Leyli revives the goat.(Rombard)
It still panicked but the kind words from Leyli and Gunk calm it down. You two can understand the following.
Ahhhh! Get that thing away from me! The things it promised to do to me before it ate me! Then the goat starts screaming again and has to be restrained from running into the cactus again .
"This 'thing' will not be laying it's hands on you again. What did the creature told you?"
Please do not make me repeat what it said such awful tortures it had dreamed up for me!
its exactly as i said lets bring the goat and the creature back. well i am done with it as far as i am concerned
after the channel energy
that felt rather good thank you Hamzah
You have no thoughts regarding the guilt or innocence of this creature? You, out of all of us should empathize with this one. You have undoubtably been judged based on your lineage and heritage. Yet you did not hesitate to judge this one guilty. This creature will most certainly die this night unless we can find out exactly what happened, I would not wish that upon my conscience.
"Hajar, secure the creature. Not all follow the ways of the Dawnflower. She will offer even this gnoll worshipper a chance at redemption. At least we will save Dashki from a wrongful judgment by bringing it to Almah. If you can talk with it, perhaps you can redeem it. We shall see." Hamzah ensures everyone is present, "Let us return to Almah."
Hajar says to Hamzah
Most wise friend, your words move me. In my zeal I forget myself. Yet another deed for which I must atone. Alas, I have nothing with which to bind the creature.
Hajar turns to the gathering troupe and says
Most honored friends, please accept my apologies. I must remember that like the rays of the sun each of us follows our own path. If I have given offense to any of you, my heart is burdened. Please let me know what service I can provide in penance. There are a few hours for us to converse as we return to Almah. Does anyone speak the Gnollish tongue?
"Rombard said that the creature," Leyli points at the pugwampi ",promised him or her that the pugwampi will torture him first before eating him up. Hajar, you may clean up your conscience now. How can you even torture your food. Would you say that act is such a cruel thing to do."
i have a rather simple life Hajar. In my world just wanting to kill someone is good reason enough to try your hand at him. I don't judge its just the way part of this world is.
Mistress Leyli, thank you for your words. I agree that torture is cruel and master Rombard had reason to fear. However, we must remember that words do not equal deeds. The creature might have promised cruelties that it would not have delivered.
All these things said. The evidence is becoming damning. I would only like to speak with the creature to appease myself of its guilt or innocence. And we must present it before Almah at any case.
i have a rather simple life Hajar. In my world just wanting to kill someone is good reason enough to try your hand at him. I don't judge its just the way part of this world is.
Master Grim, your words cause me suffering. You would do murder just because you felt the urge? The way the world is, does not make it the way the world must be. We can be better, we can rise like the sun and be glorious.
"The gnoll worshipper wished to torture the goat. Only the most sadistic of beings torture helpless animals. I think the redemption of this one is beyond us, Hajar. Yet we will at least try if we can properly secure it." Hamzah looks as his companions. "Have any of you rope to secure this gnoll worshipper?"
"Words may not equal deeds but the thought of such cruel things that you wish to inflict, is another. Let's head back to camp."
Hajar, i didn't say that i did or do live like that. i said that i live in that kind of a world. I don't kill because someone looked at me the wrong way. And i said that it is the world i live in. Not the whole world in general.
Everyone is fully healed including Rombard the goat.
You have decided to take the pugwampi back to camp. It stays out cold and must be carried. Who is carrying it?
Yes if you can figure out what languages it speaks sure.
Gunk speaks Gnoll.
I do indeed speak Gnoll, though given my assertion that the creature is guilty and its life is forfeit I doubt Hajar would trust me as an interpreter. But if we can wake the beast, I will speak to it if possible Gunk sighs.
On the way back to camp Gunk walks next to Hajar just in case the beast wakes on the journey. At first he says nothing but later he looks up at the big man and says It is not a kindness that you do to this beast you know. Taking it back to where it is accused of several crimes. Not everyone sees the world as you do. It will likely not get a fair trial ... if it even is given a trial at all. Much like they would a rabid dog, these folk will look at it as a fouled beast. It will be treated badly before it is killed. You and I see justice and redemption differently it seems. But one thing I think we can agree on is that guilty or innocent, the beast is not deserving of torture. A quick end to it's suffering is the best you can hope to give it when the time comes.
