Yaos returns her mace to her belt and looks around spying Azlain. She places one hand affectionately on each of her two conjured Leopards, which are floating in the air at waist height, cracking slightly with electricity, and addresses the new arrival, saying "Who would you be sir? And what brings you here and what was your role in the small drama that just ended?"
"It is not ended." Azlain replied a bit tersely, his attention still on the imp.
Yaos focuses her power and the energies between the planes boil and seethe according to her whim as Dire Bats coalesce into existence 40 feet above her and four feet in Itch's direction. Then at a sharp command in an inhuman tongue, the Dire Bats and Pale Wing set off in pursuit of the Imp at a furious pace.
A silver ring fell out of empty air near where Itch hovered. It expanded as it fell, reaching a bredth of ten feet by the time it landed neatly on the ground.
Before the ring had even finished falling, Azlain was casting a spell. The circle flashed into an iridescent column that trapped Itch in place.
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Magnius strolls over towards Azlain, "Is this annoyance yours?" He asks, clearly referring to Itch.
"Hardly. Mine is much more competent." the wizard on the undead horse said.
With Itch caught and effectively helpless, the lanky spellcaster turns to the trio. "My name is Azlain. I was hired to investigate the three of you in regards to the death of this imp's former master. He intended to hire an assassin. I was clear that I needed to ascertain guilt first, but he was unwilling to wait and attempted to trick me into believing you three were enemies of the empire."
"I do not know the two of you, but you," he said with a gesture to the Boogyman, "Your reputation precedes. Your methods may not always be sanctioned, but I know you are not seditious. The fact that you have been allowed to operate without oversight for so long is a testament to the Empire's appreciation for your work."
he returned his attention to Magnius and Yaus. "The Boogyman's presence gave you enough of the benefit of the doubt that Itch's subterfuge was easy to see for what it was."
"Now though, I still have my investigation to complete. I'd like to ask about the death of Itch's master."
Azlain held up his hand and the sigil of the Order of the Scourge lit up beneath his skin. "You are not Bound by Law at this time, but your compliance is obligatory, and appreciated."
Mangius nods a greeting to Azlain. "Greetings, I am Lord Magnius Arvanxi, nephew to Lord Mayor Aberian Arvanxi of Westcrown, and Armiger to the Order of the Godclaw." He replies formally. "As to the death of Itch's former master, he had an unhealthy obsession with halfling feet, and sought to murder our halfling companion to fulfill said perverse fetish. Instead, we slew him in self defense."
Azlain looked a bit pained at the revelation of why Itch's master had been killed.
"A Cleric of the Barbatos named Vaelin." he replied before continuing his line of questioning. "So, you were... protecting your property? This halfling?"
"No, I'm afraid not. The circle Itch is Bound within cannot be moved without releasing him." Azlain said. "I will try to make this brief."
"No, we were not 'protecting our property'. Alfred was a business associate, despite being a halfling. He wasn't exactly a friend, but he was an ally. Still is actually, he's doing some covert investigating for us. Vaelin had managed to convince his allies that we were enemies of the Empire, I believe, and turned them against both us and Francesco Phandros, their employer."
"Ah, I see. That would be where Itch got the idea that you were seditious traitors." Azlain said.
"I assume you would be willing to repeat your statements in a Zone of Truth, under the scrutiny of Hellknight questioners? Should the need arise?"
"I'm not sure I like my word, as both a noble of this land, and fellow Hellknight being questioned thusly. Especially not since you haven't truly filled us in on exactly how and why you are involved with this little fiend."
Azlain shrugged. "I know nothing of you and my job is to be suspicious of everything. It will not be me asking your testimony in a circle of truth, but I will be making a report. You may be asked to follow up your words now with more stringent documentation later. The man you killed was not some nobody, in spite of his... proclivities, he was also a moderately influential priest with a long history of service to the Church and the Empire. You should expect that your word will be questioned thoroughly. Personally I believe you, so I think magical tests will only serve to exonerate you further."
"As for the imp, he sought me out and convinced me to come after the two of you. So here I am."
"I concur Magnius. Azlain, you obviously think you have some form of authority that you are throwing around. Would you be kind enough to fill us in on what this is? And perhaps who you are investigating us on behalf of?" Yaos's tone is mild and her words polite, but the void seems to be staring out of her eyes at Azlain.
