Disagreement Over the Swordsman's Fate
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
Pensive stands up from the dead soldier, wiping his tears away. Sand take this day, and him, for being such a fool. There would yet be sights more horrible than that of one merciless halfling.
His eyes are drawn to the halfling's wolf hustling out of the bowl, to the south. What had it seen? Something-- a fallen soldier. Pensive sees him now. Perhaps alive, even.
He does not hesitate. Pensive runs after the wolf to stop him from killing the man on the ground. What good it will do, Pensive is not sure; his protection will earn him no love with the halflings, or with the priest. It will most certainly gain him the distrust of the guardsmen. But the Path was not straight, nor was it soft. What mercy he could grant, Pensive must.
The battle had ended; there was no need for anyone else to die.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
When Pensive reaches the soldier, he'll try to shoo Tichenor away, and then disarm the man.
If the man wakes up, Pensive will order him to lie still if he wants to live. If the man moves after that, Pensive will strike him with stonetap.
If Tichenor continues to harass the man after Pensive tries to shoo him off, Pensive will smack him (subdual damage) away.
If the man tries to escape again, Pensive will try to kill him.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
Just as the adrenaline high fades and the strength begins to drain from him, Garyth sees Tichenor streak past the rest of them, then, nearly as fast, Pensive running behind him. He knows instinctively why the elf is pursuing the wolf. There is no good end to this. And besides, Pensive is right. Even in war, there are rules.
"Call him off, Rennik!" he says. Though, ferocious as the halfling can be, he'll likely need more reason than just a say-so. "We might still be able to get some information out of him if we take him prisoner."
Turning to take in the scene, he sees Melani walking toward him. She speaks of the bond of combat, and of mutual aid. She extends her hands to him, obviously a ritual among the halflings. In a way she's right, and Garyth can't help but think of how his own friendship with Rennik has grown out of the chaos of battle nor can he help admitting that he can feel that bond growing now between himself and Melani. At the same time, her callous and casual attitude about the battle and those fallen still shocks Garyth a bit. Less than it might have a few weeks ago, though. Is this what will become of him? Will he finally come to the point where he can walk away from so much death saying only that it was a good fight? Garyth sees a future unfolding before him, and he is troubled.
All this passes through his mind in an instant, but he takes Melani's hands quickly enough that she shouldn't notice any hesitation. He hopes. "I am honored, Reth'tenn," Garyth says, trying to pronounce the halfling word correctly. "Likewise, what aid I have to give you is yours."
When he is finished with Melani, Garyth turns and goes to the unconscious swordsman. If they are to take prisoners, they will need to make sure they don't all die first.
OOC: Garyth will attempt to stabilize the swordsman. If successful, he will carry the man back and then find something to bind him with.
From: Mark
Subject: Cleaning up the mess
Melani will then talk to Osred. "Friend Osred. Do you think your god would consent to healing one who does not follow his teachings? I was sorely wounded by that brute. Normally our Belneth would offer his prayers or I would take some time to recover. However, with the witch due back soon and much work to be done to prepare for her return, I would ask this boon of you."
OOC: What ever healing Osred is willing to grant, she will take.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
Hmmmm....
Ok. :)
Now I need to know what Rennik does.
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
Rennik watches Pensive take off after Tichenor, wondering at the sense of innocence and compassion that might move the man. The human would have gutted the elf just as he would crush a wasp, with even less thought, yet he would risk a wolf's snapping jaws to tend a dying man's wounds.
Had he ever seen death? Rennik paused on that a moment, trying to remember if he had ever had such feelings. If he had, they were far in his past, buried under many more painful memories.
Nevertheless, Tichenor would have torn the man's throat in his jaws before Pensive could stop him, and then the elf would have more to cry about. Maybe he would have the sense to hide the body from view of the air instead of just closing its eyes, but Rennik doubted it.
"Call him off, Rennik!"
Rennik shakes his head. The man is an enemy and a threat, and could have dropped in the hopes that he would be ignored long enough to escape. It is something Rennik might do if outnumbered and fleeing with no hope.
"We might still be able to get some information out of him if we take him prisoner."
Prisoner. What use would he be as prisoner? They could not trust any information he gave, and they did not have the time or resources to bind him and keep him quiet.
The witch would return within half of an hour, and much work would need to be done before then. The Blood Falcons would need to disguise themselves as the witch's men, their bodies hidden in the copses of trees or under the wagon. The half-orc would need to be dragged up to the bowl and propped as though sleeping, and his blood cleaned enough to be unnoticeable from above. The entire stage would need to be set...
...and Garyth thought to compound that with holding a prisoner, interrogating him, and then keeping him quiet so as not to alert the witch to the ambush? His compassion clouded his judgement. He cannot be distracted now, when he needs to focus on preparing the ambush.
