"...yeah...sure. That was what I was going to say." Draco says quietly, keeping his comments of how horrendously ugly the baby-bug-thing was. Gross.
"I am ready when you all are. Let us round this man up and get this taken care of." They were being paid well and officially now. Perhaps he could mark it off on his taxes that he was in contract with the Baron. Wouldn't hurt.
At Draco's comment of going, Alessandra nods.
"Agreed, the sooner it is done, the better."
What is this 'Angel Knight' like? Man, woman?
Thinking back on the basics of having seen Lady Venicci slowly break a faithful, Alessandra kind of got excited, but quietly. After all, she'd be rewarded if she'd ever manage something similar.
Some day, mother, i will bring you that news.
Not waiting to be dismissed, Jerax bows respectfully and leaves the stately office of the Archbaron.
The rest of the day passes relatively uneventfully, save for a fire that nearly byrned down the jailhouse. You find out later that the sheriffs old desk must have had a lantern on it that got knocked over by possibly a cat as the fire was started there. Thankfully only the desk was unrecoverable and most pf rhe jailhouse will be fine with some scrubbing later. Ever since you've jeard the news it's hard not to notice Cimri grinning out of the corner of your eye.
As nightfalls you take Razelago's advice and wait way past curfew before you check up on the tavern. Sure enough as you approach it from the street the notice has been taken down and it is alive with music and banter as if it were just another night in the sleepy town.
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"Shall I go first?" The towering tiefling asked before driving his hoof through The Last Stand's main entrance, slamming it open.
"BOLGART CAGGAN! YOU ARE UNDER ARREST FOR OPERATING YOUR ESTABLISHMENT OUTSIDE OF CURFEW ESTABLISHED BY ARCHBARON FEX, AND FOR THE REMOVAL OF CURFEW POSTING FROM YOUR PREMISE!!" Jerax barked across the tavern.
Draco steps in behind Jerax, hand on his sap. The large dog growls beside his master as Draco clears his throat.
"Uh...yeah. What the tiefling said. Everyone out now!"
The response is somewhat muted compared to the devilish roar of the tiefling and many of the patrons mutter to themselves in confuaion as they get up to leave what seems to be a rapidly escalating situation.
Before anyone can make real effort out the door however Boggart steps in front of Jerax flanked by the two barmaids in his employ.
"Now hold on a moment! No one's breaking any curfew here this is a place they can stay the night. No one here's breaking laws unless some dumbass tries to toss them out on the streets!" Boggart half roars in a tone probably meant to sou d placating if it was coming from an angry grizzly bear.
One of the barmaids, a plump blonde girl typical for the profession pipes up, "Half these men are well into their cips! You plan on arresting them for piblic drunkeness once you mercilessly toss them into the night! That your plan you red whoreson?"
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"I.. Jerax roared at the three members of bar staff.
"BOLGART CAGGAN!
YOU!
ARE UNDER ARREST!"
"The scattering rats will be caught eventually. Tonight, we are here for you!" The towering tiefling jabs his pointed finger into Bolgart's chest.
"Do the 'smart thing'. Surrender into our custody, and no harm will come to do.
Or do the 'stupid thing', and surrender into our custody AFTER we beat you into pulp."
Alessandra takes a quick peek if any of the patrons might be getting up for a drunken brawl.
She'd toss a warning glare at any who might think of it.
She mutters something under her breath.
"Say, girl. What say we let the boys argue among themselves for a moment, i would like to speak with you away from their yelling."
No one seems interested in getting into a fight, and more than a few have ducked their way out of the tavern by whatever means available to them. There is a gaudily dressed bard on one side on a slightly upraised portion of the tavern serving as a stage who is watching the scene with some interest. Alessandra notesx a number of old weapons and shields hung around the place, though most look fairly rusty and kept around for appearance only.
The barmaid seems reluctant to move away from Boggan but a look in her eye suggests that a private conversation with another woman is preferable to watching what will inevitably be a brawl. She makes a motion to move away from the group.
Draco would watch Alessandra move the barmaid out of the way, giving a nod of thanks to her before clearing his throat loudly.
"Welp, time's up." Draco said quickly, taking his sap in hand before giving a whistle to his trusty dog. It was time to get to work.
Alessandra walks with the plump girl to a less crowded spot nearby, casting another guidance on herself on the way.
"I have a proposal for you, which right now will spare you and the rabble in here unneeded bloodshed. The big red fellow is quite bloodthirsty, and it would help both sides if the innkeeper is the only one getting a hitting over the head."
