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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nonlethal Force" data-source="post: 3450239" data-attributes="member: 35788">The foursome headed to the jail next.  It was still early, but knowing Warden Farette he would already be at his post in the jail.  Ischarus smiled nervously as the jail appeared before him.  “Well, with any luck at all Captain Jacobseille won’t be present in the jail today.”  His displeasure regarding the jail was quite evident through his tone and volume.  He spoke quietly with hesitation.Rhema’s eyes left the building and her face turned to look upon Ischarus’ worried demeanor.  “Just remember, you’ve done nothing wrong this time.  I’m sure we’ll come out as easily as we went in.”Semeion joked with his friend, “You’ve never shared much with us about your experience in there with Grick.  You sure you can handle going back in?”Ischarus cast a sharp look in Semeion’s direction.  “I can handle my own.  The pain that I endured because those idiots demanded that I prove my innocence is behind me.”Semeion smiled once more and raised an eyebrow.  “Apparently not, but that’s okay.  You’ll not be the one doing the interrogation anyway.  I’d suggest that you stay in the lobby with Rhema and Charis.”Ischarus wanted to speak out and defend his pride, but he knew Semeion was right.  He hadn’t yet forgiven the captain and warden for their need to arrest him.  He still carried the grudge for the incredible pain that Grick was allowed to thrust upon him in the jail cells.  He wouldn’t be himself again until he passed through the process of interrogation and emerged from the jail a free man once more.  He breathed in deeply before speaking.  “I know, and you’re right.  Are you sure you can handle the interrogation, Semeion?”Charis decided that it was Semeion’s turn to endure a bit of teasing.  “Yeah, you don’t exactly make a convincing woman, Semeion.  Not that I’m complaining, of course.”The foursome had a good laugh before Rhema spoke.  By this time they were in the process of tying up their horses to the hitching posts and entering the building.  “Are you sure you need to change while you are in the interrogation room?  Because none of us will get a chance to see your feminine side as it comes out!”The party continued to laugh as Semeion replied with a mocking tone of sarcasm in his voice.  “Yeah, I’m really sorry that it has to work out that way and all.  It’s just too bad that the interrogation would be more convincing with me changing to Ophee and back inside the room with Darkbringer.”The door creaked open and Ischarus paused for a moment.  He took a deep breath and entered the building slowly.  They were greeted with the same cold entrance as before.  The window with the protective bars showed a receptionist as it had the last time Ischarus entered with his friends.The receptionist greeted them flatly with a nasal tone.  “Can I help you today?”  Her eyes immediately went to the weapons that the party carried in with them.Semeion stepped forward and smiled.  He placed his hands on the small window sill and spoke.  “I was wondering if Warden Farette is in and could be bothered?  I have a request for an interrogation for a prisoner named Darkbringer that is rather urgent.  I am working in conjunction with the Temple of Reah, specifically Pater Brandt.  Could you see if he has time to see me?  My friends will be staying in the lobby until I return.”The nasal voice passed through the bars and into the lobby once more.  “I’ll see if he can be disturbed this morning, sir.  He is already in for the morning, though.”Several minutes later the large security door between the lobby and the prison jerked open.  Warden Farette walked through the door, and he had a contingent of five heavily armed guards with him.  He looked at the party and paused when his eyes met Ischarus’ face.  “You have returned under the direction of the Temple of Reah?”Ischarus knew better than to respond.  The warden had clearly worked in the prison system for long enough to understand that reform was difficult, if not impossible.  In his eyes, Ischarus would always represent trouble.Instead, it was Semeion’s voice that directed the warden’s gaze away from Ischarus.  “Actually, sir, we have been working with the Temple of Reah loosely ever since our last meeting.  And for the moment, we are working with them strongly.  I wish to interrogate a prison of yours by the name of Darkbringer.  She should have been brought here several weeks ago after having been interrogated by the temple priests.  We have just returned with new information and I would like a new audience with her.”The warden nodded and looked down upon the docket he carried in his hand.  “And you are, specifically?”Semeion smiled.  “My name is Semeion, and I come from Huetown currently but Reignsburg originally.  My friends here are Ischarus, whom you already know, and Charis and Rhema.”The warden nodded in agreement as Semeion read off the names.  He turned and spoke to the guards.  “Axitta, take Semeion to my office.  The rest of you are to remain here and watch these three until my business with Semeion has been completed.”  Each of the guards nodded and the warden waited until Semeion had disappeared into the prison before speaking to the remaining three.  “My guards have access to a magical weapons case.  If you are to remain here in the lobby, I am going to have to ask you to disarm and surrender your weapons.”Ischarus paused, but Rhema’s voice filled the void and answered firmly.  “Of course, sir.  We will comply with your regulations.”  Her hand immediately went to the fastener that held her scabbard around her waist.  She slipped the scabbard through her hands and passed it to the guard.  The guard drew the deep blue crystalline sword out of the scabbard to inspect it.  It was clear that he was impressed by the weapon as he pushed it back into the scabbard.  Another guard removed a small wand from a chest pocket in his uniform.  He waved the wand in the air in the shape of a large rectangle.  When he had completed the gesture, a small empty cabinet appeared.  The guard opened the cabinet and took Rhema’s scabbard and sword from the guard who had received it.  The guard in charge of the cabinet hung the weapon within the cabinet and accepted the weapons from Charis and Ischarus as well.  When the warden was pleased with their cooperation, he nodded to the guards and disappeared behind the security door.  The trio could hear the protective locks securing themselves in the wall once the door had closed.Inside the prison, the warden found Semeion sitting in the warden’s office with Axitta standing guard over him.  As the warden entered the office and closed the door, he spoke to Semeion in a commanding voice.  “Your request for interrogation is approved, but I would like to be present.  Tell me what you plan to ask of my inmate.”Semeion smiled politely.  “Actually, sir, I believe that once you have heard my plan you may not want to be present.  Instead, do you have magical spying devices that I might wear to allow you to completely observe the interrogation without being present?”The warden nodded, but a look of concern immediately appeared on his face.  “We do, but it would need to be a special interrogation to use it.  Tell me what you propose and I will tell you if I can accept it.”Semeion returned the nod.  “Fair enough, warden.  You see, the woman you hold is called Darkbringer, and she was working in conjunction with one called Bloodseeker.  We were never able to find Bloodseeker, partially because we believe Bloodseeker to be protected by Lord Ironblood himself.  However, we performed a small service for a mage of the wizard’s college in Eberdeen in order to have him use his information gathering magic to find any more information that we might find useful.  He was able to discover a code word: Pheonix.  The Darkbringer is supposed to know this word as a command word that indicates that the person who speaks the word is safe.”The warden smiled.  “And you believe that my presence will make Darkbringer see that you have learned the word in a disreputable manner and thus she wouldn’t trust you?”Semeion again nodded.  “Quite.  Actually, I plan on being more deceptive than you think.  I plan on entering the room as you see me now and then using my magic to transform myself into the presence of another person.  Of course, it will be a disguise, but I’ll tell her quite the opposite.  I am hoping that my deception of her will actually appear as though I have deceived you.”The warden chuckled; he was obviously enjoying the plan.  “It sounds as though you have put some thought behind this.  I will do as you ask and view the interrogation through magical sensors.  I should note, however, that the magic sensors are already in place and would be active regardless of whether I was in the room or not.  But I must have your agreement to submit yourself to a magical scan from one of my own officers.  We wouldn’t really want you to be deceiving us, after all.”Semeion again smiled politely.  “Of course.  You wish to eliminate the possibility that I am deceiving you currently in hopes to get to Darkbringer for a malevolent purpose.  You wish to determine that my current appearance is not the actual deception?”The warden nodded, and Semeion answered the nod with his voice.  “Very well, then.  So long as your officer tells me the precise magic that he is going to use on me I will freely submit myself.”The warden looked up to the guard standing over him.  “Axitta, is Teja on duty this morning?”The guard nodded in the affirmative.  The warden continued to speak.  “Would you be so kind as to call her to my office.  Tell her what is to be expected so that she can prepare her spells.”The guard left the room without a sound.  Ten minutes later, the guard returned with an identically dressed female.  Semeion’s experience around Ischarus and Charis told him that Teja was a Drakontos by race.  By the look of her metallic tinted eyes, she was of the heritage of a dragon included in the Assembly of Virtuous Dragons.  