DM's NOTE: The mind reading portion is reproduced inline here in [ brackets ] * Erias looks haggard and frustrated. <Sam> ack, bio. * DM waits for-- yeah. <Sam> done. * DM unpauses the world. * Apol hops onto Foster's shoulder. <Foster> "Bloodnose, we appreciate that you have a desire to maintain a front, no matter how unbelievable to those who are aware of your less savory dealings, but if you don't stop stonewalling us and start talking about Gray, you will be regretting this day greatly." <DM> Bloodnose runs his tongue along his gums. <Apol> (and by "hop" I mean Apol doesn't tear into cloth armor with talons) <Erias> (are we waiting on private stuff, or should we feel free to go ahead?) <DM> "Seriously, gentlemen (an ironic arch of an eyebrow at this), if you have no more important business than to assault citizens at random, I'm sure the Threecrown Constabulary can find employment for you." * Erias draws his mace. <Erias> "Do you see this?" <Erias> "This belongs to my God." <Erias> "My God doesn't _like_ you." <Erias> "He _knows_ what you _do_." * Apol whispers something to Foster in Draconic. <Erias> "If you don't cooperate with us... I will kill you." <DM> Bloodnose looks at the rest of you, saying "And you let this zealot run around without a leash?" (to Erias) "I'm sure you have your share of upset dieties as well, what right have you to pass judgment on me?" * Erias 's voice gets less threatening and more sad by the end of this statement. <Fordran> "This is going nowhere." <Foster> "Honestly, while I lack his piety, I share his sentiments. Start talking or I'll boil your brain and take what I need from the wreckage." * Sam looks worried. <Erias> "He's evil. Why the hell do we need more than that?" <Foster> "We're leaving." * Erias takes a full swing, two-handed, at Bloodnose. <DM> Um. Yeah. Coup de Grace * Fordran winces. <DM> Helpless and all <Erias> (oh, crap.) <Fordran> (is he really Helpless?) <DM> Grant has him pinned <Fordran> (pinned != helpless) * Sam makes what is probably a futile attempt to stop Erias. <Erias> pinned doesn't allow coup de grace in grapple rules <DM> Oh, well, guess so. <DM> Okay. <Erias> but it does make people _really_ easy to hit <DM> Yee...ah. <DM> Go ahead and roll it. <Erias> (-4 AC for being pinned) <DM> Sam, you can make a reflex save <Erias> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 25 | [d20=14] [+11=11] <Fordran> (miss) <Sam> |roll d20+11 <tafal> 20 | [d20=9] [+11=11] <DM> That's... probably good enough. <DM> Partial action. <Erias> for Sam? <DM> yes * Sam tries to grapple Erias. <DM> Touch attack <Sam> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 12 | [d20=3] [+9=9] <Erias> ...hit. <DM> opposed roll <Sam> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 13 | [d20=11] [+2=2] <DM> Erias can choose not to roll it <Erias> Sam, it's d20+BAB+Str, I think <DM> Yes <Sam> (heh, oops) <DM> Just add BAB <Fordran> (instant grapple, just add BAB) <Sam> 18 <Erias> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 27 | [d20=18] [+9=9] <DM> Erias, Sam tries to-- okay nevermind :P <Sam> (did i not predict?) <Erias> But -- being grappled -- I'm willing to pause long enough to come to my senses. * Fordran says quietly, "Erias." <Fordran> "We need the information from him." * Erias stands still, breathing heavily. <DM> The mace comes whistling down to a stop above Bloodnose's head. <DM> Bloodnose stares calmly up, doesn't flinch. <Foster> "What we need to do here is get out of here, because we're being scried." <Fordran> "Are we taking him?" <Foster> "We don't have what we need, so yes. Someone knock him out." * Erias takes off one of his gauntlets. <DM> A sneer was climbing onto his face, but quickly climbs off at "Knock him out." <Fordran> (Erias then hits him with his gauntletted hand.) <Erias> "Actually... I'd better not." <Erias> "Grant, can you knock him out? Don't kill him yet." <Erias> (I assume Grant is still grappling him.) <DM> Grant grunts and brings his forehead down on the back of Bloodnose's head. <Foster> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 16 | [d20=9] [+7=7] <DM> Bloodnose's eyes open wide in surprise, before they roll back into his head. <DM> (He passes out) <Erias> (heh.) * Sam winces. <Fordran> "Erias, a word." * Erias nods curtly. * Erias moves away from the group, presumably with Fordran. * Sam sits, thinks, tries to meditate. <DM> Grant hoists Bloodnose onto his shoulders. <Fordran> "While I understand your desire to root out and destroy evil in all its forms -- this, too, is my call -- we must remember not to let this goal blind us to our true purpose." <Fordran> "For if we kill without compassion, are we any better than those who do evil?" <Foster> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 9 | [d20=5] [+4=4] * Sam fails to meditate, and resorts to looking displeased. <Foster> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 11 | [d20=4] [+7=7] <DM> Everyone who's not Fordran, Erias, or Foster, spot check <Sam> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 22 | [d20=19] [+3=3] <Sam> (whoa.) <Foster> at least tafal likes someone today. <Apol> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 