Poisoner Escorted to the Barracks

[riptidereflections]

Crake approaches the cell of Sven Jaas. He activates a true seeing effect, and a clairvoyance effect, and takes a careful look for scrying sensors, despite the Measure's claim that the interrogation room is safe. He takes a moment to scan the area with sharp eyes every so often for sensors while they speak, quite paranoid due to the last incident. When he is content that there are no sensors, he sits down and crosses his legs comfortably, and simply stares at Jaas for awhile. He lets the man feel the weight of his blinkless scrutiny, and waits to see what, if anything, Jaas might say.

[mimifearthegn]

The interrogation room is smaller than the last one; clearly this is a more secure location. There are no scrying eyes.

As for Sven Jaas. . . he simply returns Crake's stare, for what seems like days.

[riptidereflections]

*Crake does his best to ascertain any traits of Jaas that he might be able to leverage in pushing the man's buttons during this interrogation or later interactions. After several minutes of wordless mutual scrutiny, he speaks.*

"I'm going to ask you some questions, Sven. First though I am going to make some things clear. You are a pawn on this chessboard, a marionette dangling by the end of the puppet strings pulled by addle-coved incompetent Takers who made the poor choice to procure the services of some of the cage's sorriest whipstitch imbeciles. Before now, you were their pawn, and now you are my pawn. There are two types of pawns. There are good, helpful pawns...and there are little mincy vrock-blek pawns. If you are a good pawn, you might still be on the board when this game is over."

*Crake pauses then, and there's a confident smile. Sven might realize that Crake is enjoying this. After a moment, Crake begins to speak again.*

"You will testify that Blaze Hefler hired your man to kill Factor Sasha Andor of the sensates. You will agree to this testimony and sign a written testimony to this effect in the next several minutes. Or I will file for your immediate transfer to the Prison, where you can become intimately acquainted with the other Factor Andor, like your man did."

*Crake pauses, and he removes a clipboard from his extradimensional bag, and an ensorceled quill from his coat pocket.*

"So what's it going to be then, Sven?"

[mimifearthegn]

Sven is a disturbingly calm man, whose main feature is a long somewhat bulbous nose. He also has a annoying smug smile.

At Crake's question, Sven just shrugs.

"Look, I'm a business man. I take lots of jobs. And look, I might even be willing to sign your paper there.

"But first, I need to know. . . is the Triad really trying to take Blaze Hefler down? Or are we just playing a game here?

"And second, what do I get for my testimony? Do I get to go free? Or am I next going to hear that I'm up for trial?"

[riptidereflections]

*Crake smiles. He looks at Sven and he shakes his head.*

"The Heflers are quite provably guilty with or without your willing testimony, and for their crimes of conspiracy to murder a factor, attempts to intimidate triad investigators, and every other conceivable charge I can reasonably press, they are going to be found guilty and suffer as harsh a sentence as I am able to advocate for. I will be surprised if their attourney, Eskil Nylund, even bothers to show up to court to eat the blek sandwich I intend to prepare for him. It will not contain so much as a speck of olive, Jaas. The leniency of the court and the mercilessness of my prosecution of your inevitable court date will be inexorably determined by your willingness to cooperate with me in the next several minutes.

I have been quite clear about the immediate and long-term stakes of your cooperation, Jaas. Perhaps you are keen on spending some quality time with Factor Dace Andor, one of the city's Lord Executioners, getting an intimate tour of what happens in the lower cells of Sigil's prison. I am quite fond of the place, myself. It looks, smells, and sounds like justice, Jaas. Have you ever walked by the place? The walls are more than half a dozen feet thick, made to hold the 'verse's most dangerous criminals. You can hear the music of the choir of their mutual agonies all the way to the temple of Hermes, on the hours when the Lady's Ward is sort of quiet. If you are going to waste my time, I will be happy to fill out the same forms I did to arrange for immediate transfer of your man. In fact, I have already drafted them, and need only a few quick signatures to make the transfer official. Which was he, again, your man...I forget. Primrose? The Muskrat? The Snake? The Ox? It was...something with a V? Doesn't matter. He sang beautifully."

*Crake grins, and he slides the clipboard and quill through the slot in the bars for Sven, sits back in his chair, and puts a foot up on his knee. The written testimony is a carefully worded statement on Sven's behalf stating that he was hired by Blaze Hefler*

[mimifearthegn]

"Look now, you haven't been clear about what's in it for me if I cooperate. I'm supposed to sign that paper to make it easier for you and then just hope I get off easy?"

Sven considered for a moment, and then raised his hand for emphasis as he continued.

"I do appreciate the assurance that the Heflers are going down. I do. Gives me one less thing to worry about in cooperating with you.

"But it sounds like you're quite e-nam-ored of the Red Death, so I could end up at the prison no matter what I do. You seem like a vengeful sort; you're saying this Factor Andor is too. So why should I sign my name again? To speed up my transfer? I need some assurances here."

The man gave another, sort of helpless shrug.

[riptidereflections]

"I am a man of my word, Jaas. And you have my word that I shall remind the court of your cooperation in this matter publicly during your trial. Or your lack thereof. I can take your testimony now or I can get it many other ways. All that is in question is how much of my valuable time you plan to waste," Crake says, with a polite and completely fake smile. "and how much fun my favorite Mercykiller is going to have this evening."

[mimifearthegn]

"Fine. Let me see that paper then. . . "

Sven scanned the document, making sure that it was, indeed, mostly about Blaze, and less about him. He was willing to sign that he'd taken a job, but didn't want it all pinned on him. Assuming it was as described, he signed.

[riptidereflections]

It is what Crake said it was--A written testimony on Sven's behalf stating that Blaze Hefler hired a man through him to murder Factor Sasha Andor. Once he's signed it, Crake takes his quill and the statement back, and then he puts a fresh, blank sheet of paper on the clipboard, and taking his quill in hand, he says.

"Sounds like you have a vested interest in Blaze Hefler going down. So why don't you tell me everything you know about his crimes, including all the business you have had with him besides this, and any darks you know about him or anyone connected to him. I am particularly interested in his children. Raul and Giana, I mean. And in his attourney, Eskil Nylund."

[mimifearthegn]

"A vested interest? Not before I signed that paper. But he is a vengeful cutter; it wouldn't do to have my name on anything against him, and him walking free." The man smirked.

"Far as I know, I only worked for Blaze. Not that he came to see me himself most of the time; he sent someone else. Nylund came, a few times.

"As for what he wanted from me. . . a few times he just wanted us to rough someone else. Another time he wanted someone gone . . ."

Sven gives details on a few cases which the Harmonium are later able to corroborate as having been under investigation in the last few years.