This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
After closing her eyes and turn her ears up as if trying to listen for something, Obsben breathes a sigh of relief. "That should do it. For now, at least."She asserts, before finally turning to address Graxx. "Less than minute. Though if you're too rough with him, he'll wake up far sooner. So if you don't, Graxxy, I'd like to tie him up quick and blindfold him too."She requests just as Salty Bottom, perhaps already anticipating his mistress' desire, had leapt onto her pack to start unlatching passing along some rope.
Once she saw to his hands being bound (w/ help, if at all possible), as well as to him being blindfolded using whatever piece of cloth could be cut from the man's own wardrobe, it's then that Obsben set to work properly trying to root around his clothing for anything of note. Though even things that aren't of particular value or not she hands off to Salty Bottom to safeguard well out of reach of the wizard.
(OOC: Relying on her passive perception in regards to her 'listening' for something, which I assume nothing stands out atm)
Body Search: 16.(16) Passive is 22, if it matters.
Collecting her weapons and any retrievable arrows, Neya posits a question, "What are they here for... He was quite evasive in his answers. Those gems he was talking about - while having some, not very much, value - I highly doubt the Cult of the Dragon would have any interest in."
(@Ori: Your passive perception picks up absolutely nothing. In fact, the complex sounds as quiet and still as a tomb now that so many enemies have been defeated.)
Obsben explains the group has no more than 40 seconds or so, possibly a lot less, to do whatever they are planning to do to Spernik before he wakes up. Graxx was happy to simply hold the man by his collar and wait but the halfling asks for help tying up and blindfolding the man. Assuming Graxx and Utar have no issue in taking the lead with those tasks, with some assistance from Salty Bottom, Obsben then busies herself with going through the scribe's pockets and overall belongings as fast as she can.
Body search spoils:
A component pouch containing a patch of phosphorus moss, a straight but minute piece of iron, and the small piece of parchment that Spernik used during the fight, which had some religious-sounding text written on it in Draconic. It says "May Tiamat's scale protect me." Obby finds it interesting that it says "scale" and not "scales."
His weapon of choice was a simple club. Perhaps he felt more proficient with that than with the silvered scimitar strapped to his backpack.
His pack lacks basic adventuring gear in favor of the tools of his trade: scholar's pack. (Passive investigation: the tome of lore that is part of the pack was likely stolen from Mantor's Library.)
He carries some basic rations and likely relied on the swolbolds for other basic adventuring-related tasks.
The backpack also contains a valuable gemstone: alexandrite. (Passive insight: this is likely the "king's fortune" Spernik promised the party.)
The two stolen tomes that set CRAP on this journey to begin with: Lex Geographica and The History of the North.
He wears a beautiful, garnet-adorned, golden ring on one finger. Touching it is enough to feel its magical nature.
A personal journal that is too lengthy in content to be read in the few seconds left over before Spernik awakes.
Two separate but large keys. They are identical except for their coloration. One is green and the other is black. These keys are "one-sided," meaning that all of their features (bit, shoulder, bow, etc.) lie to one side of the keys, while their backs are adorned by raised bits that remind you of a jigsaw puzzle.
When Neya asks her question, her eyes drift over to the journal that Obsben pulled out of the scribe's backpack. Then, as if fate itself was proposing an alternative path, Spernik begins to shift himself awake. "What... Where..."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
(OOC - Utar will certainly lend his rope to the effort to secure Spernik before he wakes up. Unless Graxx uses his manacles, the half-orc opts to lash Spernik's legs together at the ankles, and then fasten that knot to the one binding his hands, hog-tie style. If Graxx does use his manacles, Utar will cut a length of material from his common clothes (if it destroys them, so be it) to make a rudimentary blindfold for Spernik. Assume a sleight of hand check might be needed, so here's 7 plus 1 from a quick cast of guidance if there's time for it.)
Standing over Spernik's prostate body on the ground, Utar motions to the other CRAPPER's to stand back (if they want to) and taking the spell scroll provided by Ekmong prior to their departure, unfurls the curled paper. Intoning the words written on the scroll much like he did as a initate cleric still in his acolyte's robes, he casts zone of truth centred on Spernik.
