"What was the plan, as you knew it?" Neya asks, trying to get an idea of the scheme from Caah version of it, despite knowing it probably would have gone a different way than what she might say..
Aleyd's response shakes away any hope Caah might have had of leading a potential negotiation for her freedom. Doozey notices it in the half-orc's eye and thinks twice before interrupting the moment. For now, the halfling simply observes.
If she had any expectation of successfully arguing for Chaab and the others' deaths, Graxx takes that away too. A bit taken by surprise by Graxx's maneuver, Cron also stands up from his chair and reaches for his weapon, but avoids taking any further action upon realizing what the barbarian is doing. Caah is unable to form a verbal response to Graxx's display.
Noticing the shift in who is controlling the table, Utar asks a direct question of Caah, although she is not able to answer it clearly: "Both Chaab and Yalek where in the room. I do not know for sure who dealt the final blow."
Neya avoids any silence with an immediate follow-up question. Caah responds: "Senitir invited me to the mansion last night and revealed that an opportunity would soon show itself. He said he was going to make a move for power, kill the lord of the manor, and that your group would soon follow and find a way into the grounds. We were to wait until you were in the room with the body and then spring a multi-pronged trap. I wanted Utar for myself but had to carve my way to him first. He guaranteed we'd have the force of the entire Brokengulf retinue behind us, but I now see he was being blinded by his own hubris. That is as far as my knowledge of the plan goes."
Ekmong suggest: "Perhaps the drow can fill in the gaps then." He looks at CRAP, recognizing that they are leading the interrogation.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sensing the questioning of Caah may be coming to an end, Utar decides to press a few final questions before they turn their attention to Chaab.
"How did Senetir know we would be entering the estate?"
Taking a breath, Utar launches into a few more questions.
"Did you know who I was when we first met in The Tea Kettle? You weren't representing the Emerald Enclave, so on whose behalf were you there? The Cult of the Dragon? Senetir? What happened to the blue dragon fang?"
Leaning forward in his chair, Utar watches the face of the half-orc, ready to scrutinise any response from Caah now his questions are becoming a little more personal.
"Do the names Abet, Ilim, Burga or Grewalt mean anything to you?"
(@MB: Healers have not arrived yet but Utar can assume this was one of the orders he whispered to his soldiers some minutes back.)
Feeling a bit rushed, Utar rapid-fires a few more questions for Caah to answer. Graxx ensures him that time on on their side, but Litta reminds them that the truth spell doesn't last that long.
Caah's answer to the first question is inconclusive: "He did not elaborate." Her answer to the second question is better: "I did not know you beforehand. In fact, had Torm been your first and only god, I'd never have an issue with you. But you struck my nerves, my very core, once you revealed you had left Gruumsh. As for the Emerald Enclave, the playing card, and the knowledge of the magical dragon fang, I simply impersonated a would-be Silent Wood customer. He talked too much once he was in his cups and was easy to swindle. Like I said, I work on my own behalf. The fang was sold for a profit to a party that preferred to stay secret."
She pauses for a hot second once the final question is delivered. "No, they don't. Although I believe you shouted one of those names during our recent fight."(@Utar)
You have no reason to believe she is omitting any major detail. In fact, where she was speaking out of spite earlier, she is now speaking in hopes the Black Fist officials in the room will not issue her a death sentence. She is being quite cooperative, even at the risk of coming off as a petty, religious avenger. You also pick up that she must be quite good at deception, but Aleyd's spell is preventing her from using any of that skill at the moment.
Aleyd waits for confirmation from CRAP on whether it is time to wake up Chaab. Moneus finally speaks, offering an alternative to Graxx's request: "Do we want to put this damsel back to sleep before waking up her prince?" He earns a stare from Caah.
Before issuing an order to his soldiers, Ekmong waits to see if the group wants to remove Caah from the room or knock her unconscious again. He seems fine with both options.
After Utar’s questioning is completed Graxx will say.
”Remove her and wake the Drow.”
Graxx will position himself in front of Chaab so he is the first thing Chaab sees. He will be standing with his arms crossed with his silvered handaxe resting on his forearm.
