Colgrim just doesn't have much street smarts.
Well okay, we won't stake him out, are we going to want to magic him and try to pry answers from him? We'd best get moving before the streets fill.
"I agree," Iolana says quietly. "And for all that he deserves it, I don't believe we should just execute him now. I don't believe that we should do that in cold blood. And besides, we may be able to get more information from him...let us return to the temple of Aroden and consult with the others there."
If the group looks ready to head out, Iolana will step in to shoulder part of the burden of the unconscious tiefling.
Colgrim helps out, obviously helping some vagrant who drank to much to the drunk tank.
Leeka follows along with the others, not really having a role to play at this time.
She recommends Iolana heal their wounds first, however, so they don't look like a group that just got into a big scrape. She uses her prestidigitation cantrip to clean blood out of people's clothes and hair, and her sewing kit to roughly mend any tears or slashes in their clothing.
The early morning haze finds you earlier than most of the Rundottari patrols through the ruins, and you are lucky enough not to run into any other... vagrants as you leave the ruins. Colgrim easily talks his way through the gates, pointing out that he was hunting a wanted man under special orders.
Early morning in Westcrown finds the streets much more deserted than usual, with the odd Dottari patrol eyeing Colgrim and his companions, as well as their unconscious load, but they don't speak up more than an odd look or two.
Arriving at the Temple of Aroden takes little time, and the group is able to find their way into the temple without incident and finds it empty, as if Arael and the others have gone out from the temple temporarily.
The Tiefling is still unconscious, and you have a great deal of gear and loot that finishes getting divided up.
Okay, let us keep him secure and in a room with nothing he can identify. Gag him and bind his hands and feet as well.
Colgrim picks a room if available that has a minimum of stuff and makes it into a bare interrogation room. He gags him and makes sure his hands and feet are secure as well as deciding to but something over his eyes.
Stanley nods and agrees with the separation tactics, adding his own concerns, "We may need some time, as I am prepared to charm him, but I do not yet have prepared the ability to implant thoughts as his own. Nonetheless, it will give us time to decide both what we want from him, and what we want him to think as his own ideas."
"Charm him now, though Stanley. It will at least keep him from alerting anyone else. We can have a peaceable conversation at least then." Dario drops the gear he's carrying, clearly exhausted by their outing.
"Arael keeps some spirits around here, doesn't he? I swear I saw some brandy the last time we were here." The half-elf goes rooting through some shelves.
Stanley nods and shrugs, the idea is both sound and with merit. Even with the tiefling unconscious, Stanley leans in and speaks in the odd tone he gets that seems to undermine the success of their enemies. "Now, even in your mind's eye, you see that you have been defeated. You stand on the precipice of the Boneyard, Pharasma's judgement of your soul's final destination hangs on her tongue. You have very little time to make right that which you must before you are delivered to the Nine Hells. It is in your best interests to cooperate fully with us, so that you can be judged without pause."
Game Mechanic Stuff:
Palaveen wakes up shortly after Stanley completes his Charming.. "What do you want of me?" He looks at Stanley and Colgrim with anger in his eyse, as he peers back and forth angrily. His voice is more quiet now, as he obviously thinks he's in real danger.
Dario's search for liquor is successful, if not terribly tasty. There is some stale ale, as well as a half-full bottle of Merlot, but no brandy.
Party HP:
Stanley 12/12
Colgrim: 11/24.
Dario 10/15
Byron: 8/15
Iolana: 15/15
Leeka 8/18
GM Stuff
Palaveen 1/33, 2 nonlethal
Before the party sets out, Iolana nods to Leeka's suggestion and closes her eyes in prayer. A barely visible wave of pearly light roils out from her, then another.
When she opens her eyes, seeing that not everyone is fully restored, the Varisian woman drops her eyes slightly. "I apologize..." she murmurs, "But...I think it wise to conserve my goddess's blessing. Just in case we need it more later..."
At the abandoned temple, Iolana sits in a chair facing Palaveen, but off to one side. "We want to know who you were in communication with, first of all," she says bluntly, giving the tiefling a steely look.
Colgrim lets Stanley and Dario dot he talking since they are the chatty types.
"The game is over, Palaveen. Tell us what you know. Who lent you aid to create the Bastards?" He waves the note they found in front of the man. "Who is this 'Council' who gave you the wolf skeletons and why did they want you to create your group?"
