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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Carlo-One" data-source="post: 8219975" data-attributes="member: 7015827">Darrow observed that the red armor fit the description, not that anyone doubted Tagreth’s statement. The Cormaeril lord and head of the Fire Knives berated and insulted his captors, only falling silent after Aerikoth pointed out that they could have killed him, so he should take solace that he was still alive. In the meantime, Shanni had tossed his bedroll in the back of the cave, finding nothing of value.Aerikoth told their captive that killing the guardsmen at the Hallton manor had been unwise, expressing curiosity about why Tagreth did not just hide from them. Darrow chimed in, observing that if he hadn’t done that, they never would have been tipped off to Tagreth’s presence. The Fire Knives leader replied that he had wished the manor for his own, asserting that the superstitious peasants would have stayed away for months, at least. Dermot, showing his kind heart, said he could not believe that the two guardsmen had been murdered just so Tagreth could have a nice bed. In response Tagreth glared at the ranger and commented that they were the ones who had destroyed his home in Westgate, evidently recognizing their descriptions.In response to further probing from Aerikoth, Tagreth said that he expected no one else in Tallwell would have known about him and questioned why they had come out to this godsforsaken place, as he characterized it. Shanni, smirking, said he was going to cry when he found out. Darrow then told him that he was starting a brewery. Tagreth, eyes bulging, was incredulous that a drunken dwarf’s desire for more drink, as he put it, had led to his defeat. Aerikoth, with his usual lack of humor and inflection, told him that Baron Pahar, who had been at war with Hallton, had occupied the town and would have informed them of the murders.After some additional pointed comments about the deaths of the two guardsmen, Tagreth stared bitterly at the pool of water as the party debated what was to be done with him. Darrow was against hanging him – which Shanni was fine with – so they had two options in front of them: to turn him over to Baron Pahar’s men in Tallwell, or to have Aerikoth take him directly to the Baron in Turnton. Shanni said she didn’t think the locals would be able to handle him.Dermot said he was fine with either option, as justice would be done – this prompted a sneer from their prisoner – but then the ranger raised the rumors of the Beast's treasure and asked him he if knew anything more about it. (Yet another member of the party brings this up, unexpectedly to me. It seems the lure of "free" wealth is a powerful one. --C) Tagreth, a smile growing across his face, rhetorically asked what treasure. This led Shanni to start grinning as well, as she described how answering questions helped with avoiding falling into deep pools of water with a foot on one’s head. Tagreth, still smiling, offered that perhaps he could simply lead them to the treasure. He pointed out that this would be hard to do if they handed him over to Pahar’s men, of course.Some additional honeyed words from the Fire Knives leader, including the fact that there would be enough for all, made the party exchange glances and Shanni’s face twitch underneath her hood. Aerikoth broke the spell by asking their prisoner whether he had intended on rebuilding the assassins’ organization after taking over the manor. Tagreth said that escaping the fall of his castle in Westgate had been the first priority and that it seemed a good idea to leave the city for a while. Darrow chuckled at this, noting that the party might have had the same idea.In Aerikoth’s opinion, Tagreth could have done better by hiding in Westgate, unless there were other enemies of his there. At this, the Cormaeril lord shook his head and stated that the wizard was still a callow youth in the ways of Westgate. He questioned whether storming Castle Cormaeril was their idea, observing that others in the city had benefited. (Looking at the record of events in the chronicles, I am forced to admit that this observation may well be true. House Urdo seemed especially keen on it and apparently manipulated the City Watch to look the other way regarding - even encourage - the party's plans to assault the castle. I am not fully sure how I feel about all this this, but in the end the Fire Knives got what they deserved, I am sure. --C)Returning to the topic of the hidden treasure, Dermot asserted that if it existed, it would be found one day, but at the moment they had a job to finish. Tagreth asked pointedly who was paying them for this ‘job’ – no one, as he presumably had figured out – prompting a small sigh from Shanni. Dermot said that it was not that kind of a job, to which Tagreth replied that perhaps they could use a new employer.</blockquote>

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