A Paid trip to Spellhold [IC] Chapter 3: The Prison of Horrors

[tiornys]

[sblock=OOC]In fairness, I think it's absolutely in character for Asterion to offer healing to a stranger, suspicious story or not. I wasn't planning to try to fully heal the guy without hearing more, but getting him off of death's door is IMO something of a priority for a lawful good healer type--possible wolf in sheep's clothing or not. It certainly makes sense for Kaedyn to object in character, of course [/sblock]

 

[On Puget Sound]

He doesn't look that dangerous right now. Patching him up a bit doesn't worry me. I'd like him to at least live long enough to tell us what's going on.

 

[airwalkrr]

OOC: I'll assume for the time being that Rodric managed at least one healing word then Kaedyn stepped in.

As divine power is channeled through Rodric, the tiefling's wounds begin to close and a measure of calm is returned to his breath. He seems substantially rejuvenated by this and stands up. He dusts himself off and looks himself over, noting a few holes in his leather armor and bloodstains upon his clothes. He still groans a bit with pain, but seems a bit better than when he was sitting upon the floor coughing up blood. Before he says anything, he walks slowly and deliberately up to Cliff and snatches his rod away. "I'll have that back, thank you. It's a delicate magical implement and it is mine after all."

He then turns to address the group. "Strange that fate has brought you here. I thought myself dead when I saw the skeleton's sword pierce my side. And yet despite sustaining what I thought was a mortal wound I awoke to find another group hastening to their deaths. If you wish to know my story, look at the ground around you. Death and despair come to all who know this place. And I would advise you to leave at once or suffer the same fate as those I arrived with who now lie at your feet."

The tiefling considers what he has said for a moment then returns, "However, circumstances being what they are, I would much prefer the company of a group. And I suppose I am indebted to you anyway for your small kindness. So if you do indeed intend to press onward into this terrible and ghastly place, I shall follow you and aid you as best I can."

Finally, as an afterthought he adds, "You may call me Anguish."

OOC: HP currently 18/43 plus 2 bonus hp. Still bloodied, but not hovering at death's door.

 

[tiornys]

This does seem an unsavory place, I agree, and another skilled combatant might be welcome. That welcome, however, depends on your forthrightness. You've now twice evaded the question: how is it you came to be in this place? Were you a prisoner? Hired to come here for some purpose? Shipwrecked on the island? Asterion spreads his hands, then continues in a slightly friendlier tone. We certainly intend to press onwards; if nothing else, whoever or whatever is raising the undead needs to be stopped. What's your story?

 

[perrinmiller]

Kaedyn is still frowning at them healing any lunatic they find alive, but figures it up to him to be suspicious and skeptical, "Anguish is a name? Oy, I would think that would be a condition. How long did you say you were locked up in here before you tried to escape the asylum?"

He looks at the carnage around him and wonders how many men were killed by the arcane powers of the horny half-fiend and his sensitive shaft. The fighter is considering he needs to change his position in the marching order to rear guard to better keep and eye on the newcomer.
[sblock=Actions]Start:
Standard Action:
Move Action:
Minor Action:
End: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]HP: 57/57 Bloodied 28; Healing Surges 14HP, 12/day
AC: 24 (22 without Shield)
Fort: 20 Ref: 17 Will: 15
+2 vs. Fear; Resist Poison 5

Weapons in Hand: Shield & Javelin[/sblock]__________________________

Kaedyn Thorngood Char Sheet

OOC: This one is for you [MENTION=49929]Scott DeWar[/MENTION] if you are lurking

 

[airwalkrr]

This does seem an unsavory place, I agree, and another skilled combatant might be welcome. That welcome, however, depends on your forthrightness. You've now twice evaded the question: how is it you came to be in this place? Were you a prisoner? Hired to come here for some purpose? Shipwrecked on the island? Asterion spreads his hands, then continues in a slightly friendlier tone. We certainly intend to press onwards; if nothing else, whoever or whatever is raising the undead needs to be stopped. What's your story?

