The Thugs looks fearfully into Titus' eyes, flicking glances between Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, and Half Elf and all of your weapons.
You realise you have fully broken him. He tells you that the safest way into the unexplored part of the Manor dungeon is through a secret door in the east wall of the store room in the north of the crevasse crossed cavern. Beyond the secret door is a short corridor. One reinforced door leads to the armoury in the east, and a door at the southern end of the corridor leads to the crypt.
The crypt is guarded by three undead that will attack anyone using the door to enter or exit the crypt. That is unless they wear a red cloak or speak the password 'Illefran'. To the south of the east wall of the crypt is double door door leading to the trapped hall, and to the north of the east wall is a door leading to the holding cells.
The holding cells are guarded two more Redcloaks and have a Woman and her two teenage children, a boy, and a girl. They are the family of the wood cutter Thel who defied Glassstaff.
He then looks at Kryinor, "The body in the crevasse is Thel. They threw it there to feed the..." he hesitates with a shudder, "...creature that lives there."
He very quickly follows up with, "I was not part of that! I'm new here and mostly collect 'tax' from the trappers and miners in the area around the town. Glassstaff only used the meanest buggers for the work in town." He finished indicating the Older Thug with movement of his head.
He tells you about the rest of the complex including the rooms of Galssstaff in the northwest corner of the dungeon beyond the common room where the main fighting happened earlier.
"I know aught of the dwarf they captured beyond him being taken to the Castle of the goblin King and that some dangerous man who calls himself the spider is pulling the strings. He sent some bugbears to watch over us, and make sure things ran according to plan."
‘Tell me, what did glasstaff intend to do with your captives? Did he plan to feed the rest of thel’s family to that beast, did he plan for them to suffer a fate worse than death hearing there loved ones being torn apart by that vile and retched creature piece by piece..... TELL ME!’ The fires in my soul set abaze, my eyes wild and my teeth bared my body straining to hold myself back from this defence-less foe.
‘As soon as i am able to shift again i will be on the hunt, i will not let that family be devoured by the creature. As much as it pains me to admit , in my current state, taking on that creature would mean death.
Seeing our prisoner is broke and believing his information.
"Calm friend (laying a hand on Kryinor's shoulder) all will be well. We must stay strong for the village needs us still. Much work yet to be before the hunt meets its final slaying"
"Now thank you young one for the truth. You see the truth will always set you free, yes?"
"I am nothing if not magnanimous, young one. This day you shall be reborn. What name would like to be known as?"
he speaks his new name
"XXX you shall be. Now we must baptize you. Strip and swap clothes with your deceased former comrade over there" Pointing to the slain redcloak.
After he changes clothes
"Now our friend as has placed a geas on you. I will know if you do any misdeeds. You have available to now a chance few ever receive. Go to (I will name a place I know from my soldiering days that has human guardsmen that I am familiar with and will now the elven forces I served with) any mention my corps. Tell the Guard Master that wish to serve. Stay true and all is well son, Do not disappoint me."
With that I turn to the corpse that is now dressed like him and cut off its head. "take this head with you for 10 miles. Look at it often and remember that it is you if you do not stay on the true path. After ten miles bury it with solemnity for you are burying your past life and your guilt with it. Safe and good travels, Friend"
After he heads of I will unhood the other thug.
"Alas your friend was not as truthful as would have liked."
Looking in horror at the enraged Druid he says, "All prisoners are moved East along the trade route and sold as slaves. That is their fate." He stumbles over his own words in a desperate rush to answer Kryinor's enrage question.
"Thel was feed to the creature as part of it and Glassstaffs bargain, and as a convenient way of getting rid of a body." He sighs hands shaking, I just did what I was told."
The young Thug observes the impromptu ritual directed by Tutis with genuine solemnity. His mouth gaps open a the beheading of the other fallen Thug. He then takes the head, whites of his eyes showing the whole time, and makes a hasty exit with the best of intentions, a bargain struck, and a magical seal keeping him honest.
Eedim gets up and excuses himself, murmuring something about finding something to drink. He moves through the door in the west and returns a few moments later with a half full bottle of wine. He sits and takes a long pull from the bottle.
