The noble drow just sighs tiredly as the duergar arrests them, convinced there is nothing to be said to make the stubborn deep dwarves change their minds. "Let this be a lesson about what the reward is for helping others." He mutters under his breath, ready to follow the stoneguard peacefully.
The guard didn't flinch under the verbal assault."Of course I heard ya. Now hush yer mouth before we find a different fate for ya. This way."The fair number of guards around you begin to direct you towards Overlake Hold with an almost business like approach. None of them converse with you on the way to the dungeon hold, other than curt directions when necessary.
After waiting a long while in a dungeon cell carved out of impressively thick stone, you are taken to a dark office and met by an imposing female gray dwarf. She is fully armored and bears an insignia you have not seen on any other duergar. She is flanked by two Stone Guards who remain by the door.
“I am Captain Errde Blackskull, commander of the Stone Guard,” she says, giving each of you a calculating look. “Let me start by saying you are worth nothing here in Gracklstugh. Most of those in my command would sell you off in a heartbeat as the cheapest manual labor. However, I’ve learned to make much better use of adventurers like you.”
"Really, Errde?" raises an eyebrow Khessa "The fact that in the Blade Bazaar we helped (spontaneously and without asking for anything in return) duergar civilians and duergar guards not to become meatballs under the blows of the mad Mr Double Head (they told you, I suppose?) should have been enough to convince you that we could have been willing to help you even without tricks. You see, it would not have been necessary to arrest us without valid reasons only to try to coerce us. However," she sighs "if this is the approach you prefer, go ahead: what is it that you would like to force us to do?"
'...But don't expect me to warn you about the threat of Demogorgon, you half-notch ungrateful despot'does not say the blonde arcane warrior.'You really, really, really deserve a surprise visit from him! I'm eager to see if the second head you'll develop will show more sense than the only one you have at the moment...'
As they wait in the dungeon cell, the noble drow would rest his weary feet while waiting for whatever fate the duergar has in store for them. "Now, we are in no position to argue with our captors, but if we simply play this out politely I'm sure we will find an opportunitry to make ourselves valuable to them."He says with a firm voice.
As they stand before Captain Blackskull the noble drow would bow in reverence and listen with a small frown as Ebzer and Khessa vainly expresses their displeasure with the treatment they had before taking a step forward. "You would have to excuse my companions, we have all been under a lot of strain recently Captain Blackskull but we are of course glad that we found our way to your impressive city. You are right and wise in thinking we are much more useful than simple slaves. We are at your service and eager to perform whatever task you have in mind for us." He says, shooting the duergar and the human behind him a glance to make them talk a bit less for a while until they are out of danger of being sent of to the salt mines or even executed for being insolent to the one person that literary holds their lives in their hands.
Persuasion to be servile enough to the captain: 13 Another roll if help action is given by Ebzer and Khessa by staying silent for once ;-) : 22
Errde doesn't flinch from the verbiage thrown at her, clearly accustomed to such things. She gives a half sniffing grin before speaking,"I have two jobs for you. Indeed, handling a mad giant then should make these jobs right easy then I would think. The first job is to track a derro named Droki. We have been trailing him for a while now but he always seems to know exactly when and where our guards are, invisible or otherwise. We know he probably lives in the West Cleft District, and we cannot go barging in there without causing a massive uprising. I want to know where goes and what he does. You see..."She breaks off for a moment and then lowers her voice a bit,"I have reason to believe he is involved in a conspiracy with the Council of Savants, and possibly the clan lairds as well." She elaborates for a few minutes on how uncovering this conspiracy will grant her great honor with the Deepking."In return for bringing Droki here for questioning, or dead with evidence of his activities, I will arrange safe passage out of the city for you when you are done."
Errde straightened up a bit, "The other job...I have been searching for signs of conspiracy for a bit now, but if you can bring or provide evidence of corruption among the city....besides the giant, that is an entirely different matter as I have no idea what insanity they get up to on their own. But bring me sufficient evidence that I can show or at least relate to the powers here, and I promise to reward you when you are ready to leave the city." She stopped and took a deep breath. "Sound like something you motley visitors can do for me?"
"Of course, we are a resourceful group and we will find this scheming derro for you Captain Blackskull. We are unfortunately at a slight disadvantage though as none of us had the pleasure of visiting Gracklstugh before. Can I ask where your people have spotted this elusive derro?" The noble drow asks with another bow.
"Errde," she sighs, apparently more benevolent this time, Khessa "it's like I just told you. We would have helped you even if you'd simply asked us, without trying to coerce us like you did. Anyway, since you apparently offer us something in return after all, instead of simply trying to force us, we will help you all the more. Of course we can do it. Only two questions".
