The gnome seems puzzled by Maya's offer, and pauses as he weighs up a hostage that is easy to hold onto versus a more powerful one. Acts of honour and sacrifice are alien to the little creature and he seems baffled.
Suddenly, Khadmeade makes his attack. The gnome hefts his kukri. Tristan is faster, snapping off his spell even as the gnome flexes slightly for a strike. The kukri flies backwards out of his hand and embeds itself in the wall.
"I surrender" shouts the gnome, letting goes of the boy and throwing his hands in the air.
Grease spell from Tristan, gnome fails saving throw and is now (apparently) disarmed.
Others may act on intiatiave if you want, otherwise combat is over.
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Quick as a striking snake...and yet a heartbeat too slow to have stopped the gnome had he not been disarmed...Maya bolts to the Shoanti boy and interposes herself between him and the gnome. The pretense is done with now, and when she looks down at the small humanoid, her face is a mask of smoldering rage.
"Killer of children," she snarls, "you dare plead for mercy?!"
"Not worth the trouble,"the dwarf says, kneeling down to eye level with the children. "Kopnofs, tha's what we call 'em in the clan. A lackey, a henchmen, a mook. His only use to us to to tell us where to find Lamm."
As Khadmeade is bent over to speak to the children, his eye falls upon a familiar face. His ruddy nephew is standing in the corner. "Roin! Can it truly be ye? Oh, Torag be praised! Your stony path always leads to victory. C'mere 'n give yer uncle a hug. I was afeared I'd lost ye, child!"
Though you've known Khadmeade only a short time, it is clear that such an outburst of affection is not typical of his demeanor.
For those who can get a "hunch" with a Sense Motive
Khadmeade's happiness for seeing his nephew alive and well probably has more to do with his position within his clan, his reputation, and his family's honor. At any rate, the dwarf child appears to be Khadmeade's ward, a position he regards with all proper seriousness.
The gnome looks up at Maya with terror in his eyes. At Khadmeade's words he nods enthusiastically.
"Lamm, he's the one you want. He made me do it. I can tell you how to get to him." He tries a grin. It looks sickly.
Roin gives his uncle a rather stiff and awkward embrace.
"Uncle," he says formally. His voice is surprisingly husky. "I am well, thank you for coming. I believe the one they refer to as 'Lamm' is down there," he points to the hole in the floor (where the blond man fell). "I think they wanted me to be a sort of safe-breaker, and threatened to send me down there to Lamm if I failed."
One of the older boys, a rangy human lad, pulls the gnome's kukri out of the wall, trying to wipe the magical grease from it.
"Stumpy's right," he says. "Lamm's down the hole. He don't come up no more, but when we brings our blag to him we lowers it down the hole to him. Sometimes if we ain't bought enough blag, one of us gets lowered down the hole, and never comes up again. The littlers reckon he's got a monster called Gobbleguts, but I reckon Lamm just shivs 'em hisself and chucks 'em in the river.
"So, what you gonna do now? How about you give me a few minutes alone with old Hookshanks here? Got a few scores to settle, ain't we Hooky?"
The lad slaps the side of the kukri into his palm meaningfully.
"Kester," whines the gnome. "You wouldn't want to hurt your old pal Hookshanks?" He looks at Khadmeade. "You won't let them hurt a poor defenceless gnome, would you, kind sir?"
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"Back away, Kester," the dwarf coaxes, "he'll git 'is just desserts, I promise ye that. But it never pays te take justice inta yer own hands. Hooky 'ere will be comin' with us when we go te the law te report this incident."
OOC
Diplomacy check to convince Kester to hand him the kukri - 3
"Next order o' business is te git ourselves down there withoot drownin'. Anyone bring a 10-foot pole so we could see how deep it is? I'd settle for magical potions to let us breathe water but I doubt any of ye have those."
OOC: Ought to clarify: The hole in the floor leads down to a crawlspace underneath the building, not directly into water. There is about 4 ft. of space underneath. Bael noticed a walkway down at water level when he checked on the fate of Yargin.
"You ain't the Guard," says Kester. "You're taking justice into your own hands too, ain't you? " He pokes the tip of the kukri into Hookshanks chest. "Just so you know, this one killed my brother last week. Stuck a knife into him, didn't you Hooky? 'Cos he weren't shovelling fish guts fast enough."
