I could use a charge off that wand before our next head banging party.
Alright my friends, Let me try out one of those wands then I will take our new friend here back to go get our uh... cargo.
He began with a wink to her as he rose from the seat snugging the freshly loaded cartridge into the crossbow. He was about to take a leap of faith.. and hopefully not a disasterous one with her.
Paenox: the prisoners are quickly healed enough to talk. They moan and try to focus, but their eyes drop when they see you, probably thinking you're just another torturer for the gang.
Mourn and his lady friend set off. The streets are nearly empty and the few people you do see seem to be running for cover. Shutters are closed, storefronts are barred. The people are scared. The orc seems excited to see you. Hey! I heard of a fight! I'm glad to see you're alive!
The inquisitor shows his hands are empty "Relax, I'm just here to talk. I don't even know the people who did this to you."
They don't respond much. One just moans and the other winces. Both still refuse to meet your gaze.
Nathaniel walks up to the two drow prisoners.
Are we waiting for their birthdays, or can we go meet this other nuisance?
Paenox: the prisoners are quickly healed enough to talk. They moan and try to focus, but their eyes drop when they see you, probably thinking you're just another torturer for the gang.
Mourn and his lady friend set off. The streets are nearly empty and the few people you do see seem to be running for cover. Shutters are closed, storefronts are barred. The people are scared. The orc seems excited to see you. Hey! I heard of a fight! I'm glad to see you're alive!
Indeed now about that payment we discussed? We may be moving the packages as well... it would seem there may be well further excitement and it wouldnt do for them to be harmed.
He began instantly walking inside the 'shop' hoping the orc would follow and let his knew valuble ally Vala behind him.
Vala follows, cautiously. She isn't sure what you're planning, but she is apparently not afraid of a little asset transfer.
Nate/Phaenox- The prisoner looks around. Where did they go? They left us for dead! What's going on!?
Detect thoughts brings in a flood of fear, paranoia, and suspicions. His thoughts, both drow are male, are almost tumbling over each other as they rise to the surface. And over everything is an ache of persistent pain.
[Common]"If they have birthdays to celebrate, they better hope it's soon..."[/common] Saeras commented from the couch, after a brief glance at the prisoners wounds. Throwing up his feet at the armrest Saeras readied his crossbow to have something to play with and switched back to a proper language. "That doesn't sound very entertaining to me." he noted at the prisoners reply. "You'll have to beat target practice at least, not *that* is fun. Either of you know a good joke? No? A story maybe?"
Phae eyes the prisoners critically "I am unsure of whom you speak, but know this: We are not your captors. However, we could potentially be your liberators. In order for us to free you, we'll need some information. Cooperate, and you'll be released. Refuse, and well, I have always been curious to see how, exactly, a Draegloth eats." He says, giving Hakk a meaningful look.
Nate approaches the two drow. He places his big ugly orc face an inch from them.
Both of them promptly start wetting themselves involuntarily. Sure! Whatever you want to know! Nate may want to check his boots.
"Let's start simply. How did you end up captured, ans subsequently tortured?"
Vala follows, cautiously. She isn't sure what you're planning, but she is apparently not afraid of a little asset transfer.
He motioned torwards the younger of the drow females.
A hand getting that one up if you will shopkeep.
He said taking ample oppertunity to wait til the orc was busy trying to get the drow female before he unslung his crossbow quickly signed to Vala kill him now and fired twice into his back.
Phaenox, nate, saeras, and the basement gang -
The men spill the beans rather rapidly, their eyes darting among the three of you. They were spies, two men who had volunteered to join the gang from a second of Vala's rivals, a small but lethal brotherhood of drow males. They had successfully joined and started passing intel to their contacts when vala intercepted one of their messages. They don't know how long ago that was.
Their gang is called the Low Brothers and is located under an open market about half a mile away. They are about two dozen strong and there isn't a true novice among them. Each was brought up at least as a house guard, if not as something more. There are a few casters and clerics of heretical gods and even two driders among their company.
The ogre drops.
Vala looks at the two drow nobles laying there and goes a little pale. Is that who I think it is! She hisses.
Starting to look bored, Hakk looks around and notices several people busy or missing altogether from their entourage. Placing his large clawed hands on his hips, he gestures with his smaller hands dramatically.
"Well. Left to my own devices then? Let's see about that. Hehehehe..."
Hakk begins sneaking up on the intrepid interrogators downstairs, but in full view of the bound prisoners.
"BOO!!"
Nate just stares hard at the prisoners, since he doesn't understand this cursed language...yet.
I dont know whom do you think they are.
He began searching the orcs body. When he was done he half grinned to the strange woman and smirked.