"One, the most important:" counts the blonde arcane warrior on her fingers, raising a first one "while working for you, we could end up fighting. How can we prevent your guards from arresting us after each fight? Can you issue us a written document that we can show? Or are you just planning to give the guards our description?"
"Two, just to make it clear:" raises a second finger the tall adventuress "'corruption' in the sense of an officer demanding a bribe to do his duties? Or more in the sense of degradation, such as if people start behaving insane? Because we already have witnessed examples of both of these behaviors... we could give you the details... but it would then be up to you to question those concerned and make them confess, we have no written evidence of what we saw. It is written evidence (or objective proof), that you need? Finding you somebody to put to question will not be enough?"
Ebzer looks truly astonished. "You think that forcing foreigners to do your job for you will bring you... honor? With the Deepking? Are all you city-dwellers completely mad? That's the complete opposite of honor." He rubs his forehead as if it hurts him to try and comprehend the intrigues of the Deepking's Court. "Arrrrr... Fine! Fine! We'll find your rebel derro and expose whatever rabble-rousing cabal dares to challenge your authority, while you go around harassing harmless visitors. By the Lords of the Forge, this city is completely gethvitsker!"
Errde shoots a look at Ebzer, "Perhaps if you had spent more time in our city you would better understand our ways instead of running off with these...outsiders. We have been conscripting wayward visitors for ages now, but like I said, I generally prefer to find other uses for them than simply selling them off to the mines or something. I can quite assure you I am not mad. And they aren't challenging -my- authority, but the clan lairds and even the Deepking himself, so yes, I am sure it would bring be honor to diffuse a conspiracy against them."
She looked back at Khessa with a small sigh, "I was waiting for you to accept, but yes, I have insignias for you all to carry that should allow you free access to most of the city should you find your way blocked." She blinked slowly, "A guard taking bribes? That is strange for sure. What else have you seen?"Looking at Traydark, "Droki has been spotted all over the city, from the docks to the bazaar to the furrow and such. If you haven't seen him yet, I'm sure it's just a matter of time. My best guess is to start looking in the West Cleft, perhaps one of the mad derro can give you more assistance than they would to us."
"And how will we recognize this Droki?" Katryl asks in Common, a bit curtly. She seems not very pleased at the tactics Errde has used to get them to work for her.
Ebzer declines to respond to the guard captain's excuses, thinking to himself, Perhaps there wouldn't be a conspiracy in the first place if you quit conscripting people and forcing them to work in the mines, you moron. I can't believe that someone who fancies herself in charge of the whole city's security is comfortable entrusting this investigation to a bunch of outsiders she's barely met. At best, this is incompetent, but more likely, there is something very big she isn't telling us, something that she fears. Well, once we defeat whatever it is, maybe I'll come back and expose her for the foolish coward she is. Or maybe I'll just let the city continue to rot and fester in its own corruption until the whole stinkin' mess disappears and we can start over.
...She blinked slowly, "A guard taking bribes? That is strange for sure. What else have you seen?" ...
Khessa thinks to himself: 'But... does this one ever poke her nose out of her office?! How does she not notice anything that is happening... '
But she tries to answer in a much less aggressive way and reports: "Well, Errde, I would be almost easier telling you what I saw that was normal! You know, during our short visit to the Blade Bazaar, we saw many merchants behaving as if they were out of their mind. Someone kept changing the price on some wares but kept also accusing the customer of asking for a different price every time. Someone we were talking to suddenly went invisible during the conversation, but clearly kept right on talking to us as if nothing has happened before reappearing a few moments later. Someone threatened to kill a customer. Then Mr Double Head burst into the bazaar. As you see, an impressive array of signals that something is wrong... As evidence, you could send any of your spies, invisible, to take a tour of the bazaar and then have them write a report and sign it. Anyway, we'll continue to keep our eyes open".
"Last I heard Droki is dressed rather oddly, even for a derro, with a very strange hat. Tentacles or something I believe."She looked back at Khessa, "I see. Well threatening people isn't unusual, nor going invisible, but putting it all together, and a guard taking bribes, it could be something..."She looks deep in thought for a long moment.
(Everyone please make a Persuasion check, your characters only.)
Despite being away from the city, something tells you this IS how duergar are, like it or not. As far as you can tell, Errde is the quintessential duergar taking advantage of anything and anyone she can.
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The noble drow just sighs tiredly as the duergar arrests them, convinced there is nothing to be said to make the stubborn deep dwarves change their minds. "Let this be a lesson about what the reward is for helping others." He mutters under his breath, ready to follow the stoneguard peacefully.
