Enrei sifts through the personal effects he finds, takes any money present and puts it all in its own pocket on his vest, pets the horses briefly and finds little of interest before wandering back to the interrogation, "We are mercenary!" he informs the demonspeaker jovially.  He appears to be chewing a piece of jerky he did not have when he left.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 775):

As Titus turns his back to you and speaks quietly to Brennan the voices start to swirl, they eventually coalesce into a childrens song about the Juggernaut and the seige of Gooseneck


At the interruption of the demonspeaker the voices go dead silent.  Titus spins on his heel with his eyes flashing in rage.

It is not your time to ask questions.  You know all that you need to... except the fact that your attitude is starting to rankle.  However, as I am interested in what information you have so I am inclined towards indulgence and leniency.  As mentioned I am lord Fastbender of the married cities, you have met my compatriot Orim, from the Academy at Galeena and my trusted right hand.  Our Cha'li giant is known as Henry, his real name being difficult to pronounce, and the bear... *Titus thumps Ulbear affectionately* is known as Ulbear.

Titus says his voice devoid of all emotion, his facial expressions making the appropriate smiles but keeping rage in his eyes and bearing.

In reply to Titus Blackwell (msg # 778):

The demonspeaker narrows his eyes disapprovingly, but does not comment.

The archer seems to relax somewhat.

The big man continues to hold his tongue.

In reply to GM (msg # 779):

Ulbear makes a halfhearted nip at the demonspeaker's leg, locking eyes and snarling as he does so

[Beartimidate 3x4]

We'll be asking the questions and giving the orders here, unless you want to see if I'm hungry.

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 780):

The demonspeaker yelps and falls onto his back.  The archer screams in fright and the silent man backs away carefully on his knees.

"Damnit!  Call it off or kill us and get it over with!" growls the demonspeaker.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Wed 15 July 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 781):

"We were having a pleasant conversation, until you decided that you might be saying too much," Brennan says. "Your associate, the man who can fly, is heading back to your lord's home, you say? Do you believe for even a fraction of a second that he hasn't written all of you off, and told everyone back home that you've all squealed like mewling suckling pigs?"

He withdraws an empty glass vial from his belt and walks up to the demonspeaker.

"Hear me well. If you decide to stop cooperating, my lord will allow me to promote you to specimen status. I've been meaning to add more."

Brennan grins slightly and taps the most defiant man gently on the head with the vial -- the touch feather-light.

"Would you like to know what a specimen gets to do?"

He lowers his voice.

"They get to bleed. Specimens provide blood for... well, various purposes. I'm sure I don't have list them out for you. And lots of it. And so, specimens are each carefully kept just healthy enough to keep producing it."

Brennan shakes the empty vial slowly, then returns it to its place among his pockets. He turns to regard the fire for a long, silent moment, then turns back to the group and smiles.

"Right, then," Brennan says, clearly directing the question to the most defiant speaker. "What'll it be, Specimen #24601? Your cooperation, or your life?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Wed 15 July 2015.

Having completed his torture regime, Ulbear shifts back slowly into Uldaf.

"And I'd be of a mind to answer sooner rather than later. You wouldn't want to see what else I can turn into.."

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 783):

Titus claps his hands with a smile completely lacking in any warmth.

You see!  Bear called off!

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 783):

Despite being stared down by a gruff man now rather than a bear, the archer does not seem any more at ease.

"So," the demonspeaker muses, "you're a witch too.  Aye that explains a lot."

He looks at Brennan.  "It might be we're left here for dead, but more'n likely Kraik will be back with some more of our boys.  I'm willing to bet on that," he adds glaring at the archer.

The demonspeaker's eyes find Uldaf, then Brennan's pouch.  "That being said, we've no objection to talking.  Hell, Theo there will talk for hours if you let him."  He gestures to the archer.  "As long as you're not asking us how to find our home, we can cooperate."

The archer nods, his head bobbing like a bird.

The silent man continues to be so.

In reply to GM (msg # 785):

And suppose we are asking you about how to get to your home, and we intend to interrogate you individually and fatally until one of you provides the honest truth?  And suppose we're further of a mind to start with you since you seem so keen on setting the terms of engagement here.

I've got 2 gold coins that says the archer talks as soon as he hears this one squeal.

Ah, but what good is it carrying around hemlock and alchemical fire if no one ever lets you use it? I for one, am excited to see if he lasts longer than the last one..

"Oh," Enrei reaises his hand after Uldaf speaks, "I can be not asking about your home.  What means 'interrogate?'" He looks around to clearly indicate this is a question for the group and not just the captives.

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 787):

The demonspeaker glowers at Uldaf.

"Might be you'll torture us, might be you're bluffing."  He looks to the hill where a few moments ago, runes glowed red.

"From the way I see it, you're outlaws the same as us.  Witches?  Thieves?  If you're looking to join up with our outfit, torture isn't going to help.  As I said, we'll take you there if you like.  If you're looking to turn us in... I'd question who you'll turn us in to who won't string you by your thumbs same as us."

In reply to GM (msg # 788):

You seem to be laboring under the pretense that we represent and are bound by a rule of law.

[Brawl, 3, 2x9]

Uldaf smacks the demonspeaker hard across the mouth with the sweet spot of his staff.

Allow me to correct your erroneous perception.

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 789):

/OOC:  Well then.  Since he was helpless and on his knees, I'll assume you hit him in the head even though you didn't roll it.

Combat Round

The archer screams, then leaps to his feet and takes off running in a random direction.

The silent man leaps to his feet.  He makes a grab for Brennan's knife with his good hand but isn't fast enough.

