<font color=skyblue>Turin

"What's in it for me? Well, that is a fair question. In the end of all things, I am in it for revenge. Revenge for personal matters, and I shall see those matters put to rest in the end. That is what drives me on day to day. It is the burning lust of revenge."</font>

One could see the truth of this burning desire in the man's eyes as he spoke the words, leaving no doubt that some unlucky bastard was going to be on the business end of his sword someday.

<font color=yellow>Robin Stratsworth

She listened to the exchange showing only mild interest. But inside she was listening to it with extreme interest. The conviction of the men here was an important issue, should they want to find faults in the system. She suddenly remembered that Roland had been talking with the barkeep before the guards arrived. She walked over to him and speaking so that only Roland and Turin could hear said:
"What did you get from the barkeep Roland?"

<font color=green>Feldorn

Feldorn was in much pain. It seemed to him as if his head was going to burst from the pain. The healers were doing everything they could do for him, but to no avail, they could not lessen his pain. He was not going to die, the purpose of the torture had not been that. His body violently shook as another spasm of pain hit him. He was lying on a dirty bed in a dirty cell. The healers had healed his outer wounds, but the pain was going to last a long time before going away, and his soul would never be the same. He closed his eyes and whispered something in the air around him. The healer who was watching him thought that he was getting delirious and cast a sleep spell on him.</font>

Roland

<font color=orange> "I have received valauble information. I questioned the innkeep and he told me Easthome is hiring many mercenaries. The dwarf told me that Easthome is making an army in service of Morgoth and was a battle commander of no little expierence. I suspect that Easthome is still going to grow his army until he receives orders from Morgoth to attack. I think we should stop this army. Easthome can cause quite a ruckus for our allies and many innocent lives would be lost. But now I got a wild idea." </font> Roland moves closer to Robyn and Turin and whispers incases someone might overhear <font color=orange> "We should somehow assassinate Easthome. This would make his son Lord of the land and he already indicated to us that he is no friends of Morgoth. He could maybe use the army his father had built to combat against the great evil." </font> Roland Littlestone smiled quite pleased with himself. He waited eagerly for his companions responses.

OOC:Sorry again I have been gone lately. It usually coz of school but I would have more time this weekend I proMISE

[ 04-28-2004, 06:47 PM: Message edited by: Sythe ]

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

"Interesting information. I suggest however that we wait to see what the full picture is. What do you think Turin?"</font>

<font color=skyblue>Turin

"The young man has a brilliant plan, but as you suggested Robyn...we do not know how much of a rebellion would raise up against his son, if we removed the old man. And would the son condemn us instead of praise for the death, or deaths that follow? We need to find out a bit more about how many loyals to king and Morgoth there are. Then we can decide if we can fight them all. Personally, it sounds like a great way to get in some exercise.

We need to think about it a bit more. If one loyal to Morgoth escapes our snare...he'll warn other cities and then all of hell will be after us!"

After hearing the confirmation from his partner, he Terias casts a spell on his weapon and his friend's weapon. Then he gets in a stance and gets ready to fight the best he can..

For Terias:

OOC: the sword of your companion supported the enchantment well, but your mace burst into flame and is burning down rapidly.

His partner saying that he was the better fighter put himself in between Terias and the troll. Just as Terias finished enchanting the second weapon the troll was upon them. His companion swung his sword towards the troll trying to keep it away with the fire coming from the weapon. It seemed to be an effective way as after the troll burned himself several times on the sword he turned and ran towards some of the other prisoners. However another troll who had already disposed of 2 chained together pairs was running fast towards Terias.

OOC: you have time for a spell. And the flame on the mace is getting near your hand.

For Turin, Robyn, Sythe, Therlion:

Just as Turin finished speaking the door to the inn opened and in walked the same guard captain as before with three men. <font color=black>"Lord Easthome shall see you now. Follow me."</font> Turning to the three guards who had remained all along in the inn he said: <font color=black>"Bring the prisoner. And make sure he doesn't have a chance to escape."</font> Both of Therlion's arms were grabbed by a guard and he was dragged towards the exit. After he was taken out the door the captain asked the three humans to follow him out. Outside they saw that guards were binding Therlion's hands behind his back. <font color=black>"This way please."</font>-said the captain leading them to the stone building in the encampment. He paused at the door to the building and turned to Turin and his companions: <font color=black>"What do you plan on doing after you get paid for the captive?"</font>

<font color="FF3300">Kirûn paid the man for a deep mug of ale and headed for the main arena with Bober.</font>

Kirun and Bober sat down on a stone made chair.<font color=white>"Who do you think will win laddie?"</font> Bober asked his friend.

