knightsoflegend | tobago ♔ the key is our vice

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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 ]

Removing the tattoo itself should do it.

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.]

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

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.

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?

[ 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... ]

[ 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?" ]

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

[Thoster nods his agreement.]

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

[ 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. ]

[ 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.

[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.]

[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 ]

[ 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. ]

[ 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. ]

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.]

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

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

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

Back the way we came? [He takes a quick walk around the room, just in case there's a back way out of here that doesn't involve going back up through the tavern. Except he crit failed his search so here's hoping it's not a trap door something jfc.]

We should free the dogs as well. No creature deserves to be locked up like that. [HOOK MADE FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THEM DO YOU THINK I'D FORGET.]

[Despite his suggesting that they put them all down earlier to avoid a potential ugly situation, Aedan is from a country of dog lovers and since companion relationships in Dragon Age: Origins are based on approval points, Hook's advocating for the liberation of the hounds earns him +5 approval with the Warden Commander. :)

But he's ready to peace the fuck out of here now that the flaying the slaves has been postponed.]

It isn't likely that we'll be able to remain unseen with such a large group if we're to double back. [No amount of distracting a bitch will prevent someone from seeing the group of fucking slaves filing out through the guarded door ok. Real talk.]

It might be best that some of us move ahead of the group to ensure the path is safe. We may even be able to use the dogs to our advantage somehow, assuming no one has been alerted to our presence just yet.

The hall continued earlier. [ he nods back out the way they came ] We can hope there's an exit, as I doubt they brought these slaves in through the tavern to begin.

No time to waste. [Come on slaves! Chop chop! Time to go try to find the back door.]

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