Caer Blaine Campaign

STEALTH: 9

Ruhkis

Rukis is skeptical and resigns to trusting Theos for the moment. Whispering to Nalla, he says, "The priest is fine for now." The dwarf chews on his bottom lip and grips his axe in frustration - but remains in position while going over potential scenarios in his mind.

((Can I tell if the one skulking through the trees, moving in our direction, is doing so purposefully like he knows where we are, or he's just trying to flush us out?))

Perception: 19

and if it's needed again, Stealth: 5

You still see him, you didn't lose sight as he's getting closer. He doesn't look like he's trying to flush you out, just find you, and he's REALLY bad at it... His weapon is drawn, btw. 

Ruhkis

Ruhkis will cast message again, this time whispering at the skulker in the trees. "Our cleric is here to heal and help. That is all. We don't care who your are or what you've done but you and yours need to stop acting so defensive or our blades will be wrapped around your skulls tighter than those bands are wrapped around yer arm. Drop the sword and stand where you are."
((multiple castings as necessary if there is a word limit))

Intimidation: 17

NALLA 

Quote from plumbloco666 >>

Ruhkis

Rukis is skeptical and resigns to trusting Theos for the moment. Whispering to Nall, he says, "The priest is fine for now." The dwarf chews on his bottom lip and grips his axe in frustration - but remains in position while going over potential scenarios in his mind.

 

Nalla nods quietly at Ruhkis's words, keeping a keen eye on the man in the forest and trying to stay hidden from the new men that exited the cabin. Nalla will prepare an action that if the man in the forest raises his weapon to attack us, Nalla will attack him. 

((Can I see that McFuddy is following the man skulking through the trees?))

STEALTH: 11

Theos

Theos considers his proposal. "The deal sounds fair to me. What do I need to know? I want to help you in any way I can."

McFuddy

Stealth: 15

Bow drawn, arrow not pulled back yet. but if someone raises their weapon to attack my teammates.

The man in the woods stops dead in his tracks and spins his head around looking for where the voice came from. He sheathes his blade and begins to look around nervously but advances no further.

------

"No use hiding, bigun! " One of the men on the porch calls, facing Nalla. 

"Holy shit! That bird's wearing clothes!" Calls another.

"There's another over here." Says the last one, looking square at Liet. "That's too many for my liking..." He draws his shortsword. "Drop your weapon and come here little fella. I promise not to hurt you." An unsettling grin comes across his face. "Unless I need to...."

-------

The short man takes a seat at the table, the remaining two men in the house (jakal is effectively unconscious) eye Theos carefully.

"Long story short, the demon from the mine gave us bands and told us it would give us power. Well, it certainly did. I'm not normally a 16 year old girl. We can disguise ourselves as needed in order to do... Whatever we need to do. And its worked marvelously well, but at a price." He motions towards the room that jakal is in. "It gives us the ability, but it also takes, leaving us weak and debilitated... A fraction of our normal health. We can pry the things off... But it's not easy. And bandages won't heal the wound over time if we rip them out. We've been 'gathering' supplies for the last month from the road, but we came to the conclusion it's not worth it. We need some sort of spiritual healing to fix these... Normally we'd itch for a fight with your friends out there, but we're sick priest. We need help."

Ruhkis

The dwarf hears the men on the porch hollering, but remains focused on the one in the woods. Casting message as necessary to facilitate a quick conversation, he says "Good man. It sounds like you're smarter than your companions. If anyone comes out of this all right it's going to be you, isn't it? What's your name? Answer me out loud - I'll hear you."

When he answers, Ruhkis will say, "Nice to meet you <name>. You seem like a decent enough fellow. Your friends on the porch look like they're itching to taste the blade though and I'd like to prevent that from happening. What's their names?"

"J...j...Johnny..." The man says, an obvious tremor in his voice..."

"B..b.. blackey, whitey, a...and Dale." The man puts his hands up still looking around frantically. "Master wizard... If that's what you is... Please don't hurt me, I don't get paid enough to fight no wizards!"

Ruhkis

message > Johnny
"No, Johnny, of course you don't get paid enough to be disintegrated by a wizard. So lets make sure that doesn't happen. Please leave your sword on the ground and walk <direction/distance>."

((Ruhkis will direct Johnny to no closer than 30' of the dwarf's current position. Once there, Ruhkis will cast mold earth to excavate a narrow hole right in front of Johnny, about three 3' down and 1.5' wide - just enough for Johnny to stand in. The dwarf will direct Johnny to hop in, then use the same spell to fill in whatever space remains with tightly compacted dirt (casting mold earth again, if necessary). Johnny should be buried up to somewhere between his knees and waist when it's all said and done - immobilized but unharmed.))

Theos

Theos examines the bands. "Who is this demon. It seems like the best way to end your pain is to slay the foul creature. I know you are weak, but I have an idea. Join us. We will go to the mine and end this demon. Then, your curse will be lifted and you shall be free. What say you? Will you join me in this quest to free yourselves from darkness?"

