"Uhh... sure."
The conscious bandits, preferring burning their clothing down to the loincloths in preference to hanging by Hellknights, toss their clothing into a pile for Thunderstealer to immolate.
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Faeros will share his plan with Artemis, who is much more of an influential speaker. If you convince them to take the brand of the thief, I won't kill or turn them in. You can tell them that I would lose no sleep over their death if it is necessary.
Faeros knocks an arrow in his bow, stands beside the arcanist, and studies one of the bandits.
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While somewhat charismatic, Art is no trained diplomat. Still he tries to explain the situation to both the bandits and the druid.
We do have a slight problem here. My friend Faeros is an inquisitor of Abadar and it seems that you, being bandits have offended both him and his god. I have persuaded him to be merciful and not behead you all right here, but he is not willing to let you go without some form of punishment. He demands that you each accept a small brand on your right cheek in penance of this life you had chosen and now give up. But know that should be ever be caught at banditry again no worshiper of Abadar will be satisfied with any punishment other than death.
The bandits look at each other, somewhat worried. "That ain't what we agreed from that big guy there!", one argues. "How about on our ass then, so every time we sit down we'll remember.", another pipes in.
Its quite a bit kinder than cutting off the left hand.
Actually I would enjoy some left hands!
Belcher sniffs some of the criminal's left hands.
Artemus Jarm wrote: Its quite a bit kinder than cutting off the left hand. Actually I would enjoy some left hands!
Silly Belcher, hands are for llamas!
-Posted with Wayfinder
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Make no mistake, Thunderstealer. The branding is a favor to these scoundrels, not Abadar. Abadar keeps meticulous records of transactions and transgressions alike. As it were, you seem to be the one to ask about making a fire. Do you still have one going in the other room?
Faeros retrieves a copper piece and carves a "T" into it, or the first letter in the Taldane equivalent for "thief".
The brand, Artemis, goes on the top of the right hand. It is to be visible whenever the hand reaches out to steal.
The law does not need permission, bandits! This is not a negotiation. Brand or blade, make your choice.
"Alright, alright, we give!", the bandits' spirits weary. Thunderstealer needs no excuse to started another fire and one by one, the right hands are painfully branded.
"We got your freakin' 'T', so let us get outta here.", the bandit looking towards the northern passage way .
The party escorts the bandits out after the branding, Thunderstealer making sure that their offering of bandit clothes feeds Valani's desire for burning. Some chairs make excellent kindling and the custom brand is applied to all of the bandits. Almost defiantly, the conscious ones only wince in pain, not submitting any vocal cues to the pain of the burn.
On the way, the bandits look at the statue and hold their breaths as they walk across, hoping the gas didn't affect them. The passage out takes several turns, including going through a large natural cave widened by excavation. Masonry walls enclose structures within the cave, including what looks like a temple to the north and a crypt to the west. In the eastern end, a low stone wall encloses a large pool of water.
Eventually, they reach a low tunnel that heads off into darkness. A cool breeze faintly stirs the exit, evidence that the outdoors is reachable through this path. Taking a torch near the exit, the bandits scowl as they exit the tunnel, leaving the party to the rest of Splinterden.
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The bandits taken care of, Nilfyr once again takes the lead. "Let us clear the areas we have left unexplored." He makes his way back to the portion of hallway marked by their last encounter and makes his way to the northeastern door, confirms the remainder of the party is ready, then listens at and opens the door.
Nilfyr doesn't hear anything on the other side, and with the party ready, cautiously opens the door.
This chamber is a small barracks with a pair of double bunks and a small privy in the north wall. The eastern portion of the room is partitioned into a pair of cells with doors made from iron bars. Inside each is a shoddy bunk and a rusty bucket.
Thunderstealer and Nilfyr, not hearing anything on the other side, opens the door.
This chamber is obviously someone's personal quarters. A comfortable bed stands in the southwest corner. Several small keepsakes, including a couple of small leather journals and a chess set, clutter the wall shelves.
