Confusedly watching the Ulfen stare at the gnome, and Attalas's bewilderment. I walk over and pick up the gnome. Holding his arms.
Grapple:
You want me and the ogre to play stretchy with the gnome first? Seems like as good a choice as any.
Turning to Attalas: You want to grab his ankles, see who gets the bigger piece.
Intimidate(the gnome):
Attalas sees what is going on, and decides he too will play 'racks' with teh Gnome.
Grapple
"Little gnome is you the rat?
We gonna get to the bottom of that
You'd better give the honest chat
or I'll wear your innards as a hat!"
Aid another (Jez) Intimidate
What's going on!? Why does anybody need to get..."stretchy"...? You two, leave the poor gnome alone! Nymeria says, stepping into the room angrily.
Intimidate (Attalas and Jezbazeel):
Ragnvald says nothing and simply stares at the group his balanced tip down as the knuckles from his other hand prop him on the table leaning forward still outlining the carved words. As the trio seek to manhandle the gnome Ragnvald finally speaks. "It occurs to me that twelve people sitting at this table could have easily seen this carving and be aware of it being carved. But I'll let Ebin explain why he wasn't eager to revisit this room. I only hope he does so before the ogre and dragon woman tear him limb from limb."
The Ogre looks at the lady flapping and yelling and looks concerned, but keeps holding the Gnome.
"Dirty Gnomer knows something, he gets let go when he starts yapping."
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Mobo produces a wicked notched blade from behind his poncho, recognizable as a goblin dogslicer and skips over to the racked comedian.
"Joker gnome he need a shave?
Is he feeling very brave?
Will his wretched life we save,
Or beside the hob another grave?"
Mobo pulls the gnawed tindertwig from his mouth and holds it in his other hand as he continues to dance,
"Maybe we shall light a fire,
Throw the gnome upon the pyre,
Find just out if he's the liar,
As mistrust grows ever higher."
"Round and round and round we goes,
The puzzle pieces no one knows,
Until our true faces shows,
Blood and anger flows and flows."
"Pally-head is old and stern,
Lady for the ogre yearn,
A strech is what the gnome'll earn,
What do other jurors learn?"
Ebin struggles fiercely at first, but he is far too weak to offer any real resistance. As Nymeria tries to help him, he shouts
Yeah, help me, I'm innocent!
Sir Rekkart: The paladin rushes over to you and draws his sword Let him down! Maybe hold him down, but don't tear him apart!
Ebin: Argh! I'll confess!
Sir Rekkart: Oh?
Ebin: I hated Mord! We met a year before he was hanged, here, at the celebration of Silman Trabe's 25th anniversary at the courthouse. I was booked for making jokes, but no one laughed and then Mord shouted even he was funnier...he came on the stage then...and indeed he was funnier...later that evening some drunkards beat me up for "not being as funny as the hangman"...that's why I hated him, argh!
Sir Rekkart: But...
Killian: Bastard!
Halgrak And now you will die for that.
Growling at the half-orc - Unless you want to join the little liar in stretchy stretchy, you had better start talking as well. It is readily apparent that all of you had relationships with Mord. You all hated him.
Turning back to the gnome I pull him a little harder, not enough to injury him, but just enough to give him some pain. So, you wanted him to die and, thus, you did not care about the evidence once you had the chance to find him guilty.
"Hmmmmmmmmm"
Halgrak just looks away while Ebin cries a little louder
Yes! Yeah, you're right, I just wanted to see him HANG ! Hah! Ouch ouch!
Ragnvald lounges in the seat as the drama unfolds. Law falls apart in the face of anger. And when that happens there is caos...followed by battle. Such is the will of the Lord in Iron. It'd be blasphemy to stop it now.
My face has begun to turn red at this point. I turn to the other four and shout:
Ok, who is next for stretchy stretchy? I am rather enjoying this. Or would you all prefer just saying what grudges you all held that caused you to condemn a man to death on a greatly abbreviated trial. And also - you are all going to tell us EXACTLY what evidence was presented to support your verdict.
I could care less about you six, er five, useless murderers, but there are six of us who I do not think are interested in dying today. If Mord hangs the rest of you, you probably deserve it, if anyone wants to survive this nightmare, you better start talking just like my little stretchy gnome.
