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"So you see, Master Kels: we aren't monsters. Even Lord Darellus himself—" And Kayal makes a point to punctuate the man's title, "—is but one man; albeit charged with doing what he can in these trying times. And as loyal subjects of Cheliax, of its people, so are we. I think I speak for everyone in saying that a diplomatic solution to this is best for all parties involved, if only the option were made available to us. It's all rather discourteous. Perhaps if we made your muse's acquaintance, we could all discuss the issue like the civilized people that we are. Alas that she seems so reluctant to materialise..."
Kayal slides his eyes to Vokrin, otherwise unmoving, before bringing his glower back to the desk proper. "Forgive him. Our Archmage is a man of tempered action, as I'm sure you're well aware. In any case, even should you doubt our charge: please do not doubt that our own personal intentions are entirely devoted to Longacre's continued well-being."
[dice=Diplomacy ("Aid Another"-ing!)]1d20+8[/dice]
Vokrin nods to Kayal, looking very serious as he does so. He doesn't look overtly hostile, but there is just the impression that brimming beneath the surface are evil thoughts and malicious deeds simply waiting to unleash their claws upon the world.
Kels is very quickly losing any backbone he may have grown and looks very wary. "Those postings are absurd! The restrictions Fex has placed on the town is going to choke out its commerce! I've seen what happens in other towns when the Hellknights start making these restrictions, knowledge is lost, townsfolk beaten and abused, the martial law implemented kills the town slowly... Even if I knew how to contact the Angel Knight I wouldn't tell you, not if you're supporting the evils of Cheliax so whole-heartedly!"
He breathes then continues, "Laws like these are what keep people oppressed when they should be free! Laws should protect the people without shackling them in a cage. I'm not certain having told you my story is in my or others best interest. How long do you plan on holding me here? I'd like to go back to my cell where I can compose more..."
Rurisa calmly listens to Kels' little speech, thinking, then she glances at each of the others, and shrugs. "We are not the monsters that you think us, Kels, but I understand your concerns. I don't see any reason to continue holding you. Please wait here, while we retrieve your belongings. Cimri, if you would?"
The mercenary leads the other woman to the armory, then once she's certain the door is closed and they're beyond sight and...
When the mage steps into the armory Rurisa gives him a grim smile. "We'll take him to the Ash House, away from the other prisoners, and question him there using magic. Do you have your spells to make him sleep again? And how much time do you need for your spells to "make him talk," as you put it?"
Though Kayal does his best to appear understanding of the bard's concerns, he nods along with Rurisa's declarations and remains starkly still as ever as his companions go about...whatever it is they're plotting. Kayal's never quite had the backbone to question the plans of his peers. Contribute to, and perhaps adjust for; but never outright question.
"Have you any plans beyond Longacre, Master Kels?" In the meantime...the Fetchling makes small talk. Still smiling. "I should very much like to hear how your story ends."
Kels gives Kayal a rather plastered-on smile, "If all goes the way I want it to, my story will end with me somewhere on a beach far from any commotion with several good operas under my name and surrounded by beautiful women." It seems just thinking of his goals calms Kels down somewhat as his face takes on a dreaming quality.
Cimri meanwhile has pulled Vokrin away to explain Rurisa's plan before butting into the conversation. "We have some of your gear here Mr. Kels, but I had mistakenly taken some of it back to my place of residence. I understand you want to get out of here as quickly as you can, so if you follow myself, Rurisa, and Vokrin we'll get your gear and send you on your way."
Vokrin discloses to Cimri in their time apart that he would need the better part of an hour with his book to be truly prepared for this plan, as he had not yet studied his book of spells for the day. Whispering in the other room, he hedges, "I was waiting to see what the day would need, and only kept the spell of healing on hand, in case of emergency... I do of course have the ability to rain death, but that would be hardly helpful in current circumstance." The last bit was said a bit sardonically, as if he were ever incapable of raining death.