He relaxed as she prepared her spells.[Sblock=Color-Free Speech Section]The foursome headed to the jail next. It was still early, but knowing Warden Farette he would already be at his post in the jail. Ischarus smiled nervously as the jail appeared before him. “Well, with any luck at all Captain Jacobseille won’t be present in the jail today.” His displeasure regarding the jail was quite evident through his tone and volume. He spoke quietly with hesitation.Rhema’s eyes left the building and her face turned to look upon Ischarus’ worried demeanor. “Just remember, you’ve done nothing wrong this time. I’m sure we’ll come out as easily as we went in.”Semeion joked with his friend, “You’ve never shared much with us about your experience in there with Grick. You sure you can handle going back in?”Ischarus cast a sharp look in Semeion’s direction. “I can handle my own. The pain that I endured because those idiots demanded that I prove my innocence is behind me.”Semeion smiled once more and raised an eyebrow. “Apparently not, but that’s okay. You’ll not be the one doing the interrogation anyway. I’d suggest that you stay in the lobby with Rhema and Charis.”Ischarus wanted to speak out and defend his pride, but he knew Semeion was right. He hadn’t yet forgiven the captain and warden for their need to arrest him. He still carried the grudge for the incredible pain that Grick was allowed to thrust upon him in the jail cells. He wouldn’t be himself again until he passed through the process of interrogation and emerged from the jail a free man once more. He breathed in deeply before speaking. “I know, and you’re right. Are you sure you can handle the interrogation, Semeion?”Charis decided that it was Semeion’s turn to endure a bit of teasing. “Yeah, you don’t exactly make a convincing woman, Semeion. Not that I’m complaining, of course.”The foursome had a good laugh before Rhema spoke. By this time they were in the process of tying up their horses to the hitching posts and entering the building. “Are you sure you need to change while you are in the interrogation room? Because none of us will get a chance to see your feminine side as it comes out!”The party continued to laugh as Semeion replied with a mocking tone of sarcasm in his voice. “Yeah, I’m really sorry that it has to work out that way and all. It’s just too bad that the interrogation would be more convincing with me changing to Ophee and back inside the room with Darkbringer.”The door creaked open and Ischarus paused for a moment. He took a deep breath and entered the building slowly. They were greeted with the same cold entrance as before. The window with the protective bars showed a receptionist as it had the last time Ischarus entered with his friends.The receptionist greeted them flatly with a nasal tone. “Can I help you today?” Her eyes immediately went to the weapons that the party carried in with them.Semeion stepped forward and smiled. He placed his hands on the small window sill and spoke. “I was wondering if Warden Farette is in and could be bothered? I have a request for an interrogation for a prisoner named Darkbringer that is rather urgent. I am working in conjunction with the Temple of Reah, specifically Pater Brandt. Could you see if he has time to see me? My friends will be staying in the lobby until I return.”The nasal voice passed through the bars and into the lobby once more. “I’ll see if he can be disturbed this morning, sir. He is already in for the morning, though.”Several minutes later the large security door between the lobby and the prison jerked open. Warden Farette walked through the door, and he had a contingent of five heavily armed guards with him. He looked at the party and paused when his eyes met Ischarus’ face. “You have returned under the direction of the Temple of Reah?”Ischarus knew better than to respond. The warden had clearly worked in the prison system for long enough to understand that reform was difficult, if not impossible. In his eyes, Ischarus would always represent trouble.Instead, it was Semeion’s voice that directed the warden’s gaze away from Ischarus. “Actually, sir, we have been working with the Temple of Reah loosely ever since our last meeting. And for the moment, we are working with them strongly. I wish to interrogate a prison of yours by the name of Darkbringer. She should have been brought here several weeks ago after having been interrogated by the temple priests. We have just returned with new information and I would like a new audience with her.”The warden nodded and looked down upon the docket he carried in his hand. “And you are, specifically?”Semeion smiled. “My name is Semeion, and I come from Huetown currently but Reignsburg originally. My friends here are Ischarus, whom you already know, and Charis and Rhema.”The warden nodded in agreement as Semeion read off the names. He turned and spoke to the guards. “Axitta, take Semeion to my office. The rest of you are to remain here and watch these three until my business