The jailors unload you at the barracks and lead you all back to your cell. Passing through the yard, you notice a priest accompanying a covered wooden cart out of the yard.
As you walk back down through the barracks, you see Harold, who grins foolishly as Tybor winks at him. In you cell again, Harold returns and takes your manacles away. The rest of the day passes without incident, and you are served two more meals of equally poor quality by the grubby cook. When it starts getting late, and the guards decide it is no longer dangerous for you to be left alone, they retire upstairs.
Tybor, who has not said anything since the courtroom, finally speaks. Daemon, I ain’t sure how much wit ye got, but escapin’ into the sewers, that sounds like just about one o’ the dumbest plans I ever heard…I never been down past the first level, meself, but I heard tales…oh yes…don’t let Travis’ soft demeanor fool y’all, there’s some truth to it… He pauses and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you’re all great fighters an’ all, but…I dunno ‘bout this…Ifn we all do end up goin’ down, I’ll help ye as best I can, but I ain’t got a map or nothin’ either…We’ll have to stick together an’ be very, very careful… He trails off. You are unclear whether he has fallen asleep or not underneath the wide brim of his leather hat.
Once everyone had settled down for the night, Roger stands, and walks over to Conner and looks the half elf in the eyes. "From everything you have shown me, you don't seem to like me much. If we are going to be relying on each other, to keep each other's lives protected, I would like to know what problem you have with me exactly. We need to sort this out now, before we go into these dangerous sewers." Roger crosses his arms, waiting for Conner's reply, never taking his eyes off the half elf.
Schmitty looks up from the corner he was sitting in and watched the interaction closely.
Perception
Sense Motive
After eating the questionable meals I hold polite conversation with anyone who talks
@ Tybor "Thank you for your input, I will take it into consideration once we are in the sewers and weigh it according to any plans that we make"
A half hour before sunset I sit facing the small window so I can meditate as I watch the sky go dark as night falls.
"I must meditate for an hour so that I can tap into my energies and refresh my healing abilities, I would appreciate it if no one would disturb me during this time"
after my hour of meditation I will again chat with my cell mates before preparing to rest for our trials the next day. I watch Roger and Connor closely when Roger stands to confront him.
With his knee still swollen and bruised from the guard's clubbing, Voem finds a place against the wall to sit down and avoid the uncomfortable feeling that comes with standing on it. When Roger confronts Connor, Voem's attention is drawn to the two men, hoping that nothing they do will attract the attention of the guards.
Arvind, is belly aching for some proper food, belches and from his stomach a loud deep rumbling. "Beg pardon."
Later in the boredom, he dozes until he hears Connor and Roger start their discussion. He opens one eye, not sure if he must stay awake and watch or not.
Roger, eliciting no response at all from Connor, turns his back on him and walks over to one of the stone benches. Pfff! Goddamn elves think they're so smart! The gods' gift to the world! He slouches back into the bench like Tybor and is quiet.
You all find places to sleep and huddle up to pass the night. One by one, you drift off into uncomfortable prison-sleep to the sound of Travis the Tavern owner's snoring.
As you sleep, you dream of the noose, and darkness, foul beasts and stenches of the deepest trenches and caverns long lost or never discovered. Suddenly, your dream shifts. You see yourself sleeping, lying on the ground while gray mist swirls all around. You whisper Wake up…Wake up! but the you on the ground does not move or react. You say again, louder Wake up…Wake up!
You gasp and sit bolt upright in the cold, dark cell. The moon is low, and shines through the small cell window like a great yellow eye, casting patches of light on the stone floor and on your face. From the shadows in the corner, you see a tall, dark figure step forward. It wears a blue hood that obscures its face in deep shadow, and its blue cloak reaches all the way down to the floor. Hello… A man’s voice says, amusedly.
spoken mostly to himself - Oh, What fresh hell is this?
WIth a visible shift from groggy and annoyed to inappropriately cheerful-
Hello. What's all this now?
Perception while looking at the dark figure
Having fallen asleep while sitting against the wall, Voem opens his eyes very slowly to see the tall figure emerging from the shadows. Still feeling half asleep, he does not move and instead quickly glances around the room. Strangely comforted by Schmitty's pleasant tone at first, Voem allows his eyes to fall back on to the cloaked figure.
Perception
At the sound of Schmitty's voice, Connor opens his eyes to see who he is greeting.
Having trouble focusing just moments after waking up, Connor rubs his eyes and blinks for a better view...
"Hello?"
