"I reached out and took a leap of faith. And I was rewarded for it."
The hobgoblin prince looks at the reformed demon impassively. He know nothing of her goddess nor the metaphysics of how a demon could become good; but, ultimately, he didn't care. What he cared for was whether she could be useful.
"Do you know of a place called the Ivory Sanctum?"
"Yes. The leader of the Blackfire Adepts and the Templars call it home. The leader, Xanthir Vang is the one who hired the hag. As a show of good faith, I will take you there. The Ivory Sanctum is where they produce Nahyndrian elixirs which have been distributed to demons to greatly increase their power. "
"Your enemies are our enemies it would seem. I would see an end to the influx of empowered demons into my lands."
"Agreed. Do you wish to head straight to the Sanctum?"
"We should rest first, and recuperate, but then yes." Gorn-Rel looks to his allies for confirmation.
"Where? I had heard Drezen was freed from the demons. That was you correct?"
"It's called New Namaris know, but yes. That was us."
"So you've renamed it? Seems soon but alright. They will be accepting of me?" She says glancing at Larissa.
"Do you plan on murdering, corrupting, or terrorizing the population of the city?"
"No, but I tend to stand out in a crowd."
"It is a city of hobgoblins now. They lack human prejudices about appearances. As long as you aren't disrupting the peace, you are welcome in my family's kingdom."
"I expect that to be true. Lead the way." It takes a few hours but the group makes it back safely to the city.
After you make it back, Arueshalae will ask to speak with you in private. "While I am glad that you came to help, I must ask another favor. I am no longer what I once was, a being of pure sin. But I still struggle with my base instincts. I want to complete my redemption, but I need help. I don't believe I can do this on my own."
"Thank you. I need to perform penances before I can shed the last remaining evil clinging to me."
Aen seeks out his companions and explains the circumstances, as they were. ".....she needs redemption and she needs our help to accomplish it....
Redemption? What does that even mean? As long as she has stopped trying to unravel our world, then it doesn't matter what words they use.
Gorn-Rel keeps his confusion about the nature of ethic to himself.
"If helping her advances our goals and means that there are even one less enemy for us to face, then you have my support in this matter, Aen. Are there worshipers or priests of this . . . Desna close by? If not perhaps one can be sent for from Mendev. I think we should take our time and prepare for our assault."
Na’shok cocks an eyebrow at Aen. ”Redemption? How can we help? None of us are priests or saints.”
"Though I venerate Desna, I am certainly no priest." Aen says in reply to Gorn. Turning to Nash, he says. "There are a multitude of things she can do, to try to redeem herself, including helping us defeat the foes in the Ivory Sanctum. She could submit to a quest or geas. She could give quarter to an enemy, as well maintaing an anarchic with a worshipper of Desna."
Varda rubs her chin thoughtfully. "Do you trust her, Aenthurien?" she asks candidly.
Aen shrugs. "I don't know, but all deserve a chance for redemption, don't you agree?"
"That wasn't the question. If we're going to bring her along to the Ivory Sanctum, I need some assurance that she isn't going to betray us."
"There are few assurances in this world. I say we give her a chance, but watch her over the coming month. However, it seems foolish to destroy the possibility of a valuable alliance because we have no certainty. Trust must first be extended before it can be received. I took a large risk trusting the Queen of Mendev to honor her treaties with my kingdom, but so far that has born fruit. I say this demon deserves the same possibility of trust as some human. Betrayal, is not limited to one species."
Varda nods. "I wasn't suggesting not trusting her, just trying to obtain a bit of a demonstration of good faith beforehand."
"I think there may be a way to get such a demonstration. Wasn't there talk of other outposts and what was the word . . . knights? . . . harassing merchants? If she could provide intelligence on smaller threats, then wouldn't that be 'good faith?' It doesn't mean that she isn't playing a longer game, but it would be useful."
The dwarf-woman nods. "That would help. Maybe we could combine one of those excursions with... what was it you said, Aenthurien? A magically-compelled quest or geas?"
Aen shrugs and says. "For what its worth, until she proves otherwise, I trust her."
"I think Aen speaks wisely about trust. I know little of this redemption that is being bandied about. In my experience, evil is what one calls one's enemies and good is what one calls one's allies. Demon are usually the enemy of all. But why should that be necessary? If this demon is useful, then we should call her good."
