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The blade from the enlarged Duegar came down, and Grum raised his own to block it. With great strain he stopped the blade from coming down, his arms shaking as he held it back. Still, he smiled, which turned into a grin as he pushed the blade away, sending the Duegar reeling. Taking advantage of the opening, he leapt forward with his shoulder, knocking the dwarf to the ground. Landing ontop of the enlarged gray dwarf, he laughed as he raised his blade and brought it down into his chest. His laughter echoed through the tunnels as the blade went down again and again and again. His eyes were wide open, staring the dwarf in the face as he continued stabbing until his foe stopped moving.
Aerel watches the melee, wondering if there's a need for him to even take a shot.
Aerel, thinking that the combatants' attention is elsewhere, sneaks closer so that, if he needs to take a shot, it will be that much more effective.
William's arrows finish off the second duergar and Grum savagely slays the last one.
Benedict hits Flendak twice, leaving Haela to finish him off with a pair of strikes of her own.
With the battle abruptly over, the remaining duergar smiles in the light of Aerel's spell. She holds her hands up, pointing her crossbow away to look nonthreatening.
"Friends, right? We all friends." She points to the dead duergar. "Not my friends."
The large beetles remain where they are, the large bundles on their carapace showing that they are evidently in use as pack animals. A mix of other dwarves and duergar tend to them, but look fearful as the beings from the surface slaughtered their masters with ease.
Flendak carried: potions of cure moderate wounds (2), tanglefoot bags (2); +1 chain shirt, +1 light slaver’s crossbow with 10 bolas bolts, +1 short sword, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, mwk manacles (2), mwk thieves’ tools, 720 gp
The three other duergar each carried: potions of cure serious wounds (2), thunderstones (3); +1 full plate, +2 dwarven waraxe, mwk heavy crossbow with 10 bolts, amulet of natural armor +1, cloak of resistance +1, ring of protection +1, 129 gp
So there are others who appear to be noncombatants? Are they manacled or bound?
Benedict will ignore the turncoat for the moment and address the others in Undercommon.
"Who is this Kisegar that betrayed Flendak? Is she a slaver like him? Did she take you captive?"
He will search Flendak for keys.
Benedict finds a ring of keys on the slaver's body.
The noncombatants look warily when they are addressed, and Kisegar scowls at being ignored. "Learned surface dwellers. Who'd have thought," she mutters to herself.
After a nervous exchange of glances, most shrug in ignorance. One speaks up, however. "She be Flendak's servant."
Kisegar nods vigorously. "Ah ha! You see? You see? I'm no slaver. I got sold to Flendak. Fell into some debts, had a string of bad luck. Now, well, he was using me to guide him through the Long Walk. He was stupid, he was greedy, and he got what he deserved!"
Aerel stays back, bow ready, while the others talk. In particular, he watches the turncoat for signs that she will turn on them, as well.
William listens to the conversation but doesn't understand the undercommon. He then casts detect magic and begins stripping the bodies piling things up in magical and non-magical piles. He mumbles to himself "I could use an amulet." Then a thought occurs to him, "Hey Haela! Could you use one of these axes?"
Benedict tries to judge the truth of Kisegar's words.
He then addresses the party in Minatan while freeing the various captives.
"The turncoat claims she was not a slaver, but a prisoner of this Flendak. Albeit one with the freedom to carry arms - I'm guessing he wasn't scared of her martial skill. She was a guide through the Long Walk.
We could use a guide, and being a craven opportunist isn't the worst thing - it means she had enough intelligence to realize we were going to win.
She might know quite a bit about the dangers ahead. I don't trust her, but we can make it in her interest to not betray us.
I'm unsure.
What do you all think?"
Aerel keeps watching her, but he's somewhat reassured by Benedict's assessment. He shrugs and in Minatan, he says, "Everyone is looking out for their own self-interest. Did she tell you anything else - where she's from, how she was captured, what she owed the slaver? Anything we could use as leverage? Anywhere she cannot go?"
Benedict replies to Aerel in Minatan. "Debts, she said. Sold to this Flendak. I would imagine she is free with his death, but I don't know Duergar law. I'll ask about places she cannot go."