"While loyalty is respectable, consider one man momentarily in a cell against half a tavern of injured or dead people, when the red guy starts swinging that sword. The man with his dog is not one to hold back either. Get people to not interfere. I would buy a random table afterward a round of ale. Or tip you a silver if you pull it off, if you prefer. A tip meant just for you, that is."
Alessandra will present the odds and outcomes as professionally and respectful as she can, without putting an air of pressure on the barmaid.
When sh!t will hit the fan....
"Last warning, Caggan." The towering tiefling glares down at the tavern keeper.
Having allowed the more rowdy members of the group to take the lead for the shock effect, Lucien makes a more composed entrance. He strides forward, his heavy mace still hanging from his belt, but his unholy symbol clearly on display.
"Innkeeper Caggan, you once again appear to be under the unfortunate misconception that this is a matter of debate. Let me make it abundantly clear that it is not. You have been given a direct command by representatives of your lawful lord, both in writing and verbally, which you have chosen to disobey. Our presence here and your subsequent punishment is merely the natural consequence of that choice."
He scans the hostile crowd.
"Now, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. But anyone who interferes with our lawful business will suffer similar consequences!"
Boggart looks away and reddens mentally attempting to keep his temper in check. This os immediately shattered when Jerax jabs his finger into him, a gesture answered with a growl and a wild haymaker directly for Jerax's face.
Thankfully jerax's own martial instincts save him from a bloodied nose as he sways back out of the broad mans reach.
The bard in the back smiles in delight as he lifts his instrument and starts playing a slightly off key tune about a famous dwarven pub crawler. Which seems to be the cue for everyone to flee at best speed from the tavern. The second barmaid joins the crowd while the first tries to talk to alessandra over the commotion but her words are drowned out by the small mon and you hear nothing more than a muffled "dammit" as she turns and yells at rhe brawling barkeep.
"Insullent drunkard - I command you to fall to the floor and submit to your lord's justice!" Lucien says, raising his magic symbol.
As Jerax swings his weapon, Draco goes in with the sap in hand aiming to clock the chef right out.
The song of the bard, true a crime to the ears as was told prior, is not to Alessandra's liking.
She glares at the bard, making a gesture for him to cut off his singing, drawing her bow as a civil warning.
An experienced brawler, Jerax counters the bartenders wild hook with a clean jab to the face. The man seems briefly brought to his senses by the clean blow and puts his fists up in a proper fighting stance when the preachers authoritative words cut through the mayhem and he finds himself falling to the floor with authority (failed the save a bit ago just never posted). Dracos hard slam with the sap is enough and he puts his hands up in surrender from his position on the floor, clearly having had enough. At the same time the bards song is cut short, partly due to allesandras warning, and partly due to the tavern being completely devoid of an audience save the group, caggan, and a very frutrated waitress who removes her apron and tosses it to the floor before making her way to the back kitchens.
The towering tiefling roughly helps Caggan off the floor. Jerax keeps a strong hand on the innkeeper's shoulder, while the tiefling's tail hands Jerax's other hand his spiked chain.
"After you, Bolgart."
"Take him away!" Lucien says in a satisfied tone, shooting the few remaining occupants of the inn a haughty look.
Once en route to the stocks, he remarks to the rest of the group.
"Once we have this lout put on public display, we had better keep a close and constant watch on him, but discreetly. I could imagine that this Angel knight and their followers would be just the types to feel a pressing need to mount a noble rescue attempt."
Alessandra gives the bard an approving nod for cooperating, accompanied with a serious face, and then puts away her bow.
The waitress who would listen to her prior, gets a more polite expression.
En route....
Once we have this lout put on public display, we had better keep a close and constant watch on him, but discreetly. I could imagine that this Angel knight and their followers would be just the types to feel a pressing need to mount a noble rescue attempt."
"Oh i would love to see that. Not to invite needless trouble, of course, but if it gets us to see this 'Angel Knight', then we would have a face with the name."
"What would the chances be, that it would turn out to be an aasimar?"
Boggan maintains an uncomfortable silence as hes escorted to the sheriff's office though he stumbles a bit and is rather slowed down you sense it has more to do with his beating than any malicious intent on his part. Agter a little while of tracking through mud and darkness you fins yourself at the sheriff's office once more.
"I suggest we lock our prisoner in the jail cell and wait until dawn to put him in the stocks. No point in having him on public display throughout the night, where no-one will see him anyway."
