(Lol, looks like Rash 100% believes whatever she's saying... still not planning to let her go until after we've finished our business here, but he believes her).

"We've had more than enough bloodshed here already," Rash says, giving Obadiah and Roxanna an unhappy, almost pleading look.

"Half-orcs are so wise..." adds the young Zhentarim "They'd deserve to be listened to and respected more often..."

"At this point you're just flattering me," Rash says with a chuckle. "Now, why did the Zhentarim send you here anyway? Or did Mhurren make the decision to come here on his own?"

"We weren't told much, except that Mhurren was the leader of this 'operation' and that we should have obeyed him, wise Rash," Anita explains deferentially, "but given the way he bragged about it, I got the clear impression that it was a plan he had devised from the beginning - and probably he had long insisted on being allowed to attempt to carry it out".

"A person as well versed in the world as you, wise Rash," continues the girl with the pony tail "will surely know that the Zhentarim are banished here in Longsaddle, for the Harpells do not want us. Well, Mhurren, having discovered this place, must having conceived the project of creating a secret Zhentarim base which, while located in the immediate vicinity of Longsaddle, could operate under the noses of the Harpells".

"I have to admit," concludes the young Zhentarim "that to all of us the idea seemed stupid and with little chance of success, so much so that Mhurren initially put a lot of work into the whip... The surname 'Flick' proved well justified... But we probably underestimated the sharpness and capabilities of your glorious race, wise Rash, because the business was getting off to a good start, all things considered... We had already started making smuggling contacts... We had captured as many as three slaves we could sell - though I imagine you've freed them by now. And Mhurren was also trying to train a wolf that he captured... though progress wasn't too clear on that front. Did you free it also? Or rather did you kill it? Well, I guess the latter - that beast was mean, wise Rash..."

Rash's brow furrows... three slaves? He certainly hadn't seen them. Or a wolf.

"Where were the slaves and the beast being kept?" Rash asks. "We didn't see them during the fight... could you lead us to wherever they are being confined?"

Also, he thinks to himself, wherever they're being kept could be a convenient place to stow the Zhentarim prisoners for the time being

"Oh, didn't you find them?" marvels Anita "Mhurren always keeps the key to the prisoner's closet with him... You didn't fool me, did you, wise Rash? You killed Mhurren... did you?" the young Zhentarim seems to doubt the half-orc for a moment... but then she continues "While Mangy (we gave the wolf this name) is in a makeshift cage, in the kitchen. See how wise you were to promise me freedom, esteemed Rash? Now, if you just take these ropes off me, I'll take you wherever you want... After all I've told you, anyway, I'm bound to be yours, am not I? What do you think my former comrades would do to me if they found out that I told you everything? Come on, set me free and let me lead you! Do you prefer the wolf first or the prisoners first?"

Quote from Painted_Beyond >>

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Just about at the same moment, Spira, in the large room with the two mosaics... witnesses the sudden reappearance of Elky!

But, apparently, he acts as if he is meeting her now for the very first time! Exactly as before, the young halfling butler promptly introduces himself: "Hello esteemed visitors. I'm Elky and I'm here to serve you. Would you like something to drink or eat, by any chance? I could have you brought some tea, water, wine, eggs and bacon, a few bites of game, horse meat... Or would you prefer to decline the offer?"

 

 "We were sent by the Harpells to check on this place.", Spira says again, as reassuringly as before.  "There has been no word for many, many years, and so many terrible things have been happening in the Realms that it was long before the familiy realized just how many had passed.  Maester Harpell and Lady Sharnshield were concerned enough to send my colleagues and myself.  They will be joining me down here as soon as they finish some discussions above, and then we would appreciate a guide.  I'm not sure whether or not we will need to visit the prison itself, but that's something we can discuss with the master of this place."  She smiles.  "While I wait, though, I would certainly be grateful for some tea and perhaps an egg or two.  Is there a table nearby where I could sit?"

"No, I didn't fool you; Muhrren is quite dead," Rash replies in a tone he hopes is reassuring. "Anyway, I think you can walk with your hands tied. I already told you that you're still a prisoner until we've finished our business here. I believe you when you say you won't cause problems, but I doubt that my associates would be much happier about me letting you go before we're ready to leave than yours would be about how much you've told me. And I, being a wise half-orc, don't really want to see the angry one's rage directed at me."

Roxana listens quietly to Anita as she speaks, trying to determine, beyond the obvious platitudes, whether she was telling the truth. (Insight: 22)

She finally speaks up. "Our first priority was to make sure Muhrren was taken care of.  We're talking to you now before we check out the rest of this place."  She pauses for just a moment. "It seems like this must have been used by the Hapell's at some point in the past. Why pick this place if you're here to go after the Harpell's and Longsaddle?  Surely they know this place is here."

