Surrounded by humans - not to mention the corpses of its allies and friends - the remaining Caliban is abjectly terrified.

It had been staring at the body of it leader, but hearing Arthanos' question, turns his savage eyes to regard the human instead. "Yes, many more..." he says.

"We came to this forest to find nymphs." he continues "But Euryskos prevented us from taking them." he says.

Aleta looks at the Caliban "What can oyu tell us of Euryskos? We need to know as much as we can" 

"He's a Satyr." The Caliban replies to Aleta, with particular disgust as he says the word 'Satyr'. "An old one. A healer too, apparently. He charmed the nymphs of these woods long ago, and tried to stop my brothers and I from entering to claim them. He styles himself as the wood's 'protector'. Hmmph!"

The Caliban looks around at the others present "He couldn't stop us all by himself though. His nymphs helped, maybe some other creatures as well, because after confronting us he was able to vanish and we haven't found him since. Could be that these Boarmen you all are chasing after helped him somehow. We've seen them in the woods often enough."

Itylus had stayed behind in the woods collecting his arrows and searching for clues in the dead Calibans' bodies. After that he stopped one last time to throw an annoyed glance at the body of the Caliban killed by Agmund: if Agmund hadn't been so rash they could have interrogated both Calibans apart and known more easily when they were lying... But that probably had been asking too much from a barabarian. Anyway now they would have to do with the remaining Caliban.

He then went to meet the rest of the party - to his relive they all looked fine - and arrived in time to hear the Caliban's last answer. The creature sure looked scared enough, but was it being totally honest? Despite his doubts he approached the creature and said:

"Tell us everything you know about the boarmen."
This message was last edited by the player at 08:12, Sun 24 Feb 2013.

"The... boarmen?" the Caliban says "Of course, good masters. Of course." it says, managing a very weak smile in its attempt to pacify the group. "Unusual group these ones, very organized and focused. Not like boarmen at all. Takes a warlord or a sorcerer to bend their will usually, but we haven't seen any. They have their own leader that they listen to though, but we don't know anything about him."

He continues "Our group and theirs haven't gotten along. They sent an emissary demanding we leave. We figured they were under Euryskos' control, but it didn't seem likely." He shrugs "They probably are though. That's why we thought we'd have a natural alliance with you humans." He looks again at the bodies of his dead companions "Until now."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:13, Wed 27 Feb 2013.

Itylus' face darkened at the Caliban's last words. "Natural allies, heim?" he crouched besides the Caliban, hood shadowing his eyes, hands fiddling with his dagger that had  suddenly appeared there from nowhere. Looking the Caliban in to the eyes he said : "Don't come to me with your honeyed words and insinuations Caliban. I am familiar with your kind and I know your deceitful and twisted nature."

You were trying to use us as a bait for your enemies and you were trying to put them against us in hope we would kill each other. And as soon as you saw one of us seemingly hopeless you tried to take advantage of it. You never saw us as allies, you just were trying to use us, so quit your petty lies and insinuations Caliban." he pointed his dagger idly to the Caliban's throat. "This that you see around you" he added, referring to the dead Calibans "was only your own doing."

"So" Itylus said in a calm voice "If you don't want to end up like your friends there, I advice you to be useful and answer our questions truthfully and without trying to deceive us. So then, I have another question... Caliban... There where seven of you following us, but I count only five now. Where are your other two companions? "
This message was last edited by the player at 19:12, Wed 27 Feb 2013.

Eurenomes looks on reluctantly, face pale. The priest of swift Hermes was no coward but neither was he a warrior and so he hung back from the interogation.

The Caliban's eyes narrowed as Itylus approached, and he looks side to side, almost for a means to escape as the hunter spoke. He might have attempted escape, if not for the warriors surrounding him with their weapons ready, not to mention the dagger soon put to his throat by Itylus.

He attempts a weak laugh "Yes, yes, of course I will be useful, good master. There are indeed more of us." he says, eyes focused on the blade. "We travel in small packs; the others that you mention are back at our camp." the Caliban says. "We stay well away from the boarmen's caves. I promise they are no friends to us."

While it would have been false to say that Dysis in any sense liked bloodshed, she nonetheless had a strong stomach, when it was needed.  The world was a brutal place. It was just the nature of life.  She had learned that as a girl, and accepted it today.

Even if they killed this creature, it would be cleaner than what they would have done with herself or her friends in reversed circumstance.  Or if they actually had gotten their hands on Aleta. She felt no sympathy for them.  No telling what murderous acts they'd go on to, if they survived this encounter.

