Kulan: Knightfall's Heroes of Carnell Game [IC]

[Knightfall]

"Yes I did, but it's not like the magical fear in my mind gave me much of a choice. We can't all have your strength of will, young man. Perhaps it was folly of me to come along. I might be more of a burden to you all than an ally."

Caerth nods, accepting the man's words as simple truth. The druid knows that if an animal gets too old to survive, the pack usually leaves it behind.

"Don't give up the mission now, old friend," Timmins reassures. "We've just started. If there are more of those bird-beasts, we should try to protect ourselves."

"We forgot to get more wax," Aureus notes. "But maybe there is some left from before." She begins rummaging through her pack. "Yes, I have a little left. It's not much but it should help those who might be affected again." She hands over a small bit of wax to Gareth. He takes and pockets the wax for when it might be needed.

"Don't slow us down," Caerth warns, unwilling to let Gareth hinder his mission to eradicate the cult. He does, however, search his stuff for wax, but finds nothing. He shrugs apologetically at Aureus and Phar, then follows them back down the stairs.

"I will do my best to keep pace," Gareth replies. "If it becomes too much for me, I will turn back. I don't want to hold you all back."

"It won't come to that," Timmins tries to assure his friend.

OOC: Never has Caerth had less of that wax before in his life... Caerth search check: 1D20+1 = [1]+1 = 2

OOC:

Phar responds to Aureus, "Wax, yes, I believe I still have some." He checks his pouch and pulls out a bit of old parchment twisted around a lump. "I think I have enough for one set of ears." He makes I contact with those who fell prey to the 'song'. "It does seem to help." he stays hoping to reassure them. "I would see it used by one of you."

"Give it to Brutus," Meridith suggests as they head back down the stairs. "I won't need it, and we'll need to make sure he can fight in the front without risk of him succumbing again. And he's the youngest."

"Aye, but not by that much," Gareth says. "But I agree it's the best choice. His strength is an asset we should protect."

The one called Roobite huddles under the watch of Brutus and Quinten. The fight has gone out of the creature, although its eyes show the depravity in its soul. The rook is all about his next meal. The bird-beast cringes under the gaze of the locals and it is quite uncomfortable being tied up.

"Are you going to kill me?" It hisses. "If you do, then you should eat my corpse, so I can be one with my goddess."

The half-orc raises an eyebrow.

"And granting more power to that demon? No." Caerth crosses his muscular arms across his chest, and looks at the pathetic creature. He is not sure what to do, or what to ask of it, so the druid waits for his companions' suggestions.

Phar turns his attention to the prisoner. "Are you so eager to be one with your goddess? Perhaps there is a way you could earn a stay of execution. You can't stay here. This place will be purged of all inhabitants before we rest, but if you tell us all you know of the others who reside here maybe we'll be lenient." He glances at the others as concerned to see how they respond as the prisoner.

"Yes, speak before I am tempted to cut out you tongue," Brutus threatens with a growl.

"I- I will not betray my goddess," Roobite hisses. He pauses. "However, if you will kill that scrawny one and let me eat his corpse, I might tell you about my rivals in the temple," the rook points at Quinten. "Especially the lowly ghoulish humans who think they are equal to us rooks in the eyes of Malotoch. But they are not. They are only slaves. Rooks are her favored servants."

"Scrawny!" Quinten shouts with teeth clenched. The young warrior quickly draws his short sword. "I'm going to cut your damn head off!"

Brutus has to grab Quinten in a bear hug to keep him from butchering the rook. Roobite hisses at them.

"Yes, either kill me and leave me for my kin to find and eat or feed me carrion. I will not betray my goddess and you will get nothing from me without a reward." He looks at Meridith next. "Maybe her? She looks tasty. Yes, death for me or her. Or the boy." He sniffs the air towards Gareth and Timmins. "Yuck! But not the old flesh."

"We will not feed you flesh," Aureus growls back. "You'll be lucky if we don't lock you up somewhere and feed you nothing but vegetables and water."

"Plants are not food! Unless they rot in the bellies of the dead!" Roobite hisses back angrily. The rook is trying to provoke you.

"I say we just gut him and bury him someplace deep where his kin cannot find his corpse," Timmins suggests. He spits on the floor next to the rook. "I wonder how his goddess would view his corpse decaying underground only being eaten by worms and insects?"

CAW! "I'd prefer that you wasting my time talking to no-wings," the rook screeches back. His caw doesn't have the power of fear behind it. It is only the sound of a bird-beast trying to taunt his foes.

 

[JustinCase]

"Enough," Caerth says softly but with utter conviction. One hand holds the magical dagger Kang, and the half-orc's knuckles are turning white from his firm grip.

"Either you tell us about the rooks, or you die now."

