The questioning of the Ruffian prisoners really isn't going anywhere, with Twiggy trying to get answers out of them and Byron stepping on the wondered man's leg to get him to talk. It just compels him to keep his mouth shut even more.

Amara wanders around the barn and comes upon a Sleet Storm as the spell is dying off and she can see Roenthelm fighting another Ruffian with another one unconscious on the ground on the Northern side of the building. Roenthelm easily dodges a Short Sword strike and delivers a kick to the leg and then a quick kick to the side of the head of the Ruffian and knocks the man over. Roenthelm lets the man up and is ready to fight again, but the Ruffian doesn't want any part of it anymore and runs away. Roenthelm lets him. The Ruffian runs towards the road.

"No, I don't think so. We don't need you running free like that..." Amara said, casting a spell that caused patterns of light to swirl in front of him.

Roen turned around on Amara with a look of confusion,

"What's the point? Are you trying to catch every single one? They failed in their mission. Let them run away and explain it to their bosses. We won't see them again."

Roen looked around for other trouble makers and then made sure the fire was out.

Just like with the Trolls, the fleeing Ruffian stops and stares at the Hypnotic Pattern floating in the air all around him as Roenthelm looks for other trouble makers around the area, while making sure the fire was out. It appears that the fight is over now. You collect your prisoners and tie them up and start questioning them, but they are proving to be difficult. Unless you start murdering them in front of their friends, they're not talking. But, you initially did get some information out of one of them and you're guessing they're Centauri's men. With the encounter you had previously in the afternoon with the men who beat up Dwight, you're assuming they told somebody who and where you were when they got to town.

You have 5 tied up prisoners who aren't talking. What do you do? It's around 1am-ish, an hour before 3rd shift.

"Perhaps. But we don't know which is the weakest will, and which will give us the information we need." Amara replied to Roen.

When they are all tied up, Amara takes out a knife. She handles it with the familiarity of a butcher. "We haven't much time - others will come out. Someone wake the idiot inside - he's in more danger than he knows. Vernon, can you keep watch for us please? As for these... separate them. One of us can try our... sweet mercies on each of them - and then we can compare notes and determine our next action."

"We are not going to torture or hurt anyone. They already lost the fight and are tied up. We can guess they came from Triel and are Centauri's men trying to get some reward for bringing us back to town. You saw the wanted poster. They just didn't expect to see so many of us and were obviously in over their heads."

Roen doesn't leave the prisoner's sights for fear of what some of his friends might do to them.

Amara looked at Roenthelm hard, "If you want to make an omelet, you need to break some eggs. Besides - if they're good and tell us all we know, then we don't need to take any other action. It's up to them if they want to be tortured or not."

"See? That's why we don't need to say S**t. You're still in Triel territory. There are laws here and you are criminals." the "leader" said to the group and then looked to his "friends" "Roenthelm and Byron don't have it in their hearts to torture or murder innocent people following the law of their lands and won't let their friends do it either. So, like I said before, you might as well let us go."

No need for any Sense Motive checks. The leader is telling the truth.

Amara took the dagger that she had already drawn and slammed it into the leader's foot. "Let's get over the whole idea that Roenthelm and Byron are the only ones you need to worry about. Anyone who tries to murder people in their sleep are not innocent - especially as you did not only try to murder those who are criminals, but all of us. This, then, is only self-defense." She withdrew the now bloody knife, then licked it. "Now, I suggest you tell us what we need to know so we can take actions to be safe, and then I believe we can let you go."

Twiggy is at a loss because he doesn't like the idea of torture. Twiggy knows if they let them go then the ruffians will come after them again.

When Amara slams her Dagger down he winces but does nothing but has to ask "I am confused. These ruffians keep saying Byron is a wanted criminal but in the same breath says he is to nice and good hearted to torture them. You ruffians have to make up your minds, unless we can go around as the good hearted criminal gang."

Vernon winced as the dagger went into the man's foot,

We already know the answer to that. They upset the Centauri family and that's against the law. I vote we take their clothes and their horses so they have to run home naked.

The man grunted in obvious pain and with a look of hatred on his face he spat out the words,

"Then I suggest that you all leave the Centauri's area so they can't get you because you know what's coming!"