Titus then moves to the reaming ruffian. He removes the hood, gag, and wax, then commands the older Thug to tell all.
The remaining thug looks at the headless corpse of his comrade thoughtfully his face blank. He looks around the room and at each of you in turn.
He clears his throat, "A far wiser man may see one body where before there was a body and young fool. A mean spirited man thinking his time was up and some kind of doom waited for him in the village below would keep his trap shut out of spite." He smiles looking Titus right in the eye, "But we are all honorable here and want whats best for everyone don't we?" Hi smile widens, "I bet a certain young fellow late of this place didn't know how to find that castle your friend is holidaying in. I'm not saying I do myself, but I know of someone here that might. If I in good faith, the helpful soul I am, tell you where to find them would you be so kind as to send me on my way."
He clears his throat again and says, "I give you my word that I will go form this place and never bother the people of Phandalin again."
"The young are as malleable as wet clay on the wheel. The old as brittle as a potters piece for they have been through the fires of the kiln. I see you have been through those fires. You may not get the same chances for what do we need of another's pot when we have already made our own? Nay, your value lies in what you contain. Do you have any contents of value? Are you willing to empty your contents freely? to be judged of its worth? Or should I let our Dwarve and Druid break the pot to scatter ins contents on floor so that I may judge its value later? Your choice. If you value then you may receive something. But know this - at this very moment you have no value and no bargain to be made"
"Dire words, I wonder if your Dwarven friends listens to such at this moment." He chuckles and then breathes out heavily, "I am at your mercy and may be damned, but let my sins find me another day." He tells you much the same things as the younger Thug, detailing the same hidden threats and the location of the rest of his brethren and the prisoners.
However he finishes his story with, "The Spider sent bugbears from Cragmaw Castle to keep an eye on things here and 'help out'. They can tell you where to find your friend." He sighs again, "Now I have poured my pot on the floor before you and it sits empty. Did it contain enough to buy my freedom?"
‘You have earnt your life, but not your freedom in my eyes .Not yet anyway. Turning to Titus and Kargan, ‘this one knew what he was doing, the other one was young and naive but i believe he will turn on us the moment we release him, do not forget that there are probably others at the sleeping giant tavern, we have yet to deal with.
Yes too true. I believe your pot has to stay the executioner this day. Your ultimate fate will be decided by the town I think. Pray that you haven't defiled those in the cells. I would suggest you continue to make yourself useful and we may tender an account of your help to the village magistrate
The rogue tells you the others guarding the prisoners aren't much chop. They get the boring job because they could not be trusted to do anything important. He offers to talk them down from a fight if that helps.
"The creature in the crevasse should leave us be if we bring it some food." He nods at the body of his former comrade. "I'm not sure what the fellas at the Sleeping Giant will do, but if you let me tell them that Glasstaff has run off and hell follows on my heels...then we will all move on and your friends in town will have nothing further to worry about from us..."
I have heard enough, I will rest for now, once I have my strength back enough to fight, I will bring a reckoning down on every foul creature in this cavern. The thugs at the sleeping giant are next. When we are done here i plan to send them all to an early grave or to the cells of the magistrate, so that they may know what it is like to be sent into slavery or be preyed upon by someone that is stronger than they. This town will come full circle the feared will become fearful....... the smart ones will run. That's what you should have done when you first saw me .....
With that said, i walk over to the room that one of the guards was hiding in and tend to my wounds and contemplate my next move.
"Kargan perhaps we should take a short rest? Both edim and kryinor look haggard." "Perhaps then we can free the occupants of the cells and conduct a though inspection of this lair?"
"I think we should liberate the townsfolk in the cells. Perhaps we can either leave edim here to guard our prisoner while we sweep the lair or we bring him with us and lock him while we sweep"
The Thugs looks fearfully into Titus' eyes, flicking glances between Elf, Dwarf, Gnome, and Half Elf and all of your weapons.
You realise you have fully broken him. He tells you that the safest way into the unexplored part of the Manor dungeon is through a secret door in the east wall of the store room in the north of the crevasse crossed cavern. Beyond the secret door is a short corridor. One reinforced door leads to the armoury in the east, and a door at the southern end of the corridor leads to the crypt.
