Cormyr - The Tearing of the Wave

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryxikor moves down to where Bestra quarters are, it's then he realizes this is the room they didn't really search. The elven rogue does a thorough search of the room and statue. Satisfied nothing more is in the room worth noting, Ryx places his hands on hip and thigh, and says the phrase Mhair told them.

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search: (1d20+11)[22]

[achinca]

Ryxikor leaves the room where he manacled Mhair and goes downstairs. Axara looks at Maesyn and Quill and than at the lizardfolks.

She whispers "So, what do we do?"

Meantime, Ryxikor decides to go visit Bestra room. He searches it and finds a couple of dead cockroaches and some moldy bread crumbs. Other than that, nothing of real interest.

After that he put his hand on one hip and one thigh of the statue and says what Mhair said was the activation phrase.

For Ryxikor only

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He is immediately teleported back into Fembrys study. Before he can say anything, the swords of 4 Purple Dragons are at his neck. "Slowly drop your weapons and your backpack evil doer. We knew you cultists were too stupid to think we would not guard that portal. Do anything we don't like and you will be kissing Shar earlier that you expected."

Ryxikor can see that these guys look experience and mean what they say.

[Jeraoa]

Rayen stands at the top of the stairs after watching Ryx leave the tower. She had been listening to the conversation between everyone and did not add any input. All of the things that were talked about happened before she joined the group. She waits to see what happens next.

[LtPowers]

Maesyn frowns. This would have been easier if Mhair had been less cooperative. He immediately chastises himself for the thought, though. He should be embracing someone who truthfully wishes to reform.

But how to explain that to Kessessek?

"Now," he replies to Axara, "We have a big decision to make."

He gathers the assembled into a conference, briefly noting Ryx's absence but not thinking too much of it. "Kessessek, what price would you extract from Mhair as retribution? He is not a good person, but he has expressed a desire to reform." The bard looks to Axara, Quill, Savin, and Rayen for their input as well.


Maesyn Silverhair

[Ouroborosi]

"Well it is disrespectful to deny Kessessek and his kin some sort of justice.
While i am not keen on letting him go... We could trade Mr. Piercy for the body or corpse of Esvele Graycastle you know the one from Kithlord Thieraven letter. She or possible he is responsible for ordering the execution and turning there fellow folks into shadow slain. Circle boy was atleast willing to lead us to a greater justice. Although i wagger the pain of the tribe would disagree at this moment." the gnome wispers back

"Circle boy could lose the hand it used kill it's elder instead of it's life.

At worsed we could plead that the elders dead was quick that blondy should get a clean dead to."

[achinca]

With Ryxikor out of the room, Rayen continues her guard just in case. She was not involved with the events of the fake temple of Mystra in Wheloon and Mhair, so she revokes herself from the discussion.

Maesyn approaches the other heroes and asks their opinion. Quill offers a series of suggestions, from trading his life for Graycastle life to losing a hand to a quick death.

Axara stays silent.

Maesyn goes to Kessessek and tries to get a sense of what the lizardfolk wants.

Kessessek looks angrily at Maesyn "An egg for an egg. He has admitted killing Chieftain Gathan and it was not in combat. He killed a chained person and has admitted it. Yesss I know he wantssss to reform but Chieftain Gathan death must be avenged. If I get chosen as Chieftain, I will sentence him to death."

Axara steps in "I understand your position Chieftain Kessessek but the man has expressed his desire to change. Will killing bring back Chieftain Gathan? Of course not, so why killing Mhair?"

Kessessek looks at Axara as if she is confused "I am not Chieftain yet. Killing him will be revenge for Gathan death .... it is the way of the tribes ...."

Axara looks at Kessessek. "I understand. But we have killed the one who ordered him to kill. And we will go after the one who ordered his Chieftain to kill. Would that work?"

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Diplomacy: [roll]1d20+9[/roll]

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryx sits in jail

[achinca]

Kessessek just shakes his head at Axara and turns toward the others, waiting for their replies.

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rolling a 1 at this moment ... how lucky ...

Meanwhile in Wheloon - Ryxikor

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Ryxikor obeys to the Purple Dragons and gives them all his possessions. They lead him to a cell and for the second time in his life, he is inside Wheloon jail. After a couple of hours, an officer of the purple dragon come to visit him.

