Nurah starts silently at Konstantin's blatant threat, her eyes wide and innocent, the very picture of an innocent being wrongly pilloried.
Just for a moment before Nurah's face goes all doe-eyed and innocent hurt, the eyes go sharp and calculating.
Chancre shakes his head. Is he shaking it at Konstantin or Nurah?
"Silver tongue is not admirable amongst werewolves."
"Where I am from, it is quite prized. Although it does not mean the same thing to us as it would to you."
"Is it literal where you come from? A lot of things seem to be."
"Not precisely. I would be said to have many silver parts, though none of them are silver as in the metal. Singling out my tongue would be most strange. As it is not really even silver-colored."
Konstantin pauses. "Though I have not seen it in some time. It is possible it has changed since then."
"So what is the context, then?"
"Those of the dragon's bloodline, of course." Konstantin pauses. "Now only me."
"So you are considered silver? You've certainly bulked up since I first met you. I assume that's another bloodline ability which is now only you."
Chancre thinks for a minute. "Is that dominant or a recessive bloodline? I'm hoping it's dominant unless you're planning on being the last of your blood. There's power there, but it always felt festery to me. Better sire than dregs."
"He is a little more imposing now, yes." Samirah says, a little twinkle in her eye.
"My ancestor is a silver dragon, yes. Sometimes the bloodline breeds true, other times it does not. There were instances of the three families crossing... and crossing again."
"So there are dragons, but it's not dragons all the way down."
"One singular dragon. At a specific point."
Konstantin frowns.
"Why the sudden interest in my ancestry?"
"Never thought about it until you mentioned it. I got nothing special going on over here in my ancestrals."
"And my imagination is getting quite the workout envisioning what a cross between you and Samirah might look like. People husbandry never was one of my hobbies, though."
Konstantin responds without having to think it over. "Such a child would look like a ruler of mortals."
It's hard to tell if Samirah is blushing or not, what with the bronzed skin, but... she does have a weird little smile on her face.
"I have wondered that myself." She blurts out.
The maybe blush deepens. She stands a little taller and coughs politely. "I mean... yes. Such a child could be nothing less."
She turns to busy herself with rearranging items that probably don't need rearranging.
Back at the Kenabres encampment (now protected by the walls of Drezen that they bleed to gain) the mood is soberly bright. The priestess of Deskari walks through the camp of her enemy with an impossibly straight back. Joran is glum about his own imprisonment, but thoughtful. He seems cheered when Aravashnial brings him food and stays during the meal. Nurah's imprisonment is quiet but overly dramatic, with the small halfling giving the impression of her cell being a completely unnecessary component.
All five of you are heartily invited to stewpots and a special cache of meat brought from the city/
He is strongly of the opinion that the woman should be bound and gagged as well though.
After most people have turned in and watches have been set, Sosiel approaches the fire with the most of the group available, his normally upbeat features marred by a heavy frown and lines of worry. Shifting from foot to foot, he hands four vials to the group - two empty and two filled with a dark black substance that clings to the glass when inverted. As soon as he hands the small items, Sosiel unconsciously rubs his hands on the thighs of his pants.
The healer starts, his words failing before they reach his lips. He slumps down on a rock, shakes his head. Sosiel's voice, normally a rich tenor, is hollow, "I found that in Aron's bag."
He tries to go on from that, but loses the words, "Nurah's comment." His voice drops here, not wanting the words to carry to the army around, "They... worried me."
"Aron came to the Worldwound as a criminal conscript." Sosiel shrugs, "He found a purpose with he was with the Condemned, enough that he was reassigned." Here Sosiel's words stutter, going quiet, "The mercenary group he was linked to wasn't the... best. He fell into even worse addictions than the ones that got him here in the first place."
Just a hint of Sosiel's soft smile peeks through the bleakness of his face, "He didn't want to be, he was looking for support in breaking his addiction when we met. He's been working on it for five years." His voice is flat, "And actually clean for four years."
"I don't know where he got this shit, but..." Sosiel's shoulders slump.