"Now that your friends have left, we thought we might have ourselves a little chat Spernik. What do you say?"
Utar doesn't drop the tone he took with Spernik upon entering the room, he looks to Graxx, maybe time for the ol' Good Guardsman/Bad Guardsmen/Crazy Guardsmen routine, as appropriate.
(OOC - Scroll DC is lower than if Utar cast it himself but saving a spell slot is saving a spell slot; DC13 Cha save for Spernik.)
Unfortunately, there would be no removing the breastplate in a timely enough fashion, even if using the most crude of methods. But everything else(excluding Vestments and rations as well) had been fair enough game. "Ah. Time's up."Obsben quietly noted upon hearing Spernik speak. Before she can add more, Utar's gesturing promptly spurs Obsben to finish picking up what hadn't already made it to Salty Bottom's side by then, prior to hustling her way just out of what she figured the reach to be of Utar's spell.
"And before you think to pray for any benediction from Tiamat, our little scribbling, know that I could just still read your mind. So, it would be best not to give Graxxy a reason to break your jaw and smash your fingers to boot, m'kay?"She commented on offhandedly while examining Spernik's ring for the moment. Salty Bottom meanwhile pretends to read the journal passed off to him until someone snatched it up.
(OOC: Not really expecting to learn more about the ring just yet. But planning to ritual cast identify once the interrogation is over)
(@MB: I love seeing a scroll being put to good use. You can get a DM's Inspiration token too.)
Utar uses the precious seconds he has been afforded to masterfully hog-tie Spernik. This is the cleanest knotwork the cleric has ever accomplished under pressure. He might just consider picking that up as a hobby. Meanwhile, Obby uses her time to relieve Spernik of most of his belongings. The halfling notices that the green key makes her fingertips feel a bit itchy, while the black key stings slightly.
Before the prisoner can even fully awake, CRAP is already laying it heavy on him. Graxx ups the fear factor on an already frightened scholar, Obby reminds him of her mind-reading abilities, and Utartakes away his ability to lie, at least temporarily. The half-orc knows that the spell scroll worked as intended. Everyone keeps some distance from Spernik, unless they want to be affected by the spell too.
Finally reacquainting himself with the situation but sporting visible fear on his face, Spernik begins talking even before a proper question is asked: "Okay... Okay... I was sent here by the Cult of the Dragon to recover a relic. The relic was rumored to possess the ability to..." His voice pauses. He seems unable to speak whatever he was planing to say next. He finds something else to talk about: "The red double-door behind me, do you see it? It requires a four-part key to open."
While this is happening, Neya ventures into one of the other paths leading out of the circular room (let's say lower left steps.) A bone-chilling, knee-deep white mist clings to every nook of this 20-by-20-foot chamber. The walls are of the same grey stone as the rest of the complex, but decorated with a pattern of glossy, white and blue tiles perhaps a hand’s width across. A short set of stairs leads to a raised dais, upon which resides a rectangular altar carved from a single piece of white stone, veined with grey. The mist that fills the room seems to be flowing from something resting on top of the altar, although the mist itself hides its source. Two swolbolds lie lifelessly on the steps leading to the raised dais, though the mist hides the exact cause of death.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Catching Spernik's lie, Utar chuckles. Keeping his voice nice and level, Utar attempts to portray himself as a calm and measured alternative Graxx and his axe.
"You'll find that the spell I cast prevents lying, Spernik. So I wouldn't waste my time attempting it. In any event, Graxx hates liars."
Letting the impact of his previous statement settle in for a moment, he moveon from the warning and starts his questions.
"This is where the books you stole from the library led you, isn't it, Spernik? They brought you here to somethng that the Cult wants, something those undead druids found. Something that let them control dragons maybe? Not sure it did all that well for them given how we found them outside. I want to know if your friends within the Cult are planning to meet you here, Spernik? Do they even know where you are?"
(OOC Here's a persuasion roll to try and coax a little more information from Spernik and also an insight check to see if Spernik attempts any creative lies of omission. Persuasion roll benefits from inspiration (no pesky book-keeping for me!) - 18. Insight does not - 28.)