Palveen laughs at Dario. Sneering his answer while glaring at both Iolana and Dario, he replies.
"A 'masked man' from the main city came across the gates, and, finding me of proper faith, offered me aid for bringing Tieflings out of the shadows. He reminded me that the best way to rule over chattel is by fear, as Asmodeus teaches proper rulers. He said he was from the Council, so the expected assumption was he was some form of Council set up by the Lord Mayor. It's odd, since he isn't terribly fond of tieflings."
"What exactly did he want you to do?" Iolana demands. "Bring tieflings out of the shadows, yes, but then what? Was he the one who suggested a life of thuggery? Or did you come up with that all on your own?" she can't help ending with a bit of a sneer.
Stanley sighs, a little bothered by the approach Iolana seems to take when it's time for cooler heads to prevail. He brings his own methods to bear, "Look Palaveen. I take no issue with you personally. I have issue with the citizens of this fine city suffering at the hands of corruption and violence. Your cause, of bringing the tiefling peoples back to a greater semblance of prominence is admirable, but you just went about doing it in a misinformed manner."
He takes a seat and leans close to him, as he prepares to work towards what he really wants. "This mysterious benefactor steered you wrong. They used you to drum up unrest of a sorts, and may have even done so just to create a larger anti-tiefling movement that they can then quash for their own political gain. Anything and everything you can give us to find this man will go a long way to helping the very goal that you have in mind, bringing tieflings up from underfoot. As Wiscrani, I agree that they should not be treated any lower than any other citizen."
Plus that note you had that said that you were just 'associates' and that you should stop trying to keep joining their little group. That means that they consider you expendable and will wipe you all out if you get to be a liability.
"Look at me, you fool. I am ruling material! That fool 'Lord Mayor' runs around gallivanting around these parties, crushing everything under his foot with Thrune's Blessing! Of course I wanted a home for Tieflings, but we also want YOU to know what it is like to be heeled like dogs, <expletive for female dogs aimed directly at Iolana>!"
Looking, and becoming somewhat calmer with Stanley's words .
"There isn't a name. He was a fence of goods, so to speak. Had access to some more serious undead minions, but we were given the wolves as 'gifts' to help us along. No name, no face. Roughly Iolana's height. Deep voice though."
Looking to Colgrim, he says the following in the most eerily calm voice you've heard. "I'm dead whether you kill me or I get properly arrested, Dottari. If you need to be a hero, tear off my jaw and throw me in the town square for all to see, writhing in pain. That'll give 'em a show and a few lashes later, I'll be in my great-grandfather's embrace."
Iolana's Knowledge: Nobility check:
Dario shakes his head. "Palaveen, I hope one day tieflings will be accepted into a better Westcrown, but you'll never live to see it."
Colgrim grunts. Well if'n your going to die, it won't be entertainment.
To Dario
"That's wonderfully comforting." Do you plan on slaughtering me, or is the officer of the law going to do it.
Upon hearing Colgrim's reaction:
"You have your lawful duty to uphold, Dottari. Vigilantism is a terrible thing, and shouldn't be allowed in the streets. Would cause an outright rebellion." He chuckles wistfully. "Besides, without me, there isn't any evidence of the Bastards' defeat for the populace."
As a note, there will be no evidence the Bastards were defeated if you torch him, although you'll find his body quite resistant to fire.
Yea, you have that right. We could have collected some of the bodies of your gang. He looks at Dario and Stanley. It is going to be real soon that their base gets ransacked once the survivors bug out. I can't file a report on finding it while patrolling since you know, what was I doing that far out there.
So we do this quiet and for the good feelings it gives us or have the word spread that they are finished.
When the expletive leaves Palaveen's mouth, Iolana's eyes narrow and become flinty. Leaning just as far forward as she must, she cracks him across the jaw with a strong left hook.
When Palaveen is done telling them what he knows, she pulls the others aside for a conference. "While I have no doubt that he deserves it, I still must admit that I am...uneasy...about simply executing him. I'm just not sure..." She pauses, clearly going through an internal struggle. "I don't know that I can support that. We have the resources here to keep him prisoner. Although I know that that runs a risk, it seems to me that...we can't get good results from evil methods. I'm just not sure it works that way. And consider: how much would it comfort the people of Westcrown to know that a group of brutal murderers live in their midst?" She shakes her head regretfully. "I've rushed into things before. If we are to call the people of Westcrown to change their lives, I would not rush into how we do so. Let us keep him alive."
