Calmaius seems to shrink as the knight looms closer to him, flicking his eyes between him and the Baroness. You begin to see the resolve - the almost fanatic like determination start to break. A silence follows, and just as Kal is about to compel him with another spell, he begins to speak. "Terryn Mowbray. Senior in the House of Peace."
"He was the only one I ever spoke to." His voice lowers, "we're doing what we must. It is all of it, necessary."
You can think of the House of Peace as a sort of diplomacy department in the imperial government. It is the office all advisors such as Calmaius answer to, and also handles affairs with foreign nations.
Silthras glances at Velyra, then whispers in Kal's ear, "Nice job. I'd like to know what exactly is he doing that is so necessary, who here knows his real mission, and who hgave him the tongueless guards."
Kal nods, and repeats the questions to Calmaius. "What is it you're trying to do? I can't see how turning the region into an army of mindless undead is good for anyone. Is there anyone else you're conspiring with here? And where did that escort we killed earlier come from?"
"Saving our world!" For the first time, you can hear emotion in the man's words, a passion bordering fanaticism. "We need only awaken Elderwyrm. The others will follow, and then their work will be allowed to finish: bringing divinity to all mortal kind!"
Calmaius shakes his head of the other questions, "those men were given to me by Mowbray. The rest are irrelevant, they know nothing."
"You're making a mistake. Let me go, let me finish what was started here. Then I can show you the truth. I can take you to the priest, he'll enlighten you as he did me!"
Standing in the back, Sylnora goes up on her toes to peek over everyone else at the subject of their interrogation. The man's words were starting to sound deranged to her. "We can't...We can't do that. You were killing people. What's the priest's name? Where are they?"
Silthras shrugs, "Wars kill people all the time. The trick is making sure that you are on the right side." He turns back to Calmaius. "Tell us more of this priest, he sounds interesting..."
"We're all dying - their lives are a necessary sacrifice." The silvery light of the Zone of Truth circle still shines beneath his feet as he answers, "I don't know his name. He came to me when I was in the capital, Cynosure."
Kal furrows his brow, looking towards the Baroness. There was doubt in his mind that she would let Calmaius leave, let alone walk back into the arms of his co-conspirators. That would be a conversation to have away from the advisor though. "Cynosure is a long walk from here."
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kal Insight: 8 Lady Anet is watching the exchange tight lipped, her eyebrows drawn together in a V. If you had to guess, she finds the idea of letting the man go infuriating, but she doesn't interject yet.
Calmaius tilts his head slightly, as if he weren't prepared for the question. "I would have to accompany you to the capital. Mowbray meets with him."
((Unless your character has had a chance run in with him at some point, no. It would be like expecting a regular citizen to recognize a senior diplomat from the State Department.))
Silthras nods, "Mowbray sounds like an interesting man to meet. For now, though, tell us what you planned to do at the ruins: How were you going to 'finish what was started here'?"
Continuing your questioning, you uncover the following pieces of information:
As far as this conspiracy goes, Mowbray is the highest Calmaius' knowledge goes. His official report is to Liandra Meli, who heads up the House of Peace.
Three men of similar caliber to the ones who were escorting Calmaius guard her son. The Baroness is able to point the ruins to you on a map.
Communications with Mowbray happen during "official" meetings in the capital, Cynosure. The captors he contacts using Sending.
When asked to expand on what they were doing here, his voices begins to rise again, speaking passionately. "There is much about this world, about our so called gods that has been kept secret from you. They are killing us so slowly no one even notices. Like a frog in a boiling pot. But there are ones sleeping in the earth that can save us. The wraiths we were creating are necessary evil to hasten their awakening."
With the Zone of Truth still active, he confirms that he has not lied or mislead you with these answers.
As you turn to leave the interrogation room, the bald man deflates with a look of defeat. While the door closes, you glanced back to see two of the Baroness' men moving to gag him once more. The Lady herself quickly retreats down the hall, gesturing you all to follow. "That was quite revealing. The talents of your little group far exceed what one might expect. I need time to think of next steps, but at the top of my list is getting my son back, alive." Before you ascend the stairs out of the castle's dungeons, she whirls on you. "You've fought his men already. Do you feel up to the task once more? I'll pay you more than any group of mercenaries or soldiers could ever dream of."
"His fervor is disturbing to say the least,"Kal mutters as they leave the interrogation room, recalling the cold, stone-faced demeanor the man had when they first met. To the Baroness' request for help, after a brief look to the others to confirm they're thinking the same thing, he'll nod. "We can take care of it if you can point us in the direction of these Red Keep Ruins he spoke of."