"Hmm~ Definitely gonna need the gloves for these ones."Obsben mutters in delight. Once more Salty Bottom proved to be a bit of a mind reader himself, for after diving immediately into her pack, he pulled out the winter gloves that went largely neglected up to then in anticipation for much spell casting that day.
"Now, now, Graxxy. We don't want him to pass out from freight now."She jest while slipping on a glove. Just as she's getting to the other one, Neya's missing presence elicits a look of concern. "If you can hear me, Neya, do you see any other odd keys? I suspect we're missing at least three more to open the big door in the main chamber."She called out, prior to then weaving another Mind Reading to keep at least an eye on Spernik's surface thoughts. Although by then, odds favored not being in time to get much a glimpse of any initial reaction to the Utars/Graxx interrogation.
-> Upcasting Detect Thoughts at 3rd level and directing it to Spernik. No additional benefits and not diving deeper just yet.
In reaction to Utar's cue and Graxx's follow up reiteration of his fearsome approach to interrogations, Spernik flinches and crawls backward a foot or two as best as his hog-tied form allows. Utar can tell by his reaction that Spernik seems too afraid to try lying again now that he understands the spell. Spernik looks around as if to confirm no swolbolds are left alive to witness him talking to the enemy.
Utar continues the interrogation. Regarding his first question, Spernik's simple "Yes" will have to suffice. In response to the second question, Spernik sighs and confesses: "That is exactly the lie I was planning to tell you, but no, that is not the power the relic possesses. The Circle of the Scale was a sect of druidic dragon worshipers who resided in these foothills of the Dragonspine Mountains. The Circle was led by Skovac, a self-titled Scalebinder, who claimed that he could subvert the will of dragons with nothing but his voice when using a powerful relic. Legend held this relic to be a scale from Tiamat herself. I do not know if the scale was indeed plucked from the Queen of Dragons, but I understand the claims concerning the magical powers it possesses to be false, based on my research."
The third and fourth questions come in and Spernik replies: "No. I was to retrieve the relic and depart. I expect no other cultist to be coming this way. I doubt they know the exact location of the Temple of the Scale. It took Tibeem and I months to find this place."
Spernik is clearly a good researcher. He surely knows a lot more historical details about the temple, the druids, and possibly the relic. He is not necessarily sharing everything he knows upfront, but his will to resist is defeated. If fear wasn't enough, you persuaded him to talk more. If prodded further, he'll continue talking.
Also, with that roll, you recall Ellison mentioning a name that sort of sounded like Skovac. This lends further credibility to the story.
Obsben waits until the interrogation is resumed to refresh her mind-reading spell. At the surface, she catches much of what Spernik is already saying, reading the words in his mind a fraction of a second before the scribe utters them. Nonetheless, she catches an errant thought during one of the man's pauses:
@Obsben:
"The relic is supposed to be a gift!"
Out of sight, Neya continues to silently take in the misty room she entered a moment ago. If she heard Obby's comment, she is waiting to reply once she has more information.
Utar furrows his brow, intrigued by the glimpses of information given in Spernik's response. Maintaining his tone, he tries to coax a little more from their prisoner.
"So what does this relic do then? And if it does not control dragons, why would the Cult want it so much? Why send you and these unusally swole kobolds after it?"
Changing tack slightly, Utar thows a little non-sequitur into coversation,
"How did they get to be so big anyway? Are they eating a lot of protein?.."
Shaking his head, he gets back on track by trying to see what Spernik knows about the rest of the Cult,
"Anyway, that's not important. What is important Spernik, is how useful you can be to us and that depends on what you can tell us about this place and about the Cult. How have your explorations of this place gone? Have you made notes on your explorations so far? Are you awar of any particular traps? Now for the Cult, do you know anything about a necromancer last operating in the catacombs underneath the Kelemvorite temple? Do you know who they are? Do you know where they've relocated to?"
"Swolbolds."Obsben nonchalantly corrects while rooting around in her things again. "The exact opposite of the Weebolds I once heard of, and certainly not as smart as Wizbolds for sure. Or at least so I understood when I talked them earlier." She adds cheerily... in her own way, in any event.