One day, a few days after the party has returned from the cultist’s lair, Na’shok and Larissa meets with Arueshalae just outside the largest Desnan shrine as they’d arranged. The whole thing was far outside his comfort zone but Larissa seemed to savor every moment with the newcomer and Na’shok couldn’t deny that she was nice to look at. He nods toward the shrine’s star-etched doors.
”The priestess inside has agreed to meet with us. Let’s see if we can convince her to allow you the opportunity to serve here for a time.”
Gorn-Rel will enjoy the month of down time with his family.
Nash, Larissa, and Arueshalae walk into the shrine and are soon greeted by the head priestess, a woman by the name of Katherine. "I have heard rumors of a demon seeking redemption here. I did not think this to be true. I have seen a great many things but to see a reformed demon is a sight to behold. How can I help you?"
Aenthurien spends his time in town, training himself in the investigative arts, while trying to come up with a way to help Arueshalae.
Heaing about the meeting, Aen heads across town to join Nash, Larissa, and Arueshalae. "Er, sorry to intrude, I..uh...too, would like to help this..woman. She must repent for her sins to redeem herself. Are you able to provide her any guidance?" He asks the head priestess.
"I will try my best. Though I have a feeling more than advice is needed?"
[b]"Your feelings are correct. Something along the lines of a geas or quest. An atonement spell would be helpful as well."/[b]
"Those are both a bit more powerful miracles than I can provide I'm afraid."
One day while training, your younger brother Nimander approaches you. "I cannot believe you brother. It is one thing to ally with humans, elves, and even an orc, but a demon? Are you mad? She will bring ruin upon us. She is a demon, a succubus no less. What is in your head? How could you?"
"Do you know where we might find a person capable of such miracles? In the meantime, perhaps she could work on improving the shrine? Perhaps even an expansion? We will be here for a few weekes, then I assume Arueshalae will come with us, in order to fight the good fight."
"Mendev would be the closest city that would have a priest experienced enough for it. Well we don't have the funds for any renovations or expansions but if we did, her aid would be helpful."
"Are we like humans, Nimander, to judge by appearances? Demons are problems because they act demonically. If this woman is not corrupting our people or draining their life energy, then she is welcome here. Especially because she has information that will be useful against our enemies. She is here because she is useful. Unless you now have a problem with pragmatism, Nimander?"
"Demons are problems because they are demons. They are literally born of evil. It is not a choice to be a demon that one can just change their mind. It is in their blood and bile. And how many does she have to drain until she is unwelcome here? And what will you tell the families of those she will have slain? That they should feel better because you did not judge by appearance? I am being pragmatic. I am also not naive. What if she is just a spy, fooling you into believing everything that she says."
"If she drains even one, then she is unwelcome. If she betrays us, then she is unwelcome. If she becomes unwelcome she will be destroyed. I do not know how such transformations are possible, but I'm told by people whom I trust that they are. To me good and evil are just words we ascribe to things we either despise or love. I'm willing to take moderate risks for great rewards. If she betrays us, then I will destroy her. Until such time, I suggest you support rather than undermine me. It was through my efforts and alliances that father lives once again, that we have a kingdom recognized by other nations, and that a new divine magic flows to our people -- proof of our family's claim to rule. My risks have born fruit, brother. How much more could be done if I had your support."
"This is not some petty mercenary or warlord who could be turned to use with coin or a change of heart. You have to accept that there are some things that even we cannot change. I do support you brother. I do not support this decision however, there is a difference. I hope that you are right and that I am wrong. For all our sakes." And with that Nimander takes his leave.
"Stop, Nimander." Gorn-Rel calls.
His voice softens from his normal proud tone. "I regret insulting you. I apologize. While I do believe that our family can do anything -- rule is our destiny, I had not considered the possibility of her failure. If this demoness does not change, then our people are at risk. I wasn't worried because I don't think even her betrayal could harm us -- the family. I had not fully considered my responsibility to all of our people.
Will you aid me in this, brother?
Gather our sages. Have them investigate precedent for such a change. Have them examine the cell from which she escaped. I was told that it was god-touched. Have them investigate this foreign goddess . . . Desna. Bring me their report. I will contact the Queen of Mendev and ask her for more information. I will also request that she send a priestess of this Desna to oversee the demon. Moreover, I will do everything in my power to make sure this is successful or I will destroy her before she becomes a threat.
Thank you for reminding me of my duty, brother."