quietly You want me to investigate the alley, the back or the building?
We only need to get one person. Like you said, there might be three more dozen. Let's get some information before we investigate further.
The drunkard struggles in your grip but he's too inebriated to break free. Sputtering for air, he gasps, "What the bloody hell are you doing?!"
Speak quietly. We need information. If you have information then we will release you sooner than if you don't have information. So for both our sakes I hope you tell us what we need to know.
We are not talking about it here though. Come with us to where we will question you. Speak no more until we start asking you questions. Like I said, don't make a sound.
Pyron shoves him forward to get him moving to the temple. Staying in the shadows, he directs hin to the intended location.
The priest at the door raises an eyebrow at the man Pyron has in a chokehold, but at the mention of Gaius' name, they wave you in ahead. A female acolyte takes you down to the basement of the temple where she leaves you in front of a room filled with torture devices and other acutraments of interrogation.
Before she leaves, she says in a stern voice:
"Now, it isn't my business what you and Inquisitor Gaius are up to, but for the sake of cleanliness, please don't get too much blood on the floor, alright? These dungeons have *ahem* other uses, you know..."
She bows and leaves the room.
When you arrive at the temple, the priest at the door says:
"Ah, Inquisitor. Your friends have arrived with your prisoner and are waiting for you in Room #1. Also, she left to run some temple business, but Elara told me to tell you not to get too much blood on the floor. Again. We don't need another 'Pasta Incident' to occur twice within ten years..."
He hands Gritz and Tolenn five badges of Calistria's holy symbol.
"To save you the trouble of inquiring acolytes, the head priest has ordered me to give you these badges. These badges will enable you to get in and out of the temple, no questions asked, since you are part of Gaius' operation. I forgot to give these to your friends downstairs, so please take care to make sure they receive them."
With that said, he nods respectfully to you and goes back to watch the entrance.
Gaius nods and leads Tolenn and Gritz to the room where the other group has brought the prisoner. When he sees the wounded man bound, he nods.
That will do, well done. He takes them out of earshot to fill them in on the information regarding their lead for the following morning. Then...
We'll see if we can get this bird to sing, but if he doesn't we'll have something to fall back on.
Gaius waits to see who wants to remain, then addresses the prisoner, hoping he's sober enough to reply.
We move tomorrow to kill your boss, Ghaedren Lamm. And you better hope we succeed, because if we die in the fishery you're going to remain here until you starve. I'm told at the end your tongue starts to be a tasty option to consider. I have some questions for you, and I want you to think hard about trying to deceive me, because when we get another one of your associates, we will have considerably less use for you.
Gaius leans in close and speaks with a menacing calmness: What is your name? How many guards does Lamm have in his employ? What do you know of the fishery building itself? Are there any passwords or defenses we need to know about?
Pyron keeps his dagger out and stares intently in the thug's eyes. I see that your death may be sooner than you realize. I am both an agent for hell and heaven. I am sure you would prefer the latter place. When he said heaven, Pyron's halo appeared. In addition to having red skin and red horns with silvery-blue swirls all over his body and horns, a halo of red and silvery blue swirling about appears right over his horns.
When Gaius sees Rakdon approaching the prisoner with blade drawn, he steps in between the two and holds a hand up to stop him .
Not just yet...
He then takes the elf aside and speaks in a hushed voice, but with a tone full of anger.
Interrogation is an art form, not mere butchery. If you can't control your emotions you need to wait outside. If you ruin my chance at vengeance for wanton bloodlust, I'll turn my wrath on you.
Gaius nods and leads Tolenn and Gritz to the room where the other group has brought the prisoner. When he sees the wounded man bound, he nods.
That will do, well done. He takes them out of earshot to fill them in on the information regarding their lead for the following morning. Then...
We'll see if we can get this bird to sing, but if he doesn't we'll have something to fall back on.