Konstantin will approach Gore and Irabeth. "I must agree. I am... somewhat familiar with the capture and maintenance of witches. Though it seems cruel, we are saving lives by binding and gagging such creatures. We should continue our interrogation as well, and as soon as possible, put her on trial for whatever crimes she may have committed."
"I would like to study these in the morning, when my arcane reserves are not tapped," Konstantin says, indicating the vials.
In the camp, although she's visibly tired, Samirah attempts to raise spirits (and distract from any long glances in Nurah's direction) with song and general performance while the encampment dines and unwinds.
At Sosiel's explanation, a little light bulb goes on over Samirah's head as she seems to recall Aron's twitchier-than-normal behavior of the last couple days. She walks over and extends her arms for a hug.
"Is... would it be possible that he suffered withdrawals while we were inside Drezen? If he collapsed, ill, somewhere inside, it should be no trouble to find him and bring him back to be healed."
She casts a glance out into the darkness, chewing on her bottom lip. "If you give me just a few hours for sleep, I can wake and search for him first thing."
"I wonder if planting this stuff is what Nurah was doing in your tent that night," Chancre says to Sosiel. "I will help Samirah search. There is no finer tracker available."
Chancre puts his hand on Sosiel's shoulder. "I would not put too much stock in the words of our halfling friend. But if needs saving, even if from himself, we will do what we must."
Konstantin will approach Gore and Irabeth. "I must agree. I am... somewhat familiar with the capture and maintenance of witches. Though it seems cruel, we are saving lives by binding and gagging such creatures. We should continue our interrogation as well, and as soon as possible, put her on trial for whatever crimes she may have committed."
Irabeth nods, although the strain of the day shows in the small lines around her eyes and the hard line of her mouth. "I used similar methods when I hunted bounties." She sighs on an out breath, nodding even though doing so increases the invisible burden on her shoulders.
She looks at Konstantin, solemn, "It was easier when I believed that I wasn't turning people over for a death sentence." A momentary closing of her eyes paired with a deep intake of breath, "I'd think at least yourself and Chancre. The man is a living truth spell and she seems to respond better to bleak authority than more conciliatory questioning."
As Gore moves off with a seldom seen spring, Irabeth's voice calls him back. "The dwarf as well," a pause, quieter, "and Nurah." This last seem to sober Gore back to his more normal gruff exterior.
When Gore is gone, Irabeth shakes her head, "I..."
"I know it is more than likely, but do you think there is any chance we won't be sentencing any of those three to death?"
In a small sign of credit on the paladin's side, he does not start re-evaluating his argument to see where he went wrong.
"It is a matter for the courts, but if they require an executioner, I'll freeze them myself. It is through my actions they are captured, and I will insure a merciful death. They say it is just like going to sleep." Konstantin inspects his hands. "I suppose it was the jadwiga saying such things. Nevertheless, the burden is too heavy for a southerner to bear. Allow me."
In the camp, although she's visibly tired, Samirah attempts to raise spirits (and distract from any long glances in Nurah's direction) with song and general performance while the encampment dines and unwinds.
It doesn't work as completely as Samirah may wish, but she does create a large pocket of goodwill that elevates the spirits of a number of the army. Especially those standing watch after a hard day of blood and demon death.
At Sosiel's explanation, a little light bulb goes on over Samirah's head as she seems to recall Aron's twitchier-than-normal behavior of the last couple days. She walks over and extends her arms for a hug.
At the offer, Sosiel wraps Samirah in a tight, brotherly embrace. After a bit of time, he releases his hold with a soft kiss high on Samirah's cheekbone. "Thank you, Lady Samirah."
"Is... would it be possible that he suffered withdrawals while we were inside Drezen? If he collapsed, ill, somewhere inside, it should be no trouble to find him and bring him back to be healed."
She casts a glance out into the darkness, chewing on her bottom lip. "If you give me just a few hours for sleep, I can wake and search for him first thing."
"It is possible, but," he shakes his head rather than voicing the darker possibilities. "I was hoping to find nothing," Sosiel's smile neither lightens his face nor reaches his eyes, "but when... You needed to know, in case it ends up being... bad."
Chancre puts his hand on Sosiel's shoulder. "I would not put too much stock in the words of our halfling friend. But if needs saving, even if from himself, we will do what we must."