I wake up from my dream suddenly, when I see the character and he speaks I wait for a few of the others to say their piece before I speak out
"Hello sir, I did not hear the guards bring you in, and they are rather noisy so I imagine I would have been woken up, so I can only guess that you entered this cell some other way. And since no one would have a good reason to break into a cell unless they had business with the people in it I can only assume you are here either as an assassin here for us or you have some business with us. Am I far off the mark?"
You can see that he is tall and thin, but there is a strength and balance you can hear in his voice and almost sense merely from his presence. You can see that his hooded cloak is of a deep, intense blue that seems to absorb the light around it. The man remains perfectly still. So still, in fact, that if you were not looking closely, you feel you might not even see him. He speaks in a calm, reserved tone that betrays nothing of his inner thought that he does not wish it to. Ha ha ha… he laughs wryly. Clever and true. You have struck the mark in the center, sir, in that the guards did not bring me in…and I do have business, or proposed business…with you…
He does not speak for a moment, and the darkness and the silence are palpable.
It has come to my attention that you have been convicted of treason and condemned to death. If you wish to remain in the realm of life, I may be able to help you… he says mysteriously.
"I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we are interested."
Connor looks around the room, giving the others a chance to voice any disagreement.
"Please, sir, make your proposition known."
"I agree, I am very interested in remaining alive. Let us hear your proposition, then we will decide."
Nods in agreement with Connor and daemon, but does not take his eyes off the stranger.
Clever and true. You have struck the mark in the center, sir, in that the guards did not bring me in…and I do have business, or proposed business…with you…
Voem opens his eyes a little more but still has trouble shaking off the peaceful slumber he was enjoying on the cold stone floor. Through his gaze he he is still only able to make out the figures's shape. Glancing back and forth between Daemon, Connor, and the figure, Voem decides this is most probably a dream.
"Tybor, if that is you, please take off that cloak and go back to.." Voem begins to nod off again "..sleep. "
Alas, Voem, I am not called Tybor. No, I belong to a brotherhood. We have many names, perhaps you have heard of us? We are known as the Blue Hoods n some circles, while in others we are known as the Assassins of Darkness. Some people know us as the Mercenaries of Death, and some refer to us simply as…The Brotherhood. We are a secretive bunch, and we have rules that…aid us in this. He says, pausing to let the information sink in. You have interested us and we would offer you…employment. The man always speaks with the same silky, slow drawl. This would be your…payment to us for the sparing of your lives, and would require you to serve us. Nine lives; nine tasks. I must warn you…these missions will not be without danger, but also not without…rewards. In the performing of each you must follow the guidelines I lay out. You must not violate the tenants of the Brotherhood. They are as follows:
He pauses for effect.
One: Never betray the brotherhood.
Two: Never disobey an order from a brother of higher rank.
Three: Never attack or steal from a brother.
Though his body does not move, and you cannot see his eyes, you are sure you feel them penetrating each of your souls in turn. To accept, you will be required to sign a contract. A…binding contract. He pulls forth a blank sheet of parchment and a raven feather quill and extends them straight forward, not looking or moving otherwise. His long black sleeves are tucked into gloves of supple black moleskin. He does not move, and simply waits for you all to respond.
"I do not think I can accept, I am in the business of healing, i will not end the life of one who is not already on deaths door for mercy or one who is attempting to kill me..."
The loud snores stop with a start, as the half-orc suddenly sits up from the cold confines of the stone floor. Rubbing his eyes with his large hands, he looks around disorientated. He mumbles "Bad dream, bad dream!" before looking around the cell, startled to see the figure standing before them. Not quite taking it all in, he listens to the initial conversation.
Eventually he responds in a deep growly voice, "Your names don't sound very appealing to me. Know I have signed with my heart the tenants of Sarenrae, that will guide me, so your rules will forever be subservient to hers. I cannot bind myself to your rules, if they contravene hers. So surely there can be a compromise, for my word is my bond, I will do as you request with Sarenrae's as my highest authority, not yours. But as for the contract, can we agree on my word it is bound by my subservience to my god?"
You think you feel him smile through the darkness. Do not be fooled by our reputation, he says. we are not so bad as our names make us seem, nor do we kill for sport or assassinate as our main profession. It does, however, occasionally come up that in the course of performing a mission, we must kill. In general, it unnerves the populace that there is such a group of secretive mercenaries at all, and our methods can be…less than straightforward. He pauses. Master Grunwald is it? Or so you like to be called…there is an important question I must ask you…and it is this…could you better serve your god alive, or…not alive…? The sewers of this city are vast, and many who have entered have never returned…It is said there are beasts of unknown origins from unknown times, and they…appreciate company so much they could just…gobble them up!
