Naras' Vignette

[JadedDM]

Naras pockets the money, hangs the longsword in its sheath from one of her belts and then casts "Find Traps."
Looking at the southern cell, if no traps are revealed the dwarf tries the key in the lock. (Otherwise she says, "there's a trap on this, stand back" and, after giving the others time to move, then tries the key.)
***
If Agnas is released, Naras gently removes the elderly lady from the cell and lays her 15' to the east, saying, "Leena, please check her over while Pearl keeps look out."
***
However, if Agnas is NOT released, Naras says, "Pearl, please would you see if you can open this lock while Leena keeps lookout?"
***
Finally, while either Leena is checking Agnas over or Pearl is working on the southern lock, Naras goes back to the northern locks, looks for traps and then tries the key in the lock. If this opens it, she puts the key away, gets her spear out, and then looks inside the storeroom. If the storeroom is unoccupied, Naras steps inside and looks around, concentrating to see if there's any sign of moving walls or hidden stone compartments..

[JadedDM]

Taking the coin, the wand, the key and the long sword, Naras then turns to the south cell and casts Find Traps. She sees no traps, so tries the key. Sure enough, it unlocks the cell. She picks the elderly woman up and brings her out of the cell, asking Leena to look over her. Pearl goes to keep an eye out on the other side of the tunnel.

Naras then turns her attention to the north gate. She sees no traps, so tries the key again. Once more, it opens the gate. The small room is completely unoccupied. She sees no evidence at all of secret doors or compartments, just some barrels, sacks and a big old chest. It looks like the Leaguers are using this room for storage.

===============

Naras adds 13 GP, the Cinderfell mine key and a long sword to her inventory.
Naras casts Find Traps for 30 rounds.

Treasure Pool: 43 GP, 1 small red gemstone.

[JadedDM]

Naras gives the barrels, sacks and big old chest the once over:
- Empty? Or containing??
- Do the lid and base of the chest look about the right thickness (thinking of false bottom/secret compartments)?
- And a bit of a shove/move around in case there are any concealed caches beneath/behind them.

After which, the dwarf returns to the others to see how Lenna is getting on with Agnas.
Unless there is anything pressing, Naras will go 60' up the corridor (deeper into the mine) to check if there are any other poor unfortunates trapped in other cells.
If nothing significant, and nothing else presses, then she continues another 60' and if still nothing significant Naras then return to the 3 ladies.

[JadedDM]

Naras does a full inventory of the whole room. The sacks and barrels contain 7 green apples, 3 carrots, 6 red apples, 7 tomatoes, 10 potatoes, 2 cabbages, and some herbs. The chest contains a scroll, a bag of gold (74 GP), 4 lockpicks, a potion, a ring, a battle axe, and some grey robes. In addition, she finds a great sword, warhammer and dagger lying around--but they are very crudely made, as if forged by amateurs.

She finds no hidden bottom or secret compartments in the chest, nor does she discover any concealed doors or openings anywhere in the room.

She returns to Leena just as she places her cloak over Agnas' head. Shaking her head, she stands up and faces Naras. "Dead...by a few hours, if I'm right. It looks like they might have beat her to death."

[JadedDM]

The dwarf pulls out a large sack from her backpack and transfers all the consumables and herbs into it
She puts the lockpicks, grey robe and gold go into her backpack.
The ring goes into her beltpouch followed by the potion, after it has been padded with a now empty small vegetable sack.
Naras straps the battleaxe across her back, ignores the crude weaponry (great sword, warhammer, dagger) and has a quick read of the scroll, relying on her spell to warn of traps.
Assuming the scroll contents are nothing to alter her plans, the kohen rolls it up, pops it into her beltpouch & returns to the others in time to hear Leena pronounce Agnas dead.

