Once More Into the Temple

[greyarea]

The freed humans are initially shocked into paralysis, but then one woman runs to the rack and hugs the limp man there. The man stirs and she tries to release him from it, her quaking hands unable to undo the straps. The other says, Thank you for rescuing us. We were stolen from our homes in a raid and have been here for a few days. This abuse has been worse than death itself, although I yet mourn for my husband who is entombed there, she says, pointing to the iron maiden in the corner. Tears well up but she holds herself together. We just want to be home and done with this nightmare.

The orcs step back when Thurwin unlocks the door, then head directly to the Turnkey and bugbear. The one called Borgakh, grabs the bugbear's flail and begins tenderizing the two corpses with a fury. The other orc takes the battleaxe and grabs his friend by the shoulder. They nod to each other and Borgakh says, Thank you again for our freedom. We will kill all we meet on our way out of here. We owe you a blood debt, and orcs always pay their debts. Mor Khazgur will accept you if you have need of shelter.

Anything further before we begin?

In beating the bugbear, a purse has burst revealing 4 sp, 5 ep, 5 pp, and a rock crystal (worth 50 gp) which clink and clatter on the floor.

Actions?

Hit points and marching order
Effric 3/10 <3,0>
Morgan 18/18
--Calthas 13/13
Tavin 9/9 < >
Calmert 14/14 <2/3/friends>
Caydon 11/11
--Thurwin 13/13 <, >
Bror 5/12

[kwll]

Calthas shrugs at the sight of the freed orcs leaving. "Maybe we should have asked them to face the hydra?" he says with a smirk. Turning to the women, he asks: "Would you have any knowledge of who else is imprisoned in the nearby cells? We have tried to communicate with them, but hey would not answer our calls."

[greyarea]

We've been in here the whole while, says the woman. We know not of other cells, save that which holds them (pointing to the orcs). We just desperately want to go home. She goes to the iron maiden and asks, Can someone help me free my husband? He need to be buried properly, not left in this place...

The unnamed orc swings his newly acquired battle axe with a suddenness that sets everyone back for a second. It slams into the rack, slicing through the leather strap that holds up the tortured man, who slumps into the other woman's arms, sliding down to the stone floor and almost fully supported by her weight. He thanks the orc with his eyes who doesn't seem to care if he's thanked or not, pulling the axe free from the device.

Borgakh says, What's this hydra you mention?

Actions?

Hit points and marching order
Effric 3/10 <3,0>
Morgan 18/18
--Calthas 13/13
Tavin 9/9 < >
Calmert 14/14 <2/3/friends>
Caydon 11/11
--Thurwin 13/13 <, >
Bror 5/12

[kwll]

Calthas faces Borgakh. "We saw an hydra at this level, in the south east area if I am not mistaken. We chose to avoid confrontation for now. Face it if you will, that would help us in our endeavor. If you don't, we will have to do it anyway." The elven warrior shows that he wanted to say more, but he resolves not to.

[badams30]

Thurwin - wizard

Thurwin nods thanks at the orc with the axe. He also says in orcish "We killed a troll and an owlbear near the hydra. There were many guards there earlier, but we may have killed most of them. To my knowledge we have routed most of the forces of the earth temple here." He suddenly remembers the elemental chamber and warns the orcs to avoid it at all costs, and he tells them of the elementals that will appear if they enter.

[connivingsumo]

CALMERT: Cleric
The Gnome listens to the woman and agrees to help retrieve her husband's body from the Iron Maiden so she can give him a proper burial. He opens the door of the maiden slowly and puts his weight against the door in case the body falls against it, he can allow the body down slowly, as opposed to it falling against the door - swinging it wide open - and then slamming against the floor.

[Tamerlaine]

Bror - Fighter

Glowing at the the orcs with undisguised distrust, the dwarf turns and helps Calmert with retrieving the woman's husband.

[merias]

"I could use a rest," Effric says weakly, "so I can regain my healing magics."

ooc: Effric and Bror could use some healing if anyone has some handy.

[tumblingdice]

Morgan heads over to aid Calmert with the iron maiden. He'll prepare a few prayers, a grim look on his face.

[kwll]

To his companions, Calthas suggests: "We should go back upstairs, if only to accompany these women outside this temple. That would allow some rest before moving further."