Protectors of Golarion (Wrath of the Righteous AP)

Game Master Sensen

As they clear off, Nurah looks at Verene. "Why bother? You've made your choices." She says bitterly. "As the 'righteous' always do."

Verene pauses, kneeling before Nurah with the end of the dark lash still firmly wound through one fist. She holds Nurah's gaze and says gently, "Why bother explaining? Because if I were in your situation and not a demon spy, but perhaps my aura was stained with evil for some other reason — for instance, if I had betrayed my hated oppressor and all his troops to a gruesome death at the demons' hands in order to win free of him, but subsequently joined the Crusade willingly and in truth — and I had been hiding this to avoid awkward conversations, but was not currently acting in the enemy's interest... then convincing my erstwhile comrades of my loyalty would be the only way to obtain my freedom. And remaining silent could only strengthen their suspicions and make my situation worse."

Sword still drawn, Elliot looks at the paralyzed Nurah, held in place by Verene's magical lasso, and makes a not to try and learn that spell some day. Holding someone completely still for THAT long, with no sings of stopping, was akin to extremely high level magical effects. Actually, even more deadly probably. How did Verene know of a spell so disproportionally powerful compared to all her other ones?

...Had he too, once, but just forgotten? Could he ever regain that?

Wow. Limp Lash is one of the most broken spells I have ever read, in any game. It feels like an 8th or 9th level spell disguised as a second level one. A no save ranged touch attack for near-infinite duration paralyze!? Yikes!

"And remaining silent could only strengthen their suspicions and make my situation worse."

"Why, Nurah? Why are you working for the demons? Why target Aron Kir so openly?" Elliot asks, much sterner than his sister. For all they knew, Nurah's previous betrayals had led to the deaths or worse of many a good man and woman.

Azira shakes her head sadly. "If we'd already passed judgment, and found you guilty of treason, you'd be dead right now rather than ensnared. We've restrained you in order to see through your magical deceptions and, hopefully, to get some honest answers from you about what's going on."

"So, please, answer Elliot's questions."

Merixia strides over to where Verene is holding Nurah, pulling a coil of rope out of her backpack. "I'm pretty sure dispel magic only works on one spell, so I'd rather wait until our spells wear off." The translucent chain slides away from the halfling as Merixia circles around behind her and gets down on one knee to tie her hands and feet. "And Azira's right. Your head would already be rolling away down the hill if Commander Tirabade had passed judgment." Given the fact that she acted as one of the executioners for the unrepentant prisoners, and that Merixia beheaded her quota of the condemned (said to be the fastest and least painful method of execution), this isn't a boast or exaggeration. It's a simple statement of fact.

"That said, I would be willing to bet a great deal that you are, in fact, our saboteur." She gives the knots a tug to make sure they're secure and gets to her feet, looking at Irabeth. "If she is guilty, Commander, do you want to keep her around for interrogation or not? Because if so, I had the best idea while praying for spells this morning." Merixia grins, a wicked gleam in her slit-pupiled eyes.

Thesius stops from inserting the handkerchief into Nurah's mouth as they all start to converse, but silently waits while the others interrogate the halfling. He readies himself to act should she start to take unwelcome actions such as casting or attempting to escape.

Verene does not contradict Azira and Merixia's threats, but endeavors to keep her expression mild and not react, giving the silence to Nurah to fill.

Merixia, you can use a targeted dispel to dispel one specific spell you name that is affecting the target. It isn't guaranteed to work, but it won't have a chance of dispelling any other spells including ours. However, given that she isn't really denying anything, if you don't want to spend the spell slot, that's fair. GM, you will tell us if and when Intimidate or Diplomacy should be rolled here, right? If they're not relevant, or not yet, that's fine of course.

I can tell you or roll it myself, sure.

"And yet you've already decided to take violent action." The halfling says acidly to Verene.

Nurah casts a bitter glance at Azira and Merixia. "You two sound like you'd be welcome in any Chelish courtroom. With your execution-happy attitude and wordplay, you must do your heritage proud."

She looks away, before turning a scowl on Elliot. "And there you go with the judgments. Well, whatever. It hardly matters. Tell me, heroes, whether you know what it is to be a slave to a glory-hound with no sense of strategy. Do you know what it is to see your tormentors torn limb-from-limb by demons?" A dark smile twists her face. "It is very satisfying."

