Haru feels a little abashed at Kavell's glance, remembering that Shelyn teaches the value of redemption.
Haru tries to think if there are any places that would accept a hobgoblin without trouble.
"Not really, no." Friday says as he tentatively takes the bow.
"So this raid? Was that all you were gathering for or was there something else?" Gergo's axe lay lazily on his shoulder, out of it's harness and ready to be used but not in a threatening stance...yet.
Considering the untamed wilderness beyond Riddleport & Roderic's Cove, there's only one likely candidate for such a place that immediately comes to mind...
Brinewall.
The hobgoblin just glares at Gergo as more blood trickles out of the corner of its mouth. Its chest heaves, and its eyes start to close...
"If we want more words to roll out of his mouth, I don't think letting him would help" Said Gergo as he stuffed the last of the gear he was assigned to carry in his pack.
With his usual smile still plastered on his countenance, Gergo approached the hobgoblin "Alright this is how things are going to go from here my poor sod, and don't worry I won't kill you, if we wanted to we could have let that big hole in your chest do the work for us" Gergo let the axe's blade dangle on the ground without much care as he looked on their prisoner with an unreadable stare.
"But why would I want to? You have to be alive to talk, and you are but I still don't hear words coming out of your mouth" Gergo craned his neck in the direction of the hobgoblin but still stood above him "I wonder why? I mean my friend here" He motioned towards Kavell casually "Stopped this beautiful killer from putting an arrow in your skull, something I've seen her do a lot of times, you'd be surprised how many different ways an arrow can get lodged in a skull...but we won't let her do that, I mean why waste an arrow on something that can't move?" Gergo's axe rose from the ground and was once more resting on the shoulder of the wild man.
"I am not lying when I say we didn't want you to die...no that's not right" Gergo paused looked away for a moment then trained a more primal stare at the hobgoblin "You living or dying wouldn't be something I'll remember a minute from now, we are just keeping you alive so you could say something useful, I mean if you won't...I didn't really get to use my axe today" Gergo placed the axe in front of him looking too amused with the weapon, almost like a kid looking at his favorite toy.
The hobgoblin's eyes shoot open as Kavell removes the arrow and heals the wound it leaves behind. His breathing steadies and some strength returns to his limbs.
He gives Gergo another glare before *harrumphing*. "What do you wish to know, then?"
"Willing to talk again! People are funny like that, one time they don't feel like talking, the next they do" Gergo let the handle of his axe rest on his shoulder once more, then he brought his empty hand to the back of his head as appeared to be considering what to ask.
"How about why you were here? And don't say its because you wanted to raid this town, it'd be easier to raid the caravans coming here with your numbers...unless you're stupid but that isn't what's important here" Gergo turned his attention towards the hobgoblin awaiting in strange anticipation what the captured survivor of their little battle had to say.
The hobgoblin wrinkles his blood-spattered nose. "Hmph. As foolish as it sounds to human ears, we were here to raid this town." He holds a hand to his ribs, grunting in pain. "My master subjugated my old warband many weeks ago--and sent us to plunder this town as a test of our loyalty."
"In truth, I believe my master sent us here to die. Why else would he send only three hobgoblins with nothing but a ragtag band of mad, cowardly goblins?"
"Wow, you know you're more honest than most of the people I've known back when I was a mercenary...well hired swords aren't exactly hired because there honest so..." Gergo's hand stroked the back of his head;up and down it went in an almost rhythmic motion, adding to the mess that was his blond mane.
"How about you tell us the name of your boss and where he lives" The words bounced off Gergo's tongue in quick succession, as he began pacING around the hobgoblin "Type of defenses he has and how many are under his poorly planned orders would help too"
"I do not know his name--as lowly as I was, I was not deemed fit to learn it." The hobgoblin snorts. "His minions spoke a strange language, one that I have never heard before. His clan has taken over our old stronghold--an old castle along the coast to the north."
Shalelu twirls an arrow in her fingers and looks over at the rest of the party. She has a cold glare in her eyes.
