"Even if one is out of their own minds, they may still be able to provide valuable information. Wouldn't you rather know what to expect in here ... or to have a ceasefire rather than more bloodshed?"
"You're welcome to try, just don't complain to me when you don't get anything of use from the bastard." Thulwar replies dryly.
Tove shakes her head as it becomes obvious that Theodore's code of non-violence extends even to the evil creatures that lurk in dark places.
Once she realises that he intends to keep them alive for questioning she begins to regret diverting the divine energy of her truthtelling spell in order to heal Thulwar.
"I won't be able to force these creatures to speak truthfully Theodore, I wasn't expecting to need such powers this evening. If you wish to question them you will be on your own, so I would caution you to be wary of their wickedness, they may try to mislead us."
I nod slowly, "I understand, they will only get one chance to assist us and cease their attacks. If they fail to do either, then they shall meet their end." I place my hand over my heart, "By my honour I swear it."
"what all do you expect him to tell us? If what thulwar says is true and they are all raving mad, it would be a better use of time to ensure they are all gone."
"Is our time so limited, Razarak? Why not ask the questions, if nothing else it should show us what sort of madness afflicts the derro. That might be useful if we must fight them in the future." Torsten shrugs as he finishes and reconjures his lights with a flick of his fingers.
As the debate continues on, the derro begins to show signs of coming back to consciousness.
"Time to find out, he is coming to." Raz says as he looks down at the stirring derro, hoping at least a little Intel might be gained from the creature.
I look to Torsten and nod, "At least someone understands." I turn to face everyone, "Lets put them in the corner and surround them so that they cannot flee, then we can question them and see how it plays out. We should be able to tell if they will be helpful quite quickly, so it shouldn't take too much of our time."
I let Rufus go and carry the other unconscious Derro to the place where this one is being carries to, I put my sword away but keep my shield ready to defend myself if the creature just attacks immediately.
After dragging the derro over into a corner and surrounding the captives, one of the pair final begins to awake.
As he awakes he begin feeling around in hopes that he still has a weapon you may have missed. Unfortunately for him, you have not missed any of his weapons.
The derro begins spewing a stream of words in the same language Thulwar originally spoke to you.
Thulwar turns to the rest of you and comments, "I believe he has some choice words for the the lot of us." Hearing a few more words, Thulwar's head snaps back toward the derro before turning back to you. "And apparently our mothers as well."
I stand before the Derro and hope someone can translate for me as I speak. "We have spared your life and all we ask for in return is some answers. How many of your kind are in here, what should we expect and is it possible to broker a truce or alliance between our 3 tribes?"
Raz will translate in gnomish, seeing if the derro understands. If he appears to he will continue translating if not; "It appears he understands not a word of what we are saying, thulwar, do you think you could give it a shot?"
"Aye, I can give it a try...for all the good it'll do." Thulwar grumbles.
Thulwar proceeds to translate Theodore's plea for peace. The derro simply responds by spitting in the proud deep gnome's face.
Rage begins to bubble up in Thulwar's body as he reaches for his pick to deliver a killing blow.
Tove sees the Gnome go for his weapon and tries to distract Theodore from the pending violent act with some reassuring words.
"Some creatures in this world truly possess evil souls Theodore, your mercy is wasted on them. The gods will surely smile to know we rid the world of their wickedness."
Jacobus was not going to stop the deep gnome from killing the derro. Something in his gut told him it was the right thing to do.
He nodded, "Tove here is right. We should finish this and move on."
As the creature spits in the face of our new friend I go to step forwards, but am intercepted by Tove and Jacobus. "I just wanted to solve it peacefully, I didn't mean to threaten our new alliance. You two seem to be right, I shall follow your lead whilst down here."
It is clear that I am torn between the vow of stopping bloodshed and protecting / helping our new friends.
Ivo steps over to his fellow height-reduced friend and says, "We gave him the chance at a better way. He literally spit in our faces. You did what you could - you were true to your ideals. That's the best we can hope for."
Torsten shakes his head. "If there is one thing the study of magic teaches it is patience." He coughs. "But then perhaps it is for the best that wizards are seldom warlords, sometimes action is the answer. I do not know."
