Storms of Change IC Part 4
- Thread starter silentspace
- Start date
*Zook presses his lips together and walks up to the gnoll captives.*
"I have an offer for you, one that you must decide now. If you are willing to fight hobgoblins alongside us, attacking only the hobgoblins, and not betraying us, then you may live. Otherwise Manzanita will kill you right now. You live or die by your own choices. Fight the hobgoblins, or you will die," Zook says carefully to the gnolls. He tries to seem sympathetic to them, pointing out Manzanita's anger.
OOC - Diplomacy +4, Bluff +10, and/or Intimidate +4.
"I have an offer for you, one that you must decide now. If you are willing to fight hobgoblins alongside us, attacking only the hobgoblins, and not betraying us, then you may live. Otherwise Manzanita will kill you right now. You live or die by your own choices. Fight the hobgoblins, or you will die," Zook says carefully to the gnolls. He tries to seem sympathetic to them, pointing out Manzanita's anger.
OOC - Diplomacy +4, Bluff +10, and/or Intimidate +4.
doghead
thotd
Lucan, male human pit fighter.
Lucan grins at the sight of the diminuative Zook give stick to Manzanita. Lucan has seen enough pointless killing in his day. But if letting them go just means them coming back later to try and kill him again then ... well, lets just say that Lucan wouldn't call killing them now pointless.
But if there is a way to benefit from not killing them ...
Zook stalks off and puts his offer to the gnolls. Now that, Lucan didn't expect. The logic of Zook's approach brings a frown to Lucan's face. Its not alright to kill them, but it is alright to put them in a position to be killed by others. They have a weapon in hand, they live or die by their own ability. That line of reasoning is one Lucan is all to familier with.
Lucan also wonders how Zook intends to insure that the gnolls do not simply turn on the party as soon as the battle is engaged. And what in intends to do afterwards, as if anything will have changed. Zook has not, Lucan decides, made anything any easier.
Lucan steps over to the gnolls. He adopts the insolant swagger that served him so well in the areas.
"Although, just in case its not clear. When Zook says fight alongside us, he means that loosely. You will, more properly speaking, be in front of us, where we can see you. Try anything, and you will be cut down where you stand. But serve the Lord of the Forest well, and, for your efforts, you will be spared to take a message back to whoever sent you.
"Never let is said the Lord of the Forest is not a generous man."
The words of Lucan's old master roll off his tongue without being bidden. Lucan never hated his master more than when he used to say that. It was his master's favourite way of indicating that the consequences of failure would be ... unpleasant.
Lucan grins at the sight of the diminuative Zook give stick to Manzanita. Lucan has seen enough pointless killing in his day. But if letting them go just means them coming back later to try and kill him again then ... well, lets just say that Lucan wouldn't call killing them now pointless.
But if there is a way to benefit from not killing them ...
Zook stalks off and puts his offer to the gnolls. Now that, Lucan didn't expect. The logic of Zook's approach brings a frown to Lucan's face. Its not alright to kill them, but it is alright to put them in a position to be killed by others. They have a weapon in hand, they live or die by their own ability. That line of reasoning is one Lucan is all to familier with.
Lucan also wonders how Zook intends to insure that the gnolls do not simply turn on the party as soon as the battle is engaged. And what in intends to do afterwards, as if anything will have changed. Zook has not, Lucan decides, made anything any easier.
Lucan steps over to the gnolls. He adopts the insolant swagger that served him so well in the areas.
"Although, just in case its not clear. When Zook says fight alongside us, he means that loosely. You will, more properly speaking, be in front of us, where we can see you. Try anything, and you will be cut down where you stand. But serve the Lord of the Forest well, and, for your efforts, you will be spared to take a message back to whoever sent you.
"Never let is said the Lord of the Forest is not a generous man."
The words of Lucan's old master roll off his tongue without being bidden. Lucan never hated his master more than when he used to say that. It was his master's favourite way of indicating that the consequences of failure would be ... unpleasant.
Sado
First Post
Goven
"Just a moment!" Goven exclaims. "I'll not turn this lot loose! You've not thought this through, Zook!
"First of all, we don't know anything about why they are here, who they are working for. Their purpose could be opposed to the welfare of Shillen.
"And suppose they agree to your terms?," he continues. 'Suppose they fight beside us? What then? They go on their merry way? Do you think they will surrender themselves to us once the fight is over?
"Finish them now and be done with it!" he urges. "If you've not got the stomach for it, go stand watch for the hobgoblins!"
"Just a moment!" Goven exclaims. "I'll not turn this lot loose! You've not thought this through, Zook!
"First of all, we don't know anything about why they are here, who they are working for. Their purpose could be opposed to the welfare of Shillen.
"And suppose they agree to your terms?," he continues. 'Suppose they fight beside us? What then? They go on their merry way? Do you think they will surrender themselves to us once the fight is over?
"Finish them now and be done with it!" he urges. "If you've not got the stomach for it, go stand watch for the hobgoblins!"
silentspace
First Post
The gnolls listen to Zook's proposal, and look at each other, as if uncertain what to do. Several look at their unconscious leader.
Lucan steps forward with his swagger and addresses the gnolls also. The gnolls now look towards Lucan, seemingly still undecided as to what to do.
As Goven steps forward with his threatening tone and demeaner, a low growl rises from a couple of the gnolls. Though tied securely and virtually helpless, they still have some fighting spirit left in them.
Standing their watching the gnolls, the group is once again impressed by them. They are clearly much tougher than your average gnolls. Studying them, a thought forms in your minds. Is it possible that the gnolls don't understand your language? Thinking back, could it be they haven't understood a word that was said to them, but surrendered to Zook because of the voices behind them and the rope in his hands?