Roger, having heard enough, springs to his feet and jumps at the man hands-first in a whirling attack. That’s enough from you, evil-doer!
Roger’s attack roll:
Roger’s Damage:
The man stays still until Roger reaches him, at which point he reacts.
The man’s attack roll:
The man’s Damage:
He parries Roger’s fist with the arm holding the parchment, swinging his arm around and behind his back and forcing him onto his knees in a painful hold with his arm pressed backwards at a sickening angle. All the while he maintains his delicate grip the parchment. He presses the quill to Roger’s throat and you hear him cry out as a small drop of blood wells from his neck. He laughs and kicks roger away to lay sprawled on the floor, gasping for air. I appreciate the valor, but it will get you nowhere with me, boy…
He holds the parchment and quill out gain. And the rest of you…?
Connor stands and bows his head respectfully towards the man.
"Sir, is there a..."
He looks down at Roger, who is still gasping for air. They have had their differences, but he didn't wish harm on the human.
"...price to pay if we do not accept your offer?"
After the Roger incident;
Stealthfully Schmitty looks for and moves to pick up something to use as a weapon, slingstone(s) or a rock being the most probable options. Using the big people as cover he moves into a position where he can assist () if this meeting comes to blows.
stealth
Edit: Oh and I assume he's out to screw us so I'm going to sense motive while I watch him talk to the others.
sense motive
He holds the parchment and quill out gain. And the rest of you…?
Almost having fallen asleep again, Voem's eyes open when he hears the stranger use his fist name. Deciding not to question where or how he learned it, given that the man also managed to get into a locked cell unheard, Voem slowly rises to his feet. "You say that you are going to help us, but that doesn't exactly say much, sir. I'm going to have to agree with Connor," Voem says, gesturing to the half-elf, "If we are to agree sign this contract of yours, you must tell us at what cost it will be and what advantages will come with it."
Voem takes a step closer to the man, trying to get a better look at the man he is addressing. He is somewhat discontent by Roger's situation, but tries to keep his nerve. "I'm not entirely warm to the idea of venturing into a sewer to slay whatever prefers to dwell there, but I believe that this group is up to the task without your help. All we have to do is clear the sewers and we regain our freedom, so what more could you possibly offer us?"
Sense Motive
"I do not think I can accept, I am in the business of healing, i will not end the life of one who is not already on deaths door for mercy or one who is attempting to kill me..."
@Voem, Connor, Schmitty: The man himself has no motives you are aware of, but whoever he is speaking for seems to want to help you...at a cost.
@ Schmitty: You find nothing to throw, but you are able to move around to his side and prepare to flake him.
To the point, Voem, good. He says, slightly mockingly. Oh no, I would not help you clear the sewers. And I highly doubt that you, your group, or all the guards and soldiers in Landrinor could ever entirely clear those depths, for they continue...some say indefinitely… He pauses once again. Back to the point, though…I offer you freedom…life…but you would be fugitives. Fortunately for you, we take care of our brothers and teach them not to be caught… As for the contract… As I said: nine lives, nine tasks, set by my superiors, to complete in service of the brotherhood… That is all we ask. A small price for life…
He moves for the first time since he stepped from the shadows, and it is with a solid grace. His long cloak trails behind him silkily. He sets the parchment on Roger’s bench and places the quill on top of it. He walks back to the edge of the shadows and turns to face you.
By signing the parchment, you pledge to fulfill these nine tasks, whatever they may be. In return, we will free you and grant you your life. Depending on your level of success in the completion of the tasks…you may be offered…enduring positions among us. Beware, the parchment is…enchanted. Once it is signed…I would not recommend breaking the contract… he says ominously. You have until the break of day to sign it. If you do sign…choose the noose. I must be going, he says abruptly. The night calls.
With that, he steps backward into the shadows, and is gone.
Connor looks around bewildered at the rest of his cell-mates. Noticing Roger on the floor still, he says,
"Roger, are you okay? Daemon, is there any way you can help Roger?"
Overwhelmed and with no idea how to proceed, Connor lets out a deep sign and slumps back onto the floor.
So our options are to take the noose, clear the endless sewers of monsters, sign a magic contract most likely presented by a demon to fufill nine unknown tasks.
Well, all of those options are unappealing.
Schmitty looks thoughtful for a moment and begins again.
Although, the "demon" offer is the only one that has a finite end point. As much as I don't trust it any farther than I can throw the fat barkeep I suspect we've got little choice.
Without touching it, Schimity walks up to take a very close look at the contract.