Benedict takes a +2 Dwarven Waraxe from the slain foes and hands another to Haela.
He addresses Kisegar, this time in Common so his allies can understand. He will switch to Undercommon to clarify any points she has difficulty with.
"We are looking to take the Long Walk to the Five-Eyed Matron.
If you have any value as a guide, we could hire you.
But if you betray us as you did Flendak, we will kill you.
So. What is your price, and what is the benefit to us?
Are there any places where, as a debt-slave, you would be unable to go? Is there a bounty on your head, such that other Duergar would attack you?"
Kisegar listens to the proposal, nodding knowingly when the Five-Eyed Matron is mentioned. She scowls briefly when her value is questioned, giving Benedict and especially Haela a dirty look.
"Of course I have value as a guide," she says in fluent Taldane. "You being from the surface, I'll bet you can't tell a dallo from a burstegeit. You wouldn't know there's a cluster of ropers on the way to the Matron that I know the way around. I also know about the warren of trogs that you want to avoid."
She smirks, folding her arms. "And all I need is ten thousand gold pieces. That'll pay my debts and I'll be in the clear. Surely your lives are worth that much."
In Minatan, Aerel says, ”I don’t think she understands it is not the value of our lives she is needing to consider. Those slaves may well include a knowledgeable guide with less pride.”
He moves past the slaves to keep watch on the tunnel the slavers had been traveling, taking care to hide once again.
William laughs and walks over to Benedict, "Well, she's no good to us and we can't let her run around. Can I try that new ax on her neck?"
Benedict has no intention of killing someone who surrendered and who hasn't done him any real harm - he would probably be inclined to just let her run off. Why did William say we can't let her go free? I don't see why we can't. He figures this is a negotiating tactic by William, so he doesn't press the issue.
"Hmm, let's just wait a moment William. A guide might be of some use if the price were not so exorbitant. None of the other prisoners were working as guides for Flendak, so I do trust that she knows the Long Walk better than they do."
He starts looking through the bundles on the pack beetles. Maybe some 'liberated' goods can be used to pay Kisegar.
"We'll give you your life, Kisegar, instead of just killing you.
And your gear, instead of setting you adrift with nothing.
That has to be worth something. What is it that you have? Armor? A crossbow? Is it worth anything? William, can you tell if it is magical?
And, because I am so generous, I will also offer some payment to pay off your creditors after you safely bring us to the Five-Eyed Matron.
But not 10,000. Make a reasonable offer."
Kisegar's scowl returns, but she sees a glimmer of hope when he starts to pay attention to the bundles on the pack beetles.
"All right, look. My exact debt is seven thousand, five hundred gold. Can you at least offer that? There's good stuff in those packs. Probably close to my fee, but I'm short a bag of holding, so maybe you can pay me in actual coin? Assuming you toplanders don't barter with twigs and leaves."
She glares back at William. "My ghost'll be laughing at you when you blunder into a ghorazagh hive."
When Benedict examines the packs, he finds 328 gp, 100 days’ worth of trail rations, 300 pounds of fennel pollen (a savory spice worth 10gp/pound), 600 2-pound silver trade bars (worth 10 gp each), and a magical belt.
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Grum tried to whistle at the number, and failed. "How'd you run up that kind of a debt?" He asked. Then, an idea came to him. "I've got an idea. That axe." He pointed to the waraxe that Benedict was about to hand to Haela. "Any shop in the world would sell it for eight thousand, easy. What say that we give it to you? You can use it to fulfill your debt, or if you heed the call of Gorum, you can use it to pay it off and whatever future debts you incur." With a toothy smile he added "And best of all, unlike gold it will help keep you alive during our travels."
Kisegar shakes her head at the offer of the axe. "I don't need an axe, I need coin. No merchant in the Darklands will pay even five thousand for that thing, leaving me short of funds and back into slavery!" She huffs, shaking her head. "You're now offering less than half of my original offer. You're looking at weeks of travel, so my price as your guide for the whole trip is fair. You just got a big score from Flendak. The beetles, the slaves, the goods, you can afford to pay me what I'm asking. Don't pretend you can't."