20 | [d20=10] [+10=10] <DM> Erias and Fordran are talking seriously in hushed tones. <Apol> "Foster, what's wrong?" * Sam pulls out a rag and attempts to blot something from Foster's face. <Foster> "We're being watched, and I can't get rid of the sensor. It's Gray, and we need to leave." <Sam> "You bleed." * Foster waves him off, cleans up his nosebleed again. * Erias looks up at that line. * Foster hustles out the door. * Sam puts away the rag, shrugs. <Apol> "Gray is watching? Time to go." * Fordran looks up. <Fordran> "Indeed." * Apol flies around Grant. "Time to go." <DM> Grant bounces his burden to shift the weight and follows Foster. * Erias walks toward the door. <Sam> "If you say so." <Sam> "Grant, would you like any help with that?" <DM> "Eh, I'm fine." * Erias has stowed his mace. * Fordran looks around thoughtfully. <Fordran> "What a mess." * Fordran wanders off after the rest. <Foster> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 17 | [d20=13] [+4=4] * Sam follows. * Apol moves next to Fordran. "Where do we go that is dark and secret and safe?" <Foster> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 13 | [d20=3] [+10=10] * Foster kicks tafal <Fordran> "No idea. Outside the town walls, perhaps." <Apol> "Will they see Bloodsnot on Grant's back?" <Fordran> "Oh. You make an excellent point. Have we a sack of some sort?" <Foster> "Doesn't matter, we'll tell him he's our drunk friend who got in a bit of a tussle if anyone asks." <Fordran> "Ah. Yes, clever." <Foster> "The sensor can follow us a ways, so anyplace far from here is good. It's slower than us, I think." <Erias> " <Erias> (er) * Foster leads the way towards a set of gates. * Fordran looks around nervously. <DM> The group hauls the unconscious Bloodnose up Quarry Road, and towards a set of gates. <Erias> "It's a... thing? Can we spot it? Destroy it?" * Erias follows. <Sam> "Make it less useful to its boss, maybe?" <Fordran> "Can it see us? Hear us? Both?" <Foster> "It's not here anymore. I think I managed to get rid of it. Still, we should leave the city." <DM> The clomp of footsteps and the jingle of metal approaches from a sidestreet, along with the light of a lantern. <DM> "Who goes there?" a male voice. * Fordran looks up, surprised. * Foster lets the Pelorites do the talking. <DM> Clomp clomp clomp. * Fordran puts on his best We Totally Did Not Get Into A Barroom Brawl and Are Now Kidnapping Someone face. <DM> It's a patrol of city guards. * Sam tries to look as boring as possible. <Erias> (oh, great idea. the LG character lie excellently.) <Erias> "It's just us. Hi." <Fordran> "Good evening, ah, sirs. Pelor bless you." <Apol> ("Wow, that Farmer's Faire is a doozy") <Erias> (^character^characters) <DM> "Oh, yes, the visiting Knight and his entourage." <Fordran> "Oh. Word of us has spread?" * Erias gives a half-bow (nothing too melodramatic). <DM> "I was going to advise you that there's a curfew - for your safety of course - but you should be able to handle anything you might find." <DM> He leans in conspiratorially, "Don't let on, but there's been a few tourists missing." <Erias> "I see. Good to know, thank you. But, yes, I suspect we'll be alright." <Fordran> "Missing?" <Fordran> "Bandits?" <DM> He makes a quick gesture of negation, "Nothing serious of course! We're on it, patrols, searches, and such, but best to be on the look out, if you know what I mean!" <DM> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 16 | [d20=14] [+2=2] <Fordran> "We'll certainly keep an eye out. Thank you very much for letting us know." <DM> "Saaay. What's in the sack?"" <DM> Oh. <DM> Fiona says, "We didn't use a sack." <Fordran> (we got a sack?) <Erias> (I thought we were just hauling him along, but sack is fine.) <DM> Excuse me, retcon. <DM> "Saaay. What's with him?" * Fordran looks embarrassed. * Foster pipes up. * Erias opens his mouth, but pauses as Foster interjects -- <Foster> "Simply a drunk who decided to pick a fight he couldn't handle. We thought we'd take him home, as a gesture of good faith." * Fordran shrugs helplessly. <DM> He grunts, "Huh. Should arrest him for public drunkenness." <DM> "C'mon lads. Don't you worry, sirs, we'll take him off of your hands." <DM> "Do him some good, a night in the clink." <Fordran> "I think he's had enough excitement for one night..." * Erias will attempt diplomacy. <DM> Go right ahead. <Erias> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 14 | [d20=5] [+9=9] <Erias> can I use an action point? <DM> Sure. <Fordran> (yay AP) <Erias> |roll 1d6 <tafal> 6 | [1d6=6] <Erias> "I saw the whole fight, friends, and I really feel it would be best if we just took care if it ourselves. It's been enough of a mess for one night -- no need to complicate things." <DM> "Aw, well, that's right decent of ya. But it's really no trouble, me 'n the boys were just heading back." <Erias> "Thanks anyway." * Erias smiles graciously and waves. <DM> He looks confused. <DM> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 6 | [d20=4] [+2=2] <Fordran> (hot) <DM> He shrugs. <DM> "Oh well, less paperwork I guess. C'mon lads." (to the group) "Let us know if you