Jase stepped up closer to the creature locked in Joie's grasp, rapier held at the ready should the thing suddenly try to break free. Well, he'd probably have to wait for it to fully break free, or risk skewering the blond woman. She seemed to have it covered, though. Seeing Daerokh load his pelletbow, the young man stepped to the side so as to give the dwarf a clear firing lane, just in case.
Faithe was prepared to jump in and save Joie if this went as bad as she suspected it would but it seemed the young woman knew what she was doing. Having managed to contain the ghoul for the moment Faithe approached with her scythe at the ready for when the thing got free, and made sure to move into shadows near to it so that it would have more difficulty hitting her if it got free.
The ghoul growls and glowers up at the group.
"Alright--congratulations. You caught me. Dare I ask what you're here for?"
Faithe remained vigilant as she watched for the ghoul to escape it's restrained position but she noticed nothing else about it's glowering.
Daerokh, on the other hand, spots the look immediately.
"Looks like he's kinda ogling you, Faithe, and I mean as more than a potential meal."
Jase smirked at Daerokh's observation, having caught the creature's glance as well. Giving the woman a quick once-over, he couldn't really blame the ghoul, though it seemed that that kind of hunger was probably a thing of the past for the undead. Maybe it recognized her somehow? She did use that strange shadow magic and bones as armor...the young man wasn't really sure where that placed her on the undead scale, but probably more than a none.
Chalking it up to an amusing distraction, Jase turned his attention back to the vile beast. "We're here to capture the murderer responsible for the killings of scribes around town. And by the smell of you, you fit the bill quite nicely."
The Tailor didn't notice, his gaze was fixed on the ghoul. "So guess that means yous be under 'rest n' all."
He wondered how he was able to channel this magic and hold it without causing an eruption; he made a mental note to discuss it later with his patron.
The ghoul growls again. "Then I'm not saying another damn word until I hear from my lawyer. I have that right."
"That you do," Joie says.
Normally, the people that Joie goes up against don't have any such right, but as she's working in a police capacity right now...
Well, best not to step on any toes. A diplomatic incident would be... well, it wouldn't be the first, but she's hoping to ease the tension here between Nex and their autonomous duchy.
"It's just as well."
She jerks her head toward the ghoul's wrists-- between the six assembled, somebody ought to have rope--and if no one offers aid, uses her headband instead.
"Once we arrive at the constabulary, you will be asked for the name, address, and any relevant contact information of your lawyer. In the meantime, I recommend you come peacefully."
She is ready to march with him if the rest of the group is.
Jase frowned as the talking went on. Was this thing even a humanoid with rights? Geb might have dealings with creatures like this, but he was pretty sure Alkenstar and Nex should just put this thing to the sword. Still, the rest of the group seemed amiable to accepting a surrender and arrest, so the young man said nothing on the matter, though he didn't sheathe his weapon.
Seeing Joie's nod towards the thing's wrists, he blushed a bit, not having thought to bring rope or restraints of any kind. Shrugging it off, he lit a torch and decided to examine the cavern they were in a bit more closely, just in case there was any more damning evidence to be found.
"Takes a looks round, I can stays 'ere with Joie." He didn't want to let her hold it alone. He wondered what they would do if it couldn't hold... But not for too long, such an idea would probably be its end.
Unraveling his whip he hands it to Joie, "Use 'dis. No point gettin' you hair all rancid."
Daerokh nods and begins searching the room, taking every cranny and nook into account.
The ghoul lets out another growl as he's secured.
--a set of masterwork thieves' tools;
--a pair of ledgers, one bound in blue leather and one bound in green leather;
--Three scrolls: one of invisibility, one of command and one of alter self;
--a pouch containing 10 platinum pieces, minted in Geb;
--an amulet fashioned in the shape of an obsidian scarab.
Daerokh shows all the goodies he's found to the others. He gives a small whistle at the sight of the platinum.
"This compensation for your services or your compensation for your hired help?" he idly wonders aloud.
"I imagine the Constabulary'll want a look at these ledgers."
