Ihon remains quiet after his simple comment.
Phaedra raises an eyebrow at the attempt to befriend the man, but holds her tongue on the off chance that he will say something useful.
Sazu also remains quiet, wondering if listing various torture methods would be a practical application of intimidation in the future. Sure, none of them were in practice, or really even feasible, but most people didn't know that...
Stanik nods and smile, Speak his name in the darkness. He is everywhere. He comes in the night and speaks in your mind. He is the voice of the end and the end comes to all.
Andre grits his teeth, jaw muscle bulging. "And how about your friends. Where might they be."
After a bit of a recoil in fear, he speaks again, I...they...I don't know right now. We..didn't expect a defeat. We were likely headed to the altar with...bodies...but I doubt that is the case now.
Andre frowns. "I see. And is there any safe haven that your friends might go to, in the event of a defeat such as this?"
There is a cave. About a day's walk to the north. The Beast speaks from within so some go there to rest. They...might have gone there.
"Ha. There. Did you hear that?!" Andre calls to the others. He turns back to Stanik. "Thank you. That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
Leaving the man tied to the tree, he strides back to the company. "Well, we have a lead. Finally. A day's walk to the north, he says. What do we plan to do with him while we march?"
"Andre...would you be interested in collaborating on a series of papers on your interrogation techniques? I'm sure future generations would find the knowledge very useful."
As for the prisoner's fate, Sazu is blunt as text in a book.
"If he's useful, he lives. If not, we may not be able to afford to protect, monitor, detain, feed, or otherwise maintain him."
Part of him was simply speaking the truth of the matter, the other hoped that this would drive the man far enough into a corner to change his ways.
"For the Prince of Darkness, THANK YOU! If I had heard any more nonsense I'd have beheaded him... I think we all agree that we can't bring him with us and I'd not like to spend our time bringing him back to the town, even more if you consider the possibility the cultists could have infiltrated there... I think our only options are to tie him to a tree..."
Andre chuckles in surprise at Sazu's offer. "Nothin' fancy. Just keep on 'em like a hound on a bone; most people aren't as tough as they imagine." He pats Sazu on the shoulder affectionately.
To Baolus, he says, "I agree. Perhaps we can find a tree with a solid, forming branch so that we can tie him somewhere off the ground. Much though I dislike him, I'd rather not return and find him eaten by a pack of wolves." He frowns as though suddenly thinking of something, and turns back toward Stanik.
"Are there any markings of paths around this cave? How will we know we're in the right place to hear the Beast?"
To kill him, or to probably kill him. I suppose one makes it easier to lie to oneself about the fault of the matter. Ihon frowns. If this cave were easy to find...would the followers of Erastil already have found it? Perhaps the cave is not the way. Or at least not the next stop on the way.
Stanik nods, The Beast speaks when you are near. We follow the destruction and the call of the end.
"Why don't we take this fellow back to those Erastil followers we met in town? Perhaps if we do that, they may be more willing to talk to us about what the hell is going on around here? Besides which, I'm unsure of the wisdom of running off towards a cave that may or may not exist, that may or may not have that one fellow that got away from us organizing them against our arrival?"
I look to Phaedra and nod while she speaks, "I agree with that situation completely. It also means that we can hand him over to the local authorities so that he may receive a proper trial."
"Do we have time for a return trip? If we've given up chasing the lead, then perhaps a trip back is fine. But if there's a bit of chance that we can still track them down..."
Sazu lets his words hang in the air.
We are not the hunters in this forest. Ihon says while continuing to stare out into the woods.
Andre sighs. "Very well. If you all think it best, let us return him to town...but I'll have the head of this 'Yasen' on a pike as soon as I can!"
Baolus nods. "Right... back to town... I could really enjoy a mug or two of a good ale! Do not really worry about their tracks... I feel I'm pretty capable of tracking them down."
Even with the rain, it isn't terribly difficult for you to pick your way back toward the trading post. You don't think that there is anyone following you from the point of the combat at the very least.
Ihon's familiar wakes up and chirps as they start walking again, peering off into the woods.
After a few moments it closes its eyes and curls up to sleep again.
Ihon meanders in the middle of the others as normal.
Sazu nods, confident in his more experienced companions to make a rational decision.
"Baolus, perhaps you could recommend me a good drink. While I used to work in a bar, my mother would never let me near the stuff."
Andre pushes Stanik ahead of him grimly as the group marches, keeping a close eye on the young man and scanning their surroundings as they go.
I take up my usual position and walk along, keeping my eyes open for trouble. "At last, things are following the proper procedure. Hopefully this is the start of a better relationship with my new comrades."
Baolus smiles at the gnome. "Ha! I could indeed give you some advice about some ales and all kinds and varieties of beer if that is what you are looking for... but if you are more interested on those fruity girl's drinks or wine, then I'll not be of any help... perhaps Rona can help you with wine... he is an elf after all!"
Phaedra keeps an eye out for anyone that they could turn their prisoner over to as they walk.
"I hope we can find someone soon to turn this fellow over to. I hate to be babysitting for too long, I'd at least like to be rid of him him before anyone can make a rescue attempt at him."
I look to both Baolus and Sazu with a little sadness showing on my face , "I think I am more Human than Elf now. I have not been among my kind for ... a very long time." I seem to perk up a little bit after coming to a thought, "As for wines, I am more of a mead man. The sweet honey tickling your throat on the way down, followed by the kick of the alcohol ... there is not much else like it. Plus it is made of honey, so it can be counted as a fruity girls drink." I smirk in humour before getting back to paying attention for any intruders.
