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Ashe speaks looking at the party, "Are were done with the fighting now.. they want to surrender?"
Then addressing the Wereats, " does NOT have your best interests in mind... he is fueled by mere hatred and lust for violence! Embattled as Korvosa is now it is STILL powerful enough to begin another 'purge' of the were-beings living below its streets... something that does not want to see happen..as I'm sure neither do you! would only start another war the were -beings of this city could NOT win."
"We are only here to end Girrigz's threat... HE is our prey. I am here to kill him..."
Una stares grumpily at the wererats and Ashe.
"Fine, if they want to surrender, let them. I'll leave it to you to determine that they actually surrender and don't just pretend to to save their skins."
She goes to the far wall where her crossbow bolt flew and begins searching for it.
It had unfortunately broken in half when it struck the wall, half of a shaft with the point embedded in the wall.
All die, but it need not be this night for you.
Varrel mentally pushes his will upon the wererat assaulting Gronk (slumber will dc16) but continues to keep his guard up against the one before him.
The paladin speaks true. Cease fighting us. We are not here to kill you.
Shakhan stops mid-swing. "Unless Girrigz is your boss. In which case I don't mind starting with the henchmen and working my way up."
Ashe steps over to Wererat 5# crouches and touches the dying wererat... a silvery glow suffusing his hand applying again his sacred touch to stabilize the lycanthrope from dying.
Turning to regard wererat 4# and 1# Ashe says, "No. We are not here seeking vengeance upon you for being misled... only is our target. My... companion's eagerness is only from the evil reputation that wererats have. We were asked to spare your lives - if we could, by the word of a woman wererat... ... who IS NOT EVIL... and it is only because of her example that I am being merciful! She is NOT EVIL... so potentially you may turn from evil. Gather your wounded, leave and follow her example... turn from the path of evil and go in peace."
Ashe positions himself in the middle of the room ready to react one way or another... he knows 'typically' wererats are conniving, devious, treacherous, evil and chaotic creatures. But right now, they are a distraction... from the even More Reprehensible enemies of Korvosa - there are BIGGER 'fish to fry' and he wants this resolved quickly! His desire is to encourage efforts... hopefully by being merciful in this instance.. it will have longer reaching effects when evident change of heart and trust in the kindness and mercy of Korvosa's shows by example - it can have positive results to the other wererats.
Varrel interrupts and points his blade at the wererat,
My opening spell was to Blind you. My following attacks merely Knocked out 2 of you. That WAS being restrained. Perhaps you would have preferred a fireball? The paladin had the right of it. We are after Griggz, but make no mistake, aggressive actions towards the populace will invite swift and brutal retaliation from the city. Do not entertain such a notion, else I return with more....definitive orders.
Ashe nods Varrel's direction, "My elven friend speaks truth. DO NOT make me regret being merciful! If I have to come back to deal with you.. , I will not leave until the sewers are lined with severed wererat heads on pikes to remind you of your error!"
There is an... edge to Ashe's tone... one the party has not heard before.. it speak of a man who is not merely making a flowery turn of phrase.. HE MEANS his grizzly promise! THIS is the Paladin angry at the actions of the wicked... woe be to the target that presents itself an object for that rage!
Not to be outdone by a squeamish Paladin, Una glares at the wererats. "I don't like being restrained at all, actually. But if your actions give us a reason to come back down and deal with the wererat population so that nothing like this ever happens again, I'll be very happy."
Ashe nods, "All sentient beings who would seek peace are welcome neighbors. I cannot guarantee the actions or EVER citizen of Korvosa.. but I DO hold some 'not small' sway with ... and I can guarantee that if you live peacefully with the surface dwellers the Field Marshal will be a staunch supporter against ANY officially-sanctioned action by the Korvosa military meant to attack your communities! It will take time for the fear and mistrust of the common folk to fade... but you need not fear direct attack by the - IF you live peacefully. As I'm sure you cannot guarantee the actions of every wererat in the city... but a general policy of pace would be acceptable."
You cannot keep your word unless you give us Girrigz. He is the cause of us being here and will only invite further surface incursion. Tell us where he is so he can be removed from you and it will be as the paladin says.
Varrel reinforces the point by sheathing his sword and holding his arms wide.
Ashe steps forward pointed NOT sheathing his shortsword, "Girrigz's life is forfeit... I have not the time nor the inclination to wonder if he will break his word nor do I have a secure place to confine him where he will not endanger spreading his disease to others holding him in custody - where he can be monitored for 'good behavior'. He dies today! There are bigger threats to Korvosa and he is a distraction, that I can ill-afford!"
To those who are friends and familiar with Ashe... this is a , from his usual 'openness' to being merciful. Whatever Ashe learned in his... meeting with the Queen... the stress of it is showing in his lack of usual willingness to give the 'benefit of doubt' in dealing with evil... in favor of being expedient. This is a dogmatic Ashe... rarely seen!
Girrigz only makes things worse for all feed his anger. Cares for no one but his self. Is wrong path forward. Must needs be stopped. Now.
