Shoun says nothing but waits to see how the other's interrogation techniques pan out first.
"My ransom is a hundred gold pieces. I'll aid you but I'd rather not fight him. He's skilled and knows his tactics," she says.
Well then, what good are you to us? Rav says, Do you have information help us take him down?
Rav is speaking matter-of-factly, as if 100 gold pieces is a trifle.
"I'll tell you when I get a better cell, or when I'm out of here," she continues.
You hear Bhevek pacing outside, talking to himself about how he's going to spend each coin that was in the pouch. "This one will go for drinksies... this one a nice night at Madame Luvals..."
You must think I am a fool. Give me something, first, the paladin produces a bag of gold coins and begins making stacks of ten coins before her until he has 100 pieces in front of him.
"Very well. Krulek was once a Knight of the Black Fist but was framed after he arrested an influential noble. Other Knights broke him out of Valjevo Castle, and together they turned to banditry to strike back against the merchants.
Who hired you? Who sent you here?" she asks, now suspicious.
Raeva gives her water and rations, taking some for himself first if she seems hesitant.
"We're here trying to help the people caught in the middle of this mess. The people who are suffering and don't know why. No one sent us. We just want it all to stop."
"Why would he be imbroiled in a war with the merchants if the nobility framed him?" asks Shoun, interjecting quietly.
As my friends say, we are here on behalf of the people. Call us bleeding hearts, or what-have-you, but I intend to make sure that the common folk do not get trampled in a rich man's war. Rav is impassioned in his response, but quickly regains his composure. Will you help us? Do you think that Krulek could be swayed from his course, or is death the only option? These things will determine how we deal with him.
"Why he's at war? Wouldn't you if you had been betrayed?
Like the people cared. They spit on me and threatened to kill me when they knew my heritage," she says.
Muffled shouts are heard from somewhere below. A bell starts clanging, and on the air you catch a telltale whiff of smoke.
“That’s the prisoner alarm,” gasps Bhevek. “Torm’s teeth! That better not be Walharrow!”
Bhevek opens the door. "We need to get out! Now!"
Rathene snarls in Orcish.
Prisoner escape? Who is this Walharrow? Rav is all business and turns to Bhevek.
"Maybe! He's a pirate! Nasty! We have to get out!" he says.
He starts gesturing for you to go down the stairs.
Rav looks to the others, then turns to Bhevek, jerking his thumb towards Rathene, We help you get this taken care of, and you give us this one.
"I don't think slavery is legal in this country." says Shoun matter-of-factly.
"No. She's a tough one. She might help the prisoners if there's a prison outbreak. You think they'll listen to you lot? They're likely ransom you or just eat you up!
If you're not coming down I'm going to lock you up with her! So you coming or what?" Bhevek says.
"I guess bribery is illegal in this country. Alright, we're coming."
Krissina rolls her eyes. "Fine, yes we'll help."
Raeva nods his head. "Lead the way."
Bhevek sticks close to the party as they head down the tower. The smell of smoke increases.
A door ahead explodes in a shower of splinters, and a hulking creature with the head of a bull bounds through the wreckage. The creature’s left leg is fashioned from intricately carved wood, starting just below the knee, resembling an angry man with its arms and hands upraised to support the leg. Rusted chains dangle from around the monster’s waist, arms, and shoulders, and a number of crossbow bolts jut from its bare chest. A jailer—obviously dead—lies limp in its arms.
The beast sees you and bellows “Blood for Walharrow!” Tossing aside the broken corpse like little more than a doll, it wrenches a massive beam from a nearby wall and strides toward you, striking the beam into its open palm.
Bhevek gulps and cowers, trying to hide himself.
Shoun points his finger at the creature, and ready abeam of fire for when it is adj. to one of his allies.
Shoun will then offer suggestions for doing better to whichever ally is in the lead.
That's not what I meant... oh well, he turns to the half-orc, We'll be back!
