Mihai frowns at the man as he gauges his bravado...
Sense Motive:
Corbius frowns at the mans statements. Who said anything about judges? You could easily just be another innocent victim of the fire that was started in the building. We tried vainly to save you but despite our best efforts you died with your friends over there.
The man appears to be telling the truth about his situation but pales when you mention him ending up dead...
He looks around at a few of the people standing around after helping you with the flames. You wouldn't do that in front of these people, you would end up hanging yourselves!
You get the sense the man is genuinely afraid of what Corbrius is saying and appears to be looking around trying to delay you...probably until city guards arrive.
Mihai knows not any words with which to force compliance, so instead looks upon the man with pity "The building that burns was owned by the Sargavan Government... I would doubt that even a Judge could long remain in power if they were to openly thumb their noses. You have a chance to make some right for the murder and mayhem you have unleashed here... it would be wise to take it."
I was just a lookout, I killed no one! the man lies. He keep eyeing Corbrius to see what he will do...
The halfling gets a sly look. "Say, it just occurred to me to wonder how the other guy in the pit died. Was that blood I saw on your leader's hands, before he slithered away into the dirt like a worm? Did I interrupt him before he could kill you too?" He leans forward and smiles. "Can your uncle protect you from him?" Anton raises his eyebrows at the slimeball, already knowing (or at least guessing) the answers to his own questions.
The man pales even further...and finally snaps, No he won't...if you kill him I will be safe though. He was going to kill me for failing him.
His name is Umagro. He is the leader of the Freeman’s Brotherhood...what do you want to know?
Mihai leaves the questioning of the captive to the others, instead moving to see if there was aught that could be done for the casualties of the fire.
Nim continues his search for Jask's scent...
Corbius continues to eye the man as if trying to decide whether he is going to let him talk or toss into the burning building.
Who are the Freeman's Brotherhood and why did they want to destroy this warehouse?
Most of the Brotherhood are freed slaves, some of us just believe in their cause.
You are foreigners. If you succeed in your search to find Saventh-Yhi it will bring more of you to our shores. The government couldn't see this, they can only see gold pieces, so we thought we would show you both.
Mihai leaves the questioning of the captive to the others, instead moving to see if there was aught that could be done for the casualties of the fire.
Tragershen will double move to -B12 and start looking for anything that might be useful in dealing with the fire, either to douse or smother it.
When the fire is under control and it is clear it won't spread to nearby buildings, Tragershen will join Anton and Corbius in interrogating the arsonist. "Shall we take him with us? Or let the authorities have him?" The tone of his question is very matter of fact, with no hostile undertones, just grim implications.
Out of town atm. Will get an update posted tonight.
The arsonist responds, We don't have a headquarters or anything like that. We meet at various safe houses or abandoned houses or outside the city.
I am not sure how many there are of us, maybe 20-30.
Umagro had the man we captured here taken. He is alive. He took him to a place called the South Arcadian Whaling House. The place can be defended and was not guarded. He is going to gather a crowd there this evening by making a number of announcements and then execute the man we captured here as well as a few others he believes are complicit in their support of bringing more foreigners to our soil.
He has about a half dozen of the other brothers there with him.
The South Arcadian Whaling House was the place you landed at when you first came to the city...
"The man taken-" For the first time since returning to civilization, Tragershen's calm demeanor cracks. "Jask?!? Jask was here, wasn't he? The South Arcadian Whaling House! We must gather the others and go!"
Mihai nods sagely though his face is grave "Aye... but we need think on how to engage. This Umagro will likely be expecting us, so we need be cautious." he then looks around for a member of the Eleder constabulatory to pass off their captive to.
It is about this time that a group of city guards arrives. They have their weapons drawn but the Lieutenant leading them seems to know of you and after you tell them what happened and it is supported by several people watching they nod and roughly take the man.
It may be some time before the guard can move against Umagro...and you know they are not exactly the most delicate people in handling things...
You think you have about 3-4 hours before Umagro would make any move, although now you have moved against him it is possible he could move up his plans.
We stand a better chance at rescuing Jask if we are at full strength. Many of my spells will not last the hour. Make plans by all means, but let us do so with haste...
Yes, now that Tragershen has realized that Jask was taken, he'll get the others together to start working their way to the whaling company's building(s). He'll try to use his knowledge of the city to determine a route that will allow Nim to keep his form (i.e., not going through the middle of crowds or markets), and to come up on it in a way that they might be able to get a good vantage point but perhaps go unseen by lookouts.
Knowledge Local
Nim and Wic join the others rushing to the whaling company building...
Your spells have been going for about 45 minutes by the time you have made it to the whaling company. It is at the end of Whalebone Lane, on the west side facing the beachfront.
The South Arcadian Whaling Company is a large complex of whitewashed stone and brick, easily located by the pungent stench surrounding it. You remember it is a small operation that hunts and processes whales off the southwestern coast of Garund, and serves as one of the region’s sources for baleen, whale meat, whale oil, and other whale byproducts. The compound is walled on all sides, including the beachfront, making it one of the most defensible structures in the city. The brick walls of the compound are 20 feet high.
