Grawk is silent for a long moment before he finally replies, "We talk more later... make camp now... it late."
He turns back around walking with Saa towards the cave he was walking to before.
Victor listens to the conversation in silence and when orc goes towards the cave he turns to Nai and Sylthain "He is a stubborn one.. But I think he will agree after some rest.. Besides it is risky to travel with a little girl through wilderness after dark", says Victor and starts to follow the orc.
Nodding agreement with Victor's statement, Naiethua says, "I think we'll all have a better appreciation of the situation after a night's rest. But we have another matter to deal with before we rest."
Naiethua looks at the necklace that's still laying on the ground. "I don't think we can risk letting Divining Light fall into the grasp of the first creature to come wandering through the woods. If I can have your assistance for a few minutes more, I think we can take care of it."
The elf walks over to the necklace and gingerly picks it up by the chain. She solemnly addresses the pendant, "Greetings, Divining Light. I am Naiethua of the Silver Oak warband, granddaughter and student of Namahlon the master druid. Know this and know it well: You've controlled my mind and body once, you won't control them again. I know your quest and by accepting you I accept your quest. However, I have another quest that takes priority for now, though I don't think they're incompatible. If you control my actions actions again, my companions will know it and will stop me like they stopped me before. If that happens, I will put you in a sack and bury the sack until such time as we choose to search for your friends. I'm sure you'll agree that cooperation is the best option for both of us." Naiethua puts the necklace around her neck.
You get the general feeling of resentment as you put the necklace back on and a more subtle urge to go south, however it is not as strong as it was previously nor does there seem to be anything dominating your body. It seems whatever you said has at least placated the necklace enough for the time being.
Noticing everyone staring at her as she talks to the necklace, Naiethua blushes. "We'll have to find a subtler way to communicate," she says. "But I think Diving Light and I have reached an agreement. We'll reunite her with her friends after we take care of little Nicaa. So, you think Grawk will let us share his cave tonight?"
Sylthain watches Nai dealing with the necklace with some trepidation. It was easy enough to believe that she had worked something out but it just as easily could have taken control again and was simply playing nice for the time being. She would bear watching.
He seems agreeable enough to it. And now that we've found the girl, I am loathe to lose track of her again so I say we follow regardless.
Grawk doesn't seem to argue your presence in the cave for the moment, entering it you notice two bedrolls set up and the entire space is dry. That aside it doesn't appear he has been here long, it could explain the easy tracking if the half-orc travels a lot, about the only explanation present though. Once everyone enters the cave you see the orc begin to set a long thin string across the entrance attached to what amounts to a pile of noisemaking objects, it seems the half-orc has basically set up a means of alarm. From there he then searches his pack and pulls out food setting it up carefully for Saa, waiting for her to eat before he eats anything himself.
Once Saa is asleep, the half-orc finally speaks up. "I hunt slimy this way... follow for weeks... it were finding something... strong magic make it."
"You tracked that thing for weeks while caring for the little one?" Naiethua smiles at Grawk. That's some impressive hunting. It's a good thing we found each other when we did. Do you think this necklace is the magic you felt, or was it some other magic?"
Grawk shrugs his shoulders, "Other magic make it, Saa have bad dream of it... I hunt it. It late, need to rest now. Explain more tomorrow." Grawk seemingly done with all the talking he cares to for the time being, lays out on his bedroll and closes his eyes to sleep.
Naiethua takes a moment to check Grawk's trip wire alarm. "We should be safe in here," she says as she lays out her bedroll. "Though you all might want to keep an eye out for sleep walking elves." She then lays down and goes to sleep.
Victor takes out his bedroll and puts it between the entrance to the cave and Naiethua. "Luckily I sleep rather lightly.." he says before closing his eyes.
Sylthain settles himself near the entrance quietly and watches as the others begin to nod off. He sits late into the evening before finally allowing himself to drift off.
You aren't sure what exactly woke you but now that you are wake you can hear shuffling around the cave heading towards the exit and what sounds like someone whimpering.
As soon as you speak Victor, the figure pulls a dagger out, holding it to the girls throat. A voice, clearly female responds softly. "Any closer and I will kill the girl here and now." Attempting to continue backing slowly out of the cave.
Despite what she says, Victor slowly keeps moving trying to close the distance between them. "You won't do that... She would be dead already... If that was what you had to do..."
Naiethua wakes up at the sound of voices. She quietly crawls out from her blanket and makes her way towards the woman in the cave entrance.
