"To get new friends is an easy trick in their line of work and with their reputation." Finna smiled and introduced herself for the third time today. "I am Finna." Explanations about the goal of the visit she left to Nemean.
“Sildar, it does not sit right with us to leave Wave Echo Cave in such a state, and we must do right by our dear friend Gundren and find out what became of his people. We wish to question the Black Spider once again of the whereabouts of Gundrens brothers and to force him to draw a map of Wave Echo Cave. May we borrow a pen and some parchment old friend, and then we wish to see the Drow.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
"My pleasure to meet you both. You won't find more true companions than these," Sildar says. He grabs parchment and a quill from a nearby desk. "Have at him. I'm going to run some quick errands while I can. Who knows how long I'll be stuck here watching him, with only Harbin for company?" He shudders and exits the hall, leaving you with your captive in the cellar.
Nezznar looks up with recognition when you descend, continuing to hum away.
Nemean glares and spits onto the floor upon seeing Nezznar, "I've heard enough of his babblin... his gag is staying right where it is." he says derisively, he places the pen and parchment at the edge of the bars of the cell. "Draw us up a map of Wave Echo Cave. Be as detailed as you can be... and be sure to mark off anything that would help us recover the dwarves... Gundren's kin... I asked about before, and this is your last chance to help us find them. Write it down on the map." he spat out a lurid curse in the Tabaxi tongue.
He starts pacing as he waits for the Dark Elf to reach for the paper and pen, "And bear this in mind Nezznar... we're going to this cave. We're going to find Gundren's kin, restore the mine, and unlock the secrets of the Forge of Spells, no matter what you write down here." He takes out his scimitar and holds it by his side, he continues to slowly pace the room. "If your cooperation is helpful, I will dutifully relay this to the Lord's Alliance, and ask that they weigh this cooperation when considering your sentencing. But..." He now holds the scimitar more threateningly, and brandishes a whip with his other hand. "But if you try to deceive us, or if you withhold any detail that we deem to be important... I will make the rest of your time in Phandalin a grueling hell!" He cracks the whip and hisses at the prisoner. "Choose wisely!"
Nezznar mutters something indecipherable through the gag. He moves his mouth, attempting to work it free to no avail, then looks up at Nemean, shrugs, and shakes his head no.
More out of curiosity than in hope to truly get anything (she did not completely understand the scope of the problem anyway) Finna tried to play a "good guard" here. Drow was obviously uncomfortable and hurting (deservedly so and conveniently). She started with Healing Word and continued with a soft talk in Elvish (if she knows drow does not talk Elvish - then Common, of course, or she will repeat it in Common):
"Why are you doing it to yourself? The whole city is upset that you was brought here alive. Your only protectors are right here. You saw how they fight, your should understand they will get to the mines and return. They will get rid of whatever - and whoever! - is there. If it is done with your help - you will benefit, if not - they have no reason to protect you further from the mob or from whoever you are truly afraid of. Help them - us! - and you help yourself".
Finna did not really think drow will be moved and change his mind, but there could be indications why he is so stubborn.
Attempt to use everything to Persuade and read the reaction on every level - with Perception, Insight and what's not.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
OOC: I'm assuming his hands will be unbound for this.
Finna Insight:19
Dipping the quill in the ink, Nezznar writes a statement on the parchment, written in a script that only Finna and Roland can understand.
For Finna and Roland:
Nezznar has written back in Elvish:
"Please do not lie to me. If you want knowledge of the mine, then I go with you, I get the Forge of Spells, and I leave unharmed. That is the deal, no more, no less."
For Finna:
Though in experience, you are very adept at reading body language and intent, Nezzar is almost impossible for you to read. Not only is he a dark elf, with which you have little experience, he is hiding his emotion extremely well.
OOC: Natural 1 is a disaster and a shame no matter of circumstances :)
Finna accepted the writing:"I was not lying to you - I do believe people here are your best and most likely the only chance to save your life." She might fail in reading him, but if he wanted to read anything in her besides the words, he would also get just that - an honest concern about his life and nothing else.
Before showing the writing to Sildar (I assume he does speak Elvish as well?) Finna summed up the main idea of the note for others: "His wish is to go with us to the mine. And get the Forge of Spells."
Roland doesn't draw one his short swords just yet, but he keeps his hand on the hilt in case the drow tries anything unwise. He stands toward the back of the group and shoots Thulgrim a knowing look.
Nemean looks grimly amused at the writings and Finna's translation "You forget where you are Nezznar..." Nemean enters the cell "You are in no position to bargain with us. If you do not do what I ask, then I will exact my vengeance upon you for what you did to them!"
