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I appreciate the heads up and the abbreviated conclusion to the tale, Shadowtail. Ha, it definitely seems like the quest would need to be weird, to pair those two together. Perhaps an alleviation to the pain would enable him to seek something greater. :)
Using his dexterity to dodge away from the animagus' attacks, Gray eyed the mark on the floor the construct had made with a wayward strike with dismay. Undeterred by his lack of success so far, the inquisitor continued to push the attack, calling upon his patron for added might as he used the added speed to ramp up the pressure on the animagus.
With the animagus now outlined for the group, Gray moved into position and then struck out at the construct once more, the dwarf's battle song spurring him on as he whipped his chain towards the enemy with deadly force.
Gray frowned as the attacks against the animagus seemed to have little effect, then downright snarled when the thing disappeared in front of him. Not wanting to test his toughness against the construct's might, the inquisitor stepped prudently to the side before shrouding himself in invisibility, hoping his companions could help corner the thing before he revealed himself and resumed the attack.
Gray watched the proceedings with the goblins with amusement and disdain, alternating between rolling his eyes and glaring at the creatures with malice. Goblins made sweet subjects for the sweet delights of his Master. No time at the moment, though. When the group was given the all clear in the Noble's basement, the inquisitor went through with the rest. He thought about going invisible with the others, but decided that all of them starting invisible would possibly leave the less protected vulnerable should the animagus be able to enact items that could grant it sight. So the young man charged in behind the magically summoned leopard, drawing his chain and calling upon Zon-Kuthon's blessing as he did so before striking.
Gray looked at the transaction with disinterest, though he noted that the prices the man gave were actually quite good. Though his Lord was pleased by darkness and suffering, the inquisitor understood the tactical need to heal wounds received in combat. The pain was a potion best imbibed in less violent times, when he and Zon-Kuthon could both enjoy the quality of his work.
Gray nodded at the wisdom of Ziera's words, picking out one of the Cure potions for himself. The inquisitor smirked as Dice spoke of the noble who could possibly sell them a wand. People had a tendency to work with Gray...it just worked out better for everyone involved. Well, maybe not Gray. He'd rather it didn't work out so he could proceed to Option B...but folks were usually wise enough to avoid it. Win/Win, really. Once the others were ready, Gray went with them to speak with the Charthagnion noble, his mind thinking forward to the party and hopefully the reclamation of more of his life.
Gray looked over the assorted party loot, then shrugged. "I feel the gold would be worth more than whatever utility can be gained. If the old librarian wants the scrolls, he can have them." As they spoke of planning the assault, he thought about the pros and cons of making their move during the party, then nodded. "While more eyes about increases the odds of being encountered by guests, it also makes it more likely that someone might just mistake us for wayward guests of the nobles. I say we go during the get together."
Gray's particular take would be to run a few jobs to scrape together the required funds. If they've been out of sorts for five years, another few days won't hurt anything. Barring that, he'd go for the 'pay now, sort things out later approach.
Gray seethed at the pricing of the mercenaries, especially since no one that worked for money was thoroughly trustworthy, to him. Still, it beat allowing a lone goblin to make short work of their unconscious bodies. With the irritating task complete, he shoved his aggravation aside. "That's done...now let's get down to business. What should we expect in the bowels of this House? Is there any intelligence?"
Hiring people to watch over them should they lose consciousness sounded far less than appealing to Gray. But paid help was better than no help at all, so the young man shrugged and then nodded his assent to the plan. He just hoped that whatever they learned from this would be worth the risk.
Gray listened to the halfling speak, expression thoughtful as his mirth drifted away. How the thing would survive for days or weeks behind the wall astounded the inquisitor, but if it was another of the mysterious constructs, it made sense. It seemed that Charthagnion had sought to bury theirs deep, only to have some idiot goblins stumble upon it by pure chance. "The fact that it is out of the way is ideal. Only the goblins will be nearby should we defeat it and the same fainting spell come over us. Perhaps we should eliminate them first, so they won't get any ideas of slitting a longshank's throat while he rests up after defeating their cloaked monster." The young man looked at his fellows and Drem, perfectly serious and looking for feedback.
Gray started to chuckle, then to laugh. He eyed the Azure Avenger, then laughed again before looking back to the picture. "No offense, my blue friend, but I think someone has the dimensions wrong if that's supposed to be you. Lucky us, as you're several hands short of this bloke here." The inquisitor snickered, but kept his further comments to himself, not wanting to rile up an ally any more. Instead, he looked at Drem expectantly with the others, waiting for the halfling to offer what he knew.
Gray snorted when Drem started to expound upon how the goblin race was simply misunderstood, but otherwise kept quiet as the halfling carried on. He stared at the picture Drem offered with curiosity, eyebrows raised in question to mirror Ziera's own.
