Gustag grunts and moves into the office to collect his gear. As he does so, he watches the obviously powerful men and women in the room. Sure no friends a' Lamm...wunner how much I can trust 'em.. He casts a dissaproving glare at their captive, then addresses the others.
Look 'ere; I know ya don' know mw from a sewer gator, but me name's Gustag Kegswiller, and I fight in tha name a' the Drunken Hero. Me an' Lamm...well, we got a history, an' it sounds like some a' you do too. Tha' girl that I'm lookin' fer is named Raseri; she an' I came 'ere ta try an' find 'er sisters, who were taken from Lamm some years ago. Done got knocked out it seems, an' they took her..
He gives the captive a glare promising violence, then shakes a meaty fist. I mean ta' find Raseri, an' 'er sisters, an' then I'm gonna make Lamm pay! Sounds like you fellas an' I got the same plan 'eh? What say we 'elp each other out?
"I-i d-d-d-don't know. I don't know! I swear I ain't lyin'!"
I'll accept your help, Veklen Grunts. We've all got issues with Lamm, and I'll welcome anyone who'll help.
Veklen stands and looks around at the group. Anyone need armor, a sheild or a flail before we go?
"I say we help you out Mr. Kegswiller, the more the merrier as the saying goes." Dreqar grinned and looked to Veklen, "Nah Vek, you know that stuff is too heavy for me." the catfolk moved his arm back and forth, still feeling the heavy sting from where he was hit. His face showing a twinge of pain. "If no one wants them, I'll take the vials though.
Veklen smiles at his old friend, Yeah, I remember you were never smart enough to protect yourself properly. he laughs a little and pats his chain shirt.
Not sure we can trust this craven fool's words. Let's tie him up and move on.
Waydon moves to the room to the north.
Mercy eyes the hogtied Shanks, checks his bonds before moving to support Waydon.
"Make yourself comfortable Shanks... If you lie we'll have words..."
"That's better Hooks. You just might live through this after all. Now, what are the names of the older kids who are in charge of keeping the younger ones in line?"
Kishta looks over the dwarf and smiles. "Always glad of another hammer, Gustag."
"Are we all ready? Then let's go. And everyone stay calm -- the last thing we want to do is spook the children. Everyone gets found, and everyone gets rescued, but we have to stay in control."
Arianna nods, confirming she is ready to move on when the others are.
Gustag grins at the acceptance, then sets to rearming himself with his squashing tools. When armed, and with his goods stowed away, he puts on a properly menacing face and stares down their captive while waiting for the call to move on.
"M-m-m-me, tha two twins, Hil an' Sig, an' Kester. They're tha ones that keep tha rest o' tha brats in line."
Hookshanks is trembling and you can see the front of his trousers darken.
Okay, Veklen says, standing up, holding his head in his hands, Let's go then. Now, the question is do we all go through the back, or do we bother with that side room, splitting up some? Veklen nods his head to the side door, his voice becoming more preoccupied as he goes on. If the other rooms are as small as these, we will not be able to fight effectively in this large group. However, if the dangers are more dangerous, we may wish the larger group. Perhaps if we split down the middle, that would leave four in each group. Four should be able to hold off most problems, especially considering the element of surprise. . . . Veklen trails off as he looks around. Where did Theanna go, I don't see her.
splitting up sounds like a fine plan. Our currents lines should work. Hey paladin fall in a line and get with it. We'll need your sword before the day is done.
Waydon can hesitate no longer he plunges through the room he's in and swings open the door on the other end.
"Well no time like the present." Dreqar readies a spell and draws his rapier falling in line behind Waydon to support him.
Might have been nice to bring Hookshanks with and have him round up the kids -- but not smelling like that.
"Thank you Hooks, you've been quite helpful. If all your information was good, we might even untie you on our way out."
Kishta falls into line with the others. "Let's move out," she says. "Weapons down, we don't want to scare the kids."
As the group moves into the back room by various routes, some darker and stinker than other, there is a muffled cry and a harsh "Shhh!" The first person to walk down the steps is greeted by a pair of girls, almost to womanhood, threatening them with broom handles. They're obviously twins, with blonde almost platinum hair and cold grey eyes that glare at the intruders.
Girl 1:"Who are you?"
Girl 2:"And Why are you down here?"
Gustag can't help himself as he sees the girls; though he knows full well that he's undoubtedly not the most tactful or sensitive speaker, he pushes to the fore. Sniffling away tears of joy, the dwarf gets on one knee before the girls, and sets down his hammer.
Girls; it's me! Err...you wouldn't know who I am...umm...yer big sis', Raseri, came wit' me ta' free ya'! Don' be scared now, 'specially a' ol' Gustag. We're here ta' 'elp ya!
Girl 2: "Y-you came with Ras?"
Girl 1: "B-b-but she was taken below! Why weren't you?"
The two girls lower their broom handles, but the rest of the children don't seem as willing to relax their guard. Especially one of the older boys.
"I don't believe a word of it. It's probably some trick by Hookshanks to get us all in trouble."
Kishta greets the twins immediately, her voice calm.
"Hil. Sig. This is a rescue, and an evacuation. We came here for friends and family, but we're not leaving any of you behind. My name is Kishta, and once upon a time I was one of old Shepherd Gaedren, too. But I escaped, and I'll make sure the rest of you do too."
Kishta puts her hand on Waydon's shoulder.
