"Please don't leave, Tirion! Iormel did not mean what he said! I think he is just a little nervous!"
""Please don't leave, Tirion! Iormel did not mean what he said! I think he is just a little nervous!"
"The Hell I am! There is no need to uproot the hardworking folk of Drellin's Ferry, for some criminal activity! Even if there is some group of hobgoblins, there cannot possibly be the numbers described by these upstarts! At the very least, I would detain them until you got some verification, and I mean real proof, not some forged mockup to scare us!"
Turning around and pausing before I open the door: Then the rest of you should be discussing and voting. If he wishes to wait here, I give him less than a week to live. He would make a good meal for a dozen goblins, probably not much more than a snack for a hill giant. In a situation like this, the indecisive die. I do not plan on dying here. My plan is to be in the road seeking the next Wyrmlord to die within an hour, two at the most. I hope that you have made your decision by then so that we can support you when you make the pronouncement to the assembled villagers.
I wait my the door seeing how the other councilors respond.
After pausing for a moment, I turn and look directly at Iormel:
Oh, and Mr. Iormel - without Captain Soranna, you all would already be dead. We defeated a dozen hobgoblins and hellhounds between here and Brindol less than a week ago. If she and her guards were not here, I have no doubt that those hobgoblins, lead by a priest of Tiamat, would have come right into the town and slain you all, starting with the women and children.
I am not sure who took the holy symbol of Tiamat from the hobgoblin priest, but I assume someone would have. I take it from whoever has it and smash it down on the table in from of Iormel. Do you need any more proof?
@Durgin: No, Oi don't think he liked it much, Durgin. Did you know that those candles were poisoned? We saved his life, but somebody took quite a few steps to make sure he died. Who did you get those candles from, Durgin? Oi think once we deal with this horde, Oi'll pay him a visit...
@Iormel: Thordak bellows, laying his axe down and standing up next to the squinty man.
Intimidate:
We're here to warn you you're about te get killed an' you treat us like criminals! Oi am Thordak, son of Throtgar of Ironfist. Oi'm here te protect tha vale from the goblins; if you wanna help, y'er welcome! If not, stay outta moi way! ...An Torag help ye if ye try an' stop me!
Sense Motive:
Thordak sheathes his axe and shoulders his pack, pulling out some gold (10) and pressing it into Kellin's hand. Thank ye fer everything. Do make sure ye get outta here in time, will ye?
Turning to the rest Oi should be on moi way, we'll need the help of the Holds if we mean to fight. Get these people headed towards Brindol. Mantooth, Jorr, take care o' the little ones! Oi'll meet ye just as soon as Oi can! Thordak pushes past squinty and makes for the door.
"Do you need any more proof? "
As Tirion lays down the evil holy symbol of Tiamat. Iormel turns pale and suddenly cannot find any words to speak.
"We're here to warn you you're about te get killed an' you treat us like criminals! Oi am Thordak, son of Throtgar of Ironfist. Oi'm here te protect tha vale from the goblins; if you wanna help, y'er welcome! If not, stay outta moi way! ...An Torag help ye if ye try an' stop me!"
Iormel glances up at Thordak with genuine fear as he tries to sink down in his chair. He mumbles a reply.
"This is not a sk...sk...scam?"
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I cannot see any reasonable way to fight a horde the size of what is coming. I say we help the woman and children pack and send them on their way as soon as possible. Brindol will be the safest place for them to go. What we do with Drellin's Ferry is still open to discussion in my mind."
Ah, before Oi go, where should Oi meet ye all? Should we meet at Brindol? Oi think it'll take about...two days to get there and back. If Oi get the Holds to rally, which Oi think is probable, it'll take a while fer the troops to get here--short legs an' all--but with Lulu Oi should be back before too long.
@ Thordak: I would have the dwarves go straight to Brindol. I doubt that they could assemble a sufficient blockade even with their skills. However, those dwarves craftsmen and their siege engines and crossbows could be very useful defending Brindol.
Actually, now that I think about it, another option would be to make a stand near Nimon's Gap. As I recall from our travel this direction, the mountain and the river serve to pinch the possible routes. If the forest giants are able to help, the dwarves could hold the road while the forest giants rain death and boulders upon the horde. I doubt that they would be stopped there, but it would definitely delay the horde and possible cause a substantial amount of damage in the process with limited injury to the troops. Remember, they have dragons. Your dwarven crossbows are dangerous, but unless there are a lot of them, those dragons can take out almost anything.