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Maya just nods. In her view, it was just that the gnome suffer at the hands of those he'd wronged. It made more sense to her than sticking him in a cell and hanging him sometime later.
She turns to face the Shoanti boy, kneeling down to be at his level and offering him a warm smile as she brushes his bangs out of his eyes.
"You are all right, Kuru? Your mother and sister are worried."
Kester shrugs with the affected indifference of an adolescent and tucks the kukri into his belt.
"You ain't worth it anyway, Hooky," he says to the gnome.
"You listen to your olders and betters, boy," says Hookshanks with a sneer. Then, reverting to a grovelling tone he adds, "Thank you, kind sirs, for saving me from this ungrateful brat."
"Magic Lady!" says Kuru, the Shoanti boy. "Scary green man hit me, but I didn't cry."
Kester looks over the other children and then back to Bael and Tristan.
"Okay, looks like Stumpy and the Horser boy are being rescued. Don't suppose you've come for anyone? If not, guess we'll be going. Stick a knife in Lamm for me."
OOC: Don't know how old Kuru was meant to be, but I've made him quite young to contrast with Kester's world-weary attitude.
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"You're taking justice into your own hands too, ain't you?"
"Nae, lad. I'm here lookin' fer me nephew. I have rights under the law te protect 'im. 'Sides, ye dinnae see us kill anyone 'ere intentionally did ye? I treated the wounds of a damned half-orc for Torag's sake."
Quote:
Originally Posted by kinem
Tristan nods. "One so young should not be an executioner."
"Aye, heed the wisdom of yer elders. Learnin' to kill so young is likely te bring ye down a dark path."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Simon
"Thank you, kind sirs, for saving me from this ungrateful brat."
The dwarf laughs boastfully, "Dinnae be thinking that jes' because I wouldn't let this boy kill ye at the bottom of a fish shop means I won't give testimony o' yer terrible crimes te the sheriff. Now, someone bring me some rope te tie this rapscallion."
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Simon
"Okay, looks like Stumpy and the Horser boy are being rescued. Don't suppose you've come for anyone? If not, guess we'll be going. Stick a knife in Lamm for me."
"Actually young one, I admire yer spirit. An' I grimace at the thought of ye spending the rest o' yer life on the streets. How'd ye like te be a porter n' lackey fer me? You'll have a comfortable place to sleep at night, three meals a day, and I'll even pay ye a silver piece a day. All ye have te do is tag along, help us carry things, and watch after our animals if'n we ever acquire any."
One thing for sure Tristan muses I didn't come this far just to turn Lamm over to the Watch. Perhaps it is just as well that I'm out of nonlethal solutions for the day.
"A silver shield a day and no kickings is better than I got here," says Kester after some thought. He spits in his palm and offers it to Khadmeade. "You got yourself a deal, mister."
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(OOC - Hee, young is good. That's in line with what I was thinking.)
Maya reaches out to ruffle the boy's hair affectionately, and gives him a nod.
"We will tell the tribes of your bravery when we return. You have a warrior's heart."
She then looks at the others and says, "We should see the children out of here before confronting Lamm. There may be other henchmen waiting that we haven't seen yet."
"I can see the littlers out for you missus," says Kester, suddenly eager to help. "As for henchmen, you've got Hookshanks and Giggles," he points to the bound half-orc, "and Yargin's fell in the river. There ain't no-one left, lessen you believe in Gobbleguts."
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"Yes, and who believes in demons or devils? This is: But me, the church of Asmodeus, my mother, my grandfather..." Bael says with a smile, speaking of his own ancestry.
OOC
AC 16 (T13, FF13), HP 25/25, F +2,R+5,W+0
Resistance to cold 5, electricity 5, and fire 5.
Darkness 1/day, Sneak 1d6
Rapier +2 . 1d6+2 . 19-20/X2
Shortbow +3 . 1d6 . 20/X3
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Maya's eyes narrow a little at the mention of 'Gobbleguts.'
"We will soon learn if there is truth to that tale," she says softly. "But yes...take the children outside and keep them together. If something happens...if we do not come back, Kuru can take you to the Shoanti tribesfolk if you need a safe place."
She stands up again and looks at the others. "Are you ready to finish this?"
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