RC Karyst: The Slave Tower (recap)

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Arriving at the tower described by Gertmayer, the party discovers that it is now inhabited by a band of goblin slavers. After capturing and dispatching with several of the golbinoid guards, they find 3 prisoners: a half-elven male (Elbert), and two human females (Betha and Sara). According to the prisoners, the slavers are led by a hobgolbin named Korreg.

At the urgence of the other party members, Devious, Bertig, and Rewen escort the three former-prisoners and the five captured goblins back to Bauble Town with the intent of turning them over for justice.

The rest of the party continues to make their way through the tower, encountering two more hobgoblins, and a collection of barrels, sacks and crates, probably goods stolen by the slavers. On the second floor, the party members are greeted by a large Worg, apparently a guard set in front of Korreg's chambers. With the Worg out of the way, they find the leader of the slavers, Korreg, alone in his chambers. Korreg bargains for his life, handing over 200 gp in exchange for being able to leave the tower unharmed.

[Edited to Continue]

After Korreg leaves, the party continues to explore the tower. Climbing the stairs to the third floor, they are confronted by a large group of goblinoids: four goblins and three hobgoblins. After an intense battle, in which two of the goblins flee, the party takes stock of their surroundings. A large room (50' x 35'), it is strewn with litter, blankets and garbarge. It appears to have been used as the sleeping quarters for a large number of individuals. In the north wall stands the door through which two of the goblins escaped.

When Varg opens the north room, the two remaining goblins fall grovelling at his feet. They eagerly become the party's captives. The party rests for the night (everyone recovers 1 hp), allowing Devious, Rewen and Bertig to rejoin them. The three report that, while they were unable to locate any form of law enforcement in Bauble Town, the goblin captives are now under the watchful, if stunned, gaze of Gertmayer.

Cut into the walls of the north room are five narrow slits. These openings, evenly spaced about the outside wall, measure 1' high and roughly 6" wide. In the centre of the room is a wood and bronze stand, about 4' tall, capped with a long (2') bronze crosspiece. Fixed at either end of the bronze crosspiece is a half-circle, the open end facing upwards. The crosspeice rotates freely about the stand. Beneath each of the openings is a different symbol (from left to right): a pick and stylised gem; three crowns; a hammer; a dwarven figure; and an upside down mountain (the symbol of G'Hnna).

Varg and Juhn both peak through the slits, paying close attention to the views outside of the openings marked by the hammer and the dwarf. However, whatever might be meant to be seen is well off into the distance.

Continuing to search about the tower, Rath, Juhn, and Bertig return to Korreg's chambers. Searching the chests, they find 3 flasks, a silver dagger, a well-made scimitar, and a pouch containing 150 gp. Juhn identifies one of the flasks as containing Holy Water but is unable to identify the other two, both pale blue in colour and with a sweet scent. The party decides to search the rest of the tower.

[This message has been edited by Gnolyn Lochbreaker (edited May 25, 2002).]

 

Varg pauses from the search for a moment and looks around to see that everyone is within earshot:

"I've been thinking a bit. Seems like there are some disagreements in the group about how things are done. I'm gonna say my piece so people understand how I'm gonna do things. Less problems later, maybe.

Some of you think I'm soft on goblins or whatever, which ain't true. Goblins are pretty much completely worthless, far as I can tell. Hell, they ain't even worth the use of weapons, really, though those hobgoblins are a different story. Though not much of one. Hehehe. Anyway, way I see it, there's no call to be treating goblins any different than any other type of people. If they attack us, we whup their butts, but if they don't, we ain't got no cause to be killing them. Same thing with prisoners. Fine with me if the group don't want to hassle with prisoners. But then we don't hassle with prisoners. I ain't gonna play any of these 'we take dwarves prisoner, but kill gnolls' crap. We take prisoners or we don't. And we don't let them surrender and then turn around and kill them. No prisoners means we tell them 'sorry, but ya'll better keep fighting cuz you'll be dying regardless' when they try to give up. If they surrender anyway, well, then they're just stupid and won't be wasting good air muc longer.

