The man who was tied up first by Adam, watched the Druid with disdain, but the root around his neck was tight enough to let him know how easily he could lose his life, so he watched his tongue. His name was Lars, and he firmly believed that his soul would enjoy an eternal shower of hedonism and pleasure, if he continued to serve his new master.
Oh, how he wanted to spit at Adam's feet and hurl the most despicable insults he could possibly muster. But he also valued his life and had faith that if he just stayed put and let the adventurers go march to their own demise, order would be restored and his brothers would free him.
"I have nothing to say to you," he told Adam. And that was all he would say.
As soon as the trap sprung on Second Chance and the cultists charged, Hardul had charged in the opposite direction, away from the battle and dove over the rock he was previously hiding behind. There he hid, hoping that he could remain unseen until he saw a chance to crawl away and back down the hill to Cherrad. Unlike the cultists, Hardul wasn't under any kind of mind control. He was simply a coward who was being bullied by George and the secret agent of the cult, Feanor Moss, who was keeping the dwarf on a short leash and making him work for them.
The failed ambush had turned into a quick slaughter, but to Hardul it felt like he'd been hiding for forever. And it seemed that he was out of luck, because MacKensie was drawing closer and would almost certainly sniff him out soon. When he peeked to see if she'd passed him, he thought she saw him and, in a panic, the dwarf got up and made a run for it.
He wasn't the fastest creature on two legs but he sprinted all the same, without looking back, hoping that they had given up on chasing him.
"Aaaggghh!!!"
George was sweating from the overwhelming pain, his heart beating hard and breathing heavy. James watched on with passive, merciless eyes. He was maybe more frightening than even Barracker. What was worse was the thought that the vampire was just getting warmed up. Who knew what such a monster could really do if he tried. It was this thought alone that made George realise that he had to say something. He had to give them something, anything, or things would likely get much, much worse for him.
"Alright, I'll talk," he spluttered. He said a few generic things about the temple, the cult and their objectives, but eventually he got to something that Second Chance could actually use to their advantage. "You want our master right?
Drath'tuthan himself? You will find him in the main chamber. In the entrance hall, take the doors on the right and follow the corridor to the temple library. The bookshelves on the back wall at the end of the room. On the left side, middle shelf, there is a book called, '
Shattered Dreams.' It is no book, it's a hidden lever that will open a secret door that'll lead you right to the main chamber without having to go through forty men and traps to get there."
George stared hopefully at James, before glancing at Barracker and cowering again. "There. I talked. Now please... No more."