Nodding to himself as he enters the office, Marcianus is unsurprised. "Of course, of course. Well, let me see if I can convince him to share what he knows. Zeke, go get our dear friend. Be gentle please."
As Zeke is retrieving the tavern keeper, Marcianus takes a seat at the table in the main room of the Sheriff's Office. He sets out a bottle of wine with two classes, and starts cutting some fruit and cheese.
Zeke finds little to no resistance when he approaches Caggan. He goes silent as Zeke opens the cage and brings him to the table, also finding no resistance as he does.
"Now what?" Caggan croaks with his obviously strained voice. "Gonna gag me for screaming? Put me back out in the stocks like I'm cattle? Real talk, here. Any plan on releasing me? Or am I jailed indefinitely for feeding people after a bullsh*% curfew because of some stupid knights up north?"
Marcianus slowly sets about opening the wine and pouring two glasses while allowing Caggan to speak.
Once it is apparent that he is done, Marcianus replies. "We are enforcing laws, we do not create them. Your opinion that the law is bullshit does not make them any less laws.
You may dislike us, but your dislike is irrelevant. Has any criminal ever liked those who hold them to account for their misdeeds?
Archbaron Fex has not set a time period for your punishment yet. Perhaps he is waiting for something... like a sign of penitence, perhaps?"
Taking a sip of wine, and eating a bit of fruit, Marcianus smiles warmly as he pushes the plate to the center of the table and gestures to the other glass.
"But, I didn't pull you out of your cell for punishment right now. It is time for celebration! You might not be able to tell from this grumpy lot, but we are heroes now, having destroyed some creeping vines that were murdering townspeople."
"Oh? Celebration? With wine I assume you poisoned as per your precious Archbaron's request!? I'll pass. You may have saved people from vines or something, but that's NONE of my concern. What's the real reason you pulled me out of my cell. What do you motherf$#&ers really want from me?"
Zeke sits down at another one of the chairs, grabs the extra cup and chugs the contents.
"If you don't want it, you won't mind if I indulge then. I'm certainly in a celebratory mood."
Marcianus frowns at both of them, but continues sipping his wine and eating a few bites.
"Your refusal makes me sad, Caggan, but that is your right. Nobody is looking to force you to have some better food and drink for a moment."
Sliding the plate back in front of himself, Marcianus considers the prisoner for a moment. "I suppose it is back to the stocks, then. We should honor your choice. But, if you have given some thought to that act of penitence, perhaps you could explain to us why today is the day you choose to start acting out and pretending that we are torturing you when the entire town knows that we were off protecting the citizens.
It appears to us that you had prior knowledge that someone was going to be murdered today. Is that it?"
Sicaria stands at Marcianus's side, flanking the noble with the eidolon as Marcianus does the talking for now.
Wolfgang's eyes narrow as he stares at Caggan from a safe distance.
Well, that is interesting.
Wolfgang rasps, "Ask him about the 'stupid knights up north.' Nobody here said anything about knights."
"Blame the barkeep!" Caggan signs. "You ain't the first lawmasters around here to do that. I'm in the business of feeding people, not killin' em. As for the screaming, consider it a gift for BREAKING MY F+*%ING HAND THIS MORNING!"
Wolfgang cuts in at this point.
"Who in this town hasn't heard about the stupid Reclamation? Not much happens here, and they sure as hell won't shut up about it. I couldn't care less if this country is run by a devil or a Linnorm King. What I do care about is how you guys are just...makin' it worse. I said it once and I'll say it again: That Glorious Reclamation is bad for business."
Well son of a b*tch. Looks like I actually agree with this guy on something.
Marcianus glances at the man's hand with no sympathy. "When you bang your fist against a wall, you get hurt. Even when the wall is figurative."
Leaning back, he steeples his fingers as he considers Caggan, then leans forward again.
"You agree that these disturbances are bad for business, and thus bad for Cheliax. Yet, you go out of your way to provoke us on the same day that a murder is committed and blamed on us. The same day that these are plastered all over town."
Marcianus shows the flyer, then tosses it aside. Taking another bite of cheese, he frowns and shakes his head. "This uprising is organizing in town, and you are working with them. That much is obvious.
Prove me wrong about your intentions by telling us who the ringleaders are. I have reached the end of trying to be nice to you. You have until tonight", he says ominously, then motions for Zeke to drag him out to the stocks.