Someone else asked why we let Korreg go when we coulda killed him and took the bribe money anyways. Well, that was my thought and pretty much what I told him: "give up or die". But then someone else went along and said 'we'll take a bribe to let you go'. Far as I'm concerned, once we make a promise like that, we live by it. Tried to get out of by naming an big sum, but he had it so we were stuck with it. Now, I don't mind lyin' and trickery, though they're mostly not worth the trouble. But there's limits and one of the limits is saying what we'll *do*. If I say I'll do something (or someone of you says I'll do it in good faith) then I'll do it.

And its not all bad that he' alive anyways. Its good to know who the bad guy is, even if it just the local slaver. If we'd killed him, someone new woulda taken over soon enough. Plenty of money in slaving, as you can all see from the loot we've got so far. Probably be easier to find Korreg again iffen we need to, than to find any new operator. And maybe he'll do something that makes his partner reveal himself to us. Who knows? Besides none of us got killed this way, which might of happened the other way. Who knows?"

 

I do agree we shouldn't kill anyone who hasn't attacked us first. That's only Right. Well, unless we catch them doing anything REALLY BAD of course (/me touches holy symbol). Surely if we interrupted torture or murder, you'd kill the enemy before he got a chance to finish what he was doing, whether he attacked us first or not?

I don't think anyone could accuse you of softness, my dear Varg. I think it's just that some of us get a little- emotional- about slavery and say things we don't mean when it comes to having our vengeance thwarted by an orc keeping his head and his morals in the heat of battle.

 

(OOC - sorry I missed the session. My car broke down for the second time in just over a week (unrelated faults, I fixed the first one (loose choke plate) but got stranded by this one (broken clutch cable)) hence was very late getting back. Strangely I was on my way back from dropping off the prize PC to be fixed. So don't let me near anything you don't want to get broken . Of course none of this is any kind of hassle while I'm still trying to settle into a new house and job

 

(ooc: Juhn was fed up with being attacked on sight and getting beat up on so he got a little emotional I don't think if you actually told him to go ahead and kill those cowering goblins, he could bring himself to do it. He probably wouldn't mind someone else doing it at that time though. It's morning now and he's calmed down.)

*taps his staff on the floor as he walks towards Varg and Rhwydd*

There's nothing you said that I particularly disagree with. You can do what you feel like.

I don't care. *he adds as he hands the vial of holy water to Rhwydd.*

Edit: I forgot to add. Good luck Slappy Hope you'll enjoy the changes.

[This message has been edited by Invoker (edited May 26, 2002).]

 

The two goblin prisoners, tired and stiff from spending the night tied and bound on the floor, gingerly shift around the floor trying to stretch out sore joints. One of the goblins follows the conversation with intense concentration. With a dry, croaking voice, the goblin speaks in broken common: "Not want kill...Korreg make kill...kill men who fight back...sell women to Garren". The goblin lowers its head to the ground as if considering. "Not like Garren...", he adds.

 

Varg thinks about it for a moment, then frees the goblins' hands (but not their feet) and then gives them some food and water.

"So, what do you know about Garren anyway?"

 

Both prisoners, grateful for even this small token, express their gratitude at length. Accepting the food and drink with enthusiasm, the second goblin again speaks up.

"Garren come from Meyrsid...in Qualegg." He takes a bite of the food and continues. "Come to Korreg many turns of the moon passed. Praises Korreg as great warrior...but says Korreg could be more if he have more gold. Gold buys more soldiers, better weapons, make Korreg stronger. Maybe even lord. Garren says, Korreg could sell people to Garren for much gold. Korreg likes. What Korreg says, we do, or we die. So we take people. Many people. Then Garren say, take only strong men or pretty women. He say kill others, but keep their goods to sell. Again, Korreg listens, and we must do." He stops to drink a little. "But Korreg not trust Garren. Says Garren make much more money than Korreg, when Korreg do all work." The goblin spits. "Korreg not work! Make Gukkin and others work. Korreg leaves Gukkin here to die while Korreg runs away."

 

"Well, what do you expect from a hobgoblin, anyway? Just bullies and cowards, that lot.

So, you have any idea where Garren might be now? Or where Korreg might go to meet him? I'm thinking he and I need to have a long talk (Varg grins wolfishly). Were there any others that you dealt with, either to sell slaves to or who helped catch people to be slaves?"