"After your son is safe, I think it would be appropriate for all of us to sit down and work out where to go from here. This is...Larger than anything we anticipated to say the least."
Silthras nods at Kal's remarks, then he inclines his head slightly to the Baronness' offer, a faint smile visible. "Ordinarily I would tell you that mercenaries such as myself have very good imaginations, and expansive dreams...." he shrugs, "...but Kal is right: This is larger than anything we expected, and your son may yet be used as leverage. He also may have valuable information. We should free him as quickly as possible, then plan our next steps."
He looks back to the cells, "We may not have much time though. If he does not contact his superiors, they may send someone...or something... to investigate. He may yet be useful."
(( @DM: Did they make regular contact, and if so, roughly how often and when was the last time? ))
Not one for cells, or talking much, while the others question the old creepy guy, Usul has plopped himself down in a corner and, remembering the first set, begins to work on his little black box to see if he can puzzle any more of it out. ((19))
"Disturbing is underselling it. The man has never shown a hint of passion before tonight." There's a brief look of relief before the Baroness gathers herself again. "Thank you. I can show you the location on a map. If it was a clear enough day, you might have seen it on your way in to Silverfair. The ruins are an old keep, west from the road about 30 miles south of here." Opening the door, she leads you back up the stairs to the castle proper and onto the second floor. After a few twists and turns, you're taken into a room that looks like it might be using for military strategists. She pulls a map from the drawer of a table and tosses it onto one in the center of the room, unrolling it and pointing to the Red Keep Ruins. You can see from the cartography it's surrounded by woods, built on top of a hill.
"I have the beginnings of some ideas on what to do next...We'll discuss when you return. I'll Calmaius alive, for now."
While all of this talking and walking went on, Usul followed on auto-pilot, messing with the little puzzle box. Turning the brass rods on the sides, he tries to sort of figure out the combination that might unlock the next layer. The rods click as he turns them from position to position, but nothing seems to be happening.
((He contacted the men left guarding the Baroness' son daily, last time would be yesterday morning.))
Sylnora follows the other out of the room, casting a parting glance towards the imprisoned man. "Only about 30 miles? We should be able to get there today if we leave now. I know daylight doesn't stick around for as long this far north, but that might be something we can use to our advantage anyway." She spends a moment doing her best to memorize the location on the map before stepping back. "What's your son's name, and what does he look like?"
The Lady looks to the half-elvish woman, nodding. "A night ambush would be wise. His name is Eraine. He's nearly an adult, and I'm told he looks quite like another version of me. Save for his father's olive skin tone and that damned dark hair."
"Do you need any supplies or equipment before you go? Horses can be arranged."
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Calmaius seems to shrink as the knight looms closer to him, flicking his eyes between him and the Baroness. You begin to see the resolve - the almost fanatic like determination start to break. A silence follows, and just as Kal is about to compel him with another spell, he begins to speak. "Terryn Mowbray. Senior in the House of Peace."
"He was the only one I ever spoke to." His voice lowers, "we're doing what we must. It is all of it, necessary."
You can think of the House of Peace as a sort of diplomacy department in the imperial government. It is the office all advisors such as Calmaius answer to, and also handles affairs with foreign nations.
Silthras glances at Velyra, then whispers in Kal's ear, "Nice job. I'd like to know what exactly is he doing that is so necessary, who here knows his real mission, and who
hgave him the tongueless guards."Kal nods, and repeats the questions to Calmaius. "What is it you're trying to do? I can't see how turning the region into an army of mindless undead is good for anyone. Is there anyone else you're conspiring with here? And where did that escort we killed earlier come from?"
"Saving our world!" For the first time, you can hear emotion in the man's words, a passion bordering fanaticism. "We need only awaken Elderwyrm. The others will follow, and then their work will be allowed to finish: bringing divinity to all mortal kind!"
Calmaius shakes his head of the other questions, "those men were given to me by Mowbray. The rest are irrelevant, they know nothing."
"You're making a mistake. Let me go, let me finish what was started here. Then I can show you the truth. I can take you to the priest, he'll enlighten you as he did me!"
Standing in the back, Sylnora goes up on her toes to peek over everyone else at the subject of their interrogation. The man's words were starting to sound deranged to her. "We can't...We can't do that. You were killing people. What's the priest's name? Where are they?"
Silthras shrugs, "Wars kill people all the time. The trick is making sure that you are on the right side." He turns back to Calmaius. "Tell us more of this priest, he sounds interesting..."
Persuasion if needed (both same): 22
"We're all dying - their lives are a necessary sacrifice." The silvery light of the Zone of Truth circle still shines beneath his feet as he answers, "I don't know his name. He came to me when I was in the capital, Cynosure."