"... wait, so your not under the command of other goblins?" Friday asks, his head tilting to the side in thought.
"Not any longer." The hobgoblin looks at his feet. His head is hanging with what appears to be regret.
"What does your usurper look like?" Friday says after waiting and allowing the captive his moment.
"A red-skinned human with a large nose and milky white eyes." The hobgoblin grunts. "He leads a troop of strange creatures--human in shape, but with the heads of ravenous crows."
Friday looks between the others, not really having any idea what these creatures might be.
Gergo's fingers rapped both rhythmically and soundlessly on the handle of the great axe. His smile had grown into an excited toothy thing that seemed like a pearly dam that held back numerous words that would only echo his obvious mood.
Without warning Gergo turned to face his companions "Please tell me we have a plan that involves storming that castle!" He turned from them and to the open horizon momentarily. This. This is why he enjoyed a mercenary's life so much and he had left Sandpoint in hopes of finding these feelings once more...and so far he wasn't disappointed.
Haru can't recall any type of humanoid with crow's heads.
"Storming the castle sounds like the kind of thing songs are written about!"
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Valeria wracked her brain trying to think of where she'd heard of either a red-skinned humanoid with a big nose or humanoid birds.
Unfortunately, you've never heard of anything like a humanoid bird, or a red-skinned humanoid.
The hobgoblin snorts. "So, what happens now?"
"We pay a visit to your boss...I hope, what happens to you? Ask my friends" Gergo motioned with his free hand in the direction of his companions, not failing to note a very annoyed Shalelu "I wasn't lying about the arrows and how they were lodged into skulls, just hope that they don't vote with her decision" With these last words Gergo stepped away from their hostage and stood by the elven ranger, whether that meant he was in her camp or simply preffered to stand in close proximity to her was left to the imagination of the hobgoblin.
"A castle with strange creatures inside, I think I've read a tale or two about this exact situation...oh and yes it was a bloodbath when they got there, and of course the two leads kissed at the end" Gergo shrugged as he recounted the story "I still don't understand how he got her to kiss him with all the corpses around them, I barely got a girl to kiss me and I had a nice room at a fancy inn, even used expensive soap when I was cleaning up. I'll never understand why the Qadiran ones are that expensive, I can never tell the difference"
"Better smelling stuff in the soap I suppose," Friday wondered aloud, "Maybe... try finding out what the girl likes? Maybe she doesn't like kissing?" he continued on his non-sequitur.
"Well..." Ameiko folds her arms behind her head. "...regarding our hobgoblin here, I think it couldn't hurt to at least let him go. I mean, he's been nothing but helpful to us."
Shalelu visibly stiffens. "I think the rest of you already know what I think we should do with him."
"One last question," Valeria said, approaching the hobgoblin, "just where is this castle your boss is controlling?"
"North of your human town, along a road that has not been used by your kind for generations." The hobgoblin says, leaning on one arm.
Listening to Shalelu and Ameiko talk Friday stares through the hobgoblin.
"What outcome would you prefer?" he asks the brigand without breaking his stare.
Haru looks at Shalelu, not sure of what to do.
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Friday's question gives the hobgoblin pause. "...I do not know. I have failed my tribe, and by all rights I should have been slain in battle. Such a failure conflicts with my natural desire to live. To continue to exist."
Shalelu meets Haru's gaze and softens slightly, but her grip on her bow & arrow never relaxes.
"Would you like to avenge yourself and your brothers against the master who sent you all to your doom?"
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"...yes." A fire is lit in the hobgoblin's eyes.
Friday starts to smile at the Hobgoblin's response but stops himself as he turns to Shalelu, worried about what her's would be.
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There see, a guide, redemption, and a plan all rolled up into one.
He said quietly though with a soft frown. He was aware that well the elven ranger certainly had issues with his kind, and that was putting it nicely.
A road not used in years? Waaiit...
"I don't know if there was any sort of name on the place, but you haven't heard of this castle being referred to as 'Brinewall', have you?"