"This man is Titus' father, and he's frantic to see his son. Please take him down to him right away. Then you and Kester start waking the kids and getting them ready -- we'll be leaving as quickly as possible."
Gaedren's got them used to obeying orders without question. If I can make this all seem ordinary, we should be able to get them out of here without drama. But if it ever starts going wrong...
I'm Titus' father. Have seen him? We're here to help you all find families of your own. Wouldn't you like that? To be a part of a real family without fear?
Diplomacy:
Waydon looks around for signs of his son or anything unusual.
Perception
Mercy kneels down to be with the children, trying to make an armoured half orc seem as unthreatening as possible;
”Children, some of us were once little Lamms like you all, others have children or friends stolen or wronged by nasty Gaedron. Know this – we are here to save you all and end the misery and hurt we’ve all suffered at his hands… By the Dawnflowers light I swear we mean you no harm and offer only freedom and safety to you all…”
:
She offers her hand to the nearest child with a warm smile;
”Come… leave this horrible life behind… Step into the warmth again children...”
Arianna leans over and whispers to Mercy, "Wouldn't it be more prudent to deal with Lamm and his cronies before moving the children. Your heart is certainly in the right place, but we may be placing these children in harms way if we do not deal with Lamm first."
Mercy looks up at Arianna;
Spoken true. I would stay here and protect them... there are more than enough of us to bring Lamm to justice..."
The orphans are all awake and scared, but they listen to their apparent heroes, even the doubtful Kester. When Waydon calls for Titus, a young boy covered in bruises and grime burst from between the two older girls. He nearly knocks the man over as he runs full tilt into his leg and embraces it in a death grip.
"PAPA!"
The older boy, who is likely Kester, still seems wary, but the hope in his voice is obvious.
"Are you serious about getting rid of Lamm?"
The two girls however break down and start sobbing.
Veklen looks around before nodding. Yeah, we're gonna take care of Lamm. You just stay here, it'll be alright. Where is he? And Raseri? You said bellow, bellow where? He looks around to see where to go next.
Titus! I had hoped and dreamed but truly did not believe I would find you. Everything is going to be fine but I'm going to ask you to do something unfair. I need you to be a big boy for me. We've got to help these other children and put an end to the bad man Lamm. Can you do that for me. Help Daddy and the others. Listen to these folks. They're Daddy's friends.
Waydon hoists Titus up on one shoulder. His joy at finding his son is marred by competing concerns. As a man of honor he sees the protection of all these children as his duty despite his immediate desire to secure his son's safety. Additionally thought of explaining his wife's demise confronts him in every feature on Titus' face that reminds him of her.
We need to consider our options. We can have one of us stay with the children to ensure their proctection. Or we can hide them somewhere till we return.
Turning to the children: diplomacy
Where did Lamm and his goons go?
Waydon makes a monkey face when he says the word goons to win the children over.
Veklen looks up at the crates in the corner. He points Over here? and starts moving to the crates. He looks for an opening behind the crates as he begins to move them aside.
As he works Veklen says, I think I found where we're looking to go. Quickly figure out what to do with the children. I think Theanna could stay with them, he suggests.
Dreqar smiles softly at the sight of the kids and watches Veklen move off, intent on following him, but still not wanting to scare the children, he sheathes his rapier. And lets the others talk as he thinks to himself. Vensi...I hope I'm doing this right.
Kishta looked around the discrepit room where the children slept, and shuddered. I've never been here before, but my childhood was spent in a room just like this.
"I'd also be willing to stay and keep the children safe, but I trust Theanna to guard them, if she's willing."
Veklen moves rotten crates and barrels revealing a hole in the floor. There's a skiff anchored to a walkway that runs along the port side of the fishing barge anchored at the back of the fishery. It's ominous creaks and groans hit at what would happen if the salt and slime covered ropes were severed.
Theanna walks in a looks around with unseeing eyes, she turns to the others and says, "I'm afraid I won't be of much use in a fight, so, yes I'll look over these ones while you take care of Lamm below."
Kester looks at the group at asks, "What happened to Hookshanks?"
One of the crying twins looks up at Waydon and manages to stutter out between sobs, "H-he's b-b-b-below. T-t-through the hole o-o-o-ver there. *sniffle* P-please save Ras! She's all the family we have left!"
Titus buries his head into Waydon's leg, which wets it with tears and muffles his response.
"But we just got to be a family again! Why do you have to go so soon?"
Listen well son, your father has to take care of the man that did this to you. I have to do this to keep you and your friends here safe.
"O-okay. Will you c-come back? Please come back daddy!"
I thought we'd tied Hookshanks up. How did he get free?
"Thank you, Theanna. If --" Kishta lowers her voice so the children won't hear. "If we fall, take them to the church of Milani -- Father Serago will find homes for them."
Kishta moves with the rest of the party to the opening. "Let's go get us a Shepherd."
Mercy gives an understanding smile to the children and goes to stand beside Kish.
"Let's end this sister..."
The dawnflower's shieldmaid readies her weapons and moves forward with the rest of the group
Veklen smiles. Let's end this. His smile becomes more vicious and he goes through first, leading the group.
Arianna nods in agreement with sentiments of her companions, content to be toward the back of the group.
You'll hardly notice I've been gone.
Waydon has rope and a grappling hook.
After much looking around, Waydon is able to find a place to secure a line and drops it through the hole.
Climb:
Ouch.
Kishta shimmies down the rope.