Karthurg looks disappointed that his tactic was just as unproductive as trying to talk. He hates embracing his orc side to things like this and it hurts when he uses his orc side and it doesn't get him anywhere. If you won't talk, we can take you back to civilization where they will plan the slowest way to kill you. He smiles at the orc as he leaves the area the prisoner was tied up. He frowns once he gets out of the room as he is disgusted with himself.
He looks to Phendran with apology in his eyes. I was not going to hit him again. I needed to make him believe that I was willing to kill him over and over again even if I wasn't really. I planned my attack to not kill him. I am sorry I made you uncomfortable.
Well I certainly don't like the sound of that. Ain't no ocean big enough to stop the world burnin' Mind letting me in on the big joke there Mr orc? If we can't stop it no use in keeping it a secret right
Belliken sits at a safe distance and looks earnestly at the broken orc.
The orc continues to laugh. ”I already sent him the statue. It’s only a matter of time before whatever plan he’s got kicks into action. I don’t know what the statue is good for, but he paid us well. It’s time for the world to start over.”
Hank peeks around the corner, but as he sees the interrogation is still underway, he quickly dodges back to Cammy and Phedran.
I get it, your a tough guy. Ain't nothin' we can do to rile ya up. What do ya want then? You resigned to die here in this'n cave? I for one am happy to look the other way and let ya go if you can give us a bit more to go on. Where did ya send the statue and how is everythin' gonna start over?
”All I know is someone wanted the statue. He sent us gold, and we sent him the statue. I don’t know who or where he is, but I know that the snake statue is the key to something bigger.”
Karthurg is impressed with Belliken's way of getting information. He isn't using sweet words nor aggression and is getting everything I was trying to get. I have questions, but I want to watch the master work.
Belliken sighs and stands up. This fool of a brute sure don't care bout his skin none
How did you get the statue to him then, and how did you receive the gold? As he asks Belliken makes a show of loading his crossbow and leveling it the orcs head.
”He left the gold in the woods where I gave the statue to a hawk. How he got it there, I don’t know.”
Karthurg hears what the orc says, Damn, I can not track a hawk. Not sure what how to follow up on this lead.
Hank has been listening around the corner, trembling. But he has an idea. He comes around the corner and says, quietly, "Um I know a spell to Speak with Beasts. If I can prep it, we can ask the sparrows and robins and finches and such if they have seen a strange bird around the woods? Might need to take a nap to reset my sparkles first."
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"Hmmm... a rather peculiar ability, but one that serves our current needs, and almost perfectly!"
Phedran takes a puff on his pipe, and is dismayed when there is no smoke. He shrugs, and taps it out against his boot, then stuffs it back in his apothecary satchel.
"Master Henry, I say, you never fail to surprise."
Dragging this one with us is gonna slow us down, and sounds like this statue is part of somethin' right nefarious. What should we do with Mr orc? Belliken raises the crossbow at the orcs head again but his finger seems to tremble and he looks to the others for guidance.
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"Have mercy, either way, s'all I ask. Make it quick." Hank tries to get far away, bringing Cammy almost to the mouth of the cave. There he looks out at the peaceful face of nature, and tries to remember how exactly one talks to birds... he chirps and squawks softly in his reverie.
Karthurg smiles as he loots at his fresh scars that this awful thing left on him. I have no issues with him dying her. I know the civilized folk wanted to take him back to your civilization but it does not sound like we are headed back just yet. I think he more than earned his death.
We are out in the woods! What town guard do you expect to pick him up? Even unarmed, he is one of the more powerful orcs I have seen and I do not think rearming himself be too much of a task. I think letting him go free would be a huge mistake. If not seeing more blood is the issue, either Belliken or I can do the job after you leave the cave, but I do not trust your town guard to find him out here... they were the ones who let his tribe attack your town in the first place. Karthurg is honestly shocked that letting this brutal enemy go free is on the table.
Belliken swallow hard, lowers his crossbow and turns to leave, giving Kartharg a nod. He sighs gently as he removes the bolt from the crossbow and returns it to the quiver.
I know death is around every corner, and I don't got hesitation defendin' myself but, something just hard to swallow bout killing someone defensless. Even if they are a monster.
Karthurg waits till everyone leaves the room. Once he is alone with the orc he says, Das war deine eigene Handlung und ich hoffe, dass Pharasma dich hart anprobiert. He then tries to end it in a single blow with his mighty earth breaker. He drops it right to the leaders skull.
Karthurg's hammer puts a sudden end to Gorocs' insane laughter.
Karthurg moves out to the mouth of the cave. We have made the world a better place. Now, if I interpreted your goals that note correctly, your home is in danger. I believe we should head out now, while the sun is still fresh, yes?
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"I think the plan's to ask the birds if they've seen that hawk that's in the note. Maybe they know him, maybe they know where he's gone. I just finished meditating, so lemme ask 'em. You folks stay here."
