Realms of Dread [IC] Chapter Three

[ewancummins]

[OOC Ino is not an elf, she is human. At least, the character sheet Van sent me reads' HUMAN'. ]


Lord Ildool's house-

''Indeed. It might interest you to learn that I am quite familiar with the details of the case.
As ruler of this city, I have decided to hear the case myself, so that it will be handled with no chance of a miscarriage of justice, and with alacrity of process. Trial is to be held this very afternoon, so I've spent the morning reading reports.''

Ildool smiles, looking from Blaise to Shana, and then back again.

''The reports from my bailiff, Davos, are always so very thorough...it's one of the reasons why I like the fellow.
Now, then, it comes to my attention that the pair of you are near-perfect matches for two persons involved in the case- even down to having precisely the same first names. What a marvelous coincidence we have here. Care to explain the subterfuge, Master Redman?''

Ildool isn't smiling now.

The weaselly clerk fingers his dagger.

The big guy sitting by Blaise grunts and shifts his seating so that he's practically smothering Blaise with his armored chest. His hamhock hands mangle the cushions, and his blunt face takes on a very unfriendly look.

The graybearded man in the robes is staring straight at Shana with a grim expression. He's muttering something under his breath.

[ewancummins]

Ino, Gaol on Fishgut Rock

''Alarum, alarum!''

The bailiff's men are tearing the whole place apart, looking for someone or something.

Rask is escorted from Ino's room by armed guards. His last words out the door are-

''I'll see what I can do...''

Not long after Rask is gone, three men burst into Ino's cell: Garlic-Breath and two flunkies.

''Short-chain her, lads!''

Before the startled wizardress can react, one of the men rushes her and seizes her long hair in his hands, tugging hard enough to bring tears to her eyes. The other guard jerks hard on the chains at her wrists, fixing them to an iron ring on the wall with only a very short lead.

Garlic-Breath punches Inovidil in the guts, driving the wind from her body.

He leans close to her and whispers-

''I know you helped her escape, witch. Heh. Like a Calishite slave beats rugs, remember?''

Garlic-Breath draws back a mail-clad fist....

[kintire]

Shana looks faintly puzzled

"Subterfuge, my Lord? What subterfuge? We are most certainly involved in the case. That is why we are here to make our requests on behalf of Inovidil. We've made no secret of that. We were not involved in the actual incident however. That was the two ladies Blaise has mentioned, and another, now deceased: I'm sure your Bailiff's report has covered that as well. There is no subterfuge here, my Lord. We've come to you quite openly, as you pointed out, undisguised."

She looks genuinely puzzled and appealing... extremely appealing

[Bluff 31, for sincerity and appealingness]

[ewancummins]

Shana looks faintly puzzled

"Subterfuge, my Lord? What subterfuge? We are most certainly involved in the case. That is why we are here to make our requests on behalf of Inovidil. We've made no secret of that. We were not involved in the actual incident however. That was the two ladies Blaise has mentioned, and another, now deceased: I'm sure your Bailiff's report has covered that as well. There is no subterfuge here, my Lord. We've come to you quite openly, as you pointed out, undisguised."

She looks genuinely puzzled and appealing... extremely appealing

[Bluff 31, for sincerity and appealingness]

''What subterfuge? Just how stupid do you think I am? A fake name from him, and a phony interview...how do you think that looks? Blaise Zilfarrik, indeed! Dirty trick, lying to get close to me so you can put a dagger in my back! Who sent you, the Night-King? The Zhentarim? ''

Ildool has dropped his calm facade now, and is fairly raging about the room.

''SEIZE THEM BOTH!''

[ewancummins]

in a root cellar.....

The earthen floor of the cellar trembles. Something is moving under the dirt, like a mole- but much bigger...

[steveflam]

The much bigger than a mole exits its entrance as quietly as it can and has a good look around.

[ewancummins]

The much bigger than a mole exits its entrance as quietly as it can and has a good look around.

The creature sees that this smallish rectangular burrow contains many tasty snacks: fruits and vegetables lining wooden shlves set into the earthen walls. There is also a short flight of wooden stairs leading up to a trapdoor. There is no light down here, but of course the monster can still see.

[steveflam]

The bigger than a mole pauses and has a good listen, approaching the stairs slowly as possible. It takes twenty to be sure to make as little noise as possible.

[ewancummins]

The bigger than a mole pauses and has a good listen, approaching the stairs slowly as possible. It takes twenty to be sure to make as little noise as possible.

Creeping towards the stairs, it doesn't make too much of a racket.

[steveflam]

The creature stops at the bottom of the stairs. Uttering a few phrases in the draconic language, it casts a spell. Holy Transformation, lesser then waits to see if Lathander grants her his spell.

[ewancummins]

The creature stops at the bottom of the stairs. Uttering a few phrases in the draconic language, it casts a spell. Holy Transformation, lesser then waits to see if Lathander grants her his spell.

The chanting of the creature is not yet finished when the trapdoor pops open and a human male with an axe and a raised lantern looks down into the cellar- spotting the hideous aberration that's just invaded his home!

[Ken of Ghastria]

''What subterfuge? Just how stupid do you think I am? A fake name from him, and a phony interview...how do you think that looks? Blaise Zilfarrik, indeed! Dirty trick, lying to get close to me so you can put a dagger in my back! Who sent you, the Night-King? The Zhentarim? ''

Ildool has dropped his calm facade now, and is fairly raging about the room.

''SEIZE THEM BOTH!''

Blaise laughs, yet he still maintains the aristocratic bearing! "Well done, Baron! I owe Dilisnya 50 gold! He predicted you'd blame the Zhents over the Redman guise! I trust you'll regain your senses in a moment, but I'll protect myself if not..." A strange mist begins to form around Blaise.

________
Initiative: 11
Standard action: Blaise is invoking miasmic cloud.
Bluff check: 25 (16 + 9). Clearly he's trying to buy time and sow confusion.
Move action: Blaise reaches a hand into his pocket to grab a certain gem.

[ewancummins]

Ildool's house-

''What?''The Baron looks caught between anger and confusion for a moment.

The big man grabs Blaise by the arms.

The grim gray man in robes points at Shana and speaks a word of magical power...

Blaise does indeed manage to grab hold of a certain gem.

[kintire]

"My Lord, you're jumping to conclusions! Master Zilfarrik joined the Watch seeking adventure and to aid the city, but of course a person of his breeding is lowering himself by doing so: so he did not give his family name when recruited and downplays his connection in polite company! It was just the courtesies of society, there was no intention to deceive. We are here to petition for clemency for our friend: there's nothing unusual or sinister in that!"

[I'm sticking with my previous Bluff 31, as I reckon its part of the same Bluff. I haven't rolled intiative yet: I'm not taking any combat actions]

[VAN]

Inovidil tries to recognise the noise.

"I don't know Captain."

When the guards burst into her roomInovidil was ready to ask what was going on, but the guard beat her in time. Inovidil cries from the pain when the man tugged her hair. She tries to kick the garlic-breath man, but the failed when he punched her.

When finally she can speak she says:

"What are you talking about? Are you insane? I was here with the Captain Rask!"

When shows the fist starts screaming hoping someone can hear her:

"Help! Help!! Please help me! You have no right to treat me like that! Help!"