A search of the office turns up a pair of fine tapestries on the walls along with some antique artisan tools that might be worth something to a collector, though all are inscribed with the initials “L.T.” In the desk is a small lockbox. There is also the stone that had rolled out of Louslik’s hand, a heavy crossbow with ten bolts in the corner, and on Louslik himself you find a pair of keys (one larger than the other) and a potion of some sort.
Lily takes the potion gingerly and tilts her head back pouring the concoction down her throat.
The wound is mended enough that she is merely sore and only a little dizzy. She says, "Thank you. She examines the potential treasures and takes the keys and tries them in the lockbox.
Slenk stays with the group, mostly observing the more physical activity. "I will defer to the legally minded, but if we are meant to send a message, I would suggest we draft a tax bill with added fines payable on delivery for any money found and seize the money as back taxes. Any additional items taken should be listed as well under 'Collection Fee:In -Kind Seizure.'"
Seeing the potion he adds, "On the morrow, I may be able to identify what this potion may be."
Seeing the two keys he adds, "I wonder if the other key is to one of the out-buildings? There may be other assets present to be taxed."
Lily finds the smaller of the keys opens the lockbox. As she handles the thing, she finds it fairly heavy, perhaps 20 pounds, and inside is the muffled rattled of coins. Opening it she finds numerous small leather pouches, each emblazoned with the initials "L.T." and, when jostled, jangling with the coins they hold. It will clearly take some time to count. It is not clear what the larger key unlocks.
Cimri steps over Louslik's body and into the office. She sees Lily dealing with the lockbox, then gestures down towards the tanner. "What do you want to do with him? We agreed we're leaving him alive? Think a 'tax bill' is enough a message?" She shrugs, not having strong feelings either way, "Maybe it is. I dunno. We need to tell him not to talk about who did this?"
Slenk nods. "I would agree that discretion is important and perhaps waking and intimidating him may aid in that. Also, do we want the message to be more public? Perhaps some sort of markings on his buildings to show that back taxes were collected?""
Veda has no strong feelings about how best to proceed.
"I guess alive and with a tax collection notice at least" she says with a shrug.
She holds out her hand to Slenk. "No need to wait until tomorrow to figure out that potion. I'll take a look."
Jerax looks around. "I don't know. Cashboxes seem pretty pedestrian and obvious places to hide taxes from House Thrune. Especially when Louslik here", the antipaladin takes a moment to kick the scofflaw hard in the ribs,, "knew how severe the penalty would be for stealing from Her Infernal Majestrix. There must be some other hidden stash somewhere. This can't be it."
"A sound and thoroughly just idea, Slenk," Ameliya admits to the halfing, giving him an approving nod before she eyes flutter to Jerax. "And I believe you are correct as well, darling."
She points to the larger key in Lily's hands. "I'd wager those keys open to something more valuable elsewhere. If we can't find it ourselves quickly, than I suggest we wake up darling Louslik over here so I can charm him into loosing his tongue."
Ameliya shrugs causally, adding, "We can also ask him any pertinent other questions as well if we so desire."
Alixus smiles when Ameliya suggests a bit of interrogation, ” I must say, I have not had a chance to exercise my skill with interrogation. The heathen knows only petty lies, but even falsehood can hold deeper truths.”
With the infernal healing still working, Jabral Louslik gradually comes to, his eyes fluttering open and regaining focus as he looks about. Cimri tries to slip He struggles briefly against his bonds, then grumbles, "Well, ain't you an ugly lot. And, you, Cimri... your aunt is going to be sorely disappointed. Why, I doubt she's going to let you out of jail early this time."
Cimri casts a hard stare at Jabral, then says, "The sheriff just enforces the law, Jabral, she doesn't make it. And apparently she hasn't been too good about enforcing it with you, either." She looks at the rest of you, points at the keys and says, "Probably for the other building across the yard. Make up your mind on him. I'll wait for you outside."
Louslik watches Cimri as she turns and walks out of the office, then back at the lot of you. He doesn't say much but seems to be steeling himself for whatever is to come.
Speaking not to Jabral, but to his companions in a conversational tone that may be meant to be overheard Slink shrugs and says.