The guard didn't flinch under the verbal assault. "Of course I heard ya. Now hush yer mouth before we find a different fate for ya. This way." The fair number of guards around you begin to direct you towards Overlake Hold with an almost business like approach. None of them converse with you on the way to the dungeon hold, other than curt directions when necessary.
After waiting a long while in a dungeon cell carved out of impressively thick stone, you are taken to a dark office and met by an imposing female gray dwarf. She is fully armored and bears an insignia you have not seen on any other duergar. She is flanked by two Stone Guards who remain by the door.
“I am Captain Errde Blackskull, commander of the Stone Guard,” she says, giving each of you a calculating look. “Let me start by saying you are worth nothing here in Gracklstugh. Most of those in my command would sell you off in a heartbeat as the cheapest manual labor. However, I’ve learned to make much better use of adventurers like you.”
Ebzer snorts and mutters audibly, "Now I see why my clan left this city. Corrupt." He folds his arms across his broad chest and waits. "Well?"
"Really, Errde?" raises an eyebrow Khessa "The fact that in the Blade Bazaar we helped (spontaneously and without asking for anything in return) duergar civilians and duergar guards not to become meatballs under the blows of the mad Mr Double Head (they told you, I suppose?) should have been enough to convince you that we could have been willing to help you even without tricks. You see, it would not have been necessary to arrest us without valid reasons only to try to coerce us. However," she sighs "if this is the approach you prefer, go ahead: what is it that you would like to force us to do?"
'...But don't expect me to warn you about the threat of Demogorgon, you half-notch ungrateful despot' does not say the blonde arcane warrior.'You really, really, really deserve a surprise visit from him! I'm eager to see if the second head you'll develop will show more sense than the only one you have at the moment...'
As they wait in the dungeon cell, the noble drow would rest his weary feet while waiting for whatever fate the duergar has in store for them. "Now, we are in no position to argue with our captors, but if we simply play this out politely I'm sure we will find an opportunitry to make ourselves valuable to them." He says with a firm voice.
As they stand before Captain Blackskull the noble drow would bow in reverence and listen with a small frown as Ebzer and Khessa vainly expresses their displeasure with the treatment they had before taking a step forward. "You would have to excuse my companions, we have all been under a lot of strain recently Captain Blackskull but we are of course glad that we found our way to your impressive city. You are right and wise in thinking we are much more useful than simple slaves. We are at your service and eager to perform whatever task you have in mind for us." He says, shooting the duergar and the human behind him a glance to make them talk a bit less for a while until they are out of danger of being sent of to the salt mines or even executed for being insolent to the one person that literary holds their lives in their hands.
Persuasion to be servile enough to the captain: 13 Another roll if help action is given by Ebzer and Khessa by staying silent for once ;-) : 22
Errde doesn't flinch from the verbiage thrown at her, clearly accustomed to such things. She gives a half sniffing grin before speaking, "I have two jobs for you. Indeed, handling a mad giant then should make these jobs right easy then I would think. The first job is to track a derro named Droki. We have been trailing him for a while now but he always seems to know exactly when and where our guards are, invisible or otherwise. We know he probably lives in the West Cleft District, and we cannot go barging in there without causing a massive uprising. I want to know where goes and what he does. You see..." She breaks off for a moment and then lowers her voice a bit, "I have reason to believe he is involved in a conspiracy with the Council of Savants, and possibly the clan lairds as well." She elaborates for a few minutes on how uncovering this conspiracy will grant her great honor with the Deepking. "In return for bringing Droki here for questioning, or dead with evidence of his activities, I will arrange safe passage out of the city for you when you are done."
Errde straightened up a bit, "The other job...I have been searching for signs of conspiracy for a bit now, but if you can bring or provide evidence of corruption among the city....besides the giant, that is an entirely different matter as I have no idea what insanity they get up to on their own. But bring me sufficient evidence that I can show or at least relate to the powers here, and I promise to reward you when you are ready to leave the city." She stopped and took a deep breath. "Sound like something you motley visitors can do for me?"
"Of course, we are a resourceful group and we will find this scheming derro for you Captain Blackskull. We are unfortunately at a slight disadvantage though as none of us had the pleasure of visiting Gracklstugh before. Can I ask where your people have spotted this elusive derro?" The noble drow asks with another bow.
"Errde," she sighs, apparently more benevolent this time, Khessa "it's like I just told you. We would have helped you even if you'd simply asked us, without trying to coerce us like you did. Anyway, since you apparently offer us something in return after all, instead of simply trying to force us, we will help you all the more. Of course we can do it. Only two questions".
