Tove turns to her companions to relay her deduction. "It seems likely that Solaina and her family live in the unexplored region just north-east of here, we should be able to deliver her safely to them on our way back to Oleg's."
She turns back to the man in the cage, seeing him in a new light now that she knew how he came to be here. Perhaps this is why Erastil had seemed to withhold his mercy earlier. "What to do with this poor, wretched soul is less clear. If he had turned to banditry, it seems unlikely he would have had anyone in his life who may care for him now."
She turns back to the man in the cage, seeing him in a new light now that she knew how he came to be here. Perhaps this is why Erastil had seemed to withhold his mercy earlier. "What to do with this poor, wretched soul is less clear. If he had turned to banditry, it seems unlikely he would have had anyone in his life who may care for him now."
Jacobus nodded as the plans were formed.
He looked at the bandit, "I think we should be consistent and fair with this fellow and offer him a chance to repent and change his ways."
He looked at Theo for confirmation.
"If he doesn't repent then there's no room for him here in these new lands. I'll execute him myself if need be."
Tove leaves the cage and moves to Jacobus' side, speaking in hushed tones so as not to let the flayed man hear her over his own sobs.
"I have little doubt he is repentant after what horrors he has suffered at the hands of the derro. My only fear is that there may be no room for him in these lands even so, they are still a savage place and not many would be kind enough of heart to take in a former bandit, especially one so damaged."
Tove leaves the cage and moves to Jacobus' side, speaking in hushed tones so as not to let the flayed man hear her over his own sobs.
"I have little doubt he is repentant after what horrors he has suffered at the hands of the derro. My only fear is that there may be no room for him in these lands even so, they are still a savage place and not many would be kind enough of heart to take in a former bandit, especially one so damaged."
Jacobus is understanding but adamant. "So he has suffered. Who hasn't? Ask that girl over there how much she has suffered."
He sighed, "I think we should be fair and treat him as we did with the others. You can tell for sure if he's lying or not. If he has truly repented then he should be given a chance to live."
Tove recoils slightly at Jacobus' opening remark. She didn't mean to suggest the girl hadn't suffered but to ignore the seriousness of the man's injuries seemed irresponsible to her. She sighs back at the inquisitor. He obviously isn't about to understand.
Stepping back into the cage, Tove kneels beside the sobbing man and attempts to comfort him. Resting her hand on the back of his head, she stroked it gently as she whispers "It's okay, you're going to be okay."
If there was to be an interrogation then the party would need a way to communicate with the man.
Can he write? Will we be able to judge the honesty of his confession through written words alone, what if all he can manage is a nod or shake of the head?
At the moment even that seemed like it would be too difficult for the wretch.
Tove tries to call down some more healing energy to help close the man's wounds and ease his pain.
Tove calls forth the healing grace of her deity. Although a number of the tortured man's physical wounds heal, it does very little for what is likely a broken spirit.
Ivo takes a seat against a rock wall - it looks uncomfortable, but to a gnome it's probably routine - and opens his pack. He fiddles with a few of his tools, and looks over some of the pieces for the toys that he makes.
Raz sits next to Ivo, and closes his eyes with his hands in his lap,
Tove leans in closer to the broken man and speaks softly to him.
"Can you move if you try? We should leave this place and return to the world above. You will feel better in the fresh air away from all of this. And the sun will be rising soon no doubt." She smiles across at Solaina, hoping to keep the girl's spirits up too.
Hadden nods and picks his mostly broken form off of the cavern floor. He will need help to reach the surface, but he is still capable.
As you are getting ready to head to the surface, Thulwar says, "You remember how to get to our camp, right? My companions and I will collapse a few of the tunnels and that should hold the bastards off for a little while. At least long enough for me and mine to go home and return with a garrison to keep better watch over things."
By time you reach the surface, due to the slow pace required by Hadden and Lanyssa, it is only few hours before sunset. Plenty of time for a trial or to get a head start back toward Oleg's.
I look to Jacobus and smile, nodding my head in thanks for his understanding of the situation. I whisper my thanks before helping to offer my hand for the wounded to hold onto as we make our way for the surface.