"It seems to me, that there are two possible outcomes here. Either this man agrees to tell us what he knows of those opposing House Thrune empowering him in his non-payment of taxes, thus aiding us in rooting out corruption in service of House Thrune and gets off with a written censure... Or perhaps he dies while resisting the lawful collection of unpaid taxes as a rebel and traitor. Such matters are above such as me to decide.
Maybe Alixus or Jerax can help him choose which path to follow... aiding in the support of House Thrune or suffering the consequences of opposing the lawful rule of Her Imperial Magistrix."
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Veda can't figure out what exactly the rest of the people along with Cimri and her are trying to accomplish by interrogating the tanner. She just can't take what they're saying seriously at face value. The idea the tanner is part of some kind of plot or whatever is absurd.
He won't be able to tell them anything that leaving him unconscious and tossing the place thoroughly wouldn't, after all they have the keys so it's just a matter of finding what they fit.
Either they're engaged in some extreme ass covering that isn't needed because Cimri has it taken care of, or they're engaged in some bootlicking so extreme they don't even need a witness who's boots are being licked around.
By the time the halfling is winding up his speech, Veda has grown too impatient to stick around for more. She leaves to join Cimri outside.
She has to ask her "where in hell did you find these jokers anyway?" Her tone is one of exasperation.
Veda slips the potion into her pocket.
Cimri sighs and shrugs, "I don't think the boss thought he was part of a broader plan, just an opportunist taking advantage of the so-called 'Glorious Reclamation'. Job was just to get the money and send a message, never said anything about interrogations, but maybe they're right. Jabral isn't a bad sort -- maybe a bit self-righteous with all his hard work -- but..." Shr shrugs again, clearly leaving the question of his ultimate fate to others.
She tries the door on the eastern building and finds it locked. "Wait to see if the key fits it, or should I try to pick it?"
Veda shrugs. "Might as well get going on it so the time isn't completely wasted."
She takes out her tools and gives the lock a go. "I need the practice Cimri. And if I fail, just remember you're the one who taught me this" she says with a grin.
While the rest of the group debates what to do with Louslik Lily takes the fine tapestries down and folds them over the set of artisan tools. She places them into her backpack. She holds the stone in hand and asks, "Hey one of you magical girls, is this something special?" She places the stone in her belt pouch in any case. She straps the heavy crossbow to her back and tosses the heavy lock box of coins to Cimri. Finally she hands the potion of cure light wounds to Ameliya, "Sorry I was reckless."
Satisfied with this area she moves over to Veda and hands her the other key, "Keys are easier than picks. But ifn you want practice don't let me stop ya."
Alixus looks towards Jerax and raises an eyebrow, ”Well, shall we see what we can learn?”
"As you wish, Reverend", bowed Jerax to the higher-rank cleric. The antipaladin takes his spiked chain and wraps it tightly around the struggling Louslik, ultimately ending with Jerax holding both ends if his spiked chain around the scofflaw, with his heavy hoof on Louslik's lower back.
In his low and deep voice, Jerax states to his prisoner, "Louslik. Where is the rest of the tax money?"
Ameliya takes back the now empty healing potion that stores it back into one of the many pockets in her hood. "Please, Lily," she says, waving her off. "No apologizes are necessary. Your performance was more than satisfactory."
When the psychic sees Jerax attempting to interrogate Louslik she calmly moves to intervene. "Now, now, Jerax," she says to the tiefling, "there are more subtle ways of getting what we want. Isn't that right, darling Louslik? Don't you want to tell us where the rest of your unlawfully hoard monies are?" She looked down on bond and bruised tanner and gave him a strange smile, one that quite reach her equally eerie eyes. Said eyes were an enchanting grey-blue that seemed utterly fixed on Louslik with penetrating focus. A man could lose himself in those eyes if he wasn't careful...
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In the courtyard, Cimri winces a bit as Veda fat-fingers the lock picking. "Ew, um, no. You had a horrible teacher. Here, like this..."
The mechanism pops open with a <clack> and the door swings open slightly on its hinge. "You were a little too gentle. These old, clunky locks just need a bit more of a shove. Your technique would have done well with a better made lock, though, I think."
Back in the office, Jerax takes to threatening Louslik with strangulation.
The tanner's lips are speckled with blood from a cut lip and broken teeth, but he still gives a gap toothed smile and a bit of a gallows-humor laugh as the chain wraps around his thick neck. "What is this? <cough> Foreplay?"
