Running down the tunnel Grunyar barces himself for what might come. He suspects more spiders, but one can never know. If only Dain hadn't taen of leaving many of them behind.
"Blast, damn 'n' damn again. I bet ye it means it can make it to th' rest o' the gnomes afore us!"
Elmador moves out into the main corridor and takes off after the others and the spider.
*sorry about the lack of activity I've taken an impromptu trip to Stockholm for New Years. I also don't have any idea where the square brackets are on this keyboard to do formatting*
Wrex grunts as he tries to help free the fellow dwarf from the web, sending his slug after the fleeing Skis'raal. "Slick, don't let it get away! Attack!" He shouts, cursing under his breath as the web continues to hold Mirrin.
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The pursuers see the Skis'raal move into a cave to the northeast, skittering fast on its many legs.
It disappears into the darkness, and you will need to move fast to catch up...
By the Sister's silent mouth, Where is this thing going! Garnult thinks as he speeds into danger, longaxe at the ready.
It moved into yonder cave. Dain, with me? Cousin, you stay alert there could be more and this might get interesting! Garnult almost shouts in Dwarven to Harladorn and Elmador as he runs towards the cave entrance. His blood is up, and he will fulfill his vow to deliver this murdering spider to its gods.
Donagh is trying to calm the mules, while also helping Wrex to escape from the darn net in any way he can.
We need to discuss strategy. Any fool can see that running off in pursuit while leaving part of the team is not wise. I would have thought that Garnult would act more like the leader he is supposed to be.
The chase winding up a bit, Dain start to come to his senses. Garnult's words help him remember how irresponsible and dangerous would be of him to simply walk into a room full of enemies.
"Aye Garnult, I'll take point." - trying to be more careful, Dain raises his shield and his weapon, and advance forward more cautiously.
Happy that Garnult slowed Dain a bit Grunyar does his best to catch up so they may move in a somewhat gathered force, all though his stays behind the others in relative safety.
Elmador makes his way forward until he is just behind his companions and strains to look into the cave mouth
Mirrin takes whatever time is necessary to cut or rip himself free of the web wishing to catch up to the rest of the expedition before they stumble into another web.
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After chasing the Skis'raal up and inclined, rough-hewn shelf, the chasers find themselves in an area with several webbed-up, writhing svirfneblin captives. The remaining skis'raal has used the headstart to gather a few precious items and then perched itself over the fattest dark gnome.
It declares in undercommon, "Allow me to escape or I kill the prisoners."
Leave the Deep Gnomes and begone, Brygga will show you justice.
Garnult hefts his Longaxe to accentuate his point that the creature faces certain death if it stays.
"Brygga's will be done" - Dain simply underscores Garnult's statement. He is clearly ready to face the creature should the need be, but is unwilling to risk life's of the prisoners to do so.
Why does the creature think we care, Grunyar wonders and casts a surprised glance at his fellow travellers when they speak. "Don't worry friend, I'll make this quick if you don't comply," he whispers to the skis'raal.
Mirrin opens fire.
Perception for "they"
Attack
Damage
Seeing the creature has come within his height Grunyar moves closer trying to close in in a flanking position. Lets end this, he thinks.
Elmador, faced with the choice of allowing a murdering kidnapper to go free or have prisoners die, froze up, unwilling to make such a decision on his own but not having the luxury of a discussion.
Now the choice is taken away from him by the skis'raal jumping down he throws another jolt at the spidery thing.
Donagh is unsure what to do
Not choosing is also a choice, in which you lose the initiative. So pick an action and live by your choice Donagh!
Donagh shouts to his companions
"Hold your attacks! We do not know if it lying! Killing the thing when the others have given it mercy would not be honourable!"
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The skis'raal hisses in pain and anger as Mirrin strikes true. ""Betrayal most foul!" it says as it notices Elmador shooting a stray magical blast its way and Grunyar following it down the bolthole.
Its response is to skitter forth and try a bite on Mirrin to avenge itself pre-mortem. Donaghs words, it seems, come too late.
for damage and Poison! (Fort Save)
fort save
Donagh! This creature will go on to ambush other travellers if we allow it to go, it's already shown it doesn't understand the idea of a bargain! Elmador pants out as his spell fizzles uselessly into the air. does it mean we are the betrayers here or is there someone else nearby?! he thinks to himself as he scans the area
(Cūka is still with the wagon)
"Elmador, did you or didn't you allow the creature a safe passage for whatever reason? Your word is your bond!" Donagh shouts back at Elmador.
"if an omission of speech is an agreement then I agree I allowed safe passage but, my priestly friend, it appears that mule has bolted now, we can talk about this later our friends need our assistance and the svirfneblin even more so!" Elmador is panting heavily now as his heart races and his respiratory problems act up.
While the rest bicker over the words of a murderous monster Mirrin simply attempts to lay the argument to rest.
