Kuiper's page

"There was no sign of her anywhere along the brook. If she had come this way we would have picked up some trail or evidence of her passing. For now the trail has gone cold." he sighs.

"But when you are back in Milborne ask old Garyld to contact Shiraz. If she is anywhere in the western part of Harenshire then he would know it." he says before realizing that you do not know who Shiraz is.

Then he adds "Shiraz is a fellow ranger of ours, he is especially friendly with the birds in the region. They would make good scouts and could cover large areas from above."

Addressing Grommund "That's great, and while you are in Milbourne you might be able to find a buyer for that brooch that the orc leader had. That is if you don't want to keep it as a souvenir." he laughs.

The werebear finally manages to change back to human form just before the party returns to Kuiper’s farm, and the ranger has a long, private talk with the youth once the group is safely back at the farm. Once the talk is over Kuiper returns to the party with the boy in tow.

"I am not certain, but I believe from what the boy is telling me that his great uncle was a werebear and the trait just might run in the family." Kuiper says with a sigh.

"It’s something he will have to learn to live with." he says plainly.

"Anyway, it’s not bad being a werebear," Kuiper observes dryly. "How many orcs did you kill?" he ask the boy.

Young Maxim admits "I slew four and drove about six more away."

"Not something you could do as you are now?" Kuiper points out.

The boy smiles. "I had not thought of things in that way before."

Kuiper then turns to the rest of you "Sorry we didn't find any trace of the girl you seek. Me and Maxim will rest here for the remainder of the evening and I will head out with him in the morning to take him home. I will need to smooth things over with his family and neighbors. You all are welcome to stay the night if you like. Safer than the road I guess?"

"On another note, the events with the orcs and Jelenneth's disappearance trouble me." he says as he looks back in the direction of the river from which they came.

"I would ask that you carry word of what has happened back to Garyland in Milborne, he in turn can help get the word out as well. Don't need no innocents traveling around Hog's Branch at the moment, and the town needs to be prepared if our new orc friends decide to wander further out from the wood." he says.

"So can you do this for me? No need to leave out this late in the evening either. Lets have ourselves a good dinner and you can give me an answer in the morning. What do you say?"

Once the bear had been defeated Kuiper walked up and knelt down by the creature and rubbed it on its head "Sorry girl, wish we didn't have to do that."

He then stands and turns to look at the group "Well done. Wish we could have done it without killing her. Wasn't her fault she was here. None the less it was effective and no one got hurt."

"Let's get on down to the raft and make our way across." he says looking back at the bear.

"Leave her, nature will take care of it. By her death other creatures will live." and with that Kuiper heads out toward the raft with the werebear in tow.

Kuiper removes the nets from the now soothed werebear, and the bear now shambles along behind the party.

"We should return to my farm with all haste. Is everyone ready to go?"

"You as well Alexander, my home is always open to you if you need it." Kuiper says with a smile.

"That's great, and while you are in Milbourne you might be able to find a buyer for that brooch that the orc leader had. That is if you don't want to keep it as a souvenir." he laughs.

The werebear finally manages to change back to human form just before the party returns to Kuiper’s farm, and the ranger has a long, private talk with the youth once the group is safely back at the farm. Once the talk is over Kuiper returns to the party with the boy in tow.

"I am not certain, but I believe from what the boy is telling me that his great uncle was a werebear and the trait just might run in the family." Kuiper says with a sigh.

"It’s something he will have to learn to live with." he says plainly.

"Anyway, it’s not bad being a werebear," Kuiper observes dryly. "How many orcs did you kill?" he ask the boy.

Young Maxim admits "I slew four and drove about six more away."

"Not something you could do as you are now?" Kuiper points out.

The boy smiles. "I had not thought of things in that way before."

Kuiper then turns to the rest of you "Sorry we didn't find any trace of the girl you seek. Me and Maxim will rest here for the remainder of the evening and I will head out with him in the morning to take him home. I will need to smooth things over with his family and neighbors. You all are welcome to stay the night if you like. Safer than the road I guess?"

"On another note, the events with the orcs and Jelenneth's disappearance trouble me." he says as he looks back in the direction of the river from which they came.

