If allowed Ricter will listen in to the meeting to decide Gregori's fate. If he is, he remains silent - he is not a Statkari, and does not wish to intefer with the Kardas legal process.
Fenna nods to Malthir, before quietly intoning the same prayer she had used the previous evening. Looking over the captive man once more before laying a hand on each of Grigori's confiscated belongings in turn, she examines their respective auras.
If allowed Ricter will listen in to the meeting to decide Gregori's fate. If he is, he remains silent - he is not a Statkari, and does not wish to intefer with the Kardas legal process.
Perhaps if we removed the gag, he would be more forthcoming?
I could remove his sight if you fear he might try to escape...
Fenna, do you require assistance?
We could still employ magic to compel him to speak... or speak the truth I believe...
Ilgruth's Confiscated Possessions-
A pair of gloves that glow faintly- Assisting Gloves
A key- Key of Lock Jamming
Four potions- Cure Light, Cure Moderate, Undetectable Alignment x2
A strange and exotic looking grey salve.- Salve of the Second Chance
Four scrolls- Invisibility Sphere, Misdirection, Scare, Sound Burst
A backpack of masterwork quality.
A masterwork buckler.
A masterwork chain shirt- +1
A masterwork rapier that glows faintly- +1
A spell component pouch.
Forty platinum pieces.
Three hundred gold pieces.
"Remember baron, there is a spectrum of torture. Instead of trying simple charm, you could just wait a week then try simple charm. Unless, of course, the Kardas has a costitution or charter forbidding you from using discomfort on your prisoners."
I just don't see that working on someone like Grigori Ricter. He will be difficult to charm and simply letting him wait a week in an unsecured room is a very dangerous proposition. We don't even know if he has conjuration magic capable of transporting him.
Any other ideas? I am okay with trying to talk with him but we will have to be ready to stop him from casting any spells.
Is Jhod here yet? I know he is capable of casting a spell that will compel him to tell no lies.
You summoned me, Baron?
"Ah, magical compulsion. Yes, that is a far more elegant solution."
Kip clears his throat.
Have I been talking to myself? Maybe they can't hear me being that their heads are so far above mine...
We could still employ magic to compel him to speak... or speak the truth I believe...
Well, how do we get him to talk?
We may not need to do anything extreme... if the man is a mercenary and works for coin, perhaps we can propose a counter offer. If he does not respond to coin, he must have a personal reason for his continued vendetta. One that he is likely want to share... the man lives to talk as we know.
Regardless, the first step is to remove the gag. Is anyone opposed to me removing the gag?
And as I mentioned earlier... I could remove his vision...
Kip examines the strange looking salve... pondering its inclusion in Grigori's equipment. I wonder what he intended to use this for? Kip scrunches up his brow, deep in contemplation. He couldn't hope to use it on himself...
Hmm...interesting equipment indeed. I dread to think of what mischief he meant to cause with it. Now, as to the questioning. I say it is worth the shot to try an interrogating him, trough a combination of magical and mundane means. If we keep his hands securely fastened and a close watch over him, we should be able to keep him from casting any spells. Many of us are trained in spellcraft, and would know the signs if he tried it.
I suggest we let our new friend Ricter here try and frighten him a bit in that nasty armor of his, to shake his resolve and weaken his resistance to the mind affecting spells. I will gladly assist - he DID threaten and kidnap members of my family, after all.
Jhod can then cast his spell that compels him to speak the truth, while Kip or I will attempt to procure a scroll with a spell that lets us read his thoughts. Chances are, one spell or the other will prove successful.
Once we have questioned him, we can have Fenna consult the divine powers to verify if he spoke true or not.
"I am more than capable of forcing the lawbreaker to submit. You may be overestimating his resolve - his kind seem unshakable when their little schemes are running as they hope but once they are defeated and bound their true cowardice leaks out."
He smiles - the first time you've seen him do so
"In many cases literally. Anyway. I will gladly begin the interrogation process if you so wish. My efforts can be kept verbal for now in keeping with the ethics of your kingdom"
"A good point," Fenna agrees with Casimir, "he does seem rather focused on opposing us, something must be motivating him to go to such extremes."
"I can also pray for the success of our interrogation, perhaps to bolster our own efforts while diminishing Grigori's resistance."
"A good point," Fenna agrees with Casimir, "he does seem rather focused on opposing us, something must be motivating him to go to such extremes."
Kip looks a little exasperated.... Are they mocking me on purpose now? Perhaps I need to speak louder...
Kip looks a little exasperated.... Are they mocking me on purpose now? Perhaps I need to speak louder...
"A good point," Fenna agrees with Casimir, "he does seem rather focused on opposing us, something must be motivating him to go to such extremes."Kip looks a little exasperated.... Are they mocking me on purpose now? Perhaps I need to speak louder...
