Alwrick beckons the rest of the group over whilst keeping a close eye on the defeated foes.
Once everyone is in earshot his softly speaks The way I see it we have a few options.
If someone tries to kill me I don't ask them for more cash. I get even.
We could take these scum back to the Baron and explain what happened.
But I don't know if Lord Greaves will believe ill of Quinn, he'll wriggle out of it. Say his men pulled the wool over his eyes and that he's just an honest merchant.
I think we need to go to the Orc and find out what on earth is happening. Something really strange is going on. But we need some concrete proof to discredit our former employer.
Maybe we should start by healing the surviving Orc and seeing what he has to say?
Once we know more we can decide what to do. I'm in favour of finding out the facts and then dealing with this lot accordingly.
What do you think?
Vermathus will move over to the injured orc and begin to heal him with his wand..
and then turns to the captain.. "Double the gold will not get you out of this.. Where i come from a double cross is punishable by death.. Now who was your bat friend and whats really going on here captain? Its fairly obvious to me that these are no normal orcs and i have a idea that yall are not out to kill them over some stolen goods.. Now speak or ill gut you here!" Looking to the other prisoners.. "Ill hear what you all have to say as well.. Talk or ill leave you for the wolves.."
"I've a mind to send the captain back to his master minus his nose and thumbs. I'll testify to Lord Greaves of the merchant's treachery and should he doubt my word," Abdul spat on the ground, "then a plague on both houses."
"But there is more at work here than just not wanting to pay us. He could have refused our offer to help, and sent out a dozen common sell swords for half the gold he paid us. Maybe the orc here can tell us something, or perhaps we should find their camp. Doesn't it strike any of you strange that they did their best not to kill?"
The captain hardens his face and narrows his eyes, but he shares anyway. Look, I just do as I'm told. Quinn was goin' to have me send you after the orcs and then Skeech - that's the bat - was suppos'ta follow you from a distance and then finish you off after you dealt with the orcs. He's just a greedy shrimp, but he's got his blasted spells, so he's the top dog. I don't know nothin' about the orcs other than that they always rough up my boys and steal Quinn's stuff. But they ain't killed nobody.
"I tried to get infomation out of the Orc, but he just spat curses of being Quinn's men.. Maybe i can convince him of otherwise now.. Now that your done running Captain, can you please explain to me why you killed the driver? Was he simply in your path to the female archer?"
After the healing Vermathus will attempt to speak to the Orc again..
Look we were tricked into thinking your tribe was like all the other Orcs in the world and were paid good coin to wipe you out.. My group here are good people and after seeing yalls tactics and the captains we had to reconsider who was actually the bad guys here.. Now if you are willing to help us figure out what is going on here perhaps we can help your cause and at the same time get even with Quinn for trying to kill us.. You seem like a smart guy, what do you say? Enemy of my Enemy is my Friend?
The Orc is fading fast, as his wounds are too great for anything but a miracle to fix now. As he passes on, he manages to say
And with that, he breathes his last.
The captain stutters and babbles, looking desperately for one of his flunkies to vouch for him. Well I...I...you...I mean...it was...haven't you ever...c'mon boys, help me out.
No one helps him out.
"Find this orc camp and this Sargana, we should, and leave this babbling fool."
"If it were up to me i would hang them all here and now, but unfortunately it is not.. I say we tie the up and leave them here till we return.. Then they'll get their justice in town.."
"But who knows how long we may be? Bah! They're just thugs. Let them flee back to their master with their tails between their legs."
"In the meantime, let him," Abdul pointed to the captain, "come with us. I want to make sure he answers for his crimes, as does Quinn."
As the Orc passes Alwrick's face hardens I agree let these others go, but they need to find a new employer. If they cross me again I won't be so forgiving. The Captain though, he needs to face justice. Let's go see the Orc. What do you others say?
"Im fine with them leaving.. Collect their gear and weapons though.. Ill not be looking over my shoulder.." Looking to the thugs.. "You all should seek living elsewhere for if i see you again there will be consequences.."
We can't just go around killing people of a village. It's not like they openly attacked us. Cireth is rather appauled that the idea would even be considered.
Who have I gotten myself involved with .... still the situation is complex.... there is much more going on here then it seems and I don't think I could handle it alone.
|
This job did seem to good..now I know why...
I'm with Alwrick and Vermathus, Lets collect their gear so they wont follow us and try to kill us. Then we can find these orcs. My only concern, is they will report back to Quinn, and he will set something up that will make us look like the villains, and then try to kill us on our return to town.
"Strange and treacherous, the orcs and our employer are acting. I agree - we should tie up and take the captain and the weapons, but not the others - before we could return they will have gotten free or been eaten by wolves. Let Quinn say what he will, I'd rather be called a villain than actually be one, and I cannot see any way, short of killing them or bringing them with us, to make sure the news doesn't reach Quinn. They will have to walk, if we take or free the horses."
