To T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's credit, he had at least found someone who matched the general dimensions of a dwarf, if a bit more "robust" around the gut. Except in place of either pale or earthen hued skin that might be associated with the children of stone and forge, the hogtied man flesh was of a turquoise tone, and seemed far too moist despite what little clothes left to him being dry as a bone. As if to add to any confusion, his long black hair clings and drapes as if he'd recently been submerged underwater.

He looks otherwise fairly young as well by at least dwarven standards, if thought with a practically butchered beard adorning rounded face and ears with edges reminiscent of fish fins. Fortunately for Flux, some modesty had also been left in simple and well-worn breeches, long sleeved tunic, boots, and a padded doublet stained with food grease.

It's not until the commentary about a lemon that Flux gives up the charade of pretending to sleep to look up at T'chal with a large, dark eye. Both then snap open in surprise upon taking in the crossbow wielding's figure. But after a panicked moment of looking about the room as if expecting to see something else, he eventually breathes a sigh of relief through his nose, and calms down enough to focus pleading eyes on the tiefling.

Relief soon turned to confusion at the... business pitch? However, realizing quickly the tiefling was being quite serious after unfurling the long arse contract, Flux lets out an exasperated groan and half-heartedly glared up at his would-be rescuer. Though the moment T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's looked as if he might pull the contract away, Flux immediately becomes more animated and practically beggingly grunts at the tiefling to once again bring forth the contract for a second once over.

And he would genuinely spend the next few minutes, if allowed to that is, to study the integrity of the contract, searching for any signs of magical language that might make it more binding, and generally making sure no excessive costs or indentured servant was expected from his end of the bargain. If things then proved hanky dorey after all that, he'd finally blink twice up at the man and eagerly await to at least have a hand free.

... But on the other hand, if there been any signs of underhanded dealing tied to the contract, Flux more vehemently glared up at tT'chal, before then trying his best to break out of his bindings using raw strength alone!

General Intelligence(?) for understanding the legalese: 20. (if able to use wis instead, that's + 5)

-Rope Breaking Attempt: 16.
(If it comes to it)

(OOC: Not sure how bare bones in equipment we may be, but I'll assume for now we've been left with plain clothes for the most part)

-

Not seeing anything nasty in the contract, and giving the double blink agreed upon sign, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker takes a moment to pull the lemon from the man's mouth. "Excellent, I'm glad we have an accord.  I'll just ...here.....yup..."  He places the pen in the man's still bound hands, and holds the paper up behind his back so the man can scribble upon it.  

Assuming that completes, he then promptly pulls out a blade and cuts the man free, taking several quick steps away from him while the stout fellow frees himself from the rest of his hog-tied situation. He tucks the contract away into his bag.  As he waits, he gives a small bow, "As mentioned, my name is T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

Trusting Kerric to have his back should anything untoward happen. The hogtied figure with an apple in its mouth would see the diminutive figure of a gnome approach wearing fairly bland and common clothing with a staff in one hand and a dagger cinched around his waist. He looks at the bound prisoner with genuine curiosity as he removes the apple from their mouth.

”You seem to be in quite the predicament. You should consider yourself lucky we’ve found you and not another in our group. I imagine the first thing he would show you is a contract of some variety. He’s big on those… anyways… I’m Xalkas and tall and brooding over there is Kerric. Who might you be? And how did you end up here?” 

Xalkas pauses and waits for the figure to answer. While he waits, he inspects the apple a bit and, if nothing seems wrong with it, begins eating it. He’s famished after all. 

Once at the very least ungagged, Flux spent the first few moments of partial freedom rolling his tongue in his mouth and stretching his chops. As for signing the contract immediately, well...

"N-now hold on just a minute there, son. I can't rightly sign anything like this! That is to say, in this particular postion." Flux said with a chuckle to his voice. "S-so L-listen, listen here. Surely a tiefling clearly of your persuasion understands that a properly signed contract should be done in such a way as to make beyond a reasonable doubt the, uh, signee's signature is clear, yes? N-now I-I know there are folks out there whose penmanship is little better than chicken scratch 'n all that. And, uh, th-they make do."

