While Silas and Lucanor were busy speaking to the people, arranging funerals, and other mudmen foolishness -- Jaxom heads to Kreed's manor sheathed in invisibility.
Once he gets out of the town he calls for some of the Little Folk who can also maintain that illusion. When they arrive he shares some chocolate with them.
"That mudman, Kreed, had help. I would discover which among the fey were using him as a catspaw. Will any go with me a sneakily -- sneakily mind -- discover what magic and evidence remain at his manor without alerting those who dwell within? The true ruler of these lands must have a full report and I am not fain to leave evidence for the mudmen of fey involvement in mudman matters."
He will take all who seem responsible enough for the task and scour the manor for evidence and magic under the cover of fey illusions.
The home of Thuldrin Kreed is even more magically protected from entry and thieves than was Vade's tower. There are a plethora of locked doors, warded chests, warded and locked chests, warded,locked and magically altered items.
That being said, the Fey manage to sneak inside and overhear the Widow Kreed ordering the destruction of several items. The halfling servants are busy burning documents.
Jaxom is surprised that the "widow" is well informed enough to move not an hour after her husband's capture, but he wants that information.
Sure, you can cast Sleep on them...
Please let me know what spells you have active (this might be more complicated than I originally thought)
When Jaxom attempts to cast a spell in the Library (where the documents are being burned in a nearby fireplace) a powerful contingency occurs, dispelling Jaxom's invisibility AND his illusion. The servants scream and run from the room shouting Thieves! Thieves! Fey trickster thieves! Murder! but they do leave some of the documents behind.
There are dozens upon dozens of Troll tracks leading into and out of the Woods surrounding Falcon's Hollow. They meander around and go into and out of the Kreed compound. The Giants however, seems there were only two of them a mated pair. Their trail ends where Hecktor chopped them to bits along the Foam River. Several small bands of Moss Trolls (2-5 in each) did escape the town and are now heading into the Woods away from Falcons Hollow. Gilmork doesn't find any tracks related to Vade or his boy.
Hecktor and Lucanor had arrived at a bound Kreed.
"Lucanor, you go ahead first, for if i question him and he tells things i rea~~~ly didn't want to hear, he might only do screaming after losing a couple of fingers if not his hand."
[Insert Luc's questioning]
When Lucanor's finished with his art of the questioning, Hecktor steps in, the heavy armor making firm sound as he walks up to the Gavel.
Hecktor asks Lucanor if he can cast another truth-spell on the gavel, if he hadn't done so already.
"Right..my turn.
My questions are very simple, you ugly miniature troll.
Over a year ago, by now, there was to be an arranged meeting with an Almas diplomat, concerning trade relations and the betterment of Falcon's Hollow's citizens, to establish said trade relations.
According to the diplomat, he was to meet with a halfling magistrate and yourself, very specifically you. Then....one night there was a hit on the diplomat and his two escorts' lives."
Hecktor grabs the gavel by the throat,
"Well, one of his escorts survived....ME!
Were YOU the one who ordered the hit, likely to keep your fat ass on top?"
"Also, WHO did you hire to make that assassination attempt?
One of them died by my hand, yet i still have the other to get my hands on."
The fey will do what they have always done in times of stress when their plans fail: turn invisible and flee.
Jaxom grabs what he can.
Hecktor and Lucanor had arrived at a bound Kreed.
"Lucanor, you go ahead first, for if i question him and he tells things i rea~~~ly didn't want to hear, he might only do screaming after losing a couple of fingers if not his hand."
"Try to keep your temper. Lord knows I feel the urge myself, though." he says.
Lucanor takes a deep breath and fingers his holy symbol
"Answer True, Kreed. Lying will cause Iomedae's power to tear into you something awful. When I asked about Cirthana's death, you said 'he wanted it. She was getting too close'. The one you were talking about: What is his name?"
"Why'd you work for or with him? And what did you mean she was getting too close. Too close to what?"
"Lastly, before I hand you over to Hecktor. Your wife and son, are they safe?"
