"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."
"Daemon, I mean no disrespect but I see no man forcing your hand to sign that document. Though I had wished we could have all come to consensus before we signed," Voem glances quickly at Connor, briefly making eye contact with the half-elf, "I think that we will have the advantage if we take on whatever tasks this mysterious figure offers us.
The consequences of failing in the sewers are either returning to the court to be hanged or die in the depths of this cursed city's sewers. By the very least, this unexpected visitor is offering us a means to escape our unjust captivity. Though it will make us fugitives, I have no problem given that I do not plan on coming back to this land any time soon. We will also gain what seems to be a powerful group of allies, however shady or bizarre they may appear."
looking directly at Daemon
You sign of your own free will. Because you know it's the wiser choice of two undesirable paths. Regardless of the outcome, I've made my decision free from influence. Just as you have.
looking directly at Daemon
You sign of your own free will. Because you know it's the wiser choice of two undesirable paths. Regardless of the outcome, I've made my decision free from influence. Just as you have.
"No, I believe that not being held by a contract is the wiser of choices, however if the entire party is signing, then I see that it is foolish to throw my life away on a fruitless mission into the sewer to clear out a lair single handedly even with my healing prowess. So, I will follow the course that Connor, Rodger, and yourself have set before me against my will because I desire to live and not throw my life away. If we finish these tasks and nothing ill comes of it then I will admit that you were right, if however we get sent into situations that we all end up regretting I will not let you forget that it was you three that set us on this path"
Roger walks over to Daemon, the dried blood on his throat stark red against his white skin. "I am sorry if you feel we are forcing you. However, I for one am not please about how the justice system in this land has obviously been corrupted, and would prefer to not take part in it. I make this pledge: You come with us and I will do everything in my power to help you clear your name, along with ours, and to protect you as best I can." Roger bows slightly, and then smiles at Daemon. "Besides, as much as a loathe to do it, we can always break the contract. Then again that might put us in even MORE trouble..."
Roger walks over to Daemon, the dried blood on his throat stark red against his white skin. "I am sorry if you feel we are forcing you. However, I for one am not please about how the justice system in this land has obviously been corrupted, and would prefer to not take part in it. I make this pledge: You come with us and I will do everything in my power to help you clear your name, along with ours, and to protect you as best I can." Roger bows slightly, and then smiles at Daemon. "Besides, as much as a loathe to do it, we can always break the contract. Then again that might put us in even MORE trouble..."
"I thank you for your pledge, and that is exactly what I fear. Our individual beliefs may force us to break the contract getting us into even more trouble, fugitives of the land and the group that was supposed to help us escape from the government... This is my pledge to you Roger, I will do my best to keep you alive and in fighting condition so that you may uphold your pledge to me, I hope that during our trials and tribulations perhaps a friendship can grow out of our current forced companionship."
Roger nods, and holds out his hand to Daemon.
Daemon takes Rogers hand and shakes it.
Walking up to the two as they shake hands, Connor waits for Roger and Daemon to finish their interaction and then speaks up.
"I owe both of you an apology. Roger, I did not mean to seem so hostile to you before. I have come from a place of hatred and betrayal, and I am perhaps too hasty to discount others. I appreciate your support in signing the contract, and I harbor no hostility towards you. I hope you will accept my apology."
"Daemon, I apologize for making my decision so hastily and in doing so making you feel as though I've forced your hand. I understand your fears, and I have the same reservations myself, but I offer you the same pledge as Roger." Connor places his hand reassuringly on Daemon's shoulder. "We will all get through this together."
Connor moves to the corner of the cell, where he lays down and closes his eyes.
As Conner walks away but before he makes it to his corner Roger nods and says loudly "Apology accepted and I am sorry I acted rashly. I have a bit of a temper like so many red headed humans seem to have." Seeing Conner lay down, Roger grins to no one in particular. "I think we should all get some sleep and finish this signing mess in the morning." Roger walks over to the bench where first sat, and leans back against the wall, closing his eyes and breathing regularly.