Silthras nods, "You said that he could enlighten us, how would you take us to him?"
Kal furrows his brow, looking towards the Baroness. There was doubt in his mind that she would let Calmaius leave, let alone walk back into the arms of his co-conspirators. That would be a conversation to have away from the advisor though. "Cynosure is a long walk from here."
Kal Insight: 8
Lady Anet is watching the exchange tight lipped, her eyebrows drawn together in a V. If you had to guess, she finds the idea of letting the man go infuriating, but she doesn't interject yet.
Calmaius tilts his head slightly, as if he weren't prepared for the question. "I would have to accompany you to the capital. Mowbray meets with him."
(( @DM: Do we know of Mowbray? Could we identify him? ))
((Unless your character has had a chance run in with him at some point, no. It would be like expecting a regular citizen to recognize a senior diplomat from the State Department.))
Silthras nods, "Mowbray sounds like an interesting man to meet. For now, though, tell us what you planned to do at the ruins: How were you going to 'finish what was started here'?"
Continuing your questioning, you uncover the following pieces of information:
As you turn to leave the interrogation room, the bald man deflates with a look of defeat. While the door closes, you glanced back to see two of the Baroness' men moving to gag him once more. The Lady herself quickly retreats down the hall, gesturing you all to follow. "That was quite revealing. The talents of your little group far exceed what one might expect. I need time to think of next steps, but at the top of my list is getting my son back, alive." Before you ascend the stairs out of the castle's dungeons, she whirls on you. "You've fought his men already. Do you feel up to the task once more? I'll pay you more than any group of mercenaries or soldiers could ever dream of."
"His fervor is disturbing to say the least," Kal mutters as they leave the interrogation room, recalling the cold, stone-faced demeanor the man had when they first met. To the Baroness' request for help, after a brief look to the others to confirm they're thinking the same thing, he'll nod. "We can take care of it if you can point us in the direction of these Red Keep Ruins he spoke of."
"After your son is safe, I think it would be appropriate for all of us to sit down and work out where to go from here. This is...Larger than anything we anticipated to say the least."
Silthras nods at Kal's remarks, then he inclines his head slightly to the Baronness' offer, a faint smile visible. "Ordinarily I would tell you that mercenaries such as myself have very good imaginations, and expansive dreams...." he shrugs, "...but Kal is right: This is larger than anything we expected, and your son may yet be used as leverage. He also may have valuable information. We should free him as quickly as possible, then plan our next steps."
He looks back to the cells, "We may not have much time though. If he does not contact his superiors, they may send someone...or something... to investigate. He may yet be useful."
(( @DM: Did they make regular contact, and if so, roughly how often and when was the last time? ))
Not one for cells, or talking much, while the others question the old creepy guy, Usul has plopped himself down in a corner and, remembering the first set, begins to work on his little black box to see if he can puzzle any more of it out. ((19))
PbP 🎲: Tyekanik; Moneo Noree; Korba Muris; & occasional DM:
"Disturbing is underselling it. The man has never shown a hint of passion before tonight." There's a brief look of relief before the Baroness gathers herself again. "Thank you. I can show you the location on a map. If it was a clear enough day, you might have seen it on your way in to Silverfair. The ruins are an old keep, west from the road about 30 miles south of here." Opening the door, she leads you back up the stairs to the castle proper and onto the second floor. After a few twists and turns, you're taken into a room that looks like it might be using for military strategists. She pulls a map from the drawer of a table and tosses it onto one in the center of the room, unrolling it and pointing to the Red Keep Ruins. You can see from the cartography it's surrounded by woods, built on top of a hill.
"I have the beginnings of some ideas on what to do next...We'll discuss when you return. I'll Calmaius alive, for now."
While all of this talking and walking went on, Usul followed on auto-pilot, messing with the little puzzle box. Turning the brass rods on the sides, he tries to sort of figure out the combination that might unlock the next layer. The rods click as he turns them from position to position, but nothing seems to be happening.
((He contacted the men left guarding the Baroness' son daily, last time would be yesterday morning.))
Sylnora follows the other out of the room, casting a parting glance towards the imprisoned man. "Only about 30 miles? We should be able to get there today if we leave now. I know daylight doesn't stick around for as long this far north, but that might be something we can use to our advantage anyway." She spends a moment doing her best to memorize the location on the map before stepping back. "What's your son's name, and what does he look like?"
The Lady looks to the half-elvish woman, nodding. "A night ambush would be wise. His name is Eraine. He's nearly an adult, and I'm told he looks quite like another version of me. Save for his father's olive skin tone and that damned dark hair."
"Do you need any supplies or equipment before you go? Horses can be arranged."