The dwarf looks away from the cold stare of the resolute paladin long enough to glance at the rest of the party before looking back at the most threatening of the group. "Understand I have ceased this research in its entirety! And what I did, I did ONLY for the Crusade! Don't you see, knitting soul back into body would enable us to keep fighting! When the last cleric falls my magic could raise entire armies to keep us fighting!"
Arlena shudders as she considers the implications of the dwarf's previous research.
"I'm by no means an expert on the topic, but I think stopping your research was for the best." Arlena says cautiously to the dwarf. "Surely you'll be able to find other methods of helping the Crusade through your magic - maybe you could focus on protecting and bolstering the other Crusaders? Make sure they live through their battles and can keep on fighting instead?"
She looks towards the rest of the group, a bit unsure on how to handle the dwarves caster, and tentatively starts moving towards the cave's exit.
Not exactly sure on the meaning the dwarf was saying, but still curious, Jasaka would ask about it
" Did you actually manage to put the soul back together? Is that not against Phrasama? Doesn't she do the whole soul thing? Did you get approval from her? How would this help fight if there is no body though?"
The panicked dwarf edged away from the angry paladin, looking around wildly as the group bombarded him with more questions.
The dwarf's bloodshot eyes went wide as energy crackled between his hands as he screamed insanely, preparing to cast magic despite being surrounded.
The paladin's axe swung down without hesitation, seeking to end the life of the obviously insane wizard.
While she regrets it, clearly this was a moment of her life and her new friends lives versus this strange dwarf who may harm them. Jasaka makes a call to swing her gandasa down, the regret clear in her face. She had wished to help out those who had been stuck down here, but clearly something else was happening.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH" was all the crazed wizard could articulate as two weapons swung in at him in unison in response to his actions, biting deep into his body.
The spell broken, the insane dwarf pulled his dagger and held it in front of him, screaming and ranting with random words.
Angus didn't care about what the dwarf was saying. He didn't care about the odd thought at the back of his head claiming the wizard might be insane. From the wizards own comments Angus inferred the the dwarf had sinned with necromancy and crossed a point of no return. As such his axe swung down with murderous intent as the holy warrior sought to end the insane babblings from the necromancer.
Without mercy the paladin's strike clove deep into the wizard's shoulder, sending out a spray of blood on the wall behind him as the insane dwarf fell back against the wall, his scream chocked into a gurgle. He looked at the paladin with clear eyes for a second before his head slumped forward and he slid down the wall, forever still.
Jasaka sniffles a little, feeling more like she murdered this man than anything, given her part in the attack. She had clearly wished to help him out, but after the last swing and he doesn't respond, the cave walls start to close in a bit too much.
" Surely we could have helped him without killing him. I was no better than those demons we are trying to fight against. Peace should have been made here. " Her words reflect her bigger belief of her own grief in this than anyone else having done wrong
Angus swung his axe blade wide, splattering the wizards blood on the ground while at the same time cleaning the blade. "Necromancers accept their fate the moment they choose to sully life with the undead. The All-Father does not tolerate black magic and neither do I."
The paladin stepped around the dead wizard and moved to the next opening, preparing for anything that might have been attracted by the sound of combat.
"She who bring de dawn also have no sympathy for those who create undead. For them she has only divine fury." Katanu said quietly as he looked around to see if anyone was wounded, nodding when he found none. "A moment before we move on."
The short human muttered a brief incantation and his eyes began to glow with a faint glimmer of energy. He knelt down next to the wizard's body, eyes darting left and right.
Under his close scrutiny Katanu will find two potions, a leather scroll case with two scrolls, a spell book and the wizard's cloak. More mundane items include a light crossbow, 10 crossbow bolts, a dagger and 8pp and 7gp in cash. Nearby in his pack Katanu finds 6 days worth of rations and a six inch high chipped marble statue of a humanoid throwing a spear.
Jasaka looks at her party members with a bit of shock, the violence they seemed at ease with against someone who was different from what Desna taught was right. She had defended someone that Desna would have said was evil and harmed others without thought, and she felt some conflict on it. Perhaps she wasn't not cut out for all this after all, her elder sibling might be better. If only I could met them. Maybe they have the bravery I lack.
"Holy dwarf, could we have not swayed him from evil? Is there truly no hope to redeem them? I have a sibling who I miss, but I know little of their life. What if they have been tempted by evil?"
She questions this as she also tries to help lay the body to rest, giving it some sort of rites, even if the dwarf was not deserving of it. She would still try. If Katanu mentions finding anything she would ask about the statue, and would take it with her. Spears always reminded her of heroes.