The crypt is guarded by three undead that will attack anyone using the door to enter or exit the crypt. That is unless they wear a red cloak or speak the password 'Illefran'. To the south of the east wall of the crypt is double door door leading to the trapped hall, and to the north of the east wall is a door leading to the holding cells.
The holding cells are guarded two more Redcloaks and have a Woman and her two teenage children, a boy, and a girl. They are the family of the wood cutter Thel who defied Glassstaff.
He then looks at Kryinor, "The body in the crevasse is Thel. They threw it there to feed the..." he hesitates with a shudder, "...creature that lives there."
He very quickly follows up with, "I was not part of that! I'm new here and mostly collect 'tax' from the trappers and miners in the area around the town. Glassstaff only used the meanest buggers for the work in town." He finished indicating the Older Thug with movement of his head.
He tells you about the rest of the complex including the rooms of Galssstaff in the northwest corner of the dungeon beyond the common room where the main fighting happened earlier.
"I know aught of the dwarf they captured beyond him being taken to the Castle of the goblin King and that some dangerous man who calls himself the spider is pulling the strings. He sent some bugbears to watch over us, and make sure things ran according to plan."
‘Tell me, what did glasstaff intend to do with your captives? Did he plan to feed the rest of thel’s family to that beast, did he plan for them to suffer a fate worse than death hearing there loved ones being torn apart by that vile and retched creature piece by piece..... TELL ME!’ The fires in my soul set abaze, my eyes wild and my teeth bared my body straining to hold myself back from this defence-less foe.
‘As soon as i am able to shift again i will be on the hunt, i will not let that family be devoured by the creature. As much as it pains me to admit , in my current state, taking on that creature would mean death.
Seeing our prisoner is broke and believing his information.
"Calm friend (laying a hand on Kryinor's shoulder) all will be well. We must stay strong for the village needs us still. Much work yet to be before the hunt meets its final slaying"
"Now thank you young one for the truth. You see the truth will always set you free, yes?"
"I am nothing if not magnanimous, young one. This day you shall be reborn. What name would like to be known as?"
he speaks his new name
"XXX you shall be. Now we must baptize you. Strip and swap clothes with your deceased former comrade over there" Pointing to the slain redcloak.
After he changes clothes
"Now our friend as has placed a geas on you. I will know if you do any misdeeds. You have available to now a chance few ever receive. Go to (I will name a place I know from my soldiering days that has human guardsmen that I am familiar with and will now the elven forces I served with) any mention my corps. Tell the Guard Master that wish to serve. Stay true and all is well son, Do not disappoint me."
With that I turn to the corpse that is now dressed like him and cut off its head. "take this head with you for 10 miles. Look at it often and remember that it is you if you do not stay on the true path. After ten miles bury it with solemnity for you are burying your past life and your guilt with it. Safe and good travels, Friend"
After he heads of I will unhood the other thug.
"Alas your friend was not as truthful as would have liked."
"Tell me all"
Looking in horror at the enraged Druid he says, "All prisoners are moved East along the trade route and sold as slaves. That is their fate." He stumbles over his own words in a desperate rush to answer Kryinor's enrage question.
"Thel was feed to the creature as part of it and Glassstaffs bargain, and as a convenient way of getting rid of a body." He sighs hands shaking, I just did what I was told."
The young Thug observes the impromptu ritual directed by Tutis with genuine solemnity. His mouth gaps open a the beheading of the other fallen Thug. He then takes the head, whites of his eyes showing the whole time, and makes a hasty exit with the best of intentions, a bargain struck, and a magical seal keeping him honest.
Eedim gets up and excuses himself, murmuring something about finding something to drink. He moves through the door in the west and returns a few moments later with a half full bottle of wine. He sits and takes a long pull from the bottle.
Titus then moves to the reaming ruffian. He removes the hood, gag, and wax, then commands the older Thug to tell all.
The remaining thug looks at the headless corpse of his comrade thoughtfully his face blank. He looks around the room and at each of you in turn.
