The Stuff of Dreams (Orsal Judging)

[Salix]

Both Devlin and Ryland started to speak, but were met with a rather steely gaze from Vagan. "The laws concerning vigilantes are very strict, here", he began. "One may defend oneself if attacked, and one may use force to detain a criminal, but not deadly force." He glanced over the feathered end of the bolt still protruding from Wilbur's side as his men quickly relieved the adventurers of their weapons. "This would appear to be quite deadly...this man is fortunate to still be alive." He approached Devlin. "Now, one at a time, explain yourselves. And you'd better hope that nobody tried to impersonate an Officer of the High Court of Orussus."

One by one, he took the adventurer's stories while his men interviewed the innkeeper, his bouncer, and some of the other guests.[sblock=OoC: ]In your next post, put down exactly what your character tells Vagan...their "stories". He will listen to Ryland and Devlin seperately. If you start to wander off about how menacing Wilbur looked or how Wilbur is part of a bigger conspiracy, he will first bring you back to the facts...what you saw, what you did, what others did...then entertain "elaborations" up to a point.[/sblock]

[Sblock=El Jefe]"
OK. I'll tell you everything, but we need to get this kid over here under wraps. His boss is the one we want to get to. So we found out that this guy is the flunky for someone else. We tried to get him to come quietly so we could bring him to you. Devlin had the drop on him. He still tried to pull his crossbow and shoot Devlin. Devlin had no choice but to shoot him. From there we tried to detain him without killing him. I even took some lumps trying to tackle him even though I could have put a dagger in his liver. The big kid over there, He says motioning towards Enialis, " grabbed him in a hold, but was having trouble holding onto him. Devlin grabbed the bolt and he dropped. As far as I know, noone actually said we were with the guard, only that we were taking this blackguard to you. We even mentioned your name, which I'm sure anyone here will back up. We have some info to share, we're getting close to finding the responsible party for Archer's death. Someone killed our boss, and this kid has something to do with it. We'd appreciate if you could still give us some rope to find this guy. We'll make sure we're less public next time. Ryland finishes up in a very humble manner, knowing now is not the time to be smart with Vagan[/sblock]

 

[El Jefe]

I'll tell you everything

The patrolman listened to Ryland's story impassively, failing to betray whether he viewed the party's actions with sympathy or antipathy. When Ryland finished, he asked Ryland to confirm that Devlin was first to display a weapon, but that Wilbur was the first to fire. Ryland felt that didn't bode well for Devlin, but couldn't think of a way to put a better spin on things than he already had. He watched as first Devlin, then Enialis gave their version of events.

 

[Dungannon]

[sblock=El Jefe: ]Devlin motioned for Vagan to take a seat next to him at the bar. "Just the facts, right? Right. The little man over there, Wilbur, matches the decription of the man we've been told was the shooter in the death of Flodal Thursby. We confirmed his identity with one of the barmaids, who verified his name and that he checked in with two other individuals we've been told about. We confronted him here, telling him we wanted to talk to him. He became extremely hostile. I readied my small crossbow purely as a defensive measure, and when he drew his weapon and tried to attack I defended myself. At that point Ryland and Enialis moved in to restrain him. I announced that we were placing him under arrest and the guard was called for." After his monologue, Devlin motions for another drink from the bartender then continues. "Of course all this commotion has surely alerted Wilbur's two companions so it will be more difficult to apprehend them now. We really tried to do this quickly and quietly."[/sblock]

 

[El Jefe]

"Just the facts, right?"

Again, Vagan listened impassively, although anyone could tell the gears were turning within his brain. As Devlin finished his little spiel, one of Vagan's men approached with a ruined cross bow bolt in hand. "This is the one we pulled from the wall", he related. "The other witnesses all agree it was fired by the little guy who got shot." Vagan and his underling exchanged glances, and one could tell by the little curl at the edge of Vagan's mouth and the glint in the patrolman's eyes that they thought they had discovered something.

"Mr. Magruder", began the officer as he picked up Devlin's crossbow from the bar, "Last night when we searched your posessions, you were quite well armed, but didn't have one of these. Mind telling me when and where you got it?"

 

[Dungannon]

Mind telling me when and where you got it?

