Captain Jonathan Frakes AKA DM's page

The Xanther agent, Xavian Stalken, is tied to the chair and appears to have some bruising on his face. The Captain looks to them.
"So far I've learnt he knows nothing about the kids. He thought he could pick up one of them cheap off the temple, but they wouldn't give. Beyond that I'd tried to find their base of operations but won't tell me. He's hoping you will kill him. I will need to get moving up north. Let's get him ready for a hanging when you've all questioned him." he seems a little warn out and whipeing off the blood from his gauntlets. The rogue in the chair groans as he leers at the group.
"I'm already dead...The Xanther will get me and then he'll get you." he laughs but then coughs and spits up some blood. Seems like the captain really did a number on him. The Guild master looks appauled at the sight.

You all know where the temple is as you took her father's sword from him and as you didn't trust him with it you brought it over to the temple's abbot to be returned to him, however the captain appears to be expecting you all to follow him.

Captain Frakes looked at Mal and seems to be torn between a few things as he mentioned the Orcs.
"I would like someone to take care of them. From what I've heard they have backed away and their force is weaker than it was, however, I can't risk sending any more of my troops in there. I've already lost a fair number I don't wish to lose anymore." he looks to the group and holds the man tightly. "If you can save the survivors, if there are any, then I would be most greatful and I will see to it that the Duke will hear of this and pull some strings to get you anything to pay you back."

The captain looks back at Whisper at the suggestion of sending someone to follow the girl.
"You havn't questioned this man why he wanted to pay so much for her? Did he have any evidence on him?" the man was grinning then and Captain Frakes kicked him to the ground before hauling him up and assigning one of the female mercinaries, who sautes to him and then heads over to the group.

"My name is private Maria Dubosc. I'm at your service. You need me to escort the young girl to her father?" the woman before you is wearing half-plate with the symbol of the flaming fist on her chest. She has a large sword and dagger in scabbards at her sides and she looks strong but beautiful with long flowing blond hair with a metalic sheen and fair skin. She remains standing at attention as if waiting for you to give orders as she stares off straight ahead as she does in a military position.

The dog takes no notice of Kyras. He just looked at him for a moment, cocked his head and turned to look around at everything else taking in the scene and waiting for orders from Badger.

The travellings is pretty stressful due to the kids wanting to run off, especially when getting close to home and they can see their own homes in the distance or simply the comforting walls of being back home.

Once you arrive you can tell that some of the guards dropped the ball and many families are waiting when you arive, calling out as their loved ones have been finally returned to them. At all this commotion you see a bunch of the Flaming Fist Mercinaries looking upon you all, many of them giving dirty looks too however Johnathan Frakes steps out and congradulates you all personally.

"You brought the children back and by the looks of it you brought us the skumbag responsible." he walks over and gives the man a hard kick before presenting the poster off the board. It was a typical wanted poster with a picture that represents the man you brought in. The name at the top is Xavian Stalken and the reward beneith of 100 Gold if dead, but 300 Gold if brought back alive. "He was spotted a few times by our men. He appeared in town on the very same day as the kidnappings started. Obviously the watch went to ask him some questions about this, but he dissappeared. Now we know why he dissappeared, I hope the fight wasn't too rough. There are still Orcs out there and some of my squad might be still alive." he looks up at some smoke in the distance. There were a few tribes of savage humanoids, but imagining that the fire was started by those Orcs just drove him mad and he kicked the man again between the legs this time, aiming for the sack. "You did well today and my men will have to prepare to leave for tomorrow. The work we were meant to have done has been done for us and I'm thankful you managed to find the children. We can debreif back in the Jovil Juggler, you must all be very tired and I can buy you all a meal." he walks away but stops for a moment, turning and throwing the group a small sack of coins "Payment for bringing him in. I want to hear your findings and then he'll be hung in town and made example of."

After he leaves you notice there are still families about who are seaching the crowds feverishly for their children. All the children appear to be with their parents which it saddens your heart, but you believe the dead children were theirs.

Badger slapped his hand to his forehead. That was twice that he had trusted someone that wasn't gnomish to do a simple task and twice they had failed him. He was just one gnome. He couldn't be everywhere at once.

Badger could now understand why is mentor had always looked so old and haggard. A gnome's work never seemed done.

'That is okay, Captain. I'm sure you and your men did their best.'

"He had light armour and the horse he had was trained. He went straight for Bloodstone. I daren't enter that town." he seems to visably reguard this place with fear They say it's cursed. People enter and they either never return or they return...different."

