Storm King's Thunder

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

// You can make a group check to charm the other officers. Pick your social skill, sounds like Ink is straight Persuasion (with advantage for buying drinks for the table—they have expensive taste, so it’s 10 gp). Let me know if you want  to do anything else creative. //

Ink drinks a round with the gents and ladies at the table and shows off the scars of battle as a way to bond with the locals. He reminisces about how trust is so important out on the field. And how all it takes is one person to break that trust to cause the unit to fail. He orders another round of drinks (10gp) and brings the conversation back to Brenner, asking his question about the man.

//  Persuasion at advantage 16 //

Flint gets another ale from the bartender then joins Ink at the veterans' table. Just small talk, don't want to seem too eager. Cha: 16

After only half a round of drinks, you seem to have made some friends with the officers sitting at the table. Brenner hasn’t returned yet, but in about 15 minutes you’ve learned their names (Halred Deikeir, Vurkruun Silentroar, Daa Deepvalor, Ogor Grass, and Bhuhmeir Bilatsk).

They have also all share among themselves suspicions that Captain Brenner is skimming off the top, but that they have no actual proof of this, and he is their superior so they can’t really do anything about it without getting fired, or worse, accused of some crime they didn’t commit and thrown in prison. 

Meanwhile, in the jail, the younger Zymorven shakes his head. “He insulted my wife. Called her a *****, said she should be with a real man. He was laughing at me. I chased him down, challenged him to a duel. He laughed again, so I cut him down. He wasn’t laughing anymore.” He purses his lips. “Father always said I had a problem with anger. But you weren’t there—you don’t know what it was like.”

“Correct. I was not there. Describe it for me. How did you feel in the moment? Angry, yes. Organics hold a great deal of adrenaline in their bodies. You likely cannot recall what happened during that fight. However, describe for me how you felt after. How did you feel after you killed him?”

“I felt...vindicated,” says the young man. “Like I said, he had it coming. I defended my wife’s honor.”

“I see. Are you aware if the man had any family members, friends, people that would desire to harm you or your wife in revenge?”

Zymorven shrugs. “Not that I know of. Doesn’t matter much, anyway. I’m getting the axe tomorrow, they tell me.”

He sighs, and bangs the back of his head against his cell wall in frustration. “Leave me alone now,” he says, staring straight ahead, his eyes cold, jaw set.

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

Zymorven shrugs. “Not that I know of. Doesn’t matter much, anyway. I’m getting the axe tomorrow, they tell me.”

He sighs, and bangs the back of his head against his cell wall in frustration. “Leave me alone now,” he says, staring straight ahead, his eyes cold, jaw set.

 “Correct, you are getting the axe. You will be free from the brutal justice of revenge. However, I question, in your desire to maintain the honor of your wife, have you put her safety in danger? She will now live a life without you, devoid of her first love. Will she remarry? Perhaps. One can only hope he will be a good man. Perhaps she will remain alone. In any case, I question again, is vindication the correct word?” Crownsguard rises, “You do strike me as a man frustrated. Am I correct?”

//Obviously Don will shut up if Brenner comes back and he is keeping an eye out for him.//

"From what I can tell we have a common problem. Brenner. What would it take to get him fired and or arrested for his crimes? We just want our property, but it hurts to see such fine drinkers as yourselves being mistreated as well." Don has turned more serious.

Persuasion: 22

"Lads, ar next stop is clear, Brenner done said ta bring ar issue ta th' watch officer. Let's not trouble these lads any further."

"Killing a man over such a small slight seems beneath someone like you. Tell me, what's your wife's name and do you know where we can find her? I want her version of events before you get the ax." Matrix isn't convinced this was free will just yet.

After getting his wife's name and location Matrix will go back to the clerk, "do you happen to have a name and description of the victim? Seems like an open and shut case though, probably just wasting my time.... oh, that's right! The kid 'borrowed' his father's sword, I think it was the murder weapon, do you know where it would be stored and how long would we have to wait after the execution to reclaim it?"

“You don’t know me!” Says Zymorven hotly to Matrix and Crownsguard. “And you sure as hell don’t know what’s beneath me. If you’re not going to get me out of here, then I have nothing else to say to either of you. I don’t trust you, so no, I won’t be telling you where to find my wife.”

Quote from DarthAvarice >>

"Lads, ar next stop is clear, Brenner done said ta bring ar issue ta th' watch officer. Let's not trouble these lads any further."

 "Or," Ink pauses Flint, "We could take care of this Brenner fellow for these fine outstanding watchmen - he seems to be... ill fit... for the watch. What do you say lads? Anyway we could make your problem disappear? You know this city better than us."

Back at the Military Quarter Tavern, the officers look hesitantly from one to another at Don’s request, then all look relieved at Flint’s interjection.

”Thanks for the drinks!” Says Daa. “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you guys around.”

"It may come ta that, jus' figured ta start wit' th' law. Might be ah have some influence there."

"A lot of times questions like mine will get these guys thinking. Won't surprise me if one of them approaches is later. Keep an eye out."

// Flint and Don are you saying all this in front of the officers? //

To Ink’s suggestion, the officers again look a little trepidatious.

It’s at that time that Captain Brenner returns from his extended break, coming through the back door of the taproom. He nods at a few of the lady officers, making some conversation, and doesn’t notice you right away. 

//My last comments was meant as we walk away, i posted it after Flint posted not to "take care of him". Just meant for Flint. Don will study Brenner and his mannerisms so he could replicate them later.//

//trying to be subtle//