"Yes, they are telling the truth about that," Bhaverra says. "Geoff is a bishop of Asmodeus and he's further inside the dungeon. As for who's right and who's wrong, that's a matter of perspective and the answer depends on who you ask. As for what you're supposed to be doing, you can either play along with Geoff's game or not. I have an alternative to offer, if you are so inclined. The beggar is up there because he raped a child two days ago. While I thought it would be better to execute him on the spot, Geoff decided to keep him around for this occasion. The noble is up there for six murders that didn't need to happen simply because he wanted some land deeds and didn't want to pay for them. Your business can be finished here with you either killing three or four more people or just one."
She glances at the red-haired gnome on the statue. "As for why I look like your friend, I haven't a clue."
At mention of what was done to the child and the murders she looks up at Tesia, "You can come down from there. They don't need our help....well...actually, geez I'm not sure yet. If you can hold on just a little longer Tesia I just need a minute or two to think." Looking back at the gnome she says, "We don't have time for silly games because our own home and everyone in it is in danger of being wiped out, so the sooner we can be done with this and figure out how to make things better for the people down here the better, because I'm ready to get back home to my own child. If you have a better way of getting through this, I'm all ears."
"I want you to get rid of Geoff," the gnome says, her expression unchanging. "He is a cancer upon this town and these people don't deserve to live among filth. This situation just breeds crime, anarchy and weakness. Of course, if you accept my help, I'll want something in return. Nothing that would go against your ethics, of course."
She nods her head, "We want to be rid of him too so your cause aligns with ours since I think the situation down here is deplorable and I can't stand to see people so miserable, no matter what they've done and the children definitely don't deserve to live like this. So...then would you be taking over this town then once we got rid of him? I don't think there is anything that you can ask that we won't try to accommodate within reason, especially if you're going to be helping us. I was just wondering though....how did you know who I was?" Jerking her thumb back up at the two in chains she asks, "So...do we really need them then? I was just gonna cut his stomach open to retrieve the item and try to heal him before he died from blood loss....but now I don't know what to do. For the crimes they committed they don't need to be let loose, that's for damn sure." She says sounding extremely angry.
"I have no aspirations to rule this cesspit. There is no way to grow food or build adequate shelters without stealing provisions from the city above. I'd rather see these people returned to Lysse," Bhaverra answers. "Some of them will need to stand trial for their crimes. As for those two, I can deal with them if you don't want to stain your hands."
The gnome lets out a sigh. "You're not hard to miss, Arista. I keep a large social circle and I have been keeping tabs on your group for some time. Since your adventures in Aquines, if you must know."
Alethiro, while still to the side of Arista, took half a step forward, "If you don't want to rule here, then what do you want? Is it really just as simple as getting these people back to the surface?"
"Huh....I see. Our hands won't be stained by the likes of them. I just didn't know if we still needed the thing he swallowed or not. We will talk to the baron and see if something like that can be arranged. I don't want them to keep suffering either...but we can't stay here forever trying to fix everything either." She thinks for a bit, "So...if you've been following us since Aquines, why didn't you approach us sooner? We might have been able to avoid a lot of this....but then again things have been kind of crazy and we've just been handling everything as soon as we can while trying to put out fires along the way so I guess I could understand why you didn't say something sooner...plus I'm still pretty pissed at Asmodeous for being a sanctimonious lying hypocrite."
"Yes, I'm well aware of your hatred of Asmodeus," Bhaverra says to Arista. "That is, in part, why I've kept my distance until now."
She then turns to Alethiro. "Yes, it as simple as that, provided you speak with the Baron and explain what has been going on down here. And that is tied into my request. I want you to put in a good word with the Baron for me. That's it. I shall handle getting these people back to Lysse from there."
She returns her attention to Arista. "You don't need anymore badges. Mine will allow entrance to every part of this dungeon, save Geoff's sanctum. Actually, if you would care for some food, we have some time to spare. Geoff needs to stew in his paranoia a little longer before we pay him a visit."