Level up! HP Increase - 5
Skills: Bluff
Background Skills: Linguistics
Gray listened to the others half-heartedly, still living off the high of having inflicted so much cruelty this day. A small part of him knew that taking pleasure in such things was unnatural, but that part had long ago taken a back seat to the sadistic mindset he had acquired. As the conversation nears its end, he nodded. "Right, so we ask around for healers, purchase a wand, then meet up tomorrow morning?" If that was the case, the inquisitor would once again change his disguise, this time something fairly close to his actual looks. Plain and nondescript, he'd blend in nicely just about anywhere. When they parted ways, he would go to a close by inn and get a room, locking the exits before collapsing onto the bed in exhaustion. The pain in his chest was tight, but he was used to it and the day had been productive. He eased into sleep quickly.
Gray headed to the inn with the others, hoping that the previous several hours would provide much fruit in the way of getting towards their goal. Whatever that may actually be. The inquisitor gave that thought a large portion of his attention on the way to their destination, but in the end just shrugged as he had been. As long as Thrune's cause was ultimately degraded through their actions, he didn't care much. The hate and anger he had towards the ruling noble family was lacking in practicality, but Gray didn't much care for that, either. As the group settled in and toasted to Edmund's son, the young man raised his glass, though he cared little for the subject. As Edmund as mentioned, he hadn't known this Kris, though it was memorable in that it seemed to harden the old librarian's resolve. After the others had spoke, and he had imbibed both his and Ziera's gifted glass of wine, he added his own thoughts, "Perhaps a short stake-out is prudent, but seeing as how a member of the noble family has gone missing, they might go into a higher state of alert and readiness than they otherwise would. Swift action might yield better results."
Gray nodded to Ziera, as the keeping of promises was important in the scheme of things. If you couldn't trust those around you, then you would live a life of paranoia. Roughly grasping Alana, he lifted her up by an arm, her hands still tied behind her back, and marched her down the sewer and away from the others. Shadowtail:
Once far enough away, the inquisitor would proceed to crack the woman's head with his mace. The hope was that instead of killing her, it would cause her to be permanently addled and therefore limit her utility to Thrune in tracking down the group. The inquisitor returned soon after, his expression blank, though his eyes were bright. Looking at his companions, he said, "Perhaps we should make ourselves scarce down here. Maybe a new place to plan our next move against our enemy?"
Gray kept silent during the exchange, trying to keep the excitement off his face when Ziera kept threatening a horrible death upon Alana. The information would really be helpful, but two birds with one stone and whatnot. He supposed if the noblewoman proved to have use the aasimar would insist they keep her alive. What a shame.
As Ziera asked Gray to join her in the adjoining room, the young man chuckled, smirking, "My masculine wiles have finally had their intended effect, have they?" He seemed to find himself extremely humorous, walking back into the room with the Thrune noblewoman with a pleased expression. His eyes narrowed as they settled upon Alana, wondering what the aasimar woman was up to. The inquisitor nearly gasped as Ziera started actually raining acid down upon the noblewoman, backing up her claims at least somewhat. Gray could see the stress it was causing his companion, but he doubted Alana would be focused on such a thing in her state. When the aasimar made the claim that if Alana did not cooperate he would slit her throat and be done with it, he piped in quickly, "I would do so gladly. After a bit of play, of course." The young man's tone was matter of fact, with a faint hint of excitement laced in. While he didn't want to come off as a complete maniac, this was indeed his preferred option. Instead, he waited to see what Alana's choice would be, looking about at any others who might have followed to see what they might have to add.
"Plus, she just remained silent during many of the questions, another effective way of dealing with the Elixir." The inquisitor shrugged, certainly not above trying to coax it out of the woman more forcefully. He doubted his companions would be agreeable to such aggressive techniques, however, so he held his tongue, waiting to see if Drem would add anything else. Truthfully, it seemed Dice was on board with the prospect of eliminating Alana, so the young man remained silent to see which way the conversation would go.
Gray chuckled, amused as he decided that Drem was likely referring to the inquisitor as 'the crazy guy'. In truth, the librarian's assessment wasn't far off, and the fact that Ziera had confirmed the noblewoman was still alive had the young man itching to go finish the job. As the group turns to deciding the fate of Alana, Gray frowned at the general tone of the conversation. It seemed like his companions were looking for excuses to keep the woman alive. The inquisitor fought the irrational impulse to go and beat the woman to death, revenge against the Thrune dynasty for their careless assault on his person. Logic won out, though, and he narrowed his eyes as he focused on Drem and his answer to Ziera's question.
Gray thought about it for a few moments, wondering what Drem was surely playing at. He had no doubt the halfling was likely telling the truth, or at least part of it, but these aristocrats surely had multiple levels of the game they were playing. Still, the offer was better than aimlessly running around and hoping things worked out. The inquisitor looked at his companions and shrugged.
