First, Lirotha she scans for the mundane stuff, as well as secret doors, traps, and anything possibly useful in the current situation or could lead to something useful in the current situation.
After her initial glance around, she will cast detect magic and do a quick scan for anything obviously magical too.
Val will spend a bit of time with the dog while he is calm, trying to get him familiar with her and friendly. After that she is happy to try and search the premises.
"Remind me again why we are breaking in rather than just asking for his help?"
Oren fills her role as lookout, waiting outside, watching for anything out of the ordinary.
Perception
Still looking around, Lirotha answers Val's question with a frown.
"We really don't know anything about him, and he has no incentive to help us at all...and I'm out of charm spells. I'm hoping with some sort of little push from something...anything...then he will simply co-sign the orders just to get us out of his hair. As a last resort, I can try and fake his signature if we can find a copy of it here somewhere. By Desna's fluttering wings, I hate paperwork!"
Talon approaches the table and examines the shield.
"I feel like I'm missing something, but not sure what. You guys picking up anything? Oren, are we still looking good?"
Rocco continues searching around with the others. Noticing Talon picking up and examining the shield, Rocco moves toward his affluent friend and lays a hand on the item, searching it for some sign of a psychic imprint from the captain.
|
Thanks to your excellent teamwork you easily find a secret compartment holding a leather covered booklet. It bears a list of names, each referenced with a year, a month and a number of gold pieces. Seems like esteemed captain Ivarro has been taking bribes for some time now...
Lirotha claps at the hidden discovery.
"Excellent work everyone! Now, let's wait for him to return home. Oren, my pretty dear, wait outside out of sight or in the shadows and come up to the door behind him when he gets here and is inside. We don't want him to escape before we make our proposal. We shall make ourselves scarce once he arrives and then surprise him carefully once he is inside. We'll lock up his dog somewhere safe and carefully, so he doesn't get involved or hurt in this negotiation either. Everyone agreed? Are we on the same page? No bloodshed unless absolutely necessary here. Let's let him think we are just desperate Asmodeans needing a signature for some nice sacrifices. I will then try and put him to sleep once we are ready to leave."
Oren nods, ready to do her best to hold the man and keep him from running or trying anything unwise.
"Sounds like a plan. K and I can help put some fear into him too if it comes to it. Just say the word."
Morricone smiles wickedly.
"This will be most excellent performance of a stern inquisitor!"
He almost shivers in anticipation.
Talon gives the thumbs up and moves to the wall on the side of the door and waits.
Waiting until the man fully enters, Lirotha will cast a Dancing Lights spell overhead and then step out of the shadows just after he shuts the door.
"Step forward for judgement Captain Ivarro. This unofficial inquisition is now in progress. Fear not, you will have a chance to explain your side of things before judgement is carried out. Know this however: Fight back and your soul shall be forfeit. Inquisitor? The prisoner has been prepared."
"Of course we do. And we also know what you have done. The question is...how many other people need to learn of it, and what will they think of your actions..."
Roc the halfling servant steps forward as well, putting on a limp to show the extent of his merciless master's anger. "Pardon me, Captain, but I would take my hand from my sword if I were you. My master does not appreciate insolence." His hand reaches to his leg and he winces at the touch.
"The question is not who you are, the question is who is here to talk to you. To talk to you about your crimes. The crimes of corruption. The worst of all!"
”We can keep all this between ourselves, if you cooperate.”
Bluff aid
Talon steps between the man and the door and folds his arms over his chest.
"I'd answer them if I were you."
Lirotha holds up the 'book' of illegal activity they found and gives it to Morricone.
"Exhibit A inquisitor: His ledger of corruption and law-breaking. Do you deny it is your Captain? I warn you, lies WILL be held against you in this inquisition."
|
|
As Lirotha produces to booklet documenting the "donations" he collected, captain Ivarro slumps on the nearest chair, apparently defeated.
"I... That..." he mutters before raising his head a little giving you a good look for the first time:"I see. No use denying the truth... but... is there a way for us to find an..."agreement" of sorts? Look, we are all reasonable, Asmodeus worshipping, citizen here, after all... surely there must be a way to make this work to everyone's satisfaction, right?"
Morricone braces his shoulders and then looks the man deep in the eye.
