Serelina lightly places a hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "Valdr, your zealousness is an admirable attribute, but we said we would allow him the chance to say his piece. Let him have his opportunity speak plainly. If he continues to obfuscate and twist words, then he gives up that opportunity and you and Ian may have your way with him. Just please do not mar the Scar I placed upon him... such things take effort."
Speaking to Valdr the prisoner has a slight sneer on his face, "Your threats are useless. Have you considered, that perhaps prison is the safest place to be? Where those who would have me dead will have a difficult time reaching me. Missing a foot, and working for 20 years still means that i'm breathing, I would consider that worth something."
Turning back to Serelina, his face impassive, "My profession? I don't work at a shop or anything like that if that is what you mean. I would call myself an assistant for hire. I have been hired in the past by adventures as a guide. It isn't the safest of work, but it has been profitable. This is why I had some enchanted equipment, its easier to survive that way. I also am a trader of information. I have been employed as security in the past as well, not for my strength but for my ability to defend those in need."
He continues with a serious tone. "I do not seek the destruction of Coran nor its laws. With that said, if a friend is in need, I will do everything I can to aid him."
He clears his throat before beginning the tale. "A couple of nights ago my friend Mael came to me distraught. He informed me that he was involved with some unsavory people. He told me when he tried to break away from their influence, they kidnapped his younger sister, whom I am the Godfather. He said that he had to perform a job for this group in order to get her safe recovery." His voice cracks slightly at the end and he lowers his head into his hands.
When he looks up his eyes are moist, "He needed my help. And I promised him that I would help him. I promised him he would get his sister back. We met up with a filthy drow by the name of Ilvaria.".
"She told us to to get money from Jumai. And then to leave no survivors. There were several other people there. I don't know all their names. One of them was Gaylen, he was looking for blood. I got a very bad feeling about him. When we got there, I had spoken up a conversation with a gnome. He was a user of magic. I could tell he didn't like the idea of killing a defenseless merchant either. I convinced him to use his magic that would calm everybody down, so that Jumai would not be killed. "
"We went back to report back to the drow. She immediately jumped us with several of her goons. One the others smote her down. We decicded to meet at the Crow the following evening to determine how to stay alive. I didn't know if I could trust these other people whom Mael knew. I just wanted to help get his sister back and be done with them."
He takes a deep breath and continues, "As we arrived at the Crow, the last to arrive was a man who had a limp. He appeared to be their leader. He said he had just come from a meeting with Ilvaria's brother. And that her brother tried to kill him. He said that we needed to get out quickly, as he would no doubt send people to finish off the job. It was at this time that I disguised myself. Anything for protection. As Mael and I left the Crow, that is when we were attacked in broad daylight. They quickly jumped Mael and killed him conjuring hideous creatures attempting to devour him so there would be no evidence. At no time did they state who they were. I fled, knowing that I couldn't save my friend. Their attack was coordinated and swift. It seemed evident to me, they were trained assassins. The only reason they didn't kill me is because I made it to a main street before being captured and there were too many people on the street. So they have played it off as acting in the name of 'justice'."
He pauses to let you digest his story, "As I was fleeing, I noticed they had a dozen or so men aiding them with bows and crossbows. I recognized one of these goons during the meeting with Ilvaria. He worked for her and her brother. That is when it dawned on me, that the Merchants were working for the leader of the criminal organization. He had been trailing us and knew where to send his assassins on short notice. This is why I asked you how they claimed to know where to find Mael. It isn't due supreme detective skills. Their leader told them where and when to strike. I am sure they failed to provide you with that small bit of information. How convenient for them, that you don't question anything they do." the last part said with disgust.
His concern for his friends sister is real, but his tears are an act.
You feel there is a good deal of truth to what he is saying, though he tenses when speaking of his involvement with Jumai and his involvement with these shady characters is more involved then what he speaks of.
His last statement his manner suggests he is guessing at this relationship between the merchants and this drow brother.
"Valdr, Serelina, a word in private?" Tavrus asks.