Regarding where we will meet. That is the problem. You need to wait, at least until this meeting is done. I doubt that we will be heading back to Brindol. This horde was sent by this son of the dragon Wyrmlord. He needs to be eliminated as well as the undead creating Wyrmlord. Much as I hate it, I think that we should head north toward this Saarvith place on Koth's map. If nobody disagrees, we can start heading out after the meetings are over and meet you in Nimon's Gap in three days. That way, we can notify the locals, and also determine what the potential is to use it as a defensive position.
__________
Turning to the Captain: If the forest giants appear before the horde, I beseech you, to let them pass peacefully and ask that they go post haste toward Nimon's Gap. If you have a few spare livestock or have a few rangers who could capture a stag or two for the giants to share, that would probably be quite beneficial.
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Iormel glances up at Thordak with genuine fear as he tries to sink down in his chair. He mumbles a reply.
.
"This is not a sk...sk...scam?"
I was so taken aback at Iormel's indignant rant that I was shocked into silence. Now that he's beginning to come around, I wake up.
A scam? A SCAM?!?!
I stand up, and stride right at the now sitting Iormel You arrogant fop!! I'm actually jealous of the world you live in--believing only what you want, despite being handed the best evidence you're going to get that's not at the business end of a goblin's blade, a worg's jaws, or a dragon's fiery breath!! You think we've traveled this way, risked our lives time and again, endured hardships you'd cry at, to benefit YOUR TOWN, to be accused of setting you up to loot you?!?! The nerve! The AUDACITY!! THE UNMITIGATED GALL!!!
I'm poking a finger into the seated man's chest as I rant.
Bluff:
then, take soemthing from Iormel.
Sleight of Hand:
I believe this is probably enough to have grabbed something, so I'll post as if I succeeded.
You make me SICK, you hopeless twit.
As I give him a stern eye and back away, I pull out the bauble I just lifted off of him. And by the way, If I wanted to loot this town, I'd do it with you all here, it'd be more fun. I toss what I stole from him into his lap. We're NOT trying to rob you. We're trying to help you!
Mantooth stands up, with his hands up showing his palms both his irritated his friends and now the mumbling Iormel. "Please, everyone, I know this may sound difficult, but let us calm down a little, shall we?" Turning to the council now, Mantooth acknowledges what Tirion said earlier. "Indeed, I am a lawful paladin of Iomedae, and no I cannot lie - but that should not be what convinces you of how to act right now, but if it helps you understand the truth then please listen to us."
"I will ask for pardon for the aggressive behavior from my friends this once, but if you continue to behave in such an ignorant way that merits it then I cannot blame them for walking out raising their voices with you. We are good people and we were sent here by Lord Jarmaath himself to find out about the this army and to find out the immediate danger the Ferry is in."
"Everything that we have told you is true, and you must make your decisions on what will you do to save this town and make them quickly. If you want my opinion, the effort to actually save the town itself will be fruitless. Even with the forest giants fighting for us, the forces that we could get here before the horde does would not be enough to stop them at this point. If you care about the people that live in this town, you will start having them move now to safety. The only assurance I can give you is that the more people that survive, the faster you will be able to rebuild the town."
Throughout the tirade the Mwangi has not said a word caring not at all for the curses cast about by the councilman as being a slave in Cheliax he had weathered far worst. Standing he starts with Iormel, "What is it that you stand to gain from staying? What is it that you believe that you'll be able to negoiate wit' the blood thirsty hoards?" Narrowing his eyes and looking the man directly in his eyes, Nugutu seems to be peering into the man's soul. The gaze so intense it could almost transfix a person. "I have seen men try to make deals wit' things far more powerful than ogres and giants. Don't think for a minute that you have anyt'ing they'd be wanting other than that spleen of yours. These people come here ta help and you would turn them away. Maybe dey [i]turn their backs[i] on . Were it not for the balanced hand of Irori, I would be given to leaving for dead too. But, I been dat man and that path has not lead me to find maself. Maybe you should seek the trut' in your own soul. Is there something you aren't tellin' us?"
"And by the way, If I wanted to loot this town, I'd do it with you all here, it'd be more fun" I toss what I stole from him into his lap. "We're NOT trying to rob you. We're trying to help you!"