"On the contrary, we went to some trouble to subdue you nonviolently, though I recognize it is still distressing. I regret the necessity," Verene says sympathetically. "We simply had no intention of letting you vanish if our line of questioning became uncomfortable for you. But I think you want to tell us how you really feel, anyway. It must be frustrating keeping it all pent up inside all the time. So go ahead. What is it like to be a slave to an incompetent glory-hound, and how could that possibly have anything to do with Aron Kir?"

Merixia scoffs at Nurah's feeble attempt at an insult. "Oh yeah, they would be so proud of me for joining up with one of Hell's greatest enemies. You know, the guy who routinely leads celestial armies into Hell and who killed the former Lord of the First." She rolls her eyes as she watches her spellborn chain for signs of disappearing. "I expected more creative insults than that from a bard. It's like you think nobody has ever used my ancestry to try and get under my skin."

Ah, there it goes. The spells cast by their group vanish one by one. Nurah isn't denying that she's working with the enemy, but hey, Merixia already prepared cleromancy and dispel magic. Might as well use them and be sure. She pulls a small cloth bag full of cleaned, dried chicken bones out of her spell component pouch and begins shaking it as she recites the spell. On the final word, she dumps the bag out on the ground and examines the pattern the bones make.

Decided that it's better to burn one 2nd level spell on this than risk the dispel magic failing and having to burn a MP to try again.

Cleromancy: 6d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4) = 13

I only need one, so I pick 4 as the bonus.

A sense of certainty and calm settle over her, the knowledge that luck will be on her side for a short time. Merixia chants her next spell, focused on Nurah and the abjuration that masks her aura.

Dispel check + Cleromancy bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 = 11

"Tell me, heroes, whether you know what it is to be a slave to a glory-hound with no sense of strategy. Do you know what it is to see your tormentors torn limb-from-limb by demons?"

Willsave: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Oh, right. My bad. *Of course* that makes it okay to, you know, betray both the queen, the nation, and everyone here in the crusade," Elliot thinks, very unimpressed, but despite the snipes at his friends and lover he manages to keep it in.

Seeing most of the others wanting to be diplomatic about this, and praying to his goddess for guidance in reigning in his anger, he sighs and relaxes slightly. "If you're trying to goad us, it's not going to work either way. And for the record, you're not exactly doing a good job either pleading your innocence or convincing us to be merciful. So what is your full story then? I'd suggest being more forthcoming before camp is fully packed and we have to make snap decisions on what to do regarding you."

Verene Diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36

"I was only twenty when that bastard brought me here. Pulled me away from my family so I could write down his grand exploits and advise him on how best to fight against the demons, all for his own vanity." Nurah answers Verene, her voice dark. "I never wanted to come, but who cares what slaves think?"

After a moment's thought, she shakes her head. "He wanted to retake Drezen, to carve his name in the history books. Idiot." She spits at the thought. "You get used to fiends in Cheliax and Isger. What makes demons that different from devils, other than that they embody freedom to do whatever you want? It was a relief to see his armies of servants die."

"Aron Kir was simply the weakest link." Nurah replies to Verene's second question with the air of someone who might shrug, had she that ability. "His former addiction made it easier to deal with him."

Sosiel looks grim, but grips Aron's shoulder before he can respond. With a soft mutter, the priest sends his lover to deal with something else. Irabeth looks down at Nurah, expression impassive.

Merixia's divinations do little to aid her in dispelling Nurah's magical protections, but the halfling barely seems to notice. "Why would I want to insult you? You're the one most like me, after all. You just got luckier." She adds, bitterly sardonic.

Nurah looks blandly at Elliot. "I've never been fond of you crusaders." She says bluntly. "Go, fight, die for the good of everyone who isn't you. Especially the glory of your betters. So yes, I left them behind when they died. Why wouldn't I have? The a$%#!@% who woke me up with a beating every morning got disemboweled by a babau, my beloved 'owner' was beheaded by a possessed crusader. That was the nicest thing any of them have ever done for me," she offers him a sour smile, "and all it took was to have their mind taken away and forced to act."

