He collects Saronis and what loot he can... then soon you hear a horse and wagon wheels turning, coming your way.
The prisoners begin to freak out and move faster.
"Calm! Everyone please!" Maqan called as she tried to keep them all from running. "It could be the others returning!" She pointed out then moved to look and see what it was.
Moments later the wagon comes out of thw mist with the halfling holding the reigns and Saronis in the cage working or looking through something.
The halfling announces, "No reason to leave this behind, anyone want a ride?"
"Everyone get on! We're going home!" Maqan called out, and made sure everyone, the people, Urdrsk, Hegron, Amelia, Jade, everyone, was one before she herself got aboard.
Urdrsk sticks his foot inbetween the bars and rides on the outside of the cart.
As people begin to pull themselves into the cage he moves the bodies all to the far side so there is more room.
Nothing happens on the way to the mines, it is strange that there was no dead cow with all the crows in the road. You did need to stop and roll the bodies out of the way before the horse would walk.
Back in the mines with the presence of lost loved ones many began to cry with joy as others cried mourning their lost ones.
The Chief at Arms nodded approvingly but said nothing.
He stays outside with the horse and the cage. If you stay out with him he would whistle and his two horses would eventually show up. He would then continue to strip the bandits putting the loot in the cage and the bodies on the ground. Those who were still breathing he would tie up and make sure their wounds weren't bleeding.
Urdrsk remains somber as he returns to the mines. The dwarven hero stays near yet apart from returned and rescued. Urdrsk thoughts stray to his grandfather as he witnesses the happy return of Maqan's family. Once in a while, Urdrsk makes inquiries about if his father returned yet.
The Sárkány family held each other tightly, overjoyed to be reunited. When Maqan open her eyes and saw Urdrsk she felt her family to walk up to her friend and hug him as well. "I'll help you Urdsrk." She told him softly. "I'll help you find your father, no matter what." She promised.
Hegron remained outside with Saronis, and set himself to work on the grim task - "Saronis, where should we take all these bodies to? They should not remain close to the mine entrance..."
"Well Hegron, I was hoping to get some answers, these bandits are the ones that are still alive. If you will tie them up, I will see if we have any healers within." he states.
Soon he would come back shaking his head no.
No one has heard from the scouting party yet.
Hegron finishes tying up the bandits remaining alive.
"Well Hegron, I was hoping to get some answers, these bandits are the ones that are still alive. If you will tie them up, I will see if we have any healers within." he states.
Soon he would come back shaking his head no.
"I am sure some of them still hold enough consciousness to answer some questions" - the half-orc comments - "I am not much of an interrogator, but I can try"
All of the bandits are out cold, it seems that Saronis has already healed them to be stable. But most are likely at death's door.
"Damn... Are we just leaving them to die..?" - he ponders.
"There has to be some solution" - the half-orc adds to Saronis - "Father Albus has healing skills, so I can have a word with him. I will understand if he does not want to invest divine magic on these criminals, but even mundane healing should bring them back to their feet"
"At least I didn't leave them to die or put them to the sword. I worked on their wounds and they should all be stable. Given a night's rest they should come to, magical healing is likely exhausted." he replies as he pulls armor, weapons, and other loot from the wagon.
"Cómé nów, èlf", Urdrsk said, grabbing Saronis's elbow to direct him away from the prisoners. "Sìt dòwn. Rèst. Ì'll sèè àbòut fìndìng sòmè còòl wàtèr ànd sòmethìng tò èàt."
Once done putting the armor, weapons, and other loot in three distinct piles, he sits down going through the bags and finding a flask to drink from and eventually some cheese that doesn't look too bad. He offers both the flask and the handful of cheese to Hegron. Shrugging if you take it or not and then continues to consume slowly. Maybe even finding a loaf of bread to eat as well.
The little fairy lands on his shoulder.
Maqan's family greeted her and her mother with cheers of joy! They were all a bit banged up or scratched but alive and together! Maqan's father brought them over to the dwarven home he was staying and pointed out, "They seem to have plenty of places to stay, and hey! Its furnished... I am sorry to say that the dwarves here lost their lives when the bandits attacked the mines. Though the dwarves losses are a trival amount compared to our village. Most of those outside of the village didn't make it and likely a fourth are gone as well."
