"But Master, I am hungry," Arenzio fawns. "But yes, I remember all of it... the siege, the treachery of House Thrune, how I and my uncles, the last three alive, went down into the crypts to hide... how their flesh tasted, when I was so hungry... and then the fire, and the smoke... I fell asleep, but then awoke again. That was..." Arenzio frowns, his long tongue flicking back and forth in concentration. "That was seventy-five years ago, maybe more. Ever since, I have been here, in my ancestral house, last of the line of Davian." He smiles at Nemrok broadly, cracked teeth showing. "And now, Master... is it time for my food? Which of these lovelies have you brought for me to consume?"
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"And what is your name, and the names of your uncles?" asks Oggil, his smouldering fists at the ready for when the creature finally turns on them.
"What were the points of difference between your house and house Thrune? Surely more than just who ruled? Were there differences in philosophy? Theology?"
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No, not yet Arenzio. You must tell me all. All about how you survived, how House Thrune destroyed your House and tries to burn you alive. How you keep surviving during all this time. Do you have killed a lot of travelers ? What was the purpose of the Troll ?
As my friend asks, what were the points of difference between your house and house Thrune? Were there differences in philosophy? Theology?
Says Nemrok
"Master, it would take weeks to tell you all," Arenzio chides. You realize that he's likely telling the truth - this creature is a living witness and the last non-Thrune survivor of that turbulent time. The amount of knowledge he has is staggering, and all the moreso for it being otherwise lost to history.
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We will find something to eat for you Arenzio, but the people are not to eat, they are Pathfinder, looking for truth and history. I listen to you and they will record it so your story will live for ever ! Don't you want that ? Be a little patient, that's all I'm asking.
He turns to his comrades and says, after asking a moment alone from Arenzio.
My spell can control him for 3 days and I can easily renew it on him. But it's still a powerful ghoul who need meat to stay alive. I don't know if its hunger could be manage but its knowledge of past event and on the chelaxian war is unique. It could be possible to get him to the Grand Lodge where ... I don't know exactly but I'm sure Lady Dralneen will be able to manage it and get all the information we need from him.
What do you think ?
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"The bee is a great source of honey, but many are stung retrieving it..."
Drixel gawks at the half-orc, "You have got to be kidding me! You want us to consider smuggling a live ghoul out of Cheliax... all the way to Absalom... across the city to the Grand Lodge... just for a history lesson!" Bright white, crackling arcane energy begins to form in Drixel's hands. "I say we kill him now..." the sorcerer says plainly.
I have to say, the return of Arenzio Davian to the Grand Lodge would be a major coup in the fight against House Thrune's campaign of misinformation and revisionism. It's one of the coolest and most Pathfinder-y risks I've ever seen considered in all of my games.
It would be almost ridiculously dangerous, were it not for the long duration of the command undead spell. Given that, and a healthy supply of meat to help keep the creature happy enough that Nemrok could get some sleep, it is possible. Risky, but possible.
Drixl, you do know that any overt threat to the creature breaks the spell, and so in the spirit of not pre-empting the rest of the group's discussion we'll delay your "kill him now" comment until everyone has had the chance to say their piece.
Discuss!
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"Oggil and Drixel, while he may not be the kind of... creature... we are used to talking to and interacting with, the information he can provide can be exceedingly valuable to the Society. I am of the opinion that if we have a chance to find out a wealth of information, especially about a region where information is often covered up by lies, then we should take it. Just think about it. He probably knows things that we could never discover about history through any ancient tablet or writing."
Chip sheathes his weapons.
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I agree with Chip. The importance of the information we could get from him is priceless! Years of revisionism cleaned up ! History made whole again by one of the rare survivor of the Chelish civil war ! All it will cost us is to feed up this creature and promise him endless meat for the rest of his unlife.
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"I suppose you wanted me to keep the troll alive as well? The ghoul's own personal buffet bar?" Drixel is shocked that the Pathfinders would not only consider but get behind such an idea. She stammers for something to say, then finally sighs. "Ok, but if we're going to do this, we need to formulate a good plan. We need to keep it under control. We need to have a food supply for it. We need disguise it when we are back in Corentyn. We need to either get permission from the Captain of the Sea Sylph or, more likely, keep it hidden from the Captain... and the crew! Then we have to smuggle it into Absalom and get all the way to the Lodge!"
