Rosa grins a bit and shakes her head. "No, if we're going to do something to the body, it must be. . . . special, and particularly humiliating for a man of his character. And preferably public, or at least as public as such things go. We didn't really have time to properly take vengeance in this life, but do we have time to ensure he's too embarassed to ever return, no matter the magics brought to bear?" She thinks for a moment. "To be honest, probably not. Is anyone hurt?"
"I never thought about him coming back ... is that a real possibility? I sorta thought more about whether we quietly dispose of his body or leave him here to rot ... maybe even make it look like his alligator ate him."
"One directs your attention to sister Mel," Absinthe replies. "As for the disposal of the body, one recommends expediency over amusement in this matter. Fire, decapitation and quartering, to prevent the rising of any undead scourge that might rise from these accursed bones."
"...you're no fun." Rosa pouts at Absinthe. "Unfortunately, that won't be enough. It would prevent his remains from being used for such a thing, but he would have to be (ugh) buried properly to reduce the chances he might decide that he doesn't need one to bother us."
Absinthe blinks slowly at Rosa. "One sees no impediment," she says. "We have a priestess, to wit yourself. Simply perform the service appropriate to a cremation after the corpse has been dismembered and set aflame. Surely Callistria will enjoy the irony of her rituals being used to fulfill the disposal of an enemy."
"Well...all right. Take the body and throw it on the Shiver. We were going to burn that anyway, so sanctifying him with his own vice should work." She pulls out her holy symbol again with a smile. "I just hope we don't have much more trouble tonight..."
HP Healed.
Demitri comes down from his rage as Lamm falls. His breathing normalizes and he wipes the tears from his eyes after he puts his sword back into its sheath.
"That may be a moot point. I don't think he's dead."
"Cremation is the safest way," says Melianthe. "I would not desecrate even the corpse of an enemy--it is not a decent act for such as we. However, in light of potential necromancy, a bit of lopping is good for safe measure."
She blinks.
"I can't believe it's over. And, Demitri--I am so very sorry." She looks almost teary.
"You have no need to be sorry. But thank you." Demitri's eyes are red from his earlier emotion."We should take the body, dead or not to the guard. I want everyone to know that they no longer need to fear Lamm. It's the right thing to do." He looks rather stoic for a man who just lost everything. Either he's extremely well adjusted or is putting on a brave front for everyone else's sake, it is unclear which.
Segang leans over Lamm's body, sword ready, to see if he still breeths.
It was right for us to do this deed, but we had no lawful writ to hunt him. I will not be going to the authorities. No, instead we should focus on making sure no one else can step into his place and assume his role.
"Then I will go, alone if I have to. Lamm being caught and punished publicly will send a message to amy would-be usurpers."
"You need not worry yourself, friend Demitri," Absinthe says, her voice gentle and comforting. "You need not present yourself to the guard; one will spread the word. One has several friends who will be gleeful to spread this news. And the terror at the news of a crimelord being caught unofficially and in the dark will do more to deter usurpers. Interference from the law is expected, interference from the dark is something to dread -- especially if one adds some lurid details."
"I appreciate the words. But the other criminals aren't the only ones who need to know. The countless families need to hear that their prayers have been answered. And lastly, even if I do not show my face, the Guard need to know that where they failed someone else persevered."
"Such news will spread faster than you think, friend Demitri," Absinthe says. "Trust this promise. Everyone will know soon enough, one shall see to it. If the news has failed to saturate this city from sewers to tower-tops within a moon's cycle, one will be shocked -- and one will assist you in informing the guard."
"I believe you. However, my heart tells me that I would feel better if I was involved. And for it to be in the light where everyone can see. If it wasn't obvious, working in the shadows is not something I'm comfortable with."
"All that dwells in darkness must eventually yield to the light," Absinthe says. "Just as all that is in the light must eventually be swathed in darkness. Such is one of the teachings of Mirarae. There is no stasis, only balance that flows from one extreme to the other and back again.
You are, of course, free to tell people you know and trust, and who have been harmed by Lamm, so long as you name no names. But revealing all of this, revealing yourself to the guard... would likely have unfortunate consequences. Those who hold authority do not enjoy being shown as ineffective, and this hunt was, in the strict sense, illegal. It was a thing that needed doing, but there will always be those who argue against it, and some of them have the power to throw us all in jail, or have us strapped to a rack. That would be... undesirable."
"I am fully aware of the consequences and agree with most of what you say. I would not want any harm to come to any of you..." Demitri seems to be having an internal conflict.
Rosa frowns. "As important as I know this ethical dilemma is to you, we have more immediate concerns. The children above were sufficently impressed with having Lamm's abuses healed to keep them about for the moment, but if we don't clean up and get back to them quickly, they will still run." She gives Demitri a quick look as if to say we can talk later.
"Alright, we'll deal with the children first." Demitri nods back in understanding.
Seren shakes his head at the discussion while he rifles through the room and the man's possessions.
