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They came in search of Paradise (A Story of Erth) - Updated 23rd April
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<blockquote data-quote="robberbaron" data-source="post: 1853644" data-attributes="member: 14771"><p>Philp, while unconscious, had his magic items detected. His armour, one of his shortswords, a potion and a wand were liberated and distributed. They surmised, after a lengthy discussion, that the wand might well be one of paralysation, considering Cord’s statue-like appearance during the fight so only Gracientus could use it.</p><p>Li Kung, bemoaning the fact that he had not gained any booty as yet, claimed the unknown (though identified as conjuration magic) potion.</p><p></p><p>When Gracientus had completed his supplications, Gaelle searched the warehouse and kept an eye out. She didn’t want anything to do with Philp’s interrogation and there were more than enough evil bastards to get any information he might have.</p><p></p><p>Li Kung, feeling the need to do a bit of dominating, decided to kick off the questioning.</p><p>“What does the wand do?”</p><p>Philp was not in the least impressed with his manner and kept his lips firmly shut.</p><p>Li Kung then brandished his glaive and, with no warning, struck off Philp’s left hand.</p><p>Unsurprisingly, Philp re-lost consciousness.</p><p></p><p>Gracientus deftly bandaged the stump and slapped a medpatch, sorry wrong game, cast another healing spell on Philp to bring him round again.</p><p></p><p>“Bloody hell!” exclaimed a groggy Philp, not expecting to still be alive.</p><p></p><p>“OK, Stumpy” sneered Li Kung, “let’s try this again. What does the wand do?”</p><p>“It’s a Wand of Hold Person” Philp answered, doing a fantastic impression of a broken man.</p><p>“The potion?”</p><p>“Cure. Didn’t get a chance to use it”</p><p>“That was tough for you”. Li Kung was really beginning to empathise with Philp.</p><p>“Yeah, apparently. My bloody hand!”</p><p>“Do you have any good reasons why we should keep you alive?” (That’s about as nasty a question as “Why do you want the job?”)</p><p>“Have you got any information that would make it worth our while to keep you alive?” chipped in Cord.</p><p>“That’s what I meant to ask.” sighed Li Kung.</p><p></p><p>After a short pause, a psychologically recovering Philp asked “What are you after?”</p><p></p><p>“Does the Hark mean anything to you?” Li Kung asked, with Helga looking mad and mean beside him (helping with the intimidation) and Cord leering over his shoulder (not). Strangely, Seigfried’s pious presence is more effective than the both of them put together.</p><p>“What happened to his hand?” asked Seigfried, who hadn’t actually been paying attention up to this point.</p><p>“Er, it just fell off” joked Cord.</p><p>Seigfried didn’t believe this, even he isn’t that gullible, and determined to pay closer attention to the questioning to ensure that no more bits of Philp ‘fell off’.</p><p>“When did that happen?”</p><p>“While you were looking the other way” answered Cord.</p><p></p><p>“I’ll tell you everything I know if you’ll let me go” offered Philp, warily eyeing up Li Kung and his blood-stained glaive. His blood!</p><p>Li Kung decided to go with honesty. “We’ve got no honour, so we could easily say yes”</p><p>“Hmm.” thought Philp, “I’m a pretty shrewd judge of character. You don’t get to my position (ha ha) by not knowing when some untrustworthy bastard actually WILL stab you in the back.</p><p>If you swear that you’ll let me go after I’ve told you everything, and I believe you, you’ll never see me again. I’ll be out of this town tonight”</p><p>“But then you’d run straight to the Hark to warn him” chimed in Helga, her brow furrowed with concentration. </p><p>“Why in all the Hells would I do that? I’ve dobbed him in to you, why would I run to him? I’m more scared of him than I am of you. You’re all just complete bastards”</p><p>“That’s not true!” interjected an outraged Seigfried.</p><p>“But the Hark would kill me and eat me, only not in that order” continued Philp.</p><p>“You’re also not much use to the Hark now, anyway” said Cord, rubbing verbal salt into the bloody stump.</p><p>The more perceptive members of the group could tell that Philp was being completely honest with them. Even Seigfried knew that, whatever Philp had said, it was the complete truth and though Seigfried wanted to turn this high-ranking thief into the authorities, he was willing to entertain the idea of a “plea bargain”.