The Dwarven priestess rises to her feet, tugging her cloak closer around her shivering frame. However, Hulil is beginning to think it might be impossible to get warm — no matter how thickly she bundles up, or how much they feed the roaring fire in the center of the cavern. She takes a step to the side, revealing to the party the stone chest upon which she sat. "In that case, do what you will with your magic. I used one of the vials to trap this chest, so that no one would be able to steal the artifacts. However, if you," she looks to Carina, "and the Gnome, and the rest of your little group truly can find the cure — I have no need to trade these items away. The other vial, though... It is no longer in my possession." 
Hulil turns her head towards the fire, seemingly searching for answers within the crackling flames. "I sold it."

Carina feels her heart sink.  So much for containing the disease.  With effort, she keeps her voice steady.

"Used one blue vial's contents to trap the chest and sold the other," she echoes quietly.  "Who was the lucky buyer?"

“I hope you had the saving grace to use the broken vial and sold the intact one.” Taiga snarls. “How could you sell the vial, knowing what it does?”

Hulil turns to face Taiga at her outburst, giving the Earth Genasi a withering glare. "I needed the coin to pay for travel to Shadycreek Run... My original plan before you all so kindly stepped up." She narrows her eyes at the Fighter cruelly. Self-righteous indeed, the Dwarven priestess thinks. "And I care not what happens to the man I sold it to. Why should I? He isn't part of the Uttolot Tribe, and the way he dies is of no consequence to me. He means nothing."

At the end of her hostile retort, Hulil is wracked with a painful cough. Taking a trembling breath after her coughing fit dies down, she turns to Carina next. "His name was Irven Liel, I believe. A human merchant, who said he was staying at the Jolly Dwarf Inn in Palebank Village." The Elven man beside Hulil gives a nod of confirmation, his eyes watching Taiga carefully.

Eager to be done with this place and it's giant gnome eating toads, Brix claps his hands and rubs his palms together while addressing those gathered," Well then I suppose it's off to Palebank and the Jolly Dwarf." He gives each of his team and the bandits an eager approval seeking look as he awaits their reply.

Taiga, intimidated by the hostile stares, simply nods to Brix’ suggestion. 

Unlike Taiga, Carina has never borne the delusion that these bandits can be shamed for their theft and reckless endangerment (Taiga's "how could you?") or in any other way for that matter.  Though in truth, she shares exactly the same righteous anger and outrage that Taiga does, and admires the winter warrior's forthrightness in expressing it.  Nevertheless, Carina forces herself to focus on appealing to Hulil's self-interest, as she has been doing.

"Yes, you're a real peach, Hulil.  So.  You keep your stolen artifacts and your disease-trapped chest, not to mention your roaring fire, bulging blue veins and five-headed draconic mistress.  We leave now, on the back of your giant frog friend, and seek a likely dead man walking in Irven Liel at the Jolly Dwarf to quarantine the remaining blue vial.  From there, research an antidote.  One we can make ourselves, or need to journey to Eiselcross for."

Carina's eyes narrow.  "Do not forget.  Not all antidotes come in the form of relics you can steal from shops or adventurers.  So I suggest that if we do return, you and your friends speak with us calmly as we are doing now, and refrain from attempting to murder us as this one tried earlier," (she points at the wicked-looking elf who had attacked and missed her earlier), "since simply looting our corpses may do you no good."

With that, Carina is ready to depart, assuming the rest of the group is and there is no foul play from the Hulil or her bandits.

A rage has been building inside of Ragnus as he listens to Hulil's flippant disregard for life. It burns him to see how one of his fellow dwarves could be so cruel to others, and to his companions. He grips his battleaxe until his fingers turn white. He steps toward Hulil and the Elven man covered in tattoos and practically spits a response to them. "Ya be wrong about no consequences to ya for tha man's life, which you so blatantly disrespect. All life is sacred to Tyr, and it is with his judgement that I condemn you and your greedy followers. I cannae leave here knowing tha you lot will continue on thieving and causing misery to others. Ya be coming with us to face the consequences of the law."

The longer Carina goes on, subtly touching upon the way the Dwarven priestess and her bandits are powerless in the face of Frigid Woe, how they must rely on this party of strangers and cannot turn to Tiamat, all in that calculating, musical voice of hers — the angrier Hulil grows. By the time the Warlock is finished speaking, Hulil's jaw is clenched so tightly, she looks moments away from cracking her teeth. Carina, along with the others in this group of adventurers, leaves the Dwarven priestess feeling as though her pride has been torn out from under her and brandished, exposed. You'd all had a similar effect on her sister, Tulgi — but with this sibling, the sting is all the more painful. She feels backed into a corner, even in the depths of her own cavern, and it fills her with fury.

And then, Ragnus speaks. "We will not," Hulil snarls in response, gesturing to the Elven man at her side. The dragon-tattooed Elf picks his weapon up from the floor and stands, wielding his sharp scimitar threateningly before him. His dark gaze is focused on the Paladin with nothing short of hatred, for speaking to his mentor in such a way. He longs to make the Dwarf pay — and Hulil is giving him the permission. The Dwarven woman throws the cloak off her shoulders, revealing arms scrawled with pulsing blue veins and blackened, frostbitten fingers. Ignoring the trembling in her limbs, Hulil clasps her hands together and then spreads her arms open — a floating, spectral scythe adorned with the head of a black dragon materializing between her palms. She takes hold of the ghostly weapon, baring her teeth at your characters. "I've had enough of you. I'd rather die with a blade to your throats or at the hands of Frigid Woe, than to be dragged along by your pitiful justice. This ends now."

And with that, everybody can go ahead and roll for initiative! (1d20 + Dexterity modifier)

Initiative: 17

Taiga: 4

Carina clearly did not see that coming!

Initiative:  4

(OOC, sorry for the combat, just RPing how a paladin would react to bandits, and this seemingly unending forwarding of the vials/disease without any care.)

(OOC:  Absolutely zero need to apologize, @Reliq05.  I'm glad Ragnus spoke up, story-wise.  We'll see how we do in the fight...)

"Ack!" Exclaims Brix as weapons and lines are drawn. 

17

(never apologize for embracing your character! <3)

Quote from Tybard >>

(OOC:  Absolutely zero need to apologize, @Reliq05.  I'm glad Ragnus spoke up, story-wise.  We'll see how we do in the fight...)

 (Goes double for me. Brix is always trying to avoid a fight, mostly because of his size but you are completely correct in your Paladian ways.)

(OOC:  You still with us @Backstabitha?  I don't think you've posted for Elbert since June 15th, 12 days ago.)

(we'll move along without Elbert for now, and say that he's battling the three bandits that led you to Hulil's cavern. when @Backstabitha returns, they can hop back in with their character)

As the Dwarven priestess and her Elven companion draw their weapons, Brix will be the first to react. Hulil Lutan and her apprentice stand about ten feet away from you all, with the roaring campfire in the center of the cavern between you and the dragon worshippers. After the Artificer, Hulil will be the next to attack. Brix, what will you do?

Brix dumps some powder from one of his many elk horn vials into his palm,  inhales deeply and blows across his palm. The magically 8mbued powder floats through the air, swirling on the caverns air currents expanding to an area of 20ft and centered in the middle of the bandits. He then runs towards the cavern wall looking for cover as the battle unfolds.

(Bandits need to make a DC13 or be outline in Faerie fire. Brix will move to cover on the right side of the entrance.)