Well, this is going downhill fast, but I do agree with Elyas; and am curious about the answer-perhaps we can learn something useful. Lajara thinks to herself, as her hand comes to rest upon the hilt for her curveblade.
[b:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::[/b]
Dearga bristles at the hostility from Elyas and Carthas, "Did we set fire to your stable last night! Did your centaur friend out there have his throat slit while he slept! If I wanted you dead we would have tried already." Glaring at Elyas, "Your flattery will get you no where, I believe it is common to exchange things of worth for aid in your culture. the only thing of worth I think you have now is potentially this tower, and you don't even control it yet!"
After a moment Dearga continues, "My companion also told me of your symbol of faith. If your honour will allow you to come and kill us as pests then so be it, we shall fight! But as a sign of good faith, last I knew there were some rangers in the forts dungeons still. Though I do not know if they still live."
Charles shugs.
"Does it really matter if we give them the tower? I don't plan to move in to it. The rangers are more important."
Charles is not putting a lot of thought into it just thinking of the rangers in the dungeons.
Elyas holds his hands out in a peaceful movement
you are right, both sides need to have something to offer. please give me a minute to discuss this wih my companions and we will give you our answer.
Elyas motions ot the others to ddiscuss things a little ways apart from the redcap
our priorty should be the rangers, definitely. we could afford to let them keep the tower, but will they cause us more trouble in the future if we leave them a whole fort?
Lajara waits until Elyas pulls them together.
No sense fighting them all by ourselves if we can get them to fight each other before we kill her. If she could take the first drinker on her own, she wouldn’t need us. Get the rangers first; and explain the centaur to me if we are alive after.. Lajara assumes they will ultimately have to fight her.
"Agreed. The rangers need to be our priority. We'll have to consider carefully if we can let them keep the tower, or if it will cause us problems. Redcaps are not known for their compassion and kindness."
Lajara nods to Elyas, as he seems to be the spokesman for the group, they will agree and then go to the dungeon, at which point, she raises an important question...
Do you know how to get to the dungeons? If so, let us agree and go there, if not we will need to inquire. she casts a distasteful look towards Dearga as she says "inquire".
We will help you take the tower, but first we need to see if any of our rangers have survived. please help us find where they were being kept, and then we can go after the first Drinker
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
Dearga shakes her head eagerly when Elyas returns and responds to her. "The rangers would be in the basement, in the dungeon if any are still alive. When you go to attack Halk, have someone signal from the balcony and I will fly over!"
Dearga seems eager to have a chance at killing Halk.
Lajara waits for someone to lead her to the dungeon, first things first; rescue the rangers, and then worry about the redcaps.
Elyas looks to the others
anyone see a way to a dungeon basement yet?
If not, he asks the redcap for directions, then promises they will signal for her by waving a piece of cloth from the balcony.
"We can find the stairs down in the keep, I suspect - that should be the path to take."
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
"Yes, yes the stairs down are on the main floor of the keep!" Dearga says.
Having taken a quick and careful look around the first level again the group goes toward the door at the rear of the main level.
Lajara steps forward and looks the door and lock over, before quietly opening the door up. Opening the door a crack Lajara can see two goat headed humanoids.
The two humanoids are waving knives around and taking at each other, while looking south at the counter top. They seem to be bickering about what best to cook and how in sylvan. The stairs are directly across the room in front of you.
Does Lajara recognize the creatures?
She turns back to the others and hold up two fingers, gestured to their direction, and mouths the type of creature if known. On the general assumption that they are not friendly, she slips in the door and begins moving forward, trying to throw them off guard by joining the conversation.
શું તમે શાકાહારી જવાનું વિચાર્યું છે?
When she reaches them she will attack the one in front of her.
Elyas will follow behind, ready to cast a spell to support once fighting breaks out. his sword is at the ready
Carthas drinks his mutagen, shifting into a more willowy plant-man instead of the rough, oaken appearance he'd been using, and pulled out his crossbow to prepare to shoot the creatures.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
Closing in, the satyr's turn as Lajara taunts them. Lajara's blade whistles through the air beside the satyr she swung at.
The satyr's step back from Lajara knives poised and deadly looking. One pulls out a pan flute as he steps back, the other growls in sylvan "Tamē kōṇa chō! Amārō tamārī sāthē kō'ī jhaghaḍō nathī! Amanē rahēvā dō anē tamārā mārga para cālu rākhō!"
The satyrs look ready to fight if it comes to it, but are acting very defensively.
Tō māpha karajō, pakaḍī rākhō anē āpaṇē śāntithī pasāra tha'ī ja'īśuṁ!
Lajara raises a hand up, while simultaneously lowering her weapon in a single hand, signaling for her allies to hold their attacks.
These creatures mean us no harm, and may prove to be allies. Hold your arms and continue, and they will allow us to pass.
Lajara continues to face the pair with her sword low, and her free hand raised to indicate her intent to move on peacefully.
"Will they? They did not say they would let us pass, just that they have no quarrel with us." Carthas steps into the room. "However, satyrs are usually given to hedonistic delights and protection of the forest."
In Sylvan, he says to the satyrs, "Amē bhōnyarāmāṁ bandha rēnjarsanē mukta karavānō prayāsa karī'ē chī'ē, anē ā killānē phēndara śahēramānthī śaraṇārthī'ōnā astitva māṭē surakṣita karī'ē chī'ē. Śuṁ tamē amanē ā karatā rōkaśō?"
CHarles moves into the room, sword at the ready, and stands at the top of the stairs as the others talk.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
The same satyr responds, "Nā. Jō tamē ahīṁ baḷajabarīthī ā sthāna lēvā āvyā chō tō amē chōḍī da'īśuṁ. Amē laḍā'ī śōdhī rahyā nathī. Āpaṇāmānnā ghaṇā ānanda māṇavā āvyā hatā. Mōṭā bhāganā cālyā gayā chē, parantu ahīṁ badhā halkanē anusaratā nathī."
