"They look a little too human to be goblinoid, don't ya think?" Xamarath asks, angling his head down to regard Zoli. "Seem plenty dumb enough. Maybe it's a crafty disguise!"
"Hey! Why are you two helping a bunch of green knee-biters, anyway? I can't imagine the little buggers pay too well."
The man scans his eyes over the group, much like Kala is doing the pair of them, when from behind him the woman says, "Oh spare me your witless banter! Nualia is capable of doing far worse than you lot!"
She then begins the motions of an incantation, her hand falling to a pouch at her side.
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Seeing the caster start to chant, Zoli decides to seize the moment. She tumbles between the hapless Orik's legs and lands before the woman, thrusting Ripnugget's shortsword deep into the caster's foolishly unprotected midriff.
"Ha! If you two think your evil Lamashtuian schemes have any chance of succeeding, you're crazier than Grata and Snell in Hemmendal's classic balad, The Gory Gallows of Galt"
HP 25/25
Luck 4/8
Panache 2/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs bless +1 morale to hit & vs fear
Infernal healing, round 5/10
Eugeni sighs, and decides he'll be more use for now as a magic-user than a combatant in these tight quarters. He calls out to Erastil, raising his voice in prayer. A moment later, the group from Sandpoint feels themselves swelling with the power of Old Deadeye's blessings.
"They look a little too human to be goblinoid, don't ya think?" Xamarath asks, angling his head down to regard Zoli. "Seem plenty dumb enough. Maybe it's a crafty disguise!"
"Hey! Why are you two helping a bunch of green knee-biters, anyway? I can't imagine the little buggers pay too well."
"Be you friend or foe?" Kala demands. "If you're working with these goblins and demon worshipers, I'll have no choice but to destroy your evil, in the name of Iomedae." As she mentions the name of her goddess, her hand grips the holy symbol she wears about her neck.
"Aye, put yer weapons down or I'ma smash yer faces in!" Baern hefts his longhammer, though in the tight quarters, he won't be able to use it properly. Nevertheless, the dwarf attempts to look intimidating as he issues his commands.
The man scans his eyes over the group, much like Kala is doing the pair of them, when from behind him the woman says, "Oh spare me your witless banter! Nualia is capable of doing far worse than you lot!"
She then begins the motions of an incantation, her hand falling to a pouch at her side.
Seeing the caster start to chant, Zoli decides to seize the moment. She tumbles between the hapless Orik's legs and lands before the woman, thrusting Ripnugget's shortsword deep into the caster's foolishly unprotected midriff.
"Ha! If you two think your evil Lamashtuian schemes have any chance of succeeding, you're crazier than Grata and Snell in Hemmendal's classic balad, The Gory Gallows of Galt"
Shalelu steps forward and unleashes a volley of arrows at the man blocking the door, but all of them clatter against his shield harmlessly.
Morythine takes up a ready stance, waiting to see if his comrades can push into the room and give him an opening to join the fray.
The man wheels around and strikes at Zoli, screaming "Get away from her you b@!*&!"
"Ungh!" the woman cries out at Zoli's stab. She takes up a defensive posture and chants out an incantation, and suddenly vanishes from sight!
Suddenly, in the corner of the room, a section of the wall swings open, revealing a stairwell leading deeper down into the island structure.
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the plucky halfling calls out as the caster disappears and runs through the secret door.
Zoli holds up her sword to parry the man's blow but he knocks her blade aside and his strike digs through her armor into her shoulder.
She spins behind him so that he's forced to divide his attention between her and her allies, and swings again. The warrior is prepared though and manages to hold her off with his shield.
HP 13/25 (-13 +1)
Luck 4/8
Panache 1/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs bless +1 morale to hit & vs fear
Infernal healing, round 6/10
"We should probably come up with a name for our little band of merry adventurers. Something fierce, and intimidating. . . like 'The Sand Saviors!'" Xamarath calls after Zoli's advancing, diminutive form.
When the woman across the room vanishes and beats a hasty retreat, Xamarath rolls his eyes and clacks his staff against the stone floor twice, loudy. "Come on, Champ. We murdered our way through a tribe of goblins and worse without breaking a sweat. Your friend already wet herself and booked it--no reason to end up a red stain on the floor due to stubbornness. Who wants to die for a bunch of goblins and demon cultists, anyway?"
Eugeni shoots the man now that there are less people in the way. Shalelu and Kala block his view, and the man's armor does the rest. Both of Eugeni's shots do no harm to the man.
”Tell Nualia that Zoli’s coming for her!” the plucky halfling calls out as the caster disappears and runs through the secret door.
