Marigold attempts to hit the half-orc in front, but the mace feels still unfamiliar at her hands and finds only the air.
JJ moves his swords fast, the first one parried by the half-orc's buckler, but the second one finding the chest. A new gash is open. The half-orc should be in the ground by now, but he demonstrates the orcish fury by keeping up.
Ryan shifts his mace to attack the half-orc in front of JJ, finding a great strike on the humanoid's back. The cleric fills bones crackling, but the half-orc holds inexplicably on feet, coughing blood, and Ryan cannot reposition on that space.
Kikinnin cuts the half-orc in front of him with his axe. Despite the orcish brave nature, the cut is so clean the female cannot hold on feet and collapses, headless, to the ground.
With JJ in the way and the half-orc engaged in combat, the difficulty of Juraan's shot is such, the ray lands on the ground next to the half-orc.
Xoden moves enraged towards Kikinnin, axe on high.
"Kikinnin Rouradont, son of Pocca Rouradont, the loyal Pocca Rouradont, poor thing he thought he could fight Kazmojen alone. The poor son of a poor miner who died crashed by Kazhun, Kazmojen's bugbear minion" Xoden let's free an unconvincing laugh "Hahahaha, let me laugh on that. Naive the father, naive the son, a poor bullied ratcacher. Do you really think you are going to stop the Blue Duke and his mercenaries?"
The dwarf attempts to slash at his fellow countryman.
Kikinnin stopping the attack with his shield.
The mercenary in blue cyan clothes attacks JJ.
The young man dodging the attack with expertise.
The mercenary in white clothes attacks Ryan.
Without success.
The mercenary in yellow clothes attacks Kikinnin.
Finding the dwarven flesh and opening a deep gash with a last death rattle before collapsing to the floor due to the half-orc numerous injuries.
"MG can you do anything for JJ, I can but don't want to help those we fight against." Ryan calls out forgetting for the moment Marigid can't understand him. Cyan appearing almost dead on his feet, Ryan returns his attention to White.
AC = 22
HP = 20/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe, Magic Weapon
Condition(s) = Blessed, Bull's Strength, Magic Weapon
The muscles in Kikinnin's neck strain as he listens to Xoden's response. Finding nothing redemptive in his fellow dwarf's words, he breathes deeply, and restores himself with Abadar's assistance.
His mood doesn't improve, as he feels little or nothing of his health improves.
"Keep my father's name out of your mouth, Xoden Backstabber, Xoden Goatbrother. Xoden the Betrayer." For the words he hopes hit home, he still can't feel the same Hatred he feels for the lesser creatures dead at his feet. This is a fellow dwarf. This should not be happening. His swing is true, but his strength is unsure.
Juraan casts a Magic Missile spell at the staggered Half-Orc in front of JJ, trying to drop him:
Bereft of a clear target to engage Maxim spits in frustration... which become a scowl when the words of the renegade dwarf reach his ears;
"Skit..."
The gun-mage invokes a enchantment to aid his combat prowess;
"Waar Slaan!"
Then shifts past JJ
With steely determination the dwur shifts once again, moving to the heart of the melee
Maxim flashes a hard smile as he enchants his shortsword with a touch of his magickal energy
He then stabs mirthlessly at the renegade dwur;
:
:
:
JJ gasps as blood continues to run down his limbs.
This isn't looking good..
He redoubles his efforts trying to finish off one, and then another of the orcs.
Ryan cuts the half-orc while Kikinnin succeeds timidly at damaging Xoden.
Juraan two orbs of force hit the half-orc as it falls to the ground dead.
Maxim strongly enchants his sword, then stabs at Xoden with chirurgical precision between his ribs.
JJ steps next to the half-orc, then stabs her heart with his sword, plainly killing her.
Xoden looks angry at Kikinnin and slashes at him with the dwarven axe.
But fails.
Ryan wades forward through the fallen half-orcs to joins the dwarves against Xoden.
