Despite the burns Seventeen keeps her steady and her voice to an even monotone saying, "Friends don't try to kill each other. Prove you are a friend."
"He is begging for mercy." Omo says somewhat queasily. "I don't trust him. But if we tied him up and took his weapons maybe lack of trust wouldn't matter?"
I'll go ahead and suspend combat for now while you guys figure out what to do. Yellow has run off and Red is running too, Sef threw his weapon down and is begging for mercy.
Combat Over.
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"I care not what we do in the end, but have little desire to leave trouble behind us; as we move forward into unknown danger. Should the group desire to do so I can supply rope if none can be found in the refuse dump." Jarreck speaks out normally to the others, but the this last part is mumbled underneath his breath. "T'would be a poor use of good silk rope."
"Guaire, Mort, Vrek what say you three? As this poor excuse for a leader attacked us when Seven spoke her mind and chose to walk away. Now that he is loosing, he begs for his life" Jarreck's body language shows that he doesn't care which way this goes.
"So that's one vote for no mercy." Omo replies wryly.
Jarreck is ever the practical one....
"So that's one vote for no mercy." Omo replies wryly.
Guaire shows slightly narrowed eyes.
"We'd usually toss such a lot in the dungeon for a while before asking questions. I recall your half-orc friend having died from multiple stabwounds, i'd not dismiss another backstab from this one. Law in the field here....i suggest tie him up and ditch him at the brown mold. That's being nice, considering an arrow to the head as on-the spot solution."
At the sugggestion of a poor use....
"Use any clothes they have present for a makeshift rope, it saves you yours."
Seventeen studies the reactions of the party as they decide what to do with Sef. Internally she considers the following debate.
'Councillor Baine described in great length the proper treatment of prisoners in town and when captured by armies. Under no circumstances where they to be hurt, although force was permissible if they tried to escape. We are neither an army nor is this town, although in truth town is not so far away and we need healing so returning there with a prisoner may be preferable. Pushing on leaves us with poor choices, either we murder Sef and become that which Baine detested or we release Sef and expect a dagger in the back...'
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Jarreck decides to wander about the "throne room" area, he figures that either way the area will get sacked. If Sef is left alive then the objects from the throne room area - if any - are a small price to pay for his life; if he is executed well he wont need them after that point anyways. And our group is definitely in need of additional healing if it can be found. Jarreck will also check out Loupel, the down skulk that was going to go with us. The Councillor has been gone a while and trip back to town may or not benefit his survival/recovery.
"I'm going to take a look around in here for that rope and anything else that might be of use. Someone want to check on Vrek's friend over there" Indicating whats left of the skulk Vrek dispatched.
Guaire will help Jarreck with his (possible) medical check of the skulk.
"Mind if i take a look?"
He'd rip some of the skulk's clothing for bandages if it helped.
The Skulk that Vrek downed is well and truly dead, Jarreck cannot tell if Luepel is dead or not, but she is badly burned. Guaire can tell that Luepel isn't dead, Guaire can stabilize Luepel if he cares to.
Jarreck takes about 15 minutes to search the area thoroughly
Jarreck finds
Sef responds to Seven in broken common Sef. Friend. Sef. Help. Find. Purple. Hair. He doesn't resist if you try and tie him up. He just wants to live.
Seventeen has a look at the potions and the scrolls, but hands them back saying nothing.
Abruptly and in a louder voice than strictly necessary Seventeen volunteers the opinion that, "I am injured, seeking healing back at town would be logical. It would also be logical if we let the Torch authorities deal with Sef, that way we can act with honor without leaving us open to a dagger in the back."
"I like this suggestion."
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"The councillor is closest to you two, Seven and Omo, if you choose to return to Torch I will support you both in this, though it may bode ill for the councillor. But the well being of the group as a whole is better than the one, in this I guess. We can then return to complete our task"
Jarreck feels that Omo's idea about the liquid ice would be good. Sounds good anyways.
Seventeen glances at Omo, and replies, "Finding Councillor Baine is the priority, but he is most particular about the law. If there is another solution that provides healing and retains our honor, I would like to hear it."
Left unstated is Seventeen's private assessment of the chances of finding Councillor Baine alive 'A man may go for many weeks without food, but only three days without water. Given the toxins in the rubbish pile and the general danger of the environment the chances of finding him are remote, and the chance of finding him alive is almost infinitesimal. I find the calculus strangely hard to perform and my eyes malfunction when the number is so low. Strange, why does the value 0.0015% make my chest hurt? It's just a number.
"The meaning of 'honor' varies per people. Sometimes safety and security overrule it. We of The Blades hold our traditions in value and we keep the city safe, our 'honor' is our loyalty to our clans and duty."
Seven fails to recognize either the potions or the scrolls.
"Due to our reliance on potions to travel here. I think we should just tie him up."
Omo identifies the potions as Cure Moderate Wound potions CL3.
Omo destroys the brown mold, which makes the room safe to inspect. He gets a closer look at the area. He sees the dead body which is propped up against the wall.
If you inspect the corpse you notice that it is cool to the touch and well preserved.
"Seventeen, use one of these potions. They are curative."
"There is another body!"
