Borderlands II - This is the current game thread

[TristenC]

I figger it be best from ye lass, ye knows 'em best. Ah c'n if ye wist, though.

[Stik]

The group's route takes them around the center of the village, away from most of the activity. Turning the bend three blocks from the villa, they are able to catch a glimpse of the temple, which located on a small rise at the northeast corner of the village. It's small, as temples go, but has the typical round shape of pantheon temples. It's built of masonry, but the blocks have been artfully arranged so as to resemble the carved marble shapes of traditional temples. The light of the setting sun gives a red-orange tinge to the white painted walls.

Once the group passes the house nearest the temple, they can see the scene before it.

Before the temple, in front of the stairs, there are three stakes driven into the ground at angles - one vertical, the others diagonal, crossing the first at a height of about six feet. On this structure, a man has been crucified - his arms and legs tied to the diagonal stakes. His face and body are covered with dried blood - he was obviously beaten badly before being placed on the gibbet.

A pair of torches flank the structure, and flanking them are several legionnaires, standing guard, although their body language suggests they would rather be elsewhere.

At the base of the cross stands Haro, the war priest. He is alternately taunting the condemned man, offering him mercy in exchange for information, demanding answers about Quintus, and occasionally striking him with his staff. The condemned man is fairly far gone at this point, and is, most of the time, unable to answer. When he does speak, he mutters weakly that he does not know where Quintus is.

[Jenara]

"Be prepared." Angel annouces as she walks forwards her hands Clenched in fists, "They have a foolish and gruesome method of extracting infomation it is..." She stops dead in her tracks, stepping in front of Liri out of habit trying to block her view of the torture in front of her. "Sickening and Barbaric. Torture." Angel strides closer, keeping the others at bay.

[Breila]

Liri places her hand softly on angel's upper arm. "I' m older than you think, and I've seen more." she says quietly.

[Jenara]

"I forget..." She stammers, unsure what to say.

[TristenC]

Haro's work... Ari mutters. Though Tanulan does nae discourage it...

[Breila]

Liri turns to Ari. "Do you know what he wants to achieve with this?" she asks.

[TristenC]

Tryin' ta draw his prey from hidin' I suspect. He replies somewhat more gruffly than intended. He turns to spit, blatantly showing distaste for the practices at hand. The dwarf lowers his voice so only the two elvish women can hear, Pardon lass. I've seen more o' this than I've a mind to fer a lifetime... I'd ha thought he'd realize after the third or fourth sacrifice, he practically spits the word itself, that such things might mean little ta one who raises the dead tae tear their neighbors apart... Mebe he hopes it'll turn followers against him and they'll turn him in... I fear tha best way ta stop it is ta find the one raisin' tha dead, but that'd give the smug little bastard his way; and fer torturin' good honest folk besides...

Ari shakes his head in resignation and disapproval, but keeps his voice low. Haro there's a follower of Hextor, tha war-god. 'Es got wind a priest of Marus, the old war-god, is hidin' hereabouts. 'Ats what 'es after... started doin' worse and worse tae draw him out... started this bit a week gone now... this poor soul makes five done-up like that...

[Jenara]

"Evil little... I wonder what sort of place we have ended up?I actually prefered the wild." Angel averts her gaze, biting her lip.. "Doesn't he realise it's pointless?"

[Stik]

"I saw this, once, at sea. A man stole from the stores, so the captain punished everyone. Put the whole crew on subsistence rations of food and water until they gave the thief up. It got to the point where they were considering just picking a crewman that nobody liked, just to end the punishment." says Egg. "Then someone finally figured out who the culprit was.

"This will go on until Haro gets to someone Quintus cares about, or someone in town gives him up."

[Breila]

"You mean they will pick people at random and torture them until they learn what they want?" Liri asks, incredulous. "Do they know what they want to learn, at least?"

[BishGada]

Galanis listens to the conversation quite amazed. He never encountered such intrigues before and have no idea how to deal with it. He was a soldier and adventurer and usually fought with friendly people against evil foes. Life were simple, and here he can't find his place.
"Hmm... I'd rather we just have found the necromancer and deal with him. Then we could move on."

[TristenC]

Dunno how they choose, but they want ta find Quintus. Dunno who knows him, so they pick... he plucks an imaginary object out of the air. An 'es a war priest, nae a necromancer. The torture's more about putting pressure on everyone possible until someone betrays Quintus.

[Jenara]

"It is unacceptable." Angel anounces with a growl, "These are people, not cattle.. Civilians are not bait." She starts to march to the cross, then stops.. No she would have to deal with this differently.

[Breila]

"I'm all confused" Liri admits. "I probably haven't paid enough attention. Who is Quintus?"