Noro just glares at the man, I didn't shay, an' less ya wanna end up on Tanner's s$+% lisht, you won't be need ta know either, shometimesh it besht you just shut yer mouth and look the other way.
Noticing the men are up high, and likely with weapons, Ariana makes sure a scroll of obscuring mist is tucked safely into one hand.
"I apologize for my companion's rough behavior. She...has not had a good day. It would be best for you to listen to her. She likes to hit things."
I like to hit things too, Elf. That doesn't change the fact that I need to know your names if you are to exit this zone. They should have explained all this in training!
Once again Ariana tries to determine the layout of her targets.
Via Message (DC 25 to hear it) "Tiresome cretins. Nod your head if you wish me to lay down covering fog."
Ariana- This side of the choke point is focused on keeping people out, not in. The guards are not really paying attention to you, and sit or walk about. You infer that the other side of the "gate", however, will be much the same as the one you entered. You are also keenly aware that you are sitting in the lion's den. Any engagement other than a full fighting retreat here would mean facing overwhelming numbers in short order.
"Yeah, I mean there are lots of people that like to hit things. But not like that ... So messy ... All the gore, all the *screams*. Oh merciful gods why ..."
Freia shudders and shoots a quick fearful glance at Noro's back, then gives the leader a pleading look.
The man looks to Freia, then to the unconscious woman over her shoulder. After a tense moment he let's you pass, tough you get the feeling you should disappear. Someone like him is unafraid to call the boss.
As soon as you're it of sight you double time it back to base and in through the still unlocked kitchen. The Old Man simply follows with Aboki. His face betrays nothing.
As they enter the group's room, Zayid turns to the Old Man, motioning him and Aboki to wait in the hallway. When the three are alone, the young man frowns. "What were you doing out there?" he asks softly.
Same as you. He says. A trace of suspicion mirroring your own wrinkles his brow. Except the kidnapping part, of course.
A few streets away from the gang-grounds, Freia visibly deflates.
"Pew ..."
_________________________________
With a worried glance at Zayid, Freia lets him slip away. When the rest of the team enters the kitchen without him, she voices her concerns.
"Uhmmm. Anyone else noted that Zayid hasn't really been himself lately? He has turned almost ... 'feral' at times. Anyone knows what's gnawing at him?"
"Who sent you?" asks the young man, studying the older warily.
"A druid thing? Zayid? *Hmm*" Freia looks thoughtful, but also sceptic. After a while she shrugs. "I'm not sure I've met any druid to know? Never knew any when I lived ... *outside*. Nor anyone inside the city either. Could explain Aboki's size ... Somehow I guess? They - *ahem* druids are supposed to have animal magic, do they not?"
She kicks off her boots and lay down upon her bed, starring into the bunk over her, wiggling her toes and massaging her hands. There was still a faint sting of salt in her wounds - but this recent idea distracted her completely. Absent-mindedly she lets out a stream of pondering questions into the room, aimed at no-one in particular.
"What *does* a druid do? How would one become one? Is it contagious?"
Zayid - Nobody sent me, boy. Like I said, I'm as old as the furniture. I know this place outside and in and in the middle too. Something's going on here, and youall just confirmed that Absentia's in on it.
He turns away, then back.
You have a choice here, boy. You and your group there just got dropped into a three way shadow war for control of the Orders. Yes, Both of them. The time will come soon enough when you'll need to choose a side.
"Three way?" asks Zayid quietly, some of the suspicion leaving his demeanor. More thoughtfully, he adds, "Whose side are you on? I thought you just wanted to get out of here."
He shrugs. Don't we all. Or maybe we all have a secret or two. Watch your back, Zayid.
He turns and walks quietly down the hall.
Zayid studies the other's back as he leaves, motioning Aboki down when the big cat looks up questioningly. When the Old Man disappears around a corner, Zayid turns and enters the dormitory room. "Maybe we should question her before she gets here," he suggests quietly, gesturing to the prisoner.
As Zayid enters the room, Freia sits up from her bed and gives him a long strange look. A hint of worry - and a tiny nugget of fear perhaps?
"She hasn't seen us yet... We ought to blindfold her if we are to wake her. And find some way to distort our voices!"
Zayid nods. "That's a good idea," he concedes. "I don't know how good I'd be at it... but I can help blindfold her."
The woman is easily tied, though it takes a good bit of rope. You decide last minute to double the bindings, just in case, and blindfold her.
It takes her a while to come around after Noro's expert anesthesia application. Her head rolls up and she groans, ...head... ow...
Zayid glances around at the others, then shrugs and begins. "Who do you work for?" he asks in a near-whisper, hoping that his voice will be less recognizable that way.
