Alwyn buys himself a silver-headed mace. He gives his silver dagger to anyone who wants it.
Elisile will pass on the name of the recommended lawyer to Ameiko.
If there is any time left to the day once all the errands are run etc. she will spend the afternoon wandering around the city, viewing the monuments.
Inside, a bored-looking secretary, a somewhat burly-looking dwarf, sits reading a newssheet behind a slightly worn desk. She looks a little surprised that she has visitors, and exotic-looking ones at that, but greets Ameiko and Hudak couteously. After Ameiko explains her business, she opens a door behind her and yells up the stairs, “Arved! Clients!” before waving them through.
At the top of the stairs is a small, dusty office, the walls covered with shelves which groan under the weight of legal tomes and papers. A small, dark-haired man with a harried expression scribbles with a quill before glancing up and offering an ink-stained hand in greeting.
“Arved Quamsh, pleased to meet you.”
He listens politely as Ameiko explains the circumstances and takes occasional notes, though he fidgets compulsively and has a series of nervous tics. However, his questions are incisive and a powerful intellect clearly resides behind his unprepossessing façade.
Once Ameiko has finished, he nods thoughfully. “Based on what you have told me, I suspect that there is little that can be done to avert a guilty verdict. His actions and those of his compatriot, and the written evidence of his journal, are quite damning. However, there may be hope if we can convince the panel that he was bereft of his faculties while he carried out his crimes. It is likely that he will face a term of custody, possibly lengthy, but he might escape the crucifix if we pursue this course. Of course, I will need to visit your brother and obtain his permission to act for him, which I will do forthwith. However, there is the, ahem, vulgar matter of payment. I will require an initial retainer of 50 gold pieces.”
Ameiko opens her purse and places the money on the desk.
“Thank you very much, Miss Kaijutsu. I will try my best to obtain as satisfactory an outcome as I can.”
Outside, Ameiko suddenly blurts out, “Hudak, I'm going to see Tsuto tomorrow. Will you come with me? I would feel safer with you.”
“I have no objection to sharing your room, Illes Elandru,” Elisile replies. “But sharing your bed will require more effort on your part than an offer and a wink.” Given her alien features and sometimes odd sense of humour, its difficult to tell if she is responding to Illes in jest or seriousness.
Illes laughs it off. "How am I supposed to lead a full and rich life of debauchery with you in there? No, no I'll spring for your room. I'm sure you'll remember and take care of me if I need it someday."
Inwardly he shudders, Is she serious? The last time Illes talked an elf into bed, the experience left him a little ruffled. She never slept! Everytime he woke up during the night she was awake and staring at him. Creeeepy. And in bed she was... decidedly not- human. Like some kind of beast or catwoman. Thinking this part over Illes begins to wonder what his problem was and smiles without comment as he walks along.
Ameiko takes Hudak out to find the barrister, and they return about an hour later.
Dungeonmaster:
I know how it is with family members not acting well. My brother; he's half-elven too. He's a good man, though. It was my father I had qualms with.
But he was just a man, after all..."
Illes laughs it off. "How am I supposed to lead a full and rich life of debauchery with you in there? No, no I'll spring for your room. I'm sure you'll remember and take care of me if I need it someday."
"Thankyou, and I shall," nods Elisile.
"I hate this town." Alwyn plops down next to Elisile next to some monument. "People are not meant to live piled on top of each other like this. No wonder they turn to devils to intimidate their fellows and keep order." He spits onto the cobblestones. "How does Crying Leaf compare to the gargoyle-infested squalor of this place?"
"You know, I am not optimistic about our prisoners' chances here. That judge needs no excuse to put prisoners to excruciating deaths. No man deserves to face their end like that; in the Warrior's Challenge inside the stone circle, you do at least stand a fighting chance. Chelaxian justice." He spits again.
"I love this town. There's so many people here from all over. There's a new thing around every corner. I can't get enough...."
to nobody in particular...but he doesn't act all happy when Ameiko's around; he's not that ignorant.
"How does Crying Leaf compare to the gargoyle-infested squalor of this place?"
"You know, I am not optimistic about our prisoners' chances here. That judge needs no excuse to put prisoners to excruciating deaths. No man deserves to face their end like that; in the Warrior's Challenge inside the stone circle, you do at least stand a fighting chance. Chelaxian justice." He spits again.
"It is smaller," replies Elisile after a moment's consideration, "with less in the way of gargoyles and squalor."