<font color=skyblue>Turin


"Well, I suppose that depends on how much money we can negotiate for. I would very much like to raise enough to buy some property right here and live within this quaint little town. There are many opportunities for one such as myself. The others can decide what they like with their share. They are free to choose as they like.

Why do you ask?"</font>

[ 05-01-2004, 04:41 PM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

Thinking quickly, Terias Decides that the best course of action would be to throw the mace then cast a spell. He throws the mace on the face of one of the incoming trolls and hastily starts casting a fire spell on the second one.

For Terias in the arena and Kirun and Bober in the stands:

As you enter into the arena there is already a fight underway between several prisoners and a few trolls. Some bodies lie already on the ground, mostly prisoners but a troll too. The prisoners are chained together in pairs with various weapons. One of the pairs have weapons glowing with fire. The sword is only glowing but the mace is alight. The prisoner wielding the mace throws it into the face of a troll. Kirun and Bober if they look closely then they can see that the prisoner is Terias.

The mace flies towards the troll's head and then hits it. Directly in the eye. Howling in pain and blind to one of its eyes the troll runs away squashing a prisoner in the process, then runs into one of the sides of the arena knocking itself out cold. Terias then started casting a spell.

OOC: Terias has to decide what type of fire spell he is using (for example area effect or targeted, etc.)

For Turin and company:

<font color=black>"I ask because as guard captain of this encampment it is my duty to know what strangers are doing here. Now come my Lord must be growing impatient."</font> He opened the heavy wooden doors and led them in. Inside the building was richly decorated with mostly gold or silver decorations. Several guards stood around the corridor at the end of which there was another door, of approximately the same size and strength as the entry door. The guards saluted their captain who then led Turin, Robyn and Roland towards the door with Therlion being half pushed and half dragged behind the group. Two guards at the end of the corridor opened the door as they approached. Inside was a room even more decorated than the corridor before it. The room was about fifteen times forty meters (OOC: about 50-130 feet). A long table was placed in the middle of the room. People all around the table were eating their supper, servers stood around the tables jumping on every opportunity to serve the guests. The guests were mostly male with a few females. A vacant spot close to the end of the table had probably been occupied by the captain earlier.

At the end of the table on a seat a bit higher than the rest sat a man who just by his appearence generated a certain respect. He looked to be in his fifties with a short beard and short black hair. The man had a round face and a body which was not yet showing any signs of fatness. As the group approached his end of the table he turned to his dining companions, probably excusing himself for a few minutes and then stood up. With a movement of his hand he signaled something to the captain then went through a door behind the table. The captain turned to the group:<font color=black>"This way please."</font> He led the group the same way the man had left. The door had been left open and he went through it first, then followed two of his guards with Therlion then Turin, Robyn and Roland and finally three more guards. These three took up guard positions along the wall, while the two who had brought Therlion stayed close to him.

The room looked like a study with bookshelves along the wall. Most of the covers of the books were in languages that none of the group could understand. The man who had been at the head of the dining table was standing in front of a small fireplace in the room. <font color=lightgrey>"As you may have guessed I am Lord Easthome. It is not to my pleasure that I have to leave the dinner table during the dinner so lets just settle the affair with this elf and then how about you joining me and my guests at the dinner table and we discuss other matter there? How much do you want for the elf?"</font> The guard captain had by now positioned himself in a place from where he could easily defend his lord, and survey the whole situation.

Roland was about to speak but then reconsidred remembering that he nearly jepordized the mission by saying the wrong things back at the inn with the guard captain. He looked to Turin and then back at Easthome hoping he can handle this.

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Robyn observed everyone present in the room. She quickly dismissed the guards from her study as they were not the important ones. Instead she focused on Lord Easthome. On the outside he looked like the stereotypical lord of a few hundred people. But they had seen more on the way here. And then there was what the barman had said. She studied him deeply, looking beneath the surface of this man, who fate wanted was their enemy. She watched his movements and his facial expressions as he talked.