Yaos has her Dire Bats remain close to Itch, while she has a hand of each of her leopards as they float waist high, crackling with lightning periodically.
Azlain passed her an ebony scrollcase. He maintained his comfortable affability, even in the face of Yaos' passive menace. "You are right to be skeptical."
Inside is a series of documents. The first names the bearer, Azlain Darklight, as a licenced Barrister of the Imperial Academy of Law and Custom. The next shows him to be a fully ordained Hellknight Signifier of the order of the Scourge. He also carries Imperial Entry and Travel papers usually only given to diplomatic envoys. The last is an Imperial Writ bearing the sigil of the House of Thune noting that Azlain is a trusted agent of the Throne. Though courteously written, the writ authorizes him to investigate and even Call to Question any subject of the empire, including powerful nobility.
"I trust that clears up any question of credentials?"
Yaos takes the scrollcase from Azlain with a slight nod then opens it and looks thoughtfully through the documents within. She then returns them to the box and looks towards Magnius, offering the box to him and saying "You had best have a look at these Magnius. It looks like we will have to answer this gentleman's questions."
"I have already answered his questions. Thanks to his interference, we have wasted valuable time that should have been spent hunting down the Bellflower Agents." Magnius says to his companion.
Azlain raised an eyebrow at Magnius. "Are you usually this touchy toward those who are trying to help you?"
"This issue can die here with me after a few simple questions, and you will likely never have to worry about Itch and his foolish vendetta again." Azlain sounded a touch exasperated. "You all seem to be agents of the Empire operating in good faith and merit. I would prefer not to have to consider you hostile witnesses."
"I have an issue with my word being questioned, several times over. We are of the same Organization, yet that seems to not be good enough. I also don't like being ambushed. Even if you weren't actually fighting us, I can't imagine Itch was competent enough to find us."
Azlain snorted. "You really don't understand, do you? People like me are who they send when Priests, Hellknights, Nobles, and other people who think they are above questioning need to be questioned. As a Hellknight, I'm sure you know that none are above the law. Further, even though you have produced no proof at all of who you are in regards to your nobility or your standing as a Hellknight, I did not ask for proof because I am taking you at your word."
"I asked you if you would be willing to submit to magically compelled truth telling to protect you. I believe you. I have been doing this a long time. The details of your testimony are too... odd to be made up."
"I did not ask you to submit to magically compelled questioning now. I asked you if you would be willing to submit. Later. If necessary. Agreeing covers your ass, and reinforces your word if the family of the priest you killed decides to pursue this further."
"As for being ambushed, Itch led me right to you. Make of that what you will."
In a moment of tension each of the strangers looks upon each other, thinking.
It wasn't much of a fight, but only 450 yards away lies a hiding place sometimes used by the Bellflower Network. And at least one of the Halflings is there now.
Yaos and Magnius stand together, on a mission to kill Francesco Phandros' assassins so as to further insinuate themselves into Count Vocaturo Spartaco's House in Gheradescci County.
Now the last link between what happened that night in the Chelaxian wilderness betwixt Westcrown and Gheradescci County hovers stoically above them all, bound by arcane magic from escaping. The devil Itch.
Aside stands The Bogeyman, renowned terror of those who would sow chaos and dissent in Westcrown -- having led these two to a lair he knows the Bellflower have used in the past to hide.
And then there's Azlain. Itch told him those two were allies of House Spartaco, assuming he was an enemy of Count Vocaturo. But Azlain was looking for an olive-branch of common ground he could use to make friendly introduction to House Spartaco.
Azlain needs Count Vocaturo to support his own quest west of Gheradescci in the badlands between the Eismonts and Anferita.
I would prefer not to have to consider you hostile witnesses."[/b]
Yaos gives a command in Aerial to her dire bats, which circle Itch in a threatening and predatory fashion. Yaos's manner by contrast ceases to be threatening and predatory and becomes thoughtful, then conciliatory. After a pause for thought she speaks "Our introduction hasn't been the most auspicious Azlain. Itch is naturally loyal to his deceased master Vaelin, who we did kill a little bit, and Itch has deceived you at least up to a point. I have documents that show I am in fact Yaos Battori, though they are at Magnius's family's pensione not with me. You may inspect them when we return to the city if your duties require it. We are at present on the trail of some Bellflower Agents we mean to deal with. If we delay further they will likely escape us and disappear. What say you to completing your questions after having dealt with the more urgent matter?"