My honored companion Gunk, your words touch my heart. I do not doubt you, our disagreements are my fault. Hamzah has pointed out my error and I will do penance. In truth master gnome, I agree with you that Almah and her pet Garavel will not see justice done with this creature.
Hajar kneels to look directly into Gunk's eyes.
I beseech you, help me see justice done. Help me speak with this creature and determine his guilt and you have my most solemn vow. I will not see evil done to this pitiful being, no matter his guilt.
Hajar lowers the creature to the ground and prepares for the interview.
Hajar plans to bind the creature's hands and feet and get him healed to consciousness. Then Hajar will speak through Gunk, asking if the creature was responsible for the fire.
Do not be overly judgmental with Almah and Garavel. In positions of leadership, one rarely makes decisions, no matter how trivial, that are agreeable to everyone. They have the safety and well being of many people to consider and are forced to make hard decisions as a result. You and I have the freedom to be philosophers, poets, and grand thinkers in the taproom because the principals and ideals we extol don't affect anyone. No one loses property or life when we point out to the rest of the world how flawed it is. Now what are we going to ask of this creature when it awakes?
Edit: ninja'd ... ok lets proceed with the questioning.
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It didn't shoot at me. It shot at the raven. Had it shot at a person, Hajar's response would have been much much different. Also, presumption of innocence is just as much a part of Golarion as it is Earth. My problem is the rush to attack something that isn't necessarily evil or guilty. Had the thief shown itself to be an evil outsider, aberration or undead Hajar would have smote first and asked no questions, those things cannot be redeemed, everything else should be given the opportunity for redemption. Also, in your scenario, if the police catch the person, do they fire first? Or do they command the suspect to stop and affect an arrest?
As the party returns from the cacti bearing the pugwampi, Raj inspects the creature. Yep, though I've never seen one in person before, this thing fits the bill for a pugwampi. I have some rope to tie it, but don't cut it, it's made of silk and isn't cheap.
Meanwhile, Nemaides returned from the skies to land on the pugwampi. He looks for a moment, then squawks in alarm, flapping backwards and landing the one carrying the creature a face full of feathers before he settles on Raj's head. It's still alive?! That thing tried to turn me into a feathered pin plushie! Kill it! Kill it now! There'll be no raven ragout tonight!
"We can start by asking it, if it's the one responsible for the fire. Then why did he do it? If proven guilty and sentenced to die, may I request that I do it? I don't want torture to be inflicted on anyone."
You want to be the executioner be my guest. Either way, no one was suggesting torture. Quite the opposite really.
"It's not that I want to be the executioner, I just want to see it done swiftly. The others would or might look at it differently especially that the deed was done on them."
"We will bring the gnoll worshipper back to Almah to ensure Dashki is exonerated." Hamzah speaks to Gunk, "Do not mistake who we are, Gunk. Hajar and I are servants of Sarenrae. Our power is a gift from her. Our words are not a meaningless bar discussion. They are words that must be answered with deeds. Our souls are stained and the Dawnflower displeased if we do not live by her philsophy. We have a heavier burden than Almah. She can treat this creature cruelly and kill it using the mantel of leadership to defend her decision. If Hajar or I do such an act, the Dawnflower will not look well on us. The Dawnflower's displeasure I fear much more than Almah's. We must do right by Sarenrae first and foremost."
"You need not sully yourself with this creature, Leyli. Hajar will enact the swift justice of Sarenrae should redeeming it prove fruitless. We do not torture. We will not allow torture."
"Then I will be at peace." says Leyli as she takes Furball for a little walk.
Gods and their followers, what a pain is thinking grim as they walk back
Questions
1) Name?
2) What were you doing in the caravan?
3) Did you start the fire?