She'd hoped Eurnomes might have magic to elicit the truth.  But, apparently not.  She certainly had none.  And she didn't trust this creature any further than she could hurl him.

"Let us hope the other two weren't sent back, to bring others. Or, gone on ahead to the boarmen, if he is lying about their association." she said to Itylus, and the others. "Why don't we move on, and see if there are any tracks ahead of us.  And gut this swine if so." 

"Well, the question is what do we do with him. When we run into the Satyr, I suppose I might also be able to lure him out though if he is old, he might not be tricked so easy. Plus if he has his fill on Nyphs, I am not sure if I am much bait. But the Boarmen might be a different story. Maybe our friend here" She points to the Caliban "Could be bait for the boarmen. We can't just let him go back and get more friends.

Arthanos listened to the viewpoints of the two girls. Looking first at Dysis, he answered her idea.

"I agree. If Itylus would be willing, scouting ahead would allow us to quickly verify this creatures tale." he said before looking back at the creature for a few seconds. "Unless there is anymore to your tale?"

After waiting a few more seconds for the creature to answer, he then looked at Aleta.

"Using him as bait might be a bit...cruel." he said thoughtfully. "Though trying to contact the satyr might be useful....if us hurting the trees hasn't offended the nymphs and him."

The Caliban watched the exchange between the party, eyes flickering from one person to the next. "No more in my tale, good master." he says to Arthanos. "The only advice I have on Euryskos is that he is a friend to humans, like yourself." His eyes narrow slightly as he says this. "If your concern about harming the trees means the Wood Titans, then it is ... unlikely he sent them to kill you. I don't think he has that power, or else he would have had them drive out my people by now."

He continues. "I'd be poor bait for the boarmen, masters." he says, a mean glare toward Aleta. "At most I'd be target practice." The Caliban gives a rueful smile. "They have archers, and javelin throwers..." he gestures with a nod of his head to the path ahead "And if you send me into their lair, I doubt I could draw them out to face you in battle. Again, more likely they would just kill me instead with a quick arrow or javelin. After all, I'm just one creature to them, hardly worth the effort."

---

Consensus at the moment seems to be for pushing on ahead.

Other options would be to backtrack either to look for additional Calibans, or to seek out Euryskos. If one of those options is more appealing, just make that known.

Thinking in the words of the Caliban, and in those of his companions, Itylus rose and asked most of the party to gather aside, out of the Caliban's hearing reach, except for Agmund whom he asked to keep an eye on the Caliban.

After the others had gathered again he said:"We must decide the fate of this Caliban and the path we are going to take." Looking at Arthanos and Dysis he continued "I certeinly can go ahead scout the terrain for signs of more Calibans, however I don't think in the end it will make much difference: even if those two Calibans were in the area before, they probably saw what happened to their companions and fled long ago."

While he spoke Itylus grabbed a fallen branch in the ground and started to sharpen it with his dagger: "Whether those two saw what happened here and reported to the rest of their tribe or not, most probably the Calibans will eventually find out what happened, which may lead to two results: either they will get so afraid of us that they won't bother us ever again, OR the Calibans will be angered and seek revenge. We must try to avoid this last result at all cost since it could put in risk our mission. For that purpose I think we could use this Caliban." he fixed into the ground the stake he had fashioned from the branch and continued:

"Using him as a bait for the Boarman would always be risky, at best, since he could try to betray us to the Boarman - not mentioning all the trouble that would be bringing him with us. Kill him perhaps would solve our troubles, but I think we could give him a better use by using him to spread fear on his own tribe: there is no more terrorizing story than the one told by a terrorized man." here he turned around and grabbed something from the ground behind him "We, of course, would also leave a little message to the Calibans" he then turned to the party again and drove the Caliban Leader's head in to the stake he had fixed on the ground.


OCC
Sorry  for the extra large post and the errors that the post might have, Itylus really did have a lot to say after so long silent, but I am already half-asleep so possibly there will be some errors on the post. If you think is confusing or don't understand something just tell me in the OOC chat and I will answer you and correct the post

"My suggestion actually was for all of us to move on.  It is the best course, I think, in case the others did go back for help, or ahead to the boarmen. That I think is the largest concern. That there may in fact be an alliance, that he is not divulging.  And that they will be prepared for us, when we do arrive.  If we move soon enough to see any signs of them ahead of us, at least we might have our own warning, that way." As to Aleta's idea:

"I think Aleta was saying we might use the Caliban to lure Euskyros out. If he sees we hold one of his enemy's prisoner."  But, swiftly enough, that became a moot issue...