Ameliya then steps up, practically purring. Jabral looks into her eyes and...
...his eyes turn a bit glassy before his smile becomes less of a sarcastic sneer and more that of someone pleased to be noticed by a beautiful woman. "Ah... Hi. Ain't this a bit of a predicament. Some sort of misunderstanding, hmm?"
He glances over towards his desk, sees it's been ransacked and says, "Well, my gold's kept in a lockbox, all o' it. I think you got it already. As for taxes..." His lip curls slightly in disgust, "Cheliax and that blasted Archbaron can choke on them." He coughs a bit and spits blood on the floor, not so easily done with the chain around his neck.
Aemliya pursed her lips, internally annoyed and disgusted by Louslik's bloody spittle but unwilling to let those emotions rise to the surface. "Yes, this all a terrible misunderstanding, darling. One that I hope you can soothe by answering our questions. Questions like, what do you know about the Glorious Reclamation?"
Lily lets those better suited to questioning the tanner do their work. She beckons Cimri to the side as Lily opens the door to the other building. She glances about before entering.
The tanner pops his head to the side a bit, stretching beneath the chain biting into his throat. "The Reclamation? Not much, 'cept the Angel Knight will be coming to free Cheliax from the grips of Thrune tyranny. Really, I like you. A pretty lass like you shouldn't be cavorting with the likes of these. Take some friendly advice, get out while you can afore you're all swinging from a rope."
Across the workyard...
Lily opens the door and looks in. The building is workhouse; a sizable, airy structure with open doorways and ample ventilation. Tools hang in organized rows upon the walls, most notably arrays of wide knives like miniature crosscut saws. Several inclined tanner’s beams create small workstations about the space, along with vats, drying racks, and numerous crates and bins.
Her quick assessment of the room doesn't reveal anything particularly valuable, though perhaps taking longer to search the room would turn up something. Cimri glances over her shoulder towards the gate and seems to be getting anxious. "We got the gold. We should be getting out of here and back to Ash House."
Cimri's kind and gentle assessment of her lockpicking skills warms Veda's heart. She smiles in reply.
"Maybe someday I'll be as good as you"
She nods in agreement at Cimri's suggestion it's time to get going.
"I'll take a quick look around in here while you round everyone up."
Veda goes in for a quick but more thorough search of the workhouse.
Lily nods, "Lets git goin'." She goes to the door of the other room and says loudly, "Cimri, Veda, and me are headin' out, you comin'?"
With Louslik having apparently told her everything he knows, Ameliya finally breaks her gaze with him. "Yes," she says dryly, more than content to leave an enchanted Louslik to rot. "I'm done here. Let's get out before the muck this place permanently sinks into these clothes." The psychic promptly leaves the tannery to join Cimri and others as they leave.
Jerax rapidly tucks hard on one side of his spike chain, spinning Louslik around and cutting the scofflaw's biceps and elbows on the weapon's jagged teeth. Casually wrapping his spike chain back on his hip, the antipaladin chortles, "See ya around, Louslik," and leaves with the others.
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”Well, it seems as if we have acquired what we came here for. I see no reason to stay.”
Jerax pulls and pops his spiked chain around and off Louslik's neck. The injury is enough to send the man back to the floor unconscious but likely enough that he'll survive.
Cimri leads you back into the shadows with the tannery at your backs, beginning the walk towards the Ash House
During the walk there, Cimri asks, "So, why'd you all decide to keep him alive? He'll probably be able to identify some of us, or do you think he'll keep his mouth shut?"
Lily says flatly, "You wanted a message sent. Dead men tell no tales."
”Killing a wretch like him would be a waste of our efforts. Besides, as my compatriot says we were to send a message. To let him live will do that far more effectively than killing him.”
"Hmm..." Cimri nods slightly, making her way through the countryside. "I'm just as glad we didn't kill 'im, I guess, but it'll complicate things if he presses it with the sheriff."
Unless anyone else says anything, she seems content to leave it at that.
About an hour later, you arrive at the Ash House. What remains of this manor looks like it could collapse at any moment. Bearing the scars of a decades-old fire, the house is blackened and sags under the weight of its collapsed third floor. Shattered windows pose no barrier to the riot of ivy scaling each gable and invading every cavity. Bent pillars and a cracked granite porch lead to a warped door bearing a rusty
doorknocker shaped like a boar’s head.