"I would ask that you carry word of what has happened back to Garyland in Milborne, he in turn can help get the word out as well. Don't need no innocents traveling around Hog's Branch at the moment, and the town needs to be prepared if our new orc friends decide to wander further out from the wood." he says.

"So can you do this for me? No need to leave out this late in the evening either. Lets have ourselves a good dinner and you can give me an answer in the morning. What do you say?"

"Wise you are as well." Kuiper says as he prepares the raft for the trip across the river "Let us get moving before she wakes."

"Not as subtle as I would have liked, but effective none the less." Kuiper says with a smile.

Turning to Alex "I see great potential in you. Perhaps even greatness."

"Just the normal, brown bear variety."

"If any of you want one of them silvered swords or that shield that the mage is looking at, then get it stowed. We will move out once everyone is ready to do so." he says as the morning light is now upon the group.

Turning to Siann "The tracks move east, lets hope it didn't turn south. This part of the woods is supposed to be fairly safe, but obviously someone didn't tell those orcs that. We will need to warn others in the area to stay clear of Hog Branch when we get back, at least for now. Maybe Oleanne will have some answers about those orcs for us soon."

Kuiper removes the nets from the now soothed werebear, and the bear now shambles along behind the party.

We should return to my farm with all haste. Is everyone ready to go?"

Once Oleanne is finished talking to the owl she moves over to Kuiper and they seem to have a heated discussion about something in the strange tongue that Oleanne speaks. Once they finish Oleanne goes over and starts packing up her gear.

Kuiper explains the situation to the others "With the rain, I will not be able to track the orcs, but Oleanne was able to determine from the owl that the orcs came from the south and the dark heart of the forest. Oleanne is going to head from which they came and try to find out more about them, she has asked that we not accompany her as we will never be able to keep up with her in the heavy undergrowth. I have informed her it is against my better judgement for her to go alone."

With a heavy sigh he continues "Fortunately, the trail left by the werebear-a heavy, clumsy animal-is still visible, and I would rather us follow these tracks rather than go orc-chasing." he shoots a sharp eye in Oleanne's direction.

"Those orcs would surely have inflicted serious casualties on your group had it not been for my and Oleanne's presence. I do not want to tangle with more of them right now." he adds as the first glint of the morning light comes over the horizon.

Looking down at the orc bodies "The brooch may be valuable so someone might want to hold on to it. But remember we are to subdue the boy and not harm him."

"Hmmm, interesting. Why would orcs be carrying silvered weapons." he said as he thought for a moment as the rain continued to fall.

"They were not hunting us. They were hunting the boy. The werebear. That would explain the silvered longswords they were carrying. We just happened to be in the area." he adds.

Once Oleanne is finished talking to the owl she moves over to Kuiper and they seem to have a heated discussion about something in the strange tongue that Oleanne speaks. Once they finish Oleanne goes over and starts packing up her gear, tending to her remaining wolf and readies to leave the camp.

Kuiper explains the situation to the others "With the rain, I will not be able to track the orcs, but Oleanne was able to determine from the owl that the orcs came from the south and the dark heart of the forest. Oleanne is going to head from which they came and try to find out more about them, she has asked that we not accompany her as we will never be able to keep up with her in the heavy undergrowth. I have informed her it is against my better judgement for her to go alone."

With a heavy sigh he continues "Fortunately, the trail left by the werebear-a heavy, clumsy animal-is still visible, and I would rather us follow these tracks rather than go orc-chasing." he shoots a sharp eye in Oleanne's direction.

"Those orcs would surely have inflicted serious casualties on your group had it not been for my and Oleanne's presence. I do not want to tangle with more of them right now." he adds as the first glint of the morning light comes over the horizon.

Looking down at the orc bodies "The brooch may be valuable so someone might want to hold on to it. But remember we are to subdue the boy and not harm him."

"Hmmm, interesting. Why would orcs be carrying silvered weapons." he said as he thought for a moment as the rain continued to fall.

"They were not hunting us. They were hunting the boy. The werebear. That would explain the silvered longswords they were carrying. We just happened to be in the area." he adds.