</p><p>The greater justice of ridding Starros of the Hark would be served.</p><p></p><p>The truth was something they weren’t used to among themselves so it came as even more of a surprise coming from the maimed thief.</p><p>Li Kung had another nasty idea, “How about if you don’t tell us everything we’ll cut off your other hand, and your feet and attach a notice on what is left saying that you sold the Hark out to us?”</p><p>“Hang on. We don’t have an issue with letting him go, as long as he keeps going.” interceded Cord. “Saying we’ll kill him one way isn’t much more of a threat that just chopping his head off”.</p><p></p><p>There was a mumbled general agreement on this point and the group of evil bastards untied Philp’s hand as a show of good faith.</p><p></p><p>As they conceded that they would actually let him go in return for information, Philp relaxed visibly – he believed them and felt able to consider his new life away from Starros.</p><p></p><p>Philp sang like a one-winged bird.</p><p></p><p>He drew them a rough sketch of the parts of the burrow he had seen, and noted the defences about which he knew. Luckily, he was right-handed.</p><p>The Hark had a “burrow” beyond the north end of the harbour, beneath the boardwalk just above the high-water line, with its entrance hidden inside a warehouse marked with a particular Cant sign (a series of scratches that were designed to mimic wear and tear damage).</p><p>The Hark had lots of little rats that could be passed safely and quietly using the coriander root, plenty of dire rats, at least a dozen hobgoblins (which lived in the upper level) and a number of goblins. The Hark was a hobgoblin himself and lived in the upper level of the burrow, though Philp had never been up there).</p><p>He had some sort of fungus-thing and a rat swarm that made Philp want to puke just looking at them, as well as a very deep pit down which his companion fell, “I lost count of the seconds he was screaming”.</p><p></p><p>The interrogation continued after the party had a chance to peruse the map.</p><p></p><p>“How big is the Hark’s organisation?”</p><p>“Not much left now. Only what he’s got with him and a few lads who you didn’t catch.”</p><p></p><p>“Is there anyone left as good as you?”</p><p>“Only the Hark”</p><p>“What about as good as them?” Li Kung pointed at the other bodies.</p><p>“Well, I assume you WERE the ones who took out the other warehouse.” The characters nod.</p><p>“There are a few left in the sewers, but they are only about as good as my lads were. I reckon they’ll be running by now. Or crapping themselves in a corner somewhere. The Hobgobbos are quite tough.”</p><p></p><p>“Has he got any wizards or clerics with him?”</p><p>“Not that I know of. I heard a rumour that he could use magic, but I don’t know for sure”</p><p></p><p>“Hang on a minute,” said Helga, putting together the threads of doubt that had been nagging in her blonde head for the last few minutes, “the Hark is a hobgoblin wererat? The picture we had was of a human.”</p><p>“Typical lazy attitude to the law.” piped up Gracientus. ”They simply assumed that the Hark was human.”</p><p>“So, when that Uruk arrives back in Byzantium with the head of a human, they might just hand over the money?” Helga was a little worried about this, despite it not being her bounty to worry about.</p><p>“With a bounty of that size, 1000GP, they are likely to check before they pay out,” reasoned Cord, “then they’ll arrest him for murder and fraud”</p><p></p><p>It was now approaching midnight and they were beginning to feel the effects of a long day filled with sporadic violence, so decided to rest for a few hours before going on to tackle the Hark. Philp was nodding off as well, though his weariness was compounded by multiple blood loss.</p><p>They left Philp tied up while they rested, but promised to let him go when they left in the morning.</p><p>Helga decided to do a little more looting before settling down and discovered that all of Philp’s men had masterwork studded leather armour. They might be a little tight on the girls (Helga is blonde and has a “lot of Charisma”), but she and Gaelle were willing to put up with a little discomfort. And Helga liked the studs.