"You said your name for Ryxikor Ravenclaw. According to our files, you were part of a group of suspects we send with Quill to gather more information on the current situation. What have you find and more important, where is Quill?"

[razorback]

Savin grinds his spearpoint into the ground, showing Kessessek his own peoples sign of respect in dealings.
"Kessessek, the lady speaks some of the truth. My tribe would also seek blood retribution, if possible. But, there are other ways for one to atone for their crimes. Gelding and enslavement is not uncommon to other tribes of the plains and, while I find it distasteful, is one way; another that we deal with criminals is to remove their right hand and brand their face to show their crime, so doing something similar for the crime of the theft of life would seem appropriate. There may be other ways your law can accommodate this one while allowing all to keep their word. But, being a dishonorable dog, while penitent, is still a dishonorable dog. To have slain your chieftain in such a way proves this one has no honor, but if he also chooses to live with this dishonor, it should be apparent to all of the crimes he has committed. But, as we have been forced to look at a larger picture and made a bargain not to kill him if he cooperated with us to find the cause of all of the calamity that has befallen this land. It would bring down our honor if we allowed you to slay him, even if deserved by a cur as such, but many more of your peoples lives may have been saved by allowing this one to live for the information he was allowed to provide. Other ways will provide the means of justice and Tempus and the other Gods will provide eternal damnation for this ones soul, tortured by demons, if his repentance proves false."
With that the wiry plainsman bows at the waist to Kessessek, waiting his judgment.

[LtPowers]

Maesyn looks with respect at the Lizardfolk leader. "You offered us payment for addressing the threat here in the keep, and for returning your mate to you. I realize it is a far larger price than you expected to pay, but would you be willing to consider this man's life your payment to us?"

He is a bit confused by Quill's ramblings, particularly the bit about Esvele Greycastle, whose whereabouts and identity remain entirely unknown.


Maesyn Silverhair

[Ouroborosi]

Quill let's out a deep sigh "Baravar give me strenght...
Kessessek i may have dropped the name of the Purple Knights a few times.
There a human group that is dedicated to spread justice throughout the lands. They have prisons like these."

the gnomes arm waves throughout the room. and continues

"Where they chain there convicts up in a small room with the minimum of food and water. Just picture that a week,
....a month
....a year,
...two,
...tree
....
al this time locked up into a small cell with the knowledge that others laugh together,
work together
and make love together.
Do you really want him killed? And not have him experience the same mental torture your mate, your elder and fellow tribes folk went through. You kill him now and it's over and that eye for a-- egg for an egg won't have seen justice.

If you would allow us to send to him to Wheelon you will rob him of his freedom and hope..."

[achinca]

Kessessek listens to Savin. The plainsman strikes a cord with the lizardfolk when he describes how his tribe would deal with Mhair and definitively relates about the group honor.

The lizardfolk listens to Quill when he points to the advantage for Mhair to suffer a quick death.

Finally Maesyn brings the point home.

Kessessek shakes his head. "Chieftain Gharan must be avenged. I do see how maiming him would sssatissssfy some barbaric feeling but it is not the Tribe way. We will execute him, not torture him. I also know that the hairy folksss in this keep who made and controlled the sssshadow ssssscales would have likely desssstroyed the tribe in the long run. So we are in your debt. I offered you my magic but you gave it back to me. I ssstill feel I owe you a payment. If I give you thisssss man life, can you promise that he will be in the place that the little hairy man dessscribe. I also would like to brand him to ssshow the rest of the realmsss, the monssster he issss."

[Ouroborosi]

Quill just nods. With the keep secured he is itching to go downstairs and try to lift the enchantments on there prisoners in the guardhouse.

