Round 7:
Initiative Order:
Human #1
Stilgar
Jinjer
Brodgar
Gaius
Magnus
Tarrana
Dwarf #2
The retreating human continues to fall back away from the combat, loosing another arrow Jinjer's way as he does so. It strikes a small branch on its way, deflected from its path to disappear into the snow to Jinjer's right.
Stilgar brings his axe up, catching the dwarf across the neck, his leather cap doing nothing to stop the sharp blade from opening his throat and releasing a cascade of red down the front of him.
Jinjer continues to harass the retreating archer, sending another arrow zipping past him.
Stilgar brings his hammer up, catching the dwarf across the side of the head, his leather cap doing little to soften the force of the blow that plunges him down into the snow.
Jinjer wipes the blood off her cheek and winces at her wounds even as she readies another arrow...just in case. She looks around, slowly scanning the brush, trees, ruins, anything that might offer cover to another foe.
Magnus steps in front of Tarrana and launches a simple spell to hinder his opponent. "You have one more chance to surrender, dwarf"
Gaius pockets the fire-flask and instead looses a bullet at the hopefully dazed dwarf. [ooc], Damage .
Seeing that Stilgar has taken care of himself, Brodgar's hand falls to his wound, again asking for Baal's aid to help heal it. Finding it doubtful the group will catch the prepared human, he keeps his shield interposed between himself and any stray arrows.
Tarrana grows more annoyed by the moment simply tells the dwarf to "STOP! YOU LOST! Gods!"
End Round 7 (or, how the dwarf got owned):
Gaius skips a sling bullet off the dwarf's scalp, tearing the skin and causing blood to well and flow down the side of his head.
Magnus tosses a spell the dwarf's way, but he seems to shrug it off.
However, Tarrana's spell takes hold, and the dwarf simply ceases his attempts to struggle to his feet, merely lying face down in the snow.
Beginning of Round 8:
The human continues to move away from the battlefield, this time without a parting shot. Apparently he considers the battle lost.
Casting a glance over at the fleeing human, Stilgar grunts in annoyance. He knew full well that he wouldn't be able to catch up with him even if he tried. Instead he stands over the prone dwarf, nudging him with the end of his warhammer.
"It is as she says - you've lost. Your human friend has abandoned you and the rest are either dead or dying. So tell me, why did you attack us?"
Diplomacy:
As the group awaits the dwarf's actions, he eventually releases his hold on the axe in his hand. He raises his head and says something, not easy to make out at first as he's clearing the snow away from his face, but eventually you hear:
"Takin' yer stuff..."
Brodgar approaches through the snow drifts, giving a glance over his shoulder at the departing human. As the dwarf gives his answer, the inquisitor gives a derisive snort.
"Common highway robbery, really? Disgraceful. Are you the leader of this pack?"
Sense Motive
Brodgar: You're suspect he's lying. This group came at you hard and continued to rail at you despite mounting losses. Most bandits flee if met with force and await easier pickings.
The dwarf sits up, wiping snow from his beard and looking around the battlefield. Eventually he points toward the figure of the tall human fleeing the scene. "He'd be the one you want, the one you're letting get away."
Sense Motive:
Perception:
Percep:
Sense Motive:
The dwarf sits up, wiping snow from his beard and looking around the battlefield. Eventually he points toward the figure of the tall human fleeing the scene. "He'd be the one you want, the one you're letting get away."
Jinjer watches the fleeing human and grits her teeth, but upon hearing the dwarf's words, she growls, "Then let's stop wasting time with this lump of sheep dung. Cut his throat and let's go after the human!"
"Don't," Brodgar blurts in response to Jinjer. "He's lyin' about why they attacked, he might be lyin' about this too." Brodgar looks at the fallen - and the speaking dwarf - for any snowshoes, on feet or in packs, clipping his axe to his belt and stowing his shield as he draws his crossbow, aware catching up to their quarry will be difficult at best.
Perception (requested roll)
Sense Motive (mainly rolling this because everyone else did)
Brodgar's keen eye goes over the bodies lying in the snow. He notes chafing and scarring about their wrists and necks, evidence of shackles and collars, obvious marks of prisoners' bonds. The two dwarves may be outcasts, but the rest have been in chains, only recently released.
At this point, the dwarf simply kneels in the snow, awaiting the party's decision on what to do with him, seeming resigned to his fate.
Gaius turns in disgust from the dwarf. He ignores him as he begins to strap on his snow shoes.
"Just take his weapons and valuables and send him on his way. Not worth killing."
"Not so quickly. " Magnus states, as the disarmed dwarf is before him. "There is more to what is happening here than meets the eye. Tell me, why do you sacrifice yourself for that man to escape? You knew well that the battle was lost, and your leader fled. Why then did you remain loyal to his cause? I am certain you know more than you are letting on, and I refuse to release you until we get some answers. "
Tarrana sees about retrieving a pair of snowshoes for herself quuietly checking feet sizes to see if they come close to matching her lithe frame.
As Tarrana salvages a pair of snowshoes Magnus questions your captive further.
The dwarf gives a disgusted snort. "Because I'm dead anyway. So's he," he says, gesturing in the direction the human fled, "and you'll not have to lay a finger on him. We failed and we're dead because of it."
Brodgar, mulling over the state of the former-prisoners, quickly turns his attention back to the dwarf, a look of realization on his face.
"A bunch of recently released pris'ners and a coupla outcasts attack us, and now that they've failed, they're sure to die." He looks Stilgar in the eye, wondering if the other dwarf is thinking what he's thinking. "You gonna tell us who removed those shackles and set you after us?" The inquisitor isn't entirely sure he wants to hear the answer, but keeps his expression impassive.