Numerous thoughts ran through Penance's head as the man talked. He thought about using the man for bait. Or maybe disguising someone to look like him. They could take his face. Penance had several sharp blades. Still, he was continuing to learn his role in all of this, and for now, his best contribution seemed to be patience. So he stood by, holding his tongue and continuing to day dream about getting his little hands on this...angel.
"Excellent, we'll knock him out once we reach the Ash House and then bind him. Take however much time you need and make it as strong as possible."
Heading back into the main room with the rest of Kels' possessions, Rurisa informs him. "We're only Rhona's temporary replacements, and I'm not entirely certain what the limits of our authority are, so we're going to confirm with out boss. Presumably then you'll be free to go."
Nodding to Penance and Kayals (and if Kels is looking sufficiently distracted putting on his gear she gives them a conspiratorial smile) she says, "Lead on to Razelgro's office, friends."
Within the first minute Kels has already gone into great detail his own creativity and magnificent performances. Cimri grits her teeth and rubs her hand soothingly along the grip of her sap, nodding where appropriate and increasing the pace to the Ash House just a touch faster than she normally leads in an effort to be done with Kels' inane talking. Upon reaching the Ash House and letting Kels in she slides behind a corner and cracks him across the back of the head when he passes by, giving a great sigh of relief afterward, "Who wants to tie him up? I'm afraid if I do it I'll be cutting off circulation to his brain and airways out of spite."
It is about midmorning when Ingoe Zoags arrives at the jail, and being sure to keep out of sight of the cells meets with Kayal and Penance. He slicks back his greasy cowlick and proffers a handwritten list of names. His handwriting is surprisingly elegant, and more delicate than one would expect of such a...shady fellow. "Here is the list of all the people that were in the tavern last night," he whispers. "Most of the talk was about how unfair the Archbaron's new laws and regulations are, but near the end, with enough drink, the more starry-eyed people were talking about the Glorious Reclamation and how great it would be if they could come and 'free the town'."
His shifty eyes focus on your coin-purses as he licks his lips. "You know I can get you more and better information if I can grease palms a little easier. 10 gold a week should be enough to help me help you in the future..."
Rurisa rolls her eyes as she unspools the rope at her belt. "Cimri, sweetheart, just help me with this." Pausing she turns and looks at Vokrin. "Will it spoil your magic if we have him tied up, or will it still function?"
"My magic will work or it will not. Some minds are less or more susceptible to the workings, but I doubt I shall have any trouble with one such as him." Vokrin finds himself a room to himself to prepare, after advising that he should not be disturbed for an hour, lest he become irritable and simply slay the offending bard out of hand, as well as one of the former guards from spite. It is a patently empty threat, but it aids his ego to make it.
Razelgo's Krenshar peaks down the stairs to see what is going on before turning around and heading back up to the office. Cimri settles herself in to wait for Vokrin and gives Kels a quick tap on the head whenever he stirs.
An hour later, Vokrin emerges from the room he had found, prepared to charm the pants off of an annoying bard. "Wake him, and we shall see whose mind is stronger."
Cimri shakes Kels awake as Vokrin begins casting. A few gestures and spoken arcana later and the spell settles over the rather well-beaten by this point bard.
Kels looks rather confused, but breaks into a smile. "How did I end up on the floor here? I remember walking in, but then everything went black... I didn't realize this place was still standing! From the rumors I thought it was burned to the base."
Cimri slinks into Kel's view with his lute in tow. She hands it to him to his great delight. He begins strumming and tuning it before standing and looking at everyone. "Alright, I've retrieved my property. Is there anything else you needed from me before I go on my way?"
Cimri slinks into Kel's view with his lute in tow. She hands it to him to his great delight. He begins strumming and tuning it before standing and looking at everyone. "Alright, I've retrieved my property. Is there anything else you needed from me before I go on my way?"