</p><p></p><p>Li Kung, who was poring over Philp’s map of the burrow had a furrowed brow. “Why would anyone want to go over the pit trap and past the fungus when you can get to the upper level this way (pointing to a clear route to the ladder up)?”</p><p>No-one had a good answer, so they rested and considered their next moves.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="robberbaron, post: 1853644, member: 14771"] Philp, while unconscious, had his magic items detected. His armour, one of his shortswords, a potion and a wand were liberated and distributed. They surmised, after a lengthy discussion, that the wand might well be one of paralysation, considering Cord’s statue-like appearance during the fight so only Gracientus could use it. Li Kung, bemoaning the fact that he had not gained any booty as yet, claimed the unknown (though identified as conjuration magic) potion. When Gracientus had completed his supplications, Gaelle searched the warehouse and kept an eye out. She didn’t want anything to do with Philp’s interrogation and there were more than enough evil bastards to get any information he might have. Li Kung, feeling the need to do a bit of dominating, decided to kick off the questioning. “What does the wand do?” Philp was not in the least impressed with his manner and kept his lips firmly shut. Li Kung then brandished his glaive and, with no warning, struck off Philp’s left hand. Unsurprisingly, Philp re-lost consciousness. Gracientus deftly bandaged the stump and slapped a medpatch, sorry wrong game, cast another healing spell on Philp to bring him round again. “Bloody hell!” exclaimed a groggy Philp, not expecting to still be alive. “OK, Stumpy” sneered Li Kung, “let’s try this again. What does the wand do?” “It’s a Wand of Hold Person” Philp answered, doing a fantastic impression of a broken man. “The potion?” “Cure. Didn’t get a chance to use it” “That was tough for you”. Li Kung was really beginning to empathise with Philp. “Yeah, apparently. My bloody hand!” “Do you have any good reasons why we should keep you alive?” (That’s about as nasty a question as “Why do you want the job?”) “Have you got any information that would make it worth our while to keep you alive?” chipped in Cord. “That’s what I meant to ask.” sighed Li Kung. After a short pause, a psychologically recovering Philp asked “What are you after?” “Does the Hark mean anything to you?” Li Kung asked, with Helga looking mad and mean beside him (helping with the intimidation) and Cord leering over his shoulder (not). Strangely, Seigfried’s pious presence is more effective than the both of them put together. “What happened to his hand?” asked Seigfried, who hadn’t actually been paying attention up to this point. “Er, it just fell off” joked Cord. Seigfried didn’t believe this, even he isn’t that gullible, and determined to pay closer attention to the questioning to ensure that no more bits of Philp ‘fell off’. “When did that happen?” “While you were looking the other way” answered Cord. “I’ll tell you everything I know if you’ll let me go” offered Philp, warily eyeing up Li Kung and his blood-stained glaive. His blood! Li Kung decided to go with honesty. “We’ve got no honour, so we could easily say yes” “Hmm.” thought Philp, “I’m a pretty shrewd judge of character. You don’t get to my position (ha ha) by not knowing when some untrustworthy bastard actually WILL stab you in the back. If you swear that you’ll let me go after I’ve told you everything, and I believe you, you’ll never see me again. I’ll be out of this town tonight” “But then you’d run straight to the Hark to warn him” chimed in Helga, her brow furrowed with concentration. “Why in all the Hells would I do that? I’ve dobbed him in to you, why would I run to him? I’m more scared of him than I am of you. You’re all just complete bastards” “That’s not true!” interjected an outraged Seigfried. “But the Hark would kill me and eat me, only not in that order” continued Philp. “You’re also not much use to the Hark now, anyway” said Cord, rubbing verbal salt into the bloody stump. The more perceptive members of the group could tell that Philp was being completely honest with them. Even Seigfried knew that, whatever Philp had said, it was the complete truth and though Seigfried wanted to turn this high-ranking thief into the authorities, he was willing to entertain the