with Semeion has been completed.” Each of the guards nodded and the warden waited until Semeion had disappeared into the prison before speaking to the remaining three. “My guards have access to a magical weapons case. If you are to remain here in the lobby, I am going to have to ask you to disarm and surrender your weapons.”Ischarus paused, but Rhema’s voice filled the void and answered firmly. “Of course, sir. We will comply with your regulations.” Her hand immediately went to the fastener that held her scabbard around her waist. She slipped the scabbard through her hands and passed it to the guard. The guard drew the deep blue crystalline sword out of the scabbard to inspect it. It was clear that he was impressed by the weapon as he pushed it back into the scabbard. Another guard removed a small wand from a chest pocket in his uniform. He waved the wand in the air in the shape of a large rectangle. When he had completed the gesture, a small empty cabinet appeared. The guard opened the cabinet and took Rhema’s scabbard and sword from the guard who had received it. The guard in charge of the cabinet hung the weapon within the cabinet and accepted the weapons from Charis and Ischarus as well. When the warden was pleased with their cooperation, he nodded to the guards and disappeared behind the security door. The trio could hear the protective locks securing themselves in the wall once the door had closed.Inside the prison, the warden found Semeion sitting in the warden’s office with Axitta standing guard over him. As the warden entered the office and closed the door, he spoke to Semeion in a commanding voice. “Your request for interrogation is approved, but I would like to be present. Tell me what you plan to ask of my inmate.”Semeion smiled politely. “Actually, sir, I believe that once you have heard my plan you may not want to be present. Instead, do you have magical spying devices that I might wear to allow you to completely observe the interrogation without being present?”The warden nodded, but a look of concern immediately appeared on his face. “We do, but it would need to be a special interrogation to use it. Tell me what you propose and I will tell you if I can accept it.”Semeion returned the nod. “Fair enough, warden. You see, the woman you hold is called Darkbringer, and she was working in conjunction with one called Bloodseeker. We were never able to find Bloodseeker, partially because we believe Bloodseeker to be protected by Lord Ironblood himself. However, we performed a small service for a mage of the wizard’s college in Eberdeen in order to have him use his information gathering magic to find any more information that we might find useful. He was able to discover a code word: Pheonix. The Darkbringer is supposed to know this word as a command word that indicates that the person who speaks the word is safe.”The warden smiled. “And you believe that my presence will make Darkbringer see that you have learned the word in a disreputable manner and thus she wouldn’t trust you?”Semeion again nodded. “Quite. Actually, I plan on being more deceptive than you think. I plan on entering the room as you see me now and then using my magic to transform myself into the presence of another person. Of course, it will be a disguise, but I’ll tell her quite the opposite. I am hoping that my deception of her will actually appear as though I have deceived you.”The warden chuckled; he was obviously enjoying the plan. “It sounds as though you have put some thought behind this. I will do as you ask and view the interrogation through magical sensors. I should note, however, that the magic sensors are already in place and would be active regardless of whether I was in the room or not. But I must have your agreement to submit yourself to a magical scan from one of my own officers. We wouldn’t really want you to be deceiving us, after all.”Semeion again smiled politely. “Of course. You wish to eliminate the possibility that I am deceiving you currently in hopes to get to Darkbringer for a malevolent purpose. You wish to determine that my current appearance is not the actual deception?”The warden nodded, and Semeion answered the nod with his voice. “Very well, then. So long as your officer tells me the precise magic that he is going to use on me I will freely submit myself.”The warden looked up to the guard standing over him. “Axitta, is Teja on duty this morning?”The guard nodded in the affirmative. The warden continued to speak. “Would you be so kind as to call her to my office. Tell her what is to be expected so that she can prepare her spells.”The guard left the room without a sound. Ten minutes later, the guard returned with an identically dressed female. Semeion’s experience around Ischarus and Charis told him that Teja was a Drakontos by race. By the look of her metallic tinted eyes, she was of the heritage of a dragon included in the Assembly of Virtuous Dragons. He relaxed as she prepared her spells.[/Sblock]</blockquote>

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