Kels looks closer at himself after trying to get up and failing. "Hmm...Tied up, well that's a bother. Friends, certainly you can help get me out of these infernal ropes, I'm afraid my skin will chafe if I'm in them for too long." Cimri comes around the corner, holding Kels' lute as though it was a venomous serpent. "Ah you've found my lute as well. If my arms are freed I can tune it and sing you a tune of the Angel Knight, may she rest well wherever she is."
Rurisa will give the bard a smile. "Of course, just a moment. In the meantime, could you regale us with everything you know about the Angel Knight and her allies and supporters here in Longacre? Cimri and Vokrin said they have some questions..."
While the others spoke with the bard, the mercenary moved around behind him and pokes at the ropes a little bit, pretending like she was trying to undo them.
"Yes, we were wondering how we would find this Angel Knight, and who had been particularly interested. We like to find beings of similar interest, that they may be noted and contacted for further discussion." He nods, the better to quash this conspiracy while it is still in its infancy.
Kels frowns with his recollection, "I wish I could help more, but I genuinely don't know where the Angel Knight has gone off to. If it weren't for her touching my brow with her gauntleted hand I'd have thought she were a figment of my imagination. Lots of folk in town are interested, they just want to get out from under Fex's thumb. If they knew how friendly you guys are in person I'm sure they'd come to ask you to intercede on their behalf."
Cimri begins fiddling with the blade of her dagger, "Then what were all of those people doing at the Last Stand last knight? Surely they knew how dangerous it was to defy the Archbaron's orders not even a day after they'd been posted."
Kels scoffs and tries to throw his hands in the air, forgetting that they are bound to his side once more. "Most of the folk here might be veterans or families of veterans, but they come from Thrune dissenters and logistics divisions for the most part. It would probably be foolish to have a fully militant town of people who don't like the current regime. If that were to happen I'm sure Hellknights would also be stationed here. Had your group come in last night I'm not sure any of them would have had the courage to stand up to you, and I don't see too many people here getting riled up without outside help. How are the ropes coming back there my dear?"
Arching an eyebrow at Vokrin and Cimr, Rusisa says evenly,"I believe him, he doesn't know anything relevant to finding the Angel Knight. Do you have any more questions?"
"Thank you for your cooperation, Kels." Still standing behind him, the Hellrazor brings her arm around the minstrel's front under his chin--and then firmly locks her forearm against his windpipe, using her other arm to brace the chair against his struggles.
After he passes out Rurisa stands, places a hand on the unconscious man's chin and head and with a quick twist snaps his neck. Nodding towards the section of wood that she'd pried up, Cimri, give me a hand in burying him, will you?"
Once this somewhat difficult task is complete and the boards more or less returned to their previous positions, Rurisa brushes the grime from her hands. "Well, shall we go see whether Penance and Kayal have had better luck than we? Oh, and thank you Vokrin, without your powerful magic we might have chased that dead end for days."
It seemed like an eternity since the others had left, and while Penance could be patient, if was becoming increasingly more difficult. Like a child in a bakery, he found his own desires growing with each passing minute. There was the one guard that had spoken down to them, and there was the one that had physically assaulted them, and then there was another guard, but even more so there was Caggen. Here was a man that had insulted him (barely), assaulted him (moderately), and despised them (severely), and still, the man had been afforded no real punishment. At least not as far as Penance was concerned.
Penance sat in a chair for a while. He laid on the desk, he paced the floor, and at once point he even prayed. Through it all, he found himself daydreaming about just what he wanted to do to the large man. He wanted to pickle the man's toes. He wanted to make the man realize that all his bolstering and bravado were worth nothing. He wanted to hear the man apologize and plead for it to all stop.
Eventually a scowl crept onto Penance's face and he couldn't hold back any more. He went to his pack and started removing some of the more interesting devices. Those implements that he had been trained with. He started to hold them up and inspect them when the door suddenly opened. "Ahh, just in time. Care for a show?" he asked as the others walked in.
Cimri looks the tools over, "Ooh. Who's getting the reminder for their last day? Is it their last day? When did we decide on the ex-deputies being allowed out of the clink?" She looks to Rurisa, not knowing if the deputies have served due time.
With a shrug, "Beats the hell out of me, I want to work them over a little before we let them out though. If we can bring them over to our way of thinking it'll make running things around here a lot easier."
"Want me to get them then? Penance, who're you making a show of?"
Penance shrugged with feigned innocence. "We could always ask for a volunteer" he said with a smile on his face. "Sometimes it's best to break the hardest rock first. Then the others seem like less of an effort.
Anything specific I should try to find out? Did you guys find out anything about this angel knight?"
"Our loud bard was apparently utterly ignorant about anything substantive. Seems our next-best lead is whoever is posting these seditious flyers about the town. I'm thinking a stakeout on the town square or some other high-traffic area, then we nab whoever's doing it."
Hooking a chair with her foot, she drags it towards her and drops into it. "Penance, we can't torture anyone yet, we're trying to make the Archbaron look good. If it'll help, you can stick Caggan in the stocks--he'll hate that, and he seems to have impulse control issues. No doubt he'll do something stupid and then he's all yours!"
The mercenary's tone is conversational, but pitched low so that there's no risk of being overhear by any of the remaining prisoners.
Cimri lounges on the table, kicking a leg idly, "It'll be interesting to see who's doing it. We planning on splitting up and watching several areas or keeping together?" While looking over the spread Rurisa has made to encourage the deputies to a different set of thoughts she smirks, "So we butter 'em up with food, then show them the right side of the law? I can go get one of them now if you want."
"It would be good not to burn too many bridges to the ground, lest we find ourselves on an island with no escape," Vokrin says mysteriously. Possibly annoyingly so. "Beside which, humiliation and torture are good fuel for vengeance, the less we give cause for that the easier our time will be."
As to the further conversation, Vokrin advises still that strength is found in numbers, and that any splitting up should stay within earshot, in case one group finds trouble.
Rurisa rolls her eyes but grins. "You've sussed out the plan, Cimri. If the others," she gestures to Penance, Vokrin and Kayal, "don't object to us playing nice for a few hours, sure, bring in one of the guards and we'll work on persuading them around to our way of thinking."
Cimri heads back into the prison area and comes back with Ertha, the woman who called her fellow deputies to back off when Rhonna was removed from her position. She crosses her arms as well as she can and stares pointedly at everyone without meeting anyone's eyes, "What do you want?" Her tone is surly, but exhausted.
"I believe they wish to... offer you something to drink?" Vokrin is clearly confused at this point, not remotely understanding what was going on. Were they planning to play bad cop, slightly worse cop? This abrupt turnabout from stealing the wills of others to acting nice was a bit confusing for him, true enough he held no enmity towards those who had been soundly defeated and humiliated, but it would not do also to be seen as soft.
Rurisa nods in confirmation at Vokrin's suggestion. "I think we've a little wine left in the skin if you're interested in that, or water if you're not." While waiting for an answer, she thinks furiously about anything she can remember about Ertha that might give Rurisa a rhetorical edge, but nothing comes to mind.
After retrieving whatever drink Ertha prefers, Rurisa slides the chair closer to the other woman and sits down, gazing steadily at the ex-guard. "Ertha, I think we need to have a discussion, about why you attacked us. About who we are and why we're doing what we're doing." the mercenary gestures to herself and her companions.
"Despite what you, and Caggan, and many others in Longacre believe, we are not the villains of this tale. I won't presume to speak for my friends here, for my part I'm a patriot. I know that you and I aren't close, but you know who my parents are, that I grew up in this town--Longacre is a town of veterans, not always the cream of the crop I admit, but surely you too have heard the stories of the war."
