Ragnvald crosses his arms and smiles as the two face off. Clearly not intending to interfere with the battle about to ensue.
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Looking at Ragnvald smiling, Jez shakes her head:
- enough bloodshed. You have killed enough people with your games already. If either of you strikes the other, I assure you than my friends and I shall finish off whichever remains standing.
Intimidate: <-- using dazzling display so that all within 30 feet are intimidated.
Both men look a bit surprised by such unwanted intruders. The one with the top hat reacts quicker and sheathes his sword. With a voice used to command, he asks
Who are you and what is your business?
We are the unfortunate heirs of Mord's wrath for his murder at the hands of the villain Wade. Our business is survival, and if that requires your death, it will be quick and painless.
But, as the little girl with a big sword . . . and an ogre, the real question is WHO ARE YOU? And what are you doing here killer of innocents. How is it that you are alive in this pit of undeath?
"Ummm Attalas is my name, whats yours sir?"
"Name's Cordren, fer what it matters to ya." Seeing the conversation at hand as a suitable distraction, Cordren leans against the wall and begins nipping at his flask of gin, watching the two new guests quietly.
Attalas waits with crooked smile, expecting an answer...
I, too would like to hear some answers! Nymeria says, clearly starting to reach the end of her tether.
Can I hit them with my sword? Please? They look really mean and it would be fun to see a little girl beat them up.
"Looking mean and being mean aren't the same... lets see who they are."
Even though his hair has become grizzled, you think the man with the top hat is the one who has smiled when Mord was hanged. The scar he had back then is still visible.
The other one, the rather fat man, is surely the judge from back then.
The top-hat wearer smirks and says
So you are a band of thugs and criminals, mhh? Good for you that this does not matter at the moment...I'm Alastir Wade, grand lawyer of the city of Absalom and master of the fencer's guild...and the obese criminal over there, was once known as high judge Silman Trabe...but that was a long time ago...
The addressed man's face turns dark red and he nearly draws his sword again, but then only bellows
You're a liar, Wade! You have brought this curse upon us!
Ragnvald lausghs. "Thug? Criminal? I suppose so. I have also been called a murderer, thief, warlord, tyrant at times, maniac, fool, arrogant, and other words in Skald which have no real interpretation in common. But I can also tell you what I am not. I am not the murderer of an executioners family, or the executioner himself. I did not pay off a hobgoblin thug to coerce and bully the jury into seeing his death. I did not ask the judge to ensure the jury was stacked with people who were in my favor. Men who hated Mord, women who were bound to me, and lecherous fools with a narrow view on the opposite sex. Nor did I have that judge killed by the same hobgoblin. These people are dead. Murdered by the same spectre you forced to rise. No," Ragnvald shakes his head and smiles wickedly."My crimes are the simple demands of a leader and the will of the Lord in Iron.
Yet in all this one thing that could not be discerned is...why? What hate did you have of Mord that you had to go through such elaborate means to see him so utterly destroyed? He is here you know. We've seen him. His crooked neck and wicked claws stalk these corridors hunting for blood. The only thing we've been able to determine is that he won't stop until he's destroyed his real killer and he cares not for innocence. So tell me Mr. Wade why should we not rip you into pieces and hand you over to the ghost in a sack?"
Attalas looks a bit shocked and upset at being called a criminal and a thug.
"I was a serving member of the town guard, I've not done anything criminal... I reckon its like my friend here says, you need to start talking, because I reckon handing you over sits just fine"
Attalas grips his blade and keeps his distance.
It is not Wade who answers first, actually, the self-confident lawyer is a bit surprised by Ragnvald's elaborate speech. Instead it is Trabe who answers
Ha! You're good people, you're no criminals, you have found out the truth, now let's kill this liar together, before he can spread more of his foul words.
Actually, before either of you draws a blade, both of you have some answering to do. We know that Wade had a vendetta, most definitely unjust, against Mord. We know that he worked to stack the jury. However, I answer to no higher power and answer to no law, especially when unjust. I want the truth, and will use whatever method is necessary to gain the truth. Our goal is to be free of this mockery of a court you have created through your own misdeeds and lies.