You all travel on, but Stanik is screaming and struggling every step of the way. All of you figure that if anyone wanted to find you, they'd be able to. Ihon and Phaedra, you notice that someone or something is watching you while you move through the forest but it doesn't seem to pursue you away from the edge of the woods.
You are successful in dragging Stanik back toward the trading post but, as you approach, you don't currently see the pair you met before and there are no obvious temples of Erastil that you see. It seems reasonable that gathering information inside of the trading post or just asking around might point you in the right direction, but people are likely to react oddly to you dragging a prisoner into the post.
As they approach the outskirts of the trading post, Andre growls in exasperation and thrusts his face up to Stanik's. "So help me, boy, it's raining, it's been a long day, you've been captured, we've killed your friend, and you've still been nigh to useless! If you don't stop that wailing and walk with us into this town, I will beat you unconscious and leave you here with the elf!"
Sazu goes to find the nearest enforcement officer.
"Hang on for a bit longer Andre. I'll find someone to take him off our hands."
We are being watched. Ihon states, as they walk. He doesn't bother to elaborate.
Sazu, you are able to find a guard hired to protect the tavern. It is clear that they don't have any official "law enforcement" but the tavern guards are the only people officially on payroll to provide security.
How can I help you? The guard, a burly human man says.
"Greetings sir. My companions and I have a bit a predicament on our hands and I was wondering if you'd have the expertise I seek. Suffice to say, we have a bit of a lunatic, the dangerous kind, and was wondering if there'd be a place to stow him away, so he won't hurt the common folk."
Ihon sits quietly with the prisoner, seemingly unbothered by his objections.
Andre scowls and backhands the prisoner across the jaw.
Stanik simply laughs at the strike, then laughs more, then laughs even more.
Sazu, the guard thinks and shrugs, We have something of a holding cell where we store unruly drunks, but we don't have a jail or anything like that. Soldiers come by every week or two along the road and for the right price I suspect we could sit him in the drunk tank until they arrive...what crime is this one accused of?
"Waylaying travelers. Conspiring against the town. Temporary Insanity. Among other things. Truth be told, we questioned him along the way here and it seemed that he and his cohorts were planning something. Wasn't able to work out what in the short time traversing back. My companions and I were planning on pursuing a lead to root out the other traitorous individuals while you guardsmen kept a watchful eye on this first one. I imagine the civilians would grateful to hear their capable protectors were an instrumental asset in protecting their loved ones."
Once he's finished dealing blows to Stanik, Andre sighs, flexes his hand, and turns to Rona. "You seem to be invested in keeping this scum around...keep an eye on him while I find out what's taking that gnome so long?" Barely even waiting for an answer, he turns and heads into the village.
Andre walks up just in time to hear the end of the Sazu's statement. He smiles thinly at the guard. "My companion here speaks truly. The good people of this town will no doubt be relieved to hear that you've aided us in apprehending a dangerous--and armed--cult of lunatics."
Ihon frowns slightly but makes no move to stop Andre. We are not so different from him. At least not as different as we'd like. Will you laugh when death comes? Cry? Struggle? Does seeing it coming make it better or worse?
I silently follow everything that has been going on but keep out of it. Once Andre leaves to find Sazu I turn to Ihon, "I for one would like to see my death before hand, so that I may prepare myself to accept it openly." I glance around to Andre and the unconscious body before turning back to Ihon and speaking quietly, "Why would leaving him with me be a punishment, am I that bad?"
Andre, you are successful in influencing this guard.
You mean out in the forest? I've heard tell that there is some fighting going on of some sort. But we haven't really had any of it coming here. For the most part the forest folk seem content to come here for supplies and they keep their violence to themselves. I don't mind putting one man up in the cell for a couple of days but not sure what else I can offer.
"Can't speak for you, friend, but I know I'm different enough," Andre growls as he stalks off. "When I die, it's straight into the White Stag's embrace for me."
Andre smiles. "Well, now that's reasonable. Don't worry, we've taken his weapons and whatnot, so as long as you keep the door locked tight he should be perfectly harmless to you and yours. Hold on here, we'll go get him."
So saying, he heads back out of town to the group. "Got a guard who's willing to take this clown in, at least for a few days until we round up the rest of the gang. Come on, let's get him off our hands." Andre slips one of Stanik's arms over his shoulder, hoisting him to start dragging him back to the town.
Once they find the guard again, he explains (for the guard's benefit), "This fella's name is Stanik. He uh...resisted arrest."
The guard seems to be willing to accept the facade, but he rather clearly doesn't believe that Stanik resisted arrest. He'll take the unconscious man off of your hands and, unless anyone stops him, heads off behind the tavern to lock him up.
They know he's here. We could just wait. Ihon says quietly.
Andre frowns. "That's...not a bad idea, surprisingly enough," he says grudgingly. "I'm champing at the bit to track this scum to ground, but perhaps there are better snares to lay. Let's retire to the inn and discuss our options."
"Agreed. I have some notes I need to file and a few sketches I need to finish before the memories fade."
"The problem with this is that you assume they'll be willing to rescue him... if this thing is somewhat restricted to the forest, I do not think they will risk to get the town's attention to their affairs simply to free this piece of s@&%, even more if they know the amount of crap he keeps talking..." He follows Andre to the inn, eager to eat something warm.
Rescue? No. Ihon responds as he follows the others.
"What d'you expect to happen, then?" Andre asks Ihon as he shoulders open the door to the tavern. "Barkeep! Over here." Sitting down at a large corner table he leans forward, interest piqued. "You think they'd kill him to keep their secrets?"