Then I shall extend my pledge to you as well Connor, hopefully we can all get through this together"
I too go and find a spot to lie down to sleep for the rest of the night.
As no one is paying attention to him anymore, Voem decides that Connor has the right idea. Nodding to the men as they stay up, Voem lays down on a makeshift bed or just generally tries to make himself comfortable before before doing his best to get to sleep.
Before everyone falls asleep
Basically we're in a bad situation either way. It wouldn't do us any good to sit around and talk about it like old fish wives all night, so I'm glad we're doing something. It's not ideal, but I think that if we stick together, we'll make it through this alive and ideally better friends.
Travis, who has remained silent throughout all of this, stands and speaks up. I…I really don’t know, I mean…the sewers are scary and the beasts that may be down there… He gulps. But I’ve heard of this “Brotherhood” also…Ill talk, I’ve heard… I heard they will kill anyone for enough money and there’s no way to stop them! And that they are really devils in disguise, and that they steal the souls of the people they kill and devour them! I don’t want to be on their bad side, but I don’t think I want to work for them either! …I just want to go back to my tavern… I’m with the Half-Orc, I don’t want to be a fugitive! My tavern…ooh, what will become of me? He breaks down again. What are you going to do, Mister? He asks Arvind through his sobs.
Tybor swings his legs out of his sconce and removes his hat. Aaaaahhh, B0ll0CKS! he sighs. I ain’t a fighter, but I never was on good terms with the law either…but then again I never got caught…Maybe this “Brotherhood” isn’t so bad after all…I heard them stories too, I think most of ‘em are Aurochsshit, but hey… Aw, screw it! Let’s get outa’ here! I hate politics anyways! he announces with sudden resolve. He walks over to the bench and picks up the parchment, looking at it and turning it over before signing it with a rough hand. He returns to his bench and wriggles back into the corner of it, where he replaces his hat and covers his eyes. Either sign it or don’t, but shut yer gabs! I plan on getting’ some shuteye ‘cause I think I’m gonna’ need it fer tomorrow! With that he is silent, and in a few moments he is snoring lightly.
"I will not sign an 'evil' contract, but will give my word to serve within the tenants of my faith."
"I will not sign an 'evil' contract, but will give my word to serve within the tenants of my faith."
Schmitty rolls his eyes and thinks to himself
I hate palladins. I'm sure the man in black will have something interesting to say about that. Screw it, I'm going to bed.
I agree with Tybor. Do whatever you want, but I'm going to try and get some sleep so keep it down.
With that Schmitty walks over to a "compfy" corner and curls up to try and sleep.
Kale raises a brow at Arvind, but doesn't say anything in response. Instead, he finds a particularly empty area of the cell and lays down to try to sleep.
After not being able to get to sleep with the others talking, Voem blinks his eyes open and decides that he will sign the contract now instead of waiting until morning.
The guards could come before the cloaked figure comes back..
Standing up, Voem takes the quill in his hand, hesitates for a moment, then quickly scribbles down his own name under the other mens'. Dropping the quill down on top of the parchment, Voem then returns to his warm spot on the ground, closes his eyes, and attempts once again to sleep.
Travis Bonthar does not sign the contract, and goes to lie on the stone floor, whimpering softly until he falls asleep.
Several hours pass too quickly and before you are ready to get up, the sun is barraging your tired eyes. The sun rises slowly, an intense red that seeps into the dark blue of the fading night, penetrating the darkness with its spears of daylight. A few stray rays of sun filter through the bars of your cell window, and creep slowly across the floor. As they fall on the contract with your names signed on it, the parchment begins to smolder, then suddenly bursts into blue flame, disappearing in a small puff of dark smoke along with the quill.
You hear Tybor hiss from under his hat and sit up disorientedly. What was that? he yawns, rubbing his right arm and frowning as he takes off his hat.