Verene sits down on the wet red dirt in front of Nurah, heedless of her undyed monkish garments. Kneeling for so long is uncomfortable, and this puts their eyes on level. "So far, I understand perfectly. I would have felt and done the same. You were forced to come here by people you hated to risk your life for a vainglorious cause you did not believe in under the command of an imbecile. Of course you would use what agency you had to escape, rather than throw yourself off the cliff after them. But here is where my understanding breaks down. Once Axilar Trezbot and his soldiers were dead and you were in Mendev, you had escaped. You had your freedom. Why would serving the demons be what you chose to do with it? You must have known by then that to a demon, every mortal in their power is a slave, a toy, or a meal, and usually all three in succession. Including their own followers, as the whim strikes."

Her voice and face are calm and curious, as though discussing Nurah's history while they all ride together or beside the campfire over a mug of tea one night, rather than after a dramatic confrontation in the center of camp before the assembled army. She does not bring up altruistic reasons to oppose the demons, for why should Nurah have had any? Her life experience had likely taught her she could only afford to care for her own fortunes — and perhaps her family's, but they were far away from the threat of the Worldwound. As she said, the demons had actually done her a favor by slaughtering her first expedition. But if she had been acting out of self-interest only, it does seem odd that she would then choose to risk her own life spying on people who were at best tangentially related to her tormentors, for a side that would kill her on a whim.

One end of the limp lash rests in one hand in her lap, the other end still wrapped around Nurah's neck. Moving it around does not seem to have any physical effect at all on the bard, however; the straight line of shadowy black energy connecting them simply lengthens and shortens as needed while the halfling remains in place.

Azira continues to quietly stand at the ready. When the halfling finally shares her story, the paladin is about to challenge her with questions of why, once free, she would give herself over to the demons in order to extract some type of revenge against people who had nothing to do with her captivity. Thankfully, Verene beats her to it and does it more tactfully than she would have. Still, the impetuous aasimar can't help but softly mutter, "you threw away your freedom on a quest for revenge against someone who was already dead..."

Thesius listens quietly for the most part, but he repeats part of what Nurah's says in a questioning manner, "And all it took was to have their mind taken away and forced to act? Did the demons do something to force their had? Did you?"

This statement felt like it may unveil whether Nurah simply was the matter of circumstance or actively took a role in the demise of her captor.

Nurah shoots Verene a bleak stare. "Why should I be the only one to suffer? The crusaders didn't help me. The demons did, and gave me freedom. They let me get my vengeance on the fools who came to fight for glory or wealth or so-called virtue." She looks away. "Besides, it's not like I escaped. I surrendered after the legion was slaughtered, and Eustoyriax - the leader - accepted. I went through some prisons, but they decided I was worth more free than as a toy or food."

"I made some contacts with the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth - I'm sure you've killed a bevy of them by now - and got into spying. That gave me a chance to ensure more fools threw themselves into the maws of the demons, just like dear old Axilar, so I took it."

She looks to Azira. "Dead isn't good enough for him. Though feeling his blood splatter my face was pleasant." She admits, before glancing at Thesius. "Eustoyriax possessed a crusader to kill off my 'master' and his soldiers. Whoever's skin he was wearing wouldn't have spared me a second glance if his mind had been free."

"They didn't give you your freedom, though, did they? They decided to use you as a convenient but disposable tool, without a care for your safety. Because in the end, here you were again, marching to Drezen when you did not want to, on someone else's orders. You simply traded one bad master for another," Verene says gently. "There are other ways of existing than to forever be the servant of someone stronger. Other choices you could have made, and still could make."

"For the rest..." She shakes her head a little and looks to Merixia, Thesius, Elliot and Azira for help, baffled. "I can only say you are far from the only one to have suffered."

She cannot understand the mindset of wishing to inflict more suffering on the entire world because one has suffered oneself. That would not even properly be called vengeance. Vengeance requires that someone has wronged you in the first place. How can many thousands of people who were unaware of your existence, or perhaps not even yet born when your suffering took place, be said to have wronged you?

"So you're just going to overlook that the reason Axilar dragged you over here was to, you know, fight demons , because they were invading Avistan, threatening to kill all life , including yours, that of your parents, and whomever else you might care about?" Elliot speaks, not quite managing to hide the incredulity in his voice.

"Look, what Axilar did to you was horrible. I get that - everyone would. But he's dead now, Nurah! Get over it and stop being such a child! You think you're the only one that has suffered over the demons and the war against them!? Look around you. My own parents are dead . My sister is mutilated. Most of Azira's friends are dead too! Actually - scratch that; we just came from a whole city that was massacred by demons! Men women and children both. Countless other little Nurahs ritually slaughtered, eaten or worse because that's in their nature. And you want to help them do it again? Do you have any idea how hypocritical you are? Do you have any shame at all!?"