"You who care so much for details should bear in mind the proverb that curiosity killed the cat. But if it will assuage your ailing sense of security, so be it. I was offered a sum of money to use my talents in the protection of those who intended to plunder this tower of its supposed riches. Now I see that decision was folly. But if you will not be convinced by the stench of death in this room, there is obviously little I can do to dissuade you. Perhaps you are a fool. Perhaps you are much better prepared than my group. It matters not. We will all die in the end if we remain her much longer. Nevertheless I would rather die fighting than fleeing for my life alone through the tower. My offer stands. I shall accompany you and aid you if you like it."

"Anguish is a name? Oy, I would think that would be a condition. How long did you say you were locked up in here before you tried to escape the asylum?"

The tiefling scoffs and looks away from Kaedyn, speaking as if to a wall, "I shouldn't have expected much more from the likes of you. I feel pity for the fact that you have never had need of an act of mercy as I have. If you had you would not hasten to conclusions. One day your prejudice will be the end of you. But I have no quarrel with you. If you persist in pursuing a quarrel with me based on mere happenstance and ignorance, I am capable of resisting." He thinks for a moment as he looks his surroundings over once more, pausing to clean some of his wounds with water from his waterskin. He then adds, "though if you are truly capable of not judging a book by its cover you will easily discern that violence against you is not my intention."

 

[perrinmiller]

Kaedyn hasn't had his suspicions assuaged one bit by the Tiefling's silvery tongue, "Listen you. For the first one of your kind that I have met, you sure have a tendency to evade questions. Nevermind your repeated veiled threats. Prejudiced or not, you keep solidifying the impressions I have from the stories I have heard."

"Men who speak plainly tend to not tell lies. Those that engage in flowery speech and allusions to things are either trying to sell you something or lying. And you are exactly like a gnome used cart salesman that I met once. He would have sold my armor right off my body if I wasn't paying attention."

With Anguish's continued evasions of direct questions, Kaedyn has repositioned himself as rear guard in the marching order to keep an eye on the newcomer. That way he can be on hand immediately in the event of a betrayal or to witness the Tiefling's promised acts of good-will.

[sblock=Actions]Start:
Standard Action:
Move Action:
Minor Action:
End: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]HP: 57/57 Bloodied 28; Healing Surges 14HP, 12/day
AC: 24 (22 without Shield)
Fort: 20 Ref: 17 Will: 15
+2 vs. Fear; Resist Poison 5

Weapons in Hand: Shield & Javelin[/sblock]__________________________

Kaedyn Thorngood Char Sheet

 

[Velmont]

"Kaedyn, we can trust him. I don't feel any harmful intent from him." tells Cliff. He takes a moment and look at his companions. On mercenary found half dead, two crusaders, two pirates, only two from the group sent by the wizard. What a strange group.

"Let's move foward."

 

[perrinmiller]

Kaedyn asks the shifter, "Really, are you sure? Do you know if he is lying or not too?"

OOC: At some point Kaedyn would have rolled an Insight Check (I think) to determine this answer for himself, but I think that is not allowed vs. other players. Of course, if Anguish would just answer questions... He reminds me a of a certain poofda bard I know.
[sblock=Actions]Start:
Standard Action:
Move Action:
Minor Action:
End: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]HP: 57/57 Bloodied 28; Healing Surges 14HP, 12/day
AC: 24 (22 without Shield)
Fort: 20 Ref: 17 Will: 15
+2 vs. Fear; Resist Poison 5

Weapons in Hand: Shield & Javelin[/sblock]__________________________

Kaedyn Thorngood Char Sheet

 

[airwalkrr]

OOC: In Anguish's mind he is answering questions in the most direct way he knows. He is a gloomy and pessimistic person and feels all this interrogation and presumed judgments are more threatening to his person than any comments he might have made to the group so far. He assumes the questions are simply pointed accusations. It's just his way. FYI, Anguish is still bloodied, but only just. If Rodric will still spend another heal, it should get him to about 2/3 or 3/4 health.

Anguish falls in line with the group, speaking gloomily to no one in particular, "And so on I go into the halls which shall surely end as my tomb..."