"I have no clue, never seen a contingent of them this size roaming this far north. Oleanne, see if you can find there tracks and where they might have come from. Lets search the bodies for anything useful." Kuiper says as he begins searching the orc leader.

Investigation: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

We make camp here! Pick up the trail at first light." he says to everyone.

"Oleanne and her pets will sleep some distance away from the rest. I will take up a spot here with the rest of you." he says while addressing the group as a whole.

Looking to Alexander and Pip "We need to set a watch. Two hour rotations. Two people to each watch. Five watches total. I will take first along with whomever wishes to accompany me."

Please lay out the five watches for me and who is on each watch.

“We're having no luck with Jelenneth, but I want to find this boy," the ranger states, producing a couple of weighted nets from his backpack. He adds "If the werebear panics and attacks us then we must defend ourselves, but we must do so without hurting him. The plan to magically slumber him just might work."

"I will try to draw the creatures attacks while you try to capture him and restrain him with these nets. I have no problem capturing and restraining him and trying to talk some sense into the boy, but harming him is not acceptable." he says.

"You are not to use weapons, unless in 'self-defense', and even then you only use the flat of your blades; if you can not do this, or feel you should be paid for your effort then I can lead you no further and you are free to return to the farm." he warns.

"Oleanne will lead us to where she last saw the boy."

"So which two of you want these nets?" he ask.

Kuiper tries to help by translating what Oleanne is trying to say "I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I have a problem of my own that affects the woods. A young boy from Krynen’s farmstead (just south of the river and northeast of the Thomwood; has fled his home, and I saw him transform into a werebear in the woods. Unable to change back into his human form, the young werebear is very frightened, confused, and alone. I tried to approach and calm him, but he took fright at the sight of me and my wolves, the local legends about the Wild Woman of the Woods do not paint me in a flattering light so he fled."

He then turns to look at the group.

"I am surprised not to have heard about this for myself. From her description I can conclude that the boy must be Maxim, Krynen’s son. His father probably does not know what fate has befallen the lad and must be dreadfully worried." he states.

Turning to Alexander and pointing to the two gray wolves "The bigger one is called Belshar and his mate is Arlii"

Turning to Alexander....

"She speaks the druidic tongue, and has taught me some of it. However her common is not that good at all."

A grey wolf steps into view from the treeline, followed a moment later by a woman in ragged cloak and robe. Motioning for the rest of you to keep still, Kuiper cautiously advances and holds a brief conversation with her in a language none of you understand. After a few minutes, he motions for the rest of you to join him. As you do, he introduces you to the woman.

"This here is Oleanne, she is a druid, although a bit feral. She has trouble with the common tongue although I will try to translate the best that I can."

Oleanne has an extraordinary appearance. Somewhere under the dirt there's a remarkably pretty young woman (age 21), but it’s hard to tell, as her hair is long and unkempt and her clothing little more than rags. She is 5’ 5”, lightly built, with dark eyes and auburn hair. Accompanying her are two large gray wolves who growl as the group approaches.

"Those two there are Belshar and Arlin, unless you are proficient with Animal Handling I would avoid approaching them as they do bite." the ranger adds.

If you have animal handling as a proficiency then you can interact with the wolves freely without a check.

Oleanne seems agitated by something.

Picture of Oleanne

With that Kuiper leads the group down to the river where a small makeshift raft awaits. Using the two long poles attached Kuiper brings the group across and to the mouth of Hog Branch.

After securing the raft, Kuiper tells everyone to keep their voices at a whisper as they begin to make their way up Hogs Branch moving inland away from the river and into the woods.

The ranger stops periodically to look for tracks and signs of passage. After several hours of this, there is a rustling in the bushes some distance ahead. Kuiper stops and draws his bow taking cover against a small tree. He motions for everyone to get ready. "Maybe our dinner has arrived."

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

We make camp here! Pick up the trail at first light." he says to everyone.

"Oleanne and her pets will sleep some distance away from the rest. I will take up a spot here with the rest of you." he says while addressing the group as a whole.

