Questioning Zak
Log Info
- Title: Questioning Zak
- Emitter: Aftershock
- Characters: Mikilos, Cryosanthia, Ezil
- Place: The Dungeons of Alexandria
- Time: Friday, January 31, 2020, 12:00 PM
- Summary: Cryosanthia, Ezil and Mikilos go the Dungeons of Alexandria to interrogate the boy that was imprisonned for stealing the Ancient Spark. Without pre-planning, or even really catching each other up on what is known, they default to Bad Cop: Ezil, Good Cop: Mikilos and Comedy Relief. Ezil's approach shuts the child down, Mikilos' is much more effective, and Cryo pretends to be a small dragon and make friends with Zak, since she has the least idea of what is going on. Eventually a story is extracted. Lord Eclavdran seems to be helping, and pretended Zak is a great cleric who deserves the relic, and it was the adventurer's fault all the adults of Zak's village disappeared. The details are more believable, so the party promises to help Zak, and Cryo gives him her Arcane Mark 'Temporary Tattoo' to raise his spirits.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Mikilos 6'8" 180 Lb Dawn Elf Male Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome. Cryosanthia 6'7" 245 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, lithe white lizardgirl with tattoos. Ezil 5'11" 175 Lb Human Male An armored man with dark skin, and grey-blonde hair. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The dungeons of Alexandria are not the nicest place you've ever been. They're dark and slighly dank. They smell of things that make you want to turn right back around and get out of here. The cells are small cramped things, but for the most part the they're fairly empty. Which might be a surprise given the number of adventuers in Alexandria, or perhaps it's because of them. For the moment the only inhabitants are a few long-term guests, a drunk who keeps mumbling in the corner of his cell, and one young man. You're currently in a small room set up for the interrogation. It's just you, the boy, and the guard who was insistant that he stay and make sure that the young man doesn't do anything untoward. So far the kid hasn't said anything, he just sits with his arms crossed stairing at the table between you stubbornly.
Mikilos glances to the other two, quirking a brow. "Okay, so remind me exactly how this all fits together? I missed parts, and is hard enough keeping track of things I was around for."
Cryosanthia looks at Ezil as well, bobbing her head. She's only seen pieces.
Ezil looks to the kid with a sigh, sitting across the table and making an open handed gesture as he motions to boy. "It's not very nice in here is it? You've been in this place a while." his glance shot to Mikilos with a nod. "I wanted you here to be able to educate the child on what these forces have done, and how they don't care for those they use." he explains, then motioning to Cryosanthia. "She was there when Jerboba was met again, kid. Even after he was vanquished, he was soon in this realm once more. It seems Eclavdran has forsaken you, and left you here.... and those who aided you now are free." trying to push this issue again.
GAME: Ezil rolls diplomacy: (1)+10: 11 (EPIC FAIL)
The kid snorts at Ezil, shaking his head and propping his elbows up on the table. He gives Ezil a short, irritated look and makes a rude motion with his fingers.
Mikilos quirks a brow, still uncertain. "So... the kid got recruited by a demon, demon bailed on him, but kid is still loyal anyway?" The elf blinks, and frowns. "That... was very rude of me." He turns to the child. "My appologies, I didn't even introduce myself before talking about you like you aren't even here. Mikilos Mithralla, wizard and craftsman." He offers his introduction with a politel nod.
GAME: Mikilos rolls diplomacy: (19)+16: 35
Those familiar with Cryosanthia may be able to tell when she is relaxed, or on edge. Right now, she's on edge. The dungeon and all its smells are horribly familiar. Mikilos, is there. The spite exhibited by the child dredges up bad memories. The white sith-makar has been very contained in her movements, her tail kept low and close. Ezil's overtures went nowhere. The wizard's, might work. Out of a strange desperation she crouches low, rests her hands on the table edge and her head between them, shakes her tail from side to side very strongly and waggles her eyebrows at the kid, "Growf!"
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/comedy: (15)+7: 22
Ezil smirks as the child makes that gesture, nodding his head. "Yeah, I'd be mad too, kid." he says, watching Mikilos as he speaks, and taking a back seat to that introduction. It's Cryosanthia's actions that make him laugh before shaking his head. "These two are good people. If I was in trouble, I am sure they would come for me." he notes, still opting to let the others do the work he couldn't for now.
Cryosantia's antics startle a little laugh out of the kid though he tries to wipe the smile off his face as soon as it comes. He fails horribly, and it's clear that he thinks that the sith-makar is funny. The kid shakes his head and looks at Mikilos. "It's alright. I'm used to people talking like I'm not around." He shrugs somewhat defensively but seems slightly more relaxed than before. His eyes flickered toward Ezil and he frowns a little. "SOME people don't even bother to ask MY name. It's Zak by the way."
