Lost Mine of Phandelver

GUNDREN, NUNDRO and SILDAR will all Ready their attacks as well to counter-attack Isolde if she attacks any other party member.

"Why," Van says, his knuckles turning white as he grips the sword hilt. "Do I not believe you?"

Garet ready crossbow attack at Isolde and waits for the outcome of Van dialogue 

"Alive." Says Rigel as he takes a step back. "You meant to say "When we find him ALIVE." A then we have a deal."  The Ranger motions for the others to back up and stand down. "We'll meet you back here when it's done." He spins on his heel and marches back towards the others.

Far too tired to argue for once, and knowing in part what would happen if the blood got pumping again, Marcon at least gradually began lower his guard, and even began moving to follow after Rigel... But then a thought occurs that gives him pause. Two thoughts technically if accounting for their surviving bugbear allies who were very much alive and probably confused on the situation. 

But apart from sparing the other bugbear a brief look and awkward shrug, Marcon's attention promptly returned to the totally-not-a-sith-lord elf. "A while back I... There was this moment in the tunnels that I heard somethin' whispering to me, suggesting I 'Attack', which I assumed at the time to be the others, seeing as we were gearing up for this like, ambush? But noone else heard it or had actually said anything, which made it extra weird. And for sec I thought..." He glances down to his hands for a second, only to curtly shake his head and look once more Isolde. "That hadn't happened to have been you back then, was it?" 

Ronk lets out a breath and relaxes from his defensive stance, leaning on his spear. He says to the others in a low voice, "So.. We're done fighting for now?" The bugbear does look a little tapped out at the moment.

Marcon glances over to Ronk, then again to the unnamed bugbear, before again looking to Isolde. "Certainly seems like it... though -- and this is gonna sound bad or even heartless -- but we probably want to pop a squat somewhere for a bit after all this noise. And, ya know, see to our wounds 'fore we run into any more trouble." He went on to suggest.

ISOLDE

(TO VANZAREN): "I don't know why you don't believe me, that is a question only you can answer. Believe what you want, but my offer stands at face value...find the boy and you can have him, but you will leave those glorious items of mine in that exact same spot...I'll come and collect them when I'm ready. So I suppose we must both be willing to trust one another on our word alone. But mind you, if this agreement is not strictly adhered to, you will all find my blade in your bellies..."

(TO RIGEL) "Alive, yes...the boy is absolutely alive, unless of course he has done something that would cause him not to be. He's a rather adventurous lad and prone to getting himself into trouble, especially in a place like this, so you'd better hurry...who knows what else lurks down here, hmm?"

(TO MARCON): "Do you often hear voices that others don't? Sounds rather serious, perhaps you should seek out a priest of whatever deity you ascribe to...but I assure you it was not I that whispered violent urgings into your consciousness, although whoever did sounds positively lovely."

Marcon squints at Isolde, and tried to in vain to uncover any duplicity in her words...

-Insight: 5. 

Isolde looks blankly at Marcon as he squints and stares at her as if trying to read her mind. "Be careful there friend, don't overdo it...I've heard that concentrating too hard is stressful to the psyche...and clearly your sanity is already hanging by a thread as it is. Have you slept recently? You look awful tired."

(TO THE ENTIRE PARTY) "Alright then, having heard no verbal objections, I'll assume your silence is representative of your acceptance to our little arrangement. You want the boy, I want my items. Exchange one for the others in the EXACT location in which you find him - ALIVE, mind you..." Isolde stares at Rigel as she punctuates the word 'alive' to ensure he knows that this is part of the bargain. "Break this pact at your own peril," she says as she pulls a small tuning fork from a pocket and taps it lightly against the hilt of her ridiculously large greatsword. A magic circle begins to glow at her feet and a second later, the floor disappears beneath her. "Good luck..." says the devilish eladrin as gravity drags her into the portal, to dimensions unknown. The glowing circle of glyphs then fades into nothingness.

Marcon had looked all the more guilty following Isolde's spiel to Rigel. But that hadn't stopped him from making the suggestion to the others. Though soon enough, any feelings on the matter are shoved to the wayside as her answers to his own inquiry only served to rile him up to the point of glaring, baring his teeth, and even emitting a throaty hiss closer to that of a dragon or large reptile than anything human.

Yet perhaps in an act of defiance of expectations, that... was the limit of his aggression. Even as his face and arms began to painfully itch the longer he had to look upon her. Anyone looking at Marcon at that time would see the edges of his face and even his arms had begun to ripple. Once she's gone however, a couple deep breathes sees the young man at least relax to the point that the rippling stops, and he didn't look as if he'd murder the next thing to so much as talk to him. He looks again to the sole remaining black spider henchmen (as far as he knew) left and says in goblin, "Guess there goes your chance at revenge to, huh? I'd ask if you'd be still willing to help out, but-..." He looks to a likely angry Sildar, Gundren, and Nundro. "Probably better skeedadle for any mines get changed if I were you, seeing as you're kinda outnumbered bud. But if you feel like making amends for any part you played in the Spider's whole mess, I won't stop ya. 'cause honestly... we could probably use all the help we can." Marcon ends on a tired note. And though he had no hands in reach of a weapon, the bugbear had to have seen him do plenty enough damage with his hands alone.

