A fresh start

[Breila]

"The man in the robes told us to run. He has a way of saying things that we just have to obey. But my brother could not run any more, so we looked for shelter here."

Indeed, the gnoll sitting on the ground is badly hurt, he might not be able to stand or walk without support.

[JadedDM]

Remembering the others likely couldn't follow the conversation, he translates for their benefit. "It seems Sanbalet abandoned them. They were hiding out here because of their injuries. I think I might be able to negotiate with them, find out more about the smuggler's operation."

Turning back to the gnollish tongue, he says to the gnolls, "We have a healer who can mend your injuries. And we are willing to let you go, but in return, we wish to know more about the smugglers, including the man in robes. Like what they were planning, or where they fled to. Anything you can tell us would be helpful."

[LittleLuna]

Why are you so sure that they don't stand in sanbalets services anny more? It could be the same as with this Gudrum halfling! I won't trust them!"

[Stik]

"Oi, wizard, leave the jokes to me. It's kind of my thing.” Martin says to Amon. Then he pauses and says, “Oh, wait. You're serious? About trading healing for information. That IS an interesting thought, my good man. A very interesting thought. Cut a deal with gnolls, give them aid and succor, pump them for information, and let them go? Or do you think we can recruit them? Either way, it sounds like it will be quite an exciting outcome, don't you think?”

[Jenara]

So they wanted her to heal Gnolls now? Thats obviously the intent... She sits down, assuming someone will ask her at some point.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo looks to Marin in annoyance. "Don't you ever shut up?" she asks before turning to Vee. "And we aren't asking you to trust them right now. Amon seems to know what he is doing, so let him try to negotiate with them. There is no reason to kill them if we don't have to especially if they give us information about the smugglers."

[Breila]

The gnolls look at the party arguing, seemingly trying to understand what is being said, but not really able to.

"Sanbalet bad man. Friend no" the standing one says loudly in Common before turning to Amon, continuing in his language. "He hired us as guards, and promised good pay, so we came with him to this land. But he betrayed us. He spoke strange words and moved his hands, and then he told us things in our language that we had to obey. We fought you because he had told us to fight to the death.

Let us stay here, bring us food and bandages so we can treat our wounds, and we will tell you all we know. Please ask."

[JadedDM]

Amon turns to the others. "I believe that Sanbalet magically enslaved their minds, based on what they are telling me. It makes sense, they fought despite being outnumbered. They have promised to tell us everything they know of the smugglers and their operation, if we grant them temporary sanctuary and allow them time to heal."

Shaking his head, he says, "Miss Vee, I am not saying we should trust them completely, but I believe they have little to gain from betraying us at this point. On the other hand, Echo is right; we have a great deal to gain by allowing them to live."

[Jenara]

"Very well, it appears I shall be helping them." Brax says with a shrug of her shoulders, "Amon could you stay and translate? Plus one of you warriors should stay to aid me, in case they do get rough." She turns and looks at Echo, stone faced. "If that is ok with you Mistress Echo?"

[JadedDM]

"I had actually intended to send someone to the temple and ask Mother Redbow to heal them, but you can do so if you prefer, Sister Brax," Amon says. "Either way, we should inform the council."

[Jenara]

"I can ease their pain, if nothing else." She gives Amon a friendly smile. "They should be ok to move once I aid them, perhaps Mother Redbow could offer them sanctuary?"

[Stik]

Amon says. "Either way, we should inform the council."

"Of course we should. Because that will go over well. 'Hello, Councilmen. Listen, we've got these two monsters here, and they need a place to stay. Yes, I said monsters. What kind? Well, seven feet tall, eighteen stone, furry, hyaena headed, sharp teeth, claws, you know, that kind. But it will be fine, because they're wounded, and they promised to be nice if we heal them.'

"I love your idea in principle, but if the Council hears about this there will be soldiers on these two before you can say 'Please Hammer don't hurt 'em.' You want to debrief them, you need to do it quietly, in an out-of-the-way location. It's a standard red double-blind smokescreen technique. You can't blurt something like this to the general public, or to people whose jobs depend on keeping the good will of the general public."

[Jenara]

"A Cleric of Pelor would not refuse aid to one in need, it is what we do." Brax almost sneers at the strange man, moving close to the shed.

[Breila]

The gnolls' eyes had darted between the humans during their exchange. Now that Brax approaches them, the standing one raises his axes, making clear he is going to defend himself and his brother as best he can if they're attacked.

[JadedDM]

Amon holds up a hand to the gnolls. "Do not be alarmed. She is a healer, and can mend your wounds instantly, if you allow her," he says to them in the gnollish tongue.