"If I were to guess friend Brodgar." Tarrana says. "It would have to be someone with a personal stake in us not finding out the angry little jarlings murderer."
Stilgar's expression goes dark as he catches Brodgar's glance. He didn't like where this was going. Retrieving the pair of snowshoes he had received from Gregor, he straps them on, hoping that his friend was wrong for once.
The dwarf gives a grunt. "Yer pretty smart, you are. If we killed the two of you," he says, gesturing to you and Stilgar, "the lot of them would be free men."
"Me and Dolrak over there," he waves a hand to indicate the other dwarf, whose body has returned to its normal dimensions, "we had the better deal. Had we succeeded, we were promised a welcome back into the clan and removal of these damned marks."
The dwarf gives a grunt. "Yer pretty smart, you are. If we killed the two of you," he says, gesturing to you and Stilgar, "the lot of them would be free men."
"Me and Dolrak over there," he waves a hand to indicate the other dwarf, whose body has returned to its normal dimensions, "we had the better deal. Had we succeeded, we were promised a welcome back into the clan and removal of these damned marks."
"And that clinches it." Tarrana says and then sighs. "Don't worry Stilgar one gets used to people trying to kill them that by all rights should be behind them."
Magnus ensures that the dwarf is bound properly then he gestures for his allies to come aside and conference. He whispers: "So, what should we do now? hunt down this man's employer? Have him lead us to them? Kill him outright, or set him free to be killed by another? I think that there is still more than he knows that he's not telling us. "
Magnus quickly returns to the dwarf and asks "I need a name. Who sent you? "
Jinjer listens and watches their surroundings quietly, bow ready, trying to ignore her wounds, and aching for one more shot at the human.
The dwarf gives a peal of barking laughter. "He wore the robes and mask of the Inquisition. I didn't think to ask his name. I just took his gold and his promise, and then I took his spell."
"Knives in every shadow, indeed," Stilgar muses humorlessly, shaking his head, "Has this all been for naught? What did the Inquisition hope to accomplish through all this?"
He looks to the defeated dwarf, upon the marks on his face. "And to promise redemption from exile... it's unheard of."
Brodgar's expression turns dark, visible even through the concealment of his helmet. "Stilgar's right, you're an idiot to believe them. Probably would've been happiest if we'd all just cut each other down in the road," he spits derisively.
The dwarf taps two fingers against his helmet, trying to still his racing thoughts. "If what's been said is true, then we'll need a change of plans. So far as the inquisition is concerned, our deal is terminated."
The familiar look of realization turns to Brodgar's face as he regards their prisoner again. "Took his spell? What sort of spell?"
"A magical oath. If we turn away from the task, we suffer Baal's displeasure with oathbreakers. Chances are Long Jon there will be back to try and finish the job. I know you don't owe me anything, but I'd rather not suffer what's coming. So if you'd give me a swift death I'd be much obliged."
Tarrana raises an eyebrow at Brodgars outburst. "Be still my friend. Dwarves are not above treachery amongst themselves...or much of anything really. It may be a third party at work here. One with a mind to see us cut down on the road to further their own agenda. Little we can do now but wait for this would be hirer of assassins to make a misstep." Tarrna smiles as she bounces up and down on her new snowshoes. "It's good to be hunted again. I haven't reminded anyone why it's a bad idea to chase fires in a long time."
Stilgar strokes his beard, contemplating their situation.
"I do find it strange that the Inquisition would resort to using exiles and prisoners above their own agents. Above that, they usually make an effort to make an example out of their quarry," he says, glancing at the dwarf, "I say we continue on to Dunshale. If they truly want Brodgar and I dead, then they will have to do better than this."
"But first, what shall become of this one? If what he says is true, then he's as good as dead anyway."
Brodgar glares at Tarrana, his expression slowly turning to bemused as she goes on about being hunted. As Stilgar says his piece he grunts noncommittally. "It's true, this one might be tellin' what he knows and still be wrong. You'll forgive me if I'm a bit sore about the Inquisition," he says as he gives the helmet over his scar a tap.
Turning to look at the lonely stretch of road and mulling over Stilgar's words a moment longer, he nods in agreement. "Aye, if they truly wanted us we'd be dead by now." His attention turned back to their prisoner, he says "I say we leave 'im be. If he's lucky, the man who put the 'spell' on him was no servant of Baal, and if he's got anything b'tween his ears he'll have learned a lesson about making deals with the kinda folk who don't care about this carnage," he says, sweeping his arm across the field to indicate the bodies. "Otherwise, well, he made his choice, din't he?"
"Dwarf, is this all that you know? Where did this deal take place? Where were you supposed to return once the job was done? How much were you offered? What did they look like? "
spellcraft
Spellcraft
"He made his nest, let him sleep there. Perhaps the threatened wrath is as empty as the promice of redemption. Let him go. The crows have enough to feed on here."
Spellcraft:
"A magical oath. If we turn away from the task, we suffer Baal's displeasure with oathbreakers. Chances are Long Jon there will be back to try and finish the job. I know you don't owe me anything, but I'd rather not suffer what's coming. So if you'd give me a swift death I'd be much obliged."
Upon hearing this, and the responses of her companions, Jinjer jerks her knife from its sheath and plods toward the dwarf. "After you and your fellow thug servants of Baal tried to kill us, I'll be glad to oblige your sorry ass."
Magnus interjects. "Stay your hand a moment more." Magnus steps in front of the dwarf, arms outstretched. He has no intention of combatting his friends, but he says more calmly. "He may still be of use to us. "