Rhonna: The Offer

Rhonna looks at Lloyd and the mercenary exchange conversation. Judging from their expressions, the two warriors are close and know each other quite well. Looks like Lloyd has made a lot friends in his adventuring days, and Orik is one of them. I just hope the half-elf can convince his friend to help us, Rhonna thought to herself.

She wonders what Lloyd sees in this brutish mercernary. People like Orik are only motivated by gold and treasure, they can quickly switch their allegiances at the drop of a coin.

"Wait!" Rhonna shouts. An idea forming in her head.

The two warriors turn towards her. Orik raising his thick eyebrow and Lloyd slightly blushing from the unexpected reunion.

"You're a mercenary? Working for money?" Rhonna asked. "Well if its money you want, I have money!"

Orik looks at her and back at the half elf. "Who is that girl?"

"She's Rhonna Merrid," Lloyd replies. "Daughter of the late Julius Merrid. Merchant trader of the West."

"Whatever the harpy is paying you, I can double that!" Rhonna declares. "Just help us get rid of this evil."

"By harpy you mean Nualia," Gryffin corrected.

Rhonna rolls her eyes. "Fine, the harpy is Nualia. But I still think she's dead."

Guillaume: The Offer

"i am certain the people will be greatly indebted to you. and i will approach the mayor and personally give you commendation if you decide to help us thwart this evil." although i can see, from the look on orik's face, that this argument fails to appeal to his sentimentality or even his honor.

"sandpoint citizens have never been known to be .. (pause slightly to put emphasis to but also to think of the right word to describe it) "ungenerous" about their gratitude." i quickly reinforced my argument which did seem to spark the interest to turn over to our side.

i played with my symbol made of quarts and other rare blue stones, while making my appeal, which caught some of the little light that lingered in the chamber. it twinkled incessantly, beguiling the young mercenary to review his situation.

[diplomacy roll]

feeling guilty about what appears like underhandedness on my part, i quickly make a mental note of contrition, perhaps later when time allows it. or if i am still alive that is. i do it for the people of sandpoint. victory means a fresh new batch of the faithful for the church. i don't want to think of the alternative of this dreamed reality, what would happen if we lose .. no more negative thoughts. i must purge myself of pessimism.

Lloyd: The Offer

“Not so fast.” Advises Lloyd.

“I… we need to come clean with you. We aren't sell swords. We still serve Sandpoint. We are here to end this threat.”

Orik's face twists into a mask of confusion. His eyes dart back into the room, as if searching out the bastard sword and heavy shield that sit within.

“We don't have a bone with you, Orik. I know you’re just a mercenary. You have no loyalty to anyone. Money is all that is important to you. We have a bone only with Nualia and her cohorts. We have already neutralized the goblin threat. A deal has been made with the goblins. Next, we clean out any resistance here.” Adds the half-elf.

“So you don't want to be making any resistance.” Offers Lloyd sternly. “I’m offering you a route out, here. You can take it, walk free, stay alive, and fight another battle for another master. OR…. .” He shrugs, dramatically. “Hell, you might even be a good fighter, but you got to ask yourself whether that is the sort of group you want to take on. I mean, it's your call, really.”

Orik looks around to the likewise confused faces of the rest of the half-elf’s group.

“That’s it? You’re just letting me go?” he responds. “I mean, you’re just letting me walk? Not even a knife in the back. No retribution?”

Lloyd nods. Orik swallows again, perplexed.

DM: Awkward Introductions

Orik drops his bastard sword and runs towards the man in the other room’s doorway.

“Lloyd Avertin!” The taller man pulls up the startled half-elf into a tight hug.

“Orik Vancaskerin.” The half-elf hugs back and replies, though his tone is much less subdued.

“You guys know each other?” Guy curiously asks which promptly forces the two grown men to break up their hug. Orik, though, kept hold of the half-elf’s shoulder.

“Ummm… we know each other from town.” Lloyd explains. “Orik’s a traveling mercenary and he passed by Sandpoint last year and stayed for a couple of months. He joined the town guards during that time. We… worked together.”

“I knew you’d come here.” Orik interjected. “Your friend Jared arrived a couple of days ago. He's either with Lyrie in the room just up north, in her lab, no doubt doing something weird. Otherwise, he's probably with Naulia down below. She is always down below.

“Man, I hate this place. Hate being cooped up here waiting. You can't go up, because the goblins stink, and their manners are… yeuch! Life here is not glamorous. I was going to give it 24 hours, and if there’s no update on plans by then, I was considering bailing.”

“But that probably will change with you here. Man! I missed you so much!” Orik gives the half-elf another hug.

Lloyd: Goals

Lloyd sees the confused look upon Gryffin’s face as he looks outside the doorway and back towards the room and at the half-elf. Lloyd starts to move towards the door and the eladrin gently pushes him back.

“What is it?” Lloyd asks, whispering his question.

“Umm...” Gryffin stammers, trying to figure out what to say.

Confused, Lloyd himself cautiously moves towards the door and takes a look. He sees his companions facing away from him and towards another person. Recognition finally sets on Lloyd as to whom the new person is.

“Orik?” Lloyd gasps. Unknowingly voicing loudly his question causing everyone to turn towards the equally stunned half-elf.

DM: Goals

“Well that’s too bad, father.” Orik states as he shakes his head. “It seems that we do not actually have the same goal after all.

“I’ve been paid by the lady to protect her and it seems that you and your lot are in conflict with my job.”

The warrior reaches over and lifts his bastard sword before anyone in the party could react.

“So what are we going to do about it?”

*

From within the room, both Gryffin and Lloyd stop their rummaging when their hear voices at the corridor. Lloyd signals his companion who in turn nods and stealthily moves towards the door. From there, the eladrin sees his three remaining companions talking to a tall human warrior who seems a bit familiar to him...

Guillaume: Orik Vancaskerkin

"Are you more of that woman's minions?! Or maybe you're here to kill her!!" Orik's eyes narrowed in tepid suspicion raising his voice on the last note for dry emphasis. His reproach seemed well intended though as I observed him from behind the dragonborn's broad shoulder.

I am uncertain why but I felt quickly at ease with this one.

I quietly made my approach, halting at a comfortable space between us. "Then my friend, father corellon - lord of arcana that of mystery and spring that of new beginnings, must have guided you to us for we seek the same goal." I smiled devoid of hostility back at the stranger.

"I am Father Guillaume, Priest Of Corellon." I bowed low.

"Our meeting gives us an imperative." I turned around to face my friends and back to Orik. Their faces were painted with uncertainty.

"We must join forces. My Lord must have willed it."

"same goal? and what goal would that be father?"

i remained bowed but was taken aback by Orik's curious response. what?!

"why .. to arrest the menace brought upon the world by the (harpy) woman of course" i start to step backward as it becomes clearer that Orik might not be what I thought he was - the reinforcement I prayed for.