Friend Flail
You stand at the headquarters of the Adventurer's guild, a bored looking receptionist handing over copies of a piece of paper scrawled with the image of a flail on it. The weapon is wicked looking, and yet only mildly remarkable. It has a starburst hiltguard that is jagged and sharp looking and the head of the flail itself is full of wicked looking spikes. Other than that it could have been any other flail. Beside the receptionist is a man, handsome in his visage and muscular. Muscular enough to look a bit odd in his scholarly mage robes, and yet he seems comfortable in them. His whiskey-colored eyes take you all in with interest and when the receptionist doesn't speak up he does.
"I'm the one that requested you take on this mission and retrieve this weapon from where it rests. It has great historical value, and is quite magical as well. It doesn't look like much, but I must warn you not to let anyone of evil alignment near it if and when you find it. I'm am told that no such are allowed to join the adventurer's guild in the first place, so hopefully that won't be an issue." He smiles thinly, but seems like he doesn't quite believe what he's been told. "I was also told I had to be here in case you had any pertinent questions for me."
He motions toward the paper. "I really think you'll find everything you need on that paper there though, there's a map to the items location on the back." Indeed; so there is.
Merek nods a bit, "No questions," he has on his dark attire with the cloak he has pulled about his features.
Victor glances at the other adventurers briefly. Then he picks up the paper and studies it. "That seems straightforward enough..." he says cautiously. And possibly dooming the mission to a messy complicated fate.
Olek tells the man gruffly, "The Guild vets us carefully, no one that's evil is permitted, of that you may be assured." Olek looks unsavory, to be sure, but not actually evil. Scruffy, perhaps. Disreputable, despite the celestial-styled armor and shield. He will look over the offered information, the maps and things, before deciding whether he has a question.
"Simple is rarely easy," chirps the old gray bird to one side of the group, beak dropping open in a grin-analog aimed at Victor. "But yes, we'd be more than happy to see this... weapon... delivered into safer hands."
Iolaire’s head tilts to one side, as questions are considered. "Is the resting place in a ruins or a keep, do you know? Only, it'll help to know what's going to be in our way now, so we can better prepare."
"The weapon is being held in a ruin, that much I know." It is marked on the map. The map itself shows a destination on a mountain, and what at least looks like the ruins that the man is talking about marked somewhere near the summit. It seems you're headed to high; cold elevations. The exact location of the item isn't marked, just an x in the center of the ruins. Or perhaps that /is/ the location of the weapon. It seems unlikely to be that easy. "Any other questions?"
Merek listens to them while he nods a bit, then makes a way on to check in on things before he makes a way with them!
Olek peers at the map, then does have a question. "Is this something inside the mountain, or are we required to scale the outside?"
"It is on the outside of the mountain. So some scaling may be required. I'm told that the mountain slope is gentle as far as mountains go though, so I am certain it is well within your abilities to climb." The man smiles at Olek.
GAME: Olek rolls survival: (6)+15: 21 GAME: Merek casts Endure Elements. Caster Level: 6 DC: 14 GAME: Victor rolls fortitude+1: (8)+6+1: 15
Olek has a flying carpet, so is not worried about climbing. The weather was more of a concern. "Looks like long underwear weather, where that is," he says. But he then asks, "Are we to make our way there on our own, or is transport being provided?"
GAME: Victor rolls athletics: (9)+5: 14 GAME: Merek rolls athletics: (1)+1: 2 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Olek rolls survival: (12)+15: 27 GAME: Olek rolls athletics: (9)+14: 23 GAME: Olek rolls fortitude: (10)+12: 22 GAME: Iolaire rolls athletics: (16)+10: 26
It's slow going up the mountain. Merek in particular is having trouble. It's as if every pile of snow that can fall, falls on him. As if every slippery rock is doomed to be beneath /his/ foot. Thankfully Olek has a flying carpet and he saves you time by allowing the other man to use it. It turns a day-long trek into only half that. Which means that you reach the ruins just as the sun is beginning to set in the sky. They're interesting ruins. Looking to be the run-down remnants of a khazad township made of stone. The only thing that doesn't fit that idea is the fact that the buildings are impressively large. Most of them looking to be made for people larger than you are.
