The Halfling Repents

With the goblins representing little threat to him, Winnacer decides to be the one who investigates Felibarr. He walks over to the halfling's position with his hand on the hilt of 'Old Bohavia' cautious as to whether he is being led into a trap.

Felibarr watches Winnacer approaching him, paying special attention to where Winnacer's hand is with relation to his sword. The halfling also keeps glancing nervously at the activities of the rest of the party, particularly Jihan who is closest to him.

Mirroring Winnacer's actions, Felibarr holds his composite short bow in his left hand, keeping his right on the hilt of his shortsword. Although Felibarr seems very nervous, he makes no attempt to run, but rather keeps his position, waiting for Winnacer to come within conversation range of him.

Winnacer continues his advance upon the Felibarr, keeping one eye upon the halfling and the other out for any kind of an ambush that he may be being led into, while Jihan keeps an arrow close to his bow in case of any trouble.

But there seems to be no trouble. As Winnacer comes within ten paces of the halfling, he lets grip of the hilt of 'Old Bohavia' and watches as Felibarr also relaxes his grip.

'Greetings, Felibarr' says Winnacer, trying his best to be sincere.

Felibarr nods to him to return the greeting.

'Do you mind if we sit and talk awhile. It would seem that we have much to discuss.' Says Winnacer, making to squat down on the ground.

Felibarr smiles weakly and replies 'That we do, Sir Winnacer.' And sits next to him.

'Nice shot, Felibarr' starts Winnacer. 'It's hard to hit a moving goblin from such a long range with a short bow.'

Felibarr smiles weakly once more. 'It was more due to fluke than skill, I'm sorry to say. It was lucky that the goblin was moving slowly. I'm not of the ability of your friend the elf' he says, nodding towards Jihan, who has also decided to come over to Felibarr in order to find out what he has to say for himself. Taking Winnacer's lead, Jihan too sits down next to the halfling, on his other side, so as to give Felibarr less of a chance to get away in the case that he should decide to make a swift departure.

'So why did you shoot that goblin, knowing full well that it would reveal yourself?' asks Winnacer.

'It was my intention to reveal myself to you. However, I was waiting for an opportunity to make myself known to you while trying to show you that I wish you no harm …no further harm.'

Felibarr looks sad as he corrects his statement.

'I saw you arrive a couple of hours ago, and could have contacted you then, but it could have ended badly and alerted the goblins to all of our presence. As your attack on the goblins went so perfectly, I guessed that it would be a way of getting you to talk first, rather than shoot.'

'So who are you really? Are you really Felibarr? Or someone completely different?' continues Winnacer.

'Felibarr is my real name although, as I am sure you will have deduced, I am no gem cutter from Vysoky Meeto as I lied to you during out first encounter. I used to be proud to call myself a spy, from Pardubitze, but from what my eyes have witnessed this past week, I am not proud to call myself a spy any longer.'

'Why do you say that?' responds Winnacer. 'What's going on in your head? You look distressed.'

'Distressed I am. I used to be an honest citizen of Bohavia - until the Nyemetz came. With nowhere else to go, I knew that it would only be a matter of time before the Nyemetz discovered me and threw me into chains, as they always do with my kind. At that time, I was working as a cook at the Red Horse tavern in Pardubitze. It's not the most luxurious of drinking houses in the city, so I used to know what was going on in the underworld of the city, although I had no desire to get further involved.'

'While the city was being besieged by the Nyemetz, my boss was aware of what my plight would be should I stay around, and told me to have a word with Bradach, one of the tavern's regulars. Seeing that I had nothing to lose, I spoke with Bradach, and said that he could make use of a new face like mine, just to use my connections and ability for gaining information. It was the only option that I had available to me, so I took it. Days later, the Nyemetz breached the city walls and Pardubitze fell to them. Bradach was obviously quick to make connections as, less than a week later, I had official papers giving me indemnity from being seized from the Nyemetz, signed by the Protektor of Pardubitze himself.'

