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"Come on Drusilla! I think I shot it down over there!" So it's not immune to electricity. Huh. Maybe just resistant to it? Thank GOODNESS it went down! Pai's mind chatters as she patters over to the body of the demonic gargoyle. Once there, she produces rope from her haversack and hands it to Drusilla. "Here. Start tying it up while I see if it's still alive. ... Oh, looks like it is, barely. Yeah, tie it up well. I have no idea if it can break through rope or not. Let's see what I can do to stabilize it. Dang! Who'd've thought I'd be applying first aid to a demon-gargoyle?!" Her words trip over themselves on the way out of her mouth as the adrenaline from the fight begins to drain from her system. Now it's just the leftover jitters talking (and talking...).
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Yaiho removes all items and cloths from the assassin before tying her up. He looks down at his handy work, "Good. Assassin defenseless now."
He puts the items/cloths obtain from the assassin into a pile to be investigated.
Searching through his backpack, he pulls out a wand and hands it over to Grunyak. "Wand heals Yaiho. Use on Yaiho, please."
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Yaiho removes all items and cloths from the assassin before tying her up. He looks down at his handy work, ".... ..... ... ..... ......."
He puts the items/cloths obtain from the assassin into a pile to be investigated.
Seeing Yaiho inspecting the fallen assassin, and trying to talk, Abaal rolls his eyes and shakes his head. I wonder if he knows that he will have to tell Grunyak the command phrase for that wand, and that the dwarf will have to speak it? Ah, they will figure it out.
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"Come on Drusilla! I think I shot it down over there!" So it's not immune to electricity. Huh. Maybe just resistant to it? Thank GOODNESS it went down! Pai's mind chatters as she patters over to the body of the demonic gargoyle. Once there, she produces rope from her haversack and hands it to Drusilla. "Here. Start tying it up while I see if it's still alive. ... Oh, looks like it is, barely. Yeah, tie it up well. I have no idea if it can break through rope or not. Let's see what I can do to stabilize it. Dang! Who'd've thought I'd be applying first aid to a demon-gargoyle?!" Her words trip over themselves on the way out of her mouth as the adrenaline from the fight begins to drain from her system. Now it's just the leftover jitters talking (and talking...).
"Ah, finally someone who can make themselves be heard over the magic. To think that one so small could sound so loud." He looks down at the felled monster. "What a strange fowl you have felled, little one. I assume you mean to keep this beast alive."
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"Given that the guards needed to keep the populace safe, it would be reasonable to expect them to take a minute or two to arrive," Angoldir replies calmly as he helps Yaiho tie up the unconscious woman. He nods in appreciation for the healing, offering his own wand for Torag's chosen to activate. "I fear her power was too strong for me at first," he offers by way of explanation.
"Drusilla, a moment please." Handing the ropes back to the half-orc, the aged elf stands and follows the human warrior. "I understand your wish to remove this evil from the world, but if it stays alive for the time being we can use what information we can glean from it to cross-reference what our other captive says." He gestures back at the unconscious woman. "Otherwise, we have only her word, and she has no reason to tell us anything, let alone the truth. Let them both stand trial for what they have done, but let us first learn what we can to prevent further tragedies like this from happening."
Pai manages to figure out just enough of the winged monster’s anatomy to keep it from bleeding out. Yaiho strips the Heart-Taker of her gear, ties her up, and makes a pile of equipment that includes masterwork studded leather armor, a buckler, a masterwork dagger, a grey cloak, and a brass key in the shape of a winged woman, arms outstretched, with a glowing halo around her head. Grunyak uses a minor spell to discern if any of the items are magical.
All of you hear footsteps ringing on the cobblestones in the distance—it sounds like the Watch is on its way, but you probably still have a couple of minutes before they arrive on scene.
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"Whew! Boy, that bestie is one weird gargoyle. They're not usually demons. So weird. But yeah, Drusilla, I was thinking that it could be questioned or something. Well, gosh! That's a cool looking key! I wonder what it goes to. Looks like we'll have some follow up work to do. Nice! Oooh! And hey! A buckler! I've been meaning to get one of those. I wonder if they'd mind if I try it out for a while. Just while we're working on this mission. I'd probably want a nicer one for myself, but it's nice to try something out for free, you know?" More chattering spills from the excitable gnome, as if the floodgates have been opened. She doesn't even seem to realize it's happening.
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Grunyak studies the cloak and the dagger more closely.
"The dagger and cloak are magically enchanted, but I really am no expert at such things." "The key has the shape of a holy symbol of Sarenrae."
The Ever-Resourceful Swordsman of Katapesh™ produces his discerning "blacklight" wayfinder and commands it to shed its unseen octarine-colored light over the items allowing Abaal to see, and hopefully interpret their magical auras.