Now, both of you will drop your weapons, otherwise my little friend and I shall pin you and use whatever techniques are necessary to gain the truth. Actually, the little room behind the court actually had some very nice tools which I recall from my youth. I watched my mother, a succubus, use them quite effectively and while I have no interest in using them for pleasure, I learned enough that I am sure I could try them out on the two of you.
Intimidate:
Silman Trabe pales at the mentioning of a succubus' tools, but Wade only grins
Whoever will come too close to me has already forfeit his life. I know who had betrayed Mord, it was no one else than Silman Trabe - and I can prove it! Here...
He pulls out a letter and throws it over to you.
Trabe pales even more as he spots the piece of parchment.
You should have had a career as a comedian as that was almost laughable. Once my wee ogre wraps his arms around you, that toothpick you carry will be useless. Then we will beat you senseless and once you awake, you will find yourself I those nice toys you used in the pursuit of "justice". Now are you going to answer some questions or do you want us to force you to?
Nymeria pads over and picks up the letter, then unfolds it and reads it.
The letter is short but written in a very elaborate handwriting
I will tell everyone about your involvement in the dreadful miscarriage of justice if you do not bring 1000 gp.
Once Wade thinks you have read the short messgae, he explains
It is true, I went for Mord's execution, but only since Trabe made me believe he was guilty. I trusted him and right after the execution he told me it was all wrong and forged...I was an aspiring lawyer at that time and I didn't have the courage to reveal what the judge did...
Trabe just watches his mouth wide open
I have the same letter! Here, I also brought 1000 gp!
He shows a jingling bag with coins.
"Ha, so you are both guilty then eh!?"
Lets just use those fun toys in the next room and get some real answers, after all, that is why this good judge and honest prosecutor allowed those tools to be kept in the courthouse. To get truth.
"Indeed, you were both lured here by whatever spectre haunts this place. Congratulations." Ragnvald spits. "I don't think I need to explain to you that an innocent man would have reported to what passes for law in this palce. But, I think I prefer your solution. Please, return to murdering each other. Do not interrupt on our accounts. As the son of Gorum I cannot rightfully interrupt a fight in progress."
"So you didn't send each other letters then, taht don't make sense, but I reckon someone knew of yer guiltiness and tricked you both. Reckon there's only one way out of this mess now..."
We saw a ghost;
who lost the most;
and then came two;
who stunk like poo;
one was fat, one was thin;
the thin was stank of vile sin;
like a snake Wade lied;
and glowed with pride;
but Trabe was here;
and was very near;
the crime was his as well;
his soul did he sell;
when Mord to the gallows sent;
so Trabe's ego wouldn't be bent;
now we grab and crush these two;
grind them into Mobo's stew.
Looking at Wade and Trabe with a sense of pity, Cordren shakes his head. "I pray Pharasma has a fitting place set aside fer ya. It seems you two ain't gonna make it outta here alive, and while that would normally not abide well by me, I believe in this instance I cannot rightly affect the outcome. Nor would I neccesarily want to."
Now it's Killian's time to speak- the demasked dandy steps next to Attalas and says.
I guess you already know that I was Mord's only friend in life, mhhm? I have protected you until now, but this night will only end when the murder of Mord's wife and his son Jarbin is finally hanged - if it doesn't end this way, Mord will come and hang everyone in this courthouse - then surely the murder will be among the dead.
Wade arches an eyebrow and looks a moment longer at Killian, then laughs out loud
Is that you, Sveth? That is ridiculous, but I should have known that the idiot and the ugly monster would make a good team, heh! Did you screw Mord's wife together or did he only allow you to watch?
Wade is surely trying to provoke Sveth to do something stupid...In Wade's eyes is only cold calculation.
Anger is burning up in Killian and you see how his hand wanders to his dagger.