Sosiel briefly squeezes Chancre's hand in acknowledgement of the touch, "I truly believed that he was part being his own enemy, but," he shakes his head, "he needs to want to save himself." Bleak realism underlying Sosiel normally more upbeat tone.
"It is a matter for the courts, but if they require an executioner, I'll freeze them myself. It is through my actions they are captured, and I will insure a merciful death. They say it is just like going to sleep." Konstantin inspects his hands. "I suppose it was the jadwiga saying such things. Nevertheless, the burden is too heavy for a southerner to bear. Allow me."
"The weight of the nesscisity doesn't only fall on the hand of the executioner, but the is a noble offer."
Irabeth centers herself with a deep breath, "My goddess shows me the importance of destroying evil and I know that some will never chose to turn from the dark path, but I prefer giving people a chance at a new path. Redemption may be rate but I want to believe it is possible."
A little bit of the tension leaves Irabeth's shoulders. "It had been uplifting to see your charge starting on that path, even when she is faced by disbelief and harsh words."
Roshan attempts to help Samirah lift the spirits of the (new) defenders of Drezen, putting on a display of his own and perhaps pretending to be anyone possibly mentioned in her songs. He is obviously not an actor, but he is trying.
A little bit of the tension leaves Irabeth's shoulders. "It had been uplifting to see your charge starting on that path, even when she is faced by disbelief and harsh words."
"Pan continues to impress me. She was never given the freedom of choice, and now that she has it, she has been showing she is worthy of such trust."
"I wonder if planting this stuff is what Nurah was doing in your tent that night," Chancre says to Sosiel. "I will help Samirah search. There is no finer tracker available."
Even if he wasn't, Samirah assumes he was speaking about her, and stands a little straighter with pride. "Oh you." She says cheerfully. "At least, no more persistent tracker available. And I will be happy to have your company."
Roshan attempts to help Samirah lift the spirits of the (new) defenders of Drezen, putting on a display of his own and perhaps pretending to be anyone possibly mentioned in her songs. He is obviously not an actor, but he is trying.
Samirah welcomes his help and plays off of his acting like he's the world's best.
Sosiel briefly squeezes Chancre's hand in acknowledgement of the touch, "I truly believed that he was part being his own enemy, but," he shakes his head, "he needs to want to save himself." Bleak realism underlying Sosiel normally more upbeat tone.
Samirah nods in response, a sympathetic look on her face. "We will hope for the best and prepare for the worst, as we do. Surely there is nothing better than the love of a good man that could keep Aron away for long. It is the best drug of all."
Her glance flits briefly to Konstantin before returning to Sosiel and Chancre.
Konstantin joins them, placing a hand lightly on Samirah's shoulder. "In the morning, I will have more magical energy to draw upon. A comrade should not be lost."
She wraps her fingers around his and squeezes. "I do feel more confident wandering these halls with a dragon by my side."
"I wonder if planting this stuff is what Nurah was doing in your tent that night," Chancre says to Sosiel.It takes a while with the heavy weight of exhaustion, but Anevia blinks at Chancre's comment, speculative curiosity waking her from a near sleep.
"Pan continues to impress me. She was never given the freedom of choice, and now that she has it, she has been showing she is worthy of such trust."Irabeth nods, the lines of tension slightly less grim, her eyes moving past the group at the fire to the blanket wrapped form of Pan in the shadows, asleep but close enough to jump to a request. "I worry that she'll be dragged into something heavier than she can bear."
Samirah nods in response, a sympathetic look on her face. "We will hope for the best and prepare for the worst, as we do. Surely there is nothing better than the love of a good man that could keep Aron away for long. It is the best drug of all."
Her glance flits briefly to Konstantin before returning to Sosiel and Chancre.
Sosiel isn't as reassured as Samirah would probably like, his eyes looking sideways at Irabeth, "It is a vice that should have gotten him exiled from the crusade, but" he looks back at Samirah, "I really believed he had," a shake of his head, "I really hope that he fell to temptation presented. I want to hope he didn't seek out this evil shit on his own."