His stare bores into the halfling as he tries to reign in his anger, his hair flaring a bright white.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

"...You had the trust of the Queen herself. And out of pure spite, you... He shakes his head as a disappointed, resigned kind of calm eventually takes over. "Look, you're going to have to make a choice, Nurah. Your options are extremely limited. You've been branded as a traitor to the crusade, thereby much of the civilized lands, as well as an exposed spy to the demons. Not to mention that we're in the middle of one of the most dangerous wastelands anywhere. You've just told us your master's name. You are of no more use to them and chances are they'll just kill you in revenge, or just to be sure you won't spill any more. And judging from what we saw in Kenabres, we both know that isn't going to be pretty or quick. The only thing you can do to get out of this in one piece, and with some of your dignity and reputation intact, is to try and redeem yourself and rely on us for your protection. But that leads back to one issue."

He crosses his arms. "You're an extremely good liar and a spellcaster to boot. Why would or should we risk giving you that chance rather than executing you here and now?" "Give me something. Some sort of reason to believe there is some degree of hope for you. I know I *should* give you a chance. But it is difficult. Sarenrae, give me strength..."

If intimidate cannot be used in a redemption process I'm fine with Elliot's check being a diplomacy assist for someone else making that roll.

Thesius calmly replies, "My questioning was to entail whether you took an active role in the killing. There is a difference between idly sitting by and taking an active role. While I can only imagine what you have felt, I can see why you would choose not to have helped the man that enslaved you. But as my companions have stated, you are trading one kind of captivity for another. Serving as their spy does not make you free, it indentures you to them. As far as I can tell, you were not freed out of good will. You were a unexpected benefit to them. Is it truly freedom you seek or to simply share your pain regardless of your own situation?"

Nurah shrugs wearily. "Who said I didn't want to go to Drezen this time?" There's no real sting in her voice, however, just a bone-deep tiredness. "Choices are the purview of the powerful." She says after a moment, before falling silent again.

Glancing at Elliot, she shakes her head. "You ennoble his motivations more than he deserves. Surely you're not claiming he was a good man... and as for pure spite?" She laughs bitterly. "No. Not from spite alone. Justice... well, I won't claim to that. Retribution, perhaps. I felt strong for the first time in my life, can you comprehend that? You chosen champions of the Crusade?" She looks to Merixia, her expression twisted in a self-mocking smile. "Perhaps you can."

Yes, browbeating someone into redemption is not, in fact, something I'd say is permissible. Seems against the spirit of things.

Nurah looks at Thesius. "Killing? Oh, with the bastards from Isger? No. I wouldn't have had the time even if I had the guts to do it."

Notably, she does not seem to have an answer to any of the accusations leveled at the demons' use of her.

"I'm glad to hear you did not take an active role within such a matter. You were a survivor of cruelties which I could but imagine. That in it's own right requires strength. I doubt many, if any, could rightfully say they have been powerful enough throughout their life to protect all that they hold dear. Whether that be a freedom or life. Unfortunately, we currently face an enemy that seeks to take both from us and I hope that you may see that. While I can not speak for everyone, I do believe many of us wish to see a world free of not only this current threat, but where slavery does not exist. I myself believe their are better methods, but those better methods should take into account the viewpoints of those that were oppressed in their absence. Perhaps one day your viewpoint may help make this world a better place for all," he says in hopes of a better future.

Verene listens to Elliot calmly and does not yet express her doubts about the utility of trying to threaten Nurah further or indeed to execute her. It is vital to present a united front here, and she does not object to her companions expressing a little of their righteous anger, as it might make her softer words seem all the more reasonable by contrast. A little of the old 'good cop, bad cop' probably doesn't hurt anything.

But many people, if not most, do not innately share the sense of moral obligation to strangers Elliot feels so strongly; especially not when the world has not been kind to them in the first place, and even more especially when their outlook is a kind of self-protective armor against empathy constructed from years of bitterness, self-pity and rationalization, as Nurah's clearly is. So she has little hope that Nurah will feel any actual shame or remorse as a result of his words.

