I can help make them more willing to speak. I am not skilled in interrogation, but some comforting words can no doubt help.
Merelda smiles gently.
"That would be fine Beard-boy. Just make sure you don't answer for them if I ask THEM a question. Nor should you defend their actions if something is revealed. We need FACTS now...not confused misinterpretations because you feel bad or worried for somebody you know. Agreed? I can't accuse anybody of anything until all relevant data is gathered anyway, so just make sure to let me to my job."
Merelda waves him off with a gentle twist of the wrist.
"Unless you have something pertinent to share about the letter situation, or suspicions of someone already for the wall collapse...you can go do what you want out there."
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"I'll gather some intel myself," Litsy shrugs as she makes eye contact with Variel. "Wouldn't miss a chance to see the inquisitor at work."
...squeek...
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I'm taking all these actions into account.
I need yall to go ahead and make your loyalty roll and check attrition.
Also assign mereleda a role if she has one yet, take your rebellion actions for week 4.
Also Vendalfek allows the rebellion to take the Spread Disinformation
action even if it doesn’t have rumormongers, agitators, or cognoscenti. If the rebellion does have a team that grants this action, Vendalfek grants a +4 bonus on all Secrecy checks to Spread Disinformation
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Sense Motives!
Getting down to business as you start working out how to deal with the letter, your injured teams and considerations towards a larger, more easily defended hideout, Merelda, Castor, and Litsy get to work narrowing down the suspects of the letter sender.
Merelda's intentions are pretty clear from the outset and between this, a lack of desire to get too rough just yet, a lack of knowledge about the group, and a splitting of duties between quietly gaining support for the Ravens and trying to weed out the mole she doesn't luck out in finding anyone particularly suspicious.
Litsy and Castor however do run into some luck. One of the mercenaries, a one Morghar Manthai seems to stand out from the rest. While with his brethren he's just as loud, surly, and dangerous. But when things quiet down or he's alone on some assignment or another he acts differently. Castor has caught him on more than one occasion squatted over large rathole discovered when Reed was killed. Each time he simply stares for a moment too long down the hole before stiffly getting back up and getting on with business. In Litsy's case when she asks about places he's seen in the city things don't quite add up. For example when he talks about getting close to the castle just so he could get a feel for the task ahead of him he didn't seem able to recall any of the buildings or streets and especially notable landmarks between. When pressed on this he seems confused and plays it off as simply bad memory or just being lost in his own thoughts and missing the streets for the destination.
At the insistence of Rexus, he suggests to the sisters that they should investigate a few of the burned buildings from the night of ashes. They return indicating three of the buildings may be of interest to the group if they choose to go.
As for the city, Barzillai has revealed what the dogs were for. As, believe it or not, public executions are not the norm. Thrune prefers quite public and effective humiliations and tortures in often creative and painful ways. This new form of torment is called doghousing.
The victim is placed inside a wooden doghouse with various nails driven through. The result is they can't properly sit or lie down and are in constant danger of being painfully stabbed by a sharp nail. Twice a day they are allowed out of the doghouse to eat. That is if they can get it from the two large chained dogs where the doghouse is just out of reach of. If they wait, the dogs will just eat all the food. If they try to get the food, they'll be lucky not to come away without a few bites for their trouble. To date no one has officially been "doghoused" but it seems the Chelaxian Citizens Group has decided to make use of this new form of torment for themselves.
In this case, one of the tengu sisters was doing a rare thing and simply purchasing some food for themselves when a group of the armbanded thugs cornered them, accused them of stealing and doghoused her themselves. The other two sisters are beside themselves with anger and fear and while they are usually very professional and quiet in such matters it may very well get out of hand if they decide to take care of the problem themselves.
Litsy is all too happy to privately report to the party what she has learned about Morghar -coupled with a triumphant side glance at Merelda that all but says and that's how it's done. "Not sure he's a mole- yet," she concludes. "But he's definitely acting off. He's doing something else while he's on missions. We should have him followed."
"Not that we don't anything more urgent on our hands. The Sisters are close to rioting," she clicks her tongue in disappointment. "Look, they're under my responsibility, so I'm the one looking bad here. They're all waiting on me to do something about their lost member. Besides, I can't be having thugs kidnapping my employees to feed them to dogs willy-nilly. I say we all go and teach them a lesson."
GM:
GM:
** spoiler omitted **
Born looks serious as news of the capture of one of the capture of one of the sisters is reported. Wee certainly need to rescue her. Scouting out where the doghousing will take place is a must. Perhaps we can also find out where they keep the dogs and set them loose so they are distracted.
