Night Below (IC)

[Lentrax]

Mira, sensing some life left in the half orc, reaches out with her hand, placing it on his head. She then channels some of her strength into him, letting the healing power Helm had given her wash into him.

Spoiler: OOC

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Lay on Hands for one point. Enough to stabilize him and not die.

Who are you, and what are you doing here?

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris let's his fire wink out, with a single word and a gesture. He also approaches carefully, making sure the weapons are out of reach.

"Explain yourselves. Why did you try to ambush us?"

[Xihirli]

Shuddering, the half-orc returns to his senses and nearly goes for his axe, but one of the humans say, "Gorb. We lost."
The half-orc stops going for his weapon, but scowls.
The three most consistently conscious people look at one another and they let the halfling speak.
"The same as you, I suppose. We came here investigating the disappearances and it seems there was a huge misunderstanding were each of us assumed the other was one of them."

Spoiler: Investigation DC 13; Liara sees this immediately

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The halfling corpse has a gold amulet with a J emblazoned on it. If you turn it over, there is a small print of Haldelar and Parella.

[Lentrax]

How long have you been down here?

Spoiler: OOC

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Investigation: (1d20)[11]

And for good measure, I will use one of my uses of Divine Sense.

[Xihirli]

"Two days," the halfling said while one of the humans chimed in "four hours."
They looked at one another, and the human decisively closed his mouth.
"He only recently joined us, it's why we were so near the entrance," the halfling said.

Spoiler: Divine Sense

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None of them are undead, fiends or celestials. None are within 60 feet.

[Lentrax]

Mira rises back to her feet. She looks from the halfling to the human, and then back. That's funny. No one mentioned to us there were others searching.

Mira drops her hand to rest on the hilt of her sword. Without taking her eyes off this group, Mira turns her head slightly to speak behind her. Gather their weapons. Something isn't right.

[Xihirli]

"They didn't? How unfortunate how easily this whole disaster could have been avoided..." the halfling insisted, but one of the humans had clearly given up on this and was just closing his eyes and mumbling nonsense.

[Lentrax]

Mira pulls her sword and holds it to the human mumbling.

I would stop that if I were you.

[Xihirli]

He does, biting his thumb instead.

[Lentrax]

Good. Now, let's start over. Mirafa says.

Who in the hells are you, and what are doing here?

[Xihirli]

When none of the others speak, the half-orc on the ground snorts.
"We're slavers," he says, daring the others to correct him with his eyes.
"We're in this mine because the orcs who work with the squid-faces live right under here and we sell to them."

[BobMacBobson]

Emrig spits on the ground when they mention their real intentions. Keeping his voice down so the other group doesn't overhear him, he turns to his companions. "Slavers! Bah. Vilest type of folk. We should hand them over to the authorities." With the slavers disarmed he relaxes a bit, but still keeps his bow in hand.

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Avaris agrees with what he hears.

"But also, we need information. Tell us about the orcs. And about the squidfaces."

[Xihirli]

The group looks at each other once more, and this time all let the halfling speak for them.
“We’ll tell you everything you want to know - if the Paladin swears we go free.” He looks expectantly to Mirafa.

[Lentrax]

Mira considers the offer. They do need information, but these slavers need, no, they deserve punishment.

You want to go free? Very well, but there are conditions. First, your freedom is entirely dependent upon the quality of your information. If we suspect that you are holding anything back, anything, you will not see the surface again. Second, if you are to go free, you must suffer a punishment. And third, you will no longer be selling slaves to these creatures. You will leave this place, and seek your fortunes elsewhere. And with a more honest profession.

Do you swear to Helm to agree to these terms?

[Xihirli]

The humans look at the halfling, but the half-orc speaks.
"I accept these terms."
The others, suddenly losing their bargaining chips, reluctantly nod.
"We... swear on Helm to agree to your terms," the halfling says.

[Ricky S]

Liara shifts in her stance, "Please tell us then. It is not wise to dwell in one place in these caves. Tell us first of who exactly you sold the slaves to and of their numbers"

[Xihirli]

"We don't keep names, we keep tallies," the halfling explains.

"We sell to the orcs, they deliver to the squid-faces," Gorb the half-orc answers.

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

As the others talk, Avaris goes and one by one, searches them for hidden weapons. He then ties their hands.

"How many are these orks, and how far down they live?"

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: Investigation DC 11

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The halfling is wearing a silver ring you'd estimate in value to at least 80 gp. The rest of them have a total of 6 gp and 9 sp on them.

Spoiler: DC 14

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The halfling has a dagger hidden in his boot.

"I could draw you a map," Gorb offers, and then goes into a verbal description of the orcs.

"The Bloodskull orcs live down below the mine in a shaft in the crab petals.

If I had to make a tally of their warriors… they have thirty that are usually out on the surface, with three lieutenants in command of groups of ten… there are about… seventy in the caves most days. Maybe thirty more are fighting men. Thirteen are in an elite group… Ogurkek’s most trusted guards. Ogurkek is the chief… Name means “Bloodfeaster.” He became chieftan end of last year... nobody expected it. Garundaryek says he was a docile and dumb youth, but became suddenly cunning just before challenging and defeating Garundzer… nasty piece of work, that one. Garundaryek swears Garundzer’s part ogre. Only respects strength, only listens to Ogurkek. And the only people Ogurkek listens to are the squid-faces."

Spoiler: Map

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You're all cordially invited to see the visual aids over here.

[Lentrax]

You’ve mentioned these squid-faces a few times now. Who are they?

[Xihirli]

The only human who hasn’t spoken yet opens his mouth to reveal that his tongue has been cut off. He is mute. Nonetheless you hear in your minds, I believe I can explain it best. As the sound fills your minds, Gorb convulses and falls to the ground, twitching uncontrollably.
You see, they are all of our Overseers.

[Lentrax]

And who are they? And what do they have to do with the odd brain creatures we’ve been seeing? I know you’re one of them, so you can tell us at least that much of it.

[Xihirli]

The half-orc stops convulsing, and the other human starts. The halfling’s eyes dart from the exit to the group’s weapons, weighing the risks of fleeing as opposed to staying.
Yes, the Overseers said you met Carlanis’s puppeteer, Mira. We were formed in the same vat. But you’ll learn all you need to when you meet the Overseers. They will give you your purpose.

[Lentrax]

I know my purpose. I don’t need to be shown anything. Helm himself has set this path before me.

She turns her head to the side again to address her friends.

I think I’ve heard about enough. What say you?

[ProudGrognard]

Avaris

Quickly as he can, Avaris takes his dagger and shoves it at the base of the skull of the possessed mute. He shouts

"Do something, he is killing them!"

Spoiler: OOC

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Atk (1d20+4)[11] if he has Adv because he is tied Atk (1d20+4)[22]

dmg (1d4+2)[5]

[Xihirli]

The head splits easily, and another of the walking brains spills out but rights itself on its four legs.
Killing? You accuse me of barbarism, they are perfectly fine.
The halfling clutches his head and falls to the ground as the human stops twitching.
You might have a difficult time questioning them, however.

[Lentrax]

Mira steps up to the brain creature, and brings her sword down.

Spoiler: Attack

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Attack roll: (1d20+4)[17]
Damage: (1d8+2)[3]

[Xihirli]

Spoiler: OOC

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While it does have more than 3 hp, I see little point in rolling initiative while this thing is surrounded.

When you realize your purpose, you will regret fighting so hard to be an anomaly.
And with those last mental words, the brain creature is bisected, and the halfling stops twitching.

At about this time, Gorb lifts his head again.
"Erm... hello? Where... am I?"

[Lentrax]

What do you remember?