When he's around the keep Muchorak will leave the Arrows alone; he will not turn away from discussion if any attempt such with him.
Naria spends her spare time outside of seeing the binding reading up on the local monuments if there are any details in the black arrow records.
Inikai reassures Esteriende as best as he can by saying "There will be nothing barbaric about it. But, if need be, Kaven can be forced to speak the truth to a direct question. However, you are right to avoid proceeding with an assumption of guilt. I will be ever mindful of that."
Then Inikai turns to the seal on the floor and calls out in a deep, commanding voice "I call upon Dantalion, the Star Emperor. Appear, if you please, and bestow upon me your knowledge and understanding. Use my eyes and ears to learn anew the happenings of the material world."
When the echo of Inikai's voice fades, the seal remains empty for the space of six breaths. Then Dantalion appears in a flash of red light as a 10-foot-tall humanoid, resplendent in crimson and gold robes. His head is a massive conglomeration of dozens of human faces male and female, young and old. A gold crown as big around as a barrel rests on the brow of his enormous cranium. Dantalion carries a great tome under one arm and speaks with the voices of his many faces, always in cryptic passages that he reads from his book. Sometimes just one face reads from his tome, but the speaking face changes often and usually in mid-sentence. Those who glance at the book’s pages see a dark sky filled with stars that change with each flip of a page.
Binding Check
"I am not sure that you will want to even see this next one. Valac is a repulsive creature and I would never call him forth if not for the circumstances that we are in right now. Whatever you see, remember that these manifestations have no imprint on our world. So if you should hurl any harmful magics at Valac he will suffer nothing, sad to say."
Inikai washes away the first seal with a wet rag. Then he replaces it with a nearly identical circle and fills it in with small details. But the overall effect of this new drawing is somehow ugly and unpleasant to look at. Following the lines of the seal tire out the eye and leave the young woman squinting and, unconsciously, scowling.
With a sneer, Inikai calls out with a tone of resignation " Valac, the Dread Inquisitor, stand before me."
A pile of dead human bodies appears over Valac’s seal and fills the air with the stench of death. Among the corpses are a few severed heads. One of the heads opens its eyes suddenly and looks at Inikai and Naria. The head then rises above the pile on a giant serpentine neck and looks all about the area. A second identical head follows a moment later and addresses the pair.
"How wonderful it to see you again, Inikai. And you brought a friend. If I am not mistaken, this is the sorceress, Naria Yamyra. It is my pleasure to meet you" it says with an impossibly wide grin
that conveys no humanity. "I am at your service."
Binding Check
Romon chimes in on Esteriande and Inkai's conversation, "Everyone's guilty of something. I've tried chatting him up with a bit of hometalk, but he's not buying that. We might try good Guard- bad Guard. It's two out of three people's favorite game."
What is the third person's favorite?" Inikai asks with a laugh.
"Hide and seek. Mostly the hiding part," Romon relies matter of factly.
Esteriande nods slowly, thinking carefully with a sober expression. It's clear she finds this duty onerous.
"Very well. We will call Kaven and question 'im carefully - but we will do so in private. I do not wish to besmirtch 'is reputation amon ze ozzers. What 'appens zen must depend on what 'e tells us."
She observes the summoning of Inikai's vestiges with great interest. Like many elves she has a fascination with magic - even if she does not directly study it.
Naria again full of question Mostly along the line of "Are the visages Outsiders? Ghosts? some form of mental construct? etc."
"Remnants of lost gods?" Esteriande suggests.
"There are different, and often contradictory, explanations of what the vestiges are. The only constant seems to be that they are the remains of dead, or otherwise no-longer-existing, beings. Some were allegedly gods, demons, or powerful mortals. A few might never had existed in fact but instead only been legends; apparently widespread belief in something can bring about its existence somehow."
"They all share one thing: they want to experience existence again. So they grant their powers, or the remnants of their powers, in exchange for the sense of living that they receive when I forge a pact-binding with them. They often urge me to take some course of action, or try to forbid me from doing something, but they cannot exert any power over me. If I do not agree with their entreaties then I disregard them. The only recourse they have in that case is sullen silence or petulant sarcasm."
"The pacts that I make with them last for a day or so. I can break the pact and expel one, as I did the other day with Amon. So far I have been able to bind two vestiges to me at a time. But I believe I will be able to increase this number as I learn more about my craft."
Romon opts out of the binding. Once was more than enough.
Regarding Kaven, "So who's doing the talking? And is Inikai going to squeeze the truth out of him like pulp from an orange? If he's not we need to plan our squeeze."
Season is late Autumn now..winter is just around the corner..