The bugbear eyes Marcon coldly for a moment, then looks over at the severed head of his former master still lying in the corner where Isolde had discarded it. Then glances around the room observing the bodies of three giant spiders (plus one roasting on the fire) as well as his three dead kinsmen. His lip snarls as he growls through his teeth and tightens the grip on his weapon...for a moment he considered just pummeling Marcon one good time and then die out of spite rather than help the man and his friends, but the emotion fades as the reality of the bugbear facing his god in the afterlife - immediately after surrendering in battle - sets in.

On the one hand, the bugbear knew he'd lost his nerve rather than die with honor like his friends, but on the other, the thought of actually helping the group of "goodly races" nearly made him sick to his stomach. The bugbear then lowered his weapon and slackened his grip and with a scowl still plastered across his face, he nods in agreement at Marcon, which is as close to an offer of "help" that the farmhand was going to get.

"I..I would not m..mind some r..rest" gasps Garet "I know we are not long h..here but It f.feels l..like m..months"

Rigel gives Garet a nod of agreement. He looks over his shoulder to confirm that the others are folllowing. He's a little surprised that the Not Ronk bug bear has decided to come along but decides not to press the issue. Instead he turns his attention to Gundren and his gang. Gettin' to be a bit of a habit finding you this way." Rigel claps a reassuring hand on the dwarfs shoulder. "Glad to see you're doing relatively well. As uncomfortable as it may be let's retire to that room you were just in so that we can recoup. Besides I have questions for our new "friend" Rigel gently urges Gundren towards the entrance and down the hall to the room that they had previously occupied. He gives Sildar and Nundro similar greetings.

"*****," Van whispers as she disappears. He follows everyone else out.

The group proceeds to the small room in the eastern hall that previously served as a holding cell for Gundren, Nundro and Sildar. The dwarf and his companions gather in the alcove at the back of the room while Garet and Vanzaren fill in the small corner to the northeast. Marcon and Ronk post up as sentries just inside doorway...after ensuring that the bugbear henchman finds his way to the center of the room first. Gundren gives the goblinoid a hard stare, which the bugbear returns with equal measure.

After a final glance down both ends of the adjacent hallway, Rigel enters last and takes up a position near the center of the room as well such that he has a good line of sight one everyone - especially the new "addition" to the party.

Large shards of broken wood lie scattered around the room; remnants of the door which Marcon blasted down with brute force. Dusty draperies adorn the walls of this room, which also contains a musty bed and an unlit brazier. An old tapestry adorns the western wall which features the image of a dwarf with gleaming green eyes seated on a throne; a mighty stone warhammer across his lap.

The cold reception hadn't been lost on Marcon. But such was young man's state that even in a sidelong glance at some of the bodies as well, the full scope of what he'd been asking of the bugbear failed to fully settle in mind, let alone had his thoughts truly even walked a parallel path to the bugbear's own thoughts. He simply breathe a sigh of relief in the agreement, then loosely gestured for the bugbear to follow after the others out of... 'respect' for bugbears potential to catch him or another unaware during the transition.

Though if the new guy 'insisted' on following after, Marcon had not nearly enough spoons or conviction to stand his ground on the subject in the moment. Before long, he found himself at rest by the door and absently cataloguing his various injuries/soon to be bruises. "Let's make this a short stay, if'in everyone don't mind too much. I know, uh, there's probably plenty more desire to make it longer. But if that elf lady wasn't completely b'sing us earlier about the kid.... *sigh*.... then we don't exactly got the luxury of anything longer." He says to the group at large. Looking then to the Bugbear he asks in [goblin], "What'cher name, by the way? Or at least one ya don't mind being called by."

“Grahl…” spits the bugbear, with obvious disdain. 

Marcon ignores the hostility in favor of patting his own chest. "Marcon. That there is Rigel, Garet, Ronk-..." And on he goes, naming off the others despite harboring doubts in the bugbear bother to memorize the names, let alone speak of them without insult. "Since we have a little time--" He shoots a glance at the others. "-ish to lick our wounds 'n all that. Mind if I ask just... why? Or better yet, how you and yours got mixed up with the spider? Also... You know King Grol is dead, right? Not try'na upset ya, but... yea. If it was 'cause you and yours were still under orders, then... s'pose I might owe ya'll an apology?" 

Speaking first in common and then in goblin, Rigel says, "We appreciate your help Grohl but if you're not up to it I understand and true to my word you are free to leave, your obligation has been filled. But if you stay I would ask you one question, what we're you digging for in the chasm?