GAME: Iolaire rolls perception: (16)+17: 33 GAME: Olek rolls perception: (19)+15: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+8: (19)+8: 27
"Well, bad time for a search," Iolaire sighs, setting her pack down in an out-of-the-way spot, and shifting nearby bricks to at least half-conceal it. "But, no help for it. I'll just shout if I find something of interest!"
Suiting deed to word, the warrior spreads her wings, and launches into the sky, armor and all, and begins to fly between the buildings, in search of anything.... well... metallic and spiky, if the sketch was at all accurate.
GAME: Iolaire used a Potion of Endure Elements.
Olek hrms at the buildings of the giant khazad. "Either dwarves used to be much taller, or the giantborn are building in the dwarfish style," he observes, looking for likely-looking places to place a weapon. He's of two minds: either an appropriate location for a weapon, such as the remains of a holy place or noble's palace where it might have been on display, or else hidden away in a cellar. He keeps his cloak close around him, it's getting cold as it gets dark. Not that dark slows him much.
Merek makes his way up on the mountain, though with assistance from Olek, he is lifted up while he looks about a bit. He nods then, with a shift of the hips to look to the others also.
It's Olek who notices first, even with Iolaire's eagle-eyed perspective. There's two men around a fire in the center of the ruins. Not just two men though, two gigantic men. They're easily twelve feet tall if they're an inch, and they don't look to be of oruch descendant. Their fire is really more of a bonfire given relative size, and since you've spotted them before they've spotted you, you can decide how to approach them; if at all.
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (20)+15: 35
Olek was just checking the right places, is all, and he'll quietly wave over his allies without making a sound, putting finger to lips and gesturing for them to join him. He will then point out what he has found. They're people he doesn;t know much about. He can tell you about trees and mountains. The people on them is someone else's job.
GAME: Merek rolls perception: (20)+15: 35 GAME: Merek rolls knowledge/the planes: (19)+7: 26
Merek lifts up on the magic carpet and looks to the creatures from afar, then he shifts a bit with his cloak about him, hood up while his luminescent dragon eyes watch. He then blinks them a bit, looking to his companions, "Those are not really Giantborn, those are creatures from the plane in disguise, it is not a great disguise, I can tell they are Efreeti."
The only real sound that carries with Iolaire as she lands, is a quiet rustle of feathers and the light clink of mythril. Creeping up on the party as Olek identifies the enemy, she nods her confirmation, then turns worried eyes to Merek. "Efreet," she murmurs. "...I can't say as I know well what that is, but, I assume 'simple' has packed up and taken a walk?"
Olek bristles a bit at the mention of Efreet. "Well," he says. "I guess that answers that question," he says quietly. "Would you like to do anything before we attack?" he asks, taking up his shield.
A sensibly-garbed member of the crafter-caste arrives shortly after the egalrin. She wears belts of a healer and her scales are a teal-and-brine. A swamp-dragon ancestry, maybe? "Hello, dears. I'm ssorry I'm sso sslow. I'm not used to these mountainss, I guess. Does anyone need a touch of bravery before we go in?"
GAME: Merek casts Prayer. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (7)+15: 22
The two men certainly noticed Merek's prayer, the sound of his voice turns them toward you and then they're on their feet in unison. With them facing you, they seem and standing they look even larger. But they /look/ like they might be giantkin. Is Merek right and they're something else? They look like twins of one another, their features exactly the same and they move like they've fought together before, each laying a hand on the weapon at their belts. "Oy! Who goes there and what be your business here?" Even their voices are in unison though they glance at one another as if that's unintentional - at the same time.
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy+1: (11)+17+1: 29
Merek offers a light supplication for Eluna, and it looks like the blessing is offered to the team. He waves to them a moment, looking back to the Giantborn. "Mighty Efreeti, we have come seeking a flail, are you perhaps the guardians, what brings you all from the Planes? We seek to parley if you will!"
Maya takes a step back, her claws tucking into her robes. She looks alarmed! Her frills rise along her neck, and the heavy horns draw downward, protectively.