She nods as she brings a hand to her belly subconsciously, "Okay...I guess they could use something to eat...as long as it doesn't take too long. There are things that we still need to take care of as well before we can see to Jarrah and putting an end to her madness. I am a big enough person to realize that just because someone chooses to follow Asmodeus..even though I don't understand why, that it doesn't automatically make them my enemy...unless they feel like starting $hit with me or get in my way, or are doing things that I can't allow to continue. I hate him with every fiber of my being and will stop at nothing to keep him from completing his nefarious plots. It pisses me off that he has MY Goddess ostracized and cut off her power for interfering when he's doing the same DAMN thing. I will make him sorry for EVERYTHING he has done, but I can only do that if we can get through this first. Okay...I'm sorry, I know I'm ranting a bit but it really really does piss me off." Taking a deep breath she looks at Tesia, "Go ahead and come down. They deserve whatever happens to them for the things they've done." Looking at Sadhana with that knowing look she says, "Do whatever you see fit, I guess either wait for Teisa to move and drop them....or just end them." She says as she is barely able to restrain the rage she feels.
Moving out from underneath the child rapist she goes glides towards the others and changes back to herself. Sighing she says, "If we're gonna take the time to eat, then you're eating too Arista. I don't care if you have some silly ring, real nourishment will be good for you and the baby."
She just sighs and shakes her head.
Taking Ylrhea in her arms, Sadhana flies down setting her love down with a look at Bhaverra. Returning Arista's look with a nod, she flies back up to hover at eye contact with the beggar holding his head up.
"Do you admit to your crime?" she asks in a voice so calm that it chills those closest to her.
As Sadhana addresses the beggar, Arista pulls out her flaming sword and spreads her wings. With a look at Bhaverra she nods before leaping up in the air and flying in front of the noble. Holding her sword at her side, she forces him to look at her. "So....you think your position gives you the right to kill people if they have something that you want? The ones that you killed, did they have families?" She asks, fully expecting an answer.
The beggar and noble glance at Bhaverra. The beggar nods. "Aye, I did as she said."
The noble is a bit more defensive. "It is the way of the world. I know not if they had families nor do I care."
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Her face turns into a scowl as he shows little concern for the suffering that he caused. Looking at Bhaverra she says, "When this is all said and done...I want whatever assets he has to be divided among those he hurt with his actions. All of it." Looking at him she says, "No...it's not the way of the world. It's the way of one greedy bastard that couldn't bear the thought of someone else having what he wanted, so he took it with little regard for the pain and suffering that he was causing others. Don't worry though....if you have a family...we won't be as callous as you."
With tears of anger and frustration she runs her fingers along the edge of her sword, giving it a much sharper and deadlier look. Looking him in the eyes she says, "As ye sow, so shall ye reap. May the Gods reward you with what you truly deserve according to your deeds in this life." She says before bringing her blade down upon him.
Once again standing next to Rhadaya she watches as Arista's outrage turns to righteous fury at the lack of remorse in the response of the man who killed purely out of greed. As she sees Arista raise her flaming sword above her head, Tesia's eyes get a little wide at the realization that Arista fully planned on ending this man, not that she blamed her for doing so....but Arista who used to be so rational and sought out the best in everyone, was more often losing her temper and allowing her emotions to rule her actions. She was becoming emotionally unstable and even though the reasons behind it could be understandable....the end results could prove disastrous for them if she lost it at the wrong time.
As she watches Arista nearly cleave the man in half her eyes go a little wide and she covers her mouth with one of her hands. Turning away from the grisly scene she looks at the Ylrhea look alike, "Uummmm...if it's okay I have a question. You said before that Arista's hatred of Asmodeus was part of the reason you had kept your distance. I would then assume that there was something else that was keeping you from approaching them. I was just wondering why you had been following them...us...all this time, and what else was keeping you from approaching?" She asks, not sure how else to phrase the question.
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Her face like stone, eyes glittering with rage, Sādhanā looks into the man's eyes. "That you would commit such a heinous act, against anyone, but especially proves you worse than a monster....a demon that can never again be allowed to prey on the innocent." the magus says icily, grasping the beggar's hair and pulling his head back to look in his eyes. "Justice has returned to Zahvroma."
With a deft, deliberate motion she plunges Oblivion up through the rapist's throat, twisting her blade, all the while locking his fading gaze.
"A good enough reason," Bhaverra answers, glancing at the magus and warpriestess momentarily. "I could have approached you and asked for your help with Geoff, but, at best, you would have turned me away, considering you had other matters to deal with at the time."