Neya nods, "Yes, its seems we have reached the limits of her knowledge of this conspiracy. If we question Chaab without her in the room, we might have more leverage."
If Caah refrains from answering, or is so obtuse about it as to make suss out the answer difficult, Doozey just scoffs and murmurs under his breath. "Knowing our luck, its probably our Dragon worshipping friends again we met back on the island."
That said(or not), the stoutling has nothing more to think to ask. Not up until the last moment, in which he asked with a front, "Wait... Just one more as well... Ms. Caah, wasn't it? Where did you learn your magic from? Or, are you purely self-taught."
Caah goes silent when Utar asks his last question. When Doozey mentions dragon worshipers, she then says: "We traded no names or insignias, but if there is one group interested in dragon-related artifacts in these areas..." She doesn't finish the thought.
Graxx all but orders Caah to be removed from the room and Neya agrees with the decision. After Ekmong corroborates, the soldiers gag her with some more rope and carry her out, chair and all. Doozey shoots out another quick question but it doesn't look like the half-orc was willing to answer it even if she were ungagged. As they carry her, she steals a glance at her equipment, now laying atop a side table in the far corner.
Aleyd waits a moment or two before touching Chaab, who is equally bound to his chair. She warns the group: "I am as close as it gets to being tapped out after this one."
Chaab comes to consciousness and immediately recognizes the effcts of the spell he is under. He looks at those sitting around the table with disgust. "Failure," he states before wincing. (Chaab recovers 20 HP.)
Graxx nods at Aleyd recognizing the limited resources.
Graxx turns to Chaab he walks up. Squats down so that he is eye to eye with Chaab.
"We meet again Drow..." whispers Graxx.
Graxx takes his axe and runs it lightly over Chaab's legs.
"Let me tell you how it's going to be ol' Chaab. I'm going to go back over and sit down on this table here. I'm going to ask you some questions and these folks are going to ask you some questions."
Graxx takes his axe and raises it to Chaab's throat.
"And you... Are going to answer them. All of them. Or... I'm going to come back over here and you have a much worse time than talking."
Graxx taps Chaab's chin with the underside of the axe.
"Got it?"
Intimidation: 11
Graxx will walk back over and sit down on the table holding his axe casually between his legs.
"So... Failure you say... What failed? Who killed the Lord? You or Yalek?"
Utar gives Aleyd a nod off thanks prior to Chaab awakening.
As the drow wakens and lets his feelings known, Utar folds his arms, leans back in his chair, and adopts a neutral tone of voice.
"You're lucky he's using the underside of the axe. In fact, you're lucky to be here at all. We found you underground all those moons ago, Graxx was keen to put you back there."
(OOC Utar is trying to be a counter to Graxx, hoping it might generate some help?)
Doozey remained quiet for the time being again. There would come a time for him to interject, or so he had hope so. So until then, he'd contented himself with watching closely, and trying not to worry overtly much about Biscuit. Death no longer was a concerned regarding his stalewart brother; but, there were worse things that could happen given what the fey touched mastiff carried in his maw...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx is the first thing Chaab sees, and the barbarian gives him little time to think. Over the next several seconds, Graxx puts on a fearsome display. He can feel at least two guards shiver in response. The axe, the threats, the gaze. There is true intent in them.
Utar sees an opportunity to play some mind games with Chaab and simultaneously tries a calmer approach. The drow's eyes dart between the half-orc and the human. Nonetheless, in the end, it is Chaab's lips that deliver his response. They part and curve upward in a smile: "If you meant to kill me, I would not be here for this conversation."Satisfied with his conclusion, the drow even laughs a bit.
Doozey remain quiet for now but Neya tries to read into the dismissive response. It is not hard to see that the roguish Zhentarim agent has avoided the questions thrown at him so far. For now, whatever he knows, it is all being omitted.