Ricter dons his hellknight plate armour - he does not plan on showing his face to a treacherous subversive - and descends to the dungeon. He slams the door open and strides in. He stares at Gregori for some seconds before starting to speak, his tone dangerously soft at first:
"You probably think you are ready for what comes next. You know you will not be tortured here. That is not the Kardas way. But if you do not tell us EVERYTHING you know - why you oppose this nation, what you stand to gain from doing so, who hired you if you're an agent, who you contacts are, who your underlings are - EVERYTHING - the Statkari will kill you. They will make it quick, for they are noble and good."
"You are a resourceful man, obviously experienced in your chosen line of crime. You might not fear the idea of a quick death. I'm here to remind you of what waits for you after"
He stands on the far corner of the cell, dark armour half-hidden in the shadows
"What do you know of hell, convict?"
He begins to walk towards the bound criminal
"I know a great deal. I know what an eternity of agony does to a soul. I know of the wretched things that helplessly writh as their very fabric is twisted for the amusement of more powerful devils. Those quivering heaps of suffering flesh were once proud men just like you"
"But you won't be going to hell, right? You have lives a good like according to whatever warped ideology you hold dear. But you know nothing of the laws you are subject to. Make no mistake, there are such laws. You may flout the laws of kingdoms but you live under the heel of the Boneyard. There are no loopholes. You have sort to have rightful rules assassinated. You have tried to sow a bloody rebellion. And I KNOW that those are the least of your crimes compared with what you have done before you arrived in Kardas."
His voice has been risen nearly to a shout, but he calms again, helmet staring expressionlessly at Gregori
"The hellknights do not embrace evil and greed, yet we take our name from the realm below. Why? Because above all hell is ruled by law. You have spat on, at the very least, every law of this land. Are you ABSOLUTELY certain that hasn't earned you a place amongst the damned?"
He finally backs away from the prisoner
"You are defeated and chained. You have nothing to gain from resisting us but to sooth your misplaced pride. Dare you defy us? Dare you second guess what's waiting for you below the gibbet's trap door?
As Ricter prepares to enter the jail cell, Kip motions for him to wait. He looks to Casimir and speaks in a hushed tone, If I successfully penetrate his mind and can listen to his thoughts I will begin eating my apple. If I fail to overcome his defenses, you should cast the spell from the other scroll, before you enter the cell, and try your luck.
Turning to the HellKnight, Remember Ricter, you have but a relatively short time to speak with him before the spell ends. If I do not begin eating my apple, give Casimir a chance to cast the spell and enter the room before you get too far into the interrogation. When my spell ends, presuming I have been successful to that point, I will toss my apple aside. If we are still seeking answers at that point, Casimir or myself can use the other scroll at that time.
Back at Casimir, Watch for my signal before entering the cell.
Jhod, I think we should give Grigori a chance to speak freely before we employ your truth spell.
Kaylev, will you be so kind as to restrain the prisoner and remove his gag when needed?
Kip then motions for Ricter to continue. Kip watches as Ricter enters the cell, and listens as he begins his interrogation of the prisoner. Kip then unravels his newly acquired scroll and begins casting the spell upon it. The task completed, Kip enters the cell, apple in hand. Once inside the cell, Kip stays near the door along the wall where Casimir can see him from the hallway and sweeps the room, hoping to hear the thoughts of Grigori.
Kip lifts the apple expectantly in his hand as he focuses on the prisoner...
Casimir nods to Kip. Go ahead. I'll be watching.
Ricter dons his hellknight plate armour - he does not plan on showing his face to a treacherous subversive - and descends to the dungeon. He slams the door open and strides in. He stares at Gregori for some seconds before starting to speak, his tone dangerously soft at first:
"You probably think you are ready for what comes next. You know you will not be tortured here. That is not the Kardas way. But if you do not tell us EVERYTHING you know - why you oppose this nation, what you stand to gain from doing so, who hired you if you're an agent, who you contacts are, who your underlings are - EVERYTHING - the Statkari will kill you. They will make it quick, for they are noble and good."
"You are a resourceful man, obviously experienced in your chosen line of crime. You might not fear the idea of a quick death. I'm here to remind you of what waits for you after"
He stands on the far corner of the cell, dark armour half-hidden in the shadows
"What do you know of hell, convict?"
He begins to walk towards the bound criminal
"I know a great deal. I know what an eternity of agony does to a soul. I know of the wretched things that helplessly writh as their very fabric is twisted for the amusement of more powerful devils. Those quivering heaps of suffering flesh were once proud men just like you"
"But you won't be going to hell, right? You have lives a good like according to whatever warped ideology you hold dear. But you know nothing of the laws you are subject to. Make no mistake, there are such laws. You may flout the laws of kingdoms but you live under the heel of the Boneyard. There are no loopholes. You have sort to have rightful rules assassinated. You have tried to sow a bloody rebellion. And I KNOW that those are the least of your crimes compared with what you have done before you arrived in Kardas."