see anything suspicious, hear?" <DM> They march off into the night. <Fordran> "Sure will. Good night." * Erias stares at the ground. * Sam breathes. <Erias> "...that wasn't right." * Apol Apol breathes.. and wonders what "public drunkeness" is. <Foster> "Well. It's not particularly like we *lied* to them." <Foster> "However, we can discuss the ethics of this situation at a uture juncture. We need to get out of town." <Erias> "It was dishonest. A technical truth is no escape." <Fordran> "Allowing him into their custody would not further the ends of bringing his deeds to justice." * Erias nods. "You're right." <DM> Um. People make Wisdom or Int checks <Foster> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 23 | [d20=19] [+4=4] <Sam> |roll d20+3 <Fordran> (wis) <tafal> 7 | [d20=4] [+3=3] <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 20 | [d20=17] [+3=3] <Erias> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 2 | [d20=1] [+1=1] <Fordran> (hot) <Sam> (wis...blah) <Apol> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 11 | [d20=8] [+3=3] <Erias> (oh, btw -- how many AP do we have?) <Foster> "It occurs to me that there are guards on the gates, as well." <Foster> "Perhaps we should seek a secluded location within the town proper." * Foster tries to think of a decent one. <Erias> "If we've lost the eye, then that sounds reasonable." <Fordran> "Guards at the gate." <Apol> "Or a horse and cart. I used to hide in those for fun." <Fordran> "What about Argus' store? Maybe he knows how to deal with... the thing that's following us." <Sam> "You...fun...horse and cart?" <Apol> "Argus has gone. He locked up." <Foster> "He does have a room warded from scrying, but I don't know how much he'd appreciate our bringing our dirtylaundry home with us." <Foster> "Ah. And that." <Erias> "Well, we're still near the docks... is there a less-than-reputable inn we might use?" <Apol> "We could try Argus' place, but he put on *many* locks." <Fordran> "Too much trouble, and I don't think trying to fumble with locks AND carrying this man around would look particularly good." <Foster> "I'd prefer not to abuse Argus's trust in us by breaking into his shop to use it as an interrogation chamber." * Fordran looks around. <Fordran> "There's got to be something." * Erias sees Fordran looking around, and looks around. <DM> You passed some disreputable looking things that probably let rooms <Foster> "There should be a few shady inns around here, it's notthe best part of town." * Sam just shrugs. * Foster heads back towards one. * Erias follows Foster. * Fordran follows along. <DM> There are no doors in the doorway from the street. <Fordran> (what?) <DM> The sign is faded, looks like a round of cheese with a slice taken out. <DM> (The doorway has no doors in it?) <DM> (Like... just a doorway, sans door) <Erias> (the doorway to the inn has no door; it's an open doorway) <Fordran> (ah okay) * Foster finds the innkeeper. <DM> It's quiet; there aren't any patrons at this hour, and the fire has burned down mostly. <Fordran> (i cast flamestrike) <DM> He eyes Foster's clothing, then the rest of you. <DM> His eyes widen at the weapons. <DM> "Er... er... yes... what's this about?" <DM> |roll d20+6 <tafal> 10 | [d20=4] [+6=6] <Foster> "We need a room for a bit. We also need you to forget that we were ever here." <DM> |roll d20+10 <tafal> 29 | [d20=19] [+10=10] * Foster passes the man 5 gold. <Erias> (tafal, we love you) <Erias> (uhoh) <DM> "Oh, well, then that'l--" <DM> His mouth hangs open for a moment. <DM> He swallows. <Fordran> "...What?" <DM> "That'll do ... nicely..." <Fordran> "Oh." * Erias nods. * Erias looks around for the stairs and/or hallway to rooms. <DM> He scrambles to hand you keys, and and rushes up the stairs. * Foster follows. <DM> He gestures to the first room on the right. <Sam> (money, the universal lubricant.) * Foster bows slightly to the man. <DM> "Right, I never saw nothin'. I was in the kitchen, dozin' off, see." <Foster> "Your service is much appreciated." <DM> He mutters various alibi to himself as he wanders downstairs. <DM> "... know where the blood came from, honest.." * Foster leads the way in, and finds a chair for our dear friend Bloodnose to be tied to. * Apol enters the room and looks around. <DM> The window is boarded over with two planks, the glass itself is broken. <DM> The mattress looks thoroghly stomped; some of the straw is peeking out. * Sam sits on the floor in a corner. <DM> Something scurries to get out of Sam's way. * Erias sits down heavily on the edge of the mattress. * Sam notices, shrugs, sits anyway. * Fordran looks around, sighs. <DM> Assuming Foster has rope or someone gives him rope, Foster ties Bloodnose to the only chair in the room. <Erias> I give Foster rope if he has none. <DM> He's drooling a bit onto his dashing scarf. <Apol> "Is there an easy way out if we need to get out quick?" <DM> (Right, since there are no rules for it, if you're slapping someone to wake them up, they make rolls to wake up, instead of taking more nonlethal. The assumption is that you're not striking to damage) <Foster> "Well, there's the door." <Foster> "We could probably kick