Wenduag Ignores Ashe's song focusing on Rema.
Rema skillfully breaks Wenduag's guard causing her to lose a step.
Olivier refrains from jumping headlong into the next room, choosing instead to stay behind and shoot at the mysterious unfriendly people should they come through to attack their less well-off allies.
Arc's javelin sails past her target but doesn't sound like it hit the ground behind Wenduag.
Still focused on Rema Wenduag swings back causing Rema to lose ground.
Ashe steps up and moves the barely conscious Eve out of harms way.
After being moved Eve casts a spell on herself and stands up.
Rema makes a bold attempt to return the strike, but cannot recover to place a good blow.
With Eve standing up and Arc joining the fray Wenduag is backed into a corner. She takes a desperate swing at Rema in hopes of taking out the only other one to challenge her and connects.
Ashe, seeing Rema fall to the club of Wendaug, shouts "No! Stop it!" Her hair dances around as if it were flames, while her hand thoughtlessly goes to her light crossbow. Rage surges through her, as she lifts the crossbow and aiming at Wendaug. Time pauses briefly as she pulls the trigger, "That's enough!"
The bolt sinks into Wendaug's chest. She slumps to the ground, and falls on her face.
Ashe snaps out of her anger, looking horrified at what she had just done, mutters to herself, "What have I done?" With her back against the cavern wall she slides down to a sitting position with a wide eyed expression.
Eve stabilizes the monk and waits for the enemy to be restrained before channeling.
After the enemies are removed from healing range Eve channels twice, attempting to make all her allies healthy again.
Eve will force Rema to drink one of the many potions she has on her.
As the battle reached its unexpected conclusion, Olivier found himself with little to do. Whilst the others dragged their injured about and provided healing, the rogue motioned for Anevia to wait a moment, then walked over to Ashe's slumped form. He slid down along the wall to sit next to the shocked woman, giving her a gentle nudge with his elbow.
"Are you all right?" he asked quietly. The glance he gave her was one of concern. Shock could be a nasty business, he knew. Best try to calm her down while the others did... whatever they were doing. He would only get in the way if he tried to help, really.
"I...I don't know," Ashe responds weakly. Her hand is still wrapped tightly around the crossbow at her side. She stares blankly at Wendaug, "I have never injured someone before, much less wanted to hurt someone so badly." She glances down at her feet, her breathing gets a little ragged, "Two days ago, seeing someone like that. Without hesitation, I would run over there and try to help them. Now...I don't know what to do." Tears swell up in her eyes.
Ashe glances up at the woman who clearly has experience in the matter, "But...but how can you decide?" The sound of conviction returns to her voice, "I have to believe there is at least some grayness in making decisions like this."
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"Instinct. Would you be dead if you were it?" She continues searching the gross thing that attacked them. "Worldwound, nothing good comes from the Abyss. Nothing logical, nothing sane. Kill or be killed, no laws of logic or morals with them. Have to fight fire with fire, lest you find yourself in a worse place, wishing for death."
Ashe nods her head and wipes the tears from her eyes, it did make sense, but Wendaug is not a demon. That might have made it easier she hoped. "I think that only works with the spawn from the Worldwound. What about Wendaug and others that don't have the taint of the Abyss? Saranrae teaches anyone can be redeemed, if only they seek it."
Ashe listens intently to the warriors explanation, "Agreed, it does sound like it will be hard to determine who can be saved, but I would like to give the opportunity should it not endanger anyone."
She stands up, and it seems to take a force of will for her to ease the grip on her crossbow, "Thank you two, truly. I don't think I am anywhere near over what happened here, I don't know when I will be. But, I think I am coming to terms on what has changed for me. I hope I don't let anyone down."
She turns to Roderic and Rema, with a weak smile "Sorry, I got lost in my own thoughts there." She moves through the group, providing what aid she can.
She moves to Wendaug. Her hands tremble as she tries to determine whether or not she has taken a life.
Eve takes a closer look at the wand while the others discuss mortality.
Olivier nodded along with Arc's interruption. Though he never would have put it as bluntly as she did, the armored one did make some very valid points.
As Ashe went to tend to the downed archer, Olivier jerked his head in her direction. "What are we to do with that one?"
Ashe replies, as she begins her examination, "If she is alive, I would like to take her back to the Chief. We need to recover from this vicious battle, and shouldn't press on."
At Ashe's apology 'Sorry, I got lost in my own thoughts there.' Roderic begins to stir. He sits up and looks around, seeing Wendaug on the floor he feels slightly more at ease. Taking note of Olivier and Ashe's conversation, Roderic chimes in, "I agree,..." He lets out a groan as he stands up. "...we should take her back and let her face the laws of her people." He walks around taking survey of the room. "We should take these items with us, so that her allies may not use them..." then the amulet caught his eye. "Except...that...", he said with anger seething in his voice. He brings his sword down on it upon the ground shattering it. "That can remain here." He sheaths his sword and moves over to Wendaug and picks her up. "Lets go then, before more arrive." He prompted the group.
Wenduag is breathing and stable, her wound is not life threatening.
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Ashe breathes a sigh of relief as a weight is lifted off her shoulders, and announces to herself more than anyone else, "She is alive, she will be able to face justice."
As the group moves back to the village, Ashe hands out the money from the pouch Arc found.
Ashe will take the time to attempt to identify the items Arc has discovered.
Afterwards, Ashe comments, "I have been thinking, I know I am new to all this." Her eyes shift uncomfortably. "But, it makes sense to me that we hand out the potions that we have. I am not terribly worried about myself, but I know Arc, Roderic, Olivier, and Rema all aren't able to heal themselves. It might have been good if people had access to those potions in that last battle. Am I wrong about that?"
potions of cure light wounds and wand of long strider 10 charges
Rema seemingly distracted for the last bit due to a large bump on his head speaks what he can only wonder if the others are thinking. "We should consider that we may not be able to leave here as quickly as we intended. If all of this tribe are so well trained in fighting skills we may have to wait for the Chief to make his move, and assist them in their battle to have a greater chance to leave here safely with the civilians."
Ashe hands a potion to Roderic and Arc, "I like the idea of you having the choice one way or another."
With a confused look, "What about this?" She gestures with the wand, "It is a wand of long strider with 10 uses left, would it be useful for anyone?"
Ashe responds to the Samsaran, "Trust me, I understand what you are saying completely. I just fear that the longer we wait the less likely others might not be prepared for what happened."
Sensing that her companions either don't have an opinion or wish to talk, she offers, "I will see if I can sell it when we get there."