Gray eyed Drem as he walked back in the room, suspicious of the quick turnaround. Shrugging it away as a certain level of paranoia, the inquisitor listened to Ziera's retort to the halfling's proclamation, nodding agreement. "Indeed. Let us hear of all this promised help, this time, and we'll see if it's worth the price you might seek." In truth, another possibility was springing forth in his mind. An ugly path, to be sure. He glanced at the Azure Avenger and Edmund, and finally at Ziera, wondering if they would be willing to play along, should it come to that. Hopefully Drem would be as willing and helpful as he seemed, but if not...there were other uses for the man.
Gray only smirked as Edmund mentioned his religious affiliation, not denying the statement. His young features settled into a satisfied smile as the older man threatened Alana with serious harm, though the inquisitor wondered if the book seller would follow up on it if needed. Perhaps not surprisingly, he hoped the man would. When Edmund reacted rather passively at the news that his son was dead, Gray reached forward and grabbed the blindfold and a few of Alana's hairs, wrenching it down over her eyes. Frustrated by the woman's continued demeanor, Gray nodded his agreement with Ziera to fetch Drem. The young man's hatred of Thrune was fierce, but it was not relegated to any specific member, and he was able to stay his hand as the small group waited for the aasimar returned with their Leroung patron.
Gray smirked at the slight twitch that gave away the woman's emotion to the inquisitor. Bending closer, his face inches from the noblewoman's own, he spoke in a low, menacing tone, "Tell us what you know, or I don't think I could stop my companion from doing something rash..." He glanced purposefully over at Edmund before glancing slyly back at Alana.
Gray took the illustration from the old wizard and stepped toward Alana, roughly jerking the blindfold up to her forehead. He held the picture in front of her for a moment before asking in a calm, steady voice, "Do you know this man? Or what has become of him?"
Gray arched an eyebrow at the noblewoman's response. "I'm assuming you don't know both, or you would have offered them by now."
"What do you know of Animagi?" "Where is the Thrune House Contract kept?" "What can you tell us of the Pit Fiend general who is here?" "What do you know of us, personally?"
Gray shrugged at Ziera's reasoning, nodding his approval at Edmund's activity before turning back to the aasimar. "Let's see how interested she is in cooperating. If she decides that being obstinate or lying is in her best interest, we can always scramble her brains again." The inquisitor's voice and demeanor suggested he would enjoy that possibility.
Gray helped to secure the woman in the chair, though his eyes flitted over her uncomfortably. Before the group does so, he completely searched over her person for anything Alana could be hiding, weapons, wands, etc. Once she is tied up, he relaxed, turning to the others. "Our patron just wanted her dead, correct? Think she knows anything about the animagi or the House Contracts?"
After having rendered another helpless victim unconscious, Gray was in a positively chipper mood, for him. He nodded his agreement to Ziera's plan for Alana, arching a brow. "We definitely need to disguise her...should I just carry her, after that...or prop her up as our drunken companion?"
A knowing smile crept onto Gray's face at the servant's words, the inquisitor shaking his head slightly before he started towards the woman, stepping away from Alana's unconscious form. He strode slowly, but purposefully, maintaining eye contact the entire time as he approached the bound serving girl. He reached down and cupped her chin, tipping her head up to look at him more directly. "Perhaps you didn't hear me well before, my dear. My vote was to slit your throat and be done with it. My fellows here are of a more benevolent nature regarding your future well-being, but I'm sure a few more lies will get them in the mood for something a bit darker, if you get my drift. Answer my companions' questions truthfully, then behave like a good, quiet young lady, and you'll live to tell of this day. Another lie, and things will be a bit more bleak for you." He held her still a moment longer, his mud-brown eyes calm and collected, though surely there was a bit of madness there, as well. Then he backed up a few paces, then gestured to the others to continue their questioning, though his gaze never left the woman.
Gray's eyes narrowed as he caught the motion of the Thrune noblewoman rolling her eyes at the servant's words. Indeed, the inquisitor could even feel a bit of sympathy for Alana in this respect...when the threats and pain started, the weak were all too willing to throw in to keep themselves from the worst of it. No honor at all. Still, he could kill two birds with one stone here...both make a statement to the servant and help Alana into a state more suitable for the group's plans. Calmly, he raised his fist, then struck the Thrune noble on the chin with a heavy cross, his expression never changing. Should that not prove enough to coerce the woman into unconsciousness, the young man administered more of the same, the strikes surgical and neat, his features unmoving except for the slight grunts of effort it took to keep up the activity. When he was done, he let his brown eyes drift to the servant, the message clear.