"Do you really want to bribe me. I am impressed! I really am. I hope you will show the same courage in the chambers of pai...."
Suddenly, as if he just got a good idea he stops.
"Well there is one way. I am new in this city. And I need a few people who understand the way of the city. An informant.
I will not grant mercy. Because mercy is for the weak.
I wil lgive you a chance, one chance to show me how strong your conviction is. Your faith. Your willingness to follow the Lord of Hell. Kneel down and kiss my ring and pledge me your soul and your undying loyality! Sign this contract, before Asmodeus, that from this moment on you will obey my every order!"
Acting surprised at the man's presumption, Lirotha tries her best to play along.
"You would question the Inquisitor so? When he offers you a chance to pay penance for a set time, rather than forfeit everything to tje courts? You would put your fate into Thrune's justice, rather than work for the further glory of Asmodeus?"
Turning to Morricone she looks seriously.
"This man is too weak. He would be no use to you sir. Let us simply bring him back to the temple and sacrifice him for the betterment of Kintargo and the glory of Asmodeus."
Valrani simply glares at the captain.
"Is it Customary to not abuse your position. I think you have given up your rights to Custom." she notes.
Roc remains silent. Waiting for his master and his associates to conclude their business with this captain.
Lirotha nods at Val's words, smiles evilly then sneers.
"I assure you the details are standard and light: A simple one-year contract. Upon completion, your time in the Inquisitor's service will no longer be required as he will have acclimated himself to Kintargo by then. You will speak to him or his servants ONLY about this matter and provide any required responses as quickly as possible once questions are given to you. The only exception is the slave. Any failure, delay, or hesitation in your responses and your soul and all your valuables are forfeit to the church. Questions?"
Lirotha points to herself and the others present while talking, then to Rocco dismissively. The last part is said with teeth bared.
Lirotha nods and smiles in a kind manner. She then slowly points at the Klar we discovered.
"Thank you Captain. You eagerness to please the church is noted. However, I see you have some uncivilized religious-contraband as well. Shoanti spirit-worship is one of the lowest and ignoble forms of religion. Such reminders of their meager faith should always be destroyed whenever possible."
She then moves over to take it, then gives it to Oren for carrying.
"We shall take this and dispose of it as deemed by the church regulations in order for you to maintain your contract. I expect you to report any other possible religious-contraband you find to the Inquisitor immediately. If he deems the offer worthy enough for the church to care about, he may even compensate you somehow. Also, take care of your pet...the hound is feisty and quite pleasant to be around."
The last part she tosses over her shoulder as she exits, holding the front door open to let the others file out after her.
Oren silently slings the klar over her shoulders. When the order was given, she wheeled around and led the group away from the Captain without so much as a nod.
Morricone stands before Captain Ivarro and hands him another paper, to gain the hellknights handed over to their custody
"Also you will sign this. It has been decided that some people need some special treatment."
Then raising a second finger her smiles wickedly.
"I want a report of all happenings on a weekly basis. I am most interested in reports of sedition or disloyality in speech or deed.
Serve me well and you will see that I am willing and able to reward faithfullness and loyality very, very well!"
Talon waits till everyone has exited and as the last to leave, he gives an evil smile. "Be seein you chum." and closes the door.
Roc follows on his master's heels quietly struggling to believe how well that had gone.
|
|
As Lirotha speaks about the klar, Captain Ivarro grimaces but nods meekly:"Yes, of course... I was going to do that myslef..." he claims. Then the dottari captain signs the other papers Morricone hands him and bows:"Yes, your excellence! That would be my pleasure! Thank you for your understanding! All glory to the Prince of Darkness! May he conquer all!".
Once you leave you can spy him take a deep breath of relief. Seems like your rouse worked perfectly.
Oren suggests the group wait until the morning. No reason to invite more attention than was completely necessary. ”Lets get some shut eye and tackle this again in the morning. A little rest will do usngood and why risk getting seen after curfew?”
Smile disappearing, Lirotha sighs heavily.
"We have to go collect the wagon anyway! We left it at the jail and walked here, remember? We might as well get the prisoners and try to bluff our way through curfew until we can hide them out of sight. Maybe 'Inquisitor Morris' can get a special permission letter from the warden for passing through curfew since she's the one who sent us off on this wild goose chase in the first place."
