He would have woken up bound but before the killing stroke. The cocooned wereshark thrashes as it sees a silver tipped arrow pointed at his head and the elf discussing chopping off his head.
In a rare show of silence, Astrianna concentrates on aiming her bow at the bound man's head, her muscles flexed and strained.
Astrianna flinches as Chell yells for them to stop, but does not take her eyes off of the shark-creature. She points her bow towards a wall and slowly releases the drawback, taking the arrow back in hand. The bard kicks the werecreature onto its back, and puts her foot squarely on its chest. "Oh he's going to talk. Keep Jessica outside."
She leans down as she looms over the creature, silver arrow in hand and pointing at its face. She takes on a cruel demeanor, a hard frown and intense stare developing on her face as she falls into character. "Smell the silver? This will go right through that scaly hide of yours. You're lucky Jessica just vouched for you, or else my magus friend here would have put your head in a bucket. But guess what? If you don't answer my questions you're going to learn what silver tastes like when I shoot this arrow down your toothy gullet!"
The bard stomps hard on his chest through the rope. "Who are you? Why do you have Jessica? What were you going to do with her? Are there more of your kind? START TALKING!"
Grymmer yawns, then laughs, "you're not the threatening kind."
Standard Action: As he slips back into his human form, "now your silver is meaningless. His Chosen shall embrace Port Shaw in a blood-washed kiss!" He cackles, "Cut my head off will you...let me serve my god with my blood." He has now shrunk from a large creature to a medium sized one, his ropes are much looser, but he stays put and does not struggle to free himself.
"If you're so intent on blood and destruction then why protect the girl?"
Against lying or if he really believes what he is saying.
"Dajobas’ glory and inevitable conquest of Port Shaw shall justify all!" He looks at Chell. "Her life was not my concern...she can live or die, it means nothing to me, but the one I serve spared her."
You are confident he is telling you the truth.
"And who would that be?"
As an aside to the girl. "Seriously? What about him is funny?"
The first thing Bri does when he shrinks down is to adjust the rope to accommodate his now smaller form.
"Well then, who is this person that you serve who wanted the girl? For what purpose did he spare her for?" Probably planned to sacrifice the girl later on in a more ritualistic fashion. Typical of these jumped up gods....
Sorrin slowly approaches the shark-human, Just taking the ropes off since we're all being civil. We just want some information. Who is responsible for the killing and why? Thumb's Reach been peaceful.
If allowed to, Sorrin will remove the loose ropes and sit unarmed across from the man.
Astrianna gives a tch as the man laughs at her, fingers clenching around the arrow. Shit. He doesn't care if he's killed. Damn religious fanatics. He's dead either way.
Astrianna scoffs at Sorrin as he moves to untie the man's ropes. "Absolutely not. We've lost our best evidence, we are not losing our prisoner. He is not allowed any means of escape. It's clear to me these killings were done for the sake of Dajobas."
Bri will not let the man be un-tied. 'He just told us that the only reason he didn't harm the girl was because he told not to. He is staying tied up and will turned over to the authorities to save an innocent man from hanging."
Sorrin reaches for the ropes. Wasn't asking your permission, Songbird... was waiting for his. Right now, the only hostility I'm sensing is from the folks I came with. Take it down a notch.
Or is he so deep in your head, he owns you? Something's changed. I got no qualms with sharks on land, in the sea or the mighty Dajobas himself. I respect them.
He's got you spooked too, Fire-Eyes? The rope won't hold him. Give him his respect... Isn't that what you yourself told me earlier?
A man needs his dignity.
Astrianna gives Sorrin a dry look. "Don't be stupid, Sorrin. The only reason he isn't attacking us is because we have him outmatched. Ask your questions but don't touch him." She folds her arms over her chest.
"Do you truly respect a god that encourages wholesale slaughter? He just said "His Chosen shall embrace Port Shaw in a blood-washed kiss."" The bard suddenly recalls the Tulita man from the morning attacking a Dragoon. She looks over at the bound man.
