The boy(or young man) lowers his head, utterly abashed.  "No-one told us to.  When he disappeared, well, he's been gone for so long...  He went after some pirates, you see, and never came back, and we just wanted him back protecting the city..."

I still don't see where you got the idea to kill the children in order to summon your father. Trust me when I say that the city guards are going to ask the same!

The young man cringes as the implication hits him that his father might not actually be dead.  Stunned, he tries to speak once or twice, then falls silent.

Quinlan casts a glance at the ice Mephit Ready? he asks before lowering his weapons and pulling out a rope. Pushing the cleric to the ground face down he starts with him, carefully pinning his arms at his side and tying a blind-fold across his eyes. He then proceeds to the unconcious mage and ties him up in the same manner, only adding a sling across his ankles also to keep the legs together.
I'd like to search through this place before we hand them over to the guards. Just in case we don't miss anything important. Quinlan states.

08:47, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 8 using 1d20+7. Use rope (mage).
08:47, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 18 using 1d20+7. Use rope.

Or is this a "take ten" situation?

Garath nods, "Ready."  Noting the ranger's actions, he adds, "Gag him?  Keep him from chanting any prayers to whatever dark god was willing to accept him."

Good thinking! Is there any other way out of here, or do we have to drag you both across the chasm and up the well? Quinlan asks the priest before gagging him.

The youth sighs, and doesn't resist.  "We'll go.  If you let me heal my brother, that would save you having to carry him," he suggests, though without much hope.

We'll find a way to get you up to the surface! Quinlan replies with an impish smile before searching the chamber for valuables or items of interest.

23:00, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 17 using 1d20+4. Search.

Are you searching the peeople? hint hint

Throughout the chamber you find many things of value.  This is where I said you'd get your birthday gifts, so have at them.

"Might also be a good idea to check they haven't hidden a knife on their person, or a wand they could somehow reach for," the mephit observes.  Noting that Quinlan is busy with his search of the chamber, he shrugs and begins searching the two captives himself, gesturing to Gauge to keep his wand - and attention - trained on them.

Returning from his tour around the chamber, carefully avoiding to disturb the bloody circle on the ground, Quinlan stuffs the loot in a sack and helps Garath with the prisoners, keeping a dagger in one hand.

You find on the persons, a total of 450gp, and on the cleric, a silver pendant set with a ruby hanging from a gold chain.

Gauge does whatever you want, his mind elsewhere.

We'll take the gold, to recompense the poor families you destroyed with your killings. I wonder how did you got the children down here? The city guard found no traces of the abductions. Guess that'll be something for you to discuss with the guard
Seeing that their work in the chamber is done, Quinlan gets ready to head out.

Garath, should you head up to the surface and get the city guards down here to help us with the prisoners? Tell them to bring a cleric too, to dispose of the icky ones! Quinlan nods towards the zombies.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Fri 01 Feb 2008.

The academician nods.  "Will do.  I will be curious to learn where they learned that particularly gruesome ritual - and who taught them.  But that can wait for the official interrogation."

With a snap of its wings, the mephit launches itself out towards the well-shaft.  When Garath returns, he is back in human form and accompanied by as many guards as he could persuade to come back with him into the well.

Four guards have followed you down.  They take the two brothers, and escort them to the surface, where they lead them to the prison.  The captain looks them over, then says, "Death sentence for sure for you two."  "Please," the wizard begs, "one last request.  Find our father, wherever he may be.  Even if you just bring back his ashes, I want to see him again before I die."  The captain grunts, then turns to the 'heroes'(detectives?).  "Well, we should be able to furnish you with a decent reward for this.  How does 1000 gold between the three of you sound?"

For an evenings worth of work? That is most generous.

Before losing sight of the two culprits, Quinlan shouts a question at them: Where was he last seen?

"Well, considering the circumstances, you did perform a great service to this city."  The captain looks after him, then responds.  "We'll take care of figuring that out.  We'll let you know once we have enough information."

Garath is content to let Quinlan deal with the guards.  When they have gone, taking the two aspiring necromancers with them, he mutters a few words under his breath and starts scanning the room intently, also pausing to examine the ruby pendant.

OOC: detect magic.

Nope, nothing.  Probably just a holy symbol of some sort, of a family heirloom.  Just plain jewelry, though it looks expensive.

Garath hoists the pendant, letting it glimmer in the torchlight.  "Know any trusty gem merchants around these parts?"  He tosses the jewel to Quinlan.  "Here - best that you hold on to it until we get it appraised.  I already had one close call with a pickpocket in this city."

It's pretty and shiny, best keep it for a while! Quinlan catches the pendant and takes a good look at it, trying to see if there is anything else to be learned from it by a closer examination.

22:05, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 16 using 1d20+5. Search.
22:05, Today: Quinlan Fairfellow rolled 14 using 1d20+3. Appraise.

It looks to be worth about 1500gp.

OOC:  Is there somewhere in Phlan to sell it for that amount?  If so, Garath offers to split the proceeds evenly with Quin, and from his share gives 50 gp to an appropriate local church to say prayers for the souls of the murdered children.  (That should get a whole lot of prayers :))

Agreed.

By the looks of it, it was probably a family heirloom of some sort, found by some adventurer early in the family.  But yes, old Bront the merchant would probably buy it.  He could always find someone to sell it to with the kind of stuff he sells.

Translation: Tavern time!