Before the group can react, a door opens and a couple of soldiers bring in another person. CRAP recognizes this old, robed man with soil on his hands and an unkempt white beard. This is Doomguide Yovir Gladon, the highest servant of Kelemvor in Phlan. He was Brother Keefe's superior, and Aleyd seems to be well acquainted with the man as well. The Doomguide notices the general sense of heaviness in the air and waits to be spoken to. Ekmong excuses himself from the table and has a separate, brief conversation with Yovir in one of the corners of the chamber. They speak quietly, such that eavesdropping would be difficult, but Ekmong's hands point up first, and then do a circular motion as if to refer to the area surrounding the manor. The Doomguide nods silently, steals a glance at those sitting around the table, and moves upstairs. Ekmong returns to the table, resubmits to the truth spell voluntarily, and asks: "Where were we?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Apart from a curt nod in greeting, Doozey hadn't the mind or heart to try and speak further to the man. However, while looking towards the ongoing interrogation, he had angled his head and ears a little to try and pick up on the exchange between Ekmong and Yovir.
Regardless of whether he gets anything or not out of the exchange, Graxx roaring and actions promptly destroys any chances of further digesting the words. Doozey starts for the man, intending perhaps to restrain him some fashion. Yet he hardly makes it too step before stopping, gritting his teeth behind closed lips, but too paralyzed by indecision to act.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
(OOC: "Good Guard/Crazy Guard" is that what we used to call it? I was trying to remember it. Boy, that's a reference from what, 2 years ago? Good stuff.)
While Ekmong was speaking to the Doomguide, Doozey couldn't resist but hone his hearing sense and attempt to eavesdrop. The stoutling couldn't exactly read lips, but he captures an errant sentence (@Doozey:)
You heard Ekmong say "... he is upstairs, already expired. I need you to preserve his body and examine it. See if there is anything that can be done to..."
Chaab's laugh becomes the straw that broke the camel's back. Graxx pounces on the drow and leaves no doubt concerning his intentions. Where there were only threats before, now there are actions. The humiliating slap wipes the smirk right off the drow's face. The follow up axe swing is met with a scream of pain and a side look towards Ekmong. With a shrug, the tiefling confirms that he cares not about what Graxx does to Chaab. Not everyone in the room seems to be as comfortable with this as Ekmong is but, for now, no one says a word. (Chaab takes 13 bludgeoning and slashing damage.)
His lower lip now quivering, Chaab turns his neck and looks at the axe sticking from his leg. Next, he looks at Graxx and the fear he had admitted to once in the past is now visible in his eyes. In a way, Utar's questions save Chaab from having to keep looking at the barbarian. He turns and begins collaborating: "Yalek... Yalek did it. He could swing a club harder than I could." After a longish pause, he admits: "The child... on the roof of the guest house... that's what Senitir had said... The kid's preferred hidding spot... He has been told to trust no one but Senitir himself."
This time, Neya is the one who remains mostly quiet. Chaab looks around the table waiting for the next question to come and save him from Graxx's gaze.
"What was the plan, as you knew it?" Neya asks, trying to get an idea of the scheme from Caah version of it, despite knowing it probably would have gone a different way than what she might say..
Extended Signature
Aleyd's response shakes away any hope Caah might have had of leading a potential negotiation for her freedom. Doozey notices it in the half-orc's eye and thinks twice before interrupting the moment. For now, the halfling simply observes.
If she had any expectation of successfully arguing for Chaab and the others' deaths, Graxx takes that away too. A bit taken by surprise by Graxx's maneuver, Cron also stands up from his chair and reaches for his weapon, but avoids taking any further action upon realizing what the barbarian is doing. Caah is unable to form a verbal response to Graxx's display.
Noticing the shift in who is controlling the table, Utar asks a direct question of Caah, although she is not able to answer it clearly: "Both Chaab and Yalek where in the room. I do not know for sure who dealt the final blow."
Neya avoids any silence with an immediate follow-up question. Caah responds: "Senitir invited me to the mansion last night and revealed that an opportunity would soon show itself. He said he was going to make a move for power, kill the lord of the manor, and that your group would soon follow and find a way into the grounds. We were to wait until you were in the room with the body and then spring a multi-pronged trap. I wanted Utar for myself but had to carve my way to him first. He guaranteed we'd have the force of the entire Brokengulf retinue behind us, but I now see he was being blinded by his own hubris. That is as far as my knowledge of the plan goes."