out the window if we needed to. * Apol nods. <Foster> (in any case, we may be having Morality Talk before we wake him up) <DM> Listen checks <Sam> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 22 | [d20=19] [+3=3] <Apol> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 14 | [d20=5] [+9=9] <Erias> (We can wake him up if need be. We have a paladin and a priest-ish character.) <Foster> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 9 | [d20=8] [+1=1] <Erias> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 15 | [d20=14] [+1=1] * Sam takes note of the window in case of evacuation. <DM> (continue) <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 16 | [d20=13] [+3=3] <Foster> "I realize that this is a hard topic, but we need to figure out what we're going to do with him after we're done." * Fordran takes a breath. * Erias looks troubled. "The right thing to do would be to turn him over to the authorities, with solid proof of his wrongdoing." * Fordran nods. <Foster> "If we leave him alive, there's a fairly large chance that he'll warn Gray, and a slightly smaller chance that we'll have a pirate crew knocking our doors down in the near future." * Sam looks vaguely like a dog who has just heard a strange noise. <Apol> "How about bring him to your church for blessings and drinks?" <Fordran> "Has he any other enemies?" <Foster> "Connected as he seems to be, the town watch may be unwilling to convict him." * Sam looks quite puzzled, and totally uninvolved in the conversation. * Foster glances at Sam. <Foster> "Is there something wrong?" <Erias> "Is there some higher authority to which we could turn him over?" * Sam snaps out of it. * Erias notices Foster's gaze, and glances at Sam. <Sam> "I'm sorry, what?" <Erias> "I said, is there some higher authority..." <Foster> "You looked odd for a moment." * Erias trails off. <Sam> "Probably just some animal noise, though not one I recognized. Unimportant." <Erias> "I did and said some inappropriate things earlier." <Erias> "But I can't condone killing a man -- even an evil man -- if he's never attacked us and we have no proof of what he's done." <Foster> "Agreed." * Sam nods knowingly. <Erias> "If he is tried and sentenced..." <Apol> "Don't we have proof? We have those papers. We just need to find the rest of the papers." <Erias> "If he gives us information on where to go, we could simply bring him with us..." <Foster> "Indeed." <Foster> "I don't think bringing him with us is wise, however. <Fordran> "The question is, how do we convince him to be cooperative." <Foster> "Oh, enough stress, and anyone will be cooperative." <Fordran> "I thought he was under plenty of stress back there..." <Erias> "I am uncomfortable at the prospect of torture. But it seems clear that we must somehow coerce him into helping us." <Foster> "Torture is generally inefficient. it's simply a matter of convincing him that helping us will be less dangerous than not." <Fordran> "Whatever it is he knows, it must be important enough for him to be afraid of the consequences of telling us than he is of our killing him." <Foster> "He did look somewhat surprised when Grant headbutted him." <Fordran> "I don't understand why that would be particularly surprising." <Apol> "How about bait? I used to be bait for Bob's experiments." <Foster> "Perhaps he was not taking us seriously." <Fordran> "Erias could have killed him easily, but he didn't flinch at that. Only at Grant knocking him out." <Fordran> "How odd." <DM> (Um, I wouldn't read too much into that) <Erias> (well, our characters don't know it was Foster's work.) <DM> (That was flavortext for, somebody hit me in the back of the head) <Erias> (oh.) <Fordran> (ignore waht i said, then) <DM> (me /rewinds, hits play) <Foster> "I'm reminded that we should probably search him thoroughly, to remove as many possibilities of escape as possible." <Fordran> "...surprising." * Foster does so. <DM> search roll * Fordran helps him searchl. <DM> Unless you're strip searching or something <Foster> I take 20. <Fordran> (aid another) <DM> Ah well then. <DM> 2 minutes later... <Foster> (24) <Fordran> (taking 20 on aid another) <Foster> 26. <DM> (.. but... how... .) <Fordran> (i'm pointing helpfully.) <Foster> (hee.) <DM> You have a neat pile of stuff. * Foster sorts through it. * Apol watches as the pile grows. <DM> There was a finely wrought throwing dagger in his left boot, a matte-black shortsword in a scabbard concealed in the small of his back. <DM> (Under his coat) <DM> You already had the parchment, and the bag of coins. <DM> Um. Some of the buttons on his coat are pearl? <DM> Oh, and silk underwear. <Sam> "So many...things he carries. <Foster> we're not here to rob him, we're here to take his information. <Foster> "In any case, I see no reason to take his possessions, aside from this mystery parchment." <Fordran> "I wonder if we can make him think that he's in a worse situation when he wakes up." <Foster> "Well, it's certainly possible." * Apol tells Foster, "Too bad we can't put him in that machine that you and Erias were in." <Erias> "Well, if he doesn't tell us what we need to know, we can take him with us and sell