You hear the guards coming down the hall, and they behave much as they did on the previous day. The guard with the club, who appears to be in charge, smacks your cell door again with his club. GEDDUP, PRISONERS! You know the drill, back against the wall! Back! he yells, hoping he’s woken you up unpleasantly. He unlocks the door again, and in comes Harold, who manacles you again. He leaves and in comes the grubby cook with his oven mitts and cauldron. OOOOHhh, ducklings! I have something for you! PORRIDGE! Heheheheh! Eat up, now! The slave boy hands Tybor the water jug again, and he drinks sleepily from it before passing it on to Arvind. You are each given a bowl of porridge that may or may not be from the day before.
Connor takes the breakfast and gulps it down as quickly as he can, trying not to let it linger on his tongue for too long. When the water jug comes to him, he drinks from it and passes it along.
I eat the porridge and drink from the jug, wanting as much strength as I can get for the trials ahead.
The tattoo's paint is what wakes Roger up, and not pleasantly. He stirs grumbling and stares at the tattoo. "Great." he mutters. Sitting up as the guards bring food, he eats the gruul as quickly as he can stomach, marvelling at how something can be so tasteless. He then takes a swig of water, and waits to see what new horrors and problems this day will bring. Glancing over at Voem, he tries to get his attention.
"You know, you are a really quiet person...did Daemon ever take a look at your knee?"
"I speak when I have to. I'm not entirely the diplomatic type, I guess you could say, but needs must, Rog'." Voem looks around, finishing his porridge as quickly as possible and drinking deeply from the water container but still leaving plenty for the others. "Looks like you aren't, either, judging by that little outburst you had with the blue man. Are you alright?" Looking down at his knee now, Voem continues. " I probably should ask Daemon to take a look at it at some point."
After breakfast you are rounded up and brought to the carriage again. You are loaded in and the carriage rolls and rattles slowly through the streets, garnering its usual crowd of onlookers and jeering insults. Once again, you are brought to the courtroom, and seated before the platform of the lord and the nobles. Xenor is there and is once again whispering to the lord. The herald steps up and clears his throat before announcing in a loud, clear voice, Ladies and Lords of Landrinor of the court: the high lord of Kreonata, Lord Aethys of the house Trygalemon! The crowd erupts in cheering as it did the day before as the lord stands up. He nods humbly at them and waves his hand for them to be silent.
Yestermorn these men were tried and convicted of treason against the High Lord Aethys and sentenced to either serve the people of Landrinor by aiding the guards in security matters, or to be hanged this day in the public square of the southern market. The crowd boos you, cheering at the part about hanging.
Lords, Ladies, and people of Landrinor, I present to you once again Master Xenor Nirem, Advisor to the high lord! The courtroom grows silent in anticipation.
Xenor steps down from the platform and greets you formally. Good morrow, sirs, I trust your quarters were not too dreadful? Have you come to a decision? In a louder voice, he addresses the court. New tidings have been brought to us this morn, and I am afraid they are worrisome. They very well may affect the choice these men have to make. A unit of guards has gone missing in the sewers… They simply did not show up to be relieved of duty this past evening, and their whereabouts are currently unknown. He turns back to you. If you choose to serve and to aid the land of Kreonata, your mission would be to find and rescue these ten men and escort them back here safely. The successful completion of this mission would earn you your pardon, but you would remain on probation. How will you answer for the crimes of which you have been convicted? What say you? Will you aid these men or will you die by the noose?
The crowd begins chanting softly, Noose! Noose! Noose! but Lord Aethys raises his hand frustratedly and they quiet out of respect. He leans in to hear your response.
With the breakfast filling his stomach and rumbling around uncomfortably, Arvind listens to judgement, knowing that he can speak for himself and no-one else. "Despite the injustice you have heaped upon myself and these men, I will do my best to enter the sewers and find these men and be pardoned. However you must give me and any who join me the tools with which to accomplish such a task, armor and weapons."
I look down at the new tattoo on my forearm, and then up at Roger, Connor and Smitty, I shake my head to myself as I turn to Lord Aethys and say loud enough for the entire room to hear in the silence.