The night passes almost quietly - the keen-eared among you can pick up the distant hoots and yells and openness of the wounded lands beyond the battered but solid walls of Drezen - but nothing disturbs the night violently. The next day barely dawns though with a thick fogbank and heavy clouds blanketing the city in gloom. Behind you the citadel still holds a squat menace despite the hard actions of the group the day before.
Still going strong despite another sleepless night, you see Irabeth talking to a hand of crusaders. When you come out of your tents, she waves you over. "I'm sending a report back to Queen Galfrey, do you have anything to go along?"
"I have similar worries, but I will not abandon her to bear them alone."
Konstantin examines the black liquid. After casting a spell, he scowls. "Demon's blood," he says. "It should be destroyed. Although I can understand why he might choose to use such enhancement."
Sosiel isn't as reassured as Samirah would probably like, his eyes looking sideways at Irabeth, "It is a vice that should have gotten him exiled from the crusade, but" he looks back at Samirah, "I really believed he had," a shake of his head, "I really hope that he fell to temptation presented. I want to hope he didn't seek out this evil s!&! on his own."
"You knew him far better than I. We will do what we can to see him safely returned, and from there..." she shrugs.
Samirah slept the sleep of the dead, and wakes a maybe an hour or two before the rest of the camp generally starts to stir. She watches the sun rise with a blanket wrapped around her.
When Irabeth has gathered the group, Samirah taps a finger against her lips. "Do you already have something in the report? What is worth telling a Queen?" She asks, and you know her well enough to know that she'd err on the side of telling the Queen every detail.
"Demon's blood," he says. "It should be destroyed. Although I can understand why he might choose to use such enhancement."
"People actually drink that?" She asks, sounding horrified.
"I have similar worries, but I will not abandon her to bear them alone."A shift of the half-orc's shoulder, a lightness in her green eyes. "Anevia said you wouldn't leave any of us to do so."
"You knew him far better than I. We will do what we can to see him safely returned, and from there..." she shrugs.
Sosiel nods, "I love him," his smile is bright in that simple truth, "I don't think he loves himself, but he pulled himself out before."
Samirah slept the sleep of the dead, and wakes a maybe an hour or two before the rest of the camp generally starts to stir. She watches the sun rise with a blanket wrapped around her.
Although it is a lackluster change from pure black to grey gloom - Samirah is not alone in waiting for some light to return to the world.
When Irabeth has gathered the group, Samirah taps a finger against her lips. "Do you already have something in the report? What is worth telling a Queen?" She asks, and you know her well enough to know that she'd err on the side of telling the Queen every detail.
"So far it is just a summary of the mission as it stands, the types of forces we encountered, our current status." Her tone rises a bit to include all of you in the discussion, "I also want to send the maps showing the possible invasion route, but I'm debating sending each of the men alone with part or trusting the whole of it to the five together."
"Demon's blood," he says. "It should be destroyed. Although I can understand why he might choose to use such enhancement.""People actually drink that?" She asks, sounding horrified.
Gore passing by comments, "The weak willed use it to bolster their courage, taking on the insanity of chaos in a pointless bid to gain strength."
"It's a stupid risk." His voice goes rough, "And it as good as betraying the crusade to use anything that taints you with such evil."
Sosiel briefly squeezes Chancre's hand in acknowledgement of the touch, "I truly believed that he was past being his own enemy, but," he shakes his head, "he needs to want to save himself." Bleak realism...
"Yes, but sometimes people forget things and need reminding. Talking is something I can do."
It takes a while with the heavy weight of exhaustion, but Anevia blinks at Chancre's comment, speculative curiosity waking her from a near sleep.
Chancre settles onto the ground near where she was sleeping. "I thought I caught her sneaking around, including into and through Aron and Sosiel's tent. I confronted her, and we had a very confusing conversation. I kept an eye on her after that, but should have put my tongue on the job to spread the word."
"The map question is a sound tactical question, and I admit that I am not a tactical thinker."
Chancre scratches at his head, and a small tuft of hair drifts slowly toward the ground.
"I would tell the queen that Nurah has been lost. I can think of plenty of reasons why you might not choose to do so."
"I would tell the queen that Nurah has been lost. I can think of plenty of reasons why you might not choose to do so."
