| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Greypelt watches Caine carefully as he approaches, clearly ready to pounce on the man; however, he simply watches the group as they bicker back and forth about him... "I will consider your proposal half-orc while you see to these errands. I will be waiting for your return. Now go, I tire of these word games."
Zirren crossed his arms. "Fair enough. Come on let's go. We're going to check out that room we've only glanced in so far."
As the group made their way away from the Warg, Zirren goes to find Caine.
"Listen Caine, I think I understand your anger at us not attacking the Warg. It's true it's an unnaturally intelligent being that is almost certainly evil. But what I can't agree with is your need to start a fight upon meeting it. I can't be sure it can really be reasoned with but we did learn information from dealing with it and avoided an unnecessary fight. There was something else off about it too, but I can't say what for sure."
Caine looked at Zirren like he'd grown a second head.
"You think that fight wasn't necessary? That thing eats people." he said calmly. "The two wolves we ran into earlier? We killed them. Because they eat people. They were animals, and they were dangerous, so we put them down."
"That thing in there? It doesn't get a pass on eating people just because it's intelligent. The fact that it's intelligent makes eating people even worse."
"It is a monster, and now it has you all dancing to it's tune."
"We should not be negotiating with monsters. We should be killing them."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I'm with Caine on this one, if you are intelligent, you can CHOOSE what you eat.
Besides, I don't trust it, you said it was lying already, right Caine?
Now it's sending us out to fight other creatures, taking time, taking resources...
...
...
What if that's what it wants? Using our resources so we become weaker, allowing it to negotiate from a position of strength?"
They're both missing the point.
Zirren was annoyed. "I never said we wouldn't get rid of it eventually. I meant was that it was intelligent and we could potentially deal with it to get information. Like we did. This is what I do Caine. This is what the Pathfinders taught me and not many can do it this well. Words are my weapon of choice and information is what I use them to get.
The Warg might have the same idea about using us to get rid of its enemies, but we got what we needed out of it first. Plus, we were going to be clearing this place anyway. So it's not as though we were doing it any actual favors."
He turned to Ruhk
"As for the Warg, it isn't likely to leave its den. We can retreat if things don't go completely our way and return later. It's unlikely to be in any better a position than what it started today. I know people are ill, but we can't help anyone if we end up dead.
So, how can you deal with a swarm of bats? I have one way."
Ruhk shrugs and waves a hand idly.
"Not saying you're wrong there Zirren, not saying I can't see the sense in talking it out, trying to get something out of the little "deal" and all.
Information is good to have."
"But I think, if it's back is to the wall, it might very well leave, after all, being trapped in it's den doesn't leave it with that many options.
...
...
Say, think maybe it just wanted us to leave so it could sneak out?
It would solve a lot of problems that way.
...
...
Nah, we wouldn't be that lucky eh?"
"But you know, IF, and I say IF we somehow manage to get away settling this all peaceful like, we better NOT tell anyone that.
Listen, I'm serious.
I lived through one of the attacks on Oldfen, if people think we're wolf sympathisers, werewolf sympathisers or any kind of lupine sympathisers, we could get into a LOT of problems, all the way to lynching."
"Remember, some of us have family around these parts, it could cause a lot of problems for them as well.
People around these parts DON'T like goblinoids, lupines or Fey, and they are not too fond of druids either.
There is a lot of bad blood here."
Well, that is interesting Rhuk,Nathaniel says when they are out of earshot of the large wolf. I've not heard these stories, and I am not from around here. Where I come from we have many Druids, and Rangers and they often make friends with wolf packs, they can be strong allies to a community, where I am from
"That one is not your ally." Caine said, clearly frustrated. "This is the second time you've chosen the well being of an evil monster over the wellbeing of this group, and the people of Falcon's Hollow."
"For all your talk about doing the right thing, you sure don't practice what you preach."
Zirren let out a sigh and in a cold but calm voice, he began to speak. "Look, you've made your points heard. I admit, being away from the vale for as long as I have has caused me to forget some things. But Caine and Ruhk are right. The Valers wouldn't stand for this. This arguing isn't helping right now. We have three largely unexplored areas and we know of a swarm of bats we have yet to contend with.
We've been lucky in our dealings so far but that isn't likely to hold. So we need to stay focused, lives are depending on our actions here. We need to start thinking about the hard choices we might have to make. The Warg was lying to us about the deal it was making. About what, I don't know, but if it tries to do anything else underhanded I will not hesitate to do what I must. I trust Caine's judgement now, even though I spoke out against him already. We're suffering from a lack of cohesion and that has to stop."
He stopped to look around at each of the group before glancing specifically at Art and Caine.
"Mercy is wonderful when we can afford the time but we don't have that luxury right now. Caine, whatever happens when we go back to the room with the Warg, if it tries anything, even one more delay, I'm with you.
Alright we've used enough time. Let's get back into our positions like Caine taught us."
