Seems like somebody doesn't want you to expand. Alex says.
"So, what do we do with this one?" - Reknar pipes in - "He didn't really tell us anything did he? A guy maybe human or elf paid him 'money' and is somewhere 10 miles north from here, no doubt standing in the middle of the road with a sign above its head saying he is the one we are looking for" - he shakes his head - "Not nearly enough in my book"
Of course breaking his word. Classic. I have answered every questions asked honestly. If you are too stupid to ask the right questions whose fault is that?
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"Miss Delilah...perhaps you would like to go to another room?"
He asked politely as he drew his dagger and stabbed the fellow in the knee. Fully facing them and turning away from Miss Delilah the candy maker smiled sweetly.
"There is no need for namecalling mister fake butler. We can make nice and be nice or we can be mean. I've no care one way or the other. You want right questions? If you arent a part of the plot... if you are just merely a pawn to remove the butler and cook the books, then you should have no problems telling us all you know. You arent in league with this fellow clearly..."
He paused idly toying with the dagger for a moment before pointing it nonchelantly at the creatures 'face' before he spoke again.
"Course.. you could be lying to us all, which means you are trying to hide something which means you are of no use to us because we cant trust a word you are saying.... which means."
He made a throat slitting motion with his non knife hand.
" you are going to want to tell us much more... and tell us so well we all believe you."
It’s awesome...just gotta wait and see if it is just a stab, or a SUPER painful stab
Nic winces quickly, "We've got a bleed'r." He rubs his wooden holy symbol but he doesn't move to heal fake Don.
False Don screams in pain, blood sprays.
so you plan to kill me now? Go ahead. I’m still waiting for you to ask questions
He looks woozy
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"Fact is nothing you told us is of any use to find the one responsible for this, you see? That is the problem" - Reknar shrugs - "And this is not a Q and A session you idiot. You put forth what you know, assist us as best as you can REGARDLESS of we posing the right questions or not, and 'hopefully' you live - I could swear I had explained this before... How's it going to be? You know nothing else that can assist us in finding the person who hired you, and the reasons why? Is that it?" - he stares hard at their captive.
"Was that clear enough?"
Playing off of Reknar's last statement. "The pain can stop as soon as you tell us and we'll heal you too." He raises his bushy red eyebrows, "That's call incentive."
I told you where I supposed to meet; you (insert swear here). I told you what you asked. You can stop blustering and threatening me. It’s clear you plan to kill me. SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW!? You want me to draw you a map? Untie me then. Want me to teach you the language of my people? How much time ou got? Gods! I’m a hired spy. An independent contractor I GATHER INFORMATION! I was in my way to deliver it. I’m not some mastermind here. Tell me when you want so you can kill me and we can be done . (Insert more swearing here).
"I'll repeat the question - you know nothing else that can assist us in finding the person who hired you? Or that could give us a clue? If you do, tell us now" - Reknar adds calmly, and raises one finger - "Yes, we will untie you to draw us a map" - then another - "Where, who, and how were you to deliver the message to?" - and then a third and last - "Last but not least, we will not kill you. Is this clearly understood now?"
We will see...I’ll draw you a map, though if ya knew anything about the area you would know there really aren’t many convenient, and mostly safe and secretive places to the north. I am to arrive and then wait for my contact. As I said it is a human or half elf or some other being similarly sized, he or she wore a heavy cloak with the hood up and didn’t speak. They will be there waiting...well if they are still there with this delay. As I told you. I was given the job and money...look maybe this is the problem. You seem to think I care about Don or Delilah, or any of this. I don’t, I got paid to gather some info, cook the books and,if it looked like things might go sideways, to kill her. That’s what I did. Well apparently the killing didn’t happen, but hey, 2 out of three ain’t bad. he chuckles at his joke then coughs as he spits up a little blood
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"No name, no code word, no way to establish the person you meet is the person you were supposed to, no reason given as to why you are doing what you are doing? Jeez its almost like they planned on you being expendible. Next stupid job you take, you should get more details. Thats where the proverbial devil lies.. and it might keep you safer."
He complained shrugging his shoulders at the thing.
"I'll go see if miss Delilah has any clues as to why she is a target."
With that the strangely calm about torturing an evil shapeshifting creature maker of candy moved to the other rooms for tea and a chat.