Zoli holds up her sword to parry the man's blow but he knocks her blade aside and his strike digs through her armor into her shoulder.
She spins behind him so that he's forced to divide his attention between her and her allies, and swings again. The warrior is prepared though and manages to hold her off with his shield.
"We should probably come up with a name for our little band of merry adventurers. Something fierce, and intimidating. . . like 'The Sand Saviors!'" Xamarath calls after Zoli's advancing, diminutive form.
When the woman across the room vanishes and beats a hasty retreat, Xamarath rolls his eyes and clacks his staff against the stone floor twice, loudy. "Come on, Champ. We murdered our way through a tribe of goblins and worse without breaking a sweat. Your friend already wet herself and booked it--no reason to end up a red stain on the floor due to stubbornness. Who wants to die for a bunch of goblins and demon cultists, anyway?"
Eugeni shoots the man now that there are less people in the way. Shalelu and Kala block his view, and the man's armor does the rest. Both of Eugeni's shots do no harm to the man.
"It pains me, but you leave me no choice," Kala says, then slams her shield into the man's face and chest. Her follow up sword strike merely skids off his armor, however.
Baern roars at the the man and attempts to smash him with his boulder helmet, but ends up headbutting the doorframe instead. All he ends up doing is leaving a minor crack in the stone while he reels back, dizzy. "Oof, who put tha' wall thar?"
The man seemed to consider Xamarath's words, but when arrows flew at him and he narrowly blocked them with his shield, and after taking a strong blow to the head from Kala's shield, he seems to have regained his resolve. He brings an overhead strike down at Zoli, delivering a deep cut to her shoulder and neck, dangerously close to several large blood vessels. She lets out a scream and falls to the ground.
Shalelu lets loose a volley of arrows over Kala's shoulder, but two fly wide in her adjustment to avoid hitting the female warrior, and another clangs harmlessly off of his shield.
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Roaring again now that his head is cleared from cracking the wall, Baern charges at Orik, attempting to barrel through him into the next room. "I'm comin' Zoli, don' worry! We'll kill this sod and 'elp ye!" With a five-hundred pound, if you include his equipment, armored, spiked, and smelly dwarf charging at him, Orik has no choice but to move or be knocked flat on his ass.
__________________________________
Everything fades to black as the blade cuts into her neck. Moments later, she awakens -- fuzzily -- due to the ongoing effect of the Infernal Healing.
She opens her eyes just in time to see Orik step aside as Baern barrels in on top of her. For the briefest of moments, she contemplates standing back up. Then -- realizing that her head is only barely attached to her shoulders, and that Baern doesn't normally spin quite like that -- she suddenly decides that laying in the corner behind Baern seems like a Very Good Idea.
HP 0/25 (-14 +1)
Luck 4/8
Panache 2/4
Charmed Life 2/3
Buffs bless +1 morale to hit & vs fear
Infernal healing, round 7/10
Shalelu takes advantage of the clear shot and looses another volley at Orik. Two of the arrows clatter off his shield, but one drives itself into the meat of his thigh. She then steps aside to give Eugeni a clear shot.
Morythine, having been waiting for just a moment like this, slips in quickly and quietly and lunges at the man, reeling in pain from the arrow in his leg, and secures one of the man's arms behind him while wrenching his neck sideways.
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"Have it your way, turd huffer." Xamarath steps forward and unleashes an impressive--for Xamarath, anyway--strike from the butt of his quarterstaff.
After landing a solid thwack across the armored man's lower abdomen, Xamarath edges his way back into the previous room, allowing his companions room to maneuver past the Thayvian wizard.
"Zoli, no!" Eugeni shouts, firing another two shot at Orik. In his rage the shots are hurried, and both completely miss. "RARGH!" he roars, completely incensed.
Roaring again now that his head is cleared from cracking the wall, Baern charges at Orik, attempting to barrel through him into the next room. "I'm comin' Zoli, don' worry! We'll kill this sod and 'elp ye!" With a five-hundred pound, if you include his equipment, armored, spiked, and smelly dwarf charging at him, Orik has no choice but to move or be knocked flat on his ass.
Everything fades to black as the blade cuts into her neck. Moments later, she awakens -- fuzzily -- due to the ongoing effect of the Infernal Healing.
She opens her eyes just in time to see Orik step aside as Baern barrels in on top of her. For the briefest of moments, she contemplates standing back up. Then -- realizing that her head is only barely attached to her shoulders, and that Baern doesn't normally spin quite like that -- she suddenly decides that laying in the corner behind Baern seems like a very good idea.
