Force them to heal our men, tell them (and follow through on this promise) that we will kill 100 of their men for every one of ours who succumbs to this treacherous poisoning.
6
You stride toward them, anger blazing in your heart. How could they be so stupid, so blind? The Knight walls forward, as if to accept your surrender. You continue your pace. He commands you to halt. You do not. He unsheathes his sword and brings it down in a heavy chop. You grab the blade with your bare hand, stopping it cold. He pales as you stare into his eyes.
You squeeze, and the blade shatters.
He stumbles back in a panic as you look at your hand, blood trickling down as your body already begins to heal itself. You glare at the Knight who has vexed you so.
“Healing for my men. Now.”
He stammers for a moment, “Well, we actually... don’t have a cure for the poisen. Most will survive though-“
You pick him up and hurl him as hard as you could manage, high and far in the direction of the city. His cry quickly fades from earshot. The 500 or so guards still in fear.
You look over the crowd of men and point to a young guard.
“Go back to the city and grab all the priests you can. The rest of you will stand vigil in prayer to the gods above for the survival of these men. And pray earnestly, for every man who dies I will claim 100 lives from you.”
All 500 lay down their weapons under your watchful gaze. A few try to flee, but when you run in front of them they quickly return. Some volunteer to help nurse the poisoned, and the rest form a circle and pray and hope.
The priest come, and the vigil lasts throughout the night as you wait.
In the morning, the sickness breaks. 20 of your men are dead. The guards tremble in fear for the cost as you stand in judgement before them.
What do you do?A. Their lives are now forfeit, but you will use them. They may choose between joining you on your quest or death.
B. Kill them all, then kill 1500 more in the city to claim your price. Bloodthirsty but will satisfy your champions.
C. Something else?