When Daerokh unearthed some items of interest, Jase abandoned his search and stepped over. His eyes widened at the platinum, but then his eyes rested on the books. "Perhaps they would, but why don't we have a look right now."
To forestall any arguments, he held up a hand to ward them off and continued, "Look, the fact that this is some kind of conspiracy within the 'regular' structure of the guard is still an option, right? I think we should familiarize ourselves with the contents, maybe even copy them before we just hand them over to someone who might be in cahoots with this thing or whoever hired it."
Tuco raised an eyebrow, "Seems reasonable, 'dat is whys we 'ere right and ain't some regular ol' patrols'm." He did the best he could to not keep his eyes straying for too long, it seemed that in the short time he was with the investigation team he had to play jailer and torturer far too often.
"So yous from Geb? Why murder and whys 'ere of all places? Seems little much work for yous to come all 'da way out to 'dese 'ere parts."
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Daerokh frowns but nods.
"Much as I may dislike it, I think you're right, Jase. After all, the only reason we've been involved in this whole thing is the Guard wasn't able to solve this. Might as well have all the information ourselves so we can finish what we start, in case this information gets lost or worse, buried."
Joie frowns.
"Is this the best place for this conversation?"
She jerks her head toward the ghoul.
"So yous from Geb? Why murder and whys 'ere of all places? Seems little much work for yous to come all 'da way out to 'dese 'ere parts."
The ghoul refuses to say another word, glowering at the party as they lead him out.
Jase nodded at Tuco & Daerokh's responses, glad to see they were in agreement. The young man had a tempestuous temperament, and sometimes didn't think things through too clearly.
Jase looked towards Joie and arched an eyebrow. "I don't think it's safe to leave that beast by itself, and with that logic we'd be short at least one person for the conversation. Maybe three of us go ahead and take the ghoul to the Shield Marshal, while the other three see about making another copy of these before we turn in the ledgers, as well?"
"Think you're right again, Jase. Which would you prefer, Jase?"
Joie nods. ”That’s probably the best we can do in these circumstances,” she says.
”Who’s with me?”
Faithe kept her disgusted gaze on the ghoul and said, "I'll stay and guard this...thing."
Tuco wiggled his nose, "Well I ain't hurtin' for anythin' rights now. If yous wants me to take a look at them books I s'pose I could. I do have me own ledger at the house so I knows what we lookin' for if we be cookin'."
"I'm with you, Joie. My skills probably will serve better escorting our...new friend."
The party hauls the ghoul in front of them and forcibly marches the undead creature out into the noon sky of Alkenstar, leaving behind the rot and decay of the old manor behind. A harsh, chilly wind blows past the party as they emerge, mixing a smell of ash into the general odour of death clinging to them.
They go their separate ways after reaching the surface, with Joie, Faithe and Daerokh taking the ghoul away and Jase, Alorea and Tuco go down another street...
-------------------
Your walk through Alkenstar causes a stir of shock and fear as you move. The ghoul hisses and screws his eyes shut when the sun's glare strikes his eyes and practically everyone in the streets hurries out of your way. The Auburn District precinct's lobby is vacant for the moment.
-------------------
"Hello?" Daerokh calls when they arrive and he sees no one there.
"Yeah, yeah, one minute..." A gravelly voice replies from down the hall.
The ruddy-faced dwarven Shieldmarshal Dorak emerges from a side room. "So, what's this about--"
He comes to a dead stop when he sees the captured ghoul.
Tuco cracks a book open and begins reading, it takes him a while to get the gist of everything again, the hand not what he was used to... Or how it's written.
”We have a suspect,” Joie says simply. ”He will need to be held while we are debriefed, and interrogated after.”
”He also would like his attorney contacted.”
--haven't yet determined truth of the message. Might have been deception, might not. Can't take chances. Mausoleum wants answers, needs me to get them. State secrets cannot fall into enemy hands--
--arrived in town. Stayed out of sight--gutters, alleys, under smoke and ash. Fancy f#$&ers in fancy dresses don't give the dregs a second glance. Work here might be easier if adapted to local class perceptions.
--established contacts. Identified first lead, will intercept tonight.