Perception
Linguistics
I approach Roger and begin to look him over
"So a third option is now thrown into the mix. I refuse to kill unnecessarily so signing a contract with a group of assassins seems to be a bad idea to me. I still think that sneaking out of the city via the sewers is the best course of action if we can find a way, we will still be fugitives but at least then we will not be tied to a group of assassins..."
Connor nods in agreement.
"I'm with Daemon, so long as we can get a reasonable assurance that there indeed is a way out of the city via the sewers. Tybor and Travis, have you any knowledge of this?"
Looking on as Daemon heals Roger,
"Daemon, your healing skills seem to be very well-tuned. This is very reassuring. If you require assistance in the future, please let me know. I would be happy to provide protection for you as you heal members of this group. We will all need your help at some point, I am sure."
Connor walks up to Daemon, extending his hand as an offer of friendship.
Charisma check
Kale watches the others from where he sits, a slightly worried look on his face.
"How much do we know of the sewers? I know my knowledge is next to zero, and that despite my....abilities, I'd probably have little chance of survival down there. I assume it is the same for all of you. I'm not saying we should go ahead and sign, but....I do think we should talk it over a bit more first. Weigh our options. He -did- say that their reputation was false in some way, we could be snubbing our only chance of freedom...
He shrugs. "Besides, who knows what evil we could be working for by going on this mission in the first place? We know we're here unfairly, how do we know -their- motives are just? For all we know, the man behind the curtain was some sort of monster, and they're sending us to feed his unnatural children or...something."
I pause in what I am doing to Roger to reach out and shake Connor's hand.
"Nice to have you by my side I would always rather have someone as a friend protecting me then trying to kill me."
We don't seem to have any good options. The question is which is the lesser of the evils? I have Zero knowledge of the sewers. The idea that they have an exit to use for escape is mere hope and speculation. I have no knowledge of this shadow group and as such no knowledge of their underlying motives. However, so far they're the only ones being at least somewhat direct with us. I don't think the contract is necessarily a bad idea. I'm not ready to sign, just yet, but I think it's worth discussing.
"Kale and Schmitty are right. We don't know if either of our options will serve a just cause, but our blue-hooded 'friend' did offer a mission with a set end time. We don't know what his organization will ask of us, but it is likely that we will have blood on our hands in either case. There is no way to determine if we will be killing for a just cause in either case, and in one case – the contract – we will likely have to do far less killing."
Connor pauses and draws a deep breath.
"I say we sign the contract. While it's mysterious, we know that clearing out the sewers is likely to end with at least one of us dead, and probably all of us. Maybe we can all make it out alive if we sign it. But I would rather not sign alone. Are there any of you who wish to sign with me?"
I'll sign.
Arvind has been looking at the contract his brow furrowed, "Signing this is too lead us into paths that are clouded with mystery and darkness, this is a devilish contract, one I will not sign. I would rather take my chances in the sewers. But first I will pay,"
"I am with Arvind on this, I too refuse to sign the contract, I will not partake in a course of action that may force me to have to kill someone who I deem should not die. Signing a contract from assassins is a mistake I will not make, more so since he says there will be consequences if we do not partake in the missions they lay before us."
" I am not so sure that the sewers would prove to be the best of the two options, here. I am sure we aren't the first people Xenor will have sent down there, and I am sure not all that were sent down there have come back. Xenor spoke of something that has been living there for thousands of years, so it is clearly a very resilient breed of creature."
Voem pauses for a moment, thinking more on the decision himself and allowing himself to think out loud. "Did you see the way everyone in the court looked at us? They've given us a choice between hanging and between going into the sewers. It's clear that they want us to die and do not expect us to return from either of their choices."
This robed figure.. He wouldn't be asking us to complete his tasks if he didn't think we could do them. He stressed that he is not a group of assassins, but he seemed very powerful. Do we really want to get on the bad side of a society of individuals as powerful as him?"
Turning to face Daemon directly, Voem continues " Daemon, if you think that you can't take another man's life you don't deem fit to die, then I will do it for you, I have no qualms."
Looking to Arvind now, Voem appeals to the Half-Orc "Arvind, I can tell that you religion means quite a bit to you. How do you know that the Dawnflower hasn't sent this mysterious figure to test your loyalty to her. Completing the tasks of this shady character and retaining your code would be an incredible challenge. if you are able to do so, no one would be able to deny your unwavering faith. As with Daemon, I'd be more than willing to handle any business you choose not to complete."