[puffmagicdragon]

Once Ryx is teleported back to the fake Mystran temple, he looks at his captors, not moving, hands open to his sides, however, the Purple Dragons have only a moment to realize how bad the elven mercenary looks before he vomits on the breeches and boots of the guard standing directly before him. "Ugh. I've traveled like that many times, and that happens more than not." Ryx says, offering no apologies, as he slowly drags his sleeve across his mouth, wiping off anything left there by the almost unexpected occurance. He then slowly turns his head to the side, coughs up anything left in his throat and spits it on the ground. He stares at the guards for a moment, arching an eyebrow, then slowly unshoulders his short bow and quiver, laying both on the floor beside him, away from the puddle of warm chunky vomit. The rogue then moves his lean hands and fingers to his thick broad leather weapons belt and unbuckles the blackened double buckle, laying both of his underdark weapons, the rapier and organripper, down near his bow. He leans over slightly and takes a dagger out of a sheath in each of his calf-high boots, where only the leather grips barely poke out, one a normal dagger, the other a masterfully crafted weapon of elven origin. After that Ryx unshoulders his worn leather back pack, laying it gently on top of his pile of weapons, he stretches and relaxes, "Take good care of those." Ryx says, as the guards can see what looks like color, for an elf, coming back to his face.

Ryxikor shakes his head as he exits the temple and start the march back to the town escorted by the dragons, How do I always seem to be so quick to get myself in these situations ashamed at being in this situation again, now comes the truly hard part for Ryx, trying to talk himself out of this predicament, when he himself knows that he has found himself in worse trouble than before on many occasions when he tries that exact scenario, so of course he understands, the only thing he can do to help himself and those in need of him and his skills is to, "Guards, let me explain." Ryx, the words seemingly falling out of his mouth on their own accord, the seasoned elven bounty hunter almost winces as he can't help himself but to continue, "We've actually done quite well at locating some key letters that help explain some of what is going on and who may be behind these nefarious schemes." Ryx is starting to feel confident about talking to the Purple Dragons, something he rarely does- talking to authorities, as he seems to have captured their attention, if maybe a little. "The others are at this very moment are finishing questioning a prisoner that was helping transport the victims of these crimes." Ryx doesn't want to divulge all the information he knows, but must let them know the group has made much progress, "Actually, this is the second time we've captured this particular rafter. The first, we turned him over to you. I happened to be investigating part of his story, a portal that he said he used to elude you, the Purple Dragons, only to cause more havoc, including killing a leader of a tribe that lives out near the swamp. Hey, were you the Dragons he escaped from?" It's at that point when Ryx wonders if the Purple Dragons are like most other authorities in the realms when they get tired of hearing the elf's explanations and arguments, he c*cks his head slightly and almost winces again as he is almost ready to accept what usually happens at that point, the strike to the back of his head, knocking him into blackness by the pommel of a guard's dagger. It seemed to the rogue, it's much easier to transport a limp unconscious, arrested Ryxikor Ravensclaws, than listen to the elf for the duration of the trip, no matter how short or long it may be.

A little later, sitting in jail, the elf is in no mood to talk, until an obvious officer of the dragons approaches demanding answers, "As I told your hatchling dragons, I was following up on a lead told to us by the rafter we turned over to you guys a few days back. I found it incredulous that he could have escaped the prowess of the dragons and decided to leave the group and check his story out. Unfortunetly, I was transported back to the temple unbeknownst to the others of my company. At any moment they are going to realize my absence and start looking for me thinking I could be in grave danger, when I'm actually in your good care." Ryx looks at the officer, "Quill is good, he is doing quite well, better than expected for a bookworm. He is actually the one whom just found a letter written about the operation we're investigating, that includes names of some of the people involved."

Still just staring at the officer, but just before the officer has time to speak, Ryx blurts out, "Can you have the inn bring over some food? I'm starving for some good cooked food before going back?"

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ooc: the normal dagger in his boot was the one he just got off the shadar kai sorcerer, Achi you should add that to ryx's loot, and that should finish him, also should that be who or whom?????

[razorback]

Looking at the others Savin says "I believe you show the wisdom in choosing you as the new chieftain, Kessessek. Mark him as you will, as you determine what the world should see for his crimes, and we will insure that he does not go free."

With that, Savin goes over to the wall and begins to pry out a set of the manacles embedded in the wall to use on Mhair.

[achinca]

Quill is satisfied with the decision and decides to go check on the dominated sorcerers in Halish's supervision. He finds all 4 of them in the courtyard, talking and trying to converse with the lizardfolks. When Halish sees Quill, he smiles "I just heard the good news that you free the keep." He stops when he sees the confused look on Quill's face "Oh these guys? The curse is lifted. It seems to have a certain duration. They feel terrible of the things they had to do under control. We are trying to get some provisions from the lizardfolks before we start our trip back to Wheloon."