While the others console Theodore, Thulwar finishes off the pair of derro, perhaps with a bit more ferocity than warranted.
"It's done." Thulwar says returning to the group.
You reconvene near the corpse of the giant spider with a choice before you left or right.
"Left, is it? It looks as though that cavern does not extend far, so we may examine it and move on," Torsten suggests.
The party begins to travel down the passage to the left, as you round the corner you are hit with the nauseating smell of death.
In the back of the chamber is a pile of bodies in various states of decay, some skeletal, others merely a day or two old. A quick inspection determines that the bodies are humanoid in origin, most are human, but there are a few bodies belonging to other races in the pile.
to search the area.
Jacobus covers his nose and helps the sorcerer in searching the bodies. He's not sure what he's looking for, perhaps a clue as to why they died or some sort of memento to identify them and notify their next of kin.
He turns to his companions, "C'mon, let's get this over with. I'm already missing the sun."
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You see nothing beyond the pile of bodies.
Tove covers her mouth and nose as she gags at the stench.
"This is awful. Did the derro do this?
Reluctantly, she helps the others search the bodies for any identifying possessions. But she can't bring herself to actually rummage through the remains and offers little actual assistance.
Thulwar nods his head at the priestess's question. "Aye. They take surface dwellers so that they may learn to do the same."
"I should not be afraid to get my hands dirty, eh? Even if that is so terribly literal this time.' Torsten wraps his hands in rags before touching the bodies anyway.
Seeing the bodies I lower my head, "I am sorry, while dealing with these ... demons, the only sort of persuasion I shall use is this." I tap my sword and keep it drawn. "We can only hope that they died quickly and with little pain."
Raz will search through the bodies as well, then will move to the opening of the chamber and wait to move on.
Searching through the bodies, you find nothing of monetary value. Just as you are about to leave the chamber, Theodore notices a slow, strained movement from one of the bodies in the pile.
You all hear a barely audible groan from the body.
Searching through the bodies, you find nothing of monetary value. Just as you are about to leave the chamber, Theodore notices a slow, strained movement from one of the bodies in the pile.
You all hear a barely audible groan from the body.
Jacobus quickly goes to the body that was moving and groaning, "Wait, wait. I think one of these corpses may be moving. Alive...?"
The inquisitor picks it out from the pile of dead, "Tove, get over here. See if you can help here."
Meanwhile the inquisitor keeps his eyes out for any treachery.
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"Alive? Or undead? Be careful!" says Ivo.
Tove rushes over to where Jacobus has pulled the body from the pile.
Assuming Jacobus finds no reason to suspect a threat, she kneels beside the victim of the derro's cruel practices.
Looking the body over to assess its wounds, Tove begins to administer first aid in an attempt to stabilise the unfortunate soul.
Torsten stares at the groaning person. "How did I miss this? Is there some enchantment on them? Ithquant arcaniss gazziz!"
Raz will continue to keep guard over the entrance.
It's painfully easy to see why you may have mistaken this woman for dead, for while she is not dead, you have few doubts that the Reaper is in the chamber, ready to take the poor soul to Pharasma for judgement. Emaciated from hunger, paper-like skin, and two dried blood caked hole where her eyes once were, death is surely near.
It would seem Jacobus's suspicions of treachery are, for once, not warranted.
Tove tries her best to comfort the poor soul, but her wounds are beyond the reach of mundane healing.
As you pull the woman from the pile, you hear her speak in a barely audible, raspy tone.
"Wh..who are y..you? You mu..must go. Much dan..danger..."
It would seem Jacobus's suspicions of treachery are, for once, not warranted.
Tove tries her best to comfort the poor soul, but her wounds are beyond the reach of mundane healing.
As you pull the woman from the pile, you hear her speak in a barely audible, raspy tone.
"Wh..who are y..you? You mu..must go. Much dan..danger..."
Jacobus cradles the woman's head pulling the hair away from her face, "What danger? What is your name?"
He channels healing energy into her, "Abadar, heal this woman so she may continue your work..."
