Dimitris and Garrent meet with you at the common room in the inn. Food and drink are in order prior to a well earned sleep. Dimitris replies, "Garrent was sent here to observe. He is now due to report to the Duke all that he has seen and experienced on this journey. The Duke has the authority to mete out justice where justice is due." He takes a draught of the ale served appreciatively, "Is this not very good ale? Or, have I just had a very long day?" He asks this with a smile. "Oh, before I forget, where is the hat that fell off of the fellow pretending to be the drow elf? I saw you pick that up, then lost track of it. It will be a key piece of evidence for the Duke that a magical hat allowing the wearer to assume the form of another was found." He pauses as he looks over the rim of his mug at Hoid. "That is pertinent to the recent transpiring as well as those that are alleged several generations ago."
Starker goes up to Hoid, hands him the hat, and says for all to hear “It is a Hat of Disguise. For an hour it can make a wearer who is attuned to it appear as the wearer wishes, within certain limits (number and arrangement of limbs, height plus or minus a heads span or so). It is a simple spell in itself, but the hat is fairly valuable.Thank you for the opportunity to study it. I find it interesting that it required attunement.”
Hoid hands the hat to the inquisitor. “I wanted Starker to investigate the hat with his arcane abilities. I am sure you can understand why. We had reason to believe that Alamnal could impersonate anyone with great skill. I did not suspect that Alamnal was being impersonated. I now question whether Alamnal ever existed. How was this ruse perpetrated for generations?”
Dimitris accepts the hat from Hoid, "All understandable given your closeness to this situation. With your leave, I will keep this valuable piece of evidence safe. The Duke can then decide how to proceed." He finishes his ale after a last bite of chicken, "I fear this ale has gone to my head after such a long day. I must retire. Perhaps when I am more refreshed you will have news about the involvement of the two apprehended in the scuffle?"
Kragen, compelled by his need to see the scales balance and serve justice to those who perpetrated this deception, suggests to Earl Grammal and Trolkarl the following.
Garrod and Brunel be incarcerated or restrained for further questioning.
Chadwick and Kragen, devotee’s of Tyr, interrogate Garrod and Brunel.
Trolkarl question Handril with details about how he ended up in captivity and events leading up to it.
Starker, Gnueman to investigate the crypts for further clues or other interesting oddities. Is there more info on the events of the Dukes poisoning attempt in the House somewhere?
Hoid and or Chadwick question the guard and ferret out any other Brunel accomplices. Also ensure loyalty to the house. Also review patrol practices and ensure they are focused on public safety not nefarious behavior.
Trolkarl interrogate Grammal and determine if he was a gullible victim or willing accomplice.
have a scribe document all key interviews and pertinent evidence to present to the Duke for adjudication. Hopefully the truth is discovered on the the attempt to poison the duke and house Hartstone is restored, if that is the Dukes desire.
To The Company “what other actions do we need to take to gather all evidence/facts, restore order to this area and ensure Justice is served and peace is restored?”
for all key interviews/interrogations, Kragen or Chadwick will use Zone of Truth.
There really are no cells to jail Brunel and Garrod. There are two closets off of the main entrance that can become holding cells with a guard out front to make sure they stay put.
Garrent and Dimitris are happy to serve as observers for any of the questioning that takes place. There are people in town that can be employed to act as scribes to keep notes about the interviews with Garrod and Brunel.
Handers still has the leg iron attached to his leg. No key has been found.
Trolkarl can talk with Handers the next day. Water and thin broth is about all he can keep down at this point. The healing magic of Dimitris and Kragen have helped him greatly. "Following our argument," Handers tells Trolkarl with some regret, "I went to confront Alamnal. 'How can I be against my own brother,' echoed in my mind. I am so sorry to have done such a thing to you, Trolkarl. We are blood." He looks to Trolkarl for some sign of forgiveness at this. "It was only the next night that I was asked to meet some of the men outside of town. They had found something strange and needed my guidance. Once at the place I was set upon by Alamnal, Hinnick and Garrod," he looks to Trolkarl. "Be careful if you try to face Alamnal. He is a wickedly fast fighter and more skilled than I." He takes another sip of broth to continue, "The three of them overpowered me and Alamnal forced some kind of poison in my face. When I woke I was chained to the wall in the crypts. A masonry wall was nearly complete, sealing the niche where I was kept. Only Hinnick and Garrod came to finish the wall. They left one brick loose to slide stale bread and small bowls of water to me. As time passed, this became less regular. Brunel was who was continuing this lately. He would not talk with me or listen to my pleas. He said, 'Alamnal has told me what a despicable person you are for impersonating master Handers,' I fear I did not have much time left and then I heard new voices beyond the wall. It was all I could do to push the brick through to call for help." He sags at this, "I barely did anything." He starts to sob at this. After a while he recovers enough to continue, "Grammal is consumed in wine and distractions. Alamnal has tightened his grip on the house guard. They now travel the countryside 'taxing' people as they see fit. Tales of disappearances had started prior to my being imprisoned. Our house is in disarray, brother."
