Nothing untoward happens when Barundar presses Radiance against the man's flesh.
Konny nods at Victrix's words "Way better, trust me."
Then he checks his wounds. "This is becoming a trend, and one I am starting to despise. But... Medic?"
Konny sits down awaiting further development. He looks at the rest of the group. "When this issue is over, we will have a serious discussion about our tactics as a group. Unit engagement should be coordinated, we are not a barbarian horde. And I do not care about puns."
Sosiel and Aron move to do as Belledonna asks.
Irabeth and Anevia return after a few minutes. Nurah still has not spoken, and the tiefling is just mumbling nonsense to himself. The conscious Crusader, his name is Arles Jhestander, seems shellshocked.
Irabeth looks around at the tent in disarray and exclaims By the Inheritor's holy light, what is going on in here? Anevia's eyes go straight to Nurah and you get the sense that she understands the situation. She always has been a little quicker on the uptake than her wife.
"The good news is that we have located the saboteur." Belledonna responds, holding Nurah toward Irabeth in explanation. "The bad news is that we lost a good man," pointing to the fallen Crusader, "in the process, and we are presently at something of a loss as how to proceed. We need someone capable of guarding these," now vaguely pointing at the Tiefling cleric with Nurah's body, "two while we determine our new course without distraction."
"Brighton, you think you could help me here before we proceed? I am not feeling that great at the moment." Konny asks the cleric.
Brighton nods and casts his most powerful healing spell
Anevia says I would bet that Nurah is the more dangerous one. Who knows how many Crusader's she has turned with her poisonous tongue.
Irabeth looks troubled We could begin questioning her associates.
Barundar huffs out a breath of air, narrowing his eyes as he stares at the captured woman.
"Then let us quaistion her 'n' be dane wi' it. Th' battle is ended 'n' th' traitorous wench discovered. Wance we hae learned whit we kin ah say we shaw her howfur traitors ur dealt with. Torag haes na uise fur betrayers."
"For the moment, the most immediate necessity would be that either we remove from them to make plans, or they be removed from us so that we might make plans." Belledonna interjects, a trifle pointedly.
Turning once more to Anevia & Irabeth, she adds, "Hence, why I asked Father Vaenic and Master Kir to bring you hence. You," nodding more to Anevia than Irabeth, "Might have a better idea than we how to secure them effectively."
Anevia says Bound and gagged. Can't really do much magic that way.
Irabeth says Can't do much at the end of a rope either.
"No, but I will not murder someone because it is more convenient than holding them so I have the opportunity to confer with others wiser than I." Belledonna replies.
Victrix, having remained silent the whole time, yawns. "Well, whateva we decide ta do with 'em, I vote we do it in the mornin'." She stretches. "I'm tired 'n' cranky--and I tend ta be much more likely ta just bash someone if they're annoyin' me when I'm like that."
"I agree. No need to rush with anything that cannot be undone now that the situation is kind of under control. Nurah presented the greatest danger when we did not know she is a traitor anyway." Konny agrees with Victrix.
"Please take tham somewhere and keep them under guard. Preferably each out of the other's hearing and without knowledge where the other is kept."
Barundar huffs out a breath and shakes his head. "I'm nae sae sure that's a stoatin idea. Howfur mony times haes she jooked capture? Howfur mony times haes she used her skills tae footer about th' Crusaders? she very nearly goosed oor attempts tae stave aff th' newest insinuation o' these things intae oor forces. Ah'ament sure if a'm comfy juist trusting that she's nae aff tae somehow, someway, git intae th' head o' whitevur guard we lea tae watch her."
Brow furrowed as once more she is forced to parse Barundar's thick brogue, Balledonna replies. "How many times? None. She was never suspected before now." Contemplating his other concerns, she turns to Anevia. "Do you feel confident that binding and gagging her will be sufficient to keep her from using her magics?"
Anevia gives a nod I'll stand watch myself. The gag should work. Irabeth adds I've seen it work before.
"So that is settled, right? We may have them moved and have a discussion." Konny tries to end the issue.
Victrix nods. "It'd better be. I think we'll be able ta do a proper interrogation once we've 'ad some sleep."
"bah...if Irabeth says it's a'richt, then likelie it is. Still...i wantae stay up 'n' keep watch oan her, tae. At least if something happens ah kin blame masell instead o' somebody else."
"Go ahead then, Barundar." Victrix nods at the stonelord. "I'd feel a lot safer with both yeh 'n' Irabeth on watch." She gives him a warm smile.