Apart from that little sidebar, Obsben quieted once more to let start cleaning up her wounds, but kept both ears and mind open to the ongoing conversation. Which is why if Spernik took utar's dismissal to mean he needed not answer about the kobolds in the end, she'd double down on an inquiry into the origins of their particular development.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Overhearing all of this, Neya quips, "So it's more of a symbolic relic, than anything. This wouldn't have anything to do with that black eye we gave Old Gnawbones and your comrades in the Quivering Forest, would it?"
Not expecting a response from that verbal jab, she asks a real question, "What, exactly, are these chambers?"
Graxx takes a step back and lets Utar lead the investigation for now. Should "crazy guardsman" be needed again, the barbarian is sure to step forward again. For now, Graxx thinks to himself while Utar asks a series of follow-up questions.
The first three questions come in rapid succession and Spernik delays his response a bit, clearly thinking about what to say. He eventually shares: "The Cult of the Dragon learned about the fate of the Circle of the Scale but was unable to find the location of the ruins or additional details about the circle's relic. To learn more, they dispatched Tibeem and me to Mantor’s Library in Phlan. In the months following, we eventually uncovered enough information to pinpoint the site of the ruins. With the relic in our possession, the plan was to..." He thinks a bit more and adds: "...bolster our ranks."
Spernik lets Utar move on from the question regarding the swolbods without saying anything. The scribe then addresses his next questions: "The kobolds and I have explored only as far as our target led us, much like yourselves. I have no idea of what may lie within the side rooms you passed on your way here. As for the four alcoves in this circular room, yes, they are trapped to the best of my knowledge. As you can see from the keys you stole from me, I was only able to bypass two of them, and at the high cost of many of my kobold companions. That said, I do not possess any knowledge of the exact contents of any of the shrines. The kobolds were the ones that went in, not me."
Neya speaks up from within one of the alcoves. Spernik only blows raspberries in response to her comments. As for her question, his silence shows that he thinks he has already addressed the topic of the four alcoves/shrines.
Although the man is speaking quite clearly, tears of fear continue to stream down his face. Obby catches additional surface thoughts concerning his continued fear of being put down to death by the Cult of the Dragon. Speaking of the halfling, Obsben circles back to the question about the swolbods. Spernik offers only a short reply: "If you were part of the raiders who attacked the forest stronghold, then it must be no surprise to you that the Cult is working with the Thayans. I am sure you can connect the dots."
Spernik looks around a bit and tries asking a question of his own: "Are we done here? Why don't you grab those keys so we can open the red doors and be done with this?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Utar glances over to Obsben after being corrected, "Apologies Obsben, from here on out, they shall be known as swolbolds. Gotta be some kind of strict diet and exercise regimen though, right? They're like teeny versions of Graxx!"
After ponderng whether he might be able to make use of such a regime himself, he pats his own tummy. No losing this he supposes, its bought and paid for. Turning back to Spernik, Utar starts to bring his questioning to a close.
"You've been helpful enough that I don't think we'll let Graxx or the Cult of the Dragon deal with you Spernik. Although I'm sure the Lord Sage will have questions of their own to put to you once we return to Phlan and I'm sure there are some other interested parties who would want a word with you as well. If you can help them with their questions, they might be able to be persuaded to not hand you over to the Black Fist, which I'm sure you'll agree is to your benefit. Tibeem wasn't so lucky, the Black Fist caught him and strung him up with nary a question asked, so I'm sure you can appreciate that staying out of their hands would be best for you."
Taking a deep breath in, he pushes onto tightening up his own questions before his spell wears off.
"But, I've still a few lose ends here, Spernik, and you're doing your best to avoid an answer. I want to know certain things that will help me and firends out and bring us back to Phlan safely. That's in your interests now too, don't forget... How will this relic help bolster the ranks of the Cult? Be specific, what are we looking for down here and what will it do? What do you know of these Thayans, do you know any names, details of their deal with the Cult? Remember, all of this information helps me sell the idea of keeping you alive to folk who honestly, either aren't all that picky about your future, or don't foresee you having a long one.
(OOC Utar is laying it on thick here, so I guess a persuasion roll is appropriate - 14 and just to check that he isn't being led astray by Spernik, here's some insight for good measure - 14.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Graxx breathes heavy as the rage leaves him and the adrenaline slowly leaves his body.