I will know them by smell candy man. And they will expect me to shift my form. But that is a good question, for once.
Well I was born in a small town called Feriendor, a long way from here. .
Money. The location is about 10 miles north of town. Same direction you were supposed to be heading.
I don’t know...my family has owned this for a long time Delilah says we fell on hard time when my father ran the company but I have turned it around, paid off creditors, now we are expanding out to farther flung trade, which is why I hired you...
"Delilah what exactly do you trade? Seems like this hitman's employer is 'fraid of what you are going."
We are just a trading post. I buy things from merchants who don’t want to keep traveling, and then sell them further north...well that is the plan now. Until now I would hold goods here and sell to merchants coming down. The goods you returned were my first attempt to sell myself. But in general we do tools, and textiles, spices, sometimes art. Nice but mundane items. Well we do get the occasional special order...
"What type of special orders?" The dwarf nods. "This shipment we are guarding is it a 'special order?'" He puffs on the cigar as he pieces together the mystery. "Looks like you've been targeted...your caravan coming into town was raided and now this attempt. Someone or some groups wants you stopped."
No nothing special in the shipment I want you to take. I was asked before to secure a certain rare textile or specialty ironwork, that type of thing. Once or twice something magical.
I will know them by smell candy man. And they will expect me to shift my form. But that is a good question, for once.
"To what form?" - Reknar insists - "Since you are to await for their contact, what form are you supposed to take? Can you show us?"
His skin ripples and you see, basically a manican form. No features, just a Greyish featureless humanoid
"Well that's certainly...bland." The dwarf mumbles, not really certain what he is viewing or how the change occurs.
It is simultaneously impossible to look away and impossible to focus on him
well are you gonna untie me for your map?
Nic nods his head approvingly.
Don collects some paper and a quill and he draws out a surprisingly well labeled map.
We done here?
"How do we know you won't be running to them as soon as we set you free?"
Because I’m telling you I won’t? Other than that have your cleric cast a spell to make sure I’m honest
Again Reknar stares at the shapechanger for a few long moments, then shrugs - "Works for me if it works for the others"
Nic nods his approval. "Well, lets git going." Nic begins to touch each of his weapons then he shuffles through his packs. "Yes, let's git this show on the road." He suddenly looks up to his employer and mentions, "We'll do the percentage of sale rather than the flat fee."
Ok percentage of the sale, you take the map and head out to the meeting place, you release the shapeshifter and sign the contracts w Delilah, and collect the wagon of goods
Accurate?
Ok percentage of the sale, you take the map and head out to the meeting place, you release the shapeshifter and sign the contracts w Delilah, and collect the wagon of goods
Accurate?
Deal.
Reknar nods at the shapechanger as he leaves - "You live, as agreed"
The false Don bows and leaves quickly and quietly
Everyone gets prepped, makes any purchases they need and heads out. It is a simple matter of following the road
You arrive about 90 minutes before sundown. A quick recon finds nothing suspicious. There is a a good 40x40 foot clearing in the woods about 100 yards off the road.
What is your plan now?
"Good idea" - Reknar whispers at Thorin, and sticks around, not even trying to hide - "I'll be one of your bodyguards"
Thorin you can purchase a disguise kit it you want
How bout you other barbarians?
"Well, where do y'want me?" His red hair and beard sort of stands out but he will wrap a scarf around it and put up his cloak's hood.
Galen?
So I have a disguised thorin, with Reknar at his side and Nic is in the woods or also a guard, and hopefully galen makes a return
Nic anxiously chomps down on the soft end of his cigar, the ember has long gone out, and the tobacco is drenched with his thick saliva. mumbling in low tone, 'Stuupid wait'n...hate it. Let's jus git to the fight'n?"
Ok I guess we have lost galen.
The three of you wait, Galen having felt ill, and turned back, but not before handing the skull to Candyman
After about 10 minutes 3 people come out of the woods, a nondescript person flanked by two HUGE gnolls
The gnoll on the left speaks in shockingly good common
Why aren’t you alone?
The cleric rocks back and forth, taking making a firm assessment of the dangerous situation. He waits for his party members to answer. His eyes glare from under the scarf disguise.
Whadda ya mean? You’ve always been alone! Someone on to you?. The guards start looking to the trees