'Since then I worked on assignments for Bradach until he died mysteriously five years or so ago, and then for his daughter, Shalamell. Both of them have been good to me over the years. It would have been easy for them to have abused the hold that they had over me, seeing as how my freedom depended on them, but they've both treated me well, and ensured that I have enjoyed a reasonable life, not wanting for anything. I have repaid their kindness by following out their instructions to the letter, taking great pride in my work.'

'I never saw my trade as an evil one. I could have probably had a much easier life joining up with a gang like the Black Diamonds or becoming an assassin, but I've never really had the guts for killing, or extortion. The only time that I have ever taken a life is in self-defense or when I have seen some gross injustice.'

'I never saw anything wrong in spying. Most of the time it was working for the Nyemetz hunting out Slovene infiltrators, or working for the Black Diamonds against their big rivals the Blue Dragons, or vice versa. Nyemetz or Slovenes, Black Diamonds or Blue Dragons - they all seemed as bad as each other to me, so I never saw any harm in what I was doing. It was just a way of keeping the balance. The more I discovered, the more I came to believe that all of life was dirty, that all good seemed to have long since vanished from this land. My actions were no better or worse than anyone else's.'

'It was Shalamell that put me on the job to find you. I didn't know who you were, or who the assignment was for. I never do, it's only ever later that I sometimes get to find out what my full assignment was for. I was simply told a few facts about where your party had previously been encountered, which gave me some basic information about the direction you were heading in.'

'In order to get myself a cover story, I rode to Vysoky Meeto and met up with a slave caravan. By showing my papers to the guards, I was able to get put in the caravan, which was making its way back to Pardubitze and get them to look the other way when I made my escape. The only mistake I made in my plans was to get tied up with that obnoxious cretin Meragrin, who nearly ruined everything by murdering your colleague.'

'However, the plan did work and I met up with you and, as I expected, you let me tag along with your group, giving me all of the information that I needed to get by giving away your destination. I was planning to steal away in the night as soon as I had the required information, but Yaz's actions meant that I didn't need to risk an escape.'

'However, that whole situation led to something that I never witnessed during all my time in this job, and that was your incredible kindness to me when I was about to make my departure. The gifts that all of you - with the exception of the druid - gave to me was something totally unexpected, and it really touched me.'

'As I made my way back to Pardubitze, I really was torn between by loyalty to Shalamell and my thanks to your party for the gifts that you gave to me. However, as I knew little about what the information that I gathered was for, and who you were, I decided to fulfill my obligation to Shalamell and give her all of the information that I was asked to provide. However, I couldn't just forget about you all so, out of curiosity, I asked for more information about you and then asked to accompany the Black Diamonds on their interception of you.'

'It was the first time that I had ever spent much time with the Black Diamonds, and came to regard their lack of concern for life as despicable. When I saw you at the ford, when you foiled the ambush attempt, I knew that you would think that I was part of the gang, and had no choice but to make my escape, so I rode on to here in order to try to make contact with you. However, what I have witnessed here during the time that I have spent here has made me realize that my actions have caused great harm to your friend Heimlin and his village.'

'Why?' asks Winnacer. 'What have you seen?'

Felibarr shakes his head grimly.

'To my eternal shame, the woman Shalamell, who I always respected, must have sold the location of the gnome village to the Nyemetz.'

'Early this morning, after I had been here for only two hours, two companies of goblins, from the Dvur Kralovye garrison I would guess from their uniforms, came here. With them was a witchfinder and a goblin shaman.'

'Using his glowing wand, the witchfinder was easily able to locate the illusions screening the entrances to the gnomes' grottos. The sight that I have seen today will stay with me to the day that I die. In turn, the goblins entered all of the grottos dragging out any gnomes that would be worthy of working in the mines of Kutna Hora, I guess. What has become of those gnomes that were not up to the task, I shudder to think. Around a dozen male gnomes were rounded up through their putsch and were clapped into leg irons, including, I'm sad to say, someone from Heimlin's grotto - presumably his son.'

The halfling goes silent at this point and Winnacer notices a tear forming in the corner of Felibarr's eye.