She shrugs at the talk of the prisoners. "No, I do not like it either. But if one beleives that a crime deserves punishment ... then I suppose one must accept the punishment deemed fitting by the laws of that land. My own belief is that there are times that kindness and mercy can lead to good ... but I accept that it does not always do so. Ameiko Kaijitsu's brother would certainly have killed Vethran had we not intervene, and did kill his own father in a rather horrific fashion. The tall warrior almost killed Dravite and may well have done so had things not gone differently. This type of punishment is not one that I would have chosen, but I am not entirely certain that kindness and mercy would have led to good in this case."
She is silent for a moment after such a long speech, before adding an addendum; "Jhae beleives in the justice of this place, and he seems to be one with strong morals. It may be Ironbriar who proves our thorn."
You hear that Ameiko is going to the prison tomorrow to see Tsuto, and she has asked Hudak to go with her.
The last time Illes talked an elf into bed, the experience left him a little ruffled. She never slept! Everytime he woke up during the night she was awake and staring at him. Creeeepy. And in bed she was... decidedly not- human. Like some kind of beast or catwoman. Thinking this part over Illes begins to wonder what his problem was and smiles without comment as he walks along.
** spoiler omitted **
You hear that Ameiko is going to the prison tomorrow to see Tsuto, and she has asked Hudak to go with her.
While Elisile doesn’t particularly desire to return to the place, she suggests that it might give the group a good opportunity to investigate the interior of the Hells for clues on disappearing prisoners – on that basis, she’ll tag along.
"I don't really want to go. But what else is there to do here?"
"Is there anyplace to buy some joolery?"
Larken has an almost physical reaction at the mention of going into the Hells, but then he firms his resolve and says, simply, "I'll go."
The next day, those heading to the prison set off. Ameiko arrives at the gate and requests to see her brother. The black clad, masked jailer at the gate leers at her and cast evil looks at the party, before sending one of his subordinates in to check. He returns after a few minutes and whispers in the head man's ear.
"You and your friends can go in. Inside is the room where you can leave your weapons. You will also be searched," he adds, licking his lips involuntarily as he looks at Ameiko.
Ye bett'r be watchin' it, turnkey. Ye be treatin' ever'one 'ere all respectful like, whedder wit' eyes or hands. I be watchin'.
"I, Hudak, a Shoanti am going in. Please, do your job with some dignity, busyfingers."
Elisile will go. She’ll leave her weapons in the room as asked and stoically submits to being searched. During her time in the prison she keeps her eyes and ears open, trying to focus on any details that seem unusual or out of place, whilst mentally shutting out the depressing whole.
I interpose myself between the gaurd and Ameiko, standing with full military bearing.
"Perhaps you could hasten in your assigned task, and find time to ogle the ladies who'll be impressed by your tales of prisoners and punishment. Or perhaps, your captain needs the report of a Lotnant to add to your file."
Diplomacy: 12+21=33
"We'll be needing to see Lyrie and Orik as well. They will also have representation in court and deserve to know it."
Since the guy obviously is getting such pleasure out of his job, Illes plays along during his frisking, "Ohhh yeeaaahh. A little to the left... Niiccee."
Once inside Illes will accompany the group to Tsuto's cell, but breaks off to tell Lyrie and Orik about their lawyer. On the distance between cells Illes tries to get a sense of what's going on with the prisoners vanishing.
To the guard accompanying them, "So I've been hearing prisoners just up and disappear out of here. How are we supposed to know these three are being held securely when prisoners are breaking out and no one wants to talk about it?"
To prisoners in cells nearby the three we visit (in particular any Varisian ones he can speak Varisian with), "I hear people are just here one day and gone the next. What's going on in this place?"
Hudak looks around for trouble. He's no gift-of-gab master.
He mostly watches Ameiko,....to make sure she's safe. Yeah, that's it...
"If there is anything untoward happening to the prisoners here, then none of you are safe. Please, let us help to protect all of you, and perhaps the courts will find leniency, or your superiors," turning to the guards, "or your superiors find you nobler positions."
diplomacy: 19+21=40
42 if you count the previous attempt as aiding...
<woof> 42 is a very important number <woof>
<woof> life <woof>
<woof> the universe <woof>
<woof> everything <woof>
“Hi, boy,” says the guard, bending down and scratching Gurney behind the ears while his colleagues roll their eyes. “I love dogs – I come from a farm.” Gurney doggy-grins and wags his tail, shamelessly manipulative.