With the jig, as it were, up, Iolaire simply shrugs to the others, and follows the sorceror's lead. Taking a place slightly behind and to Merek's right, she assumes a protector's stance, ready to jump in the way should talks become fighting.
Victor says, "My name is Victor. I am indeed here to retrieve a flail. It is a relic of goodly peoples and we have been asked to retrieve it from here."
Olek is getting ready to rush in when Merek offers to parley with efreet. He looks puzzled. He looks to the others, but will wait and see what happens. This is outside his experience.
Hands fall away from weapons for the moment and the two share a glance. "Efreeti?"
"Efreeti?" Not quite at the same time this time, but close enough that it's an echo. "We're just simple warriors, sharing this far-away place as home." He waves a hand to the ruins. A few in this area do have the look of having been lived in.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+19: (13)+19: 32 GAME: Iolaire rolls sense motive: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Mayahuel rolls sense motive: (13)+14: 27 GAME: Olek rolls sense motive: (14)+2: 16 GAME: Merek rolls sense motive: (16)+3: 19 GAME: Merek casts Detect Magic. Caster Level: 5 DC: 14
"Simple warriors that are enchanted along with their gear?" Merek asks, motioning a bit to them, then their gear, after a shift of magic.
GAME: Iolaire rolls diplomacy: (3)+8: 11
"Either way, we're really not interested in a fight," says the armored bird. "We've been sent to retrieve a weapon we were told would be found in these ruins, and if indeed you live here, we'd be most grateful for your leave in searching for it."
As things calm down, Maya's spines cautiously rise. She doesn't lower her claws from her sleeves though, not yet. "I brought a tea set, if anyone would like some," she says, hesitatingly.
Olek sighs at Merek. "/Now/ you antagonize them?" he mutters quietly. He stands ready, but holds back, waiting to see where this goes. He knows full well where any negotiations he takes part in will go, so he'll keep quiet and give Merek ... enough rope to hang himself, is how he sees it. But it -could- work out. Maybe? He'll wait and see.
Victor holds his hands open and to his sides and begins to walk in a wide circle around the pair. He watches them carefully for any sign of a reaction from them and also turns as he goes so that he's facing them the entire time.
"And what warrior goes around these days without magic to aid them?" The first of the brothers laughs and the second echoes him.
Until Victor starts to circle and then hands slide toward weapons again. "Look, we don't appreciate you using magic on us, or circling for a better vantage to attack from." The second brother's words are proof that they have at least some experience fighting. "We've lived on this mountain for years. What's here is ours. We'll thank you to leave us in peace."
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy+1: (18)+17+1: 36
"Listen, something isn't adding up in all this," Merek mentions, while he looks between the two of them a moment, "While that might be the case, you're clearly not being completely honest. We don't want to fight, we only want a little bit of honesty from you," he says, with a nod while he smiles.
Victor slows to a stop. He looks at the two. "As I told you, we are here on a quest. We seek only to retrieve the relic. But if you try to stop us we will be forced to destroy you." He says it matter of factly, as if he's describing how the sun will rise in the morning.
Iolaire starts to respond, but Merek's statement gives her pause. Then Victor helps, and the bird blows a quiet, whistling sigh through her nares, shaking her head and moving one foot back. "Oooor, we can settle this like warriors, I suppose..."
GAME: Mayahuel rolls diplomacy: (15)+5: 20
The sith-makar stops from where she was...okay, she'd been thinking about a tea set? Maybe? But, things seem to be escalating really quickly? "I'm sorry we're disturbing you. We didn't mean to..." she says, and sounds like she means it.
Olek smirks at Iolaire's comment, but says nothing himself, whistling tunelessly. This will go where it goes …
"Very well if it's honesty you want... We /are/ Efreet." With that word they shift subtly, their skin turning red and their bodies shifting so that they look more like the outsiders that they are. Yet in reality they don't change very much. The fire behind them flickers and pops as if it approves of this new them. "But we see the truth of /you/. Threatening us if we don't give you what you want. Kardun." This last is said to his brother.
Kardun nods. "Yes Mordek I see. I see how ready they are to kill us if we don't give them what they think is their right to take. Well know this, if you wish to take /anything/ off this mountain - you will have to go through us!"
