Expedition - Lug/Rescue II - 28 April, 1 VC

[Keehnelf]

Numen stops dead when presented with the bit of poetry from the halfling. His eyes dart back and forth as he considers her words, then continues: "You saw the fires last night. Vaul is under siege. I spoke with the Duke, he said some fiend is leading these monsters from a base in the east. I volunteered to go--asked Rhodri, a friend, to come along and he refused. Lug is good folk--he said he would join me." He looks over at Lug. "You can come too--you seem stealthy. Maybe you'd be useful."

[AleBelly]

Who did he look a at in the last sentence? I assume 'Lug' is a typo since he's already pledged to go.

[Keehnelf]

He's just looking at Lug. He seems to be talking to Ruwyn.

[Marullus]

(They are still inside the door... As far as I am aware, Varas and Niles are still waiting in ambush outside. )

[Keehnelf]

Yup, still inside.

[Mister-Kent]

Ruwyn approaches Numen.

"Consider I might, your generous offer
But tell me, oh elf, just why I should bother
To accompany you without knowing the plan
And letting you run away with our man!

Stealthy I be, which you shall soon see
If you're telling the truth I'll follow freely
To take down the beasts that emerge from the east
Will require more soldiers than three, at the least."

She turns to the others. "Okay, so he says his cause is legit. Do we still doubt it?"

[Zorroroaster]

"More than a bit."

Marge snorts and slowly gets to her feet, one hand braced on Dog's thick shoulder for support.

[AleBelly]

Varas has his sword ready, and nods at Niles. The tall thief tries to hide as best as he can.

[Scott308]

Dorvar

Well, let's hear more about this base. Maybe we could all go. Where is it? Do you know anything about the leader? How did the Duke come by this info, and why did he send you?

[Keehnelf]

Numen smiles, thin-lipped. "The duke got the information from some other adventurers who traveled east. He said they have a fortress on the shore of some kind of crystal lake. Hobgoblins mostly, but worse as well. He doesn't know who the boss is, but he knows they're well-organized by whatever is leading them, and if we cut off the head then we might be able to stall follow-up attacks on the town and give us some breathing room."

He looks around at the group. "I think a big group is more likely to be detected, so I want a small group that can make it in and find and kill the boss. Three, maybe four. A group this size would be captured and killed long before we got to our destination."

[Marullus]

Ridiculous end of the week and jury duty call in the morning. I'm hoping to post some updates tonight in between getting lots of last-minute work tasks done, but I'm a little bit unsure if the Lug and Bromric groups are ready to move forward to logical next steps or not. i.e., are they letting Numen go outside to get ambushed? And are they agreed on going up the dangerous near approach of the smoking mountain, or going around?

Varas and I are ready outside. Looks like Dorvar, Ruwyn, and Marge are inside to make this decision. I'd say they know the plan, and what will happen if Numen passes through the door first before our party members. Can we get a post to unstick this and allow the action to move forward with one course or the other?

[Zorroroaster]

For clarity, Marge never entered the tower, preferring to camp outside with the gnomes. She doesn't like what's going on inside, and prepared herself in the morning for possible trouble. That's as much as she knows of anything.

[AleBelly]

Varas still plans to backstab Numen.

[Scott308]

Dorvar is fine with Numen getting shivved. He's neutral, and has been doing a lot of lawful/ good things lately, so... Unless people think he has NOT put a spell on Lug. If Lug is not being controlled by him, he is going to be mighty pissed when he sees Numen get cut down. I think I'll let him walk in front of Dorvar so he has a chance to take the big guy down if necessary.

[Mister-Kent]

So what's the plan if Lug's not under a spell and defends Numen? Are we going to take him out too?

Tiny Ruwyn blocks the door with arms outstretched.

"Lug, please be sure
'Fore you walk out this door
You're truly prepared for this journey
While my instinct is to hide
I'd rather fight by your side
So you don't return home on a gurney..."

[AleBelly]

Varas will not harm Lug. He has no reason to. But the fool hasn't even considered the possibility that his interpretation of events is wrong.

[Scott308]

Well, if Lug is not under a spell, then he is free to go with Numen. That is the big fear, that Numen is innocent in all this and we murder him. I can try to bash Lug on the head to knock him out if need be.

[Keehnelf]

So what's the plan if Lug's not under a spell and defends Numen? Are we going to take him out too?

Tiny Ruwyn blocks the door with arms outstretched.

"Lug, please be sure
'Fore you walk out this door
You're truly prepared for this journey
While my instinct is to hide
I'd rather fight by your side
So you don't return home on a gurney..."

So Ruwyn is stepping between Numen and Lug as they walk out the door?

[Mister-Kent]

She's blocking them both at the moment, but if she's satisfied that Lug's not ensorcelled she'll offer to exit first to try to call off the attack.

[AleBelly]

Read page 5 (I'll assume Ruwyn related what happened to everyone else). Numen cast a spell on Lug and now they're buddies. What other explanation could there be than charming Lug?