THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS FOR THIS PERSON ARE COMPLICATED. FIRST WE NEED TO ASSESS HIS SITUATION AND WHETHER HE WAS FORCED OR PERSUADED INTO DOING THIS, OR WHETHER HE WAS DOING THIS OUT OF HIS OWN FREE WILL.
Justin gives somewhat of a chuckle, which sounds odd, coming from a robot/statue hybrid.
OF COURSE, FREE WILL IS SIMPLY A CONSTRUCT OF YOUR OWN DEVISE, BUT AS LONG AS YOU DON'T MAKE A FUSS ABOUT IT, WE ALLOW YOU TO HAVE YOUR DELUSIONS.
THEN, WE INTERROGATE HIM AND ALL HIS ACCOMPLICES, THEIR FAMILIES AND ACQUAINTANCES, THEN CROSS-REFERENCE THEM WITH EACH OTHER. IN MORTAL YEARS, THAT COULD TAKE A WHILE. LUCKILY FOR US, WE'RE IMMORTAL, SO WE DON'T CARE. AS LONG AS JUSTICE IS SERVED, WE ARE HAPPY TO BE OF ASSISTANCE.
"Yeah yeah, I know the drill. I was in prison for a whole year before they got me out, and that was after my family er... greased some palms, so to say. But yeah, Justin's an Inevitable, you can trust him with any kind of law-breakers, believe me. His kind will be... thorough."
Malachai picks up the mummified hand. "Hmm, I think I've seen one of those before... Let's see..."
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Setsuna listens carefully at what Justin is explaining, and forms a smirk at the explanation. "I see, yes that would do. I will release him into your custody, Justin. I expect that you'll follow the necessary procedure to the letter, maybe some extra time to evaluate the procedure as well to prevent any flaws in justice? Hmmm?"
Setsuna then turns her face away from the rest of the party, forming a wicked smile out of sight.
Meanwhile the guy is still groaning on the floor in a fetus position.
It looks like he wont be having kids anymore.
Justin nods. I WILL DO THE BEST I CAN TO GIVE THIS MAN THE EXACT PUNISHMENT HE DESERVES, EVEN IF IT TAKES ME FIFTY YEARS TO GET TO THE RIGHT CONCLUSION, he says, without a hint of irony.
BY THE WAY, MISS, I LIKE YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR COOPERATION. YOU'RE MUCH MORE AGREEABLE THAN THE PERSON I AM CURRENTLY BOUND TO.
Malachai, meanwhile, is currently whistling and filing his fingernails and acting as if he hasn't heard anything of the last conversation.
While Justin is tying the guy up with rope from Malachai's backpack, Malachai takes a look around in the room the guy was spying on us.
"Let's see what this guy was doing here..."
The little room itself is dark. If you close the secret door, you see light coming from 4 small windows in the walls. They are small spyholes from which you have an exelent view of the other rooms.
There is also a rope, which you think goes up into minaret above.
The floor is covered by a maze-like geometric pattern of scarlet flames. If you study it, you realize that the pattern is actually a map of the nearby mountains.
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When Araklifest finds the mummified elfen hand, among his people known and detested as a Hand of the Mage, he growls against the bounded man and kicks him in his groin again. He takes the hand carefully and with some kind of reverence he wraps it in a piece of cloth and places it in his backpack. "I'll take this, not to use it, but to bring it back to my people and ceremonially cremate it, as we do with all our dead. If someone has a problem with this, I'll waive my part of the loot today for the right to honor this part of a dead elf!"
It is evident to all that Araklifest is adamant in his wish.
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"Don't worry Araklifest, I'll let you deal with the mummified hand. I doubt any of us have a problem with your procedure to honor the dead."
She then turns to Justin. "You might also want to add that he either desecrated a corpse or mutilated an Elf in order to get that mummified hand. Or if he didn't do it himself, he still is guilty of buying poached wares." Setsuna states, trying to make sure this guy is gone for a long time.
She also turns to Samrok: "By the way, Mister Dwarf, the reason why he is not dead is because he needs to go on trial. A long, long, loooong trial." she says with a smirk.
Realizing Justin might figure out Setsuna has underlying reasons for this cooperation towards justice, she quickly turns back to him. "Although maybe we should hear his side of the story, just to be thorough." She states with a bit of disdain. "Maybe he has was forced into his crimes, or has revealing information about others that might be here. You know, mitigating circumstances..."