"Who said I didn't want to go to Drezen this time?" There's no real sting in her voice, however, just a bone-deep tiredness.

"You did," Verene reminds her softly. "Yesterday. You omitted some crucial information when we spoke, of course, and this fuller history makes more sense to me now. But I believe you were mostly telling me the truth, even if at a slantwise angle. Perhaps you wanted to talk to someone, after all this time."

"Choices are the purview of the powerful." She says after a moment, before falling silent again.

Glancing at Elliot, she shakes her head. "You ennoble his motivations more than he deserves. Surely you're not claiming he was a good man... and as for pure spite?" She laughs bitterly. "No. Not from spite alone. Justice... well, I won't claim to that. Retribution, perhaps. I felt strong for the first time in my life, can you comprehend that? You chosen champions of the Crusade?" She looks to Merixia, her expression twisted in a self-mocking smile. "Perhaps you can."

Nurah looks at Thesius. "Killing? Oh, with the bastards from Isger? No. I wouldn't have had the time even if I had the guts to do it."

Notably, she does not seem to have an answer to any of the accusations leveled at the demons' use of her.

"I'm glad to hear you did not take an active role within such a matter. You were a survivor of cruelties which I could but imagine. That in it's own right requires strength. I doubt many, if any, could rightfully say they have been powerful enough throughout their life to protect all that they hold dear. Whether that be a freedom or life. Unfortunately, we currently face an enemy that seeks to take both from us and I hope that you may see that. While I can not speak for everyone, I do believe many of us wish to see a world free of not only this current threat, but where slavery does not exist. I myself believe their are better methods, but those better methods should take into account the viewpoints of those that were oppressed in their absence. Perhaps one day your viewpoint may help make this world a better place for all."

"The powerful have more choices, it's true. That does not mean the rest of us* have none." Verene sounds thoughtful. She tilts her head to one side as she studies Nurah's face. "As long as we are clever, and have strength of will. And we know you have that. Thesius is right. You are a survivor. So, you surrendered and joined up with the demons when you would otherwise have been killed, not when you were already safe in Mendev, and that makes sense. It made you feel strong to be on the clearly stronger side, undermining the hypocrites and oafs, doing something you were good at and they were not. Something actually important to the course of history, even if no one knew about it. Maybe you had small but important freedoms you never had before, like controlling your own money, and when you were allowed to sleep and wake, and what you wore, and what you ate. And you weren't being beaten regularly.

"But you were never safe, either. You could never be open with anyone, and never trust anyone enough to have a real friend. The threat of what would happen if you were caught, or another Templar betrayed you, or you disappointed your masters, was ever-present. Above all, you were still not living your life for yourself, but only as someone else's tool. Even if you told yourself a story about how that wasn't so — how you wanted to do this, because the crusaders deserved it, because everyone deserved to suffer like you had.

"Here is what I want you to consider: what might you have done if you had just... run away, after the demons took you back to Mendev? Suppose in this case that your particular set of skills and spells meant they would find it too difficult to catch you to bother tracking you down. What would a life lived truly for yourself, without any interference, look like?"

* Verene has been an actual, proper wizard who can do more than cantrips for... a little less than a year, probably? And a month ago she was, as she has previously reflected, mostly using magic to do laundry and read texts in languages she doesn't speak for thirty minutes a day.

Nurah shrugs wearily. "Who said I didn't want to go to Drezen this time?" There's no real sting in her voice, however, just a bone-deep tiredness. "Choices are the purview of the powerful." She says after a moment, before falling silent again.

Glancing at Elliot, she shakes her head. "You ennoble his motivations more than he deserves. Surely you're not claiming he was a good man... and as for pure spite?" She laughs bitterly. "No. Not from spite alone. Justice... well, I won't claim to that. Retribution, perhaps. I felt strong for the first time in my life, can you comprehend that? You chosen champions of the Crusade?" She looks to Merixia, her expression twisted in a self-mocking smile. "Perhaps you can."

Merixia arches an eyebrow at Nurah's statement. "To a degree. I won't lie, part of what drew me to Ragathiel's faith was the prospect of vengeance on those who hurt me. Other things that appealed to me were the promise of power and respect. I didn't plan on being a cleric at first, figured I would be a nonmagical warrior and join up with the Steel Falcons to fight slavers like my dad. To be the protector I needed for others suffering as I did."