The group cautiously makes their way down towards the collapsed room at the north-east corner of the monastery. Nathaniel peaks around the doorway to glimpse into the room. This chamber is entirely shattered, with much of the outer wall and ceiling completely crumbled. The floor is covered with rubble and debris, walking around while likely be difficult.
In a hushed tone, Zirren spoke to the party. "Alright, there they are. It's going to be taxing but I think I can disperse the bats. It's a strange misconception that bats are blind. They are not. I can hit a large area of them"
He digs into his pack for a moment before coming out with a small porous rock lightly wrapped in leather.
"Art, take this. I'm going to summon a creature into the middle of that room, you're going to throw that at the ground of the creature when the bats swarm around it. Got it? Hopefully that should drive them off."
"Hold up. When you cut loose, if they don't disperse, they're going to be in this hall with nothing but harsh language between them and us."
The rest of us, let's go in here and get ready to shut the door fast."
"You two, if they move on you, run to us. We can wait 'em out in there."
I understand. Throw this the at the ground where you summon this creature, ready
The plan made, Zirren waited for the rest of the group to move into the relative safety of the chamber before taking his own position.
Calling upon his powers once more, he conjured a steed into the middle of the room where the bats swarm was.
When a horse suddenly appears in the room, Nathaniel throws the object at the floor near it
Zirren's pony suddenly appears in the middle of the room, looking around for it's summoner and direction. Suddenly the thunderstone impacts the ground near its hooves with a terribly loud crack! The pony rears with a neigh, but otherwise does not bolt. The bats screech and begin to swarm, albeit a little less quickly than usual... the loud crack from the thunderstone seems to have dulled their primary senses!
Round 1, Group 1 Actions!
Zirren narrowed his gaze. The first part of his plan seemed to have worked but the real challenge was still coming.
"Art!" he said loudly retrieving a flask of oil from his bag and handing it to him. "When they hit the floor, splash them with the oil." With his other hand he readied his magic.
Got it! Nathaniel takes the flask, removes the stopper and moves into the room
Kill it with...alchemist fire? Dang, I must have left it in my other pants.
That explains why they were covered in soot and had a big hole burned in the rear.
Or was that due to a jealous husband and a burning arrow?
Dang, so hard to keep track of trouser related incidents...
Round 1, Group 1 Recap
Zilka and Ruhk both keep a wary eye out for any other dangers that may attempt to creep up on them while distracted . Zirren draws a flask of oil, and prepares to cast a spell in hopes of dazing the massive swarm of bats...
The angry bats immediately swoop down upon the poor, unsuspecting pony, biting and leaving bleeding wounds upon the creature's hide. At that some moment Zirren's spell coats the entire area in a shower of flashing lights! There's a brief second during which the horrible whinnying of the pony ceases abruptly... followed by a heavy thud! Followed quickly by the soft sounds of numerous bats all falling to the ground...
Round 1, Group 2 Actions
Nathaniel follows up Zirren's successful plan with a well-placed toss of oil! The flask burst and covers a good portion of the unconscious bats with sticky, flammable oil...
Caine, Belladonna actions go!
Blinded - 7/7
Stunned - 8/8
HP - 13/13
Belladonna stays as far back as possible, letting the big guys do what the big guys do best.
Seeing his plan working, Zirren retrieved a second flask from his pack and he held out his other hand and snapped his finger. "Ignite!"
There was a flash of fire on the oil and it burst into flames and began roasting the swarm.
Utilizing Zirren's oil and flames the swarm of voracious bats are dispatched, as well as Zirren's pony. A thick, black smoke curls in the air and stains the remnants of the ceiling above. The acrid tang of the smoke overpowers the somewhat pleasant aroma of roasting meat... However, one then realizes its the scent of roasting bat and perhaps it becomes a little less appealing. With the bats dispatched, you have now dealt with all the creatures you agreed to deal with for Greypelt; however, there is one more area of the monastery that has not been explored. What to do? Satisfy your curiosity and completely explore this strange place? Or complete your mission with as little delay as possible?
Caine came out of the tomb room with the others. "Can we please go kill a monster now?"
"Yes, Caine. Now we can deal with the Warg." Zirren said.
Get the mushrooms, if they are the ones we need, yes. Let's try to do that
"Yes, let's make sure we can get the mushrooms, and if we have enough, we can go back. This place has been here for what, centuries?
It won't run away from us anytime soon."
With the consensus complete with returning to Greypelt to report their completion of his task, the group returns to the room in fairly short order where they find Greypelt, sitting in front of the mushrooms licking at his wound. He looks up suspiciously as you stand in the doorway. "Back so soon are you? I have been hearing the clumsy sounds of you fools tromping through my home for sometime now, so it would likely seem you have completed my requests. Nathaniel Boote, you may approach alone and see if these mushrooms are those which you seek. The rest of you must remain in that room. If I sense any treachery, I will tear out his throat."