His voice has been risen nearly to a shout, but he calms again, helmet staring expressionlessly at Gregori
Still gagged, you can see Grigori's defiance slowly falter somewhat in response to your relentless tirade. You can tell you've had some success in demoralising him.
Whats the duration on your detect thoughts and can you clarify when exactly your using it? During Ricter's intimidation baove?
You begin to sift through Grigori's thoughts as the interrogation begins. To your dismay the first thoughts you recognise are what the prisoner expects to be happening around him. You are quickly able to establish that this is definitely Grigori. However, it seems he predicted such a spell and is conciously trying to think of anything that isn't useful to you. A whore in a back alley in Mivon named Sasha. Remembering walking around in Restov seeking a new rapier to replace his old one. The grand theatre in Pitax where he liked to watch shows from an expensive noble's box.
As the interrogation goes on though, you begin to sense his fear. He is thinking of the Abyss though, not Hell as Ricter is describing. As his fear rises and Ricter begins to question him about his contacts, he can't seem to stop himself thinking of a tavern in Restov; a hooded figure who valued discretion handing over a bulging sack of platinum coins and a sealed envelope with orders- orders to disrupt the status quo in the new kingdom of Kardas and turn the people against them by any means necessary. Grigori doesn't actually know who his true employer is, but he suspects it might be a power of some sort in Brevoy. He is aware the hooded figure he met through a series of contacts was himself only an intermediary between him and his true employer- but for the several thousand gold coins he was paid he did not honestly care. Grigori's thoughts flash back to that fateful day on a stage by the monument of Sir Edric- when he, a great orator, was humbled by the Guardians and their upstart Elf. That day, it became personal.
Kalev has taken up a position behind the prisoner, restraining him with his powerful arms.
Even Kalev pales a bit at Richter's description of hell, but he remains silent, allowing the other to continue his work.
Malthir listens to the interrogation in the next room.
As soon as this is done he needs to go talk to Varn and let him know why they have been so pre-occupied he thinks to himself.
Fenna stands silently with Malthir, once she has finished her quiet prayer, and listens in on the interrogation with a calm expression and closed eyes.
"Marshal Lehola, shall we remove the gag and allow the convict to respond? He may have seen sense and is ready to give up on his foolish resistence"
He then turns back to Gregori and speaks loudly, almost shouting into his face
"What is your objective? What is your motivation? Who are you working with?"
Kip takes a large bite from his apple... but otherwise he remains quiet for the moment.
Realizing that Kip is getting all he needs to know from thoughts alone, Ricter carries on shouting questions regardless of whether Kalev removes the gag
"Make no mistake, we WILL find your minions and accomplices sooner or later. Who in this city have you turned against their baron? Who have you smuggled in from whatever hole you crawled out of?"
Kalev nods, and removes the gag with one hand, the other arm maintaining a strong grapple around Grigori's neck, tight enough to be uncomfortable, but not to choke him.
The gag is removed, but Grigori seems resolved to say nothing at all. From what Kip can see, Grigori' ability to gain allies diminished significantly once he was out-orated. The workers he had drafted to 'mine the hidden gold vein' all owed him money and had no idea of his true intentions. Kip can see those intentions clearly- Grigori planned to keep the tunnel into the castle a secret via illusionary magic and steal Vaysh's firstborn child; if a better opportunity didn't crop up sooner. Kip does see another image before the Detect Thoughts spell expires as Ricter shouts at Grigori to reveal his accomplices- an image of meeting three hooded hags holding bloodshot eyes in the ruins of a town flashes before Kip's mind.
The town Kip saw must be Heibarr- a sacred place to the worshippers of Gyronna. You know the information in this link- Link
Casimir enters the room.
"Ah, good...you left some for Kressle and me. You made a big mistake using Karina for your schemes, Grigori. I don't know how you managed to get her in your power - magic or sweet words - but you don't get away with harming my family unpunished. Kressle should be here as soon as she is done sharpening her hatchets. I imagine she will find some parts of you that won't be missed when you dangle from the gallows."
Casimir removes a fuse grenade from his bandoleer and turns it idly in his fingers.
"Oh, and once we are done here, I may just light this and "forget" it in your cell. Seems to me we owe you a bit of explosive fun for the note you left us in that tavern. I don't know if you actually met anyone down there or if it was just a ploy to make us waste time, and I don't really care...but it DID manage to annoy me somewhat."
He pauses, allowing Grigori time to respond, both verbally and in his mind.
Grigori says nothing in response to Casimir's initial words, but breaks out into a hoarse chuckle in response to Casimir's comments about the note in the tavern. He speaks softly, almost whispering.
Best... Four hundred gold pieces... I ever spent. he says between mocking laughter. Watching your faces was worth at least five... So now I see how you found me. A Hellknight. I wish you'd been employing one before our debate- things might have gone very differently...
Grigori is focusing on what he is saying and remembering both his capture by Ricter and the debate outside Sir Edric's monument.