The Firstborn — IC

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Tue Mar 19, 2019 12:02 pm

With their captives still unconcious, Aeron joins the others in the other room. "I'm sure the Clan would be more than happy to learn of this. Could even get us in their good graces," Aeron remarks as they uncover the crates of contraband rum.

At Nytholis' words, he replies, "Keep watch and stay out of trouble is all I ask." He walks towards the crates, examining the bottles and shaking his head. How can anyone stand the taste of that stuff? As Sisera speaks, Aeron finds himself correcting her. "They fight over money. The rum is just the source of that money. It all comes down to greed."

Post by **Namelessjake** » Wed Mar 20, 2019 2:27 pm

"Should we try waking them up?" Alierin asks the group. "We're here for information after all. Maybe their own rum will do the trick?"

Post by **ratwizard** » Sun Mar 24, 2019 7:13 am

"That could work," Cymril shrugs. She pulls out a couple bottles of the unlabeled rum, popping the corks and handing them to Aeron and Alierin.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Mar 25, 2019 1:24 pm

"It's worth a shot," Aeron remarks with a shrug, taking the pungent liquor from Cymril. Glancing towards Alierin, he says, "shall we?" before retreating back in the room with their captives. Eager to get the interrogation underway, he holds the bottle beneath Kiros' nose, hoping the sugar-sweet fumes serve to rouse the man.

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Mar 25, 2019 5:44 pm

Kiros slowly rouses, his eyes bloodshot and blood seeping from wounds on his torso and stomach. He is silent for a moment, his wide eyes scanning side to side as he takes in the situation.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 3:23 pm

"I can't believe that actually works," Aeron says as an aside to Alierin as the rum actually rouses the man. Facing the man, he says, "Rise and shine, Kiros. We've got questions and you've got answers, so let's get to it. Tell us the truth about Berek, the whole truth."

With a smirk, he adds, "And I do apologize for the methods. I do hope you'll understand, though. Business stops for no man, after all."

Post by **ratwizard** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 4:00 pm

Kiros stares up at Aeron with a groggy look. "Why are you this set on going after this kid? How much can you be getting paid to find some dockman's ratty bastard of a son?" He coughs a bit of blood onto the ground, grimacing as the tight ropes dig into his torso.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 4:45 pm

Alierin shrugs at Aeron's comment about the rum. "That's not relevant to you," Alierin replies to Kiros. We'd probably seem crazy if he knew the truth."

"All you need to worry about is telling us where he is," she says. "Do you think this rum is flammable?" She asks turning to Aeron, as she begins to slowly pour her bottle over Kiros.

Post by **Fialova** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 5:03 pm

Sisera looks on as the others interrogate the men, feeling it best to leave the questioning to those more skilled at the orc's own language. However, she looks a bit alarmed as Alierin begins pouring the rum on the man, more so at her mention of fire. "Dydych chi ddim wir yn ddynion i osod y dynion hyn ar dân, a ydych chi?" she asks.

[sblock=Elven translation]"You do not really men to set this men on fire, do you?"[/sblock]

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 5:34 pm

Nytholis hears Aeron's suggestion and though slow to react, does move out to be in sight of the entrance, though able to easily pop out of sight if needed. He keeps glancing over at the others as they interrogate the ones he didn't kill. His eyes widened in fear as he overheard them talking about the rum being flammable. Against his better judgment he speaks up, "Fuirich iad? Ach nach ann dìreach a chuir mi dragh orm airson a bhith a ’marbhadh dà? Tha fhios nach eil aon eucoir a ’dearbhadh neach eile!" He exclaims in elvish, trying to keep a somewhat quiet voice while taking a few steps to get back into the room with them.

[sblock=Elvish Translation]"Burn them? But didn't you just get upset with me for killing two? Surely one crime does not justify another!"[/sblock]

Post by **ratwizard** » Tue Mar 26, 2019 6:33 pm

The restrained orc shudders, anger welling up in his set jaw. "Fuck, I think you're mad enough to actually do it." He shakes his head, gritting his teeth. "Fine," Kiros shoots a quizzical glance at the two elves arguing in their native tongue.