4) Why did you steal Rombard?
5. Were you acting on your own will?
6. If not then who told you to do those acts?
Hamzah wishes the following questions answered.
"Why did you kill the fortune teller?"
"Do you serve a master? If so, who?"
"Are there gnolls about?"
7. Where are the rest of your tribe
The Pugwampi wakes with a start and looks around in not understanding. It realises it is tied up and struggles with its bindings.
Everyone feels that uncomfortable sensation again, and unusual things start to happen. Nothing that causes any real pain or harm, but all the sudden anything that possibly could go wrong does go wrong. Stubbed toes tripping over nothing, securly strapped gear comming loose. Anytime one of the unlucky incidents happens the creature can not stifle a laugh.
Gunk speaks to the creature in Gnoll a revolting language and soons finds that for the creature to hear him he must scream at it. It screams these answers back.
1. Rukk
2. Looking at pretty fire in pit!
3. Rukk start no fire!
4. Rukk wanted a friend!
5. Yes
6. (Why did you Kill fortune teller)Rukk did not kill anyone!
7. (Do you serve a master)No
8. (Gnolls)Yes big ones everywhere!
9. (Tribe)Here and there
If you want to sense motive roll 2 d20 and use the lowest result.
"Wow, promising to torture someone will not help you make a friend Rukk. If you're just watching the pretty fire then how did it grow to actually be a danger to everybody?" says Leyli as Rukk just looks at her with a very confused look.
"I'm sorry I forgot, would you be able to translae that for me Mr. Gunk?"
you can ask him if he knows who started the fire
"That is an answer I would like to know as well", says Hamzah after Grim asks.
Al-Akim waits until the interrogation is complete, and then he approaches Hajar.
"Brother of Light, I am ashamed of my actions. In lust of battle I swayed from the teachings of the Dawnflower. I ask that you would lead me, and continue my education of faith, for it would seem I do not share your discipline."
Looking truly ashamed, Al-Akim continues, "I had no knowledge that this beast was a thinking creature, I treated it as a mere animal to hunt. I must go now, and pray on this."
Al-Akim seems to truly be in a dilemma, you sense that he was fully acting with good intent and likely with the protection of his allies in mind. But his rash decision has shaken him.
Lady Sarenrae, forgive me for my foolish ways. Bring your light upon me to scatter the darkness of my confusion....
Al-Akim seems to be in prayer for many hours after these events.
Hajar looks into the creature's eyes and begins praying to his goddess in a language not many would recognize.
Hajar waits to see what the answers are to the new questions.
So many devoted in the caravan
The creature has obvious malicious evil intent.
Gunk makes a sense motive roll untrained:
Gunk can not tell if the creature is lying or not, most likely because he is a novice at speaking Gnoll, but he was pretty convinced of its guilt to start with.
"So the gnoll worshipper claims it did not start the fire. What of this, Dashki? Is it a liar or is there a deeper mystery?" Hamzah studies Dashki's reactions.
Gunk is assumed to be translating yes.
Dashki is shocked that he could still be suspected. There is noting to indicate to you he is lying.
Do you not feel the presence of this creatures aura? How everything seems to just go wrong when it is awake? I am telling you it is this aura of unluck or mischief that caused the candles in the fortune tellers wagon to burn to the ground. Also the fact that whenever we are in pain it can not stop its self from laughing!
Leyli having her questions answered, will wait quietly on the side for their decision.
"We are to attribute the fire to an accident by the fortune teller due to this creature's malevolence. It is possible," Hamzah looks to Hajar, "I think this creature was born malevolent. It is a part of its soul. Once Almah sees it and is satisfied, I think it best for you to end its evil."
So, the fire was an accident? It was caused by this unfortunate being's aura of ..... unluck? Accidents of birth do not always mean that redemption is impossible. Actions and choices determine redemption. Did Rukk start the fire on purpose? Or did his presence cause it to start? He might have laughed at our misfortune, but did he cause it? Did he have an evil intent? Hajar is very confused and conflicted.