Putting away the acid Stanislav attends to unbarring a door.Cover me. he says to Vank who is already watching for the creature.
Vank continues to read an action to change any mist he sees "Someone might want to check the shattered orb what we are looking for might be in it or something else useful."
With both blades still drawn, Thomas approached the shattered orb.
Caryfully inspecting the hole in the floor Stanislav discovers that the mist is hiding beneath the floor out of reach for the party.
Meanwhile Thomas looks at the shatter glass orb, no amulet is found. He pushes at the glass with his foot, still no price.
"Nothing here." Thomas reports.
Vanks nods and continues the glance around the floor.
Nadine goes to unbar the northern door. "it is out of our reach. Leave it."
"I agree. Lets not waste resources beating a defeated foe. Especially since we're on a deadline, and have no idea how much more of this place remains."
Agreeing, Stanislav turns his attention to the North door.
A quick once over reveals no traps and while it takes some effort the door is opened. Another short hallway is revealed, 20 ft. down your way is blocked by a door. Burned into the wood is: "Cruelty is a tool not a pastime. Be ruthless to thy enemy but reward those who serve thee well." A more careful examination this time yields no traps found.
I wonder what that entails? Thomas wondered as he stood ready. "Stanislav, if you would." He whispered as he jerked his head towards the door.
The fighter uses his off hand to push the door open and then peers inside.
What does want from us now? Just give me an enemy I can hit.
The hinges might have benefited from a little grease, but the door open none the less. An oil lamp illuminates a 30 x 30 ft. room with nothing save the torturer's rack placed in the centre.
Something catches your eye about one of the stones to your left. A closer examination reveals a door covered by a thin sheet of stone. As you open a young blue eyed, brown haired boy tries to push himself further away. "Who... who are you?" he stammers raising his fists to protect himself.
Vank walks in sword at the ready.
"Does he want us to torture an enemy? Would help if there was one that was more solid than that mist to torture."
"You don't suppose it means one of us, do you?"
perception
"It says to reward those that serve you, not torture them. Unless I guess any of you like being tortured?"
"Well, it depends on who's doing the torturing, yes?" Nadine gives a sly smile and a wink. "But I doubt our good Cardinal had such depraved thoughts in mind when decided to test us."
"There was another door. Perhaps, we were meant to bring someone from there into here?"
Vank walks over to the torture rack and examines it for anything interesting "The Cardinal might think he is rewarding us with this. We should search here a little first, maybe one of these winches operates a hidden door or something."
Stanislav finds nothing of interest in the room.
Thomas noticed something...off about the wall. Closer examination revealed a hidden compartment, with a young boy inside. "I think I found the one." He stated as he pulled the boy out.
"Oh, now this is interesting. And just who might you be, lad?"
Robert's current appearance: sandy hair, light beard, with well cared for leather and chain reinforced armor. He smiles easily and speaks in a quiet, calming voice.
With a brief whispered prayer, he boosts his speaking skills, before speaking to the boy.
disguise
diplomacy
"Its okay boy, we're not going to hurt you. What's your name? Are you hurt? Hungry? Thirsty? "
Robert slowly removes his warfarin and offers him a drink.
Aye, we will not hurt you, but we have to know if you are friend or foe? Speak only the truth, serve us well, and we will reward you. Stanislav closes the distance between him and the youth, suggesting that there is something other than reward available for failing to respond.
Vank leans against a watching the others interact with the kid from a distance. I've never liked this bit, kill the warriors in battle and take their children as slaves. But torture and lying always felt wrong... No not wrong, often it is the right thing to do but there isn't any honour in it.
"Oh a bit of sweet meat!" Nadine laughs lightly. "Come, come! It can't be very comfortable in there."
At first the young man looks rather scared as Thomas reveals his hiding spot. Robert initial inquiry goes unanswered but as he tries again the youth lower his guard just a bit and answers: "It's Timeon sir. Who are you?" Stanislav's more martial approach causes the him to relaps and the fists comes up again. "Who.. do you serve?" he inquires. Nadine's words pales him a bit.