"I choose the noose."
Looking down at his own tattoo, Roger nods. "Noose as well. I would rather die innocent then be sent to my death by the likes of you and your corrupt law system. I will not be forced into doing things for you all."
When the gruel arrive schmitty remains uncharacteristically silent. However he plugs his nose and eats the gruel. While eating Schmitty Notices the tattoo for the first time. Talking to no one in particularFantastic. Just what I always wanted, Distinguishing marks. Not the best idea for someone in my profession.
Regarding the question "Will you aid these men or will you die by the noose?"
Schmitty looks up from where he was looking at his feet with his carmel blonde bangs hanging down covering his face. With a wicked woothy Grin he looks Xenor directly in the eyes. Why the noose, of course, you bloated pompus jackass. During and for an unconfortable moment after Schmitty maintains his disturbing grin and eye contact with Xenor.
Connor laughs darkly watching Schmitty stand off with Xenor. When Schmitty is done, Connor nudges him with his elbow and whispers to him, but with little concern for secrecy "Well put, Schmitty."
Then Connor stands and spits at the feet of Xenor, stares him in the eyes, and after a long pause, says, "The noose, you swine."
Connor sits again, stonefaced and angry.
But I'd rather never have fallen into this mess in the first place. I came to this land to escape corruption and greed, but I've ended up in the heart of it.
Kale swallows, and watches the others make their choice one by one. Finally, he pipes up. "I...the noose," he replies, just loud enough to be heard. He then rubs his arm with the tattoo uncomfortably.
Xenor receives your insults quietly, not reacting or showing any emotion. His face is as still as the stone floor upon which he stands. As he is about to speak, a woman wails in the crowd, and you are able to hear her angry, distraught words. My ‘usband’s down there! Why-why-why don’t you save ‘im!? I can’t lose my-my Clem, aaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!! She wails through her sobs. Cowards, bastards! Waahahaahaaaaaaauuuhhhhuu!!!! A guard escorts her outside, and you hear her screams as she is brought forcibly away down the hall. Lord Aethys watches her go sadly, shaking his head. Xenor turns back to you, carefully stepping around the spittle as he resumes his habitual pacing. I am truly sorry you feel that way… What has become of the polite manners and fine words you showed us yesterday? I would not say that you are being forced to do things for the government, or us, and certainly not sent to your deaths… This is to help the land of Kreonata, the city of Landrinor, and its people. For example, this woman, whose husband is obviously part of this unit, is quite distraught…Would you leave her to her doubt and suffering? Are you all so cowardly? Lord Aethys is a generous and just lord, and he has rightly offered you a chance to redeem yourselves… but so far, only Master Grunwald here has said he would attempt…the rest of you have chosen to hang… This poses a dilemma on several levels… You were to be tried as a group, and this offer to aid the guard is not nearly as helpful if there is only one member in a unit, however strong or righteous he may be… Of course you would be armed and armored, else you would serve little use to the guards in aiding them, and it is best to have defenses in such a place… Do you think us so petty as to simply throw you in the sewers as you are and let you wander there until you die? This is a more civilized nation…You would travel with a number of guards, both to guide you, to teach you of any necessary dangers, and to…keep an eye on you. But one man is hardly a replacement for a unit, much less a rescue squad… So what are we to do? he asks generally, directing the question at you, the crowd, and the High Lord himself.
Lord Aethys rubs his temples with a hand, and straightens. Sirs, I do not wish you to think me cruel, nor unjust, but I take threats against my life very seriously and as such I would that transgressors against my family and myself be punished. He pauses. I am not a bloodthirsty man, and I do not wish harm on anybody, including my enemies, but justice must be had, and as it I stated in our law, the penalty for treason is death. I have seen evidences that have only given me reason to believe that you are all guilty of the crimes you are accused of. Had it been otherwise…perhaps none of us would need to make such a decision. This vexes me, as does your apparent rebelliousness to the throne, but I cannot simply let you go, and I cannot ask one man to replace ten. It pains me to see such sorrow in my subjects and I wish it were not so… he says, wringing his hands on his scepter. You are accused as a group and therefore you must be tried as a group, and what choice you make must hold true for all members. I beg of you, redeem yourselves in my eyes and the eyes of the kingdom! Save these men and be pardoned! He sighs loudly and waits for your reply. The princess glares at the ceiling, muttering to herself. You can read her lips saying “Fool.”
