[LPF] Beggar's Belief

[perrinmiller]

[sblock=OOC]I have a healthy respect for our DM since he killed one character in Buyer's Remorse and the way out through the sharks sounded like a TPK when we first heard about it. Perhaps my Diplomacy Roll will be good enough. Do not read into her statement regarding you guys, she needs to do that to help with the Diplomacy I think.

Though I do have some questions unanswered by our DM. The suspended boat in theory sounds possible (I don't think Megan understands the idea from her last post, we can anchor rope between the walls or down from the ceiling), but without a ruling from the DM I dunno. If it won't work, he can easily say the appearance of the boat makes such a venture impractical and we can move on to other ideas.[/sblock]Guessing that Stump's problem has more to do with swimming out than dealing with Knesh, Ariel steps out under the grate and calls up, "Master Knesh, it is truly I, Ariel Esimae, not the leprechaun in disguise. You can know this because he would not be able to tell you that I was wearing my clerical vestments and no armor when we first met at the Dunn Wright Inn."

"I realize that my foolish companions tried a ruse that I did not approve of. But we need a reasonable solution here, and one that serves Justice. We have the trickster and the treasure here and we intend to get to the bottom of this."

"But we are not murders. You hired us to deal with a situation and we shall do just that. Surely we can resolve this without removing anyone's head. We are reasonable people just as you are, so please open the grate and we can bring the treasure up and finish our assignment once and for all."

[sblock=Actions]Diplomacy (1d20+8=21)
Standard Action:
Move Action: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +2
AC: 19 (17 without shield/flat-footed, 12 Touch)
HP: 9 Current: 9
CMB: +1 CMD: 13 Fort: +4 Reflex: +4 Will: +6 (+8 vs. Fear)
+1 for all with Resistance
Resistance: 5 Cold, 5 Acid, 5 Electricity

Current Weapon in Hand: Shield & Javelin

Fire Bolt: 5/6 Remaining Channel Energy: 4/5 remaining
Deflection Aura: 1/1 remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Light, Resistance, Guidance)
1st Level 3/3 [/sblock]___________________________________________

Ariel Esimae

 

[Walking Dad]

The Guardian waits for Knesh's response.

OOC: regarding the suspended boat: The pitons would need to be able to sustain the weight of the boat, the persons in it and the grate, if we try to push it open. But maybe we could use one piton as chisel and weaken the stone around it.

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

Knesh listens to Ariel, "Nevertheless those are my terms grisly as they are. You will forgive me I trust if I put my own interests before justice, an abstract and problematically subjective moral construct at best.

Now its true that you can do a great deal to spite me here, and that it is in both parties best interests to reach a mutually agreeable compromise. But you see my priority is getting the leprechaun to cease its harassment of me. I did not lie about his little vendetta being a torture, the constant anxiety, never being able to sleep, never knowing if he is watching or not, having to second guess everything....

But murder is not the only solution, get him to swear, and get me my 2000gp and I will release you. If he swears upon his honor and the souls of his family that should be sufficient, I know enough leprechaun lore by now to know they do not break their promises..."

OOC: I don't think the boat solution is practical I'm afraid. Disregarding the difficulties of set up you are going to need a person in it, plus the weight of the boat plus and extra 300lbs as the person attempts to open the grate. I also don't see how you could hope to implement it without making a great deal of noise. So lets say it does not look practical.

 

[VVilhem]

Back out of earshot.

"This is one of those compromise vs. risk it all & win big scenarios," says Megan, "While our situation seems dire and giving up is tempting, let's go over what has happened. Knesh and his thug friends, in the name of adventuring, brutally murdered Stump and his family for treasure. Once he found Stump's hideout, instead of facing Stump like a man, Knesh tricked us into trying to kill the leprechaun. But it wasn't enough to manipulate a bunch of hapless young adventurers into doing his dirty work. He shut the grate right after we entered this dungeon, intending to force us to give up all the treasure. Now, seeing all his foe has united against him, Knesh wants us to let him off by paying HIM money."

Megan turns to Ariel and the Guardian, "I don't know about your religion decrees or values, but Knesh offends my personal sense of what is right. He is exactly the kind of creature that anyone who cares about Venza would stop. I know swimming is dangerous, but I am willing to try it if there is a chance to stop Knesh. Are you guys with me?"

 

[perrinmiller]

Ariel Esimae, Female Aasimar Cleric

[sblock=OOC]Afg, this hasn't been responded to yet, but maybe it is not important.