The satyrs look tense, but don't do anything aggressive. Both Carthas and Lajara feel like the satyrs are being sincere.
Lajara shrugs, Ally and enemy is all a matter of timing. They are not our enemy now, so no need to fight now. Let us go free the rangers at strength. She nods in the direction Charles moved.
"Ghaṇu sāru. Amē tamanē javāthī rōkīśuṁ nahīṁ, kāraṇa kē amē tamārī sāthē laḍavā māṅgatā nathī, jō amē tēnē ṭāḷī śakī'ē."
To the others he says, "Let us free what rangers remain."
Lajara nods agreement with Carthas and moves to follow Charles.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
The four of you head down the stairs, and you hear the satyrs run off behind you. Descending into the cellar you see it is crammed with bags boxes and barrels with a stout door across the room.
"Tamē pahēlēthī ja āja māṭē khōrāka līdhō chē! Dūra jā'ō! a korred slurs as you descend the stairs. As Charles pokes around the corner. "Ye are naught ta filthy satyrs. Begone fram 'ere. I be Linder Largehands, brother ta Halk ta Furst Drinkar!"
You already took food for today! Go away!
Before you stands a korred with a grand beard, stout barrel of a chest and oddly stunted arms and legs. The korred sets a barrel down as he speaks to you, his strength not diminished as his limbs are.
Lajara's previous rush to join combat has tempered her actions here, she waits to follow Charle's lead, charging in and attacking if he attacks or waits if he or the others talk. Her hands rest on the hilt of her curveblade, her muscles tensed, like a coiled snake.
Elyas waits for one of the ones who speaks the language to take the lead, but holds his weapon and shield ready. the four of them should be able to handle one more korred, right?
"I don't know what the first bit was but I am clearly no satyr and neither are the others. Your drunk which I appreciate. Now stand aside and there is not issue. Give us a drink if you want to be true friends."
He smiles his best and slips into the room looking as relaxed as he can while ready to block a blow.
Wow!
Lajara moves in beside Charles, continuing to wait for an attack from either side to act.
He said the satyrs already took food. She says flatly, staring at the creature...it reminds her of a hungry bear... big, mean, tough, and dumb.
Carthas says nothing. He's not sure why Charles was trying to charm the korred, but he let the other man take the lead.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
"Ahhh... Drunk? Na yet.... Thas fa later!" Linder lunges forward club appearing in his hand.... his hair going crazy and whipping about as though possessed.
Linder closes with and then swings at Charles, his hair writhing forward toward Charles and Lajara. Lajara swings at Linder as he comes in As Linder swings his hair starts to wrap about the pairs limbs, slapping at their sides and joints.
She swings at the creature as it rushes in, then again as its hair wraps around her, a sensation she finds disconcerting and slightly disgusting. She focuses her energy on her swordwork.
Carthas moves forward, mixing a volatile concoction and then hurling it at the korred. When it explodes, the explosion neatly avoids the group.
Charles slaps the hair away with a bit of a smile as he steps to the side lashing out again.
"My friend, that is a terrible way to attack someone. I bet you did not even bathe yet."
He steals a quick look at the barrels to see if anything else is hiding to attack before continuing to speak. He just wants to be sure he is not putting himself into the middle of a surprise attack.
"Now if your hair was wielding a mithril hairbrush that would be more appropriate."
Elyas moves in to attack with his longsword
but his attack is clumsy and does nothing
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
As his blow is parried, Linder's face snaps to a look if disbelief. What happens next can only be described as a critical failure of existence on Linder's behalf as Carthas' bomb explodes while Lajara and Charles coordinate to slice him in half at the waist.
Elyas looks on and determines his aid is not needed here.
A momentary quiet falls over the cellar before you hear a weak voice from the cells, "Please.... please help. I.... I can not go on like this.... Give me an end to it please...."
Carthas strides over to the remains and looks them over. "Very efficient. Well done." The half-elf's voice seems to view the dead korred with a certain amount of uncaring detachment, searching him for a key.
Mithril hairbrush. Funny. Lajara says flatly as she wipes her blade clean. It is hard to tell, but she seems genuine in her statement.
Lets go help. She moves towards the cries for help.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
You quickly find keys to the cell and open it.
This broad cell reeks of death and filth. Several sets of manacles are bolted to the walls and ceiling, apparently much newer than the stone of the cell. Nine of the restraints hold only corpses, but a tenth set contains a weakly breathing halfling.
The halfling looks up at you, eyes bleary and unfocused. "You're not... fey... or hobgoblins...?" his voice weak and confused.
No. We're not. Lajara moves to check the corpses. Are these the rangers? Dead all? She wonders as she silently checks. She looks to Elyas, Can you tend to him? she asks as she continues her inspection.
"We are not, halfling. I am Carthas Brambleroad. Let me look at your injuries." Carthas sees if any of the keys undo the manacles, then begins examining the Halfling's wounds.
Let me take a look, Elyas says to Carthas. I'll see what I can do
Assuming that the injuries are the kind that can be helped with his spells, Elyas will replace a casting of Bless with a CLW. he will cast it on the Halfling.
:: Neth 1 - Early Morning - Fort Ristin::
As Elyas and Carthas unchain the halflinf and tend to his injuries, his eyes become a bit sharper.
"Have you taken back the fort? I don't recognize you as rangers." The halfling says, "I am Cireo, and that you for the aid."
Checking the corpses, Lajara notes that none of them dies directly of their wounds, it would have been from them festering and getting infected. Some of the dead show signs of severe burns of some sort, but not like those fire would cause.