Damage:

Archer: None
Demonspeaker: Arrow in shoulder plus 5 Shock to head.  Unconscious.
Silent Man: 4 Killing R. Arm

Enrei is nonplussed at Uldaf's use of his staff, but the archer draws his immediate attention when he screams.  Then the young man bolts and Enrei gives a look of consternation.  He'd been told to not let them do that, and he hated a job half done.  He takes off after the smaller man with all haste.

((would athletics be applicable to a chase like thus, or just the run skill?  regardless: 8, 8, 6, 2 & 2 2x8 to catch the squirrely one.))

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 791):



With a pop the voices cease their inane chattering that had been going on the entire 'interrogation' scene.

With a heavy sigh and not breaking the character of an implacable and impassive Lordling, Titus takes aim at the silent man with the broken arm.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:50, Thu 16 July 2015.

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 789):

Brennan arches an eyebrow at this turn of events, but chooses to answer Enrei (in Chaliian) rather than get further involved in the quibbling over who makes the rules during this interrogation.


Half of his explanation is lost as the large man barrels after the archer, and Brennan heaves a tired sigh.

"Enough!" he says, glaring at his allies before turning to the silent man. "Your friend's insolence has cost him, but it doesn't have to cost you. If you ever want your arm to heal or work again, you WILL stand down."

He glances up to see if Enrei has captured his quarry or not.

"I would really prefer not to shoot him."

Brennan spares the silent man another glance.

"Do you speak this language?"

He repeats  the sentence twice more, sounding very different each time.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:51, Thu 16 July 2015.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 793):

Enrei easily catches up to the archer.  As the boy is more interested in running than fighting, it's no trouble for Enrei to sieze him around the waist, then haul him onto his back and start marching back with him.

The silent man stops mid swing and raises one eyebrow.  He says something guttural and unintelligible.


End Combat

Enrei dumps the archer beside his unconscious friend.

"Look, what do you want to know?  You want to know how to get where Kraik is going?  Why?  Who are you?"  The boy is terrified and mutters under his breath what sound to be prayers.

The demonspeaker groans and rolls over.

The until-now-silent man remains in a "ready-to-fight" stance but makes no further moves to attack.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:15, Thu 16 July 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 794):

"We want to know where the next attack will come from," Brennan sighs in the archer's direction. "And I personally would like to know if there will be more demons in our future plaguing the townsfolk here. They're dicks, but that doesn't mean I want to feed them to the abyss. Can you help us with that?"

While the archer mulls it over, he turns to more pressing matters.

"Bind and gag him," Brennan says, motioning toward the demonspeaker on the ground. "With him out of the picture, things get easier. And don't hurt the silent man... unless he makes you. I don't think he understands what's going on."

He then speaks to the silent man again, using a harsh and unintelligible language.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Thu 16 July 2015.

"He is not from this place!" Enrei points to the man Brennan is speaking to after he fetches a few lengths of rope from one of the bags he dug through earlier.  "You are good friends.  I did not have any friends come with me when I left my ship for this place, all my friends were sailors I met at home," Enrei speaks casually to the archer as he binds the unconcious man with one rope, opens his mouth sticks a section of the other rope into it, and ties the rest of it around his head.  Once done he approaches the other foreigner, "I am sorry," he points at the injured elbow as he speaks as loudly and clearly as he can, "You were going to hurt my friend," he gestures to Uldaf, then after a pause, continues, "He was a bear."

In reply to Enrei Omal'i (msg # 796):

Satisfied his authority is being adequately respected by the boisterous, albeit unconscious warlock, Uldaf sets to making tea.

He talked too much. Some dream tea and a healthy concussion should aid his disposition.

[Alchemy 2x7]


Uldaf finishes his brew, takes a small swig himself, and once cooled, force feeds a cup down the demonspeaker's throat.

He'll be out for a while. Have they started talking, or am I meeting a new patient?

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 797):

Titus with a visible flourish tucks his knives back into his belt.  He holds his hands out to the unarmed man in a symbol of I'm not armed.  Moving slowly he walks around to the archer and kneels infront of him.

You have done what you must.  I understand and respect that.  Answer Orim, Ulbear and my questions and you will be fine.

Yes I want to know where Kraik is going.  I also want to know what his goals are.  He has been... impinging upon my territory and I would know if he is friend or foe.  Also I want to know what his resources are, how many witches he has at his disposal.

I think that will be a good start.  We will go from there. 

In reply to Uldaf Asbjorn (msg # 797):

While Uldaf makes tea over the fire, the rest continue to talk to the archer and the silent man.

"Please, m'lord," the young archer begs, raising his hands to Titus.  "If it please m'lord, I can lead him and all of his forces to our hideout.  It's in the mountains, over a day from here."  His eyes are wild, but at least he's stopped sweating profusely.  "Plans?  I don't know m'lord, I'm not privy to any of that... we were going to rob you then stop by the mill for some entertainment on the way home is all.  I swear it's true and its all I know!"

The silent man sighs and shakes his head, then says something in whatever language he's speaking.  Whatever he's saying he shrugs often and seems calmly indifferent to the proceedings.


He looks at his arm, which is beginning to swell, and blathers on.

In reply to GM (msg # 799):

Brennan responds to the silent man first, using his gutteral dialect and making a face.


Turning from the silent man to the group afterward, he switches back to the common tongue to say: "Remind me never to go to Nor. Or to not get captured there, if I do."

He then turns to the archer.

"Your cooperation is appreciated... but there is more we must know. To your knowledge, how many men would your lord and master have at his beck and call? And how many of them are witches?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Fri 17 July 2015.

In reply to Brennan Otthild (msg # 800):

The archer turns to Brennan.

"How many men?  I mean, there are a lot of us, but we're never all home at once.  Maybe sixty alltogether?  Kraik is the only witch I know of, and the Darktongue there speaks Fell, but I don't know.  Kraik said... well he never flew before so I don't know."