Six From Gate Pass - Chapter 3: Shelter From The Storm

[fromage67]

Lars whistles in admiration when he spots the crossbow. He takes it down and decides to claim it.

He asks Lowduke, "So why do you have this warehouse? Are you a merchant?"

Lars speaks to his friends outside Lowduke's hearing, "Let's keep a close eye on him and his wolf. I bet you he will try to escape. One of us should go and get a wagon, we can cart away some of this loot, and we will need it for the egg, that thing his big... Imagine the mother.

 

[Gregor]

"I have this warehouse because it was for sale and because I had the gold to purchase it. It is large, in good order and I can keep my acquisitions here while I search for potential buyers." Lowduke sticks out his chin, trying to look proud. "I am a hunter and ranger. I track, ensnare, capture or slay wild and exotic beasts. What I sell is worth thousands of pieces of gold."

Though Lars believes his words to his friends are spoken softly, you hear Lowduke speaking again. "There is nowhere you can speak in this warehouse that I will not hear you. You have my word as a warrior, a ranger and a man that I will attempt no escape providing you agree to my offer: the sparing of my life and that of my companion in exchange for the treasures I own."

 

[Bannock]

OOC: I just realized I forgot to mark that Bannock has lost the devil's black glaive, so my bonuses in the last fight were 1 higher than they should have been. Given the extremes of the rolls I don't think it would have made a difference, but I wanted to note it.

Bannock laughs aloud at Kirio's voicing his concern that the group is being cold blooded. He follows Lars into Lowduke's bedchamber and takes a bottle of wine, and hefts the fine longspear to feel its weight and balance. He brings these things back out into the main room.

"This is a beauty. You have some mighty fine weapons, Lowduke. Your double-sword is not my style, but this is more like it. I like you're style. I bet we'd get along if we wasn't tryin' to kill eachother. So, I have to know: How did you get a dragon's egg?"

 

[The Bashar]

Hrimr gets himself off the floor and walks over to where the rest of the party is. He winces a bit as he walks as his lower back is still in pain. As he rounds the corner he notices Bannock is looking a little worse for wear and casts a healing spell on him.

When Lowduke mentions that his armour is not made of metal Hrimr interest is piqued.

"I wouldn't mind looking at the armour. It is likely better than my old bear hides."

As the group discusses Lowduke's fate Hrimr looks at Kirio and speaks:

"You know where I stand in these situations."

Hrimr goes to where Lowduke has the animals caged.

OOC: How many animals are caged?

 

[Gregor]

Hrimr, there are 5 locked metal cages (the lock is more of a sliding bolt than an actual tumbler lock): three of them hold grey wolves, one holds a monitor lizard and the another holds a young black bear. None look mistreated or malnourished.

Lowduke answers Bannock. "I earned that spear on an expedition through the River Kingdoms, a place across the sea and to the south. I was tracking a great silver boar through a dark forest when I was ambushed by a trio of brigands. They sought my coin but what they received was an early grave. I took the spear from the leader of the group and later used it to impale the great boar as it charged me. I believe it to be magically invested for the blade never dulls or rusts and the fine wood has never bent, cracked or warped. The purpose of those raven feathers are also beyond me, though they cannot be removed no matter how strong you pull at them. Perhaps your wizard friend can help you make sense of it."

He takes a shallow breath and coughs again before continuing. "As for how I obtained the egg of a green dragon. Well, that was my greatest achievement. It is a story best told over a keg of ale before a roaring hearth. Not from a man bound and defeated. Untie me. I have given my word and accept my defeat with honor. In fact, why not allow me to join you? I have skills that none of you possess and Ghar, my companion here, is a steadfast and loyal beast. The tales of Nathan Lowduke are legion and I would add to them before I am sent before Malar in his dark bestial halls of afterlife."

 

[funkmamagoat]

To the group "Alright, I know some of you may think me cold blooded" he pauses and smiles evilly "but I do things for a reason. I killed the leader of the black horse company because he had attacked us no less than three times. Those witches in the swamp were... well... crazy. I would have left her tied up though, she may have made it. I'm not killing these sods, we attacked them and we have what we want to further our broader goals. If he crosses us on a go forward basis, then fine, he dies, but not now. I would not discount his offer out of hand either, he's distasteful perhaps, but last I checked none of us are devotees of Torm either. We're about to go trecking for an adult green dragon... mayhaps a Ranger is a good idea no?"

To Lowduke "So... want to join up eh? Lets just make sure we all understand the situation here shall we. As I said, I'm inclined to let you live, and I won't deny your skills are of interest. My friends however are of the opinion that you are better off dead. What we do is... dangerous, but I'm sure this does not bother you, you've evoked Malar twice now... not exactly a deity of calm and safe living. Should you be allowed to accompany us, you would take an equal share going forward, but would have to follow... instructions, yes, and still forfeit... well... everything you have here. I need to know right now how you got that egg, exactly how. The other tales can wait, I can even put those to music for you later if you like. I would answer well, your life in no uncertain measure depends on the answer..."

 

[Gregor]

"I stole it," says Lowduke with a smirk, "an act that you and your friends are obviously no strangers to. The mother is well known in these parts and her lair easily found. Once located, her feeding and flight patterns were easy to monitor and record over the course of a week. This allowed for an easy decent into her hatchery and enough time to allow for the hauling of the egg to a safe distance, down wind, where I had stashed a horse and cart. Dragons are arrogant you see and none would expect that a lone human would attempt such a foolhardy task. But I am no fool. That is all you need to know about how I obtained the egg, for the remainder of the information is mundane and relates to my strategies for bivouac, tracking and stealth. These things are beyond you."

Lowduke's surviving men are now beginning to awake in their bindings, looks of confusion and fear on their faces.

"You see how boring and clinical that tale sounds without the appropriate story telling methods? My greatest achievement told without celebration or remark. Rangers, hunters, bards and travelers of this world's great roads weep at the injustice." He scratches his chin on his shoulder while he collects his thoughts. "My desire to join you is primarily because I wish to remain alive. I am no fool. To let me go unharmed would be risky to you because I know your faces and it would seem likely that I would seek revenge upon you. Yet why not let me offer my services to you as a guide and hunter until such time that I earn your trust? I believe that we share similar goals: to see the world, do battle and achieve greatness."

"Now, I have told you all you need to know and my treasures are yours. But know this, should you keep me alive and accept my offer, I will bow to no one. Make your choice."

 

[digimattic]

Arnir claps his hands happily at Lowduke's final remark, before wincing in pain and looking behind him to the wound he suffered at the hands of the cutlass wielding minion.

"Oh, I quite like this fellow. Much as I think it would be most prudent to kill you, for the very reasons you gave, somehow I think I would enjoy having you around more. But what of your..companions? Who is this fellow?" Arnir points to Beanor before checking that his hands are firmly tied and stuffing a rag in the groggy man's mouth and tying another on top "I'll have no spells cast while we discuss this...."

 

[funkmamagoat]

Kirio smiles at Arnir, walks over and hums a tune over him as well, having forgotten his wounds...

 

[Gregor]

Nathan answers Arnir. "As I said earlier, I care not what you do with these men or their belongings. Our relationship was defined by my gold filling their purses for service. I believe that such a service is now at an end, don't you? As for Baenor, he is a wizard I hired from the refugee camps. Nothing more and nothing less. Take his things, dump him in the ocean or set him free, I care not." He turns his head to the gagged mage. "Nothing personal Baenor. Just business."