"Very well. We have the coin and will pay you 7,500 once we reach the Five-Eyed Matron. Let's be on our way."
To any freed Duergar, Benedict will offer trail rations (5 days' each), some coin (the silver trade bars, 50 gp worth per Duergar), and mundane weapons from our stash, then send them on their way. How many are there?
And to any freed Dwarves, he will offer the same, but also say, "I think you should come with us. Trust me."
"And now I'm supposed to trust you to pay me my whole amount?" Kisegar grumbles. "Maybe I will hold onto one of those axes. Just in case."
The duergar accept the goods with bewildered looks, then wander off into the darkness. There are three dwarves among the slaves, looking confounded at their sudden liberation.
Kisegar makes a sound of disgust in her throat at Benedict's suggestion that they come with them. "I think those are bred slaves. They wouldn't know the sun from a glow beetle's ass. Hey, a few miles that way, there's a big waterfall that comes down from the surface. Rumors say there are ways to the topside somewhere around there. Why not just let them go that way, huh?"
Aerel finally steps forward, feeling like a conclusion has been reached.
”So you are a scout, leading your party through territory? Or a guide, telling them where to turn? I’m the former, and having a stealthy partner would be fantastic, if that’s something you are willing to do.” He extends a hand, ”I am Aerel.”
Kisegar makes a sound of disgust in her throat at Benedict's suggestion that they come with them. "I think those are bred slaves. They wouldn't know the sun from a glow beetle's ass. Hey, a few miles that way, there's a big waterfall that comes down from the surface. Rumors say there are ways to the topside somewhere around there. Why not just let them go that way, huh?"
Benedict gives just a flat and definitive "No" to that, offering no further explanation.
He subtly motions with a hand towards Haela as if to say "Don't engage."
Aerel finally steps forward, feeling like a conclusion has been reached.
”So you are a scout, leading your party through territory? Or a guide, telling them where to turn? I’m the former, and having a stealthy partner would be fantastic, if that’s something you are willing to do.” He extends a hand, ”I am Aerel.”
"Oh, I'm sure Kisegar will be a great guide, knowing all the dangers of the Long Walk. It might be redundant to also have you scouting ahead, might it not? Since I am sure she would not knowingly direct us into any dangers.
But then I can see how your scouting would be even more improved by Kisegar's advice about what to watch out for.For example, 'The Roper lair is a hundred yards ahead, check to see if they are at the fork in the path.' That sort of thing.
And if her advice is bad, and there are dangers ahead that she didn't warn us of? Well, that would be good to know, wouldn't it?"
It's quite evident that Benedict doesn't really trust Kisegar, and wants to keep an eye on her.
"Kisegar, we have had a very long day and should make camp in a bit. If you know of a good place to make camp in an hour or two's march, let's head there."
Aerel finally steps forward, feeling like a conclusion has been reached.
”So you are a scout, leading your party through territory? Or a guide, telling them where to turn? I’m the former, and having a stealthy partner would be fantastic, if that’s something you are willing to do.” He extends a hand, ”I am Aerel.”
"A bit of both, I'd say," she replies to Aerel. She looks at his extended hand, and recognition lights up her eyes. She grips his hand and instead of shaking it, turns it over so his brand is exposed. "I'm not the only one familiar with slavery, I see. I know a mark when I see one." She smirks.
"Oh, I'm sure Kisegar will be a great guide, knowing all the dangers of the Long Walk. It might be redundant to also have you scouting ahead, might it not? Since I am sure she would not knowingly direct us into any dangers.
But then I can see how your scouting would be even more improved by Kisegar's advice about what to watch out for.
For example, 'The Roper lair is a hundred yards ahead, check to see if they are at the fork in the path.' That sort of thing.
And if her advice is bad, and there are dangers ahead that she didn't warn us of? Well, that would be good to know, wouldn't it?"It's quite evident that Benedict doesn't really trust Kisegar, and wants to keep an eye on her.
"Kisegar, we have had a very long day and should make camp in a bit. If you know of a good place to make camp in an hour or two's march, let's head there."
