"Hope we did good boss."
Renkar nods
"I think you did very well Karrin. Hopefully this berk will have some more information. Have you searched him yet? I see he has an odd signet brooch."
Renkar points to a silver brooch in the folds of the thug's cloak. On closer inspection it is a triangle with an open eye imposed on the inside of it.
"Hope we did good boss."
Renkar nods
"I think you did very well Karrin. Hopefully this berk will have some more information. Have you searched him yet? I see he has an odd signet brooch."
Renkar points to a silver brooch in the folds of the thug's cloak. On closer inspection it is a triangle with an open eye imposed on the inside of it.
"I don't know enough about Sigil to have bothered," Karrin says, "I wonder if this connects to Eliath somehow? Or are we dealing with something unrelated? We better get him patched up a bit. We can't having dying on us, that'd be bad for business, and we need some answers out of him. But he's not likely to give 'em up in his current state. Mind if I go get some grub? I'll send someone else over to watch sleeping beauty here. I haven't eaten all day what with the tracking down Eliath and hunting this shadow killer . . . who might not be a killer, we're going to need to check out those other bodies . . ."
Justin's face softens, just for a moment, as he observes Isaac and Merle talking to Nari. He contemplates the door for a second, but nods a wry agreement that Karrin and Renkar can handle their 'guest'.
Justin then glances up the stairway, and smirks as he contemplates whether interrupting Beth and Draz might, just, be worth the doubtlessly explosive aftermath,...
"Naw, I got enough troubles." He murmurs to himself. "No sense in making excitement where there isn't any."
Justin casts one last speculative look at the stairway, like a kid considering doing something he knows he shouldn't, then shakes his head and firmly steps away, back towards the trio.
:)
Merle stands and dusts herself off "Think I'll go check up on Karrin's new 'friend' before heading to bed. You want to come Nari? The air might clear you're head a bit."
Merle stands and dusts herself off "Think I'll go check up on Karrin's new 'friend' before heading to bed. You want to come Nari? The air might clear you're head a bit."
"The air is alright. It's the rain that's the problem," she says standing up and setting down her teacup. "Sure, I'll go with you."
Mind if I go get some grub? I'll send someone else over to watch sleeping beauty here. I haven't eaten all day what with the tracking down Eliath and hunting this shadow killer . . . who might not be a killer, we're going to need to check out those other bodies . . ."
Renkar retreives a healer's kit he keeps in the practice room.
"That's fine Karrin, go and eat. I'll bind the wounds and try to get him awake and ready for some interrogation later. Send someone over in an hour or so."
Renkar begins cleaning the ugly chest wound the thug got from Ferissirion. Paradoxically, the intense cold of the blow kept the wound from weeping overmuch.
"Sure thing boss!" Karrin says, "I'll send someone straight over!"
Karrin doesn't waste any time running over to the Copper Cauldron. As she steps through the doors she waves or quickly tracks down Ramona:
"I'll start with my usual please," she says, patting her belly, "lots of bread and butter, and I'll likely need more later. I haven't eaten all day!"
Karrin then scans the room for her companions:
"Hey everyone," Karrin says as she joins their table, "I don't know if Merle or Nari told you but we caught something on our hunting expedition, not what we were looking for but something that could be useful. Anyways we need someone to watch the catch. I'll take the middle watch if anyone wants but I think Renkar would like over there to watch in about an hour. Depending on what we learn we might not need to keep it long. Catch and release and all that."
Isaac shrugs.
"Guess I'll go first, since I reckon the three of you cutters",he gestures to Merle, Nari and Justin"need to sack out for your spellslingin' come the next Peak. 'Spose my bath will just have to wait. Have you picked through his kit yet? Anything catch your eye?"
"Renkar found a pendant with a symbol on it, but he didn't fill me in," Karrin says, "I think he's waiting for everyone cuz I don't hear so well and sometimes mix things up. Sides I don't think I'll be the one asking the questions. I good at seeming kind of mean and nasty but not so good at getting information out of people."
"I can catch a coney when the need arises, but I reckon there's better cutters to put the lean on this cove. I'll bet if Bethany and Drazek weren't busy upstairs they'd be ones for the job...."