"Will you come when...What bullshit!" Caggan shouts as Zeke picks him up. "If you think I'm working with them, your even more stupid than the Archbaron!"
And Caggan goes back out to the stocks.
”Don’t forget the gag.” Sicaria calls as Zeke takes the bartender away.
Once he’s gone, the woman sits down at a table and ponders for a moment. ”Caggan is quite a few things—among them being a sheer disrespect for authority and a horrific amount of impulsivity,” She says to no one in particular. ”But I will give him this much: he unapologetically wears his heart on his sleeve.” She shakes her head. ”I…don’t think he’s lying. But that raises more questions than it answers…”
Staring out the window at the gagged Caggan, Marcianus ponders Sicaria's statement.
"Just because he believes what he is saying doesn't mean he isn't lying. Perhaps he is being used, but holding his lies up to the light did not move him, nor have days of this humiliation."
Placing his hand against the window, his stare becomes harder. "He is communicating with someone... On the first day, one of the waitresses came to give him ale. They are as likely as anyone else to be the conduit."
Zeke, leaning against the wall outside, feel something of Marcianus' intent, glances back through the window, and bellows laughter.
"We should bring them in. If nothing else, he might talk to protect them, while he cares little for himself."
"I think some of the waitresses were keeping the tavern open while the owner is indisposed," Wolfgang says, tapping the desk with his tail. "We can probably find the one you're thinking of there, but are you that eager to deal with yet another group of angry townies today?"
"We can go there after closing, but I had thought of presenting the situation to the waitress as preparing a good meal for the prisoner as a reward for good behavior.
Perhaps Caggan will understand the situation without us needing to state it explicitly."
The miscreants bring Caggan in from the stocks around dinnertime, and the sun falls.
As the miscreants prepare to head to Caggan's tavern, moonlight trickles in the crappy windows of the jail. As the miscreants begin to leave, Caggan lets out several full-screams. "What're you gonna do to her!" he shouts. "Don't you dare touch her! She's done nothing wrong! She's just trying to keep the business running!"
Call this a fudge.
Caggan's muscles ripple as tufts of rough hair suddenly spread across his arms. "Don't." His feet twist and shrink into hooves. "YOU!" His face elongates into a snout. "DARE!" His ears move to the top of his head and longer hair sprouts what almost appears to be a crest. "TOUCH!" Finally, tusks sprout from his face, rising upwards. "HER!"
Caggan's new form rushes forward to the door keeping him contained.
And he JUST manages to burst the door from its hinges.
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: Assume all doors are open except the one to outside
-----------------------------------------------
Caggan
Wolfgang
Marcianus
Gravenail
Sicaria
"Hells! He's a wereboar?! Maybe he was just getting angry because the moon was changing."
Pulling out his wand, Marcianus taps Zeke with Mage Armor.
"Bah! He just needs another thump to put him back to sleep."
Pulling Bargain out, Zeke moves to the door and prepares to swing once Caggan appears.
Quick retcon: Cimri is also in the fight, but we'll say she delays 'till last so she can follow your lead.
Zeke marches forward with a buff and prepares to swat at Caggan with his hammer.
As for the knowledge roll, Zeke's aware that those are the features of a Boar, but not much more than that.
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: Assume all doors are open except the one to outside
-----------------------------------------------
Caggan
Wolfgang
Marcianus (Zeke: Readied; Mage Armor)
Gravenail
Sicaria
Cimri
SIcaria laughs at Caggan’s crazy ramblings. ”Yeah, well, there’s nothing you can do about it you little piece…of…” The human stares in pure shock and horror as the “man” bursts through the cell door with his newfound bestial strength. ”Oooohh shiiiiiiiiiiit…”
Sicaria stares at Caggan with her jaw hanging. ”Wait…if he’s…then does that mean it’s a…?” Sicaria looks out the window she is standing next to and up at the sky.
”Damn it!” The assassin moves quickly, drawing both of her sabres as she moves to be behind Zeke. ”He hasn’t been calling to anyone, he’s been changing as the moon does! We’ve been causing this to him by putting him in the stocks!”
Sicaria utters a prayer to Achaekek as wispy flecks of crimson dance across her blades. ”He’s still a prisoner, so don’t kill him if possible! I don’t want to have to deal with that paperwork and I know the rest of you don’t either! And with the town on the verge of rioting, I think killing our example will push everyone over the edge”
It is, as expected, a full moon out.
