Willow worked desperately to control her rapid breathing as the group moved deeper into the Council Hall. She had been wracking her brain for a way to escape their escort, and had come up blank.

We should have made a break for it when we came out of the sewers, while they were split up and distracted, she chided herself as the dragonborn ordered them to a halt. No help for it now…

She gritted her teeth as the leader of their guard announced that they would be disarmed and most likely imprisoned. She didn’t like being without her weapons, and she really didn’t like being confined. As the dragonborn moved between each member of the party, she debated on a course of action. She knew that fighting would be a mistake–she had only to remember the Beast’s screaming as they left the sewers to know that they were sorely overpowered–but she felt she must do something to protect her new-found pack mates.

If only I could think!

"Wait," Sastre spoke firmly as the guards approached him.

The dragonborn stopped, shocked by the strong voice that emanated from within the deep hood he'd been wearing. It was a much different voice than they'd previously heard him speak in, of course, and they were suddenly unsure of what was occuring.

Slowly, so as not to be seen as a threat, Sastre pulled back the hood and allowed the tattered cloak to fall from his shoulders. The dragonborn gasped, obviously recognizing the Hunter, and Sastre continued his slow movements, unclasping his whip and letting it fall to the floor, along with his cross-boomerang.

"If I'm not mistaken," he said somewhat smugly, "I think that you've all been looking for me?"

I'm sure to regret this, he thought with a sigh, but perhaps my presence will keep them from treating the others too harshly. After all, how important can the matter of some trespassers in the sewer be compared to the apprehension of one of the city's top fugitives?

Rosalyn watched in amazement as Sastre revealed his identity to the dragonborn. She looked to the giant lizards, then to him, then back at them.

Bluff Check (if needed, doing it in case I do):

Guest carried out 1 launched of one d20 (Image not informed.) :

17

+4

"Oh my stars! Sastre Quicksilver? THE Sastre Quicksilver? Here with us the whole time!? I had no idea!", Rosalyn said in the most convincing tone she could, while trying to make it sound like she was swooning over the hunter.

DM:

The yellow dragonborn was the first to recover from the shock of seeing Sastre, and a sly smirk crossed his features as he heard Rosalyn's words. He barked a harsh laugh and delivered a staggering backhanded blow to the Hunter's jaw, knocking him to the ground.

"Well, well," the dragonborn said with a toothy grin, "you thought you could just fool these poor citizens and sneak your way out of the sewers once we found you? Never!" He laughed again as two of the other dragonborn lifted Sastre up to his feet, each one holding one of the human's arms. "I can't believe our damned luck! Do you understand?" he asked his fellow soldiers. "We have captured the Sastre Quicksilver, the most wanted criminal in the entire city! Ha!"

The yellow dragonborn was positively beaming now as he strutted before the Hunter, cracking his knuckles all the while.

"You and you," he ordered, gesturing toward two of the dragonborn warriors. "Once these prisoners have been searched and disarmed, escort them to a cell, where they will be held until the council convenes. You," he indicated the other dragonborn, "aid me in escorting Hunter Quicksilver to a special holding cell, where he can be interrogated and prepared for his own meeting with the council."

With that, the yellow and his ally take Sastre away, leaving the other two dragonborn to finish up with the others.

(OOC: If your character is going to resist the search and resist being taken away, PM me to let me know. Otherwise, we will be moving on to the next part soon.)

AMdG

Willow clamped her jaw shut on a growl as the dragonborn grabbed Sastre and led him away, and she had to fight to keep from drawing her weapon then and there.

And get everyone else killed for the sake of one? her conscience chided. You know better than that. You know how strong these brutes must be to have taken down that sewer demon so easily. But I don’t have to like it, she determined, fighting down another snarl. We may not have agreed on many points, but that was a damn noble thing to do. Or damn stupid. The only fortunate thing to come of this is that now their forces are split in half. I wonder if we could use this to our advantage?

The Warden looked carefully about as she waited to be searched, studying the room, the exits, and the remaining dragonborn, looking for any information that could prove useful to their current plight.

Perception Check:

Guest carried out 1 launched of one d20 (Image not informed.) :

11

_________________

Not all those who wander are lost.

Mizzely was not entirely sure what was happening right now. They had come into this with a sort of plan, but that seemed to be completely out the window now. Her eyes darted around the room, survival instincts of her animal ancestors trying to assist her with finding a way to escape. Even if she could escape though, she was sure that not all of them could, not without being able to communicate about it prior, or without some sort of miracle. And simply abandoning those that she had come to consider allies and friends was not something she would do willingly.

Perception check as well! Looking around the room for some clues

Guest carried out 1 launched of one d20 (Image not informed.) :

18

Woops, +10 to my pereception roll

Ugh, sorry! That's a +9 for me. ><

Craed was shocked. When the large dragonborn struck Sastre, the world went white for him. This was not how justice was done! A helpless and already captured prisoner did not need to be struck! The fact that it was done idly and with a laugh just added to his rage. The boar trembled, eyes wide. It was few moments before he moved at all.

With a mighty boar bellow he roared at the yellow dragonborns back. "HOW DARE YOU STRIKE A HELPLESS PRISONER!" All of the guards turned to look at the boar in astonishment. "He was already giving himself up, yet you strike him down where he stands!? Do you have no honor!?" As he talked, Craed unconsciously shifted back to his dragonborn self. "You remind me of nothing so much as my father. A coward and weakling who would strike at those unable to fight back. But be warned," A toothy and electrified grin spread across the black and silver features, "He eventually found one that did fight back. And it was his end."

The dragonborn in the room were shocked. As Craed calmed down from his tirade he noticed the attention and then noticed he was himself again. Elation followed by despair. Damn. He waited to see what they would do.

