As the miscreant attempted to move around her, Nimaethep took advantage of his moment of recklessness.
Nimaethep steped out from between the two thugs and points to pile of viscera "Look at the horrors you have awaken. I would much prefer to see you taken unharmed so that you can explain yourselves, however my companions are not necessarily of the same mindset. Give up this futile fight, there is no need for more blood to be shed."
Although she was willing to give them a chance to surrender, she wasn't about to leave herself defenseless. She watched them carefully to see what their next move was and respond as appropriate.
Nimathep sees an opening as the one thug tries to move around her. As he moves into position and takes his attack, she ducks aside and launches a kick to his midsection. The blow knocks the breath from him and he falls over gasping. As he tries to take in air, he slumps over as he loses consciousness.
The other thug still tries to strike but he is also caught off guard by Nimaethep's movement and his attack misses her as well.
Seeing that the second thug had no intention of surrendering, Nimaethep sighed and shook her head in disappointment as she launched a quick strike at him.
Seeing the undead "thing' fall apart and splash all over the floor, Teos quickly turns and heads back to help Nim against the 2 thugs he left her with.
Attack:
Damage:
Vash moves over to get a visual on the remaining enemy standing and says, ”Swing at her again and you’re dead,” as he pulls back an arrow on his massive bow.
Teos rushes back to help Nimaethep with the thugs and cuts down the remaining enemy. Vash turns with his bow ready, a threat escaping his lips but it falls on unknowing ears as the thugs slumps to the floor, blood beginning to pool beneath him.
"I assume we want to keep the thugs alive, at least for now?" asks Vash, as he moves over to tap the dying one with his wand.
(Assuming the answer is yes... hit points).
"I appreciate that Vash. I followed a path similar to these men once, myself and other members of my family." Nimaethp looked down at the prisoners.
"I don't know why these men chose the life they did, but I understand the circumstances that led me to make the same types of decisions. I was fortunate though and given a second chance. I was shown a way out of that life. So I feel an obligation to afford others the same opportunity for a second chance that I was given."
Nimaethep massaged her hand "It is why I pursued the techniques of the blue lotus. The dead are rarely given an opportunity to redeem themselves."
Vash nods at Nimaethep, glad that his act of mercy was met with understanding. "Yes, let us hope that they know what is going on here, and then can be encouraged to leave and make different life choices," responds Vash.
He then turns the wand on himself, trying to shake off the effects of the undead attack...
...but the viscera of the foul creature appears to have sapped his vitality as well.
The one thug remains unconscious, but as Vash heals the dying man his wounds close and his eye blink repeatedly as he regains consciousness. He rolls to the side and begins to scramble up, trying to regain his feet, but his wounds still take his strength and he stumbles.
"Please, don't kill me." he ssys. "We were just doing what she told us to do."
He rolls onto his back and raises his hands to ward off any blows, trying not to take any further beating.
Vash stands unsteadily on his feet, arrow nocked to bow but not drawn.
"Answer our questions, give us no cause to slay you, and you may yet live," growls Vash. He stops talking, content to let the more social types conduct the interrogation.
|
Harmini approaches the downed thug and begins to question him. Her hair continues to wave eerily about, further enhancing her striking gaze.
"It was foolish to attack us. Tell us where your prisoner is being held and who told you to take him. If you speak truly, we will allow you to leave without further harm."
Teos searches the dead warrior's body and then just stands back and looks menacingly at the thug as the other question him.
Teos searches the dead warrior's body and then just stands back and looks menacingly at the thug as the other question him.
The thug cowers back further as Harmini and Vash bear down on him and blubbers out a response.
"You mean that priest?" he says with a cracking voice. "I don't know why that cat-woman wanted him taken, she never told us, but her men in the masks put him into one of the sump wells. That's across the hall back that by the stairs. Please, that's all I know, let me take my friend here and we will never look back."
Vash looks at Harmini and shrugs, unsure if the Thug is hiding anything.
Nimaethep frowned slightly but held her tongue as her companions spoke.