She bows stiffly, her smirk still present despite Benedict's obvious distrust. "Certainly. Let's go, Aerel. Us slaves know our place, don't we?"
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Grum shrugged as he walked on. ”Drama.” He muttered. He just really didn’t care about all of it. Slavery was bad, yes. If he had a choice on killing a slaver he would do it. Killing was fun, in and of itself, and killing objectively bad people made him feel good. It was really the ideal situation, in that he could feel good about himself while partaking in his favorite pastime. But he didn’t really think about it much. In his mind, if someone was oppressing you, then you should stab them in the face. And if you couldn’t do that, then you should stab them in the back. And if you couldn’t do that? Well, then that was your problem, and you should get strong enough to do one of the above. He recognized that the world was a shytty place and that someday he’d be killed by someone stronger than him. It was just the way things were and he had decided that he’d enjoy the ride for as long as it went. To do anything different was a choice. If the dwarves didn’t want to rise up? That was their choice. He didn’t respect it, but it was their choice. And the Deurgar? The attitude disgusted him. It was entitled, when, as far as he could tell, none was earned.
Already the adrenaline rush was fading, leaving him feeling tired. And the Deurgar’s whining was souring his mood. ”If we are done with the haggling and the pity party, let’s set off.” The half-orc said. He glanced back at the guide, wondering how long it would take for them to be betrayed. He didn’t really mind the idea of paying the Deurgar, as he knew that they’d get everything back if and when the betrayal took place. He wondered how long it would take, and whether their first place to camp would be designed as their last.
Aerel looks at the mark with mild surprise, as though he'd forgotten about it. In truth, it had been a very long time... longer ago than some of his companions had been alive, in fact...
He returns to the moment with a raised eyebrow and offers her a rueful smile. "Well spotted, but you read too much into an old scar. My past does not define me. Perhaps you will be fortunate enough to find that freedom for yourself in time. For now, I am happy to learn from you and hope that perhaps I can return the favor."
He carefully and deliberately checks his gear to make sure he's not forgotten anything or lost anything, preparing to set off down the Long Walk while he thinks. He is focused on Kisegar's attitude and reactions and less so on his companions'. She is the immediate threat. They will have my back should it come to that.
Finally ready, he says to her, "Let us continue. Tell me of the tunnel ahead and the dangers we face, please. I am aware I have much to learn down here. You could say during my prior experiences in the Below, I was not in charge of our safety and frankly I have forgotten much of what I did know then."
Unless the party wants to claim the pack beetles, the freed duergar claim them. Kisegar keeps her beetle, one not as large but still retaining its powerful mandibles unlike the pack beetles.
Kisegar takes the lead with Aerel though since she'd just come that way she doesn't appear overly concerned that they will encounter any immediate dangers as long as they stay on the right side of the Walk and don't use any light sources.
"The tunnel ahead? What tunnel? You mean the Walk? This is far more than a mere tunnel. Built over two thousand years ago by my ancestors to connect our great empire. Non-duergar have to pay tolls to get to use it. Flendak was in the right to demand payment, but he got greedy and wanted more slaves. I'll try to steer you clear of any toll collectors, but unless you want to fight every duergar you come across, ready those pocketbooks."
She eventually points to something in the darkness. "That's a good spot, if it's not in use. The tumbled columns block the view from the outside, if you want to make a light while you make camp. See? Wait, you don't? It's right ahead! Oh, you can't see that far? Blind topsiders... Then let's get closer, so you can see what I'm talking about."
Kisegar correctly leads the party to a suitable campsite. A pair of massive stone columns had collapsed ages ago, and the ensuing rubble has created a miniature box canyon, walled on three sides thus giving the party a measure of protection and privacy. Signs that the location has been used before as a camp is evident. Kisegar trills at her beetle, which opens its hard shell to reveal wings which begin flapping in a droning buzz. It clumsily flies around the ruins, then returns to her. "Good boy, Chen," she coos to the oversized insect.
Haela does her best to hide her disdain for Kisegar. She more or less ignores the Duergar, instead talking quietly to the freed dwarves in Dwarven.