"But if my name is to be bound to any wh-wholly legal and official documentation, I should of course be in the best position to make the notations! A-as you wouldn't want me to ruin a perfectly good contract accidently scribbling all over the place and potentially, uh, rendering it null and void. A-and I swear by the honor and name of my clan, that I-If you free at least my arms so that I may, uh, again, properly sign, then it shall be done swiftly and without further fuss!" He assured.

"P-plus I, er, it wouldn't -- SHOULDN'T be a breach in contract in you merely, uh, further supplying me the means to, uh, complete this transaction wouldn't it now? A-and of course in exchange for this rather small boon at that, I-I could of course supply you and your clearly professional, uh... W-wait... You didn't come here alone, did you? N-not doubt your skill of course, but uh... a lone man to rescue the delegations is, uhh..." The whole Flux had been speaking up to this point, the dwarf, or half-dwarf at least was just a bundle of nervous energy born of both excitement, relief, and a hint of fear. But as he trailed off on that final note, assuming he'd been allowed to get as far after all his rambling and wheeling, he looked more confused than anything. "You are here for them, yes? A-and clearly their retinue? Which I, uh, ammm... more or less a member of." 

As Flux finishes his energetic ramblings...there's a sort of stunned look on T'chal'fronack'zcinicker face....and it's difficult to tell if he's displeased, happy, angry, or....anyway for a moment.  And then his face entirely lightens up, a big smile appearing on his face. Perhaps he's been looking for this delegation so long that this is what relief looks like?  With his eyes alight, he sits back and practically sighs in relief. 

"Oh my goodness. It's SO nice to finally meet a like minded individual in these barbaric lands. You won't believe how many moronic imbecilic meat puppets I find myself surrounded by, their only purpose in life apparently to keep their skeletons from falling over. If I had to show you the number of contracts signed with a scrawled X or a squiggly line, well, my word. I must say, where did you study?  At the dwarven ....place of....did you say you were with the delegation?  Oh my, I suppose that is also important information. That's wonderous, really. As you might be able to tell, these cults are operating evil schemes without any sort of approvals or licenses from the appropriate sources. Though...right, you're still a planar, so I wouldn't expect you to get all that.  Anyway....one minor...very minor point before we continue. My name isn't son, nor is it guy, dude, or tiefling. My name is T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. T...chal....fron...ack....shin...ick...er.  It's not that difficult.  T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.  It has less syllables than intellectualization, but you don't have any problems with that word do you?  Anyway, yes, you're absolutely correct, let me free you up a bit so that you can make any amendments to the contract that you wish to negotiate. I should say though that as the rescuee you don't have an entirely strong position to negotiate from."  He taps his nose, and adds, "Even once you are untied, I'm afraid it's quite a harrowing and lengthly trip past many dangers to escape from this locale....so if you're hoping to avoid the contract, you're up the creek so to speak." 

“Moronic, imbecilic meat puppets, eh?” A platinum blonde, porcelain skin, high cheekbones and pointed ears has been quietly perched leaned up against the doorframe behind T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. At first glance, she appeared to be elven, but only upon closer inspection, the curves of her frame and shorter stature would say otherwise. The half-elf wore simple cloth, a white shirt with a deep cowl and tight-fitting black pants with a mix of pouches stapped to her hips. Held close to her was an intricate staff designed with a raven head at the top, and a unicorn horn at the base. Most curiously, she wore a band of cloth over her eyes that appeared to be weeping liquid shadows.

“I see how it is.” Says the blind monk. A hint of a smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Looking closer, she appeared to have ring like bruises that lined around her face, neck and exposed skin on her arms as if she’s been strangled by tentacles. Although healing, they were less than a day old. Her attire was tattered and full of filth. It was clear she had participated in a few encounters.