Ever have a little fun while a matron mother and her eldest daughter 'watched'? Want too?
He began frowning as he looked at the two unconcious problems. He had come her to kill them... but now he hesistated which was unusual for him.
Do you have a problem with what we are doing I mean if you do, im sure that those searching for these very being will be glad to ask how you got involved and not torture you to make sure you are telling the truth to them...
Though noticing the approaching footsteps, Saeras winces as Hakk yells. For one, it was loud. And for two, it was toothy. Bleh. Quickly banishing his discomfort he introduces Hakk to the prisoners. "This is Hakk. He's the one that would be doing any eating. Hakk, this is our hosts prisoners. Please to take a nab if they are uncooperative."
Disappointed in his stealthy maneuvers Hakk pouts like the teenager he is and barks in Saeras' face.
"Whatever. You guys are really NO fun unless we're killing people. Bored! I'm soooo Bored!"
Hakk starts rummaging around the basement trying to relieve his boredom.
The two start babbling the moment Hakk shows his face. There is no lie or omitted detail. Soon you have everything you need to assault the Low Brothers, though everything they say merely confirms that it won't be a walk in the park. Their main base is a fortified house. You will need to draw them out should you have any chance of success. You'll also need a wizard. A good one...
Hakk 'smiles' and enjoys the babbling of the prisoners, but quickly gets bored again and starts to wonder where his mother is...
She takes a moment to calm down.
Fine. I see the spot you're in. It's not a nice one, especially since I assume one if then is that monster's mother. And now I'm in the middle of it. and she's clearly not happy with how this night is turning out.
He said frowning at the job that needed down. Drawing out a dagger he frowned and sighed moving first to Hakk's mother Biting his lip for a moment he paused and looked down to her. "Dont worry, I will keep an eye out for Hakk, he is a bit boisterous at times." He told the unconcious drow noble and with that he drew his blade across her throat.
Moving quickly to the Matron mother he swallowed and did the same. Carefully wiping the dagger completely clean of their blood he resheathed it to rejoin their new companion to see if she found a way to light the place on fire.
"We found the orc with a couple members of one of your rival gangs, he had sold us out to them, we caught them by surprise and took them out but one was a mage and the place caught on fire.... Understand?
He asked the pretty criminal.
"So, from being stormed in a house to storming another. How silly things get." Saeras chuckled to himself, though not with any humour. "Bah, it those dregs managed to do so well I have no doubt we will. Hmm. But a bit more ... manpower ... might not be bad. Something to soak up the traps and arrows."
" Guess the only thing to do is loot this place of the easy valubles to carry and let it burn.
He began giving the place a quick one over for anything worth anything, before tossing one latern in the back hardand moving for the door tossing the other into the flamable pile... after a moment he pulled out one of his smoke sticks tossed it in there as well and then. Ran back inside, not so much into the flame but into the haze and smoke before darting back out. He clearly wanted to make it look as real as possible.
Pick the enemy well, Im sure Hakk'Viddaro will be righteously upset.
He said coughing out some of the smoke.
He paused a moment to compose himself before entering their new hideout.. for now at least. He still didnt trust the pretty one, but he had hopes she might come around, after all she did stand to lose everything yet gain more by their partnership perhaps.
We have to move quickly,
He began when he found the others.
"That worthless wretch of an orc sold us out to the ... the... What did you say their name was Vala dear? Im so Livid and furious right now I cant think straight.
He took a deep breath and glanced to Hakk and flinched a little.
There a sharp fight, but one was a mage who flung fire. The orc tried to stop him but went down to my crossbow, the place almost exploded. I tried to get back to ... Im sorry Hakk, Nothing could be done to save them... but we can get vengence."
He straightened hoping the story was crafted well enough, or that they cared little enough to prod to deep into it.
"Well, that was certainly enlightening. Thank you Hakk. Seems like we might have need for our former mage friend after all." Phae says after the prisoners reveal all they need to know for the potential upcoming assault.
Looking down his muzzle at Mourn'draxil carefully, he narrows his eyes.
A low growl emanates from his throat...building into a crescendo of suppressed violence.
Suddenly lifting his fanged muzzle into the air, he begins screaming unabashedly!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
MOTHER!!!! BY LOTH I WILL AVENGE THIS!! BY MY LIFE'S BLOOD!!!"
After this he simply turns, moving with purpose to the still chained prisoners.
*GORY SCENE ENSUES*
Twenty minutes later, two pairs of hands hang from chains as their bloody stumps drip blood slowly.
In the corner of the room Hakk lays crying and whimpering like a kicked dog.
"Mother..."
Phae turns from the prisoners when Mourn enters and tells his tale. The inquisitor easily sees through the lie, but remains silent. Tis probably best this way. He'll have to try and learn the truth from Mourn later.
