Alright. Verronax, your spell in prepared. Let the interrogation begin!
Verronax bows his head in prayer as he casts the spell, laying his hand atop Vancaskerkin's head. Moments later, a shining golden city-key appears above the guardsman's head. He looks up. "And now you will tell us why you have abandoned the lawful duties entrusted to you by the city. Who do you serve now?"
Ross, if he makes his save (DC 15), would the key disappear so I would know it wasn't working?
Fortunately for you, the ghostly key remains.
Vancaskerkin visibly struggles with the enchantment. "I don't serve...argh. It was Vimanda's idea, but I work for myself!"
"What profit does House Arkona see in chaos?"
"Who is Vimanda? What was her idea?"
"Why can't I just shove an arrowhead into his eye, I am sure he will talk fast enough then, this mystic powers never works fast enough."
Idly fingers an arrow from the quiver.
"Who is Vimanda? What was her idea?"
Taemin nods Verronax over to Karista, "Karista... show him the love note."
Hands the note over to Verronax, "Taemin found this upstairs."
Verronax takes the note and quickly peruses it. "Interesting..." he mutters.
Knowledge (nobility) (1d20+6=13)
He looks back at Vancaskerkin. "Answer the questions!"
Not too much more, with that roll. But you don't know of any Vimanda in House Arkona. Of course, you might have simply not have heard of her, or maybe the name is for house staff, rather than the family proper. House Arkona also has a bad habit of bringing distant cousins or illegitimate children back from Vudra to join the house, so its also possible Vimanda is a recent arrival. (The fact that the name is Vudran might support this, since the proper descendants of the house have Chelish names.)
"What profit does House Arkona see in chaos?"
"What? I don't know."
"Why can't I just shove an arrowhead into his eye, I am sure he will talk fast enough then, this mystic powers never works fast enough."
"Who is Vimanda? What was her idea?"
"She's a con..frie..argh. She was my lover." He begins to look almost wistful, though it is hard to look wistful with an omnious, ethereal key hanging over your head. "When the King died, she said the unrest was going to hurt a lot of people, especially those who didn't have much to begin with. It...seemed like a good idea at the time."
*Smiles* "It works much faster than your mystics." "What do you mean, *was* your lover?"
"What do you mean, *was* your lover?"
"I haven't heard from her in days."
"What exactly was Vimanda's idea, or plan, here? What were you doing for her?"
"What exactly was Vimanda's idea, or plan, here? What were you doing for her?"
"She said I should take over the shop here. Become sort of a hero to the people."
One of the other prisoners (the one who had carried a hammer) snickers just slightly. Vancaskerkin doesn't appear to hear.
"He's a sock puppet. They are trying to set him up as a rallying point to foment rebellion."
*leans down in front of the prisoner who snickered, pointing the arrowhead directly at his eye* "What have you got to say, laughing boy?*
"What have you got to say, laughing boy?*
"Nothing to you, Shoanti b&@~*."
Verronax continues prodding Vancaskerkin. "And do you know why she wanted you to set up shop? The real reason?"
"And what is this reason?"
Growling viciously,"B@#$$%?, you are a dog raper then?" Quickly craving the quickhand Shoanti symbols for "dog rape" in the tender skin beneath his eye socket while holding his head still with my other hand. Once finished, Jab the arrowhead into his eyesocket and crave out his right eye. Remove the eyeball from the arrowhead, turn it around and shove it back into his eyesocket. Standing up from him, swing forward one of the spiked bola balls and slam it into his groin as hard as possible while attempting to make it look casual. Growls loudly,"Anyone else who doesn't answer the questions truthfully will suffer! Am I understood, dogs?". Wave off any members of our party who move in to help out the guard.
Verronax stares in horror at Karista's barbarity, but makes no move to stop her. Thank Abadar for giving us the glories and peace of civilization, he thinks. Tearing his eyes from the bloody remains of the man's eye, Verronax turns back to Vancaskerkin. "I'd much prefer to keep our conversation civilized," Verronax tells him. "Your answer, please."
Taras gulps at the burst of violent activity. "Vankerskin, perhaps an easy question for you. There is an unusual cut of meat in the back of your meat storage room. I do not recognize the cut. What sort of animal is that from?"