The woman’s head turns to face the new excitable voice. “Don’t fluff the feather in his cap too much.” She cautions lightheartedly. “I’m Ebele.” She dips her head in greeting. “I’ll return to check up on you two.” Her head pans and then she peels herself away from the wall.

Ebele then crosses the hall and stands next to Kerric. “How are you?” Her head tilts up to him. “We found one resembling a dwarf next door. However he smells more damp than dirt.” She notes not sensing the man’s a hill or mountain dwarf. “He could be an enabler. T'chal'fronack'zcinicker’s enjoying himself almost too much.” A soft chuckle leaves her lips. She then leans in closer. “He called us ‘moronic, imbecilic meat puppets’!.”

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker looks back to Ebele, surprised, "What...ha ha...no....I didn't mean YOU of course. I was referring to the other people and creatures we've been encountering!!" 

He watches her leave, looking a bit aghast. Then he sighs and turns back to Flux, "Where were we?"

Kerric:

Smiling at Ebele's and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker reparte, Kerric objects with false indignation, saying, “Who are you calling a puppet?  I am a self-directed moronic imbecilic meat-sack.”

”We found someone too,” Kerric more seriously answers her question, “but he hasn’t said much yet.  I was about to go over and cut him loose, but I figure I’d let Xalkas finish his negotiations first.”

(OOC: Apologies for the wall-o-text...)

The more it appeared that Flux was getting through to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, the more at ease became the genasi. Though his ongoing position made it painful to do so, he had eagerly nodded at some earlier points made, though found himself grimacing just a tad bit over the revelation of the tiefling's name. However, he'd just as quickly screw his face back into an understanding expression with a few even sympathetic nods thrown in as well.

But then entered the blink monk, giving Flux not only pause mid-start at a response, but also leaving him looking rather thoughtful at the ground after delivereing her own spiel. "Could be better," He admits to her and somewhat absent-mindedly at that. As he's ultimately not left to his own thoughts for long, the dwarf or dwarf-adjacent being that was Flux levels a wide smile back up at T'chal'fronack'zcinicker(who's name would never be fully written out by this poster if not for copy & paste sparing them such torment).

"We were of course at the part where you freed me at the very least from my bonds!" He chuckles. "With again, the understanding that negotiations are to continue in an equal parts appropriate and agreeable manner. So, if you wouldn't mind...?" He further explained before gesturing as much as he could with his head back at the binds. "And to be clear, I-I of course recognize and understand that inherit dangers of any hasty attempts to depart under my power thereafter, and will endeavor not to waste your efforts in granting this warning. Which, uh, do to personal reasons in any event, I-I have not intentions of departing anyways."

Hopefully with that, Flux is freed, and after some pained grunts and rolling about to get at least in a seated position, he flashes a grateful smile as he rubbed at his wrists and ankles. As soon as he's presented again with a pen and ink, he at least makes ready to sign his name... only to make a bit of a show of examining the contents of the contract again. "You know for the record, if we can but find my things I could be more an asset beyond what information I have. Should be a set of chainmail somewhere about, a shield fashioned from my very first Megalossa Crab kill, and a, uhhh.. a few other things such as my holy token from Big V or Valker as you may know of him." He side-eyes the party present seeming to guage their response. If none then seemed to recognize the name, he'd sigh but continue on regardless, "In any event, I am what you would call a cleric of the being. Or more of an, uh...pbbt.. freelance contractor under Valker's guild, earth bound problem fixer slash recruiter, or, uh...ya-ye-ya know what /I/ mean of course~" He says looking specifically to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker. "'cause funny enough, although I was born on this plane, my father being a dwarf taken in with Muthamoir, uh, idealogy, if ableit with a 'slight' twist. But my mother? My mother is quite the enterprising Marid with fingers in all sort of pies both in the material and beyond it. So, I-I actually do understand a bit of where you were coming from before! Oh, and uh, by the way! My name is Alfrenche'laska'kor'ora. Though perhaps if we become proper friends, we can even go by nicknames, no?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker unbinds the man, then narrows his eyes as he goes on describing his planar lineage and 'real name'. Looking at the man with an entirely dubious look on his face he says, "Yes, well...I'm uncertain if you're attempting to mock me or being entirely truthful. I'm afraid a lack of trust tends to be a bit of a norm in this sort of situation, especially given you look somewhat like the people we've thus far been dispatching as we try to find someone reasonable to speak to down here. But I'm going to pass on the nickname situation. I worked hard for every syllable of my name, too hard really to casually discard sections of it." 

