4.1 Introducing Oris

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

My name is Zem, i serve the god Kord. If your are in fact sent by the gods we could use the help. It is them who will judge your actions not us, but betray any of us and i will see to it that i send you back personally. I don't mean to threaten you but i am simply telling you how it is. I am their Leader so i take responsibility for their actions but also their safety. I will not take yours upon myself however. If you can except that then we will all get along fine. In battle if i tell you to do something you do it, unless i'm dominated or not myself then fill free to well kick the ass of what is doing so. We leave no one behind ever. Yet if i tell you to run and get out, i am doing so to save you and them and i could not give a dame about my own serving the greater good. If that is at the cost my life so be it. Kord would understand why i did so. I will not stand for others sacrificing theirs to save me. its my job to keep you all alive, and i will do so til my last breath. Can you handle this arrangement? if so then you have my vote as well," holds out his hand to shake Oris's.

[sdmattocks]

Oris face drains. His voice, normally calm and patients, turns to ice. "The gods judge me with every action that i make. I am my own leader. I will accept your advice and plans so long as they are sound, but I will not have you take responsibility over my actions or command me to do anything against what i believe in battle. You will do what you have to for your beleive's , and know this. I will do everything that abide by mine. I cannot ask you to change yours, all i ask is you don't change mine."

Oris collects himself, and continues more calmly "If you are willing to accept my help in this endeavor, then i think we shall both be better off. But i will see these gnolls dealt one way or another."

I am sorry for the rant, but the phrasing implies to him something that he could not allow.

[harknail]

Also 2 of the members have just pledged their alliance to Kord, the neutral god of war and storms. As a cleric, Zem doesn't have to have the same alignment as his god; but as a Paladin, Harknail does.

Kords commandments are:
* Be strong, but do not use your strength for wanton destruction.
* Be brave and scorn cowardice in any form.
* Prove your might in battle to win glory and renown.

Oris's religion skill is high enough that he would know these details.

[at]

Barbatos glances over as Zem makes another speech, though no mention of the vague great threat this time. He was surprised to see it had such an effect on the newcomer.

Still Oris seemed to have some knowledge of the trap used by the Gnolls as if the mountain beyond was indeed once a dwarven stronghold it would be foolish not to accept his aid.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

he lets Oris finish he remarks: "If your not going to fallow orders, be that as free will allows, don't expect me to save your ass if you do something stupid.

I was a combat medic for many years my father died in war, clerics and paladins took me in after that. they raised me and they tough me the value of life and honor. To live by a code and stand by it, so forgive me for not wanting the rest of them to die. Ask any of them they are free to go when ever they want to and act and do as they wish, but if you expect to get any value of this arrangement be that gold and the like, they get an equal share and first pick of loot for they are under my employment and i stand by my agreements. If you don't wish to be so be it, yet then don't expect me to pay for anything of yours like i am for them, that goes for food and board in towns among other things.

Let me be quite clear do as you wish fallow what you want but if your actions come down on any of us, don't expect us to stick our neck out for you. I take my work seriously as i do my employees well being. You don't want a commander fine by me but don't blame us if your actions bite you in the ass in battle, cause at that point its not on me or them but on own dame yourself. If your not under my employment then you don't get the perks that come along with it. I promise not to give you any order or command but in turn you give none to them or myself. I will not try to change how you think or feel about things, that is not ever my intent and i would like it if you stop accusing me, That is all i am willing to say on the matter, we have an attack to figure out and we best get to it now before dark sets in.

[sdmattocks]

Oris nods, "So be it. i assume that you have been inside the mountain that they have claimed. Any information on that front that you could share would be wonderful."

[sdmattocks]

OK, i feel like i need to explain oris actions such far. First, i misread what zem actually sent as a leader. when i read it, it seemed more like I am the boss you will do what i say when i say and if not then by gods you will pay. that is not what ZEM was going for.


Because of that large mistake, Oris has some backstory. He has had some bad expereince with groups and made some bad decessions that he now knows put him at risk. because of this, he is going to be extra carefull this go round, He misunderstood ZEM. He could not unsay what he had, because he just met them, but he knows he was not in the right. after a battle, if it goes well then Oris will appoligize for doing you a misserves, and trust you a little.

