what they're doing, and then we can figure out what to do about it."
He taps the still-unconscious poisondusk on his shoulder, "And I'd prefer not to drag these guys with me."
Cole. |
"I'm not sure I see the difference between leaving them here and simply killing them or letting them go."
He raises a single, thick finger, "If we bind them well enough to keep them from escaping, they will die ... of exposure, dehydration, or other predators." He adds his other finger to the first, enumerating the second option, "If we let them go with a means of escaping, they get back to their people and tell them whatever they want." Then he raises his thumb (good thing there are only three options), "If, however, we give them a message in good faith, at least there's a small chance that message gets to someone willing to listen."
Wultram Denka |
"Nothing prevents us from using number two and three together. I don't want to just free them outright, in case they decide to try to set up an ambush or lead some other people to us. That would be why I would prefer we have a headstart. It does not prevent that from happening but it makes the risk much lesser."
Wultram Denka |
"I got some string, just bind wrist and ankles with it. They can use their teeth to free themselves, but it will take time. Not the best solution but it should give us big enough of a headstart."
Rehil Ecraish |
Rehil shudders. While he would have been perfectly content to kill the helpless Poisondusk "in combat", leaving the lizardmen helpless in the jungle feels too callous. It's a difficult situation.
"Leave the thinking to those who do it better." He hears his old team leader's voice. He decides to just comply with the others' idea.
"We should clear the area of all weapons, so they won't decide to come after us instead." Rehil begins climbing out of the pit toward the lizardmen's defensive position.
Before we go, I'd like to restock on arrows if the Poisondusk's fit Rehil's bow. What other gear did the lizardmen have?
Cole. |
Cole shrugs at Portforged question, but responds to Wultram with a "Works for me."
The big warforged trudges over to lay the unconscious poisondusk next to the bound captive. "Will someone tell this guy that we're here on Pooma's behalf, and that we don't want any problems with the tribes. We want to find out what's happening to these burial sites, and we're tracking this other group to find out."
"I don't have any string, but other than that, I'm ready to follow our trail whenever."
Rehil Ecraish |
"Why are we trying to get a 'head start' again? What makes that better than simply letting them go?"
Rehil points down the path that the Sunscales arrived from, "Because for all we know their camp is 200 yards that way and they've got 200 warriors ready to chase us down before we even know this relic is."
therealthom |
Not sure what Aubrey will want for checks to tie up the l-men. We could argue about the plan some more that would keep us posting. Rehil thinks we need to show commitment to the captives before releasing them and that would entail dragging them along for a while. I'm happy to jabber away until our illustrious DM, may his feet always remain dry and warm, returns.
As a player I would rather be shut of them.
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
Rehil and Cole don't find anything much on the hole, other than the fact it indicates a big thing has been moves and dragged out along the trail. So sadly, they did soil themselves for no great gain.
You can make Survival checks to tie up the lizardfolk. There's quite a lot of dead poisondusks lying about so Rehil can refresh his stash of arrows at will, as well as from the one that's still alive.
Since he was asked a while back...
Ashshar listens to the discussion. Finally he answers, "It would be better to kill the prisoners. Ther are enemies to our tribe. And we could eat them."
Wultram Denka |
Wultram reaches into his backpack taking out some string. "Anyone good with knots? I can make one but I ain't excatly good at it. And if someone has real issue with this plan of action now would be the time to express it. So far majority seems to be fine with the idea."
Rehil Ecraish |
"I don't know, Ashshar. We probably shouldn't take time to prepare a feast and a fire might draw unwanted attention."
***
"If we don't want to kill them tying bad knots is a good thing, Wultram. Just tie lots of them."
***
Rehil looks around the pit one last time and down at his mud-caked leggings and boots. Then he swears softly and begins climbing out. "Come on, Cole. There's nothing down here."
Reaching the top he begins rummaging through the Poisondusk's arrows and pulls out about a dozen of the better ones to restock his quivers. The other arrows he snaps in handfuls at a time by laying the feathered ends on a log and driving the points into the dirt, then driving his foot onto the shafts. "We should scoop up all their weapons. We can drop them as we go, but we don't want these two to rearm themselves and come after us."
Nalverren |
"If tying them up is going to kill them, why waste rope? I have a blade."
Aubrey the Demented/Malformed |
I think Rehil's point is that it's decided not to kill them, but tying them up will delay them if they go for help or decide to pursue. Tying them up too well will just leave them to starve or be eaten by a passing predator.
Ashshar shrugs laconically at Rehil's reply.
Which way now? There are two obvious possibles - down the track the lizardfolk approached from, and the broad track ripped through the jungle by the removal of the artefact.