Irabeth gags Nurah and the unnamed tiefling and hauls them out of the room. Anevia vows that they shall remain separated and that she will find five trusted men to watch the tiefling until the next day. Arles Jhestander is removed by a somber Sosiel a few minutes later, along with the unconscious and badly wounded crusader. He says that he will keep them under observation tonight as well.
Barundar and Irabeth, along with a dozen Kellids watch Nurah closely throughout the night. She sleeps lightly and when she does her dreams seem terrifying, she wakes sweating and shaking each time. The tiefling however does not have the same night, he sleeps blissfully as do Arles and the other formerly possessed cavalryman.
The next morning, Barundar wakes from the shifts he spent watching over the prisoner during the night, breathing a heavy sigh when the others gather to discuss the coming interrogation of their prisoner.
"The lass dinnae sleep well. Had ill dreams th' hail night. Woke up sweating 'n' shimmyin' th' entire time ah wis peepin' her. The tiefling slept lik' a babe. I find meself wonderin' if Nurah's workin' with the demons wisnae completely her ain choosin'."
The morning greets Victrix poorly. The events of last night kept her awake for longer than she hoped. That, combined with the stress of commanding soldiers and a lack of good booze, resulted in her waking up especially groggy and grumpy.
"If she's bein' blackmailed by demons, per'aps there's still 'ope fer 'er." Victrix rubs her eyes. "Not sure about the priest, though..."
At the other's words, Belledonna merely shrugs; acknowledging but not commenting. "Do we feel we should take additional precautions? Does someone else wish to question her? My...
success has been mixed of late."
"I suppose I could give it a shot. She's served under me--per'aps I'll 'ave more luck with 'er." Victrix offers.
It is currently morning, everyone is healed spells returned mythic power returned etc. Irabeth isn't in your tent, she is probably watching Nurah.
Konny starts the morning reading a book he obtained in the library. He takes great care memorizing several pages, which takes him about an hour. A scorpion is crawling across his right arm and he strokes it absently.
Then he overhears the conversation. "That might be a good idea" he reacts to Vic's suggestion.
Barundar nods his agreement with the suggestion from Victrix.
Ah think that's a guid idea. She might talk tae ye mair easily than th' rest o' us...and ye keepin' her tied doon lest night might mak' her a bit mair fearful o' mair manhandlin'. Yi waant someone tae back ye up?"
Victrix ponders Barundar's question. "That moight be a good idea--Nurah's able ta use magic ta screw with someone's 'ead--'avin' someone else as backup would per'aps dissuade 'er from tryin' somethin' like that again."
Still, I think a different approach will be needed here--if she's being blackmailed by demons, it might be a good idea to speak softly to her. Then again, odds are I'll have a harder time of getting her to take my diplomatic efforts seriously--grappling and tying someone up tends to do that to someone.
"An' I think I'll need a little somethin' ta loosen 'er up..." Victrix looks down, one hand on her chin as she thinks.
Victrix approaches the tent where Nurah's being held.
"'Ow's she doin'?" She asks the guard responsible for watching over her.
The guard nods in response to Victrix. Stayed still all morning. Not a peep or a movement, but she's still alive, I checked and she still breathes. Inside the tent two other Crusaders, members of Irabeth's own Eagle Knights, stand guard. One carries a bared blade the other a crossbow, neither spares two glances for Victrix, they only stare fixedly at the prisoner. You get the strong feeling they would like to kill Nurah where she lay, but they wouldn't give in to those base urges.
Barundar follows the barbarian as she approaches the tent, remaining silent. The stony gaze he directs to the prisoner gives no indicator of his emotional state; whereas he had earlier argued simply offing the prisoner, time and thought had seemed to make him more thoughtful of the situation.
After all...not all the races were as strong-minded as the dwarves.
Victrix nods at the guards. "Good." She unlimbers her greatsword, mace and club before setting them down before them. "Keep an eye on these fer me, would yeh?"
She enters Nurah's tent unarmed, only giving a brief glance and nod to Barundar as indication that he should follow. Potentially risky... but if worst comes to worst, and she does manage to hit me with some enchantment or other, it'll limit my capacity to hurt others. And perhaps it'll encourage her to open up...
"'Ey, Nurah." She says, sitting down.
Nurah eyes you warily, but cannot speak as her gag prevents it. She struggles to sit upright.
Barundar, as well, removes Radiance from its place, placing it with Victrix's weapons. He turns to the guards who watch over the tent, waiting until the flap is closed, before he looks to one of the guards watching from the outside. Assuming that Konny followed them over, he motions for the man to come over and whispers in his ear. (If Konny isn't about, he tells this to one of the guards outside the tent).