 

While the others argue Ratheof sits in a corner admiring the beautiful dagger. Almost a pitty to use in a fight, he thinks.

Ratheof walks over to Devious.
"Maybe this will give you luck Devious"
He hands the silver dagger to Devious.

Making a couple of swings in the air with the scimitar he realises that he needs two hands just to control the thing.
"Nah, this is too bothersome for me. Maybe this is something for you Varg. It seems to have a nice balance.."
Rahteof reverses the grip and offers the handle to Varg.

"You know, I just thought of something. In all towers I have seen there was a cellar. Maybe this one has one as well. Shouldn't we check it out? Ok, ok, I have only seen one other tower, but that one had a cellar which should prove my point"

 

(To Ratheof) Thanks Ratheof, it looks to be a beautifully made dagger. Maybe it will help me regain my fighting form, which I admit, seems to have deserted me lately. It must just be a lack of practice. I'm sure I'll soon be back to my magnificent best, just like in my older adventuring days.

(Devious examines the dagger Appraise 1d20+7 = 13)

Hey Ratheof, I forgot to give you the shield I brought for you. I picked it up from some traders who claimed it was a nice piece for a brave fighter such as yourself. I'd like you to have it as a thank you for being such a trusty and pleasant companion.

(Devious hands a small steel shield to Ratheof so that he now matches his portrait )

 

(Varg glances over at Ratheof without really taking his eyes off the goblins he's questioning)

"Yeah, I've seen these curved swords before. Not too bad a weapon, but they don't really have the power against an armored foe that an axe or mace does. When I fight with one handed weapons, I prefer to pair a mace and shortsword. The left hand shortsword is good for parrying and gives the foe a completely different angle of attack to worry about."

 

(To Devious: The silvered dagger, while obviously worth more than a typical dagger, does not look to be extremely valuable).

Gukkin warily eyes the large blade in Ratheof's hand. Bringing his attention back to Varg, he says: "Only sell people to Garren. Gukkin not know where Garren be. Garren not come here often. He and Korreg meet in place south from here, space in forest marked by big big rock. We gather up slaves, make secret journey to big big rock. Take several days....maybe three days? Then we light fire in rock. When Garren see fire, he come, take people and give us gold." The goblin stops to think for a minute. "Stuff we take from people, not sell to Garren. Sell to man from tent town. Korreg send messenger, man come here with wagon, and few soldiers. Give gold for stuff. Not know man's name. Maybe Korreg go to man in tent town?"

 

"Well, Gukkin, we'll see if that turns out to be helpful."

Varg then turns back to the rest of the group.

"Well, I assume we'll search this whole tower, so if there is a cellar, I'm sure it'll turn up. What we really need is the piece that goes in that cradle upstairs. If we have that, I bet we can see whatever those holes are supposed to show. Fun as it is to kick slavers around, our real goal is to find a way into the dwarf treasury."

 

I'm with you on that Varg. One thing at a time as they say. I doubt we could destroy the slave trade on our own anyway, though causing it a few local problems might be satisfying. But lets find this treasure and be out of this place. We mustn't forget we agreed to run the errand for the witch too so don't want to waste too much time. Best not to upset a magic user.

(Devious starts loking around the room and searching for traps or switches. - 1d20+7=11)

 

"Oh yeah, I forgot all about that witch. I suppose we should deal with her problems next, since we did agree to do so."

 

Ooc: The map of the tower can be found at http://www.karyst.com/tower/tower_map


Having cleaned out the chests of Koreg's chambers, Devious is unable to find anything of real value remaining in this room (area 5). Besides the two chests, there is a cot against the south wall.

 

(Devious cautiously approaches the cot in case anything horrible, like a baby, is hidden in it. Slowly and carefull he peers inside)

 

"Hmm, I'm getting hungry here. I think I'll go find the kitchen to see if there is something better than those trail rations"

Ratheof walks back down to ground level and searches the area for any doors or openings to unexplored rooms.

He mumbles to himself. "..they have to have food somewhere around here.."

 

(Devious wakes up from his long dream and wonders where all of his companions have gone.)