When he talks to them in private, he relays his perceptions on the prisoner. "There is a good deal of truth to what he is saying, though his involvement with Jumai and his involvement with these shady characters is more involved than what he speaks of. Furthermore, his manner suggests he is guessing at this relationship between the merchants and this drow brother."
Ian listens quietly, glowering. When Tavrus leads the other two out, he approaches the prisoner slowly.
"Yeah you mentioned this kid before, about how you're the only guardian now. How's that fit into your 'lock me up for 20 years I don't care' speech?"
Ian seems calm now.
"Our job was to find who threatened Jumai." He pokes the kid in the chest once.
His tone softens slightly, barely noticeable. "Sorry about your friend."
Ian waits a moment for the others to enter the room again.
"One shady witness ain't gonna do the trick. If we find evidence incriminating the merchants, we'll pursue it, and then we'll need your testimony. You testify, and all sorts of charges will disappear."
"But if we don't find anything, then there's nothin' to testify for, and your charges don't disappear."
He crosses his arms and looks to the others, "Serelina, you can really reach him anywhere? He might make a good informant. Let him go back into the filth and try to find his friend's sister. He said information's his profession, and we're in need."
"Bottom line, if he's locked up in here, he's doing us no good. I don't know what to believe of his story, but no one tried to spring him or kill him during transport, which means he's a nobody."
Tomlin had joined Tavrus, Serelina and Valdr off on the side out of the prisoner's earshot. Ian would ensure the captive went nowhere, and after hearing more lies the halfling cared little if the man was roughed up again.
Tomlin nodded in response to Tavrus' observations. Aye, in truth you picked up more than I. Respect marked his words to the cleric. He seems to be telling the truth about his concern for his friend's sister. We can use that to get him to talk more freely about his associates. If he is willing to divulge the truth of that relationship, we help get his sister set up safely. If not, then he needs to understand that his sister could be in great peril. Here Tomlin seemed to leave the question of who would the sister need be afraid of intentionally vague. Regardless, he needs to tell us the truth about his associates or we will need to amplify this interrogation. The halfling remains with the sub-set of his group in continuance of the conversation until all are ready to rejoin Ian and the prisoner.
Once back, Ian's words cause Tomlin's eyes to go wide for a moment. That is certainly a change in attitude Quickly regaining his composure, he said, All things are possible with cooperation. However, before we get to that point we need a bit more cooperation as it regards your allies. A serious intensity reforming in his eyes, he looked squarely at the prisoner. You are telling the truth about your friend's sister. But you hold back information about your companions. Consider your next words carefully. With full cooperation we can work with you but the full breath and depth of your relationship with your allies is required. Otherwise you will be staying down here for a very long time.
Ian shrugs when Tomlin gives him that look.
"With informants you need a way to keep 'em from skippin' town or going native. This 'mark' thing--I gotta' get used to working with mages."
After he has a conversation aside with the Necromancer and his other companions, Valdr doesn't seem to be getting any more generous. Though he was no great decipher of lies, the man's words seemed seeped in half-truths and omissions. He didn't trust him in the least. There was something that stuck out though.
"Do you believe what he said about the merchant's working with the drow could be true? If the drow are the other rival criminal organization, that could explain how they knew where to find this piece of slime and his companions. When we finish here, we should go up above and divine what information we can from the corpse of his friend. Am I correct in assuming that the dead cannot lie?" Valdr asked this in particular to Tavrus, knowing little of the ins and outs of the forbidden art.
"Correct. They answer every question, as asked, to the best of their knowledge."
Responding to Tomlin, "Those friends of Mael are not your worry and I couldn't tell you where they might be or even if they are still in town. My guess is that they left the city for their own protection. However, why would you cut off the tail of a serpent, when you have the chance to cut off its head? The tail will simply grow back."
He doesn't believe they've skipped town any more than you do. Its a possibility sure, but you don't believe he thinks it likely.
Turning his gaze to Ian, "I will testify if that is useful. I obviously do care whether I am locked up or not. But as you have quickly surmised, I can be of use to you if I'm on the outside. That is one way you will show your trust in me, as I am showing it to you right now speaking plainly and clear. Giving you information that would have taken you months to gather, with me it has taken only a few minutes."