He clears his throat, "A far wiser man may see one body where before there was a body and young fool. A mean spirited man thinking his time was up and some kind of doom waited for him in the village below would keep his trap shut out of spite." He smiles looking Titus right in the eye, "But we are all honorable here and want whats best for everyone don't we?" Hi smile widens, "I bet a certain young fellow late of this place didn't know how to find that castle your friend is holidaying in. I'm not saying I do myself, but I know of someone here that might. If I in good faith, the helpful soul I am, tell you where to find them would you be so kind as to send me on my way."
He clears his throat again and says, "I give you my word that I will go form this place and never bother the people of Phandalin again."
"The young are as malleable as wet clay on the wheel. The old as brittle as a potters piece for they have been through the fires of the kiln. I see you have been through those fires. You may not get the same chances for what do we need of another's pot when we have already made our own? Nay, your value lies in what you contain. Do you have any contents of value? Are you willing to empty your contents freely? to be judged of its worth? Or should I let our Dwarve and Druid break the pot to scatter ins contents on floor so that I may judge its value later? Your choice. If you value then you may receive something. But know this - at this very moment you have no value and no bargain to be made"
"Dire words, I wonder if your Dwarven friends listens to such at this moment." He chuckles and then breathes out heavily, "I am at your mercy and may be damned, but let my sins find me another day." He tells you much the same things as the younger Thug, detailing the same hidden threats and the location of the rest of his brethren and the prisoners.
However he finishes his story with, "The Spider sent bugbears from Cragmaw Castle to keep an eye on things here and 'help out'. They can tell you where to find your friend." He sighs again, "Now I have poured my pot on the floor before you and it sits empty. Did it contain enough to buy my freedom?"
"Och, yer bum's oot the window, all o' ye!! What's all this blather 'bout pots? Tell me do I take his head off or no?!?"
‘You have earnt your life, but not your freedom in my eyes .Not yet anyway. Turning to Titus and Kargan, ‘this one knew what he was doing, the other one was young and naive but i believe he will turn on us the moment we release him, do not forget that there are probably others at the sleeping giant tavern, we have yet to deal with.
Yes too true. I believe your pot has to stay the executioner this day. Your ultimate fate will be decided by the town I think. Pray that you haven't defiled those in the cells. I would suggest you continue to make yourself useful and we may tender an account of your help to the village magistrate
Tell me about the redcoats guarding the cells
The rogue tells you the others guarding the prisoners aren't much chop. They get the boring job because they could not be trusted to do anything important. He offers to talk them down from a fight if that helps.
"The creature in the crevasse should leave us be if we bring it some food." He nods at the body of his former comrade. "I'm not sure what the fellas at the Sleeping Giant will do, but if you let me tell them that Glasstaff has run off and hell follows on my heels...then we will all move on and your friends in town will have nothing further to worry about from us..."
I have heard enough, I will rest for now, once I have my strength back enough to fight, I will bring a reckoning down on every foul creature in this cavern. The thugs at the sleeping giant are next. When we are done here i plan to send them all to an early grave or to the cells of the magistrate, so that they may know what it is like to be sent into slavery or be preyed upon by someone that is stronger than they. This town will come full circle the feared will become fearful....... the smart ones will run. That's what you should have done when you first saw me .....
With that said, i walk over to the room that one of the guards was hiding in and tend to my wounds and contemplate my next move.
OOC: Short Rest
Healing with both hit Dice : 9 , 10
EDIT
OOC: oh yeah fully healed woohoo!!
I will hood etc the thug
"Kargan perhaps we should take a short rest? Both edim and kryinor look haggard." "Perhaps then we can free the occupants of the cells and conduct a though inspection of this lair?"
If agreed I'll also take a short rest.
"Aye laddie, take a rest, i'll stand watch"
short rest 9
short rest
2
The otner role
9
after our short rest, I will ask eedim to guard the prisoner while I search the room
perception 15
After Our rest.
"I think we should liberate the townsfolk in the cells. Perhaps we can either leave edim here to guard our prisoner while we sweep the lair or we bring him with us and lock him while we sweep"
All four companions take a breather with the bound and hooded thug for company in the cellar of the ruined mansion.
The time passes without incident and you ready yourselves refreshed somewhat and ready for action again.
Eedim cocks his crossbow, places a bolt on the slide, and looks at you all, "Lets finish this..."
"Aye, let these thugs spend some time in their own jail cells, that's some justice for their crimes"