'I guess that the goblins must have faced a bit of resistance at a grotto over there' Felibarr continues, pointing in a northwesterly direction. 'A platoon of ten goblins went in, but only six emerged, empty-handed. I guess that, after that, they must have decided that they had got enough slaves, as one of the companies, along with the witchfinder and the slaves departed, heading in the direction back to Dvur Kralovye.'

'The other company stayed, occupied in Heimlin's son's grotto. I don't know what they're doing, but they've been there all afternoon. One platoon has stayed outside, that's the one that you've just taken care of, while the other platoon is still down there, including the orc sargeant that tries to keep the rabble in order. The goblin shaman is still with them also. In case you're wondering, that moron dressed in the wolfskin is just the standard bearer, who is theoretically in control of the second platoon.'

Winnacer is silent for a moment, trying to comprehend the tragedy of the whole situation and trying to consider what should be the fate of Felibarr and whether the halfling has been telling the truth or telling a well-constructed pack of lies. He cannot come up with any simple solution, and so puts the question to Felibarr.

'So what should we so with you know? You have betrayed our group and many of your own kind, but seem to be repenting a little. What do you see for yourself now?'

Felibarr gives a little shrug, and is silent for a moment.

'I really don't know what I would do in your position. Should you decide to kill me for what I have done, then I would understand your reasons. Perhaps I would suggest the same thing in your position. Were I able to put back the hands of time and undo all that I have done, then I would willingly do so, but I am not so favored by the gods. Should you allow me to live, then I shall do whatever you ask of me in order to make some reparations for the tragedy that I have caused, although I cannot think of exactly how I can help. Should you wish for me to go, then I shall go, although I do not know to where. I have no desire whatsoever to return to my former life, knowing what other tragedies I may have caused through performing my tasks.'

He shakes his head again, and is quiet once more.

'I don't know what to do' he says, looking Winnacer directly in the eye.

Winnacer is silent once more, not having any solution come to mind.

'This question is too great for my mind alone.' Winnacer says, deep in thought. 'Perhaps you will accompany me to meet with my colleagues in order that we, together, can come up with a solution to this question.

Felibarr is quiet again.

'Sir Winnacer' the halfling says solemnly. 'You are a wise man and a good leader and I am pleased that I have been able to speak with you alone. I fear that your colleagues will not be as reasonable in this matter as you have shown yourself to be. Compared to you, a number of your colleagues appear to be hot headed. I thus fear that, should I go to them, then they will strike me down before considering the rights or wrongs of their actions.'

'However, if you will promise me that you will protect me in front of them and allow them only to reap mortal justice upon me should they come to a reasoned democratic decision, then I will come with you.'

Winnacer agrees to Felibarr's request that he will defend the halfling from any attempt by another party member to take it upon themself to punish Felibarr for his sins.

Meanwhile, Yaz, in somewhat maniacal fashion, has been attempting to deal with the goblins bound by his entrapment spell.

"How're y'all feelin'?" he asks them.

All of the goblins simply just gibber away to themselves in panic, not answering the question. This is not good enough for Yaz, so he hurls a dagger at the first of the unfortunate creatures. It misses, so he repeats the action with his second dagger, hitting the first goblin in the chest. This one must be a tough bastard though as, although it sends him screaming, it does not finish him. Furious, Yaz throws his third and final dagger at the stubborn goblin, managing to kill it this time.

Yaz shouts some questions at the next goblin, to which he still receives the same gibberish. Just before he throws something else at the goblins, Darius interjects.

'No speak Bohavian … only goblin can they speak. I talk them for you.'

Yaz is silent for a minute, wondering whether he should take the goblin up on his offer, not really certain as to whether he wants to work in conjunction with the bane of his life. He then relents and, using Darius as a translator, he asks the following questions:

"What were your orders, here? is the first question.

'We wait for other platoon here. Check no gnomes escape form anywhere. No more. Just wait.' reply all of the remaining goblins at the same time.

"What's the gong for?" is the next.