"I would be much assuaged to put a bolt between his eyes, and made more secure in the knowledge that he will not threaten the lives of an entire population."
Satisfied Ashe nods in acceptance to the wererats and strides by them giving in return a traditional Varisian farewell, "May your Journey not be long and your roads clear."
Moving to the gap Ashe makes his way through it cautiously pretty certain any need of stealth is over as the loud battle has warned of anyone approaching. He expects the wererat to try to ambush... just cause and proof to strike him down without question!
"Ashe, look out for traps! Wererats are known for their ingenuity."
Ashe responds, "...ah yes - Una, good advice! I expect there will be... and an ambush if possible, but the rat swarm seems to me would have triggered any trip-line trigger... and dead falls hold no threat with my ring.. but there are other traps...rock-falls and perhaps dangerous pits. I notice the wererats did not tell use about their room they just left..."
"Varrel could you please peek inside and see if there is another exit from their previous room? Don't enter.. just look. I will do the same.. just going to look beyond the gap."
Ashe step to the gap and cautiously peeks into the room beyond from which the rat swarm boiled forth...
Varrel casts DETECT MAGIC and sweeps his gaze about the room, similarly checking the room Ashe points out
Standing in the Earthen gap surveying the room with all the ominous holes in the floor & walls Ashe watches the writhing mass of burned rats. Ashe softly describes what he sees to those in the main chamber. He pauses, advancing no further and relights his shield-sconce torch, not for illumination... his glowing magical shortsword provides that, but to have fire available as the rats will fear the flame.
He holds position... waiting for directions from Una.
"Be careful of the holes. Something could come out of them. With the rats there, they're covering the floor, preventing us from seeing any pressure plates."
After a few second's thought.
"Squeeze to the side, but brush any rats out of your way with your foot and look at the floor as you go."
Ashe replies, "Understood. Proceeding."
Moving to the right side of the chamber Ashe makes his way... brushing his booted plate armored feet to shove rats out of his way and avoid the holes in the floor aiming his shield at the holes in the walls to cover his body.
He makes his way to the south opening and detecting for evil peeks into the fire-lit hallway/chamber.. shield held high to protect from sudden attack.
Icabhod follows, his hands dripping with liquid ice.
Una also follows, doing the same thing she instructed Ashe to do.
Gronk knows he is not the most coordinated member of the group. So he will just follow along trying to walk where the person before him did while keeping an eye out for anything dangerous or interesting.
"Monsters" Una mutters to herself as she goes forward to release the alley cat, shooing the fat rats away with her shortsword.
Ashe was in mid-stride on his way to free the cat himself but paused as Una nimbly beat him to the cage. He smiled under his helmed visor... apparently Una was also a 'cat-person' at heart like him. Even though Ashe had never been able to keep a cat as a pet for long in a city with flocks of Imps roosting about. It always seemed as if the devilish pests took perverse pleasure from killing cats in as many horrific ways as possible.
Ashe made no comment but his brief motion to move to the caged cat's assistance was obvious to all.
As Una was now in area {c3} Ashe assumed Varrel and Shakhan would aid in her search of the room and he moved to cover the east narrow exit from area {c5} and pan his cone of down that hallway holding position for the party to eventually follow up.
When he sees several people moving into the southern room, Gronk moves over to cover Asherick.
Icabhod keeps Una covered.
After letting the cat go free, Una makes a thorough search of the room, knocking over things and otherwise trying to find traps, treasures, or anything of import.
Varrel moves along quietly behind Ashe, content to let the paladin go first for now. He takes a chance to renew his BLEND spell one final time using his last Pearl of power today. He moves along the floor rather than flying. He only had 3 mins of that left, he scans and keeps his DETECT MAGIC up as he goes.
Ashe whispers to Gronk {as he cannot see Varrel}, 'There is one evil being down this hallway... inform the others.'
Ashe prepares to move down the hallway hefting his shield & shortsword.. But holds position awaiting direction for Una.
Gronk turns and mutters to Varrel, Sir Asherick says one evil being down hallway. Remember evil is not only potential danger. Could still be mercs, animals, and traps.
More loyal wererats as well.
Una moves along, finally, following behind Ashe.
"Aye, we're ready Ashe. Watch for traps again. And don't be afraid to go slow if you need to."
Ashe glances Una's direction.. giving only a silent nod of his vizored helm in acknowledgement.
Pausing for a few moments Ashe analyzes the trace of evil he is detecting [3 round scan] getting a feel for its exact location and strength.
Ashe creeps along the narrow hallway shield held high in a maximum defensive posture as he moves slowly down the hall toward the source of evil ready for the inevitable ambush.
Ashe advances toward the source of evil ready to do battle.. glad the party is letting him proceed first as he is immune to contracting the disease of Lycanthropy.
Alchemical Silver Shortsword glowing with magic in hand, he advances shield at the ready...
Una follows along, loading her crossbow with another alchemical silver crossbow bolt.
Icabhod follows along.