(Casual D&D III) The Man in Black

[Guilt Puppy]

Your short trek to the barn is an awkward one -- the townsfolk seem eager to hear news of the outcome, but Tanor's stern silence seems to keep them at a respectful distance.

Once indoors, Father Tanor calls you together to speak briefly. "Before we revive him," he says, nodding toward the orc, "there are a few things I'd like to make clear."

"I don't fault you for your attempt," he says, clearly measuring his words carefully. "I asked that you be sure that you were capable of what you offered, and you proved yourselves so, to all points which could be anticipated. You... I don't consider any of you negligent, for having made the attempt, is what I'm trying to say."

He stiffens, trying to collect his thoughts again.

"The young lady's safety was the most important thing, to be certain, but it was not all that was at sake. Had we met their demands, the orcs would be back again next year, if not sooner, with more of the same... At the very least, you've sent a clear message that such methods will not be successful, not in Emmethrach. And that is a good thing." He nods his head slowly, casting his eyes downward. "It is a sad thing to lose the girl, but leave knowing you have done good for these people."

He then moves over to the orc, kneeling over his unconscious frame.

"Now, shall we see what this one has to say?" he asks, clearly prepared to adminster healing once consent is given.

(OOC: Totally unrelated, and not something you're apt to have use for at the moment, but I finished the map of Tourne and wanted to show it off.)

 

[dpdx]

Hiritus is unusually cold and distant after Father Tanor's talk.

"With all due respect, Father, I'd just as soon slit his throat and have you speak with his corpse later. Before he took the life of the girl, we managed to get out of him that there were other orcs left at his camp, that the original leader and first officer of that 'group' were killed earlier, and that they'd march on Emmethrach with the remainder if he wasn't back to the camp by a certain time.

And he's trading these weapons and goods you come up with for food, he said."

Fendric fights back tears as he speaks, "He speaks the truth, Father. I believe it is a plan to strip the outlying towns of their defenses and resources, in case they should be needed to stop an even bigger threat.

And Father - if it would be enough to raise the requisite funds for a raising or resurrection of the child, we would gladly donate anything of use from the brigands who caused this to be necessary."

 

[Festy_Dog]

Nurthk sits uncomfortably in the barn. He shuffles his feet, moving his gaze from one person to another. It lingers on the orc as Father Tanor speaks.

I went down there first. I made it my primary objective to protect that girl above everything else, but... the blame lies squarely on us. No doubt there. Our failure is our responsibility.

Nurthk grimaces and appears to hold his tongue as Hiritus, then Fendric, speak. Part way through Fendric's statement though he suddenly stands up and leaves the barn, finding a dark, quiet place somewhere outside to wait until the others were done.

 

[DrZombie]

"No." Raven speaks up, his eyes dark and his face emotionless. "Don't slit his throat. If he dies now, he died in battle. He tried to take the easy way out. I've told him what would happen if he tried that. I keep my word. Heal him. Then give these people a villain. Someone responsible for all the sorrow. It'll do the boy good to see the one that killed all his family punished. And he'd better tell us some more about these orcs. When, where, how much.

I don't know what the rest thinks, but if those orcs attack I'm staying untill either some local militia arrives or the town is evacuated. I'll not walk away from these women and children. The rest of you is free to go. I'll catch up in a few days."

 

[Guilt Puppy]

And Father - if it would be enough to raise the requisite funds for a raising or resurrection of the child, we would gladly donate anything of use from the brigands who caused this to be necessary.

Father Tanor shakes his head. "I don't know where your faith stands on the matter, but the Church of Heironeous reserves such blessings for those whose work is needed, not simply those who are missed... It's the only fair and just criterion available."

He turns to Raven.

"As for his punishment..." He seems to wish to make a firm statement, but can only look away lightly. "That won't be decided tonight, and it is certainly none of your decision, either. But it will do the town good to have a prisoner brought to justice... Moreso than a villain cut down in hasty spectacle, I would say. That way leads to anarchy, however righteous it may be."

Having said his piece, he kneels down, checking the sturdiness of the orc's bonds. "I'll observe, and intervene if needed, but I think it's best if he doesn't know I'm here... His tongue is apt to be looser if he believes himself to be at your mercy alone."

With that, he administers a light curative spell, then pads away softly, behind the orc and out of his sight as he awakens, lifting his head slowly and struggling weakly to discover he is bound.