After carefully listening to both Xenor and Aethys speak, Voem has had enough of being called a coward. "You try us as a group! You listen to each of our testimonies that we did, to our knowledge, nothing wrong. Yet you still listen to a-a.. some kind of court jester who sits behind a black curtain telling you what he thinks we've done? One man! His word against all of ours!" Voem pauses for a moment, looking at his fellow captives and then looking back at Aethys.
" You call us cowards, but you are the one who is sending a group of innocent men, men who have never set foot in this city before, to their deaths! Be it by the noose or whatever you sent your guards to be butchered by. All because you have reasonable cause" to believe we conspired against your life? You, sir, are the coward. Either let us go free or let us die by the rope, we will do no service for a Lord who only pretends to be a man!"
Arvind turns and whispers with feeling to Veom, "And who is to know whether the man behind the black curtain, was none other than the man who bought you the contract. For you are all willing conscripts, signed to that evil contract. Is that not an easy way to get willing servants, when you are the only one to seem to offer help and a way out from a position of uncertainty and danger."
"I had been willing to go into the sewers, I wished to help your country men out of the plight of the monsters below the city. But whilst I was discussing with my cell mates last night they seemed to feel that the way of the noose was the better choice, and myself being a logical man felt that to single handedly, or even with the help of Arvind" I turn and point to Arvind, "That my chances in the sewers where slim unless we all went as a group, just as your Lordship feels, and that the noose, perhaps, would be a far less painful way to die then being torn apart by monsters. Call me a coward if you must, but I feel that if I am to inevitably go to my death I should at least choose the more comfortable of the two."
After Arvind speaks, Roger leans over to him and whispers. "I would rather willingly choose a path then be forced into one. Besides, if he is the culprit we can find out once we get out of here."
Afterwards, Roger shrugs at the king and Xenor's speech. "Yes yes we are cowards. You got all the evidence you need blah blah blah. As we tried to tell you all yesterday we had not conspired, we had not done ANY of things you accused us of, but since there is no way to prove that, and you had your own informant who said otherwise, it was completely impossible for the situation to end in any other way but us going down into your sewers. So, since we have all chosen the noose I guess that means you will have to find another band of stooges to force into servitude. And yes, it is forcing, because when you make innocent men do something against their will because of a crime THEY DID NOT COMMIT, that is forcing." Roger stands and glares at the two men, the king and his crony.
"If you had needed help in the sewers so badly, why not put out a call to arms asking for adventurers! I personally might have answered such a call. Instead you resort to coercion, lying, and framing innocent men. Since you seem so sure of our guilt however, then why does it bother you for us to hang hm? If we were conspiring to kill you then shouldn't you remove the threat? Or did you offer us this 'redemption' knowing that you were in no danger? Because honestly, offering a bunch of heavily skilled people who YOU THOUGHT WOULD KILL YOU a way out to a pardon is insane. You ask where my manners went? Out the window when I was told 'Die by the noose or die in a stinking sewers.' Morons." Roger then sits back down and glares angrily at the two men on the dais. Then after a brief pause, he looks up at the ceiling and speaks one final time.
"In fact, dear King, not hanging us would make you look weak in the eyes of your subjects. They themselves are calling for our deaths, so you should give it them. They don't want us pardoned...and neither did your daughter."
"You act as though we have betrayed you and turned our backs on a kingdom and its guards that has done us some great service. Do you forget that you've wrongfully accused us of a crime we were allegedly planning to commit? Frankly, sir, with the dimwitted folk you surround yourself with..." Connor pauses to glare at Xenor and the guards, "if we wanted to kill you, you would be dead. So yes, I choose the noose. Because I'd rather die than have to win freedom that is rightfully mine."