Mikilos blinks at Cryo himself, quirking a brow, but turns back to the child and nods. "Nice to meet you Zak, though admittedly not the best of circumstances. As I've said, I don't really know what all hs been going on. Would -you- be so kind as to tell me what happned?" Since neither Ezil or Cryo really did so.
"Hello Zak! I'm Cryosanthia, a little white dragon. Nice to meet you, sorry it's here. I wanted to talk, but he's a lot smarter, " she points at Mikilos, "So I was letting him ask the questions. Do you want to feel my scales?"
Ezil nods at the kids words, shifting in his seat. "My concern wasn't for your name, but fair point. I was treating you poorly, and that's no way to treat anyone." he says in concession, looking to the two companions he brought. "My manners, remember? I forget them at times." sighing and looking back to Zak. "I apologize for it, but my concern for you is real." he offers. "I just don't always go about things in the best manner. I spent a lot of time alone on the road as a kid."
The kid looks a little suspiciously at Mikilos but a small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth at Cryosanthia. It's hard to be tough when someone keeps making you smile, and Ezil's apology helps it seems. "It's alright. Like I said I'm used to it. People used to ignore me all the time before..." He trails off and shrugs and then half-meets Mikilos' gaze. Kind of glances up and then down again. "I don't know what happened. I was just minding my own buisness and this guy just appeared out of nowhere and stole my pendant! Took it right out of my pocket. I don't know where those demons came from. Then there was this huge fight between the demons and this guy's friends and I got put in jail for stealing the pendant."
GAME: Ezil rolls sense motive: (4)+2: 6 GAME: Mikilos rolls sense motive: (7)+5: 12 GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (6)+0: 6
Mikilos blinks in confusion. "Pendant? Guy? What guy? What pendant? Demons?" It seems Mikilos know even less about what's going on than he thought.
Ezil lets out a low sigh. "How did you get the pendant, Zak?" he asks with a casual tone, but some of the kid's words are troublesome, and clash with what Ezil knows. He however can't tell which parts are true, or lies. "We were tasked to retrieve it because it was stolen, and you were the one who had it unfortunately." he explains. "Though I saw what I did with my eyes, the demons wanted you to have it, that much I know." remembering that toss from demon to kid, and the kid running. "If you didn't know them, why did they help you? Did someone give you the pendant?"
Cryosanthia reaches her arm across the table and puts her hand palm down within reach of Zak. Her head turns to look between Mikilos and Ezil, apparently confused.
"I was sitting on a bench with my pendant in my pocket, and some kid kicked a ball and it hit me in the face. For the /third/ time." Zak glowers. "So I got mad and stood up and this guy... I don't know who comes up and takes the pendant out of my pocket. /His/ friend."
The kid points accusingly at Ezil and seems to get even more angry at Ezil. "I'm not telling /you/ anything. Maybe the demons wanted me to have it because it was /mine/. Your friend had no right to go and steal it from me!" He looks at Cryosanthia's hand and seems to calm a little bit, sort of sulking in his chair and looking like he /wants/ to reach out but he folds his arms instead.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (12)+0: 12 GAME: Mikilos rolls sense motive: (10)+5: 15 GAME: Ezil rolls sense motive: (7)+2: 9
Cryosanthia makes scratching noises with her nails on the table, trying to entice Zak again, "You got put in jail for stealing your own pendant and the evidence was you didn't have the pendant anymore? That's... interesting evidence. I've probably got a dozen things I've stolen from myself I don't have on me right now! Maybe they should lock me up. Then you'd have a cell buddy, we can shoot notes to each other under the door."
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls perform/comedy: (17)+7: 24
Mikilos frowns thoughtfully, looking to Ezil. "What friend is this who picked his pocket?" He ponders a moment. "Demons aren't the sort to care about proper ownership. Devils, maybe." He glances to the others. "Are you sure they were demons and not devils?"
"You're treating your guest better than Zak, Ezil, the All-Friend." Cryo says.
Ezil nods with another sigh. "That much of the story is true." he admits openly. "The party I was with was quick to act. I called for eyes to be on the child, but they acted without watching as I asked. I was worried about the dark creatures first. A sneak went for the pendant." his words still casual, admitting what happened openly. "Even the kickball incident is true. he did get hit, once I saw myself." trying to be about the truth in this incident. "It is possible it was a devil." he answers Mikilos. "Jerboba is the perpetrator here" he notes with a shrug, looking at Zak. "So yes, you are right about all of that. It happened quickly, and without much regard for you.... and no one thought to ask your side, and took without regard of your feelings." his frown coming with his words. "It is true, I am Ezil the All-Friend, and I did not do my duty then, but I wish to do it now. Please, tell me how you got the pendant, or how this matter really started."