"Hey hey, there's no need for that." Roen said as he saw Amara stab the Ruffian's foot "His blood might have diseases or something."

Crouching down to the Ruffian's level,

"We're not going to argue if we're criminals or not. What were you going to do with us if you didn't plan on murdering us in the barn? Tie us up and take us back to Triel and get your reward from the Centauri family? Is losing one of your friends really worth the money you would get from the rewards?"

"Oh, I don't like hurting people. I'd rather not. But we need information," Amara replied to Roenthelm. "Until we get that information, we can't even consider letting them free." She turned back to the leader. "So, I'll ask again - before I get mean. Why don't you tell me what you know and then we should be able to let you go. Or at least, not injure you any further."

Byron grins at the idiot as he watches Amara closely.

You are mistaken that I won't allow my friend here to do what she wants to you.  I would suggest something a little higher up that they might want in the future beside their life.

Byron whispers in Amara's ear.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:43, Tue 19 Sept 2023.

Um, guys, I don't think this is the best way to do things. I'm trying to become a good person and this is not good.

Twiggy chuckles at Vernon "Don't worry Vernon, there is no information they can give us that we already don't know. They are idiots. A few bully thugs who just tried to take on seasoned adventurers and thought they could win. I am sure Centari said just bring some extra people and we would be an easy capture, and they took the bait hook line and sinker. I am not fond of making martyrs out of morons so what is the plan?"

"What else is there to say? You already beat us and you figured out where we came from. Not that it was hard to find your trail. You can see Byron in his armor 2 miles away and with Roenthelm in the group, it's pretty hard to miss. Hey farmer! You see a Boy dressed in metal with a vagabond following him? They all point in the same direction."

The men who are in shape to laugh do so.

Twiggy looks at the ruffians "How much is the bounty on Byron and Roen now? I am sure we will have some soon but it still will not be as high as theirs."

Amara simply nods to Roen's whisper. "I'm disappointed in you. That's not the information we need - and you know it. What does Centauri intend to do with Roen and Byron? Has he been scrying on us to find us even when we are only passing through? What's the reward money on their heads? How many idiots did your escaped friend go to get and how long will it be before they get here?"

She kept the dagger close, threatening, but did not cut him any further. She was willing to hurt or kill if needed, but she did not relish it. She just needed to do enough to make it so that they knew she was willing to do something. Now, if she could, she'd avoid any more true violence and rely on threats and intimidation. "Like I said, I think of myself as... shall we say reformed. Regardless of how many humanoids I tortured in the past - and it was more than I like to admit - I don't like it any more. I'm not sure I actually ever did, really, but it was expected of me. But I did learn. Some people think burns are the worst. Others when you flay skin off their body - or at least certain portions of the body. Others... well, let's just say I could continue for quite a while - and I don't think you want me to experiment and see which is your personal least favorite."

Byron watches Amara closely and replies casually to them.

You know what, since these idiots don't want to talk, we can leave them tied up naked.  I'm sure there are plenty of bugs around here that would enjoy them as a snack.  They aren't that much of a threat to us at the moment.

"Oh, no. At the very least if they don't talk we'll put honey on some areas of their body - that's what would attract bugs, mice, raccoons, and other critters to come and, shall we say, sample them. And they may not be much of a threat right now - but they represent a force that is."

She turned back to the leader, "So I really do recommend you tell us what we need to know."

These men are either really, really strong willed, or they know next to nothing except for getting a reward. You figure it's time for the next watch, but you all doubt you'll get any sleep this night after what's happened and the enemy still being here. You go check up on Dwight, but all you hear is him snoring.

Aliana notices that Amara is hurt in a couple spots and heals her wounds with spells.

So, what's the party going to do with the ruffian prisoners?

Amara took a long look at the captured men, "Where's your official tokens to show that you are Centauri's men?"

Yeah, and what did you have for breakfast? What's your parents name? When did you get your first kiss? Do you have any plans for your future? I'm a ghost and this is getting boring, Amara. Just strip them down to their birthday suit, let them free so they can run away and you can follow them if you wish to see where they go.