Knowledge Local to learn about the village since it's reletively new not to mention homebrewed ;)

He seems to be lost for a moment then looks to the group.
"Oh...yes I forgot you brought a few Orc heads? One average and one leader, right? I'll check over the warrent the Earl signed." as he said this he pulled out a wanted sign, looking it over and studying it. "He claims Fifteen gold for a normal head a leader like that is worth 150 gold. If you can bring the head of the one named Dragar Flesheater he will personally invite you all up to Baldur's gate and pay you 500 Gold coins in person."

Knowledge Nobility to know who Duke Elton is and know what people mostly think of him, ect that the knowledge would give you.

'Right, Captain. What did we learn?'

The question was clearly rehtorical as Badger gathered his thoughts for a proper report.

Stuff

The Captain seems to go silent as he thinks this over, absorbing all this information that he was being told. It seemed he was in deep thought concerning everything he was being told. The mentioning of the Zhents seems to make him visably angry, clearly punshing himself for the escape. The temple he looks up very interested.

"If you believe he is in danger I can arrange guards to watch him in pairs. If he dies they will all be held accountable and I'll make this obvious to them. These new recruits get the job done, but they aren't as trustworthy as the two units I sent out." he sighs and things back to these people that have gone missing "Tis getting dark. The Orc activity is worst at night so I would suggest since you know the location of the children you can all set out tomorrow unless you feel up to going out right away? If so head to the temple where you can be healed up and buy potions. There is a wizard's guild too if you have the money to buy more powerful items. I leave the decision up to you."

'Yes, let's check on the good captain. I am sure he has placed the driver on watch and may choose to apprehend him now that we have the confession from the Zhent agent.'

'I'm not sure on how much rest we can afford. I know I could use a chance to rest and heal and to have time to pray for divine aid but the lives of children hang in the balance. How do you measure the life a child verses a full belly and restful night of sleep? I'm afraid that even if I were shown a bed, I'd like enough just see the face of Evilbane's daughter looking through some bars waiting form me to come and rescue her.'

'A banquet of food would taste like ash in my mouth knowing that others were suffering for my belly.'

'You are right that too much haste could lead to us being too weak to handle the trouble inside that cave but we can't afford to have everything be perfect as we may want. We are imperfect beings that sometimes need to count upon the kindness of strangers for aid.'

'In this case, I think we will find that Captain Frakes can find several souls that are more than willing to offer aid to us to get us on our way or provide troops to burn this curse from the land. I doubt we could keep Evilbane from joining us even were we to tie him to a dragon's tail and order the dragon to sit upon him. Besides, if there are any undead left then the aid of a Morning Lord will be more than welcome as will the aid of any of the guards who are seeking closure on what has happened to their children.'

Just then the large shape of the captain burst through the door, almost knocking Whisper over and he looks to the group in shock and anger.

Badger follows Captain Frakes.

'If I were you, I might keep an eye on the caravan driver that drove us hear. I can not be sure, but, well, I feel fairly sure that the driver knew this prisoner and may have even had some connection to him. I can not say for sure, my feelings though are that the driver is guilty of some crime and has an association with this man.'

'A feeling is not proof and there is a long road between suspicion and guilt. I have thus chosen to speak to you quietly of this; so, you can quietly have the man's movements watched and possibly gather more information on who the driver visits and speaks to within the town. He is already within the hangman's noose; so, it is just a question of whether the driver chooses to fall and cinch it tight around his throat.'

The captain nods at what the Gnome says, knowing that even though he had no evidence, he was going to have to hold him somehow. He focused on the group for a moment as he thought on this.

"As you say. There is no evidence to suggest that he was involved if at all. There are many haters of Bane due to the many people who follow the Deity. Zhenterium and other woreshippers of Bane are not welcome, but if your suspecions are true, then many of us have even more hate for that temple, but they have never done anything this gutsy in the past..." he fades off for a moment and stares at this man for a few moments as he contemplates everything else.

'We found this purse on the prisoner. He also made several cries out to Bane with promises that Bane would murder the children.

'When we first found the man, he was claiming to be avoiding the Flaming Fist to gather herbs for medicine in the woods. I think, good captain, that you can see from the arms and equipment the man carried,' Badger shows the masterwork arms and hand crossbow, 'that we had reason to doubt the man's story. We decided that it was best to bring the man back here for further questioning. Unfortunately the man attacked us with a hidden knife and we were forced to batter the man unconscious. We did try to bring the man in without hurting him.

I might suggest that if you need a reason to hold or question the driver, it might be so that you can hear his testimony of the events that occurred upon the road. A complete report should have the testimony of all witnesses.'

The captain looks at the coins with surprise and interest.