"It will soon be done, noble visitor!" assures Elky, as he heads towards the same stairs you came from and starts ascending. "Of course, I'll have you taken to a comfortable place where you can refresh your body and spirit! Follow me!"

Spira follows the young halfling butler up again, to level 1; here Elky calls out: "Servants of the house, to me please!"

After that, trustingly, he waits...

Nobody answers or comes, a minute passes, but Elky, patiently, still waits...

(OOC: Will Spira also wait? If so, about how long she's going to wait? Or does she want to do or tell something?)

"I see..." Anita seems a little disappointed "You are wise indeed..."

Then, while Rash is untying her legs, she continues, in a low voice, so that only the half-orc can hear:

"Anyway," the young Zhentarim moves her now free legs with relief "I don't know if I'll be able to climb well, with my hands tied... But once you've taken me up, where do you want to go first? To the wolf or to the prisoners?"

Anyone who wants to eavesdrop on what Anita said to Rush needs a DC 15 perception check.

For Roxana:

Meanwhile Anita marvels at Roxana's statement: "This place... used by the Hapell's at some point in the past? What are you telling me, girl? You all seem so good informed that there were goblins here ... Goblins is all we found! Harpells? We've been here for whole months... and we've never seen a sign of Harpells"

For the DM:

 "Don't worry, we can go around front, so you won't need to climb" Rash tells the girl, taking a few moments to fashion the rope that previously bound her ankles into a makeshift lead to guarantee she won't run as soon as they're outside. "Let's go find the slaves first, I'm not in the mood to deal with a savage wolf right at the moment. It seems the questioning is done for now, so if you don't mind I'm going to put your gag back on."

The half-orc takes the strip of cloth that was previously used to muffle her voice and ties it back in place, just in case there are more Zhents in the forest whom she might be able to call out to.

"Alright, I think that's everything. Ready to go, Anita?"

Anita is ready to go... but Rash find out soon that he is a wise half-orc... but with not so good memory: both ends of the tunnels imply a climb... It is a climb easy enough that you won't risk falling (so, sooner or later, you'll succeed), but it would be more challenging for a bound climber. Anyway, after you all climb, you can have the girl with the pony tail hang on the rope while you pull her up.

However, wherever you start, the young Zhentarim leads you safely to a completely ordinary door... but it's locked.

Anita is trying to tell you something: "Mhumm Fmmm ammms hmms hmm hm whmmm hmmm, hm hmm yhm shm" but she's gagged, so comprehension is difficult...

"I assume you're saying Mhurren has the key?" Rash says... his memory might not be great, but he does remember she said that earlier. "I'll go ahead and grab it... we probably should have done that first, but hindsight is 20/20."

He then knocks on the door and speaks to those on the other side.

"Hey everyone in there, you have a rescue coming. Just hold on, I need to get the key. Try to stay calm... and stay back from the door, just in case I can't find said key... one way or another we're getting you out."

He takes a moment to listen for a response, before he goes to retrieve Mhurren's key.

"Bhmm, whms Rhmmm" Anita approves, nodding her head.

Meanwhile, Rash expected an answer from inside... but three came!

The first is a hopeful and hesitant voice: "Really? Are you coming to free us?"

The second is a caustic and sarcastic voice: "Of course! Why not!? They are the Paladins of the Order of The Gauntlet, who have come here just to rescue you! You fool! They are making fun of you!"

The third, more measured voice limits itself to asking: "Spira? Are you there too?"

"Thanks," Rash tells Anita, giving her a pat on the shoulder. He certainly appreciates that she is doing her best to be helpful in spite of everything. Though, all things considered, she is probably just doing what she knows is in her best interests.

But his train of thought is interrupted unexpectedly by one of the three voices on the other side of the door. Rash is taken aback when the third voice asks for Spira by name... that was not something he had expected at all.

"You know the tiefling healer?" Rash says in surprise. "She's not in the room right now, but she is with us on this mission."

He turns his attention to Obediah and Roxanna.

"I'm going to go grab that key," he tells them. "It shouldn't take me more than a few minutes."

Then he will go to the throne room to collect the key from the dead half-orc. Then he will immediately return with it to get the door open as quickly as he can.

"Perhaps you could tell Spira that that brother of hers is here while you're at it." The white-haired warrior mutters as Rash is about to leave, then keeping a vigilant glaring eye on their prisoner.

Rash easily finds the other half-orc's lifeless body and, searching it, finds not one but two keys (and they are two different ones, not copies of each other)!

Anita, in the meantime, left without the member of the group with whom she seemed to have formed the best relations, shivers slightly under Obadiah's gaze. Perhaps to ease the tension, she tries to tell him: "You fight well... You could make a career out of us Zhentarim. I could introduce you to them when... when you've finished whatever you're doing here".