GAME: Merek rolls diplomacy+1: (5)+17+1: 23
Merek inhales, then he looks up to the Efreet, then to the team, while he nods a bit. "I think it is best, that we have you told a story of why we wish to retrieve this thing, Efreeti," he says, with an incline, and looks then to Maya, "Would you like a bit of the tea? The crafter-caste of the Sith'Makar make wonderful things." He, is earnest in this, even adding, "Thank you for your honesty, I wish to be the same with you, if one of you would inform them why we need it?"
GAME: Victor rolls knowledge/the planes: (14)+9: 23 GAME: Victor rolls ranged: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Victor rolls 1d4+2: (2)+2: 4 GAME: Olek rolls reflex: (1)+6: 7 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Merek rolls reflex: (16)+6: 22
Victor glances at Merek. "I am sorry. I appreciate your efforts but they do not seem to be swayed by your argument. We must retrieve the flail, and they will attack us when we resume our mission. I see no reason to wait any longer." He turns back to the Effeeti and points an arm at them. A fist-sized distortion in the air blurs across and glances off of Mordek.
GAME: Victor rolls reflex: (13)+5: 18 GAME: Iolaire rolls reflex: (19)+9: 28 GAME: Mayahuel rolls ref: (16)+6: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 10d6: (36): 36 GAME: Aftershock rolls 10d6: (38): 38
Victor's attack goes off and the two Efreeti roar in anger in unison. Then the world turns to fire. Everything is aflame. There's no telling where the source of the fire is because /everything/ is on fire. Neither of the brothers draw their weapons, but they put up their fists and with their ire spiked they look ready for a fight that you suddenly realize you might not be able to win.
GAME: Mayahuel casts Crushing Despair. Caster Level: 7 DC: 18
"SCATTER!" Iolaire cries, wings flaring up... and with a keening war cry she charges... for the open air beyond the efreeti, winging over and making a gesture with her free hand that is considered rude in five languages. "YOUR MOTHER WAS A PISSPOT IN A KHAZAD WHOREHOUSE! YOU WANT FRIED CHICKEN, COME GET IT!"
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (17)+9: 26 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+9: (9)+9: 18 GAME: Olek RAGES!, gaining +2 to melee attack/damage/Will saves and 20 temporary HP
"...uhm, what she said!" And then the sith-makar runs to hide from the blazing fire! The spell she cast doesn't seem to have had any effect, anyway!
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+17: (10)+17: 27 GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (8)+14: 22
Olek bellows defiance and rushes forward. With everyone going everyplace, forward makes as much sense as any. He's instantly in a frothing rage, and he will hack with his huge glowing axe at one of them, the head of the axe faintly glowing with a sort of holy power. He is furious about a lot of things, not the least of which is that he took a fireball to the face, but it occurs to him that they're not evil. It doesn't stop him from laying some smack on one of them with his axe, though.
GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (20)+15: 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (8)+15: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (19)+15: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (13)+15: 28 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (6)+15: 21 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (8)+6: 14 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2
The Efreeti known as Mordek strides over to where the burning, mostly crisp form of Victor is, and... the result is not pretty. Victor goes down... and he's not getting back up again. Olek fairs better against his opponent, but for how much longer?
Merek looks then as the things go right into battle, and Victor looks like he is killed. With a shift the Theurge lifts up a hand, "All of you, away from the fight! This is not one we can win, they're only fighting the ones that are striking them first!"
GAME: Iolaire rolls perception: (7)+17: 24 GAME: Iolaire rolls diplomacy: (10)+8: 18
When the efreeti don't follow after her, the scorched Iolaire backwings to a halt, dropping to the ground and peering at the combatants, their gear, and complete disregard of anyone who hasn't actually swung to kill. "Excuse me!" she says, fanning her wings to get attention. "It's fairly obvious that fighting you is asking for death, so... May we *please* have the weapon we've come for, and we'll leave you alone?"