him off to be drained like we were..." <Erias> "Maybe letting him know that would be helpful?" <Foster> "It would neither do much good nor get us what we want to know - it drains energy, not specifics. And in any case, I would prefer that no being ever be subjected to that device again." <Erias> (anyone else see the torture scene in the Punisher movie?) <DM> (hee) <DM> (zomg popsicle bling bling!) <Foster> "However, it may be helpful to have him believe that, yes." <Sam> "Quite...um..." <Foster> "We should probably just wake him up and get it over with." <Foster> "Every moment we waste, Gray has more time to search for us." <DM> Bloodnose dives for the door. <Apol> "Don't we want to find Gray?" * Erias reacts as quickly as allowed. <Foster> The closed door? <DM> init <DM> Yes, the closed door <Foster> While he's tied to a chair? <DM> He just untied them. <Erias> |roll d20 <tafal> 16 | [d20=16] <Sam> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 14 | [d20=10] [+4=4] <Apol> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 2 | [d20=1] [+1=1] <DM> I made a bunch of secret bluff and use rope rolls. <Fordran> |roll d20+0 <tafal> 14 | [d20=14] [+0=0] <Foster> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 7 | [d20=6] [+1=1] <Foster> Great. :p <DM> |roll d20+7 <tafal> 12 | [d20=5] [+7=7] <DM> Erias <Erias> charge attack while drawing mace, smite evil <DM> He's right next to you <Erias> ...oh. Full round or partial? <DM> You're reacting to the jumping up part <DM> partial <Erias> Attack with gauntlet, smite evil <DM> Right. How many of those left? <Erias> uh... 0 <Erias> I'll try to grapple <DM> Roll it <Erias> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 25 | [d20=16] [+9=9] <Erias> (touch) <DM> Um. Hit. <DM> Opposed <Erias> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 24 | [d20=15] [+9=9] <DM> He writhes madly in your grasp, but you maintain your grip, barely. <Erias> I will opt to inflict damage. <DM> Roll it <Erias> do I get to do the 1d4 lethal of gauntlets, or the 1d3 nonlethal of bare hands? <DM> If you have your gauntlets on, it's gauntlets <Erias> |roll d4+2 <tafal> 3 | [d4=1] [+2=2] <DM> -> Sam <Erias> partial, so I don't get a second attack; done <Foster> (He has quite the healing rate, that one.) <Fordran> (mutant factor) * Sam attempts to introduce Bloodnose to the floor. (trip) <Fordran> (wait till you see his unarmed attack) <Sam> |roll d20+9 <tafal> 15 | [d20=6] [+9=9] <Erias> (uh... I guess I have to let go of him for this?) <DM> I'm... not sure how that works. <DM> But okay, that's a hit, while grappled. <Fordran> (he's sweeping out his legs while erias is holding him.) <DM> Okay. <DM> Opposed trip <Erias> if this is allowed, I will drop him if he is tripped but retain my hold if not. <DM> ok <Sam> |roll d20+2 <tafal> 11 | [d20=9] [+2=2] <Sam> (how...mediocre) <DM> His struggling avoids the brunt of your sweep. <DM> -> Fordran * Fordran moves towards the door, blocking it. <Fordran> (done) <DM> -> Foster <Foster> "Listen, Bloodnose. You're going to survive this encounter unless you give us a reason to kill you. You are not, however, a free man, nor will you be unless you answer our questions." <Foster> (Just tell me when I've reached a partial worth of chatter) <DM> He stops struggling. <DM> (out of init) * Erias will maintain the hold, for now. * Fordran leans against the door. <DM> The door creaks unreassuringly * Apol sits on the windowsill. * Fordran doesn't lean so hard. * Sam stands in the corner nearest the window. <Foster> "So, would you like to talk about Gray and your bleedin' hundred kidnappings yet, or do we have to play the stupid game where you pretend to not be a hardened criminal some more?" <DM> Bloodnose scans the room rapidly. * Fordran waves. <DM> He grits his teeth, not looking at Fordran at all. * Foster waits. <Sam> (as much as i'd like to /flex, it doesn't seem very Sam.) <Fordran> (/taunt) <DM> "Do what you like, you pompous, self-important buffoon. I suppose you style yourself a keen intellect? Hah. Worthless. Not worth the scrapings off a barnacle." * Erias waits. <Fordran> "I think he's opting for playing that game some more." <DM> (to Erias) "And you! Come to prove just how just you are, how righteous, by ganging up on a defenseless man? Feeling the holy fire now, priest man?" * Erias ignores him. <Erias> "I guess we can just knock him out and wake him up again for a while." * Sam doesn't say anything snarky about failed attempts at flattery. * Fordran snorts. "Defenseless." <Erias> "And you... I swear to you I've done worse." <Foster> "My intellect is rather irrelevant, as are my pomposity and my self-importance. I could be a grease-stained gutter rat or the bloody queen of Ancient Nyrond, and I'd still be the one who's asking you questions that you're too bloody stupid to answer." <DM> "Oh, yes, let's beat on the poor helpless merchant. You've got my money, what the bloody hell else do you want?" <Foster> (I'm rolling sense motive, just because) <Fordran> "Pretty well armed for a merchant, wouldn't you say?" <DM> "Oh! I'm bloody stupid! Yes, yes. Here we have a sorry lot of fools dragging me all around