Arlena nods sadly at Jasaka's words. "I share your sentiments, Jasaka. Are we to judge people based only on their past misdeeds, with no hope for redemption? From what he told us, he had given up on his neceomantic research, which seemed to stem from his misguided intentions - could we not have tried to guide him towards using his magical talents in a better way?"
At the mention of her sibling, Arlena places her hand on Jasaka's shoulder and looks her sadly in the eyes. "I know those doubts all too well. My sister... Has chosen to stand with the demons against us all. It's why I'm here - I followed her into the wound, hoping to talk her out of it, and only managed to get out safely thanks to our goddess' tomely intervention." She looks sadly down at the holy sumbol around her neck, before continuing. "Hard as it might be, I have to hold on to the hope for her redemption."
She too looks to the others as she waits their answers. When Katanu brings the potions forward, however, she adds her own knowledge to help identify their properties.
"Redemption is a worthy goal, but it is not for everyone." Xavier looks down at the dwarf's corpse, pitying his fate. "It's not just about forgiving them for their action, tt depends, mostly, on the person itself - they are the ones who muat seek redemption, they need to understand what they've done wrong and seek to make amends. The dwarf seemed to have sworn off his necromantic ways, sure, but from his words it didn't seem like he understood just how wrong he'd been."
"You'd have to convince him of that first, and from the way he acted, I don't think you could have gotten through to him - his mind seemed too far gone from his exile down here - leading to his foolish decision to use his magic on us. I believe master Angus made the right call."
Xavier listens quietly as the two woman share their worries for their siblings' fates, and shares his own view before setting out to scout the tunnels ahead.
"I'm sorry if my words seemed harsh before, but I stand by what I said: redemption depends mostly on the person in question. True, we need to give them the chance for it in the first place, and they might need our guidance if they truly want to make amends for their past. But you can't go against their will. Do not let go of your hope, and try to get through to them if you ever are reunited. But realise that it will be up to them to make their choice in the end, whatever it might be."
"I gave him a chance. He obeyed my words and lowered his hands. He appeared to be willing at first but then his facade failed and he gave in to his madness. At that point I made a judgment call that he was more dangerous alive and acted." Angus said quietly, his tone final. "If you are done let us move on."
" I am unfamiliar with the darkness such as this, nor the stones. Surely you are much wiser guide, but I say we go forward with the idea of hope we are nearing the exit." Jasaka seemed a bit uncomfortable with the idea of people being so far gone they can't be redeemed, but she also knew it happened. Arlena story bothered her more than she wished to admit, for she did not know her twin.
The paladin stopped after a step and heaved a great sigh. "We can talk at length about this once we reach the surface but right now my only priority is leading all of us back up." Angus looked back at the party. "We gave him a chance even after he admitted to raising the dead and still his madness took over. At that point he was little more then a rabid dog."
At that the paladin turned back and stepped around the corner at the entrance to the exit he stopped and looked up, his eyes spying the many cracks and pitons. Sheathing both weapon and shield, he reached up and began to climb up first. "Slowly one at a time once I call down it's safe."
Once the rest of the party turned the corner into the next tunnel they would see a steeply inclined tunnel leading upward to the north, its walls
lined with numerous nooks, handholds, and dozens of iron pitons that have been driven into the walls long ago.
At the top Angus would find the tunnel continuing more horizontal on far into the distance with nary a light or whisper of sound.
Angus would unsheathe both weapons and call down the tunnel that all was clear before standing guard patiently at the ready.
"Do not worry my friends, we just need to keep climbing until we find the light again. She always be waiting." Katanu would say with a big smile, guiding Aravashnial to the wall. "I will go up and throw a rope down for our less capable friends."
Xavier swiftly climbs up the tunnel and moves to watch the path forward, making sure nothing can surprise the group as they climb their way up.
"I'll stand watch up ahead as everyone is making the climb."
Arlena smiles at the priest's conforting words.
"The rope is a godd idea - I'll stay down here and help them where I can before climbing."
Arlena will help tie the rope around those less capable of making the climb and call on her familiar for a bit of Desna's luck at each attempt.
Jasaka nervously takes the rope and looks to Arlena to make sure it was safe. She seems even more so nervous as there was a chance she could fall, but that was always a danger, but her breathing was a bit fast as she ask " I won't fall right? Like... Like I can live right? It's not that far, it's not that far."
She repeats this over and over as she climbs up, her grip slipping at one point and making her scream, clutching the rope tightly before realizing she had not moved, and was able to finish the climb. She gets up and also turns around to help anyone who was not able to get up, calling down " Perhaps we should tie it to those less able, and pull them up? That may help them, and we might have time." Her voice was shaky, clearly rattled by her experience climbing up.