While she did believe in giving these men a second chance to choose a different path than the one they were on, that did not mean that they should not be held accountable for what they had already done. The more responsible approach would be leniency in their sentencing and support for guiding them into a more respectable life, not simply letting them free without consequences.
However, there was a man's life on the line and this was neither the place nor the time to debate the matter with her companions. She would have to be satisfied that she was able to spare them their lives.
She saw Harmini's glance at the mention of another catfolk. While she certainly wasn't aware of all the residents of Wati, other than her two brothers who lived in the city the only other catfolk she had somewhat regular contact with was her cousin who dropped by unannounced on occasion.
The presence of this new catfolk intrigued her at the same time their involvement concerned her.
The thug seems to relax slightly as Harmini's tone calms and he notices the look between Nimaethep and herself. He is still cowering though and continues to answer her question.
"She said her name was Ekram Iffek. She came in from the desert, then eventually she and her followers took over our operations. She may be a skilled fighter, but she is not much of a smuggler.
The thugs begins getting to his feet and motions to his companion. [b]"Can we go now?" he asks but does not move beyond standing up.
Vash shrugs again, saying, "Perhaps if they get the priest for us, we can allow them to leave and start a new life."
"There is still the issue of trust. While I am grateful that they have decided to cooperate, I am hesitant about actually trusting them enough to put the priest's life in their hands."
Nimathep knelt down and helped rouse the unconscious prisoner and got him back on his feet.
"My companions have humored me and spared your lives. Had I my way you would now be handed over to the authorities to account for your transgressions. However they have made you an offer and you have upheld your end of that arrangement so I will deffer to their judgement on the matter."
She fixed the man with a stern gaze
"You have been given your second chance here today. If we cross paths again under similar circumstances do not forget that you had your opportunity to change."
Nimaethep stood aside.
"Is there anything else we should know? How many followers does Ekram have? Has she ever displayed any unusual abilities? How is it that she came to usurp leadership of your band?"
The thug shakes his head as if trying to clear it, then he shoots Harmini an piercing gaze.
"I was telling you the truth miss," he says. "no need to start in messing with my head. I told you where the priest is. Ekram is a canny woman, good at hunting men down. She has some minor magical abilities, but I've never seen it. He men though, they're true wizards. Never see their faces behind the masks they wear. She usually has two or three with her."
The thug motions back to his friend and finishes up. "If you want me to retrieve the priest I will, but I must tell you that if I am seen any chance of surprise for you is blown."
"I take it Ekram and her minions are between us and Ptemenib, then, Harmini. If you think these thugs tell the truth, we should have them leave and then we can deal with Ekram ourselves," suggests Vash.
"I agree, we should get moving before others stumble on us. One last question though: What were you planning on doing with this thing?" she asked, nudging the shriveled viscera with her foot.
"Was it a guardian set by Ptemenib, or something you were planning on selling."
|
|
hmph. That usually works on simple-minded fools. I shall have to practice more often.
Harmini's usual smug smile fades into a scowl as she redresses the resilient thug.
"Then it seems that your usefulness has come to an end. Leave now and pray to your gods that we never cross paths again."
She rummages through her pack and retrieves a scroll to keep handy.
The thug looks over at the remains that Nimaethep prods and the color kinds of runs out of his face. He is clearly uncomfortable looking at it.
"I've never seen anything like that." the thug stammers. "The silver chain deals in the dead, not the undead. If that was left here deliberately, then it would have been by Ekram or her mages, but I even doubt even they would deal with such a horror."
The thug looks beyond the group to the door they came in as he continues.
"Whether you lot or I go beyond to get the priest, silence is the key to not alerting Ekram. The priest though has been vocal whenever someone approaches. Ekram's chambers are beyond him, but if he calls out she may send someone to check on him. Stealth, and a friendly face may be the best approach."
Vash pokes himself again with the Wand of CLW while the conversation continues.