Rurisa's smile fades, and her tone shifts to at once both serious and saddened. "My family didn't always live here in town, you know. My father's family owned a farm a few days' ride from here, but like so many others it was destroyed during the civil war. It's not a pretty story--at the time House Keirran and House Thrune were vying for control of this region, and one of the Keirrans' favorite weapons was the so-called Order of the Mattock, just another band of cutthroats and criminals masquerading as a Hellknight order to cover their depredations. I'm sure you can guess how this ends; the Order of the Mattock came sweeping through on a "foraging" mission. They plundered the farm, stole the cattle, raped Grandfather's sister, and murdered his brother when he tried to fight back--staked him out in the field, a spear through his hands and feet, then burned him alive. Grandfather fled into the forest with a few of the neighbors, and so they survived."
Rurisa's intense gaze locks onto Ertha's, refusing to let the other woman look away. "Justice for Grandfather eventually came--not at the hands of Iomedae, or Sarenrae, or that damnable avoral the Andorans are always on about--it came from House Thrune. Specifically, from the Hellrazors, who hunted down the Order of the Mattock and put an end to their plundering of the area. The burned the murderous scum of House Keirran out of their keep and left the ruins lined with the staked heads of the false Hellknights. A fitting end for those who chose to live by atrocity, hmm?"
After a pointed pause, the dark-haired woman leans back in her seat. "Perhaps the Order of the Mattock really did think what they were doing was right, I don't know. Conviction can be a terrible thing when misplaced--the fanatic will risk any amount of blood to see her convictions vindicated, to break any law, put anyone and everyone in danger if they feel they must. I think misplaced conviction is what led you here, Ertha. I understand your loyalty to Rhona, I admire her myself, and had you and your comrades simply resigned and left it at that, well, that would have been the end of it." Rurisa smiles ruefully, as though remembering something painful and unfortunate. "But that's not where it ended, is it? Instead you attacked us in the street, to--what? Punish us for Rhona's firing? If that's the behavior of righteousness then I'm afraid you can keep it. But I think you--all of you--are better than that. I think you care about the people of this town, just as I do and just as the Archbaron does, believe it or not. We want to help you Ertha, and frankly we could use your help in return." With a self-deprecating roll of her eyes the Hellrazor throws her hands up in a what-can-I-do gesture. "There's trouble brewing in Longacre, Ertha. This "Glorious Revolution" is agitating for violence, there's no two ways about it. How many people will be hurt, or killed, if they get what they want? Do they even care? Just as with the Order of the Mattock, a band of fanatics have decided that their convictions are the only thing that matters, that war and rebellion and destruction are acceptable prices to pay as long as they get their way. We--I--won't let them do, even if harsh measures are required. What we're asking of you is your help to preserve the peace in our town. Will you at least consider it?"
"At one time you had a hand in how this community fared, in how it was protected. Don't you still want that?"
"Water will do just fine..." Ertha's attitude is quite frosty from the beginning, but as Rurisa tells her story it thaws, bit by bit, until empathy can be clearly seen in her body language. "That's-" she takes another hasty swallow of her water, "that's terrible. I'm surprised your family didn't move farther away."
She sighs and settles further into her chair, "I can't say we were all level-headed when we jumped you on the street. You have to understand, from our view, from the citizen's view, that what the Archbaron is doing is akin to burning down a diseased tree in a dry forest. The flames will get rid of it, but they quickly spread and the entire forest looks like it will go up soon. The rules and restrictions chafe and burn the sensibilities of those living here, especially people like Bo and Dent who've fought in the war.
Rhonna was one of the best things that happened to this town. No one thought much of her when she was appointed, but she's earned the town's trust and was always looking out for her people, whether they wanted her to or not. And considering the results she got we saw it as an injustice, an affront to everything we've worked for when she was removed from her position. The thought of taking you down and dumping you in the woods made us feel less...helpless."
Ertha shudders, and rubs her arms, looking rather miserable all the while. "I'll talk with the others, and see what I can do. I can't promise they'll all agree, but you've got me convinced at least. Once we're out of here I'll probably reapply for my old job, assuming that's ok with you all."
