War of the Lost Kingdom

"Soldier," said Zifu, "aside from you and I, everyone here is personally connected to the suspect. If we are to clear his name, we must not make it seem like we are allowing them to break the suspect free of custody. It will undoubtedly paint a better image of Lord Mardelik and Mr. Dingus if they were seen cooperating with us, rather than acting against."

She watched as Doc stepped past the bones, and noted the difference between his interaction and her experience. "It seems safe enough to pass," she said as she approached the stairs to pass through. "Just don't touch the bones."

Begrudgingly, I put the shackles on, but I put them in as loose as possible, allowing me to slip them easily.

Greta drags Ian up to a standing position "Come on pretty boy. She helps him along like a drunk, half dragging half carrying the charlatan up the stairs and after the group.

Groaning awake as Greta hauls him up, Ian grumbles irritably. "Ugh. This just keeps gettin' better'n better." He pats the larger woman on the shoulder, giving her a thumbs up. Shaking his head to clear it and sending his long hair waving he coughs before he spits on the ground.

"I'm takin' command'a the situation." Angry eyes seem to glow faintly in the dark as he checks his equipment, before he glowers at Finn, "Yer dipshittery was'a fine distraction fer that witch ta curse this place an kill that soldier. Act yer age, not yer shoe size from now on or I will deal w'you maself. An you," he raised a finger to point at Zifu, "I hope this was the last time you'll question me considerin' that it took me thirty fuckin' minutes ta figure out'a plot you wasn' even aware of. So you can take yer pretentious snobbery, shove it up yer ass so that I can fuckin' save it for you."

Sighing he rubs the bridge of his nose, muttering angrily to himself. "Greta, Doc. Nice work. Thank you fer listening."

Zifu twisted her cord around her finger, reached up and touched the tip of an unlit torch. A burst of brilliant white light surrounded the object, which Zifu pulled free and held it out to the soldier.

"Considering the evidence, Lord Mardelik," she said evenly in response to Ian, "one might think you concocted this plan yourself. Your claim of being a 'head investigator' was a lie and you purported authority that you did not have. You and your assets have conveniently eliminated the one person you alleged to be the perpetrator."

Her expression was serene, even as she waited for the jailer to take possession of the Light-infused torch.

Zifu nodded to the soldier, clasping her hands before herself under her sleeves. "Be that as it may, why was she here in the first place? Isn't it because of Mr. Finn Dingus, the suspect?"

She sighed, and looked down at the floor. "Forgive me. These events have clouded my better judgment. You are right, of course. Attacking a prisoner in custody does not make sense.

"So," said Zifu, turning to Ian. "What is this plot, then?" Her eyebrows rose, her lips grew taut, as though she fully expected to be positively floored by the revelation.

First off all, Mr. Can-Barely-Survive-a-Fight, you a’int my pappy so you can’t talk to me like that. Second of all, any time you think you can beat me in a fight without the Orc, you’re welcome to try. I motion to Greta when I say Orc.

Zifu noted the exchange with an arched brow.

"Uh, an attempt by'the malevolent super intelligence what infects, posseses an corrupts those it infects ta destroy the garrison'a this fort in order ta allow unchecked wave upon wave'a mutated wildlife while corrupted land slowly grows south ta remake the land inta a endless, tortured mockery of itself." He pauses to take a breath, "Which we'll find evidence of inside the Legate's office. Which is our second stop."

Zifu rolled her eyes, and took her small lamp from out of her case. She counted to ten, then with her cord still wrapped around her finger, wove Light onto the lamp.

She kept an ear out for a possible reaction from the jailer, whose torch would extinguish immediately after her spell.

Ian's eyes widen sharply as the soldier lets out a cry, "Shit!" Hands on his swords he starts to run in that direction, "Hurry up! Maybe Zifu hasn' totally killed him yet!"

Zifu remained in place, watching Ian run off into the darkness. Without taking her eyes off his back disappearing down the hall, she said to the others, "Now would be a good time for any of you to light a torch or lantern. Or did you not pack one in your haste to leave?"

"Dingus, shut your pie hole." growls Greta. "I watched you get your little ass beat by a bunch of weaklings, and nearly chopped up by Goldie. Don’t boast, or I’ll watch Ian poke some more holes in you."

Then she removes her heavy pack and takes a bundle of torches lashed to the side and hands one to Docanter and keeps another for herself. She then produces a flint and steel from her belt pouch, striking it and producing a spark that lights Docanter’s torch.

"Hold that there Doc." she says and then removes the chainmail shirt from the pack and shrugs it on.

Once she’s properly armored, Greta lights her torch from Doc’s. With her shield slung over her back, Greta holds the torch aloft in her left hand and then draws her longsword, wielding it in her right.

"Ok, let’s go." she says to nobody in particular, moving to the front of the party.