Devlin shrugs as if it's no big deal. "It was a down payment from another client. Can I make a guess? Wilbur's bolt is fletched with griffon feathers?"

 

[El Jefe]

"Wilbur's bolt is fletched with griffon feathers?"

Vagan's gaze tightened. "Let's just say that he'll be staying with us for a while." As his men completed their investigation, he arranged for Wilbur to be carted off. "Don't jostle him too much", the commander ordered, "I'd hate to have to waste one of those expensive potions on him."

After the interviews with the other guests were concluded, Vagan conferred with his men, several of which gave disapproving glances to the party. When the little meeting was over, Officer Vagan approached the three would-be sleuths once again. "There's just one more formality", he said with a casual air. "I'll need to see your Orussus City Watch badges."

When the trio failed to produce any such identification, the casual air vanished with the blink of an eye. "So, just on your own authority, with no dispensation from the High Court, you took it upon yourselves to force this...person, to accompany you to a Watch station? A man you suspected of being a murderer? A man who gave every indication of being violent? And you armed yourselves knowing that he was likely to resort to violence. Tell me, Mr. Magruder, what do you think the outcome would have been if your finger had slipped on the trigger of that little dart-slinger when he was half-way down the street instead of in front of a room full of witnesses? I'll tell you exactly what would have happened, you'd be in our cells on a charge of attempted murder or worse. And what do you think would have happened if your friend's bolt had found it's way into one of the Tower's guests instead of the Tower's walls? Do you know that would make you responsible for his injuries as much as your baby-faced friend? You're fortunate that the owner decided to not press charges against you for property damage; I know several innkeepers in town who would have. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

Wisely, Ryland, Enialis and Devlin kept silent.

His voice softening the tiniest iota, Vagan continued: "Now, is there any reason you couldn't have reported what you know to us and had us pick him up? In fact, if it wasn't for the fact that his crossbow bolts look pretty interesting to us, you'd be going along with him. Now, are you going to be kidnapping or shooting any more of our citizens or visitors here?" The three answered in the negative. "Very well. Mr. Magruder, we'll be keeping your crossbow and bolts as evidence, you can get them back when the High Court has decided Mr. Wilbur's fate. Now, stay out of trouble."

With that, the city watch left. Wilbur didn't protest too much. In fact, he didn't protest at all.

 

[Dungannon]

Once Vagan and the Watch leave with Wilbur Devlin goes and sits at a nearby table, motioning for a waiter. "Well, that didn't go exactly as planned, but not a bad result altogether. Poor Jobe, though. I hope he doesn't miss his little 'bow too much."

 

[Salix]

Once Vagan and the Watch leave with Wilbur Devlin goes and sits at a nearby table, motioning for a waiter. "Well, that didn't go exactly as planned, but not a bad result altogether. Poor Jobe, though. I hope he doesn't miss his little 'bow too much."

"We still have some loose ends to tie up. Where is Wilbur's boss, and who has the orb? Any thoughts on how we're going to figure this out? Maybe the innkeeper knows where he's at?", the gnome says, looking at the innkeeper.

OOC: Ryland will ask the innkeeper if he knows anything about Wilbur's companion and where he might be staying.

 

[El Jefe]

OOC: Ryland will ask the innkeeper if he knows anything about Wilbur's companion and where he might be staying.

The innkeeper seemed torn over answering Ryland's question. In the end, his gratitude for resolving the Wilbur problem won out, although it seemed apparent that Ryland was cashing in what coin he had with the man at a prodigious rate.

"Well, I usually wouldn't mention it", he began, "but your pugnacious little friend is staying courtesy of another guest. Maybe he's the one ye are looking for. Large fellow, half orc, would he be the one?"

 

[Salix]

The innkeeper seemed torn over answering Ryland's question. In the end, his gratitude for resolving the Wilbur problem won out, although it seemed apparent that Ryland was cashing in what coin he had with the man at a prodigious rate.

"Well, I usually wouldn't mention it", he began, "but your pugnacious little friend is staying courtesy of another guest. Maybe he's the one ye are looking for. Large fellow, half orc, would he be the one?"

"Yes, Kamdar would be his name. Is he staying here? Is he here right now? Obviously we'd like to speak to him, but outside your establishment of course.", Ryland asks couteously.