He viciously cracks his whip at the Drow: Whip Attack: 24 Damage: 9
OOC: Sildar is not with you at the moment, he left the Townmaster's Hall here.
The whip slams into Nezznar's chest, throwing blood onto the floor and walls, and eliciting a grunt of pain. The drow's hands clutch at the wound, but his shoulders tremble in laughter.
He writes on the parchment again, this time in Common, and turns it to face the party.
"Kill me if you wish. I am not foolish enough to give you help with nothing in return but a slow death."
Thulgrim watches the interrogation impassively. Hearing Finna read Nezznar's demand, and seeing his defiance to Nemean, Thugrim spits on the jail floor.
Eh! Yer wastin' yer breath. Leave 'im 'ere t' rot. Th'only way I'm lettin' that drow go back t' that mine 'is if'n I drag 'is corpse there. Honorless cur'd stab all o' us in th' back.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Finna looked at Nemean with surprise - the cat had a temper, and either his mood was more unpredictable than winds of Mirtul or there is something VERY personal here and she had not have to interfere. Still, if they were going to ... well, go somewhere in the near future she had to try at least to clear one thing out.
"Mmmm... Boss? A word?" She tried to look very serious and as inoffensive as possible, "Please?"
If Nemean followed:
When they stepped far enough for the prisoner not to hear the conversation, Finna carefully began: "Far be it from me to spoil your fun of senseless beating to the death an unarmed bound gagged man, but what would be the point? First, you just proved to him that he is among the bandits of his type now and cooperation will give him nothing. Second - he is a drow. Meaning, as fierce as you look, it is nothing compare to what he is used to - mind flayers, beholders, driders and what's not. Not to mention the way they are raised - like beatings for breakfast every day just to remind who is in charge here. He probably had several whips broken over his back before he came of age. I doubt there is anything we can frighten him with.
I am no Reidoth, he would explain it much better, but my experience says if anything can make him talk it's the opposite treatment. If you do want him to talk, of course. So far it looks more like you want to simply kill him. Then why did you bring him here? It is obvious you would not take him with you anywhere and I doubt he will cooperate now. May we should just leave him here and prepare for the journey to the cave? After all, even if he does talk - how can you trust his words?"
Finna stopped and looked at Nemean hopefully - man, she regretted dearly she did not pay enough attention to rhetoric teacher! But who knew his teaching can be useful!
If Nemean is too preoccupied with the beating, she sighed and stepped back into the corner.
Nemean is breathing heavily now and starts to lash out at the Drow again before Finna approaches him. He nods and follows her at her request, and listens to her.
“You speak sense Finna, we’ve wasted enough time on Nezznar. You are right that I do wish him dead. I hold him responsible for the deaths of several of my companion, and countless innocents. In my homeland the punishment for crimes as egregious as his would be swift death. But I trust in the wisdom of my friends that more good can come from keeping him alive...” he pauses for a moment, and reflects upon their situation. “Just as I will trust in you now that no good will come from further punishing him.”
His body languages starts to soften and his tail droops to his side “Thank you Finna, we are fortunate to have such wisdom with us on our journey. We should leave this place and make for the mines in the morning.”
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"You flatter me, but glad to be of use," answered Finna and returned to the prisoner. First she repeated the healing Cure Wounds13 - drow or not wounds have to be treated. She looked at him with a genuine pity and said her farewell in Elvish: "You are on your own now. Even I would not risk to go with you anywhere. Not after what happen now. And they would never forget you your crimes, it seemed. You can only hope the lords of Neverwinter will be more merciful".
All that could be done was done and Finna is ready to move with others.
Tochi is listening intently to the whole exchange, then, slowly, begins:
"Once, when I was still a mere hatchling, the temple had an infestation. We were overrun with a whole lot of locusts. They were everywhere, ate out food, destroyed our crops, they made that season quite horrible to bear. But, the infestation, eventually, did come to an end. A couple of months and a huge amount of effort from everyone later, there was not a single locust within our lands. Or so the monks thought.
You see, I had caught one. Out of curiosity, nothing much else. It was green, with beady eyes and long appendages. It did not seem as scary or horrible as others were saying. So I kept it. I had it in a box for weeks after its kin were wiped out or driven away.
One day, a monk, Gy Atso, came into my room and saw the locust. He did not get angry, or, at least, did not show it. He sat down with me and asked, what I planned to do with the locust. I, of course, had not thought anything through. So I did not have any answer.
