Hewligan's Rise of the Runelords: The Skinsaw Murders

[hewligan]

The three men make a hasty retreat, being careful not to run, but moving quickly to pick there way through the corpses and off into the night.

Ironbriar remains silent as they depart, a scowl forming on his face. Perhaps now that he knows his situation is hopeless, some of his old bitterness has returned.

He listens to Jovik's taunt, and then Danth's short sermon. After a moment, he speaks up.

"Yes, I am your prisoner, but I am a powerful man. I have many important friends and people who owe me. People who I have dirt on. It is amazing the things you learn as Justice of a city of this size and with this much debauchery about it. Take you, for example ..."

he motions towards Danth

"The Father of your flock, found cruelly murdered, his face torn off .... I had him killed. I watched over that ceremony. It was my hand that moved the razor to carve off his face as he still lived. And do you know why? He was chosen randomly. He was chosen because someone needed him to die. I heard a little whisper in my ear, shall we say. An important man who wanted rid of a nuisance presence in his district. I took care of it for him. His character is unblemished. He owes me. "

"Now I am not so foolish to think that the many people who fear what I know, and who owe me for dark deeds I have performed for them would be sad to see me killed, but they would also not want me pulled before justice, for then I will reveal all of their dark secrets and take half the city's power-brokers with me.

So you have only 2 choices really. You can kill me now, for if I think I am to be killed I will die fighting, even if it is with my teeth and nails. Or, I can lead you on, show you who REALLY led this sect, and teach you what I know of her, and how she tricked me .... and where she dwells. But to do that, I need a promise. A promise made on all that is holy to you. A promise that when I fulfill my part of the bargain you will let me escape. I have contingencies. I can disappear within 12 hours, perhaps less. I will never resurface in this land.

That is my bargain. Kill me now, or parlay with me, and I will help you, but then you must promise to let me go after I lead you to her with all the knowledge you need to defeat her. But if you want to take me before justice, and pull me and half the city down, then prepare for not a single breath of help from me, and resistance at every single step you take.

It is your choice. I may have little bargaining power, but I worship death, and it holds no fear for me. Decide!"

 

[Fenris]

It is your choice. I may have little bargaining power, but I worship death, and it holds no fear for me. Decide!"[/color]

Jovik squats before him, "Death may hold little fear for you Ironbriar. But you do not need any fingers for either choice, nor your face for that manner. I am sure we could do the same turn for you, remove the living flesh from your face, and still leave you alive, to either lead us to your mistress or to justice. There is little I hold holy so be glad I will not make this decision alone, but be assured I may yet extract my pound of flesh from you, without death." says Jovik standing again. He turns to Danth. "Your call, but let me see what I can find before we make such a decision." Jovik heads to the small room that the elf and his bodyguard were in.

 

[frostrune]

Jokad's scowl deepens. Moral quandries were not his forte. The elf clearly has no honor. His words tying his actions to the death of Danth's mentor prove his irredeemable wickedness. To Jokad he deserved death. Let him take his info to the grave, they would learn it some other way.

He had learned in their short time together to trust Danth and Kael, that they would see more clearly and take the best path. And so, he stayed his hand while the arrogant elf spewed his venom. He would wait to hear what Danth and Kael would say before watching his smug look disappear with a yard of steel in his gullet.

 

[Rhun]

Danth sighs heavily, and is then quiet a moment while he thinks. Then he speak, his voice low, while Jovik goes about searching the other room. "I do not like this at all. But I am of the opinion that allowing a lesser evil free in order to defeat a greater evil serves the greater good. Still, great evil can flourish from smell, like the way a weed in the garden can choke out the flowers should it be ignored." The cleric glares at Justice Ironbriar. "Should we swear this oath to you and let you go free, know that if I ever hear of future evildoings by you, I will hunt you down and destroy you."

 

[Friadoc]

Finally, from off to the side, Kael speaks up, his voice raspy and harsh from the scream early when the vile magic torn into his spirit. With cold steel in his voice he says, "Cooler heads will prevail, but should we ever meet again...I will end you without notice or quarter." After a slight pause, he adds, "And should I hear of further misstep, I will not only end you, but I will end any issue you have, or any issue you could have had, until your vintage is reaped from this plane of existence."