The niche where Handers was kept is befouled. The wall is easily removed and some of the less cooperative house guard are made to do the cleaning work with Hoid standing watch as they do so. None are willing to face him, even as a pair. Once it is sufficiently cleaned Starker and Gneuman get to work and search this niche. After much careful consideration and search both determine that there is nothing to find there.
Starker to The Company: ”There are many possible paths of action. I would like to find and kill Alamnal as soon as we can and in as public and violent a manner as is convenient. Then, assuming all is settled here to Trokarl’s satisfaction, let’s follow the pieced together map for which we searched so assiduously.
”So, the logical and efficient next step along this path is for us to torture his goons until we have elicited a list of locations where we might find Almanal.”
<grabs the bag of anatomist’s tools, hands Cyrus a scalpel, pulls on leather gloves.>
Hoid to Starker, “Torture might be efficient, but are you sufficiently skilled at torture to achieve maximum efficiency of torture? If you are not, this might not be a good time for you to practice. Also, torture may be frowned upon by who ever ends up ruling this place. Any efficiency gains from torture might be offset by animosity created with the local ruler, maybe even the purple dragons.”
Starker:”I remind you that I am a fast learner and that I would have one to hone my skills on to get warmed up, but you make several sound arguments. Let us consult the Oracle Orb of Aqualith.
While gazing into the Orb, Starker says: “O Piscine Seer: Alamnal is a dangerous criminal whom I need to find as soon as possible before he escapes the area and starts anew his nefarious schemes. My goal is to find him within the next seven days. I would be grateful if you were to indicate as clearly as you are able where I should go to find him. Where should I go?”
Kragen growls at Starker with a stern look “No torture will be employed while I am around. We have better means to extract information if the subject is not cooperative.”
Starker:”I remind you that I am a fast learner and that I would have one to hone my skills on to get warmed up, but you make several sound arguments. Let us consult the Oracle Orb of Aqualith.
While gazing into the Orb, Starker says: “O Piscine Seer: Alamnal is a dangerous criminal whom I need to find as soon as possible before he escapes the area and starts anew his nefarious schemes. My goal is to find him within the next seven days. I would be grateful if you were to indicate as clearly as you are able where I should go to find him. Where should I go?”
The fish looks into Starker's eyes as he asks the question. It then wriggles its fins and a cloud of silt appears in the orb. The fish seems to shrink in size as the silt organizes into hills and a the plants take on the appearance of a forest. It swims up the slope of the hills and into a large circular clearing of the forest where a building stands. The fish swims into the building and then down into the base of the cloud of silt.
All of the silt settles and the fish is back to normal size. It proceeds to swim lazily about the plants.
Starker to Trokarl: “Did you recognize the location the watery oracle indicated? Could it be the family hunting lodge in the western mountains you mentioned?”
Seeing that his approach to interrogation does not suit the arbitrary esthetic choices of some in the party, Starker will go to Nimnal’s lab on the second floor of the Manor and investigate, reading all the notes and looking at the equipment, and searching for hidden compartments.
Since Handers is cooperative, Hoid will ask the obvious: Can he explain why he was imprisoned and/or the events immediately prior to his imprisonment?
Also, Hoid will separately ask the following questions of Garrod and Brunel: “Who are you more afraid of, Alamnal when he learns of your failure or the justice of your lord (and kin for the brother)? Alamnal will find out, but who, if anyone, will be opposing him when he does?” The intent is not to receive an answer, so Hoid will not wait more than a moment before leaving.
Since Handers is cooperative, Hoid will ask the obvious: Can he explain why he was imprisoned and/or the events immediately prior to his imprisonment?
Also, Hoid will separately ask the following question of Garrod and Brunel: Who are you more afraid of, Alamnal when he learns of your failure or the justice of your lord (and kin for the brother)? The intent is not to receive an answer, so Hoid will not wait more than a moment before leaving.
I re-read post 5571. Maybe I am missing something. Did Handers know something that would get him on Alamnal’s bad(er) side? Was it nothing more than questioning opposition to Trolkarl?
Handers said Alamnal is a more skilled fighter. But how skilled is Handers?