Sylthain rises quietly and watches the scene play out, moving slowly towards the entrance. He glances around to ensure that Lyra is still where she slept and wasn't hurt by the intruder.
Lyra seems to be fine, actually... she's snoring unaware even of the current activities.
The woman brings the knife in closer to the child, "Correct. It would be better to have her alive... however if your two companions do not back off I will kill her anyway, there is always another who will serve the role this little one could." She answers with a hiss as she continues to back up slowly.
Victor moves again a bit closer to the kidnapper. He looks directly into her eyes. His tone has changed almost trying to attune to her hissing. "Yes.. But you woke everyone up and we talk right now.. means you are not experienced.. or maybe your boss is not paying you enough.. I guess now you have only two options - one is easy - you let the girl go and we let you go.. or you do something stupid and certain orc with his axe will show you how much his "little Saa" means to him..
The girl suddenly bursts into laughter at the mention of the orc, "You mean the -dead- orc?" She replies, seeming amused by your threat. "Unfortunately I do not have the option of leaving empty handed."
Now that the woman says she's noticed Naiethua and Sylthain, and claims to have murdered Grawk, Naiethua stops advancing on her. Naiethua backs into the cave hoping to find deeper shadows to cover her actions. All I need, she thinks. Are a few seconds without being noticed. As unobtrusively as possible, she begins a druidic ritual.
I am gonna need initiative rolls since this turned in to combat.
Order:
Naiethua
Victor
Unidentified woman
Sylthain
Naiethua is casting this round.
Same as before, don't wait for others to post and I will summarize each round after you have posted.
The woman of course is continuing to slowly back out of the cave.
Seeing that there is no way to stop the woman other than to attack Victor quickly moves next to her and thrusts his sword into her side hoping it would not hurt the girl.
Moving quickly forward after Victor, Sylthain attempts to knock the blade from the woman's hand. She attempts to swipe it across his hand as he tries.
Victor's attack fails to hit the woman and she shifts her stance to take a swipe back at him.
Damage:
Taking her distraction as an opportunity, Saa suddenly bites down on the womans hand hard, the woman curses, letting go of the child who suddenly runs in to the cave towards where Grawk was sleeping, tripping over the half-orcs alarm which sends a resounding rattle through the cave. The half-orc doesn't move....
Sylthain your attempt to disarm the woman failed.
Naiethua finishes her ritual and a white terrier appears behind the woman. Naiethua ferociously growls a simple command to the little dog, "Get the b%~+%." The dog starts nipping at the woman's heels.
Naiethua then channels a bolt of lightning which arcs towards the woman.
With the girl released and out of harm's way, Sylthain no longer pulls his punches. Knees and fists flying, he lays into the murderer with all his skill.
A quick sharp pain followed by the warmth of dripping blood down from the wound on his chest didn't discourage Victor from attacking again, and using the distraction provided by his fellows he aims for the assassin's weakest spot.
Everyone misses, except for Naithua who does negligible damage.
After Naithua's bolt barely harms the woman and Victor's attack misses. You hear Saa suddenly chanting... she's... casting a spell!
Ranged Touch
A small orb of acid shoots from her hand striking true to the assassin.
The woman utters more swears, ducking to the side as she attempts to withdraw.
Sylthain reaches out a hand, trying to snag the woman before she can flee.
"Where you going?" says Victor just before swinging his sword at her back.
Seeing Saa's successful spellcasting, Naiethua laughs, "That's pretty good, little one. Looks like you have a thing or two to teach your sleepy headed cousin."
Victors crit didn't hit, Sylthain was unable to grapple so now the woman is running away, no faster then any of you could travel. She looks very hurt.
As Naiethua follows the fleeing woman, she hurls another bolt of lightning at her.
Victor decides to also follow the woman and strikes at the nearest opportunity.
Both attacks hit and the woman falls, unconscious but still seems to be alive. Saa suddenly runs out and begins casting another spell.
Naithua you recognize the spell as the arcane spell "Burning Hands"
although the wording is a bit off given Saa's specific situation.
"No, Saa! Not yet," Naiethua says before she remembers the child doesn't speak the Trade Tongue. She then tries the grab the girl before she can complete the spell.
Sylthain makes no move towards the girl. He was lucky the intruder only killed the half-orc and Lyra managed to escape unscathed but someone that dangerous was better off being eliminated.