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Alright, we've made a shambles o' this - an' it was kinda my plan... Time to get on the front foot, I guess. Liam spins, pulling a handful of sparkling rock powder seemingly from inside his sleeve. Singing a short, aggressive melody, he hurls the powder in the general direction of the figures on the rise.
Not to be a pain, but is there any chance of a map for this encounter? Even a rough one without a grid, or definite scale? I'm having a bit of trouble visualising who's where, even in the general sense. If not, I'm sure I'll survive - just puttin' it out there :)
Take your time mate.
Liam moves after Stilgar, maintaining the pretence of intense hatred for the dwarf.
Summoning his honest hatred for the oppressive dwarves, Liam screws his face into a furious expression as he also starts after Stilgar (perhaps a smidgeon too slowly). Invoking Kurnen's name, he hurls some obscene anti-dwarf curses at Stilgar's retreating back .
Liam nods his head slowly and unobtrusively, preparing himself for the performance.
"We going in then?" Liam whispers through the spell. "Or do I ask him to halt?"
"Aye, I'm a hunter and fisherman meself. Liam Fisher's the name. Grew up with me da in the wilds, Kurnan bless his soul..." Liam's voice fades away, as an unfeigned lump in his throat swells at the thought of his late father. He pulls out his little flask of whiskey and swallows, burning the lump away. "'S better. Care for a tot?" he asks, offering Barend the flask.
Liam covers his surprise at the sudden voice in his ear. "Er... Just that his mood has definitely changed. I've enchanted him to be friendly towards me, but he ain't too happy about escorting a dwarf to his bosses, that's for sure. I think we should be ready to strike at any time." Liam speeds up to get closer to the woodsman. "So, Barend," he begins in a voice pitched to be heard by just the two of them, "Have you lived away from towns all your life? I have - until the dwarves forced me to join a militia for a year... Worst time o' me life. Following the orders of the half-high scum and their lickspittle human lackeys." He spits on the ground to show his feelings about that kind of human.
As he skips to keep up with the suddenly moving Barend, Liam throws a look to his companions.
"A marvelous plan if I do say so myself. Well done, Liam. Stilgar, I know you're no thesbian, but no need to worry. I'll be there too helping out with my own deceptions where needed." Magnus nods to Liam to continue on with the plan. Liam gives the crazy gnome a nod and a smile in acknowledgment of his praise. Whisper to Barend: "Ye've got one o' them with ye?! Are ye daft, man? What's that bearded stump doin' here?" he rasps, eyeballing Stilgar.
"I know it looks odd," Liam breathes, eyes wide, "But the little bugger's a turncoat. He's got important information about the movement of the dwarves, and he's been offered a huge price in gems for his betrayal. Personally I can't stand him, but we've got to be civil, or he'll walk..." "I need to get him to the leaders of the Horned faith. Mayhaps you could help us? We've been waylaid by all manner of monstrosities, from undead to demons, and we've lost our way somewhat. Is there any chance you'd give us a hand? I could do with another pair of trusted eyes of the... Bearded stump, as well. What d'ya say?"
Liam nods, Auric's consent enough for him. "The charm will last for hours yet. Let me see if I can get him to take us to his chief - if not, we may have to take him down immediately, particularly if he's hellbent on attacking innocents this very day... Oh, and just in case he's just pretending to be charmed, be ready when I untie him" Liam returns to the bound man. "Good news, friend! I've convinced the rest of your humanity! Now, let's see to those ropes..." Liam bends to untie his hands, but throws a warning glance to the others as soon as his face is out of Barend's eyeline.
Liam bites his lip as if contemplating the idea, then shakes his head with a sigh. "A worthy goal, 'tis true, but I don't think it's going t' work right now. Y'see, we're on a likeminded plan, but we've just heard word that the stinkin' dwarves are reinforcing T'ree Oaks as we speak. Yer not like to find good hunting there, Barend. But mayhaps we can figure out a better way to bring Kurnan's wrath home to them lickspittle dwarf lovers!" Liam starts, as if suddenly remembering. "But hold, y' be wantin' outta those ropes. While I believe ya, I better be talkin' to me colleagues. I ain't the leader o' this merry band - just the cleverest, quickest, and bravest!" he chirps with a wink and a grin. "I'll be right back. Don't worry, I'll convince 'em y'ain't no demon, and that ain't no demon wolf neither." Liam motions to the others to step out of earshot to discuss the situation. Once the party is a comfortable distance away,.. "I'm thinking I should convince him to lead us back t' whoever he takes his orders from. Stilgar, you'd have to pose as a dwarven traitor for a bit, with information to share, but I think I can swing him 'round to leading us t' where we wanna go. Any objections to settin' him free?" Before anyone can answer he says, "I know, I know, we'll probably have to take him down at some point - breaks me heart to do that to another human, and a Kurnan-lovin', dwarf hater like meself t' boot, but... He shouldn't be harmin' no innocent folks. Save it for the pint-sized tyrants, I says." Liam finally draws breath, before opening his yap once more. "So, what d'ya say?"
