IC XI

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Let us stay then" says the dwarf dourly.

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers spend the rest of the day resting in the tower, as the rain continues to pound down outside. Olgbol's bonds must be retied several times, and by the time the rain ends sometime after dark he is quite deranged; the orc is apparently incapable of communicating in a language known to any of the adventurers, and instead a steady stream of grunts and groans emit from between his tusked teeth.

Sorry for the delay; I've had a crazy couple of days at work. So, the rain has stopped, but it is also night. Let me know what y'all want to do.

[Wyzard]

I guess...we stay in the tower until morning, and hope that the madness is contained in the orc?

[MonsterMash]

Yes, stay till morning then go orc hunting

[thirdkingdom]

The adventurers decide to stay put for the remainder of the day and wait for the storm to abate. The three unfortunate victims of whatever curse is laid upon the tower continue to froth and foam at the mouth. Eventually they must be bound more securely and gagged, a process that requires a half-dozen men. The remaining mercenaries look askance upon their comrades and a few mutterings are heard, suggesting that perhaps returning to civilization is a wiser course, and that no amount of gold is worth being driven insane. Such talk is quickly ended, and by the morning the rain has ceased, the sun is out and all are more than ready to ride forth and rid the world of this orcish menace. Sadly, whilst removing the insane infantrymen from the tower seems to quiet their struggles all three victims are quite insensible and seemingly unable to function normally.

[Wyzard]

Severi shrugs, and slays the orc. The men, though, he hopes might eventually recover.

Let's start orc-hunting.

I think we definitely aren't going back to the tower.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys leaves the care of the invalids to the clerics and begins tracing back their path to where they stopped the previous day. Once they reach that spot, he will try to find the trail to the orcs.

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

Anohir quietly pulls Severi and Aquar aside for a whispered conversation. "It seems these men have been cursed. I don't have the skill to heal them, and we can't have madmen with us on a mission to infiltrate an orc encampment. We also can't have their fates lowering the morale of our men. What's to be done? By the laws of gods we should read them their last rites and release their souls from their broken minds.

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"If we kill them out of hand, the word will spread of how we deal with our hired men. There are long-term consequences for being too free with others' blood. Nor does leaving them to the beasts of the wood seem a kinder fate. I think we must keep them with us, and see if they find their senses in a day or two. If some accident befalls them, though, as betimes may happen in war, then that is beyond our helping and no one can blame us."

"I think, though, that we will be obliged to pay a bonus to all these men once we return to the city."

[thirdkingdom]

Yeah, uh, putting the dudes out of their misery would not be looked kindly upon by the other mercenaries. Don't forget that you guys still have the two bandit guides, as well (although they're way out of their territory here). I don't think you've armed them, but they haven't done anything shitty or underhanded since they've been with you, if y'all want some babysitters.

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"Well if they are followers of the Faith, they should know that when a person's mind is so broken to be beyond the aid of mortals, it is dutiful and even merciful to return their spirits home to the gods. We could consult with the higher members of my order on this, but I am certain the that those followers of the faith could be reasoned with on this matter, as long as we follow the proper rituals."

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

"You're basing your assumption on the idea that every one of those mercenaries are devout followers of the Faith. I doubt more than two or three of them claim to be of the Faith and I'd wager none of them will be devout. The fact is, we kill those two men, and word will spread through Threshold like wildfire once we get back. We'll never find another hired hand for miles. We might even not be welcome back into the city."

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"But, my friend, they are already dead. It would surely be crueler to let them exist in this cursed madness. Have you no mercy for those suffering? Set their spirits free. Give them peace."

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"This isn't up for debate. Even if you could convince us, our opinions are irrelevant. It's what everyone else thinks that matters, and you can't convince everyone."

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"Then I see no other way around it. We can't leave these men in this state in good conscience. We must abandon the orc hunt for the moment and seek aid for them."

[Wyzard]

Severi, Elf

"Then take a handful of men and go! But we have made this journey, and I intend to shed the heart's blood of our collective weight in orcs before I turn around."

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"Are you sure that's wise? I'm sure you'll need my aid in the coming combat. Why not just return with us? We know the area now, it shouldn't be too difficult to find our way back. Let's face it. This tower thwarted us. We shouldn't let that incident damage us any further. Let's make repairs and try again."

[MonsterMash]

Thurgan, dwarf

"Seems wrong to kill them if they may be cured once we reach town. I'm sad to not kill any more orcs after all this journey and can't we scout this area more to know what we may have to come back to".

[chap126]

Anohir, Priest

"We could leave a small scouting party here to keep an eye out and start developing a more solid attack plan through getting a good grasp of the terrain and the layout of their homes. The rest should head back and get aid for these cursed souls and get some additional hands. The speed of our travel should be significantly faster now that we know where we're going."

[thirdkingdom]

The mercenaries object most strongly to the idea of executing their fellows. Several of the men-at-arms begins casting mutinous glances at the companions.