She shrugs. "Obviously Ragathiel liked what he saw and decided to offer me a position as his priestess. But it was an offer, not conscription. If I had said no, he would have accepted that and left me to forge my own path in life. The General of Vengeance has no interest in unwilling soldiers. Can you say the same of Baphomet? Did he give you a choice, or did his servants tell you to join or die?" Merixia lets out a tired sigh. "In either case, the outcome was the same. You traded a cruel master in life for an even more cruel master in life and after death. You're not truly free, Nurah, and you never will be as long as the Abyss has a claim on your soul."

Nurah looks at Thesius, seeming somewhat dubious, before sighing and letting her head drop. "Strong? Me? No. Well, maybe. But not strong enough to make my own choices." There's the faintest hint of a smirk on her lips. "If you so strongly believe that, maybe with your power you can make the changes."

The halfling turns her gaze to Verene. "Mm." It's clear she doesn't quite know how to respond to most of the wizard's words. "If I had run away?" The bard considers. "I didn't want to. I wanted to take it out on them, because it wasn't enough. Maybe afterwards... I don't know."

To Merixia, Nurah replies. "I don't know. I chose my path once I returned to Mendev... but if someone gives you something you want, whether or not you can choose to turn it down, is that making a choice?" Her bitter smile fails to hide a certain sadness about her bearing. "What was it he said... 'armor can hide all manner of wounds. Even a crying child?'"

"Well, think about it," Verene recommends mildly. "Because an 'afterwards' in which to contemplate what we really want to do and be isn't guaranteed to any of us. All we have is now."

She cocks her head to one side. "Who is 'he'?"

"It's easy to downplay our own strength. Generally speaking, our self is the only one in this world we will never be apart from all of our life. It is with that knowledge that it is so easy to constantly judge ourselves. We see and know the inner workings and while we know others struggle, we will never know it as deeply as our own. So do not downplay your own abilities. We all fight our own battles everyday," Thesius says with sincerity to Nurah.

Nurah shakes her head at Verene's inquiry. "Just someone I knew once." She sighs. "I'll try to think about what you've said. Assuming you don't execute me, Knight-Commander." The halfling looks at Irabeth, whose expression is impassive.

The bard looks briefly at Thesius, a faint, sardonic smile on her lips. "I suppose so."

If anyone has any final thoughts for Nurah or arguments to make to Irabeth, you can put them in now.

"Thank you," Verene says simply. She does not press about the person from Nurah's past. She just lets go of the dark necromantic lash holding Nurah paralyzed from the neck down, and stands up. The spell instantly flakes away into nothing like a sculpture made of ash. The bard's hands are still tied behind her back and her ankles bound as securely as Merixia can make them with rope, but she should be able to confirm for herself now that her muscles still work normally and the spell's effects left no lasting damage. Verene had already made it her first order of business to take any magic items, spell component pouch, or weapons that Nurah had on her person and put them safely into her haversack. Between this and the bonds, she thinks it will be safe to leave her with a guard or two.

"Commander, everyone, may we discuss?" Verene backs up to a little behind Irabeth again and gestures at the command tent, last to be broken down. Verene wants to leave Nurah's earshot before discussing her fate; if no one wants to do so, she will still say this, but will cast cloak of secrets first so that Nurah hears and sees a different conversation. Once everyone is in a position to speak and hear, she says quietly, "You have every right to kill her on the spot, but just as a matter of strategy, I can think of few outcomes more destructive to the Crusade than to execute a long-term, well-placed Worldwound spy out of hand. Elliot said it himself: Nurah has been advising the Queen, for— months? Years? She is proof that the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth have infiltrated the Crusade at the highest levels. It is vital, perhaps existential, to learn what information she has been privy to that she has fed the enemy, and only slightly less urgent to find out what she knows about the demons' clandestine operations, or how she has misadvised the crusader command. For instance, who else can she name as a Templar? Is this entire expedition to retake Drezen doomed to disaster, and our first two successes designed only to make us overconfident and lure us deep into the Worldwound, beyond hope of escape? Is the Queen's larger force even now walking into a trap?

"I do not think we will get much from her by threats and coercion, though. She might well think right now that she would prefer execution to languishing as a prisoner. Certainly she has shown no fear so far, and without the kind of mundane methods that I am sure would be as distasteful to you all as to me, I doubt she ever will. The slightly better alternative is to extract the information in dribs and drabs, by casting mind-reading magics over and over until one works and we can interrogate her by asking questions and reading the thoughts that involuntarily rise to the surface in response.

