Francis points out to the group which ones are the cultists and which ones were captured and finding no keys to the manacles holding the prisoners, Myarra starts cutting the chains with her Greatsword, scaring most of the prisoners chained to the walls. Silver and Amara use their skills to get the manacles off the wrists and ankles of the freed prisoners. There are 11 prisoners total, one of them being an Orc. Several of them have been beaten pretty badly and require healing, which Aliana helps out with.

"Those four are prisoners caught in the forest." Francis said to Myarra "The rest are cultists being punished for various acts of trouble including desertion. I've heard many interrogation sessions while I sat in the other room playing cards. I'm sure I was on their list too when they found out that I wasn't into their religion. But, I know the boss was really interested in that guy..." Francis points to Samuel, one of the prisoners Francis indicated that was OK to free.

Looking fairly roughed up, Oren looks up with a smile upon his face. "Hello, brothers and sisters. Are you here to rescue us? If so, please care for these others first, I can wait." Oren does not look too terribly alarmed as the greatsword is pulled.

"Don't listen to him!" said a prisoner that Francis indicated was a cultist "He's the worst of the lot! I'm a simple caravan guard who was ambushed for the supplies on the wagon!"

Other prisoners that Francis indicated were cultists claim they too were captured in the forest and want to be set free. Only the Orc remains silent as he stares at Amara with fear and hate on his face.

Amara helps free those Francis says are safe to free, then looks at the others. With a gesture and a word, her eyes glow even more red than normal.

"Hello, I am Oren Blathe. I am a cleric of Eldath... I see that you hold some anger for some of the prisoner's here, may I suggest mercy?" Oren places his hand on Amara's shoulder.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:16, Tue 05 Nov 2013.

Myarra pauses from releasing the so called "safe" prisoners and glances at the man who calls himself Oren.  She'd warn him that touching a drow or wizard (and in this case, both) uninvited was to invite disaster, but she figured it was something that he probably needed to learn on his own.  And maybe Amara would be feeling generous today.  Stranger things had happened.

"We need to get moving as soon as we can." she tells the prisoners.  "If you can walk, help those who can't."

Then moving over to Aliana, she spoke to the cleric in a hushed tone.  "What do you think?  Should we release the others?  Can we trust Francis?  My own feelings are a bit too colored for me to trust."

One of the prisoners Francis pointed out, but still hangs on the wall, moans: ...ouf... What happening?... who are you?.
He looks severely beaten, but the frame of the body is healthy and fit.

He lifts an brusted eyebrow for a shot second as he spot the fiend and the black skin elf but then studies the rest of the visitors with more interest.
 ...and welcome to our humble home. He smiles with a swollen jaw.

In reply to Myarra (msg # 959):

Aliana nodded to her winged friend, speaking softly.
"Yes, I think we can.   He truly seems to be a mercenary in over his head, and looking for a life line."

Myarra listens to her friend and sighs.  She doesn't like trusting strangers ... that hasn't always turned out for the best.  But Aliana's instincts were good, and she'd be a fool to ignore her.

She looks over as one of the prisoners speaks up.  One handed, she swings her great sword at the chains holding him to the wall and splits them like butter, letting the man collapse under his own weight.

"Thank you for inviting us." she replies with a smirk.  "We were rushed and didn't get to pick up a host gift.  Will freedom be acceptable?"  Any man that can take a beating and still crack jokes was okay by her.  But introductions were going to have to wait.

She then turns back to Aliana.  "So, if we just release the four that Francis says are innocent, what do we do with the rest.  Can't just kill'em in their chains, but we can't let them be released by the cult either.  We've killed most of their leadership, they'll be needing whatever foot soldiers they have left.  I'm sure whatever little acts of disobedience will be overlooked now."

What demon, you mean the tiefling? the blonde man in blue robes with a symbol of Lathander on them said with a puzzled expression. He looked quite healthy, with a few bruises and scratches. It seemed like his captors were afraid to hurt him too much.
He seems unphased by Myarra swinging her greatsword near him and cutting through his manacles. Well, thank you for freeing us, who knows how we would end up if you didn't come. I'm Dawnbringer Samuel Eriosi, servant of Lathander. I was ambushed as I was searching for ruins in the forest. The cultists took much interest in them and correctly assumed that I know much about the area. So far, they only have my notes as wasn't exactly... cooperative.

The elven priestess did a respectful curtsy to her fellow cleric.
"Greetings, Dawnbringer Samuel.   I'm Sister Aliana Farwalker, follower of Oghma.  I'm glad we found you.
I'd love to hear, sometime, about what you learned."

Oren goes to the barrel on the wall and gets a cup full of water, dirty though it may be, and walks to the nearest chained prisoner. "Surely you are thirsty, please, drink."  He repeats the process until all those still chained have had their fill. "I am certain that if you give your Oath that you will not seek to harm anyone again, that you can be set free to go forth from this place and seek Peace."

( 07:37, Today: Oren Blathe rolled 25 using 1d20+20. diplomacy check)
This message was last edited by the player at 15:38, Wed 06 Nov 2013.

Silver just shakes his head at the amazingly chatty prisoners. And grimaces at the orc. "Myarra, the greenskin is eyeballing you. You absolutely sure we shouldn't kill them? Oh maybe just, cut their hand off? I'd really hate to have one of these guys try and stick a knife in my back in a week, because I didn't kill them today. They'd kill us all in a heartbeat. And Greenie over there would probably EAT your heart. Heh."

Silver sat back against the wall, twirling a dagger, waiting for the final word from the demon.