Ekmong suggest: "Perhaps the drow can fill in the gaps then." He looks at CRAP, recognizing that they are leading the interrogation.
Sensing the questioning of Caah may be coming to an end, Utar decides to press a few final questions before they turn their attention to Chaab.
"How did Senetir know we would be entering the estate?"
Taking a breath, Utar launches into a few more questions.
"Did you know who I was when we first met in The Tea Kettle? You weren't representing the Emerald Enclave, so on whose behalf were you there? The Cult of the Dragon? Senetir? What happened to the blue dragon fang?"
Leaning forward in his chair, Utar watches the face of the half-orc, ready to scrutinise any response from Caah now his questions are becoming a little more personal.
"Do the names Abet, Ilim, Burga or Grewalt mean anything to you?"
Insight 10
(OOC Two to come that check still... Did Ekmong bring in some healers for Lord Valero?)
Graxx nods to Utar.
"You have time to finish your questions."
Graxx turns to the others including Ekmong.
"I don't want to wake the Drow until this one has been removed" says Graxx motioning to Caah.
Graxx looks back to Chaab.
"I want him to feel all alone."
(@MB: Healers have not arrived yet but Utar can assume this was one of the orders he whispered to his soldiers some minutes back.)
Feeling a bit rushed, Utar rapid-fires a few more questions for Caah to answer. Graxx ensures him that time on on their side, but Litta reminds them that the truth spell doesn't last that long.
Caah's answer to the first question is inconclusive: "He did not elaborate." Her answer to the second question is better: "I did not know you beforehand. In fact, had Torm been your first and only god, I'd never have an issue with you. But you struck my nerves, my very core, once you revealed you had left Gruumsh. As for the Emerald Enclave, the playing card, and the knowledge of the magical dragon fang, I simply impersonated a would-be Silent Wood customer. He talked too much once he was in his cups and was easy to swindle. Like I said, I work on my own behalf. The fang was sold for a profit to a party that preferred to stay secret."
She pauses for a hot second once the final question is delivered. "No, they don't. Although I believe you shouted one of those names during our recent fight." (@Utar)
You have no reason to believe she is omitting any major detail. In fact, where she was speaking out of spite earlier, she is now speaking in hopes the Black Fist officials in the room will not issue her a death sentence. She is being quite cooperative, even at the risk of coming off as a petty, religious avenger. You also pick up that she must be quite good at deception, but Aleyd's spell is preventing her from using any of that skill at the moment.
Aleyd waits for confirmation from CRAP on whether it is time to wake up Chaab. Moneus finally speaks, offering an alternative to Graxx's request: "Do we want to put this damsel back to sleep before waking up her prince?" He earns a stare from Caah.
Before issuing an order to his soldiers, Ekmong waits to see if the group wants to remove Caah from the room or knock her unconscious again. He seems fine with both options.
Utar narrows his eyes at Caah's last response. He's sure he never mentioned their names, not even in the heat of battle.
Still, Caah didn't know who he was when they met and if she didn't recognise their names...
"One more thing. This secret party, do you know who they are?"
If she does, Utar pushes the question a little harder, "And their name is?"
Finally satisfied, he leans back again in his chair. "Let's speak to Chaab now."
After Utar’s questioning is completed Graxx will say.
”Remove her and wake the Drow.”
Graxx will position himself in front of Chaab so he is the first thing Chaab sees. He will be standing with his arms crossed with his silvered handaxe resting on his forearm.
Neya nods, "Yes, its seems we have reached the limits of her knowledge of this conspiracy. If we question Chaab without her in the room, we might have more leverage."
Extended Signature
If Caah refrains from answering, or is so obtuse about it as to make suss out the answer difficult, Doozey just scoffs and murmurs under his breath. "Knowing our luck, its probably our Dragon worshipping friends again we met back on the island."
That said(or not), the stoutling has nothing more to think to ask. Not up until the last moment, in which he asked with a front, "Wait... Just one more as well... Ms. Caah, wasn't it? Where did you learn your magic from? Or, are you purely self-taught."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Caah goes silent when Utar asks his last question. When Doozey mentions dragon worshipers, she then says: "We traded no names or insignias, but if there is one group interested in dragon-related artifacts in these areas..." She doesn't finish the thought.