The dwarf crouches down, saying "I don't suppose... she did meditation? Some could put themselves into a trance-like state, seemingly dead..Keep a lookout t please, ladies." Using the most suitable surface, (shiny blade or cold bottle) Naras tries to detect shallow breathing from Agnas.
OOC: {Healling check?}
OOC: Does Naras's religious knowledge give her any clues why the League would beat up this old lady?
***
If there is any sign of breathing from Agnas, Naras casts a healing spell (CLW) an Agnas and says "We leave, now." And then ignores her own words for 15 seconds while she mutters a belated prayer for misguided souls over the elven mage and then they leave with Agnas, pausing for a rest at the next 'camp' over the bridge.
***
If there is no sign of breathing from Agnas, Naras leaves the sack of veg with the others, (and the battleaxe too if this is too encumbering), declares, "Just checking for other prisoners,"and has a look further into the mine, in case there are other (living) prisoners. (This is 120' /two rounds max and then return to the ladies.)
She thinks that the mage will have a spell book, so there may be other 'living' areas deeper in the mine, as well as the possibility of other prisoners.

[JadedDM]

Naras gathers up all of the food, herbs, the lockpicks, the robes, the gold, the ring, the potion, another small sack, and the battle axe. She then inspects the scroll. Her enhanced vision does not see any traps. Rather, the scroll contains a spell on it. But as it is written in magic, Naras cannot read it.

Inspecting Agnas confirms what Leena said. She is dead and covered in bruises. Likely they beat her, dragged her back to the cell, and she died a short time after. Naras would guess she probably died 3-4 hours ago, at best.

It's not difficult to guess why the League would do this. The League, as a rule, hates Gontorians with a passion. Gonto brings peace, prosperity, order and civilization, while the Leaguers are anarchists who distrust government and authority. It's likely they kidnapped Agnas, tortured her for information, then left her for dead.

Moving forward on her own, Naras follows the west tunnel until it turns to the south. At the intersection is another big vein of iron in the wall. Heading south, the tunnel later turns east. As she turns the corner, she can hear something up ahead, echoing down the tunnel. It sounds like a hammer and forge and a bellows.

===========

Naras adds all of the foodstuffs and herbs to her pack [+4.1 lbs]
Naras adds lockpicks (x4), the robes [+1 lb] and gold (x75) [+1 lb] to her pack.
Naras adds ring, potion and small sack [+0.1 lbs] to her pack.
Naras adds battle axe [+7 lbs] to her back.
Naras adds scroll to her pouch.
Naras performs a healing check on Agnas [TN 15] (1d20): 13, pass. She confirms that Agnas is dead and likely died of her injuries 3-4 hours ago.

Naras is now in moderate encumbrance (even if she leaves the axe and veggie bag behind, she is still over).

[JadedDM]

Naras returns to the others.
Assuming no one else has appeared, she tells Leena & Pearl, "A bit further in, maybe 150', I could hear the sound of a hammer and forge and bellows. I'd estimate 3 or 4 Leaguers. Probably making weapons and planning on disrupting the town and the temple. It's likely that they can trace the damage we've done to them," indicating the elf, "back to us. More likely if we take treasure. Three options. Leave with treasure, high risk of retribution. Leave without treasure, moderate risk of retribution. Take the retribution, which I call justice, to them, right here, right now. But I can't do that without you. I have a 'Hold Persons' available, and would propose we go in spells foremost. Thoughts, ladies?"

[JadedDM]

"But is this justice?" asks Leena. "Or just revenge? Wouldn't justice be turning them over to the wardens for a fair trial? This is what Gonto teaches, isn't it? We've not only taken the law into our own hands, but we've named ourselves judge, jury and executioner, as well. I believe we should return to town, report to the wardens, and leave this to them."

Pearl thinks it over. "Well, we've got some good treasure so far. Maybe it would be wise to cut our losses before our luck turns. But the thing is, even if the League decides to turn and run, and not try and retaliate, that just means they'll be causing suffering for other people somewhere else. And the next town they attack, the next church they burn down, the next lord or sheriff they kill will be on our heads for letting them go. I say we finish what we started."

