Lost Mines, Lost Labs, and Lost Hope (RobJFalcon's Campaign)

Nezznar speaks again. "I am finished, my operation ruined. Who are you people? How did you thwart my goals so easily... I took precautions, you subverted them all. How? Why?" His demeanor seems that of a broken man.

"Yeah. You've wanted us dead for a while. What we want to know is more about your failed operation. What's in this mine? Do you have any connection with the late Venomfang and the star clad wizard. Oh and do you know how to kill that chattering skull for good?"

"You don't even know what this mine is for? You haven't heard of the Spell Forge? Ha. You destroyed my entire operation and you don't even know what to do with it now? So much wasted potential wielded by fools. You could have joined me. Ask your precious dwarf employer why he wants this mine, hopefully he's not as clueless as you.

I have no idea who you're talking about and if I had the means to destroy that skull it'd be gone. Now, are you going to answer my questions? Who are you? Where did you come from? What is in it for you to disrupt my claim on the mine?"

We are Bowel Shift, from the start we've been employed by an old dwarven friend.  It was just supposed to be one job, but your job kind of entangled ours.  As to why disrupt your claim over Gundren?  I... we might just be ********.  I know that's probably more than annoying of an answer, but I can't think of anything more fitting.

This mother f***er, starts to walk towards Nezznar NO Hymir don't he's not worth it..... No he's being a dick talking to us like he's on a throne when he is on his knees you pathetic creature listen to yourself if WE are fools what does that make YOU, you expect us to know all the ins and outs of a place you spent years trying to stake a claim in. you will show us respect and answer OUR questions and if, and only IF we feel like it we may indulge the rest of your questions.

punches Nezznar in the back of the head 3 adv 18 dmg 1-1=0 

Absinthe picks Nezznar up and throws him over his shoulder. With Nezznar's face hovering slightly over Absinthe's ass, he lets out a fart that provides another rancid sequel every step. "Hey guys, we should go kill that skull again... I have my first ever plan! Or something like that." 

I in no way want to discourage you and will probably agree with you regardless starts walking with Absinthe ....but since it is your first plan would you mind filling us in BEFORE we get there, just asking my reliable friend.

I look at the table and the bedrolls looking for stuff

Dustfinger goes to the other room to assist the formerly tied up dwarf. 

Nezznar looks at Dirk, "Actually, that's not annoying that's as honest an answer as I've ever heard." Then to Hymir, "Your uncontrolled indignation is a sad example of humanity. It is no wonder the drow enslave so many of you. That didn't even hurt... I've been here for less than a month, and if you haven't noticed, I've been showing you respect, but you'll receive no more of that acting like a child."

Absinthe shoulders the shackled spider without resistance, just an "Oof" as he's shouldered in the stomach.

Az Emberi sees the table is strewn with notes and maps showing Nezznar’s efforts at exploring the mine so far. A black leather sack is amid the papers, containing 225 gp, 15 pp, nine small gemstones (10 gp each), and a dwarven ale mug made of hammered electrum (100 gp). The bedrolls are merely that, a place to sleep.

Dustfinger exits and checks in on the dwarf, who has passed out again. He has been beaten but it seems the more prominent form of torture was lack of sleep and food. He stands on weak legs with Dustfinger's help.

Fjolnir collects himself and any arrows not ruined- he asks Nezznar, as hes hoisted over the goliath shoulder; "So eh... what do YOU want with the soulforge? It doesnt seem to be running as it is- no water source, the dykes seem busted up..."

After looking over the plans on the table. "Hold on a second. Absinthe could you please set him down in a chair. I want to have a conversation."

If Absinthe puts him down Az Emberi sits in a chair across from him. If not I'll stand behind Absinthe and continue conversing. This is designed to play out more like a back and forth conversation not me drilling him on multiple things at once. 

Sorry for the harsh treatment. We were trying to kill each other a few minutes ago. Lets switch gears and be civil here.

1. Why was the forge so important yo you?

     A. It doesn't seem like this was a drow operation you are apparently acting alone.

2. Where were you going to go after you escaped us. What was your next move?

      A. Where you going to circle back and attempt to take it back?

    B. Where you going to count your loses and move on?

3. Hypothetically if we let you go what would you do next?

     A. Would you swear vengeance and come after us and this mine?

     B. Would you be somewhat grateful and let us all part ways amicably.

Ultimately we ruined your plans because we were hired to do mostly unrelated things that didn't coincide with your goals. We were offered a stake in this mine and that was profitable enough for us to come here. We didn't come here for you specifically. Our goals were at odds. However, now we've succeeded and I'm not sure what to do. Do we kill our enemy? Do we bring the big bad drow to justice? Or... Do we take the win you take the loss and we go about our business. What do you want the outcome to be. Convince us that its beneficial for us.

My passive insight is 14. I'll roll if you'd rather.

Only a delusional creature would call someone a fool then with its very next breath claim to only show respect. where is your spell-book wizard and don't test my patience or the following breath won't be pleasant.

visually charge up shocking grasp

To Fjolnir: "My goal was to restore the mine to its former glory. It was once a wonder to behold, so I hear."