"Tell me, do you "Bear the Kiss of Dajoba?"
"Lean closer...hear me out." He suggests for Sorrin. "I'll whisper the true secret to your ear."
The little girl leaves the porch and she begins to walk towards the water as the adults talk to Mr. Gyr. "I'll get some water."
I'll lean over... after you tell me what's changed in Thumbs Reach.
"I'm a servant of Dajobas...he has blessed me with a kiss on my unworthy flesh. His Chosen shall embrace Port Shaw in a blood-washed kiss!"
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Bri gives Sorrin a look. "A down on his luck guardsman is not comparable to a mass-murderer. If you offer this fellow a job on our future ship, I will slap you."
"Thank you," Chell says nodding to the roguish fighter. "At least someone has some decency."
*Edit starting writing and took a little too long. Five updates since then.
Astrianna doesn't stop Sorrin from being an idiot, and instead processes what Gyr just told her. The old man... Could he sense those that serve Dajobas? Can he tell who is a wereshark? "I think we have to pay a visit to an old man at the prison as well."
The bard perks up as Jessica makes a comment about leaving to get some water. "Jessica! Hold on, don't go wandering off alone." She calls out, stepping away from the group and walking outside to the little girl. The half-elf looks back at Bri. "Please don't let them untie him."
Astrianna puts away her bow and arrow, retrieving her canteen full of water from her haversack. She gets down on her haunches and opens up the cap, offering it to the girl. "You're thirsty? If you'll be a good girl and drink from this canteen instead of the river, I'll have a surprise for you."
"He seems almost too fanatical. Can anyone detect magic?" she says tilting her head to the side.
What's your gripe with the fisherman and smith?
"Of course. Anything in particular you want me to look at or should I sweep the room?"
"Him. Cultists can be fanatical but seems like more than that."
Don't worry Em, if he moves he dies.
At Chell's question about detecting magic he states, Em or Astri can.
He did not bother to mention he HAD prepared that spell today. But he continued to hold the charge on his shocking grasp, he could do so indefinitely but if he cast another spell before releasing the Shocking Grasp he would lose it.- though he hands Sorrin his Scabbard back.
He does remark to Chell, somewhat flippantly, Does it bother you that bu staying my hand, you may have saved a murderer and condemned an innocent man to death, I wonder how you bleeding hearts sleep with all those tough ethical decisions.
Bri will cast Detect Magic and look at the shark-man.
"Its simple. The decision isn't ours to make. People like me are called to a higher purpose for a higher being. Our actions are judged by them, not you. We do the best we can according to the will of our gods and if we should fail then we will know. It will be reflected in the connection. Is it to a bleeding heart to here him out before making a judgement? Is it a bleeding heart to not want to kill him just because he is a were-shark or his house looks like it does? If it is then fine, I am. The Razor Coast is a difficult place to survive. Many have to resort to awful things to survive. Quell understands this which is why we priestesses and priests are here. To make things easier. So people don't wind up doing things they regret. Unfortunately some one or something is trying to undo everything that we have worked for. Priests in the area have gone missing and I was sent to investigate. I am not sure what is going on here but I will not allow you to kill this man when he no longer poses a threat."
Chell... He is powerful and poses a threat. The real choice is fear or hope. Most choose fear. Yet sadder still they, they fear the wrong thing.
A caged lion is not evil priestess, yet if one was one a rampage I would put it down without blinking. Worse, there are those in this world capable of true evil for simple pleasure. If I found an unrepentant Cleric of Zon Kuthion or Asmodeus here, naked and bound and 'no threat' as you put it, they would be dead and I would lose no sleep over it. I am a pragmatist beyond all else. But it must be nice to have a god do your thinking for you. If he escapes and kills again, you can simply call it your gods will then.
Or when he denies being a shark and if the innocent man hangs, you can tell his family you needed to question a monster. Perhaps an easy decision when it's not your neck in the noose.
The elf leans down a little but still keeps his blade leveled at the Shark thing. Try to escape. Please. I only need a flinch to kill you.