Bofus tosses a small gold medallion onto Iormel's lap and the councilman quickly snatches it up in anger!
His appearance goes from pale white to angry red in a quick moment. "How dare you steal from me, you impudent rogue! They may be telling the truth and have strong allies, but I don't know how you can all put up with their arrogance!"
""Everything that we have told you is true, and you must make your decisions on what will you do to save this town and make them quickly. If you want my opinion, the effort to actually save the town itself will be fruitless."
Speaker Wiston nods his head as the paladin's words reassure him of what he must do.
""I have seen men try to make deals wit' things far more powerful than ogres and giants. Don't think for a minute that you have anyt'ing they'd be wanting other than that spleen of yours."
"I fear you are right, my friends. I do not think we have any real choice, but to flee. Trying to reason with them sounds pointless. I do not know about the rest of you on the council, but my mind is now clearly made up!"
Perception:
Knowledge, Nobility:
Thordak pulls Mantooth down to his height and whispers Wot's that coat o' arms? crossed swords an' an 'H'?
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His appearance goes from pale white to angry red in a quick moment. "How dare you steal from me, you impudent rogue! They may be telling the truth and have strong allies, but I don't know how you can all put up with their arrogance!"
I was making a point you ignoramus. If I wanted to steal from you, I'd do it, with you here or not. Obviously I don't because I *GAVE IT BACK*. Now quit with the indignant self-righteous sanctimony and get with reality. We. Are. Here. To. HELP. But hey--if you want to stay here against us stealing from you, and you want to talk to the dragons and manticores, I'm sure they'd love to laugh before they eat you--I know I love dinner and a show.
I turn my back on this dunce and rejoin the REAL conversations.
"I will move out into town and be seen to ease the minds of the common folk. We need to be as gentle wit' this as possible. Asking people to leave everything behind is not going to be easy."
"I was making a point you ignoramus. If I wanted to steal from you, I'd do it, with you here or not. Obviously I don't because I *GAVE IT BACK*. Now quit with the indignant self-righteous sanctimony and get with reality!"
Iormel glares at Bofus and asks coldly. "What is your name, halfling and where do you come from in the first place?"
Retcon with Durgin ()
No, Oi don't think he liked it much, Durgin. Did you know that those candles were poisoned? We saved his life, but somebody took quite a few steps to make sure he died. Who did you get those candles from, Durgin? Oi think once we deal with this horde, Oi'll pay him a visit..."
"He was p . .. p . . . p. p poisoned?!! Oh no! Are they g . . .g . ..going to come and arrest m . . . m .... me?! W . . .what am I to d...d..do? I have d...d....disgraced m .. . my v . . .village. Dear S. ...s...Sarenrae forgive m..m...me!"
Growing tired of the councilman's focus on the here and now, not the coming horde, Mutamba says,"Mister Iormel, if you do not refrain from putting people at risk wit' your arrogance I will be forced to remove you from this room."
"Mister Iormel, if you do not refrain from putting people at risk wit' your arrogance I will be forced to remove you from this room."
"Can he do that? I am a councilman of this town and I have lived here for many years. Captain, did you hear this man?! He is threatening me with force! Captain, I urge you to arrest these rude people and protect your councilman. However, before you do, I would like to hear your name as well, Mwangi!"
"Captain, I urge you to arrest these rude people and protect your councilman."
"I will not arrest these gentlemen, Iormel. They are heroes and should be thanked. However, Sir," She says addressing Mutamba, "You should not forcibly remove the councilman for that would be breaking the law. Although he has spoken unkindly, by the laws of this town, his presence is required for the decision that must be made."
"Please let's not argue any more. We should be listening to the Paladin, Longbrow. He is right. We should not be arguing at this time and in fact, we should be out there informing the residents and helping them pack to make their safe retreat. When I was a child I experienced a town put to the sword before. Death and slavery await us if we remain here. We must gather the things we can and flee east, the sooner the better!"
"I will respect your laws, but will suffer such man as he! With that Mutamba storms out of the building.