Whisper felt it was best to let the holy gnome do the talking, but as Badger shared his suspicions, she couldn't help but interject.

"Wait--you think they were allies? 'Cause he was hellsbent on killing our friend here... which if you're right, that means he wanted him to stay quiet.

"And if he has any idea you know, he'll be getting out of here right quick."

The man looked at her wonderingly, seeing the teeth and looking a bit disturbed, but then he just shook the thoughts from his mind. There was business to be done.

"Besides, his story made no sence at all. Everyone knows that no medicinal herbs grow anywhere near there!" Kyras ads indignantly.

"And the look on the drivers face did spell concern, yes, when he struck the assassin down."

"Seems like his guilt is obvious. It's about time that we had some answeres. Cleric, you know what to do." after saying this he moved over to the man, grabbing him roughly and pushing him into a lone chair violently, re-adjusting his bonds before letting the cleric do his work. "Wake him up, Evilbane!"

[i]You watch the cleric walk over to the man and he looks absolutely filled with rage when he thinks about what he's aboue to do. He concentraits, mutting a chant, putting his hands on the man's shoulders to charge him with energy and after a few moments he wakes up, groaning loudly. The cleric steps back as he casts his other spells. Spellcheck if you wish and then nods in the direction of the Captain who looks at the rest of the group. "He's all yours people. I'm going to head out and put the caravan driver in manacles. The cleric here can read deception and since you brought the man here I'll allow you to communicate with him. Ask him whatever you want. The cleric's spell was meant to make him be unable to lie, but if it has failed he can also read deceptions." and with that he leaves the room, leaving all of you alone with the cleric and the man who is now awake, grinning at you all.

"Bane will catch you and make you all feel the pain of a thousand deaths." he starts various religious chants about how Bane will crush his enemies and make them pay for ever standing against him and about his glorious return to the realms after his death.

If people are fine with it then Badger heads into the inn.

Badger nods to Mals point of view. Maybe he was correct. Elves had long lives and they were said to have more experience than others in such matters. Still, it went against Badger's nature to show fear of a few lunatics when a town needed someone to inspire them and give them hope.

Badger heads into the tavern looking for someone with a fist of Helm on their armour and in obvious command of their surroundings.

'Captain? A word of your time on matters deep and grim. I am Badger and this is Mastei, Whisper, and Kyras.' Badger indicates each of the companions in turn. 'We just rode in as guards on a shipment of iron for your smith. We bring word of the orcs that have been interrupting caravans on the road and a prisoner that might be connected to the disappearance of the children in your town.'

'We've heard there is a bounty to be paid for the former and we hope to help deal justice in the matter of the latter. Though, I must admit that are journey has been far from lite on bone and blood. Might there be a place where we can properly discuss these matters and a way to summon a priest to help tend our wounds and our prisoners?

Getting a tap of reminder from Whisper.

'And we have some curious things to show you that we found upon our prisoner when we have a moment of peace.'

[spoiler=If you all leave]

He seem's visably impressed and relaxed when the group introduce themselves, though the others nearby have their hands on their own hips, close to the handles of their blades. The talk about arriving here and battling Orcs on the way visably interests him and he let's go of his tankard, looking at the group with intense interest as Badger speaks about the man who might lead them to where the children has dissappeared from. He leans back and stands, putting his hand out for you to shake it.

"My name is Captain Jonathan Frakes. I command the platoon of Flaming Fist you see before you and here are my guards. At ease." he says the last part to the soldiers who were at his table and moved their hands away from the weapons and relax. As they do this he looks over the group. If what you say is indeed true and you appear to be keeping something from me then I propose we move this conversation to the backroom. I use it for interrorgation ever since we came down here. he turns to the nearest soldier of his group, tapping him on the shoulder. "Go get someone from the temple of Lathander. We'll need some spell casting to make sure this man they've brought us isn't lying." After this the man get's up and leaves the inn, only to return straight away with the Elf from earlier.

"Ahh, I see you've taken notice of this group. Don't worry, if your spells are able to do the work then we will find your daughter soon. She only went missing yesterday." he pats the clearly distressed Elf wearing the symbol of Lathander. He bows low to the captain before straightening up. "Now everyone. Follow me and bring the man with you. My bodyguards will wait outside in case of any trouble, I hope you understand but there have been attempts on my life from groups claiming to have found similar information. Nearly killed the cleric here, but I put the bastards in their place." he smiles towards the Inquisitor, suggesting what will happen to the group if they dare to strike out at him. He now leads the group towards the back room with the cleric behind him as they both wish to know what information the group has. The bodyguards get up too, ready to follow the group and wait outside the room just in case.