'Gong sounds and we all must run to it. If we no run, sargeant whip us all bad.' they squeak as one, as if it has been drummed into their simple heads time after time.

"Where are the others?"

'Sargeant, platoon first and shaman - they all in hole. We wait for them whole afternoon.'

Seeing no more use for them, Yaz decides that it is the kindest thing to end their pitiful lives. He reaches down to his belt, but then realizes that he's all out of daggers. He calls to Xavier to give him some assistance in dispatching the remaining goblins.

With his light crossbow, Xavier kills three of the four remaining goblins that were caught by Yaz's entanglement. He manages to catch the last one who bows down in front of him, squeaking with fear.

Xavier asks Winnacer what to do with the goblin and Winnacer advises him to chain him up using the leg irons while more important matters are decided.

Seeing Darius occupied as translator for the entangled goblins, Maire' sees that the responsibility of finishing off the sleeping goblins remains with her. With hands shaking, she takes 'Yaromir's Tooth' and kneels before the first of the goblins. She then lets out a short cry as she neatly slices through the goblin's windpipe. She then moves on, performing the same action on the other three until they are all dead.

Then, perhaps out of fear, perhaps out of relief, she starts to vomit. After all, it is the first time that she has ever taken the life of a living creature directly. Jihan goes to her, in order to comfort her.

Darius casts his eyes over the goblins, seeing that they probably don't have much of interest to him. They are all wearing leather armor and carry shortswords and spears. Each of the leather armor has an emblem of a wolf's head burned into the leather.

He decides that he has more important things to do than scavenge through the goblins' belongings. He creeps up to the mouth of the grotto and peers in. It is dark, although there is the glow of torches coming from somewhere within the grotto. He listens, but can hear nothing.

Moving as carefully as he can, he makes his way inside the mouth of the grotto. After walking for 10 yards or so, he starts to hear voices speaking in goblin. Sounds like a small group. He takes a while to listen to the conversation. They are talking rubbish mainly, explaining how bored they all are and asking each other how much longer they've got to sit around with nothing to do.

With shortsword in hand, Darius takes a deep breath of air and tries to move further into the grotto, keeping well inside the shadows. He walks a further 15 yards, and gets a view of the goblins. There are four of them there, all armed similarly to those outside, with leather armor, shortswords and spears. They haven't noticed him obviously, as they continue their inane babble.

Not wanting to risk himself unduly, Darius slowly retraces his steps and reports his findings to the others.

Felibarr keeps close to Winnacer as he talks with the others. Obviously feeling guilty and unwelcome, to say the least, he avoids eye contact with the rest of the party. He gives no signs, however, of his attitude being any different from that of deep remorse. Xavier and Yaz in particular observe the halfling with bitterness written all over their faces.

For a while the party discusses tactics:

'There are eleven of the bastards down there in total' interrupts Felibarr as the numbers of enemies are discussed. 'There are nine goblin grunts, the orc sargeant and the goblin shaman.'

Darius asks whether there are any hostages left inside the grotto. Felibarr shrugs:

'I've no way of knowing. I saw them bring out one male gnome, probably Heimlin's son and put him in chains. They certainly didn't take anyone from outside and put them into the grotto.'

The tactical planning session resumes. None bar Darius have any particular desire to go into the grotto unless absolutely necessary.

Yaz asks how high the ceilings are in the place.

Darius replies, being the only one present having seen anything of the inside.

'For gnome, palace is. For you, tall men, hit head on roof. But move in can you,'

After a few more minutes, the plans are made. All of those with missile weapons form a semi-circle around the entrance to the grotto. All kneel with their weapons and arrows in front of them, or knives in Yaz's case. Felibarr continues to stay close to Winnacer, nocking an arrow into his composite short bow. Corrow and Maire', whose pallor is still decidedly gray, retire to the bush on the top of the hillock where they are hidden from view, but within spell range, should Corrow's services be required.

'OK, Darius' says Winnacer warmly, patting the plucky goblin on the back, 'we're all ready when you are.'