Nothing but papers. 'Bloodstone' is object of interest to scribes here. No time to think of a better solution.
Second lead. More progress--identified 'Bloodstone' as 'an artifact with power over life and death'. Dammit, they know. They know.
More investigation will be necessary.
----------------
Shieldmarshal Dorak blinks and takes his hand off of his holster. "...well, that's going to make somebody happy. Come on, this way." He gestures for the party to follow him.
Dorak leads the team and the ghoul to a hallway in the back of the precinct. Several cells are lined up in a row, each of them containing a cot and chamber pot. Only a couple of the cells are currently occupied--one with a snoozing man reeking of booze and the other with the smoke-smelling Caeric.
Dorak opens a cell door and gestures for the party to put the ghoul in.
Joie nudges the ghoul inside.
”I expect to be present when he is to be transported to the interrogation room and back, at the least,” she says to Dorak. The undead are capable of more than the living. If they mutilate themselves in the attempt to get free, they only risk growing uglier.
When they reached the station Faithe was a bit disappointed the ghoul didn't give her a reason to strike it down. The fact that the Shieldmarshal didn't seem worried about their ability to hold the ghoul and so Faithe assumed that they could. As they put the ghoul in the cell Faithe was ready in case it resisted them.
"Me too," Daerokh adds. "While we were able to secure this one himself with little effort, he had quite a few 'friends' that we had to re-kill to get to him. Don't know if he's capable of pulling some kind of necromantic trick or has some 'deathbomb' or some slag."
Should Joie comment, he replies "What? Even in Alkenstar you don't wanna take chances when magic's involved!"
Joie does not comment. She’s no expert in undead, but she’s heard vague stories of ones that could just kind of... pop, like a carbuncle.
Looking to Tuco and Alorea, Jase said, "Maybe we should head to the college? I don't exactly have much use for ink and papers, at the moment. Probably should work on my penmanship, though."
"Bloodstone..." The word sends a shiver down his spine and he looks toward Jase, "I's rather not go wit' 'dis information." He thinks back, who was the first lead? Who was the second?
There was something about the second lead, "Who was the second deader?" He considers the situation, "I thinks we head to a scribe's place Jase."
Alorea has been quiet, observing her allies' interactions. She nods now. "Agreed, Tuco. Let's go!"
"Deathbomb?" The ghoul tilts his head at Daerokh. "I wish."
Dorak nods at Joie. "You were the ones to bring 'em in. I'd say it's only fair."
The ghoul starts to pace inside his cell, his eyes not leaving Faithe.
"Iverness was it?" He looks toward Jase and Alorea, "Any of yous know where wes can find 'em?"
Faithe noticed tha tthe ghoul was continuing to stare at her. Unlike she expected though it didn't seem to her that it was viewing her as food but as somethingelse. It was very disconcerting and she felt a tempation to just take it's head off and end it but she withheld herself given where they were.
Finally deciding she needed to ask Faithe looked at the ghoul as he paced and stared at her, "What is it about me that fascinates you so ghoul?"
The ghoul doesn't stop pacing. "...you look familiar. Could've sworn I've seen you somewhere before."
Faithe eyed the ghoul curiously as he spoke to her and she considered if she really wanted to go down this rabbit hole or not. It didn't take the pale woman long to decide that she did. She shifted back into the shadows, her form blurring slightly, and asked, "And just where would we have met before?"
Daerokh side-eyes Faithe, but his expression is more one of concern than suspicion.
------------------
Dorak looks between Faithe and the ghoul, his eyebrow arched and a twitch creeping into his fingers.
The ghoul looks between Faithe and the shieldmarshal. "You want to know the answer to that, get me my lawyer."
Dorak snorts. "Right. That'll take a while." The dwarf turns to the assembled group. "First, we need to debrief you three."
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Joie side-eyes Faithe, but her expression is more one of suspicion than concern.
"Can we debrief separately instead of all together? I'm just kind of nervous that if we take our eyes off this shifty slag someone might pull a Caeric and let him out."
Dorak nods. "We can. Which of you wants to go first?"