Savin vouches for Kessessek as the new Chieftain and starts trying to free the manacles from the wall which is able to do given the state of disrepair of the keep.

Kessessek replies "The unified tribe will decide who will be Chieftain. We shall see who we chose!" He orders a few lizardfolks to brak the manacles from the wall and bring Mhair downstairs. The blonde man looks at the group "I told you everything. You promised you would let me go. Don't turn me to the authorities ....". The despair in his voice is quite obvious.

Outside, in one of the courtyard, a fire has been started and red embers are being made as the lizardfolks are bending some metal to brand Mhair.

Axara looks a little upset "I know he is a terrible man but we gave our words and he promised to try to reform. Will you give him to the purple dragons too after the lizardfolks mark him?"

The priestess goes where the portal is and tries to figure it out. However she fails. "Maesyn, Quill, can you help me try to figure out the portal?"

Ryxikor only

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The purple dragons are not amused by the rogue pucking on their boots but do not slap him. They take all his weapons and show some surprise to how many the rogue had. They guard him closely until he is in a cell. None of them reply to his taunts, other than with anger in their eyes.

It is a different story once he is in the cell with the officer.

"I know who you are Ryxikor Ravenclaw. You are the one we had the most suspicion on. I find it strange that you are the only one returning. Did you join the cultist and kill the other including Quill? Is Mhair or whatever his name is a accomplice of yours? Stop the game and speaks now or face the swift justice of the Purple Dragons. How do the portal works? How do I know you are not lying? Say everything you know or the meal you vomited on my soldiers might be the last one you ever had."

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Dagger is free - not feeling like redoing the loot for a simple dagger

[LtPowers]

Maesyn turns and glares at Mhair. "I promised we would protect your life. Have we not done so? We spared you from the fate this tribe of Lizardfolks would impose on the murderer of their Chieftain -- and even that took quite a bit of convincing. If we told them we were going to simply let you go, they never would have agreed to spare your life. Our hands are tied."


The bard's visage, and voice, softens somewhat. "I do not envy the position you're in, and I certainly would have preferred a less violent outcome. But choices have consequences. You must live with the fate you have earned by your actions. Be grateful that you live at all."

To Axara, Maesyn replies, "What would you have us do? We spared his life only by promising that the Purple Dragons would imprison him ... certainly he deserves no less, as escaping their custody is itself a crime. If we let him go free, we have betrayed the Lizardfolks' trust and denied them the retribution that is rightfully theirs.

"I'm less worried about figuring out the portal and more about Ryx. Has anyone seen him since he left the tower?"


Maesyn Silverhair

[razorback]

Savin looks at Mhair coldy as he speaks after setting the manacles on him.
"No, spineless dog, we did not say we would let you go. We said we would not kill you. Mayhap you should have been more diligent in your devil-tongued dealings. Either way, if all you seek is life, without honor, then you will have your life. And, since you were without honor, you have lost nothing... yet."
Walking to Axara he continues "Lady, it would be best if you closeted yourself somewhere. I am unsure what Kessessek is planning but I am sure it will be unpleasant. Remember, we kept our word, which is more than that dungheap deserves."

[puffmagicdragon]

The elf looks down at the stone floor and shakes his head, then looks back up to the officer, "Ugh, how do you know i'm not lying? How do you know I'm not telling the truth?" Ryx looks at the man with surprise, "Is there not a cleric or someone that can cast a spell to see if I deceive you? That's exactly what we did with Mhair, and yes that's his name, and no I'm not working with that scoundrel." using a term that Ryx has been called many times before amuses the elf, though he shows no outward sign of it.

"I've already told you, the others are fine, including Quill. Mhair told us how he used the portal, as I was investigating it, I accidentally triggered it. I might be able to show you how it works, I'm not quite sure myself, we'll just have to examine it further."

[Ouroborosi]

With no melace Quill tells the now freed wizards "Couldn't you have waited just a few hours. I was dying to use my Dispel Magic spell" With that the gnome storms like a small child into the keep.

Pouting the accounted inspects the portal spellcraft (1d20+12)[24]

[Jeraoa]

Rayen responds to Maesyn. "The last I saw of our friend Ryx he was heading down stairs. I assume he went to loot more bodies or see if there is anything of value around here." She says nothing in the matter of Mhair. Instead, she looks down the stairs. "Should I have followed him?"