"The kid's dead." He stares past you, his eyes now vacant.

Post by **Namelessjake** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 2:11 am

"Roedd yn meddwl fy mod yn bwriadu," Alierin quickly replies to the others elves.

"How?" she asks Kiros. I knew we should have taken that security job...

[sblock=Elvish Translation]"He thought I meant to,"[/sblock]

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Wed Mar 27, 2019 10:42 am

He'd better not be trying to lie to us again or I'll light a match myself, Aeron thinks, staring at their captive with daggerlike eyes. "And why?" the elf adds to his former lover's plain question.

[sblock=Mechanics]Insight to see if Kiros is lying: 18(1d20) +10 = 28[/sblock]

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 4:17 pm

"The kid stole from one of our runs," the orc says, spitting blood onto the ground next to him as he clears his throat. "We gave him a chance to give it all back."

Kiros looks up at you with irritation in his eyes. "You know what he does? He sells our goods, burns through his coin, and threatens to blackmail me." He shakes his head, his eyes falling to the floor again. "Did what we had to. I gave him a chance to make it right. I did."

[sblock=Aeron]You don't get the sense that Kiros is lying.[/sblock]

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:53 pm

Nytholis, not liking the indirect answer he was given, quietly fumed and bit his own tongue. Their hypocrisy is blatant and infuriating. So they're going to tell me off for killing, and then threaten to kill, themselves? What happened to 'We don't kill'? He shook his head quietly. Why are we even here? Kill him and be done with it. The kid's dead anyways, who cares? He thought, glaring at the others.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:15 pm

Aeron shakes his head at the man's words, knowing they ring true despite all of the night's troubles. "It's as if you expect me to think you did the right thing. That you're somehow a better person for giving him that chance." Kneeling down before the man, the elf adds, "But you're not. You're still just a crook and a monster."

Standing up once more, he turns around for a deep breath. Turning to face their captive once more, he finally plainly says, "And what'd you do with his body after you offed him?" His father would no doubt like to see him laid to rest properly. With our luck, though, Berek will be at the bottom of the harbor.

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:21 pm

Kiros' distant gaze disappears as he locks eyes with Aeron. "We did what any 'monster' worth their salt would do. Sunk him," the orc explains with what he can muster of a shrug. "You thinking of going diving? I can tell you where. Just... don't let her do me in." He looks back at Alierin with wide eyes.

Post by **Fialova** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:34 pm

"I won't," Sisera responds, as she walks over to the man. She motions for Alierin to move aside and put the alcohol away, before kneeling down before him. She gives him a wan smile and pats him on the head before removing her scimitar from her sheathe once more and slitting his throat.

As the man lies bleeding on the ground, she calmly wipes the blood off on his shirt and returns the blade to its sheathe. "Un llai o lofruddion i boeni amdano," she says to the others, as she steps back away from the body and looks back to them. "Dylem ei suddo hefyd, nid yw'n haeddu gwell na'r bachgen orc."

[sblock=Elven Translation]"One less murderer to worry about," ... "We should sink him too, he doesn't deserve better than the orc boy."[/sblock]

Post by **ratwizard** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 7:38 pm

Kiros' eyes bulge as he gags on his own blood, streaming from the gaping wound on his throat. In a moment, he is still, the floor beneath him covered crimson.

Cymril glowers, offering a dejected shake of her head.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Mon Apr 01, 2019 8:07 pm

"Good riddance," Aeron remarks, hardly flinching as Sisera swiftly ends the smuggler's life. "Ac efallai dod o hyd i rai gwarchodwyr ar ôl. Rwy'n siŵr y byddent yn awyddus i roi'r gorau i'r cylch smyglo hwn," he adds, hoping they might still salvage the promises the night held. Getting in good with the guard would be way better than what Beamon's influence holds.

