Night
--

It's a dark night, but there's plenty of firelight by their encampment to tell that the same guards as before are still there - the hulking figure of the chieftian is unmistakable. It seems they aren't allowed to sleep, since they either mill around or sit by the fires. There is no doubt that they will see your group as soon as you step out of the Pass, and they outnumber you.

"I uh... not sure that work, this time," Spork warns. "We got off on bluff before. It not going to look good now - their job is to make sure that prisoners stay in. They get punished badly if they fail - they wont take chances."

Night
--

"They were mining, I think," he says, not looking very sure. "Something shiny. It was dark though."

He looks defeated. "I suppose I get to survive a few more hours, then," he grumbles. "Okay, I'll tell them. But they'll know more about who we have to actually fight - I've always hidden or run away that last time. I suppose what I saw were just the guards they left behind to defend the camp while the rest of the orcs were off attacking us." He shrugs. "But I dunno."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=212#2112 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 7/19/2021 at 10:11 AM Night -- "They were mining, I think," he says, not looking very sure. "Something shiny. It was dark though." He looks defeated. "I suppose I get to survive a few more hours, then," he grumbles. "Okay, I'll tell them. But they'll know more about who we have to actually fight - I've always hidden or run away that last time. I suppose what I saw were just the guards they left behind to defend the camp while the rest of the orcs were off attacking us." He shrugs. "But I dunno."

Asteria shakes her head, "Somehow I think you'd be better at spying than defending. Both jobs are important. If you had a guess what do you think they were mining? Also how stealthy are you?"

"Oh joy " nicote mutters. "How long do you think we can wait? If they cant sleep then if we could maybe disguise ourselves well enough they wouldnt notixe if i pulled some strings.....think i could get away with pulling the influential family card?"

Night
--

"Well, there's ain't a lotta dwarves mining around these parts, so there could be anything," he shrugs again. "Not likely to be anything too valuable, otherwise we'd 'ave gotten there first. But it could be anything from undiscovered gold to simple 'ol iron deposits."

He leans in closer and continues in a whisper. "But if ya ask me, I'd say iron or coal. Down in the south they ain't got much natural resources, see? So how else are they going to forge steel weapons and armour?"

You know how to convince people to give you the information you need - +1/4 Charisma

"Stealthy?" he asks. "Well... I've had plenty opportunity to learn that if I make a sound when I hide, I'm a goner. So... I'm pretty good, I figure."

Spork's eyes widen. "Maybe! We can't afford to wait, so this might work."

Balthur and Knight exchange glances. The latter nods. "Look, we might as well tell you now. When me and Knight were imprisoned, at one point the clan was visited by an elf with a scar down her face. But they accepted her into the clan like she was one of their own. She looked all of the prisoners over, made ransom notes and left again."

He shakes his head. "However big this operation is, they must work with various other higher creatures. So if you can convince them..."

"Then we can get out of here," Spork nods enthusiastically. "How do we start?"

"By showing up like we know what we're doing." Nicote shrugged. "We'll improvise from there. Ill do the talking and stuff. You didnt hear any apecifics about you two, did they?" He directs at BLthur and Knight.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=74910&page=212#2115 Author: Falconetti Time Posted: 7/21/2021 at 4:50 AM Night -- "Well, there's ain't a lotta dwarves mining around these parts, so there could be anything," he shrugs again. "Not likely to be anything too valuable, otherwise we'd 'ave gotten there first. But it could be anything from undiscovered gold to simple 'ol iron deposits." He leans in closer and continues in a whisper. "But if ya ask me, I'd say iron or coal. Down in the south they ain't got much natural resources, see? So how else are they going to forge steel weapons and armour?" You know how to convince people to give you the information you need - +1/4 Charisma "Stealthy?" he asks. "Well... I've had plenty opportunity to learn that if I make a sound when I hide, I'm a goner. So... I'm pretty good, I figure."

"Steel weapons," Asteria asks concerned, "Yes thank you for telling me. Would you be willing to back there and spy on them? You wouldn't have to do it for long just until we figure out their next move. I need to ask my friend a question I'll be back."
Asteria goes to find Numbat. The thought of orcs and goblins that were out for blood having steel weapons and armor made this look a lot worse. When she finds Numbat and he isn't busy she would ask him privately if there were blacksmiths or weaponsmiths down south that knew how to make steel weapons and armor.

(Question - what rank is Nicote's brother again? Is he the captain of the guard in Elvenor? I thought you'd said that, so I'd wondered whether I should make him and Starpup5's captain of the guard the same character. However I'm not sure if they both have a similar enough personality for that to be a good idea. Just trying to cut down the number of characters I have to deal with)

Night
--

"Got it. Mouth sealed," Spork gives you the thumbs up.

Balthur looks grim. "We attracted more attention than the others. When the elf ally found out we had been travelling with you, but you had escaped, she was furious. It seems they valued your family ties very highly."

He scratches his brow. "You always say that your family don't care much for you, but is there any situation at all that they would be eager to get you out of? These capturers must think there's something to capitalise on."

(You pinged me instead of Orca want me ping her for you?)