Heavy is the Head - Campaign thread

Eliza does not respond in words, but neither does her hand flicker with magic again. She meets Saoirse's gaze, unflinching. Saoirse, make a persuasion roll.

Then Eliza's jaw drops as Sha-Gravis steps out of the forest into the plain light of mid-day. Saffron also notices the Tabaxi step into view and proclaim himself, and has every reason to believe the rest of the party is nearby.

Jonah barks a quiet order at the guards he is standing with, and a well-muscled Dwarven man takes hold of the fairy as Jonah walks away. He approaches Sha-Gravis, and a slight limp in his left leg can be seen as he walks. That wasn't there last you saw him. The injury itself can not be seen through his plate armor. He carries his helm under the left arm, and pulls a huge greatsword from behind his back with his right. He is nearly twice Sha's height, and easily three times the weight. Despite the limp, you are reminded of the moment when he threw Samantha over the heads of a group of kobolds and a few yards away, and that a single slice of the blade kleft one of those kobolds in twain.

His voice carries easily, authoritative, deep, and stoic. "Sha-Gravis. Blasphemer, convict, murderer of Grommit and Aerar, escapee. Hemlock. Assault and maiming of a host. Comvict, murderer of Grommit and Aerar, escapee. Your friend tries to infiltrate my trusted guard, and fails. You walk into my camp, and make demands of me? Look behind you, at your changeling friend, and see that I am just, and that I, too,.would avoid violence. Yes, I will parley, for there are strange things afoot, but only if you will submit to these conditions: submit to a Zone of Truth while we speak; If you are hiding things from me, or are here to attack us, or another of your group attempts to free your fellow murderess, I will kill you on the spot; if you do not convince me that you must go free, you will be taken back into custody. Do you accept these conditions?"

(Requested persuasion roll: 16)

Same as Eliza, Saoirse's jaw drops when Sha-Gravis steps out without them deciding first what to say, and without a warning for the hidden teens.

- Just what the hell...?

But there is no time to remain surprised. Sha-Gravis and Hemlock should not stand before the always imposing Jonah without the rest of them, she thinks to herself. She's determined to step out with them both, but before that she looks at Eliza and whispers:

- Please, PLEASE, don't do anything reckless. Let us speak with Jonah. If things go south and you see an opportunity, escape to Village Tree and tell Tesfaye what happened. Can I trust you on this, Eliza? - she looks at her intently and implying that if the wizard turns on them, the blood hunter won't give her another chance.

She then turns to Lam:

- I'll go warn the teens so they don't do anything crazy. Then, I'll step out with you guys.

With this, she moves stealthily to try reach the teens,  calm them down, ask them what became of Federico and tell them that they will try to parlay with Jonah. She will also tell them to turn back to Village Tree if things go ugly, reminding them that they are outnumbered and that they mustn't risk their lives away in a crazy unplanned attack.

(Stealth: 23)

After Lam silently alerts his friends to the presence of everyone else, he watches them decide what to do- and then watches slack-jawed as Sha steps out right in front of Jonah. It takes everything in him not to go out after Sha right then. When Saoirse asks Eliza not to do anything reckless, Lam watches her, silently pleading the same sentiment with his eyes. When Saoirse addresses him, he nods and waits by Eliza while she goes to warn the teenagers. He watches her move swiftly and silently over to them.

He takes one last look at Eliza, urging her with his eyes to stay put for now, but elects to come out while Saoirse has left so hopefully his presence with Sha and Hemlock pulls focus. He stands tall, but without holding his greataxe, and looks Jonah in the eyes, but says nothing.

The teens are not pleased to be told that they can't do.anything useful here, although Kristof makes it clear that he agrees with Saoirse. They let you know that Frederico and Javier (the fairy twin currently grappled) went out together to scout, and they don't know what happened to them. One of the guards dragged Javier protesting to Jonah, but they haven't seen anything of Frederico. They promise to wait for a signal, and not to do anything reckless.

Eliza nods, and waits in the trees. She's not about to announce herself to who she sees as simply the enemy. She watches Saoirse step out into the open.

"Saoirse. Aggravated assault of a peacekeeper. Convict, murderer of Aerar and Grommit, escapee. There should be one more of you." He waits, and signals to some guards that he would like a little more backup here. Multiple crossbows point in your direction. Then Lam follows. "Ah, yes, Lam. Former bandit. Murderer of Aerar and Grommit. Why, Lam? I thought you had chosen redemption. That's what your file says, anyway... well. You have all heard my terms. Will you submit to a Zone of Truth for parley, and to my summary judgment?"

Saffron Gale's eyes narrow, then widen considerably, as she notices the large bugbear lumbering out of the woods, and, for an almost imperceptible space of time, the corner of one side of her mouth twitches upward.