After paying rapt attention to everything said, Schmitty stands and begins making a speech in a very formal tone. By the way he speaks one might thing he was once a part of a formal court somewhere.
I second everything said by most of my compatriats,*pause* except the part admitting to cowardace.
I don't appreciate being blackmailed. Had you simply asked I would have happily gone into the sewers to rescure your men. I will not agree to do so now because doing so would be to admit to a crime I did not, I repeat DID NOT, commit. You're evidence is paltry at best, unfortunately so is ours. You're the king. You'll do whatever in the hells you feel like. A good and lawful king would have requested conscripts instead of trying to blackmail them.
However, I'm a good halfling. I offer you this compromise which i'm sure my friends will agree to as well. Formally drop all charges and formally apologize for the way we've been treated. Then ask us individually and politely to go into the sewers to rescue your men. Then and only then I will happily volunteer to serve a king who has proven himself good and wise, as opposed to what I see before me now. That is the only way you'll have my skills at your disposal. *moment of pause* Oh, and return my heirloom dagger.
Until then you may try and do your worst. Either you'll hang me or I'll find a way to escape. The choice, as always, is yours, my Liege
Schmitty gives a overly formal as to be somewhat mocking bow at the end of his speech.
Diplomacy if you need it
The hlaf-orc looks over to Smitty, "It seems a just and fiar offer you make Smitty, one that I will honor should the law, as embodied in this Lord, see fit to accept."
The hlaf-orc looks over to Smitty, "It seems a just and fiar offer you make Smitty, one that I will honor should the law, as embodied in this Lord, see fit to accept."
Looking back and smiling sincerely at Avrid loud enough for all in attendance to hear,
I'm a very reaonsable and easy to deal with, Halfling. You just have to ask.
With a toothy grin Schmitty makes eye contact with the key players in the room. Xenor, the King, The princess, and anyone else that he thinks may have imput in the kings decision.
"If...I agree with Schmitty here. If you agree to the compromise, then I would happily go on this mission. If not though...then I still must choose the noose. I refuse to be forced into something on such false pretenses."
Kale looks over at Schmitty and gives him a hopefully encouraging nod, mixed with a slight look of relief.
Roger nodes at the halfings statement. "If the royal personage is a big enough person to admit that he was wrong and ask polietly I might be inclined to assit." Smirking, Roger then adds "But I doubt that he would ever admit to being wrong or being given false information."
After everyone has spoken Schmitty adds
Your honor, You've heard these statements. I'm sure you can tell that the false accusation is the sticking point for these honorable men, etc. Less than honest persons would simply agree to whatever in order to be released. The company here would rather hang than admit to false charges. A truly wise king would see the benefit of loyal and long term noble heroes at his disposal than blackmailed and coerced conscripts. Truly, Humility can accomplish amazing things.
Well my good halfling, there are many things that you seem not to understand. We are not forcing you to help these men, nor trying to blackmail you, and we did not recruit you to save the men of this unit, this was pure happenstance that, to your good fortune, coincided with your prosecution. The high lord Aethys has granted you this option out of goodness, but many would have hanged you outright! Do not think to threaten him nor anyone in this— Xenor starts, somewhat excitedly, but Lord Aethys cuts him off.
Lord Aethys stands and walks forward, and Xenor bows his head respectfully and steps aside. What shall I do with you? asks Lord Aethys slowly. I have utmost faith in the informants of the court, they are highly trained professionals...Yae, and though you have no proof of your innocence, I see that it is true that it is the word of one man against that of another. I like to know what my enemies think, and why they might transgress upon my person and my realm. Many would not have given you a trial, but I believe in fairness, and in justice. Thus, I try to give every man a chance to speak his mind in defense of himself. What is it about you? Your toothy grin is quite charming, but I cannot make my decision based solely on such graces. He smiles slightly. The princess stands up furiously, glaring at her father, but he shakes his head dismissively, and she sits back down, pouting.