"All shall bend a knee to Dajobas' true power. You worthless scum shall perish in the coming night of holy terror." He breaths heavily, "Just a little closer elf, let me whisper truth into your ear."
"And who put the lion in the cage? What if an opportunity presented itself for you to incapacitate it and return it home? Would you do that or kill it because it is easier? Life is never that simple and you can't know everyone's circumstances. You are free to make your own decisions according to your own beliefs. Just as I am. Those true to their faith always own their decisions. We choose the god just as they choose us because our beliefs and our virtues mirror everything they embody. If it didn't, we would not be able to wield their power. I love the sea and I love to help others. Quell embodies those qualities. I also don't want to see a man that is currently unarmed and at our mercy killed no matter what he's done. If he is guilty of what you say he is then the best thing to do would be to bring him back to Port Shaw for trial and questioning. That's what the ship is for right? We can be there in an hour or so if you are so concerned about however was falsely accused."
You two should get a room, worst case the kid turns out like her.... He indicates Astrianna as he straps on his scabbard.
If he doesn't start making sense and soon, we'll have to kill him, the girl, the smith and anyone associated with Thumb's Reach. The 'goons will execute the father. Tidy, like nothing ever happened. I move on with my life.
"Oh get over it priestess. We may be taking him alive to Port Shaw, but he will die once he gets there anyway. He will surely be executed in the place of the innocent man currently standing for his crimes. So you will be just as responsible if he dies here and now or if he dies tomorrow on the noose. And it isn't just us that say he is guilty, have you not been listening to the man talk? He is talking freely of wanting to see the city awash with blood."
Bri is clearly becoming annoyed with the little tag-a-long priestess.
"Now can we get the hell out of here with him and the girl? He was clearly waiting for someone or someones. We have done the job we came to do and I am ready to leave."
Jessica stops just before the water as Astri gets a hold of her. "Water...my toes...tickle....let water tickle my toes...see them wiggle." She takes the waterskin from Astri tilts her head left and tosses it underhanded into the lake, there a <plop> sound and ripples on the water. She giggles.
Bri makes sure the rope she has securing his legs is loose enough for him to walk, but too tight for him to do any running.
"All right guys, let's get him on his feet and lead him back to the ship."
Bri takes two sections of the rope, fashions a slipknot and slips it over the mans head and around his neck. "Someone in front of him and someone behind him can each hold onto the rope so he can't just rush at someone while we are walking.."
"Now, let's get moving."
Astrianna makes a useless grab for the canteen as Jessica throws it into the water. "No! Jessica! That was for drinking!" She says, quite exasperated at losing her canteen. I hate kids. Why isn't Chell dealing with this?
The half-elf scolds her, grabbing her arm. "You do not throw people's belongings into the water. We're leaving right now." She drags the girl back to the others. Is she attracted to the water? Does she bear the kiss as well? Or is she just being a little shit?
I don't trust the shifter. If you are fine with scouting Astri, I'll take forward guard. You, then me, the shifter, Bri and the Kid and Chell in the rear. Let's get this moving, unless we can afford a quick search of the place? Maybe he has some notes or something
Adriel has Thrasher come down and help out.
Use your keen eyes, friend we are after shiny things, teeth and claws and shells and anything like what you see me make pictures on, parchment.
"I still think something is wrong here. And not just the obvious," she says taking one last look around. While she is doing so she hears the plop as the waterskin hits the water. "What?" she queries, turning to see the girl Jessica giggling. Seriously what is wrong here?
While Astri scolds the girl Chell heads to the lake to fetch the waterskin. Fresh water is important to any sailor. "I'll get it."
When Chell approaches, Astrianna hands Jessica off to her. "Appreciated, but I'll get it myself. Just take care of Jessica. She's being a brat."
The bard appraoches the shore and calls out to Adriel. "Yeah! I'll take point give me a moment."
Astrianna casts cast Mage Hand if the canteen is still visible to her, using telekinesis to lift it out of the water. She gestures to the container and wills it over to herself.