She looks at Nemrock and Chip for a long minute, then asks again, "Are you sure this is a good... Oh, for the love of Sarenrae! Ok... ok... I'm on board." The sorceress walks over to the crispy troll and pokes it a few times to make sure it's well done.
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Lasaraleen is more of the mind of Drixel.
"Allowing such a villain to live would be bad enough, but risking more innocents along the way back is a lot to ask. This could require much atonement with Sarenrae, so I would do this at great risk to my standing within the following. ."
Lasaraleen lowers her scimitar and holy symbol but still wonders if such a trek would be possible considering all the close calls with guards already.
"I like the idea of interviews or a journal much better."
"No heirlooms, no diaries... the fire took all. And yes, we can eat cooked food, but it does not help us... the hunger is always there, even when we eat."
The troll at this point is dead, although certainly lots of meat is left.
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Oggil looks shocked at the words of Lasaralee.
"The tide comes and the tide goes. Does it get discouraged when it fails to wear away the rock the first time it meets? No! And is not the faith of Sarenrae as the tide? Always seeking to redeem those who are fallen? Arenzio is fallen further than most, it is true. But even the mightest cliff will one day fall to the sea, and Arenzio is as the cliff.. seemingly immortal."
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Well, if we don't have to make a pit stop in Cheliax, I think it becomes a lot easier. I'm sure there's plenty of food on the ship that should mostly keep him busy, and once we are at the Society, they can take it over from there! I don't really see the huge deal... we aren't all that far from Absalom.
You are still in Cheliax, and without transport beyond your horses. The plan was to return to Corentyn, which is about 150 miles south and at the southern tip of a peninsula, meet up with Cassian, and then return aboard ship to Absalom. However, you can certainly arrange alternate transportation if you wish. If you want to avoid Corentyn, you could strike across the width of the peninsula to the Inner Sea port of Macini, about 100 miles east, and pick up a ship from there. You'd need to figure out how to conceal your prisoner either way.
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"Like the albatross, we must cross great distance.." notes Oggil.
"Perhaps if we migrate to Macini. We might stick to back roads where Arenzio is less likely to be tempted by other, living, people. Once at the city, someone goes it to secure passage on a ship, then the rest of us take our "sick and elderly" friend to the ship, well blanketed up."
He looks a little worried.
"Cassian may be worried by the delay, so we should arrange for a message to Corentyn to keep him at least informed that we are delayed but will be returning."
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"I would agree with Oggil that heading to Mancini and disguising him as a sick, elderly friend might work. I could also cast prestidigitation and perhaps augment the disguise. Or if we could find a suitable shop, I could buy a scroll of silent image and use that to make a very real looking 'disguise'."
After a harrowing trip through the Chelaxian countryside with your "sick, elderly friend", you reach the port of Macini and manage to book passage to Absalom on a ship of less-than-reputable nature. You fit in well since Arenzio is not the foulest-smelling member of the ship's company. Arenzio's appetite is somewhat difficult to sate, but you manage to stock up on animals and he stays relatively docile. Nemrok renews the spell when necessary, keeping him friendly, but it still requires a huge time investment to prevent any "accidents".
You finally arrive at the Grand Lodge, and are ushered in to see Ambrus Valsin immediately.
After hearing your story, he pushes back from his desk and whistles. "I have to say, I am impressed that you saw the value of capturing the last heir of the Davians alive, despite the... complications," he begins. "That took guts and quick thinking. Well done!" He beams at you while Arenzio is taken off to the Necropolis to be interrogated.
"Now, there is more to do in Cheliax... House Thrune is probably interested to hear your report of what you found. I'd suggest you leave out the conclusion, though... word is, they're already trumpeting how Pathfidners are uncovering the details of House Davian's treachery and decadence. They won't be happy to know the truth, so let's save them the pain, shall we?"
Valsin reimburses you the cost of your passage to Absalom and the expenses of food and livestock, before sending you on your way to await further assignment. As you leave, you can hear him muttering to himself. "Took a ghoul alive, all the way through Cheliax... bloody incredible."