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She nods, "Yeah...I can understand that. Things have been...difficult for a while now and every time we turn around it seems like we're being toyed with, attacked, or misled some other way by people who just want to use us. So I guess everything works out the way it's supposed to in the end." She says as she tries to block out the sounds of humans being cored out like apples.
"Perhaps," Bhaverra says, giving Ylrhea a cursory glance.
No stranger to field executions, Rhadaya squeezes her wife's hand as she turns away.
Lea, silent for the most part as usual, glances at the two gnomes. "Are you two related?"
"Not that I know of," Ylrhea says. "I'm an orphan."
Bhaverra does not answer, but simply waits for everyone to gather so they can move on.
With little to contribute to the matter, Eldan joins the Asmodean. "You seem pretty low-key for a devil-worshiper."
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"I don't care for devils," Bhaverra answers. "But circumstances led me to become a follower of Asmodeus. I suppose I seem more like a follower of Abadar."
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Still getting used to her wings, she turns back towards the others as viscera drips from her and lands a little less than gracefully back beside Alethiro. As she waits for Sadhana she tries to take some deep breaths and shake off the rage she feels. It only lessened slightly at the execution of the cold-hearted murderer and she knew that feeling all this anger probably wasn't good for the baby, but it was so hard to quell her feelings at this point. Trying to get her feelings under control she just continues to take slow deep breaths.
Tesia gives Rhy's fingers a little squeeze to let her know that she's okay, grateful for the contact as well as the comfort. This kind of thing wasn't really her scene.
Landing quietly, Sādhanā looks at her beloved then back at the heavily armored Asmodean. "Ready when you are." she says, flicking the blood off her blade and sheathing him before laying a hand on Arista's shoulder.
Not realizing she was still gripping her sword tightly she tries to find a clean spot on the back of her skirt to wipe hers off as well before sheathing it. When Sadhana puts her hand on her shoulder, she doesn't mean to but she jerks away from her. Though not roughly she just didn't feel like being touched at the moment, because if she allowed that contact...someone silently telling her that it was okay to feel everything she was feeling right now...she would absolutely without a doubt lose it and she just couldn't do that right now. Shaking her head she just says quietly, "Please....just please not right now. I just....I can't." She then gestures for Bhaverra to lead the way without looking back.
Knowing that there was nothing she could say to make Arista feel better right now, she just keeps her mouth shut and waits to move out.
Bhaverra leads the way to the main chamber and pulls out the symbol from her pauldron. Setting it in the pillar, the pentagram lights up and reveals a stairway leading down. Silently, she leads you through a hallway before coming to a simple door. She opens it and enters first. You see three individuals sitting at a small, plain table and they look up at you. "Bhaverra, are these the ones you were talking about?"
Addressing the aasimar with ebon hair and ruby-colored eyes in dark robes, Bhaverra nods. "Yes, these are them. Arista, everyone, this is Genelle, Kyne and Astria."
A stout-looking dwarf with a messy tangle of chestnut hair to match his equally tangled chestnut beard nods at you. His amber eyes betray a sense of warmth and coldness at the same time. The third person is a catfolk woman with sleek black fur and green eyes that flit about the room as if she were capturing each detail. "We'rrre honorrred."
"Who are they, Bhaverra?" Eldan asks hesitantly.
"Others who served Geoff but no longer wish to," Bhaverra answers. "I thought it'd also be best to get any unpleasantness out of the way before engaging the enemy."
Feeling a little weird at being "known" she just stands there quietly as she tries to speak without letting her emotions overwhelm her. After a few minutes she says a bit quietly, "Ummm...hello." While trying very hard to keep her voice steady, she can't seem to help the slight shakiness or tiredness that it seems to carry with it. Not wanting to risk saying more and losing it she just merely nods at the gathered.
Tesia kind of gets a questioning look on her face, "Unpleasantness?"
"They serve Asmodeus as I do, though their loyalty is subject to change," Bhaverra says. "By sharing a meal together, it would reduce the likelihood of mistrust arising while we finish this sordid matter. There are many who still serve Geoff and we may have to fight them."
Astria nods. "I prrreferrr not being stabbed in the back."