"The law is clear, is it not? Colgrim, can there be any doubt what his sentence would be, had he been captured in a sanctioned Dottari operation?"
Official operation? No doubt 'Killed while trying to escape.' If he was dragged in, he would get the beat-down and maybe actual magic compulsion to find out more about the other gang members and then hanged and displayed until he fell off the rope.
"So our proposed justice is a great deal more merciful and humane than the official law of the land. How merciful is it, really, to imprison a man, with no trial, and no chance of ever being released, save through escape? Let him go and burn with his infernal kin in some layer of Hell, fool that he is."
Stanley pinches the bridge of his nose, putting his head down, before standing up and glaring at Iolana. In his sternest voice, he reprimands"Miss Banderosi, I thought maybe you had a moment of insight on making brash decisions? Was your continued assault of a bound prisoner really necessary? He called you a name. He used a word that only had as much power over you as you gave it, yet you decided that this powerless word warranted a punch to the face. Your hasty actions and harsh words also instigated an attempt at finding peaceful resolution, and in the ensuing fight, you were almost granted an audience with Pharasma." He makes the sign of the spiral.
"I accept that you let your emotions drive your actions, but you should take some time to reflect on when is and isn't an appropriate time to do so. Let your anger empower you to overcome your enemies in the heat of battle, that is perfectly understandable, even if I don't share your methods. However, do not force me into a war you choose to wage over the fact that you were made angry by the mere words of another."
Having released his anger, even though it was more like the scolding of a teacher with nary a raised voice, he returns to the subject of the prisoner. "We are indeed faced with a quandry concerning our actions and decisions with the prisoner. We have no real legal authority to make the decision of how to treat him in accordance with the law. We may even present more humane methods of dealing with him. The thing is, to further our own ends as an organization, we do need to make a point of showing the citizenry that it was The Free Citizens of Westcrown that had resolved this problem vice the actual authorities. We need to present both proof of our actions, and conceal ourselves from any divinations. We may be best served by an execution, and then a display of the body with the tongue removed. That way they cannot communicate with him after his death, and we can still send the message of our involvement for the people."
Dario looks at Stanley with some surprise. He thinks on his words for a moment before abruptly suggesting a tactic. "Cut his tongue out and then hang him in public view? But he's a tiefling. Won't people just assume it's another tiefling death? Perhaps we include a message? 'Thus ends the Bastards of Erebus'?"
"We should also start planting rumors. A few drunks in a pub and soon the whole city us talking of it."
If we are going to do that, best do it before he wakes up. If we don't silence him, he can blab out what he heard about us if they speak with his corpse.
Iolana stares at Stanley in disbelief. "A blow to the face, he'll recover from. I think it's reasonable to expect someone to retaliate if you call them that. But an execution--" her voice starts to rise sharply, "an execution is another matter entirely! And I'm sorry you wanted so badly to make peace with the people who wanted to grind you, me, Leeka, and all the other citizens of Westcrown under their heel, but I will not apologize for drawing my steel against agents of the Archfiend and avowed slavers!" Iolana's actually quivering with anger.
"And, for that matter, since you were so eager to negotiate with slavers before, what in the nine hells is this about an execution now?! I thought at least you would back me up on this! Here!" She thrusts the haft of her morningstar into his chest. "Here, doctor, would you like to stave the Bastard's head in yourself? I'd have done it happily in the battle, had I not fallen in the attempt. But I'm not one for killing people who are just sitting there, helplessly tied up. I've seen it done too many times!" If Stanley hasn't actually taken her morningstar at this point, she half drops, half throws it to the ground and strides away from the group, trembling and running her fingers through her long dark hair.
As Iolana rages, Stanley is about to correct with an inhalation of breath before he speaks. Instead, he visibly flinches when she presents him with the morningstar. It is clear he almost expected her to strike him, given his assessment of how she lets her anger drive her actions.
As she storms off, he retorts weakly to the others, as if a rebuttal to them will clarify, his voice a little shaky as he recovers from the assumed blow, "To be clear. I was not saying we murder an unconscious prisoner. I merely think that, by our very group alone, we have decided that we must act in the place of a corrupt government. Is that not what this is about? We are trying to weed out corruption, and must take some of the law into our own hands."
