Kyra nods and begins to slowly, cautiously approach the barricade. She keeps her sword in hand, but keeps it down to her side. She'll continue to approach until challenged by the mongrelmen.
Alesie cowers behind the advancing paladins, trying to stay out of view from the two mongrelmen in front of them. With so many swords drawn around her, Alesie keeps her bow out. You can this. You can do this.
Ilse cautiously follows her companions towards the barricade. She keeps her hammer in both hands but lets her arms relax in front of her.
Perhaps these mongrelmen will let us pass without much trouble. It is worth a chance I suppose.
Once they spot you, they raise an alarm by howling and shrieking.
"Intruders! More of that lot from Neatholm are here!" The guards brandish their clubs and move to take cover behind the barricades.
Round 1 Order
Carilain
Alesie
Mongrelman 1
Kelden and Thetin
Mongrelman 2
Ilse
Kyra
Carilain moves quickly darting between Ilse and Kyra, then around Alesie, Kelden, and Thetin. Once he is in front of the paladin, he stops. With sharp staccato draconic words and gestures of his left hand, the Magus casts a spray of dazzling colors that wash over the mongrels.
Alesie peaks out from behind Kelden with her bow, and lets loose an arrow at the nearest mongrelman. Okay, you can do this. You've done this before.
Thetin steps past Carilain and moves up to the nearest mongrelman and hits it with his hammer.
Carilain rushes forward, and with a flash of color the two creatures collapse to the ground!
"Someone tie them up quickly, we can leave them with Lann and the others while he continue forward, let us hurry and not waste the advantage.. that was excellent work Lann.
Kelden began almost hesistantly. He figured there was a 50/50 shot that leaving the bad mongrelmen with Lann might decide they were 'trying' to escape and ends them himself.
"Too bad they shouted a warning first. I won't be able to pull that stunt again anytime soon."
The elf digs his brand new silk rope out of his backpack and hands it to Ilse. "You look like you can tie nice tight knots. Why don't you truss them up for us." With a grin he adds: "If you would please."
Thetin, just to be safe, detects evil on the mongrelmen including Lann.
"Good job Carilain."
Thetin then steps up to the keep watch for any mongrelmen coming down through the screened off cave while the others tie up the mongrelmen.
Alesie scurries up to Carilain staring with little hidden awe at him and his abilities. I really must learn how to do things like that.
Alesie then sneaks up near the screen, hoping to get a quick peek over it to see if there are any other guards coming, making sure that she is out of the way if it were to come to combat.
Kyra states in awe as Carilain incapacitates both the mongrelmen with a single spell. She rushes up to the others, clapping him on the back. "Well done, Carilain!" She whispers loudly. "I agree, with tying them up... but we may not have time. They shouted a warning... we should move quickly! Those not using the ropes should clear this barricade before reinforcements arrive and make this more difficult!"
Kyra leaves Ilse to the binding and attempts to climb over the barricades; however, her fingers slip and she is unable to successfully make it over. She lets out an angry huff and attempts it again!
Two other mongrel men are rushing about one still pulling his boots on and the other is still climbing out of one of the bed rolls. For your vantage point you can see two doors leading farther into the structure.
"Hey everyone these mongrelmen aren't evil. While i will defend myself if attacked, we might be able to talk to these people."
"Aren't evil or we haven't seen the big guys yet? And be ready, I can see two more mongrelmen moving in the next room. Looks like they are about ready to cause us some issues." Alesie squeaks.
After hearing Alesie's warning, Kyra quickly moves up to flank the door into the room. She prepares to flank the mongrelman upon their exit, hoping to force their surrender rather than put them to fight if possible.
Carilain looks pleased at the complements. "Just an illusion, flashy lights, nothing that amazing."
On hearing Alesie's warning Carilain tries to get over the baracade. He does not want the mongrelmen hunkering down behind it to rain arrows on them.
"Maybe they will negotiate for the freedom of their friends." The mongrelmen's reaction to such an offer might give some insight into their moral values.
At any rate, Carilain will leave the diplomacy to those that have the gift for it.
The screen opens as the two mongrelmen come out, clubs in hand expecting to see their comrades.
Kyra steps out behind the mongrelmen with her blade pointed towards them as they exit. "Drop your weapons and surrender. You're lives will be spared."
Alesie squeaks again, her sap still out from ensuring the other two mongrelmen would stay asleep. She strikes at the closest one, fear driving her blow.
Thetin hefts his hammer stepping up beside the closest mongrelman.
"I would suggest doing as the lady says."
Ilse picks herself up after securely tying the unconscious mongrelmen, and sees their comrades pass through the screen. She stands to her full height and throws her shoulders back in a display of strength.
The mongrels shake in their boots staring at the giant of the woman standing over their comrades. One with a blade at his throat swallows hard, the other is dropped to his knees as Alesie hits him over his head.
Cradling the now growing lump he looks up to the Paladin and lays his club on the ground.