[sblock=Elven Translation]"And maybe find some guards after. I'm sure they'd be eager to bust up this smuggling ring."[/sblock]

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 1:35 am

As they wrap up killing Kiros, Nytholis stepped towards the front door again, looking outside to see if anyone is coming. "Is cac tarbh é seo. Conas is féidir leo a bheith mar seo?" He mumbled under his breath. "But Sisera..." He continued, She's everything I ever imagined...

[sblock=Elvish translation]"This is such bull shit. How could they be like this?"[/sblock]

Post by **Namelessjake** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 10:15 am

"I'm not sure how the guards will respond to a room full of dead orcs killed by elves," Alierin says as Aeron mentions alerting the city guards. She walks up to Kiros' body and begins searching him for anything interesting of of value.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 11:03 am

"Well only Kiros would be dead if it weren't for someone," Aeron remarks, glaring at Nytholis grumbling to himself. "Still, can get rid of the dead and leave the rest tied up for the guards."

Post by **ratwizard** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 5:33 pm

"Poorly, I'd imagine," Cymril says to Alierin's pondering. She turns to her cousin, nodding. "I think that's best."

Post by **Fialova** » Tue Apr 02, 2019 7:26 pm

"Ac rydych chi'n meddwl na fydd yr orcs hyn yn siarad? Dywedwch wrth y bobl gard hyn ein bod wedi lladd eu ffrindiau? Byddai'n ddoethach dweud bod y rhai a laddwyd yn hunan-amddiffyn," Sisera says, shaking her head at the plan to lie about the deaths. "Bydd ein clwyfau ein hunain yn brawf y daethom i'w chwythu." If you are going to lie to someone in authority, lie light. It is easy to prove we killed these criminals, less easy to prove why.

[sblock=Elven Translation]"And you think these orcs will not talk? Tell these guard people that we killed their friends? It would be smarter to say they were killed in self-defense," ... "Our own wounds will be proof we came to blows."[/sblock]

Post by **ratwizard** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:16 pm

"Do we have to go to the guards?" Cymril asks. "I suppose if you think it is best," she shifts uncomfortably.

[sblock=Alierin]On the body of Kiros you find 27 gold pieces and a keyring with a few keys of varying weights. In addition, he is wearing hide armor and laying near him on the ground is his engraved longsword.[/sblock]

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Thu Apr 04, 2019 5:38 pm

Nytholis rubs his arm quietly, and takes a few steps back to look into the room, even if it would be a bad angle. "Are you done yet? I don't feel right sticking around waiting for the guards to come."

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:19 pm

"I'd rather not leave it to chance that some friends come along and free them," Aeron remarks to his cousin as she begins to express doubt. "For all we know, they might try to get revenge." Returning to his native tongue so the Quellamese woman would fully understand, he adds, "Yn deg, mae'n debyg. Ac efallai y bydd gweld Kiros ymhlith y meirw yn helpu ein hachos."

"Let's hope we can find a guard at this hour. An honest one at that," he says. Assuming there are no objections, he makes for the exit, keeping his eyes peeled for any on-duty guard outside the warehouse.

[sblock=Elven Translation]"Fair, I suppose. And perhaps seeing Kiros among the dead will help our case."[/sblock]
[sblock=Mechanics]Perception to look for a guard: 20(1d20) +1 = 21 okay
Streetwise to know if there are any guard routes or guard stations nearby: 10(1d20) +5 = 15[/sblock]

Post by **Namelessjake** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:17 am

Alierin pockets the gold and the keys, figring they could be useful if they end up looking deeper into the smuggler's operation. Seeing the engraving, she picks up the orc's sword as she stands and slides it through her belt.

"I'm not keen on going to the guards either, " Alierin then says agreeing with Cymril. "But I agree we shouldn't hang around here much longer, she adds following Aeron to the exit.

Post by **Fialova** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:36 am

We shall see if these guards are reasonable, the woman thinks, as she follows behind the others towards the exit. She is confident to have made her case, regardless of what the more sociable in their group decide to do.

Post by **ratwizard** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 11:15 am

The street outside is mostly quiet at this hour, with the occasional sailor or laborer passing by. It isn't until you get to a crossroads about a minute's walk away that you find two orcish guards chatting, the emblem of the Clan patched onto their heavy coats. They turn to eye you curiously as you approach.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 3:05 pm

Nytholis sees the orcs and backs up, whispering just loud enough for his party to hear; "I've got a bad feeling about this..."

