Sayniek watches the man carefully, attempting to discern his motives, while reading his aura to determine whether he is vile of heart or simply in it for the money.
Sense Motive:
Use Detect Evil on the wizard and his companions.
Do you truly think that Ragathiel, General of Vengeance, will simply allow you to walk away? You have followed us for days and sent your men into what should have clearly been seen as suicide.
She looks at the men around her.
For those not in command, I can allow you to leave if you renounce your vile leaders.
She then turns back to the wizard.
You on the other hand. Unless you have a lot of answers, I am afraid my companions will want some retribution for sending the attack on our camp.
She looks down at the man on the ground.
My companions will also want to question him. I will probably be sent to guard the perimeter when they question him . . . She looks up at the wizard . . . and you.
She pauses again.
Unless you want to start talking about who ordered you here. Who is paying you. And what you know of their plans.
Oh, THAT will not win you any friends little avenger of wrongs.
Looks like someone walked into the fine eating establishment and ordered one charcoal broiled steak!
Vidar prepares for the killing.
Kithian shakes his head and prepares to charge the mage.
Camillo watches with interest.
The half-orc ranger settles in, aiming at the wizard, and waits for a sign of spellcasting.
The wizard considers the small "halfling" and shrugs, I don't know much about Ragathiel but I know a bad job when I see it. My men attacked because that was the job. Coin in hand, its what mercenaries do. Its only in the last day or so I come to realize this isn't a standard grudge, leaders killed by an opposing gang, but rather the work or a right crazy type of fool. The wizard pushes the man at his feet with his boot.
We have no weapons trained upon you. I'm sure I will perish before I finish a magical flourish. I assume you have no interest in slaughter here, oh noble knight and I know when I am had. This fellow at my feet knows all that I know and more. Take the crazy one and let my remaining men return to the city to eat, drink, whore and do work for coin another day.
Pinocchio stares in disbelief. An encounter with brigands and mercs that doesn't end in bodies hitting the floor? How Improbable!
Sayniek stares out from her helm and then calls over her shoulder to Vidar.
Your call old man. Ragathiel calls for vengeance, but these men have not harmed us yet. You know my view, but I will abide by the decision of the rest of you.
To the captive, Camille asks, "What would you have us do, old friend? I'm inclined to save your friend from those ruffians."
Camillo gets a withering stare from the captive, his friendliness now long replaced with a certain zealous distaste for the party.
The wizard mercenary for his part. Continues to keep his hands easily seen and leans out towards the darkness, Like I said, no hard feelings. You'll not see me or mine again...
Muttering a quick cantrip, Vidar sends a short message to Sayniek.
"To let him go might save us a needless battle."
The words are rough, ground out almost against his will, because the TRULY did want a new spellbook...
Pinocchio holds his spell. Things might still go sideways...
Sayniek looks up at the wizard:
Ok, then . . . so, the question is, what is it worth for you to be allowed to walk away from here. Because of you, we have had to abandon a perfectly good resting spot, and the big barbarian has missed several hours of sleep. . . . You ever seen a grumpy tired barbarian, really not a pretty sight until you get enough grog into him.
She pauses, staring at the wizard.
What is your freedom, and your life worth? I want to let you go, but we really cannot allow you and your companions to keep your magic and weapons. To do so would be to simply invite another sabotage tomorrow night, or the next night. Daggers and some healing magic, I can let you keep. That should be enough to get you back to civilization. Big blades, axes, longbows, spellbooks and holy symbols, not so much.
Hmmm, I think we may be about to probe deeper into his trustworthiness, after all, if he refuses to surrender weapons, then she may indeed have a point about this merely being a ruse and delaying tactics....
On the other hand, he is a mercenary, willingly forgoing a contract AND lose funds through being forced to give up resources.
This might end in blood yet...
|
The wizard considers the paladin and closes his eyes in tired contemplation, Knives and rucksacks, tents, bedrolls and coins. I'll turn over my pouches...and my book He offer the last point as a strangled gasp of frustration.
Jutmerlum emerges from the woods putting down his bow, I will escort you and when you meet with your leadership present my colors. The archer gestures to some patchwork on his clothing. As a Blood Arrow I will attest that you attempted to execute in good faith.
The wizard seems to ease slightly at this offering, nodding, My leadership is more foul than most but I should see compensation on the word of another firm. I take it this will also ease your fellow's souls to know we return to the city under escort.
The wizard presents his hand in Sayniek's direction to confirm the specifics.
It sure does ease mine! exclaims Pinocchio as he bursts from the underbrush. His spell still glows threateningly on his hand. I must say youall are being uncharacteristically reasonable!
Sayniek nods to the wizard and steps forward offering her hand, shield still held in the other hand:
I can accept that deal and nodding toward her companions, some still hidden in the woods having not heard an objection from my companions, will speak for them that we have an agreement.