Again sorry that i missread the first proposal.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Its all good, he is use to this kind of thing. so no worries.

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

" we did not get very far, the sound you must of heard was a trap going off, filled the room with sand. how it works was them spinning a skull so i don't think a dwarf would have made it. We tried to jump them but they have fast reaction time, and got the better of us. yet as you can see we still won but is was not easy and that was only 3 of them at us. From what i know some like to come in close and move but don't let that fool you they are good shots too. most are hard to hit even with the best strikes. They act like a team at all times so its hard to dived them. Other then that we killed way more then these 5 but have no idea how many more they have in there"

[rhinobullet]

Vetch watches the exchange patiently. Once the dust has settled he says "We didn't have time to explore, nor really look at the interior, so I can't say if it a dwarven ruin or not. It was mechanical device that started the sand though. We were fighting from the entrance until we came back out."

He thinks for a moment and says
best we share all the knowledge we have of it, and make a strong plan for re-entry. Odds are they will be suspicious. Although there might not be many more. They are organized, they had a map directing them to an ambush site. Something beyond usual Gnoll predation seems at hand."

Not sure who has the map, but they might show it to the newcomer

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Wizard what is your input you have been very silent and i would like your wisdom on this. As well as you harknail.

Also has anyone seen our map cause i know i was not the last one to have it last, Wizard do you by chance have it?

[at]

Realising that Zem had finished his introduction Barbatos set aside his drink, "one moment". Pulling the map from his pack he passed it to Otis.

"The Gnolls had food for a week long stay, and each carried the same payment. Undoubtedly mercenaries" he shrugged, "clearing them out will deal with the problem for now though there may be other groups away from the mountain. Some evidence of their employer would be of greatest use to us."

[rhinobullet]

Vetch nods in agreement. "That is why we need to go back in!"

[harknail]

"But first ye need to rest," said Harknail. "The gnolls may be tracking us once they find the others be missing. We need findeth a defensible site. I be standing watch all night."

OOC: Finding a defensible site means telling me what you're looking for, and I'll decide if you can find it. The terrain is rolling grassland with scattered trees and a few small streams alongside a shear cliff.

Harknail needs to rest, but remains alert while resting.

[rhinobullet]

Vetch nods at Harknail and says "I can scout around for a likely spot. [he looks around at the rolling hills and streams] Likely we won't find a lot of options. Best we find somewhere we can hide a fire and protect ourselves if need be. Might be we don't have a fire tonight though if we can't find cover"

Vetch will use his nature skill to look for the best spot he can, hoping to find a location hidden by the hills where they could have a small fire that wouldn't be seen from a distance if possible. Preferably near a place that would give Harknail a good vantage point to watch from. A cave in the cliff face near those streams might work.

Nature:
[dice=20]
+8=9
Damn, some ranger he is.[rand=01562515268483522133553963978201635981594183846252738830922445993]

[(George) 3.5./ ZEM ( 4.0)]

Zem will also look but in a different area then Vetch, but for similar things as Vetch
( this is not aid another check for he is doing his looking).
[dice=20]+8= 9

WOW! we are great at this . 2 nat ones in a row, well if we get to combat the rolling may be nicer to us. I hope...[rand=016053274273872375311087882146239378788376902230082213635640218854]

[harknail]

Neither Vetch nor Zem are happy with anything they found. They haven't found anything better than where they are now. While out of sight of the entrance, the cart is parked in a mostly open. A few trees growing a bit closer than usual give some concealment, but not much. The trees are as likely to hide approach as to conceal the group. But they need to decide soon, the sun won't be up for much longer.

[sdmattocks]

Oris, looks for the same things, someplace out of sight but still gives harknail a good vantage point. [dice=20]+11[rand=8710425830203297687311275673316159750855549593759475616952316637]

[harknail]

Oris heads in a third direction and has better luck. He finds a cave large enough to park the cart in. The cave is currently unoccupied although it appears to have been occupied by a bear in the past. There are no signs of recent use however, specifically no tracks to and from the cave.

[sdmattocks]

Oris calls the others attention to the cave. "I believe that this will serve as a suitable resting place for the night."