Regaining his composure and voice a little "He was given a chance to repent his actions against people and country, and chose to refuse. He will be informed of our decision and given a moment to speak his last words. We cannot in good conscience just release him to either his own recognizance, nor the 'proper' authorities, given their obvious impropriety."
He finishes with a statement, as he looks off after the direction Iolana went, that seems to help strengthen his own resolve. "Whether or not we choose to take up weapons is not that which defines us. It is why we choose to do so in the first place that truly leaves its mark on our souls."
Very well, I will be available if and when you need me. Colgrim will go get a drink and wait for the time when the tiefling wakes.
"Fine. We pronounce his sentence and inform him when he wakes. Then we hang him?" He shakes his head. "All too civilized,but maybe it's what we have to do."
Knife under the chin to the brain or straight decapitation.
Stanley crosses his arms, "I would actually offer that, when we tell the prisoner of his fate, he be allowed to choose the form his execution will take. Within reason, of course. He cannot choose old age, but maybe a few options, hanging, poisoning, decapitation, a slit throat? This will at least afford us the opportunity to indeed remain civilized about this heavy task we must bear."
The tiefling wakes about an hour later.
"Repent?! It is six against one! Repent to the Dawnflower's clergy? I will take Pharasma's embrace over the thought of repenting to the likes of you!"
All of the violence sealed his hostilities, unfortunately. He continues:
"The Bastards of Erebus were to bring Tieflings back to prominence. Slaves for the wealthy! Slaves for the Nobility, the Bastards and all Tieflings!" He eyes Iolana warily, "No. Not now. Not yet. We will have our own nation sometime. One that is pure, unlike this Cheliax. It will be a proper tribute to our progenitors. Alas, you ask me how I wish to die."
His head hangs a few dark moments. "Since old age is out, I choose Decapitation. The can do it. With a knife. Show me you care enough about your cause to take out those in your way. You're not strong enough for that, none of you are!"
His eyes burn with fire and defiance, as he sneers at her.
"For my last words, let the Bastards live on! As he holds his head up and facing Iolana, neck fully exposed.
Iolana leans against one of the pillar's old columns, breathing hard and blinking tears from her eyes, her back to the ongoing discussion. We can't do it. We can't kill a helpless man. That's not the way to proceed. I am certain of it. Turning back, though, she sees the others standing in a tight knot, talking quietly and clearly all in agreement. Nine Hells, they're really going to do it, though. I can't stop them. But we need them. I need them. Westcrown needs them. She lets herself fall back against the pillar, closing her eyes as she feels the fight drain out of her. This is wrong, but I don't see any way out of it... When Palaveen comes to, she wordlessly goes to stand at the edge of the group, arms folded and face expressionless, as Stanley and the others outline the tiefling's fate to him.
Find your hidden strength. One of her old mentors' favorite phrases keeps running through her head.
When Palaveen taunts and challenges her--them--Iolana hardly blinks, watching him coolly, unmoving and almost glassy-eyed. Without a word, she reaches over to Colgrim and plucks a dagger from his belt. Then she squats in front of Palaveen, so that she's face to face with the prisoner, though out of reach.
"I was the only one who argued for your life, Palaveen," she says, softly and simply. Her voice doesn't betray anger or grief. "I think, on some level, I understand what it is you feel that drives you to what you do. We come from different places, different worlds, but I don't think we're so unlike, you and I. We both want to make a different world." She rocks back slightly on her heels. "The Everbloom teaches us that righteous defense and liberation are our goals, not vengeance. I don't...think I've ever fully understood that, really. I'm still not sure I do. But I know..." She looks dead into his eyes. "I know that on some level, this is a mistake. Because I also know that you are wrong." She leans forward again, eyes glistening, now just inches from Palaveen.
"Nothing--nothing--will stop me from freeing Westcrown from the men like you who cripple it. Who keep its citizens poor and hungry, who keep half the population in chains. My father. My mother. Every one of my brothers and sisters. It may take years. I may die. But we here--and the people out there--we are going to build a new world for ourselves in this city. One free from fear and hatred. One built on peace. Love. Health. Life."
Know what is worth more than yourself.