Then suddenly had it. From her years as training as an actor she could see that Lord Easthome was putting on an act. Was he really annoyed about having to leave the dinner table? Or did he move setting to his advantage? Had he wanted them to interrupt his feast to be able to negotiate better? She realised that every move the man made was calculated. That meant that he had already a price worked out he was willing to pay for Therlion. She needed to tell the others what she had observed. Robyn opted for a dangerous gamble. Just as Turin was about to speak she made a step towards the prisoner getting everyone's full attention immediately.

"For my family's best interest I must say that I am sure if you knew what this elf is capable of we would be able to get more money." - she walked over to Therlion. "You. Elf. Tell them what you told us. What you are good at." - she then turned to Lord Easthome. "Now if you'll excuse us we already know what the prisoner is good at, yet haven't had a time yet to discuss amongst ourselves what price would be acceptable." - at Easthome's nod of approval she turned to Turin and Sythe and in a whispered voice told them what she had just observed.</font>

<font color=skyblue>Turin

Turin was amazed at the wit of this woman. She had taken over the conversation, turned it around to give their team the advantage, and had bought them all enough time to continue trying to find a way out of this.

Turin was not a good negotiator. He had earned his reputation as a killer of evil beings, and was not educated in the fine arts of social aristicracy. Apparently, Robyn did favor these traits, and he decided that unless it was time to start killing these betrayers to humanity...it would be best to let Robyn continue her game. He listened and tried to think of something helpful, but could only think of his sword, and the hatred he had for this man that stood defiantly before him. He would give Robyn just one more minute to save the elf and get them into a better position, then he was going for blood.</font>

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Robyn saw the play of emotions on Turin's face and knew that he did not want to give over the elf. She put a hand on Turin's shoulder and whispered to him: "I am sure Therlion is a good elf, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made. Here we are outnumbered by enemies and cannot win. I suggest we give him over and then either count on his skills to escape or free him should the opportunity arise. But still you are the party leader so whatever decision you make I shall accept it."</font>

OOC: still waiting on Therlion's post in which he distracts Easthome and his men with what he is good at. Does not have to be true.

With the help of small magics, Therlion overheard the words Robyn said to Turin. Either turn suited him. If he was turned over to the humans as a captive he could get a chance to free the other slaves with his magic, and if he was set free he could do it from a different angle. But the expression on Turin's face warned him of another possibility. A fight, here and now. He has no intention of starting the fight, nor does he have any ambition towards fighting and ending this peacefully, but he was ready for both options.

<font color=skyblue>Turin

Robyn successfully keeps Turin's rage in check and he backs down from his intentions.

"Go ahead. I will place trust in you and him to pull through. Continue the negotiations please."

Turin looked over at the elf, trying to find the hope that it would take to allow him to be taken away, and that the elf would be alright. Therlion's calm resolution told Turin what he needed to know. He nodded once, and turned back to Robyn, waiting for her to finish this nasty work of negotiations.</font>

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Still whispering to Turin and Roland she asked: "What price shall I ask for?"</font>

<font color=skyblue>Turin

"Start high, and be hard to bargain down, I suppose. We don't want him to think that we are wanting to lose this elf readily, and we don't want him to think that he is not worth anything to us. Enough money to buy land and build a house is what he is expecting us to wager, so start with that value, say...50,000 gold pieces? Let him know that it was hard to subdue tihs guy, because he can really fight well."

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

Having discussed what they needed to Robyn turned towards Lord Easthome and announced:
"I shall be bargaining for the price."
<font color=lightgrey>"What is your first offer then?"
</font><font color=yellow>"50,000 gold pieces."</font>
<font color=lightgrey>"A ridiculously high amount. Go sell him elsewhere!"-snorted Lord Easthome.</font>
<font color=yellow>"45,000 then. It was extremely hard to subdue the elf. He is a great fighter."</font>
<font color=lightgrey>"I told you to go sell him elsewhere for such a high amount."</font>
<font color=yellow>Lord Easthome seemed to be a really hard negotiator. Robyn decided it was time to let him make an offer."What do you offer?"
<font color=lightgrey>"No more than 10,000."</font>
And the negotiation had only barely begun. After ten more minutes of arguing over the price they agreed in a price of 24,000 gold pieces. Lord Easthome told them that after the feast when they could be in private he would pay them. His guards took hold of Therlion and escorted him out of the study.

Therlion was taken out of the building, past the inn and into a small wooden hut. The door of the hut was locked behind him and he could hear two or three guards patrolling outside the hut. An hour later he was brought some of the leftovers from the feast, which were handed in by a guard through a panel in the door which could be opened. In the room there was a low, hard bed and a chair. Therlion's hands had been unbound.