AC = 22
HP = 24/34
Weapon Equipped = MW Dwarven Greataxe
Condition(s) = Bless, Bull, Magic Weapon
Kikinnin takes another moment to recuperate, his nerves settling as he senses Maxim and Ryan joining him in his peripheral vision.
"Look about you, Xoden Blackheart. Your orcs are dead. As a dwarf, you should revel in their deaths. But not you. You fear for your life, because you expected them to defend you, to fight for you. Orc, fighting for dwarf." Kikinnin spits on the cavern floor, disgusted to have even spoken the words, let alone spoken truth. He continues to place his axe into the side of the snake, but pulls his strength, hoping Xoden will lay down his weapon. "Lay down your weapon, Xoden. Speak of your involvement with the Blue Duke, and you may stay your execution, here and now."
Juraan just shouts at Xoden:
… then casts a Magic Missile spell at him
Maxim holds his ground in the crushing melee and presses home against the half-orcs dwur leader.
"Blackheart is past caring brodir. Let the earth reclaim his blood..."
Mirthlessly he imbues his blade with another drop of energy , before stabbing at Xoden;
:
:
In some ways still unused to the sheer speed of combat, Marigold raises her weapon to try and strike again only to discover that she's swiftly running out of targets. But she's not inclined to complain.
Seeing that JJ is still very injured she reaches out and closes some of his wounds.
Having little desire to attempt going toe-to-toe with Xoden herself the halfling continues to hang back, sheathing her morningstar and drawing her crossbow.
Ryan crashes his mace against Xoden's head, the dwarf seems overtaken and with huge difficulty to move after the attack.
You observe how Xoden looks around and sweats as a response to Kikinnin's words. A blue celestial light covers Kikinnin, some of his injuries healing while he cuts strongly at Xoden.
Unable to hold more, the dwarf collapses to the floor unconscious.
Marigold touches JJ healing some of his wounds.
+1 dwarven scale mail
masterwork dwarven heavy steel shield with the Nightshield clan heraldics
masterwork dwarven waraxe
7x Breastplates
7x bucklers
7x masterwork halberds
7x shortbows with 20 arrows
2x ruby (200 po each)
21 po
crystal sphere (an ogre mage is there and looks at you when you take the sphere, he says "You!")
This sphere seems not magical per se, but attuned to be used as a link into a communication pair. Someone with the other pair can easily use scrying to see and talk the environment of the holder.
As they group survey the carnage and chart the loot, Maxim eyes the orb with a jaundiced look;
"Seem's our Blue Duke is on the other end o' that thing... best ware it... could be he can cast enchantments through the thing..."
He looks to the other spell casters in their company;
"Could be weal, could be woe... I've not the magicks at hand to tell..."
In the loot description the values of ruby gems are 200 po each - platinum or typo? :)
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JJ takes off his cloak. "Yes. Me! Cauldron is not yours Blue Duke." and he puts the cloak over the crystal.
"Any of them still alive?" he asks.
"We've found a new way in and out of Cauldron now, and lots more prisoners for the guardhouse. Hopefully this should raise our standing in the community a bit!"
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Kikinnin scrambles to staunch Xoden's bleeding body, hoping to have answers for the blue-faced ogre-thing in the glass sphere.
When he thinks Xoden will live, he pulls out his manacles, and lock, and chains the once-dwarf's wrist and ankle together. Next, he puts a boot on Xoden's beard, and uses the remaining time with his magical axe to shear the beard clean off. It takes him some time, taking care to avoid blood-letting. Any earrings Xoden wears, any amulets, any rings, it all comes off. Anything Nightshield is kept well-enough away from the cur.
Having done what he thinks he must, he plants a boot on the neck of Xoden, reaching down to restore him to consciousness.
If it's not enough, he looks to the others for help in bringing Xoden about. His boot never leaves the neck.