I re-read post 5571. Maybe I am missing something. Did Handers know something that would get him on Alamnal’s bad(er) side? Was it nothing more than questioning opposition to Trolkarl?
Handers said Alamnal is a more skilled fighter. But how skilled is Handers?
Alamnal does not seem to react well to having his plans/outlook questioned.
Handers is the best with a sword amongst the Ravenshield brothers.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Dimitris and Garrent meet with you at the common room in the inn. Food and drink are in order prior to a well earned sleep. Dimitris replies, "Garrent was sent here to observe. He is now due to report to the Duke all that he has seen and experienced on this journey. The Duke has the authority to mete out justice where justice is due." He takes a draught of the ale served appreciatively, "Is this not very good ale? Or, have I just had a very long day?" He asks this with a smile. "Oh, before I forget, where is the hat that fell off of the fellow pretending to be the drow elf? I saw you pick that up, then lost track of it. It will be a key piece of evidence for the Duke that a magical hat allowing the wearer to assume the form of another was found." He pauses as he looks over the rim of his mug at Hoid. "That is pertinent to the recent transpiring as well as those that are alleged several generations ago."
In the meantime … Starker has cast Identify on the hat.
Starker goes up to Hoid, hands him the hat, and says for all to hear “It is a Hat of Disguise. For an hour it can make a wearer who is attuned to it appear as the wearer wishes, within certain limits (number and arrangement of limbs, height plus or minus a heads span or so). It is a simple spell in itself, but the hat is fairly valuable.Thank you for the opportunity to study it. I find it interesting that it required attunement.”
Hoid hands the hat to the inquisitor. “I wanted Starker to investigate the hat with his arcane abilities. I am sure you can understand why. We had reason to believe that Alamnal could impersonate anyone with great skill. I did not suspect that Alamnal was being impersonated. I now question whether Alamnal ever existed. How was this ruse perpetrated for generations?”
Dimitris accepts the hat from Hoid, "All understandable given your closeness to this situation. With your leave, I will keep this valuable piece of evidence safe. The Duke can then decide how to proceed." He finishes his ale after a last bite of chicken, "I fear this ale has gone to my head after such a long day. I must retire. Perhaps when I am more refreshed you will have news about the involvement of the two apprehended in the scuffle?"
Kragen, compelled by his need to see the scales balance and serve justice to those who perpetrated this deception, suggests to Earl Grammal and Trolkarl the following.
Garrod and Brunel be incarcerated or restrained for further questioning.
Chadwick and Kragen, devotee’s of Tyr, interrogate Garrod and Brunel.
Trolkarl question Handril with details about how he ended up in captivity and events leading up to it.
Starker, Gnueman to investigate the crypts for further clues or other interesting oddities. Is there more info on the events of the Dukes poisoning attempt in the House somewhere?
Hoid and or Chadwick question the guard and ferret out any other Brunel accomplices. Also ensure loyalty to the house. Also review patrol practices and ensure they are focused on public safety not nefarious behavior.
Trolkarl interrogate Grammal and determine if he was a gullible victim or willing accomplice.
have a scribe document all key interviews and pertinent evidence to present to the Duke for adjudication. Hopefully the truth is discovered on the the attempt to poison the duke and house Hartstone is restored, if that is the Dukes desire.
To The Company “what other actions do we need to take to gather all evidence/facts, restore order to this area and ensure Justice is served and peace is restored?”
for all key interviews/interrogations, Kragen or Chadwick will use Zone of Truth.
Secret room needs to be thoroughly searched. Prior search was cursory.
There really are no cells to jail Brunel and Garrod. There are two closets off of the main entrance that can become holding cells with a guard out front to make sure they stay put.
Garrent and Dimitris are happy to serve as observers for any of the questioning that takes place. There are people in town that can be employed to act as scribes to keep notes about the interviews with Garrod and Brunel.
Handers still has the leg iron attached to his leg. No key has been found.