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"I will be glad to tie our friend up here, with the mold damaged if not wiped out at this point and the blindhiem disposed of; he may survive long enough for his friends to keep him from other denizens of this place he calls home.
Guaire, I know that Parda Gunn was killed by Mona Three Knives - that is a score with her and Louie I will settle if ever we pass. I cannot in good conscience blame that death on Sef - there is plenty I am sure he is guilty of. Including the attack on Seven unprovoked.
Many a 'good man' has fallen prey to bad leadership, try to stabilize Loupel if you can and so choose. We can tie her up as well before we leave.
I say we leave them a short sword each, and a dagger to protect themselves once they figure out how to untie themselves or their cowardly friends return - although they may just kill them anyways. Either way our hands are clear of their murders in cold blood. And the loss of their gear could be considered payment for poor judgement in attacking our group."
Will that satisfy the group sense of honor and justice?
[ooc] Jarreck will search the area where the mold was if Omo's attack renders it harmless, taking 20 for 26 if search is made
"I'll get on that Jarreck." His wise words swaying the young rat.
Omo stablizes Leupel.
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Jarreck comes back over to Sef squatting down to stare him in the eyes, speaking very deliberately in common.
"Talk. Now. No. Tricks. Tell Omo."
Looking to where Omo is stabilizing Loupel "Omo he is to tell you anything he knows about the Purple haired one, and what he left out about the gremlins; I believe we need to pass through their area to continue following the Councillor."
Jarreck sets Sef down in a chair, then begins tying Sef up. Beginning with his wrist behind his back; followed by a tying a noose that he slips over his head, running the rope between his wrist and back; then securing his ankles to prevent and excessive movement
He will do the same with Loupel once stabilized, securing the 2 swords and daggers in the roof area of the hut. Well out of reach from the two secured skulks.
In halting Common over the next several minutes Sef tells you everything he knows, hoping that you will let him live. He relays how he got up here from the Darklands below via the nearby vertical shaft. Once the Skulks were led by an arcane caster of some skill who used the levitate spell to get the skulks up the several hundred foot shaft.
He gives some details about the first group that were spotted, they were led by a purple haired woman. There were some green skins and ratfolk also, you surmise that the "greenskins" are orcs or halforcs. The "purple haired" woman met with the previous leader, not Sef, and arranged for the skulks to kill any others who entered the caves. The purple haired one and her fairly large group went north into the gremlin caves and haven't been seen since.
Sef kinda glosses over a few parts but eventually his clan of skulks fought with Khonnir's group and things went south for the Skulks. The sorceror skulk leader was slain along with half the clan, leaving Sef in charge. Baine's group went to a place the skulks call the "metal tunnel" which is nearby, Sef obsequiously offers to show you the way.
Mort has stayed quiet for the time the others were debating about whether to have mercy on Sef or not.
"I would suggest getting the other skulk up, bind Sef and leave them here. If and when she would wake up she could release Sef by cutting his bonds, though I'm sure that that won't be anytime soon, so we're safe from any backstabbing he might do."
Mort looks to Sef with a vague expression as he can't really see him.
"We could release him when we get back from the exploration of the metal tunnel, providing Loubel hasn't awakened and freed him yet."
Seventeen thanks Omo for the potion, uncorks it, sniffs it and downs it in one.
Miraculously the terrible burns on her arms and body vanish, although her burnt hair remains burnt.
"It seems the consensus is to simply tie Sef up. Very well. I suggest we stay here until Mort's vision returns, it shouldn't be much longer."
Stumbling upon the body after the mold was cleared, Guaire takes a closer look.
"There's something off with the body. There's...brown filaments growing along his throat, spine and chest. I don't recall seeing that before, any of you have any idea?"
-Posted with Wayfinder
Vrek takes a moment to reclaim his energy after his rage, for now he seems content to follow his kinsman's lead and keep watch
Vrek 2/12 2 rounds of rage used for the day
Jarreck 10/10
Mort 8/10 8 Nonlethal taken, so 1 pt of damage drops him unconscious
Omo 9/9 2? bombs used and one extract used
Guaire 12/12 6 nonlethal taken
Seven 7/7 but has used pretty much all spells and arcana points
Blindheim- dead
Fire Beetles- still there
Skulks- 2 fled, 2 captured, 1 dead
Slime Molds- dead
Brown Mold- dead
Also, regarding loot, you missed the items on the dead body that has gone unidentified.
Seventeen sways on her feet slightly, and she announces, "We have exhausted ourselves, its time to rest. These caves are dangerous so we will need to set watche. I'll volunteer to take first watch."
"I'll take second then. I need but my bow and flail."
"I suppose I can take third then," Vrek offers
"If everyone is up for the rest, I'll take a breather myself. There however remains the question as to how long our waterbreathing will work. Though I'm fine with healing up a bit in here before trying that swim again."
Mort says as his sight returns and he blinks in sudden wonder.
"Well my sight returns at the time we want to take some shuteye... figures..."
"We need to return to the surface before our water breathing runs out if only to get more water breathing potions. Or more likely, a few return to the surface and acquire more potions, including some for Jarreck. We need at least two per person. We have learned things. Things our town needs to know. I'm willing to go and do it myself."