Paridon: The Dark Metropolis (Ravenloft)

[Le Noir Faineant]

Calahan breathes out a small cloud of smoke.
Not particularily caring if his voice interrupts the interrogation, he asks Ru.
"Won't this suffice to have Alek arrested? - I mean, making people living dolls is somewhat... rank, don't you think?"

 

[Rhun]

Torhan frowns. The paladin was really starting to dislike Alek. He idly wondered what it would feel like to lop off the criminal's head with his greatsword. The thought quickly passed though, as Torhan reminded himself that he was an officer of the law and an instrument of the Church. Justice, tempered by mercy, was what he sought.

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Calahan breathes out a small cloud of smoke.
Not particularily caring if his voice interrupts the interrogation, he asks Ru.
"Won't this suffice to have Alek arrested? - I mean, making people living dolls is somewhat... rank, don't you think?"

Ru shrugs, grimacing. "It's objectionable, sure, but it sounds like Marionnette was willing to undergo ... whatever that involved. Given that all parties seem to have been consenting, I don't think we can do anything about it."

 

[kinem]

"Ask her about the masks ... and the keys" Father Berman says. If Alek was responsible for that, he's as good as convicted for the murder of the exploding bird-man. I'd like to seem him hang, though loosening his tongue may be more important.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

The cups are tight, held fast to her wrists, and a small keyhole is visible on each. At closer inspection, it is clear that she must have her hands, or the weight of the chains and false hands would have just caused the cups to slip off her empty wrists.

Marionette's eyes return Darian's gaze. Her pupils grow wide, and her eyelids waver. She then quickly steals a glance from the other policemen, and whips her hands out of Darian's. She shrinks back away from him, averting her eyes.

"No, no you can't. We've never touched. There is nothing to miss. Besides, I am Alek's now, and..."

You're losing her.

She turns to listen to the other policemen whispering. She looks around, nervously. "I will speak no more!"

She grows silent. She stands straight, stiffens, and crumples into a pile at Darian's feet.

 

[industrygothica]

"No!" Darian shouts, his heart practically beating out of his chest. "You must tell me!" His gentlemanly demeanor is gone, and without thinking he lifts the small limp woman into the air by her arms, bringing her eyes level with his. "Tell me!" he screams again, his voice raspy and panicked, almost vile. As he digs his fingers into her deformed arms, he doesn't realize that he is shaking her, nor how hard. "Give me the truth!"

 

[Le Noir Faineant]

Distracted from his conversation by Darian's recent outburst, Calahan chuckles maliciously as he sees...

"Yes! Yes! Forget who she is or was to you! Let her kiss the rose" - pointing at Darian's signet ring - "like you did with so many before! Beat her until she says whatever you want to hear!"

Calahan will just remain watching the scene, obscenely interested to see if Darian cools down again. Should his colleague get too much out of his mind, however, he will pull him away from the fainted creature...

 

[jkason]

Ru Brike, barbaric human monk

Distracted from his conversation by Darian's recent outburst, Calahan chuckles maliciously as he sees...

"Yes! Yes! Forget who she is or was to you! Let her kiss the rose" - pointing at Darian's signet ring - "like you did with so many before! Beat her until she says whatever you want to hear!"

Ru glares at Calahan, but says nothing to him, instead taking a few steps toward Darian.

"Darian, calm down," he says. "Rage only takes you to dark places, and we want less of that, not more." There's genuine concern in the man's voice, as he sees his own past fury reflected in his comrade.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

"Give me the truth!"

Marionette squeals and whimpers as she dangles in Darian's arms, eyes locked on his, too afraid to look away.

[sblock=Darian]
Then you will have it.

Of course, getting her to tell you her secrets will be harder now that she has spent her gnomish illusion for the day. She cannot otherwise speak until the mask is removed. There are other ways to rip the information out of her, though, if you are willing to push.

Suki is used to loss. The way she recoiled from you when you said you missed her touch was preceded with her looking into your eyes with longing. She wanted your tenderness, but could not believe in it. So, she attempted to prove that she cannot have your tenderness, so that she cannot miss it later. She is probably an orphan, drawn to Vondlegoon because the dance cannot leave her.

Alek is an odd figure in her life. When you first met her, she did not care about any such person, or let anything stand between her and her dance. The way she fought through the pain was delicious. But now, she likes the man enough to let her face and hands be taken away. How would that happen? That might be the missing piece in her puzzle.

Alek is also what stands between you and her. Whatever power he has over her, it must be broken if you want to take her completely, learn her secrets. Of course, getting her to trust her will be harder now that your fingers are drilling bloody holes in her arms. She hates you now. And the longer the two of you stare at each other, the greater the pain she feels.

And there is truth in pain.
[/sblock]

Marionette continues to mewl in fear, as a single drop of blood runs down her arm and her unblinking eyes grow bloodshot.

 

[Rhun]

Torhan grapples with his morals, his feelings, as Darian begins to lose control. He places a hand on Calahan's shoulder to calm the wild man some, and casts a look at Ru as the barbarian speaks. Darian's behavior was unseemly, to be sure, but he was making progress. And the teachings of the Church often hinted that the ends justify the means. Torhan knew that message could be taken too far, but he wasn't about to allow that.

"Darian, calm yourself," he advises. "Remember who you are, and what you stand for."

The paladin glances about at his companions. "Ru, Calahan? What say you we leave Darian to go speak with Alek?"