Oddly, once Nilfyr opens the door to the personal chambers, he hears some strange babbling - the sound is coming from the guardroom he just opened. His head peeks around the corner just in time to spot a horrific bulbous mass of eyes, teeth, and flesh oozing on the floor. The gibbering babble increases as it spots the party! Worse, Faeros, Thunderstealer, and Belcher have subconsciously focused on the gibbering, and their minds become clouded!
This is a gibbering mouther, a blobous mass that constantly babbles a confusing number of sounds and words. These sounds can confuse those who hear it, although those who eventually tune it out are immune to the effect for a day. They cannot be flanked and are immune to precision damage. Finally, their spittle is caustic and the creature has a strange knack of blinding foes at a distance with it.
Besides the info above, you also recall that gibbering mouthers require bludgeoning weapons to harm them fully. Also, if they bite and grab ahold of their prey, the mouther can engulf it and start feeding on its blood, dealing automatic Constitution damage.
The blob moves up before the party can react and it starts spitting in every direction, some of it going towards Faeros!
The blinding spittle snaps Faeros out of his confused funk, while Belcher and Thunderstealer start howling and belting out incoherent grunts and roars; Thunderstealer, always a bit off, still seems confused after this.
Init Order (round 1) bold = up!
Blob with mouths
Nilfyr
Faeros (blinded 4 rounds, may act normally, no longer confused)
Belcher (babbles, no action, no longer confused0
Artemus
Thunderstealer (babbling, confused 1 more round)
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On his turn Artemus tries to identify the creature, sure that he has studied such aberrations.
That's a gibbering mouther, a blobous mass that constantly babbles confusing sounds. It cannot be flanked and is immune to precision damage. And its spittle is caustic and can blind foes at a distance with it.
He casts Ear Piercing Scream at it, trying to daze the creature for a round.
Fort Save DC 15 for half damage and to avoid the daze effect.
He then backs up away from the creature.
The screech hits all of the mouther's ears, the aberration stopping its assault.
Init Order (round 1) bold = up!
Gibbering mouther (3 damage, dazed)
Nilfyr
Faeros (blinded 4 rounds, may act normally, no longer confused)
Belcher (babbles, no action, no longer confused0
Artemus
Thunderstealer (babbling, confused 1 more round)
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Gibbering mouther? I think I've heard of those...
Being blind, Faeros cautiously backs away from the door and puts his bow away, trying to recall any additional helpful information he might have heard about this creature.
Sorry guys, I can't recall anything more. If somebody becomes injured, I can heal you with my wand. Other than that I won't be much use.
Nilfyr protects himself before Artemus' spell takes effect!
Init Order (round 2) bold = up!
Gibbering mouther (3 damage, dazed)
Nilfyr
Faeros (blinded 3 rounds)
Belcher
Artemus
Thunderstealer
Belcher jumps on the crates and bites!
for
Nilfyr continues to buff himself while Faeros moves back for his own safety as he tries to flush the spit out of his eyes.
The mouther's ears close defensively this time and it begins moving again!
Thunderstealer and Belcher take the opportunity to get into position; the druid's horsechopper connects, but he finds that his bladed weapon can't cut its flesh effectively. Belcher's teeth, though, have enough force to injure it just fine.
Once again, the gibbering madness spits out!
The large human finally gets used to the gibbering and is unfazed by it; however he is rewarded by a number of bites!
Thunderstealer is bitten three times, and one of the sets of teeth holds on, grappling him!
Init Order (round 3) bold = up!
Gibbering mouther (21 damage, grappling Thunderstealer)
Nilfyr (stun barrier, divine favor)
Faeros (blinded 2 rounds)
Belcher
Artemus
Thunderstealer (5 damage, grappled)
I'm the only one who is allowed to bite my human!
Belcher attacks the creature!
for
for
for
One of Belcher's claws land successfully, ripping away some of the mouther's flesh!