Hank wanders out into the woods a short ways until he finds a glade full of birdsong. He starts crumbling up bits of bread and sprinkling them around the clearing. Soon the word gets around, and various birds start swooping down to pick up the goods. Once he gathers a solid constituency, Hank casts Speak with Animals, and starts his inquiry with a chirp, a peep, and a deep-throated caw--continuing to cluck, squawk, and gabble until he's relayed the following message:
"Hey, birds! I'm lookin' for a funny hawk, one that's friends with a magic man, you seen any odd birds of prey around?"
Hank manages to gather that yesterday there was a hawk carrying a small leather bag. A few birds mention that they saw an orc walk over to it, then the bird flew off a few moments later.
"Dangit, birds!" say Hank in common, before switching back to birdtongue. "I need more than that, bird friends! Which way did he go? You seen him before?"
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The birds are pretty sure the hawk went west.
Hank crumbles up another oatcake and thanks the birds. Then he heads back to his friends and shrugs. "Birds are hard to talk to. They saw the hawk. He went west. I know that's not much to go on..."
Well that is three less directions head than before you asked the birds.
You know that there is a canyon known as the Shadescar Rift where the borders between planes are weak somewhere to the west, but it seems like the best course of action for now might be heading back to town.
I could do with a nap on somthin' softer'n rock, I got a crick in my back the size of karthy's hammer
Hank hops uon Cammy, hands Karthurg the reins, says “ wake me up if ya need me,” and sleeps with his back on the hump and his ankles propped on the back of Cammy’s head.
Karthurg follows the group to town, leading Cammy and the sleeping Hank. This group seems to of taking a liking to me pretty quickly... They trust me. I hope the rest of their kind takes me up as well. As we draw closer to town, it is clear that Karthurg is growing more an more anxious.
As you near the town, you can see the scholar Ithamar Rotin pacing near the gate. When he notices you, he looks up. "Ah! You have returned. Forgive my bluntness, but were you able to retrieve the Jade Serpent?"
On the way to town Belliken does some thinking out loud.
Seems like this Jade Serpent is the key ingredient in someone else's mischief. Whats a relic like that doing sitting in Sandpoint of all places? We ought to be careful what we say to the townsfolks, we don't know how far this "-B" has deep his fingers in the area. Wouldn't want to play into his hands if you know what I mean.
When the arrive in town Belliken greets Ithamar.
We got some troublin' news for ya scholar. Its best if we speak somewhere privately. Can we take this to your study away from prying ears?
Assuming we head to his study or the mayors office or somesuch Belliken shows them the letter.
We were just a bit too late to recover the statue, but it looks like its a hot ticket item. Some fella goes by B sent his Hawk to do a pick up in the woods, Hank here got some birds to remember the hawk headin' west. Whats most concernin' is the head orc was rambling 'bouts the end of the world when we asked him what the serpent was for. That make any sense to you? Any idea who this Nulgreth character is? Where did the serpent come from anyhow, if its the key to some ancient ritual whats it doing sitting in your office?
Belliken does his best to just barely let a hint of accusation enter his tone as he asks about the origins of the serpent.
Ithamar invites you back to his study. On his desk, you can see various notes, several of which are in ancient languages of long-dead civilizations. "I’ll tell you what I know. Nulgreth is the orcish god of blood and war- violence for violence’s sake. On the matter of this ritual the orc mentioned: I have been trying to work out what the Serpent was for. It had runes running along its length, but I haven’t figured out what they mean. They seem to be a mixture of Thassilonian, Azlanti, and several others I’ve never seen before."
He continues, rifling through his desk drawers. "If this orc was right, and the Serpent is part of some doomsday device, then I have a feeling whoever this “B” is may strike again. The Jade Serpent was very similar in design to another statue- the Amber Serpent.” He pulls out two pieces of paper. On each, there is a sketch of statues shaped like a coiling serpent. They each have small, nearly identical runes. "The Amber Serpent is in the possession of my cousin, Taril Wolfe. He’s the owner of a museum in the town of Port Fairglade. I know you all must be weary from your expedition, but I fear that the Amber Serpent may be a target as well."
Hank's head spins as he tries to absorb all this new information. "Whoa. We'd best get to Fairglade, I reck. Doomsday doesn't sound fun at all."
Karthurg is clearly uncomfortable in the town, and by the looks from the towns folk, they aren't very comfortable with Karthurg either. I would be glad to be on the road again.
At first glance, you notice that there are several symbols on the notes that also appear on the drawing of both serpents. It seems like Ithamar was trying to decode them.
Well, I guess it is back on the road for us boys. Anyone have business in town before we go? How far is this fairglade anyhow?
Belliken and Phedran are able to recognize some of the runes as ancient Taldan, there are some magic runes that seem to allude to various planes, but the vast majority of them are incomprehensible.
Port Fairglade is around 12 hours by boat, and ferries run relatively frequently.
Hank shudders at the thought of loading Cammy onto a ferry... and heads out to buy some good camel treats. "Big C and I will meet you by the docks, my friends..."