Looking to Siann "We need to set a watch. Two hour rotations. Two people to each watch. Five watches total. I will take first along with whomever wishes to accompany me."

Please lay out the five watches for me and who is on each watch.

"Then all of you agree and we are ready to get underway? I think your cart is best served by staying here at the farm. We be a going hunting and that cart, well noise will be a problem. Also hiking along Hog Branch doesn't offer us any suitable terrain for it. I'll make sure my farmhands take care of it and your animal while we are gone."

“We're having no luck with Jelenneth, but I want to find this boy," the ranger states, producing a couple of weighted nets from his backpack. He adds "If the werebear panics and attacks us then we must defend ourselves, but we must do so without hurting him."

"I will try to draw the creatures attacks while you try to capture him and restrain him with these nets. I have no problem capturing and restraining him and trying to talk some sense into the boy, but harming him is not acceptable." he says.

"You are not to use weapons, unless in 'self-defense', and even then you only use the flat of your blades; if you can not do this, or feel you should be paid for your effort then I can lead you no further and you are free to return to the farm." he warns.

"Oleanne will lead us to where she last saw the boy."

"So which two of you want these nets?" he ask.

Taking the letter from the group Kuiper responds after looking it over.

"Well I don't know of any bandits around these parts, but it is troubling news you bring. The Blessed Wood-that section of the Thomwood south and east of the Woldcote River-has been free of humanoids since the so-called “scourge” 21 years past, when the Parlfrays used mercenary fighters to clear out these woods and make them suitable for foresting. This has considerably increased their own income, and some 200 people in small family groups live within the woodland. Prior to the scourge, foresting was a dangerous business here; since the settlement, this has become a peaceful and reasonably prosperous area." he says.

"The great Thomwood to the west of the Woldcote is avoided by local people, save for the margins of the wood just south of the Churnett river and around Hog Brook. Timber wolves, the occasional mountain lion, and bears are often seen along the forest’s edge. An especial peril of the darker recesses of the forest are the huge and giant spiders which lurk there, and local people usually mention these brutes as a specific reason why they don’t enter the deeper recesses of the Thornwood. Humanoids (goblins and bugbears especially) are both believed to dwell deep within the forest also. Since the Thornwood does not yield timber as good as that from the Lyrchwood or Blessed Wood, and it lacks the Redwood’s fruit harvest, there is no pressing reason for local folk to exploit it." he continues, obviously well versed in the knowledge of the general area.

"Still Hog Branch is used to water livestock and a great variety of herbs and shrubs grow along its banks. As good as place as any to start I reckon. There is a local tradition of running pigs down it to forage scrub oak acorns, the brook has been known to house several wild boars. We might get us a little dinner while we are down there and have us a feast when we return." he seems intrigued by the offer to accompany you.

"Well let me tell the farm hands I will be gone for a while, let me pack up my equipment and get some food for the journey and we shall be on our way. I have a small ferry down by the river that can take us across. The brook is right across the river there. We'll hike up along it for a ways and see if we find any tracks. And if we happen to find a large wild boar then..." looking at Pip with a gleam in his eye... "dinner will be served."

Kuiper tries to help by translating what Oleanne is trying to say "I haven’t seen Jelenneth, but I have a problem of my own that affects the woods. A young boy from Krynen’s farmstead (just south of the river and northeast of the Thomwood; has fled his home, and I saw him transform into a werebear in the woods. Unable to change back into his human form, the young werebear is very frightened, confused, and alone. I tried to approach and calm him, but he took fright at the sight of me and my wolves, the local legends about the Wild Woman of the Woods do not paint me in a flattering light so he fled."

He then turns to look at the group.

"I am surprised not to have heard about this for myself. From her description I can conclude that the boy must be Maxim, Krynen’s son. His father probably does not know what fate has befallen the lad and must be dreadfully worried." he states.

Kuiper looks at Erdann "Wearing armor for everyday activities work well enough, If you keep it light and have the armor custom fitted to your person. You get used to it after a while."

Turning to Alexander "Very perceptive of you, my farmhands do most of the work here. I rather, keep an eye on things in these parts. One should always be equipped and ready, should they not?" he questions.