"Xoden. Wake up, Brokenshield. You'll need to explain yourself now. No orc remain here to rescue you. Tell us all about what you know of the Blue Duke. Confess it all, unless you're too far gone. Show us remorse. Malachite almost fell, because of your actions."
⋮
Unable to hold more, the dwarf collapses to the floor unconscious.
⋮
====================
====================
"I agree with JJ; this can be a useful way in and out of Cauldron."
"But we should also seal it off to keep more unwanted guests out!"
"Maybe we can get a nice solid door put here?"
"Flush with the rock face outside."
"We might also be able tidy up those rooms the goblins were using too."
"That would give us our own secure place."
"We could put it to better used than this lot."
Ryan assist Kikinnin in stabilizing Xoden and securing him, a smiling creasing his blood streaked face as the dwarf begins cutting the others beard. "He'll love waking up looking like a baby faced new apprentice, one of the more damning insults you can pay him right?"
With Xoden secure and being shaved Ryan joins Juraan in checking out the entrance leading outside. "The dwarves are rebuilding Malachite but this was also dwarven, perhaps we should commission them to secure the outer doorway leading here. The group using this might work but we should determine what happened to the dwarven contingent the was here originally"
"It would be a shame to let all this ready made space go unused."
"Whoever use it. Except for goblins, vampires, and their like."
"It is an odd mix of finished and untouched stone for dwarves, though."
"But definitely we should get that opening sealed with a secure door."
"In all likelihood it will not mean much to those in Malachite as is has been unknown for a while, likely since the earth event that caused the caverns rending this complex. If dwarves had held it still, it's doubtful the goblins could have taken it from them." Ryan says with a smile and a look toward their on dwarven companions.
The Blue Duke looks furious at JJ an instant before disappearing under the cloak.
The healing is enough for Xoden to recover. He looks confused at first, then he attempts to touch his chin and looks at the boot over his neck "What have you done brute!? My beard!" the dwarf is forced to calm down under the pressure of the boot.
Xoden looks at the fallen half-orcs then softens his mouth "I have nothing to do with the Malachite fall. I have only heard what happened for my cousin"
"I have been working in Cauldron for a long time now. They wanted me for my artisan skills" he looks again at the half-orcs "Just recently the Blue Duke wanted me to help smuggle half-orcs through the tunnels, and so I did. Those bumpkins of Chorlyndyr and Kallev, they know no word of Goblin. The boss wanted me here. No more materials smuggling. I hate those goblins. I don't like the half-orcs neither, but they are the business of the boss"
Juraan and Ryan explore the tunnel exit, where the mouth of the tunnel meets a heavily wooded area on the slope of the volcano. Creeping plants obscure the entrance somewhat, making it difficult to spot from outside.
Coming back in from the cavern exit satisfied for the moment it will not be easily found by anyone who doesn't know about it already. He listens as Xoden replies to Kikinnin, while retrieving his xbow... "What were you doing with the cages?"
"What have you done, brute!? My beard!"
Kikinnin waits until Xoden has calmed down some, before taking his boot off the prone dwarf's neck, only to plant it on the severed beard lying on the cavern floor. His boot heel grinds into it. "I just made it harder for your foes to grab you dirty, and toss you about by your beard. The prison gruel you'll eat will be easier to keep clean of hair, too."
Kikinnin steps back to listen to Xoden, without cricking his neck to look into his eyes.
"Just recently the Blue Duke wanted me to help smuggle half-orcs through the tunnels, and so I did. Those bumpkins of Chorlyndyr and Kallev, they know no word of Goblin. The boss wanted me here."
Kikinnin stares death at Xoden. "You had no choice, since you took him as your boss. No free will. The Blue Duke took it, eh? Your will? No honor, Xoden Deathbringer. No honor in you. At all."
The black-beard looks to Ryan, willing to breathe for a spell, to get his peace back. The priest's questions might help ease his clenched heart.