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At the word that one of the Sisters is being ‘doghouses’ Variel grabs his gear and is ready to head out. We don’t have much time to get to her before she gets too hungry and has to face the dogs. A quick scout is needed so we know what we are facing but we can’t take too much time doing so. In, out, and as little fuss as possible I would think. Beorn that is a good idea to free the hounds where they are held. I can try to put the hounds or guards to sleep magically. Litsy do you think you could handle any locks or manacles that might be holding our Sister in place?
If Beorn is away handling the dogs then do we have Merelda join Litsy and I so she can help talk our way out of any situations we might need a diplomat for? Then Pollux and Castor could join Beorn to give him some back up? Or we just all head to free the Sister first then make for the kennels after that?
Not willing to antagonize anyone yet, Merelda merely smiles gently and nods graciously to Litsy’s look. Not having noticed anything specific about the man herself, Merelda decides to investigate the man further…when time allows. His accounts are suspect, and his mind may have been manipulated by another if his loss of memory is real.
“We should not waste time. If one of our people are in trouble, we should move quickly to aid after sunset. Do we have a good description or map of where they are torturing her?”
Wee can use those statuettes to keep in contact with each other if we split up.
The sister is being held on the lily pond at southern aria park. Very open, very public as is the style. The pagoda was once a stage for public singing. Now, like many such places, it serves a more sinister purpose. The dogs, as well as the victime are kept in the middle of the pond and the ccg watches over it savagely beating anyone who does more than pass by or heed their orders to move along.
Confused a little, Merelda echoes Beorn.
"Statuettes?"
Shaking her head slightly she continues.
"They are being kept 'upon' a pond? I'm assuming there is a small island on the pond? Or the aforementioned stage is built upon the pond?"
She crinkles her eyes for a moment.
"If we just fight our way through, they could just call the local guards, or release the hounds on us. We will need a distraction of some sort...or something scary? Someone/something needs to scare or lead the guards away. If we bring some food with us, the dogs should ignore us if they don't fall asleep to the spell. We then free our compatriot Tengu and then hopefully we leave before the guards return."
She then smiles normally and waves a hand.
"Its nothing special, assuming you all agree. Unless one of you can offer a better plan?"
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I agree Merelda. We go in covered or disguised, feed the dogs, sleep the guards, steal the Sister and escape as soon easily as possible. No need for a fight if we can help it. I picked up some cloaks that we can use and mix and match them to keep covered. I don’t plan on bringing my scimitar either as it will be too noticeable after the mine raid. A sap, dagger and few darts that easy to conceal will be all the weapons I am bringing this time. If I can help it no deaths, just knocking people out.
Pollux writes a note detailing what Castor has learned about the rat hole. and silently hands it to either Shelyn or Mr. Smiley. Whoever is closer.
{note. Pollux has excellent, no amazing handwriting, it is a dance of calligraphy and clarity. Now if they would only stick to one hand. It looks like at least three people wrote this note.}
That done Pollux speaks to the group in a soft almost sad voice. "I can remove the dogs from the equation. I found an apothecary who respects their trade too much to practice it. They know they are unworthy. On the lower shelf just behind the counter third in from the door side is a simple brown jar. It contains enough well dried hemlock that carefully administered, would ease the population pressures in the Devil's Nursery. With some poor meat and some of the good salt to pound in along with the leaves the canines will soon loose interest in the proceedings. Pity we do not have time to steep it in oil. It could remove the citizens as well. You can do so much with a ham and cheese sandwich. I don't suppose the upstanding fellows would enjoy a salad? No the dosage is to random that way. Some might survive."
Hemlock a'la Pathfinder
"I agree Merelda. We go in covered or disguised, feed the dogs, sleep the guards, steal the Sister and escape as soon easily as possible. No need for a fight if we can help it.
"Ugh. Disguises again?!" Litsy wrinkles her nose. "Lemme tell you, I'm not playing the part of a stuck-up git again. You make a diversion, I'll open up the cage -and the dogs better be busy with something else when the door is unlocked."
"I'll tell you something else. They better understand they picked the wrong victim to feed to the dogs. We can't have those accidents happen each time one of our Sisters go out, or they'll leave."
"Ideally, the first thing we'd have to think of is a way to draw everyone's attention away from the very public place where anyone with two working eyes would see me open the cage. I'm good, but not that good. Beorn, you think you can make a very big mess somewhere else?"
"Then poison wouldn't be a bad idea. Though we just need them knocked out, not dead. Better save money on the magic powder."
She reads Pollux's note as she speaks, and hands it over casually to Variel. She mouths to Pollux "later".
GM:
As for disguises, we can stick with simple masks. In fact we should start wearing them when out on missions, perhaps custom make raven masks.