I believe that this is decided, but would prefer that you vote on this in whatever manner the council votes. While you may all be leaving the town temporarily, you are Drellin's Ferry. These houses, the ferry, the old dwarven bridge. They are just things and can be rebuilt. The people, the memories, the relationships. That is what makes a town. So, please complete this meeting so that we can talk with the good town people, so that we can make sure that everyone is prepared to leave, and so that we make this town so that it provides no help to the horde behind us. If we can make it an impediment, that is even the better.
"I agree. We have discussed this enough. My mind is quite made up, and it is now time to make a decision. Raise your hand if you are in support of evacuating Drellin's Ferry and making a full retreat back to Brindol." Norro Wiston raises his hand and looks to the others to cast their vote.
Kellin Shadowbanks raises his hand and says, "I hate to give up my beautiful home, here, but I suppose it is much better than putting my whole family in danger. If we cannot buy our way out, then I suppose fleeing is the next best thing!"
"You have all heard my thoughts. I do not see any other choice in the matter!" Delora raises her hand.
"I still think you are all cowards for at least not trying to fight the horde. It is not right that they should come in and steal all of our wealth and property! However, I see that I am outvoted in this matter. Well, do whatever the hell you want, I've got my own business to attend to anyway. Go tell the others that you have no backbone and let them remember all of you for your courage."
Iormel stands up and walks out the door in disgust.
"Well, that's it settled. The council has decided and now it is time to make arrangements. On behalf of Drellin's Ferry, I personally wish to thank you for all of your courage, bravery and support. I apologize that you had to endure Iormel. He has his own opinions and he doesn't hesitate to express them. Please know that his opinion does not reflect the opinions of the rest of us on the town council. Well, I think I better go out and make the announcement. Thank you again, folks!"
Norro Wiston gets up and also departs the Inn.
Soranna walks up to each of you and personally thanks each of you. "I wish to also kindly thank you for your acts of bravery! So what will you do now, my friends? I suppose you will be retreating in the large exodus back to Brindol. Perhaps we will meet again behind the walls."
I cannot speak for my companions. However, I do not think that our place is behind the walls of Brindol. Having reviewed the maps of the area, I think that we should meet with the forces from Hammerfist Holds. I appears that Nimon's Gap would make a good defensive position and if we can get the forest giants to assist, we can hopefully cause great damage to the horde.
Also, I think that we need to find the Wyrmlords in charge this mess and take down the problem at it's source. We all know that most of the horde would turn on itself if the leaders were taken out. And, we seem to the best equipped to take out those leaders.
Knowledge, Nobility
Mantooth looks to the coat of arms on the medallion that Thordak has pointed out to him and studies it for a moment. "I'm afraid I can't be certain, I don't think I've seen a crest like that. It's too bad Matthias isn't here."
When Captain Soranna addresses the group Mantooth nods to her suggestion. "At this point I do believe we will be heading back to Brindol, stopping at the towns along the way to warn them just the same. Like Tirion said, it is not an ideal situation to have the army ruin every village between here and Brindol, so if we can get enough forces together I'd like to meet them sooner rather than later."
"Well, Nugutu, I dannae ken about yae, but I would a liked tae help yae forcibly remove that arrogant prick and be damn tae the laws. What was Captain Anitah gonnae dae? Arrest yae? Nae, they've got enough problems tae worry aboot! That Iormel coulda used a wee kick in the trousers."
"No worries,old man. He is a fool. I have met many of them in my time and expect more. But, I get the feeling he has more to lose than he is letting on. I think it may be wise to follow him over the next day or two as the village prepares for the horde. He seemed a bit too willing to work with the beast."
"I would watch your step, Mister Nugutu, I would not cross paths with that man if you could help it. He has many powerful contacts in the vale and beyond and if you become on his bad side, you have made a powerful enemy. Not that he would do anything to you out in the open, but you may have to start looking around watching your back."
Retcon with Durgin
"He was p . .. p . . . p. p poisoned?!! Oh no! Are they g . . .g . ..going to come and arrest m . . . m .... me?! W . . .what am I to d...d..do? I have d...d....disgraced m .. . my v . . .village. Dear S. ...s...Sarenrae forgive m..m...me!"
Now, Oi don't think they'll come arrest ye, but Oi need ye to tell me where exactly ye got those candles. Did ye buy them? Or did someone ask ye to bring them to Jarmaath?
"Mr. Kellin, I was a slave of a powerful hellknight and killed him wit' my bare hands before I escaped. I have no qualms wit' doin' it again. Mr. Iormel may be the one who needs to be watching his back."