Gy Atso told me that I could not keep the locust indefinitely. I was not equipped to have it trapped forever, without a substantial risk of it escaping. I thought that I would set it free, then, but the monk ruled that out as well. You see, locusts carry hundreds of eggs within them, and even one such creature could, conceivably, give birth to a new swarm. So, I could not keep it, and I could not set it free. So, even if I was saddened by it, I knew that I had to kill the locust. I did not want to do it, as I had become accustomed to the creature, but Gy Atso said, that it was my responsibility. I had caught the locust, it being imprisoned was my doing, so its fate should be decided by myself as well.
So I crushed it. And wept while doing it.
You might think this was a pointless story, but it parallels our current predicament. We cannot let Nezznar go, nor can we keep him here. His imprisonment is our doing, and there is no point in transferring him somewhere else, where they will execute him anyway. So, I believe we should decide his fate. Though, one can say, that he decided his own fate, when he undertook such dastardly actions. Hence, by executing him, we would be not murderers, but mere instruments of destiny itself. Does what I say make any sense to you?"
Roland ponders Tochi's story with an earnest expression before speaking.
"Well, it is one thing to attack an enemy in battle. When it is your life or theirs, that is one thing. To strike down an unarmed prisoner, is another, and not one I have any experience with. However, I agree with your point. Nezznar is too dangerous to keep alive. But will Sildar and the Lord Alliance execute him? As far as getting anything useful out of him, he knows we will never offer him his freedom. I doubt he will give up anything he knows unless that is on the table.
Do we need to raise our hand to end his threat, or can we trust that Sildar will punish him adequately? What do the rest of you think?"
(OOC: I don't know if Thulgrim is privy to this conversation, but if so he would say...)
I care nought if'n 'e dies or rots in prison, but there nae be no glory in slayin' an unarmed prisoner. Keep 'im gagged an' put a weapon in 'is 'and, and I'll give 'im a fair fight! Elsewise, cut out 'is tongue an' leave 'im fer yer Lord Sildar.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
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"To get new friends is an easy trick in their line of work and with their reputation." Finna smiled and introduced herself for the third time today. "I am Finna." Explanations about the goal of the visit she left to Nemean.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
“Sildar, it does not sit right with us to leave Wave Echo Cave in such a state, and we must do right by our dear friend Gundren and find out what became of his people. We wish to question the Black Spider once again of the whereabouts of Gundrens brothers and to force him to draw a map of Wave Echo Cave. May we borrow a pen and some parchment old friend, and then we wish to see the Drow.
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
"My pleasure to meet you both. You won't find more true companions than these," Sildar says. He grabs parchment and a quill from a nearby desk. "Have at him. I'm going to run some quick errands while I can. Who knows how long I'll be stuck here watching him, with only Harbin for company?" He shudders and exits the hall, leaving you with your captive in the cellar.
Nezznar looks up with recognition when you descend, continuing to hum away.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Thulgrim stands by and watches, guarding the door and expecting treachery.
I'll mind the door 'ere. Mebbe Roland should keep a blade to 'is neck lest 'e start babbling 'is wizardly poison ...
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Nemean glares and spits onto the floor upon seeing Nezznar, "I've heard enough of his babblin... his gag is staying right where it is." he says derisively, he places the pen and parchment at the edge of the bars of the cell. "Draw us up a map of Wave Echo Cave. Be as detailed as you can be... and be sure to mark off anything that would help us recover the dwarves... Gundren's kin... I asked about before, and this is your last chance to help us find them. Write it down on the map." he spat out a lurid curse in the Tabaxi tongue.
He starts pacing as he waits for the Dark Elf to reach for the paper and pen, "And bear this in mind Nezznar... we're going to this cave. We're going to find Gundren's kin, restore the mine, and unlock the secrets of the Forge of Spells, no matter what you write down here." He takes out his scimitar and holds it by his side, he continues to slowly pace the room. "If your cooperation is helpful, I will dutifully relay this to the Lord's Alliance, and ask that they weigh this cooperation when considering your sentencing. But..." He now holds the scimitar more threateningly, and brandishes a whip with his other hand. "But if you try to deceive us, or if you withhold any detail that we deem to be important... I will make the rest of your time in Phandalin a grueling hell!" He cracks the whip and hisses at the prisoner. "Choose wisely!"
