AvB - The adventures of Scribly

[Monodominant]

The man continues for a long long time. He makes little progress, if any, but that doesnt deter him from continuing to try.

[Moranica]

After about 4 hours, scribly decides he has seen enough. He gets up and checks the shackles, following up with a casting of psionic lock.

Now be good. Don't want you to be real tired when we continue.

Then he heads to sleep.

[Monodominant]

He seems very suprised to have been discovered as he was convinced you were sleeping. He stays silent as you berate him and frowns when you enforce the lock.

When you wake up he is passed out from tiredeness, exertion and his wrists are red and torn from the effort.

[Moranica]

"Hmm, rest for now. I have other business to attent to."

He reaches into his pocket and uses the stone of Psychic reformation he got earlier.

"Ahh, some nice new tricks."

Scribly heads out, deeper into the sewers, hoping to establish contact with the kobolds that live there.

[Monodominant]

The man doesnt stir when you address him, exhausted from his long night.

You reform succesfully. A painful process that leaves you tired and somewhat drained... some of the more recent memories you have had are even vague!

Once in the sewers its not long before you are found by the kobolds.

A fairly tough looking kobold addresses you.

"If it isnt our tenant! In and out, always working this one..." he says and gives you a reptilian smile.

"What can we do for you?"

[Moranica]

Somewhat surprised by this knowledgable kobold, Scribly answers.

"It seems you keep track of me. Good, it's nice to keep an eye on the neighbours though. I was keen on learning a few tricks. ... Mainly to get people to talk. And was wondering how knowledgable you are of the city. I've a real appetite for information lately, and I have a fresh body to hand over for the big one, if you're interested. ... not a gnome mind you, but a strong muscly fellow."

"So perhaps you could help me with information on: One named Malakai, followers of Xammux, and those hobgoblins at the docks that nearly got me."

[Monodominant]

He looks at you confused and then growls.

"Big muscly fellow? What do you take us for? Savages??? We dont eat humans! That would be disgusting! Just gnomes! And we are not skulks either to just sacrifice people!" he says.

"As for info... we can trade for coin or gnomish meat... or favors! I am not the right person to ask though. I dont know if the Big Boss will see you just for that but perhaps one of his advisers will..." he concludes.

[Moranica]

"... thuhhh, I'm sorry for misinterperting your races appetite for gnomes.."

"Anyway, I suppose something in return is appropriate. Let's talk business. Perhaps one of the things I'd most like to hear is the location of a Deepspawn. ... It's supposed to be in the city, or near it."

"The other questions I have other means for as well, which is a lot cheaper. [grin] I'd also would like to know, would you allow me to set up a true lair here, meaning me, bringing in lackeys?"

[Monodominant]

"Whats a deep-spawn? As for lair building... as I said those things are way over my head. Follow me..." he says and turns to leave towards deeper into their territory.

[Moranica]

Scribly follows.

[Monodominant]

You are lead once more towards the part of the sewers that includes the living quarters of the clan.

There is some obvious construction going on lead by three kobold shamans. Your knowledge is sufficient to see that they are putting up various forms of killzones and traps. Some of those traps include magical augmentations prepared by the shamans.

You arrive at a side chamber to where you had met the Big Boss. A very old and very sickly looking kobold shaman is walking around in counter clockwise circles in front of a pile of gnome skulls.

The tough kobold that has escorted you bows his head and departs without actually announcing you, leaving you there with the shaman.

[Moranica]

"Greetings, wise shaman, I was hoping you could help me with something."

"I have troubles with some men that keep coming after me. But when I kill them, they still come back some day later. Even after destroying their corpse. Now I have heard this could be the work of a deepspawn, some vile creature, and I was hoping you could help me locate it."

[Monodominant]

The kobold seems annoyed at being interrupted and looks from the skulls to you and back.

"Deep-spawn eh? In the city? Thats not good news... things are ugly, dangerous, evil and manipulative! I can help you track it if you have something of his or one of its spawn!

The sooner we find it and kill it the better... or Tiamat knows how many of its children it will let loose in the city!"

[Moranica]

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.......... Do I have any spawn leftovers?.......

[Monodominant]

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Er... what did you do with the body after Dreifus was done with it? I fear you might have actually incinerated it and used the remaining blood you had during a divination attempt...

[Moranica]

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Yes, that's what I thought as well.