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 3:29 pm

Ignoring Nytholis' remarks, Aeron continues approaching the guards, the clan emblems offering relief after the night spent with criminals. Let us hope they're honest guards, though. Who knows if guards have been paid off around here. "Sorry to disturb you," Aeron begins, hoping to start off on the right foot with the guards. "But we could use your help. We were looking into a missing friend when we were attacked not far from here." With his words, he points off in the direction they had come from.

"We defended ourselves and tied up our assailants. We suspect they're smugglers so we thought to hand them over to you, that the Clan might bust open this smuggling ring," he adds, hopeful that the pair of guards will appreciate their efforts.

[SHOW]: Diplo to make the guards like me: 3(1d20) +12 = 15

Post by **ratwizard** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 4:47 pm

"Attacked?" the bearded orc echoes, looking over your disheveled appearance. "Ain't safe out here in the docks. Especially for you young kids." He turns to the other guard. "Break's over I suppose. You coming with me?"

The younger orc gives the bearded one a weary look before turning back to you. "Smuggling ring? Hm. Where did you say this happened?"

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:40 pm

"At a warehouse nearby. A lumber one, by the smell of it. I can lead you there," Aeron remarks at the guard's question, glad the pair is taking them seriously. "One of the men went by 'Kiros' or something if that helps," he adds, beginning to walk back to their battlefield warehouse.

Post by **ratwizard** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:46 pm

The bearded orc shrugs, while the younger orc narrows his eyes at the name. They follow you back to the lumber warehouse, saying little while you walk.

As you enter Ramjan Lumber once again, the bearded orc whistles at the grisly scene. With a few orcs dead and a few more tight up and incapacitated, he laughs heartily at the situation. "Well, I didn't expect a few ragtag elves of your age to have managed this sort of mess."

The younger orc steps around, inspecting those tied up, dead or dying, eventually coming to rest next to Kiros. He crouches, noticing the smuggler chief's slit throat. He only offers a soft "Hm." before beginning to peruse the rest of the warehouse, while the bearded orc stays with you.

"You said you were attacked?" he asks, curiously. "Any explanation for why you all were in this warehouse, this late at night?"

Post by **Fialova** » Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:52 pm

Sisera does not speak up, not confident that her grasp on the Kurnish language is enough to sway the opinions of the guardsmen in their favor. She does keep an eye on the younger of the two orcs, however, his mannerisms seeming much more suspicious and potentially hostile than the other.

[SHOW]

Mechanics

Perception on younger orc: 9
Insight on younger orc: 3

lol no

Post by **Namelessjake** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 8:19 am

We probably shouldn't have left Kiros' body tied up, Alierin thinks as she notices the guard investigate his body. As the guard asks them why they were in the warehouse, she racks her brain trying to come up with a plausible story, however after a moment she decides that the truth is probably their best bet. It's not like we were doing anything illegal, at least to start with.

"We came here looking for someone. We'd been told he'd been running with these smugglers on occasion - who, as you can see, weren't too keen on us asking questions."

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 8:55 am

Nytholis kept quiet and looked away, chewing on his lip.
I never did like being around cops...

Post by **ratwizard** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 11:35 am

"Looking for who?" the bearded orc asks. "You said it was a missing friend. Did you find him?" He looks between each of you.

"Also, I'm assuming you tied them up after you kicked the snot out of them. If I wake up one of those guys, will their stories match what you've told me?"

[SHOW]: After taking a look at the bodies in the hallway, the younger orc steps into the main chamber of warehouse, out of your sight for the moment. You can't seem to get a line into his thoughts.

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 12:09 pm

"Yes and no," Aeron remarks to the guard's question of the missing friend, shaking his head solemnly. "He's at the bottom of the harbor, so this Kiros told us. His father is going to be heartbroken," he adds, hoping the orc's fate garners them some sympathy.