Intimidation 16
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
Nezznar mutters something indecipherable through the gag. He moves his mouth, attempting to work it free to no avail, then looks up at Nemean, shrugs, and shakes his head no.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Thulgrim watches the exchange closely and growls from the door. Cannae trust an elf! If'n 'e 'as somethin' t' say, 'e can write it.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
More out of curiosity than in hope to truly get anything (she did not completely understand the scope of the problem anyway) Finna tried to play a "good guard" here. Drow was obviously uncomfortable and hurting (deservedly so and conveniently). She started with Healing Word and continued with a soft talk in Elvish (if she knows drow does not talk Elvish - then Common, of course, or she will repeat it in Common):
"Why are you doing it to yourself? The whole city is upset that you was brought here alive. Your only protectors are right here. You saw how they fight, your should understand they will get to the mines and return. They will get rid of whatever - and whoever! - is there. If it is done with your help - you will benefit, if not - they have no reason to protect you further from the mob or from whoever you are truly afraid of. Help them - us! - and you help yourself".
Finna did not really think drow will be moved and change his mind, but there could be indications why he is so stubborn.
Attempt to use everything to Persuade and read the reaction on every level - with Perception, Insight and what's not.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
OOC: I'm assuming his hands will be unbound for this.
Finna Insight: 19
Dipping the quill in the ink, Nezznar writes a statement on the parchment, written in a script that only Finna and Roland can understand.
For Finna and Roland:
Nezznar has written back in Elvish:
"Please do not lie to me. If you want knowledge of the mine, then I go with you, I get the Forge of Spells, and I leave unharmed. That is the deal, no more, no less."
For Finna:
Though in experience, you are very adept at reading body language and intent, Nezzar is almost impossible for you to read. Not only is he a dark elf, with which you have little experience, he is hiding his emotion extremely well.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: Natural 1 is a disaster and a shame no matter of circumstances :)
Finna accepted the writing: "I was not lying to you - I do believe people here are your best and most likely the only chance to save your life." She might fail in reading him, but if he wanted to read anything in her besides the words, he would also get just that - an honest concern about his life and nothing else.
Before showing the writing to Sildar (I assume he does speak Elvish as well?) Finna summed up the main idea of the note for others: "His wish is to go with us to the mine. And get the Forge of Spells."
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Roland doesn't draw one his short swords just yet, but he keeps his hand on the hilt in case the drow tries anything unwise. He stands toward the back of the group and shoots Thulgrim a knowing look.
Roland Drask: Human Rogue - Lost Mine of Phandelver
Nemean looks grimly amused at the writings and Finna's translation "You forget where you are Nezznar..." Nemean enters the cell "You are in no position to bargain with us. If you do not do what I ask, then I will exact my vengeance upon you for what you did to them!"
He viciously cracks his whip at the Drow:
Whip Attack: 24 Damage: 9
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
OOC: Sildar is not with you at the moment, he left the Townmaster's Hall here.
The whip slams into Nezznar's chest, throwing blood onto the floor and walls, and eliciting a grunt of pain. The drow's hands clutch at the wound, but his shoulders tremble in laughter.
He writes on the parchment again, this time in Common, and turns it to face the party.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Thulgrim watches the interrogation impassively. Hearing Finna read Nezznar's demand, and seeing his defiance to Nemean, Thugrim spits on the jail floor.
Eh! Yer wastin' yer breath. Leave 'im 'ere t' rot. Th'only way I'm lettin' that drow go back t' that mine 'is if'n I drag 'is corpse there. Honorless cur'd stab all o' us in th' back.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?
Finna looked at Nemean with surprise - the cat had a temper, and either his mood was more unpredictable than winds of Mirtul or there is something VERY personal here and she had not have to interfere. Still, if they were going to ... well, go somewhere in the near future she had to try at least to clear one thing out.
"Mmmm... Boss? A word?" She tried to look very serious and as inoffensive as possible, "Please?"
If Nemean followed:
When they stepped far enough for the prisoner not to hear the conversation, Finna carefully began: "Far be it from me to spoil your fun of senseless beating to the death an unarmed bound gagged man, but what would be the point? First, you just proved to him that he is among the bandits of his type now and cooperation will give him nothing. Second - he is a drow. Meaning, as fierce as you look, it is nothing compare to what he is used to - mind flayers, beholders, driders and what's not. Not to mention the way they are raised - like beatings for breakfast every day just to remind who is in charge here. He probably had several whips broken over his back before he came of age. I doubt there is anything we can frighten him with.
I am no Reidoth, he would explain it much better, but my experience says if anything can make him talk it's the opposite treatment. If you do want him to talk, of course. So far it looks more like you want to simply kill him. Then why did you bring him here? It is obvious you would not take him with you anywhere and I doubt he will cooperate now. May we should just leave him here and prepare for the journey to the cave? After all, even if he does talk - how can you trust his words?"
Finna stopped and looked at Nemean hopefully - man, she regretted dearly she did not pay enough attention to rhetoric teacher! But who knew his teaching can be useful!