Hearing of the apprentice's disappearance he has a look of concern in his eyes. "I have not seen Jelenneth for a few weeks or so. The last time was when she was on her way to see her parents in Milborne. I know old Tauster sometimes sends her to look for herbs and plants along Hog Branch, if she had left Milborne of her own free will and was truly on the way back to the wizard then she may have stopped there to gather a fresh supply on her way back to Thurmaster. Perhaps some mishap befell her there?" the ranger muses.

"I take it if the few of you were hired by Tauster to find me then I take it at this point you may know more than I do. So what exactly have you learned so far?"

A grey wolf steps into view from the treeline, followed a moment later by a woman in ragged cloak and robe. Motioning for the rest of you to keep still, Kuiper cautiously advances and holds a brief conversation with her in a language none of you understand. After a few minutes, he motions for the rest of you to join him. As you do, he introduces you to the woman.

"This here is Oleanne, she is a druid, although a bit feral. She has trouble with the common tongue although I will try to translate the best that I can."

Oleanne has an extraordinary appearance. Somewhere under the dirt there's a remarkably pretty young woman (age 21), but it’s hard to tell, as her hair is long and unkempt and her clothing little more than rags. She is 5’ 5”, lightly built, with dark eyes and auburn hair. Accompanying her are two large gray wolves who growl as the group approaches.

"Those two there are Belshar and Arlin, unless you are proficient with Animal Handling I would avoid approaching them as they do bite." the ranger adds.

If you have animal handling as a proficiency then you can interact with the wolves freely without a check.

Oleanne seems agitated by something.

Picture of Oleanne

Turning his attention to Fronar, Kuiper responds as he pats the gnome on the back "It's ok little one, I think your cart is best served by staying here at the farm. We be a going hunting and that cart, well noise will be a problem. Also hiking along Hog Branch doesn't offer us any suitable terrain for it. I'll make sure my farmhands take care of it and your animal while we are gone."

With that Kuiper leads the group down to the river where a small makeshift raft awaits. Using the two long poles attached Kuiper brings the group across and to the mouth of Hog Branch.

After securing the raft, Kuiper tells everyone to keep their voices at a whisper as they begin to make their way up Hogs Branch moving inland away from the river and into the woods.

The ranger stops periodically to look for tracks and signs of passage. After several hours of this, there is a rustling in the bushes some distance ahead. Kuiper stops and draws his bow taking cover against a small tree. He motions for everyone to get ready. "Maybe our dinner has arrived."

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Arrows, do I have arrows? You betcha and one of a kind as well." he says as he pulls a red feathered arrow from his pack.

"Make them myself using cardinal feathers and reeds down by the brook. It makes the arrow ultra light and have extended range. Because they are lighter they don't do as much damage but they sure fly further and you can hit your target from further away. Garyld in Milborne gets them from me all the time, he swears by them and so do I. I have them for sale for 2 gold per quiver of 20 which is a fair enough price. I also have regular arrows for sale as well." he says as he brags just a little.

He then turns to Athelwyn "That does not sound good. It is unlikely that a wizard's apprentice would forget such a item. That would be like me forgetting by bow. So this may just as well be a wild goose chase we are on if she was taken by someone in Milborne but we should check it out just in case as then we can rule out her coming this way."

"Well I don't know of any bandits around these parts, but it is troubling news you bring. The Blessed Wood-that section of the Thomwood south and east of the Woldcote River-has been free of humanoids since the so-called “scourge” 21 years past, when the Parlfrays used mercenary fighters to clear out these woods and make them suitable for foresting. This has considerably increased their own income, and some 200 people in small family groups live within the woodland. Prior to the scourge, foresting was a dangerous business here; since the settlement, this has become a peaceful and reasonably prosperous area." he says.

"The great Thomwood to the west of the Woldcote is avoided by local people, save for the margins of the wood just south of the Churnett river and around Hog Brook. Timber wolves, the occasional mountain lion, and bears are often seen along the forest’s edge. An especial peril of the darker recesses of the forest are the huge and giant spiders which lurk there, and local people usually mention these brutes as a specific reason why they don’t enter the deeper recesses of the Thornwood. Humanoids (goblins and bugbears especially) are both believed to dwell deep within the forest also. Since the Thornwood does not yield timber as good as that from the Lyrchwood or Blessed Wood, and it lacks the Redwood’s fruit harvest, there is no pressing reason for local folk to exploit it." he continues, obviously well versed in the knowledge of the general area.