Xoden is near tears when Ryan asks his question. He seems relieved to have something to say "I... I know nothing about cages. I was meant to forge thin cylindric bars from the materials smuggled through Drakthar's Way. Then, during years I placed them in a secret compartment at the abandoned pavilion next to the lake every month"
Observing your reactions he looks down "Whenever I came back, the bars where already taken. No trace at all. I promise. I know nothing else about it"
"Maybe you should tell us more about these bars and the pravilion.." suggests JJ
"And also the Blue Duke. Who is he? Why would you serve an ogre? Where does he reside? There are a lot of questions to be answered."
"And anyway … how did you know about this tunnel entrance?"
"You couldn't have found that by sheer dumb luck."
"Someone else had to know about it."
Maxim eyes the cages with interest. He muses on what the renegade told of the bars and cages.
"Huh. These cages are claimed eh? Perhaps we should leave them as you did Blackheart... in this compartment but wait for who will collect..?"
As the others bombard the shorn dwur with questions, he leans back with hard smile as he relights his stogie;
"Lots of tongues... Only one set o' ears folks..."
"The Blue Duke came to my shop looking for an artisan. He menaced me. He payed well. He commanded me to take material at Orak's Bathhouse at nights, then work it to cage bars and move them to the pavilion" the dwarf shivers "He payed well..."
"I knew about the tunnels because the Blue Duke tell me." answers Juraan.
"I do not know where he resides, but I always thought somewhere in Cauldron... I... I recently heard him spoke through the sphere with a soft-spoken woman, and learned the woman was a member of a secret society of cabalists and demon cultists based somewhere in the region" he looks at you scared as he says the words.
"The cage bars work finished some months ago, then the Blue Duke moved me to smuggle his half-orcs. He keeps a private army. I learned the half-orcs army had been helping to smuggle the materials. And now he was in negotiations with one of the nobles in Cauldron. This noble wants to augment his, or perhaps her, personal bodyguards with stronger mercenaries, but doesn't want to do so publicly." he looks back and forth "I don't know which noble is trying to bolster his bodyguard count, or why, but things are changing in Cauldron"
He smiles at that point "In the months to come, you might find yourselves working for the Blue Duke"
Xoden looks at you and breaths deeply "I have told you everything. Please, free me. I will run away to Sasserine and disappear forever"
Maxim takes a stoic puff on hearing the cage work has been completed;
"Pity..."
When Xoden mentions a secret society the gun-mage eyes him warily, then poses another question;
"Ain't for me to decide your fate... Leave that others in our company with a more judicial bent. You mention a woman... Your Blue Duke ain't ever had dealings with a Beholder or folk from the Underdeep?"
Ryan listens to Xoden as he cries his innocence in all this, granted not long after yelling at his crew to wipe the floor with our foul blood...
How truthful is Xoden this day?
"A beholder? Do you believe on those old children stories?" when Xoden realises Maxim is talking seriously he adds "No, never thought of such a think"
He is being sincere, but you note he might tell whatever thing to save his ass. Even if it was something he could not asure
"If the Blue Duke, whoever it is, told Xoden about this tunnel complex,
"then it seems likely he (or she) probably lives here too.
"Where is your shop, Xoden?
"Seeing how you told us the Blue Duke met you there,
"Is the Blue Duke that thing you talked to in the crystal?
"And no fibbing! We're not in the mood for it!"
Juraan's talk of the crystal brings pause to Ryan a moment as he tries to remember anything about crystals being used in this way. but nothing beyond what they've already seen, discussion back and forth and well as visual queues as to who is on each end.
"Oh we know where his shop is Juraan, we visited it the day before we met to head out to the Lucky Monkey. Seems he had materials list that sounded suspiciously like parts for thirteen cages, but he'd cleared out 2 or 3 days before we arrived. Personally, I think right now he'd sell out his own mother if it meant he'd go free; but in the case of the beholder it's likely he knows nothing about it."
Focusing on Xoden "You really should answer his questions though about the Blue Duke."