He looks at Tomlin again, then back to Ian, "I don't know if this will provide fruitful or not, but one piece of information that has passed my ears very recently referred to the owner of some warehouses down at the docks. Rumor has it that the Merchants had a real issue with him. And it has been confirmed that he wound up dead on the night Ilvaria ambushed us. It seems clear to me that it would be worth investigating before any potential evidence is removed. I believe his last name was Banden. And whom do you think it would benefit when he died? Probably real easy to purchase such a valuable business at a very inexpensive cost with a dead owner."
Tomlin made little effort to hide his frustration at the answers he received from the prisoner. It was clear at this point that the man did not feel sufficient pressure to say more than what he thought he needed to say to get The Tower more interested in the merchant's activities than his own cohorts. The halfling said nothing more as he waited for the rest of the group to ask the prisoner whatever questions they wished.
After all had interacted with the prisoner to their liking, Tomlin called the others again to an area out of earshot from the prisoner while ensuring that sufficient guard strength was in place. He is lying again about his compatriots in the bar with Mael. It is clear to me that he currently has no intention of telling us meaningful information. His only goal is to get us more interested in the merchants than his own group. Glancing over at Ian for a moment, he goes on. I do not think releasing him will help either. Serelina might be able to track him for a while, but other magicks might remove the scar. Evasion seems his best skills; tracking him by other means is risky too. Nay, the best way to get him to talk is to let him rot where he cannot protect this Mael's relative. Let us make sure the guard here is aware of his trickery and spread rumors that he is in another location. That will throw off his friends if they try to break him out. In the meantime, he can look to the other concerns on our plate.
Serelina nods. "I agree. He was given due opportunity. I am sure that there is some truth to the treachery of the Merchant's mercenaries, but he has not given us enough to act. There are many other things for us to be about."
With that she prepares to leave, having totally dismissed the matter from her mind as complete.
"Yeah, alright. Figured that scar thing was permanent. If there's no sure way to keep a leash on him, then like you said, he can squirm while his friend's sis is captive. That might loosen his tongue eventually. But we oughta hire someone good to keep watch on him. If a case comes together, he'd be a vital witness--so might be our worst fear is someone breaking in and killing him. And if we find his sis, it sounds like we'd have him by the balls."
Possible questions I think should be asked:
Are you and your associate Vael criminals?
Who do you work for?
Where can we find your employer and associates?
Were you and your associates involved in the recent spate of murders in Coran?
Were you or your associates involved in the illegal Pesh trade? Where can we find the largest supply of illegal pesh in the city?
Any of these I think are good ones.
The first one should be omitted or reworded. Last line is two questions.
Who do you work for?
Where can we find your employer and associates?
Were you and your associates involved in the recent spate of murders in Coran?
Tavrus heads to the room where the body is kept, Edric and the others who choose to come along in tow. "I hope one of you speaks elven, just in case" he grumbles on the way over.
Uncovering the face of the body, Tavrus looks at the others to see if they are ready. Intoning the words of the spell, almost a chanted prayer to the powers that govern the afterlife, Tavrus requests a brief interview with the departed. He holds his holy symbol over the head of the elf, and waits for the telltale sign of the spell's success or failure.
"Under whose employ were you working when you died?"
Ian comes along--not happy about it, but pushing himself to get used to mages. He puts on his usual tough-guy persona, but he's a little creeped out. When Tavrus asks the first question, he almost hopes it doesn't work.
The corpse of the elf rises up slightly, his jaw popping and crackling slightly as though from stiff joints. The corpse speaks in the common tongue, "I serve only the Mistress."
"Where can I find the mistress and her associates?"
"The crows and ravens have been put to flight by those with skins as black as night."
"Were you and your associates involved in the recent spate of murders in Coran?"
"Death by treachery was to be our fate at the hands of Firyin's hate."
With the answering of the third question, the corpse falls still, fully lifeless once more.
"Well, what now?" Tavrus asks of the group.
