The Mad God's Key (Bront Judging)

[GwydapLlew]

[sblock=OOC]AP for Diplomacy (1d6=4) Since you are going to spend the AP on it, this means we don't have to wait on the others to post.[/sblock]

Surrounded as he is by five of them and bewildered as he is by the now-vanished ghosts of the dead, Irontusk simply deflates.

"All this for th' book? Dragon Below, I thought you'd be comin' after me because the priest kilt that guy!

The half-orc spreads his arms helplessly and shrugs. "Two days ago, I got me a job on th' side from the Green Dagger Gang t' escort one of them priests of Aureon into a tower full uv books. Seemed a good job, easy coin y'know? I picked th' lock on th' door an th' priest went in and fiddled wif some glass case full uv books. A guy showed up and started to make a ruckus, an th' priest hit 'em upsider the head wif some sorta magic mace that appeart when he said some words an wiggled his fingers." Once he starts talking, it's almost like loosing a floodgate. Irontusk seems eager to absolve himself of any serious wrongdoing.

"That's all I know, honest! I can tell you where th' Green Daggers stay, but that's all - they have a hideout in one uv the towers here in Ship's Towers - an abandoned manor a few levels up."

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=OOC]Whoah whoah hold on! I get to see the rolls before I choose to spend the AP! [/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

"One truth prevails! It looks like our friend Tusky is guilty not of murder but simply of breaking and entering and accessory. Well, if you're right and you give us detailed instructions, we should be able to find the book before the ghost reconstitutes and returns to wreak revenge," Alysina waits for detailed instructions, then nods, "Alright, then. Book 'im Rio."

*Alysina ponders the evidence.:*

"A priest of Aureon? Could it be a coincidence? Impossible! There is never a gun in Act I if it doesn't fire by Act V. We need to check this hideout shortly, though I also have a dinner commitment. Frankly, it seems like this gang doesn't have the book, but rather their client does. It would be the Cleric who dropped the cairn charm, then, and that's why Krontigard didn't recognise it. That means we may even be able to skip dealing with the gang if we can isolate the charm to a specific village. In any case, shall we check the gang right now--is everyone ready?"

 

[GwydapLlew]

[sblock=To Rystil]I went ahead and rolled so that, in the event that they fail, we can move on with the scene - I didn't make that clear, sorry. If they succeed, your AP wouldn't be spent; I needed to push this scene along a bit, because I'll be afk for the next four days.[/sblock]

 

[Patlin]

Rio glances over at his comrade.

"By book him, do you mean for me to tender him to the authorities? While I would like nothing better, I believe we agreed to avoid official attention to whatever extent possible. Hmm. A quandry."

Rio considers the options.

"Mr. Irontusk, you should be aware the under Aundarian law, your complicity in the breaking and entering and theft would render you responsible for the murder just as if the murder itself had been your original goal... unless, of course, you were considered by the authorities to be cooperative. I can only assume the law here in Sharn would take a similar view. Might I ask, are you aware of the penalty for murder here in Sharn?"

The Paladin considers it somewhat likely that his inquiry will be met with violence, a prospect that he views with a certain equanimity. While he'd prefer to avoid killing Irontusk, self defense against a confessed murderer would have a cetain simplicity... but even more likely, Irontusk lacked the nerve. If Irontusk manages to stammer out a response, Rionus will continue:

"Surely, the most cooperative of Defendants must be the one who volluntarilly turns himself in to the forces of justice, wouldn't you agree? Of course, your position isn't entirely volluntary, as you will be brought to justice one way or the other... but there is no reason the authorities here need to know anyone but you was behind that decision. That puts you in a position to appear most unusually cooperative, wouldn't you say? Perhaps so much so to reduce your penalty to something more in line for the simple breaking and entering you originally intended, yes?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

[sBLOCk=OOC]Ohhhhh, okay! [/SBLOCK]

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Oh, I didn't mean you had to do it specifically. I just always wanted to say that," Alys admits, "I could even have one of my friends go with him to turn himself in to keep this from being connected to any of us in particular."

 

[stonegod]

Weapon cocks his head to the side at the woman's rambling, like a confused puppy. She was a flighty one, to be sure. Perhaps had a biological condition that forced her to talk so much. The living needed breathe, thus it is possible she may need to speak rapidly and continuously in order to maintain some internal physical state.

Weapon shrugged. The living were different.

 

[GwydapLlew]

"Might I ask, are you aware of the penalty for murder here in Sharn?"

"I - uh - I, yeah. I mean, I was jus' there to help unlock th' door for th' guy. I dinnt have any say in th' killin part. But..yeah. I knows the rap."

"That puts you in a position to appear most unusually cooperative, wouldn't you say? Perhaps so much so to reduce your penalty to something more in line for the simple breaking and entering you originally intended, yes?"[/QUOTE]

The half-orc attempts to follow Rionus' logic, alternatively frowning and smiling at points. By the time the paladin is done speaking, Irontusk is nodding vigorously in agreement.

"Yeah! I'll turn myself in. I don't need none of you chasin' after me agin!"

 

[Patlin]

"A wise decision. And I wish you good fortune. Is it not said that Justice without Mercy is the merest Tyranny? We will of course accompany you most of the way, and be assured we will also check up later to ensure the bargain has been kept."

As expeditiously as possible, Rio allows Irontusk to turn himself in.