"I've put in what we know she did and what we suspect she is." Her voice is very quiet, not carrying beyond the small huddle of the group, "I fear that she is not lost so much as never ours."
"That's not an improvement," Chancre sighs. "Oh -- I meant to ask last night, but it slipped my mind. Staunton -- the dwarf who took your existence personally -- had you ever met him before?"
The corner of Roshan's mouth twitches almost imperceptibly.
"I also want to send the maps showing the possible invasion route, but I'm debating sending each of the men alone with part or trusting the whole of it to the five together."
Roshan seems to consider for a few moments, stands a bit straighter, taps his chest with his right fist, then makes a grasping motion bringing items towards him then sweeps his hand off in the distance somewhere in the direction of Kenabres.
"I did not want to interrupt you earlier today, but I noticed you were sketching the sunrise?"
Gore passing by comments, "The weak willed use it to bolster their courage, taking on the insanity of chaos in a pointless bid to gain strength."
"It's a stupid risk." His voice goes rough, "And it as good as betraying the crusade to use anything that taints you with such evil."
Samirah makes a face. "The desire to rely on something like that for strength..." she shakes her head. "I suppose it is merely a tool, like magic. But I also understand how hard it would be to give up that kind of power once you grew accustomed to it. Even if it was demon flavored."
"I've put in what we know she did and what we suspect she is." Her voice is very quiet, not carrying beyond the small huddle of the group, "I fear that she is not lost so much as never ours."
"That's not an improvement," Chancre sighs.
"Will we keep her imprisoned here, then, until we can find out where her loyalties lay?" She pauses. "In the report, would it also be worth mentioning the priestess we have taken prisoner and what she was attempting to do before we ended the fight?"
"So far it is just a summary of the mission as it stands, the types of forces we encountered, our current status." Her tone rises a bit to include all of you in the discussion, "I also want to send the maps showing the possible invasion route, but I'm debating sending each of the men alone with part or trusting the whole of it to the five together."
"How well do you trust the men? More or less than Nurah? And how useful would each segment be without the others?"
The sketchbook looks to be over half used, based on the location of the most recent picture.
"Will we keep her imprisoned here, then, until we can find out where her loyalties lay?" She pauses. "In the report, would it also be worth mentioning the priestess we have taken prisoner and what she was attempting to do before we ended the fight?"
"Nurah is well liked both by my men and officials back in the city." Irabeth's voice is tight, "She had provided reliable and useful intelligence to the crusade, which is why she held a position in Galfrey's court."
Irabeth shakes her head, "If she has been working for the Abyss this whole time," a heavy breath, "I think she will be far more likely to slip out of her actions if she is just sent to the city."
"Plus, if she has a means to contact the enemy, I'd worry that she'd call in a rescue as soon as she is distanced from the army at large."
"How well do you trust the men? More or less than Nurah? And how useful would each segment be without the others?"
"I've fought along side all of them, saved and been saved by them." Irabeth's shakes her head, "Of course, Nurah was the same until Drezen."
She looks around making sure that no one is paying to close attention to the conference, "I personally saw each of them channel Iomeadae's faith into martial prowess yesterday when they fought the demons. I can not think of a better test that they have not fallen." More conversationally, "Each has been serving in active duty for over a year. If they encounter a enemy patrol they will have a better chance of combating it together, but there are valid points to not placing all your eggs in a single basket."
"That's not an improvement," Chancre sighs. "Oh -- I meant to ask last night, but it slipped my mind. Staunton -- the dwarf who took your existence personally -- had you ever met him before?"
The sudden shift in conversation takes Irabth completely off guard, stumbling her into silence. With a choked quarter laugh, "He is the reason I'm the head of the Eagle Watch for one."
A shake of her head, "Earlier this year, one of Anevia's scouting missions indicated that the demons had a high level mole in Kenabres. After a great deal of very careful and very quiet investigation," a small smile, "which cleared the more obvious possibilities, I had found that many disturbing happenstance involved the Hammers of Heaven crusader group. About a month before the Kenabres attack, I set a trap and their leader Staunton Vhane fell into it."