After some testing, you discover that the gnolls don't understand any of your languages. Manzanita steps forward and tries a few words in Gnoll, which they understand. Without magical aid, Manzanita is the only one who can communicate with the gnolls.
Lucan steps forward with his swagger and addresses the gnolls also. The gnolls now look towards Lucan, seemingly still undecided as to what to do.
As Goven steps forward with his threatening tone and demeaner, a low growl rises from a couple of the gnolls. Though tied securely and virtually helpless, they still have some fighting spirit left in them.
Standing their watching the gnolls, the group is once again impressed by them. They are clearly much tougher than your average gnolls. Studying them, a thought forms in your minds. Is it possible that the gnolls don't understand your language? Thinking back, could it be they haven't understood a word that was said to them, but surrendered to Zook because of the voices behind them and the rope in his hands?
After some testing, you discover that the gnolls don't understand any of your languages. Manzanita steps forward and tries a few words in Gnoll, which they understand. Without magical aid, Manzanita is the only one who can communicate with the gnolls.
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*Zook ignores Goven's words out of a desire to not strangle him out of pique. However, when it's determined than Manzanita is the only one that can talk to the gnolls, Zook's heart sinks.*
"Manzanita, would you do me a great favor and convey our offer to the gnolls?" he says finally and politely.
"Manzanita, would you do me a great favor and convey our offer to the gnolls?" he says finally and politely.
doghead
thotd
Lucan, male human pit fighter
Lucan sighs as Govan promptly sinks any chance they had of engaging in a little misdirection. Lucan wonders what the gnolls are making of all this. They are tough, he'll give them that. They haven't said a word since being captured. Not one of them has broken ranks. Not one of them has tried to talk their way out of this ...
Lucan begins to laugh as realisation dawns on him. It obviously occurs to some of the others around the same time it would seem.
"So we get a second chance maybe." Lucan rumbles. "Although don't assume that they understood nothing, I think.
"We can not agree on the approach it seems. So we decide who makes the final decision, and agree to accept that. It might not go down well, but it is neccessary. We are not going to get very far if can not work together.
"And perhaps we should find out a little more about our friends the gnolls here. Who sent them and why.
"But whatever we do, we had better be quick. While we are stumbling around and tripping over ourselves here, the hobgoblins are moving."
Lucan sighs as Govan promptly sinks any chance they had of engaging in a little misdirection. Lucan wonders what the gnolls are making of all this. They are tough, he'll give them that. They haven't said a word since being captured. Not one of them has broken ranks. Not one of them has tried to talk their way out of this ...
Lucan begins to laugh as realisation dawns on him. It obviously occurs to some of the others around the same time it would seem.
"So we get a second chance maybe." Lucan rumbles. "Although don't assume that they understood nothing, I think.
"We can not agree on the approach it seems. So we decide who makes the final decision, and agree to accept that. It might not go down well, but it is neccessary. We are not going to get very far if can not work together.
"And perhaps we should find out a little more about our friends the gnolls here. Who sent them and why.
"But whatever we do, we had better be quick. While we are stumbling around and tripping over ourselves here, the hobgoblins are moving."
Manzanita
First Post
Manzanita Sparrow
Manzanita makes no indication of her intentions to the others. "Goven, Lucan, come with me and cover me if it gets ugly, please." She turns, drawing her sword and striding over to the captives.
She glowers at the for a moment, eyeing them and seeing which one meets her eyes most. This one, the one she judges to the be the most defiant, she approaches. As she speaks, she slowly raises her sword to its throat.
In gnoll: [sblock]"You have tresspassed this forest without permission from its lord. The lord of the forest is not forgiving to tresspassers. He bids us to teach you this."[/sblock]
With this, Manzanita thrusts the point of her blade into the gnoll's throat.
OOC: Coup de grace attempt
Whether or not the gnoll dies, assuming no party member of gnoll takes action, she continues speaking.
In gnoll: [sblock]"The rest of you have a choice. Are you willing to bargain?"[/sblock]
Manzanita makes no indication of her intentions to the others. "Goven, Lucan, come with me and cover me if it gets ugly, please." She turns, drawing her sword and striding over to the captives.
She glowers at the for a moment, eyeing them and seeing which one meets her eyes most. This one, the one she judges to the be the most defiant, she approaches. As she speaks, she slowly raises her sword to its throat.
In gnoll: [sblock]"You have tresspassed this forest without permission from its lord. The lord of the forest is not forgiving to tresspassers. He bids us to teach you this."[/sblock]
With this, Manzanita thrusts the point of her blade into the gnoll's throat.
OOC: Coup de grace attempt
Whether or not the gnoll dies, assuming no party member of gnoll takes action, she continues speaking.
In gnoll: [sblock]"The rest of you have a choice. Are you willing to bargain?"[/sblock]
"No!" Zook cries, and grabs onto Manzanita's sword-arm. "How could you do that? We don't need to kill them to prove who's stronger! This isn't survival, or helping keep others safe, this is just slaughter! We were brought here to help, not to just kill everything in our path!"
Zook's eyes are wet, and he looks terribly distraught over Manzanita's actions. He makes a careful sign of blessing over the gnoll, and murmurs in Common, "May your soul be sped onward to the halls of your god."
Zook's eyes are wet, and he looks terribly distraught over Manzanita's actions. He makes a careful sign of blessing over the gnoll, and murmurs in Common, "May your soul be sped onward to the halls of your god."
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