Threecrown, and I'm stupid?" <Foster> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 9 | [d20=8] [+1=1] * Erias waits. <DM> "What? Isn't this the part where you slit my throat, you sorry sots?" <Fordran> "You seem to want to die." <Foster> "If this were some third-rate stage act, yes." * Sam just stares blankly at Bloodnose. <DM> "Well, I'm kind of resigned to it, aren't I? You'll torture me til I die or tell you what you want to hear, and I don't know anything!" <Fordran> "We could just skip the torturing part and skip to the telling." <Foster> "It would make everyone's life so much easier." <DM> "Sure, let's tell you what you want to hear, lets! So yes, I kidnapped hundreds this past holiday. Maidens! Hundreds of them, all pure as the driven snow. And I ravished them all before super." <DM> *supper <Fordran> "Didn't want to hear that." <DM> He glares at Fordran while ranting. * Fordran sighs. * Erias waits. <Foster> "This is going nowhere. Grant, knock his stupid arse out again, I think I know how to deal withthis." * Erias attempts to pin. <DM> Grant grunts, punches Bloodnose across the face. <DM> |roll d8 <tafal> 6 | [d8=6] <DM> er there are some plusses, but eh. <DM> He's out. <Fordran> "He's not even bright enough to make up something plausible?" <Foster> I'll need 10 minutes or so. Make sure he stays out this time." <Erias> "Either he's telling the truth or he's more scared of Gray than he is of us." <Erias> "Either way... he's still evil." <Fordran> "I vote for the latter." * Erias takes off his gauntlet. * Foster sits down against the wall, closes his eyes. * Erias punches Bloodnose repeatedly, not trying to do serious injury. <Sam> "Is there a chance --" <DM> (I just burst out laughing. Thank you, Colin :P) * Sam winces again, and again. * Fordran watches Bloodnose intently. <DM> (I had this mental image, Colin, in platemail, removing a gauntlet. Sighing in resignation, and punching the guy over and over again.) <Erias> (heh. awesome. I can see it now, too.) <Fordran> (the great thing about D&D is that there's no limit to how much subdual you can accrue.) <Erias> (And you can be in combat continuously for hours.) <DM> (Hee) <Apol> (BTW, I came up with a suggestion that a dragon wouldn't think of, but if anyone wants to roll and int or wis your character can have it.) <DM> (Well, I might make you make a *gasp* Fort save) <Erias> |roll d20+1 <tafal> 3 | [d20=2] [+1=1] <Erias> (wis) <Foster> |roll d20+4 <tafal> 22 | [d20=18] [+4=4] <Fordran> |roll d20+3 <tafal> 20 | [d20=17] [+3=3] * Sam bluntly asks Erias, "Will this vengeful beating result in progress?" <DM> The minutes pass. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. <Erias> (I could punch him twice per round, for a total average of 80 subdual per minute, or 4800 subdual per hour, for, say... eight hours. That's, what, 38,400 damage?) <Foster> (we don't need that much subdual) :p <Erias> Oh, I was going to stop after, say, 5 rounds. <Fordran> "He's not being very cooperative while he's awake, that's for sure." <Fordran> "So we're not really losing progress." <Erias> (38,400 damage would do no permanent injury, but it would take more than 10 years for an average 5th level human to wake up from it naturally.) <Fordran> (aka, coma) <Erias> (so if I beat him every day for a week, for eight hours, I could probably put him into a coma for the rest of his life.) <Erias> (but I wouldn't have killed him!) <DM> I don't think subdual accrues past your hit total. But I could be wrong. <Erias> aww. <DM> Otherwise all you need is a dipperbird to take out the Tarrasque. <DM> During the 10 minutes, Foster's nosebleed has started again. <DM> There is a faint hum in the air. <DM> The hum comes to an end, as Foster's eyes open. <Fordran> "You're, um." * Fordran wipes his nose again. <Foster> "Could I possibly beg some form of healing? The strain this puts on me is a bitmuch, but very, very necessary." * Foster wipes his nose again. <Fordran> (i don't see any restriction on max nonlethal) * Erias glances at Fordran. "Are you prepared for this? I have some strength for it." <DM> (Oy.) <Fordran> "I will handle it." * Erias nods. * Fordran produces a wand and uses it on Foster. <Fordran> (*shping*) <DM> (heh) <Foster> "We'll also need to wake him up." <Fordran> |roll 1d8+3 <tafal> 4 | [1d8=1] [+3=3] <Sam> (hee.) <DM> (ouch) * Fordran stabs tafal in the eye. <tafal> Jesus FUCK my EYE CHRIST! <Foster> argh. <Fordran> (of course, i can't tell how much that healed.) <Fordran> "Is that sufficient? Do you need additional healing?" <Sam> "I hope he knows what you wish." <DM> (Way to hedge, Geo~) <Foster> "A bit more would probably be better, this is dangerous work." <Fordran> (hey, fordran heals battle wounds, not frickin' nosebleeds) * Fordran nods. "A strange ailment you've contracted." <DM> (It's COMPOUND FRACTURES or NOTHING, you pussies!) <Fordran> |roll d8+3 <tafal> 5 | [d8=2] [+3=3] * Foster taps his forehead. <Erias> (heh.) * Fordran kicks tafal in the beanbag. <Foster> "Less ailment. More fueling magic with my own health." * Fordran looks taken aback. <Fordran> "That's terrible..." <Foster> "It's necessary." <Fordran> "I never knew