As Hakk went downstairs to do what it was he felt like he needed to do his shoulders slumped just a little. It was the reaction he expected ... he just didnt expect it to bother him as much as it did. He wondered what it must feel like to be able to feel that much for another. . . and he had taken that from him. He moved behind the bar of the place and found a bottle opening it up and drinking heavily from it.
"So they probably have mage support, which means we need mage support... where did whats his face say he was going to?"
He asked tightly. more staring at the bottle than to the others.
"I suppose we should go and find, what was his name again?, Vincaca? Vincolon? Vincarly? Whatever, let's go see if he want's to help us take on the Low Brothers" Phae says, offering himself to go look for their former mage ally.
At this news Saeras had to sit down to properly process it. Nauseous he could almost feel himself tumbling down the social ladder and face-planting at 'common commoner' again. Not pleasant. Luckily the fall wasn't that far, at least I'm not splattered across the rocks. he thought to himself acidly. While he would not act on it, his impulses where somewhat similar to those of Hakk (even if they were for far more selfish reasons!). Rubbing his temple he tunes back into reality after his silent moping after a few more minutes.
"Yes. The little dragonspawn would be useful." He muttered. "Though I'm not sure how wise a counter-attack would be. What do we have to win? I'd rather find a to stay over the water then flail against the tide."
You track your wayward mage to a library/inn in a nicer part of the Bazzar. A few words to the proprietor ensures that it is your mage indeed and you are pointed to a comfortable room where he has holed up for the night.
He paused outside the door and frowned reviewing what he knew of the mage. He was a skilled conjurer.... not prone to hasty or rash decisions... and pragmatic. With a glance to his companions he raised his fist and knocked on the door loudly.
"Business Delivery" He said loud enough so those within would hear him.
Vicalan was sitting at a desk when the knock came. Such nonsense, as if this was the sort of place that had deliveries brought in such a manner. He didn't know how they got in without a fuss, if the owner was alive they would be held accountable. He grabs his loaded crossbow near by, along with his gear going over one shoulder. It was always wise to have a "go bag" as it were. He held his breath, ready to pour out the black smog granted by his blood. Slowly he unlatches the door and opens it with his free hand, finger on the trigger as well.
"Oh good, you are already packed and ready to go. We are in a bit of a time crunch so makes it easier."
He began making a motion for the mage to follow them.
"Vala here had a gang... now she has a new one, there is a troublesome rival gang that may be linked with the death of a matron mother and a house that recently had troubles. We are going to make our little gang and hers merge and solve the problem with the other gang... and probably merge there as well. "
He paused his lips curling into the barest of smiles.
"If we found you so quickly I would imagine they wont be too troubled either, after all, word get around in this city."
He added in entirely too nonchelaunt a tone.
Vicalan lets the flow of energy he was building ease away, bits of black smoke leave his nostrils but nothing more as he breaths out of his nose. He does not follow and gives the arrogant fool just long enough to finish his little speech before promptly closing the door on him. Latching it loudly as if to drive home his point.
Was that supposed to be an offer, threat, or some sort of haphazard mixture of the two. He was not impressed or interested. If they were giving up their appeal to the council. Then they certainly would not have access to what was left of their former house. His objective no longer required them to be made simple. If they started trying to point the finger at him, a unofficial house member with no real ties. Those that would bother to listen would seek out the source of the information to confirm, so as to avoid a possible trap. Signing their own death warrant far more then his. After all he still had some friends and value as a mage of Sshamath. Rabble and thugs were as common as stones with about as much value.
"so vala whom do you know that would be a mage for hire? we will find a better mage elsewhere." he added loudly enough.
He moved down the hallway signaling with sign language to the others.
leave him, he wasnt much of a mage anyhow.
He stopped moving and sighed.
"Since we are here I suppose we could try again, no sense looking if we dont need to. There is that pesky essence of time"
He said aloud and turned around knocking on the door once more.
"We could use your aide. Obviously that is why we came here, if you would like work, then open up if you would prefer to go back to well whatever it is you are doing thats fine too. We are on a time crunch as I said before so time is...short."
He waited outside the door.. just to the side of it really just in case the door was opened this time with an unpleasent surprise.
Again the door opens slowly with the crossbow pointed.
"Thinking before you speak seldom takes much time. I still need to pack some things. Come in, you can speak while you wait."
His bag had essentials but not all his property. He shuts the door once they enter, then starts gathering his things.
"Want to fill me in? I suspect ether your meeting with the council went badly or your family tree has wilted once more."
He needed to know the state of things he was getting into. Not to mention how much he was going to be charging them. As well as the likelihood of collecting from the living.