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (15)+15: 30 GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+10: (12)+10: 22 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (17)+15+2: 34 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (1)+15+2: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (5)+6: 11 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (4): 4
Olek lays into the fellow with two more whacks with his axe. Enraged, his allies attempts to payley -after- hostilities have broken out, after he was attacked as a collateral damage, after they've declared that they won't negotiate, they hold no sway with him. If the efreet stopped attacking him, that -might- get his attention. But not much less.
Mordek flashes a glare at Iolaire. "It seems as though at least one of your number craves that death. You ask too late for kindness Elgarian." His words are emphasized by his actions as he closes the distance between himself and Olek. His brother meanwhile has no such words at all. His focus is on hitting Olek and taking the man down who is hewing into him with his axe. After all, a single moments distraction could mean death for him as well.
GAME: Merek casts Magic Missile. Caster Level: 5 DC: 15 GAME: Merek rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3 GAME: Merek rolls 1d4+1: (3)+1: 4 GAME: Merek rolls 1d4+1: (2)+1: 3
Merek looks between the team, and knowing that the fight which began can't be managed with diplomacy, he lifts up a hand while he begins to gunsling his magic missile about at Kardun, the one already in the fight.
GAME: Iolaire rolls strength: (18)+3: 21
"Oh for-- THEY WON'T FIGHT YOU IF YOU STOP HITTING THEM!" Iolaire cries, audibly frustrated. Pumping her wings to gain altitude, she clenches her beak, and mutters "Fine, then, let's finish this proper..."
And she turns in midair, folding her wings and stooping like a falcon properly dives. Her wings flare out to let her skim at barely head-height over the ground, and her free hand flashes out--
And up she flies, with one of the efreet's heavy packs clutched in one fist. It's harder to gain altitude with this much more weight, but dammit what has she been training for?
GAME: Mayahuel casts Ash Storm. Caster Level: 7 DC: 17 GAME: Mayahuel rolls strength: (15)+1: 16
"I will help!" And Maya does her best!! The witch tosses ash into the air, and it grows and grows until it covers part of the sky! Then, she holds her breath and runs forward, and grabs the warrior's ankles!!
GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+15: (9)+15: 24 GAME: Olek rolls 1d100: (55): 55 GAME: Olek rolls 1d20+10: (7)+10: 17 GAME: Olek rolls 1d100: (72): 72 GAME: Olek rolls 1d10+14: (9)+14: 23 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (7)+15+2: 24 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (1)+15+2: 18 (EPIC FAIL) GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (10)+15+2: 27 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15+2: (14)+15+2: 31 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d100: (90): 90 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d8+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d6: (2): 2
Kardun and Mordek continue their attack unabated; seemingly little phased by the ash cloud. In truth they're not. Such things were commonplace... well what's important is that they continue their onslaught and keep attacking Olek.
GAME: Merek rolls cmb: (19)+6: 25
Merek looks as the others are on their way, then he sighs while he moves to where Olek is, trying to reach and take him into a hold, but between all the fighting he can't manage. The Theurge looks to him, "We can't take him on with two people, we need to escape!" he says.
Digging through the pack as she labors to get altitude above the ash cover, Iolaire shakes stinging gray off her feathers and hauls out a... well, it is a flail, and it is indeed spiky, and after a moment spent in vacant contemplation of the weapon -- and a heart-stopping moment where she forgets to flap -- she snaps out of her reverie, looping the chain around her gorget. "ALL RIGHT THIS FIGHT IS OVER! OLEK IF WE DON'T LEAVE NOW WE CAN'T GET VICTOR TO A HEALER, WE'RE DONE UP HERE!"
Being the polite sort, however, she does drop back into the cloud to ensure that nothing else in the pack gets *broken* when it finally does leave her grip.
Olek grumbles at Iolaire. Found what we came after? "They -fireballed- me," he says. "I'd done nothing to them. And they killed Victor. You don't hold them responsible for that?" But he backs away warily, axe held ready, as if daring them to step up. It's not quite over, no. He's given more than he's taken, but it'll be on them whether they want to finish the fight or not.