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Since no one objects, Pai grabs the buckler to strap it on, only to pause immediately. "Oh, right. Too big. Rats."
Pai stands in the background during the questioning, miraculously silent and glaring at the Heart Taker. This was too easy. There's gotta be more to it than just these two. She holds up the key and gently runs it along her jawline, arching an eyebrow significantly as her eyes shoot daggers at the (presumed) murderer.
Grunyak uses a wand's healing magic to bring the Heart-Taker back to consciousness. But although the Pathfinders loom over her dangerously, she remains smugly silent in response to their questions.
Soon, Captain Kasadei and the rest of the City Watch support team burst into the alleyway. Looking over the scene, she looks pleased and impressed. "Sorry we're late--I had my officers approaching from different directions to cut off escape, but these streets are like a labyrinth." She looks over at your prisoner. "So, this is the Heart-Taker? She'll be spending a long, long time in the Hells. And I can guarantee there are no helpless victims there for her to prey on." Kasadei looks over at the bronze key that Pai is now holding and looks puzzled for a moment. "Where'd you get that? That old shrine has been abandoned for decades. When I interviewed some of the Sarenites, they told me about it."
Captain Kasadei answers Yaiho: "It's not far from here, actually--just a few blocks to the northwest. I haven't been there in years, but back before I was given a command position, I use to walk past it during my Underbridge beat. The place is so run-down that I never even realised it was once a shrine something like eighty years ago. The Sarenite I interviewed recently said that a priest named Vosten and a couple of acolytes thought building a "beacon of light in the Shadow" would further Sarenrae's glory. Sad to say, all three were murdered by thugs and that dream died quick." Kasadei sighs wistfully. "The Shadow isn't a place for hope."
Captain Kasadei walks over to examine the strange, red-hued fiendish gargoyle. "It looks like a demon to me. Standing orders from the Lord-Mayor and the Justice Court are that demons should be destroyed on sight--they can't be redeemed, and apparently many can easily escape even the most secure of holding cells. You caught it though, so I'll defer to your judgment."
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Shuddering, Pai turns away from the demonic gargoyle and Drusilla's eager expression, plaintively explaining: "We thought maybe it might be able to talk. Like, maybe it would be more willing to talk than the other one." Killing someone or thing that was actively trying to kill you or someone else is one thing, but killing the helpless, the unconscious? Pai's insides writhe with anxiety and guilt. It just feels so very wrong. Her expression twists and buckles as she fights back tears of frustrated impotence.
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Captain Kasadei walks over to examine the strange, red-hued fiendish gargoyle. "It looks like a demon to me. Standing orders from the Lord-Mayor and the Justice Court are that demons should be destroyed on sight--they can't be redeemed, and apparently many can easily escape even the most secure of holding cells. You caught it though, so I'll defer to your judgment."
"Just the man we require!" Abaal says striding over to the captain. "I must admit that while I, a humble daring swordsman from distant Katapesh, have some knowledge of the lower and far planes, I found myself flummoxed trying to categorize the beast by it's appearance. Tell me, how did you determine it was a demon from the abyss, and not a dæmon or div from Abaddon, or even a particularly pointy demodand? Do they come in pointy? 'Pointy demodand.' Doesn't sound right somehow. But away from musings and back to our strange friend--or should I say fiend, eh?" Abaal smiles at his joke, and nudges the captain.
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A hand rests on Pai shoulder. ”Their decisions are their own,” Angoldir states calmly, ”as are your own. You have done what you can, and the record will show that.” The elf watches the proceedings with emotionless eyes, not sparing himself any details.
”Abaal, it is a gargoyle with fiendish ancestry,” he states as the swordsman speaks with the captain.
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Seeing the pain and sadness in Pai's eyes, Dru let Yaiho do whatever is needed, and walks toward the gnome.
Pai.. I don't know you much yet, but I know it takes a special kind of.. kind soul, and sweet heart, to feel sorry about a demon's life. We don't know if the main killer used the demon as a tool, as a weapon, or if the demon helped her from it's own will. I'm afraid it's the second option. They killed innocent people, and if you can put a human murderous nutcase in front of a trial to be judged, a demon is just "naturally" evil, doing badder things upon bad things, never learninng from its mistake. For what I know, they don't really die like us, just getting back to whence they came from, hopefully for a long time. probably Angoldir knows better about that.
She hugs the small gnome, and tries to give her some confort and friendship
Captain Kasadei seems utterly confused by Abaal's words. She shakes her head as if to say, they got the job done, that's what matters. Out loud, she says "Well, we'll take the Heart-Taker back to the Arvensoar. If she doesn't want to talk, that's fine with me. We have enough evidence to put her in the Hells for the next few decades at least. You've all done well, and have earned the appreciation of the City Watch and the citizens of Magnimar."
