The next morning, the party separated. Johan left a still-snoring Flint in bed, and left the inn with the two ladies of the group. They returned once again to the estate. From outside the walls, there was not a single sign of the party and tragedy that occurred the day before. Everything was once again pristine, and silent. Guarding the main entrance was two very exhausted looking grey fox guards.
Johann immediately knew what to do. He walked up to the guards with his usual swagger, eyeing them both."Honoured guardsmen, I am Ser Johannes Vallaine. I am here to investigate the guilt the accused coyotes you hold prisoner here. Please allow me and my comrades to pass."
The cat glanced over the guards from behind the frog, assuring herself that they weren't the ones she had toyed with. Muffler lifted up above her mouth in preparation to say very little to them if such was the case, the hovering continued.
rolled 1d8 and got 6
The two foxes look at each other. This nobleman surely looked the part. And although they hadn't been told any exact information from their commander, there had to be somebody responsible for the investigation. "Very well," one said, a little hesitantly. He stepped out of line and opened the gate. "Follow me, I'll take you down to the dungeon."
Johannes nodded his thanks and beckoned for the cat and the bat to follow.
Retaining her patience, the cat followed with little hesitation. Antsy, to say the least.
"That was easier than I thought it'd be..." Prim muttered as she followed along.
Once again, the group marched through the luxurious gardens, around the side of the castle and stopped a small door. The guard stopped and fumbled with a large ring of keys, carefully selected one and opened the sturdy lock. The dungeon was a stark contrast to the fine gardens; dark, and with thick damp air, rife with the scent of vomit, excrement and mildew.
The fox led the group down the stairs, the dark hallway only illuminated by the occasional torch. Their footsteps echoed through the narrow corridor as they descended below the castle. Eventually, it opened into a room with handful cels. About half of them were full, with various creatures huddled in the corners, their fur matted and damp. The fox led the group to one of the rearmost cells, where the coyote lie foetal position on the wet stone floor.
The fox led the group down the stairs, the dark hallway only illuminated by the occasional torch. Their footsteps echoed through the narrow corridor as they descended below the castle. Eventually, it opened into a room with handful cels. About half of them were full, with various creatures huddled in the corners, their fur matted and damp. The fox led the group to one of the rearmost cells, where the coyote lie foetal position on the wet stone floor.
When they reached their destination, Johann once more nodded towards the guard."My thanks, good sir. We'll get the truth out of them. You may leave us." The rest he'd let Vix and Prim handle. They were the most familiar with the coyotes, after all.
What a pitiful display. Eyes falling half-lidded, the cat takes a few steps to close the distance--just barely, at least--between the coyote in agony and the group. "Are you able to speak with us?"
His ear twitched at the sound of the familiar voice. He turn, his eyes bulged at the sight of the familiar faces. He sprung to his feet, wrapped his paws around the bars and begged, "yer gotta get me out of this place."
"We're working on it," she sighed. "For the sake of these two, introduce yourself and... mm. Tell us what you were doing prior to the attack, if you can."
His eyes flicked between Prim and Johan. He'd seen them both at the caravan. "Ah yes," he spoke rapidly. "The names Akiva. You probably saw me playin' the flute at the party last night. I thought fate had finally smiled on me, gettin' to play at a noble event and all, but..." His voice trailed off with a loud groan. "Prior to the attack? Well, m'wife and I just had a discussion with some pompous Rinaldi bureaucrat. Turns out they 'couldn't afford' to pay us. I was furious. I mean, they obviously aren't hurting for cash. I was alone, cleaning and packing away my flute when everybody just started screaming."
Johann nodded."A pleasure to meet you." He said before he allowed them to continue their explanation."Did anything else come to mind you may have found odd?" The frognoble asked."We believe magic is at play here, and you might have fallen victim to it. We need to know everything if we are to set you free. Everything you may think could help your case."
"I recall," she mumbled, not wishing to hide her own interest in the quarrel the pair seemed to be having. "I was worried that it would escalate, hence my... intrusion. My apologies."
Her attention turns to Johann before nodding back to the coyote. "While I don't believe you were under the influence of any spell... his questions are sound. If you also have any knowledge of why they chose you as their prime suspect... Do you recall the person you were discussing with? I didn't have a... good view."
Turning tail to cover minute shame does that.
Her attention turns to Johann before nodding back to the coyote. "While I don't believe you were under the influence of any spell... his questions are sound. If you also have any knowledge of why they chose you as their prime suspect... Do you recall the person you were discussing with? I didn't have a... good view."
Turning tail to cover minute shame does that.
The coyote remembered the cat's intrusion into their arguement. But considering the circumstances, how she came all the way here with her friends to rescue him, it hardly seemed like a problem any more.
"I'll tell you what I told alltha foxes round here. I don't know a darn thing about magic. I was just mindin my own business, ... I was flippin mad mind you, but only a fool would so somethin stupid while all them guards around ... then all of a sudden everybody is hollering."
"I'll tell you what I told alltha foxes round here. I don't know a darn thing about magic. I was just mindin my own business, ... I was flippin mad mind you, but only a fool would so somethin stupid while all them guards around ... then all of a sudden everybody is hollering."
The frog crossed his arms."But clearly what you're telling the foxes is not working to your advantage! We really do need specifics. Details that may be overlooked easily. Anything that could trace us to the real criminals! Something you might even think you saw from the corner of your eyes. Help us help you, my friends. We wish justice to be done here!"
rolled 1d6 and got 1
Brainz
rolled 1d4 and got 4
Negotiation
"Hm, I don't see why they'd be more likely to choose you over any one else, then. Perhaps bad blood after the argument?" Prim tapped her chin and thought out loud at the frog. "It would be interesting to have the details from those who accused and arrested him. There has to be something that convinced them that he is the culprit..."
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