Samson puts himself between Logan and the gnome with his hands up. "Why are there women in chains in your cart?"

(Are there slaves in the country?)

The Slave trade has long been Abolished in both Eurolude and Terin. At one Time, Elves and Humans were viewed as the only races of worth in the Land. Gnomes,Dwarves,Dragonborns,Goliaths and Orcs were all Considered slaves from birth. King Ferus Leus, Predecessor to Daed leus abolished the Slave trade, Deeming it a unnecessary and barbaric thing in What is the civilized world. Since then the Buying and Selling of Slaves is Considered a "Crime against the Empire" and is punishable by Death. It is almost universally hated in the Country now, as the Act of owning another person is ridiculous and should've never happened. (DM truly thinks Slavery is a low point in the history of Humans, yet it does make a good plot device.)

The Gnome is in a frenzy, He is pissed at all of you for what has happened and at Logan for snooping. "NONE OF YOUR DAMN BUSINESS HUMAN, **** OFF 'FORE I GUT THE LOT OF YA." 

Strength check 2: 6

OOC: Good lord

Geoffrey you lose grip on the reins as the Horse bucks and fusses, the leather straps burn into your skin and expose some flesh. The Horse now free takes off into the snowstorm.

The Gnome, hearing the commotion with the horse yells out "JACK, GET YUR ARSE OVER HERE AND PULL DIS DAMN CART FREE YA DAFT BEAST."

He makes a Animal handling check: 22

The Horse stops dead in its tracks and Obeying its master, Trots upto the front of the cart. passing by both Geoffrey and Clarity on its way. 

Alethra quickly draws her rifle, racks the bolt, and points it at the gnome. She speaks, affecting an accent she learned from a colleague who makes magical defenses of an automated nature. 

"Hey look, buddy, I'm an Engineer. That means I solve problems. Not problems like 'what is beauty?', because that would fall within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy. I solve practical problems. For instance, how am I gonna stop some big mean mother hubbard from tearing me a structurally superfluous new behind? The answer: use a gun. And if that doesn't work? Use more gun. Like this high-caliber magically enhanced little old number designed by me... built by me, and you best hope... not pointed at you."

Ooof, it was worth a shot.))

While Alethra distracts the gnome, Clarity attempts to trudge through the snow towards the cart. "You said there's people in there? 've got lockpicks, let's see if 'll work...." she whispers to Geoffrey and Logan.

Checks if necessary: Stealth: 22 // Sleight of Hand: 16

 Samson tells the gnome, "If these are slaves, we're taking them. If they're not, give me any excuse as to why these women would be in chains. We'll wait, but not for long." He looks meaningfully at the rifle pointed at the gnome's head, waiting for any excuse.

Intimidation 14

If I have advantage for the rifle at his head 21

Geoffrey hears the mention of slaves and immediately whirls on the gnome walking through the snow and the wind, "You will be going no further with these people. If you try and stop us you will die. If they are not slaves and are instead criminals I am going to need to see proof of that." 

Logan glares at the gnome a moment and carefully lifts the edge of a blanket again, "Hello. It's ok." he tries to get a better look at the women and their condition.

Charwoman_Gene has decided to back out of the Campaign due to lack of Interest. Going forward Silas is no longer with the party and for Continuity purposes never was. Luckily we are still in the early parts so this will not affect the Current Arc you guys are in or the Overall Story.

I will be openly recruiting a 6th player and the Campaign will continue to progress as I do so. Unfortunately however, I have completed some Story Arcs revolving around your characters, Silas was among them so I have to scrap it and start anew. 

This may cause a slight Hiccup in the Overall story as Silas was the tracker of the group and the reason you made it threw the Thicket, I am going under the Impression that the Combined knowledge of Geoffrey and Samson is what pushed the group  threw. 

Samson would have advantage because of the Rifle of Alethra, So the natural 20 does stand.

The Gnome who up until this point has looked pissed off and absolutely furious, Shows a chink in his armor as Alethra produces the strange looking contraption. Rifles and Pistols are not unheard of in Eurolude yet Alethras device looks much more rugged and Un-refined. Gears are exposed and as she Loads the bolt a shot of Steam exhales from the Contraption.