He stands back, waiting for Flux to complete the signing process, with a bit of a sigh.  "Um, we have found quite a bit of equipment about. I'm unsure if it belongs to you, especially since most of it was taken from the dead grasp of others, but, who can say."   

He pulls his bag off of his back, and reaches around inside, "I'm afraid I've not heard of Valker, but.."  He pulls out a shield that looks really too large to have been in the bag. It appears to be made from the shell from a giant horseshoe crab.  "Hmm, is this the one?"  He pulls out some chain mail in decent condition, "And....don't suppose this is yours? We can discuss a small finders fee....which....perhaps you may need to earn, but a loan in the meantime, yes?" 

While T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and 'Alfrenche'laska'kor'ora' enjoy an intellectual dance of the minds in the northern room, Xalkas, Kerric and Ebele wait with baited breath on the other prisoner's(rkmobius) introduction in the room just south across the hall.

Ebele couldn't help but crack a grin when Kerric would call back his retort to their tiefling companion. She'd then nod her head to his caution and give the remaining bound prisoner(rkmobius) a few more moments to gain their bearings before acting. Xalkas had things under control. "Perhaps he witnessed something he wasn't supposed to? Maybe he may have some insight to the cultists last job and point us in some direction about the delegation?" She speculates out loud to the elf in the meantime.

As the gnome pulls the apple from the figure's mouth... not much happens.

It seems he was not fully conscious. Could he have been... sleeping? Dreaming?

Eyes flicker behind pale eyelids, and limbs twitch faintly. This is a large humanoid, limbs very long, but also bony, thin. Black hair totally bedraggled. Not tangled, but as if wind had just finished gusting. Clothed in simple fabrics, and bereft of any possessions.

It's either a very tall human or elf, or perhaps an extremely gaunt goliath? No, more like a firbolg. With a very serious expression. The face is not unpleasant to look at but as consciousness returns, it moves from expression to expression, trying different ones out. Confusion. Fear. Suspicion. Eyes crack open and a hand twitches to try to rub them but finds itself still bound. Anger. The mouth opens and tries to work itself into more functionality. Awareness. Measuring.

The sound that comes out is resonant but extremely raspy, unused in some time. "I... I....... Meat puppet? You seem hungry. I am Lewin. How I got here is a fog that I hope will clear soon. Where is this place? What are you doing here? Could someone untie me?"

(Many apologies for the slow response!)

With a half finished apple in one hand, Xalkas unsheathes one of his daggers and cuts the rope binding the person. Still fully unaware of who they are, but trusting in his companions to handle the things should the situation change drastically. 

He leaves the explanation of the other questions to his companions. 

Kerric:

Stepping up with his hands n his hips, The elven warrior says, “Greetings Lewin, I am Kerric Brightblade.  You are in a water cultist stronghold and were, until recently it seems, a cultist prisoner.  My friends and I are here to find a Dwarven delegation these evil cultists have kidnapped.”

Alfrenche'laska'kor'ora puts a hand to his chest and looks downright aghast at the accusations leveled at his person! Nevermind the blatantly extortion that followed, leaving him miming a fish left to flop about on land!

Eventually he clams up with teeth audible clacking together from sudden force, and looks on disapprovingly at he-who-shall-not-be-ever-named-going-forward! But then after a few moments, he huffs through his nose, adjusts his collar, and then folded his arms over his chest. "Even if not an outright claim, the fact that you think I would blatantly mock one of my would be rescuers, and thus bring about greater shame upon my Clan is utter nonsense! While it's true that I have taken to -- out of convenience for others, much as it pains me at times -- the use of less noble names, I thought you of all people would appreciate doing away with such, uh, such self depreciation!"