She turns towards the guy who is, in her eyes, being a little whiny ass about his injury. "You heard what I just said, didn't you? Come on, speak up! Who are you, why are you here, and are there any others in this ruin? Lying about it will not help your case, as is taking others in protection!"
After the second kick to the groin, the man is now puking in a corner.
I'LL ADD IT TO THE LIST. THANK YOU, ANGRY LADY. NOW, MISTER PRISONER, DO YOU CONFESS TO YOUR CRIMES AND AGREE TO BE TAKEN PRISONER, TO BE PUT ON TRIAL BY THE PATHFINDER SOCIETY, AND JUDGED BY MY SUPERIORS? AS THE LADY SAID, IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION THAT COULD LEAD TO A LESS SEVERE PUNISHMENT, NOW WOULD BE THE TIME TO SAY SO.
Trough gritted teeth. "Anything! I'll confess to anything as long as you keep her away from my private parts!"
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION. MISTER MAYES, PLEASE WRITE THIS DOWN FOR FUTURE RECORD-
"Hey, what? Don't you have, like, perfect memory?"
SIGH. INSUBORDINATE AND OBSTINATE. VERY WELL THEN.
FIRST OF ALL, WHY ARE YOU HERE? WHAT IS YOUR GOAL HERE?
SECOND, DID YOU COME ON YOUR OWN VOLITION, OR WERE YOU SENT BY SOMEONE?
THIRD, DO YOU HAVE ANY COMPANIONS YOU WANT TO WARN US ABOUT?
"I'm here for the GLORY OF LORD MOLOCH MAY HIS FIERY EMBRACE SET US FREE! His visions guided me here, trough desert heat nearly did me in, I proved worthy! WORTHY OF HIS LOVE! PRAISE BE TO MOLOCH!"
He starts foaming at the mouth.
NOTE TO SELF: POSSIBLE HEATSTROKE CAUSING DELUSIONS AND IRRATIONAL BEHAVIOUR. PERPETRATOR MIGHT GET A REDUCED PUNISHMENT DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. WE SHALL HAVE TO OPERATE ON THE BRAIN TO SEE THE ROOT CAUSE.
Justin's fingertip clicks open, Inspector Gadget-style, and a tiny circular saw appears, already running.
THIS WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE. DON'T WORRY, YOU'LL HARDLY FEEL IT.
"HahahahahaHAHAHAHA, do your WORST. MOLOCH SHALL REWARD ME.....Just dont harm my private parts please..."
"Er, Justin, remember what we talked about? People tend to frown upon impromptu brain surgery. Better leave it to the experts. Besides, we want him to sit out his punishment, right?"
AH YES, I'D FORGOTTEN THAT YOU FLIMSY HUMANS TEND TO STOP FUNCTIONING AFTER REMOVAL OF THE BRAIN. MY BAD.
"Let's just leave this guy tied up here until we come back for him, okay? Geez, can't believe I'm the moral compass of the two of us here."
Trough the spyhole:
Although formerly full of finery, this large hall has been completely ransacked. Scarlet drapes lie in tatters on the floor, obsidian pedestals are smashed, and shards of red and black clay cover the floor.
The southeast corner is the only exception—a large table sits there undisturbed. On it, is an idol of Moloch: a large, armored flame creature with the head of a bull.
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"Let me look at that room "
After seeing the idol clearly standing on a table he turns towards the others.
"It is strange that an holy idol is standing on a table, instead of a proper altar to be worshipped. Maybe our man that somehow still has some ability to reproduce can explain why the symbols of his god are presented like that."
The man babbles incoherently untill you threaten him with Setsuna.
"They had smashed it! The filthy dervishes! Smashed it smashed it Smashed it smashed it... But we put it back together! Made it pretty again! Our lord moloch!"
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Setsuna, clearly irritated with this man and his babbling, decides to go get the Idol. She opens the door to the other chamber, and gives a quick glance to see if more shenanigans can be spotted before lifting the damn thing from the table.
Setsuna lifts the Idol, looks around, and sees nothing of importance. However, this ruin looked a lot larger on the outside, and Setsuna thinks there might be more to explore. Incapable of finding the way further in, and impatient enough to prevent her from looking around properly, she decides that the captive needs to spill all the beans.
"Alright demon-lover-boy, I have had it with this blabbering about deserts, your moronic lord, and your pyromanic tendencies. I want to know how we can get further in this damned ruin, and you're going to tell me. 'Cause if you don't, I will ram this Idol up your ass, and keep kicking it until both IT AND YOU'RE PELVIS BREAK!"
