The silver stars of the Eclipsing Moon (Chapter 2)

[Ozzy_G]

Because it's easier to make you tell us, replies Karl, smirking a big wolfy grin.

[Maryring]

The man swallows. "Yeah, well. It's... ah... it is a... sacred place of sorts. I don't know the specifics, as I'm just here because... because my boss wanted me to be here."

[The Great Skenardo]

Bronsk
Bronsk looks at Karl for a moment, and then back down to the man.
"Did you do this blasphemy? Preying on the spirits?"
The wolf-man brandishes a clawed hand and snap his jaws threateningly with a barking sound.

[Maryring]

"No. I barely even know how to control them in their supposedly loyal state." The man objects as he tries to shrink away from Bronsk and Karl.

[Lycar]

Varek

Varek listens to the exchange while still holding on to the bird of prey.

His ears twitch as he hears the man almost blurt out a name.

"... make him tell us the name he is trying to hide from us or let me try... "

Varek glares at the man, snarling and ears tilted foreward aggressivly.

Spoiler

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Intimidate (1d20+10)[27]

Lycar

[Maryring]

"I'm not. I'm not." The man objects as he trashes about in abject terror. "I'm not hiding anything. I just... feel ashamed to call him Master."

[Lycar]

Varek

Varek still keeps the eagle pinned beneath his bulk.

He watches the man squirm, terrified, and suddenly the realisation hits him. That that wretched individuum is a victim in whatever struggle is going on here. Maybe he is an evil person, maybe he is just an ordinary man who was unfortunate enough to get caught between a rock and a hard place.

But either way, he was just going to continue the abuse, bullying him into submission.

(Aw man... look at the guy. Bet he'd rather not be involved in all this. Poor guy doesn't even have a chance to fight back. Or run for that matter. Bet the big bad won't let him go. I always let them go when they ran off. Well, if they dropped the loot that is...)

Varek feels rather ashamed and his anger at the man evaporates. Instead he becomes aware of the spectral bird squirming in his grasp again.

"So what about then bird then? Want me to bring it?"

Varek looked at his fellow lycanthrophes questioningly. With his superior size and strength, he felt he could simply pick the bird up and keep it tucked under an arm or so, without it being able to do much about it, other then being indignant.

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Who is this Lord Idone-whatever, and what's he up to, growls Karl.

[The Great Skenardo]

Bronsk
inwardly, the gangly werewolf is quite relieved that someone else has taken over the task of inquisition; He was never very good at getting information out of people, and furthermore he wasn't very comfortable threatening people. It just felt...hypocritical.

[Maryring]

"I can't... I can't tell you. I'm not authorized." He speaks with fear clear in his voice.

[Lycar]

Varek

Varek gets up, spectral eagle still clutched in his hands/paws, and looks at the man incredously.

"What do you mean, you are not authorised to tell us? Seriously, we're gonna rip out your intestines and strangle you with them if you don't tell us what we want to know, for all you know. I mean, you're not seriously suggesting you'd rather have... whatever we might do to you done to you, rather then just telling us what's going on down in the well? Are you stupid or something?"

Lycar

[Maryring]

"No it means... it means that... I just don't know. Those as low as me are not told for exactly this reason."

[Ozzy_G]

Karl shifts, so that he's sitting on the man's stomach to keep him down. So you don't know who you work for or what he does? Why do you work for him then?

[Maryring]

The man frowns and leans back on the ground, his eyes fixed on the sky for a short while before he answers in a much more serious, fearless voice. "Of course I know. Of course I know why I am here. Why I help the Lord Idoneus. I do this because it is the right thing to do. To bring about change into the world. Make it just as it should have been from the beginning. And you, you heathens, will not make me betray that cause."

[Ozzy_G]

What are you talking about, asks Karl, puzzled. Is this some religious thing?

[Lycar]

Varek

"Heh, yeah? So your world doesn't include spirits then? What the hell is that supposed to be about anyway?"


Lycar

[Maryring]

"You won't understand. You can't understand. It is impossible for any of you to comprehend our cause." He chants, more to himself than any of you, as his eyes start to fade out and grow duller.

[Lycar]

Varek

"He, what's wrong with the guy? Looks almost like he's.. he's... like, going out like a burnt-out candle?"

Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

Ah, damn! I think he's dying! Karl turns to Bronsk frantically. Do something!

[Amiria]

Lisaa

"What's this ? Some kind of suicide mantra ? These people must be truly fanatic !", says Lisaa and slaps the man in the face. "Hey, stay here ! Don't throw your life away !"

[The Great Skenardo]

Bronsk
Bronsk shudders and returns to human form. With his newly-regained hands, he hurriedly touches the man's wrist and forehead, but then scratches his head, a bit puzzled.
"He's...transforming into something."

[Ozzy_G]

Transforming? Karl sounds worried. Into what? Something dangerous?

[The Great Skenardo]

Bronsk
Nude except for his belt, Bronsk spreads his hands helplessly.
"He iz become a rat. Why? I don't know."

[Lycar]

Varek

"What do you mean, he's becoming a rat? Is he some kind of were-rat or something?"


Lycar

[Ozzy_G]

I've never heard of a were-rat, says Karl, but if a were-wolf why not a were-rat? He shakes his head. But I don't think that's what's going on. I think this is magic, like the thief who turned into a rabbit. We need to keep hold of him, even in rat form, so he can't escape.

[Lycar]

Varek

"Yeah about that, i'm still buisy with that eagle..."

Lycar

[Maryring]

The chanting of the prisoner gradually intensifies, until his body suddenly tenses completely, and in a few seconds, his body shrinks as he transforms into a small black rat. The new smaller form quickly twists himself out of the grip of his larger captors and before they get the time to react, he scampers up the wall of the well and jumps into it.

Spoiler

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Though Karl and Bronsk can try a reflex save DC 18 to catch him as he tries to jump into the well.

[Ozzy_G]

Karl manages to grab the rat before he goes down the well. He holds it in his arms so the rat can't escape. Right, what now? Maybe we should go down there too?

[Lycar]

Varek

"Yeah but shouldn't we do something about them? Like, tie them up or something?"

Varek is still keeping the spetral eagle pinned down, apparently effortlessly, but he won't be able to much else.

Lycar

[Amiria]

Lisaa

Lisaa turns to Bronsk "Do you think that this is still a real eagle ? Can you cure it of this evil affliction ? If not, we should kill it." She gets her stockings and boots from the ground and puts them into her haversack.