With Olek stepping away from the fight, Kardin steps back also, it's impossible to see him through the ash, but he seems willing to let the fight go. Mordek stays where he is, ready to continue the fight if Olek is, but he doesn't attack for the moment. "Don't push things little one, we can still end this." Warmth seems to radiate from him; possibly a condition of his ire. "So long as you leave this mountain without pressing for a prize not yours to take, we will be at peace."
GAME: Merek casts Cure Serious Wounds. Caster Level: 6 DC: 16
Merek doesn't heal the Efreeti, he doesn't know if they will take upset to it, so he calls the Theurge powers of healing into him and into Olek, while he inclines to them also, "You all be well," with a shift to the hip, nodding to the dwarf, "We need to get Victor to the city."
Carefully, so carefully, Iolaire eases the pilfered pack down until she feels ground, then lets it come to rest as quietly as she can. Turning quickly, she orients on the sound of complaining barbarian, and moves forward until her outstretched hand finds Olek, and she leans forward to speak quietly in the direction of his face. "We're not here to *secure* apologies, damn it all. Your pride will heal, but if we don't leave now *Victor will surely die.* Now *move.*" And she encourages the barbarian to leave the fight with surprising strength for such a small warrior.
GAME: Iolaire rolls stealth: (3)+3: 6 GAME: Aftershock rolls 1d20+15: (14)+15: 29
Olek says sourly, "It's people like you that give people the wrong impression about things." At Iolaire's comment, he says, "Anyhow, there's nothing in the city they can do for Victor that ten minutes or an hour will affect. He's dead now, from the looks of it. /Will surely die/? You need your eyesight checked, I think. They killed him, but you're not bothered by that? And you call me cruel?" But he will allow himself to be backed away from the encounter. Judging from what the efreet said, they haven't worked out that we've taken their thing, but he's going to stay ready in case they do figure it out.
It's Mordek who notices as Iolaire shoves Olek past him. The Efreeti watches you go by with suspicious eyes and then... /notices/. "WAIT! You have it! Give it back!" His hands curl into fists. He's not attacking, but he looks ready to. Well, you estimate by his vague shadow and the tenor of his voice. After all there's still ash falling.
Merek nods a bit to the others, then he whispers to them, "We have cover, we need to escape," he says, then he shifts upon the hip while he begins to take off! The best plan!
Olek says sourly to the efreet, "You can lodge a complaint of theft with the city guard in Alexandria. Then people who have much more gold and power than I do will hear your claim and decide if it's just. Or you can hire the Explorers' Guild to take it back from the fellow that hired us. They will accept your job if your claim is just." He continues to back down slowly, still facing the efreet as he backs out of the cloud. "You can even keep fighting if you want to," he offers. "But you will lose your lives as well as your trinket."
GAME: Olek rolls reflex: (14)+6: 20 GAME: Olek rolls reflex: (13)+6: 19 GAME: Aftershock rolls 10d6: (35): 35 GAME: Aftershock rolls 10d6: (30): 30
A roar of flames comes forth from the ash, and in its wake the two giants. There is fury written on their faces, but the fire misses most everyone due to the fact that they've fled. They move with slow determination, ready to attack. "Come back you cowards! Thieves!"
Olek's allies have abandoned him and he's under assault as he backs down. Even filled with rage, he understands the better part of valor, and so though it irks him ferociously, he will dart for cover from the efreeti fireballs. "Bloody sissies," he scowls. "And I'm supposed to take fireballs to the face for them? I do it so they can do what we need to win, not so we can run and hide like children." He's still raging, he hasn't cooled down yet.
You all in your time flee, leaving the ruins and the Efreeti far behind you. It's a long solemn and tense trek down the mountain and back to Alexandria. Especially carrying the dead with you. It's... hard. Losing a comrade in battle, even when you think they might be able to be saved later. You have hope, but its a thin thread. Thus when you reach the Adventurer's Guild to hand over the flail it's with a great sense of weight. You paid perhaps too great a price for it.
The man who hired you thanks you for the weapon and accepts it warmly. It sends one last pulse of warmth through Iolaire's hand as it leaves her for him. There's a sense of loss. But your work is done and he leaves after assuring that you'll be paid for your work. He even says a word of apology for your fallen comrade. It's not enough, but it has to be.
-End