”Lady Wakestep, that undead creature seems to have weakened me somehow. Do you have anything that might help?” asks Vash, finally getting the undead slime off of himself but still looking less healthy than normal.
Vash smiles and bows, saying, "Thank you, milady."
Teos has kept a vigil as the others questioned the thug, but now that they are getting ready to move again, he mover to the front of the group.
"Right...we ready to carry on? Let's deal with this Ekram and carry on with our mission."
Nimaethep nodded to Teos as she headed back towards the entry hall. As quietly as she could, she made her way across the hall to the other set of doors and listened intently.
+1 vs traps
Nimaethep examines the door but finds nothing to alarm her. The door is not locked either. With care she opens the door to find a short hall with a door to the left and then it opens into a larger chamber that extends to the north and to the south. A stench if rot comes from the south, not death but more like stagnant water. Beyond the open room a set of double doors can be seen as well, slightly cracked open.
Vash moves to the door of the room but does not enter the hallway, attempting to give Nima the latitude to scout ahead while still being close enough to provide support if needed.
Knowing he is not a sneaky person, Teos stays back for the time but listens closely if he is needed.
Nimaethep glanced back from the door to see where everyone was. Satisfied with everyone's position she slowly inched her way forward.
She paused at the first door and pressed her ear against it listening for any signs of occupants.
Armed with this knowledge, she pressed forward to the corner of the wall and carefully peered around both sides to see if there were any dangers within.
Seeing Nima move on up, Vash follows to the corner of the doorway behind, keeping her in sight and trying to be stealthy himself.
Nimaethep slides forward along the wall while remaining as silent as she can manage. She stops to inspect the door but nothing can be heard beyond it. She continues along the wall and sneaks a quick look around the corner to see what threats may be waiting but no dangers are there.
To the north she sees an extended hall wrapping back to the west, but before that there is an open threshold, possibly leading into what was behind the door she just passed. A light falls from within the room. Nothing seems to be moving, nor making any sound in that direction.
To the south the room opens up more and there are four open wells in the floor. The scent of rot seems to come from these holes and a faint groan can be heard coming from the one in the southwest corner.
From the door across the room she can hear faint voices. The door is open slightly with light spilling out as well. Based on the voices there are at least two people talking in the room, one is most definitely a female with a slight purring quality to her voice. The voices continue to talk, though Nimaethep cannot make out what is being said from here.
With no enemies in view, Nimaethep returned to the group.
"There aren't any enemies in the room beyond, but I do hear their leader nearby. I also think that their prisoner is being held in some kind of well just to the South."
She motioned the group forward
Before moving forward, Vash whispers, "So, what is the plan? Try to rescue the wizard quietly, rush the door and attack the enemy in their room, or lure them out and ambush them?”
|
|
When Harmini approaches her companions to make plans, she makes an honest attempt at being stealthy out of respect for Nima's efforts. Harmini also renews her Message spell on the party for discreet communications.
In magically hushed whispers, she relays her response to the group.
"We should recover Ptemenib first and assess his condition. I've no interest in exchanging words with any more ruffians today. Nor do I wish to engage in correcting the error of their ways with violence if it can be avoided."
She spends a few moments re-arranging her equipment and rummaging through her haversack. At last, Harmini produces a small vial of purplish liquid. She curls her lips into a sly smile and shows it to the others.
"Minnothet's gratitude may yet prove its worth. If our unfortunate quarry is indeed down a well, this potion of Spider Climb should quietly ease his ascent... provided he's still alive of course."
"I can cover you, Nimaethep, if you wish to deliver the potion to Ptemeninb," whispers Vash, moving to the corner as quietly as possible and drawing his bow.
Nimaethep nodded, it sounded like a good plan, it was fortunate that Harmini had such a potion. "Delivering the potion shouldn't be a problem. Does anyone have a potion of curing in case he is injured?"
She tucked the vials in her belt pouch and proceeded quietly to the edge of the pit. She cautiously looked over the rim trying to avoid detection. She did not want whoever was within to call out.
It took a moment for her keen eyes to adjust to the dark.