Persuasion: 6

NALLA

Seeing as she has been discovered, she puts her handaxes away, but keeps them in easy reach. She then takes a deep breath and slowly exits from behind the tree, making sure to exit on the opposite side of Ruhkis, seeing as he's busy working with the man in the woods and the men on the porch didn't mention him. She holds her arms up innocently and looks at the men quietly. She simply steps in front of the tree, though no closer to them. 

Liet isn't actually holding any weapons (just his wooden shield with the large spider fangs embedded in it), so he has nothing to drop, but he also does not approach. He takes a half step back, but makes no threatening movements.

"y....yes master wizard. Just please don't turn me to cinders!' Johnny says. He does as instructed and is now immobile from being stuck in the earth. His skin was already pale, but the poor fellow is so scared now he's almost translucent. 

------

"Look lad. I told you to come here," The man says that is looking at Liet. "I don't fancy repeating myself." He takes a step toward Liet, bit stays on the porch. "Now."

-------

"Hahaha!" The man cackles, then spitters into a coughing fit. "No no no priest. It's not what you think. The demon of the mine is, well.... I'd still call him a demon I suppose, the man is mad. He's batshit crazy, actually, but he's no true demon. The devil's slew the real one, I heard, and he just took up the mantle to sound scary. Well, it's worked. People from here to Luthaan know about the demon of the mine terrorizing the roads. He got his wish." The man's face grows stern. "As far as attacking him, you're on your own. We just one small group that works for him. He's got plenty more than us. I don't want to get healed then commit suicide. I just want to get the hell out of the Republic, and away from him. These bands are the worst thing that's happened to any of us. So figure out how to fix them, priest."

Liet will take two more steps back from the man, holding his shield in front of him, saying nothing. He's not at all threatening, but makes it clear he has no intention to approach.

Ruhkis

Turning away from the woods,  Ruhkis sees that McFuddy and Nalla are patiently holding position. Nodding in approval the dwarf then turns his gaze towards the cabin and sees the precarious position that Liet is currently in. The dwarf's mind races, trying to figure out a way to keep the situation from falling apart.

message > Theos
"These frog-lickers on the porch are itchin' for a fight. We can't stall them forever."

Theos

Theos ponders the man's words. "There is no demon you say? So all of this is caused by a crazed man? The only way I can save you all is if my friends and I slay that "demon". We'll go to the mine and kill him, freeing you from your curse. You can join us, and we can fight him together, or you can let us go and we'll deal with him ourselves. For if you try to stop us from leaving, you'll get your wish to be out of the Republic, and of this world."

Theos will prepare shield of faith, and will cast it on himself in case things get ugly. He'll wait for the man's response before leaving.

Persuasion/Intimidation: 18

"Slaying the demon will do no good priest, he's affected by his band just as we are. And I'm not going back there, I'll gladly tell you where he is if you heal us, but I'm not going back." The short man stands up again and cracks his neck. "As for you leaving, that's yet to be determined. As far as I can tell, you haven't healed anyone yet." The man draws his sword slowly, and points it at Theos. "No one leaves until we're all healed, is that clear, priest?"

The short man strokes his stubbled chin, then turns to another man next to him. "Rip off the band." He says calmly. 

"Wha..?" The man skews his face in confusion. "Last time..."

"I know what happened last time," The short man cuts in, sword now turned to the man next to him. "We have to try again, and now we have a priest. Either you rip it off or I will. Which is it?"

The pale man grew even paler as he brought his hand up to the band around his arm. He took a moment and several long deep breaths as he gripped the iron, knuckles white. He slid the band down his arm. The room fills with the sound of metal tearing flesh as the barbs that were burrowed into his skin scrap down his forearm creating long, deep, jagged gashes. Another scream of pain echoes from the cabin into the woods. The muscles in his arms are cut and diced, rendered useless. Blood flows freely into a pool beneath the man, and he drops the metal onto it with a clang. He falls to his knees, good arm holding the mangled one. He looks up at Theos, tears in his eyes. "Please.... priest.... please..." Is all he can say between sobs. 

The short man nods satisfactorily and turns to Theos, and slowly brings his sword to the priests throat. 

"Try it again." The short man says. The tone of his voice grave, certain. There would be no further discussion. 

----------------------------

@Everyone else:      You all hear a second scream come from the cabin. 

Theos

((Out of spell slots... RIP))

"I pray to Uldi that this man may live." Theos will cast spare the dying on the man, and loses his concentration on shield of faith. "I can only help this man when he is on the brink of death, and then, and then only can Uldi pull him back to life. We must wait." Theos will wait for the man to go unconcious, and then cast spare the dying on him, bringing him back.

"If you kill me first, there will be two dead men in this room. If you don't there won't have to be any." Theos warns, as he waits.