"One, the most important:" counts the blonde arcane warrior on her fingers, raising a first one "while working for you, we could end up fighting. How can we prevent your guards from arresting us after each fight? Can you issue us a written document that we can show? Or are you just planning to give the guards our description?"
"Two, just to make it clear:" raises a second finger the tall adventuress "'corruption' in the sense of an officer demanding a bribe to do his duties? Or more in the sense of degradation, such as if people start behaving insane? Because we already have witnessed examples of both of these behaviors... we could give you the details... but it would then be up to you to question those concerned and make them confess, we have no written evidence of what we saw. It is written evidence (or objective proof), that you need? Finding you somebody to put to question will not be enough?"
Ebzer looks truly astonished. "You think that forcing foreigners to do your job for you will bring you... honor? With the Deepking? Are all you city-dwellers completely mad? That's the complete opposite of honor." He rubs his forehead as if it hurts him to try and comprehend the intrigues of the Deepking's Court. "Arrrrr... Fine! Fine! We'll find your rebel derro and expose whatever rabble-rousing cabal dares to challenge your authority, while you go around harassing harmless visitors. By the Lords of the Forge, this city is completely gethvitsker!"
Errde shoots a look at Ebzer, "Perhaps if you had spent more time in our city you would better understand our ways instead of running off with these...outsiders. We have been conscripting wayward visitors for ages now, but like I said, I generally prefer to find other uses for them than simply selling them off to the mines or something. I can quite assure you I am not mad. And they aren't challenging -my- authority, but the clan lairds and even the Deepking himself, so yes, I am sure it would bring be honor to diffuse a conspiracy against them."
She looked back at Khessa with a small sigh, "I was waiting for you to accept, but yes, I have insignias for you all to carry that should allow you free access to most of the city should you find your way blocked." She blinked slowly, "A guard taking bribes? That is strange for sure. What else have you seen?" Looking at Traydark, "Droki has been spotted all over the city, from the docks to the bazaar to the furrow and such. If you haven't seen him yet, I'm sure it's just a matter of time. My best guess is to start looking in the West Cleft, perhaps one of the mad derro can give you more assistance than they would to us."
"And how will we recognize this Droki?" Katryl asks in Common, a bit curtly. She seems not very pleased at the tactics Errde has used to get them to work for her.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
If Errde does not understand Common, Khessa translates in Undercommon in real-time. She translates the other way around for Katryl, also, if needed.
Ebzer declines to respond to the guard captain's excuses, thinking to himself, Perhaps there wouldn't be a conspiracy in the first place if you quit conscripting people and forcing them to work in the mines, you moron. I can't believe that someone who fancies herself in charge of the whole city's security is comfortable entrusting this investigation to a bunch of outsiders she's barely met. At best, this is incompetent, but more likely, there is something very big she isn't telling us, something that she fears. Well, once we defeat whatever it is, maybe I'll come back and expose her for the foolish coward she is. Or maybe I'll just let the city continue to rot and fester in its own corruption until the whole stinkin' mess disappears and we can start over.
Khessa thinks to himself: 'But... does this one ever poke her nose out of her office?! How does she not notice anything that is happening... '
But she tries to answer in a much less aggressive way and reports: "Well, Errde, I would be almost easier telling you what I saw that was normal! You know, during our short visit to the Blade Bazaar, we saw many merchants behaving as if they were out of their mind. Someone kept changing the price on some wares but kept also accusing the customer of asking for a different price every time. Someone we were talking to suddenly went invisible during the conversation, but clearly kept right on talking to us as if nothing has happened before reappearing a few moments later. Someone threatened to kill a customer. Then Mr Double Head burst into the bazaar. As you see, an impressive array of signals that something is wrong... As evidence, you could send any of your spies, invisible, to take a tour of the bazaar and then have them write a report and sign it. Anyway, we'll continue to keep our eyes open".
Ebzer make an Insight check.
"Last I heard Droki is dressed rather oddly, even for a derro, with a very strange hat. Tentacles or something I believe." She looked back at Khessa, "I see. Well threatening people isn't unusual, nor going invisible, but putting it all together, and a guard taking bribes, it could be something..." She looks deep in thought for a long moment.
(Everyone please make a Persuasion check, your characters only.)
Traydark persuasion: 23
Khessa's persuasion: 11
Ebzer Insight6 (he's not very wise, I'm afraid)
(Katryl Perception: 17)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Despite being away from the city, something tells you this IS how duergar are, like it or not. As far as you can tell, Errde is the quintessential duergar taking advantage of anything and anyone she can.