Afterwards looking to the dwarves....
"He has skill, and Malachite is working to regain that which was lost. Also they would recognize the cut beard for what it is better than any Cauldron dweller. Send him back to the fortress to work and serve his penance there for his crimes or turn him over to the guards. Spike, will make sure he doesn't steal away into the darklands"
Before Xoden is allowed to return to his feet, Ryan kneels down beside the beardless dwarf.
"Know you Xoden Brokenshield, for you have dishonored the Nightshield name. For you crimes against the city of Cauldron, from this time forth you will be marked as the jackal. That pathetic dog that eats the scraps of the lion." Reaching forward a hiss is heard as Ryan writes with his finger across Xoden's forehead. J A C K A L.
"While the missing beard below will tell those of Malachite he is dishonored, the brand will warn those of Cauldron to be wary of him."
Ryan cast Brand as an at-will cantrip - Fort (DC13) to negate
JJ watches and listens with growing alarm.
"Demon cultists? Rest assured we will not be dealing with them, except at sword point." he says, hot under the collar.
"But what was special about these bars and cages? Do they hold demons? Did you craft them with spells and special materials to hold such creatures?"
"In the months to come, you might find yourselves working for the Blue Duke."
Kikinnin debates the man's words. "You found yourself isolated from your own, working up here. You forgot about loyalty to your kin. Orak suffered under the vampire's will, Xoden. You could have done something about that, risked your life, but you didn't. You valued yours over your own."
"He has skill, and Malachite is working to regain that which was lost. Also, they would recognize the cut beard for what it is better than any Cauldron dweller. Send him back to the fortress to work and serve his penance there for his crimes, or turn him over to the guards. Spike will make sure he doesn't steal away into the darklands."
Kikinnin turns a hard gaze on the priest. "You don't seem to understand, Ryan. The shaving of his beard represents Exile. Any of his family in Malachite now must call themselves Nightshieldslag, for his crime. That's tradition. For Xoden's confession here, I will not kill him, but I'll not hear another word on him being returned to Malachite. His blood is poisoned. Take all that he has- the armor, the weapon, the wealth, and run him out of Cauldron. Take the keys to his shop, too. You can turn them over to the City, and they can sell it off, for what money they'll need to see to their loss and reparations of the weakness way into Cauldron from below."
The black-beard watches as Ryan brands Xoden, and almost says something. He holds his tongue, expecting that there are bigger monsters in the world at present.
Xoden nods to Juraan "He is indeed"
When Ryan says about taking him to the Malachite he implores "No! Please! Wherever but not there! That's too strong of a punishment"
"I know nothing about cages. I was just build those iron bars. What they made of them, or whom, I have no idea. The Blue Duke kept paying me monthly for the work"
Xoden starts sobbing with Kikinnin's words. When he talks about Orak he just adds "A pawn. As just many others in the city" he looks back at you at that point.
Realizing that the matter with Xoden delves too deeply into dwarven business and matters of honor, Marigold largely stays out of the discussion on what to do with the disgraced dwarf. Instead, she puzzles over the crystal that he had been carrying.
But it's workings remain a mystery.
"Um...since the t-tunnels are under Orak's b-business sh-shouldn't we ask him what he wants to d-do? Th-then g-go from there..." she suggests.
"That's a good point, Marigold.
"Although he hasn't been himself lately.
"But he'll probably be a lot more helpful now."
"We have a bit of a problem..." notes JJ.
"Xoden here has friends in Cauldron. If he goes to jail, they might just spring him. Of course if we let him go, there is nothing to stop him from heading off to meet them anyway. The Malachite hold would serve as a good solution to this particular problem. That is unless Xoden here has some more information he was willing to spill. Information that would ensure his current friends wouldn't regard him as a friend any longer..."