Gaius waits to see who wants to remain, then addresses the prisoner, hoping he's sober enough to reply.
We move tomorrow to kill your boss, Ghaedren Lamm. And you better hope we succeed, because if we die in the fishery you're going to remain here until you starve. I'm told at the end your tongue starts to be a tasty option to consider. I have some questions for you, and I want you to think hard about trying to deceive me, because when we get another one of your associates, we will have considerably less use for you.
Gaius leans in close and speaks with a menacing calmness: What is your name? How many guards does Lamm have in his employ? What do you know of the fishery building itself? Are there any passwords or defenses we need to know about?
[/ooc]
Tolenn remains in the room, leaning against the wall , allowing her tattered robe to fall open an reveal the Dawnflower's emblem on her chest. She gazes at the thug calmly, her eyes quesionning.
Inimidate, aid another
She is surprised when Rakdon approaches the man with a knife, Gaius' timely intervention preventing her scimitar from clearing her sash.
Settling back to the wall, she watches the thugs reaction and answers if any....
Sense Motive
(Ooc)Thanks Gaius. And that's a reasonable idea.(/ooc)
Pyron would have given him the dagger to borrow it and would have smiled at the mention of torture (he is chaotic neutral). Since Gaius stopped Rakdon, he would have taken it back and put it in his quick release in his sleeve and reset the spring-loaded device.
The thug quails under all of your gazes and shouts:
"Okay, okay! I'll talk! I'll talk! Just...keep the torture devices away from me, Inquisitor!
M'name's Larks, and I'm one of the workers that keeps the brats in line. Uh...aside from myself, there are only three others aside from Gaedren and his Lambs, I swear!
There's Yargin, the public face of our operation. He's an old man that's too obsessed with acid. You see the side of my neck? He hit me with his wand 'on accident' when he was drunk! The gnome Hookshanks is responsible for the upper workfloor of the fishery and keeps order with his nightstick. Lastly, Giggles beats the kids on the lower floor if they even look like they're tiring! That half-orc sometimes doesn't know when to stop! It took all that I had to pry him off a poor boy that slipped in the slurry!
The fishery itself has two floors, Inquisitor: a Ground floor and a Lower floor. It smells foul, and it's horrendous environs kills more children than the workers or Lamm's crocodile...I swear to the gods, that man is a monster! He chained a kid over the beast's pit by the feet and asked impossibly complex questions- whenever the kid failed to get it correctly, the bastard dropped him a couple of inches closer!
There's only one thing that you should be worried about: the dog. If you plan to enter stealthily and don't kill his dog quickly, the little bugger is gonna make enough noise to wake up the dead!"
****
From what you can tell, he's speaking the truth. Imminent torture seems to have loosened his tongue, along with the alcohol.
****
Larks hangs his head in shame before resuming: "I know I've done so much wrong to those kids, and I know I could have prevented some from dying. I needed the money to feed my brothers and sisters...I was desperate when Lamm approached me...please understand...I only went along to keep my own from dying, but..." here, he starts to sob bitterly, "I...I want to be forgiven! More than anything else, I want to see those kids free...!"
****
He's telling the truth. He's truly sorry for his actions and wishes to repent for them.
As an agent from heaven, I will offer you what I can for your desire to see those kids free. Pyron places his hand on the man's shoulder and casts virtue on him. When he is done, he steps back and says, I will take you to the authorities after this is all over. You will tell them everything. I will vouch for you that you aided us in this mission. As the guard's representative, I will use this authority. He turns his head to look around to make sure the others understood. As what happens to the rest of the men, I will not guarantee them any protection. You will stay here until we have completed the mission. If everything you say is true then you may be given a slap on the wrist and nothing more instead of something more severe. Do you have anything or know of anything else that can aid us even further, and, therefore, possibly helping you to get in less trouble when I take you in when this is over? He turns back to the inquisitor to let him continue.
|
Upon knowing about the crodile, Rakdon heads back to the fishery and searches around the area for 3 others plus the crodile or other dangerous water animals as he looks out towards the sea, but not in it just on the docks.