"W-what the **** is that?" The Gnome drops the dagger into the snow and raises his hands to shoulder level. "Alright ALRIGHT, no need fer all this bullshit. Yes, they are slaves. They belong to Lord U'den."

Logan as you lift the sheet once more, You see the four women are visibly terrified at your presence. They are trying to get as far away from you as possible. While caked in dirt and alittle blood. They all appear to be relatively fine. Now that you are able to actually look at them, You notice that while 3 of them are Indeed Human, One of them has slightly elongated ears. The Fourth is a half-elf. They are all Young, Mid to late twenties and they are all Bound by the ankles. 

Before you can even ask for assistance with the Locks, you hear 4 clicks back to back as Clarity appears seemingly out f nowhere and undoes the shackles where they meet the cart. Clarity, these locks on the shackles are incredibly simple. Once you figure out one it dosent take long for you to unlock the rest of them.

Samson turns to the women and gently asks, "What are your names? Don't worry we won't hurt you."

Logan looks at the others, "cattle..." he says quietly, with no small amount of vitriol, recounting the ledger they had found. Logan looks back at the women and subtly casts prestidigitation so without touching them the dirt and blood begins to dissipate.

"I'm feeling nice, so I won't shoot the messenger. But I'm thinking that we really need to pay a visit to Mister U'den." Alethra lowers the gun, still wary and starts to mumble. "If it's another day to get there on foot, it's probably a couple hours with the cart, so we'll need to borrow that. We also need to find somewhere for the... captives to stay until we can get them on their way back." She turns to Gnomy McGnomeface and levels her most intimidating glare at him which is... 20 Decently intimidating. "You're still going on trial, you aren't escaping justice."

"Speaking of, has our little target here hurt you in any way?" Clarity asks as gently as she can.

Geoffrey walks over the gnome to make sure he doesn't try and bolt, "I think it's time that you give us all the information you have and the Flame may have mercy on your soul." Geoffrey leans down until his face is inches from the gnomes, "For the Eternal Night is cold and dark without Her Light and Warmth. A pittance compared to the cold and dark it is going to be in this forest if we strip you down and leave you here." 

CowboySurfer, I have to give you props for that. Well done, very well done. Faeri would be proud of that.

The Gnome's pants become slightly darker for a few moments before the frigid temperature freezes them to his leg. The COmbination of Alethra and geoffrey has sent the Gnome into a state of shock and he collapses to the ground. His eyes glaze over as he truly considers the crimes he has committed and the lives he has ruined. "I.......im Sorry." He begins to weep into his hands, At this point you have broken him with your threats.

Logan, the woman instinctively curl away from you as you flick your wrist in their direction. They have been threw alot and mistrust every person they see. As the prestidigitaion sweeps over the four of them. You see 3 young Human Women, All of them fairly beautiful and looking almost identical to one another. Long brown hair and Soft hazel eyes, their skin is smooth and unaffected by age. The Half-elf is downright gorgeous, not a lone to be seen on her face as the dirt and blood fades away, You see freckles along the bridge of her nose and cheeks.

Her silk like blonde hair now cleanly hangs past her shoulders and a Set of Fierce, Green eyes stare at you. "What do you want Man? We have nothing, we are nothing. Leave us be." The half-elf speaks, Her voice is rigid and Commanding. While she is currently huddled with the other three, She alone is looking you straight in the eye. Her eyes snap to you Clarity, "Aye, Him and his master. They have stripped us of everything we own, They announced us dead to our families; Claiming us killed by a Man-beast." She seems incredibly untrusting of you Logan, but not of Clarity.

"They beat us, starve us and force themselves upon us. We Just want to be free of this blasted life, Kill us or set us free."

Logan's eyes narrow toward the gnome, "Who's his master?" he steps away from the girls, giving Clarity the closer position.

 Samson says to the half-elf in Elvish, "Of course you will be set free, but if you could allow us to help you to the next village, out of the storm, it would set my heart at ease to know you three were out of harm's way. Then you can make your way back to your families, okay?"

Persuasion if needed 18