The harpies look at each other with various expressions, but it does not appear that they question Benedict's or Grum's claims. They mutter amongst themselves briefly.
Their leader again speaks. "We will stay out of the fight. But this one insulted us. If you want him, what will you give us to soothe our hurt?"
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The heavily wounded half-orc stood up to his full height and regarded the harpy, and then the captive. Then, after a moment's thought he let out a booming laugh and said "I'm not a coward like him. Turn your advances to me and bear great warrior-children! The only other way to soothe a hurt is through battle. But as that is over, this is the next best thing." He finished with a fanged toothed smile.
Aerel stands well back from the negotiations. He's not sure what they are saying, but he's watching their body language carefully.
"We will give you these finely-crafted longswords" - the 3 MW longswords from the mines
"And these manacles for other 'morsels' you encounter, - the 3 MW manacles
"And thirty gold nuggets."
"And... uh... the half-orc's offer. Provided you return him within an hour or so, and he is still alive."
The harpies look over the treasures while the leader looks over Grum with leering eyes.
Before she can act, the others hiss in complaint. "Gold nuggets? They're just heavy rocks!" "Where's the jewelry? The pretties we can wear!"
Meanwhile, the leader seems to like what she sees in Grum. "My name is Wenda. What is yours, strong one?"
I always knew Grum was a little crass and lacked morals but that... Ewww
William watches the negotiations ready to unleash his arrows on the harpies if needed.
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Feeling like quite the lady's harpy's man, Grum responded "Wenda? I am Grum, son of Baki." His bloodied and dented armor was removed, falling to the ground, displaying the usual impressive build that half-orcs were known for. That, and a plethora of old scars that lined his body from his days before he could afford to wear deurgar-forged plate armor. As might be expected given his outlook on life and personality, his orc-blood ran thick. "Watch my armor." He said to his comrades, feeling quite pleased with himself as he imagined their jealousy. "Hmm...should probably heal these wounds first." He mused as he pulled out his wand.
With his open wounds closed he felt confident that he wouldn't die within the next hour. Something which wasn't guaranteed a minute before.
Taking one for the team...
Amkarang shoots an incredulous look at the situation Grum got himself into before looking over to Benedict with a slim smile, "Normally, this would be odd but for Grum? Well, still strange but fairly consistent."
Wenda smiles hungrily when Grum shucks off his armor, then taps her talons on the cage impatiently while he heals himself. "One of those tents down there in the camp should suffice," she coos. She turns to the other harpies. "Don't squabble too much. I hate to be interrupted."
She flies down to the camp and picks out the tent with the softest bedding while she waits for Grum to make his way back down the switchback trail.
Meanwhile, the other harpies look at Benedict and the others expectantly. "Well? Are you going to offer us more than rocks?"
Aerel watches the proceedings, quite unsure what to think.
"We are not traveling jewelers, but we have found a few things.
Some fine eelhide for leggings or a vest. Some darkwood for a medallion. A shiny gemstone from the mines. The amulet of the hobgoblins' dark god.
If you give us a moment, we can look to see if these deceased hobgoblins have anything that might be appealing.
We also have a spoon that makes food, though I think you would prefer other fare. And a rope that helps one climb, of which you have no need."
The harpies pout, not seeming terribly interested in the other options. "Fine. Go see what spoils the hobgoblins possessed."
They wait upon the cages, making the human occupants nervous. The hobgoblin stays quiet, not wanting to press his luck.
Back at the camp, Dargg wore a masterwork breastplate with armor spikes, a masterwork heavy steel shield, a very nice light flail that ignites when wielded in battle, a cloak, and a silver-and-enamel Ironfang bravery medal. He also possessed a ring of keys.
Inside the main command post, you discover a locked chest that is opened with one of Dargg's keys. Inside is a vast sum of gold coins and a variety of gems and jewelry. A smaller compartment in the chest contains five potions of cure moderate wounds, a potion of fly and a potion of tongues.
Also inside the main tent is a gnome chained to a table. She looks shell-shocked and terrified.
The four sharpshooters each possessed a +1 breastplate, a +1 composite longbow (+2 Str), a masterwork scimitar, a mess kit, a mwk backpack, and 85 gp. They also had an elixer of hiding, two potions of cure moderate wounds, and a potion of heroism.
Aerel moves to the gnome, "Are you injured? How did you come to be here? I'm afraid your hosts have run into some trouble and are no longer available. Perhaps we can find you alternate accommodations..." He smiles in what he hopes is a reassuring way.
Seeing the alarm rising in the captive's eyes, Aerel puts both hands up in a calming gesture and backs out of the tent so someone with a more deft touch can handle her release.
Benedict will move into the tent with Aerel. "Would you mind unlocking her manacles? Thank you, Aerel."