She then stands and waits for the wizard to make good on his part of the agreement.
The next twenty minutes or so feature some small grumbling from the mercenary guards (a third on is revealed to have basically slept through the entire proceedings) as the mercenaries surrender mostly mundane weapons save for an enchanted hand axe (+1) and a potion of spider climb. The wizard's spellbook and pouches are turned over to Vidar as the mercenaries pack their camp and allow their items to be searched with Jutmerlum never far away to ensure compliance.
The cultists are stacked like cordwood to the side as the party takes over the camping spot. The half-orc archer bids the party well with a vague assurance to try to catch up in the future. With torches struck the mercenaries parade off into the forest, leaving the party with a pair of prisoners.
Camillo yawns. "Well. That was unexpected."
He looks at the prisoners. "We will most definitely need a watch, perhaps two of us at a time. Beyond that, what are we going to do with our new friends here?"
Vidar strokes his beard for a moment.
"We COULD allow master Darlock to consume them, as pointed out previously, he can be cranky when he is hungry or sleepy."
Pinocchio cocks his head to the side. Who's Darlock?
"You would not realize it at the moment, as he is currently sober, but it is the same drunken lout you remember from the tavern when we first encountered eachother."
Oh ya! I remember him! I didn't get his name at the time.
Vidar turns to Kithian and wags his finger in an admonishing fashion.
"Master Darlok! You failed to introduce yourself to our companion, for shame!"
Sayniek looks up at Vidar:
His usual introduction involves the sharp edge of a blade. We are lucky Kithian did not introduce himself to Pinocchio or our companion might well be kindling right now.
Kithian walks out of the Bush yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Hells, all that talking put me too sleep. What did I miss?"
"Nothing of substance, it would seem that for once, we were facing foes capable of rational though and a willingness to negotiate instead of being stomped into a bloody paste by your overenthusiastic style of battle master Darlok."
Kithian spits a long stream of black tobacco not the ground next to the tied up cultist and draws his sword. "want me to kill them now or after the trial?"
Sayniek looks up at Kithian and shakes her head:
Not sure if we need a trial. I believe that the actions of these cultists speak for themselves. On the other hand, if you just lop their heads off, we are less likely to get any useful information out of them.
"Thus the question becomes, do we believe they have anything of value to tell us or not?"
Assuming we are not talking right in front of the prisoners, Camillo suggests, "We only need one. The question is, which one will be the most useful? I would suggest that we separate them and pose the same questions to them. The one that answers the best, gets a reward. The one that doesn't, he gets punished."
Standing away from the prisoners, Camillo offers, "We need to have two people on watch for the rest of the night. I can give up some sleep so our stronger spellcasters can get their rest. As for those two, I suggest we tie each of them to a tree, positioned so they cannot communicate with one another, and those on watch make sure they don't fall asleep. We'll see if exhaustion weakens their resolve in the morning. Pinocchio's trick that worked on the first one could come in handy again with our new 'friend'."
He looks at Kithian, "If that doesn't work, we can consider your suggestion, but beating up a helpless fellow, even one I would as soon roast on a spit, doesn't sit well with me."
Sounds good to me. I can potentially pull it off four times or so before the magic starts sapping my actual life force, so let's hope their minds are as squishy as the last guys.
Sayniek looks around:
Questioning and using some intimidation I can condone. Torture and murdering prisoners, I cannot agree to. I think that Pinocchio's ability to make them friendly should be tried first.
She pauses:
And having the wooden man stare at you all night would freak out an ancient wyrm, I doubt these cultists will not want to talk to just make him look elsewhere.
Pinocchio adds, I don't have to actually sleep. I will get as much rest starting at them as I would anything else.
Camillo motions as if acquiescing to their argument. "I think we have a plan."
The night passes "quietly" with the cultists becoming increasingly unnerved by Pinnocchio especially after long bouts of him not moving only to have him shift, angle or otherwise remind them of his very real livingness.
Once the group is situated the cultists seem eager for any other interaction than with the living toy.
It is clear soon what is going on. The last few survivors of the Judge's Skinsaw Cult ultimately sought revenge on the party, hopeful that in doing so they would instill some positive fortune for their remaining members.
While the Judge's direct contact with Xanesha was kept hidden from the cult these members had come to understand that the might have a cell out in the wilds in the direction the group was heading. (Not realizing that Xanesha's sister was in fact running her own cell and it wasn't necessarily an ally of the Magnimar cell. ) A few coins later in the hands of unscrupulous mercs and the party is being ambushed in the woods...
"Hmmmph, such foolishness, pinning your hopes on a plans so flimsy.
When it comes to mercenaries, you get precisely what you pay for.
Judging from the ease which we turned the table, they must have worked for a mere pittance."