Kane sees the Petmailer and Gunra return, but no Azrael. He asks, “Was our friend...killed?” Kane looks at the other prisoners. “Great”, he says sarcastically, “more mouths to fed. Petmailer, you should get plenty of chances to perfect your interrogation techniques.”

Gunra doesn't react as the redhead prays to his uncaring goddess. The mage could say whatever he wanted as long as he didn't resist his capture. No, the tortle is a little more concerned by how Petmailer's captive keeps checking the sky - like wary game checking for predators.

"Well, Kane.  We don't need to feed them.  Lock them in the basement long enough and we'll only have one mouth to feed.  Two friends, two kobolds?  Eventually one will get hungry enough.". Noticing Kane's irritation, Gunra makes a deliberate effort to sound appropriately cruel.  He didn't plan on torturing anyone, but it wasn't entirely up to him.

((Glancing between the half-orc and the door, can Gunra get a sense of whether he is legitimately expecting something or just hoping for a rescue?))

While waiting for the others to get back to the house, she messages Nurm: "Change of plans. Azrael is gone. Will you act as the champion? I'm about to send the message."

She then speaks out loud as she messages the white kobold, trying to make her voice deeper and raspier, reciting the Draconic she learned: "Minion - my champion is disguised among those who have captured you. Tell him what he needs to know or perish at my hand."

If they argue at all, she messages them again: "Silence. Do as I say." She doesn't say anything after this.

Deception: 22

Once she sees Gunra and Petmailer approaching, Harmony walks forward to meet them. "Nurm is inside pretending to be Tiamat's champion in disguise. Hopefully that will get the lizards to open up about anything they might know. Did you get anything useful from these two?"

Petmailer relays the information from the half orc, the camp site, warlock, cleric and Dragonborn leader and the apparent map to a dragon nest.  “We don’t know the location of the camp yet.  The third cultist.... didn’t hold up too well to interrogation.  But the half orc might talk further, he might know more, but he’s scared.  He keeps looking up at the sky....”

Petmailer looks up and scans the skies :  21

(perception)

Quote from Ursus_the_Grim >>

Gunra doesn't react as the redhead prays to his uncaring goddess. The mage could say whatever he wanted as long as he didn't resist his capture. No, the tortle is a little more concerned by how Petmailer's captive keeps checking the sky - like wary game checking for predators.

"Well, Kane.  We don't need to feed them.  Lock them in the basement long enough and we'll only have one mouth to feed.  Two friends, two kobolds?  Eventually one will get hungry enough.". Noticing Kane's irritation, Gunra makes a deliberate effort to sound appropriately cruel.  He didn't plan on torturing anyone, but it wasn't entirely up to him.

((Glancing between the half-orc and the door, can Gunra get a sense of whether he is legitimately expecting something or just hoping for a rescue?))

Insight, if you want it: 8

 

 “It’s okay, Gunra. I was joking. I don’t want anyone to get hurt is they can just give us the information willingly. But if then don’t, we may have Leyding gnaw on they legs a little.” Kane says as he rubs Leyding’s head again. He really likes Leyding. 

As Harmony's message reaches the sleeping kobold, he wakes up and starts looking around. While his voice is muffled by the gag, you can hear him whisper back at the message. "My queen, my goddess, I am at your service."

Petmailer, you look at the sky but fail to see anything: Whatever the half-orc is waiting for, it looks like it is not happening yet. He seems to also notice this, as you can hear him sigh in relief and say to himself in a hushed voice "There's still time..."

Leyding stays behind Kane eyeing the captured cultists, but gets encouraged by the tiefling's head-pats to not be too scared of them. "...They smell like the tall guy, like the guy who pushed me to the mirror." She says with a growl.

Upon seeing or catching a glimpse of the red tiefling and the gnoll, the half-orc's short-lived relief quickly changes into horror and confusion. "Why is there demonspawn working with you?" He asks to his captors in a panicked voice.

Receiving the kobold's reply, Harmony sends another message to Nurm: "They bought it. Tell the white one that you are Tiamat's champion and ask where their base is."

Upon hearing the half-orc's panicked comment, she walks over and lifts his chin slightly with one finger. In Infernal, she says, "Be careful, or the 'demonspawn' will turn you into a rat and crush you." She smiles, making sure to reveal her pointed incisors.

Kane winces at the word “demon spawn.” He holds Leyding like a comfort animal and repeats to himself, “I’m not a demon, I’m not a demon, I am good because I choose to be.” He opens his eyes and remembers he is not alone. He lets go of Leyding, “Sorry if I held on too tightly. He looks at his companions. “Is there anything I can help with,” he asks, as if his episode didn’t happen. 