As for distraction, I could perhaps do another rousing song like that time at the protest to draw attention.
Merelda touches Beorn’s hand briefly for a moment.
“Good idea! Non-descriptive masks and cloaks are fine for tonight. Let’s save the theatricals for Thrune beard-boy.”
I should show you the dress that Litsy wore during one daring raid.
"Don't you dare!" Litsy snaps.
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Variel pockets the note as he reads Litsy’s lips about later. Once alone he will look at it more in depth. Back on the topic of the rescue Variel tries to answer Litsy’s and Pollux’s comments. Litsy I do not mean to dress up but rather have hooded cloaks just to cover our faces so we can not be identified yet. Seems like Merelda is in agreement with that. Anything flashier will just make the Sisters a target later. Pollux I would hesitate to use the poison as it is not the dogs’ fault they are being starved. Better to free them, feed them, or put them to sleep. Beorn if you can distract the guards and flee away safely that would be great! What would you need to help pull this off?
If I can find the musicians thar aided me before I can do another performance to draw away eyes and ears.
...Pollux I would hesitate to use the poison as it is not the dogs’ fault they are being starved. Better to free them, feed them, or put them to sleep. ...[/b]
"Ah sentiment. I understand. Better to let them have their 4 years starving on the streets than sleeping once with a full stomach. Hope is a cruel mistress. I expect Points likes her."
Pollux shakes their head. You can almost hear the thinking shift. "I have some magic to induce a waking nightmare, but only for a chosen few. It is less reliable than a knife or parsley. But it may serve."
Nodding, Merelda summarizes the basic plan.
"Beard-Boy distracts the guards and leads most of them off hopefully. Variel and the Rat-puppet...scare off or render any remaining guards to dream land. Litsy and I feed the dogs, then she frees the prisoner while I watch her back."
She smirks a bit, then shrugs
"Sounds solid enough for a few minutes work! Lets get what we need and meet back here just after sundown to time it all out and get it over with. Should we have a hitched wagon nearby and an escape route set up? Just in case the escapee cannot walk, or someone gets hurt badly enough? I can do some basic healing, but if a leg is broken or something..."
"If you know a driver among the new recruits, be our guest." Litsy ponders over escape routes, but well-known public places, ironically enough, aren't the ones she frequented the most in Kintargo.
I shall head out right away! Beorn heads out and starts seeking out those that aided him at the protest for another musical adventure.
Merelda ‘mingles’ amongst the others and sees if anyone has access to a wagon with horses and a trustworthy driver the group could borrow for the evening…
Pollux takes the opportunity to see if the foolish apothecary in still in business and willing to sell any of: Arsenic, Belladonna, Hemlock, Halo Mushroom Toxin, Oil of Restfulness, Ossivane, Pupil’s Friend, Purple Keif, Red Bedlam, Striped Toadstool, Wolfsbane or anything else quickish (<10 min onset) that will kill or debilitate a large dog.
Mind you Pollux probably does not have the skills to recognize most of these apart from the rat poison that Castor's fan was leaving for him as gifts and the aforementioned hemlock. But hope springs eternal as the hangman said to the oligarch.
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...Pollux I would hesitate to use the poison as it is not the dogs’ fault they are being starved. Better to free them, feed them, or put them to sleep. ...[/b]"Ah sentiment. I understand. Better to let them have their 4 years starving on the streets than sleeping once with a full stomach. Hope is a cruel mistress. I expect Points likes her."
Are you related to a doctor by the name of Kevorkian by any chance. I believe the 2 of you would share many ideologies together. Hope is a funny thing though. For some hope is all they have and I would not deprive them of it. Without it they would go crazy. For others hope spurs them on to do crazy things. 2 sides of the same coin it seems.
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Pollux's face goes blank and in the most emotionally expressive voice you have heard than use they say "I have no living relatives."
Returning after a pause to their usual affect "Hope like reason, sanity, compound interest, and the horse collar are the fife and drum that make us dance. I understand you do not hear this music.' Pollux pauses grimacing and continues, speaking carefully and with clear effort.
"...understand you do not think this way." Easier now "I accept this. I do not like it but that matters naught. If you were not Variel I could not be Pollux." Their face looking like a six year old whu has just made a momentous decision the stranger continues. "You wish the dogs to live. Then as a favor they will ignore any dart or parsley I command."
Merelda taps Variel on the arm.
”That’s Rat-Puppet for ‘I understood boss’. Live with the win and stop arguing with the rodent.”