She cocks her head, then shakes it. What... huh? Where am I?
"Doesn't matter. Answer the question," replies the young man, still trying to conceal his vocal identity.
And why should I? You're obviously not friendly.
Sensing the mood of the moment, Freia feels that this is the perfect time to sharpen her sword. So she brings out her whetstone and slowly starts working the blade. When the executioner does this with the axe, people get nervous! Maybe it works here too!
*Kchhhhink! kchhhhhink! kchhhhhink!*
Zayid pauses, letting Freia's sword-sharpening be the only sound for a long few seconds, then speaks again. "Maybe not, but I promise that blade is even less so."
after they returned, Noro dumped the package on a bed and went to get cleaned up.
she returned to enjoy a little of the interrogation.
giving a couple of minutes to let this all sink in Noro simply cracks her knuckles, a simple sound that the woman recalls from not so long ago.
She seems slightly shaken by your tactics, but answers with, Listen, whoever you think I am, I'm not! I'm nobody!
"We can make this a little easier."
Ariana takes five minutes to sit down nearby with her spellbook while her team members try and coerce the individual. She prepares Charm Person and will cast it on the woman when finished.
The woman's head dips for a second, a telltale sign of success.
noro leans over to whisper to Ariana, can you teach me how to ushe that on boysh?
"Hello. It'd be nice if you could let us know what you were doing at the docks tonight. I'm very interested in helping you."
Ariana turns an expressionless look to Noro, slowly raising an eyebrow. "..." She pauses, glancing to the woman, then back to Noro, silent for a time.
"...No."
Freia blinks and halts. There was an alternative method at work and she gladly watched Ariana work her magic. Maybe I could do that too ...? Hmm... Freia thought back at all the times where she wished she knew a charm spell and sighed.
The woman replies in a cautious tone, I was getting some work on the side. Making sure I had connections for when I get out, you know? I could use some help, if you're offering.
Noro grunts in frustration and walks away.
she goes to her bunk and plops down on it. wake me if you need be to beat the pissh out of shomeone.
Glancing to Noro, the dark-haired elf frowns. She shakes her head slightly and turns her attention back to the woman.
"What is your name, friend?"
Her experience with Casper has helped her grow a little more comfortable with this sort of interrogation. She folds her hands behind her back and crouches lightly, peering at the subject.
"What kind of work? Connections with who? Who sent you to the docks? When are you getting out? And what do you need help with?"
"..What else do you think I should be asking her?" She asks Freia, Halsanna and Zayid (once he returns).
Claire... my name is Claire. I tasked with obtaining a Tear Mask by d'Distributor. He promised me a good job when I get out on a merchant tub, long as I do my job.
Oh, please help. If I fail I'll be doomed to go back t'Underbridge as soon as I get out! I need to do this! She is crying with fright by the end. Her eyes are wide and pleading.
Noro, lying there on her bunk, she looks over to Claire, Claire, can you draw?
she gets her sketch book out and rips out a blank page, and goes to hand it to her.
If yer good enough, I might be able to ushe your help I am thinking of opening a bushinessh when I get out, be better work than what yer doin now.
Oh, and shorry bout the bump on the head, you did put up a damn good fight. you got shome talent there at leasht.
Extending a hand to Noro, Ariana whispers quietly. "We don't want her to see our faces yet. I believe Freia may be able to draw if she describes..or can. That's a good idea, good thinking. Don't worry about apologizing to her--she is the enemy, simply charmed."
The cold-hearted elf turns her impassive gaze back to the enemy. "Whose mask? How did he task it to you? How many other times has he asked you to do him a favor? How did he pass on where to meet him? Why would you assist someone in seemingly criminal behavior?"
Claire shrugs. He just told me t'get a mask...
What does "task it"...
I've done three jobs do far. Nothin' dangerous like this.
I got a note under my pillow.
She pauses a bit after the last question is posed. You've obviously never been to Underbridge...
Freia silently nods and retrieves her sketchbook and pen, if they managed to coax an description from Claire. In a hushed whisper she replies to Ariana.
"Can we ask her what she saw at the dock?"
"Just a mask, anyone's mask? Hm..thank you Claire. And don't worry, you won't go to Underbridge."
Nodding at Freia, Ariana sits down before the woman. "Can you describe what you saw at the docks, who that is you met, for my friend? And could you tell us about what the other jobs were? And..if you don't mind, how did you get a mask?"
You mean the Distributor? Black cloak. A few inches taller than me, black cloak and robes. Disguised voice. There's not much I can tell you, honestly. He's had me steal some stuff before. A note here, a manifest there. I'm pretty sneaky for my size. She shrugs. I have no idea how I'm going to get a mask. Do you have any ideas?