--
The ground shudders as Walharrow charges at Ravvek relentlessly.
Shoun fires his firebolt. A single mote of fire flies out and strikes the creature. It turns its head to the half-elf and bellows in rage.
Ravvek grimaces as he slides back, keeping his feet, Okay, my turn!
radiant
radiant
Ravvek returns the blow, punching his rapier into the minotaur's side. It bellows in rage. Ravvek feels its hot breath on his face.
Krissina stays back, firing of a shot with her crossbow (16)
Raeva casts Firebolt at the rampaging minotaur.
Fire Bolt: advantage
Shoun points, and more fire finds it's way into the creature's mouth as it goes to roar.
Facing the onslaught of blows and weakened by its time in prison, Walharrow the minotaur falls at the feet of the party.
Bhevek is surprised. "W-well done!" he says.
Fire seems to be spreading all around.
"I am in no way responsible for that." says Shoun immediately.
"Do you have supplies to fight fires?" Krissina asks urgently. "Criminals or no, we need to stop this spreading before they're burned alive in their cells."
Sheathing his slim blade, Rav turns to Bhevek, Where is your water stores? Your fire reserves?
Raeva, are you able to hold this at bay with magic?
"I-it's downstairs. We collect water from a nearby w-well," he says, coughing.
Lead the way, Rav hurries to help.
"Not this much flame. We need that water." Raeva goes to help.
After lowering the flames with their magic, the party continues descending the tower.
Ahead you see a dwarf jailer struggling with one of the Grimshackle brothers; you can tell due to his similarity to Bhevek.
The jailer holds his boss in a headlock, a shortsword pressed to the halfling’s throat. Another jailer stands in their way, waving a spear at the hostage taker.
“Back off or I’ll slit the halfling’s throat!” the traitor growls.
"Don't kill my brother!" Bhevek pleads.
"This is just silly." mutters Shoun to himself before speaking up.
"Do you have an exit strategy? If you don't have an exit strategy for taking hostages, it's just an all-around bad idea. They're loud, emotional, and they are always trying to escape. If I were you, I'd just leave the hostage and go. Much cleaner that way, and you won't be in my way any more."
"Let. Him. Go." Raeva's eyes flash with fire and his voice booms with thunder as he speaks to the hostage taker.
using Thaumaturgy to 'enhance' the effect.
The hostage is the grim shackle brother.
Rav looks to Shoun, Raeva, and Krissina, Just give me a shot...
Ravvek, now invisible, nods thanks to Krissina. It takes him a moment to realize the futility as he is invisible and begins moving quietly, while the others keep the man talking.
Rav moves with the stealth of a leopard, around the side of the man's sword arm and lunges at him right at the armpit, attempting to steal the man's strength so that he cannot strike deeply.
EDIT:
The jailer does not notice Ravvek, and is too distracted by Shoun and Raeva. The paladin's rapier pierces through the jailer's armour. The dwarf turns to face Rav before sliding down to the ground, dead.
Ukharim rushes to hug his brother then turns to the group. "Thank you for saving me! Iorg must have been paid to start trouble and break out one of the captives. W-what are you h-here for? H-how can I aid you?" he asks.
The other jailers run past the group, carrying buckets of water to douse the fires throughout the prison.
"We're looking for the location of the two bandit factions that have been attacking the inland trade routes: The one controlled by krulek and the one controlled by some Dragonborn sorcerer. If you know where either of their camps are and could tell us, we'd consider our debt repaid."
"We hope for an introduction." Raeva clarifies.
"The prisoner... Rathene.. she knows the most about them.. But she's a stubborn one. Won't respond to torture. These bloody half-orcs! I'd frankly be glad to be rid of her!" Ukharim says.
"If you know she won't respond to torture, do you know what she will respond to?" says Shoun as he begins looting the dead man.
Freedom, Rav says quietly as he cleans his blade, quickly looking over the body for any sign of accomplices in these events.