Kikinnin listens as the boy disregards his utterance against Malachite as kennel for the dog, Xoden, and readies to speak harshly, when JJ begins to ply Xoden for more information. He remains at the ready, but waits for Xoden to spill the porridge. If there's more to spill, that is.
"Xoden was talking to that Blue Duke about cages before we exchanged pleasantries, was he not, JJ?"
"I think we can assume he knows more about the cages than he's letting on."
Juraan thinks for a moment to remember what he should about Oni / Ogre Magi
Juraan motions for Ryan, Maxim and Marigold to get closer and whispers:
"I don't know if the Blue Duke can hear us through that crystal or not."
"We should pack up the crystal so sound cant reach it. Just to be safe."
"Anyway, Ogre Magi are shape shifters and he could be swanning about looking like anyone in Cauldron."
"Maybe Xoden can tell us who the Blue Duke looks like in disguise. Or disguises."
"Ryan, your truth telling spell might be handy getting that out of Xoden."
"They have been looking for the marked ones. The Shackleborn" says Xoden almost crying "I just heard in the conversation. I have no clue of what it means! There is nothing more, I swear!" Xoden cries back at Juraan "They will kill me if they discover I have told you! I have to exile. Better if you make sure they think you killed me!"
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Maxim nods at Kikinnin's assertion of exile.
"Taskerhill. What Kikinnin says carries the weight o' a lodestone. Exile ain't taken light by us dwur. Xoden being shorn marks him plenty an' any others o' our kith or kin won't welcome him..."
The gun-mage flicks his stogie stub away with a grimace;
"Its his kin... Gral fer one that will carry the shame until they can restore honour to their clan's name. That's the basterd's true crime... an' only legacy."
He looks to Xoden, then the others. Eyes falling on his fellow dwur;
"Let him go. He ain't got nuthin'. Ain't worth nuthin'..."
Ryan, your truth telling spell might be handy getting that out of Xoden
"Won't have it available before tomorrow Juraan, sorry. Granted right now Xoden seems to be talking.
As both dwarves light into him, Ryan raises his hand in concession. "OK, so Malachite is out. Learn something everyday, humans have no issue watching someone who wronged them work their penance in prison, whereas the dwarven exile can be as harsh, actually harsher as it affects the entire clan. It was simply a suggestion from one not entirely familiar with your ways."
Ryan is torn as to how to deal with Xoden, his cry "they'll kill me" rings all too true should he be sent to the guards. Some of which have been proven corrupt. Looking back at the dwarves as they understand exile more so then he. "Turned free to run outside Caudron is your wish? Clanless and beardless?"
Kikinnin nods to Maxim, then to Ryan. "Turn him loose. We've got the perfect cavern exit to do so, right here and now. Xoden, here marks the spike in the vein for you. You can seek redemption for your family's honor, or you can try and weaken the mountain for your kin by continuing your dark ways. You're given the choice. Maxim and I stand witness. Find your blade, find your way. Stone endures. It will wait for you, if you seek to return to it with a purified heart."
Kikinnin watches Xoden's next actions, looking at Maxim once or twice, to gauge his disposition. This is his First Exiling, and it's uncomfortable, even for one who so recently demeaned him and his Far.
Maxim nods solemnly at the gravity and meaning of Kikinnin's words.
"Stone endures. Maxim Fulgrentforge bears witness."
His hard look to all concerned shows nothing more needs added or said.
"Well, we do have a little crumb at least."
"We just have to figure out what this Shackleborn business is all about."
"Tricky!"
"Whoever or whatever these Shackleborn are, they probably aren't willing."
"Not if cages are being made for them."
When Kikinnin releases Xoden he looks back still scared "I... I will never return, I promise. You will never again hear of myself" he then moves out of the cavern, still looking back at each step.
When he is more than twenty meters away, he goes into the bushes covering the cavern and disappears.
After the group picks up all the rest of loot and comes back to Orak's bathhouse, the guards receive you with hurrays "We were worried you were taking to much to come out. Annah told us all was finished"