Trolkarl can talk with Handers the next day. Water and thin broth is about all he can keep down at this point. The healing magic of Dimitris and Kragen have helped him greatly. "Following our argument," Handers tells Trolkarl with some regret, "I went to confront Alamnal. 'How can I be against my own brother,' echoed in my mind. I am so sorry to have done such a thing to you, Trolkarl. We are blood." He looks to Trolkarl for some sign of forgiveness at this. "It was only the next night that I was asked to meet some of the men outside of town. They had found something strange and needed my guidance. Once at the place I was set upon by Alamnal, Hinnick and Garrod," he looks to Trolkarl. "Be careful if you try to face Alamnal. He is a wickedly fast fighter and more skilled than I." He takes another sip of broth to continue, "The three of them overpowered me and Alamnal forced some kind of poison in my face. When I woke I was chained to the wall in the crypts. A masonry wall was nearly complete, sealing the niche where I was kept. Only Hinnick and Garrod came to finish the wall. They left one brick loose to slide stale bread and small bowls of water to me. As time passed, this became less regular. Brunel was who was continuing this lately. He would not talk with me or listen to my pleas. He said, 'Alamnal has told me what a despicable person you are for impersonating master Handers,' I fear I did not have much time left and then I heard new voices beyond the wall. It was all I could do to push the brick through to call for help." He sags at this, "I barely did anything." He starts to sob at this. After a while he recovers enough to continue, "Grammal is consumed in wine and distractions. Alamnal has tightened his grip on the house guard. They now travel the countryside 'taxing' people as they see fit. Tales of disappearances had started prior to my being imprisoned. Our house is in disarray, brother."
The niche where Handers was kept is befouled. The wall is easily removed and some of the less cooperative house guard are made to do the cleaning work with Hoid standing watch as they do so. None are willing to face him, even as a pair. Once it is sufficiently cleaned Starker and Gneuman get to work and search this niche. After much careful consideration and search both determine that there is nothing to find there.
Does Handers have any knowledge of where we might find Alamnal?
Starker to The Company: ”There are many possible paths of action. I would like to find and kill Alamnal as soon as we can and in as public and violent a manner as is convenient. Then, assuming all is settled here to Trokarl’s satisfaction, let’s follow the pieced together map for which we searched so assiduously.
”So, the logical and efficient next step along this path is for us to torture his goons until we have elicited a list of locations where we might find Almanal.”
<grabs the bag of anatomist’s tools, hands Cyrus a scalpel, pulls on leather gloves.>
”Would anyone care to join me?”
Hoid to Starker, “Torture might be efficient, but are you sufficiently skilled at torture to achieve maximum efficiency of torture? If you are not, this might not be a good time for you to practice. Also, torture may be frowned upon by who ever ends up ruling this place. Any efficiency gains from torture might be offset by animosity created with the local ruler, maybe even the purple dragons.”
Starker:”I remind you that I am a fast learner and that I would have one to hone my skills on to get warmed up, but you make several sound arguments. Let us consult the Oracle Orb of Aqualith.
While gazing into the Orb, Starker says: “O Piscine Seer: Alamnal is a dangerous criminal whom I need to find as soon as possible before he escapes the area and starts anew his nefarious schemes. My goal is to find him within the next seven days. I would be grateful if you were to indicate as clearly as you are able where I should go to find him. Where should I go?”
Kragen growls at Starker with a stern look “No torture will be employed while I am around. We have better means to extract information if the subject is not cooperative.”
Kragen and Chadwick interrogate Brunel, Garrod and Hinnick (if we can find him and capture him).
willing to discuss other interrogators as long as you are guided by non harmful approaches.
The fish looks into Starker's eyes as he asks the question. It then wriggles its fins and a cloud of silt appears in the orb. The fish seems to shrink in size as the silt organizes into hills and a the plants take on the appearance of a forest. It swims up the slope of the hills and into a large circular clearing of the forest where a building stands. The fish swims into the building and then down into the base of the cloud of silt.
All of the silt settles and the fish is back to normal size. It proceeds to swim lazily about the plants.
Starker to Trokarl: “Did you recognize the location the watery oracle indicated? Could it be the family hunting lodge in the western mountains you mentioned?”
Seeing that his approach to interrogation does not suit the arbitrary esthetic choices of some in the party, Starker will go to Nimnal’s lab on the second floor of the Manor and investigate, reading all the notes and looking at the equipment, and searching for hidden compartments.
investigation = 27 !! (Natural 20)
Since Handers is cooperative, Hoid will ask the obvious: Can he explain why he was imprisoned and/or the events immediately prior to his imprisonment?
Also, Hoid will separately ask the following questions of Garrod and Brunel: “Who are you more afraid of, Alamnal when he learns of your failure or the justice of your lord (and kin for the brother)? Alamnal will find out, but who, if anyone, will be opposing him when he does?” The intent is not to receive an answer, so Hoid will not wait more than a moment before leaving.
See post #5571 for Handers' answer.
Psychological assault on the prisoners noted.
I edited the psychological assault slightly.
I re-read post 5571. Maybe I am missing something. Did Handers know something that would get him on Alamnal’s bad(er) side? Was it nothing more than questioning opposition to Trolkarl?
Handers said Alamnal is a more skilled fighter. But how skilled is Handers?
Alamnal does not seem to react well to having his plans/outlook questioned.
Handers is the best with a sword amongst the Ravenshield brothers.