She averted her head, when Itylus impaled the skull of the dead caliban.  A grotesque thing to observe, but she understood the 'motivation' the hunter was trying to achieve with it.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:21, Fri 15 Mar 2013.

Though the group had moved out of hearing range of the still-living Caliban's hearing, the sight of the action Itylus took in driving the head of the deceased Caliban leader's head through the freshly sharped stake was indeed visible and had an effect upon the survivor of the battle.

The captured beast cries out, enraged by the gruesome sight. "May the Gods curse you, humans!" before attempting to lunge forward from his position to attack Itylus.  He does not get far, however, as Agmund swiftly brings his axe down upon the Caliban's neck and back, taking the life of the wretched creature.

After withdrawing his weapon, Agmund approaches the group, noting Itylus' work with a grim nod. "It is over. They will not forgive these deaths. Let us move on."

Arthanos nodded, accepting the logic behind Itylus' words. He followed the man as he signaled to move away from the creature and listened as Itylus and then Dysis spoke. He nods at Dysis's point.

"Your argument seems sou..." he started to say before he realises what Itylus is doing and watches as he drives the leaders head onto a spike. Turning to look at the other caliban, he manages to catch its expression as it sees what Itylus did to it's leader.

"NOO!" he starts to yell as the creature dives forward and Agmund's axe drops the poor creature.

Arthanos looks at the dead creature, his mind racing. Killing in battle and combat was one thing...but this was almost as if it was planned...his gaze suddenly flicked from Agmund to Itylus as he considered their actions. Both had come from the trees together, and Itylus had asked Agmund to wait next to the Caliban. Had the two already agreed before hand to simply kill the creature and wanted the rest of them away while they did?

Arthanos turned back slowly to face Itylus, but shifted his position so he could see both him and Agmund.

"Did you intend to provoke him like that?" he asks Itylus, doing his best to keep his tone neutral.

She looks at Itylus and just sighs. Now he can't be used if if they wanted too.

Itylus heard an angered cry behind him. Quickly he turned around, knife already flashing in his hand, and saw, to his shock, the maddened Caliban trying to lounge in his direction! He started to move in order to stop it, but before he could do anything, Agmund's axe fell upon the creature and sent it in to the afterlife.

Gasps and a shout followed, but Itylus just stood there, frozen, watching the remains of the cursed creature. He hadn't been expecting the Caliban to still have enough spirit left in him to react so violently at the sight of his leader head in a stack... Obviously he had badly underestimated these Calibans devotion for their leader, which meant the rest of the tribe would certainly try to revenge his leader's death.

After the shock, fury came, it was the second time the barbarian dispatched a potentially valuable prisoner. He turned to Agmund and exclaimed furiously:"Why on the world did you kill him? He was no threat to us unarmed! You could have just grabbed him or knocked him out! There was no need to kill him! Now we can't use him to scare the rest of his pack anymore!" Though, by the level of fanaticism this Caliban had displayed, probably that wouldn't have made any difference in the end. However Itylus was too angered to realize that at the moment. "You can't be so free on your axe and kill every enemy at the first excuse!" he exclaimed frustrated, though of course he knew, that that was the nature of the Hyperborean folk.

When Arthanos spoke, he turned to face him, watching him with narrowed eyes and in a calmer but cold  voice he answered:"Of course not! Had I intended to kill him, I would have sunk my knife on his heart as soon as I had him in front of me! I am not like your petty city lords who conceal their intentions and actions behind polite manners and smiley masks! If I intend to do something I just do it! Without trying to hide my actions behind deceptions and delusions! And at this moment, what I intend to do is help you save that girl from the hands of the Boarmen, and that is what in name of Artemis I certainly will do!"

Without another word he strode out from amid the party and in to the edge of the woods, there he stopped for a second and without turning around he shouted to the others:"I will go ahead and track the area for sign of more Calibans, I advise you to get ready and start moving as soon as you can. Soon we will have a pack of furious Calibans in our feets." he paused and then said: "The golden belt of that Caliban leader seemed somehow magical to me... One of the magicians should take a look at it. And... have someone to take a look at Agmunds wounds, he was injured." And without other word he vanished among the trees.