Sicaria curses before filing behind Zeke.
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: Assume all doors are open except the one to outside
-----------------------------------------------
Caggan
Wolfgang
Marcianus (Zeke: Readied; Mage Armor)
Gravenail
Sicaria (Divine Favor)
Cimri
"Her? Who are you talking abo... never mind, don't care!"
Wolfgang growls a few words humming with arcane power, waves a hand, and disappears.
Gravenail suddenly remembers his fear of boars and bolts out the front door.
Wolfgang vanishes before stealthily moving across the room.
Cimri, too, draws her kukri before marching around to the other entrance to the jailroom.
Caggan, in a fit of what seems like rage, charges forward at Zeke, ignoring Cimri entirely. "NOT HER!" he shouts as a hammer smacks him on the head. He then provokes.
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: Assume all doors are open except the one to outside
-----------------------------------------------
Caggan (-12)
Wolfgang
Marcianus (Zeke: Mage Armor; -11)
Sicaria (Divine Favor)
Cimri
Zeke grins, glad to get some action. Pivoting the haft of the hammer he punches the boar in the face before stepping back and bringing the hammer down on its back.
"Damned fool! If you just told us what you know, we wouldn't have to bring her in. But now, we'll get to hang up your diseased corpse for the whole town to see."
Screaming as flames leap from his hands, Marcianus moves forward, slams his hands together and sends a bolt of fire rushing at Caggan.
"Damned fool! If you just told us what you know, we wouldn't have to bring her in. But now, we'll get to hang up your diseased corpse for the whole town to see."
”ALIVE! I said we keep him ALIVE!!!”
Sicaria spits on the ground as she steps up to Caggan and smacks at him with the backs of her weapons!
Zeke smacks Caggan upside the head with his hammer as Sicaria bludgeons the man. Sicaria's attacks aren't as effective as she'd like. Sicaria's attacks knock the wereboar unconscious as he falls to the ground unconscious but stable.
After a few seconds, Wolfgang reappears and sheaths his rapier. "Apparently he really does not want us to bother the barmaid. I was skeptical, but perhaps she knows something worth our time to learn after all."
Only after the fighting dies down does the mysterious figure that's been standing in the doorway speak up. "Already talked with her." Her voice is soft yet shrill, almost like that of a child. "She's an idiot. Knows nothing. Fed Caggan a potion a few days back. Needed to break her finger for her to tell me though. Wish I could have done more. Too weak willed, that one."
She wears a short flared out skirt, gold jewelry, and a feathered headdress. She's definitely not armored, not with how much her scarred legs are showing. She stands just under 5 feet tall, but her wrinkled face shows she's definitely older.
Zelicia skips over to the wereboar and bends over to get a look at its condition.
To be safe, she casts Stabilize on the body before standing up again. "Zelicia MacCallister, by the way." She offers a hand to anyone who'll take it.
Winding up for another swing, Zeke sneers before backing down as Sicaria stands in the way.
"You really want that thing back in a cell? It already broke out once and I don't think we have a stronger door."
Sicaria sheathes her weapons and growls. ”Zeke, help me out here!”
Sicaria (with Zeke if he helps) drags Caggan’s body back into one of the cells and restrains him with everything and the kitchen sink—chaining him to the wall, tying him up, everything!
She then looks at the other miscreants and says simply. ”Situation’s changed. I’m going to talk to Razelago.” And unless someone stops her, she makes her way back to the Ash House, ignoring the sudden newcomer.
Ignoring the disagreement, Marcianus lurches to the side of the room, and falls to his knees as the fire on his hands continues to burn. With obvious effort, he slowly gains control of the flames and they sputter out.
It takes a few moments before he becomes aware of the newcomer bending over the wereboar, but he simply slumps back into a chair, cradling his arms against his chest.
"I'd say the tactic was sound. We've found his weakness."
Zeke grimaces with distaste as he grabs the animal man by an arm and drags him to a cell with a working door with Sicaria.
Leaving the assassin to secure it, he returns to the room and approaches the newest spellcaster. Looking down at her and her headdress, he sighs. "First the insect, now some kind of carnival dancer? Perhaps we should invest in some costumes ourselves. I know where we can find a good boar skin."
Shaking his head as Sicaria darts out the door, he continues his confrontation of Zelicia, "Well, what are you looking for?"