Graxx looks around and is assured that all the enemies are gone and his friends are whole.
”Good job everyone!”, shouts Graxx.
Graxx goes over and sits down cross legged next to the sleeping Spernik.
Graxx will reach out and gently place his hand into Spernik’s clothing around his neck area and make a fist with a handful of clothing.
”How long till Spernik awakens?” asks Graxx.
After closing her eyes and turn her ears up as if trying to listen for something, Obsben breathes a sigh of relief. "That should do it. For now, at least." She asserts, before finally turning to address Graxx. "Less than minute. Though if you're too rough with him, he'll wake up far sooner. So if you don't, Graxxy, I'd like to tie him up quick and blindfold him too." She requests just as Salty Bottom, perhaps already anticipating his mistress' desire, had leapt onto her pack to start unlatching passing along some rope.
Once she saw to his hands being bound (w/ help, if at all possible), as well as to him being blindfolded using whatever piece of cloth could be cut from the man's own wardrobe, it's then that Obsben set to work properly trying to root around his clothing for anything of note. Though even things that aren't of particular value or not she hands off to Salty Bottom to safeguard well out of reach of the wizard.
(OOC: Relying on her passive perception in regards to her 'listening' for something, which I assume nothing stands out atm)
Body Search: 16.(16)
Passive is 22, if it matters.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Collecting her weapons and any retrievable arrows, Neya posits a question, "What are they here for... He was quite evasive in his answers. Those gems he was talking about - while having some, not very much, value - I highly doubt the Cult of the Dragon would have any interest in."
Extended Signature
(@Ori: Your passive perception picks up absolutely nothing. In fact, the complex sounds as quiet and still as a tomb now that so many enemies have been defeated.)
Obsben explains the group has no more than 40 seconds or so, possibly a lot less, to do whatever they are planning to do to Spernik before he wakes up. Graxx was happy to simply hold the man by his collar and wait but the halfling asks for help tying up and blindfolding the man. Assuming Graxx and Utar have no issue in taking the lead with those tasks, with some assistance from Salty Bottom, Obsben then busies herself with going through the scribe's pockets and overall belongings as fast as she can.
When Neya asks her question, her eyes drift over to the journal that Obsben pulled out of the scribe's backpack. Then, as if fate itself was proposing an alternative path, Spernik begins to shift himself awake. "What... Where..."
(OOC - Utar will certainly lend his rope to the effort to secure Spernik before he wakes up. Unless Graxx uses his manacles, the half-orc opts to lash Spernik's legs together at the ankles, and then fasten that knot to the one binding his hands, hog-tie style. If Graxx does use his manacles, Utar will cut a length of material from his common clothes (if it destroys them, so be it) to make a rudimentary blindfold for Spernik. Assume a sleight of hand check might be needed, so here's 7 plus 1 from a quick cast of guidance if there's time for it.)
Standing over Spernik's prostate body on the ground, Utar motions to the other CRAPPER's to stand back (if they want to) and taking the spell scroll provided by Ekmong prior to their departure, unfurls the curled paper. Intoning the words written on the scroll much like he did as a initate cleric still in his acolyte's robes, he casts zone of truth centred on Spernik.
"Now that your friends have left, we thought we might have ourselves a little chat Spernik. What do you say?"
Utar doesn't drop the tone he took with Spernik upon entering the room, he looks to Graxx, maybe time for the ol' Good Guardsman/Bad Guardsmen/Crazy Guardsmen routine, as appropriate.
(OOC - Scroll DC is lower than if Utar cast it himself but saving a spell slot is saving a spell slot; DC13 Cha save for Spernik.)
Unfortunately, there would be no removing the breastplate in a timely enough fashion, even if using the most crude of methods. But everything else(excluding Vestments and rations as well) had been fair enough game. "Ah. Time's up." Obsben quietly noted upon hearing Spernik speak. Before she can add more, Utar's gesturing promptly spurs Obsben to finish picking up what hadn't already made it to Salty Bottom's side by then, prior to hustling her way just out of what she figured the reach to be of Utar's spell.