Father Tanor nods for you to begin.

 

[dpdx]

Fendric stands trembling with anger before the bound orcish captive. It is, at this time moreso than any other in his life, difficult for him to speak, but he manages.

"My Faith in the Holy Light belies what I wish to... happen to this... vermin. It is best that I wait outside... therefore, in case the rest of his host descend upon Emmethrach earlier than expected. I... must meditate, so as to have my complement of curing magicks..."

Hiritus accompanies him as they untie their horses and lead them out of the barn. Once outside, they mount up and ride to the opposite edge of town from which they entered, securing themselves at the best vantage point from which to watch the road. Hiritus stands watch while Fendric removes his armor and trances.

 

[DrZombie]

(OOC on holiday for a week.Raven can be found here if you need him)

 

[Festy_Dog]

Upon seeing Fendric and Hiritus leave Nurthk wanders back into the barn. He takes his seat where he was before and looks coldly at the orc, seemingly waiting for something.

 

[Guilt Puppy]

(Sorry about the long delay between posts... Having a drought in creativity, I guess, and kind of lost track of how long it had been. Although I guess it was a good spot for downtime. Anyway, since I'm still not entirely sure of how to carry out this situation, I'm just going to fast-forward the action a bit...)

The orc talks rather willingly; reports that the rest of his band is holed up in an old ruined fortress East of the town, about forty of them. Explains that a perimeter of archers positioned defensibly should be able to defeat them thoroughly, as their own few proficient bowmen had stayed to guard the house, and have now been slain.

(if there is anything else you'd like to question him on, feel free to backtrack, but in the interest of moving things forward...)

After the interrogation is finished, Father Tanor takes you aside, sending Shavah to retrieve Hiritus and Fendric. He recommends that you make camp outside of town, and offers assistance in procuring any basic supplies you might need for that; the Pelorites will have by now witnessed the increasingly dubious attitude of the townsfolk with regard to your party, and on this account Father Tanor refuses staunchly any offers of further assistance with these orcs. He does seem genuinely confident that the people of the town, if organized, will be capable of defeating the remaining orcs themselves.

He gives you direction to a good site to camp, not too far from town and fairly near the road, but with good cover and no reputation for danger. With that he bids you fare well, rather unceremoniously...

 

[dpdx]

The Pelorites ride with the group out of town, past their original watchpoint, and secure in the fact that they did their best for Emmethrach, even if the result was tragic, and mostly ignoring the looks of disdain from the townspeople upon their group, even as they noted them with surprise on the way in.

Hiritus looks back to check Justice's saddlebags every so often to make sure the 10 days of rations they received from Father Tanor are secure on her flank. Fendric does likewise with Vespers and the couple of healing kits the town managed to scrounge up. [Presuming this is okay according to the 'assistance with small supplies'. Will edit if it's too much.]

Looking around at the group as they ride, Fendric manages a comment:

"Are we sure we recovered everything we wished to take from the other orcs, as well as the one we took captive? Looting the opponents is not a thought that comes easily, or for that matter at first, to me, but I would hate to believe we risked at least three of our number for naught such as this, May The Light Cauterize this town's festering ingratitude."

Hiritus attempts to soothe his friend's bitter attitude:

"Now, Fendric, the young girl didn't make it, not that that's our fault, but they're distraught. In time, they'll adjust, and they'll see that we did our best. In the meantime, we have work to do, and we should concentrate on that."

"You are correct, of course, Brother Hiritus, but I shall yet remember this experience for a long time.

Did we recover the armor? I should like to know if it is cursed, though I am nearly sure that it is, we should still know that before one of us puts it on. Something that ugly is bound to be cursed, I should think."

"We have that, as well as his double axe, and the necklace of fireballs. I don't know what else we got, and nobody's read the dweomer on any of it yet, to my knowledge. But your work in putting out the fire probably netted us more goods than we would have, and the town gets their mayor's house back. That's something, anyway."

Fendric seems not to accept Hiritus' consolation.

"Bah! I am a Servant of the Radiant Light, a force for good in this foul world - do they think me insane? Did we all not want to present the girl, alive, to the townsfolk? Does it read "demon" in scars upon my brow? Bastards!"

"It's all right, Fendric. Look, we're almost there. I think I can see it in the moonlight."