Cestus punch
Damage
Elmador raises his hands again and casts another electrical charge at the spider-folk. "This has gone on long enough me lad. A little help here mates!" He says at the Skis'Raal and the party respectively
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Mirrin, a tough bastard being more annoyed than hurt grabs the spider beast by the throat. "Aye I be tap dancin in hell soon enough but only aafter you!"
And proceeds to slam his fist down the creatures throat.
Attack
Damage
Donagh sees that his comrades and the spiderthing are irrevocably in combat. He sighs deep and peers around cautiously to check if any other spider things are trying to outflank them.
Garnult pulls his belt knife and begins cutting the Deep Gnomes free.
Smiling at their victory and the fact that he remained unharmed Grunyar humming a low tune as he begins aiding Garnult in freeing the Deep Gnomes. "So do you think these beast might have treasure?" he asks hopefully.
Garnult's response is to give the rogue a cold look.
What happened was not honorable. We will not restore our lands by breaking vows on the first day.
He continues cutting the gnomes free.
"Killing the spiders?" Grunyar inquires puzzled ignoring the cold look. While countinuing to free the gnomes he looks around for a glimpse of treasure.
I gave my word, as a Dwarf of Noble Blood! That the creature could go if it left these alone Garnult says indicating the gnomes.
And my own kin! My blood! Betrays of vow.
Penance must be done.
Mirrin and company eventually make their way in still covered in blood wounds and ichor.
"Good ta see ya safe. And the little ones too accounted for? I feared the worst when the bastard double backed."
Confused about actions which happened, Dain does not say much. He looks at Donagh as if looking for guidance, but none is forthcoming. Finally, Dain lowers his weapon and helps the others free the gnomes.
Garnult gives Mirrin a look but keeps his own counsel. He doesn't have the words to explain his anger to his older cousin.
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In all, six svirneblin struggle weakly against the webbing, poison having taken away most of their fight. When cut free, they seem grateful but exceedingly weakened. The eldest, a wrinkly gnome with a decent white beard steps forward, speaking in undercommon. "Gratitude, friends. The foul beasts would have eaten us next for certain. They already all but devoured Slurene." he points to the dessicated body of the cave lizard.
The web-sack the skis'raal was dragging contains 20 coins minted from platinum with elvish writing on them.
Elvish:
The male skis'raal was wearing an armband carved from ivory with the likeness of a cave boar engraved upon its surface on one of his legs.
The area the gnomes were bound in is strewn with bones and refuse.
"Who's Satha?" Mirrin wonders allowed.
Donagh joins the others in the spiders cave, he just overhears Garnult's words and he chimes in.
"It is as I feared, vows given should be honoured my brethren! Even if we do not agree with the vow as given we can never dishonour our heritage. A vow given by one of us binds us all, even if we where not there or do not agree. I will pray to Bryggya for guidance and resolve in our further endeavours."
Satisfied that all gnomes are free Grunyar eagerly joins Mirrin riffling through the skis'raal's belongings. His fingers caress the platinum, a genuine treasure in opinion. "Satha?" he asks Mirrin as the others contemplates the wording. His interest in the find is disturbed by the words of the cleric. "Am I bound to be bound by the wows of others?" he asks the priest in all honesty.
"What vow?" Mirrin asks.
"As Garnult said - he gave his word to the creature that the creature may go in exchange for it releasing the gnomes. He, as our leader, stated we will not attack it. And we broke our word. That makes us..." - Dain stops for a second trying to find the proper expression.
"Look, I do not want to argue with any of you over a dead monster, but we are dwarves and we started this holly mission in the name of Bryggya. We can not sully her sacred name by breaking our wows. For a proper dwarf, his word is his bond, and he must do all in his power to keep it. Otherwise, we'll be no better than derro."
Mirrin looks at them as if they've all sprouted four more legs. Then shaking his head sits on a nearby rock and gets to work dressing his wounds and squeezing out the venom mumbling and grumbling to himself through it all few phrases and words can be picked out such as "sooner get their throats cut than grow some sense" and "No honor among spiders and darkness."
In a quiet voice that grows louder to fill the small cavern Garnult begins to speak.
Honor. Is a funny thing, it is a....personal thing. Without honor, what do we have? Without our word, who are we? We do not give our word as Tarnhammer because the recipent is worthy we give it because we are worthy. Our word is steel. Our vows are the armor that guards our very souls. Bryyga demands this of us. Today we say, "Oh, that one did not deserve to have an oath kept" but when does it end. As the one who gave the oath, it is my shame to bear. But know this, I wouldn rather die than leave an oath unfullfilled, or have my word mean nothing. I would rather the Dammerhall stay unclaimed, than have it claimed by ones whose word means nothing.
His speech finished Garnult stalks from the room, his mood foul, back towards the cart.
Grunyar shakes his head at the strong words spoken. Dammerhall unclaimed, fool's words. My redemption lies in those stones, he thought. "Strong words, might I ask for a vow easier to keep next time?" he says