Ian winces as the corpse speaks, and is still grimacing when Tavrus looks to the group.
"Remind me to burn anything I kill."
He keeps his eyes on the corpse, as if expecting it to jump up at any second.
"I need some fresh air."
Shaking his head, he steps out for a moment.
By all appearances, watching the corpse talk is nothing special to Serelina. She seems mildy inquisitive and, if anything, unimpressed by the result.
"Well, the avian references appear to put the feather into context, as does the mention of those who could only be drow. As far as the corpse knows it would appear that his allies have dibanded. Any thoughts on 'Firyin?'"
Valdr was still disquieted by the use of necromancy. It was apparent on his features and the way he slowly worked his jaw once the spell had ended the spirit returned to the purgatory that no doubt awaited it.
"The spirit was about as useful as the man Vaek. It clearly did not want to provide us with a clear answer. It does however match our suspicions that many of these murders were the result of a war between two rival factions in the criminal underworld. One appears to be run by this 'Mistress' and those would be the crows and the ravens. The other seems to be formed around the drow and someone known as Firyin."
"This could explain why the drow was being hunted through the streets. I think Vaek and his allies are the ravens. They match the description of those who attacked the drow."
"Let us not forget that Maklo Roath, follower of Ilvaria Cha'ona had a hand in one of the murders. We previously questioned a spirit and it said it was killed because it served the true mistress and was slain by dark deceivers. Another victim was slain by a Cheyle Nayss, a common drow name. It seems perhaps these ravens and crows, though criminals, are not the ones behind the murders, but rather the victims of a gang war. We know that the drow have a lair beneath the streets."
Valdr tugged at his beard. He didn't like the idea of getting pulled into a gang war. Perhaps it was best to just let them finish each other off? He shook his head and thought better of it. No, murder was still murder, even if it was thieves being killed. Laws needed to be maintained and with it justice for a peaceful and ordered society to exist.
"I think we should visit our captured drow friend. I do not think he is as innocent as he has claimed."
Tomlin nodded as Valdr spoke, the dwarf giving voice to many of the halfling's own thoughts. Aye, the drow has a few questions to answer I think. Perhaps Vaek does as well. I still believe we give him time to rot in his cell, but later we could bring some of these facts to his attention. I do not pretend to think it will guarantee anymore cooperation then we already have received, but the chance is there with little risk. Shall we head to the drow now?
Traveling to the western gate where the drow Zov is held captive is uneventful. The guard captain is surprised to see you at this late hour but allows you entrance to the basement level cell. The drow is currently sleeping on the small cot in the cramped quarters. His hair disheveled. A slight odor permeates the air.
Zov offers a sneer. "Truth serum and probably poisoned too." He downs the elixir though, perhaps seeing that inevitably he will be put to the question with the aid of magic to discern truth from lie.
"Truth serum, yes, poisoned no. We are agents of the law and do not resort to methods such as poison. We will not contain you long, though I suspect you have been provided some protection with this arrangement from Vaek and the other agents of The Mistress..."Valdr let his words trail off and would then allow one of the others to take up the questioning of the drow, focusing himself on trying to determine the truth of the drow's statements and whether the exiliar had taken hold.
Ian steps up to the drow, his imposing frame nearly blocking his companion's view, and begins questioning.
"Thanks for that, saves me the trouble of force-feeding it to you."
"Let's start simple. What's your name?" Ian watches the dark-skinned elf, quietly wishing he had gallons of this truth serum stuff back in the guard.
"What organization do you work for? How is Vaek involved? What is their connection to the Merchant's Guild? What do you know about all this pesh in the city recently?"
Tomlin had approached the prisoner with the rest of the group. He wasn't sure what to expect in a new interrogation of the drow; he hadn't been there for the first attempt but he understood that little came of the conversation. This time they came armed with better knowledge, and he held out some hope that such could make the difference.
The halfling stood by Valdr as the dwarf led off the approach. Tomlin had planned to see the impact of Valdr's words on the drow and then bring follow-on questions of his own when Ian quickly stepped in. A bolder approach might work, he thought to himself as he continued to wait on the drow's reply.