"But more than this, I would rather try to build a rapport with her, perhaps even bring her over to the side of the Crusade in truth. You may call me naive, but I think no one has ever tried treating her with kindness, and if we do, there is no telling how she might respond. She could truly change her heart."

"...I suppose that if she's kept under guard, now that she's exposed, she should not be able to do much damage. What worries me though is when the assault begins in earnest. Nurah is apparently both so crafty and skilled at spellcasting that she avoided detection, lying through even the royal court, for... how many years? Who knows how many lives she's ruined through her spying for the demons and inciting of distrust among us? It's going to be extremely easy for her to slip away during the coming siege and who knows what she can do then? Maybe you're right in that she deserves another chance, Verene, and perhaps my personal losses in Kenabres here cloud my judgment, but her callous dismissal of and blindness to other people's suffering, along with her complete lack of ownership for any of her misdeeds *really* rubs me the wrong way."

"Unless you feel otherwise, He looks at everyone in turn, lingering slightly on Merixia for her sense of rooting out falsehoods. "I'm not inclined to believe she really wants to atone. My loyalty is to my friends and the crusade first. Lying to save her skin and then betraying us later sounds exactly like the sort of thing I'd expect her to do, given her reason for doing all of this does not seem to extent past being wronged by a guy who is already dead. To say nothing of all the other involved factors in her personal suffering, like her slavery -not possible due to us- or thr presence and nature of the demons."

Sosiel looks troubled. "I agree with Verene, but not only on strategic grounds. Nurah has suffered tremendously from her experiences, but I believe she remains at heart, someone who can be brought to see the joy in life." He looks down. "If we can turn her to join us in earnest, she would prove a truly invaluable ally." The priest looks apologetically at Aron, who shifts.

"I don't like the idea of keeping her around." Aron confesses hesitantly. "But if anyone can fix someone who's broken, it's Sosiel. He did it for me. But," he looks at his lover, "I think she has done much worse than I ever did."

Anevia exchanges a meaningful look with her wife, who nods minutely.

Aravashnial closes his eyes thoughtfully. "I agree with Verene that her knowledge of the Templars' operations may prove invaluable. However, I share Elliot's concerns about the risk she poses should she escape." He looks at the champions. "I know little of redemption, but if she could be turned from her allegiance with the Worldwound, she might yet prove to be someone essential to the retaking of Drezen."

Azira frowns at being called away from the traitor's side but, once two more soldiers have readied themselves to replace her, she dutifully follows. As the conversation progresses, largely favoring unmerited mercy, she shakes her head. She waits to speak until there's a lull in the conversation and then offers, as diplomatically as she can, "If our primary motivation is information, I believe we could probably get that through speak with dead spells. If you think she can be saved, and that she would be such an incredibly valuable ally that she might earn her way out of the just sentence for treason, I won't stop you from trying, but I do think you should know what you're asking... Part of our code as sword-knights of the Inheritor is that if we accept an enemy as a prisoner we accept responsibility for their life. So, if our commander does as you're suggesting, she will be accepting a sacred duty both to keep the traitor alive throughout the rest of the incursion, and to ensure that she doesn't use that life for more evil. That is a heavy burden to place on the shoulders of one who has already taken on so much as the commander of this army."

Verene looks to Thesius and Merixia for their input, her hands folded in front of her.

Irabeth nods briefly at Azira's words. "Sword-Knight Tal-Shirin is right." She says. "But it will not break that code to entrust her safety to others, so long as I am able to keep a careful eye on who is in charge of protecting her. Of course, that means I must trust them implicitly..."

Has Azira reported on Arles' doubts and stuff? If so, the spoiler below happens. Otherwise, disregard it.

Azira is not in the secret keeping business (and with her 0 ranks in bluff probably couldn't be even if she wanted to), so she definitely would have reported at least to her friends and Irabeth, if not the whole command staff.

"It's a risk, Commander," Azira answers. "She could prove to be a bad influence and a hindrance to his return to the true faith... but, they could also be good for each other if they spur each other on in the right direction. If you think the risk worthwhile, I trust your judgement."