"Still Hog Branch is used to water livestock and a great variety of herbs and shrubs grow along its banks. As good as place as any to start I reckon. There is a local tradition of running pigs down it to forage scrub oak acorns, the brook has been known to house several wild boars. We might get us a little dinner while we are down there and have us a feast when we return." he seems intrigued by the offer to accompany you.

"Well let me tell the farm hands I will be gone for a while, let me pack up my equipment and get some food for the journey and we shall be on our way. I have a small ferry down by the river that can take us across. The brook is right across the river there. We'll hike up along it for a ways and see if we find any tracks. And if we happen to find a large wild boar then..." looking at Grommund with a gleam in his eye... "dinner will be served."

Taking the letter from Grommund and looking over it, he has a look of concern in his eyes. "I have not seen Jelenneth for a few weeks or so. The last time was when she was on her way to see her parents in Milborne. I know old Tauster sometimes sends her to look for herbs and plants along Hog Brook, if she had left Milborne of her own free will and was truly on the way back to the wizard then she may have stopped there to gather a fresh supply on her way back to Thurmaster. Perhaps some mishap befell her there?" the ranger muses.

"I take it if the few of you were hired by Tauster to find me then I take it at this point you may know more than I do. So what exactly have you learned so far?"

Sir Balin listens to each of you with great interest, the barristers trying to quote law, and others that spoke the Infernal language. If he had his way he would lop their heads off right here and right now for just speaking the name of evil and its language. Clearly some of the ones not charged with a offense that was deserving of death had more to hide than the court was led to believe. But still something bothered Sir Balin.

Sir Balin went to speak "..." but the words did not come out.. he hung his head as if in thought.

A few loooong minutes passed without him uttering a single word. Finally he looks up at Gabriel and at the doctor.

"I did not expect any of you to show honor. Like most of you have done is to cast aside another so that you could live for a few more days. Willing to not only hang another, but have it done so in great humiliation on their part, in front of a mass crowd. But these two? These TWO? A Fiend! and a Monster! shows more courage and more honor than the rest of you combined." he said as if troubled by the entire ordeal.

He then straightens his countenance and begins anew with his old familiar tone "Justice is not to be served by the guilty. All but two of you failed the test. Failed to show honor in the face of adversity and failed to stand up and accept punishment for your crimes. Doctor Ottakar Wilkins and Gabriel Hale, a devil and a monster you may be, but both of you are free from the gallows this day. Who ultimately will hang will be decided by the king, but I hope.... and I PRAY!! That this one called Melphael, the Pale Elf, that all of you are so eager to throw to the crowd in your place. Ends up your cellmate at Branderscar Prison for your actions against him."

Then a smile crosses his face as he continues "But the King will decide that for each of you and will tell you who will hang."

He then motions for the guards to bring you. You are all then led back around the twisting corridors and finally come out on the edge of the courtyard. You are placed against the wall as the crowd watches. the King is seated on his throne with a plethora of guards in front of him and the priest and wizard by his side.

Sir Balin yells "LET THE JUDGEMENTS BEGIN!"

First judgement coming up momentarily.

As all of you look out the windows at the pre-start festivities going on in honor of the occasion and you see King Markadian V making his way toward the throne built up on the stage, waving to the crowd as they cheer on his approach. He is flanked on one side by what looks to be the Matharyn High Priest of Mitra and on the other an older gentleman that looks to be a court wizard of some sort, dressed in all white robes and a long flowing gray beard and customary pointed hat. He walks with a slight limp and carries a staff.

Your onlooking of the sights below is suddenly interrupted again by Sir Balin clearing his throat behind each of you. The look on his face is priceless as he can see the toil in each one of the prisoners eyes. Your eyes.

"So the time has come, the hangman's noose awaits, and the rest of you shall go forth before the king to be sentenced for your crimes respectively."

"There will be no mercy this day for your judgement is at hand. The light of Mitra will prevail, even into the dark places and will lay low the wicked and justly uphold the righteous before all here to witness."

"Tell me now for your time is short, who do thy evil dooers wish to pay for their crime today? Before the eyes of Talingarde and her laws. You all will die within three days of reaching your final destination anyway, why wait? Show a little backbone and stand up for your crime before the people. For surely such noble creatures as some of you think you are have some form of honor. Some form of responsibility. Do not grovel for your life. Stand up! Rise Up! Surely the powers of hell has some brave souls, for what I have seen of some of you fiens is little more than cowardliness and fear. Surely your evil masters will punish you in the pit of hell for hiding behind another soul, afraid to say his name, afraid to give your life for what you believe. COWARDS! ALL OF YOU!"

He looks each one of you in the eyes, boldly without flinching, staring at each of you as if he could peer into your soul. He walks the line of you, down one end and then back again.

"Speak now or your own name will be voted for the gallows this day!"

Before any of you can speak you each hear a voice from behind you as Sir Balin speaks up. You do find the fact that he managed to enter the area without you noticing quite uneasy.
"Nice view of the noose isn't it?" he says with a taunting tone to his voice.
He then goes into one of his speeches about fairness and open workings of the law system in Talingarde which none of you pay much notice to but then he begins to explain what is going to happen.

"You see the King finds it only fitting that you thirteen would choose who goes to the noose today, that it be the ones condemned by the law that serve the law. That adjudicate punishment to his fellow criminal. I also find this fitting as well."

He then begins to pace up and down the group while talking "The king also finds it fitting that those of you that have not been convicted of a crime that is punishable by death be excused from this vote, but not from voting."

"Each of you will cast a vote of death for one of your comrades, if you refrain from this vote then you will be considered as submitting your own name for the noose. That includes those of you who are excused from the vote. If you do not name another then you will be added to the pool regardless of your crime."

"The names of the prisoners that the king has decided to be put on the list of noose qualified prisoners is Gabriel Hale, Dr. Ottakar Wilken, Jalik Daweri, Melphael, Amestri Atezadeh, Hecate Reeve, Alayne Sokorra, Erevan Cale, Felrin Vennax, Victor Karash, Paimon the Fool"

Sir Balin then walks behind Etna and Tkaara and says "It looks like you two ladies got left off the list. Your crime may not fit death but you may wish it did when you get down in those mines. You still have to vote even though you are safe from the noose.... for now."

"I will return shortly to take your vote, for now enjoy your view and the fresh air, it might just be your last."

Sir Balin exits the hall, ignoring all comments or attempts at angering him further.

Not withstanding the bombardment from the barrister Sir Balin lashes out "Isn't it enough that you have already been proven to have used your body in a sinful act to persuade a judge to change his ruling? Is it not been proven that you manipulate the system by being a second class whore? It is because of your sins that the guilty have went free. Not because they were innocent but because you were filthy. Dirty. Degenerate. A DRUG ADDICT!"

Trying to hold back his temper now Balin's face goes flush with anger "For it is you that brings disgrace to the system! It is you one have proven yourself unclean! It is you they has taken up the ways of the wicked! AND IT IS YOU who will burn for it!"

Calming himself, his voice returns to a more normal tone.
Hear my words, and bear witness to my vow.
Day gathers, and now my watch begins.
It shall not end until my death.
I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children.
I shall wear no crowns and win no glory.
I shall live and die at my post.
I am the sword in the darkness.
I am the watcher on the walls.
I am the fire that burns against the cold,
the light that brings the dawn,
the horn that wakes the sleepers,
the shield that guards the realms of men.
I pledge my life and honor to Talingarde's Watch,
for this day and all the days to come."

Turning now to his men, "Bring them to their last meal in fifteen minutes!"

And Sir Balin storms out of the hall, as soon as Hecate is dressed she is placed back into the cell with the rest of you.