Soon enough they settle and just enjoy each others' company knowing they are together again! Once Maqan's mother is settled she looks at you Maqan, "Dear we will understand, much has changed and your elf will likely be the beacon that brings safety back to us. Go to him and make it right as best as you can!"
He stands a good 30 feet from the cage and watches the mist and smoke for any signs of threats...
She asks Amelia what she wants to do... They go inside looking for her family though they only find her brothers... it is a sad moment as she realizes they are likely gone.
Jade then asks, "Do you want me to stay here with you and your brothers? Do you want to venture off with the others to find what is out there? I can watch over them for you or we could ask Amris. You decide and it will be done."
Maqan smiled softly in thanks as she swiftly left her family's side to go to Saronis. She dropped to her knees next to him and hugged him tightly. "I knew you would." She said as she slowly pulling away from him. "My family lives thanks to you my love!" She declared as tears fell from her eyes and down her cheers. "Thank you." She added before she kissed his forehead. "Thank you"
He smiles at what he could accomplish, and offers a bit somber, "I just wish this never happened and I couldn't do more to save more."
Maqan place her hands on either side of his face, making him look her in the eyes. "You did all you could Saronis. They know that." She told him, running one of her hands up into his hair. "You give them hope."
He smiles at Maqan's attempt to cheer him up and gives her a kiss for it. He does cheer up and begins to hum a cord to a song as he works. "If there is anything you need let me know! Hey everyone grab what you can and lets take that loot into the shop!"
He unhitches the horse from the cart and then leads the three horses into the makeshift stables of the dwarves' mine.
Then taking the armor, weapons, and gear into the general store to see what money he could get for it all. Taking out items that would help the group first. Also bartering for a better price.
He would take 2 hours taking care of the horses.
Then he would meditate for 4 hours.
Spend some alone time with Maqan for 4 hours, watching her sleep for most of the time.
Then stretching and exercising the last 4.
He would help Saronis with the loot, then the horses, then check in with Amelia.
He would spend 8 hours mining, 2 hours with the horses, 2 hours 'sleeping', 2 hours exercising.
He would pull out his meager items and then take what he needs from the loot pile to equip him.
+1 greatsword
Composite short bow +2 str
Monks kit
Climbing kit
3 daggers
A throwing axe
Studded leather
Copper mask
The next day you would notice Amris is taller, like 4 inches taller.
He does split the loot evenly with everyone giving you each 136 gold. For Amelia, Maqan, Urdrsk, Hegron, Amris, Jade, and himself.
Finishing exercising with Amris he would put out his hand and ask, "Are you taller? I am sure I didn't shrink? Whats going on?"
"I decided it would be better to be your size, so in about a week I should fit the armor and weapons perfectly. I am a being of stone, I can add more to my body and grow, it just takes time and stone." He offers as if that explains it all.
Before bed, Saronis stops Urdrsk to give him his cut of the loot and a pick of the swag pile. The dwarf takes the climber's kit, to replace the one he left under the mountain, and the throwing axe.
Maqan spent most of her time tending to the survivors of everything, making sure they're okay and have everything they need.
She spend the remained time with Saronis, being close to him helped her sleep better than she expected.
The next day the bandits begin to wake. They are groggy from being tied up as they slept but by the time your group gets to them they are half way coherent. The dwarves thought it best to secure them in their jail.
They make jeers, slurs, curses, and a few other choice words at the dwarves guarding them. Then begin with cat calls as they see the elf and women come their way.
You can lead away a bandit/slave on your own or with others. Also if anyone wants to help Saronis they can.
You can use diplomacy, intimidate, or other skills you think will help you in the interrogations.
Saronis jumps forward and his free hand shoots forward with the speed of a viper. He grabs the man's neck and slams his forehead into the bars. He drops unconcious as blood flows freely from his nose and other flesh that is broken.