Reigning in her own feelings about Asmodeus to complete a common goal she says, "I have no problem working with, or eating with any of you. Who you serve doesn't really matter...it's not your God or Goddess that define you or even what you say...but your actions. Those that serve Geoff may or may not realize what a lying little twit he is, or that fact that they're just being used to benefit him...but we will do whatever we have to in order to be rid of him. I can put aside my absolute loathing for Assface, if all of you can trust us enough to help you put an end to his tyranny. I don't like people who use others plain and simple." Looking around she takes a deep breath before continuing, "I'm sorry...there's a lot on our plates right now, but when we were sent it it was to save this town, and I don't believe that it was just about Lysse, but that we're here for everyone...to help everyone in whatever capacity we are able. We left somewhere once before...before we completely finished something we were supposed to do, not on purpose...but still, and it had disastrous results. We will not leave here until we are sure that everyone is okay and that walking pile of filth is more than dead. I promise all of you on all that I hold sacred that I will not harbor any feelings of ill will against any of you, or stab any of you in the back and ask the same in return. My feelings about Assface are my own and I have my own very personal and warranted reasons for them, but they WILL NOT get in the way of doing what's right and I do not hold the lot of you accountable for what that underhanded lower life form did or is trying to do right now as a matter of fact." Looking around she asks, "Is that promise enough for all of you?"
Sādhanā studies the four as Arista speaks, taking in their reactions. Bhaverra at least did seem more like a stern follower of Abadar than an Asmodean and Kyne's eyes seemed carry a touch of kindness. Perhaps there was hope for the under-city in their hands.
Kyne furrows his brows for a moment before smiling at Arista. "We have all known suffering in our lives and that drives to make the choices that we make, to either confront our problems or escape from them. It may be hard to believe...no, perhaps, it wouldn't be. There are zealots from all walks of life...My family was slaughtered by Saraenites."
Genelle nods. "My fiance was taken away by Iomedeans because we didn't fit their ideals for aasimars. I don't know if he's dead or not."
Astria simply shrugs. "Everyone reaps what they sows, no matter which god they follow. If we held everyone accountable for the god they serve, there would never be a chance at peace."
Kyne looks at Bhaverra expectantly. "I don't feel like sharing my life story, Kyne. I'll get lunch started."
She goes to the kitchen that adjoins her room and starts slicing some bread. Kyne nods solemnly.
"So, we promise not to betray you," Genelle says. "We all have something to gain from getting rid of Geoff. I can finally resume my search."
Arista nods as she takes in everything they were saying. She tried not to judge others just because they were different, but sometimes it was hard not to go into a situation with pre conceived notions of what to expect. Swallowing she takes a breath, "I get it....I do and when this is all over and we get our sister back from Nicae I just hope we get back in time to stop....Asmodeus is working with a crazy bi+<# Jarrah to completely wipe out our home and everyone in it. The only real family I have left is in Valwick and I will not allow anything to take them from me. Then we have to deal with my brother....he somehow became a graveknight and may or may not be evil, so we may have to end him even though I've been looking for him ever since I was freed from the shard I was trapped in for over five hundred years by someone who was supposedly "good".....so yeah....familiar with the whole suffering thing. If this journey has taught me anything it's that things are not always what they seem. Nothing is ever black and white and sometimes lines need to be crossed to serve a common goal. Personally I try not to judge others based on anything other than how they treat me or the ones I love.....I just....I don't know it's hard to put some things into words." She says before blushing slightly, "Sorry, I don't mean to talk so much....it's just been really....complicated and difficult lately." She finishes as she quickly wipes at her eyes while leaning into Alethiro for support.
Bhaverra starts searing some meat. "Good, we're all agreed then."
"When you are able to resume your search, let us know if that's something you need help with. There may be someone at home who may have heard something about the Iomedan order's activities." Sādhanā says earnestly.
She nods, "Yeah....I think we can all agree that things here can't continue as they have been and that if we're going to bring any of the orphans here to try and find families for them here, that we have to make sure it's as safe as possible." Looking at Arista and the state she was in, her heart ached a bit as she knew how difficult this must be for her and wondered if Alethiro was going to do or say anything to comfort his wife, or if he was going to be oblivious as he had been before. Shaking her head she looks up at the warpriestess, "Are you going to be okay? Is the smell gonna bother you?"