Delve the Fifteenth

[Makofan]

The talking abruptly stops. A few seconds later, the door is yanked open by a towering ogre. You notice a smallish room behind him, and at least 2 other ogres in the background. The lead ogre looks over your group of people, as if weighing his chances, then says "What you want?" rather aggressively

[mushgnome]

Franklin gulps nervously and answers in his bravest voice: "Uh, hi, I'm down here! Can you tell us about the wizards? We will trade food for information. Here is a free sample, catch!" (He tosses the ogre a strip of jerky from his rations.)

[Makofan]

"We want fresh meat, not this dried crap" roars the ogre. "I can tell a group of heroes when I see 'em, so you're probably tougher than you look. We wants fresh bodies. We make a deal - me and my brother fight with you, till we kill some fresh meat. Then we take the bodies back to our room and have real feast. We get food, you get muscle. What you's say?"

[merias]

Aldbane, waiting behind the others, readies his hammer - if it comes to that he'll move forward into melee with the Ogres | (he has no offensive spells left) |.

[kipper]

While meat shields are tempting, I'm not sure we can trust these two not to turn on us if the next encounter is with one of their allies. Furthermore, if we come across someone friendly to *us* first (admittedly not that likely) that will still likely meet their definition of "meat".

If we refuse their offer, they might attack us right now (again not that likely in my opinion), but at least it would just be them and not a more complicated situation.

I guess in summary I'm OK either way, I'll go with the party decision.

[mushgnome]

Franklin says, "I draw the line at eating people but do you know any big, tasty animals nearby? If you could hunt any animal in the dungeon, what would it be?"

OOC: Franklin agrees with Maloof that the ogres would probably eat us and aren't to be trusted! He opposes having the ogres join the party in meat shield or any other capacity. But he might be okay with a one-time collaboration. Hunting non-sentient animals for food is not inherently evil. What if the ogres could help us win one tough battle, then they get their food, and we go our separate ways?

Or we reject their offer, in which case they almost certainly would try to eat us! Franklin can feel his potion of heroism waning, and he guesses he maybe only has one more combat left (if that) before he goes back to regular old Franklin again. So if we do feel a showdown with the ogres is inevitable, there is maybe an argument to get it over with right here, right now.

[Makofan]

"Too bad, because people are our favourite. I guess we eat you now"

[mushgnome]

When Franklin tossed the rations to the ogre, his hand followed through to the hilt of his sword. Quick as a wink he brandishes the magic blade. His sinews flex heroically as he settles into a fencer's en garde position. "You are making a big mistake. Everybody knows hobbets may be small but we are mighty."

Balbo and Drogo whirl their slings in an intimidating show of force.

[kipper]

Maloof moves back and sets his sling a-whirl alongside Balbo and Drogo.

If they attack, we should try to bottle-neck them at the doorway.

[Vortimer]

"Then you would be making a mistake. You are outnumbered and outclassed." Naillus will step to the doorway with weapons drawn singing a small ditty in Elvish so the Ogres know he is an Elf.

Naillus will use the doorway as a funnel to reduce the number of opponents that can reach him.