You see a strong wooden, ironbound door on the front side. The windows have their storm shutters closed. You here no activity from the complex.
Map of the Whaling House exterior
Anton suggests, "How about I use the rope of climbing to take a look inside the walls? If they don't have a guard on the door, I could open it from the inside."
Mihai nods, but cautions "Be wary"
Upon arrival, Tragershen seems genuinely puzzled. When Anton suggests his course of action, Tragershen smiles warmly and says "An excellent idea, I think. I honestly hadn't worked out yet what to do once we actually got here."
Aedalis sat down cross-legged, shut his eyes and focused his otherworldly talents upon Anton's scar as he attempted to keep fate in the brave Halfling's favour.
Anton pulls out the miracle in rope form, concentrates on what he wants it to do, and the tip hovers to just below wall height, in a spot of shade. The halfling climbs up and eases his head over the edge.
With the aid of the magical rope you easily scale the longer wall on the eastern side and peer over.
There is a walkway just on the other side of the wall about 4 feet from the top. It runs south and you see a man sitting on the walkway with his back to the wall towards the south (left). There is a building against this wall running north to south. A rumbling comes from it and the southern half appears to be open to the sky. The Larger building that appears to be the front of the complex occupies the southern part of the complex.
You can see an open building on the western side of the complex, maybe an open warehouse and voices coming from it.
You have a couple of obvious choices. Crawl over the wall were you are onto the roof of the building to see the inside of the complex.
Go further north and drop over the wall on the northern tip into some brush and peer into the inside of the complex from the ground level. The brush offers you more protection than the roof since the apparent "guard" is currently not watching anything coming over the wall. The guard looks similar to the masked men you fought earlier and doesn't look like a Whaler...
Anton mimes to the others that he's going to climb onto the wall and down the other side, then does it, sneaking over and into the brush.
The inside of the complex:
A broad, cobbled courtyard is surrounded by buildings. On the side facing the beach where you are, a wide ramp leads down to the shore through a gated arch. Wedged into the passage lies the bloody carcass of a tremendous whale. The carcass is bound with thick cables that lead to a crank hoist at the top of the ramp. On either side sit warehouses converted for stripping and processing whale meat and blubber. The entire complex reeks of burnt fat and slaughter.
The whale is blocking much of your line of sight but you can see an elevated small shack facing the water, a lone man is inside of it looking out for boats.
The warehouse looking building is open to the inside and seems to be two stories. Several smoke stacks stick out of the top.
You need to climb the whale to get a better view. You sneak over the whale and get a better view of the inside. The front office or building has double doors facing the inside courtyard.
A single door is just to your left and a double door is a little further down to your left.
The warehouse:
A large brick building stands here; the side facing the inner courtyard is completely open to the elements. At the front of the structure, huge winches hang from the ceiling, rigged to oversized wooden blocks dangling hooks and straps. The voices are coming from inside of it but they must be towards the back of the warehouse since you can't see them.
The courtyard is pretty open and hiding will be difficult once you leave the protection of the whale, how do you wish to proceed?
Your hear, and so each of you will see the fate of these men. Their executions will serve as a message to this city and it's people that foreignors will not be tolerated!
A voice that may be Jasks speaks, You and your men are filthy curs. You prey on the weak...you will pay, soon enough.
Nim and Wic keep watch for danger with sight, sound and scent as they wait for Anton to return...
Corbius waits with the others, his black blade drawn, his eyes watching for signs of trouble.
Anton works his way back the way he came , and quietly explains the tactical situation to the others, drawing on the ground in classic scout fashion. "There's a gatehouse, and another building here, then an open-sided structure than I couldn't see inside. Guards here and here. I can go over the wall here, put an arrow in the closer one before he sees me, drop down, go in the gatehouse, and open the front door from the inside. Sound good?"
"Was Jask there? Was there a guard on him? Could they harm him before we could get to him?"
"I heard him from the open building. Someone was talking about executions. We need to act quickly."
Mihai remains quiet, deferring to the others as to tactics and ready to offer what assistance he can.
Corbius nods in agreement with Anton's plan. Sounds like a plan. Make that shot count! I do not relish the thought of trying to bash my way through the gate with Jask being held inside
Nimosaur shakes his head side to side...
Anton stills and looks off into space at Corbius's offhand comment. "Actually... That might be better, for you guys to break down the door after giving me a few seconds to get on the roof of the front building. That way, I can shoot anyone who tries to hurt Jask or the other prisoners, in case they decide to move the executions up at any commotion." He looks at the Nimosaur. "Which plan do you prefer, number one or number two?"
Nim bobs his head once...
"Well, a dinosaur charging into the offices may draw them together, and hopefully away from Jask, if they think it is a wild animal and not part of a coordinated assault. Perhaps we can have Nim enter in one entrance, and the rest of us close in from the other side? Or wait until they are committed to engaging us at the site of Nim entering, and then join in from concealment?"