Thordak's Retcon with Durgin
"Now, Oi don't think they'll come arrest ye, but Oi need ye to tell me where exactly ye got those candles. Did ye buy them? Or did someone ask ye to bring them to Jarmaath?"
"Hmm? . . . Hmm? . . . H . . .h. . . Hmm? I know it was in B . . .B . . .B . . .Brindol. A big man gave me a real g. . . good deal, g. ..g. ..g. ..good deal on them. He said it would be the p...p...perfect gift for a Lord. So, I b . . . b . . . bought them from him. He had a t . . .t . . .tent in the m . . .m . . . .market. But I c . . .c. . . can't remember his n...n..name. Ugh! It was something l . . .l ...like rug or m...m...mug. He gave them to m...m..me real cheap!"
• Sunday, Rova 30, 4710, 1 hour after noon •
The people of Drellin's Ferry have been told the news and many tears are shed as the shocking realization hits them that they will lose their town. However, being practical folks of the Elsir Vale, they immediately get to packing up their belongings and preparing to leave town as soon as possible. Throughout the village, people are loading boxes and chests and some are even boarding up their homes in the hopes that it might survive the onslaught.
@Durgin: Were ye lookin' fer present fer Jarmaath? Ye didn't think that was suspicious? Him sayin' 'Oh here's some creepy black candles with carvins on 'em--great present fer a lord!'? Wot did this big fella look like? Thordak asks, raising his eyebrows at Durgin.
Assuming the group is still together, Mantooth addresses his comrades "Well, my friends, what are your thoughts as of now? I don't know how far we could get if we were to begin travelling now, so it may be best if we spent one more night in Drellin's Ferry."
Mantooth, I think that we should set forth. Matthais will have already notified the villages along the way, but we are to meet Thordak in Nimon's Gap in two days time. And I would hope that the dwarves would get there soon after. Also, we hopefully have some giants who can catch us at that point. I wish there was a way to leave a message for the giants.
We can return to Brindol, but I do not think that is where our skills will be best used. We need to find these other Wyrmlords and eliminate them, starting with the one making an undead army.
Retcon with Durgin
"Were ye lookin' fer present fer Jarmaath? Ye didn't think that was suspicious? Him sayin' 'Oh here's some creepy black candles with carvins on 'em--great present fer a lord!'? Wot did this big fella look like?"
"I d..d...d.din't know they were c...c...creepy. He said they would w...w..w.w.work real g...g..g.good. I didn't even know about the c...c..carving with the skull and the c...c..c...cloud on it. Honestly! I just thought it was a n...n...nice gift. The g..g..guy had a big mustache and there w...w..was a skinny guy with him t...too. The skinny g...g.uy wore g...gloves that had holes in the f...f...fingers. B...black gloves with h...h...holes in the t...tips."
Well they sound like some foine upstandin' gents if oi've ever met some...Wait--ye didn't know about tha carvin'? How d'ye know what it was then...? Don't ye know a skull usually means somethin' bad? Like death or poison? Durgin moi friend, you'd better start bein' more careful, or it'll get ye into some real trouble!
Retcon with Durgin
"I m .. . mean. I didn't n..n....n.nnknow . . .know... at the time. But now that y.y....y...you told m...m... me there is . . .w...w...was c...c.c..carving. I was a f....f..fraid that it w...w...was something b..bad like a s...s...skull. B...b..but I d..d..didn't know w....w....when I g...g..gave the c...candle. I p..p...promise to b....b....be more c...c...c...careful. N....n...next t...time."
Sense Motive:
Alright, Durgin...Jus' make sure ye always think before ye act...
Well, Oi should be goin. Oi'll meet you in two days at Nimon's Gap. Thordak says, whistling for Lulu. He saddles her up and prepares to leave.
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Perception:
Stealth:
Sense Motive:
Sense motive re: Durgin if you'll allow it:
Mantooth, I agree with Tirion. Brindol will be well taken care of, and warned. If we go there, there won't be anyone who knows what we know who will slow down this army. We're best used in the field, stopping this undead wanker--THAT should be right up YOUR alley!!
@DMHW: is there anyone in this town who sells minor magic items? It might well be worth our while to purchase another wand of CLW if one is available, since we don't have a primary healer anymore . . .