"Fair enough. Rufus and I will keep an eye on him; no need to let the townsfolk think they can just come on in and cause any trouble freely." Draco says, making his way to the front of the sheriff's office.
The towering tiefling gives cavalier and respectful nod. "Thank you for volunteering, you two. So shall we meet here in the morning to relive Draco and assist in moving Balgart to the stocks?"
"You know. There no need for this night to go to waste. Would like to accompany me on a evening stroll around Longacre? We are one of the few who can," whispered the knight of Asmodeus.
Alessandra turns her head slighty on the walk.
"I don't mind. A walk in fresh evening air does help clear the mind."
"So, if I may ask, was it your mother's or father's side who had the orc blood? I do know know the circumstances of my birth", Jerax offered.
Alessandra doesn't take your arm. She's used to rely on herself first. But she walks an equal pace otherwise.
"Heh.", she chuckles with a hint of sarcasm. "Then we are not very different in that regard. I only know i was left at the orphanage overnight barely a year old. But given the usual events, i suspect my father was the orc blooded in that union. Probably a 1/2 orc himself. My features are not as strong as the average 1/2 orc you see in the street. But not faint enough to effortlessly pass for a human."
"Still, i suspect my birth mother to be of some standing, or a traveler. Two of the more likely options, that would easily pass off an unwanted child quickly. Yet i have no desire to go look for either of them. I have grown up fairly well, things considered, with Lady Venici."
Alessandra smiles faintly.
"Who can be as fiery as her heritage blood is."
Looking back at you.
"How about you, mister Hellfire. Have you ever been curious to said circumstances of your birth?"
"From your demeanor and the way you hold yourself, I naturally thought you didn't come from an orphanage. Where you treated well?"
Looking back at you.
"How about you, mister Hellfire. Have you ever been curious to said circumstances of your birth?"
"Sometimes. In more darker moods. I am near uniformly crimson in hue, with the exception of my eyes." Jerax leans down slightly, in hope of giving Alessandra a better look. "I've been told that purple eyes are exclusive to those with Azlanti heritage. Am I the son of nobility?" The towering tiefling shrugs slightly. "I will likely never know. But it does bring to mind mortified Cheliaxian nobles ditching the crying red-skin son on the side of some country road, away from the prying eyes of the Infernal Courts."
"I do, as I always have. Make due."
From your demeanor and the way you hold yourself, I naturally thought you didn't come from an orphanage. Where you treated well?"
"Well, that is due to Lady Venici adopting me. I was, 5, give or take.
I grew up under a stern but level headed woman, pragmatic if you will. Having an inquisitor for a mother, the things one learns under them are varied."There is a small grin on her face. Whether it is of content, or something else....
"I consider her my only mother. She has provided me with everything i would need. I make myself no illusions, though. I may be her adopted daughter, but my path of education and occupation seem...somewhat planned. Not that i dislike my life thus far.", and she looks ahead with a satisfied grin.
"I consider her my only mother. She has provided me with everything I would need. I make myself no illusions, though. I may be her adopted daughter, but my path of education and occupation seem...somewhat planned. Not that I dislike my life thus far.", and she looks ahead with a satisfied grin.
Jerax smirked to himself. "The road of a tiefling in Cheliax, has been not been easy road to walk. Yet, I find myself having a nice evening stroll with a beautiful lady on this road. So..at times like this; it's not so bad." Jerax looked down at Alessandra and smiled.
Alessandra lets out a few amused *hmpf* sounds through her nose.
"Now that is something i have not heard in quite some time.
The last time a guy dared say it, was foolishly within hearing of my mother. I could only hazard a guess at what she told him, but he did not try anything else again."
"I am glad the guy walking along with me, can fend for himself."
What to do. Keep the fish dangling on the line, or cut the string and let it fall. What indeed.
"But that is as much general information about me, as i am going to share with a new colleague in employment."
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Alessandra
""I am glad the guy walking along with me can fend for himself."
Jerax smiles and bow his head slightly toward Alessandra for the complement.
Thank you, Blessed Guile of The Lord of The Pit, the asmodean thanked his god for his silvery words.""But that is as much general information about me, as i am going to share with a new colleague in employment."
"Fair enough", Jerax concedes. "Now on to more specialized fare.""As a Eisethan, what would you say is the most common misconception of that those outside your faith have about Eisethans?" Jerax inquired.
"The greatest misconceptions?
Mother would know more of them, but for me, it would be that people easily think of her as hell's Calistria. In a sense, the mistake is somewhat plausible, both teach no slight goes unanswered."
