I have said I'm wiling to serve, but I refuse to admit to false charges. To do so dishonors halflings and the guild of locksmiths...and violates my sense of myself. May Yondalla watch over me.

Khordan listens to Kree's words and while the Dwarf doesn't immediately dismiss the idea, he doesn't look at all convinced either.  But Bruga's words garner a far more positive response from Khordan.  "Aye, and well said friend Bruga.  I have no desire to leave Clair at the mercy of such ... men.  As Bruga says, I will accompany you on the quest if you wish, bit I will not taint me honor nor insult them as bore the name Stonegrip afore me by bearring this falsw witness.  Also, I'll be needing to know better what this quest is for if I agree to it, I have no choice but to see it to the end, either mind or the qusts.".

Senuviel examines the shaft discreetly and then nods at Kree to show he understood. He turns the attention to his friends. We've got to get Claire out with us. There's more I have to tell but it's unsafe here. We've sunk to our necks in this issue, someone's a big liar here and we have to find out soon. I say we all agree to perform the errand and deal with our pride and honor later. Time will come for us to set this thing right. The elf gets quiet for a moment and then says What say you? Once out of here we'll be able to plan better I guess. I say we should act in a way that they feel comfortable and think we're on their hands. Then when they least expect we strike and set the things right. Someone's not who he or she really is in that troupe. They shall pay for that.

"I stick with the others. I may have chosen my companions unwisely, and I feel the charges to be just, but I side with those I have known for so long. My bed has been made."
If they choose a trial I fear the evidence will convict us, however I hold out hope the punishment shall be fair. I will abide."
If, however, they choose to do the bidding of the king, I will accompany them in that task as well."
After this has been decided, if Stonegrip, Quickshadow and the others choose to leave this land, at that time only will I split from them. I will not leave my home and my family"
I would suggest they choose wisely, but evidence to date puts the ability to do so debatable. Regardless, I stand true."

  Kree chuckles Thus  far, Good Gosric, you choices   have been made, only in where you relieve yourself, and how much food you can eat. Our paths were taken to eliminate foes, not coddle them...perhaps? You should stay here..open a tavern..it  will be much safer  for you...

  Khorden, My friend, have you sen how they treated my arrow?  he shows   his Dwarven friend the arrow, his  finger lingering on  one area, as if to point it out to him...

In reply to Gosric the Full (msg #39):

The king and his council approach after 10 minutes.

OOC - if you need any more planning I will allow one more post apiece.

They take their seats indicating for you all to do the same.

The man in leathers chuckles  so what will it be, a juicy trial for you all or perhaps you wanted to split up and see which fares better ginning.

The man in plate hurumphs  choose wisely for more then your own lives are at stake as you are but four of the six spokes of a wheel.

The female mage just sets out the parchment again with the pen and ink.

The king sighs, now ow now, give them a chance  Looks about, sign the parchment to show your names to my service and I will put away this accusing scroll.  Do not make your mark upon the parchment and a trial will ensue and you place your fate in others.

You note that the porters are back but the one who whispered in Kree ear is not among them.  In his place is a female who tends to the king directly.



OOC - do you sign the parchment entering into the kings service OR stay your hand and await a trial.  You can choose as a group or individually what you want.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:48, Fri 11 Nov 2011.

The normally even tempered cleric turns a bit red around his ears. Struggling to remain civil in front of the king, he grits his teeth, and speaks thru what is perhaps the least convincing smile this side of an alligator.

"Quickshadow, once the truth spell is on you, how will lie about ploting (msg #235) to steal the harbor Masters keys? Or wanting to charge a burning wagon into the warehouse? (msg #200) I myself can testify that you felt the building should be set on fire? (msg #233) Or that you were aware that your actions required you to flee from the city watch? You called the residents of that warehouse 'evil' because they defended themselves, and ignored the fact that their defense was far gentler then yours? If there is evil in this city, it is without doubt centered upon you, pale skinned Drow."

He clearly is tempted to spit in the direction of the villain, but restrains himself, unwilling to soil his spit with the flesh of the elf. He turns to face Suneveil.

"And you, you agreed to the burning the building, (msg #202). Imagine if the bizarre assertion that slavers dwelt inside were true! Not only would you have set the entire city ablaze, you would have burned to the death the very 'slaves' you claim to be defending."

He takes a deep breath, and shakes his head again. Turning to face the good and just King of the land which is his home, he drops his voice into a formal tone, and offers a quick solution to the problem.

"Your Majesty, I would offer a possible solution. In truth, these two are the most guilty by far; I will admit, Clair was tempted by their madness, but she opted not to let them commit their dreamed of atrocity.
"If you would allow, I am willing to trust to my god, and stand in as the champion of Sanity and Justice against them in the arena, one at a time, with a day in-between for rest.
"As to the honorless dwarf, should I be victorious I feel shaving his beard and banishment is a fair punishment, though it would not be extreme to mark his face with the brand of the traitor and add his name to the rolls of the enemies of civilization. He certainly qualifies.
As to Bruga, he is innocent as to these charges; I am uncertain regarding the other crimes listed. he does have information the crown should be aware of, regarding a band of gypsies in the swamp, informatin I hope you will listen to.
"I have spoken my piece."

As he finishes, he bows his head, awaiting the Kings decision.

 The elf  smiles at Gosric. The contempt  easy to see in his eyes.  You have  no proof, of what you say, Good drunkard. And?  To burn down the buildings would  have been, by far, the easiest, best way to clear the area.They can build more...But?  I do not remember you being there when the  Harbormaster  gave us the keys? You and the  other....holy warroir..ran off as fast  as  one could...under the pretext of seeking aid, but i feel it  was more, just to save your hide, when danger reared its head.

   You..sir belly..have not the service in the woodlands to undertsand. But many-a-taime, one must burn out an area of Blitghted trees , or bush, knowing that some of the good might have to gom with them, just so one can save the forest. If there were...indeed..slaves there..and we could not save them? They would still be better off, then in the arms of the slavers we hunt....But? You would nay know that. For you have not faced many slavers, in your tavern battles...

  He looks at the arrow  once more. Any trust for the fat friar, has gone out of his eyes...I have to wonder..Gosric...is it not odd, that we were taken, after you and your companion scurried off? Any one who would excuse the actions of foes, while turning  on those they pretended fight alongside with? Your Honor  has  long  since left you..and what you view as darkness on my part, is  just the resolve, that you have long ago, lost...

"But I was there, and so were you, which is more to the point, for magics can gain the truth from you, who clearly belongs living in the wild, away from innocent people who do not deserve to die at your you insane hands, every time you imagine a foe.
"As to honor, I won't concern myself with the opinion of one such as you. Those who know me well know I do not balk at facing evil; my admitting I was going to seek the guard, then turning my back on you is evidence enough for the most cynical of witnesses."

Facing the King, he asks for permission to cast detect evil on his comrades...

Senuviel, having not touched his food, decides to speak. I've made my mind your highness, and decided to abide to your offer. I Senuviel Alantir, warrior and wizard will help find your wretched item and bring to justice those who had stolen it so to the life of Gosric here won't be wasted in the arena. Whatever accusations he has against my person is probably because he has no idea whatsoever how we elves treat slavery in our culture and also the rotund cleric is somewhat blinded by his own lust for power. That would explain a lot his behavior in this room, always ready to answer and accuse, always helpful in the kings presence, careful my lord or you will be the next one he's gonna stab in the back.

Saying this, Senuviel signs the parchment. But after a minute of silence, the elf adds.

Since we are in this mess of being accused whatever, I'd like to ask permission for your highness to make an accusation myself. Says the elf showing a grim on his face.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:44, Fri 11 Nov 2011.

    He nods  at senuviel's  wise  words, and adds to the King,...if this buffoon casts  a spell on me, I will take it as an attack, and react in such manner. If  you need  any detections? I am sure your toadies can do it...

 Then he tilts his head  as he looks at these folk, he adds,..I am thinking, since you need us, as much as you think we need you...since you have heaped all these false charges, with no solid evidnece....you have  but hearsay...and people talking  about actions that have never  occured..Save  for the large one here displaying himself in public...  he waves  it  aside  as unimportant, ..If...we must trust you, then you must trust us...and it matters not...what is in our hearts  and minds..it  only matters that your item gets returned.....In that vien...i ask you this...Give us  Clair to come with us, as  a sign  of good  faith, since the other has proved...less-then-loyal. We would need Clair's  skills, and perhaps her insight...to derail any....er...over -the-top..actions...By me  and my like-minded friends.....If you do not  wish to allow Clair  to go with us...then send her....He points  at the LAdy Mage,..she  could be your eyes  and ears, and her skills would aid us greatly...it  would also give  balence to you holding one of ours, whilst we hold one of yours....

 ..Thus..Balence  would be in order, and we all have something to lose....aye?

Khorden listens to the by-play of the others, his eyes focused mostly on the face of the king.  "I will sign ye paper and I will do this quest or die trying.  An' if I return, I'll not be so polite about ye majesty's troops treatin' me with such dishonor."

He sweeps the room with an angry glare, Bruga alone being free of Khorden's from his inflamed ire.

In reply to Khorden Stonegrip (msg #47):

OOC Guys, sorry for this but I got a last minute call that I have to be away this weekend and will not be back till Sunday night to post.  Again Sorry for this but we will pick up then.

In reply to Clair Brandywhine (msg #48):

OOC: No probs dude, I also will probably be away since we're having a 4 day weekend here due to a holiday.

Gostric pays the mad raving little mind, noticing only that they have all made every effort to discover the truth, fearing truth spells and the magical detection of evil with equal fervor; evidence in itself.

In reply to Gosric the Full (msg #50):

The King is taking all this conversation like he has from the beginning whne you were brought in, just smiling here and frowning there.    It is the Mage who speaks, Kree Quickshadow, sighs, as for me going with you all, ah, it would be lovely to adventure again, cast my spells and return successfully from my kings quested services but Ah No, I cannot, could not go. 

Looks about, I guess, if I will, we shall show you faith, let you know of the charges you could be facing, I mean would have faced, as I see you have all signed.  the man in Leathers snickers though if you do not return then you would still face them.

Goseric the Full, as for Detect Evil, laughs, if you all were evil you would not be sitting here.  A hurumph escapes from the man in Plate.  If evil would be their intent then justice would have been served.

I er we cannot let Clair go, as she is serving another purpose for her god and king as we talk and dicker on even now, and she would be in grave danger if she went.  sighs, of course if you agree to go and fail to return Purposely she would be "taken care of" like we originally proclaimed.

The man in Plate shakes his head, we do not use combat arena's to judge one fate to the law, we use a trial system.  No champion stands in for another.  Each is individua tried and judged.

The man in green states, All those charges are real and true, none made up none forged.  WE, the king and this council through our own council decided that the lot of you, would be better served in service then rotting in a cell or worse.    shakes his head too, you do not think that the king and this council do not know the comings and goings of our citizens/visitors and such.  looks about, your particular talents can be useful and unfortunately you started to run afoul so we decided to reel you in and hope you take our offer now before you got in more trouble and become useless to us.

The king grins, seeing the food and drink has not been touched, so, you do not drink or eat the food, do you really mistrust your king? Do you really think I would be so cruel to my people?  Even those justly accused? I stand by my words You have signed my service agreement, once you have returned with the item, I will destroy this scroll (the one they say has your accusations in it.) and your service will be over and Clair and Keneally, if they wish to will be set free to join you.chuckles, That is if you all desire to not serve your crown anymore.

Goseric, they seemed interested but not overly concerned with your accusations, nor every ones banter back and forth.

The accusations will be read soon for you.  Told what you are to return to the king, and anything else we deem you need. But first, i feel a bit of tension bordering on ill feeling and some bad vibes from you all.  To succeed in this you need to be one not two or three. 

OOC - Plate mail dude has Paladin holy symbol, an air of authority about him and every now and then intently stares at you all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:37, Mon 14 Nov 2011.

Senuviel stands up and speaks in a solemn and respectful tone.

With all due respect, your highness, it's not that we mistrust the king, neither, but all this situation seems awkward to us, my lord. We've been accused of crimes we believe we haven't committed because we're sold by a cleric who wanted to feed poor people with the corpses of gigantic rats. Our dear Clair has been kept hostage by a man who seems to want to smite each one of us here, and we're brought before a retired wizard who sighs all the time, a king who keeps smiling and frowning during these serious accusations and finally a man in green who just shakes his head and chuckles all the time as if he's in the presence of some sort of buffon or jester of the court.

The elf then looks at his companions and continues:

So, in the name of all my companions here I want to apologize, your highness. All of this happened to fast and we took too many harsh decisions.

Senuviel bows solemnly. We're going to fulfill the quest given to us as best as we can and I assure you, my lord, we're going to improve our relationships inside our group.

The elf sits, eats and drinks while he waits for the reactions of his fellow companions.

  for his  part, Kree  merely nods  at Senuviel's words. He does not, however  take part in the eating. He was brought here as a prisoner, not as a guest...and the insult of laying his bow  and blade aside, porved it even more..at least to him.

 He sits next to Senuviel...he calls  for Snare to come over, and  will give  the dog some choice meat cuts...The Dog...is a member of  our  party  as well..and more trusted then some...

Bruga  has done talking, and he signed nothing.

Khorden stands aside, stone faced.  He does not respond to Senuviel's words, he does not sit at the king's table, he does not sample the kings food and he does not let a drop of the kings drink pass his lips.  His honor had been attacked and instead of defending it, and that he did only because he had decided to trust Kree that the risk was a worthy one.

In reply to Khorden Stonegrip (msg #55):

Sorry guys, had a family emergency to take care of, kid may have torn her ligaments - will post tomorrow as time is late my way.



Snare hesitates laying on your pile of weapons before succumbing to Kree's offering of food, though once done will go back to laying on the pile of weapons.

The mage looks to Bruga who is stubbornly siting there.  My dear little fellow,you can choose to stay behind and hope your companions - looks to the group come back with a smile

Looks to Khorden all puffed up standing also.  Mighty proud Dwarf, how you handle what you find on this quested service will dictate your impressions of the court and us short lived humans.  sighs, Honor is walking a tight rope between what must be done and what could be done.

The king looks about, it seems my handling of you all has been taken in the wrong context of things.  Yes, leaving you weaponless may be an insult or causes one to think they are a prisoner - man in leathers pipes in Yet could be</Green > - the king scowls at him and continues.  But I wanted to try this handling of your groups action differently, chuckles try something different the tell me.  No more just trials and punishments    looks about They say, make it worth while and both parties come out on top. Spreads his hands I treated you differently, OK, made you leave your weapons on the floor over there looks that way then back chuckles though some of you are not weaponless looking at the ones who could cast spells but would you want it different if you where in my shoes, looks at his feet then up smiles.

Your cooperation as a group looks about all of you I am told can accomplish this task oh yea quested service to me with a smile But you need to sign the service agreement - OOC  ah had to get that in, yea yea I know :)  Those who do not, stay as a shakes his head no you should all really sign this .

The man in leathers looks at Bruga, <Green>well, if he stays, can I entertain him.  It might be fun with an evil glint in his eyes.

The man in Plate shakes his head yet again, it is getting late, this is not working as spelled out by the letter of the law.  I am afraid these folks are not up to the task though some are willing to try it.  Looks to the Mage Is this a done deal then? is the 1/2 ling going to be in looks to the man in Leather his charge?

Looks toward the parchment - the rest signed it correct?
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:11, Wed 16 Nov 2011.

In reply to Khorden Stonegrip (msg #55):

You hear Snare get up, and see him walk over to the table, sit up next to the Mage and make begging actions with his paws, pawing the air by her.

The mage looks at Snare, oh my, true true true, you have not signed and moves the parchment to the floor and opens the well so Snare can put his paw in and make his mark in the parchment.  Once done he walks back over to the groups weapons and sits down.  There is a black paw print path on the floor now.

The king looks aghast, the man in Leathers has his mouth open in shock and the man in Plate just shakes his head.  Troubled times we have when a dog knows better then some.

The mage puts the parchment back on the table.  Well, so it is just Bruga now.  Looks to the man in Leathers, you may get your man yet sighs, what a waist that will be.  The man in Leathers comes out of his shock and looks at her, hey, that was not a nice thing to say, now you will scare the poor little fellow off.

  Kree looks at the man in leathers, you knowm oiur names, but none of you have  had the courage to reviel yours....

  He turns his head, a slight wieght of iron in his voice,as he addresses the man in leathers,..sometime...before this is over..you and me  will have to find  time to dane...just us..no kings..no dogs..no priosners held to save your life...

  Getting up, he moves towards the pile of weapons, his gaze  hard on the  people around the room,If Bruga  ,, has not   the sense to save Clair?  Let him know, his actions this  night brought the blade across her throaty...however...

  he looks back at the table as he pets Snare,when this is over....there will be a reackoning..one  does not  threaten folks who are next to helpless..without some form of recompense...sign the damn thing Bruga, and let us be off...

Bruga walks over,picks up pen, and writes thusly on the parchment:

I, Bruga Honeyfinder, avowing I am Innocent of charges set forth this day in this room, also avow myself a loyal halfling of this realm. My friends are tasked with a quest. I go with them from friendship and love, and a sense of duty.

He sets the pen down; walks over to the pile of weapons; picks up his daggers, sling, and stones; and says What now?

  Kree looks at the Table  as he belts on his  sword, his eyes never  leaving the leathered man,aye...not  tell us  what we seek..where to find it, and what help you are giving us...