He adds in a low tone,"... though I doubt this berk would walk with all of his parts in place if Drazek were in charge of drawin' out the darks."
"I can catch a coney when the need arises, but I reckon there's better cutters to put the lean on this cove. I'll bet if Bethany and Drazek weren't busy upstairs they'd be ones for the job...."
He adds in a low tone,"... though I doubt this berk would walk with all of his parts in place if Drazek were in charge of drawin' out the darks."
"I could do it," Nari says quietly, "but there's a rather high risk of death and I'd rather not add torture to my list of sins just yet."
"I could do it," Nari says quietly, "but there's a rather high risk of death and I'd rather not add torture to my list of sins just yet.""I can catch a coney when the need arises, but I reckon there's better cutters to put the lean on this cove. I'll bet if Bethany and Drazek weren't busy upstairs they'd be ones for the job...."
He adds in a low tone,"... though I doubt this berk would walk with all of his parts in place if Drazek were in charge of drawin' out the darks."
"I reckon we won't need to do anything that dirty. Just need to trick the berk or scare 'im or even just get on his good side. Won't be too tough without his minders. Worse comes to worse, we let 'im go and I can tail him to his boss or his kip."
Merle is headed over to the silver rose
Isaac will move on to the Rose as well.
Nari will also head over to the Rose.
Naaah, she's still be up there sinking her claws into him. ;)
Karrin arrives at the Copper Cauldron and joins the table there, telling her tale to the others and snagging a piled high plate of food from Ramona. Several grogs and a few helpings of provender she feels much better despite her dampness. Merle, Issac and Nari excuse themselves from the table and venture out into the rainy darkness to go check on the captive and Renkar.
Renkar has bound the captive's wounds, and is currently attempting to rouse him with some smelling salts. As the three enter the man groans and twitches in his chair. He mutters something then jerks awake
"Where am I?" He groans
Karrin arrives at the Copper Cauldron and joins the table there, telling her tale to the others and snagging a piled high plate of food from Ramona. Several grogs and a few helpings of provender she feels much better despite her dampness. Merle, Issac and Nari excuse themselves from the table and venture out into the rainy darkness to go check on the captive and Renkar.
Renkar has bound the captive's wounds, and is currently attempting to rouse him with some smelling salts. As the three enter the man groans and twitches in his chair. He mutters something then jerks awake
"Where am I?" He groans
Isaac keeps his tone cold and businesslike, free of cant.
"Sigil. No need for specifics just yet. My friends here tell me you came after them this Anitpeak, lookin' to take them alive. Why?"
Isaac keeps his tone cold and businesslike, free of cant.
"Sigil. No need for specifics just yet. My friends here tell me you came after them this Anitpeak, lookin' to take them alive. Why?"
The man groans again and gives Issac the eye.
"I liked their looks, an' I figured I could sell them for a few Ladies to the cribs down in the Marble District. They pay top jink for Clueless bints."
The man's face is swollen where Karrin's boot impacted.
Isaac keeps his tone cold and businesslike, free of cant.
"Sigil. No need for specifics just yet. My friends here tell me you came after them this Anitpeak, lookin' to take them alive. Why?"
The man groans again and gives Issac the eye.
"I liked their looks, an' I figured I could sell them for a few Ladies to the cribs down in the Marble District. They pay top jink for Clueless bints."
The man's face is swollen where Karrin's boot impacted.
"You're either lying or the worst brainsnatcher in the business. What's with the symbol on your brooch? I got a notion it ain't a gift from your mother."
Knowledge (local)=1d20+6=8, Knowledge (the planes)=1d20+7=18
Justin also goes over to the Silver Rose offices, wanting to see this moron who thought it would be a good idea to try to snatch 3 'helpless girls' who were obviously brave enough to risk walking the streets of the slums alone. At first he doesn't say anything, just listens carefully as he sits on the corner of a table and watches the others, entertaining himself by casually tossing a candle-sized ball of flame from palm to palm,...
Merle's face remains blank as the man talks accept for a slight continuous twitch in her right eye finally she opens her mouth to speak "Yeah well these clueless bints kicked your rear end didn't they?"
