Realms of Dread [IC] Chapter Three

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:34 pm

"Tis fine. I am worried about Mistress Rardi and Archedius. I don't know your friends personally, but will help you in anyway I can. What about any other of your acquaintances here? Have you any that could help us? Sorry if I press, but I don't what I'll do if Rardi
is sentenced. I known her a long time and I can't fathom the whole tale, really. I hope we have some luck, Jamethon, really."

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 4:47 pm

Balzar

Jamethon answers:

''I'm afraid most of my acquaintances won't be much help- not in this current situation. I have some professsional contacts that work in body disposal- but I sincerely hope we won't be needing their expertise!''
Continuing to walk down the narrow cobbled lane, he adds-

''As for what to do if she is sentenced...ah, here it is!''

Jamethon points at a large building on the far side of the street. It looks like a cross between a tenement building and a semi-fortified storehouse. A sign in the front, freshly painted, proclaims:

MARSEMBER CIVIC MILITIA - HEADQUARTERS

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:25 pm

Shana

The common room is lively this evening.

Two men are arguing-

''I say the King won't come along with the Regent! I hear that he's being hidden away, maybe for his protection...and maybe to hide something from us. Why should he be brought here with her? The miasma here has slain hale men, many's the time, why risk the health of a babe still in swaddling clothes? It's said he's got a delicate constitution... ''

''Still your tongue, you damned fool! Talk like that could get you stretched. I say the young king's as strong as an ox, just like his grandfather, Old King Azoun!''

Someone, very drunk despite the relatively early hour, climbs onto a table and cries out-

''Azoun for Cormyr! An Obarskyr, an Obarskyr!''

Men all across the Old Shell pause in their own conversations, and take up the cheer. Toasts are proclaimed, and goblets and tankards slammed together by patrons.

One man only doesn't join in the shouting and toasts- the old blind bard sits silent and motionless in the corner, his right hand reaching towards his left hip and clutching at empty air. He makes a fierce face. Then, almost as quickly as it came, the look fades away and he slumps in his chair, calm once more.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:48 pm

Threan-

The bailiff gives his assent to Threan's request.

''Yes, of course your brother can see her. Now, this other business is important, but we must put it off just a bit longer. I have one more witness statement to collect. Please wait in my office, if you would, Master Threan. ''

The baliff heads down the hall, a guard in tow.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:54 pm

Ino-

The door swings open and a small figure in dun colored robes enters, accompanied by one of the bailiff's men. Inovidil recognizes the person as Glim, Threan's brother, whom she had first met in the gnomes' smithy/shop.

''Inovidil, my brother sent me to check on you, and to heal your injuries. ''

The men watching Ino look questioningly at the man who'd brought in the gnome. He simply nods, and then the pair of guards relax a little- but they are still watching the prisoner with hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 6:36 pm

Rardi-

Rardi is getting some much needed sleep when a rattle at her cell door awakes her.
The door swings open and the bailiff enters with one of his men [ both are wearing swords]. The bailiff has a paper in his hand, and also a pot of ink and a quill pen.

The bailiff speaks-

''Rardi, I have here a witness statement, freshly written out by my own hand. It is based entirely on the accounts given by you and your friend, Ino. This is the last step in my interrogation, Rardi. By signing this, you will be facilitating your transfer. I cannot release you from this cell until I have a statement in writing.''

The bailiff crouches and holds the statement up for Rardi to read. The ink is still fresh.

The statement reads:

On the night of the 20th, I, Rardi Silverhelm, broke into Blackpillars in the company of two of my associates, Inovidil and Archedius Targaris. We encountered Delthrin, and subdued him after freeing a monster that he had kept imprisoned in his laboratory. After Delthrin had been stripped by us, and was bound and gagged securely, I beat the prisoner. At no time did we allow him to speak in his own defense or to answer questions by words or in writing. It was then decided among us, at my strong urging, that we should deliver Delthrin up to the creature we had freed from restraint. We did so, and the monster took both Delthrin and Archedius from my sight.

The actions of my party were undertaken without official sanction. No one ordered us to go to Blackpillars or to attack Delthrin.

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:40 pm

The dwarf acknowledges the Bailliff. This is actually the first time she speaks to him in a kindly manner. I know ye must think unkindly o me, but I knows ye ony doin yer job an respect that, no matter what the outcome o me fate. Now I sign the paper an wish ye luck in yer endeavours. We gots our own beliefs an again I respect yers though maybe not agree with em. Good day to you.

Rardi hangs her head and tries to rest some, sad in her belief that her days were coming to an end.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 9:53 pm

Rardi-

The bailiff takes the paper once Rardi has signed it.