Kala sidesteps into the area that Baern just vacated. She drops her shortsword, then unstraps her shield, dropping it to the ground. She then draws her greatsword, and prepares to step back in front of the man.
Shalelu takes advantage of the clear shot and looses another volley at Orik. Two of the arrows clatter off his shield, but one drives itself into the meat of his thigh. She then steps aside to give Eugeni a clear shot.
Morythine, having been waiting for just a moment like this, slips in quickly and quietly and lunges at the man, reeling in pain from the arrow in his leg, and secures one of the man's arms behind him while wrenching his neck sideways.
"Have it your way, turd huffer." Xamarath steps forward and unleashes an impressive--for Xamarath, anyway--strike from the butt of his quarterstaff.
"Zoli, no!" Eugeni shouts, firing another two shot at Orik. In his rage the shots are hurried, and both completely miss. "RARGH!" he roars, completely incensed.
The man struggles against the dhampir's grasp, but cannot break free. Morythine, meanwhile, kicks the man in the back of the knee, forcing him down to the ground. In the fall, the man's free arm flies forward reflexively to break his fall, and Morythine is able to snatch it and hold it behind his back as well.
The man struggles to get free, but fails to do so. Realizing the situation he is in, he cries out, "Alright! I yield! I yield!"
His breathing heavy, he manages to pant out, "I knew I shoulda left this insanity and went to Korvosa when I had the chance..."
__________
Much like he had done with the restrained quasit in a different ruin, Xamarath pads over to where Orik is held down and begins poking him in the face with his quarterstaff. "Here's where you tell us what's what in this stinkpit, then we'll decide if it's worth forgiving what you did to our friend."
Orik frustratedly shakes his head in an attempt to escape the mage's staff, and says "Alright! Alright! Can you at least let me up? You have my word I won't try anything. Hell, I'd been thinking about ditching this bunch of nutcases for a while anyway. If you guys can put them down, that just spares me from having to worry about them coming for me later. And I only hurt her because she hurt Lyrie."
"Spill it. Tell us everything, NOW!" Eugeni growls, running over to Zoli. He leans down and lays his hands on her wounds.
Seeing that he is not going to be let up, he groans and says, "Fine. Look, my name is Orik. Orik Vancaskerkin. Nualia picked me up as a bodyguard in Magnimar. I didn't ask many questions, she paid in platinum and that was good enough for me at the time. I honestly haven't had to do much actual work for her, she's been holed up here ever since I joined up with her, and Bruthazmus has done most of that work."
Shalelu steps up and says, "Bruthazmus joined up with her? Why?"
"Because she damn near killed him. Instead of finishing the job, she offered him a job as extra muscle," Orik replies. "Since she put together the raid on Sandpoint, I've been thinking about leaving. I had actually stopped by the town a few months ago on my way to Magnimar. Place was really nice, good folk."
Orik grunts and winces as he strains to get in a more comfortable position, but Morythine maintains his hold. "I haven't been roaming around down in here much. To be honest, the place creeps me out. Hells, I've only even been in that temple once, that religion gives me the chills. Though, I guess you killed the two monster dogs that the boss had left there. Good riddance, too. Anyway, I've never been in the chambers south of the temple, and I ain't had any reason to go in the eastern chambers either. There's some sort of creature over there, Lyrie studied it for a while. And I've never been down to the deeper tunnels. I've kept mostly to the sleeping quarters, to be honest. I don't know what it is the silver haired b##~& is after, and I frankly don't care anymore."
"Strip him naked, and throw him in the sea, Baern. Orik here doesn't deserve anything more after helping these monsters."
Orik gets a frantic look on his face as he stammers, "But, but I just told you I didn't hardly even do anything! I basically got paid to just walk along with her from Magnimar to here, then to sit in a damn bedroom!"
He flips his head over to face Eugeni and adds, "I can still help you, too! Let me prove how little I care about working for that b**$@!"
Eugeni stares at him, waiting for him to continue.
Nearly pleading, he adds, "You let me help you, and if possible, I'll cut the whore's heart out myself."
|
"We cannot kill one who has surrendered. We would be as bad as the monsters in this place," Kala says, gesturing toward the man. She fixes him with a stern glare as she continues, "You have, however injured our companion, and had you killed her, it would be your life. As she yet breathes, you will surrender your arms and any magical items you bear, draw us a map of this place as best you can, and then leave on foot. You will touch none of the horses you see, as Nightwind would likely kill you."