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A hand rests on Pai shoulder. ”Their decisions are their own,” Angoldir states calmly, ”as are your own. You have done what you can, and the record will show that.” The elf watches the proceedings with emotionless eyes, not sparing himself any details.
”Abaal, it is a gargoyle with fiendish ancestry,” he states as the swordsman speaks with the captain.
"So it might be half-devil or kyton? Well, that might change things in the eyes of the law. Perhaps revived, we could coax it into telling us of it's parentage. I mean we wouldn't want to extrajudicially execute an asura thinking it was a qlippoth, would we? Why you might as well tear up all the city's ordinances, and let mobs of vigilantes run through the streets lynching whatever extraplanar entities they find. Tell me captain, what is the legal status of velstracs within the city's jurisdiction?"
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"Hurmph, are we checking out the old shrine or not? We have the key and we know there could possibly be others involved. Seems like the job is half done."
Grunyak looks at the gargoyle. "Do we know for sure the thing is evil?" "From its actions all it did was aid the murderer." "Torag is okay with killing enemies ... and ... we can't leave this thing behind to wake up and go on a baby eating spree." "Awww' heck you all decide."
Kasadei looks annoyed at Abaal's words. "First, despite your service, don't use that tone with me. Second, if you have questions about Magnimar's policies towards demons, take it up with the Council of Ushers. Perhaps you're trying to say this thing isn't a demon? Well then, it's in your hands, Keleshite--exercise mercy if you like." She motions for her officers to collect the Heart-Taker, and the City Watch leaves. Although the sun is rising on the horizon, little of its rays reach where you're standing. A few of the district's residents lurk near the periphery of the area, curious about the scene before them.
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She hugs the small gnome, and tries to give her some confort and friendship
At first, Pai is resistant to Drusilla's consolation, due to her eagerness to kill the demonic gargoyle just moments earlier. Even so, her words and kind gesture win over the little gnome, who returns the hug with a little sniff as she pulls herself together. "Thanks, Drusilla. It's just that...well...it's helpless now. I mean, killing it in a fair fight is one thing. I mean, not like for fun or anything, like gladiators. I mean like, if it attacked us again and we killed it then, that wouldn't bother me at all. But killing someone who's unconscious and helpless? That just feels...evil. I don't want to become what I despise."
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We can't, however, let a binded demon in the streets. We're not sure it can't get free and wander away on a killing spree. We can show it more mercy that it has shown, by putting it down with a single strike, while it would have toyed with his prey, feedin" on its fear and pain. Or maybe we could bring it to the nearest temple, to do as they deem right. They are wiser than us, at least they are wiser than me. What do you think about it, sweetie Pai? Would that be acceptable for you?
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"<sigh> ... I think they would just kill it right away, anyway, just like these guards will. I guess it was naive of me to think they'd want to question it before sentencing it. In a fair trial. Heh." Pai's sad, wry laugh at the end is a testament to the second-guessing that is going on in her head. Oh no. This is getting difficult, and it's all my fault. Well, no, it's all those bad guys' fault, 'cause if they didn't do those evil things none of this would be happening. But seriously, what do we do now? What can I live with? What wouldn't make things so much worse? Or difficult? I don't know...
After a few moments of thinking in circles, Pai finally squares her shoulders, though not without some hesitation. "Okay. Here's what I think. We could make the case to the guards that the gargoyle might be more willing to talk than the lady, so they should question him before doing anything else. Then they can take him and hopefully get some information from him. (I don't know why I'm assuming it's a him. I guess it could be female.) What do you think? A...compromise. 'Cause we all know what they'll do once we're out of sight.." I can't really stop it, but I can give them the opportunity to make different choices. Then it's on them. This is what she tells herself, though deep down inside, she knows she's just giving up. The vague ache in conscience remains.
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Kasadei looks annoyed at Abaal's words. "First, despite your service, don't use that tone with me."
"Do you mean the interrogative tone? BLAST! I've just do it again. Fine. I shall use the imperative from now on!" "For the record, I am trying to tell you that we do not know what the creature is precisely."
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Dru continue talking with "Sweetie Pai"
We were asked to put an end to the murders. We managed to catch those two. Justice is not ours to give. You rarely find justice in the dimlit light of a forgotten bleak street, in the wee hours of the morning. You mostly find drunks. So let the guards do what they are payed for, and maybe get the glory. We have done enough, I guess. We just have to find that old temple, see if there is someone to rescue, or if there is no more threat for the city and its folk.
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Dru continue talking with "Sweetie Pai"
We were asked to put an end to the murders. We managed to catch those two. Justice is not ours to give.
"Look! The guards are leaving the fiendish gargoyle. I guess it is up to us now. Probably just as well, I don't think the good captain could tell a cacodaemon from a quasit. Well, Angoldir, what do you say now that you are up close to the creature?"