magic was so ... taxing." * Erias cocks his head at Foster. <Erias> "Interesting. Your power is gone, and so you use strength you don't have..." <Erias> |roll d20 <tafal> 1 | [d20=1] * Fordran looks at Erias, then back at Foster. <Foster> "Whenever you're ready, feel free to wake him up." * Fordran puts the wand away, moves back to block the door. * Sam composes himself again. <Erias> I'll see if I can wake him without healing <Erias> if not, I'll heal him. * Apol asks Foster, "Is that what happened with the machines?" <Apol> "I wonder if Bob's machines could fix that." <DM> (How is Erias waking Bloodnose?) <Erias> (initially by gentle shaking or gentle slaps on the cheek) * Foster concentrates. <DM> Ok <Erias> (after that, by healing) <DM> He wakes after the third pat on the face. [ <DM> "What the he--?" ] [ <DM> "Oh. Gods." ] <DM> He glares at Erias. [ <DM> "I wonder what this oaf needs to hear to get him to kill me." ] * Erias looks back at him blankly. <Foster> "Well, are you feeling more cooperative now?" [ <DM> "I am going to skin you alive, you little twig-necked buffoon." ] <DM> He just grits his teeth. [ <DM> "Let's see... sword on the floor... good, haven't unsheathed it yet..." ] [ <DM> "The door doesn't look too sturdy..." ] <Foster> "I'm tired of your idiocy, Bloodnose. Where is Gray, how does he communicate you, and who needs those tribals? <DM> He blinks in surprise. <DM> "uh..." [ <DM> "Right. Anything will do... enrage them if possible..." ] <DM> "Gray? Baron Gray, of Westmarch?" <DM> "Tribals?" [ <DM> "Riiiight. Let's see how they react..." ] <Foster> "Wrong Gray. And I know you know what tribals I'm talking about, I overheard you chit-chatting about them with your thugs the other day." [ <DM> "Dammit. Confound that idiot of a Half-Orc!" ] [ <DM> "I would have him keelhauled if I knew where he'd gone off to." ] <DM> He sneers. [ <DM> "er." ] <DM> "Well, sometimes we take some of the foreigners on tour in my boat." [ <DM> "Where are my blasted men?" ] * Erias lies down on the bed and closes his eyes. <Foster> "As what, oar slaves? Are you really more afraid of Gray than you are of dying or a lifetime of breaking rocks in some penal quarry somewhere?" [ <DM> "Hah. If only you knew, little worm, if only..." ] <DM> He sighs dramatically. <DM> "What do you want me to say?" <DM> "Hand me a confession, I will sign it in blood." * Foster leans down, grabs Bloodnose's sword, unsheathes it. [ <DM> "Yeeees... just a prick, a nick..." ] * Fordran looks a little tense. <DM> The blade is dull black. <DM> Probably to prevent any glinting at night. * Foster asks Apol, in Draconic "Is this thing magical?" * Apol pulls out the monocle. * Apol shakes head No. * Foster ponders for a moment. [ <DM> "Come on you coward, how easy are you to goad?" ] <DM> "Oh, goodness no, threatening me with bodily harm.." * Foster sheathes the sword. [ <DM> "Dammit. So close." ] <Foster> "I've been Gray's captive, you see. I know exactly what he does to people. So you can rest assured when I say that whatever he may have in store for you, should you talk, he won't live long enough to carry out hisvengeance." <DM> He raises an eyebrow at Foster. [ <DM> "You have no idea, little fool, none at all..." ] <Foster> "Of course, if you don't help me, the fact that we've so much as taken you should be enough to convince him that you need to investigate a new career in basketweaving, being undependable and all." [ <DM> "Gah. He wouldn't." ] <DM> He glares. [ <DM> "No no, I'm still too important." ] [ <DM> "He needs all the captives for trade." ] <Foster> "Grant here, can tell you all about it." <Foster> "Of course, I fixed him." <DM> Grant snores softly in a corner. [ <DM> "Fixed...? Waitaminnit." ] [ <DM> "But that must mean he can..." ] [ <DM> "Oh shi--" ] <Foster> "Oh shi-- indeed." [ <DM> "LA LA LA LA LA LA" ] <DM> "LA LA LA LA LA" <DM> He shuts his eyes tight and begins singing nonsense syllables. <Foster> "So, talk to me about Gray's trade arrangements." [ <DM> "LA LA get out of my head LA LA" ] <DM> "LA LA LA" <Foster> "You have, after all, already compromised yourself." <Erias> (wait, who does? Grant or Bloodnose?) <DM> (This is BLoodnose) <DM> (Grant is asleep, violence past) <Foster> "You're not important enough, Bloodnose." <DM> Bloodnose is shutting his eyes tight, shaking his head from side to side. <Fordran> "What is all this?" <Foster> "He'll turn you into a silverware polisher for giving up information, if you won't help us take care of him." * Erias opens his eyes and sits up on his elbows. [ <DM> "Mustn't... think" ] [ <DM> "Not the church" ] [ <DM> "ARGH" ] [ <DM> "LA LA LA LA LA" ] [ <DM> "I don't know anything! I know nothing nothing nothing nothing nothing" ] <Foster> "You're sure in deep for someone who knows nothing about anything." [ <DM> "He needs me, I'm still worth more alive" ] <Foster> "Oh, he'd keep you alive. You'd just spend all your time thinking about how much you like knitting." <DM> Bloodnose is rocking back and forth gently in the chair [ <DM> "He still needs me, yes, still needs me" ] [ <DM> "needs more, always more, I'm useful, still useful for captives" ] <DM> Eyes not