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"As much as I'd love ta' see tha' sod swim, Kala's righ'." Baern leans in close to Orik, grinning and breathing heavily, forcing Orik to soak up the dwarf's odorous breath, not to mention the other odors wafting from him. "Ye jus' tell us wha' we go' ta expect down thar, draw us a wee lil' map an' be on yer way. If we see ye again, ye can expect me 'ammer ta be shov'd up a place whar tha' sun don' shine."
After his little promise, Baern remains quiet for the remainder of the interrogation, watching the secret entrance for anyone coming back up it.
Morythine holds Orik firmly as he sells out his former companions. Thistletop was proving to be an interesting place, and the display of blood, gore and innards as his companions have fought their way through the goblin stronghold has been fascinating. However, he still fears the place might kill him before the day is done.
And what of this man within his grasp. To be trusted or not?
Zoli rubs her head and squints. "Thanks Eugeni!" she says as his healing helps her wounds to close.
She gives Orik a hard look. "I'm afraid you've had plenty of chances to leave these monsters behind. Sitting idly by while they sack our town, kill our families...it's a little late to say you're ready to act on what little conscience you've got.
"Kala, executing someone for their crimes isn't at all like what Nualia and her minions are engaged in. He says he's willing to make up for what he's done. Fine. We could take him with us, have him prove his good intentions with a sword...only can we risk him turning coat on us when he has the chance? If we're not willing to take that risk we can leave him tied up, but there's no way he can be allowed to leave while we're here. Who knows what he might do."
|
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"Execution of a surrendered prisoner without convening a Thing, or whatever a Varisian tribunal is called, would be no less than murder," Kala says. "I do agree that setting him free would be rash, though. We could tie him up, toss him in the stall that horse was in, and take him back with us when we leave, if that is acceptable, Zoli."
"Whatever we decide, we had best understand that his former accomplice absconded with knowledge of our presence. Put more bluntly: they know we be a'comin'." Xamarath gives the subdued man another poke in the face.
"Whatever you all need me to do to prove my lack of association with these cultists, I'll do it! Help killing Nualia and Bruthazmus? Sure. The monster in the caves? Done. And if you'll get this damned elf off me I'll draw you that map!"
You all get the feeling that the man has been sincere up to this point.
Eugeni paces back and forth like a caged dog, looking at Orik and growling. Definitely can't trust him, but seems like these guys are much nicer than me. If everyone thinks he'll actually fight for us, who am I to say otherwise. Eugeni turns to his companions,"Whatever. If you lot trust him, then I will." Then he turns to Orik, "but the moment you try to pull something funny, I will kill you surrendered or not."
"An extra sword might be of use," puts in Morythine. "But we'd better not dawdle on whether or not to take him with us, it just gives more time for our enemies to prepare to meet us."
Zoli takes Orik's weapon and then nods for Mory to let go.
"Go ahead then. Get up and show us your changed ways. Start with the map and then you can help us fight that monster. Then we'll decide if we take you with us down to fight Nualia or leave you tied up while we handle her ourselves."
As Orik rises, he works his shoulder joint, clearly the arm is sore from being wrenched behind him so violently. He then slowly but deliberately removes his shield, longbow, and arrows, and willingly hands them over.
"Thanks. And, sorry about, well, trying to kill you," he says to Zoli. "Thing is, well, I kinda like Lyrie, despite her being a b#+~$ some times. She can be nice, she really can. It doesn't happen much, but..." he trails off a moment, then shrugs and say. "Oh well, heart wants what the heart wants I guess. There should be some paper in the other room. But I'm telling ya, you don't want to give Nualia too much time. Lyrie surely went to where ever that b+&+~ is down stairs to warn her, and so did Bruthazmus. Two casters and a brute of a bugbear are not something to be trifled with. And there's still another one of those hounds around here somewhere, at least."
__________
"We have instructions, we don't need a map. Lets go down as quickly as possible. We can handle any monsters on the way out," Eugeni suggests. He grabs a few of Orik's arrows to replenish his stock. "Although, I have essentially no magic left today. It's all blades and arrows from here."
This is going to be it. Maybe we can finally put an end to the threat to Sandpoint. Erastil grant we'll be skilled enough to not die and fail the whole town.
"Orik, if you give us your word that you're righting your wrongs and joining us in putting a stop to Nualia's plans to destroy Sandpoint, you're all in, understood?
"That means if the girl you have a thing for is standing up for evil and destruction, you help us defeat her as well, right?" Zoli narrow her eyes at the mercenary.
"Can we at least try to capture her and not kill her? I KNOW she can change her ways,"
He sighs and pauses for a moment, and says, "But, if she won't surrender and is intent on killing you, I will do what I have to."
He then holds out a hand to the Halfling and says, "You have my word."