Cimri makes her way gamely up the steps but, rather than approaching the door, breaks to the left towards a broken window. As she swings a leg through the opening, she juts her chin towards the door and says, "It sticks. Not worth the bother."
You can enter either through the window, as Cimri did, or try to open the door.
The room that Cimri enters appears to have once been a parlor. Pieces of battered furniture lie here amid the choking scent of dust and ashes. Beneath a mantle crowded with empty whiskey bottles, the fireplace shows evidence of recent use. The scorched, broken visages of curious cherubs leer from atop archways leading deeper into the house.
She doesn't waste much time. Once everyone is in, she leads you through an archway back into the old manor's main hall with the doorway back to the front porch the south, and some stairs leading up to the north. She clambers up the stairs, staying near the wall, then turns left and enters through a door on the west wall.
Inside is what used to be and, perhaps, still is an office. Toppled bookshelves, a table, and some chairs half-covered in ivy suggest this room was once a library. The ashes and pulp of burned, waterlogged books lay heaped amid fallen furniture, creating a large nest of sorts against one wall. A set of folding paper screens divides the room. A lantern flickers on the opposite side, projecting the silhouette of a desk and a high-backed chair upon the thin paper. In the opposite corner, nesting on a pile of old book pulp, is a large panther-like creature. It's ears perk up and it watches each of you enter the room but -- despite the attentive gaze -- does not so much as lift a paw.
Cimri leads you into the room, glances briefly at the giant cat, then waits for the rest of you to enter. As you file in, the light behind the paper screen slowly intensifies, casting the stark silhouette of a bald figure seated at a desk upon the divider. After a moment of slow shuffling, a high-pitched voice, sounding as if it could be from someone either very young or very old, wheezes from behind the screen: "Cimri, is it done?"
Cimri glances briefly at the lot of you, nodding silently as if to convey this is as expected, then turns to address the silhouette, "Yes, Razelago, it's done." She looks at whichever of you is carrying the lockbox then gestures towards the table in front of the screen.
While waiting for one of you to place the lockbox on the table, the voice says, "Excellent. Let's have our new friends share what happened, hmm... How did you find ol' Louslik?"
"There wasn't much point in killing him. He wasn't preventing us from doing what we had come to do. Besides, you can milk a cow over and over again but only kill it once. Kill the tanner and the tannery closes down. No income, no future taxes. Seems short sighted."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Veda slips nimbly through the window after Cimri. She follows along into the upstairs room and stares intensely at the figure behind the screen, curious about 'Razelago'. Veda waits for someone else to tell the story. She's no inclined to, and there's always someone in any sized crowd anxious to do some bragging. Whoever that turns out to be can have their moment.
"..F#<k." Jerax growls inwardly, as he must awkwardly climb into the window.
Moving out to the Ash House
Ameliya did not bother to answer Cimri's question as they moved out to the Ash House. Her answer would have been much the same as Veda's and Alixus' in the end anyway. Louslik was a fool and an impediment to her ambitions, but his murder would have in all likelihood created more problems than it solved.
Instead of explaining that point to Cimri, Ameliya spent the trip examining the stone that Lily had found on Louslike's person.
Ash House
When they finally arrived at the ruined manor of the extinct Moragatallis, Ameliya went through the same broken window that Cimri and Veda did. Following the two through the remains of the manor, Ameliya was stroke by how relatively well-kept the place was given how long it had been abandoned to rot. Someone had obviously spent some time making the place livable again. Ameliya didn't have much time to ruminate on that as she was suddenly beset by the sight of a strange beast and an even stranger voice as she entered some kind of office room.
The psychic did not like the idea of speaking with, let alone working with, someone she could not see and immediately made a point of correcting that.
"Darling Louslik was as grotesque and oafish as he ever is. Strong of body but terrible weak of mind. We were able to infiltrate his tannery easily, overpower him and his dogs, and regain the empire's rightful tax monies in little time," Ameliya tells the voice charmingly before quickly redirecting the conversation to it. "But that's enough about him. Your name is Razelago is it? How unique. Do you think you could do us all the favor by revealing yourself to us, your allies? Hiding behind a screen while is not the best way to build trust, now is it?"