squinting so tight anymore <Foster> "There are other slavers, Bloodnose. He always needs people to dust his floor and polish his boots, however." <DM> He seems to be muttering under his breath. <Foster> "Have you ever considered a career as a cobbler? I'm sure his shoes need repairing." [ <DM> "my crew will save me, yes, Antonius will come and rip this wheedling whelp's throat out, yes..." ] <Foster> "And the only person who can help you, Bloodnose, is you. You're alone. Nobody to depend on. Nobody to help you escape. No thugs to bust you out, no mommy to cry to." <DM> (There's, uh, a bit going on behind the scenes.) [ <DM> "shhh shhh shh..." ] <Foster> (Sorry for the monopolizing, all) <Foster> (Learn to read minds~) <DM> He deflates, stops rocking. <DM> "I don't know how to contact him." * Fordran blinks. <Foster> (victory punch) * Fordran looks at Foster, incredulous. <DM> "I just move the... product." * Sam looks at Foster, curious. * Erias looks at Foster, impressed. <Foster> "And where do you leave them?" <DM> "There's a... warehouse, merchant district." <DM> "We pack em in crates, move em in at night." <DM> "Leave em there, lock up." <DM> "We get our cut at a dropoff, offshore. <DM> "Tried having one of my men watch for the courier, but nobody ever came... it just... appeared." <Foster> "Is there a schedule, or do you leave a signal?" <DM> "It's in the schedule... the note you took." <Fordran> "...It?" <DM> (the schedule) <Fordran> (the courier) <DM> (oh, the "it just appeared" refers to their cut of the money) <Erias> ("it just appeared" refers -- yeah.) <Foster> "And how do you read this schedule?" <DM> "Oh, that. I keep the cypher locked up." [ <DM> "Hmmm..." ] <DM> "It's in my cabin." [ <DM> "hmmm hmm hmmmmmm... o~" ] <Foster> "Remember when the next drop is?" <DM> "Nnn... yes." [ <DM> "argh." ] <DM> "Tomorrow night." <DM> "We were running out of tribals." <DM> "We started grabbing tourists. People no one would miss." <Foster> "And where, exactly, is this warehouse?" [ <DM> "; ;" ] <DM> He grimaces unhappily. <DM> "2nd north alley off of Portside, turn at the pigeon fountain." <DM> "There's a short alley, double doors, looks like a root cellar." <Foster> "There now. That wasn't so hard." <Fordran> "Root cellar, huh." <Erias> "Nicely done." <Foster> "And while I appreciate your unflattering thoughts about me, I really didn't enjoy doing this at all. We'll see about making sure you don't unduly as a result of this." <DM> (unduly what?) <Foster> er. suffer unduly. <DM> Right ok. <DM> He just looks depressed. [ <DM> "Argh. Now I'll be in their clutches if I die. This is... argh." ] * Fordran lets out a breath. * Foster looks as if he's remembered something. <Foster> "Oh. One last thing. What was that about the church?" <DM> He stiffens. [ <DM> "Ngh." ] <DM> "Mmm...." * Fordran takes note. <DM> "They're involved. Somehow." <DM> "With the product." * Fordran grunts. <Erias> "Hm." <Fordran> "Wait. Wait." <Erias> "I can't say I'm really surprised." <Fordran> "The people... the products. They're put on a boat?" <DM> "Yes, we bring them in my boat." * Fordran looks worried. * Fordran looks at Erias. <Fordran> "That. That was in my dream." <Erias> "And then you just leave them in the warehouse? Or you actually take them somewhere else?" * Erias starts. * Erias turns toward Fordran. <Erias> "Uh... well, actually I'd say that's a good sign." <Erias> "It means we're on the right track." <Fordran> "After a fashion, but yes." <DM> "We just leave them there." * Sam looks vaguely sickened, in a moral sense. * Fordran seems to be looking into the distance, as if daydreaming. <DM> (psychic winamp is playing "If you could read my mind" by Gordon Lightfoot) <Erias> (nice song, too) * Fordran refocuses. <Foster> (ow) <Fordran> "This new church. There is definite evil hiding behind it. It must be dealt with." <Fordran> "But what are they doing with the people..." <Erias> "There's an easy way to find out." <Fordran> "Hide in a box?" <Erias> "Yep." <DM> (sooo) <DM> "Can I go now? I'm going to sail as far away as possible." <Foster> "That seems best." <Erias> (I'm getting pretty tired and should probably go after we wrap up this encounter.) <DM> (ok) <DM> "Ropes?" * Foster unties them, carefully. <Erias> (oh, did we tie him up again?) <DM> (I thought so) <Foster> (if we didn't, we'd probably have problems" <Erias> "Good luck, Bloodnose." <Fordran> "Looks like our fates are intertwined, Bloodnose." <DM> He reaches slowly, with no sudden motions, towards his things. * Fordran steps away from the door. <DM> He looks at Fordran curiously. <DM> He straps his various goodies away. <DM> At the door, he stops and turns. <Fordran> ("Suckas!") <Erias> (I'm waiting for that.) <Foster> (Indeed) <DM> "I don't think you know what you're getting into. If I were you, I'd run as far away as possible, and never come back." <Fordran> "Do you really think that would help?" <DM> "No." <DM> He turns and leaves. <DM> At the steps, you hear him break into a run. <Foster> "Right, let's get the hell out of here." * Erias nods. <DM> Break here? <Fordran> (sure) <Sam> ok. <Foster> As good a place as any. <Erias> (sounds good.)