---

OOC: I know this goes against what many of you would rather do but Craed is an honorable creature. He couldn't just sit back idly while a prisoner, a friend no less, was treated so badly. So... sorry for those that believe I didn't think it through... I did... but Craed couldn't. I'm just keeping with his character. And it seems he's a bit brash.

Rosalyn gasped as Sastre was struck. She only put on her silly act to try and protect everyone, so these dragonborn, no, these MONSTERS, didn't think they were accomplices. But this was too far. She was not amused. Upon witnessing Craed's furious outburst and almost-instant reversion back to his true form, she knew something big was going to go down. She looked at her swords, which still rested in her arms. She narrowed her eyes, then slowly moved to clasp them back to her belt. Her hands rested on the hilts of her swords, ready to draw them at a moment's notice. She was now in no mood to surrender. Not that surrender would be an option soon anyway it seemed.

A slight smile formed on Rakam's lips as he watched the happenings. "Sergant, if you'll give me a moment of your time please." He stepped between the dragonborn guards and the group of people, "Your captain would not want these people hurt and you know it. I can't go so far as to vouch for him," He nods towards the door that Sastre had been taken through, "But I can say that these people were simply attempting to help. And, if you bring them before the council in pieces, including that Sastre there, it will be YOU who's neck is stretched if I remember your laws correctly."

Please Lady let this work....

DM:

The leader of the two remaining dragonborn, a green, looks a little startled at Rakam's words. After a brief moment of hesitation, though, he roughly shoves the deva aside, drawing his sword as he approaches Craed and the others. His remaining ally, a young red, follows his lead, drawing his own weapon and preparing for battle.

"You may have been given some special treatment before," the green growls at Rakam, "but your old pal Grenit ain't here now!" With a guttural growl, the green prepares to strike Craed. "And you, you little stripling bastard, you need a little lesson in respect!"

"Drop. Your. Weapon."

The voice is low, musical, but filled with menace and authority. Immediately upon hearing it, both dragonborn drop their blades and fall prostate upon the cold stone floor, their bodies trembling and their faces pressed against the stone.

"L... Lord Jey," the green dragonborn utters.

At the far end of the chamber, the door through which you all were brought hangs open, and standing before it is a gnome. He is small and slender, as are all of his race, and his jet black hair looks almost blue-tinged in the torchlight. His eyes, narrowed in anger, seemm to glow a stunning blue. He wears fine clothes of dark brown, black, and blue silk, and there is a sword strapped to his back, one of his hands resting upon the hilt.

"Prisoners though they may be," the gnome goes on, "they will still be treated humanely. Quickly finish your search, remove their weapons from them, and escort them gently to a cell. A nice cell..." He stops, and bows his head slightly toward Rakam. "Forgive my men, sir, but it seems the recent attack upon the city has them on edge." With a slight smile he says, "You may be taken back to your old cell, or accompany these to theirs, its up to you. In a week's time, we will have a council meeting to decide all of your fates."

Now the gnome, Jey, turns his attention to Craed. "I knew your father, Craed, and he was a hard man. A brilliant warrior, but still a hard man." He falls silent, as if in thought, before continuing. "His life of service to us will stand you in good stead, but I can't guarantee that the others of the council will be so inclined to treat fairly with your companions." He shrugs, as if it is of no real concern. "But, times are strange, and we shall see..."

AMdG

"Thank you my Lord for your perfect timing and for having a hand in allowing me outside my old cell. It was a pleasant stroll." Rakam looks back over his shoulder at the group of newcomers, narrowing his eyes slightly as he observes them. "I believe I will accompany them, better company there than the last I had occupied." He chuckles softly and turns to watch the preparations with interest.

"I will not have my father's reputation protect me." Craed looks over at the others. "I will stand with them and share their charge." He looks back at the gnome. "I have my own honor, Lord Jey. It demands this." He bows his head in respect.

DM:

"As you wish," Lord Jey says to Rakam, inclining his head slightly in respect. He then turns his attention to Craed, the slightest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"I see the rumors about you and your sense of honor are true, then," he said, his eyes seeming to glow with some inner light. "If your wish is to be treated the same as your companions, then so be it... I'll simply have to make sure that your friends receive the very same considerations." His voice suddenly becomes serious, and his bright blue eyes cloud with worry. "I'll do what I can, though I can make no promises. My heritage places me high upon the upon the council, along with my sister, but things have become... stressed of late, to say the least. The others on the council may be able to overrule us..." His sly grin returns as he turns and makes his way back to the door. "Then again," he says over his shoulder, "maybe not."

His eyes flick to the two dragonborn, still prostrate upon the stone floor. "On your feet, soldiers." They instantly comply, and stand at rigid attention. "Finish your search, gently." The guards nod, and turn cautiously back toward the prisoners, their eyes downcast.

"Oh," Jey continues before leaving. "And don't worry about your friend, Hunter Quicksilver. My sister is seeing to his well-being as we speak." With that, the gnome leaves the chamber, closing and locking the door behind him.

Okay. The guards search you and remove your weapons and armor (I hope you're wearing something underneath, lol!) and any items in your inventory (don't bother removing such things from your character sheet). After you are searched, you are escorted from the chamber by the two guards, who are joined by two others on the way. After being led along for several minutes, you are brought to a hallway with heavy, locked doors along both sides. One of the doors is opened, revealing a large room, empty except for six cots lining the walls, three on each side. There are no windows.

One of the dragonborn, a red that joined up with you on the way, speaks.

"This is where you'll be kept, until the council convenes to pass their judgment. For your own sakes, do not attempt escape. For now, Lord Jey and Lady Lydia have taken an interest in you, and that may help say some of the councilors to your side. But if you try to escape, all of their plotting will be for naught." With a gruff nod, he signals and the dragonborn leave, locking the door behind them.

AMdG