He will speak gently to the Gnome in her native language.
Aerel will work on the manacles, looking for a matching key first, trying to pick the lock if that's not an option.
Dargg possessed the key to the chest and the manacles around the gnome.
The gnome looks ready to bolt, but calms down at Benedict's soothing words. "I-- I ran the numbers for the mine. When the hobgoblins came, the big one put me to work on the ledgers and reports to Kosseruk."
Benedict will switch to Common.
"Who is Kosseruk? Their commander? A minotaur? I heard the harpies reference a 'cow.'
Your ledgers and reports would be of great use in understanding the Legion's next steps. We understand they are planning to attack Longshadow. Do you know anything about their forces and locations?
We plan to move to Longshadow next, along with some survivors from the mines. Meslin and Voldan. What is your name? Will you come with us?"
The gnome grows pale and gestures to several piles of documents. "Yes. I can show you. But you need to let Longshadow know, the Legion plans to attack in twelve days."
"Twelve days? We had best make haste to get there."
Aerel collects the manacles and their key.
He goes to look at the piles of documents, browsing them without changing their arrangement, "The more we know about how they plan to attack the better. Knowing the date is helpful, but more details will aid the defenders even more."
"My name is Nibbitz," the gnome says. "There's lots here," she points to the stack of missives. "Training camps, scouts, and siege engineers. Based on the maps, I think we're about three days from Longshadow."
Based on the maps and notes, aided by Nibbitz's help, you estimate that Longshadow is about 35 miles away. Because the terrain is rugged hills, a three-day journey to the city seems reasonable.
While Grum continues to "entertain" Wenda, the chest's valuables are counted. It contains 15,000 gp, and an additional 4,500 gp worth of gems and jewelry.
Benedict will address Amkarang, Aerel and William.
"I think we could take these harpies. But there was always the risk that one could escape and, more angered at us than at the Ironfangs, join the Legion for its attack on Longshadow. Even a single harpy's song could be devastating to defenders of a fortified position.
So I am inclined to buy our way out of trouble, and ensure they stay out of the upcoming battle.
Not to mention Grum is currently in the company of their leader."
Benedict will emerge from the tent.
"We have found some jewelry and bangles. I believe this one would complement your plumage," he says to one as he holds up a necklace, "and this bracelet matches your eyes" he says to the other.
"Now, you've seen what our archers can do. And we know what your song can do. I don't think either of us wants this fight... especially as it would interrupt Wenda and Grum. You don't want that, do you? And you wouldn't want so much jewelry and bangles that Wenda would get jealous and take it from you. Shall we call it a deal?"
He looks to his allies for some Aid Anothers.
The harpies, as it turns out, are suckers for flattery. They ooh and aahh over the baubles and jewelry, and eat up the silver-tongued aasimar's compliments.
Before long, the harpies are adorned in the jewelry and delighting in their new finery. One of the larger ones gives Benedict a sharp-toothed smile. "Yes, yes. The Carrion Brides will stay out of your war. But if you happen to survive, you should come back and see us. It's not fair that only Wenda gets to have some fun." They cackle in glee and fly off to roost a short distance away.
Grum's experience is... best left to the imagination. Wenda leaves the tent eventually looking satisfied, flying off to rejoin her sisters.
The keys Dargg possessed also unlock the hanging cages, which frees the six human prisoners and the hobgoblin.
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Grum left quietly, being unable to put into words how he felt. Not being the kind of person prone to introspection he made a conscious choice to not think too much about the experience. It was too much like the women in Belkzen, in that he felt fortunate to have walked away with not only his life, but with all limbs intact.
Once with his armor back on he rejoined the group. ”They’re all gone? Well, a job well done I’d say. What spoils we earn?”
As they unlock the cages, Aerel looks at the hobgoblin, his cage still locked, and twirls the manacles. "Benedict, what are we going to do with our friend here?"
"He did say he would tell us his secrets if we spared him from the harpies.
Should we take him to Longshadow or question him here?
We might go slower with a prisoner, but they would likely know better what to ask - for example, since I don't know of Longshadow's defenses and allies, I don't know what to ask about how the Legion plans to bypass them."
"If we free him, we should give him a chance to prove himself."
Aerel walks up to the caged hobgoblin. "I think we can offer you a conditional freedom. You will have to prove to us that we can trust you, but you will have to live with these for a while first." He holds up the manacles. "Do you agree to those terms?"
The hobgoblin holds up his hands, shaking his head at the manacles. "Hey, I just want to go, okay? I'll tell you what I know, and then you'll let me go, right? Dargg was trying to get those damned harpies to join up. They're going to attack the city in a little more than a week."
He's wearing little more than a loincloth, but still seems he'd rather brave the Hollow Hills than stay with the Phaendarans.