The bruised thug is being sarcastic
"You're either lying or the worst brainsnatcher in the business. What's with the symbol on your brooch? I got a notion it ain't a gift from your mother."
Knowledge (local)=1d20+6=8, Knowledge (the planes)=1d20+7=18
The thug grimaces.
"It's the sigul of me adventuring company, the Crimson Eye."
Issac has never heard of such a company, but adventuring groups are a Stinger a dozen in the Cage. He also has never seen the symbol before, but the eye is a symbol for knowledge and wisdom.
Merle's face remains blank as the man talks accept for a slight continuous twitch in her right eye finally she opens her mouth to speak "Yeah well these clueless bints kicked your rear end didn't they?"
The thug looks at Merle.
"Yeah, yeh did a good job at that. Fair's fair."
"Crimson Eye, eh? Who's your leader? How many of you are there? Where you based, just in case we need to drop by?"
"Crimson Eye, eh? Who's your leader? How many of you are there? Where you based, just in case we need to drop by?"
The thug looks over at Issac with a swollen eye and coughs
"Drake Whitesmith, lots and we works mainly outta Ribcage."
Merle's face remains blank as the man talks accept for a slight continuous twitch in her right eye finally she opens her mouth to speak "Yeah well these clueless bints kicked your rear end didn't they?"The thug looks at Merle.
"Yeah, yeh did a good job at that. Fair's fair."
At this, Justin cannot help himself, and a snort of laughter escapes.
"Yes, yes they did." He agrees cheerily, balancing his tiny flame-ball on the backs of his fingers.
"Just be glad that the Lady Bethany wasn't with them! Oh, She's the other female of our little group. And as a Harpy, she'd probably would rather have had your guts for garters than have to drag your unconscious carcass along instead of leaving it to be picked over, or worse, in the streets of the Hive." Justin explains happily as he manages to balance the little flame on the tip of one finger.
Justin tosses the little flame up into the air, and catches it on his palm. Rolling it around slowly as he smiles at the man.
"Still, things could be worse. You're alive at least. Not too much the worse for wear." Justin winces theatrically as he examines the mark of Karrin's boot on his face..
"Well, your alive at least." He repeats deadpan.
"AND you now know that the targets you were sent after are NOT 'clueless bints'. AND by default a clever fellow should realize that the crew of the SIlver Rose are not to be trifled with. Invaluable lessons actually. And I'm sure that a smart fellow like you will have no problem applying those lessons in the future. And all we ask in return for that invaluable lesson is the name of the one who hired your group to do the snatch, and why, if they were free with that particular tidbit of information. Give us that, and I see no reason why we can't release you back to your comrades, with a polite but strongly worded warning that he next time someone approaches your group with a job that crosses path with the Silver Rose, that it might be more profitable to send us a messenger instead."
Justin smiles at the battered man, looking around at the others, particularly Renkar, and shrugs in a 'Does that sound alright with you?' gesture.
The bruised and bleeding thug coughs again and looks about
"So listen. This was a contract job one off. I was contacted by this guy Sarko at the club Zero, an' he wanted a group of 'nosy bints' caught. I didn't ask why, OK? The berks I was with ain't part of me crew, it was a slap-dash affair. I don't know much more than that, so are yeh gonna let me go?"
The bruised and bleeding thug coughs again and looks about
"So listen. This was a contract job one off. I was contacted by this guy Sarko at the club Zero, an' he wanted a group of 'nosy bints' caught. I didn't ask why, OK? The berks I was with ain't part of me crew, it was a slap-dash affair. I don't know much more than that, so are yeh gonna let me go?"
"In a bit. Two more questions: When was the drop going to take place with Sarko? Were you going to meet him there? Does the name 'Toranna' mean anything to you?"
"Er Issac that's actually three questions but since were asking did he specificity describe us or did you happen to decide to just jump the first group of females you came across?."
"In a bit. Two more questions: When was the drop going to take place with Sarko? Were you going to meet him there? Does the name 'Toranna' mean anything to you?"
The thug shrugs and winces
"Sodding Baator me breastbone hurts. Sarko wanted us to meet up at a flop house near Zero called the Final Destination Inn. Bleaker run, gloomy place, no questions asked. Never heard of Toranna, she the bint with the blue axe?"