idea of a “plea bargain”. The greater justice of ridding Starros of the Hark would be served. The truth was something they weren’t used to among themselves so it came as even more of a surprise coming from the maimed thief. Li Kung had another nasty idea, “How about if you don’t tell us everything we’ll cut off your other hand, and your feet and attach a notice on what is left saying that you sold the Hark out to us?” “Hang on. We don’t have an issue with letting him go, as long as he keeps going.” interceded Cord. “Saying we’ll kill him one way isn’t much more of a threat that just chopping his head off”. There was a mumbled general agreement on this point and the group of evil bastards untied Philp’s hand as a show of good faith. As they conceded that they would actually let him go in return for information, Philp relaxed visibly – he believed them and felt able to consider his new life away from Starros. Philp sang like a one-winged bird. He drew them a rough sketch of the parts of the burrow he had seen, and noted the defences about which he knew. Luckily, he was right-handed. The Hark had a “burrow” beyond the north end of the harbour, beneath the boardwalk just above the high-water line, with its entrance hidden inside a warehouse marked with a particular Cant sign (a series of scratches that were designed to mimic wear and tear damage). The Hark had lots of little rats that could be passed safely and quietly using the coriander root, plenty of dire rats, at least a dozen hobgoblins (which lived in the upper level) and a number of goblins. The Hark was a hobgoblin himself and lived in the upper level of the burrow, though Philp had never been up there). He had some sort of fungus-thing and a rat swarm that made Philp want to puke just looking at them, as well as a very deep pit down which his companion fell, “I lost count of the seconds he was screaming”. The interrogation continued after the party had a chance to peruse the map. “How big is the Hark’s organisation?” “Not much left now. Only what he’s got with him and a few lads who you didn’t catch.” “Is there anyone left as good as you?” “Only the Hark” “What about as good as them?” Li Kung pointed at the other bodies. “Well, I assume you WERE the ones who took out the other warehouse.” The characters nod. “There are a few left in the sewers, but they are only about as good as my lads were. I reckon they’ll be running by now. Or crapping themselves in a corner somewhere. The Hobgobbos are quite tough.” “Has he got any wizards or clerics with him?” “Not that I know of. I heard a rumour that he could use magic, but I don’t know for sure” “Hang on a minute,” said Helga, putting together the threads of doubt that had been nagging in her blonde head for the last few minutes, “the Hark is a hobgoblin wererat? The picture we had was of a human.” “Typical lazy attitude to the law.” piped up Gracientus. ”They simply assumed that the Hark was human.” “So, when that Uruk arrives back in Byzantium with the head of a human, they might just hand over the money?” Helga was a little worried about this, despite it not being her bounty to worry about. “With a bounty of that size, 1000GP, they are likely to check before they pay out,” reasoned Cord, “then they’ll arrest him for murder and fraud” It was now approaching midnight and they were beginning to feel the effects of a long day filled with sporadic violence, so decided to rest for a few hours before going on to tackle the Hark. Philp was nodding off as well, though his weariness was compounded by multiple blood loss. They left Philp tied up while they rested, but promised to let him go when they left in the morning. Helga decided to do a little more looting before settling down and discovered that all of Philp’s men had masterwork studded leather armour. They might be a little tight on the girls (Helga is blonde and has a “lot of Charisma”), but she and Gaelle were willing to put up with a little discomfort. And Helga liked the studs. Li Kung, who was poring over Philp’s map of the burrow had a furrowed brow. “Why would anyone want to go over the pit trap and past the fungus when you can get to the upper level this way (pointing to a clear route to the ladder up)?” No-one had a good answer, so they rested and considered their next moves. [/QUOTE]
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