"Actually, I have clues pointing out that it might not be acting on it's own, but that it's controlled by some kind of strange organisation. I captured one of their captains, but he isn't to forthcoming with information."

"[enter all that I know of the organisation]"

"And by the way, I don't have anything of these greenblooded thugs with me. I'm sure they'll pounce on me some other day though.... I already had some goblin looking at it."

[Monodominant]

The shaman spits.

"A goblins... pfff... filty little greenskins! Not a scale on their body! What did you expect them to figure out! Their shamans are weak and their females dont even give birth to eggs. Their male think... dwarves are the problem instead of realising the real threat is gnomes!" he rants.

"So yea, all this stuff you say about a cult managing the deepspawn sounds... crazy. I have never heard of anyone controlling a deepspawn though I have heard of deepspawn controlling people! Also the fact that your attackers reappear after days indicates some weird weak deepspawn... the ones I have heard tales off are very big, monsters that need huge caverns to live in and can produce numerous spawn a day..." he concludes unhelpfully.

"Anyway, we have two options. You wait until you are attacked again and you bring me the body or you bring your prisoner to me and I torture him till he talks!"

[Moranica]

Scribly blinks at this new information.

"Yes, well, I suppose the second option would be best, since getting attacked isn't really my thing. Mind you, the man doesn't know where he is right now, so probably best if you come with me, so he doesn't learn about his/our location. That includes scrying and such."

"But first of all, what's the price? I don't want to be building a tab you know."

[Monodominant]

The kobold chuckles at your suspicious nature.

"Smart this one eh!?" he says to noone in particular.

"Very well, lets call it a medium boon. Not as big as having you get us a gnome but if we need some help with a problem that involves killing, stealing or spying we can call upon you. Deal?"

[Moranica]

"Deal!"

"I might need help when actually dealing with this organisation, but we'll tackle that when we get there. I'm not even sure if all of this still goes under "self-defense"......"

[Monodominant]

The kobold chuckles again and follows you back to your hideout.

On the way out of his room and through the various constructions no less than 4 kobolds fall in.

The shaman grumbles and pokes at you.

"See? This is what you get for being succesful. Aides! They are like a sexually transmitted disease really! They are always there, they always make people feel uncomfortable and they drive the female kobolds away!" he comments.

Once there the four bodyguards/aides fan out and motion for you to open the door.

[Moranica]

Scribly grins as the old kobold rages about his lackeys. He was really starting to like this kobold, with his quirks and temper.

"Well, it can't be that bad. I have to do everything myself, every single bit. The things I could do if I had lackeys. I mean, I could get a decent hideout build instead of this!", Scribly says as he opens the door.

[Monodominant]

"Bah. Who needs lackeys when extreme cosmic power is at your finger tips. Sure maybe you have to kiss some read to get your way but it pays out in the long term!" he says dismissively as two of the four kobold warriors examine the room and the prisoner and the other two stay outside.

Your prisoner stares in mute horror as the shaman enters the room, looks at him and chuckles.

"You are a very kind jailer. He has obviously tried to escape and yet you have not punished him!" he says and sits on the floor in front of your prisoner.

"Close the door boys, this might be messy and I find that a prisoner hearing his own screams of pain talks easier than if he is muted." he says to his guards.

Indeed two stay inside with you and him and the other two stay outside closing the door.

[Moranica]

"Obviously you have more experience with this, then I do. Go ahead, ....."

"I didn't catch your name, btw. And feel free to extract as much information as you can. Of course, it is vital he dies in the end." Scribly smiles grimly.

[Monodominant]

"Dies in the end? Oh and I thought I could kill him and talk to his corpse" says the shaman testily but then break a smile.

"Heh just messing with you my boy. My name is Vulchanka! I am mighty and powerful and old... and unfortunately these days the thing most people comment on is the old part... ungrateful morons..." he grumbles as he turns to look at the prisoner.

"So mister Deep Spawn devotee. My friend here wants me to extract information. This can go the very painful way or the very very painful way... cause its been some time since I had fun and I dont feel like doing it the painless way." he says seriously and the mans eyes dart from him to you in quiet desperation as he still has the gag on and is unable to speak.

"No answer eh? Well I guess its the truly horrifying and painful way!" says the kobold and extends his clawed hand towards him.

The man tries to push back and gives a muffled scream at which point the kobold starts laughing like a maniac.