Graxx all but orders Caah to be removed from the room and Neya agrees with the decision. After Ekmong corroborates, the soldiers gag her with some more rope and carry her out, chair and all. Doozey shoots out another quick question but it doesn't look like the half-orc was willing to answer it even if she were ungagged. As they carry her, she steals a glance at her equipment, now laying atop a side table in the far corner.
Aleyd waits a moment or two before touching Chaab, who is equally bound to his chair. She warns the group: "I am as close as it gets to being tapped out after this one."
-> Cure Wounds (upcast) roll: 20
Chaab comes to consciousness and immediately recognizes the effcts of the spell he is under. He looks at those sitting around the table with disgust. "Failure," he states before wincing. (Chaab recovers 20 HP.)
Graxx nods at Aleyd recognizing the limited resources.
Graxx turns to Chaab he walks up. Squats down so that he is eye to eye with Chaab.
"We meet again Drow..." whispers Graxx.
Graxx takes his axe and runs it lightly over Chaab's legs.
"Let me tell you how it's going to be ol' Chaab. I'm going to go back over and sit down on this table here. I'm going to ask you some questions and these folks are going to ask you some questions."
Graxx takes his axe and raises it to Chaab's throat.
"And you... Are going to answer them. All of them. Or... I'm going to come back over here and you have a much worse time than talking."
Graxx taps Chaab's chin with the underside of the axe.
"Got it?"
Intimidation: 11
Graxx will walk back over and sit down on the table holding his axe casually between his legs.
"So... Failure you say... What failed? Who killed the Lord? You or Yalek?"
Advantage Intim: 20
Utar gives Aleyd a nod off thanks prior to Chaab awakening.
As the drow wakens and lets his feelings known, Utar folds his arms, leans back in his chair, and adopts a neutral tone of voice.
"You're lucky he's using the underside of the axe. In fact, you're lucky to be here at all. We found you underground all those moons ago, Graxx was keen to put you back there."
(OOC Utar is trying to be a counter to Graxx, hoping it might generate some help?)
Neya tries to get a read on Chaab, making sure he's not obfuscating anything.
Insight: 21
Extended Signature
Doozey remained quiet for the time being again. There would come a time for him to interject, or so he had hope so. So until then, he'd contented himself with watching closely, and trying not to worry overtly much about Biscuit. Death no longer was a concerned regarding his stalewart brother; but, there were worse things that could happen given what the fey touched mastiff carried in his maw...
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Graxx is the first thing Chaab sees, and the barbarian gives him little time to think. Over the next several seconds, Graxx puts on a fearsome display. He can feel at least two guards shiver in response. The axe, the threats, the gaze. There is true intent in them.
Utar sees an opportunity to play some mind games with Chaab and simultaneously tries a calmer approach. The drow's eyes dart between the half-orc and the human. Nonetheless, in the end, it is Chaab's lips that deliver his response. They part and curve upward in a smile: "If you meant to kill me, I would not be here for this conversation." Satisfied with his conclusion, the drow even laughs a bit.
Doozey remain quiet for now but Neya tries to read into the dismissive response. It is not hard to see that the roguish Zhentarim agent has avoided the questions thrown at him so far. For now, whatever he knows, it is all being omitted.
Before the group can react, a door opens and a couple of soldiers bring in another person. CRAP recognizes this old, robed man with soil on his hands and an unkempt white beard. This is Doomguide Yovir Gladon, the highest servant of Kelemvor in Phlan. He was Brother Keefe's superior, and Aleyd seems to be well acquainted with the man as well. The Doomguide notices the general sense of heaviness in the air and waits to be spoken to. Ekmong excuses himself from the table and has a separate, brief conversation with Yovir in one of the corners of the chamber. They speak quietly, such that eavesdropping would be difficult, but Ekmong's hands point up first, and then do a circular motion as if to refer to the area surrounding the manor. The Doomguide nods silently, steals a glance at those sitting around the table, and moves upstairs. Ekmong returns to the table, resubmits to the truth spell voluntarily, and asks: "Where were we?"