The mans eyes go wide "NOT MY PRIVATE PARTS AGAIN KEEP THAT MAD WOMAN AWAY FROM ME! THE SECRET DOOR IS JUST BEHIND THE THRONE ITS RIGHT THERE CANT YOU SEE"
SETSUNA, I APPRECIATE YOUR ENTHUSIASM, BUT PLEASE REFRAIN FROM HURTING HIM ANY MORE, OTHERWISE I'D HAVE TO BOOK YOU FOR ASSAULTING A PRISONER OF WAR.
"Heh, can't believe I agree with you, Justin. Look, that man has clearly suffered enough, just let him be until we come back for him, okay? Meanwhile, are we ready to proceed? Justin, if you'd open that secret door for me, please?"
WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO DO THE HARD WORK?
"I'd love to do it myself, but I might sprain my ankle and not be able to continue working-"
ALL RIGHT, I GET IT. AWAY WE GO, LET'S OPEN THE DANGEROUS DOOR, SHALL I?
You didn't think it'd be possible for a robot/statue to sound sarcastic, but here it is.
When you first try to open the door, its locked. Then you realise the mad man had a key on him. And what do you know? It opens the door.
The secret door opens onto a covered bridge forty feet across.
The entire structure appears to be carved from a single red stone, but the centuries-long burial in sand has levied its toll.
Long cracks line the walls and ceiling, and twenty feet along the bridge a seven-foot gash splits the floor in two, through which the dark orange stone of the valley below is visible. Spaced every ten feet on the walls are a series of massive carved heads: a pair of screaming fire elementals, a pair of humans clad in armor, and a pair of bull-headed men, each flanked by massive torches. The arch’s far end is carved into the shape of a massive leering face, with golden double doors in place of its mouth.
Despite the gap in the middle, the hallway appears sturdy. It appears to hold nothing of interest, although you would need to cross the gap to check out the other side.
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Alright, it seems we need to get to the other side. Don't worry, it is merely a hole in the floor, no biggie. We just have to jump over it, and get this mission over with. I'm really getting sick of all this dust and sand around us."
Setsuna takes a few steps backwards (enough for a 10ft approach), starts running, and then jumps over the gap in the floor.
Setsuna jumps over the gap gracefully.
Araklifest need not have worried, he clears the gap with ease.
As Samrok, Malachai and Justin are looking nervously at the gap, there is a sudden rush of wings and a figure falls down from the gap in the ceiling!
Its an ugly creature with a double set of wings. It holds a spear in its hands and it has razor sharp claws on its legs.
Initiative
Round 1
Samrok
Justin
Setsuna
Gaav
Araklifest
Malachai
Samrok, Justin and Setsuna can act.
The thing seems to shrug off the poison like it doesnt exist. Also, Setsuna's punch doesnt seem to hurt it at all.
Justin walks forward menacingly and addresses the thing in a stern voice.
HALT, FIEND. CEASE YOUR ATTACK ON MY COMRADES.
Setsuna: Punches the thing in the gut, but her fist doesnt appear to be hurting it.
Justin: Approaches and tries to get the things attention. But it looks like it is not listening.
Samrok: Casts a spell. The creature shrieks and blinks its eyes rapidly, clearly affected by the spell.
Gaav: With singleminded determination, the thing keeps attacking Araklifest.
With a nasty stab to the mid-riff Araklifest goes down.
It now turns its attention to Setsuna.
But it doesnt penetrate Setsuna's armor.
Initiative
Round 1
Samrok
Justin
Setsuna
Gaav
Araklifest
Malachai
Malachai can act.
Having seen Araklifest go down, Malachai rushes closer. Sadly, he lacks the options to really attack the thing, so he tries a half-hearted attempt at disheartening him.
"Hey ugly! Leave him alone! Otherwise I'll send the Inevitables after you, and trust me, that's not something I'd wish on my worst enemy."
Malachai: Its clear that the thing is not impressed by Malachai
Initiative
Round 2
Samrok
Justin
Setsuna
Gaav
Araklifest Unconcious
Malachai
Samrok, Justin and Setsuna can act.
MALACHAI, I'M GOING TO JUMP THIS GAP BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'LL CONVINCE ME TO DO SO ANYWAY. IF I DON'T MAKE IT AND FALL TO MY DEATH, I EXPECT AN EXTENSIVE REPORT OF WHAT YOU'VE BEEN UP TO TOMORROW MORNING.
He takes a few steps back, clears the gap with ease, then smacks into the thing.