“People disappearing? Yeah, it happens sometimes, especially in the deeper parts of the prison. Magnimar is an old, old place and there’s stuff underground that’s best left there. Like the Irespan – they tried to mine it for stone for the city, long time back before I was born, but my dad told me. Turned out to be hollow and full of spider monsters, even after all this time. They had a hell of a time sealing it back up again. So what’s down in the depth of the prison I don’t know, and I hope I never find out, but there are probably worse things than criminals in here.
“And then there was the riot, lost a whole cell block, oh, about twenty years back, before I was here. See, the prison’s built with three wings, like big holes going down in the ground and lined with cells going round and all the way down, maybe twenty stories of ‘em. That way, a few guards in the middle can keep watch on a load of prisoners in the cells round the edges. Each of the wings is separate, so you can seal ‘em off from the others and stop any trouble spreading.
“Anyway, Block B rioted. Was led by some crazy guy but really powerful, magic and stuff – overwhelmed the guards and even with all the precautions looked like they were going to break out. So they bricked up the entrance and left ‘em to starve, and it is still like that to this day – no one in and no one out for twenty years.”
The guard shudders. “I bet it was terrible in there before the end. So yeah, this is a bad place, but then you only have to worry about it if you break the law. Some guy disappeared from his cell a few days ago, and the Governor investigated, but no one knows where he is. He broke the law, and I can’t get too upset if he comes to a bad end – good riddance, I say. And us guards have got enough, what with the prisoners to worry about, without bogeymen in the dark.
“Wait a minute… Oi! Drimmen! Yes, you! Keep your hands to yourself, these are honest folk and good citizens! Right, that’s you lot searched. Your weapons will be held here until you get back. The prisoners are in Block C, so if you would like to follow Master Drimmen to the cage and we will lower you down.”
The surly prison guard leads them down a gloomy corridor of damp brick, lit by guttering, smoky oil lamps to a room with a large cage elevator. Four more guards sit idly in here, glancing up as the party arrive. “Party to see the prisoners from Sandpoint,” says Drimmen.
One of the guards reluctantly gets up and grabs the end of a speaking tube by the lift. He blows in it and then repeats Drimmen’s words before putting it to his ear and listening for a moment. He nods and, replacing the tube, unhooks a large key ring from his belt, unlocks the door and wordlessly points the party towards the open cage. Once they are all aboard, the door is closed and locked again and another guard pulls a lever.
The lift drops swiftly through a brick-lined shaft for several seconds before suddenly entering a large, dark open space. Voices – shouting, screaming, laughing, crying – echo around as the falling cage slows and stops at a landing of metal and stone. More masked guards stand about grimly, wooden clubs at their belts and holding crossbows, and one steps forward to unlock the lift door.
Stepping on to the platform, the rest of the Block C can be seen. It is a large cylindrical shaft running through the rock, maybe 60 feet across and disappearing into darkness below. Around the circumference of the vast borehole, one row piled on top of another all the way down, are serried ranks cell doors, hundreds of them. Slippery-looking metal catwalks and stairs connect the cells between the different levels, and oil lamps provide meagre illumination. At periodic intervals down the shaft, nets are slung across the centre space, presumably to catch falling bodies. The voices of the prisoners can be heard yelling, jeering and gibbering, as the black-clad guards patrol slowly along the walkways and stairs, and the stench is atrocious.
“This way,” mumbles a guard tonelessly. The landing sits at the top of the block, and the group are led across the vertiginous drop to the walkway clinging to the walls, and then to the descending stairs, one guard ahead and one behind. Prisoners catcall at the women in the party, their hands thrust through the bars of their doors before being smack back by the guards’ clubs. The cell doors are mostly open metal bars, giving the prisoners little privacy but allowing the guards to supervise what they are doing.
After climbing down several flights, the party are brought to a halt outside Tsuto’s cell. Inside he can be seen, staring up at the ceiling, dressed in a prison-issue rough grey shift. He glances up and his eyes widen as he sees Ameiko, and then he sees the rest of the group. “What did you bring them for?” he spits in greeting, “Come to gloat?”
(to the others)"we should ask if they want us to check out the mysterious areas underground in this place. Might be something wicked going on."
(To Tsuto:)"We're here to support your sister. She wants to help you."
Alwyn shakes his head in disgust when he sees Tsuto. He pulls back and leans over to one of the guards. "Where are the other prisoners? I wouldn't mind a few words with Orik."
As they approach the pit, and the elevator, Elisile hangs back, hesitating. Her eyes are wider even than normal, and she shakes her head very slightly. However, she takes a deep breath and steps into the elevator with the others.