Intimidate:
Nymeria says, the anger rising in her voice. Suddenly, she has stepped back and her bow is drawn and nocked, pointing back and forth between Jez and Attalas. What has he done?!
I turn glaring at Nymeria - Did you not listen to him. He hated Mord because Mord made a mockery of his comic talents. So far my wee friend here and I have not harmed this joking killer, not that he does not deserve it. I am sure that the other four held similar grudges - and I want to know what they are. So put your bow down and let us finish questioning them. If they talk now, then they can avoid stretchy stretchty, although I am sure that most deserve it for sentencing an innocent man to death.
Halgrak: Ok, ok...I hate this charade and I think I don't have to keep it up any longer anyway...the people call me five-toes because the five were cut off by Malgrim when I didn't want to vote for hanging Mord. He threatened me to kill my family and...what shall I say, Mord was a stranger to me, and so I decided I'll do whatever it takes to defend my family.
Sir Rekkart: The paladin pales more and more I can't believe it, am I surrounded by liars?
Patrissa: I didn't lie, I was just convinced that he did it...I...oh dear.
Sense Motive(Halgrak):
Sense Motive(Sir Rekkart):
Sense Motive(Patrissa):
It makes no difference! Nymeria says, turning her bow on Jezbazeel. This is not the way! Coercion and torture will not give you truth! Don't you understand? It only makes Mord's job easier if we all kill each other! She says, close to tears. She lowers her bow and turns around, walking away back into the room with the clock.
Ragnvald leans back. "And in the heat of conflict the puzzle unravels. I'm sure the hobgoblin had his own reasons. A friend of his was executed, perhaps the executioner wronged him in some way. But in the end the result is the same. But there is one knot yet untied." Ragnvald stares at Killian.
I watch Nymeria stalk out of the room and then turn to Killian:
First the hobby got slobby and was hug from the roof,
Then the gnomey got stretched and spilled the proof,
What will happen to the old man,
How long will he stretch until he reveals his plan.
Attalas yells back to Nymeria
"Who wants to do coercion and torture? I just wanted to mind my own business and eat my lunch. I never hurt nobody. But here I am and I'm stuck with a bunch of meanies who were happy to kill Mordy and are now happy to watch me die and you want to yell at me and point weapons when I get fed up with them playing with my life like they did with Mord?! That's some funny upside downy thinking"
"You reckon you got the betetr way then lets see it, but hurry up I dont wanna die waiting"
Killian just shakes his head No, you can stretchy-stretchy me as long as you want, I have nothing to confess...nothing.
His expression hardens as he says that and his voice grows cold...strange.
Sir Rekkart: Neither have I and now let Ebin go. He confessed everything he knows...Even though we know now that some jurors did not only vote because of the presented evidence, we can't assume Mord was innocent.
Patrissa: Maybe we should go on, I mean search the other rooms?
Sense Motive
The Ogre is still looking at the Gnome, contempt bare and evident.
He simply dumps the Gnome and then dusts off his hands.
"Well we know that at least one member of the Jury was a fixer upper. and I'm reckoning if it was just one then Mordy would have killed just one. Mordy may have been a dirty hangman, but reckon that even an Ogre can see there's more to this"
Sense Motive
RAgnvald stares right through Killian. Finally he tires of the game. "Then what are you?"
Killian: Just an old jovial fellow...let's follow Patrissa's proposal and search through the rest of the building, ok?
I give the gnome a long cold stare and then also drop him.
Sense Motive:
Turning to Killian: I don't believe a word you say. Looking at the rest of the group. Or any of the rest of you. However, since I do not want the crazy elf to start shooting me, the rest of you get to avoid stretchy stretchy . . . at least for the time being.
Well, Malgrim got his neck stretchy stretchyed from above, lets go upstairs to see what is there. . . . Unless someone wants to check any more empty rooms down here.
Killian: There are quite a lot of doors left on this level. Maybe we check those first before going up?
Sir Rekkart: Honestly, I would rather say we form small groups...as a whole we don't look like a good team.
Ebin: Agreed...
Patrissa: I'll stay close to Attalas.
Sounds good. Those who want to die a fast and painful death go with the self-centered paladin and the really bad entertainer. Those who want to solve this riddle and survive join the freaky blue haired girl, the wee goblin and the monstrous ogre.
.
.
.
.
What started as twelve was down by one,
Any who split are sure to be done,
To survive this fright,
Will require a fight,
Being apart will doom us all,
The group will become very small,
Together we are eleven strong,
Apart to heaven the bell will gong.
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"Split the tribe far and wide,
And dogs will bite from every side."
"So shiny want us to get picked off one by one? So he can hang back like coward and save day only after goblin and ogre are dead? Mobo say we all stick together so we all watch each other. No sneaky sneaky in the dark with a dagger to do Mord's work for him."
Sir Rekkart: Hrmph...I didn't expect much brain from a goblin, neither any understanding of strategies. But let's see: Who wants to join me and who wants to join these psychotic band of freaks?
Steaming - We will see who is the freak shiny blight. The kind ogre, the wise goblin, the cute girl with horns and gold dragon scales. Or, the old geezer in a suit of metal who is so full of himself that he could not see truth if it hit him in the nose. Thank you, I will take the good ogre and goblin and leave you to find your own helpers freakaladin.
"If you was so good Rekkart, whatcha doing here then? Is that what you thought Mord was? A freak? go on... say it"
"Regardless of how you feel about it the goblin has a point. And I do not trust Killian as far as I can throw him. You're not a jovial fellow. I doubt you're even human. You've not reacted, not in anger, fear, lust, hate, sadness. You don't feel anything. You act like you do. You dodge questions about yourself. If you won't answer perhaps the others know."
He turns to the other 4 NPC's. "I have wronged many and I will undoubtedly wrong many more in the service of the Lord in Iron. I did not know what transpired between you an my uncle. Nor do I particularly care. Your trial failed paladin whether you believe it or not. Somehow I doubt a man who was infamous for carrying out the laws you hold so highly would have gotten one.
So where a construct of fairness has failed, truth must. I say we sit in this room, here and now, where this began, and work this out as men. When we have found the truth of ourselves then we can work the truth of Mord. Afterwards we can explore this place and be done with it."
Almost symbolically Ragnvald sets his blad down for the first time on the table. The crazed warrior starts to look less like a ragign barbarina and more like a leader of men.
The Ogre ooks about..."Yer, what HE says!"
Sir Rekkart: Ebin and Halgrak have confessed whatever there was to confess and Patrissa and I have nothing to say. Killian however...hrmpf ...seems also like he has nothing to say, so I will lead now those out of this room who want to leave this place, you others may stay here until I return with help. Nymeria, will you join me then?
Patrissa: I'll stay with Attalas.
Sir Rekkart: But...all the honeyed words back then, didn't they mean...
Patrissa: Enough, I will stay with Attalas!
Sir Rekkart: As you wish...Nymeria, do you accompany me then?
Killian: I'll stay here.
Halgrak: I'll also stay.
Sense motive
"Who got honey thay aint sharing!?"
Attalas looks at Patrissa covetously as the Paladin moves away, like a beggar admiring a fine sandwich.
Ragnvald awaits the others response. Though he hasn't decided whether or not he's surprised at Killian's decision or not. The man was a puzzle.
This is getting fun:
The shiny old knight went off alone;
To search 'beneath every stone;
When Mord saw him blind;
With no one behind;
He got a big grin;
Which soon became thin;
Mord then took that old knight;
And made him a wight.
Well, have fun playing with Mord Sir Rekkart, I hope you enjoy yourself on your playdate.
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"For Hob Mobo was sad because he cousin. If shiny so full of pride, when Mobo hears his screams when Mord finds him, Mobo not hurry to see what happen. If Rekkart has no bad past with Mord then ghosty not kill him dead, Mobo doesn't think that is case though. You were here last time, and you put Mord to the ropes. Maybe the Captain did too. Mobo not know, but Mobo is gonna stay with Big Folk. Nobody is gonna make you go alone."
Sir Rekkart: I won't have to go alone, since I know there is one lawful being left amongst you renegades, right Nymeria? The old paladin looks over to the girl, his expression full of hope.
I raise my eyebrows at Sir Rekkart's comment:
You actually think that this about being lawful? Have you ever heard of the wonderful lawful nation of Cheliax? They are lawful, would you join their side just because it is lawful? I think not.
You have decided to follow your own path. While Nymeria is free to follow you to the end of days, I doubt that she is suicidal. We need to figure out what Mord wants and I would be surprised if we could just walk out of here. Remember, when our peaceful Ulfen looked out the window it was black, not dark like night, but pure black. Like the black of my heritage, a black so dark that it would probably freeze even your faith paladin.
You may go and do as you wish, as my the lady Nymeria. However, then we will be nine and Mord will be 1/4 finished with his objective.
This is a puzzle, and while I may not be the best with puzzles, I am certainly not going to allow Mord to outmaneuver me if I have friends who can play the game better. Now then, for those of us not planning on a suicide mission, lets discuss our dreams and see where they lead us.
Sir Rekkart: I won't have to go alone, since I know there is one lawful being left amongst you renegades, right Nymeria? The old paladin looks over to the girl, his expression full of hope.
Nymeria shakes her head slowly at Rekkart. No, Sir Rekkart. We....we need to stay together--and work together--if we are going to survive. We also need to stop this insanity! She says pointedly, looking at Jez as she sits down next to Ragnvald. Everyone, let us sit and discuss this, in all honesty and without violence!
Diplomacy:
Sir Rekkart: Mhm...seems like I'm fighting a losing battle...I'm a paladin of Iomedae and my highest goal is to fight for the protection of the public. I will stay and protect you, but don't try to convince me that Mord was not guilty!
"Sounds more like Abadar to me." Ragnvald says matter of factly. "Believe what you wish."
Sir Rekkart: but don't try to convince me that Mord was not guilty!
"Is that what you reckoned before or after the trial?"
Glaring at the tin man:
Sir Rekkart, you keep saying that the trial was just and Mord was guilty. However, you are yet to tell us exactly what the evidence was that proved him guilty. So he was found in the room with his massacred wife and child. Did you not expect him to come home? This could be a sign of a guilty man OR a man who had come home to find his child and his beautiful wife, a woman SO BEAUTIFUL that she had stolen the heart of a local man of god, massacred.
WHAT WAS THE EVIDENCE!!!! I am getting tired of you all giving us the run around. I am not constrained by foolish vows to some god, I was born in the desolate wastes of the north, and while I believe in right and wrong, good and evil, I see no reason to follow rules just for rules sake. If the ogre and I have to slowly peal that shiny armor from your body to reveal the festering soul beneath, then I will. Now tell me what evidence was presented that allowed you all to find Mord guilty during a very short trial? What evidence was sufficient to sentence a man to death!!!!!
I draw my falchion and lean on it while staring at Sir Rekkart.
Sir Rekkart: Ok, let us think about it again: I recall that it was Mord's axe with which his wife Malene and his son Gabe were killed. Most of the time he carried that axe with him, so you see it is unlikely someone stole it. Then the Mord's were killed at home, who would dare to enter Mord's home if not he himself? And why would his wife let someone enter?
Mord was known as a taciturn harbinger of death with a drooping mouth and a lazy eye, so is that someone a woman can be happy with? I say no...I mean...maybe yes, but it fitted that she had a lover, right? She was Varisian of blood and you know what they say about these exotic women, they're...well exotic and like to have more than one man, if you get what I mean. And Silman Trabe, the best judge of Absalom was also convinced of Mord's guilt... the paladin seems a bit confused and unsure now I have to agree though...the evidence is really scarce...I cannot understand why I was so convinced back then that he was guilty. Rekkart slumps to a chair and stares at his hands.
Perhaps it goes deeper than it seems...Tell us more of Silman Trabe. Is it not possible that he orchestrated the entire process? He might have been the lover, or he might have been jealous, and killed the woman and son? Then he could have selected the jury of people he knew would readily sentence him to death, based on the circumstantial evidence...
Patrissa: Mhhhm that is a good idea, but why isn't he here too?
Sir Rekkart: Judge Trabe? But...but he is the judge!
Ebin: Yeah, he surely was it, yes! It was all his fault!