She eventually enters back into the Ash House and quickly moves upstairs to the zebub’s favorite little folding screen.
Sicaria folds her arms. ”Nice to see you again, especially since you were gone last time we were looking for you. Anyway, some situations came up, and I was hoping you’d pass it along to the Archbaron. First, apparently the Glorious Reclamation, led by one Cansellarion—first name either Alexeara or Alaxeara—seized a citadel of the Hellknight Order of the Godclaw and took a sword that was supposedly wielded by Iomedae herself, so we basically have the Iomedaeans on our doorstep. Second, apparently our little example Caggan is, and I wish I was kidding, a wereboar, and sticking him outside in the stocks hasn’t been good for the whole shapeshifting thing. He managed to break out tonight, so I feel obligated to ask: What do you, and by extent the Archbaron, want us to do with him now?”
Wolfgang jumps with a little yelp when Zelicia first speaks, then looks around sheepishly.
Did anybody notice that? Probably not. I think.
"Zelicia MacCallister, by the way." She offers a hand to anyone who'll take it.
Wolfgang slips forward before Zeke can take the newcomer's head off and shakes Zelicia's hand. "Wolfgang von Erzteufel," he rasps. The tiefling's palm is sweaty; while he introduces himself, he pulls a scrap of cloth from a pocket with his tail and wipes more sweat from his face and neck. "So, ah, what are you doing here?"
Wolfgang indeed darts in front of Zeke to shake the newcomers hand. It's then that the party, aside from Sicaria, notices the all-too-familiar brand of the Hellfire Compact burning fresh on the back of her hand.
Razelago's baby face contorts at the second piece of news. "We were aware of the first part, though admittedly only recently, but the wereboar thing...hmmm. I'll have to speak with the archbaron more directly about this matter. For now, the next full moon is over four weeks out. We'll have a decision by then; continue on old orders. If he only turned wereboar tonight, and not earlier, I'm going to assume he's afflicted. If he does, somehow, transform again before you hear back from us, you have every right to kill him for resisting, but then and only then."
The zebub flies over to Sicaria before flying mere inches from her face. "Are we clear?"
”Crystal. And that includes continuing to put him out in the stocks? Also, the people are bordering on an uproar. What do we tell the people, if anything at all, if we are forced to, ahem, ‘put him down’?”
Zelicia smirks at Zeke's comment like she's heard it before. "I assume this mark answers your questions?" She looks up at Wolfgang while subtly wiping her hand on her skirt to remove the sweat.
Marcianus does not stand, but simply leans back in his chair considering Zelicia. Straightening his gloves and his jacket, he introduces himself.
"Well, if the Archbaron decided you were needed here, who are we to question?
Zelicia, you said? Greetings. I am Marcianus Jeggare. You may call me Marcianus. You will forgive Zeke. My bodyguard can be... protective. That tusk wound in his thigh is likely making him grumpy as well.
Do you have the ability to do something about that?"
Unless there’s anything else Razelago wants of her, Sicaria leaves the Ash House and takes several back alleys to make her way back to the Longacre jail.
Wolfgang inspects Zelicia's brand and nods. "It makes most of our questions less relevant, in any case. I hope you are not expecting aristocratic accommodations; Sicaria and I have to listen to enough complaints from Marcianus without adding another voice to his. Now, let's see if Gravenail dropped his sash before he left..."
Zelicia moves towards Zeke to inspect his wound. She pokes around the edges of the wound (if Zeke is alright with being touched) to see if she can get a reaction out of him. While looking at Zeke's wound, she says to Marcianus, "Yeah, I got you, Marc." She pulls out her wand of CLW to help Zeke.
Zeke winces, but grins at the witch as he does so.
Marcianus stand up to inspect the wound. "Divine healing? I find the infernal to be much more efficient, though I suppose this could be more useful during combat.
Excellent. Thank you."
Sitting back down, he taps his finger together. "Now, as you came in, you mentioned questioning the barmaid. None of us really expected her to have much information. She was to be more of leverage to be used to pry open Caggan's mouth. Though, the questions needed to be asked.
I am not entirely convinced that he is not receiving direction from outside, though the transformation may explain his behavior and it is possible that the timing is coincidental or that the outside forces knew about his condition and used that distraction to their advantage."
Sighing, he leans back again. "Hopefully Sicaria brings us some new orders and a way to be more assertive. I dislike simply sitting here and being reactive."