Her face is somber as she continues, "Once I had the evidance, dutifully turned over to my superiores and Lord Hulrun, I was included in the group of the Watch sent to apprehend him." She shakes her head, "None of us expected him to be as strong as he was, turns out he always held back his true ability. He tore through the commander before any of us could react. By the end of it, I was wounded, barely chasing him towards the Kite and he turned with a blow that knocked me to the ground near dead. Found out later that the fight had drawn the guards and he escaped on that damn wasp."
"I failed. He escaped. And they rewarded me because I was the only one that survived my f&~# up. I guess he was informed who managed to pierce his cover though."
Samirah makes a face. "The desire to rely on something like that for strength..." she shakes her head. "I suppose it is merely a tool, like magic. But I also understand how hard it would be to give up that kind of power once you grew accustomed to it. Even if it was demon flavored."
Gore shakes his head, "Strength that you develop within yourself, even if it comes in the form of magic rather than muscles, requires you to improve yourself. Sometimes one needs a crutch to improve themselves - belts that aid strength. But you always have a choice in what crutches you use. One that is formed from pure evil is," Gore can't find the right word but the look of disgust tinged with pity says it for him.
"Nurah is well liked both by my men and officials back in the city." Irabeth's voice is tight, "She had provided reliable and useful intelligence to the crusade, which is why she held a position in Galfrey's court."
Irabeth shakes her head, "If she has been working for the Abyss this whole time," a heavy breath, "I think she will be far more likely to slip out of her actions if she is just sent to the city."
"Plus, if she has a means to contact the enemy, I'd worry that she'd call in a rescue as soon as she is distanced from the army at large."
Samirah nods. "All very legitimate concerns." She looks to Chancre, lowering her voice when she speaks next. "I do not know much about inquisition, but the impression I had was that you could... encourage confessions. Could you get information out of Nurah? Something more than just whether or not she lies?" She looks back to Irabeth. "But what could she possibly say at this point to dispel the idea that she is guilty of being a traitor? And if there is nothing, what do we gain by not simply killing her now?"
Gore shakes his head, "Strength that you develop within yourself, even if it comes in the form of magic rather than muscles, requires you to improve yourself. Sometimes one needs a crutch to improve themselves - belts that aid strength. But you always have a choice in what crutches you use. One that is formed from pure evil is," Gore can't find the right word but the look of disgust tinged with pity says it for him.
At this response, Samirah looks a little stunned, and it's pretty clear she didn't put her magical equipment on the same level as drinking demon blood for strength.
"I... you are right, of course. We do choose our crutches." She looks away from Gore, out into the camp but not at anything in particular. "I spent so long determined to rely on nothing but my own strength and skill with a blade. It would only have been foolish pride that stopped me from accepting gifts that gave me skills I do not have naturally, but I certainly had options. Maybe Aron felt as though he did not have options." She looks back to Gore. "How easy would it have been for someone like Aron, or Nurah, to obtain demon's blood to use as a drug? And can it be any kind of demon's blood?"
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Samirah readies her equipment, preparing to go back into Drezen. She addresses anyone present in the camp. "I will resume the search for Aron. Konstantin, Chancre, I know I will have the pleasure of your company... who else will be joining us?"
"I've fought along side all of them, saved and been saved by them." Irabeth's shakes her head, "Of course, Nurah was the same until Drezen."
She looks around making sure that no one is paying to close attention to the conference, "I personally saw each of them channel Iomeadae's faith into martial prowess yesterday when they fought the demons. I can not think of a better test that they have not fallen."
Konstantin's expression deepens into a frown. "I dislike the concept of a religious test being the metric to decide whether someone is truly on the side of the demons. I do not worship your deity, nor any others, and let anyone question my righteousness."
He allows the stern words to sink in, before addressing the other concern. "A group of five should not be fighting anyone. I would prefer swift messengers to strong in any case. Regardless, split the map and send them separately. This will encourage them to stay away from a conflict they might not win."
Samirah nods. "All very legitimate concerns." She looks to Chancre, lowering her voice when she speaks next. "I do not know much about inquisition, but the impression I had was that you could... encourage confessions. Could you get information out of Nurah? Something more than just whether or not she lies?" She looks back to Irabeth. "But what could she possibly say at this point to dispel the idea that she is guilty of being a traitor? And if there is nothing, what do we gain by not simply killing her now?"