"And before you think to pray for any benediction from Tiamat, our little scribbling, know that I could just still read your mind. So, it would be best not to give Graxxy a reason to break your jaw and smash your fingers to boot, m'kay?" She commented on offhandedly while examining Spernik's ring for the moment. Salty Bottom meanwhile pretends to read the journal passed off to him until someone snatched it up.
(OOC: Not really expecting to learn more about the ring just yet. But planning to ritual cast identify once the interrogation is over)
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx tightens his grip on the collar.
"Don't upset Graxx..." Graxx growls.
Graxx clangs his axe on the ground.
"Or you might get the axe!" shouts Graxx is his most crazy guardsman voice.
Intimidation: 25
As the interrogation progresses, Neya takes the liberty to survey the other exits to the room.
Perception: 20
Extended Signature
DM's Screen:
CHA save {DC 13}: 6
(@MB: I love seeing a scroll being put to good use. You can get a DM's Inspiration token too.)
Utar uses the precious seconds he has been afforded to masterfully hog-tie Spernik. This is the cleanest knotwork the cleric has ever accomplished under pressure. He might just consider picking that up as a hobby. Meanwhile, Obby uses her time to relieve Spernik of most of his belongings. The halfling notices that the green key makes her fingertips feel a bit itchy, while the black key stings slightly.
Before the prisoner can even fully awake, CRAP is already laying it heavy on him. Graxx ups the fear factor on an already frightened scholar, Obby reminds him of her mind-reading abilities, and Utar takes away his ability to lie, at least temporarily. The half-orc knows that the spell scroll worked as intended. Everyone keeps some distance from Spernik, unless they want to be affected by the spell too.
Finally reacquainting himself with the situation but sporting visible fear on his face, Spernik begins talking even before a proper question is asked: "Okay... Okay... I was sent here by the Cult of the Dragon to recover a relic. The relic was rumored to possess the ability to..." His voice pauses. He seems unable to speak whatever he was planing to say next. He finds something else to talk about: "The red double-door behind me, do you see it? It requires a four-part key to open."
While this is happening, Neya ventures into one of the other paths leading out of the circular room (let's say lower left steps.) A bone-chilling, knee-deep white mist clings to every nook of this 20-by-20-foot chamber. The walls are of the same grey stone as the rest of the complex, but decorated with a pattern of glossy, white and blue tiles perhaps a hand’s width across. A short set of stairs leads to a raised dais, upon which resides a rectangular altar carved from a single piece of white stone, veined with grey. The mist that fills the room seems to be flowing from something resting on top of the altar, although the mist itself hides its source. Two swolbolds lie lifelessly on the steps leading to the raised dais, though the mist hides the exact cause of death.
Catching Spernik's lie, Utar chuckles. Keeping his voice nice and level, Utar attempts to portray himself as a calm and measured alternative Graxx and his axe.
"You'll find that the spell I cast prevents lying, Spernik. So I wouldn't waste my time attempting it. In any event, Graxx hates liars."
Letting the impact of his previous statement settle in for a moment, he moveon from the warning and starts his questions.
"This is where the books you stole from the library led you, isn't it, Spernik? They brought you here to somethng that the Cult wants, something those undead druids found. Something that let them control dragons maybe? Not sure it did all that well for them given how we found them outside. I want to know if your friends within the Cult are planning to meet you here, Spernik? Do they even know where you are?"
(OOC Here's a persuasion roll to try and coax a little more information from Spernik and also an insight check to see if Spernik attempts any creative lies of omission. Persuasion roll benefits from inspiration (no pesky book-keeping for me!) - 18. Insight does not - 28.)
Graxx nods his head in agreement.
"Truer words have not been spoken. I do hate a liar..."
Graxx clangs his axe on the ground once more.
"Your words tell me someone has been trying to lie to us and I'm getting angry."
Graxx leans back and roars.
"DO NOT ANGER ME FURTHER!" says Graxx.
"Hmm~ Definitely gonna need the gloves for these ones." Obsben mutters in delight. Once more Salty Bottom proved to be a bit of a mind reader himself, for after diving immediately into her pack, he pulled out the winter gloves that went largely neglected up to then in anticipation for much spell casting that day.