"You've already broken the law Demitri. Appeal to your God because the city won't have any lenience on you, at least not without a bribe, which I really don't think is up your alley. You're having an attack of guilt. Only Iomedae is gonna help you with that. If you truly were concerned about the law, you'd have made it clear before you whipped out your sword and cut him down. Internally, you wanted him dead as much as the rest of us. I don't see that as a bad thing, given what he did to you. He certainly wont be doing it again."
"A headless corpse won't run away," Melianthe says. "Children, yes, but we bring Lamm's body with us. Or just his head."
In addition to the few notables mentioned before, the clutter in this room appears to be mostly valueless junk. Lamm carries only a few possessions: a masterwork dagger, masterwork hand crossbow with 9 bolts, and a ring of keys. One of the keys looks like it would fit into the door to the corner room.
Segang leans closer in, sword at the ready for any trick.
Seren searches the door for traps.
Segang leans closer in, sword at the ready for any trick.
Seren searches the door for traps.
The door is trapped, a poisoned needle near the handle, and it looks like it will trigger even with the key. A combination of the key and a hidden switch along the doorjam will disarm the trap.
"I have broken the law and I did want him dead, those things are true. Maybe it is guilt, I don't know. But that doesn't mean I still can't do the right thing. But we have the children to worry about right now."
If no disable is required, Seren will use the switch and key to bypass the trap. Otherwise, he'll signal Absinthe for an assist.
Seren bypasses the trap and unlocks the door. Beyond is a foul-smelling room that seems to be a combination bedroom and study. A wooden bed with a lumpy mattress stands against the east wall, while a round table heaped with dirty plates, bread crusts, stained goblets, fruit rinds and scuttling cockroaches sits nearby. At the foot of the bed sits a large strongbox, a slightly rusted lock securing its lid. A sagging dresser filled with moth-eaten clothes well past their glory days is in one corner. What appears to be a wooden hatbox surrounded by a small cloud of flies sits atop this dresser.
Rosa's eyes can't help but widen at the prospect of 'loot.' "Waste not, want not. Not like anyone will miss it, let's see what we have."
Absinthe uses the tip of her rapier to flip the lid off the hatbox -- and recoils.
"That... is strange," she says, her eyes wide. "Zellara."
Hesitantly, the tiefling bends forward and retrieves the Harrow deck from the box, without touching the head if possible.
"One understands such as these are sacred, in some way," she says, her voice faint. "One... One is uncertain how to proceed. Certainly burning this along with Lamm would be disrespectful."
"This makes little sense. We just talked to her. Very unlikely that he killed her, beheaded her, and preserved her head in the time it took us to get here. Something does not seem right."
Maybe we do not even have the real Lamm? The barbarian looks unhappy and confused. That alarm will eventually bring trouble. We need a plan.
"What alarm?" Absinthe asks.
Carefully, she closes the hatbox and shoos away the flies. "In any case, we should get this to a shrine of Pharasma. Brother Segang, if you would perform the dismembering, we can proceed with the cremation ceremony."
Do you refer to dismembering Lamm, Absinthe? If so, he still breaths and Demitri has stabilized him, so that he is in no danger of dieing, at least from natural causes. I for one say he must die here and now. I could not live with myself if he were to somehow live and escape justice.
For some reason, Segang's statement causes Rosa to brighten. "Well, if they let him go I can probably figure out where to get some more alligators."
"This is confusing. You can't preserve a head in a matter of hours. I don't know what is going on. However, this has to be Lamm. He knew of your daughter, Demitri. He knew us. No doppelganger would know all of that...certainly no magic power that would trifle with him or us would know."
She looks at the head.
"What might make more sense is that Zellara never visited us. Not while living."
"We can't even be sure he killed Zellara, though. This is a mystery within a mystery."
"There is something wrong here. We talked to Zellara only a few hours ago. This head has been decaying for much longer. So either she has a dead twin, or the one we spoke to was an imposter." Demitri turns to Segang. " Living or dead, he will not escape justice. Not as long as I draw breath."
Yes, I am sure I hear the sound of distant bells continuing to ring. We must make haste.
Segang looks to the others. I believe this is Gaedren Lamm. He stole me from my family, stealing my youth and tormenting my mother and father for financial gain. He has mistreated and murdered children and adults alike in this city for generations. He has caused unmeasurable suffering. His life ends now. Segang raises his long sword and prepares to strike. Demitri, if you have some great need to keep Lamm breathing speak now.
"He kidnapped and brutally murdered my only child so do not act like I don't know what he's done. But, this new development needs some explanation and he may be the only one who has any answers. It would be foolish to end his life before finding out what exactly is going on."
"Lamm is not the only one," Absinthe says. "Pharasma's faithful may establish communication with the dead. We do not need to suffer the monster to live."
"I think we've been set up, using our desire to see vengeance against Lamm as a blinder to the fact this was all set up to easily for us. We need to grab this stuff and get the hell out of here quickly. Let's move."" Seren helps grab some wrapped items and starts moving for the exit.
Segang looks unhappy but sheathes his sword and throws Lamm over his shoulder. Grab the valuables. he says as he follows Seren out.
"Wait!" Absinthe calls. "Wait! Binds the old monster first! Do not give him a chance to escape, nor give the children cause to fear that he will walk out of this!"
"It would be kinder to kill him, but do as you wish."