Graxx roars with rage and jumps down off the table he goes up to Chaab.
"DROW!"
Graxx rears back with a backhand slap and releases a reckless strike with his hand across the face of Chaab.
Attack: 21 Damage: 4
"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME DROW?!" roars Graxx in Chaab's face.
Graxx will grab Chaab chair and all to drag him to face Utar.
"YOUR SCUM GROUP KILLED MY FRIEND! DO YOU NOT THINK THAT I DESIRE TO TAKE YOUR MISERABLE LIFE."
Graxx will place his hand under Chaab's feet and forcefully tip the chair over backwards so Chaab is on his back. Graxx points around him in a circle.
"YOU KNOW WHAT THIS CIRCLE DOES. YOU KNOW THAT I CANNOT LIE."
Graxx lifts Chaab by his throat to the proper sitting position.
Graxx leans into Chaab and laughs.
"Do you think you are the only one we captured? Do you think you're the only one who can give us information?"
Graxx lifts his axe to his face.
"So you think I'm bluffing?"
Graxx points to Ekmong.
"I have been granted permission to do whatever I like to anyone besides Senetir."
Graxx turns back to Chaab and will quickly strike Chaab's thigh with his axe.
Attack: 23 Damage: 7
Graxx will leave the axe embedded in his thigh and lean down and roar in Chaab's face.
"ARE YOU LAUGHING NOW DROW?! ARE YOU LAUGHING NOW?! PLEASE KEEP LAUGHING AS I WANT TO KEEP THIS CONVERSATION GOING!" roars Graxx.
Apart from a curt nod in greeting, Doozey hadn't the mind or heart to try and speak further to the man. However, while looking towards the ongoing interrogation, he had angled his head and ears a little to try and pick up on the exchange between Ekmong and Yovir.
Perception: 28.
Regardless of whether he gets anything or not out of the exchange, Graxx roaring and actions promptly destroys any chances of further digesting the words. Doozey starts for the man, intending perhaps to restrain him some fashion. Yet he hardly makes it too step before stopping, gritting his teeth behind closed lips, but too paralyzed by indecision to act.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Trying his best to maintain a neutral tone, Utar waits until Chaab is lying on the floor before chiming in.
"Who killed Lord Valero? Where is the Lordling?"
Neya watches this latest installment of Good Guard/Crazy Guard develop. The axe in the leg thing is new.
Extended Signature
(OOC: "Good Guard/Crazy Guard" is that what we used to call it? I was trying to remember it. Boy, that's a reference from what, 2 years ago? Good stuff.)
While Ekmong was speaking to the Doomguide, Doozey couldn't resist but hone his hearing sense and attempt to eavesdrop. The stoutling couldn't exactly read lips, but he captures an errant sentence (@Doozey:)
You heard Ekmong say "... he is upstairs, already expired. I need you to preserve his body and examine it. See if there is anything that can be done to..."
Chaab's laugh becomes the straw that broke the camel's back. Graxx pounces on the drow and leaves no doubt concerning his intentions. Where there were only threats before, now there are actions. The humiliating slap wipes the smirk right off the drow's face. The follow up axe swing is met with a scream of pain and a side look towards Ekmong. With a shrug, the tiefling confirms that he cares not about what Graxx does to Chaab. Not everyone in the room seems to be as comfortable with this as Ekmong is but, for now, no one says a word. (Chaab takes 13 bludgeoning and slashing damage.)
His lower lip now quivering, Chaab turns his neck and looks at the axe sticking from his leg. Next, he looks at Graxx and the fear he had admitted to once in the past is now visible in his eyes. In a way, Utar's questions save Chaab from having to keep looking at the barbarian. He turns and begins collaborating: "Yalek... Yalek did it. He could swing a club harder than I could." After a longish pause, he admits: "The child... on the roof of the guest house... that's what Senitir had said... The kid's preferred hidding spot... He has been told to trust no one but Senitir himself."
This time, Neya is the one who remains mostly quiet. Chaab looks around the table waiting for the next question to come and save him from Graxx's gaze.