"Thetin, take this one's club." She nods towards the club still in the mongrelman's hand. She looks at the mongrelman she's currently holding her blade to. "I'm going to ask you some questions and if you don't answer them, I'm going to let her have you." She says, indicating Ilse.
"How many of you are in this stronghold? Did you all have anything to do with the attack on Kenabres?"
Carilain just stands, holding his warhammer at the ready. He keeps an eye out for more mongrelmen, while his companions secure the new prisoners.
Ilse removes the rope from her pack and secures these two mongrelmen as well. She growls a little bit while she tightens up the bonds, just to reinforce her intimidating persona.
Thetin disarms the mongrelman next to him, then stands aside as Ilse binds them.
"Do not fear we will not harm you unless you give us reason too. Our group is in a hurry and the sooner we get answers the sooner we can be on our way."
Thetin then motions to Ilse
"Unless of course you wish to stay and talk with her."
At Thetin's words the mongrelman grows even more pale.
Kelden stood there watching, and smiling. Watching the group suddenly in action gave him more than hope. He had been just a bit worried about everything, especially with his sisters worries from earlier. But the econmy of motion of their actions calmed him so much. His worries and tension from trying to keep everyone else calm and collected and unafraid melted away. While the others dealt with the Mongrel men he looked to see what he could do with the barracade. If he could push it over or even just to the side he would, if they had to pull back in a hurry he didnt want to have to try climbing it with foes at their heels.
Kelden sees that most of it is wood that had been propped up from the inside and that it would take only a few short minutes to tear it down.
Kyra grows anxious at the lack of answers from the mongrelmen. "I know you can understand me. Ilse, give these fine fellows some incentive to answer our questions so that we may be on our way, please."
She purposely turns her back towards the mongrelman. "I've a rather delicate stomach and do not want to watch this... I may lose my breakfast."
Seeing you turn away one begins to stammer something. The other flashes him a dark look and remains silent.
"There's about 12 of us here. I have no idea what your talking about on the surface, but you uplanders have been causing no end of trouble since that woman killed the cheiften!"
You there the quiet one, perhaps you will talk to our large friend here while your wiser friend tells us what we want to know.
He began nodding to Ilse as well and stepping forward to pull them apart and let Ilse on with her prisoner tying. Four out of Twelve mongrelmen down, not a bad start and not a single injury yet. On either side.
"You mentioned an uplander woman? And she killed your chieftain? Does she have allies with her how many? Is she mistreating your people?"
He asked probably to quickly, but still they weren't exactly not in harms way.
Ilse steps forward and grabs the quiet mongrelman. She ties him up, probably a little too tight.
This one is more likely to talk.
Ilse grabs the handaxe from her belt and makes to check the sharpness of the blade. She maintains eye contact with the quiet mongrelman and grins at him while thumbing the edge of her weapon.
Carilain cannot hear anything from deeper in the mongrelfolk lair, so he turns his attention to the interrogation of the new prisoners.
Alesie creeps into the room the mongrelmen appeared from, taking stock of their situation, and leaving the interrogation to people far more affluent in it.
She has a man like us but not like us, darker, tainted by the abyss itself. She's commanding the tribe, we don't like her or the other uplands that have come with her, I was glad when the two who were scouting didn't come back, I hope the rocks crushed them!
"And your fued with the mongrel men from Neatholme, what do you have against them?"
Kelden asked politely calmly.
"You have nothing to fear from us, unless you are lying to us or leading us astray. Do you recall the surface gods? I follow Sarenrae, The everlight, the dawn ray. Those who truly seek the light and goodness are never turned away from her love. You and your friends here, have some measure of luck, because you have a chance to live life in a righteous manner."
He began guiding the helpful Mongrelman torwards the others who had been bound and tied. His tone stayed gentle.
"Whats your name friend? How many of the uplanders are here with this woman. Whats her name? Are your halls trapped? do you have checkpoints or passwords?"
He asked hoping the fellows tongue kept moving.
Carilain notices Alesie's quiet departure. He thinks about following her, but he knows that he makes too much noise. Instead he waits by the tunnel mouth. If he hears a commotion he will speed after the elf girl, in case she needs help.
Kyra inwardly grins that her bluff worked as the one mongrelman began to spill out information to Kelden. She allowed the cleric to work his magic with gaining information. She spots Alesie disappear further into the tunnel and, like Carilain, starts to follow after, but she spots their other elven companion stopping outside the tunnel.
Kyra joins Carilain with a nod as they listen to ensure Alesie is safe in her scouting. 'Not a bad beginning to our assault...'
Thetin smiles and shakes his head.
Better leave the mongrelman to Kelden. He seems to be pretty good at the diplomatic approach.
Seeing Alesie disappear further into the tunnel, Thetin steps up besides Kyra and Carilain.
"Does she run off on her own like that very often?"
The mongrelman will speak of oppression and an unwavering commitment to traditions that had far outlive their usefulness. "We were abandoned by your gods to our lives in the dark. Where was your goddess when our forefathers were exiled for aiding her cause!"
He is unwilling to provide any more useful information.
Alesie: there isn't much else in this room, though something is scratching at the east door.