When Lucanor's finished with his art of the questioning, Hecktor steps in, the heavy armor making firm sound as he walks up to the Gavel.
Hecktor asks Lucanor if he can cast another truth-spell on the gavel, if he hadn't done so already.
"Right..my turn.
My questions are very simple, you ugly miniature troll.
Over a year ago, by now, there was to be an arranged meeting with an Almas diplomat, concerning trade relations and the betterment of Falcon's Hollow's citizens, to establish said trade relations.
According to the diplomat, he was to meet with a halfling magistrate and yourself, very specifically you. Then....one night there was a hit on the diplomat and his two escorts' lives."Hecktor grabs the gavel by the throat,
"Well, one of his escorts survived....ME!
Were YOU the one who ordered the hit, likely to keep your fat ass on top?"
[dice=Intimidate]1d20+11"Also, WHO did you hire to make that assassination attempt?
One of them died by my hand, yet i still have the other to get my hands on."
Lucanor keeps up his scrutiny while the man answers Hecktor
I. I don't know his name Kreed says he flinches from the pain but doesn't get sick.
I don't answer to you! I'm Thuldrin Kreed the Gavel of Falcon's Hollow! I don't answer to any of you! it seems Kreed, now that he is not in combat, is much more resistant to questioning.
Kreed looks at you, hatred plain on his face.
My wife and child are none of your concern Churchman.
To Hecktor Kreed sneers
What if I was? What would you, a poor mercenary, scum of Andoran, do about it?
What if I did send someone? Well, then you know I'm not one to mess with! I'll pay you...pay you well, kill this one and set me free. Kreed nods his head toward Lucanor I'll make you richer than you can imagine.
Lucanor watches the wounds as the man lies, "You know his damn name, you miserable ass. I can see the harm the lie did to you."
"And I'm trying to see your family is protected. Half this town wants to tear you apart, but we're in the way. Your son and wife? Not so protected but they shouldn't pay for your sins. Idiot."
He doesn't bother looking at Hecktor, keeping his eyes on kreed in case he tries anything, but he does speak to him, "I got another confess spell in me. Want me to ask your question again for you? He either tells the truth, or tears up."
A vein on Hecktor's temple twitches, but he keeps an icey stare now.
He suddenly gives him a headbutt on the forehead and nose.
"Wrong answer."
.....
"Go ahead Luc, see if he answers it."
Lucanor casts another confess spell on Kreed, "Were you the one who ordered the hit Hecktor is talking about?"
Kreed spits blood between split lips You are a dead man. DEAD. and then once the magic takes hold he answers Luc's question Of course I did you simpering milksop! I'm in charge here not some perfumed courtier from Almas.
"Luc.....this confession has just become a complication.
Silas wants to deliver him to the fey queen and i can understand, yet i swore an oath i'd bring this guy's head to Almas."
Hecktor shoves his armored boot into the gavel's private parts.
"As for dead? Pff, i've been through alot and am still standing, in front of a sorry excuse for a human being, only fit to yell empty threats. I reckon Pharasma's going to send you to some pretty awful place when you die."
.........
"By my math, i still owe you another hit for my fellow brother in arms."
"I'm done here, i know part of what i needed to know, me and Silas need a few words. Thanks Lucanor."
Hecktor leaves the room, would the gavel throw more insults, Hecktor would likely pick a random object to throw at the man's privates again.
With Hecktor's pummeling and Lucanor's spell, the Gavel slumps forward unconscious. No one present objects....
"You're welcome," Lucanor says to the departing Hecktor, "Good luck with that talk."
He makes sure Kreed isn't dead and then says, "You know. I kind of saw that one coming and I'm still glad I didn't stop it. The man was due a few licks on you."
He also prays Iomedae...this man has helped murder one of your faithful, but to pry the information out of him might lead me down paths that would violate your teachings. torture has always been of limited effectiveness. Show me a better way to learn whose identity he is protecting. Please.
Silas shows little interest in talking to Kreed, rather he's been looking for Jaxom who wandered off somewhere.
