Once the man is clear of the rest of the party, Pontia invokes a corrosive dart and hurls it at him.
Varian continues the pursuit--and continues the attack!
;
As Pontia slams an acid bolt into the mans bak, Varian rushes up behind him and knocks him out with the guard on his rapier.
Sophie moves over to where she can see into the pit enough to cast spiritual weapon, which she will use to methodically destroy the ghouls.
"There we go," says Varian as the suspicious man goes down. Varian starts searching the fellow, clearly having had some practice in doing so. He dumps anything interesting he finds out in the open so all can see.
Vivian shoots mercilessly at the trapped ghouls with her Disrupt undead spell, until they are destroyed
You are able to destroy the ghouls without too much trouble.
Searching the man reveals a potion (shield of faith +4), Large scorpion
venom (4 vials); +1 mithral shirt, +2 dagger, masterwork daggers (2), disguise kit, small ceramic egg, thieves’ tools, and 20 pp
(this includes the +2 poisoned dagger you disarmed early).
"A strange thing to have, this egg." Varian jingles it gently to try and determine what might be inside.
I think I could use that shirt, unless someone wants it. It seems quite light, lighter than I supposed.
“I think that armor would look stunning on you, says Varian with a wink. Though he’s also busy tying up the unconscious man as he says this, so it’s hard to take him seriously.
Only a lifetime of schooling herself to avoid certain reactions keeps Pontia from rolling her eyes.
Sophie is intrigued by the potion. She turns to Vivian, "Take the shirt, girl. Anything you can do to taunt this one" she jerks a finger over her shoulder at Varian "seems like a good idea to me."
"We need to check out this wagon he was working on, and search the nearby buildings."
Only a lifetime of schooling herself to avoid certain reactions keeps Pontia from rolling her eyes.
Less disciplined than the wizard, Niculaie rolls his eyes, then casts detect magic and examines the egg.
Vivian doesn't waste time, and change her armor here and there. Being a Pharasman, you're quite used with the human body after all.
Sure she has some clothes under the steel, but you are pretty sure you saw some pale flesh flashing... Not something too outrageous, but enough to make Varian grin, and use his imagination.
And knowing how dexterous the redhead is, it can't be an accident...
Then, her new armor put on, she smiles at how light it seems, and how easy it fits, never hindering her movements.
That's quite a treasure, this armor. Sometimes, dreams come true. Sometimes.
She winks wickedly at Varian, visibly enjoying teasing and taunting him
Varian suffers delightfully as Vivian dances into her new armor. "Your armor is but wrapping for the treasure beneath," he retorts.
He finishes tying the last knots on the unconscious fellow. "Someone want to have a chat with him? I can wake him up." Varian takes out a jar that looks like a salt shaker. "Smelling salts," he explains. "Useful for when you've had one too many drinks and need to pick up again." If someone agrees, Varian will go ahead and do it.
Pontia looks anywhere but at the occultist while Vivian changes. "He's not likely to have much to say. Members of that group don't talk, and dupes would be kept from any real knowledge. Still, he might let something slip."
Varian suffers delightfully as Vivian dances into her new armor. "Your armor is but wrapping for the treasure beneath," he retorts.
That is deliciously said, and I thank you for these words.
It seems the teasing go both ways...
But to remain professional, we should give interrogation a try. I just hope the man is worth your salt, Varian.
"Bind him first; then wake him up."
"I think Varian already has that in hand."
Varian nods, as the party agrees to give interrogation a try. Waving the smelling salts beneath the man's nose, he sees if the fellow comes awake. If so, Varian speaks first.
"I'm pretty sure the reason you ran away like a coward is that you actually want to live. Which is better than most cultists. So why don't we have a civilized conversation. Help us help you." With that introduction, he lets someone else lead--such conversations weren't Varian's strong suit.
.
The strange ceramic egg found on the man's body appears to be some sort of good luck charm or favored bauble, worth at most 5 gp. It is not magical.
Varian notices a hidden seam while examining the egg.
"You'll get nothing from me!" the man growls.
The wagon appears to be a simple wagon with a broken wheel. It was probably just a ruse to lure you in, but you managed to avoid the ambush.
Vivian easily opens the egg, and shows with disgust the inside to Sophie
The Whispering Way's symbol...
Really? I'm not sure of that. You were supposed to stop us, and you failed miserably. Not sure how the Way will react, but they probably won't be happy with you. So maybe talking to us wouldn't be a bad thing for you, because maybe we could do something to help you in exchange
Pontia's nostrils flare at the sight of the token, and her face grows hard. "If he's part of it, he's not coming out alive. One way or another." I hope the others are better at reading people than I am.... She addresses the captive in another language.
"You heard the ladies. One of them isn't too keen on you getting out of here. So talk if you want any hope at living." Varian draws his rapier and holds it at the man's throat, joining Vivian in pressuring the old man.
DOT
Ah! Well I am sure you'll be killing me just the same, bit in the chance you will let me live. The bound man spits. In the stable you will find the Dark Riders’ pale mounts recovering from their arduous journey in the stable. My sales ledger is underneath a loose floor board so you know I'm telling the truth.
He closes his eyes expecting a fatal blow.
Sophie rolls her eyes. "Don't be so melodramatic, boy. We're really not going to kill you. What else can you tell us?"
Niculaie looks for the loose floorboard and the ledger.
"Which floorboard? No sudden moves, just point slowly."
Sophie rolls her eyes. "Don't be so melodramatic, boy. We're really not going to kill you. What else can you tell us?"
"Wait, we're not killing him?" says Varian, surprised. He was certainly prepared to do so before the man started cooperating. "If you have their horses, then where are the Pale Riders?"