Sense Motive
Initiative
Whilst the Ogre might be missing the finer subtleties, its pretty clear that Killian is a man on the edge... Attalas knows a fight is coming.
Sense Motive
Initiative
Ragnvald laughs. "If you want to skewer him Wade then draw your blade and be done with it! This childish provocation is a meaningless display with no purpose than to claim you were in the right! Either draw your blade or be silent!"
Sense Motive:
Initiative:
Quick as lightening, Nymeria whips an arrow from her quiver and shoots it into the wooden floor between the two men.
Use your words to figure this out and nobody has to die! she says, nocking another arrow.
Intimidate:
Sense Motive:
Initiative:
Sensing the danger at hand, Cordren draws his mace and prepares to defend himself. "Nymeria, yer efforts are just, but I think such things are wasted on these men. Let 'em run each other through. Not everyone can be saved."
Sense Motive:
I don't know who is lying about what, but I am pretty sure that all three of you are guilty. Lets just hog tie them and pull out their fingernail until we get some answers.
Initiative:
Nymeria's clear and commanding voice combined with her arrow make Sveth realize that Wade nearly provoked him to do something very stupid. he nods to the elf, turns to Wade and says
You can't make me attack you, soon Mord will hang you, and then we will see who has the last laugh.
Wade's face is emotionless, then he abruptly turns around and walks to the front door.
Meanwhile judge Trabe comes over to you and offers the jingling bag of coins. Sweat is all over his face and you can clearly see the terror in his eyes.
I'll give you the whole money if you just tell me how I can escape!
"Simple, you gonna confess, but firsts me and Wade gonna talk about him callin' me a monster..."
"There was a villain named Wade,
a man of very low grade,
insulted a stranger,
put his life into danger,
and ended up kissing my blade"
Attalas continues moving to the attack, determined to get Wade.
Disarm attempt:
This is going to be fun.
If Attalas manages to disarm Wade, then I will attempt to grapple him.
Grapple:
Wade's weapon clatters to the floor and he looks terrified at the raging Ogre. Unable to offer any real resistance he is easily overpowered by Jez.
He stammers
Please, let me go, I'm a rich man, I can offer you tons of coins, just let me go!
But now Sveth shouts
It's time to deliver a judgement - who do you think is guilty? Who killed Mord's wife Malene and his son Jarbin and why and what kind of proof do you have?
Behind Sveth you hear the rasping voice of the Croaker in the darkness...
It is abundantly clear that Attalas is intending to give Wade a dance; the hempen jig.
Without further ado, he joins Jez in draging the man into a grapple, and soon to a noose.
Wait! Wait! Before we hang anybody, I want everybody to sit down, and tell us what you know! Everyone gets their chance to speak! I for one don't want to end up back here, or somewhere worse, because we judged a man too rashly and condemned him! Don't you see?! If we kill someone without figuring out what actually happened, we are just going to make another Mord! Now Attalas, Jez, drop him. She says calmly, uprighting one of the chairs for him. She then pulls up more chairs.
And you! She says, turning to the darkness behind Sveth. Piss off, we're not doing this for you! She fires an arrow at the noisy ghost.
Longbow:
Damage:
Ah, come on, just a little stretchy stretchy? It usually helps people to remember things.
Jez looks at Mobo with confusion: You mean the elf is real? I was hoping that she was just my good conscience, figured I could just ignore it.
Pff, alright, I'll start: Nymeria says, taking a seat.
I studied magic with Master Ardolan Kindiri, who was a jury member on the Mord trial. He never told me much about it. This morning, I woke up here, after having a terrible dream, which I now think is part of the evidence for Mord's trial. There was...light glinting on the blade of an axe. Body parts scattered all over the floor. Long dark hair caked with blood and a severed small boy's hand grabbing a toy. The floor coated with blood and boots that wade through this ocean of life fluid. Regret and hate mix up and soon become horror and fear of being caught and found guilty. The axe clatters to the floor and quick footsteps can be heard that hasten away. Boots clacking in the distance...That was the dream. Then I woke up.