Before leaving her cell, he says-

''I appreciate your cooperation, and will note it at your trial.''

He turns away from Rardi and issues a set of orders to her guards.

''Transfer her to a clean room, one with a cot. Once in her new room, unchain her. Bring her warm food and fresh water and allow her to bathe, if she wishes to do so. She is not to be gagged again, unless she attempts to work magic. Her hands may be unbound while eating, drinking, or bathing, but must be kept bound at other times- but not so tightly as to cause harm. Keep her under careful observation. She is to be afforded good treatment so long as she remains cooperative. That is all.

steveflam · Post by **steveflam** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:10 pm

Rardi is somewhat relieved by her new accomodations. Though not a usual bather, she was dirty, stank and felt just awful. She wouldn't show it to the guards but was beginning to be despaired. She put up a good enough front, but enough was enough!

She did ask for a bath and soaked for nearly an hour. Even after she was scrubbed clean she just lay back in the bath, enjoying herself. She knew she may not ever get the chance to have such a luxury again and wanted to relish in it. Once her bath was done and she was squeeky clean, she clothed herself and lay back on the bed. Time was irrelevant to her. She knew not what time it was or even what the date was. All that mattered was she was clean, unbound and could walk freely in her new accomodations.

Before she fell asleep, she reminded herself to pray for guidance in the morning. She would need it in the days to come. Mourning for Archedius would come later, if she was still alive. She wondered if Balzar ever made it to Marsember........ this was her last though before she fell sound asleep. She probably hadn't had a good sleep in a week, by her reckoning.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:54 pm

Blaise [ in the morgue-room]

The priestess continues her interrogation of Archedius' mortal remains, which are now partially animate by means of a necromantic ritual...

''Did you go with the monster that you freed, the one from Delthrin's laboratory, of your own free will?

''Yes.''

''Did the monster that you freed from the cage in Delthrin's laboratory kill you?''

'' remove...bargain....''

The woman shrugs and shakes her head at this less-than-clear answer.

''Did the monster that you freed from the cage in the laboratory kill Delthrin?''

''his head....''

With that final answer, the body exhales heavily and falls still, lifeless once more.

The woman moves about in a circle, blowing out each of the four candles in turn, then turns to face the clerk.

''Recorded?''

The scribe silently nods his head to indicate the affirmative.

''Very well.''

She now turns to Rask,

''I consider the first syllable of his name as sufficient proof of identity, given that I must work with a brainless corpse. Do you agree?''

Rask answers-
''Yes, of course. I didn't doubt it was he, even before you asked his name. ''

Lord Skybolt · Post by **Lord Skybolt** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:09 am

After Glimzine leaves to see to Ino, Threan asks a guard "Is their anyone else who needs any healing so when my brother gets back from helping Ino ." After saying this he seems to be lost in thought :Thinking about what he learned in Delthrins journal .

kintire · Post by **kintire** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:19 am

Shana does, of course, join in the general cheering for Azoun and the Obarskyrs...

After that, she will set to picking up gossip, with especial reference to strange events on the Rock

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:27 am

Shana

kintire wrote:Shana does, of course, join in the general cheering for Azoun and the Obarskyrs...

After that, she will set to picking up gossip, with especial reference to strange events on the Rock

There's no word of anything unusual occuring on Fishgut Rock- save for some vague rumor about smugglers being captured on the beach.

The big talk is all about the arrival, in ten days, of the Regent, Princess Alusair, from Suzail [the crown city]. Apparently, a formal announcement has just been made calling for a celebration in honor of Azoun V, the grandson of the old king [now dead] Azoun IV. The celebration will coincide with the visit to Marsember of the Steel Regent [as she is known].The infant boy has been so shut away from the public eye that people were beginning to doubt both his true parentage and even his very existence.

ewancummins · Post by **ewancummins** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:31 am

Threan-

The spear-carrier answers,

''Yes, Master Threan, the big guy and the dwarf are both hurt. Oh, and that red-haired man, although he's no longer being held. He's...umm...downstairs in the morgue with his boss, that militia captain.''

kintire · Post by **kintire** » Sat Aug 22, 2009 2:35 am

Shana displays polite interest, but it doesn't seem relevant to her current situation. Then she suddenly looks annoyed at herself as an obvious thought strikes her. She scribbles quickly on a parchmanet and drops by the innkeeper.

"Mistress, I'm headed out. I've a note here telling my friends where I've gone... would you check they get it?"

The note reads "off reporting R's predicament to Temple of Lathander. Back soon"

And then she hurries out in the direction of the Morninglord's temple.

Café de Nuit

Welcome, friends, to our establishment.

Realms of Dread [IC] Chapter Three