"Oh my oh my! He fell for it! He thought I am some kind of butcher!"

It takes a few moments before ordered is restored and the old kobold slaps the prisoner daintly and takes of the gag.

The cleric spits on the floor and looks at you.

"HE IS MAD! LET ME GO! DONT LET HIM NEAR ME!" he screams.

"Tsk, tsk tsk" exclaims the kobold as he grabs the mans head and headbutts him.

"You are dealing with me now, no talking to the others. Am I not important enough to deserve your full attention?" the kobold asks.

[Moranica]

Scribly stands at full attention. Surely he could learn a lot here. ... He's just not sure whether he wants to learn this, but there was no backing out now.

[Monodominant]

The next three hours are quite... memorable.

The Kobold uses very little physical violence but continues this game of being funny and then serious slowing eating away the mans will to resist. When he does use physical forms they are very superficial such as scratches and light cuts focusing on particular areas of the body.

The prisoner continues to resist until the kobold produces a nasty looking hook. He uses it to wound his opponent and then rubs salt on the wound. He then uses magic to heal the wound and repeats the process but using vinegar this time.

This goes on for another hour... always hitting the man on the same spot and always curing it afterwards.

By the time this torture is done the man is beggining to be allowed to tell what he knows but the kobold doesnt let him.

"You still have lies and poison on your tongue! How can I be sure you wont bite us little snake?" he asks him as he continues his work. When eventually the man passes out only then the kobold turns to you.

"It is done I think. When he comes to, the threat that you will bring me back will be enough to have him willingly tell you all you want. So I will step out to flex my muscles and do what little kobolds do in their beds when they hear the gnomes are coming to eat them and go ahead and wake him up..."

[Moranica]

Scribly’s stomach can barily hold, watching such cruel practices. Combat, blood, even guts spilling out are all part of the deal, but torturing a helpless victim isn’t something he enjoys.

“So, my man, let’s see how well you behave now. Lest I bring back my old friend again. Answer the next questions truthfully, and I’ll finish it now. Otherwise, I’ll turn you over again.”

“Where can I find Malakai?”

“Where do they keep the Deepspawn?”

“Who is Command?”

“Where can I find Command?”

“What happened to the Blade, and who was he?”

“Who is your inside man in the korps?”

……….

Out of breath Scribly stops for a moment and let’s the man answer.

So many questions, this city….. it’s crazy!!!

[Monodominant]

The man seems terrified at the thought of the treatment continuing so he looks at you straight in the eyes.

"But you promise that you will kill me after right? Dont let him near me again!" he asks you.

Assuming you agree he responds to your questions.

"Malakai usually comes to me once a month or so to indicate new targets. I dont know where he lives but I know he used to hang out at a particular tavern in Old Town until it got raided. From what I have been told, should I need him urgently I need to enter the Aldhaven University and use the communication ring. Given the range it has this means he is for sure somewhere in the Mages Quarter if not in the University itself..." he tells you.

"I do not know exactly. Its probably at the basement of a mansion in the Nobles Quarter, though I have never been there so I dont know which one. I believe its near the wall though as it was always mentioned that in case the operation is compromised we should meet at the closest point, which is the tower I was in..."

"Command is Georgi Lirean, Count Yermans aide. He is managing the operation as far as I know."

"Most likely also in the Nobles Quarter. He is here in an unofficial capacity as the aide of Count Yerman who along with his elder sister, is here to negotiate the furtherment of the alliance..."

"The Blade was Lazerus Krell the bodyguard of the Duchess, she is the Counts sister, and he was one of the initial expedition. A year or so ago he had a horrible accident and he lost his hand. Georgi had him served to the deepspawn so he could give the Duchess a fully functioning bodyguard. Ever since he has been indoctrinated into the inner circle. He has... died over 7 times in his duties and is one of the few people that the young Deepspawn can replicate..." he explains.

"Malakai handles that relationship but I believe his name is Zarkov"

[Moranica]

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Wow, just wow. The information!!! Biggest treasure so far!!! The implications this could have!!! Loving it!

"Ah yes, of course. The building opposite from your tower. [facepalm] I actually knew that. Who are the men in the robes? Are they also followers of Xammux?"

"And what is the goal of this Georgi Lirean?"

"Tell me, is Malakai a goblin?"

"This Blade sounds like a dangerous guy. What are his skills?"