Tales from Talaveroth

Si'Juul will begin dragging the bound veteran to a secluded spot in the trees.

"I will begin questioning this man once he wakes up." He looks to Twitch, "Would you join me?"

Si'Juul looks to Paren and Poinki, deliberately avoiding saying anyone's name, "You two do what you want with the rest."

Although still speaking to his allies, he turns to face the rookies as he says,

"They already know their mistake and will never forget it. Or they can stay and wait til I am finished with this one."

Paren gestures for the one at his feet to head back to the others. Once they're all there he has them sit and stands in front of them. From behind his wooden mask he stares down at them. "So, tell us why you're here. Are you hunting someone? What brings you this way?" 

Poinki will cast Zone of Truth as the interrogation begins.

And Elhanna will cast calm emotions on them to make them extra forthcoming with the truth. 

"It was Charles, had the orders... we was hired for a job to the north, that's all he told us." one of the women starts to say. One of the young men chimes in: "Yeah, the money was good an' things with the Crusader hadn't worked out fer me, so I was happy to get a shot at decent pay further north. But I'm not the asking-questions-on-the-job type, so not much that I know."

After being shaken somewhat by Si'Juul, the Veteran opens his eyes, and lets out a muffled scream, before the shock of the situation renders him speechless. As you handle him, you notice an envelope on the inisde of his coat, starting to soak with blood.

Si'Juul immediately snatches and reads the contents of the envelope.

"Maybe this will answer at least one of the laundry list of questions I have for you. As soon as I am done, I hope you are as generous with your answers as your cronies seem to be. For now, you will lay there and bleed."

"Order for the Black Brand

As per our agreement, make haste to the lighthouse of Torn, and ensure that the priest holed up there does not leave alive. Should he have shared his nonsense with anyone else, they are to be eliminated too.

In return for this, the Archbishop is offering 300 gold pieces for the duration of the contract and the head or other proof of the death of the priest. Should he have told anyone of his heretical views, any further heretic will be recompensed with a further 25 gold per head."

Below the letter, you see an official-looking seal. 

Those of you proficient in history or religion may roll to see whether you recognise the seal.

Si'Juul will give the note to Twitch.

"Our small friend might like to see that."

He looks back to the captured veteran.

"So, let us begin. I believe that letter told me why you were here, so I will skip that for now. You clearly know who I am, so.....what's the price on my head and how many of you are out here trying to claim it?"

Paren crouches down in front of the novices. "So, tell me. Why work for this Black Brand? And what's their goals. If they want to kill a priest clearly they're not the nicest people in the world." 

History: 19
Religion: 6

“The archbishop.. this really goes all the way to the top..” Elhanna say out loud. ”maybe I should contact my father and tell him about this situation.” 

fists she will use her pendant to retrieve a lv3 spell then she will cast sending
”Father, it Elhanna. We have stumble upon a conspiracy regarding the church of Ilmater. The Archbishop is involved. Apperantly they have started to worship Abraxis.” 

"Hey," Poinki says. "We kill Father Ephasian. Maybe learn more if go claim bounty? Not because of gold," he adds hastily. "Just to find enemy. Though...no reason to NOT take gold."

The veteran, now awake, grumbles: "Si'Juul, if I remember correctly? Ye left just 'fore things got good... Not gonna lie, some of us 're glad yer gone, means we get the contracts instead- though those rifles o' yours are reason 'nough ta hunt you down, right?"

One of the novices looks at Paren behind his mask: "I'm sorry, I'm a mercenary, when I get paid to go and make sure a priest doesn't spread heresies, I don't ask questions. As far as working for them? Well, as I said, things didn't work out with the Crusader, and they're at least doin' something to fight back..."

Elhanna, you recognise the seal as that of Olyvander Septimus, the Archbishop of the church of Ilmater in Arkos. You also figure that this Crusader that the novices have mentioned is a paladin of Ilmater, who took up arms to fight the drow invaders to the south. He is known equally for his success, ruthlessness, and zealotry.