"I'm truly sorry that you cannot be there to see it."
Iolana lunges, stabbing with pinpoint accuracy into the side of the tiefling's neck, putting the whole weight of her arm behind it. There's a spurt of blood as his artery ruptures, and then a gout as she yanks the blade quickly across his throat, severing the other artery and opening his windpipe. As Palaveen gasps his last breath, Iolana pulls his head slightly forward and, with a final push of the knife, severs his spine. Putting the head down on the corpse's lap, she turns, unsmiling, covered in blood, and tosses the knife carelessly to the floor at the feet of the rest of the party. Without looking directly at any of them, she strides away. Her voice floats back to them as she heads for her chamber in the temple.
"Next time, I'd prefer that we allow our absent friends to vote."
Peace. Love. Health. Life.
At the very least, health, and life.
Iolana feels a small hand tug at her pant leg, as Leeka struggles to catch up. "That will stain," She says, and uses the last few minutes of her cantrip to clean the blood. "Next time, stand behind, and you won't get so much blood on you."
Then she pats the woman on the hand, and leaves her in peace.
Byron nods at Iolana's executioner's speech.
"The task is done. Well said - hopefully, we can help to build a better Westcrown, but I have a feeling that we will have to excise a lot of cancerous growths in order to save the city... and I doubt any of them will go quietly."
As the deed is completed, Palaveen's silence, outside of gasping for air, is left with a testament to his own will, his own hopes for his race.
Shortly after Iolana retires to her portion of the temple, Arael and Janiven arrive. They see the party near the 'execution room' along with a couple of bloody footprints Leeka is desperately trying to wash off of the floor.
Arael, seeing this, walks into the room, and walks back out of the room quickly, much paler than he had been before.
"What madness is this? An execution in the Temple? Mind you, it was only a Tiefling, but still, an exectution?!"
Looking among the party members, he asks "Where is Iolana... Is she...? He says as he frowns.
She needs time to herself. Colgrim says quietly as he helps get the body wrapped up. He doesn't say anything more about what happened
"Arael, it had to be done. This is the leader of the Bastards of Erebus. Taking his life wasn't our first choice. It was a hard descision, but eventually we were left with little option if we wanted any justice for the people of Westcrown." Dario hands him some of the stle lae he had found. "You wanted revolution. Sometimes it leads us into things we rather not think. I just hope we come out of this into the light."
We did try to fight non-lethally at first. There were casualties on their side and Byron and I got hit by some charm magic which ironically might of helped make things better. We meet Pavleen and tried to negotiate, Stanley made his case for wanting to work with the Bastards and things were aggravated when Iolana got very loud at them. I do not know if Pavleen could be convinced to work with hus but it ended in combat. Iolana,Leeka,Byron were severely injured and rendered senseless and Pavleen vocally said things implying he would torture or rape Iolana since he is very hostile to her faith.
Colgrim looks up from the wrapped corpse. We managed to subdue Pavleen and several of his gang took off. The thing is what were we supposed to do with him? Turning him over to the Dottari would get him killed and he knows about us so he could send them after this place. Letting him go would have him trying to rebuild.
Arael, listening to both Colgrim and Dario's stories, nodding grimly.
"I'll admit to my own distrust of Tieflings, but, if he is the leader and the others have been scattered... I do not believe that they will be a threat without their leader. This is a wonderful thing for the city, with a threat taken out, even if we all feel sick with the end result."
Janiven pipes in at this point. We do, however, have the need to prove we have done this. I am aware of the Dottari working to bring things from the dead, but the Bastards hate authority, moreso than we rail against it. How would it be best to deal with this, and how do you all feel about what has happened?"
Looking to the others, they wait for more ideas of what to do with the body, and what to do to prove the Free Citizens of Westcrown have ended the Bastards' threat.
If we are going to display the body, remove the tongue. When there have been decapitations that are going to be displayed we stick a rod in the neck.
Okay, how about this? Tie the body up on a pole with a note. Something about 'The Bastards of Erebus have learned that the Citizens of Westcrown will no longer tolerate those who bring death and terror to their lives.' Fill his pockets with those wooden coins.
Dario smiles. "I like it, but a bit wordy. How about simply, 'The Citizens of Westcrown declare freedom from Bastards of Erebus.' or 'The Free Citizens end the Bastards of Erebus.'"