[JadedDM]

"Gonto teaches peace, not pacifism, Leena. Freedom and the the church are worth fighting for," Naras answers. "So far we have defended ourselves while trying to rescue our own, and don't you go thinking any different. It's on me that we didn't get here before Agnas died. But coming earlier could have been fetal to us without benefit to Agnas or Gonto. Butchering the remaining members of this gang could be revenge but that isn't the plan here. We try to capture them and take them to the wardens and, as you rightly point out, Pearl, so strive to protect others from future suffering at the hands of these anarchists. If we fail to capture them and they try to kill us., of course, we would need to defend ourselves. Does this satisfy both of you to a point that you can at least tolerate?"
While talking, the dwarf adjusts the burden she carries, placing some of it in a cache on the floor.

===========
OOC: Naras is a dwarf with STR 12. As per CBoDwarves, p35-6 "Movement Rates and Encumberance", Light Enc (<70lb) has no effect on dwarven movement, Moderate Enc (<94lb) reduces dwarven movement by1/3 (but has no other effect for combat). I will go round the weight carried (and its distribution).
The intent of the large sack at char generation was that it could be uses to transport stuff and then be put down so as to be unhindered if combat kicked off.

[JadedDM]

"You are the kohen," Leena replies stiffly. "I will follow."

"Yeah, me, too," says Pearl.

==========

(OOC: I am aware of the dwarf encumbrance rule and am taking it into account when calculating her encumbrance effects.)

[JadedDM]

Having taking the bottle of mead [1lb], wrapped int the blanket [1lb] and transferred both to the large sack whilst talking, the dwarf unhooks the battleaxe and adds it to the cache (with the sack, not in it) she had just started here.
She then takes out the grey robes and examines them to see if they seem anything out of the ordinary or any religious significance. If nothing very significant, Naras then wraps the robes around a spare lamp oil and puts both into the large sack and adds it (& contents) to the cache in the side passage near the fallen elf.

The kohen adds, "That feels easier to move. Right, Lenna, please be ready with your sling in case they try to attack us or run away. They must not escape to activate other branches of this anarchist movement. Their organization, for an anarchic movement, always strikes me as surprisingly good. Anyway, Pearl, please be ready with whatever materials it is that makes your sleep spell work."

She looks at the two, checking for any reaction, before continuing, "So then, here's the plan: if there's a group, I will try to hold them first, then you, Neema, call for them to surrender. But if there's just one, I will call on him to surrender. Pearl, you try to Sleep any that try to run away from us. Leena, then it's down to you to pelt any that still move and don't surrender. I suppose there's an outside chance that the people working the metal could be captives, but we treat them as having surrendered until we're clear of the mine. OK, does anyone have any rope to tie up those that surrender? Any issues with this plan? Or improvements?"

If there's no significant feedback, Naras leads Leena and Pearl to the point she had previously reached and then advances with them until she sees something significant such as more Leaguers and the source of the hammering.

===========
OOC: I think Naras should now (just) be able to move freely... i.e. 69lb carried; no penalty to movement. If not, she would continue to discard some additional burden (trail rations and then pitons) into the large sack until that is achieved.

[JadedDM]

The grey robes don't hold any religious significance. They look like wizard's robes, actually. There are feint magical sigils engraved on the hem, but they only appear when the light hits them at exactly the right angle, otherwise they are invisible.

Neither object to her plan, but neither have any rope, either.

Leaving the large sack and Agnas for now, Naras returns to where she was before, the other two in tow. She continues further and not only hears the sound of smithing, but also of running water now.

Moving closer, they come upon a large cavern filled with water. In the northeast corner is a waterfall, filling the area. There is a wooden platform built to allow crossing, however, about 10 feet above the waterline. There is a walkway to the north and south, which both meet up on the other end. In the southwest corner is a little niche with a bucket in it; it's not hard to imagine what purpose it serves. A human man (#6) in hide armor with a maul patrols that area.

In the north center of the room are some tables, chairs, bedrolls as well as more sacks and a chest. A half-orc woman in hide armor (#7) sits at a table, eating and drinking. She has a bow slung over her shoulder.

In the far southeast corner is the forge. Someone has constructed not just a forge with bellows and anvil, but additional tools for smelting and forging metal on a ledge on the other side of the cavern, high enough to not be affected by the water. A human woman in hide armor with a long sword on her belt (#8) is working on a blade at the moment, pulling the glowing red piece of metal from the fires and then placing it in a bucket of water to cool it. There's also another tunnel opening near there, heading southward.

==========

Naras is now in light encumbrance.

[JadedDM]

Naras casts Hold Person on the human (#8) nearest to the far exit.
***
Naras advances, spear in both hands, to accept the surrender of the maul-wielding human man (#6), but ready for combat if necessary.
As Naras advances, Pearl readies her Sleep spell in case any of the foes try to make a run for it (including potentially to get help) and Leena covers the sitting half-Orc with her sling whilst saying, "Surrender! Surrender and you will have a fair trial." If the half orc woman (#7) doesn't immediately put up her hands in surrender, then Leena might* let fly at her back.
=========
OOC: *GM call, based on Lenna's nerves, awareness that she misses a lot with the sling, and her inexperience in combat. i.e. Her desire to be fair is opposed by her fear of her being the cause of anyone in her party getting injured and her fear of the consequences of allowing any of the foes to escape.

[JadedDM]

As soon as Naras begins praying, she gets their attention. They all draw their weapons. Pearl starts to play a somber, haunting lullaby on her ocarina. The soothing song causes the half-orc to drop her bow and topple over, fast asleep.

Leena steps forward. "Surrender now!" she demands.

Naras then finishes her prayer, holding the woman at the forge paralyzed. She then walks up to the last remaining warrior, the maul carrying human. Cursing, he tosses his weapon down and holds up his hands.

=============

Initiative
Naras (1d10+5): 6+5 = 11
Leena (1d10+6): 4+6 = 10
Pearl (1d10+1): 6+1 = 7
Human Maul Fighter (1d10+9): 8+9 = 17
Half-Orc Bow Fighter (1d10+7): 5+7 = 12
Human Long Sword Fighter (1d10+5): 7+5 = 12

Round 1!

Pearl casts Sleep on Half-Orc Bow Fighter for 10 rounds.
Leena moves 5 feet southeast and calls for surrender.
Naras casts Hold Person on Human Long Sword Fighter [TN 17] (1d20-2): 8-2 = 6, fail. She is held for 10 rounds. She then moves 5 feet east, 20 feet south, and 10 feet east.
Half-Orc Bow Fighter is asleep.
Human Long Sword Fighter is held.
Human Maul Fighter makes a morale check [TN 10] (2d10): 19, fail. Human Maul Fighter surrenders.

(OOC: End combat.)

[JadedDM]

Naras walks the human man (#6) & his dropped maul back to Pearl & Leena and asks Leena, "Please take this and lean it against the wall just round the corner," as she points along the western tunnel, indicating that the maul should be hidden just round the corner that heads north.
Keeping track of the time, (Hold Person), the dwarf removes the human man's belt (#6) while saying, with a flick of her head, to Pearl, "Keep a look out, eastwards. Can you do the Sleep thing again without a rest?" She uses the belt to tie his hands together behind his back and then pulls his trousers down round his knees so he can't run.
When Leena returns, she adds, "Ladies, walk this fellow slowly to where we found Agnas. If he resists or makes a noise, use your weapons. Hopefully it won't be necessary and he will remain in perfect health. Ask him what, who and how many are down the southern tunnel." She then moves, gripping her spear with two hands, to behind the human female (#8), having a quick look down the southern tunnel as she does so.
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OOC: Not sure how duration of the Hold Person spell is handled when we move from combat to non-combat, but Naras would, if necessary, abbreviate (and subcontract) the above actions so as to be behind Held human female (#8) several rounds before the spell wears off.
=========
Naras removes the human female's belt, whispering into her ear, "Behave and no harm befalls you," and ties her hands behind her back and then drags her into the tunnel to the west. Any undue noise or resistance and she gets it. If they both get round the corner into the north-south passage, she presses the human down so that the human is kneeling (or laying on the ground) and then pats her down. If the Hold Person wears off, she also quietly asks, "What, who and how many are down the southern tunnel?"