"Currently, we serve ourselves. We are recently gathered to seek fortune and fame, and this is but the first of hopefully many stops in our career."
Robert makes some soothing sounds towards the boy, smoothing his coat and dusting him off.
"That's a good lad, Timeon. And who is your master? Why are you left in this place alone?"
bluff (if needed...not exactly lying but I am shading the truth a bit.)
Hoping to get the lad talking Stanislav steps back a step. My name is Captain Stanislav, Timeon, of the city watch. You haven't been up to anything illegal have you? Why are you hiding?
Timeon pauses as Rowan speaks, considering his answer, then lights up as Stanislav presents his lie. "City watch, Mitra be praised. I was taken with my master Sir Balin, I am his squire you see. The bald man wounded me but I escaped, I hid from him."
Well done squire. You must he parched. Stanislav offers him water. Where is Sir Balin now?
"He's lying. There is no way he would have got here alive in order to hide. Tell the truth kid, what have tyou seen around here?"
Let the lad tell his story Vank. I am quite sure he knows better than to lie to us. He seems resourceful for one so young, and is, after all, a squire. Stanislav looks to the boy like his is impressed. Your story son. Start at the beginning.
"Yes, let's hear from the clever boy. Sir Balin will be proud of you for surviving."
"I don't know, they took him. Oh I hope they haven't killed," Timeon ponders. Vank's accusation causes the teen to shutter, "I am not lying, I swear to Mitra that I am not," he say in a slightly higher pitch of voice. "We were travelling from the watchwall to Daveryn when bandits ambushed us, they killed most of the knight and their squires, but took some. It must have been slavers. They took us here, while we were being taken down this dungeon I wrestled myslef free and ran and hid. I heard them searching, they gave up."
Clever boy. Stanislav encourages. Tell us more about what you were doing at the Watchwall and what you were to do at Daveryn. And more about the bandit attack. If we make it out of here we want to be able to give an accurate account.
"And about this Sir Balin. Is he a mighty champion? A man worthy of accolades and honors?" She taps her fingers on her lips.
A bit confused by Stanislav's questions the youth answers: "I live there near Balentyne, Sir Balin was stationed there. We travelled south to catch someone a witch I think. Sir Balin had recieved reliable informations about a light blond woman. The bandits amushed us just outside of Daveryn, it was terrible they were many and good at their misdoings, we lost many friend." His eyes water at the thought of the dead. Nadine's follow-up brings a little pride back. "Sir Balin is on of the most honourable men I know, a knight of Alerion, a devout of Mitra," he answers.
He is also a famous hunter of Asmodian worshippers.
The Knights of Alerion is a brotherhood of knights worshipping Mitra and the only ones to side with House Darius, the current rulers, during the war of succession
"Oh, a Knight of Alerion! Oh yes, Sir Balin. A famed hunter of those who oppose the Mitran faith. Some might even call him a Witch-Hunter, after those witches like this blonde woman. I see." Nadine turns away from the boy to hide her disgust.
Failing to notice this Timeon lights up. "The very one. Oh good you know of him."
"So, Timeon. Do you know where Sir Balin may be? We would like to find this Witchhunter and speak with him."
His shoulder sink and sadness marks his face as he answers: "No, they took him away before I escaped."
"Well, then, let us leave this place and begin our search. Did those who grabbed you offer any clues about this place? Names, accents, even smells could prove valuable information. "
"I am sorry, I can't tell you much. It was masked men of some hight and stature," he explains apologetic.
"There, there, lad. Don't beat yourself up. You've survived, and that's the important thing. What say you to sticking with us while we search for your Sir Balin? Strength in numbers and all, right?"
Robert lays a friendly arm across Timeon's shoulders, exuding calm concern as if an older relative or mentor.