Garnult Tarnhammer |
Our best interests to stay out of your way...yeah. Tell me another story about why we shouldn't hang you as bandits. You tried to rob and murder my friends. Garnult says, his mood turning sour, these elves have pissed him off.
Garnult is prepared to hang these elves, all three.
GM Jiggy |
"Ha! 'Rob and murder'?! I told you, we had no interest in killing you, and we're only after the stones. Had things gone to plan, you'd have woken up in the morning, all your gear present and accounted for, none the worse for wear. If for that you would hang us, don't be surprised if you wake up without spells in the morning, 'cleric'. We're not Toragians ourselves, but we know enough to know he's into justice, and 'kill anyone who crosses me' probably won't cut the mustard."
Garnult Tarnhammer |
You attacked us first you skinny fast talking little tree hugger. You don't know squat about the ForgeFather. You tell us now about how you only meant to take the stone. See that! SEE THAT Garnult is trembling with rage at this point as he points to Cassidy's wound That is a cut from your sword YOUR SWORD! Instead of jus' askin' you hurt my friend.
Garnult begins fashioning a noose, in plain view of everyone.
TBH, the elves attacked first without parley, dropped one of us, said they owned several dangerous artifacts and right now could be lying about their original intentions. To Garnult they are bandits would be thieves and murderers. Torag believes in swift justice. He is doing Torag's Will.
GM Jiggy |
...and right now could be lying about their original intentions. To Garnult they are bandits would be thieves and murderers.
Isn't this why you put ranks in Sense Motive?
Garnult's SM: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24You can tell he's being completely honest about the whole "not planning to kill or rob you" thing. Knowing that, you also realize that a death sentence would be severe overkill, and therefore harshly unjust. They're not "innocent", but they're not death-row candidates either.
Garnult Tarnhammer |
I don't roll those unless you call for it or you put a spoiler up. Banditry usually carried a death sentence in most western cultures. It actually doesn't matter that they are telling the truth about not meaning to kill us. They attacked first so Garnult is not going to treat them like anything other than the brigands that their actions painted them as. He won't hang them though, since you have heavily intimated that this will result in Torag's displeasure. Leaving them naked and tied up in the cabin though....
Warren Connery |
Warren looks at the elves and sighs as if embarrassed. "Yes he is a lawyer so be careful or he'll sue you for the injuries you caused here.
Why don't you tell us some more about these stones and their original purpose. It would go a long way toward making us trust you and maybe share some information you don't have. While you're talking I'll try and keep Garnult from stringing you up."
GM Jiggy |
Turning to Cassidy, he replies, "No, we're not attacking everyone. However, after crossing the bridge, you immediately left the road and headed for this house. That seems like something you would only do if you knew about the stones and were on the lookout for signs of an impact. Most people just keep walking, as they assume a half-crushed farmhouse has been abandoned. So we staked the place out for a while. We would never just attack every passerby indiscriminantly. We're not petty thugs, we're on a mission."
Turning to Warren, he continues, "Anyway, it seems from the dwarf's earlier comment that you already know the stones are necromantic in nature, so you probably understand why they're dangerous. We have the means to keep them safely tucked away, where no one will accidentally stumble across them and cause problems."
Garnult Tarnhammer |
Garnult snorts in derision at the elf's claim that they aren't petty thugs. He continues fashioning his noose.
Tolbert "Beetle" Musgrave RPG Superstar 2014 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16 |
Garnult Tarnhammer |
If you gits kept em soooo safe, how'd they end up all over here? You are not telling us everything. Seems a skinny fellow in your predicament might wanna start spilling the beans. Garnult says, almost done with his noose.
Cassidy Montblanc |
"Let me see if I understand you so far. You are the original owners of the stones. You were transporting them to a safe location. Some sabotage happened, scattered the stones, and now you are trying to round them up and store them as you originally planned."
"Why do you own such a powerful necromancy object in the first place? How did you come to be the owners of it?"
sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
throw on another arch. luck. maybe Cassidy's third activation today?
Cassidy Montblanc |
"Well, we're trying to round them up too, to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. I guess we just want to know if your agenda is the same as ours, or your lying to us. And asking questions is one way to find out if we're allies or enemies. Right now, I can't quite tell."
Garnult Tarnhammer |
Allies? Are ye mad? They almost killed you! My vote is hanging, from that tree there. Garnult points out the collapsed wall to a nearby tree. I'll go get the rope ready. Bring out the skinny bastards if they keep talking in circles. Garnult bustles out of the room, rope in hand to make a hanging tree.
Cassidy Montblanc |
Should the team hold a meeting and decide what to do with the captives?