Elhanna, upon sending your message, you receive the following reply: "Dear, that sounds terrible! Do you have proof? What do you need us to do?"

Si'Juul just stares at the veteran.

"Answer my questions."

The veteran smiles before spitting a glob of blood on the floor: "Shoulda known yer involved in this... a turncoat and a heretic, I guess there's not much ye value, is there? As fer a price- anyone brings yer head in is sure ta get their own crew, an' all the riches that come wi' bein' able ta accept yer own contracts. Fastest way ta becomin' yer own boss, an' as far as I know there's plenty folk willin' ta kill fer far less."

Paren stands up and leaves the novices, convinced they don't know anything. He walks over to Si'Juul and stands behind the veteran. He draws his still poisoned blade and holds it up behind the veteran's head to show Si'Juul, nodding for him to let him know when he's ready. 

"Do you even know why I left? Do you have the slightest idea? It's because of the contracts. I am not an assassin. And I thought the rest of the Black Brand weren't either. But I guess I was the only one in that entire organization that was never swayed by gold."

Si'Juul glances briefly to Paren, but says nothing and doesn't nod or anything, just looks back to the veteran.

"Seems you anger my friends to the point where they want to kill you more than I do. I actually hadn't decided yet on whether to let you live. But we both know that if you were even half as skilled with guns as I am, and actually beat me, I would already be dead."

Si'Juul takes a step closer to the veteran, arms crossed.

"So...you can tell me about the Black Brand's movements, bases of operation, future plans, as well as how many others, if any, that also left after I did. Or...you can die....and if you choose death, I will need to choose if you die slowly from the poison my friend behind you is prepared to finish you with....or take you up and give you a very quick lesson on how not to fly. You've lost. Choose."

The veteran swallows hard: "There's no need ta be so rash... sure, ye have us beat, but wi' that ye can let us go, no? I mean, ye bested us already, there ain't no way I'll try me luck again wi' half the numbers. I might be a fool, but I'm not suicidal."

Feeling the pressure of the blade against the back of his neck, he swallows again:

"Aright, lemme get to tha point. See, I don't know ye personally, an' so I can't say exactly what moved ya or didn't, but the organisation's found a very lucrative deal. There's plenty o' gold an' silver tha' the dwarves o' the Bolgen Hills and the gnomes to the south got squirrelled away, an' plenty motivated folk that want to take up arms but need a little stiffening. A dozen or so crews set up shop in the region, doin' jobs for tha resistance an' working ta overthrow the drow invasion. As it is though, each boss gets ta choose which jobs they take, couldn't tell ya much more about their set up. As for us though, things didn't work out wi' tha Crusader, an' fer me taste the work was too dangerous, so we went north ta Arkos, started workin' security an' other odd jobs there. The archbishop must'a heard about the brand from the Crusader an' still decided ta hire us. Anyway, that's all what I know,please believe me."

"Oh but there was a reason to be so rash. You chose to fight me without provocation or even attempting to parley. You have learned your lesson I believe. You can live, but you're going to be my living message to the rest of the brand on what will happen when you try for my head."

Si'Juul brings his talon up the scratch across the side of the veteran's face, enough to scar but not enough to kill.

Si'Juul looks to Paren.

"Go and collect what you can from them over there. You know what I am after. As for this man, he is going to surrender what he has himself."

Si'Juul gives a glare to the veteran before beginning to untie him.

Once he has everything he can gain, Si'Juul let's him go.

"I suggest you ensure we don't cross paths like this once more. Because I won't extend mercy again."

As Si'Juul interrogates the veteran, Poinki gathers all the firearms and ammunition from the other defeated enemies, assuming that Si'Juul will want to destroy what he can't make use of himself.

Paren nods and sheaths his blade, still silent, before walking back to the others. "Give up your weapons, all of them. And your wealth. Consider it a donation to the church."