"Look, you seem like you're just trying to do your job. I get that. So are we. As all *three* of us have said several times now, we are hunting down some Bellflower *murderers*. Can we please get on with that?"
Azlain thought for a moment then nodded. "Watching how the two of you work would go a long way toward proving the content of your character. I accept."
He turned to Itch. "It seems your version of events is very flawed, Imp. You broke our contract. You also attempted to deliberately deceive a Hellknight on a mission to uncover the truth of a murder case. These are high crimes. Do you have anything to say in your defense before I pass judgement?"
Azlain made a disappointed tisking sound and shook his head. "You should have done more research before hiring me, Itch. The denizens of hell do sometimes break the rules, and it can be very hard to punish them appropriately. That is one of the reasons Signifiers exists. We find ways to punish those who think they can escape punishment."
"Are you familiar with Cacodaemons, Itch?"
He drew a wand and gave Yaos and Magnius a small nod. "As the wronged parties, retribution is yours. Kill him however you see fit. I will do the rest."
Yaos takes hold of Itch carefully and slices off it's tail sting. She then takes the Imp to a stump on the ground and methodically breaks the bones in it's wings, arms and legs with the pommel of her dagger. She then separates the Imp's ribs from it's backbone on the right side and carefully inserts first the tip of her dagger and then her finger to draw out the lungs, pausing regularly to allow the Imp's regeneration to kick in, ensuring it does not die prematurely. Finally the lungs are placed on the Imp's shoulders, on top of it's actual wings.
"Stipendium peccati mors est. Give my regards to Vaelin."
As Yaos commits to her bloody work, Azlain waits. When Itch finally is on the verge of death, he gestures with his wand and summons a Cacodaemon.
"Soul Lock that imp and give me the gem." he commanded the floating ball of horror.
Magnius watches impassively as Yaos slowly and tortuously murders Itch. "Well, that was certainly far more creative than what I had in mind. Got the job down, so that's all that matters."
After Azlain summons his fiend, he asks "Are we ready to move on?"
"Creative? I have a reputation to maintain. Performing a blood eagle isn't that easy, and practicing on smaller beings may be useful when it comes to halflings. And let us get on with what we came here to do as you say Magnius. What do you intend Azlain? Will you return to the city? If you are coming with us you will be seeing more blood I fear." Yaos appears to have enjoyed the bloody passing of Itch, hinting at a much darker side to the beautiful socialite.
Yaos is pouring water over her hands, forearms and dagger to get most of the blood off as she speaks.
"I think I will watch you work. I admit my curiosity is piqued. I am a fan of the Boogyman's work, so I would be doing myself a disservice if I passed the opportunity to watch him in action. If the two of you are what you seem to be, my testimony to the content of your character should clear up any further issues you may run into regarding the death of Itch's master. Further, my presence will legitimize your efforts against the Bellflower."
"Well, we know where the Bellflower Network Agents are. We had best be on our way."says Yaos, and if nobody objects she will start the rest of the journey.
It's late afternoon as you close the final 450 yards to the Sycamore into which Aaron Smallbridge has fled -- and where his Bellflower Network co-conspirators may be lairing as well.
From about 300 feet away the great tree comes into view through smaller trees and patches of sunlight betwixt you. Everyone pauses as now is the time, should you wish, to begin a stealthy approach -- in case any scouts or guards are on duty outside of the tree.
The rough terrain on which you stand looks to level-out about forty feet from the base of the trunk.
And even from this distance you can catch a glimpse of the space between the trunks down which a cave descends. From this distance the hole looks to be about three-and-a-half feet wide, maybe more.
You are confident in your cover here, 300 feet away, but with your own line of sight to the tree and the thinning vegetation over the rough terrain in front of you, perceptive guards may see your approach as you press forward.
You figure there are three hours left of daylight, which will be followed by half an hour of twilight, or Low Light, before the woods become completely shrouded in darkness.