They all hush at this. He nods to the dwarf who then unlocks the door. Saronis then says, "Each of you will be interrogated and should I hear you made the person questioning you un comfortable you will wish you were him." He points to the man he already made an example of.
Then he takes one man, unties him from the wall and jostles him away from the others. In another room with the door shut behind him he pulls his long curved blade and rests it on his shoulder.
Interagation:
"If I feel you are lying to me I begin to cut. Who are you? where did you come from? Why are you hear? Who is your boss?"
The bandit begins to snicker then he presses down on the handle, it cuts slowly. "If you don't talk I will just get another one. I have already killed enough of you. A few wont go missing."
He begins to squeal like a little pig.
Leaving him there he walks out, letting father Albus go in to mend his slight wound. Move him to another room for safe keeping with more dwarven guards and repeats.
Amris takes notes on what Saronis is doing and what information they collect as he hides behind a boulder in the corner of Saronis' interrogation room.
It appears that most of them are just bandits or out of luck adventurers. The slavers were the dragon men. They all say the dragon men were the bosses. One of the bandits offers a bounty paper and it has Saronis' face on it. Apperently the overlord wanted the elf alive. They seem to be from Ebberon, One of them a younger lad offers to even lead you back to the small hamlet the slavers are using as a headquarters.
Urdrsk assists Saronis in his interrogations, often playing the 'bad guard'. The dwarf is actually pleased the elf lord isn't above getting his knuckles bloody, and the information he's getting from these prisoners who essentially destroyed their way of life.
When one dared try to cat call Maqan, she took it into her own hands to walk up to the one who did it, and kicked them in the gut. "Next time, I aim lower." She warned them.
However she left the main interrogation to Saronis, Amris, and Urdrsk. Thus she mostly just stands there watching either side. However when it comes to her attention that Saronis's face was on a wanted paper, she grew very confused and wanted to get some form of understanding from him. "Saronis, why is there someone wanting you taken alive?" Maqan asked him.
"Well it could be several organizations. First the one that orchestrated the theft of the Stone of Protection with my daughter. They are unknown to me but would likely want me for questioning. Second would be the Enerald Claw, an evil organization that I have been a thorn in their side for decades. Third, it could be the Cathalendites, who think my dragon marks are a way to bring back their country. Or it might be another group I don't even know I messed with, I have foiled many plans."
He thinks on the collected information and suggests, "Maybe we follow this young lad who offers to lead us back to the small hamlet the slavers are using as a headquarters. My guess it will be the first village we find. Killing two birds with one stone."
"We do need to get to the first village still so that wouldn't be a bad idea. Having someone show us the way would also cut the time we'd need to find it significantly. I agree, killing two birds with one stone is ideal." Maqan said with a nod
Unless there is something else that you want to do the group collects their gear, the young guide and head out again.
He pulls his horses from the stables after getting saddles on them. He looks at thw geoup before him and asks again, "Hegron, Jade, and Amelia are staying behind. That leaves us four, Amris I think I am the best rider so you should ride with me. Unless Maqan needs him to ride the mount for you? Then we have the guide... suggestions?"
"Ì hàvè nò mòùnt. Nèvèr nèèdèd ònè ùntìl nòw", Urdrsk flatly states.
He looks sourly at the dwarf who appears to be no help at all. Then he restated it more directly, Urdrsk can you ride? Maqan can you ride? Boy can you ride? If not then we will take the cart but it will slow us down."
"I can ride." Maqan said with a nod. "I'm not the best at it but I can."
"Ì càn rìde, Sárónìs. Dón't gìvé mé thát dámn lóók, Póìnty-Èárs!" The dwarf said, returning the sour look.
The boy, ex bandit, nods his head after he flinches like he is going to be hit.
"Then let's ride, come on boy you can ride with me." he states, mounting his horse and offering a hand to bring the boy up.
His other horse is for Maqan and Amris.
Then the cart horse is for Urdrsk.
Once everyone is mounted he heads off.
"Do you want me to ride in the saddlebag, behind you or in front of you?" He asks waiting for Maqan to make the choice for him.