In the meantime after Therlion had been escorted away Lord Easthome invited his guests to sit with him at the dining table. He sat at the head of the table with Robyn and Turin on one side of him and Roland and the guard captain on the other side. Over the course of dinner Easthome made mostly small talk, but after a lengthy discussion about how tough a negotiator Robyn was he suddenly changed the subject. <font color=lightgrey>"My good captain here has told me that you wish to settle down in this town. I have no problem with that, however you have to prove your loyalty to me. I would have a mission for you three. Are you interested?"</font>

[ 05-07-2004, 06:16 AM: Message edited by: dplax ]

<font color=orange> Roland looks to the others and looks to Easthome "Yes M'lord we are most interested what kind of mission will it be? </font>

[ 05-06-2004, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: Sythe ]

<font color=skyblue>Turin

A mission to prove my loyalty to you?

My half-brother speaks too soon, my Lord. For we shall hear your plan and then decide if it is worth the effort. I am sure there are other settlements that would love to have three hard working people like us join. Therefore let us hear your request and weigh the option. </font>

Lord Easthome

<font color=lightgrey>"Each winter a pack of wolves invades these lands in search of food and shelter. They come from the mountains three days journey east from here. We have looked far and wide for their hiding place during the summer, but have not managed to find it. At the moment I cannot spare any of my men. Your mission would be to find where these wolves live and either report back, and then my men could clean them out, or if possible take care of the problem yourselves. Will you accept this mission?"</font>

<font color=skyblue>Turin

"Aye...we will. This is a simple task that the three of us can handle with no further help. We shall bring back the hides of the entire pack. The deal is that we keep half of the furs, and we donate the other half to the town's poor, that they may be clothed. Will you agree to the terms? If so, and there be no further business, we shall be leaving now to make preparations for the hunt."</font>

[ 05-07-2004, 10:54 AM: Message edited by: Larry_OHF ]

<font color=lightgrey>Lord Easthome

"You are a hasty one. You don't even now where exactly it is.". The dining hall had mtied by now with only Lord Easthome, Turin's group the guard captain and a few guards remained. Lord Easthome motioned one of the guards who left and after a few minutes came back with a map. He spread the map in front of them on the table. Lord Easthome stood up and indicated the way they should take to reach the wolves' lair. After that he sat down and took a piece of paper out of his pocket and wrote a few words on it and then signed it."Here, take this piece of paper too. use it should you get into trouble with some of my allies. You never know when it might come in handy. And now if you'll excuse me it is getting late and I must tend to other matters aswell. When you get back report to my guard captain here. Most often he is found in the troop barracks or surveying daily work." He then signaled that they were to leave.</font>

OOC: game time is about 10 pm at the moment. If you want you can leave at night, but perhaps you should be getting tired.

<font color=skyblue>Excuse me, but being paid for our elf was considered to be separate from this task of pest removal. We need the money now that we can purhase rooms at the town's inn tonight. Then in the morning we shall set out on this quest."</font>

<font color=lightgrey>Lord Easthome

"That many gold pieces would be impossible to carry. Just because of the weight of all of it. I suggest each of you takes 1,000 gold pieces. They still weigh each two kilos. You can of course get the rest whenever you want to."</font>

<font color=skyblue>"That sounds fine I suppose. Then we will be excusing ourselves with your blessing then."

Turin and his two traveling companions took the gold they were to receive, packed up and left the company of their host, Lord Easthome. They made their way to the local Inn, where they purchased two rooms, one for Robyn, and one with two beds for the guys. Turin went to sleep immediately, as it had been a tremendously rough day.

</font>

Thinking what burn next, Terias Thinks that he should help the other prisoner who he had enchanted the weapon. Terias starts casting a Fireball Spell targeting the troll that was occupied with his companion.

<font color="FF3300">Kirûn didn't answer Bober for a moment, but stared down in the pit at Terias and the others fighting the trolls.

"That elf wizard seems to be holding his own well. I wouldn't be surprised if he helped the others kill all the trolls."