The hobgoblin looks up at Valeria and arches an eyebrow. "Is that what humans call it? We have heard the name spoken once or twice."
Ameiko's eyes widen in surprise. "Wow, really? Now I'm definitely for letting him live."
Shalelu shoots Ameiko a harsh glare. "As reckless as ever, I see." Her eyes soften as she turns back to the rest of the group. "But if you are insistent on this, I won't stop you."
Friday turns once to give Ameiko a grateful bow, and again to give Shalelu an even deeper one that he holds longer.
The hobgoblin shakily rises to his feet. "Is it settled, then? I lead you to Brinewall in exchange for my life?"
"If that is what you wish."
"You can talk it over with them" Gergo jabbed his finger in the direction of his companions and looked about like an animal that's caught a scent of its prey, but suddenly he halted all movement and turned towards the hobgoblin "Which way is it again?"
"North." The hobgoblin replies, still looking much worse for the wear.
Come then guide, it seems a deal has been struck. What is it you are called If I may ask.
Kavell asked the hobgoblin as he helped him to his feet.
Have you ever thought about working as a caravan guardsman? decent pay, food, a chance to do something worthwhile and honorable with your life..
He began
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"I am Ishgha. Now known as Ishgha the Fallen." The hobgoblin says, taking Kavell's offered hand.
"The thought had never crossed my mind. My people do not sow--we take what is ours." Ishgha grunts. "And today, it has almost led to my demise. Are you offering a place, then?"
I am Kavell Speranta, The problem my friend, is that one may only take things from others for so long, before they take back. But we can leave that discussion for another day. The caravan is not mine to offer you a place in it, but that castle I believe is the one we seek.
He began leaning around the hobgoblin to double check with Ameiko that indeed was their destination. Once settled that it was he continued on.
But we can teach you along the way the value of sowing things, There is a parable in our side of the world, that you can give a man a fish when he is hungry, and he wont be hungry for now, but if you teach him to fish, he may never be hungry again. Do your people do any... sort of art? I carve things from wood.
He continued gladly doing his best to set the seeds of perhaps a change in the normally wicked creatures moral outlooks.
"We'll be watching you, Ishgha... don't think we won't be," Haru warns, standing in solidarity with her mentor.
"There is a parable in our side of the world, that you can give a man a fish when he is hungry, and he won't be hungry for now, but if you teach him to fish, he may never be hungry again. Do your people do any... sort of art? I carve things from wood."
Ishgha is silent for a bit before he answers. "Not unless you view military strategy as such. Such frivolities are useless on the battlefield, and serve only to distract one from training."
He sounds almost disappointed.
"We'll be watching you, Ishgha... don't think we won't be."
Ishgha only offers a *harrumph* of contempt and a baleful glare in Shalelu's direction, which she returns in equal measure.
"Alright now--let's get back to Sandru." Ameiko moves to lead the party back to town. "I imagine he's either worried about us or angry that he didn't get to join in."
When the party returns to the caravan with Roderic's Cove none the wiser, Sandru emerges from Koya's wagon to greet them.
"Hey guys, how'd the hunt go--" He starts to say before noticing the hobgoblin with them. His hand immediately dives for his scimitar. "--what the hell's going on here?!"
"I take it Sandru does not care for Hobgoblins?" Friday asks to no one in particular as he looks at the incensed caravan leader, then to the near dead and unarmed goblinoid, and then finally to all the well armed and wary people surrounding said goblinoid.
Ishgha here has offered to be our guide to our destination, and perhaps if things go well as additional help with the caravan. There are better ways to live than raiding others. He said simply offering his best smile.
Sandru stops as Kavell speaks up, a look of disbelief on his face. "Wait, seriously?"
"I know--I couldn't believe it either." Ameiko walks up to him and prods his shoulder. "Even Shalelu's agreed to take him along."
"Well... if that's the case..." Sandru stands down and starts walking back to the wagons. "...alright, I guess he can come with us. Just don't act surprised if more folks don't want to trade with us along the way."