GAME: Ezil rolls diplomacy: (19)+10: 29
Zak finally relents, reaching out and touching Cryosanthia's hand cautiously. He smiles shyly at her and seems pleased with himself. Although that brings him to Ezil's questions. The man owning up to what happened seems to ease the kid somewhat and he shrugs. "Lord Eclavdran gave it to me when I was gathering stuff outside the city to eat. He said that it belongs to /all/ the gods. That as a cleric I have as much right to it as anyone does. So he gave it to me." He puffs his chest out.
Mikilos blinks a few times, processing that. "...you're a cleric?" He glances to the others. "All humans seem young to me, but... that's below average, right?"
Cryosanthia slides her other arm forward, guiding his hand so the fingers slide over her scales and rough knuckles. She has risen a little so her collarbone is against the table edge and her head is closer to Zak. Still lower than the boy and looking slightly upwards at him. Her tail is wagging and high enough a white wiper is visible going back and forth against the wall. Her sapphire blue eyes are as expressionless as gems, and with a slit black pupil there is little warmth to them. She makes up for that with a smile. "Zak could have a knack! Perhaps Eclavdran saw ahead, his future. You could be a great hero Zak, don't come kill me when I'm a big dragon though, ok?"
Ezil confirms Mikilos' words with a nod. "Yes, but it it not unheard of." his glance then to Zak. "I am no cleric, but I too was blessed by one of the higher realms." settling with his seat again. "So, Zak. Were you being mentored, or following one of the churches? I know Tref has been filled with strife and much pain these days from the tales I have heard. What is your purpose as a cleric?"
Zak grins at Cryosanthia. "That's what Lord Eclavdran said! He said that I have the ability to become really powerful one day and that he wanted me to achieve that greatness! He said that I'm special!" He puffs up his chest more and laughs. "I won't hurt you Cryosanthia, I wouldn't hurt any of my friends."
He looks over at Ezil and rolls his eyes. "Of course! I learned from the best! Father Mathus taught me all sorts of things. Before..." He trails off a little and looks down briefly, sorrow crossing over his features plainly. He doesn't look up to answer the rest of Ezil's question. "I just want to stop people from hurting other people. I want to be powerful enought to /make/ them stop."
Mikilos sighs thoughtfully. "...Eclavdran -has- had access to time travel. I suppose it's possible. But he's all kinds of tricky, and I'm disinclined to trust a demon's motives." He considers. "Maybe you'd be a great cleric, helping many people... but you'd be an even greater paladin, stopping the evil that hurts them in the first place. And so the Duke of Hell sets you on a path towards the clergy. Maybe, that's raw speculation."
"This one thinks Lord Eclavdran saw a situation to exploit, someone with potential who with the right prodding might take a turn to a dark path, and used the theft and adventurers who would leap in to trigger that. Zak, you were terribly victimized, but you were chosen because had hateful thoughts he could pull you with." The white sith-makar squeezes the boy's hand between hers, "Thank you Zak, I want to be your friend too. When we get you out of here, I'll put on a show for the other kids you know, so they'll know you can tame dragons. Until then, I'll visit you, Ok? To cheer you up. This is a horrible place to be, I don't want to be here at all. It must have been very hard being locked up and you're strong for enduring."
Ezil nods to himself, something of the boys story making him think to himself. "Zak, I understand your desire to help, and stop pain and hurt. I too feel as you do in some ways. I call myself the All-Friend, and it means to offer light and kindness to all who might turn from evil." he explains, looking between Mikilos and Cryosanthia. "I will do what I can, and speak to the Adventurer's Guild and those keeping you here, but I think that we can work things out. The issue is with who gave you the pendant, and his designs. Not yours. As for being a cleric, Father Mathus took you in, but do not limit yourself to others desires. More so when they are demons or devils."
The boy grumbles, and looks intently at you all. "You guys are wrong. Lord Eclavdran isn't evil! I know he gets a bad rap for being a demon, but he blessed the village I came from! He made all the sickness and bad things that were happening there go away. Everyone was getting the things that they needed most." His eyes darken. "But a bunch of adventurers came and there was this dragon... and all the adults vanished." Okay so he makes less sense as he talks, but he's adamant. "Lord Eclavdran said all the adults had to go away because of the adventuerers and now I'll never see my mom or dad again." Now he's on the verge of tears, trying to stoically hold them back in front of you adults.
Mikilos frowns, and considers several long moments. "I've only met Eclavdran a few times, and they weren't normal circumstances. I can't say I've sen him do real evil. Tricky and deception, certainly. Which makes me not trust his motives." He sighs. "I don't know what happened to your village, I think that all happened while I was still infcted with the Plague."
"I'm even more confused now." Cryosanthia moves around the table so she can hug Zak. She doesn't just grab him, she crouches close with one arm hovering behind his chair and the other outstretched in front of him. If he wants to embrace a dragon, he can. She looks over at Mikilos, "Maybe we should ask him what his game is."