He took another small sip from his foaming mug.</font>

For Terias:

The crowd first looks on in surprise when they see him starting casting a spell but they cheer when they see its effect. The fireball hits the troll in the stomach area burning through him. The troll stood there for a few more moments, then with a thud fell to the ground dead. The one troll which remained standing seeing that all of his mates were dead turned from the fight he had been having and ran off through the door he had came, which then closed. Orcish guards started running through the entrance the prisoner's had previously come through to round up the prisoners and take them back to their cells. Of the fifteen pairs of prisoners originally only three complete pairs and four others survived.

The crowd slowly starting to disperse and the guards busy rounding up the other prisoners, no one noticed when Terias's companion hid a small dagger in his boot. As the guards reached them they had to hand over their weapons to them. They were then taken to their cells. Terias occupied the same cell as earlier. There was no sign of Feldorn. The guards locked the door behind him and then left only leaving one of their number to patrol the cells.

As Terias was getting ready to sleep he suddenly heard sounds from down the corridor. He could make out the voice of the man he had been chained together with earlier and an orcish voice, probably that of the guard. It seemed the man was asking for water, but the orc did not want to give him any. Then suddenly Terias could hear a muffled shout and then some gurgling sounds, then a sound as if a body had fallen to the ground. Silence followed for some time and then sounds of metal scraping on metal could be heard. Presently a click sounded and then a cell door opened.

The man Terias had been fighting with earlier walked up to his cell and nodded at him. There was blood on the dagger in his hand. Orcish blood. He proceeded to pick the lock of Terias's cell with the dagger. Evidently he had used the same method to open his own cell. After the cell door opened he started speaking in a whisper. <font color=black>"I could have gotten out of my cell much earlier, except I did not have anyone to escape with. You proved your worth today against the trolls. Will you come with me?"</font>

For Therlion:

After Turin's group left Lord Easthome he sent a couple of guards to get his newly acquired elven prisoner. He had a few questions to ask him. The door of the hut Therlion was in was opened and some guards took him before Lord Easthome. The dining table had been taken out of the room and now only a few chairs were here and there. Lord Easthome motioned a chair for Therlion to sit down in facing the chair he was sitting in, but not too close to him. <font color=lightgrey>"Normally I should send every enemy prisoner I acquire to the stronghold not far away from here. So far I have obliged to this, but I have never had an elven prisoner. I hear that you elves are all well learnt beings. If you can prove your worth to me I might decide to keep you here instead of sending you away. So now tell me how would you be able to serve me?"</font>

<font color=yellow>Robyn Stratsworth

She had done what she needed to during the negotiations for the price and then let Turin do all the talking. She took her bag of money and put it into her backpack. She shifted the straps so that the increased weight felt comfortable.

They went back to the inn where Turin asked for two rooms. She took her key and went up to her room. It was getting late and she was tired so she decided on sleeping. She fell into a deep dreamless sleep.</font>

For Kirun and Bober

After the fight ended the crowd started to disperse. Some disappointed looks could be seen on the faces of some people as the prisoner's had won. An announcer was shouting from somewhere high up in the stands that this was the last fight of the day and that next day there were no fights scheduled in this arena, but all were welcome to the small arenas for one on one combats.

OOC: Kirun and Bober have the choice to go back to their rooms or to go to the inn or if they want they can explore around and there still may be some fights in the smaller arenas.

IC: Elsewhere in the stronghold word was being passed around the guards to be on the lookout for two dwarves. The description tortured out of Feldorn was pretty accurate. However since dwarves looked similar to each other it could take some time to find Kirun and Bober.

<font color="FF3300">Kirûn</font>

<font color="FF3300">Deciding on a little exploration as there is no need to return to their rooms due to having all their gear with them still, Kirûn drags Bober along. Hoping maybe to figure out where the prisoners are kept, Kirûn also hopes to avoid any meddlesome guards, and also to see what's going on in the smaller arenas.</font>

[ 05-10-2004, 05:31 AM: Message edited by: Cienden ]

<font color=skyblue>Turin

Turin awoke with the dawn the next morning. He saw that Roland was still asleep. He decided to not bother him, and after getting dressed, he walked out of his room, and down to the tavern on the main floor for some breakfast. Robyn was also not to be seen. He figured that they'd be around shortly.

He went ahead and ordered a table reserved for three people, and even went as far as ordering extra food in hopes that they'd be joining him soon upon waking up. He had a big day ahead of him. He wondered how the elf was faring. Had he made it through the night well? Turin felt terrible giving up his comrade like that. But he also knew that it served the purpose of the entire group of resistance to the throne of Morgoth. Their mission had to succeed.</font>