Cimri remembers she is carrying the lockbox, blushes slightly, and places it on the table with the lid open. Given the screen is between you and Razelago, it seems unlikely he can see it, but... "Excellent. It seems my faith in you and, by extension, those who I represent, was well placed. You've done well, all of you. While Louslik may not have been an overly difficult challenge, I sense some potential about you. As Cimri promised, you'll all find your payment is waiting in the parlor below, along with a gift from me for each of you.
"As for revealing myself, no dear, not yet. Eventually, but not yet. These are sensitive times and I don't yet know you. If our association continues to prove mutually profitable, and you comport yourselves honorably in your dealings with me, trust might come -- in time."
Earlier
Lily smirks as Jerax fails to smash open the door. She motions for him to move to one side and then rams her shoulder into the door. All she get for her efforts are a large welt that blossoms in dark purple and blue. She follows Jerax through the window of shame.
Later
Lily was happy to let Ameliya do the talking she liked flowery language. When everyone was ready Lily headed to the parlor.
Alixus, though a bit put off by the panther, smiled at their employer’s subterfuge. ”You hide your face. Admirable, in a way. The Archfiend rewards trickery and deception. It seems you follow that maxim, as do I. I would be interested in furthering this partnership. A contract can wait, given that fine details have not yet been exchanged.”
Having watched silently either having nothing to add or choosing to add nothing. Eventually, Slenk nods and says. "Until next time then..."
He then waits for another to lead the way down to the parlor and falls in behind.
Though Ameliya has to hide her annoyance at Razelago's refusal to reveal himself with a pleasant, nonchalant smile, she still nevertheless makes a point of giving the mysterious patron a respectful curtsy before she departs the office with the others for the parlor.
Veda goes back downstairs with the others.
The towering tiefling just simply bows to the silhouette behind the curtain and joins the others downstairs.
As you leave, Cimri says, "Thanks, boss. You know where to find me." Razelago gives a slight chuckle and says, "Yes. Good night, Cimri. You've done well." The panther-creature still has its head resting between its massive paws but watches each of you as you depart.
When you return to the parlor, you find a velvet pouch for each of you, plus another, slightly heavier one, for Cimri. Inside each of the ones for you are ten platinum pieces. On the table you also find a set of beautifully crafted and well-made weapons:
A Masterwork Falchion, the blade of which is engraved with infernal symbols
A Masterwork Morningstar, with an ebony handle
A Masterwork Dagger, the pommel of which has an inlay of powdered ruby in the shape of the Asmodean pentagram
Two Masterwork light crossbows, one made of ash wood the other of mahogany
A Masterwork Spiked Chain, crafted of polished black steel
On a sidetable are eight bottles of a Wiscrani barbera, several loaves of fresh bread, garlic-flavored butter and a variety of smoked fish and cured boar's meat. None of it was here when you entered the house. Cimri stops mid-stride when she sees it and blushes slightly when her stomach rumbles. "Well... I think I'll be staying. The sun is going to be up soon, anyway." She lifts a bottle of wine, removes the cork, tosses back a drink and says with a huge grin, "Who's staying!?"
Alixus’ eyes widen when he sees the array of weapons, and his eyes particularly land on the dagger. ”Incredible...as if our new employer knew each of our preferences. A well connected man, indeed.” He picks up the dagger and murmurs a prayer when he studies the pentagram on it’s pommel.
”Well, seeing as we are no longer on official business, I will stay. Though my master demands service, there is nothing wrong with a bit of unwinding when time permits.”
The halfling sees the food and nods at Cimri saying, "I have no where specific to be..." Slenk begins preparing a small plate.
It was just a few weeks ago when food such as this would not even have been a consideration for me, except perhaps as leftovers about to spoil...
Cimri is a bit less well-mannered about the food than Slenk, tucking the bottle under one arm, she grabs some bread, splits it open, and loads it with butter, fish and meat before finding a place to sit, eat and drink. As the others settle, she asks, "So, Slenk, how are things with your old master? You finding freedom okay? And you, priest, Alixus, inn'it? What brought you to Longacre?"
She starts to lift the bottle again, then blanches slightly as something occurs to her and she hastily adds, "Er, um, I mean... Sir Priest? Um... not meanin' no offense, just we don't usually have many church officials out here."