"So it seems as if Schmitty, Voem, and I will sign. Whatever we do, we should do as a group. The rest of you? Voem has pledged his assistance and I will do the same. If we sign, we enter the agreement as a group, and we will complete it as a group."
Connor looks hopefully and encouragingly towards the two skeptics.
"I don't like the options either, but I trust the hooded man far more than our cowardly accuser behind his curtain and all those who believed him. I wish to do no service for those who have imprisoned us here."
Kale found himself nodding as Voem spoke. "Wait a minute, I'll sign too. Nothing waits for us in the sewers but death, that much is clear. Besides, signing doesn't automatically mean that we'll have to kill an innocent. If that comes up, we can simply refuse, and take whatever consequence comes of that."
Roger finally opens his eyes, groggy and unsure of what has happened. "Oh my head...what in gods name happened?! Glancing around the room, he notices the discussions taking place and sits bolt upright. "Ok! What on earth is going on? I think I was drugged or something.."
Arvind looks from one to the other of the party, his eyes dark and brooding, "I am sure this is not the will of the dawnflower, for she has given me the ability to see that which is evil, that which will lead down the wrong path."
Arvind, Neither are good options. We know that. At the bare minimum the cloaked figure has been direct and up front with his goals for us. That's more than I can say for the highly corrupt government that intends to send us into the sewers. Either path could lead to our beneficiaries trying to get us to kill innocents. If such an instance occurs all you have to do is refuse. I wouldn't presume to know the will of the Dawnflower, but perhaps that's the test she has for you. I'm not an overly religious halfling, but I'd wager that trying to determine the will of the gods is severe folly, not to mention blasphemy. The best we can hope to do, as mere mortals, is to make the best decisions given the information at hand. Based on everything we know the contract seems to be the lesser of the evils, though admittedly there are no distinct "good" choices. I'm sure you're skill at arms, morale compass, and "ability to see that which is evil" would be the best use of your skill while trying to keep us morally centered while we try to navigate this shadow group. Keeping others on the righteous path strikes me as a very fitting path for a paladin of the Dawnflower.
Thinking to himself in a somewhat cynical tone:
I hate having to argue palli-tard logic. They just can't see the forest for the trees sometimes
Roger's eyes widen suddenly as he remembers exactly what happened to him. "That man...in the cloak..." He brings his hand up to his neck and pulls it away with blood on it. "Gods above he was strong. I need more training..."
Sitting up from his position on the floor Roger looks around. "I am not sure I want to sign anything and work for any brotherhood. But at the same time I don't think we can deal with someone that strong. I will go along with the majority in this case..." Roger holds his hand to his neck to help the wound clot.
Kale sighs. "Arvind, you can't take on the task Xenor set before you alone. You know that. Even with Daemon, you two will probably perish. You're not going to sway us to your side with the arguments you're currently presenting." He folds his arms and glances to Roger, then back to Arvind.
"If nothing else, you could make sure none of us go down the path of killing innocents, if you sign."
Growing impatient, Connor sighs.
"I would rather die in the streets than in the sewers. But mostly, I'd rather live through this ridiculous situation."
With that, he stands up, walks over to the contract, and signs it. With that, Connor collapses onto the bench, head in hands.
"This wretched place!" He says bitterly to no one in particular. After a deep breath, he looks up at the others.
"I hope you are with me," he says to all of them, "I truly believe that if we stay together and protect each other, we can do this."
Connor picks up the quill, stands, and holds it out towards the group, desperate hope in his eyes.
Roger quietly stands up and takes the quill. "We have had our differences it seems but I will stand with you in this. At least I might be able to get vengence on that man someday..." With that Roger signs the contract, and then sits back down on the ground and stares off into space, lost in thought.
Schmitty takes the quill from Connor turns and determinately signs the contract.
I'd rather choose my fate than have it forced on me. I'll take my chances with the shadows rather than a corrupt government and a spoiled princess.
"I believe that your decision is folly, but even I can see that I would not survive in the sewers alone or with Arvind's help. I will sign as well, but I will hold every one of you accountable for forcing me into this against my will. You have presented me with a choice of sign the contract or die without someone to watch my back. I feel that this is even worse then what the nobles of this land had done, they at least were not forcing us to sign a contract with 'consequences' if we did not follow the task before us, and they told us outright what it is that we would be doing. This group of assassins has not even told us the tasks laid out before us yet."
with that I take up the quill and also sign the document.
At Daemon's words, Kale seems to shrink back a bit. "Some of us making a choice is worse than nobles framing us for something we didn't do? Uh...okay, I guess that's your opinion."
He then takes the quill and signs as well.