She stays quiet, in the midst of the group, and does not speak. Every now and again she suddenly glances about, as if trying to catch sight of something seen in peripheral vision, before shaking her head again.
"You okay, Elisie?"
“Not really,” answers the elf in a quiet voice. “This place frightens and depresses me. But I will hold myself together until we can leave.”
"Yeah....wouldn't want to be shacked up in here...
remind me to figure out if there's any weird laws in this town."
Larken tries to hide his discomfort, but he's pretty much transparent as far as his feelings go, and so it's really obvious that, the deeper he goes into the Hells, the more freaked out he becomes. He looks sick and shaken by the time the party reaches the interview room, and immediately puts his back to a wall, trying to affect a bored slouch.
*waiting in the reception/screening area, to the guard Dravite says* 'Ow long be it takin' ta be checkin' oot a durned prisoner! Ye be frum de city, eh? How be it fer protectin' de innocents?
"Hey Drav; what do you think about us offering to try and clean up the lower levels of this craphole? I bet there might be baubles down there. Baubles, and secrets of the ancients and that kinda stuff."
Tsuto leans back and sneers at Ameiko.
"Why would I need your help? What help have you ever been? Where were you when I was sent away? Where were you when that man murdered our mother?"
"Tsuto, please..."
"No! He wasn't my father - you only have to look at me to see that - and I won't call him that! He hated me, and I hated him, and I don't care who knows it. I know what happened between him and mother, even if you choose to look the other way."
"Tsuto, I've come here to tell you I've hired a barrister for you."
"What's that? Some blood money to ease your conscience? Well, I suppose I should be grateful, but in any case you might as well save your money. I've got influence in this place and I'm not going to the cross for this." He sits back on his bunk and crosses his arms, smirking smugly.
Lyrie sits silently on the floor of her cell in a rough shift, iddly counting her fingers. On her head is some sort of metal contraption like a cage across her cranium, seeming fixed in place with a steel chinstrap. At the curious looks, the guard grunts, "Dunce hat. Stop's 'em casting spells."
Lyrie looks up, a thin trickle of drool running down her chin. She looks at the group with disinterest, blinks, and goes back to counting her fingers slowly.
Orik is using the bars of the cell to perform chin-ups as the party approach. Stripped to the waist, he stops and looks sullenly at the party approach.
To Tsuto:
"She's trying to help you, bonehead. Quit blaming her for things your parents did. It doesn't square things, I should know. If she didn't want to help you, if I didn't want to help you, well....I did knock you down. Quit being a hardhead, brah."
Tsuto gets up and moves close to the bars, glaring at Hudak. "You killed Nualia, you ignorant savage. Don't even speak to me. When I get out you and I will have business."
The guard bashes the bars with his club and Tsuto steps back, but his eyes don't leave Hudak.
Davos explains Aylmora's condition, and the circumstances, to the attendant clerics, in hope of identifying a cure to restore her .
Tsuto gets up and moves close to the bars, glaring at Hudak. "You killed Nualia, you ignorant savage. Don't even speak to me. When I get out you and I will have business."
The guard bashes the bars with his club and Tsuto steps back, but his eyes don't leave Hudak.
*sigh*
"Tsuto, she was trying to kill me. If she would've yielded, she'd be alive right now, just like you. Sorry we couldn't patch her up like we patched you up though. That's the breaks, man.I think while you're here, you need to sit down and figure out how to fix whatever problems you have instead of blaming them on other people. If Nualia didn't send gobs of goblins and other creatures after Sandpoint, she wouldn't be dead now. You're going to have plenty of time to stew, Tsuto."
Hudak's restraint seems to wrong-foot Tsuto, so he simply turns his back and ignores him.
"Morning, Orik." Alwyn sits down outside the prisoner's cage. "I have a proposition for you. As you might be aware, the judge is of the... bloodthirsty kind. However, you don't seem like an altogether bad sort, and, unlike Ironbriar, I don't really think you deserve crucifixion. Instead, I thought I could suggest a different arrangement to him - in return for sparing your life, I'll make you my bondsman. Instead of rotting on a cast-iron cross, you'll be my servant for a year and a day, after which I will release you."
He stands up. "Of course, this depends on one crucial detail. I will see no mercy done for whoever tortured and mutilated Aylmora. If you took part of it, I'll nail you to that cross myself. Who cut her up?You'd better tell me and the judge."
"This is a serious offer. I don't want any answers now. Think carefully about it, and I'll return tomorrow." He gets up and walks away.