Ariel notices the worry on Stump's face and asks him, "Is something new bothering you?"

[/sblock]Ariel calls back up to Knesh, "I understand, let me discuss this with Stump, then."

Returning out of sight and earshot of Knesh to where the other three are, Ariel listens to Megan again talk about swimming for it. She replies, "Not yet, I have one more chance at avoiding being a shark's lunch."

"Stump, would you consider giving your oath to Knesh? I too share Megan's feelings that Justice must be served on Knesh and fully intend to carry out that act once we are topside. Will you trust us to deal with him properly? I wish to see this ended once and for all. Afterward you should be able to leave peaceably."

Diplomacy (1d20+8=28)
[sblock=Actions]Standard Action:
Move Action: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +2
AC: 19 (17 without shield/flat-footed, 12 Touch)
HP: 9 Current: 9
CMB: +1 CMD: 13 Fort: +4 Reflex: +4 Will: +6 (+8 vs. Fear)
+1 for all with Resistance
Resistance: 5 Cold, 5 Acid, 5 Electricity

Current Weapon in Hand: Shield & Javelin

Fire Bolt: 5/6 Remaining Channel Energy: 4/5 remaining
Deflection Aura: 1/1 remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Light, Resistance, Guidance)
1st Level 3/3 [/sblock]___________________________________________

Ariel Esimae

 

[Walking Dad]

"Stump, even as you swear this oath, the rest of us is not bound by it. I promise that I will seek Knesh until he is brought to justice."

[sblock=OOC]


AC: 19, Touch: 12, FF: 16
CMD: 16
Fort +4, Refl +2, Will -1

HP: 11/12

[/sblock]

 

[VVilhem]

Megan asks Ariel, "So what's the plan? We get topside then force Knesh to repent? Keep in mind that Knesh is cunning and will not be standing around after we get topside. I imagine he will demand for the money first. By the time we climbed up the ladder, he'll be well on his way to the only boat off this island. Sure we got a little boat here, but it will also take time for us to haul it topside. I doubt we can catch up to him."

"What if...the Guardian and I swim for it? If even one of us makes it, we can at least cut Knesh off at his boat. You can go through the transaction with the man as usual, and we'll ambush him as he tries to leave."

 

[VVilhem]

OOC: Will seeking out Knesh to exact justice be Begger's Belief, Part Deux? If so, I am willing to forgo the short-term, more risky path to victory and throw my lot into a long-term, more official road to justice.

 

[perrinmiller]

[sblock=OOC]Still waiting on Stump, but I will reply to megan.[/sblock]Ariel comments, "I agree with the Guardian as well, exactly what I had in mind. He might be cunning, but also has proven himself to be untrustworthy. Just like yourselves have recently done in his eyes. Therefore I cannot lie at this point so I will have to be very careful with my words."

"We must control the exchange so that we are topside with him and the treasure within reach. Right now we have a stalemate, and there must be compromise on both sides to reach an agreement."

"Dividing ourselves up will be hard to coordinate and leave someone vulnerable. I don't recommend it, even if you don't get eaten by sharks, but I will not stop you, Megan."

[sblock=Actions]Standard Action:
Move Action: [/sblock][sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +2
AC: 19 (17 without shield/flat-footed, 12 Touch)
HP: 9 Current: 9
CMB: +1 CMD: 13 Fort: +4 Reflex: +4 Will: +6 (+8 vs. Fear)
+1 for all with Resistance
Resistance: 5 Cold, 5 Acid, 5 Electricity

Current Weapon in Hand: Shield & Javelin

Fire Bolt: 5/6 Remaining Channel Energy: 4/5 remaining
Deflection Aura: 1/1 remaining
Spells Remaining: Cantrips: (Light, Resistance, Guidance)
1st Level 3/3 [/sblock]___________________________________________

Ariel Esimae

 

[Aldern Foxglove]

OOC: Sorry for the delay folks, just had a very hectic few days, its been 18 hour days snatched sleep and very stressful. Thought I would be able to post once a day, but just did not happen.

Stump bites his lip and clenches his fists, and after a long pause he manages to whisper,

"By my oath I be bound,
could I so swear to confound?
Only if you all agree,
to take up my revenge for me.

You must swear by god and kin,
to finish off what I did begin.
Darks things arise in the heart,
when leprechaun and oath doth part..."