"Tell me about their plans."
The elf makes no move to unlock the cage. In fact, he might be making himself comfortable for a long visit...
"The plans? The plans are, to take over the walled city south of us. Use it as the next forward base, and keep going until this whole region is one hobgoblin nation under General Azaersi! So, you going to let me out now?"
"Where are the other Ironfang Legion bases? Where is the staging area? What other allies are you trying to recruit? Harpies, troglodytes, who else?"
Benedict turns to Aerel. "I bet they have mages in Longshadow who can get this information from him. It would be a pain to transport him, but it might be better than losing the information in his head. Of course, if everything he knows is in Nibbitz's notes, we might as well just kill him now."
"There's not one single base. There's several camps that I can lead you to... Maybe even Kosseruk's camp if you let me out. I don't think I can just give directions from here inside this cage," the hobgoblin says with a sneer.
"Oh, the Stone Road? Yeah." He shrugs. "Hobgoblin magic. Let me go and I'll tell you all about it."
He's lying. He doesn't know anything about how it works.
Aerel turns his back on the hobgoblin and says quietly to Benedict. "He doesn't sound like he thinks he's been on the wrong side. Do with him what you will."
William shrugs and says "We shouldn't kill him he is a prisoner. If we did we'd be no better than him. Besides didn't we agree to let him live if he told us what he knows?"
"I did not agree to any such thing yet, William.
He is lying about the 'Stone Road'. He doesn't know how it works.
Up until now we haven't been able to take prisoners. We have no ability to hold and feed them. No authorities we could turn them over to.
This is war - a war of conquest that they started, unprovoked - and quarter is a privilege, not a right.
But now the situation is a bit different. Maybe we could keep him as a guide if his information proves useful and accurate. Or turn him over to Longshadow's custody.
We can give him a chance, William. But if he deceives us, we kill him. Or give him back to the Carrion Brides."
Aerel nods, accepting that plan. He holds up the manacles, a question in his eyes.
The hobgoblin sighs and nods.
While the hobgoblin is freed from the cage and shackled, Nibbitz appears with several pages in her hands.
"Here's the communiqués I was looking for. This one indicates a warbeast training camp; here's one talking about a nesting location for wyvern scouts; and a report from some engineers transporting their war machines to the rendezvous site. Oh! And here's one talking about a munitions camp outside of Ecru."
The hobgoblin prisoner glares at the gnome. She looks up from the documents and gasps. "Mahrzan? You're not harpy food? Huh."
"Rest assured, there is still time for that. But if he wishes to remain not harpy food, he's going to tell us about a warbeast training camp and the warbeasts they are training, where the wyverns are nesting, and the rendezvous site. Oh! And a munitions camp."
He fixes the hobgoblin with a level look. "Isn't it good to know that you can unburden yourself from all of these secrets and put your mind at ease?"
"Thank you, Nibbitz. Are any of these locations on our way to Longshadow? We must get there to warn them, but we could make a stop along the way."
Benedict will also address the other freed captives who were in the cages.
"We are survivors of Phaendar. My name is Benedict. We are headed for Longshadow. Will you join us?"
Amkarang gives a menacing glance at the hobgoblin, "You're on thin ice. One wrong move, you're done for. Then again, we might make a rebel of you yet."
The freed captives thank the heroes profusely. When Meslin and Voldan rejoin the group from their hiding spot, it is a happy reunion, since all these captives (including Nibbitz) are from Radya's Hollow. After the mining collapse, the hobgoblins cleared out, and set up this camp to try to draw the harpies to the Legion's side in the upcoming assault on Longshadow. The prisoners had been one of the offerings. They agree to travel to Longshadow with everyone.
Mahrzan looks Amkarang in the eyes when he's threatened, but doesn't say anything. He likewise stays silent and sullen when Aerel talks to him.
Nibbitz consults the missives and a large map of the area that Dargg had in his tent. She considers Benedict's question. "No, not without a major detour. However, Redburrow is directly south of here, and sort of on the way. It's another small mining community, but there haven't been any communications from there. I don't know if the hobgoblins conquered that town like they did with Radya's Hollow, or if they were fought off."
"Okay, let's check out Redburrow on the way. About how far is it?"
Benedict will put one one set of Bandages of Rapid Recovery.
The travel to Redburrow takes several hours along a narrow road that winds its way south from the ridgeline camp through the Hollow Hills.
When everyone arrives at the small village, they are met with a mournful sight. The ground here is freshly upturned and stained with blood. Several blast craters pock the area, and a makeshift palisade of sharpened wooden spikes -- trampled to flinders in several spots -- surrounds the burned-out remains of a dozen small houses. Sickly mist curls up from the blackened soil, and bloodstained weapons and armor lie strewn about the ground.