All right Harmony, I will do my best.

Nurm, slightly nervous of his plan, sighs. His crystal on the neck starts to glow slightly and words and sentences in Gith appear on it. He contemplates the appearing word for a while. When he is sure his mind is sharp again, he slowly enters the room with the kobolds.

Our queen is disapointed by you incompetence! In her infinite wisdom, she sent me to mend the errors you made. Now tell me, where is the coward that is supposed to lead you? Our queen's wrath awaits him.

((Not sure whether you can reply a Message when gagged, if not, Nurm unties the kobold's mouth and is prepared to knock him out if he tries to cast a spell))

Cha roll (all cha skills are same for me): 16

((Given that his voice would be very muffled, I think it indeed is best to untie the gag.))

Upstairs:

The white kobold looks at you like he's suddenly recognizing what you are, or so he thinks. "I apologize for my incompetence, and that of my companions..." He gives an angered glance at the other tied kobold before continuing. "The camp is hidden at the Greenfields, and we have prepared a hatchery for the arrival of the eggs. Langdedrosa Cyanwrath is waiting there."

Then, looking around to see to make sure there's no one from the group you "infiltrated" around to hear, he says to you. "As soon as it is proven that the map is legit and we have the eggs, this stupid town will be no longer of use. We will raid it and burn it to the ground." He smiles, baring his little but sharp teeth in the process. "All that blood and fire in her name will surely make our Queen very happy."

Downstairs:

"I okay, is okay!" Leyding is quick to say when Kane holds her, and she repeats those words a few times as she hugs him in an attempt to comfort him. She's visibly a little confused, trying to see if the cultist managed to hurt him in some way. As soon as Kane lets go of her and seems to go back to normal, she too seems to act as usual... Until she starts to suddenly growl and snarl at the half-orc, fangs bared and fur bristled.

The half-orc is terrified, but instead of attacking him the gnoll just repeats the words she heard Kane saying just now: "I’m not a demon", before backing off and seemingly returning to normal. "I hungry, going for snacks!" She says before running off to the kitchen.

"...With how that dragonborn was acting back at the Mill, I thought you all were acolytes of Bahamut or something." The half-orc exclaims, shocked. "I didn't expected you to have one of those rabid mongrels at your beck and call! Who are you, people? What do you want with the Cult?"

Kane goes after Leyding. “Hey, I’m sorry if I scared you. When the half orc called me “demon spawn”, I didn’t like it... Most of my life, when people see me, they think monster, demon, evil. They are quick to judge me before they know me.” He rubs her head. “Thank you for comforting me. I appreciate it.” He leaves her in the kitchen and returns to the half Orc. “Let’s just say we are a group of people acting in our own self interest. Also, watch what you say around the gnoll. She isn’t as forgiving as I am. And I would appreciate you not using the words demon or mongrel. Thank you sir.”

Nurm tries to hide the horror that the kobold's words caused in his mind.

There might be hope for you after all. But him? His life is mine (Nurm nods at the other kobold). You will wait here, for my further instructions.

Nurm gags the kobold again and returns to his companions.

We need to talk immediately. I bring dire news!

Nurm waits until his companions are ready to talk in private (at least most of them), making sure that no prisoner can hear them. Asking any companions that would like to interact with the kobolds to wait for now.

((My unseen servant should still be in the room from earlier, if it is not, Nurm will summon a new one as a ritual while waiting for the others))

Petmailer steps into a side room / bathroom downstairs and closes the door.  He slips out of his leather armor and dons his black Pride Silk armor and mask.  Over this he puts the cultist outer robe from the blonde cultist.  He arranges himself and his gear, packs away his old armor and then steps out into the main room downstairs.  

You see the moon elf emerge in the dark armor and mask of a Shadow Sentinel of Helviraena, with the outer garment of a  Cultist.  He walks up to the Half Orc and says “You really don’t know who you are dealing with, do you?  You need to tell me anything else you know, your friend here too.  Please tell me your name as well.”  He bends down to the red headed spell casting cultist.  “I know you aren’t still unconscious, you need to start talking to us now.  Don’t make me do anything else that you would quickly regret...”