"Now, now, Graxxy. We don't want him to pass out from freight now." She jest while slipping on a glove. Just as she's getting to the other one, Neya's missing presence elicits a look of concern. "If you can hear me, Neya, do you see any other odd keys? I suspect we're missing at least three more to open the big door in the main chamber." She called out, prior to then weaving another Mind Reading to keep at least an eye on Spernik's surface thoughts. Although by then, odds favored not being in time to get much a glimpse of any initial reaction to the Utars/Graxx interrogation.
-> Upcasting Detect Thoughts at 3rd level and directing it to Spernik. No additional benefits and not diving deeper just yet.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
In reaction to Utar's cue and Graxx's follow up reiteration of his fearsome approach to interrogations, Spernik flinches and crawls backward a foot or two as best as his hog-tied form allows. Utar can tell by his reaction that Spernik seems too afraid to try lying again now that he understands the spell. Spernik looks around as if to confirm no swolbolds are left alive to witness him talking to the enemy.
Utar continues the interrogation. Regarding his first question, Spernik's simple "Yes" will have to suffice. In response to the second question, Spernik sighs and confesses: "That is exactly the lie I was planning to tell you, but no, that is not the power the relic possesses. The Circle of the Scale was a sect of druidic dragon worshipers who resided in these foothills of the Dragonspine Mountains. The Circle was led by Skovac, a self-titled Scalebinder, who claimed that he could subvert the will of dragons with nothing but his voice when using a powerful relic. Legend held this relic to be a scale from Tiamat herself. I do not know if the scale was indeed plucked from the Queen of Dragons, but I understand the claims concerning the magical powers it possesses to be false, based on my research."
The third and fourth questions come in and Spernik replies: "No. I was to retrieve the relic and depart. I expect no other cultist to be coming this way. I doubt they know the exact location of the Temple of the Scale. It took Tibeem and I months to find this place."
Utar's insight (Natty!):
Spernik is clearly a good researcher. He surely knows a lot more historical details about the temple, the druids, and possibly the relic. He is not necessarily sharing everything he knows upfront, but his will to resist is defeated. If fear wasn't enough, you persuaded him to talk more. If prodded further, he'll continue talking.
Also, with that roll, you recall Ellison mentioning a name that sort of sounded like Skovac. This lends further credibility to the story.
Obsben waits until the interrogation is resumed to refresh her mind-reading spell. At the surface, she catches much of what Spernik is already saying, reading the words in his mind a fraction of a second before the scribe utters them. Nonetheless, she catches an errant thought during one of the man's pauses:
@Obsben:
"The relic is supposed to be a gift!"
Out of sight, Neya continues to silently take in the misty room she entered a moment ago. If she heard Obby's comment, she is waiting to reply once she has more information.
Utar furrows his brow, intrigued by the glimpses of information given in Spernik's response. Maintaining his tone, he tries to coax a little more from their prisoner.
"So what does this relic do then? And if it does not control dragons, why would the Cult want it so much? Why send you and these unusally swole kobolds after it?"
Changing tack slightly, Utar thows a little non-sequitur into coversation,
"How did they get to be so big anyway? Are they eating a lot of protein?.."
Shaking his head, he gets back on track by trying to see what Spernik knows about the rest of the Cult,
"Anyway, that's not important. What is important Spernik, is how useful you can be to us and that depends on what you can tell us about this place and about the Cult. How have your explorations of this place gone? Have you made notes on your explorations so far? Are you awar of any particular traps? Now for the Cult, do you know anything about a necromancer last operating in the catacombs underneath the Kelemvorite temple? Do you know who they are? Do you know where they've relocated to?"
Graxx does not see any reason for further intimidation or need to add to Utar's line of questioning.
Graxx will remain silent at this point.
Graxx also thinks about how much power one person could have if this scale could truly control Dragons.
No... no... He cannot think that way. It is not just.
But the power...
"Swolbolds." Obsben nonchalantly corrects while rooting around in her things again. "The exact opposite of the Weebolds I once heard of, and certainly not as smart as Wizbolds for sure. Or at least so I understood when I talked them earlier." She adds cheerily... in her own way, in any event.
