"I can attempt to garner some favor with a few sly words perhaps.. We have a Derro in our party yes? Perhaps he can provide some more info on the city?"
Kanzen looks rather tense as their large, disparate group approaches the duergar city. "As a rule, duergar are just as immoral and untrustworthy as my own kin, if less subtle about it. Unless one of you has great familiarity with this city and its people, perhaps I should speak for us? They may just fear a drow noble enough to leave us alone. If they believe that I actually am a noble," he adds, looking down at his poor armour and lack of shirt.
" I say we should stick together less chance these Deurgar try to take us that way." Cyrus says
Right now, our goal is to get to civilization and escape the drow. That's kind of accomplished, so we need to decide on our next goal, Galenus says.
Now, I know a lot of you ain't from down here. And you'll be wanting to get home. I'm happy to keep with you until you do. But there's also this whole thing with Demogorgon. We gotta tell someone. I ain't necessarily Keen to deal with him myself, but maybe we can tell a king or something and get them to mobilize an army. I don't know of any who has an army large enough to deal with him down here, except maybe the drow. And I think we can all agree that they won't help us out of the goodness of their own hearts. But maybe a human king or an Elven king? Derendil - you're an Elven prince. What do you think? Will your people help those down here? If they need intentive, remember, if the Underdark falls to the sway of Demogorgon, it won't be long before he heads to the surface.
"I was all for simply resting briefly and then returning to the surface. But we do need to warn others about the presence of Demogorgon."
Aye I vote we rest and gear up, we might as well the the Deurgar about the Demogorgon even if they are evil pricks they might help out of self preservation.
The Shattered Spire is a tavern that would be willing to serve non-duergar while The Ghohlbrorn’s Lair is the only inn that will serve outsiders.
While you deliberate on the docks, you hear a cry of pain. On a dock a ways away from you, two duergar in dark robes blink into visibility and stab a duergar dressed as a merchant, who shrieks in pain.
Nearly all of you react quickly but Irdril was looking the other way making plans for how to deal with whomever you encounter here. The docks are pretty quiet right now and as they are mostly home to outsiders, there are no guards visible on patrol.
Galenus rushes over to the merchant, trying to stand between him and the attackers, preventing them from attacking him again.
Eddrikk advances towards the trouble.
Seeing the duergar merchant in danger, something clicks within Galinndan.
No. I will not stand by.
The elven warrior walks, faster and faster, akin to the wind, and then strikes just as quickly.
Cyrus slips into the water and begins to circle around the the assailants.
Kanzen moves forward, shoulder to shoulder with Eddrikk. As the party's approach is obviously visible, he tries to distract the merchant's assailants, calling out in a low voice, "Hie! Stop there, assassins!"
One of the duergar assassins turns to you all, holding a glowing blade and growing to great size. In Undercommon, he hisses "Stay out of our way!" The other stabs at the merchant with his glowing blade, drawing another cry of pain.
The one cast enlarge on himself while the other cast hunter's mark on the merchant.
Irdril watches the combat unfold.
I'm not so sure making our presence know this way is a good thing..
Kanzen, in full charge mode, slows a little as Irdril's thoughts echo in his mind. True. We don't know the situation here - the merchant could have swindled them out of everything they own for all we know, or murdered their wives, or anything... Still, his friends seem committed, and he will not leave their sides.
Cyrus swims around and swipes at the assassin in the back before dipping back into the water.
Looking at the enlarged dwarf, Galinndan replies:
"No."
And moves in for the kill, even with sluggish movements by his standards.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Galinndan slices into the assassin with twin blades. The killer nearly falls to the ground, blood seeping through his robes. Galenus swings his axe upward
and brings the flat smashing into the jaw of the large opponent, dropping him unconscious. The second assassin, with grim determination, strikes at the merchant again. Intent on finishing the job, he ignores Cyrus' hit and run tactics at his own peril.
With a cry of pain, the merchant falls to the ground, dying.
Kanzen leaps forward now that the battle is joined in earnest, his daggers leading the way to the sole remaining enemy.
Kanzen steps up and strikes twice, landing one blow on the assassin, who nevers takes his eyes off the bleeding merchant, glowing blade in hand.
Galenus rushes over to the merchent, placing his body between the merchant and the attackers.
Idril! Come, quick!
With limited space around the assassins Eddrikk hangs back in case anything happens.
Galinndan stows his blades, draws his bow, and launches an arrow towards the standing duergar.
Cyrus slips back into melee range once more this time wielding both his blades.
Surging out of the water, the goblin lands both of his weapons in the back of the duergar, who slumps dead to the ground. The merchant lies unconscious and bleeding until Kanzen touches him with holy energy. The portly fellow's eyes snap open and he looks around in fear. "What!? It's over? Ah... well.... thanks I suppose..." He stands up and begins brushing himself off but holds his side in pain and winces. He glances around and looks as if he's in a hurry to leave.
Irdril moves up and heals the injured grey dwarf.
"Why were they attacking you?"
The gray dwarf looks surprised. "Oh I have no idea! Must have been some random act of violence, I suppose. Look, I really should be goin'. The guard'll be 'ere in seconds and they'll 'ave too many questions. Why don't ya meet me at the Shattered Spire tomorrow so I can thank ya properly?"
He's lying about not knowing why the assassins attacked.
Irdril stares at the dwarf for a second and then smiles.
"Sounds good, Ssee you there. Oh by the way, can you point us in the direction of an Inn that will serve us?"
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Quite alright, my friend, Galenus says.
He's been thinking about his life for the past few days. Ever since the ride of Demogorgon.
I've spent my whole life in pursuit of treasures - of the valuable things. But thrice now it's gotten me in nearly more trouble than I can handle. The slavery, the curse, the other curse...
Maybe it's time to rethink things. Like Kanzen says, dwarves are known for their averice. Maybe it's time to buck the stereotype. Sure, treasure is great, but is it more important than lives? Is it more important than literal demons roaming the underdark?
That's what this is about. That's why I tried to save this grey dwarf. It's another life that can go on and fight, go on and help. Heck, maybe I can trade him these gems for some much needed equipment. That's what I'll do. I'll talk to him tomorrow at the store and trade goods and give warning of the rise of Demogorgon. It's time to stop thinking about just myself and time to start making a difference in the world.
Galenus looks up from his thoughts to see everyone staring at him.
Uh.. Ahem. The spores are active, aren't they?
The merchant points into the buildings and hollowed stalactites lit by orange furnaces and resounding with industrious clanking and pounding. "Head straight that way then left at the statue of the king. There, you'll find the Ghohlbrorn's Lair inn. Now I really haf to go. See you tomorrow." With that, he shuffles away and turns invisible. You hear the clanking of metal boots approaching rapidly but don't see any guards. The boots sound about 150 ft away.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Hearing the boots, Kanzen's head snaps up. "We should move away from these bodies, now. We may be in for it anyway, but it's worth trying to get clear."
As he begins to move away from the bodies, Galinndan quietly notes:
"He was not lying about Ghohlbrorn’s Lair, it would serve us. The rest..."
Cyrus grabs the weapons and rummages through the pockets of the two fallen assassins while the others talk to the merchant.