You'll be able to get Kaven alone at some point .
Ali's messenger trip..it's a quick in and out of Magnimar isn't it? If she needs to stay for a reply it might be a few days in addition it's a flight off about 400 miles.So it will be about 8-10 days there and the same back. you could send a dispatch by messenger boat that would take pretty much the same time..I'll leave it up to you.
If we can isolate Kaven, preferably in one of the tower rooms with one exit, Esteriande will block his exit and become very formal.
"Kaven Windstrike," she begins. "In ze cellar of ze keep, we came upon some documents zat list many names...including yours, encircled. Given zeir nature, we need to establish zeir meaning."
Esteriande nods to Inikai, to use his power to compel the truth.
"I 'ave to ask you some questions which may not be pleasant. I apologise if zey cast doubt on your 'onour, but we must establish ze facts," Esteriande continues.
"First, did you convey any information, to anyone not of ze Black Arrows, concerning ze Fort and it's personnel?"
Inikai stands beside the countess and fixes his gaze upon Kaven.
Mechanics:
Mind Reading:
READING THOUGHTS
Reading a creature’s surface thoughts reveals not only the immediate thought in its mind, but also some general information that it might know. If the target fails its saving throw, the mind reader should learn a brief description of its emotional state in broad terms, such as “bored and hungry,” “nervous and alert,” “angry and plotting,” “skeptical and cautious,” and so on. The mind reader can also determine the target’s awareness of other allies and enemies in the vicinity.
Naria watches the thing with intrest but keeping out the way.
Kaven looks at each off you and crumbles almost immediately the long and sorry storry coming out in a rush.
The young man was enamoured of the owner of the floating Casino 'The Lucky Strike' a woman named Lucrezia wof whom he was a frequent patron.At first his luck was in and he won a fair amount of money but then the losing strewak began and he ended up owing large amounts..Lucrezia annuled his debts in return for information on the Fort and the Arrows routines.Kaven is essentially totally broken by what has occured
From his description you'd say Lucrezia was the redheaded Lamia in rhe basement.
Kaven identifies many off the other names as patrons of the casino..which you remember was mentioned in Turtleback Ferry as having sunk with great loss of life.
In addition checking him you find a tattoo of the Sihedron rune on his upper arm.He tells you that the mark is on many of the villagers and is regarded as a good luck marking
The interview seems to soften Romon's opinion of Kaven. He's a chicken drawn out of the henhouse. Foxed good. Could have happened to anyone. Question is ,can we use this chicken as bait for more foxes?
The scene of the young man collapsing in his guilt strikes an note of discomfort in Inikai. The binder inadvertently looks away and secretly hopes that Esteriende will take things from here. But he stands ready to carry on, nonetheless.
"Did this Lucrezia speak of any of her compatriots, patrons, things of that sort? And why did they want this fort?"
Esteriande listens, her expression sombre. Kaven has fallen like many to a small vice...but the effect of his small betrayal was huge. How can she judge him? Were his compatriots to know, they would surely demand his blood.
Perhaps what is more important is the sihedron rune tattoo...what does THAT mean? Why is it here?
"Ze same rune was used to mark the victims of ze skinsaw murderers," she breaths. "Many bearing it must 'ave died when ze barge sank," she ponders. "My friends...I fear for ze people of Turtleback Ferry."
"I am not of a strategic mind, I don't understand why this fort or Turtleback Ferry are important to these people. Can anyone explain it to me, please?"
"Well did everyone who had the mark have anything in common?"
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Noticing somewhat belatedly the traumatized conditions of some of the Black Arrows, Marak berates himself. "I spend too much time ministering to the dead, to avoid my own discomfort with the more complicated and upsetting travails of the living."
Seeing that Jakardos seems to be finding solace in the quiet company of the elven huntress, Shalelu, Marak attempts to solicit assistance from Vale and Kaven, the two most seemingly afflicted by the ogre's brutality, in his burial rites, attempting to both keep them in busywork, and also to engage them in conversation regarding matters of life and death and grieving, using his own training into the nature of the afterlife to attempt to give them some comfort as to the fates of loved ones lost, and to try and keep Vale's desire for vengeance from overwhelming him and driving him down a darker path, to become more like the ogres themselves, reveling in destruction and violence.
Marak does manage to bring Vale to some sort of realization that killing ogres until they kill him isn't the best idea in the world.
As for Kaven..well..see above.
Have you done anything to contact the ferry since you retook the fort..if not then they might think you are lost as well.
and I still need a decision over Ali and the message.