[achinca]

Mhair looks at Maesyn and spits on the floor. "Your words is like worth a much as cow dung. I told you every thing and you said you would let me go. You are just as much a liar as the gnome. At least the assassin was simple but meant what he said."

He turns to Axara who is nearly in tears "I know he did evil things but I believe in second chance. I surely glad Mystra gave me one. One day I will tell you my story Silver elf."

She turns towards Mhair "I am truly sorry ....."

He just looks at her and spits on the floor.

Savin shows no mercy for Mhair but is a true gentleman with Axara. He escorts her away from the courtyard. He stands by her side as she grabs his arm and digs her nails in it as she hears Mhair scream.

A few minutes later, Kessessek brings back Mhair who is now disfigured. A hot metal rod was applied across his face, from the forehead to the mouth, burning an eye in the process and part of the lips. "Here isss the monssster."

Rayen hears Maesyn wonders about Ryxikor and indicates where she say him last. She wonders if she did the right thing. Axara, the eyes full of tears nods "Yes you did. No worry. The elf can handle himself as long as he keeps his brain full with blood and do not redirect it somewhere else."

Quill goes towards the magic portal and analyzes it. After a few minutes, in the truly unique Quill speech, he announces the group that the Portal, has just been used, can only be used twice a day and will only allow non-good people to go through.

Ryxikor

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"You are a rogue and a likely thief and assassin. So lying is probably the first thing that comes to your mind. You are willing to be interrogated into a zone of truth? Interesting. Either you think you are a better liar than you think you are or you are truly nuts. And forget about getting close to that portal. Now tell me, how does the portal activate?

[puffmagicdragon]

Ryx stares at the officer, How do I do this, maybe I can find a high level wizard to cast a silence spell on me, maybe then I could keep from getting myself into deeper and deeper trouble all the elf can do is laugh and shake his head in disbelief.

Then he quickly looks serious again, "Yes, I can answer truthfully about what is going on, but only if I know the truth." he adds looking at the officer skeptically.

"But, that is the catch, I will only answer questions about the occurances during this investigation and only of those persons who have scrawled their names on that charter, Wheloons Vigilantes, and nothing else. So don't try and interrogate me on anything else or anybody else. If that's a deal, I'll submit to a truth spell." Ryx hesitates but a moment then adds, "And as a bonus, I'll throw in any names I can remember that I heard from the letters we found." The elf watches the officer and thinks of Rayen, as he waits for an answer.

[Ouroborosi]

After Quill has explained his findings his attentions goes to Mhiar.

He blinks as if he doesn't believe his eyes. "This isn't funny... This isn't funny at all." he finnaly slowly said. As he keeps his distance from the disfigured man.

[achinca]

Axara cannot look at Mhair as her guilt is too big. She goes to the portal and yells "Is any of you neutral? I know I am good and cannot use the portal."

She turns to Maesyn "What will you do with Mhair now? Escort him back to Whelon?"

Quill realizes that he had not properly evaluated lizardfolk justice. Well, this was new knowledge to be acquired and Quill liked nothing more than knowledge.

Ryxikor

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The officer laughs at the rogue "What do we have here? A prisoner giving conditions? You should be lucky you still have your head on. As far as I know, you are guilty and should be hanging on a rope but sadly, it is not my decision."

At this point Tunaster appears and asks the officer to give him some time to speak with Ryxikor "Sorry about the emprisonment but the Purple Dragons are really mad that the blonde man escaped. First, how is Axara? Is she OK? I analyzed the portal with some other Mystrans and it looks like you are not a good person but a neutral one. This would explain why you were able to escape via the portal. Tell me why you abandoned your team and what is on the other side."

[Jeraoa]

Rayen flinches when she sees Mhair after the lizards get ahold of him. Her fingers stray to her hair clip for a moment before she has to look away. When Axara asks about anyone else being able to go through the portal due to their nature, Rayen shakes her head. "I lean a little more towards being good than our friend Ryx does since it seems that is where he went."