Kane, when you follow Leyding to the kitchen, you see her opening a basket. Inside the basket, there's bones of poultry that appear to be all that's left of the food rations inside the house. The gnoll then starts to chew and eat the bones without any problem, as if there were cookies. She interrupts this when she sees you and while you speak to her. "Not scared. You are not a demon, you are a friend!" She declares. Then she goes to sit on a corner, still holding the basket. "When the gray guy hurt you, I got angry. When I angry, I get hungry. I talk later..." When you leave her at the kitchen, she goes back to eating.

Petmailer, when you go back to the captured culprits wearing the uniform, the confusion disappears from the half-orc's expression. "Of course, now it makes sense..." He grumbles before answering. "My name is Ignar, but that's not what you are here for, isn't it?"

"...Give me a break!" The redhead suddenly says. He glares daggers at Ignar before continuing. "The camp is at the Greenfields, but good luck trying to find it without a guide to help you. There's no way for your little army of freaks to win agaisnt the cult, anyways. If you do happen to find it by yourselves, they'll make you dragon food. We are stronger than you can even imagine..."

"Adrian, shut up!" Ignar, the half-orc interrupts him. "You are going to get us killed!"

"You still don't understand, don't you?" Adrian asks, and the half-orc goes quiet.

Gunra has been watching and listening quietly since Kane reassured him that there would be no torture.  At this point, he slips off a simple copper torc from his arm, twirling it around one claw.

"What I don't understand," he wonders in a half-whisper.  "Is why they choose Tiamat.  Or Bahamut for that matter.  In the pursuit of power, why petition the weaker of the dragon gods?"

He considers posing the question more directly, but realizes all eyes are on Petmailer now.  He didn't recognize the mask, but it seemed Ignar did.  Gunra falls silent.  What did the elf have planned?

He shrugs, and acknowledges Nurm with a nod.  The gith, at least, had gotten somewhere.

Harmony backs up a bit, moving to stand next to Kane. She whispers to him, "...I'm not sure I understand either. Do you recognize the get-up he's wearing?"

Quote from ArtymisMoon >>

Harmony backs up a bit, moving to stand next to Kane. She whispers to him, "...I'm not sure I understand either. Do you recognize the get-up he's wearing?"

 “I think maybe he’s trying to convince them he’s one of them, although I haven’t seen a mask like that before.” Kane says. 

Petmailer stares at Adrian, keeps his eyes locked on his, but talks to Ignar.  "You have guessed correctly Ignar, I am here for something else entirely.  You can help to save yourself by telling me everything RIGHT NOW.  Otherwise I'll let Charvrae have her way with you, and she's known to not.. be... nice.."

Petmailer turns slightly to keep his hands out of view of Ignar and points at Adrian and sends a message "You two really need to tell me what you know immediately.  Or I will gut you like a fish.  How do I reach the camp at Greenfields and what is happening there."  He causally pulls out a dagger from his belt and holds it at the ready, convincing him that he is ready to use it if he doesn't start talking.  

As soon as he finishes, Petmailer quickly points toward the kitchen and thinks of Leyding and sends a message to her.  "Leyding this is Petmailer, Kane's friend.  I'm playing a dress up game with him, don't be scared!  You stay in kitchen and eat till you are full."

Adrian is about to open his mouth yet again when Ignar speaks. "I'll tell you everything, alright? No need for violence, please!"

Visibly not happy at being interrupted by his intimidated companion, Adrian hisses under his breath but keeps quiet for now, eyeing the dagger.

"The camp is at a hollow not that far from here, the terrain kinda looks like a horseshoe. There's plenty of caves, too. The cult came here because of a legend: Five masks with fragments of Tiamat's will and power. A halfling living in this town had one, so the cult came here to get it from him, and when we found him, we also discovered that he knew the location of a black dragon's nest. The mask already got taken somewhere else, but they are bringing the eggs to the camp at Greenfields as soon as they have them."

"...Pretty sure he only asked you for the camp, you idiot." Adrian says angrily. 

"They are going to raise them as an army." The half-orc continues. "They wouldn't be the first or only dragons to be on our side, but they are the first the Cult gets to train and to watch grow."

"It doesn't matter if you know all of that, you know?" Adrian speaks again. "I'm telling you, the cultists back at the camp will destroy you. So do yourself a favor and go back to that cursed patch of land your people call a 'grove'. Or do go to the camp with all your monster friends here and die by their hands, I'm sure the Dragon Queen would find it amusing."

"...Please spare us and let us escape. You should escape too." Ignar starts to beg again. "I don't know what a Sentinel is doing here or why, but whatever you are hoping to accomplish here it's not worth it. Escape this town before the Cult returns. They already have the mask and the map, so..."

"Soon, everything is going to burn." Adrian states with a grin.