At his further question, Aeron adds, "That I can't say. I can't say I'd expect honesty from a smuggler."

Post by **Fialova** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 5:22 pm

Sisera turns her attention to the older of the orcs as the younger moves out of sight, not keen on following him lest she seem suspicious to him. Perhaps it was not the wisest decision to slit his throat with his wrists bound.

[SHOW]: Perception to watch older orc now: 24
And insight: 11

Post by **ratwizard** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 5:45 pm

The bearded orc frowns, his eyes softening. "Ah," he manages. "That's awful. And this dead one admitted that?" He sighs.

Stepping over to one of the tied up smugglers, the orc pats one on the face with a firm, gloved hand. "Hey. Hey! Wake up."

The groggy woman peers up, slowly coming to with a groan. "Fuck," she says, her eyes wide at the violent scene before her.

"Fuck is right. What happened here?"

"I ain't saying shit." The woman glares between the clansman and the rest of you.

The bearded orc looks back at Aeron, offering a knowing shrug. He motions for the group of you to step back into the other room, outside of earshot from the tied up orcs in the meeting room. The younger orc steps in shortly after.

"Anything?"

"Let's get these kids' stories and get them out of here. We'll follow up with the details at the barracks."

The older orc nods after a pregnant pause, before turning back to you. "Anything else you wanna tell me before I let you free? Oh, and I'm going to need your names, and where you live." He chuckles calmly. "That sounded rather forward. You know, just in case we need your testimony for the tribunal."

[SHOW]: You don't sense anything strange or subtle about the older orc's mannerisms or actions.

Post by **Fialova** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 6:01 pm

"Sisera," the woman responds, confident that the man is not trying to fool them. She thinks for a moment about where she lives, trying to figure out the correct way to word it in the Kurnish tongue. "From down... Over bridge... Elf place," she says, not confident in her words but not wanting to waste time explaining when she is sure one of her companions will do it for her.

Post by **ratwizard** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 6:05 pm

The orcs raise eyebrows at Sisera's accent. "You seem young for a daughter of Quellam," the younger one says. He looks like he's just noticed you for the first time.

"Very well, Sisera. If you're talking about the south bank opposite Gad's Square, I know the place. And the rest of you?"

Post by **Scratcherclaw** » Sun Apr 07, 2019 6:41 pm

"Aye, he admitted it. I'd rather he remained alive to rot in prison, but blades have a strange way of acting on their own accord," Aeron remarks, hoping to lighten the predicament in some regard. "The only thing else I could say is it smelled sweet in the storeroom of the warehouse. Rum-sweet, I'd guess. The pine only masks it so well," he adds, hopeful that the guards come across the contraband crates.

As the bearded guard asks for their names, Aeron says, "Aeron. We all live in the same area." Gesturing to himself and his cousin, he adds, "Our parents are on the Elven Council if that might help you locate us faster. Emrys and Vela. They'd know where to find us if the time comes."

Post by **Namelessjake** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 5:11 am

Alierin pauses for a moment, hesitant to give her name to the authorities. "...Alierin," she says after a moment, as the others start to give their names too.

Post by **FinalTemplar** » Mon Apr 08, 2019 8:26 pm

Nytholis froze up as he was asked for his name. After a moment, he stutters and mumbles "N-Nytholis."

Post by **ratwizard** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 5:52 pm

The bearded orc nods in turn to each of you, noting down your names on a crude logbook he draws forth. "Very well. Thanks for bringing this to our attention, rather than leaving it for us to find." He offers you a thoughtful shrug. "We'll get this mess documented and cleaned up eventually. I'd advise you to stay away from this area at night. Looks like you escaped a brush with death, based on these bastards' setup."

"Rum-sweet," the younger orc echoes, heading back into the main warehouse, out of sight.

"Anyways, you're free to go."

Post by **Fialova** » Tue Apr 09, 2019 7:39 pm

Honesty prevails, Sisera thinks to herself as the group begins to make their way out of the lumber yard and back into the street. Once the others have gathered she turns to Alierin and Aeron - clearly the more in-charge members - and asks, "other job?"