[Ouroborosi]

The gnome shakes his head when the groups eyes fall on him "i am flexible in law, you have to be if you work with people that make counter dictating promises everyday. Politics and all that" "But i am as most of my kin a few pranks aside where good natured... in all ingenuously."

"In any event if the gate goes to the misrepresent temple of the the weave leech . I would suggest that he or she takes a letter with it. To inform the dragons on our process... and to ask them to search for intelligence on the Monastery of the Ebon Dome... Don't forgot we haven't rescued every one we intended to rescue and the trip back alone could be a squander on there lives."

[puffmagicdragon]

"Imprisonment?" Ryxikor asks, in a very short tone.

"I thought you had more sense Tunaster. Why do you word you thoughts in such negative ways towards me, using words as 'not a righteous person' and 'abandoned your team'? Not that many can be truly that righteous, I've done both good and bad. I'm trying to help you in this cause, which do you call that." the elf says looking straight at the man, "Oh,and I haven't abandoned anybody. They're probably looking for me now. All I did was examine a statue, and I must have triggered something to transport me back to the fake temple. We were in the swamp, a keep called The Lost Refuge. We liberated it from a very nefarious group, led by a shadar kai sorcerer and an undead half-dragon lizardfolk."

The elf takes a deep breath and starts to continue, "And there's probably more to tell, but, I have a hard time recollecting it all while I'm in this prison." he states the last rather enthusiastically, "Get me out of here, and I'll try harder to remember everything. I'll tell you this though, you must make haste. Yes, they'll probably figure out what happened to me, because this happened unbeknownst to them, but there's a chance they could think I went into another portal that's there, one that leads somewhere else."

Ryx lets Tunaster think about that for a moment before continuing, "Now, about Mhair, I do have news of him, but, I want to barter for that information, since we caught him, handed him over to the Purple Dragons, and now it turns out we've had to capture him again, do to their ineptitude. The rafter had two watercraft, a catamaran and a kayak down in the lower cells under the temple. I'd like to have those, they could aid us anytime we need water transportation, or I could use the kayak on smaller missions." After this the elf sits quietly expecting to be let out, givin his belongings back and taken anywhere besides in jail.

[achinca]

Axara looks at Rayen as she touches her hair clip, unsure why seeing the deformed Mhair would create such a reaction.

When Quill mentions the idea of taking the letters, the priestess says "How about you write a nice letter to explain what is going on? After all, you are a Wheloon administrative employee while we are a bunch of vigilantes, as you called us. They might think that we offed you."

Ryxikor

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Tunaster shakes his head "Ravenclaw, you give me too much credit. I have no power in Wheloon. I was hoping that you could help me with what exactly is going on with Mystra and Shar and the Weave and all you babble about is your exploit. I know that you are neither good nor evil, Ravenclaw and I have the sense that what you care the most about is yourself. Thus escaping a bad situation is something I believe you would do. And you try to negotiate for trinkets? I am afraid I will have to say that I have no proof against the accusation that you were part of the fake temple and assassinated Axara and Quill, which is a double offense punishable by death. I was hoping you were smart enough to understand that I am your only friend in this jail but you think I am some kind of trinkets merchants. If only you had a proof of what you are saying. I will try to talk to the Purple Dragons and delay your execution. If you knew how to activate the portal and how you learned it, that would help. But somehow, you just felt on it by accident. Good Day Ravenclaw"

The man in blue nods and leaves.

[puffmagicdragon]

You....your just like the purple dragons, which are like any other city official I've ever met. Everybody is guilty of whatever crimes you can dream up. Your saying I'm accused of murder. What proof do you have, you don't have any bodies and not even a hint of blood, not even a whisper that any of those people are dead. And now you accuse me of assassinating them?. You men are truly mad."

Ryx stands up, then slowly paces the jail a few strides, looking at the exits and windows, wondering what his easiest escape would be. He moves back to his seat, a little further away from the betrayer, Tunaster, I should've known he wouldn't help me. Ryx thinks to himself, just before blurting out, "Of course I know, Of course I know how to activate the portal. I'm not an imbecile, like these foolish Purple Dragons, who let Mhair out of their grasp, and let him go!!" the agitated elf yells the last so more purple dragons can hear him, agitated because he was hoping to keep the most important information a little longer, but the elven mercenary realizes his presence in Cormyr won't be as long as he thought it may.