Victrix gives Nurah an apologetic look. "I 'eard yeh've been 'avin' problems sleepin' last night." She reaches out and pulls the gag down from Nurah's face. "It got me thinkin'." She reaches out and helps Nurah sit up. "Well, it got the rest o' us thinkin', really. Now, I understand we got off on one 'elluva wrong foot, an' I understand if yeh're pissed at me."
She sits cross-legged in front of Nurah. "I want ta know something." She looks her in the eye, concern written all over her face.
"Why'd yeh do it? Why'd yeh try ta mess with Belle's 'ead like that?"
Nurah stares at the aasimar for a moment before saying
Do you know how halflings are treated in Isger? The worst part is that they are content with such a life. Nurah says, acid dripping from her voice.
The tiefling was too close to uncovering me, so I took a risk. looks like I failed.
Victrix listens to Nurah speak, her face never changing.
"Be that as it may, Nurah, I get the feelin' there's more ta it than that." She leans back in her spot. "If yeh really wanted ta get away without bein' discovered, yeh could've vanished in the middle o' the foightin', per'aps leavin' a few blood splatters in yehr tent ta fake yehr death. Yeh could've reached Drezen easily ahead of us an' warned 'em, but yeh didn't."
"Now, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the reason yeh were tossin' 'n' turnin' last night was because yeh fear what the demons will do ta yeh if they get their claws on yeh." Her voice never wavers. "Well... yeh'd be roight ta fear 'em. I don't believe demons look well on failure--I imagine they have very inventive punishments reserved for those sorts of occasions."
Victrix leans forward, her eyes taking a hardened, yet caring edge to them. "Whatever Isger's punishment for spies is, I guarantee ya it'll seem loike a slap on the wrist compared ta what the demons will come up with." She scoots closer to the bound halfling, her eyes softening. "Unlike the demons, though, I'm willing ta forgive yeh."
She folds her hands in her lap. "I'm offerin' yeh a chance ta escape their wrath, Nurah. Yeh don't need ta serve 'em any longer--yeh can be better than this. All I'm askin' is: do yeh?"
There's a brief silence from the aasimar before she speaks again. "I'm not tryin' ta trick yeh, Nurah."
The Crusaders will kill me. Just as sure as the Demons will...What hope is there for a traitorous halfling slave like me? Nurah says in a low voice.
Konny followed the others to the tent and nodded after Barundar whispered his plan. Now he stands ready outside, holding Biggie and wondering, if this is gonna be a day off or another eventful day in the Worldwound.
Victrix gives Nurah a compassionate look, but evidently understands that the lady has a point.
"There's more hope for yeh than yeh think, Nurah." She finally speaks up. "If yeh want ta start makin' amends, I've got an idea of 'ow yeh can do so."
Her voice turns serious. "We've got no idea what ta expect when we reach Drezen--what sorts of defences the demons will 'ave, their army composition, an' who the field commanders of that army are. Anythin' yeh can tell us about them would go a long way towards convincing the Crusaders ta spare yeh."
Nurah nods her head in assent. What do you want to know? I've never been there, my orders came from messengers and through dreams.
"If thay kin blather tae ye in dreams, kin thay read yer mynd? Wull thay ken that we ken ye wur workin fer them? Ah will tell ye something else that wid gang a lang wey tae making amends 'n' convincing th' ithers yer worth protecting...using thae messengers tae feed false infermation tae th' demons."
I don't know. Nurah says Can they read minds, probably. Can they invade dreams, yes. They already know I am captured, the possession Quasit saw it remember.
Victrix listens intently.
"Who originally gave yeh yehr orders?"
Eustoriax the Great Shadow first and then the lilitu Minagho she says and then continues It was Minagho who schemed to place me in Galfrey's retinue. Only chance put me with you, but it was Eustoriax who bade me place the shadowblood in Aron's tent and cast the Silence spell so that you could be ambushed. It was also Eustoriax that gave me the beacon scroll to draw the Brimorak demons to the camp.
The name Eustoriax makes Victrix's eyes widen a bit. She could swear she sees flakes of snow fall out of the corner of her eye. "Eustoriax... huh. A demon born from shadows with power straight outta myth. I imagine we'll end up facin' 'im at some point, won't we?"
Outside the tent Konny notices the blood stains on his outfit. He decides to test his new found powers and a bit later he is clean... probably for the first time since he woke up in the underground chamber.
Great, now shall I trim my beard too? Or maybe try to smell like roses?
I would assume that...he has taken an interest in you. He serves Staunton Vhane in Drezen.
Barundar's eyes narrow at the mention of Vhane. "We shall deal wi' Vhane in time, as weel. Traitor tae th' Crusade 'n' all dwarves everywhere. He wull git his comeuppance."