I cannot remove these charges, but I cannot simply let you free. It is a difficult situation I am in…. I would not have my subjects think me unreasonable, for authority rests on the pillars of reason, and one cannot expect a man to perform tasks he is not able to perform. I ask that you aid in the rescue of these men…and for my part I promise that while you are away, I will do all that is in my power to get to the bottom of whatever has transpired here, for it seems to me that that is a just course of action and one worthy of the complex term compromise. he says gravely. I will grant you your freedom, but I expect never to see you here again on such terms. Are you able to assure me of this? Lord Aethys asks. What say you?
The princess snorts and stands up, storming out of the room and leaving through a door in the side of the courtroom. The man in the blue and silver doublet follows her shortly.
Roger stands up and bows. "Well, at least you are proving Lord Aethys to be a man of reason. Honestly, I wish I could assure you that I would never be back in front of you under these charges, but given that I have no idea how I ended up here in the first place I can't guarantee that I won't. However, I would do my utmost to keep myself away from such issues. That's the best I can offer myself." Roger sits back down and waits.
I see this land does in fact have a good and just king. Grinning from ear to ear I sincerely promise that I will do everything within my power not to black out, wake up in a jail cell, then get paraded in front of you or any other authority with grossly malicious and false charges presented against me. This I do solemly vow.
Schmitty bows gracefully and then holds his chained arms forward toward whomever he thinks might have a key. He's not sure who has a key so he switching between "targets" until someone makes any move toward him, presumably to facilitate his release.
If someone does move forward to release him He'll smile impishly and make every attempt to remove his chains as easy a process as possible.
"I would be more than happy to assure you that I would never be back before you or in your lands your lordship, however current circumstances being as they are, with me not knowing how I ended up here in the first place I do not see how I can guarantee this short of finding some magical way of protecting myself. The best I can say to you is I would do everything in my power to remain out of you and your's way."
Kale winces and brings his hand up to his arm, but does his best to pay attention to what is being said. He gives a worried look to Schmitty, and then to Daemon before he finally speaks.
"I'm not sure how I was brought to be here in the first place either, but I do promise to do my best to never have it happen again, and though I believe myself to be innocent of the crime I'm accused of, I vow that I would never conspire to kill you."
Arvind slowly gets up to address the Lord, his head bowed "My Lord, you seem a fair and just man, as such I will honor you by accepting your terms, however as each one of us has said, we do not know how we ended up in the cell in the first place, we believe some magic was used to frame us and send us before you. Upon the Dawnflower's sword I will swear to uphold her will and the law, so that I would not be brought before you again."
With growing confidence, he looks upp, relief and a smile on his face, a radiant glow of warmth from his very being. "My Lord it would be an honor to do as much as we can to find the missing soldiers, either so their souls can rest peacefully with Pharesma, or hopefully to be reunited with their loved ones."
Feeling the sudden burn on his forearm, Voem looks around the court to see if perhaps the blue cloaked man himself is watching them. Placing his hand on his forearm, Voem addresses Lord Aethys. "My lord," Voem begins, echoing Rogor, "I can never give you my word that I will not appear before you again when I do not even know the reason I am here to begin with. I will, however, try to avoid being in this position again." Voem lifts up his arm somewhat, letting his manacles make an audible clinking noise. "I will also agree to help find your missing men, but I will do so after I have taken some personal matters that are quite pressing." With that, Voem is silent, rubbing the tattoo on his arm with his thumb while waiting for the Lord's response.
"Though I think your kingdom an unjust place, I too will attempt to find these lost soldiers, as their families to not deserve to suffer because of our quarrel. But I, like Voem, must take care of things for myself before I descend into the sewers in your assistance. I promise with the utmost sincerity that I do intend to return to assist you in searching for your men. You may keep my hunting dagger until my return, but I cannot accept your offer without the allowance to tend to personal matters first."