---

_{OCC
Yeap, Itylus got rather piss off with this turn of the events. Mostly because he felt somewhat guilty about it, but don't worry, he will get over it. Meanwhile he went scounting ahead, for his part he is ready to continue the journey.}

Agmund stood impassively as Itylus railed against him for his act in killing the Caliban, and watched as the hunter then moved off ahead to scout. Looking to the others present, he shrugs, only saying "The creature received a warrior's death. Better for him to die with honor then have his throat cut as if he were a thief, or be left for bait."

The barbarian grunts, hefting his axe and then begins to move on ahead on the path.

Her eyes followed Itylus, as he made his way into the trees.

Well.  One of those "chariot wrecks" -- that were equal parts ill luck, ill temper, and ill circumstance.  And all Fate.  She had no sympathy for the murderous caliban, and the bare fact of his death didn't bother her. She had doubts about he having any further use, as well, though it could have been.  Whether he'd lived or died, any neutrality they'd had with those creatures was now done. Dysis sighed.

"Best we save our barbs for our enemies, eh?  To my thinking, the greatest misfortune of this would be its effecting our ability to work together.  That sort of issue we can't afford.  Since I don't believe any one of us will achieve our goal alone. Eurenomes - can you see to Agmund?"

As the Elementalist concluded speaking, she knelt to inspect the golden belt the leader bore.

"I will try and determine what this is.  I don't fancy I'm laying any claims to it.  If I figure it out, and it can aid us, we'll give it to whomever is best suited to wear it."   
__________

Dysis has the scholar skill, and will try to use that with her occult training to get some idea what this might be.  If Eurnomes has a better way, she'll hand it over to him, or anybody else who might.   
This message was last edited by the player at 18:03, Fri 15 Mar 2013.

"I agree, what is done is done. I am not going to shead any tears for it and we need to stick together to win. Now lets get moving. I hope if we get rid of this thing holding the girl, the rest of the Calibans will stay away from us." she shoulders her bag and starts walking.

"Dysis, if you figure out what it does, let us know and then it can help who ever it is best."

For the moment, Eurnomes seemed disinterested in the belt, or at least was willing to allow Dysis to try her hand at looking at the item first before he attempted any kind of divination regarding the properties of said item.

He seemed slightly weary - it was possible that the vision that Hermes had provided the young priest had taken a slight toll on him, as he began to trudge up the hill along with a few of the others.

Meanwhile, Dysis examines the golden belt, carefully examining it...

---

For the moment, Dysis would have to put the belt away as her companions left the scene of carnage behind them to trek up the hill where they had awaited their ambush. From there on, Lord Joris' guide would push them ahead towards the location of the caves, and while they'd occasionally catch a glimpse of Itylus through the trees - it seemed to be more for their benefit that they know he was still around, as opposed to somehow catching the hunter off guard.

Hours pass.

While the group is on guard either for an attack from the trees themselves, or wrathful Calibans, and elusive boarmen, no attack ever comes.


Finally the group catches up to Itylus, who gestures on up ahead past a small grove of trees. It was there that the hunter had spotted a gaping cave mouth, tall enough for even a centaur to pass through, and wide enough to fit at least two of the same side to side. The path towards it is well worn, but is extremely muddy, especially in front of the entrance to the cave itself. It is laden with tracks leading up to and in it of various sorts of creatures, which Itylus easily identifies as boarmen, or boar-like creatures. Tracks belonging to humans, or human-like creatures are also seen, but these are far fewer in quantity.

Joris' guide nods and points ahead towards the caves. "This is the place. Those are the cursed Caverns of Voros." he says, his voice shaken in fear. "Gods protect you if you go into that evil place. For I will not follow." he says.

Dysis glanced toward the caves, but her attention was back to the earlier matter.  The magical matter.  Like any good scholar of the occult, her mind was seized upon a mystery.   One that actually could be of value to them, at least...

She took out the belt, once again.  "It is magical," she said, almost as much to herself as those about her.  "There is power there. The Caliban didn't know that. With a little more time, I might be able to deduce how to tap it..."

Euronomes looked very pale after the slaughter, glanced at the belt but did not take it. "I... I don't think I have enough power left to examine the belt and do healing. Even the gods are sparing in their gifts to their servants to teach us not to take them for granted." The priest looked humbled and miserable at admitting his limits and quickly hurried over to investigate Agmund's wounds.

Aleta leans against a tree looking at the cave enterence. "So Euronomes, how long till you are feeling more up to healing us when we get hurt?" she hated going inot a place with only one way in and out.