Hemlock ponders Jonah's conditions for a time, seeing first Lam and then Saoirse join he and Sha-Gravis. The choices left were to submit to Jonah's conditions or commit to further violence. He looks across at the fairy being held so tightly by the muscly dwarf.

"I do not believe parley means trial, but I understand your need for control, and that you feel we have wronged you. Each of us must speak for ourselves in this, but for my part I agree, although with some conditions of my own".

"Let the fairy go, and any other villagers you might have here".

"As we are here willingly in an attempt to avoid violence, you agree to also submit to a zone of truth and to guarantee our safety and comfort during and after the parley. Of course assuming we stick to your conditions".

"Lastly, if you deem that we should be allowed to leave, we take Saffron with us".

"And know that there will be things we cannot reveal to you fully, but we will not try to hide that fact, and will explain why so you know it is not an attempt to trick you".

As he speaks he strides forward halfway between the others and the HMC guards. When he has finished speaking, he turns and looks to the others to see what they think.

When Saoirse steps into Jonah's line of vision, she does so in from a point away from Kristoff and the rest, trying to not give away the teen's positions. As she walks towards them all she lifts her hands up in a gesture of peace and goodwill. 

Trying her best to hide the fact that the giant human scares the hell out of her, the fire genasi nods at Hemlock's every word. 

- Hemlock, you speak wisely as always, my friend. There's nothing I could add that would express our intentions better. I hope, Jonah, that we can reach an understanding, as I sincerely believe that reaching a pact of non violence and helping each other out will be most beneficial for us all.

Having said this, she waits to see if the HCM Captain accepts Hemlock's conditions. 

"The fairy is only a child, and I obviously intend to let her go. But she was caught trying to break the axel of a cart filled with smoke powder, and though she refuses to answer as to whether she has accomplices, it is clear on her face that she does. After we parley, if you can guarantee the safety of my workers from their foolishness, I will happily send her flying home.

"I do not like that you already say that you must keep things hidden from me, but I can accept an oath. I will also submit to the zone of Truth, though it will change none of my answers.

"As for the changeling, my judgement of her must be separate from yours, as she has wronged me a second time. But, I will allow her to join our conversation.

"Are we at an accord, beastwalker?" That last word is spoken with honest veneration, and Hemlock recognizes that phrase as a direct translation of the Giantish name for druids. He gestures towards Saffron, beckoning her towards the rest of you and himself.

"Jonah you call me a blasphemer, it's what initially placed me in your prison.  I assure you I am not.  You call me a murderer but, in the coarse of defending ones life killing is not the same as murder.  You have levied judgement against me and I'm sorry for your pain and loss, but I was never a criminal from the start.  I agree to your terms and Hemlock's addendums.  Please hear what we have to say.  You too are being used and manipulated."  Sha-gravis stands tall after finishing his little salvo he can't help but steal a glance at Saffron, it's so nice to see her again.

Lam works on keeping his breath steady as he stands with his friends, and keeping his face as neutral as he can. His eyes narrow slightly in response to Jonah’s words about him- it could look like skepticism, but is closer to shame. He responds, “I am choosing redemption. A different way.”

He listens to Hemlock’s added terms to the parley, grateful that his friend is so smart. He is fairly sure that if it were him in this situation alone, it would surely end in violence- but his friends have successfully used words to avoid that before. His face changes to visible relief when Jonah says he intends to let the fairy go. He had hoped this was the attitude Jonah would have about the children, but he had not been sure until this moment.

When Jonah beckons Saffron over to join the rest of them, Lam does look over at her. He is relieved to see her okay, if not in the happiest position.

He looks ready to accept Jonah’s terms, but does not say anything yet and looks to Hemlock to see what he will say.

"Sá titill heiðrar mig", Hemlock replies in giant after his companions have spoken.

He then inclines his head, "We have an accord. Your guards may lower their weapons". With that he looks to Saffi to make sure she is joining them and then waits for Jonah to give them instructions as to how the parley would be facilitated.

"We shall see." The response is both to Lam's statement on redemption, Sha-Gravis' defense of his actions, and Hemlock's assertion that the guards can lower their weapons. The weapons, as of yet, are still held ready and leveled at you. "Bring the cleric!" A guard trots off a little ways and quickly returns, accompanied by Billy Beerbelly. "His counsel is part of why Saffron yet lives. He seems to believe you all are decent folk, and I still trust that he means it honestly. Billy! Are you able to call upon Moraden's might to create a Zone of Truth?"

"Of course, sir." Billy is nervous, but honored to be trusted with this. "I'm glad to see you all alive and well. Tillade ingen løgn eller falskhed her!" His eyes briefly glow with the light of an active forge, and you feel some of that heat in your minds, though it does not hurt. You may choose to allow the Zone of Truth to affect you, or attempt a DC15 charisma save.

Lam allows the heat into his mind without question.

Hemlock also submits to the zone of truth.