As the words are spoken, Mal moves over to his master and slowly lays down by his feet, the canine's eyes watching Ironbar.

"My familiar and I have long memories, so have no fear that either of us will forget what was said this day...or done."

OOC

Hey, folks, sorry for the silence on my end, but it was finals week. Anyhow, I'm done with school for the next six weeks, so all should be good. But, the silence lent some weight to Kael's words, *chuckles*.

 

[Rhun]

Danth nods at Kael's words, keeping his blade on the Justice, and waits for Jovik to return.

 

[hewligan]

Justice Ironbrair nods at the agreement.

"You have my word. You may not think it is worth much, but it is. I will tell you everything, lead you to her lair, and then you must give me 12 hours to make good my escape."

When he sees the reluctant agreement, he nods again. He begins to talk.

He tells you that Xanesha is responsible for all of the murders, both those in Sandpoint and the recent spate here in Magnimar, and that she was using the Brothers of the Seven as patsies for her own plans.

"[colour="DarkRed"]We were fools perhaps, but her magic is strong, and she can wriggle like a parasite into your brain and lodge herself there. The
“cult” aspects of the situation were her idea - an attempt to make this look like something else, something simpler perhaps.[/color]"

He reveals to you not only the location of Xanesha’s hideout (a part-ruined clock tower in the Shadow district, an area of Magnimar known for its lawlessness.


Justice Ironbrair nods at the agreement.

"You have my word. You may not think it is worth much, but it is. I will tell you everything, lead you to her lair, and then you must give me 12 hours to make good my escape."

When he sees the reluctant agreement, he nods again. He begins to talk.

He tells you that Xanesha is responsible for all of the murders, both those in Sandpoint and the recent spate here in Magnimar, and that she was using the Brothers of the Seven as patsies for her own plans.

"We have a deal, right? Because this is going to get me killed unless you actually manage to end her. If she finds out I gave you any info, my life is over. If she finds out that I told you what I am about to tell you, then I may as well slit my own throat now.

Look, she has this ... THING .... we call it the Scarecrow. It is a misshapen monster from a child’s nightmares. A jumbled mass of body parts incorporating as much cow and horse as man. His considerable girth is topped by an idiot head that leers and drools like a grotesque baby. He waits at the bottom, guarding the tower. He is obscene, immense, horrendous. Be careful of him.

She also has these minions - faceless things that can shift and warp their appearance. There are 3 of them. I avoided them, but they will be there, waiting for you.

She knows you are coming, you see. She has known since Sandpoint that you would be coming. She told me. I laughed it off, told her that even if you did appear I would be able to take care of you, but I never really paid much attention to be honest. I thought you were just local heroes.

Anyway, it is Xanesha you really need to fear. She is a wild, beautiful, ancient creature. She looks like a human. Well, she appears as a woman, to me, but I always could sense that this was a thin veneer. There is something else behind that image. I don't know what it is, but it is dark and evil. She can make herself invisible, and has magic, but she likes blood and will get in close to you with steel and claw. Watch her touch, though, it can drain your mind and turn you into a fool.

When he finishes he offers to lead you there now, if you want, or later if you need to rest first. Or, if you prefer, he can provide a detailed map of the route and a sketch from memory of the tower itself.

 

[frostrune]

"It seems you have Asmodeus' own luck, elf. Your information had best be good." The rage seems to have left Jokad and his tone is more business-like and controlled. He absorbs every detail of what the elf has to say.

When he is finished he says to the others, "Now or later? It's all the same to me. I suspect you magic-types will need to rest first however. Kael, you don't look well at all..."

 

[Rhun]

"We rest first," says Danth. "I've used little of my power, but if we are to face this darkness we should be fully prepared."

 

[Friadoc]

"I'm not," says Kael in a blunter fashion than he meant or that any of you have witnessed from him. "It's an understatement to say I'm out of sorts thanks to that one."