Once More Into the Temple

[Tamerlaine]

Bror stands over the body of the Turnkey, his axe dripping with his tormentor's blood. His rage has boiled away. Vengeance was his and yet the Turnkey's death has left the dwarf strangely dissatisfied. Then with a snort, Bror hawks up a glob of phlegm and spits down at the dead man's face. He's bleeding but the dwarf ignores the pain. He's suffered worse at the Turnkey's hand.

Kneeling down, he looks for the keys that will unlock the padlocks. "Check the women in the south alcove, find out if they are friend or foe before we free them." He makes no mention of the orcs. They can rot, Bror muses with typical dwarfish indifference.

OOC: Yeah, that was great!

[connivingsumo]

CALMERT: Cleric
The Gnome, caring but cautious, walks over to the women; as he approaches he's mumbling a quiet prayer to St. Cuthbert (Detect Evil on any individual the party might want to set free).

OOC: Spells Cast This Meditation: 1 first level (CLW), 1 first level (Detect Evil), and 1 second level (Bless).
Remaining: 2 first, 2 second.

[badams30]

Thurwin - Wizard

Thurwin makes sure Morgan is okay and he says with a smirk "Watch that first step, brother... " Then he chuckles and says "I'm glad you are okay. You gave me a scare."

Seeing that Bror and the female prisoners are attended to, Thurwin makes his way to the Orcs area. He says to them in orcish: "Hello. I don't intend to leave you in here to die, but I'd like to ask you a few things. Where are you from? In this temple or outside? How did you come to be here? What do you intend to do if I free you?"

OOC: While Thurwin doesn't love orcs, if they are victims here, he will likely vote to free them if they agree to leave the area and not harass anyone in Homlett or general area. I'm sure they probably have an axe to grind due to their captivity (no pun intended)

[merias]

Effric, Druid

Effric quickly kills the sleeping bugbear, then rests, tending as best he can to his wounds while the others search the room.

[greyarea]

The bugbear's life is ended. Effric wipes his blade on the corpse.

Bror searches his tormentor. He wears a bronze ring with a triangular setting of jet (worth 50 gp), has 23 gp in his purse, and a ring of keys.

Calmert mumbles his prayer and in his heart of hearts knows these captured folk are good. The orcs on the other hand...

Thurwin speaks to them in the guttural, hacking language of their kin (or so it sounds to those who know not the tongue) and the orcs respond in kind: We are of the Mor Khazgur hold and were captured while hunting for game. These fiends of Chaos tortured us for no reason: only for their sordid pleasure. Three of our kin died at their hands but for what? Their wicked glee? He spits.

You've killed the Turnkey so we owe you our gratitude. We orcs are people of our word. Free us and if you visit Mor Khazgur, you will be granted shelter and food and safe passage. So swears Borgakh the Steel Heart.

We would kill all in this vile place of Chaos if we could and we would join you if you would have us. But you've a dwarf, a gnome, and others who are not natural allies, so we ask only for our freedom. If there is some place here you would have us clear, give unto us sword and axe and we will rid it of life.

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

[Tamerlaine]

Bror uses the keys to unlock the door where the women are held, yet walks away to let someone else comfort the women. He couldn't stand simpering weak females of the human sort. Dwarven women were stoic stuff. Best let the humans take care of each other, he thought while glancing at Thurwin speaking in that black damnable tongue of the orcs.

"Don't lend 'em yer ear, mage," Bror growls. "Let 'em go and they'll double-cross us. Ye cannae trust 'em. They're pillagers, murderers and rapists, the whole lot o' them. Damn their black hearts. I say let them rot where they are."

[badams30]

Thurwin - Wizard

Thurwin nods as the Orcs speak. Once they are finished he says "My name is Thurwin, by the way. Let me get the keys and I'll be back."

He'll approach the others and says "They have pledged to leave this place, and even to clear out any baddies that we ask of them." Thurwin also relates the entire conversation including the part about passage and whatnot. Thurwin continues "They are evil, but are victims here, and have done nothing to us. I would like to set them free and have them go on their way. If these other folks weren't' ladies, I'd ask the orcs to escort them to civilization's edge. But I presume we'll be taking these ones back? Anyway, I wish to free these Orcs. I don't think they'll be a threat to us now or later." He nods at Bror and says "My friend, I understand your concern, and under normal circumstances I'd agree. These two would likely have put us to the blade under other conditions, but perhaps this oath may be of some use to us in the future. I know you don't agree with me, but please, let's let them go.

Thurwin asks "May I have the keys, please? I presume they are for the cells here." If no one objects or prevents, Thurwin will free the orcs and he'll tell them the location of the bugbear room and tells them that the bugbears had weapons, gear and food and that they can take that to ensure their safe passage. He'll also tell them "We ask you nothing more than to kill any of the other inhabitants of this place that you come across on your way out. Good luck to you, and if we meet again may it be in peace. Fair travels."

[tumblingdice]

Morgan listens to Thurwin and Bror debate the fate of the orcs. Normally he'd go in with a mighty Hand of Heironeous speech, but it looks like Thurwin's got things under control. "I agree, brother," he says. "I don't trust these beasts, but they too are prisoners, and they haven't attacked us. Not yet, at any rate. I, too, think we should let them go."

[Tamerlaine]

Bror snorts and simply shakes his head. "If I weren't so beholden to ye for freein' me I'd tell you off, I would." The dwarf then tosses the keys at Thurwin. "You let 'em loose," he grumbles while pointing a thick calloused finger at the wizard. "Whatever harm comes of it, it's on yer head!"

[merias]

"I sense no deception from these creatures, and maybe this 'alliance' can help us later," Effric says quietly.