If Nemean is too preoccupied with the beating, she sighed and stepped back into the corner.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Nemean is breathing heavily now and starts to lash out at the Drow again before Finna approaches him. He nods and follows her at her request, and listens to her.
“You speak sense Finna, we’ve wasted enough time on Nezznar. You are right that I do wish him dead. I hold him responsible for the deaths of several of my companion, and countless innocents. In my homeland the punishment for crimes as egregious as his would be swift death. But I trust in the wisdom of my friends that more good can come from keeping him alive...” he pauses for a moment, and reflects upon their situation. “Just as I will trust in you now that no good will come from further punishing him.”
His body languages starts to soften and his tail droops to his side “Thank you Finna, we are fortunate to have such wisdom with us on our journey. We should leave this place and make for the mines in the morning.”
Vercinius Thrax: Lizardfolk Cleric - Hoard of the Dragon Queen
L’Ouverture Zinn: Kobold Sorcerer - Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage
Titus Vorenus: Dragonborn Paladin - Waterdeep: Dragon Heist
Nemean Goldenmane: Tabaxi Fighter - Lost Mine of Phandelver (Retired)
"You flatter me, but glad to be of use," answered Finna and returned to the prisoner. First she repeated the healing Cure Wounds 13 - drow or not wounds have to be treated. She looked at him with a genuine pity and said her farewell in Elvish: "You are on your own now. Even I would not risk to go with you anywhere. Not after what happen now. And they would never forget you your crimes, it seemed. You can only hope the lords of Neverwinter will be more merciful".
All that could be done was done and Finna is ready to move with others.
Meili Liang Lvl 5 Monk
Dice
Tochi is listening intently to the whole exchange, then, slowly, begins:
"Once, when I was still a mere hatchling, the temple had an infestation. We were overrun with a whole lot of locusts. They were everywhere, ate out food, destroyed our crops, they made that season quite horrible to bear. But, the infestation, eventually, did come to an end. A couple of months and a huge amount of effort from everyone later, there was not a single locust within our lands. Or so the monks thought.
You see, I had caught one. Out of curiosity, nothing much else. It was green, with beady eyes and long appendages. It did not seem as scary or horrible as others were saying. So I kept it. I had it in a box for weeks after its kin were wiped out or driven away.
One day, a monk, Gy Atso, came into my room and saw the locust. He did not get angry, or, at least, did not show it. He sat down with me and asked, what I planned to do with the locust. I, of course, had not thought anything through. So I did not have any answer.
Gy Atso told me that I could not keep the locust indefinitely. I was not equipped to have it trapped forever, without a substantial risk of it escaping. I thought that I would set it free, then, but the monk ruled that out as well. You see, locusts carry hundreds of eggs within them, and even one such creature could, conceivably, give birth to a new swarm. So, I could not keep it, and I could not set it free. So, even if I was saddened by it, I knew that I had to kill the locust. I did not want to do it, as I had become accustomed to the creature, but Gy Atso said, that it was my responsibility. I had caught the locust, it being imprisoned was my doing, so its fate should be decided by myself as well.
So I crushed it. And wept while doing it.
You might think this was a pointless story, but it parallels our current predicament. We cannot let Nezznar go, nor can we keep him here. His imprisonment is our doing, and there is no point in transferring him somewhere else, where they will execute him anyway. So, I believe we should decide his fate. Though, one can say, that he decided his own fate, when he undertook such dastardly actions. Hence, by executing him, we would be not murderers, but mere instruments of destiny itself. Does what I say make any sense to you?"
Roland ponders Tochi's story with an earnest expression before speaking.
"Well, it is one thing to attack an enemy in battle. When it is your life or theirs, that is one thing. To strike down an unarmed prisoner, is another, and not one I have any experience with. However, I agree with your point. Nezznar is too dangerous to keep alive. But will Sildar and the Lord Alliance execute him? As far as getting anything useful out of him, he knows we will never offer him his freedom. I doubt he will give up anything he knows unless that is on the table.
Do we need to raise our hand to end his threat, or can we trust that Sildar will punish him adequately? What do the rest of you think?"
Roland Drask: Human Rogue - Lost Mine of Phandelver
(OOC: I don't know if Thulgrim is privy to this conversation, but if so he would say...)
I care nought if'n 'e dies or rots in prison, but there nae be no glory in slayin' an unarmed prisoner. Keep 'im gagged an' put a weapon in 'is 'and, and I'll give 'im a fair fight! Elsewise, cut out 'is tongue an' leave 'im fer yer Lord Sildar.
How does a red dragon blow out the candles on its birthday cake?