[Game Thread] The Price of Freedom

[Oruvias]

"Of course" the paladin says to Patience when she offers that he treat the fallen "All people deserve mercy" he looks around a little with his rope in hand gesturing that someone finish binding the man he subdued, though the half orcs growing assessment seems grim Roland checks the bodies himself trying to determine if there they were truly beyond hope, wondering if perhaps Patience was only thinking about physical medicines and forgetting for a moment the power of the divine

He looks up a little confused for a moment when they mention a third member of their group he glances around for half a second but does not let that curiosity deter him from his task, he seems sad how few of them are beyond help, he looks up when the half-drow starts to make commands regarding the survivors for a moment Roland thinks why should I obey the commands of someone I just met... before he examines the task he suggested and understands the simple logic of it, he doesn't split up and carry one body at a time instead he helps Patience lift hers each time using a combined effort

When they have gathered those who are still alive after the scuffle Roland looks over them, wondering for a moment what to do next when Xul seems about to awaken one for questioning Roland hesitantly asks that he could take one of those he had not encountered in the battle aside, and attempt to redeem him pointing out that if the man turned away from his ways and no longer owed loyalty to the cult he would have little problem with divulging information potentially useful to them

[Barlycorn]

Ari’gaz stands back a bit and watches the newcomer for a couple of minutes. He seems to be taking the minor massacre that just occurred calmly enough. He also doesn’t flinch at the sight of a half-drow, Xul. Sighing, Ari steps forward…

…and Xul starts giving orders. Sure, he said please but who in the underworld gives a …

The tiefling takes a deep breath as her tail whips around from side to side, threatening to slice a rat in half if one was to get too close. Clenching her fists she deliberately makes her way over to another body and begins to search. It’s not like she wants to lead this group. That’s a headache she can do without. On the other hand, these two were going to get her killed. They fought well enough, sure, but they walked into that trap blindly. They were willing to assume that man was their friend without knowing anything about him. Strangers are never your friends and should be treated as dangerous. Always.

As she searches the bodies, she appraises the weapons and armor. She likes her weapons but you never know. The rest of the loot is piled up on a cloth.

“This is what I found,” she says to Xul in a lilting, almost subservient voice, “this and the armor and weapons that each were carrying.”

 

appraise weapons and armor

Dice Roll:

1d20+5

(10)+5

Total = 15

[dragonfire]

WIth the bugbear coming around from the color sprey spell and the orc finally wakes up from the sleep spell. The orc looks to you, We dont know, that man there and the little man with ugly face approached us at a inn outside of town, promised us each 100 gold for job. We came here he hired the other humans to help. He said we needed to kill some people, gold was good so we agreed.

[Barlycorn]

Ari stands in front of the bugbear and the orc. “The short ugly one, he was definitely human? And what was the name of the bar? Any names used?”

[JonnyGulliver]

Realising the simplicity of their motivation, Patience decides to add a little leverage to the conversation.

"If gold is all your after, I can offer you 10 pieces AND your life as a consolation prize, for some names." She kneels over and grins, parting her plump lips to reveal jagged little teeth, like a cheshire. "Be warned. I can tell when a person is lying." Placing one of the blades dripping with blood against the orc's throat, "And I DON'T LIKE liars..."


OOC - I need to invest moreranks into socials

[dragonfire]

Ari the orc looks up at you, Yes human, face burned and scared, make him real ugly. Inn is called Sleeping Widow. Looking over to Patience, No names were given, we just called him boss. He and the little man didnt speak much. After the job we were to part ways

[morALEXception]

An idea occurs to Xul... How were you going to get paid?

[dragonfire]

After job, we to go back to inn, another man there to give us gold. We dont know who, the man said he would know us when we got back.

[JonnyGulliver]

Dissatisfied, Patience withdraws her weapon, and looks down at the orc contemptuously. "No names. No Pay."

She turns to the others. "So shall we cut em loose or hand them into the authorities?"

[morALEXception]

Xul shrugs slightly, Well, I say we hand them to the authorities... It wouldn't hurt to try and get on their good side before we start up trouble... Looking at the others, he asks, what about you two, err umm, three? Looking at Roland, Xul adds, I think later, we're going to want to hear your story...

[Barlycorn]

“I don’t like it,” she says, turning to Xul, “I think we should keep a low profile with the authoritiesss. I’d trust the thievesss and gangs before I’d trust the watch. With criminals at leasst you know what you are getting. It isss sometimes difficult to discern the honest ones with the…not so honest ones. Maybe the newcomer would like to bring them in for usss?” For the first time she looks directly at Roland, almost daring him to flinch or…

[JonnyGulliver]

Sensitive to vibes, Patience is not sure what's up with Ari. Since encountering the newcomer, she's shot him nothing but dagger eyes with no sign of gratitude. Her eyebrow furrows as she looks between her and the Paladin, and suddenly she gets it. "Ahahaha..." she guffaws out loud. "...Its 'cos she's a bleedin' half-devil!..."

Then she realises she just said that out loud and stops laughing. But not being one for embarrasment, she just shrugs and smiles. "Let it go, Lady. This here is a gentleman. Aren't you, Handsome?" She winks at Roland, as she picks up the orc, and slings him over her left shoulder. She shoots Ari a look. "So. Down kitty." She grabs the bugbear and slings him over her left.

"I'm thinking a Bonebender and a Paladin turning them in would be fine enough to lend to our credibility. We'll gauge their reactions and see if there is some underlying corruptions in office, and you two can do your..." She glances at Roland, not sure how to phrase their shady skillsets, "Stuff. To find out more. We'll meet at the Lobster tonight?"