To Hymir: "Is the truth not respectful? You were offered a job to end my operation, and you took it, unaware of what you were facing, that is foolish whether you think it is or not, and your opinion and anger about it doesn't change what it is. I showed you the amount of respect that a fool deserves, but your current posturing isn't doing much to regain the respect you lost from your previous outburst. Are you going to kill me while I'm shackled? How very noble."

Guys this is super boring.  Are we going to bore him to death, because there might be additional casualties over here.  I say, waving.

wow it's really coming together you call us fools because we came in to clear an area before we knew how weak you were before hand, yes I'm showing anger but it's an emotion not an inherent infantile state, regain respect? HA you are nothing regaining your respect is a nothing action and kill you while shackled its obvious you're scared because moments ago you attempted to web us and kill us which is the exact same thing if or when I kill you, these pathetic self deluded self absorbed words will have no effect. You all can question him its obvious he is no threat and has no bearing on my life.

Dustfinger gives the dwarf a ration and some water and helps him out to the rest of the group. "If we're done here, we really need to get this man topside and back to his family. What's your name, dwarf?"

The Az Emberi conversation:

Sorry for the harsh treatment. We were trying to kill each other a few minutes ago. Lets switch gears and be civil here.
"Interesting."

1. Why was the forge so important to you? "It's a magic forge, it'd be important to anyone who knows what they're doing. I researched it, I had the resources to take advantage of it, and apparently lost that gamble. I put a lot in this mine and like any investment, I expected to reap benefits from it."

     A. It doesn't seem like this was a drow operation you are apparently acting alone. "Yes, well, not alone but not with other drow if that's what you mean."

2. Where were you going to go after you escaped us. What was your next move? "I hadn't planned that far ahead. I didn't plan on being ousted in the first place. Once my spiders burned to a crisp and you slaughtered all but 2 of my bodyguards, my only goal was survival. I surrendered because you'd have surely killed me with the same ferocity had I kept fighting."

      A. Where you going to circle back and attempt to take it back? "Ha ha! With what? You killed half the Redbrands and the rest disbanded. Who knows how many Cragmaw you killed, and they accepted a new leader. My forces consisted of what was in this cave, so the two bugbear that quit? I have nothing left."

    B. Where you going to count your loses and move on? "Do you have any idea the gravity of my losses? A man as influential and rich as I was, who BOUGHT, literally purchased an entire army of goblinoids, that are now dead? Only a handful of people have and will ever have seen that much money in their entire lives, let alone all at once, and now not only is that money gone, but what I had to show for it as well. So understand this, when I say I have no choice but to start over from where I was more than twenty years ago, with NOTHING, and I must move on, know that the weight of that statement is much heavier than it would be if YOU made it. There's not much else I can do, is there?"

3. Hypothetically if we let you go what would you do next? "I don't know, find somewhere to start again? I have no idea."

     A. Would you swear vengeance and come after us and this mine? "Child, by the time I get myself back on track, it will be up and running with a full team of defenders again. I would then need to get an even larger army than before, which means more time, more money, do you see where I'm going? This was my chance to do it, and it's gone."

     B. Would you be somewhat grateful and let us all part ways amicably. "Somewhat grateful, yes. Not as grateful as I'd have been if you didn't kill my forces and leave the mine alone in the first place. Are you proposing a truce?"

Ultimately we ruined your plans because we were hired to do mostly unrelated things that didn't coincide with your goals. We were offered a stake in this mine and that was profitable enough for us to come here. We didn't come here for you specifically. Our goals were at odds. However, now we've succeeded and I'm not sure what to do. Do we kill our enemy? Do we bring the big bad drow to justice? Or... Do we take the win you take the loss and we go about our business. What do you want the outcome to be. Convince us that its beneficial for us.
"I..." Nezznar takes a deep breath. "I may not be able to. You defeated me handily. It was not difficult for you to thwart my endeavors, not just the mine but the entire empire that I built for myself. That is why I keep asking who you are because you operate like a well-trained task force but you look like a bunch of random misfits. I mean, Bowel Shift? Who in their right mind? I can't compete with you, I can't get set back twenty years by a team of crazy adventurers, and expect to be powerful enough to be a threat to you in your lifetime. I guess what I'm saying is, you'll have to take solace in the fact that you ruined me, and you'll all die of natural causes before I could be in a place to be able to kill you."

Anyone with a passive Insight of 11 or higher:

Dustfinger and the Dwarf: The dwarf smiles through his beard at Dustfinger and says, "Thank you. I expected to die here, in fact, I already considered myself dead, which is why I didn't tell them anything.  Ha ha, ooooh, laughing hurts. I'm Nundro Rockseeker. My... My brother, did you find him? I don't think he made it..."

"There was a dwarven body just at the entrance of the mine as we came in. You're the first survivor we've found, Nundro. Is this drow the one who attacked you and your group?" Dusty points at Nezznar.

"I have an idea for a sentient ale mug, I want to keep Skully as a pet. I named him already."

To Nezznar: "Man, we really did bad things to your life... Really bad things... I almost feel like the best thing we could do for you now is to kill you." Absinthe stares at Lightbringer for a minute. "Respectfully of course."