If he spots any of the party he asks, "Have you seen Jaxom? Ah well he'll turn up. If you see him let him know I want a word."
Eventually he finds Hecktor and Silas asks, "So I guess you and Lucanor had a little chat with our guest. Bet you didn't find much you hadn't already guessed right? So presumably you want a piece of him right? Thing is, so do a lot of people and a lot of fey... I think I have a solution to that, remember way back when we shared that Poitin and saw that dream of a girl? Well I kinda got curious, you know about the first world. The fae in this realm are diminished, but in the deep woods there are times and places when the ways open. On the other side is the first world, their world. There in the place of their power, the strongest of them can change things. Bend reality to their will. Fortunately for mortals they rarely do so, but I believe I can persuade Syntira to make an exception. We're going to set Kreed a task, a near impossible task. Don't worry Hecktor, you'll be able to take your pound of flesh. So will Lucanor, and everyone else for that matter. Of course something as simple as dying doesn't excuse him from his task..."
Towards the end Silas' voice had dropped as low and dangerous as Hecktor had ever seen it.
Despite Silas' tone, Hecktor remained indifferent.
After a minute or so, he snickers....."I am curious as to what you're planning. I've been patient so far, a little more won't hurt me.
For now, i feel like hitting the Sitting Duck, that flask of special brandy's not empty and we've achieved some degree of special occasion."
Silas sighs, "Hecktor I thought I just did." He turns away for a moment before saying plainly, "I'm going to ask the Fey to curse Kreed. The curse will force him to make amends for everything. Can you imagine it, him having to track down those he's harmed to hand out his own gold to make good for things? Him having to plant trees? If he resists, well the curse will kill him, horribly. Over and over. If the task is not complete, the curse will bring him back every morning, no matter what. There does that answer your question?"
"I recall you wanting him to be forced to make amends for all his misdeeds, you just didn't share it in the juicy details, is all."
Silas nods and tells Hecktor, "I'm going to head over to Olfden soon. Need to sell a few things, and fetch Baleson. Can you keep an eye on things?"
Silas plans to sell some stuff to buy a new wand of healing, and a wand of lesser restoration if available.
"Of course."
There is a lot of powerful magic in Kreed's home. I do not trust it's provenance.
Jaxom cannot decipher the strange coded script, but he knows its importance. Perhaps someone else could try?
Before heading out, Silas finds as many of the party as possible and informs them of his plans and suggests offhand, "You know maybe we should take Kreed with us. The Andorans will want to put him on trial. I suspect he'll try to bribe his way out of it, but they will scent blood here."
Either way Silas is going, although he will wait if anyone wants to tag along.
Gilmork returns later in the day after his scouting trip. A bit tired of watching everything outside town.
"We've taken care of all the Giants it seems, likewise with most of the trolls. I say most, because I've seen some troll tracks going into the woods, just a few bands though, small groups too."
He leans a bit on his bow. "I haven't seen any tracks of Vade or his son's passing, they must've left quite early when the trouble started. Also no signs of any more hags though."
"Taking Kreed with us isn't half bad an idea." Lucanor says, "I may brand him with my gods symbol as part of a spell, not to torture the man, but to make it obvious if he gets away that he's not in good standing with a church of law and good."
At the news of the Vades, he looks worried, "If the man doesn't want to be found, his magic and headstart makes it likely he won't be. I just hope his son is alright."
Jaxom shows up to the interrogation a few hours later.
"Has the villain still not confessed?"
"Oh, he's confessed to arranging a murder, and it's to Hecktor's credit he didn't tear the man's head plumb off. I can give my oath to that. Unfortunately, Kreed isn't giving up the name of the partner, or possibly 'superior' who demanded the good lady be put to death and most likely supplied him with so many dark allies. I think Kreed's more afraid of him than he is of us. Given a few days, I could probably break him down, make him tell me... but truth, I might end up violating my goddess' teachings if I did it or even allowed it. She's never approved of torture, and sides, torture is almost as likely as to get you what you want to hear instead of the truth anyway."