He heads out on his own not worrying if someone goes with him or not
He will also have magic missile readied in case something is there.
Gaius listens intently, studying Larks' facial expressions and vocal tone. Unable to detect any deception, he smiles.
One more small request--I will need to borrow your clothes. Not your undergarments, it's nothing like that, and we'll give you some robes to keep off the chill. And yes, if your information is valid I give you my word I will turn you over to Pyron to decide your fate. Lamm is my quarry, not some sniveling drunk.
Gaius takes his own robe off and throws it over Larks' shoulders, gathering up his discarded clothes. He then steps back from the man and approaches the others, speaking low so the prisoner can't hear.
Well done, everyone. We can pursue our lead of finding a dealer down by the docks in the morning if you want, but I'm not sure that's the best course of action. I think we have everything we need right now and should move out at first light. As for Larks' story: Tolenn--do you believe him? Vengeance is my purview, but you can decide if there is any redemption to be had from him. Daud--he spoke of a guard dog. Can you calm it long enough for us to get past? Do you know anything that can put a guard dog at ease? Food? Scents?
If anyone glances inquisitively at his newly-acquired clothes, Gaius will respond: Oh, this? This is to help with my disguise. Nice to meet you, I'm Larks. For the first time since meeting the others, the inquisitor grins. It looks more predatory than joyful.
Larks complies and strips off his clothes and hands them to Gaius.
To Pyron:
He gives you a sad smile.
"Thank you. I'm afraid that I've told you everything I know...Lamm was tight with information..."
Larks thinks for a second before snapping his fingers:
"Scent. As long as there's a scent that he recognizes at the entrance, Gob won't bark his damn head off...my clothes should have enough of my...erm...smell to mask your Inquisitor's true presence from the dog."
You don't see anything, save for the lights you can see from the windows of the fishery.
Going along with a bemused smirk on his face as they capture one of thugs Daud will remain mostly silent as they half drag/half carry the drunken oaf back to the temple. As the interrogation proceeds he will merely lean against the wall with his eyes half closed. At the mention of the dog though he'll step up, aware and awake. Familiar scents will help you get around them or close but once they actually see you all bets are off. Considering the type of people we're dealing with I highly doubt this creature was raised with care and mutual respect. A good meal laced with something to help him sleep should do the trick. I'm assuming narcotics such as those would be easy to find in this temple Mr. Uprising. If not then somebody here probably knows where we can't get some." As the interrogation went on and as he spoke those who looked would notice Daud seemingly indifferent with what ever happened to the captured thug but at the mention of the dog he grows concerned, apparently valuing their lives over those of people.
" As for Larks' story: Tolenn--do you believe him? Vengeance is my purview, but you can decide if there is any redemption to be had from him. Daud--he spoke of a guard dog. Can you calm it long enough for us to get past? Do you know anything that can put a guard dog at ease? Food? Scents?
Tolenn nods , "I belive he has been honest with us." she says looking at the pathetic man intently, she relaxes her gaze and smile slightly "I think for this one, a chance to atone and change his ways is most welcome. Lark, do you this any of your partner's in crime would do the same? If offered escape from Lamm, would they accept?"
Tolenn nods , "I belive he has been honest with us." she says looking at the pathetic man intently, she relaxes her gaze and smile slightly "I think for this one, a chance to atone and change his ways is most welcome. Lark, do you this any of your partner's in crime would do the same? If offered escape from Lamm, would they accept?"" As for Larks' story: Tolenn--do you believe him? Vengeance is my purview, but you can decide if there is any redemption to be had from him. Daud--he spoke of a guard dog. Can you calm it long enough for us to get past? Do you know anything that can put a guard dog at ease? Food? Scents?