Liam gives the bound man an easy smile. "Don't worry man, I'll untie ye - as soon as I'm sure y'who I think y'are, and not some demon in a friendly shape. Now, tell me true," he says, face turning serious but not threatening, "What's yer name, and yer business in these here woods of almighty Kurnan?"
Once the man and his wolf (?) are restrained , but before the man awakens, Liam intones a short arcane phrase and gestures at the man.
"Might be I have ways of persuading him..." Liam says, wiggling his fingers with a grin.
"Should we tie up these sleepin' beauties and question them?" Liam asks, gesturing to their slumbering opponents.
Liam likewise moves to help Auric with the girl. "Easy now darli', Evie, is it? " he murmurs with a concerned half-smile. "Big Brave Auric and his band of merry ragamuffins are here. And look, your da's alright too." He points as two of Big Brave Auric's ragamuffins emerge from the woods with the wild-eyed woodcutter. Liam stands as the man approaches, his smile now turned towards the girl's father. "Picked a rough day to be huntin' for mushies,," he quips. "Y'alright there man?"
Liam slirts around the boar, chanting a rustic yet powerful hunting poem, and when he finds himself in an advantageous position his spearhead flashes towards the creature's unprotected flank.
Liam circles around the boar with his spear, threatening it. "I'll distract the beast, while you lot stick him!"
Just levelling now!!! But go on :)
Also for my favoured class bonus I'm going to take the human option from APG and take an extra first level spell known. Edit: All done but spell selection.
Auric: Cha or Str I reckon :)
Liam snorts at the gnome's temerity, and nods at Auric's words. "I don't think any of us are of a mind t' follow your orders, given your obvious lack o' concern for our wellbein' - and I for one am as curious as the next man t' hear some answers first hand," he retorts, chin out,
At Auric's previous statement Liam pipes down a little, but when Kalaya gives him a firm look, the youth gives her a wink and an impudent grin. "I agree entirely, lady. 'Though it won't be the dwarves I'm fightin' to protect, but the common folk."
"I always heard told that Baal and the dwarves withheld their help when the fiends an' demons came until the rest of the peoples were near wiped out, so's they could take power. And Kurnan's never forgot..."
"Kurnan's a hard god, that's for sure," Liam begins, "But I've always found him to be a fair one. Now, we've not had a good chat or anything, but I'm having a tough time seeing my god's hand in this wanton cruelty. Sounds like either a bunch of misguided zealots, or easily led puppets being duped by a clever manipulator with a hidden agenda." The talespinner sighs. "Although having said all that, the bloody dwarves have sure shattered Kurnan's realm. If I were he, I'd feel like breaking some skulls too. In fact, I'd still like nothin' better than to take out some haughty, half-sized maggots," he finishes heatedly, eyeing Stilgar as if daring him to respond.
Seeing his own patron god's symbol, Liam snorts. "We follow the same god, bat-man. I understand yer hatred of the short ones, and have followed me father in fighting their unjust rule over me people. But we ain't the enemies you think we are - the fact that you are still breathing after trying to murder a dwarf proves that. Will ye tell us yer tale? I like a good tale..."
Liam, still roaring encouragement to his allies in an almost superhumanly strong voice, stabs viciously at the unnaturally sized bat once more.
Liam races along with Stilgar to stab again at the retreating bat.
Still exhorting his companions on, Liam lashes out at the giant bat once more.
Liam will move behind the frontliners, then begin exhorting his companions on to victory. "Alright lads - and lady - let's drive these airborne rats back into their holes!"he cries, waving his spear in the air.
At Master Ironhead's question, Liam listens but doesn't hear what he refers to. "Bats?"
Liam exits with the rest, still casting distrustful glances at the dwarf.
Liam steps forth with a troubled mien. "I've heard of Crescentmarsh. Many times over, I have. 'Tis a place of darkness, of brooding horror. Even the most evil dwarf fears its name, and the curséd short ones patrol it most heavily. If this stone man says it is the cause, or the effect, of his ruin, I doubt it not. I could tell you twelve different tales of its darkness." Liam shivers as he contemplates the tales that spring to mind. "Having said all that, 'tis probably the place we need to seek out, if we wish to solve the riddle of the stone man."
Liam leans forward. "What was that?" he ask the stony figure regarding his last words.
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