As the doctor ranted and tried to justify his case for slicing open subjects while they were still alive Balin remembered the night that they had broken down that sound proof room in the doctors basement. The good doctor has a woman on the table, couldn't have been more than in her early twenties and he had just removed her heart while it was still beating. Having used no anesthetic before hand because he was curious to how the body reacted to the electrical impulses of something. It was to much for Sir Balin to comprehend, but what he could comprehend was the ever present look of shock and utter pain forever burned into her face as the woman on the table watched herself die without a heart.

Sir Balin thought silently, “All human beings, as we meet them, are commingled out of good and evil: and Doctor Ottakar Wilken, alone, in the ranks of mankind, was pure evil.”

Hearing the words come from the cell Sir Balin looks up at Ottakar and walks over to the cell while he waits for Hecate to dress "Oh yes, well if it isn't the good doctor.' he says while looking around at his cellmates.

"I do suppose you told them how you like to play with dead things? Cadavers? How you like to prey on young women of the night and do horrible experiments on them? Yes?" he says with a smirk.

Now addressing everyone else "I suppose the good doctor failed to tell all of you this because he lured all his victims to his laboratory with lies and promises just to get them alone so he could gut them like laboratory animals. I suppose even now he is sizing each one of you up for an experiment as well."

Turning back toward Ottakar "I suppose that your own wife turning you in to the authorities didn't help much. You should have seen what you did to her. How broken hearted she was when she found out that you were a murdering monster. How you grew to love the women of the night more than your own wife? But perhaps you can explain to her yourself good doctor. You see I have made sure she was invited to our little appearance before the king today. If the king chooses you for the hangman's noose then she will also get to watch you die."

Sir Balin's patience tires with the doctor, "Oh and while this nice girl here," jestering toward Hecate "may still have a chance for redemption of her soul, I can rest assured knowing that you good doctor, will burn in the pits of hell for what you have done."

Sir Balin then calmly walks over to the bars and reaches through and touches Gabriel with his healing energies, the opposite happens to the red man. His skin burns and blisters where Sir Balin touches him on his back, leaving a hand-print as he pulls his arm back from the bars.

"A memento of the occasion for you demon. It will give you something to remember me by."

Sir Balin then walks over to the knights and whispers something in one of their ears. Then he continues to wait for Hecate ignoring any further comments from the cell.

Sir Balin ignores Hecate muttering under her breath or perhaps he just didn't hear her and so he continues "I tell you that I have not judged anyone. Mortals like to think that what they do in secret they cannot be judged for. But the judgement of the truth is clear and its light shines into the darkest hole. We have all been judged, I am not at fault if you think you can hide from your judgement. The fool says, “If I am strong, then it is my right. For by strength alone is any act done and good and evil are just myths in which I do not believe!” Good and evil are not myths. Truth is a mountain. At the top is good, rare and beauteous. At the bottom is evil, lost in shadow. The fool says “Who cares what is top and what is bottom? I refuse to climb the mountain. I will do as I please, do what is easiest, and go down the mountain.” I cannot stop your downward climb, but neither can I believe you when you say the view from the bottom is the same as at the top."

Sir Balin then waits for Hecate to get dressed.

Sir Balin walks over to the cell that is holding each of you, his eyes scan the cell as if looking for someone in particular. Sir Balin makes eye contact with each one of you, his face cold, calculating and expressionless. He then meets the gaze of Hecatae and for an instant you could almost see the corners of his mouth curl upward a little and his demeanor soften if ever so slightly. He then makes his way around the cell to stand behind her. He reaches a hand into the cell and cusp the back of her head ever so slightly, almost tenderly running his fingers through her hair as he does this, a full on smile coming across his face. Then as she begins to pull away he grabs a handful and jerks her head back and turns it so he can see the yellowish black discolored bruise on her check. Hecate gasp under the painful and forceful grip. "Such beauty, and such innocence." his gaze lingers a moment looking directly into her eyes. "All of it twisted and wasted and polluted by the search for dark and forbidden knowledge." he releases his grip slightly but still holds her head by her hair.

He then reaches out and touches Hecatae softly on her cheek as a tingly feeling of energy surges through her being as her wounds and bruises are no more. He caresses Hecatae's cheek gently as the bruise fades.