"Er Issac that's actually three questions but since were asking did he specificity describe us or did you happen to decide to just jump the first group of females you came across?."
The thug grimaces
"Sarko gave me a description, it was pretty plain: Tiefling bint with blue axe, travelling with catfolk and elf bints. Even in the Cage that's easy enough to spot. Said he'd seen you travelling down towards Allesha's Pantry, so I hired a few bully boys to pad out the scrum, and here we be. I shouldn't have been so stingy with the jink, maybe got a few Xaos boys as well. Ah well, filth under the trestle."
Justin nods as the thug continues talking, smiling when he finishes.
"Excellent. Thank you. You have been most cooperative. Allow us to clarify a few things with my superior, and we'll see to your release." Justin smiles pleasantly. But a close look shows that the subtext of the smile says, 'You better not be lying,...'
Justin walks over to Renkar, and waves Isaac and the others over as well. Our of earshot of their 'guest' he speaks softly and swiftly.
"If he's not completely lying through his teeth, this is a golden opportunity! We can go to the meeting with this 'Sarko' guy, pretending to bring in the girls as prisoners. If I can get a scroll of Alter Self, I can take this loser's place. If we can catch the guy who hired him, we may actually get a clue as to what the 9 hells is goin' on!"
"My major concern is that he's lying and leading us into a trap. Although considering the quality of the riff-raff that he brought to try and catch the ladies, I'm inclined to believe him. Mister Renkar, Is there a way that you can verify his employer quickly? Magic messenger or some-such? Or do we take this guy at his word, and have him owe us a favor by NOT reporting to his employer that he was trying to do some side business? Although I seriously doubt that any respectable employer would miss this lunkhead too much."
"My major concern is that he's lying and leading us into a trap. Although considering the quality of the riff-raff that he brought to try and catch the ladies, I'm inclined to believe him. Mister Renkar, Is there a way that you can verify his employer quickly? Magic messenger or some-such? Or do we take this guy at his word, and have him owe us a favor by NOT reporting to his employer that he was trying to do some side business? Although I seriously doubt that any respectable employer would miss this lunkhead too much."
Renkar nods
"I think he's lying like a rug. I don't trust him, and his story stinks. I think he is covering for someone, most likely his boss. We need a brainscanner, or we rough him up a bit. There's no way to get to Ribcage much closer than a day's travel, and through gates at that. If he's just slumming in the Cage, why is he picking up mercenary work? If I was his boss I'd have his hide for wearing our sigul on an independent job. His story doesn't read right to me."
"I think he's lying like a rug. I don't trust him, and his story stinks. I think he is covering for someone, most likely his boss. We need a brainscanner, or we rough him up a bit. There's no way to get to Ribcage much closer than a day's travel, and through gates at that. If he's just slumming in the Cage, why is he picking up mercenary work? If I was his boss I'd have his hide for wearing our sigul on an independent job. His story doesn't read right to me."
Merle lowers her voice to a barely audible whisper"Want me to put the fear in him maybe see if I can scare him into telling us the truth?"
Renkar looks at Merle
"If you think it will be effective, by all means Lady Merle."
Karrin eats quietly by herself back at the rose. Although she's unsure why everyone left her, and why Naridre and Merle weren't talking with her, Renkar had said that she'd had done well and that was all that mattered. Plus she had food. Karrin loved to eat. What would Renkar think of their work when he finds out that they located Eliath alive and well? Karrin smiles as she pushes her 8th plate away.
"Ramona," Karrin says, "I think I'm going to have desert!"
"Ramona," Karrin says, "I think I'm going to have desert!"
Ramona beams
"What would yeh like Karrin dear? We have apple, cherry, sugarberry, rosemelon and pecan pie tonight. Plus I think Ma got a cake down at the market if yeh'd like a slice, Opaline chocolotl with vanilla bean frosting I believe."
"Okay" Merle responds before turning towards the bound thug her face takes on a more predatory look as she approaches him "I think your lying to me That is rather.......Unfortunate I went to a lot of effort to convince The tiefling lady to let you live she was all for just caving your head in there and then of course if you cant do that I'm just as well letting her finish the job then again I am pretty much just a big walking cat...." At which point she stops and licks her lips "......and its been a very long time since I had live prey."