"This crew knows what they are doing. You'll have to trust us. It is no better for our people aboveground right here; a goblin army on the move."
She asks where they are from, what crafts they favor, and what gods most bless them.
Before resting, Haela expends her 3 remaining uses of Healer's Hands on Aerel, each one restoring 1 point of Dex damage (and he should regain another 1 from resting).
”Thank you, Haela, that feels much better.” Aerel works the kinks out of joints that had been stiffer than normal ever since he took those venomous bites.”[/b]
Benedict will sleep for the first shift, then be up for two shifts thanks to his Ring of Sustenance.
He listens for passing caravans and travelers down the Long Walk, looks out to the limits of his Darkvision, and observes the architectural details of the Duergar's work. He wonders if some of the work precedes the Duergar, made by older races.
In the early hours of the morning, he conducts the observance of the faithful of Chaldira Zuzaristan. He takes a small coin from a sleeping Haela. He slips off to an alcove in the canyon, balances the coin on the edge of his new Dwarven Waraxe, and flips it.
"Heads"
When Haela wakes up, he gives her the coin. "I found a silver coin from Absalom down here! It must be good luck!"
Haela, for her part, has seen this 'game' before. Benedict's ludicrous halfling friends used to play it. But it seems their goddess of luck smiles on such frivolity, and Benedict needs all the luck he can get. So she takes back the silver piece with a sigh.
During the night, an elven woman with dusky bluish-black skin and chalk-white hair staggers into the camp. "Please... I need help," she says. The woman is in little more than rags, looking haggard and desperate.
"Halt. Come no closer."
Benedict draws his axe. Benedict is quite suspicious, given that Kisegar had found a fairly secluded campsite. He will not let the woman get within 10' unless he is certain she is harmless.
"Who are you? What happened? How did you find us?"
The woman looks around desperately, and takes a step back from Benedict's aggressive posture. Speaking Undercommon, she implores him, "Please. I'm being hunted. This looked like a good place to hide. I'm no threat to you, I assure you!"
Benedict can detect no falsehood in her.
Detecting the concern in the woman's manner, Aerel rolls to his feet, bow in hand, and moves toward the mouth of their hiding place to listen.
Benedict responds quietly in Undercommon.
"And now you have led whatever is hunting you to our camp."
There is an edge to his voice.
"You can make camp there."
He points to a spot about 20' away from him (and 50' or so from the sleeping Amkarang and William).
"We make no fire. You can see in the dark? Most elves cannot. We will keep watch for your pursuers."
He repeats what he said in Common to Grum and Aerel, but does not wake the others yet.
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Not for the first time, Grum counter himself fortunate for having had the opportunity to buy his ring. Without saying a word he went through the process of checking his armor to ensure that he was as ready as possible for the coming fight. Whatever made the elf so fearful had to be formidable, and he couldn’t wait to meet it.
Aerel was due to wake up soon, anyway, so he posts up to keep watch with the stalwarts, at least for an hour or so.
The woman nods in resigned disappointment, but sits down in the spot Benedict pointed to. She draws her knees up to her chest. "I see in the dark, yes. It's common among my kind. You... are not from here? Do you have warriors? Who is the strongest?"
Aerel's keen ears hear the movement of several somethings beyond his darkvision. He hears the slap of hands upon stone, and the slight scrape of boots upon the ground.
Aerel waves at Benedict and the woman to get their attention, signaling for silence. He holds up a hand, fingers outstretched, then shrugs.
He will search for a small piece of debris and prepares to cast light on it and pitch it at the far side of the Long Walk. He will wait until a threat is visible - something passing by, he will let pass by.
The woman returns a curious look at Grum. She evidently didn't understand what he said.
Aerel waits, but the scrabbling sounds are just out of range of his darkvision.
Aerel picks up a second pebble and prepares to throw it toward the Long Walk as a distraction.
Benedict translates.
"Who is hunting you? They are approaching."
"The dead, risen and hungry!"
As the scrabbling gets louder, the woman moves to hide behind Grum.
Grum feels a force press upon his mind, trying to overwhelm his will. He shakes it off easily.