Memories and Portents Chapter #2: Scourge of the Howling Horde

[hero4hire]

Khyl watched the interrogation with apparent little interest, and mild amusement.

He scratched the scruff behind Canis' neck and whispered in the wolf's ear. The lupine almost seemed to nod.

"So shall we get this mysterious shipment to its intended destination?" he called to the others.

 

[airwalkrr]

Talik nods. "I see your point," he replies. "But perhaps it's better to do the questioning here than drag a murderous goblin along with us. We can find out what he knows and send him off without further endangering the caravan."

"Until he goes to get reinforcements. I say kill him when you're done or let us take him back to be put in a prison. Either way, I'm not about to let him walk away living. Everything he just told you could be a carefully crafted lie."

 

[SecondTime]

OOC: Sense Motive on the goblin to determine if he's hiding anything or being deceitful.

Kaine: The goblin appears to be sincere in his confession.

OOC: I have to prepare for an interview, so I'll post a larger update tommorow. Until then, rp on!

 

[Ilium]

"Until he goes to get reinforcements. I say kill him when you're done or let us take him back to be put in a prison. Either way, I'm not about to let him walk away living. Everything he just told you could be a carefully crafted lie."

Talik shakes his head. "Since when are goblins clever enough to allocate their resources, or brave enough to attack with anything less than their full strength? If there were more goblins willing to come on this raid, they would have been here. Trying to recruit more with 'All my companions were killed, but we can do better next time' doesn't strike me as likely either." He looks down on the goblin with a mix of pity and disgust. "No, I don't think we'll be seeing our little friend again."

 

[Enforcer]

Satisfied, Kaine lets go of the goblin and removes the ring before speaking.

"Very interesting. Goblin bandits financed by mysterious sources. It is my opinion that we should escort the caravan to New Cyre, and contact Oargev's court about this development."

Turning back to the pitiful goblin, he continues, "I agree with Talik. Let the creature try to explain how he was the only survivor and yet has nothing to show for it to his tribe. But if the group decides to execute it, that's fine."

 

[cog_and_taz]

The warforged sighs and shakes his head. "Since when, my friends, have goblins possessed, with due respect, the intellect to lie? Yes, that's what I thought too. I believe that this goblin should be cared for as a prisoner, and brought to the court in New Cyre. If we return him to his tribe, they will likely kill him, and those at the caravan will be no more tolerant. " He looks at the priest with his piercing green eyes, before speaking again. " Talik, you seem to be a kind man, and I hope that I am not mistaken in trusting you with this goblin's care. And when I say a prisoner, Talik, I mean as they should be cared for, not as they are."

Now he turns to Kaine. Somehow, the air around him seems darker, as if his thinaun plating is sucking the very light in, but surely that can't be? "Mr. Kaine, the ring please? I wish to speak with this goblin. It's amazing what a kind word and some understanding can do, or failing that, the appearance of it. These goblins, it would seem, are still understandably bitter about the fall of the Dhakaan, and no doubt wish to return their empire to its former glory. Atleast, most would wish their followers to think that, but as for their leaders...suffice to say, sir, that I have seen too much of the real world to think that they believe in the same ideals as their subjects."

 

[Enforcer]

"Dhakaan was a long time ago and attacks on peaceful caravans are hardly a path to restoration of their empire. Would you have us believe that any glory was won here today? The goblin is a coward and murderer. Your pity is wasted on it. Take the ring if you must," Kaine replies coldly, "Oh, and it's just Kaine."

 

[airwalkrr]

He looks down on the goblin with a mix of pity and disgust. "No, I don't think we'll be seeing our little friend again."

"No, we certainly won't."

[sblock=SecondTime]At that, Vorkhad manifests mind thrust with a wild surge on the goblin. He must make a DC 13 Will save or suffer 2d10 points of damage. Vorkhad attempts to hide the display by making a DC 20 Concentration check (+4 modifier) so no one knows it came from him, making a Bluff check (+8 modifier) if anyone accuses him of doing so. Bear in mind that even if there is such a display, it is unlikely anyone without ranks in Knowledge (psionics) or Psicraft or the ability to manifest psionic powers themselves will know where it came from. He will manifest it as a soft sound that can only be heard by those within 15 feet with a successful DC 10 Listen check in case he fails the Concentration check to hide the display.[/sblock]

 

[cog_and_taz]

[SBLOCK=OOC]Ebil! Pure Ebil! [/SBLOCK]

"No, Kaine, I do not. Still, who knows what these goblins were made to think? It is not that I have any sympathies for this goblin, merely that I have seen war before, and heard those who fight them are made to think."

 

[SecondTime]

The goblin halts its look of fear to appear slighlty dazed for a second, but then returns to its normal cringing and weeping.

OOC: So are we nearing a consensus on what to do with the goblin? If no one makes an attempt its life by tommorow, I'll assume you all let it go.



Vorkhad (only): You sense the goblin desperatly attempt to maintain control in the face of your mental assault (he rolled 15). You were, however, able to maintain your composure and not display any outward signs of your abilities and despite the effort required to initiate the assualt.