"We should get the prisoners now. If the captain changes his mind, or read what it was he was signing... well... the sooner we are out of there with the prisoners, the better." agrees Valrani.
"And the poor horses and wagons."
"Yeah, plus, I promised my dad I'd get the wagon back to him first thing tomorrow. And it'll be the last time I can get a favor outta him if I don't give it back in the morning. I think we should try tonight."
Morricone nods.
"Desna favors the bold!"
Smiling at the goddesses' name, Lirotha nods.
"Agreed my pretties. Let us onward and upward."
|
|
You opt to get back to the Holding House despite the curfew being in effect. Thankfully your rouse still works and once "Inquisitor Morris" steps up, the couple of dottari patrols you meet along the way are fooled as well and let you pass with the deference due to people of your station (and their wretched slaves, of course!).
Once back to Sabo's office the woman looks surpised to see you so soon:"Oh? If it's not the handsome new inquisitor and his merry band of infernal underlings! You were quicker than I expected! So... have you got one dottari captain to confirm the veracity of your request for me?" she asks in her deceptively pleasant tone.
Once you produce the paperwork she studies it at lenght then nods:"Captain Ivarro is known to me. Not exactly a stalwart example of manliness but he's adequate at his job... or so I'm told. Well then. Everything seems to be in order. The documents are authentic and so is the signature you collected for me. I'm rarely mistaken... but this time it seems I were. Your transfer request is approved, yet I must warn you of something. You'll have no problem collecting Benjen Preveau, Ilsani Aberveen, and Kasston Auruda. Unfortunately for you, Hortense Lierre is another story. She's spent all day under the gentle care of Ghenemahl... our resident interrogator, so to speak. By now Lierre has been healed 3, no, 4 times... yet, if Ghenemahl isn't finished with her there's nothing I can do to force her to release the prisoner. There's an agreement with the church and the nindalese embassy preventing us to interfere. I'm sure a man as persuasive as you are will be able to convince the creature to release Lierre though..." Sabo finshes speaking smiling widely at Morris and calls a guard to escort you into the cell block to gather the prisoners.
You realize that if you have questions for her this is the time to ask them or let them stay unanswered!
"Forgive me my impertinence Warden, but do you know the exact language of the agreement with the Nidalese embassy? We were tasked to retrieve ALL the prisoners and if we are negligent, we could face our own form of...punishment...later. So I'm hoping we can find a loophole to retrieve Lierre, if the agreement is loose enough to allow such."
Lirotha, quickly glances at the inquisitor surreptitiously and with a hint of fear when she mentions 'punishment.'
*Shudders*
Nidalese? Damn, this could get really upsetting really fast, Rocco thinks to himself as he holds his tongue. And did she say 'creature'?
|
|
Warden Sabo stops writing down whatever report she was working on at the moment and answers Lirotha's question, her tone surprisngly dry compared to her usual antics:"You want to know about loopholes" she says "Well... unfortunately there are none. And believe me, I've checked. Orders pertaining Ghenemahl are uncharacteristically straightforward:«Let Ghenemahl mine truths from 33 mortal shells at her discretion» . Hortense Lierre is her 13th" Sabo recites.
"Grivenner sent her here to the Holding House, and instructed me to allow Ghenemahl the use of any prisoners she desired, and to not disturb her once she makes a selection. As you imagine I don't relish the situation. I think it undermines my authority for me to defer to a servant of Zon Kuthon. But there's nothing I can do since the order comes from the High Priest himself and the directive is adamant in its meaning. Not that I would dream of subverting the letter and intent of Grivenner's words, of course" Sabo concludes and points you at the door:"I'm not surprised you weren't informed about this. It's not common knowledge anyway. But as I said, you'll have to persuade Ghenemahl to give you her toy yourselves, and I think you'll find that quite difficult. Try offering her your slave. Perhaps she may be willing to contemplate the trade... if she likes the way your halfling screams, anyway. Now we are done here. Go with Asmodeus, brothers and sisters".
Talon says nothing but eye's his fellow Raven's. His thoughts clear, that this Ghenemahl needs to be 'taken care of'.