If Ali can do the job faster when flying, send Ali. If not, send a messenger. Either way, we would dispatch a messenger to Turtleback Ferry to update them of events at the earliest opportunity. We will need supplies and raw materials at the very least.
As i said it will not really save you much time in sending Alihawk to Magnimar..she could cover 40-50 miles a day given that she still needs to rest,eat and sleep and this is about the same as a boat would average there and back.
Off course you would have to go to the Ferry to place a message on the boat..but thats only a couple of hours ride on the tracks.
First order of the day after retaking the keep would be to ride to the Ferry and send a messenger, then. May we assume that is done by the time we question Kaven?
Ok I'll allow that..though I don't like to back track.
So
1 day to write message ride down to the Ferry and dispatch it.
1 day to ride back to Fort and begin clear-up
2-3 days clear-up and inventory during which you decide how to deal with Kaven
So the interrogation occurs on the 6th day after the Fort's recapture
Sounds ok to me.
After the interrogation is completed Inikai heads to whatever room that the Black Arrows have been made available for his use. Once there he washes his hands obsessively, filling the wash basin over and over again. All the while he appears to be angrily muttering to himself. This goes on for almost a quarter of an hour until he abruptly dashes the basin off the table with a sweep of his arm. Then he stands still, his hands and forearms raw almost to bleeding, and stares at his reflection in a puddle of spilled water.
So..anyone else with anything to add..?
Romon spends the first few days as described above -- treasure hunting and sparring with Muchorak and the Arrows. The next few days he'll drop the treasure hunting and maybe take some rides with the horses to see the nearby country-side. Oh -- and the cliff looks like great climbing after two or three routes are mapped out he'll probably be done with that.
He'll also spend as much private time with Estriande as he can without getting pulled into boring castle administration or actual work.
After a week of this he may start sneaking up on people and saying "boo" just to keep them on their toes.
After a couple days of that things may start move around the castle of their own accord. Poltergeists or ghosts, maybe?
Does Kaven answer Inikai's question?
Kaven knows nothing of Lucrezia's origins,intentions or associates. He would appear to have been a classic patsy.
"We must speak of zis later, zen," Esteriande tells Kaven. "I accept zat you 'ad no idea of ze intentions of ze lamia, yet your folly cost your friends dearly and I tzink zat will grieve you more zan any punishment I could lay upon you, were it my place to do so. 'Owever, I would urge you zis: you can repay your debt by your loyalty to zis Fort and it's purpose. If you yield to despair, you will fulfil ze desires of your enemies for all is NOT lost for you." She pauses a moment before continuing.
"To your friends, I for one need say nozzing - whezzer you choose to do so is your own affair, and I urge you to stay and 'elp rebuild zings 'ere."
[spoiler="To Romon, later"]When they are alone...
"Poor Kaven, 'ee 'as a moment of weakness, and now must live with not only ze loss of many of 'is friends, but ze knowledge zat it was by 'im zat zis was done. I 'ope 'e can find redemption in 'is own 'eart."
She grins suddenly.
"Now come 'ere and tell me what you 'ave been up to? I 'ave been very busy wiz re-organising ze Fort, I do not want you to feel neglected."
Romon will gladly tell Esteriande about sparring, climbing, riding and sneaking up on people. He will leave out moving items from place to place.
Oh I think you have long enough to break the constant round of killing things..
About mid morniong on the 7th day a horse pounds up to the gates,mounted on it is a man in rough hunters clothing.He hails the FDort with a paniced tone
"Quick, Quick,,you must come to the Ferry at once...please there has been a flood..we need your help." he cries
"At once!" Esteriande responds, hastening to saddle Greyfog and throwing questions to the rider as she does so.
"'Ow bad is ze flooding? Is ze bridge still intact?"
As soon as he is ready she springs onto his back and rides for the Ferry.
The rider's news does nothing but confuse Inikai. What do they expect us to do about a flood? he asks himself.
If a horse is available he will ride along with the others to the scene of the emergency. As they are ready to depart the fort he asks the others a question.
"What if this is a trap? The messenger could well be another minion of this greed-lord."
"Who cares? It will get us out of here for a while! Let's go!"
At the appearance of someone new, Romon had hurried to hear what they had to say. He quickly followed Esteriande to the stables, determined not to miss this opportunity to do something. He saddled his horse and made ready to go.
Naria follows climbing aboard her riding dog and heads after Esteriande
"They may need help in evacuating the town."
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Marak will follow, fussing about what he is going to bring, and not having prayed for any spells that would be specifically useful in dealing with a flood, or it's aftermath, having been more focused on ministering to the living (and the dead), digging graves, mending bits of fortification that had been burnt, etc.