Tove takes a deep breath in as the group emerge from the caves. She takes a moment to bask in the late-afternoon sun. She had definitely lost track of time fairly badly down in the tunnels, but at least that meant that she could get some rest soon, she was exhausted.
Gathering that it would be best to hold a trial before sunset, she approaches Hadden to prepare him.
"I know that this might be hard for you, but my friends would like to ask you some questions regarding your past and how you came to be here. If you don't feel like you are up to it now we can wait until morning, but it may be best to get it over with. Is that okay?"
Hadden slowly shakes his head in the affirmative.
Tove smiles at Hadden reassuringly.
"Jacobus, Theodore, I think we're ready to begin the trial." She calls the others over.
Tove smiles at Hadden reassuringly.
"Jacobus, Theodore, I think we're ready to begin the trial." She calls the others over.
Jacobus looked concerned, "Wait. I'm not so sure he really knows what's going on."
The inquisitor tried again and spoke slowly to the broken man, "Do you know what's at stake here? Do you have somewhere to go after this?"
---------
Hadden pauses, seeming to listen carefully to Jacobus is saying, before again nodding in the affirmative.
Jacobus pats the man in the back, "It's OK. Everything will be just fine."
He then turned to his companions, "He's not here. I mean he's here but he's not playing with a full deck. You know what I mean? Like the light is on but there's nobody home."
He shook his head, "I don't think a trial is fair but I'm not sure what to do about him."
I am about to begin asking my questions when Jacobus quickly intervenes.
"I know what you mean, even these are simple questions yet he seems to be unable to understand them." I turn to the young lady who was with him, "Do you have any idea what may be have been done to him, other than what we have seen?"
"N..no." Solaina responds. "I was blindfolded and locked away in that cage...all I heard were screams of pain and suffering."
Tove is glad that the others are beginning to see why she objected to the trial in the first place.
"This trial isn't fair, you're right, Jacobus."
"It's okay, you're doing fine." She tries to reassure Hadden, placing her hand on his shoulder..
In the light of the evening sun, something catches Tove's eye that she had not noticed back in the dark cage.
"Oh, oh Gods what did they do to you?"
Tove pushes aside a clump of Hadden's matted hair to reveal three small holes drilled into the man's skull.
"Look here, see?" She points out the wounds to the others.
Ivo looks up from where he's fiddling with his tools, and he takes a very guardedly neutral expression. "The derro do... mind-control things," he finally says.
"They also do mutilation for no reason I can tell. At best Hadden is a helpless madman, at worst - some tool of the derro, you think Ivo? How should we tell?" Torsten puzzles over the problem.
Jacobus had no real answers, "The humane thing is to bring him along. I'll keep an eye on him to make sure his behavior is not violent. Once we get to a house maybe he can be taught to do a simple task or something."
He shrugged, "We can't just leave him out here to die. What would you do if this was your brother?"
Lanyssa visibly shudders hearing what the derro had done to this poor wretch, silently thanking the gods that her own fate was not so cruel.
"Perhaps once I am capable of returning to my home, he can go along with me, to help be my eyes until I can create new ones. After that I am sure something along the lines of Jacobus's suggestion could be worked out."
I look to Lanyssa and smile, despite the fact that she is unable to see. "That is a beautiful thing you are offering to do Lanyssa, if you feel safe with this gentleman staying with you then I have no qualms. I would like to check up on you both periodically though, if that is acceptable with you?"
"That is perfectly fine by me." Lanyssa responds.
Jacobus gathered everyone around him, "Listen, what I am about to say may not be in the direct interest of our charter but I think we need to get these people to safety."
He added, "You know, get them home. They will slow us down but so be it. There wasn't a time limit on the charter, was there?"
-----------
Ivo puts his tools away and stands up. "You're absolutely right. Besides, the charter tells us to make these lands safe. If people are being kidnapped and tortured, we have to make them safe again. We need to go somewhere that these poor folks can recover."
I nod to Jacobus, "I would have it no other way. I do think we should set up camp now though and head out at first light, what do you all think?"