To her team mates, out of ear shot of the others Cassidy says, "I'm for parting ways peacefully. If they are good guys, they will just end up cutting our work in half as they gather up stones. If they're bad guys...well, we will most likely run into them again, and then we will have reason and more evidence to take action against them."
Garnult Tarnhammer |
Garnult vehemently opposes any plan to just let the elves go free. They assaulted the group and no matter their words, their actions were that of thieves and murderers. If you won't let him hang them, he is all about turning them in for banditry at the next town.
GM Jiggy |
Night has fallen by the time you've finished talking with your prisoners. (Presumably you don't want to travel overnight?) A casual look around the farmhouse reveals that things like food, clothes, and other essentials are all missing, while bigger things like furniture remain. When asked, your captives explain that the family which lived here was paid a handsome sum for the stone that wrecked their house, and immediately decided to give up farming and go live comfortably in Border City to the south, so they packed up their things and won't be coming back.
The night passes uneventfully. (With Garnult having enough healing power to top you all off before bed.)
Anything to do before heading off? And what's your destination? Bringing the bound prisoners?
Cassidy Montblanc |
"Looking at the map, it's going to take us days to get to the next town. Bring the prisoners along will complicate matters. Garnult would you be responsible for them? Or would you be okay with just leaving them here, tied up?"
Garnult Tarnhammer |
I'd like to see them face justice for attacking us. You think its justice to leave em? Garnult grumbles
I have no idea what our destination is? Where were we headed?
GM Jiggy |
I have no idea what our destination is? Where were we headed?
You set off from Olgenheim in search of more stones. You could continue SSE on the road to Border City and see if you can find anyone who has acquired stones, or you could go off the road into the wilderness to follow the "circle" in search of additional impact sites, or you could surprise me. :)
Garnult Tarnhammer |
I'd rather sort out the problem myself. Father Torag believes in self reliance and hard work. Let's bring the skinny gits with us, maybe they will spill the beans on the trip.
On to the big city
Warren Connery |
While Warren has been pacing quietly listening to Garnult he stops and turns to the group. "Why don't we return to where we started from yesterday and let our friends speak with them. If this group is truly what they say they are, I would hate to lose out on possible allies. If they are not then we will have to turn them over to the authorities."
Garnult Tarnhammer |
Garnult doesn't care, Olgenheim is fine.
GM Jiggy |
It's dusk by the time you reach the tiny village of Olgenheim, prisoners in tow. You are greeted by the same old man you met at your first arrival, watching the sunset from the same rocking chair.
"Back already?" he calls out to you. "That didn't take long at all! And who're these fellers?" The old man points at the bound elves.
Garnult Tarnhammer |
Bandits. Garnult says stone faced and then says We have need of a lawman, where is your magistrate?
GM Jiggy |
Walking over and knocking on Garreth's door, you have to wait only a few moments before the door opens. Garreth stands before you, looking far healthier than he did a couple of days ago, having gained back quite a bit of color and switched from a full-on crutch to a simple wooden cane.
He opens his mouth to speak, but hesitates as his face shifts from friendly neutrality, to surprise at seeing you back so soon, to confusion at seeing three bound elves with you. Finally, he manages some actual words:
"Uh... hi. What exactly's going on? Is everything okay?"
Garnult Tarnhammer |
We were attacked by these bandits who claim to be seeking the stones also. We want them tried and punished for their crimes... Garnult says
GM Jiggy |
"I... what? We don't even have a courthouse or anything, closest we have to any kind of authority position would be me and the oldest villager—"
Garreth pauses, closes his eyes, and sighs.
"Right then. Guess I'm suddenly a judge now. Anyway, I'm more interested in the fact that there are other people actively seeking out the stones. That concerns me; how many factions might be competing for them, and for what purposes? I'll figure something out with these folks; meanwhile, I suggest you four make haste with whatever your current plan is. The more time passes, the more other people will gather stones and start doing who knows what. I suggest you leave bright and early tomorrow morning."
Warren Connery |
"The reason we came back here Garreth, is that these elves claim to be the rightful owners of the stones, but we aren't able to get much more out of them. Garnult's in a hurry to hang them for attacking us and they claim they weren't going to kill us just render us unconscious. I would like more information about these stones and they seem to be a good source. Also I would hate to loose possible allies as we've seen what these stones can do."
GM Jiggy |
Garnult listens carefully to your explanations, then speaks. "Alright, here's what I suggest: you guys get back to collecting stones. I'll keep these elves here and question them some more, see if I can get anything useful out of them, then see about some application of justice. Seeing as you seem to have thoroughly disarmed them, I don't imagine they'll give me much trouble. How does that sound?"