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Kurt waits by the last dead ogre, waiting for signs of the live one stirring before he hews the head from this body. The blood from the others has stained his hand and his axe, his eyes are unhappy with having to do this. If anything, that makes the methodical way he took the heads off the others even worse.
"I don't want to watch this." Mithril was glad her expertise was not needed in this case. Instead she walked over to the edge of where the ogres had come from, just north of the group and pulled out her waterskin, pouring a little into her hand for Whiskers to drink. He stared into her eyes trying to comprehend the feels of exhaustion and fear slowing ebbing off of her. At her insistence he drank a little of the water, nose wrinkling, before lying in her lap.
Fearful of more ogres approaching she listened and watched for signs of approaching enemies.
The moment Shiny notices the ogre coming to, he starts to speak in common, all without looking at the prisoner. "Make sure we get them all. The orc chieftain said he'd pay sixty gold for every ogre head." He doesn't know if the ogre speaks anything but Giant, but it's worth a shot, and he might recognize the word orc. The interrogation would start soon, and that is when the real lies would have to come out.
Upon Shinys dialog, the Ogre immediately begins to struggle against the rope, staining its giant form. He yells something about your mother and a goat in Giant.
"Don't see why, don't want to either," Natalia says as she stands by Mithril. The whole plan is leaving a bad taste in her mouth, which she supposes is somewhat hypocritical but her opinion's not about to change.
Spoiler
Spot: (d20+7)[20]
Listen: (d20+7)[20]
"Good morning...to you too," she says in a slightly sardonic tone as she hears the ogre waking behind her.
Shiny turns to the giant, smiles, and starts speaking in the ogre's native tongue. Those who understand Giant notice that his speech is more stilted than his usual effortless dialect, though he seems to relish the chance to practice the new language.
"Ah, so you are awake. And you see how we have killed your allies- no one is coming to save you."
"Now is the time for questions. What do you know of the orc's war against the ogres?"
As soon as Shiny speaks up, Kurt nods. With a vicious overhanded swing he disconnects the head from the neck, picking it up and adding it to the pile. "That's the last of them. Except our friend, over there. Will the orcs want him alive?"
Taking Mithril's hand, Natalia walks over to the other side of the area, where Miriam is. She thinks about asking the cleric if she wants to come to, but is afraid of making things worse.
"Violence before, but different violence," she says. "Thanks...Whiskers, okay too?"
"I think he is, he doesn't seem to like the water much, but maybe that's because it is old. I don't quite know what happened to him in Hulburg, and that and all this" she gestured to the events behind them"scares me. Kurt almost died, we all almost died. She looked at Natalia, fear reflecting in her eyes "Thank you for not...just thank you."
"Holy water for a holy weasel?" Natalia jokes. But it doesn't break the tension much. So instead, Natalia tries to say, "But still breathing, not bleeding...I...I don't like this either. Violence making more violence, and a dark...shadow over us all. Even Miriam." But then again, she always had that poison brewing underneath. Mithril doesn't have that. "Won't let it get you," she promises. "Let Mithril stay Mithril."
She thinks she knows what Mithril is thanking her for, but isn't quite sure.
Natalia stands silently by Mithril for what seems like days, wondering if there's anything she can say that wouldn't screw things up. They're going so well...
Kurt frowns a little at the pair walking off, then shakes his head and directs the frown at the Ogre instead. They can take care of themselves and if not...they have voices.
Mithril spoke out of the long silence "You think he is holy? She pulled Whiskers off her shoulder and looked at him cradled in her arms. His newly white fur stood in stark contrast to the surrounding woods. "As for a dark shadow, I think I have the least risk. My past is happy, and I freely chose this way of life."
As Mithril and Natalia walk off away from the Giant, Natalia can spot the soldiers from Hulburg off in the distance, at least two score minutes away...
As Shiny talks to the Ogre, the Ogre is furious, responding with venom in his voice....<Giant>"Filthy Gnome, I spit on you!"<Giant> The ropes burst despite being expertly applied as the large Ogre gets to his feet.
Tapping Mithril's shoulder, Natalia points at the figures far down the road. "Reinforcements, later than needed. Not for...Linwood though," she says. Mithril's warm against the brisk spring air. It's quiet here, and helps Natalia calm down. Mithril seems more at ease too.
"...Hey...M-Mithril..."
Spoiler
Listen: (d20+7)[16]
The serene atmosphere of the woods is broken, along with whatever Natalia was going to say, as she faintly hears the ogre shouting and something tearing behind her, where everyone else is.
Hearing the commotion behind her, and having the moment ruined, Natalia draws her shortsword, takes Mithril by the hand, and runs back to the others, shouting, "Torn rope, don't tear any others!" She hopes they can stop this fight before someone gets hurt, again.
Mithril ran towards the group, casting one of her few remaining spells as soon as she was close enough <Draconic>"Flare!"</Draconic>. A bright light flashes in front of the ogre.
Shiny takes a brisk jog backwards once the ogre's ropes break. "Save your vengeance!" he snarls. "You'll need it once the orcs invade! Who do you think paid the bounty for your friends' heads?"
Spoiler
Ogre is still flatfooted so no need for a Tumble check. Walked back to a few feet behind Kurt.
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Re: IC II Toes In The Water