When he gets the chance Taras will mention to the rest of the group that the bow and arrow both radiate magic.
Verronax continues prodding Vancaskerkin. "And do you know why she wanted you to set up shop? The real reason?"
"And what is this reason?"
Vancaskerkin and the surviving guards look like they are fighting off the urge to retch after Karista murders their erstwhile comrade.
Vancaskerkin stutters. "I-I don't know."
"Vankerskin, perhaps an easy question for you. There is an unusual cut of meat in the back of your meat storage room. I do not recognize the cut. What sort of animal is that from?"
Vancaskerkin looks confused. "It was arranged for cattles and pigs. I think we got a goat yesterday, too. I don't know what else it could be."
Another guard, a pale, skinny fellow who had charged in alongside the fellow Karista just killed, vomits and begins to cry.
Another guard, a pale, skinny fellow who had charged in alongside the fellow Karista just killed, vomits and begins to cry.
Taras goes over to the skinny guy. "Perhaps you know something your 'boss' doesn't? I'm really not fond of violence but I'm afraid Karista is quite beyond my ability to control. What was giggles here hiding that upsets you so much? I assure you I am willing to wait for the cleric to cast a truth spell on you as well. You can answer freely or with the assistance of a little magic and Karista's not so gentle touch."
You are certain it was not a goat.
Another guard, a pale, skinny fellow who had charged in alongside the fellow Karista just killed, vomits and begins to cry.
Screaming at pale, skinny fellow, "You didn't just vomit on my shoes, dog!". Raises the blood soaked arrow.
The man continues to sob violently.
"Stop bawling like a little girl, Karralo." says another guard (the one Taemin and Karista brought down from upstairs. "I knew we shouldn't have brought him on."
"Karista, I must insist that you stop harming these people. I will not stand by and watch cold blooded murder."
Taras moves himself between the prisoners and Karista.
Resting a light hand on Taras and Karista's arms, "Fear not Taras, Karista will harm no one if our questions are answered," Taemin says calmly.
He lays himself down on his knees and places his hand on the guard's shoulder, "Come Karralo, speak and be absolved. Do not let the forces of chaos consume you."
Glares at Taras, and jerks away violently as Taemin touches her arm. "You gonna clean my boots then, Taras?" Looking at the crying guard,"The welp would be smart to listen to his companions." Stomps away to look for something reasonably clean to wipe off her boots.
"Come Karralo, speak and be absolved. Do not let the forces of chaos consume you."
"We...we...we killed them. Gods forgive me."
Taemin continues to hold his shoulder, and nearly whispers, "Who were they?"
Haedrik stares at the murdered guard; he watches the blood slowly pool from his eye, and he shakes his head.
He walks over to the window, leans his forehead against it gently and stares outside, ostensibly keeping a watch.
Stomps away to look for something reasonably clean to wipe off her boots.
Karista is able to find a shop rag near the front counter.
Taemin continues to hold his shoulder, and nearly whispers, "Who were they?"
Karralo begins to speak "We...we...", but is cut off again by the other guard.
"Shut your yap. If you say another goddamn word you won't have to worry about these jokers. I'll kill you myself."
Vancaskerkin just looks confused.
While still cleaning off my boots, glance up briefly. "Not unless I get to you first..." Nodding to Karralo,"Speak,Karralo. He won't be a problem." Look back down at my boots and continue cleaning them off.
"They...they weren't supposed to die. Just...Just rough 'em up, Parns said. But they died anyway, and...an..we..." Karralo collapses back into sobbing.
Vancaskerkin looks incensed, now. "What they hell have you four been up to?"
"Karralo, who were you supposed to rough up?"
"Karralo, who were you supposed to rough up?"
"I...I dunno. Some guys. We were paid."
The other guard speaks up again. "Goddamn it, Karralo. Shut up!"
Stride over to the "other" guard, grab his hair, jerk his head to one side, and slam my fist into his ear. "Let him finish speaking, dog."
Shove the vomit covering rag into his mouth for effect.
We were paid."
Still speaking softly, "Who paid you to do this?"