Drow War Team 2

Game Master Tarlane

Saradel stays with the others but keeps her mouth shut, letting the more loquacious members of the party do the talking. She would never forgive herself if she said the wrong thing and got the poor child killed.

You guys do know that the hobgoblin is likely "readied" so that any hostile action from us would activate it, right? (At least that's what I read when I see "Clearly ready and expecting an attack".) Kids likely don't have much in the way of HP and con, so a free sword attack would generally result in a dead kid.

"Enough!" Tenoch says, glaring at Sumak. "We came here on the trail of these human children. Had you not taken them, we never would have come. Our offer is on the table: release the children, keep away from the humans, live your life. If you dislike it, then give us your counter-proposal and we shall see if we can come to an agreement."

he probably does Tenoch. But even if he puts him under the sword since we die a -10+con modifier i don't think he can do over 14hp of damage in one swing.

Actually it's not -10+con mod, it's an amount of negative hit points equal to its Constitution score. So 6 con means -6=death. It's a kid so it has low con score (since the youth template gives -4 con).

Sorry for being so slow in my answers, I'm hoping that things start to settle down within a day or so. It looks like it gave you all a bit more of a chance to debate against each other which is good.

In game terms, he is prepared to coup-de-grace the kid, which is a full round action so it can't be readied, but also means that its very unlikely for the kid to survive if the hobgoblin acts on it. Both sides are aware and are keeping eyes on one another, so once we go hostile things shift into initiative.

Sumak, your previous statement would have fallen into the bluff category since you were lying pretty openly about the others as a way of swaying him. Your bluff check is actually higher, but when you are lying like that they do have a sense motive check to try and realize you are bluffing somehow. In this case its not needed on his end, but taking into account how truthful you are being, how threatening, or what will both determine the skill you use but also how they resist it.

The hobgoblin frowns and narrows his eyes further as he looks over the group. "And this is what they send after their children? I would hope my tribe would be respected enough to not simply be given the villages chaff."

He pauses a moment, considering. "We did not raid your village for these piglets, we were traveling and they crossed our path. It would have caused us trouble to send them down, and you should understand the tactical advantage that comes from this. Our messenger encountered some sort of... Trouble when attempting to contact the town. You wish to negotiate, do you have the voice of the village to speak for them? We were seeking food and land, but your presence here means that I have lost some of my men. You are cocky, but you are in my home now. I have you at a disadvantage even if you are too sure of yourself to see it. For the loss, we will be given this mine and supplies, but I expect coins to compensate for my guards as well. 1000 of gold. For this, the piglets will be returned and we will leave Bronce in peace."

Sounds like color spray it is.. If their grouped i should be able to get just about all of them.. Of course if he makes the save and yall cant get to him and maybe disarm him than the kid dies.. Thoughts?

Well i roll skill and if you think some other skill is more appropriate well all the better DM, That is why we have our sheets for you to look out :).

Actually it better for us if he is attempting a coup de grace. we can interrupt him as it a full round action, and we are aiming at taking only standard action to hit him

Sumak, a full round action is different from an action that takes 1 round. It will be completed on his turn, it just takes up both his move and standard action to perform. So for instance, if he acted first in the round it would be done before anyone else got up. If you are going to rush him and don't want the kid to be hurt you would need to get to him before his initiative comes up.

well i don't think that the village has 1000 gp to shell out for the boy unforgettably ...

Sumack will wait patiently for the Paladin to decide what to do.

Rusigari, sensing things are about to get out of hand, tries to intervene.

He moves to the front of the group and gives the Hobgoblin a winning smile.

"Please, please, Gentlemen. There's no reason to be hasty. What could you possibly gain from killing the child? Not much, I'd think. And you stand to lose so much for such a rash action. We wouldn't stand for it, and the villagers certainly wouldn't either. A fight would ensue and things would get so very MESSY. Tell you what. Let that kid right there go, as a gesture of good faith. If you do so, we'll round up your 1000 gold, come back, and get the rest of the kids. Here, see, we're good for it, we just don't have it all with us now." he reaches into his coin pouch and tosses 20 gold onto the ground at the Hobgoblin leader's feet.

"There's more where that came from, but you must understand you've given us no reason to trust your word up to now."

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

*Beats head into desk repeatedly* This is obviously payback for the good rolls I always get vs my players in the PbP I run.

The chief narrows his eyes a bit and considers the tiefling's words, sucking at his yellowed teeth in thought. "Child dies, you know seriousness of threat. Still have other child you cannot see as hostage, it would be you who would be rash when this piglets brother would be killed should you fight, yes? You question my word, but you have been the ones killing my people when I don't know you."

His eyes lower down to the coins laying on the ground before him, considering. "Will let you take this piglet, we keep the other hostage out of sight until you leave supplies and coin at entrance of mine then boy will be released. Until then, he is kept secure from your intents with my fellows holding him at the ready if you recant your bargain."

"You repeatedly complain how we have been killing your people, yet no one knew that you had claimed a human-created mine for your own. We were aggressive when your people were aggressive towards us. Those who were not aggressive, still live."

"You want compensation for your people, yet some still live. What about the compensation for the humans for the pain and suffering you have caused them? Frankly, the only reason we are here are because of the children. Had you released them, none of your people would have been injured by us. Any injuries to your people are a direct result of your own actions. Release the children, and we will call it even and, in a gesture of good will, we will still bring you supplies."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

You are just greedy. The man you sent to town probably asked for a lot of coins. But you should take the half orc's deal is the best you have. added sumak

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Please check the Discussion thread when you get a minute.

For a moment, the chief looks genuinely angry at the comments. "Pain and suffering? Those people live undisturbed and happy, they know nothing of what we face. They know no conflict, they do not hunger or fight or struggle. They sleep warm in beds, not on a wet rock bit by spiders and rats. We avoided the town even after driven away by another tribe until the piglets stumbled upon us. They came to us while we searched for a home. But you talk to us of pain and suffering. Pah."

The blade leaves the boys throat and the child is pushed forward towards you, stumbling from the unexpected shove. "Take piglet and go. Leave supplies and let us go, we will find a home that knows strength. Then you may come find the other. Betray us and your people will know what suffering is."

Did he become reasonable ? Apparently so

Rusigari breathes a short sigh of relief.

Well, we've got one of the kids back at least. Now...how are we going to get the second? I doubt the village has that kind of money stashed away given the shape it's in. Might have to lie our way out of this one too.

He worries his lower lip as he thinks about it.

Did I read that right, that he dropped the $$ requirement?

Yes Tenoch. that is the way i understand it also. Sumak said that your deal was the best he would get assisting your diplomacy. So supplies and safe passage out.

"We shall return with your supplies in short order.. Come along boy, we'll have your brother soon.."

That was what he seemed to be implying, yes. Give them what they need for the travelling and extra food and they will go, leaving the other boy.

When Selene calls for him the small child, perhaps five, moves over to join her, He looks up at her with red swollen eyes, seeming a little unsure as he's never seen someone who looks like her before but he tries to put on a brave face. Morton moves up and picks up the kid, asking in a soft voice. "Hey there Callum, you alright?" When he gets a nod, he moves with the others back to the water.

The child stays quiet until you've dropped into the water and are out of sight of the hobgoblins, the deputy holding him and keeping him up so he can breathe. Once the hobgoblin's are out of view the boy speaks softly. "Jeb got away from them, before all this rain started. He went deeper into the tunnels not too long after they got us down here. The big one didn't seem too worried about it and nobody had gone down after him yet."

Are there three missing kids or two? I thought I read two way back when. If that's the case, then they don't have the second kid. If they renege on their deal we won't have to worry.

"Don't worry Callum," Tenoch says softly to the boy. "We'll go in after him soon enough."

Pretty sure there were only two.

"So, they don't actually HAVE the second kid. That's a slight load off, though I shudder to think what sort of state he'll be in after so long alone in a dark mine."

"I suppose now we have a few options. We could try to gather the supplies, or go down and wipe them out."

"Honestly, as fun as the latter might be, I'm leaning towards the former option here. The Hobgoblins seemed, at the very least, to be a reasonable sort. Their leader was in a position of power with Callum in hand and still decided to let him go as a show of faith, despite knowing he actually had no other hostage to bargain with. That speaks to me that there is at least some shred of decency in them, and perhaps wiping them out may not be the best option."

There were just two. Jeb is Callum's older brother and the other one lost. The hobgoblin is actually a pretty good bluffer and was purposefully avoiding talking too directly about the other, so I rolled a bluff check. It was high enough Selene was the only one who had a chance to catch him at it. I rolled one behind the scenes as a sort of automatic check, just like I would for perception checks if there was surprise or a hidden creature. As a general rule, if you are ever suspicious of something feel free to make a roll yourself. I don't mind you getting a second roll that way when you are scrutinizing something more deeply.

What is your current plan? Are you taking Callum back out of the mine(and how do you intend to do that with the lift?) and then coming back with supplies? If Jeb went deeper into the mine, the only way to get to him that you have found so far would be straight past the hobgoblins.

I thought we had left someone up there, but it looks like Morton is with us. Pewp. I'd also like to check out whatever it was that Tenoch tripped over, since it doesn't seem to have been a monster.

Yeah, his phrasing was quite circumspect. I like it. "Then we may come find the other" indeed.

"We made an agreement. Although they implied on certain occasions that they had the other boy, the final agreement doesn't and, as you say, he acted in good faith, giving him up to us. Also, assuming they keep to their word, it gets them out of the area without further bloodshed. Let us get the child home."

And what would constitute "supplies"?

There was discussion of leaving Morton up top, but since he wouldn't be able to turn the capstan himself anyway he came with. I know he tried to participate in the fight with the guards, firing his bow at them. Now you have me questioning my own memory though, I will have to go look back.

I thought we tied up a rope for a couple of people to climb and then together raise the lift..

"I agree with Tenoch.. We made a deal and we should fulfill our part.. Lets hurry and get back, so we can return an search for the other boy.."

You did, Selene. You'll still need some people to climb up, enough to be able to turn the wheel. That means Tenoch and one other who is moderately strong at the very least.

You were correct, we all came down. My memory was suspect. Is the rope knotted? If so, with the wall it would be DC 0 and Tenoch could climb it without having to remove his armor (-1 climb so even a 1 makes the 0 DC).

The rope + wall is still a DC 5 (since we never said we knotted it). But regardless, you can Take 10 for a 9 and skedaddle on up just as easily.

Sumak removes his armor, and stores it along with his shield on his wolf

He look at the rope.

Why is it the cripple that has to do this? remind me again how much i am getting paid for this ? he spits into his hands and then starts climbing

Climb : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Don't you dare fall, you hear me? crazy bastard !

wouf, WOUF !

Rusigari shrugs, and goes up the rope after the others.

He takes 10 for a 10. The DC 5 wall should be no issue. Again, even for people with armor on. =)

The water and slickness of the rocks makes everything a little more difficult, but nothing that can't be overcome by those with some strength and the removal of armor while taking 10. Since the upper floor is cleared and there hasn't been anything new coming in yet we can simply assume it. Also, in addition to not having mentioned knotting the rope, don't forget that doing so would greatly diminish how long it was.

The climb up the rope isn't a fun one, water falling into your face and between your fingers on the hempen length and your feet slipping upon the rocks and causing you to stumble against the side. Eventually though a few of you make it to the top and are able to turn the capstan in order to winch up those who aren't able to climb.

Morton takes up Callum again, looking concerned as his eyes pass around to the others. "What is the plan at this point? We don't have much to give them, barely enough for ourselves but we would offer what we can. I'm not sure what that is going to do to the town though, the other tribe we knew about has left us alone, but if we are known for giving up supplies, that could be dangerous to us. I can run Callum back and get the sheriff if you want, but I don't know what we have to bring. I am worried about Jeb with the water down there like it is and if the 'gobs decide to try and make a run for it while we are gone."

"I'll be honest with you Morton, that's the hard part. We've got a few advantages, mostly in the fact that we know they don't have Jeb but they don't know we know."

"However, we've got little idea of their current capabilities. We know there are at least four of them left, but the tents and such may suggest that there's more we didn't see, possibly women and children if he's the leader of a tribe, as he says, and not a raiding band."

"Our options are fairly limited here. First, to keep up our end of the bargain, which may not be possible, for at least long enough to retrieve Jeb, at which point subduing or killing them and retrieving the supplies is possible. Second, to try and sneak our way past them, find Jeb, and then get him out. Third, to kill or subdue the entire tribe, or at least enough that we can snatch Jeb and get out."

"The last two share a flaw. Getting out quickly up that rope is nearly impossible for some of our group, so a retreat in either case is likely to not be an option. If we go in, we're in it until the end."

Rusigari shrugs.