Larks immediately shakes his head. "Those men would sell their own mothers if they knew they could make a profit in it. There's no redemption for them in life, Miss Paladin."
Pyron stays around until he answers all the other's questions, so he can relay all the help Larks provides to the sergeant. When everyone is done, he says that he wants to ask Lark a question privately for just a moment before leaving the temple, whenever everyone is done with this scene.
When they are all done talking, he asks the other, What happened to Rakdon? Did he leave to go home early?
Pyron stays around until he answers all the other's questions, so he can relay all the help Larks provides to the sergeant. When everyone is done, he says that he wants to ask Lark a question privately for just a moment before leaving the temple, whenever everyone is done with this scene.
When they are all done talking, he asks the other, What happened to Rakdon? Did he leave to go home early?
** spoiler omitted **
Larks shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I don't know anything about that. You'd have to talk to Lamm specifically, or locate the family he committed the crime against..."
****
You hear a furious barking start to erupt from the door. A few minutes later, you hear the sound of cursing and the sound of a lock being opened. A middle-aged man with a face more suited for sneering squints down the pier, a wand in his hand at the ready for any sign of trouble.
Both fail to see you, but the dog notices a scent in the air...
The dog begins to bark in the general direction of your area, but is unable to pinpoint your location because it cannot see you ().
There is a 15% chance of the man to investigate...
The man curses the dog and kicks it back into the building. But before he goes back inside and closes the door, he squints one last time...
I will give Pyron a 25% chance to go by the docks prior to going home.
Well giys, see you at the fishery when dawn breaks. Then he leaves for home and goes to sleep.
If Rakon breaks off combat, I will fast-forward to tomorrow morning.
Larks immediately shakes his head. "Those men would sell their own mothers if they knew they could make a profit in it. There's no redemption for them in life, Miss Paladin."
Tolenn looks at them man steadily, having already come to the conclusion that he was a decent man overcome by circumstances.
"I thank you for your honesty. You will of course be given over to the authorities, but we will gladly tell of your help this day."
She places a hand on the man's shoulder, then leaves the room.
"I will retire to the Temple. Shall we meet back here in the morning?"
Yes, meet here at first light, armed and ready.
"And now comes the hardest part. The waiting."
Sun's first light breaks over the walls of the city, showering the buildings with the radiance of the Dawnflower. Within the first few minutes, the city is already awake and running, with shopkeepers preparing for the day's labors or guards being roused in their barracks by their nocturnal comrades.
But on this particular morning, the sun shines on six individuals who are about to change the course of history, and the destiny of the world.
Pyron goes through his normal routine before leaving to meet up with the rest of the guys. He wears his guard uniform today for this operation. He waits at the temple for the rest of the guys. He goes inside and prays to his mother's deity. If this man had anything to do with his parents' death, then he asks for help and support in his act of vengeance.
Gaius will approach the front door to the fishery in Lark's clothes with magic used to appear like him. He tries the handle first, but knocks if it's locked.
Pyron will be around the corner in a nearby alley maintaining a low profile keeping his ears and eyes open.
[dice=Attempt to help Gaius with his disguise when he sees him]1d20+4
Tolenn rises before dawn, cleaning her weapons and armor in preparations for the inevitalbe conflict to come this day.
Descending to the temple proper,she kneels and awaits the first rays of dawn to pierce the magnificent stained glass depictions of the Dawnflower.
Face raised , smiling, the warm sunlight bathes the holy warrior, enlightening her spirit and quieting her doubts. She had had hopes of possibly redeeming the man who had so abused her, but Larks' honesty has convinced her that the man was past redemption; and therefore should be removed from this earth by Sarenaes pure light.
Her prayers finished, Tolenn rose smoothly from her knees , gave nods to the other few that prayed there and made her way to the rendevous.
She waited in the alley way, wathcing Pyron adjust Gaius' disguise.
"What will be your signal should things go awry?" she asks quietly.
@Rakon: