Grobradon pulls out of the silence field, "Okay, that quiet was unsettling, effective though. Rythanus has a good point. What are we going to do with her, and the cultists we tied up? Particularly with that snake thing waiting on our way back?"
Focusing on the practical, Rumha strips every bit of equipment off the Iramine - including her golden mask.
"I think we should give Iramine here to the naga as proof we've accomplished what we promised. Let it have its way with her and we can bear the other Razmirans back to Tamran for trial." She pauses as she looks at the crumpled form of the chief Razmiran at their collective feet. A dark look clouds her face before she adds, "Though I'm sorely tempted to just offer the naga her head. Ending her evil can't be wrong and justice, whatever little of it might be had in this place, would still be served."
"Nay, I cannot do that friends" - Heledar pipes in, tying Iramine securely, and casting a spell to make sure she does not die - "I could never hand over someone to a creature such as that one, no matter how horrid their deeds may have been - that is why we have Justice, instead of simply throwing them off a cliff" - he adds, resolute.
"In the heat of battle, protecting our companions against a perceived threat, I kill, but not this - do not ask me to carry out such an act - I cannot" - his stern gaze stares at the door they came through - "If need be I will fight the creature alone. If I die, it will have its due, and you will be able to leave safely"
Potion of Cure Serious Wounds, Wand of False Life CL3 - 8 charges, +2 Mithral chain shirt, +1 elven curve blade, cloak of resistance +1, jewel of everlasting gold, ring of counterspells, spellbook (all CL - 3 x 1st, 3 x 2nd, 2 x 3rd, 1 x 4th), key to Xin-Grafar
"I had a feeling you'd say that," Rythan sighed. "I guess no one else really believed that the snakewoman would leave us alone despite her promise either, huh?"
He shrugged. "At least we can make the cultists carry Iramine, if we're going to haul her back. I only just got my breath back - I'm not wasting it carrying her around."
He glanced at Heledar, raising his sword. "You didn't really think you'd be going alone, did you?"
"Actually, I'm willing to give the naga the benefit of the doubt. If we leave it alone with its treasure and take this lot with us, it might be happy to avoid a fight."
Rain frowns at the thought of Iramine being afforded so many chances to escape and further subvert what little justice might be served at this point. "What good does preserving her life serve? Taking her back for trial won't see justice done. At least, no more than we might serve here and now." She scowls darkly at the unconscious woman and adds, "She's responsible for all of it. What possible punishment or sentence could Tamran levy that would begin to approach what she is due?"
Grobradon Considers, "I don't mean to be mean, here Heledar, but what authorities would we take her to? I know it's a slippery slope to be judge, jury, and executioner... but is there any jail we could put her in that would really hold her? Is it killing her flat out, or handing her to the naga that goes most against your beliefs?"
"My choice is always to preserve life if given the opportunity Talarin" - the oracle replies to his companion calmly - "In spite of being in the position to execute her, we do not have the right to do so - she is defeated, so she should face judgment for her crimes and plans. Whatever the justice dispensed to her, it is not one we individually have the right to mete out - this is my belief"
Grobradon Considers, "I don't mean to be mean, here Heledar, but what authorities would we take her to? I know it's a slippery slope to be judge, jury, and executioner... but is there any jail we could put her in that would really hold her? Is it killing her flat out, or handing her to the naga that goes most against your beliefs?"
"I understand your doubts friend Grobadron. I share the same ones, but the path decision for my life was not based on it being easy, but instead on what I believe is right - I am sure other monsters like Iramine have been apprehended before, and surely a solution was found. We cannot simply thread through life killing the problems we cannot solve at first glance" - he shakes his head.
"Both do" - he states flat out - "However I would execute her before handing her over to a creature such as the one that waits outside" - his eyes glare - "Why is bringing a captive foe back with us so much of an issue though?" - he speaks to all now.
"The issue isn't with bringing a captive back, Heledar, it's this captive. It's Iramine. And the problem isn't that bringing her back would be difficult, it's that bringing her back would be wrong. She's hurt too many, wrought too much evil to bring her before the courts in Tamran where her money and corruption can see her spared. She doesn't deserve that."
Rain turns away from the group and takes a few steps away. She pauses for a moment before turning back around, "I know justice won't be fully served no matter what we do. Any punishment would pale in comparison to the pain and suffering she's brought into being. There's no way to balance that scale. I understand that. But ending her now is the option that most balances that scale and it also ensures she can't hurt anyone else."
"She's the architect of all that we've been struggling against, Heledar. I don't see how bringing her back alive and well is the just course."
Rythan took a few steps, and reached out to touch Rain's shoulder. "I know your family has suffered more than most of the rest of us from Iramine's evil, but I think Heledar is right. If we kill her now, while she's helpless, it's just murder. If we become the kind of people who would do that out of revenge, Iramine has basically won anyway. Evil feeds evil."
He turned back to the others and shrugged. "I say we at least try to transport her back to see trial. Now that the cult has been rooted out of the city, and connections to it are politically unpopular, she won't find it so easy to escape justice. Besides, if she tries to cut and run, well... at least we tried before we killed her. If we keep her trussed up like a turkey and gagged, she shouldn't be too much trouble. We can rope her to her goons, that way they can't run off too quickly either."
"I guess what I'm trying to say is, we're the kind of people who do the right thing, not the easy thing. Right?"
"Bringing her back is NOT going to be a walk in the park. Instead of just having someone on watch, we're going to have someone watching her as well. If she slips free, even for a second, she could not just escape, but kill one of us. I got a lucky shot in, if she gets another chance at us, it will NOT be as easy next time," Grob points out, then sighs, "BUT... Heledar is one of us. I owe him. Hell, we all owe each other. So I'll abide by his request. It's important to him, and I know if something really felt RIGHT to me, I'd want others to listen to me about whatever it was. So... Fine. We make sure she's bound, stripped, and gagged pretty much all times. Rythan make a point: Right, not easy. BUT... IF she gets free, if she runs, or attacks. I will NOT fight to knock her out the next time. I'll use lethal force. Because I won't risk her getting free to hurt me or mine ever again."
Rain's countenance falls with Grob's and Rythanus' words. She cocks her head as if to say, 'Really?!' and her eyes begin to brim. Shaking her head, she throws her hands up and stalks off to the previous room. "That's fine! Pour salt in the wounds of all the people whose lives she ruined and give her evil more opportunities to rear up. That sure sounds right and noble to me!" Though her voice strains with emotion in her shout, the sarcasm in her last statement remains clear. In her wake, her words echo and hang heavy in the air.
Grobradon looks troubled, then finally says, "She shouldn't be alone, not in a place like this. I'll go after her. Even if she hides from me, she'll at least know I'm in yelling distance. One of you guys can carry the prisoner."
And he trails after Rain
"I agree, Grob - if she tries anything, she's done for. At least we tried."
Rythan looked after Rain guiltily as she stormed away. He started to follow her and Grob, then shook his head and stayed put.
"I don't want to make it any worse for her. I understand where she's coming from; her family's been through the hells because of Iramine. But I know I owe my life to Heledar a few times over, and I get what he's saying too." He sighed. "So, anybody want to help me with the rope and gag?"
Iramine is - quite literally - trussed. You now have three captives.
Heledar's semblant is broken in sadness as Rain storms out.
"Her body is broken, I doubt she will even survive the trip back" - he stares at their tied captive, then back at the room Rain left to, with Grob on her toe - "I DO understand her pain... And her will to thoroughly destroy Iramine. I just wished she understood that whatever satisfaction will be short lived, while exposing this monster for what she is to everyone might actually make a difference" - he lowers his head, grasping hard the longsword symbol around his neck.
"Rumha, Rythanus" - he turns to the two companions in his presence - "I... If you feel that her 'execution' is what needs to be done, I will not stop you. I'll walk away to meet whatever justice the Goddess seems fit to dispense for my actions, and Rain will have her well deserved revenge. I hope you understand once I leave through that door, I will never find the inner strength to walk with you again my friends" - and begins gathering his gear.
Rumha shrugs, "I'm not sure what crimes Iramine has committed in town... so justice may be fleeting. However, I think we should attempt to get her home since we've captured her alive. With a little preparation, I think we can move her in relative safety. I'll pray for more spells of Silence. As long as we agree that her gag doesn't come off until I be-spell a coin and shove it in her shoe whenever she needs to eat, we should be able to check most of her spellcasting. And if she or her minion act up, we strike without mercy."
The priest muscles the woman up. "Let's get going."
"Lets" - Heledar agrees.
You exit the central chambers - knowing time is against you before the city floods with gold.
Once you reach the dark naga, it looks at you - expectantly.
Rumha says, "We've captured Iramine and her minions. We'll leave your city and take them back to face justice."
"What the man said," Grobradon says, "We're done and out of your hair, figuratively speaking."
As the boys rustle up the captives and begin making ready to move out, Rain slips down from a perch atop the shoulder of one of the statues in an alcove. She waits expectantly for them to wrangle the prisoners out of the chamber and back to the naga then follows wordlessly along.
The dark naga waits until you have spoken and then cocks its head to one side. "And my payment?"
"Did we not agree that your payment was to be that Iramine did not rob you of your wealth? Behold, we have her captive, and she will have none of it. The city of gold is yours, and yours alone."
The dark naga reflects on your words. Reluctantly it sems, it says, "Yes, you have lived up to your side of the bargain - you may proceed."
Heledar exhales, satisfied that apparently his companions' lives do not need to be on the line for a course of action he has 'forced' them into.
He does not trust the creature nonetheless, and keeps a wary eye on it, expecting treason at any moment - "Lets go friends" - he urges the others.
Rythan bows politely to the naga, then hurries away with their captives.
As the others struggle guiding the captives down into the naga's hole and then climbing back up the other side, Rain considers kicking Iramine down into the pit rather than watching one of her friends attempt the climb with her slung over a shoulder. She decides to do nothing though, and once everyone is moving across the coins and past the naga, she walks lightly across the rope spanning the gap.
Grobradon walks, and keeps an eye on the rope while others use it. After all, he recalls the naga's threat against it before
Despite a few hiccups, you all get across safely. Now, do you head straight for the exit, or do you decide to explore?
You think you have a couple of hours to spare before the city floods with gold.
Rain maintains her angry silence and watches as the others hoist their captives up out of the naga's den. She waits, arms crossed, as the boys look about and decide whether they have the time and desire to explore the city before escaping.
Grob winces under Rain's withering glare. Wow. Do women take lessons in that look? Finally her clears his throat, "I assume we're just getting the heck out of here, right? I mean, tempting as it might be to stick around." He asks them all
"I'm for leaving. There may be more city guardians we have to face on the way out. There was that dragon skeleton and statues waiting."
Rythan had trouble meeting Rain's gaze, so he kept his eyes elsewhere. "I agree. I'd rather not be fitted for a gold coating because we misjudged the time we had left."
Grobradon glances back towards the wealth of ages, "Sorry, mom, the house will just have to do." Before he starts heading out with the others
"We have managed to carry out what was really important" - Heledar smiles - "I would not shy away from some wealth, as it does offer many possibilities, but we are all here still, and that is priceless"
You make good progress - the amulet you carry seems to act as some sort of key. None of the creatures attack you and before long you're back at the entrance hall, open doors back to the outside world in front of you.
"Well, I'd probably be more tempted to dig around for gold if it werent' for my brother still outside waiting for us. I hope he hasn't gotten into trouble."
"Let us move out of this place, and make sure we are safe - this should be our priority" - Heledar nods at Grob.
Rain's expression stays taut at Grob and Heledar's sentiments. She nods wordlessly and keeps mostly to herself, maintaining some distance between herself and the boys as they leave the golden city behind them. Her thoughts briefly wander to Grum and whether he's alright or not before settling once more on the evil of Iramine and the injustice of protecting her now.
Maybe we'll all die in one of those nasty storms and none of it will matter.
As you exit the 'city', you are drawn to the indentation on the front gates - a perfect match for the amulet now in your possession. Perhaps inserting it will lock the gates?
As you ponder this, a clean shaven man steps out of the shadows to greet you. His hair is immaculate and he looks quite handsome. It is only the clothes that tell you who it is - Dusan.
"Congratulations comrades." His voice seems cheery. "A few of the cultists high-tailed it out of here earlier, but as you had no doubt let them go, I decided not to intervene. I trust it went well?"
"Dusan?" - Heledar looks at the man - "You look quite different my friend"
Rain eyes Dusan suspiciously but otherwise remains silent.
"Well enough," Rythan answered, gesturing at the bound Iramine. "But what happened to you out here?"
Grob also seems surprised.
"I..err..came to my senses. I have been too long on this island without company. Your presence allowed me to reflect and sharpen my wits. I re-read my journal and in doing so, I was able to re-connect to the man I was when I arrived here."
"I can do nothing for the clothes." He pulls at the tatty and dirty cloth of his tunic, "But my hair and face were within my grasp." He now runs his fingers through his hair and rubs his now hairless chin. "I hope I didn't alarm you."