Apart from that little sidebar, Obsben quieted once more to let start cleaning up her wounds, but kept both ears and mind open to the ongoing conversation. Which is why if Spernik took utar's dismissal to mean he needed not answer about the kobolds in the end, she'd double down on an inquiry into the origins of their particular development.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Overhearing all of this, Neya quips, "So it's more of a symbolic relic, than anything. This wouldn't have anything to do with that black eye we gave Old Gnawbones and your comrades in the Quivering Forest, would it?"
Not expecting a response from that verbal jab, she asks a real question, "What, exactly, are these chambers?"
Extended Signature
Graxx takes a step back and lets Utar lead the investigation for now. Should "crazy guardsman" be needed again, the barbarian is sure to step forward again. For now, Graxx thinks to himself while Utar asks a series of follow-up questions.
The first three questions come in rapid succession and Spernik delays his response a bit, clearly thinking about what to say. He eventually shares: "The Cult of the Dragon learned about the fate of the Circle of the Scale but was unable to find the location of the ruins or additional details about the circle's relic. To learn more, they dispatched Tibeem and me to Mantor’s Library in Phlan. In the months following, we eventually uncovered enough information to pinpoint the site of the ruins. With the relic in our possession, the plan was to..." He thinks a bit more and adds: "...bolster our ranks."
Spernik lets Utar move on from the question regarding the swolbods without saying anything. The scribe then addresses his next questions: "The kobolds and I have explored only as far as our target led us, much like yourselves. I have no idea of what may lie within the side rooms you passed on your way here. As for the four alcoves in this circular room, yes, they are trapped to the best of my knowledge. As you can see from the keys you stole from me, I was only able to bypass two of them, and at the high cost of many of my kobold companions. That said, I do not possess any knowledge of the exact contents of any of the shrines. The kobolds were the ones that went in, not me."
Neya speaks up from within one of the alcoves. Spernik only blows raspberries in response to her comments. As for her question, his silence shows that he thinks he has already addressed the topic of the four alcoves/shrines.
Although the man is speaking quite clearly, tears of fear continue to stream down his face. Obby catches additional surface thoughts concerning his continued fear of being put down to death by the Cult of the Dragon. Speaking of the halfling, Obsben circles back to the question about the swolbods. Spernik offers only a short reply: "If you were part of the raiders who attacked the forest stronghold, then it must be no surprise to you that the Cult is working with the Thayans. I am sure you can connect the dots."
Spernik looks around a bit and tries asking a question of his own: "Are we done here? Why don't you grab those keys so we can open the red doors and be done with this?"
Utar glances over to Obsben after being corrected, "Apologies Obsben, from here on out, they shall be known as swolbolds. Gotta be some kind of strict diet and exercise regimen though, right? They're like teeny versions of Graxx!"
After ponderng whether he might be able to make use of such a regime himself, he pats his own tummy. No losing this he supposes, its bought and paid for. Turning back to Spernik, Utar starts to bring his questioning to a close.
"You've been helpful enough that I don't think we'll let Graxx or the Cult of the Dragon deal with you Spernik. Although I'm sure the Lord Sage will have questions of their own to put to you once we return to Phlan and I'm sure there are some other interested parties who would want a word with you as well. If you can help them with their questions, they might be able to be persuaded to not hand you over to the Black Fist, which I'm sure you'll agree is to your benefit. Tibeem wasn't so lucky, the Black Fist caught him and strung him up with nary a question asked, so I'm sure you can appreciate that staying out of their hands would be best for you."
Taking a deep breath in, he pushes onto tightening up his own questions before his spell wears off.
"But, I've still a few lose ends here, Spernik, and you're doing your best to avoid an answer. I want to know certain things that will help me and firends out and bring us back to Phlan safely. That's in your interests now too, don't forget... How will this relic help bolster the ranks of the Cult? Be specific, what are we looking for down here and what will it do? What do you know of these Thayans, do you know any names, details of their deal with the Cult? Remember, all of this information helps me sell the idea of keeping you alive to folk who honestly, either aren't all that picky about your future, or don't foresee you having a long one.
(OOC Utar is laying it on thick here, so I guess a persuasion roll is appropriate - 14 and just to check that he isn't being led astray by Spernik, here's some insight for good measure - 14.)