Following Ziera's train of logic, Gray responded to the aasimar's question. "I personally would rather we just execute the servant and be done with it. No chances of screaming or saying something incriminating, then. It's a shame, though...we'd have a better chance of crafting a disguise if she chose to go along with it..." The inquisitor motioned to Ziera to remove the gag of the servant girl, quickly wanting to hear what she thought about the situation.
Gray sneered at the still struggling noblewoman as the Azure Avenger bound her hands, getting the woman in a body lock so the group could get her bound more securely. He looked on in approval as Edmund barred the door and Ziera continued to push the servant down the hall and away from help. The inquisitor's eyes gleamed manically as the first strike against Thrune seemed imminent, though he kept his excitement under control lest he unnerve his companions.
Gray continued to press the advantage on Alana as they dragged her cursing out into the hall. Using years of frustration and anger, he slowly started restraining the Thrune noblewoman further, attempting to pin her arms to her side as he growled at Edmund and the Azure Avenger. "Get a rope and tie this one up!
Gray sneers at the noblewoman as she tried to twist out of his grasp, but his hatred of Thrune empowered him as he held her even as she struggled, aided by the aged librarian. Steadily he kept moving the woman towards the door, nodding to the aasimar woman as she motioned them through the portal.
Gray growled silently as he was both jolted and scorched, the extreme silence turning the struggle into a surreal experience. Still, the woman was not taking things lying down, so to speak, so he looked up at Edmund and nodded to the open door that Ziera was retreating down with the servant girl, getting up and attempting to drag Alana with them.
Gray continued to try to overpower the Thrune noblewoman, sneering down at her as he continued to try to render her helpless. He looked up at Edmund, realizing that speaking was useless, and nodded, hoping the wizard would take the initiative and do his part to render Alana unconscious.
Gray felt murderous (which, in the present circumstance, seemed like the appropriate reaction) as the Thrune noblewoman managed to slip through his grasp, stepping away as her lips moved as though saying something. Keeping his features calm, the inquisitor simply stepped back up to her and grabbed at her once again, his wiry arms flexing mightily as he seized her wrists and attempted once again to drag her towards the far wall and the opening there.
As the inquisitor sees the other members of the party wresting the servant hastily out of the room, Gray waited just a second for the Thrune noblewoman's attention to turn toward the commotion before he lunged at Alana, attempting to grab her in much the same manner.
Expertly balanced and catching the woman off-guard, he almost immediately began to bull her toward the door the servant was disappearing through with the Azure Avenger and Ziera. "Be quiet, and you might yet live through this."
Gray snuck quickly and sneakily into the room near the noblewoman, his manner cool and collected even though hatred burned inside him. At long last, here was an object of his wrath finally in front of him, lounging indifferently and unaware of the very real danger oh so close. He waited patiently for a sign from the others that events were in motion, ready to spring into action when the action against the Thrune noble began.
Seeing that the plan has been simplified with the knowledge of multiple potential exits, Gray nodded his understanding, calling upon Zon-Kuthon to shroud him in a divine cloak of ultimate stealth. He patiently waited while he heard Ziera's spellcasting, the room suddenly going silent before he felt the pebble pressed into his hand. The inquisitor closed his fist around it, and sound returned in time for Edmund's spell of quickening to be heard, then Gray hurried through the door as the portal was opened, using his new-found swiftness to take him near the pair of women inside the room before he opened his hand to allow the silence to radiate.
"There is only Alana and the servant at the moment, but that could change at any time. I like the idea of silence...it will negate our spellcasting inside the zone, but I like our numerical odds against the pair if you take spells out of the equation. Ziera, would you like to contain the servant before joining us against the Thrune noble?" Gray's voice was low and quiet, though he twitched in anticipation of the coming conflict.
Gray quickly explained what he had seen to his fellows, pleased that the observant Ziera managed to find the secret portal connecting the areas so quickly. Before the group moved through, he quickly spoke. "I shall be invisible to begin with, as we enter. If you can, give me a moment to get into position. Those with magic, I shall try to work to the opposite side of the woman, so aim your spells appropriately." The inquisitor smiled grimly, waiting to see if anyone had any last minute things to add before they ambushed the noblewoman.
Gray walked slowly to the wall, making no more noise than a mouse. Once there, he put gloved hands on the wall, pleased that his specialized equipment was actually going to prove useful as he attempted to scry on the goings-on in the adjacent room.
Fair enough, Edmund. :)
I was busy with my kids yesterday, I apologize. I will say that having the quests and storyline be more linear would probably be helpful. I hate to say it, but a relatively slow medium like this isn't the best place for lots of options and group decision-making. Just my two cents, of course. There's a fine balance to maintain between ram-rodding the story and allowing creative thinking. As for this particular quest, I'm not sure why the relative lack of interest. Things seem pretty straightforward at the moment.
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