He then shook his head in further disappointment. "... But fine. If it'll 'help' with the lack of trust, and fall in line with more 'comfortable' expectations of other people's nomenclature, I shall bear the lesser indignity of being addressed by the name given by my far more mortal parent. That being the name of Flux, or of Flux of Clan Thunderbrow." He says frankly. "As for those items and this finder's fee of yours... frankly, I thought better of you up to this point. But..." He pauses there for a second seeming to consider his next words, before then taking in a deep breath in through his nose and shaking his head a little. "I'll be the bigger plane-touched in this situation and merely present the counter offer that is this: Return my things, and we shall consider any magical, physical, and... 'moral' support I provide, for at least the duration of our time searching for the delegates within these cultist clutches to be-..." He leans a bit. "-payment enough for my things return this instance. And don't try to short change me with claims of my being untested or clearly incapable of providing much due to my previous state of duress."

"For had you been there, well... let's just say you would have a better appreciation for whatever fortune's Tymora has thus far blessed you with." He looks to the ground. "Unlike those poor souls that were in our company." Flux has a far off look in his eyes for a long moment, before blinking and forcing his way back to reality. "Can we agree on that much? If so-..." He offers back the contract. "Perhaps some addendums are in order?" 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker eyes go a bit wide with the drama of the response, and at several moments during the responding tirade attempts to interject with a raised finger and half-open mouth, only to have his words stolen from him and tossed back towards him just as quickly. Eventually the contract is proffered back to him.  Waiting a moment, to ensure the Flux is done speaking, he snatches the contract back.  

"Indeed, I was about to suggest the very same. It's merely a matter of accounting. Magical, physical, and...ahem...moral? support...would easily count as repayment for the small loan that would be required to repay the aforementioned finders fee. Surely though, you would prefer to have it properly summated and contracted so that you know when the repayment is done, lest you be stuck underground in service for an eternity."  He winks at Flux, "Ha ha ha....noone would ever sign such a contract, am I right?  Here, let me just....add some terms...and......oh lets go find the others while I adjust things here...." 

He pulls out a clipboard which he props against his stomach, holding it in place with one hand, so he can lay the contract on top and begin adding amendments with his other hand, while holding the pen lid in his mouth. He leaves behind the suit of chain mail and the shield for Flux to grab as he begins mumbling to himself, wondering which words to use as he crafts several amendments, making his way absently into the other room with the rest of the group. 

Lewin

Lewin's large hands, with long, spindly fingers, shed the ropes binding him slowly and creakily he gets to his feet. He nods a quiet thanks to Xalkas. He tries to stand, and then pauses, kneeling, massaging his wrists, and not even attempting to take stock of the rest of himself. He does wipe the sand out of his eyes, and blinks repeatedly.

He listens to Kerric, then says, "Water cultists. Hmm. I... saw some kind of disagreement, or, understanding, between two groups, just before I must have been caught.  The groups were moving a group of dwarves. One was taking them back to their base, and they paid the other group to help them cross a river. That group took me. The other group used their boats. That is, I assume, where your delegation is headed. I know not how long ago this was. Everything is a blur."

He looks around the room blearily, wondering if he has any possessions anymore. He stands, finally, fully 7 feet tall. He places a hand on the wall to steady himself, and then removes it, standing more firmly. "I would very much like to get out of here. Are there still more of these 'water cultists' around?"

Kerric:

”Thank you for your information, Lewin, I am sure it will buy some consideration from our resident barrister,” Kerric says as he offers aid in the being’s attempts to stand.

”I have seen little that might be possessions for you, and I would not send you unarmed if it is your wish to leave,” he adds, pulling out a curved greatsword of elven make, “Take my spare blade if you would try your luck in escaping on your own, or stay with us if you would prefer.”

(Duplicate post)