Then she realises that this poor gentleman probably has no idea about he may have gotten himself into. "That is assuming, you have the free time, sugar? We could use the help in our investigations."

[Oruvias]

When the tiefling approaches the half-drow Roland actually notices her for the first time and leans back a bit, more confused by the situation than afraid or piously violent "Uh... okay, a half For some reason Roland says Jimmen instead of Demonjimmen lady showed up... I don't sense any evil within her but... well, I don't know, the detection isn't foolproof and she's certainly the kind of creature that would... I don't know show up in a paladins handbook of some kind... Hey that might be useful, (counters himself in his own thoughts) Idiot, It's called a Martyrs um... er, holybook... oh crumbuckets I can't even remember what my deity's holy book is called"

Roland was along this line of thought as he stood a fair distance from their questioning, he didn't know the full extent of the situation and it really wasn't his business to begin with, he does a few Rubs his fingers across a shield dent hoping he can fix it with his touch somehow,
adjusts his helmet, finishes binding/healing the man he knocked unconscious
, looks around at the other party members trying to match faces to names etcnot really noteworthy things while he waits, in truth he's not really sure he should even still be standing there at all, he is just about to start walking away when they appear to conclude their inquiries and unexpectedly hint for his opinion on the situation

It's then that the young paladin really starts to notice it all, the large woman had tusks, and the dark skinned man was not entirely human not a dark brown tone to his skin but a degree of actual black, and white hair barely showing amidst his clothing, and begins to understand the possibilities of what the situation might be "So they're all... um... what's the politically correct way to say it? Dual heritaged? Multiblooded? Melded ones? ... I think I'll just go with dual heritaged and apologize if it offends anyone, anyway I'm sure that particular feature factors into this all somehow...", he is brought back to reality as the half-dark elf speaks more directly to him about an explanation regarding him later on a little foggy headed at that moment he nods immediately "Of course..." but then he pauses That is if I'm still around later...

When Ari states her own opinion on the matter Roland tries to hide a slight look of confusion huh... as far as I know tieflings have absolutely nothing to do with snakes... why are the s's going on so long but he quickly tunes that out listening for the real content of her words, he weighs the proposal in his mind but more immediately says "Makes sense to me" you know... other than the fact it could potentially link me to criminal activities and make me an enemy a powerful and widespread cult... when she gives him the intense look he stands his ground but looks uncomfortable

He feels a little awkward at the half-orcs sudden announcement of the situation with the tiefling, moments later calling him handsome, Roland backs away a step a little nervous with the sudden shift in attention Why does she keep calling me that? but Roland doesn't let himself keep thinking on some tangent speaking as the situation seems to merit it but talking quietly so that any more important point can immediately supersede his stalling muttering "I don't think I ever actually found out the definition of gentleman, so I wouldn't know, no one really talked like that where I came from" the half orc then confuses him further Wait... kitty? There's a feline component now... what kind of a creature is she?

He blinks a bit there's a little bit too much to take in all at once and he looks back to Patience listening to her full suggested course of action "There's parts of this I'd comply with and a lot of it makes sense, but I can't really agree to anything when I have no idea what I'm getting into, who are you lot, and why did these men attack you?" he asks to begin with even if he has already begun to suspect some of the answers he takes a breath "And what is it exactly that you're trying to find?"

There's a pause and just as you're about to answer he adds another question "Wait a minute, meet at the lobster? Wouldn't it move around before you find it again?" he asks apparently not grasping the idea that "the lobster" is a building of some kind

[JonnyGulliver]

The halforc's face drops and her smile dissapates as she stares at Roland dumbfoundedly. Any normal half-wit would have at least pieced it together by now with all the hints they've been dropping. She sighs and shakes her head, jostling the squirming bodies on each shoulder, as if to say The poor dear... She gives a glance to both Ari and Xul before she begins the intro.

"Look. Honey. Clearly you're probably confused about everything that was going on. You may have just been walking by thinking of rightous prayers and yummy donuts until you stumbled in on all this, so here's the skinny: We're agents from an iscolated town that I won't disclose for confidential reasons, sent to investigate a series of murders that have been commited against peoples of mixed heritage unjustly. There has also been a murder against a man whose only crime was to love someone across species."

"We've just landed in this town and we're hoping to get a lead, when we were lead into ambush by these cult members. My personal wish was to speak to the leaders and sort these silly things out, but when they attack on sight, then we have no choice to defend ourselves. And I assure you, they struck first." She lifts her arm higher, revealing a pouring wound in her ribcage. "Perhaps we'll never get a chance to speak to these cultists civilly, but that's no reason to back down against what is clearly wrong."

"It will be increasingly difficult for us as we get closer to the source. As mixed heritage species, we walk with target on the back of our heads. We could use a pure breed sympathyser, but to be so, one would have to be incredibly brave, stupid or a complete martyr."

And then to seal the guilt trip: "So, kind Sir. Will you find it in your heart to help us in our plight, knowing you risk danger and rejection? Remember, what's at stake is no less then the freedom of Love, and basic rights for a miltitude of many species to live free."

[dragonfire]

Roland after having secured and healed the warrior that you fought and having turned and to the odd looking group you have just met. During your short conversation with them you notice that the warrior finally comes around as he starts moan and groan. The bugbear looks over at the warrior and starts to laugh at him, Silly human, skull to weak. You have a good sleep.