Café de Nuit

Alain moves out from his hiding spot, approaching the small group gathered around the informant. In his right hand he holds up a shiny silver coin. His left, held out to his side, crackles with miniature arcs of lightning! The air smells faintly of ozone.

The informant takes a look around himself. People are closing in on him from all directions save to the rear, where the gallows stand. He backs away from Norzak, looks to his right and sees Alain approaching with a weirdly glowing hand outstretched...
and he panics! He spins around and dashes back to the gallows, mounting the steps two at a time. When he reaches the top, he begins shouting, then screaming:

''Stay away from me! HELP! MURDERERS! CALL THE GENDARMES!''

Alain drops the spell and then steps in front of Norzak and up to the informant and says :" I'm sorry for my companions uncouth ways but we thought you might trying to ambush us . So we just took some precautions . Sorry about my overzealous companions . We can make a deal for this and future info. And as sign of trust." He tosses him a silver piece.

"Apologies, Madame Renier. I, uh, I'm somewhat speechless as to how my manners could have so utterly failed me." Bennedict looks around, bewildered and a bit frightened as to what exactly is going on here. "You are right, of course. I am very late for an appointment. My friends will be missing me." He looks around for his walking stick, and an exit. "With your permission, I will make my exit now."

Sir Cirdan is able to move around Alain, who is busy blocking Norzak. Rushing up the steps, he slams an armored fist into the face of the screaming man.

CRUNCH!

The informant crumples to the platform, sprawled out unconscious on the rough wooden surface. Blood oozes from his lips and nose, cut and smashed by the blow.

When Cirdan unclenches his fist, something small and white falls from the outer surface of his iron gauntlet. It's a broken tooth.

Adam wrote:"Apologies, Madame Renier. I, uh, I'm somewhat speechless as to how my manners could have so utterly failed me." Bennedict looks around, bewildered and a bit frightened as to what exactly is going on here. "You are right, of course. I am very late for an appointment. My friends will be missing me." He looks around for his walking stick, and an exit. "With your permission, I will make my exit now."

Madem Renier nods and says,


''Of course. I am retiring for the night. My servants will show you out. You may expect a message from me when I have arranged for you to view the archives. Good night, monsieur. ''
With that, the lady turns to leave, favoring Benn with a half smile as she goes. A servant enters the room after Lady Renier has made her exit. The drab little man bows , and says to Benn,

''This way, m'sieur, if you please. Will you require a carriage tonight?''

ewancummins wrote:Sir Cirdan is able to move around Alain, who is busy blocking Norzak. Rushing up the steps, he slams an armored fist into the face of the screaming man.

CRUNCH!

The informant crumples to the platform, sprawled out unconscious on the rough wooden surface. Blood oozes from his lips and nose, cut and smashed by the blow.

When Cirdan unclenches his fist, something small and white falls from the outer surface of his iron gauntlet. It's a broken tooth.

Still in his monk robe, Cirdan shoulders the man like a bag of potatoes.

"You know, some folks really have issues sometimes..."

And louder...

"I'll take this poor madman back to his asylum! By the holy word of Ezra, I personally will exorcise the demons that plague him..."

Rafael wrote:

ewancummins wrote:Sir Cirdan is able to move around Alain, who is busy blocking Norzak. Rushing up the steps, he slams an armored fist into the face of the screaming man.

CRUNCH!

The informant crumples to the platform, sprawled out unconscious on the rough wooden surface. Blood oozes from his lips and nose, cut and smashed by the blow.

When Cirdan unclenches his fist, something small and white falls from the outer surface of his iron gauntlet. It's a broken tooth.

Still in his monk robe, Cirdan shoulders the man like a bag of potatoes.

"You know, some folks really have issues sometimes..."

And louder...

"I'll take this poor madman back to his asylum! By the holy word of Ezra, I personally will exorcise the demons that plague him..."

Several people have come out of their houses or shops to investigate the racket. The stand at the edge of the plaza and stare at the scene unfolding at the Great Gallows.

When Cirdan makes his announcement, the onlookers begin to drift away.

Dorgio stalks up beside Cirdan as the knight carries the informant off. "What in hells did you do that for?" he hisses in a low whisper. "I could have called down a weave of silence. Instead, now the only one willing to give us information on these assassins thinks we're out to murder him."

He continues in a whisper, scowling. "Let's get him somewhere quiet where I can tend to him." Turning to Norzak, he continues, "And by the damned things below, keep your blade in its sheath unless you see somebody else holding one!"

Cirdan doesn't look if Diorgio's moralism was impressing him.

"You thought about how to act. I acted. See the difference? - But now, please go on, he's all yours to interrogate. - And you Norzak, see there's the point: Think BEFORE you act, or I won't come to your defense if a lynching mob comes for you."

"I see the difference spilling from his broken mouth." He holds back a moment, gathering his composure. Or at least trying to. "Maybe it's the engagement, or maybe your upbringing didn't put you close to people like this," he says, gesturing to the informant, "but to deal with people like this, you have to grease the truth out of them with gold. You think we're afraid, imagine how he must feel, turning on his own like that?"

"He's just a criminal, mind you, Diorgio. - Where I come from, that alone strips him of his right to live."

Cirdan will bind arms and legs of the man.

"Let's bring him to your new place. - I know a PAINLESS way of making him talk. He might shit his pants, though..."

"Cirdan, we are taking a man whom we knocked out without provocation and we're taking him back our hideout for interrogation. I am thinking we'd be a bit foolish to denounce anyone as criminal now.

"But nonetheless," he says, his brows furrowing in thought, "Give me some time with him before you make your attempt. If we try to scare the information out of him, he'll just tell us what he thinks we want to hear. The truth is more delicate to extract."

Cirdan has finished binding the man. He is ready to be moved from the scene. He remains unconscious.

"Bah, I get results... ye mamby pambies. I ain' gettin' into another discussion with ye's on me ways. If ye don' want me to keep me blade out, then get yer information yer own way. Ain' noone tell me what to do or hows ta does it ye dolts!" Norzak turns away from the party and stomps off to the office without looking back.