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Variel’s face drops as Pollux states he has no family. I…I am sorry Pollux. I know what it means to lose family and luh, loved ones. I did not mean to bring up bad or painful memories. Variel looks like he is about to say more, or at least wants to, but is too caught up in his own emotions. Thankfully, maybe, Merelda is there to fill the silence until he can compose himself. Pollux I do not want you to be me or I like you as we are all unique and being different perspectives. While I might not always agree with you I will always be willing to listen to what you have to say. And thank you for considering sparing the dogs.
Obviously disturbed by the 'feelings' being thrown around, Merelda shakes her head.
"Variel? I'm really not sure how much of 'that' is even human-ish anymore. Once...maybe? But now? He's more an 'it' than a him I think. But that's just a guess on my part. And I'm not just trying to be cruel. He/it made certain choices to become linked with an unknowable-otherworldly power of some sort. 'Castor' may be called a familiar or his pet, but it is probably more like his keeper. His mind may not be completely his own anymore either: Some of these entities require sacrifices...sometimes that includes their full sanity. I've read of worse cases truthfully, but Pollux is my first real witch that I've known and met up close. Just...keep being honest with him, that will probably mean more to what is left of 'Pollux' than anything else. But don't think for a second that he's 'family' or whatever to you. I CAN say that the more power he gains, the more he will change. The question is: Will that be good or bad? For anybody?"
"We're discussing how to get past a couple of starving mutts without getting mauled, Variel, not doing a deep-dive into the frailty of human existence. Don't take the bait," Litsy retorts sharply.
"And that goes for you too -who gives a s%*% what Pollux says? I've seen plenty more nutters like him on the streets who made even less sense than he does, and they were all bloody human -or at least they behaved and croaked the same. If he's happy viewing the world as a giant rathole, then let'im, as long as he gets the job done. Can't even say he's that far off anyway. I expect he can be stopped the same way as everyone else, if that's what worries you. Or at least I've never any trouble stopping him in his tracks whenever I caught him planning some b#*+~~@#."
"So now that we've all reconciled -more or less-, shall we go?"
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Ah! Philosophy! Am I a human dreaming of being a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming about being a human?
Merelda smiles, grabs his right hand, and kisses Beorn’s giant knuckles lightly.
“Tonight my dear friend, you are the Bard, dreaming he is the Diva of the Kintargo opera! So…Break some legs! Hopefully not your own of course…”
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Variel taps Litsy lightly on the top of her head as he lets out a small chuckle. Don't worry, I will not be distracted from our current goal in rescuing our sister. But it is good to establish boundaries and communicate each other's thoughts and feelings. Pollux and I have come to a better understanding of who each other is and that will only help us in the long run.
Turning to Merelda he softly admonishers her and Litsy at the same time before ending his thoughts on the matter and moving out to help the Sister. While I do appreciate hearing people's thoughts and opinions let us not lose the fact that we are all 1 team and need to work together. Insults and squabbles like calling Pollux 'it' or 'nutter' or speaking as if he isn't here does not help the situation. Disagreements are expected but we still need to respect each other.
"Oh Points and Shelyn are quite correct. I am a nutter compared to a slave to pain and a goddess whose eyes never leave her alleyways. And the difference between "me" and "it" is really too small to merit distinction. " Pollux gives Points a seemingly significant side eye as Castor walks between her legs and climbs into the pocket of the yellow coat. "The only pity is that more people don't understand that. It would make life easier."
Now rat enabled Pollux speaks in a businesslike manner. "No time for hopes and dreams we have a tengu to kill." they take two steps, pause as if they were remembering a past error, shake their head, shove their hands deep in their pockets one of which squeaks and resume walking.
Merelda sighs , sticks out her tongue at Pollux, crosses her eyes, and wiggles a finger in a circular motion over her temple.
“Duh.”
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While out on his mission, Beorn makes sure to buy a specialized entertainer's outfit (3 gp) nothing that has special powers (except to look marvelous) but one appropriate for the idea he had in mind. He had originally planned a stirring song about breaking free of tyrants but switched to something different when he realized that the goal was distraction. He needed to draw away attention and while a treasonous song would get that, it would also get him clubbed upside the head. What he needed was a performance that would draw away attention by being the equivalent of two people copulating in the middle of two armies that were charging at each other, while dancing bears cavorted around them..
He also wanted to find a scroll or two of Clarion Call, wanting his voice to carry over the crowd.
Litsy goes on a shopping trip of her own to buy a sap. Since it's a bit heavier than she expected, she shoves a torch into Variel's hands as soon as she heads back to the team's headquarters. "Here. Free torch. Don't need it."
She's surprised by the silky smooth fabric of the elven cloak. The large hood covers her entire face, and she giggles at catching a sight of herself in the mirror. "Look at me- all fancy and s!!&," she exclaims, gesturing at her magic boots and cloak. "I'm turning into a nob."