She pauses as a thought hits her. "That bat-thing will report to Quinn whether we act or no. Swiftly we must act before he can."
Alwrick looks around suddenly "What of the drivers? Did any survive?"
Pausing to think he adds Shall we load the Orc dead on the wagon to return them to their families for proper disposal?
The henchmen start to quietly strip themselves of any combat gear, obviously aware that they are in no position to bargain or complain. One of them asks, in astonishment, Yer not even gonna mark us? Another quickly claps his hand over the loose lips.
The captain shifts nervously and looks very worried about what his fate might be. He seems particularly concerned that he may have to face the orcs on their terms.
Agna takes the dead orcs' weapons and other valuable gear, more to keep them out of the hands of the living than out of respect for orcish custom.
"We'll take the captain with us.. I say let the others go.. Before he died the Orc said to follow the river to the northwest to find the camp.. Lets go"
You want to be burdened with a prisoner? The bat man thing escaped, there isn't any point. He didn't openly fight us, didn't harm us, he just made us get our hands dirty so to speak. Let him go for now, he will answer for his crimes when more information is known. If he tries to get in our way later we can deal with him then.
The Orc clearly wanted to capture us. We need to prove to them our good intentions. Don't forget we were killing their families not 10 minutes ago. It's going to be hard enough to convince them that we're not trying to trick them, at least handing him over should help go some way to demonstrate we mean to make up for the wrong we may have done them.
"I agree, lets take the captain here as a payment of good faith.. These Orcs are not like others, surely they can be reasoned with.."
After several miles, the river settles down and becomes a large stream, about 30' across, running through reeds and marsh, with the ground to each side creeping steadily higher. A ways to the north, the stream enters a ravine sandwiched between 30-foot cliffs. Dense patches of marsh reeds sprout from the cliff tops, and a symphony of bird calls echoes through the swamp. You can see a small waterfall, about 15', at the far northern end of the ravine. To the left and right, the ravine walls continue another 15 feet past the top of the falls. The orcs obviously travel up to this point in the stream, but then the trail enters the water, heading into the ravine.
Stopping the group.. "Well the trail continues into the ravine.. Any of you good at diplomacy? It's deffinitely gonna take some persuasion to convince them we were dooped in all this.."
Uncouth elf, no wonder he only thinks with his sword, he doesn't pay attention to what goes on around him past his sword tip
Cireth smiles - forced, but you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference.
I'm a skilled diplomat of sorts, hopefully they speak the Common tongue though as I do not speak Orcish. Let that not deter you however as I can be fairly persuasive.
"The hooded orc spoke Common. I speak a little of their foul tongue, if need be."
"I can speak their tounge just fine, but you dont want me diplomacizing.. Regardless lets be on our way, we'll have to wade/swim into the ravine.."
"I cannot speak Orc and I am probably not so eloquent a speaker as Cireth but do you think I would be better off speaking to them given the historic animosity of the Orc towards both Elf and Dwarf?"
The walls of the ravine are steep and wet, making climbing them an impressively difficult task. There appears to be a thin trail criss-crossing up one side of the ravine. As you get closer, you see mule prints in the trail.
Veramthus will follow the tracks..
Let us leave the orc's items, if they see us wearing and using them it would be taken as an insult. I know that if someone walked into my town wearing the property of a dead loved one I would be rightfully angry.
"Thats probably a good idea.. If we makes friends then we can give them the gear.."
Agreed. Also when the Orc see us, don't draw a weapon unless you absolutely have to.
Alwrick checks the Captains bonds and gestures accross the river.
"You next."
Vermathus finds the trail to be challenging, but not insurmountable with a bit of effort. The captain, looking completely demoralized, silently begins trudging across the stream and up the steep trail. As Vermathus crests the top of the ridge, you all hear the unmistakable sound of a signal horn.
"Well we're known! Remember to not be hostile unless attacked.. Whoever is doing the talking come up front please.. I will initiate conversation and then hand it off to you.."
"So who is our spokesman and what do we tell the Orc? Simply the truth?"
Cireth goes to the front, ready to do converse with the orcs but wary of any aggressive actions taken by them.
I may be strong but he still would prefer to avoid axes being all up in my face
"What truth? That we know that they fought lyingly? That that man though he could discard us like a chicken bone after he was through?"
"Yes, all that and what's more that we hope to bring him to justice if we can. "
The party crests the hill, prisoner in tow, and is met with thick sheaves of waist high reeds stretch in all directions, restricting movement. To the northeast, the clear blue sky profiles a single tree rising above the cattails. In the crater lake to Northwest, there are several more trees on islands in the lake.
"We got movement in the trees.. A bunch of orcs running around.. Most likely setting up defensive positions.." Vermathus will pull out his hanky and tie it to the end of his bow.. He'll begin to wave it around as they get closer.. "Hopefully this will show them we come in piece"