The man opens one eye. Well are you killing me or are you not? Make up your minds already. And if you are for killing me, then why would I help identify which floorboard? The man asks with a mixture of nervousness and exasperation.
Well, I supposed not killing you would be appreciated, and you would have gladly pointed to us the ledger's hideout as a trade of good will. It's not much effort for you, I guess.
The Chelaxian motions Niculaie over, out of earshot of the captive. "Can you charm him into telling us what he'll do if we let him live?"
You bunch are the sorriest looking lot I have ever seen. Let me free and I'll GIVE you the ledger and I'll take one of the horses and be on my way. Kill me and find the ledger your durned selves!
"Shut up, fool!" Offended by the insults of this defeated man, Varian stabs him through the heart with his rapier.
.
He wipes his blade clean with a rag and sheathes it. "The followers of the Whispering Way deserve no mercy, only imprisonment or death." He goes to look for the horses that the man had mentioned.
The Chelaxian motions Niculaie over, out of earshot of the captive. "Can you charm him into telling us what he'll do if we let him live?"
Niculaie shakes his head. "Not charm, exactly. I could probably push him enough to make him tell us, but it's more mind control than magically augmented persuasion..."
"Shut up, fool!" Offended by the insults of this defeated man, Varian stabs him through the heart with his rapier.
"Or we could just start pulling up floorboards."
Niculaie casts heightened awareness on himself and begins methodically searching the floorboards, starting at one end of the livery stable and working his way across the floor.
At a point when his search brings him near to Varian, he pauses to stretch his back and addresses the occultist. "I understand your frustration, and I have little sympathy for anyone who voluntarily aligns themselves with the Whispering Way. But while he can't do any more harm once he's dead, he can't do any good, either. Not that I'd expect much good from him, but we all have enough blood on our hands already without killing people after they surrender, don't we?"
As Varian's rapier pierces his heart, Clanartus smiles, Ah! One with some guts! May Rovagug have you!
After tearing apart the stable, you find the ledger which dutifully records the exchange of two horses of pale color for two piebalds bearing the “winged loop” brand—a figure eight with an arcing line extending from each side.
Varian glares back at Niculaie as he questions him. "That man had nothing more to offer us except insults! And this backwater town is poorly equipped to imprison him. Death was his fate--it was only a question of when!" Indeed feeling frustrated, he glances quickly at the others, wondering what they thought of the matter.
When the ledger is finally found, Varian takes a look.
"Pretty obvious that a page was torn out," he says. He enters into a state of concentration and his eyes seem to look past the ledger, as if trying to see beyond its surface.
After a minute of concentration, Varian gives up, disappointed. "No psychic energies," he concludes, handing the book to Vivian, or whoever chooses to take it. He heads off to find the two pale horses, and begins to saddle one of them up--whichever one looks most ready to move again.
Varian glares back at Niculaie as he questions him. "That man had nothing more to offer us except insults! And this backwater town is poorly equipped to imprison him. Death was his fate--it was only a question of when!"
"True enough. Of course, the same could be said for each of us - it's only a question of when. Whether he had anything else to tell us -- or any other path to redemption -- it's too late now." Niculaie shrugs. "In any event, let me know if you want to borrow my shovel once you decide where to bury the body."
"Does anyone recognize the brand? Is it just the mark for this stable, or something else?"
Niculaie spots the missing page as well. Once Varian is done staring at the book, he takes it and examines the pages before and after the page that was ripped out, looking for trace indentations that might reflect what had been written on it.
"Well, that confirms what we heard earlier--that at least one of them was going to Illmarsh. I don't know if this was the second rider, and we still don't know what all this has to do with the Seasage Effigy."
That sounds right, Pontia. Unfortunatly, we still have no idea what the Effigy can do, or represent. And we don't know if the Whispering Way thugs are just running from us or if they go back to a stronghold, a base, something like that.
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Varian glares back at Niculaie as he questions him. "That man had nothing more to offer us except insults! And this backwater town is poorly equipped to imprison him. Death was his fate--it was only a question of when!""True enough. Of course, the same could be said for each of us - it's only a question of when. Whether he had anything else to tell us -- or any other path to redemption -- it's too late now." Niculaie shrugs. "In any event, let me know if you want to borrow my shovel once you decide where to bury the body."
Varian rolls his eyes, and finishes saddling up one of the pale horses. "Leave him to the wolves, Niculaie," he replies back. "It seems your methods and mine may differ!"
Varian then hops aboard the pale horse as she looks to Vivian. "You've found yourself soft company, dear Vivian. Pharasma would not be so forgiving of the Whispering Way. It was a pleasure, truly. Perhaps we shall cross paths again as we battle our common foe! Come on horsey, let's hope you remember where you're supposed to go."
And just like that, Varian kicks the horse he's on, and it sets off in the general direction of Illmarsh.
Niculaie sighs as Varian departs. "By 'wolves,' do you think he means the town guard? Because I assume that's who will be called a few moments after a villager wanders in here to see about a horse. Vivian, are there any rites you want to perform before we move on?"
I'm sure I can whip up something for the dead cultist. Whether Pharasma want to let him in her Eternal Gardens or punish his soul is up to Her
She looks a bit worried at Varian's sudden exit, and watches him go
I don't know what took him..I mean, we can have different opinions. I sdon't remember him being so bloodthirsty, even if I won't cry on an undead-worshipper.
He could have give me a goodbye kiss, at least. He'll pay for that if we meet again.
Either she doesn't realise she spoke out loud, or she doesn't care
In a cold voice, Pontia replies, "If he was a member of the Way, he's condemned already." Her tone softens as she continues. "I hoped he was a venal tool of theirs, but we won't be able to learn that easily."