Edit. Apparantly, I keep getting Silver mixed up with someone named Sam.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:31, Wed 06 Nov 2013.

umf!
Kevnan dumped to the ground. He rubbed his wrists where the chains had been fixed. Why would you kill the desertes of the enemy? They have already riped away their colours so they are not the enemy anymore.

He then raised his body to his full hight, towering over the the most gritty presumed cultists. And Im pretty sure they would be so greatfull that you let them loose, that they will not bother you again in this forest. Right? There was lighting in his eyes.

As he turned to the more macabre liberators, he said: You wouldn't  cut off the hand of a gambling man, just because he Might cheat you?

Greeting, sister Aliana. Samuel bows courteously to the elven maiden, then turns his attention to the other prisoners.
It doesn't matter if you are a cultist or really a caravan guard who got ambushed in the forest. For now, working together is the only chance anyone has of getting out of here alive. The cult left you here to die, for whatever reason, whether it was desertion, being at the wrong place at the wrong time or just spilling hot tea at the cult leader and burning his breakfast. Staying here or trying to betray us would only result in your death. So lets work together, the Morninglord will guide us.

02:31, Today: Samuel Eriosi rolled 26 using 1d20+9. Diplomacy

"We're rapidly running out of time." Myarra adds to the greetings and well wishing.

"Our ally promised us a very limited distraction, and there are still a lot of orcs out there if they manage to get re-organized."

She turns to the Kevnan (although he's yet to tell anyone his name), even as Oren and Samuel argue for releasing all the cultists.  The fourth, an elven woman, has yet to speak at all.

"I think we should release the deserters.  Anyone fed up enough, or scared enough to run away, isn't likely to be a problem.  The rest, however, could still be loyal, and therefore a real threat.

But I don't kill or maim people chained to a wall.  So I'm willing to give them a chance, and kill them if they fail to live up to it.  It's probably a mistake, but right now doing anything or nothing could be."  She shrugs, causing her wings to rustle as they settle back down.

"Now, we need to move.  And if you're going to be any good to us, we need to get you some gear.  Francis, would they store people's stuff in one of the rooms on this floor?"

Amara swatted away Oren's hands when he reached out to take her shoulder. She narrowed her blood-red eyes at him, staring for a long moment. "Touch me again uninvited and I promise you, you will wish that you did not." She continued to stare at him, but her next words though, were for Myarra, "Francis is correct; only these four are good. We risk more than we gain if we let the others free. Mercy and stupidity are sometimes a fine line away. A shout could bring the cultists upon us, even if they took no action against us themselves. I suggest we leave them here and go without them. Whether the cultists are or are not merciful to them is their problem." She continued to watch Oren as he brought water to those still chained. "Do you know where your equipment is?" she asked the group at large.

Oren raises his right hand, palm out. "This is all I need" showing the holy symbol of Eldath tattooed upon his palm. "I am sorry, I wish I knew where our captors kept their stolen goods. Likely, the best gear has been taken to be used by the mosy greedy among them."

Continuing his task. "Perhaps you are correct, one of their fellows will eventually come for them. I will take your threat as a polite request, sister, and of course refrain from touching you again without your express consent"

Myarra nods to Amara's magical assessment of the remaining prisoners.  "If they're evil, then I'm done with them.  This is one of those grey areas that gives me a headache.  I'll leave it up to people that have a stronger opinions and moral compasses.  I'm going to check out the other rooms.  Anyone that wishes to come with me is welcome.

But don't take too long.  Again, we really really need to be getting out of here before Satin gets bored and lets Mamma green come back.  Because, I really don't want to be facing down a really pissed off dragon."

Whether the remaining prisoners are released or not, she'll leave to the newcomers.  Amara and Silver are clearly not interested in letting them go.  Aliana will probably want to be merciful, but it's an endless moral/ethical debate she really doesn't want to be involved with.

Hefting her sword over her shoulder, she turns and leaves the room.

Im can not be the judge, as I have no evidence of any deeds. The decition is up to you, Liberators. But I urge you not to maim, kill or in other ways worsen their condition. Kevnan then redraws humble away from the prisoners.

I pledge my abilities at your service for now. I had equipment before I came here, where it is now? I have no idea, but any armor and weapon would be a start and greatly help the effectiveness.
The man has by some way cast away the the image of a broken prisoner and is now looking like a proud warrior. Half naked and beaten, but non the less.

This skin isnt exactly arrowproof. he says with a strict face. The joke is just below the surface.

Seemingly dazed and slightly disoriented, the female elf follows mutely as her fellow prisoners pick themselves up.

The surreality of the situation hadn't hit her yet; she felt as if she were observing the scene from a third person perspective. One moment, she had been captured and taken prisoner with a group of unfamiliar people, and the next she had been seemingly rescued by an ecletic mix of adventures of all race and sort.

Amara continued to stare at Oren as if he was slightly crazy for a long moment, then, when Myarra spoke, turned away. "I will go with you," Amara said to Myarra, leaving those who were likely to be less 'scary' to the former prisoners with them. Besides, if there were more prisoners she would be able to tell if they were good, and therefore in her mind safe to free, or not.

"Well, while I was playing cards near the croc pit, I saw some cultists throw a bunch of gear in the room next door. Maybe everyone's stuff is in there?"

In reply to Oren Blathe (msg # 965):

The prisoners promise not to harm anyone. They just want to be freed, so they can leave. A couple of them say they have families in town and want to return to them. The Orc still says nothing as he continues to stare at Amara until she leaves the room.