Rurisa smiles warmly and claps Ertha on the shoulder. "You're not wrong, the town's certainly tense. It'll need a firm and skillful hand to keep order, but I've no doubt we're up to the task. Thank you in advance for your help, I'm certain your comrades will be reasonable--and we can probably get the paperwork filed for your release finished up by tonight. It'll be good to be home again, eh? In the meantime we'll speak to Curtwyn next, and try to get you all lunch here in the next hour or two."
Before the other guards are brought in one at a time, Rurisa brings the others in to a huddle to request their help. "Every word of that story is true, by the way. Back me up on this, stealing Rhona's guards out from under her will make us look really good to the Baron and will give us allies against these would-be rebels. Ertha was the weak link, but these others will be tougher, it'll take all of us to pull it off."
As before, the Hellrazor tries to think of anything about the guards that could give her an advantage, but she'd never paid much attention to them growing up, and it was coming back to bite her now.
[ooc]If everyone (Kayal, Penance, Vokrin, & Cimri) use Aid Another that's +8 right there, and then whatever the circumstance bonus. That should get Ashel and Saster but not sure about Curtwyn.
Cimri adds an annotated version of her history to help out Rurisa, "Not everyone knows my history in this town. There was a lot of running from my drunk parents, turning to vandalism, some minor chaos, etc. When my parents left and dropped me off with Rhonna I couldn't stand her or them. When they didn't come back, when their letters stopped coming, I finally realized I needed to get out on my own, learn things anew. I left my aunt at 16, picked up some skills, and eventually started working for one of the Archbaron's agents. I've come to realize what good these laws do for the town, and why I'm ready to help."
Penance was not paying attention when Ashel came in and was standing in the corner talking to...someone...something...maybe himself? It was hard to tell with Penance. Sometimes he saw things that others didn't. Sometimes he talked to things others didn't. When he realized that they had company, he turned around, slightly embarrassed and held his tongue. Silently he dreamed of killing them all.
By the time Curtwyn and Saster were brought in, he was ready, his speech rehearsed several times in his head. Of course seeing them threw all of that out the window and he simply nodded along as Rurisa and Cimri spoke. He was not about to recite his personal growth in the town, so instead he simply tried to lend support.
Kayal will also help Rurisa, regaling the deputies with stories of Nidal and what he has learned as an ambassador.
Cimri doesn't have much to add after talking with Ashel, dropping into a depressed fugue, presumably brought up by her past. Saster seems to respond favorably to the stories, empathy and concern warring across his face, but Curtwyn, almost attacking you back when Rhonna was let go, is adamant in his silence.
Rurisa nods along, carefully noting the guard's responses. Satisfied that they at least had a foot in the door with everyone but Curtwyn, she escorts them back to their cells and brings them a generous portion of food before returning to the main office to speak to her allies.
"I think that went as well as could be expected. We'll continue to hold Caggan for assault, I don't think he'll turn, but unless anyone objects I'll finish up their paperwork and offer them their jobs back. Curtwyn won't accept, but I think the others will. Well done, every one of you!" The mercenary grins and gives Cimri and Penance (the two closest) a friendly punch to the shoulder.
The punch seems to knock Cimri out of her daze. "So what do we do now?" Her question is answered by a knock at the door.
Ingoe Zoags peeks around the door, and being sure to keep out of sight of the cells, meets with the group. He slicks back his greasy cowlick and proffers a handwritten list of names. His handwriting is surprisingly elegant, and more delicate than one would expect of such a...shady fellow. "Here is the list of all the people that were in the tavern last night," he whispers. "Most of the talk was about how unfair the Archbaron's new laws and regulations are, but near the end, with enough drink, the more starry-eyed people were talking about the Glorious Reclamation and how great it would be if they could come and 'free the town'."
His shifty eyes focus on your coin-purses as he licks his lips. "You know I can get you more and better information if I can grease palms a little easier. 10 gold a week should be enough to help me help you in the future..."
"Who the hell are you?"