Intimidate
Bluff
The thug stiffens and starts to sweat
"Any of yeh wanna call the cat off?"
Nari watches Merle's efforts appreciatively. "Good application of fear. Maybe a bit heavy-handed, but still quite nice," she murmured.
"What?" she said noticing an odd look from Justin. "When you spend your whole life being afraid of everything you develop an acute understanding of the finer nuances of fear."
"Tell me the truth and convince us your worth more to me than a midnight snack." She again licks her lips
The thug sweats a bit more
"Look, I told you what I can, now please let me be."
"Well that's to bad I guess you're of no use to me then hopefully you'll at least taste good" Merle then makes a big show of opening her mouth wide as if about to take a bite into him"
Intimidate
"Well that's to bad I guess you're of no use to me then hopefully you'll at least taste good" Merle then makes a big show of opening her mouth wide as if about to take a bite into him"
Intimidate
The thug cringes and gasps as Merle's fangs come close
"All righ' all righ'! I'll lann yeh the straight chant, Lady's Honor!"
The rogue gasps and then looks about wildly
"All righ'. The dark of the chant is I jest joined a group of bashers wot works out of Plaugemort. They're called the Illuminated. Their boss' name is the Green Marvent. The Green Marvent don't come to Sigil often, but his right hand is here, a cutter known as the Shadowknave. He an' that bint Toranna got some scam cookin' over at the Mausoleum, but I swear by all the fiends in Baator I don't know what it is. Alls I know is I've been running protection for the Shadowknave for a few weeks, keeping the Xaos boys and nosy berks from finding out about his scam with sending barmy stiffs to his partner Toranna for some purpose."
The thug groans
"I thought this was me big break, get with some trig bashers and carve a rorty name for meself. Now I've hit the blinds and me posse is gonna be ful torqued off at me and itching to scrub me till I'm paste for barkin'. "
Merle pulls back a little "That's much better now what were you two do with me and my two friends? You seem to have planned originally to take us alive?"
Merle pulls back a little "That's much better now what were you two do with me and my two friends? You seem to have planned originally to take us alive?"
The thug moans
"Shadowknave wanted you taken to the Mausoleum. I was supposed to bring at least one of yeh alive and kicking to the back gate tonight and hand yeh over to Toranna. He was going to go after some other berks down at the Gatehouse Night Market while I was gettin' yeh scragged."
"Thank you for letting me know." Merle answers going from menacing to cheerful in an instance she turns to Justin "So what you think? you want to try this disguise idea you were talking about?"
Justin raises an eyebrow at the small elf's observation, but only smiles innocently in a, 'what, I didn't say anything' look when she notices him.
The wizard starts to open his mouth as Merle stalks to the bully-boy and starts playing with him like a,... well,... like a cat with a mouse. He coughs slightly, covering his face with his hand, but the sharp-eyed Nedrie and Isaac see that he's simply covering up a smile, and turning his back to the thug so he doesn't give it away. By the time the creep starts spilling like a broken pitcher, Justin has himself back under control. He turns back and meets the now-cheerful Merle with a grin of his own.
"Yep, I think it's our best bet. I just happen to have the spell ready!" He grins. "But we might not even need magic, which can be easily detected by nervous casters. I think Isaac can borrow our friend's cloak, keep the hood up, and drop off one or both of you as 'unconscious' deliveries. After that,... we'll Im good at making up stuff as I go." he grins.
Justin turns back to Renkar. "So, what DO we do with our new 'friend'? We can't let him go running off to warn Torranna, but I'm no cold-blooded killer. Though I might make an exception,..." He adds just a little louder, glancing with a frown at the thug. "What are the arrangements for turning him over to the hardheads? I'm sure they want him for something. At the very least they would probably keep him locked up long enough for us to pull this off?" He looks around at the others.
Justin frowns, and speaks softer, "My biggest concern about this tonight is firepower. I used up all my most powerful spells when we got jumped earlier, and I haven't rested nearly long enough to regain my strength. I'm hardly defenseless, but,..." He shrugs. "Hopefully this won't require brute force. This IS a 'fact-finding' mission,... mostly. Right?" He asks with a wry grin.