"It is heartening to see you are well, Billy", he says sincerely.

Saoirse enters the Zone of Truth without resistance.

Sha-gravis smiles at Billy and gives a slight bow as the zone of truth is accepted.

The mournful whistle melts away, but the exhausted, aged stride does not break as Saffron notices the rest of her former prison-breakers speaking with Jonah. She tugs at the massive and tight chain around her neck, before she wipes her hands on the ugly HMC-provided outfit. She glances down at it with disdain, as if fretting her condition for this reunion. The changeling, lacking her usual long, graceful stride, makes her way over to the group. She doesn’t seem to pay any mind to the other guards or workers nearby, focusing her sole attention ahead. As she nears closer to Jonah, the smirk is replaced with a sneer.

Just before she arrives, she notices Billy jaunt over, and rolls her eyes. Letting her overly alert eyes—one blue, one green—survey the people she’d formerly abandoned. That’s going to be an exhilarating conversation . . .

Saffi stops just outside the group, situating herself in a middle space, between—but distanced—from the two parties. The changeling, her expression flat-but-critical, watches Billy, though she refuses to look at Jonah.

“Beerbelly. Cappy.” She addresses the HMC folk with an indifferent, if slightly disdainful, tone. Looking back at Sha, Lam, Hemlock, and Saoirse. “Cheers to you lot showing up.”

Rolling her eyes again, she opens her palms and steps forward a bit, submitting, yet again, to the cleric’s Zone of Truth.

Jonah does not directly acknowledge Saffi's diffidence, but a slight twitch of his lip makes it clear that he finds it irritating, despite playing it cool. Billy flinches, very uncomfortable with the disrespect to Captain Jonah. "Everyone is under the effects of the Zone of Truth, captain."

"Thank you. Then let us begin. It is a parley, and you may ask me your questions as well. I will answer those that do not jeopardize my mission or my people. I will start by seeing whether I can allow my men to lower their weapons. So, how many are you hiding around this work camp, and do you intend to do harm to the HMC workers in this valley?

"Next, you escaped from Coldwater along with the tortle Tesfaye and the lycanthrope Muro, in conjuction with a break-out of the wood-elf Cylence. Where are the other escapees now? Were you somehow part of the plan to free Cylence? Why did you kill Grommit and Aerar, and side with the elves who assaulted Coldwater Keep?

"Thirdly, were you all part of Saffron's plan to infiltrate my trust, or was she acting alone as she claimed?"

Hemlock looks to Billy first, "And just to confirm, the Captain has also submitted to the zone of truth?".

If this is confirmed, he will begin to answer the Captain's questions.

"There is one who accompanied us here who has not revealed themselves, who is watching over proceedings. Our purpose here is to ensure that the local children do not instigate anything against your people. The one child you have has a few friends concealed about that are concerned about them. If they think you are going to harm their friend, they will likely do something rash. They are brave souls who only wish to protect their lands and people", he says regarding the first question.

"Muro has gone to seek help amongst his kind to better understand his affliction and ensure he can control it. He is a gentle person who would not willingly hurt anyone were it not for his condition. Tesfaye is now safe amongst the local population. I do not know where Cylence currently is", he then responds, before taking a breath.

"The deaths of Grommit and Aerar are regretful, but the only reason it happened is that they would not stand down. We gave them both many chances to stop fighting, but they persisted. I know you will say it was their job, and we were escaping a prison, but we could not stay after what happened. We did not know Cylence or anyone in the valley before coming here on your steel box with wheels. But when Cylence's friends broke through the wall, a fight started. Your guards insisted that we unarmed prisoners fight the elves, and any who tried to retreat behind them to safety from the elves were killed by your guards, who showed no mercy. They wanted us to be fodder for the elven arrows, and would rather kill us than protect us. That is why we sided with the elves. As the leader of those guards, you have to take responsibility for the murders they committed against unarmed, frightened people in their care. Would you not agree?", he says slowly and deliberately.

He takes another deep breath, "As for Saffron, we wanted her to stay with us well away from you and that prison, but she declined and left to pursue her own purpose. We had no part in it".

He looks to Saffi sadly, wishing she had agreed to stay with them, and then to the others wondering if they might perhaps add more.

Saoirse silently nods to what Hemlock is saying, and when he finishes, she adds:

- I talked to the kids before coming here and they will not do anything harmful if no harm comes to us or their friends. They are good kids, Jonah. Perhaps a little hot headed, but who hasn't been that way in their teenage years? They just want to be useful to their land, but haven't chosen the best course of action, which is completely normal when you don't know better. Please: where is Federico? He's a young olive-skined elf who was supposed to be with Leonor, the female fairy. Is he okay?

When the answers the question regarding Saffron, Saoirse can't help but to throw a look at the changeling. A look that clearly says "We told you so". But she says nothing and returns her attention to Jonah again.