Ezil looks perplexed, this was not what he expected, and like the others he looks to the two. "It seems there is much we don't know, but the boy was given a stolen pendant, and was told it was for him. The truth of the matter remains it was stolen, but it seems not by the boy. The others who were with me failed to get answers, but I think their actions were what made it hard." looking to Zak with a nod. "You have my apologies for that, and I will see what can be done about your situation. As for the relic? I don't think it can be returned to you, but I believe we can set you on a path that will help you fulfill your wishes to protect."
Zak hesitates only a moment before hugging Cryosathia, much to the chagrin of the guard who hastily informs her that this is not acceptable and what if the boy tries to hurt her? The boy ignores the guard entirely, crying out his tears and deaf for the moment to the conversation going on around him. It seems for the time at least he's not answering an other questions.
Mikilos looks to Ezil. "Where is the relic? I've no say in the matter, but I have no objection to it being held by -this- cleric."
Ezil nods to Mikilos. "Returned as per the job, and now held at the Temple of Daeus." he answers, standing from his seat.
Cryo nods slowly at the guard. Her gaze saying some rules have to be broken and she'll risk getting hurt, that's what adventurers are for. A lot for a gaze to say, so it may be lost on the guard, but she doesn't break her embrace. "We'll sort this out Zak, it'll be ok. Hey do you want a temporary tattoo like mine? It'll last a month. So you can look at it and know Cryosanthia is your friend. Did Lord Eclavdran give you a mark? I can put it beside his, or over his."
The kid sniffles and pulls back from Cryosanthia slowly. "No, but a tattoo sounds cool! Can I really have one?" He looks toward the guard who is looking at the sith-makar like she might be crazy. He shakes his head no and Zak pouts at him, which really, does nothing to move the guard. He's proof against such things.
Mikilos frowns mildly at the guard. "...prison tattoos are a long and honored tradition, rich with symbolism and meaning..."
Ezil laughs as the kid's demeanor changes, standing from his seat, and nodding at Cryosanthia and her question, but offering little else. "I learn something new every day. " he admits, seeming done with his own questioning, and moving to lean against the wall near the door. He will mutter a prayer, making a sign with his hand, and look at Zak with a smile.
"It'll be quick. Show me where you want it Zak." Cryosanthia says, nodding her head at the guard with a stare. She has to do this. "Can I pull up your sleeves? You want it someplace you can see it, like your forearm. I, would prefer to put it on faces, but someone's mother said this one is not to do that. She was very upset."
The kid settles back down onto the chair and offers up his arm willingly, laughing at Cryosanthia. "Yea, Lord Eclavdran doesn't mark people. Or give them cool tattoos, but I know that those in the village that had the plague came back with weird marks. This one girl came back with a huge scar of a snowflake on her neck! I saw it." He seems happy to talk to you guys now.
Mikilos frowns mildly, considering a long moment, and rolls up the sleeve of his robe, where a snowflake has been carved into his flesh. "Mistress of the Shard Tower. She -does- mark those she considers her toys. I've been working very hard to try and stop her. Far too many don't come back when she takes them."
Cryosanthia takes Zak's arm and finds a good spot inside his forearm where he'll be able to see the tattoo. She gestures in an arcane fashion and there's a brief glow on some of her own tattoos, and then she carefully traces on the boy's skin. It's quick, barely a scratching, and leaves a stylized dragon eye that is formed by the letters C R Y O, and has a few scale like patterns around it to balance it out. "There you go!"
"We could try putting my mark over that Mikilos and see if it upsets her." Cryo suggests.
Ezil looks to Mikilos and the talk of this mark. "You told me about a deal you made. Could 'he' be working against her in his own way?" he asks, his mind roaming over the details the boy had given. "Thank you, Zak. It was good to meet you proper." his questions at an end, but taking in what the other two find.
Mikilos frowns at Cryo. "The last time I upset her, a vampire anda demon came to my house. So maybe not." He looks to Ezil, and shrugs. "I don't know his aims, but I -do- knwo they are NOT working together."
"Yea! the mark was almost exactly like that!" The boy points at Mikilos' arm and nods before beaming at his own arm where the mark is. "That's so cool! Thanks!" He's too old to hug her just for that, but he grins at her and the guard sighs.
"I think you guys are done here right? Can I put him back in his cell now?"
Cryosanthia grins back at Zak, making a raowr noise at him, then slipping back before standing up. She's tall enough she's conscious about looming. "Yes, you may take him back. Let me know what I have to do so I can see him tomorrow if he's still here. Hang in there Zak, you've got friends, we'll sort this Ok?"
Ezil nods to the guard, and then looks to Cryo. "We can visit again." he says, smirking. "If Zak will see me, I will come. Though now I need to have some words with a few people." he notes, then moving towards the door. "Thank you." he says to the guard as well.