"No, Garyth. You know as well as I. We cannot take a prisoner and still be ready for the witch when she comes. And we cannot trust him not to ruin the advantage of surprise. This is not a mission of mercy, or of espionage. We were sent here to kill the devilspawn witch and her men, not ask them questions."
He lets Tichenor run, and sets about removing the archers' cloaks and hiding their bodies under the wagon.
His actions are a direct affront to Garyth's authority, and would prompt a challenge for leadership among the Chorrdath once the witch was dead, but Rennik cannot afford to think of that.
Time is precious, and there is much to do.
[OOC: Tich has a full round headstart on Pensive, so I'm pretty sure he's gonna kill the guy before the monk even gets close.]
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
OOC: Yeah, I didn't think you were going to make it easy on me.
From: Jake
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
""Call him off, Rennik! We might still be able to get some information out of him if we take him prisoner."
Osred's head, bowed in prayer to Hironeous, snaps up at his Garyth's words. Take a prisoner? Now? With the witch probably preparing even at that moment to return to her camp? This captain's skill with a blade was unquestionable, but by the gods he was green! Osred bites his tongue, physically restraining himself from saying "If we let that one live, sir, we'll regret it." It would have been better that the man die in the heat of battle, true, or barring that that the wolf finish him off. If necessary, though, Osred would slit the man's throat himself. After he spoke with the captain, out of range of the men's hearing. For now, though, there is healing to be done, or they will not be able to stand against the witch anyway. He bows his head again, and is about to resume his prayer when he hears the male halfling.
"No, Garyth. You know as well as I. We cannot take a prisoner and still be ready for the witch when she comes. And we cannot trust him not to ruin the advantage of surprise. This is not a mission of mercy, or of espionage. We were sent here to kill the devilspawn witch and her men, not ask them questions."
He nods, pursing his lips. These little ones are more deserving of respect than he would have guessed. Brave, stout fighters--the fact that the girl is still standing after taking seveal blows from the brute's axe was testimony to that--and less fuzzy headed that either the puling elf or the captain. He had underestimated them. He wouldn't do so again.
Again he bows his head to pray.
"Friend Osred." a high voice pipes in his ear, and he jumps. Gods that one moved quietly. Keeping his exaspiration at the interruption from his voice, he says "A moment, girl. If Hironeous doesn't close Vincy's wounds soon he'll be going to join The Lord in his battle halls, and we'll have need of him right here soon.
He bows his head again, shutting out all outside interruptions, and prays to Hironeous, [sacrifices 1st level Divine Favor for 1st level Cure Light Wounds. If this isn't enough to stabilize Vincy, he'll follow that up by sacrificing the 1st level spell Entropic Shield, again for Cure Light Wounds]. When Vincy is breathing easier, he turns back to the halfling.
"Yes?"
"Do you think your god would consent to healing one who does not follow his teachings? I was sorely wounded by that brute. Normally our Belneth would offer his prayers or I would take some time to recover. However, with the witch due back soon and much work to be done to prepare for her return, I would ask this boon of you."
Oh, aye, but all those who lift a blade in the name of good do honor to Hironeous, whether they know it or not." He waves his hand dismissively. "Now, let me see that wound of yours." He gives a low whistle as Milani shows him what the barbarian's axe had done to her. The wounds are horrific, with flesh all but flayed from bone, crushed and bruised almost into pulp were it isn't actually cut. He probes at it with a finger, then snorts in mock dismissal. "Scratch like that, and you're asking for the god's favor? Thought you halflings were supposed to be tough." He laughs, then before Melani can take offense says "it's a wonder you can walk girl, let alone sneak up on me. Gods that brute could swing an axe. Here, let me see what the god will do for you. He lays his hands over the injuries and closes his eyes [Sacrificing 3rd Level Protection from Energy for Cure Serious Wounds].
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Battle for hill 19 round 8
Garyth burns with shame at Rennik's remonstrance. Of course the halfling is right. Curse himself for a fool, someone so wet behind the ears has no business leading men! Unable to meet Rennik's eyes, Garyth turns. But it's no better; he sees the judgment in his sergeant's eyes. These men are Blood Falcons. Their last commander would have been good. They know the difference.
Maybe in another time Garyth would have had the chance to grow into his position, to make mistakes and learn from them. But lives are hanging in the balance right now. This time calls for perfection, nothing less. When this mission is over, Garyth will speak to Sir Jonas and admit his shortcomings. These men deserve it.
Until then, he had to do everything he could to get these men back safely. Even if that means pretending to be more than he is.
"Come on," he says. "We've work to do."
OOC: Garyth agrees with Melani's previous suggestion for the ambush. He'll want to get started setting that up.