"I don't particularly like any of our options. If the kids weren't so damned adorable, I might consider just calling the whole idea a bust." he gives Callum a mock glare.

Well that big hobgoblin somewhat challenged me, but i can go either way. I don't really care. I Asked Fred to find for you the children. He did, so we did our part. Sumak shrugs

I'll leave the moral anguish to the big folk. My moral compass is rather simple. he concluded eyeing the big half-orc

I had wanted to check the thing Tenoch had tripped over before going up...

Before removing his armor and climbing the rope, Tenoch looks through the water around the basket. "There was something here..." he mutters as he searches for it.

---------------

Later...

"I can offer my own meager rations to the supplies to supplement what is being offered for our side of the bargain. They would only last a single person 5 days, but perhaps it will help to fill the order. They weren't particularly specific about how much they wanted," he says, donning his armor again. "If we can minimize the draw on the town, then perhaps they would be less implicated should word come out. How is the hunting around here?"

Selene waits for the lift to be pulled up..

Ack, Sorry Tenoch, with how nuts my week had been I saw your post and then forgot about it by the time it would have come up. Let me add that in now because it was important. You all are safe at the moment, so feel free to respond to this however you want, and either move forward assuming a few of you climbed up the rope and winched up the rest in the lift(unless you change your plan after this).

Once back at the bottom of the tunnel, the half-orc fishes around in the slightly deeper water of the pit, searching for several moments until he finds the soft shape which seems to have been partially pinned under one of the edges of the lift.

Pulling it up to the surface, he finds a human body in his arms, well into decomposition, even his woolen robes it wears sloughing off his body. Even in the rotting flesh that remains you can still make out a clear deep slash across its throat.

Pinned on the tattered robes you can see a small badge holding the emblem of two quills crossed above a pouch labeled with the word Saragost.

Rusigari makes a face of disgust.

"Ugghhhh...what is THAT doing here?"

once sumak is up he will go for the lever and operate it in order to bring everyone back up

"It seems that someone has met an ill fate in the mines. It seems doubtful that the hobgoblins were involved with the state that it is in. Does anyone recognize this badge?" he pauses for a moment in thought. "Say... didn't that apparition we saw above have a slash across it's throat? Perhaps this is where it was pointing."

Selene looks at the body.. "Your guess is as good as mine.. I have no clue.. As far as the supplies goes couldn't we just buy some from the town ourselves and bring them back?"

Callum gives Rusigari a little smile at his comment, though he stays hidden behind the deputy's legs as best he can, even when being playful the tiefling is quite an intimidating sight.

Morton frowns a bit at the comments, clearly having been thinking. "The town doesn't have much, but I'm sure that even Mother Bailey would donate from her store to help the little ones. We don't have much, but we will scrape together whatever we can manage and hope it can be enough. I... Do fear what that could mean for the town though. This is not the tribe that lives in the woods near the village. Those have always left us alone, but if we seem an easy target, easier than we likely already do, or like we have things to give, that may change. I know that Davan and the rest would agree it is worth the risk to save Jed, but it is quite a risk."

"Morton, I can't speak for the rest of the group, but if the deal I made ends up making trouble for the town, I'll stick around and help out as best I can defending it. Maybe if they run into magical resistance at the town they'll think twice about your 'weakness'."

He sighs.

"Mr. Goody Half-Orc over there must be rubbing off on me." he mutters to himself as he rubs the bridge of his nose.

is every one back up top side?

Would Morton have recognized the badge or the body?

The top of the mine is just as empty as when you left it, albeit the rain seems to have picked up to a true storm outside and the water is trickling down quicker. We talked about you having climbed up the rope and winched everyone up, you can all be up top now easily enough, but it sounds like you are investigating the body still.

The body is too badly decomposed for identification, but Morton takes the badge and studies it. "Its a badge of a tax collector in Chillhame. One went missing on his route in town about a month ago. We assumed it was Jim, do you think it was the hobs? Doesn't sound like they have been here that long though."

"You may be right. This seems like it's been here longer than the hobgoblins. Now that we've uncovered it, we shouldn't leave it here. I don't consider this poor man's body 'supplies' for them. If this is the body of the apparition we met before, perhaps we could find a more appropriate spot to put the spirit to rest."

We can shift to the top-side. Tenoch will bring the body and badge. Wrap it in something (like a blanket) if that is necessary.