"But contrary to Calistria, she does not encourages passion or thrill seeking.
She encourages taking what you so deserve and desire. And to not show humility or fear. One can be shaken, but must not show it. After all, Eiseth and her fellow women in hell, are in a male dominated society. There is no room to be anything but equally determined."
"And how about you. What do you consider the most common, or gravest misconceptions, people outside the church of Asmodeus have about the Prince of Contracts?"
""But contrary to Calistria, she does not encourages passion or thrill seeking.
She encourages taking what you so deserve and desire."
Jerax's eye light up with the religious discussion. "And that's what I always thought was paradoxical about the Eiseth faith: Taking what you deserve, but showing no passion for it."
The towering tiefling makes a short jog ahead of Alessandra, so both could see each other clearly."It is likely due to the fact that no family ever choose me for their home, but I grew up on the streets. In the back alleys and small town streets of Cheliax, life can be cut short for tiefling orphan. You learned to take what small scraps of happiness life can give you, and devour them. I stand before you a man.. awash with passions. I take pleasure in good food, because I know starvation. I enjoy gambling, because I'm familiar with loss, and I love the feeling of a 'win'. I revel in the touch of a woman, even if I have to pay for it, because I've known loneliness and revulsion.
Simply, if Golarion was without Passion, Hell would loose it power!"
Jerax tried to recover himself. "My apologizes. One of the many things I learned in Egorian was a love for religious debate."
"What do you consider the most common, or gravest misconceptions, people outside the church of Asmodeus have about the Prince of Contracts?"
Jerax thought about this question for a few moments. "Asmodeans seek out to improve themselves. If you do not like your lot in live, strive harder to rise above and, as the Eisedthians say, take what you deserve. Even as tiefling can rise above his station through Asmodeus's Rule of Law. I am living proof."
"And that's what I always thought was paradoxical about the Eiseth faith: Taking what you deserve, but showing no passion for it."
"Ah, you misunderstand. Calistria, for what i have heard of from her followers, encourages passion, both carnal and otherwise.
It would be wrong to say Eiseth disapproves of enjoying whatever has your fancy. I would say she too, like the other great ones in Hell, would encourage to enjoy your spoils and conquests, but do not lose oneself in it. That is what Calistrian temples are good at.....being on no few occasion a brothel or similar establishment. Even if the place is not, there is bound to be -a- Calistrian in it."
"Indeed, strive hard for what you want, is a valid argument. Common ground, i will say."
"I'm going back to the house." Cimris says while stretching languidly and letting out an audible yawn, "I can't stand it here anyway."
"Good, disappear into the woods with the rest of your family. Shoulda been another stain on the bedsheets."
Turning towards the prisoner Cimri smiles sweetly, "In the morning I'll see if a docotr is available to tend to the stab wound you earned fighting the authorities."
Bolgart looks over himself in confusion when Cimri leaps forward with a snarl. In a flash of silver and blood the tavern owner finds a dagger embedded deep into his shoulder. Nefore he can properly cry out in pain Cimri pulls her dagger free and kicks him full in the stomach knocking rhe air out of him and pushing him into the open cell qhere he collapses to the floor curled up and gripping his injured shoulder.
"You really should be more careful how you step Bolgart." With a scowl she turns and leaves the sheriffs office qith a bleeding and moaning Bolgart on the floor.
Eventually the two students of philosophy make their way back to Ash House. Jerax lets Alessandra enter first.
"Thank you for the company and discussion, Ms. Vencini", Jerax smiled and bowed his head at the half-orc inquisitor.
"Sleep well and I'll see you in the morning."
Alessandra gives Jerax a nod.
"Restful night to you as well."
If said preacher and mercenary have nothing to add I can move on.
The next morning Bolgart is curled up into a corner of the jail cell his moaning and groaning having long since faded. He is still very much alive, and as you kick him awake to begin his sentence he responds with a creative string of insults and curse words. Today, like most of this week is gray and moody, likely a prelude to more thunderstorms.
Jerax walks behind Bolgart out to the stocks.
"What in Malebolge happened to Caggan last night?"
"The man got cut by Cimri. Girl's got a mean streak." Draco said as he helps Bolgart make his way to the stocks. He looks back at the divinely inspired, giving them a nod. "Any of you able to make sure he won't pass on the stocks? Would be a bad look."
"Sorry. I am a Weapon of Asmodeus's Wraith, not Mercy", Jerax shrugged. "I have no healing arts."
The towering tiefling shoots Cimri a long, hard glance.