tobago ♔ the key is our vice

[everyredcent]

WHO || Thoster, Christos, Aedan, Penelope, Hook
WHAT || The Knights follow a lead on potential Slovechnian slaves
WHERE || The Devil's Fire Tavern, Tobago
WHEN || May 22nd  [forward dated]
HOW || Actionspam

The tavern the Knights have been sent to is located on the impoverished lower west side of the city. It derives its name - The "Devil's Fire Tavern" - from a red glow that magically escapes the tavern's windows after the sun goes down, an ornament added by the current proprietor. The inside of the place is inhospitable, to say the least. The floor is made of irregular stone tiles that are covered by a damp sludge of ash and mud, and the rarely used fireplace reeks of some unknown substance. The furniture is old, but serviceable. Still, they serves good ale for a fair price, has an irregular supply of local and exotic wines and other delicacies, and serves up a cheap ploughman's lunch to nearby workers.

The clientele seems mostly composed of beggars lucky enough to have money to spare; dockworkers avoiding their wives after a day's work, and representatives of the city's various criminal elements. A cook and serving girl are visible, and there are a few open tables scattered about. Christos, glad to be off the sunny streets and in a locale that feels much more familiar to him, heads towards one in a corner immediately.

Comments

[everyredcent]

[ the pirates have some money on them, but beyond that, there's not much to find. the slaves are uninjured, but incredibly grateful, grabbing penelope's hands to thank her profusely as christos, who is busy peering at one of them. ]

Your tattoos. [ he points to one with the tip of his rapier and the slave shrinks away. ] What are these, then?

[ "I-- I don't know. They did this to us. They wouldn't tell us anything." ]

[righteousmight]

[ that certainly seems interesting. penelope absently drops the hand of the slave thanking her to stare openly at the markings (spellcraft 18??) ]

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster steps over and takes a look at the tattoos because he's nosy and curious. Also he took the dead pirates money. Just so you know. But if there are tapestries of bard gods down here, maybe he has heard stuff about things (bardic knowledge 25)]

[everyredcent]

[ penelope would recognize that there is definitely something magical in the design of the tattoos, although they oddly do not resonate with any detectable magic. thoster has heard of tattoos that can be used to store spells before, and would have heard tales in the old world of such tattoos created by the Red Wizards of Thay and the Zhentarim, often as scrying focuses for those who inscribed the tattoos in the first place. ]

[bluffcheck]

Hang on. [He want to get a closer look.] These marking remind me of stories I've heard of the Red Wizards of Thay. Could be magic stored in them, or ways to keep tabs on their 'property.'

[righteousmight]

Is there a way to dispel such magic, or to expend it's charge, if it has one? [ she asks to... no one in particular, because she certainly doesn't know ]

[everyredcent]

Removing the tattoo itself should do it.

[bluffcheck]

Part of the point of them is not to be removed, isn't it?

[He knows nothing of lasers. Unless Christos means cutting them off. Which is gross.]

[unhand]

There must be a way, though it's probably painful. [He eyes the slaves thoughtfully.] Probably better than the alternative, though. Poor bastards.

[everyredcent]

They're likely guarded against laser removal of the tattoos themselves. [ sry thoster. that's exactly what he meant. ] The flesh itself would have to be removed in the area.

[unhand]

Probably worth it, for freedom. [He crouches down next to one of the slaves.] Then again, it's not up to me. What say you?

[righteousmight]

[ penelope takes a more compassionate approach to addressing the situation and explaining it to the slaves. she, too, crouches down by hook, brow knit in concern. ] The pain, it will only last a few moments, and then I can quickly heal your wound, returning your arm to it's original state. [ hopefully... ]

[everyredcent]

[ they look rather frightened by christos' blunt delivery of the news, but the others seem to calm them a bit, and they nod slowly. "And you'll-- you'll take us away from here?" ]

[unhand]

Aye, that's what we're here for.

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster nods his agreement.]

We'll see you lot sorted, don't worry.

[righteousmight]

[ penelope's nodding along, as well, looking away from the prisoners to catch the attention of each of her teammates. who's gonna do the honors of flaying these people alive? she called healing duty, and sheathes her sword to make her intentions clear, before closing her eyes to whisper a prayer under her breath, her lips moving quickly, yet silently.

she prays to sarenrae for courage and strength, both for her team and these prisoners, as well as a way to bring swift justice to the evil men who would brand another living person in this manner. she hopes the sight of her praying also instills a small amount of faith in those relying on her, both in her abilities, and in their chances of survival. whatever might bring these poor, mistreated slaves some encouragement is worth expending any amount of effort. ]

[everyredcent]

[ sigh. christos knows who everyone turns to in moments like this. he unsheathes a dagger and turns to the first prisoner. ] You may wish for someone to hold you still.

[unhand]

[Hook may not particularly want to wield the blade himself, but he's done enough dirty deeds that he's willing to sit next to the prisoner and hold hold his shoulders, looking up at Christos with a grim expression.]

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster hangs back, because they don't need more cooks in that kitchen, but he's going to keep watching this gruesome scene mostly for possible song material for later. #bardpriorities ]

[everyredcent]

[ christos performs the bloody deed with surgeon-like precision (dex 24), but the first prisoner screams as they watch their skin flayed off, and their eyes roll back in their head as they ... pass out. ]

[righteousmight]

[ nope, nope, nope. penelope is right there, not even flinching at the blood, or the screaming, and doing her best to calm the prisoner (to no avail, apparently).

but as his eyes start rolling back, and christos finishes removing the last bit of skin, she's quick to cast a healing spell on the poor slave (cure light wounds - 10 hp), before gently lying him on his back on the ground. his arm is good as new, but it's doubtful he'll ever forget what he's seen. ]

[bluffcheck]

One down... [Thoster mutters under his breath.] Do we have the time and magic to go through each of them? [They'll send more guards down eventually, he assumes.]

[unhand]

There are rather a lot of them. There has to be a faster way.

[everyredcent]

We take them out of here, and finish somewhere privately.

[unhand]

[Hook nods and stands up, leaving the injured one to Penelope's care.] Then we'd best get a move on.