"I agree with Theodore, we need to rest now. We are all tired, it would be dangerous to travel now. We should head north in the morning. I believe that if we explore the lands North of here we should find Solaina's home without much trouble. Once she is safely home we may need to resuply, but I don't think Oleg's is much of a detour From the path to where Lanyssa describes her home being."
Setting up camp near the mouth of the cave, you settle in for a well deserved rest. The evening meal is good and the three former captives happily eat what ever is provided to them, even if Hadden does make a bit of a mess.
As the evening goes on it is obvious that what ever it was Adjxeer did to him, Hadden will spend the rest of his days as a simpleton at best.
Fortunately for all, the night is peaceful and even pleasant as far as the weather is concerned.
In the morning as you are packing up to leave, Lanyssa approaches Torsten. "I understand that you a wizard. Is that correct, my friend. If it were true, I would ask a favor of you. I know much, and will remember even more should we find Naavi, but I require someone of skill...and perhaps more importantly sight to attempt to regain mine. Would you be willing to help?"
Ivo wistfully gives Hadden a small pair of toys: A wagon with a horse that has wheels so it can roll around on the ground; and a painted wooden figure of an adventurer with pegs in its shoulders and hips so that the arms and legs can be moved.
"Of course Lanyssa! Is not the right kind of magic to restore sight divine though? I might be able to craft a device to work around the matter, but true healing is a matter for those who serve the gods."
"Oh it can be done either way, divine or arcane." Lanyssa says with a small grin. "I simply require a bit of help inscribing the proper runes...well that and access to my familiar, Naavi."
As I set up my camp I let Rufus forage for food.
He manages to find a couple of rabbits and bring them back, enough for myself and him. So while everyone is preparing their food, I skin and gut the rabbits and put them into the groups food. I make sure to keep the skins, removing any remaining skin from them.
As we journey the following day I take my place on Rufus and am surprised at the speed he is able to move with me on his back. I let him run for a bit, enjoying myself and laughing, before rejoining the group and helping guide and protect them.
Medium spear, Medium Masterwork shortsword, small club, 2 x medium padded armor, scroll
The travel is slow enough with Lanyss, Hadden, and Solaina that the party figures they might as well explore the region while traveling.
You enjoy the addition of fresh rabbit, provided by Rufus as part of the midday meal and are on your way again in the afternoon.
Your progress is slowed a bit as you stumble across an increasing amount of skeletons - boars, deer, a bear, and even a few humanoids.
A number of you are uneasy as you slowly move through the area. Jacobus calls you to a halt as he and Ivo, along with Strauch and Rufus notice something not quite right with the ground near the pass between a rocky ridge.
(with Strauch)
Strauch shivers and grows to the size of a pony as he scans the ground. His master casts a startled look in his direction and gives him stony hair as well.
Longsword +1
Ring of Protection +1
Staff +1
Scroll of Lesser Restoration
Jacobus shook his head, "I was OK with the animal skeletons but the humanoid ones give me cause for concern."
He looked about, "Something very hungry lairs around here so let's keep our eyes open as we continue."
He turned to the refugees, "Stay close to us."
-----------
"i say we investigate, something obviously is terrorizing wayward travellers. I am not too concerned about the animals, but people are getting eaten too."
Hearing everyones comments I have a quick look around, "Anyone have a rough idea how long these skeletons have been here? Maybe what caused them has long ..." I am interrupted by Rufus' growling and bristling back. "Never mind. What could cause this?"
"Hang on," says Ivo, as he kneels down and ties his pony's reins to a bush. "Let me sneak up behind some of those bushes, see if I can get a closer look."
Assuming that nobody stops him, Ivo moves up to the bushes, then takes a route that will give him some cover from the brush so that he can try to sneak up.
Jacobus and Razarak study the area from their current positions, but can not determine just what the issue is.
Getting closer to the area pointed out previously, Ivo takes a closer look.
I wait for Ivo to get back, so that he can tell us what he has discovered, if anything. Either way I draw my sword, strap my shield to my arm and get ready for a fight.
Ivo sneaks his way back and quietly says, "This is some kind of hunting blind - there's a spot over in the bushes that's covered and camouflaged. Probably where... whatever it is hides to ambush animals passing by."