WIth his free hand, Caerth grabs Roobite by the scalp and with the other places the tip of the dagger against his throat.

 

[Scotley]

Phar frowns, clearly such a vile creature cannot be allowed to live, but killing a tied prisoner makes him uncomfortable. He seized upon something the foul bird said. "So these lowly ghoulish humans are beneth your contempt. Why do your kind tolerate them here?"

 

[Scott DeWar]

Quinn stands between the rook and Brutus and Quinten. He gives Brutus an approving nod, then uses spiked chain to slither on the floor menacingly, "Answer, or I can make this damage you slowly." is all he says in a calm cold voice. [intimidat]

Intimidate: 1D20+12 = [4]+12 = 16

 

[Knightfall]

"Enough," Caerth says softly but with utter conviction. One hand holds the magical dagger Kang, and the half-orc's knuckles are turning white from his firm grip.

"Either you tell us about the rooks, or you die now."

WIth his free hand, Caerth grabs Roobite by the scalp and with the other places the tip of the dagger against his throat.

"Do your worst, half-human!" Roobite gurgles out. Blood seeps out of his burnt flesh around Caerth's fingers and foam drips from his beak. "I cannot live like this... my feather's burnt. What female would want me now. Finish what the elf started." He looks at Phar.

Phar frowns, clearly such a vile creature cannot be allowed to live, but killing a tied prisoner makes him uncomfortable. He seized upon something the foul bird said. "So these lowly ghoulish humans are beneth your contempt. Why do your kind tolerate them here?"

"Ha! I am just a male warrior. The females rule my people. They say we need to be allies to Malotoch's two-legged worshipers. It is not for me to question." Roobite winces under Caerth's grip. "Now kill me. All I can hope for is that Malotoch will take me into her maw, burnt flesh and all."

Quinn stands between the rook and Brutus and Quinten. He gives Brutus an approving nod, then uses spiked chain to slither on the floor menacingly, "Answer, or I can make this damage you slowly." is all he says in a calm cold voice. [intimidat]

Intimidate: 1D20+12 = [4]+12 = 16

Roobite's features glaze over and his eyes roll into the back of his head. "Do all two-legs talk this much." He looks at Quinn with a reddened eye, burnt flesh around it. "I am already near death. Strike me and I will bleed out all that is left." He tries to caw. "Or the half-human will squeeze out the last of my blood. It doesn't matter. I have nothing left in this condition. Even magical healing will leave me scarred and featherless."

He looks at Caerth with his other eye, milky and filling with blood. "Kill me." The rook gasps. "Please."

"Just put him out of his misery, lad." Timmins says. "He's not going to tell us anything unless we can heal him with more powerful magic. And we don't have the resources or time."

"We could feed him a potion and force him to live. That might be a better punishment," Quinten suggests. "He is too eager to die."

"We need to do what's right for us, not him," Gareth adds putting a hand on Caerth's shoulder. "If you're going to kill him, at least untie him first. Give him a chance to defend himself, if that is his choice."

 

[JustinCase]

Caerth winces when Gareth puts his hand on the half-orc’s shoulder, and he puts some effort into not reacting with a growl or sneer.

Doesn’t the creature ask for death, repeatedly? Surely the unnatural thing has no place in this world, and a predator removes the injured and sick so that nature thrives...

But then why does he feel such hatred?

Realizing that he does not trust his own moral compass anymore after what he’s been through and the doubts about his mentor, Caerth decides he has to look outward.

”Screech,” he whispers the name of his owl companion. No, Screech is outside, safe from harm, safe from — from watching the druid do things he shouldn’t. Was that why he sent the great horned owl away?

Instead Caerth looks at his trusted companions once more, the question plain on his face. What should he do?

 

[Scotley]

Phar just shakes his head, clearly finding the situation uncomfortable. He blows out a breath and says, "We can't let him live, he will be a threat to the good people of this land. A clean execution is best. Even he desires it. I'd rather see him given a quick death than tortured."

 

[Scott DeWar]

Spoiler: back from pain

wheeeee! up and down the pain scale roller coaster!

Replacing his wicked spiked chain, Quinn then draws cruel justice.

"For the crimes of murder, you are right, he should pay by a quick death."

 

[JustinCase]

Caerth nods. A just death from the sentient blade that represents exactly that, seems a good solution to this dilemma.

The half-orc prepares himself for releasing his prisoner... just a little longer...

As if his hand has a mind of its own, Caerth pushes the dagger into the rook’s skin, just far enough to draw blood, before pushing the creature forward with his other hand, towards his companion holding Cruel Justice at the ready.

 

[Scott DeWar]

"I wish to hear from all as to the accusation and sentence of this creature and I, Quinn Inagui, will serve the weapon, Cruel Justice, as executioner."

He moves to stand within striking distance of the rook with the Named Sword ready to swing.