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HP 22/22
AC 20, touch 12, flat-footed 18
Conditions: fast healing 2
Melee (heavy mace): +3 = +1(base) +2 (STR)
Melee Damage (heavy mace): 1d8+2, x2
0/1 judgment with surge, 6/6 agile feet, 2/3 1st level spells
Jacobus, with great care, cradles the woman's head as he casts a spell of healing. The unfortunate woman's breathing becomes much less ragged as the spell seems to have done some good, although it is still obvious she is malnourished and likely in dire need of water.
"Lanyssa." she croaks in response to the inquisitor's second question. Straining her voice she says, "He calls himself Adjxeer Zanmiirn, the leader of the creatures who took me."
Absolutely horrified at the sight of the woman I grip my sword handle tightly, "They do not deserve peace ... or mercy! They shall pay for this crime!" Seeing that she is in need of both food and water, I take out my day's worth of both and place them in front of her on a plate and in a cup. "Lanyssa, in front of you I have put some sustenance, please help yourself. You need it more than I."
Jacobus lets the woman drink while he thanks Abadar, "OK now take it easy. Where were you taken? Can you tell us anything about this place or the creatures that took you?"
Lanyssa reaches out, struggling to find the food and drink before her, but finds them soon enough with Theodore's aid. She quickly eats and drinks, with a speed only available to those who have gone without for entirely too long.
Finishing what was before her, she says, "Thank you, kind sir."
Her head turns toward the sound of Jacobus's voice, "I was returning to my home after gathering herbs and ingredients for my concoctions and was apparently out too late when they took me by surprise...gods only know what they did to poor Naavi."
Concentrating for a few moments she seems to gain a bit more strength before saying, "I suspect these foul creatures have numerous spots that they rise to the surface though...I sense that I am much further from my home than I was when I was taken. I know little about the little fiends, other than their wide eyes, blue skin, and wild hair. Even though I no longer have my eyes, that is an image that will remain with me for the rest of my days...which thanks to you all will be more than I had thought not long ago."
Ivo says, "We can't let this kind of thing go on! We need to stop these derro from abducting and hurting anyone else like this. Thulwar, how can we help bring an end to this madness?"
Torsten leans over and asks "Mistress Lanyssa, where is your home? I am sure we can return you there if that seems good to you, though we may need to resupply at Oleg's trading post first. At the least we must send word to any others living nearby that the derro are a danger!"
Jacobus nods as the woman comes to her senses, "Don't worry. You are not dying here. We'll take you home but it may take a little longer as we hunt these... vermin down."
He helped her up, "Can you walk? I hate to leave you behind now."
He turned to Thulvar and Ivo, "What he said. Help us put an end to this."
Ivo points out to Jacobus, "She's going to need help walking regardless... the healing magic wasn't able to restore her sight."
Thulwar grimly responds to Ivo's question, "Kill them all. An impossible task to be certain, but we can slow them down.
"Oleg's?" Lanyssa asks. "The trading post, yes? I know of it. My home is a day and half's journey west by southwest from there, along the banks of the Thorn River."
"I would love to return to my home, but I do not know how wise that is...at least until I learn to get by without my eyes. If I had Naavi, that would surely help some, even that would be an adjustment."
Hearing the inquisitor's question, Lanyssa responds, "Yes, I can walk, but I would only slow you down. If you can lead me to a relatively safe spot I can hide and await your return."
Thinking a bit more on the situation, the deep gnome says, "Help me wipe out this particular group of derro. We can then back track a way, and collapse the tunnel. It won't stop them for long, but it should be long enough for me and my men to return to our home and come back with a garrison. The mining here is good...it will not be a hard sell to my King."
"Of course we can find you somewhere safe, Lanyssa."
Tove stepped to the woman's other side and helped Jacobus bear here slight weight.
"That sounds like a wise plan Thulwar, returning with a larger force may be a good idea if the threat is as vast as it seems."
Jacobus nods to the deep gnome, "We are more than happy to help you. This mine sounds important and we can discuss a trade agreement later. However, eradicating these derro is of utmost importance and needs to be done now."
He turns to the woman, "Come along with us; I'll help you. We can drop you as soon as we find a safe spot."
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