"She has surrendered, and deserves a trial. I could... attempt... to read her mind. It would require me using magic with which I am not intimately familiar, and I have no idea the power of her defenses. Additionally, it would be only my word about what I found."
"She has surrendered, and deserves a trial. I could... attempt... to read her mind. It would require me using magic with which I am not intimately familiar, and I have no idea the power of her defenses. Additionally, it would be only my word about what I found."
Samirah chuckles. "If we cannot trust your word, we cannot trust the word of anyone around us." She inclines her head to Irabeth. "I would suggest letting Konstantin use his magic for this purpose, familiar with the power or not, but I would also defer to your judgment if you were not comfortable with the idea."
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Roshan seems to consider for a few moments, stands a bit straighter, taps his chest with his right fist, then makes a grasping motion bringing items towards him then sweeps his hand off in the distance somewhere in the direction of Kenabres.
Cautiously, "You want to go instead of them, Roshan?"
Konstantin's expression deepens into a frown. "I dislike the concept of a religious test being the metric to decide whether someone is truly on the side of the demons. I do not worship your deity, nor any others, and let anyone question my righteousness."
Irabeth nods, "It is not a metric I would normally use, but when I'm picking between men I know carry faith because of true hearts and faith it was the most expedite."
"She has surrendered, and deserves a trial. I could... attempt... to read her mind. It would require me using magic with which I am not intimately familiar, and I have no idea the power of her defenses. Additionally, it would be only my word about what I found."Samirah chuckles. "If we cannot trust your word, we cannot trust the word of anyone around us." She inclines her head to Irabeth. "I would suggest letting Konstantin use his magic for this purpose, familiar with the power or not, but I would also defer to your judgment if you were not comfortable with the idea."
Irabeth shakes her head, "It isn't my call," she nods to the group, "The five of you are the leaders of the expedition, I just try to make it so you don't have to worry about the minutia of running a army unit."
"Personally I'm not comfortable with physical torture nor mind-control. Telepathic listening comes very close to that line for me, but does not cross it."
"I can ensure that Nurah tells the truth, but it's the truth as she sees it. If she is honestly deluded, there is nothing that any of us can do. And she could simply choose not to talk."
Chancre shrugs. "I think there is little to be gained via that tactic."
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Cautiously, "You want to go instead of them, Roshan?"
Samirah looks to Roshan. "You could certainly make it there without attracting attention..." she says, sounding thoughtful. "But you would go alone? Would you want someone from our group to go with you?"
"I can ensure that Nurah tells the truth, but it's the truth as she sees it. If she is honestly deluded, there is nothing that any of us can do. And she could simply choose not to talk."
Chancre shrugs. "I think there is little to be gained via that tactic."
"That's true." She frowns.
Irabeth shakes her head, "It isn't my call," she nods to the group, "The five of you are the leaders of the expedition, I just try to make it so you don't have to worry about the minutia of running a army unit."
"Personally I'm not comfortable with physical torture nor mind-control. Telepathic listening comes very close to that line for me, but does not cross it."
After the responses from Irabeth and Chancre, she turns again to Konstantin. "I do not feel any discomfort with the thought of you listening to Nurah's thoughts. Perhaps I am not the best judge of morals." She shrugs. It's as close to suggesting that he do the thing as she's going to get.
"I don't know that we need to listen to Nurah's thoughts," opines Míril. "I mean, I don't think we need her confession. We've seen the evidence of her deeds. The real question is if she wants to offer a defense. If she does we just need to know if she is telling the truth or not. And that we can do."
"If she offers a truthful defense, even if it's just the truth as she knows it, we can take that into account when pronouncing judgement."
"I don't know that we need to listen to Nurah's thoughts," opines Míril. "I mean, I don't think we need her confession. We've seen the evidence of her deeds. The real question is if she wants to offer a defense. If she does we just need to know if she is telling the truth or not. And that we can do."
"I wish to determine how much she knows about the demons' plans and whether we can gain the advantage. It is doubtful she knows much, but anything could be useful."