Getting the sense that most of their allies were leaning towards showing Nurah mercy, and with a security detail that seemed fitting, Elliot relents. "All right. If you have faith in her, Sosial, and the Commander and Azira are confident in their choices, I'll withdraw my objections. We should put these arrangements for her into place and refocus on the task ahead. Drezen is getting closer and closer."

Verene nods to Aravashnial. Though she does believe Nurah can be brought to see reason, and that it would be an excellent thing to take her talents and her soul away from the Abyss regardless of how deserving or not she is of mercy right now, his perspective is the closest to her own. The greatest and most important good that can clearly be accomplished here is to mitigate or undo the damage to the Crusade done by the halfling's spying. It could save many lives. And the spells to speak with the dead have stringent limits that make them a poor choice for extracting information from an unwilling target.

"It will be important to have people guarding her who can put aside their very natural anger and revulsion toward anyone aligned with the demons, and not show her any cruelty or mistreatment, even verbally. We will have no chance of persuading her to our way of thinking if we act in any way like her Isgeri enslavers did. We must show ourselves better by example," Verene says. "I know it is a hard thing to ask of the soldiers, who have all lost comrades to the Abyss. And I am willing to take shifts for it myself, as needed. But if we think Sword-Knight Jhestander is up to it, perhaps the very difficulty of the task could be a way to prove he is still truly dedicated to the ideals of his goddess. For do the Acts not teach that Iomedae convinced the Black Knight to freely turn away from the path of wickedness, and thus redeemed his undead soul?"

Could this count as a penance for Arles, if he needs to perform penances to atone? I'm still not even sure what he did to fall.

With the decision seemingly made, Verene is ready to do whatever else needs doing in camp this morning and move out through the canyon toward Drezen.

Irabeth nods. "Good. If something else comes up in the meantime, I would ask that you all also take part in watching over both of them - as well as guiding Nurah towards something resembling virtue." She says. "She has been through a great deal."

She claps her hands together, smiling grimly. "Alright, let's move out."

Moving us on.

The next half-hour is spent preparing to leave, and the Knights of Kenabres soon move out once more, their prisoners carefully watched as they go.

As they go, they see some of the prisoners working - Akravash in particular is bearing more equipment and heavy gear than some of the crusaders. When asked, he mentions that he volunteered to help some of his guards carry their tents.

By contrast, Nurah is mostly quiet unless the others try to engage with her, sitting atop her pony with a bleak expression.

The day grows slightly chillier as it drags on, though the rain relents after a few miserable hours. The dim sun slowly dips its way towards the horizon when the scouts return with a report. Shortly, Irabeth calls for her command staff to join her to discuss matters.

"There's some stairs up ahead." Korryn says, directing her words towards Irabeth, though she includes all of those gathered. "They go about 90 feet up the gorge, but at the top there's an old ruined chapel. Looks like it used to be Iomedaean to me."

Anevia nods. "Aye, it is. The stairs don't look too easy to climb, but..." She shrugs. "They're not falling apart yet - they seem to be carved into the stone."

knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Azira smiles warmly, in no small part due to the fact that she'd assumed they were summoned because of an impending threat. "Before Drezen fell, there were many shrines in this region- most honoring the Lady of Valor, but many also devoted to other gods who supported the crusades, like Sarenrae and Shelyn." She looks to Elliot and Sosiel respectively as she mentions their patrons. "They were waystations for travelers to the city, but many of them also hid caches of various supplies, in case of demonic raids. I suspect it would be worthwhile for us to check it out quickly?"

I'm getting ready to leave for my week of camping- like I said before, I'll try to post from my phone when electricity and cell signal allow but please feel free to bot me if needed.

Knowledge (Local) DC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

"It has been slow going today, and it would mean a further delay to send a party up to check the altar," Verene says, glancing at the dim afternoon sun. Time is precious. The uneven rock shelves and mud of the rain-soaked old riverbed as it gradually rises in elevation have been hard going for the wagons carrying the wounded and their supplies, and so the army has made perhaps only ten hard-won miles of distance thus far today from their camp just past Keeper's Canyon last night. At least there have been no flash floods from all the rain. She is mindful of Azira and Thesius's wish to avoid unnecessary detours and engagements, and worried that they will not arrive at Drezen by tomorrow evening, as they hoped, but have to camp again and lose another day. "And we are not lacking for mundane supplies, as I understand it. But I have heard that some of these waystation caches contained magic healing items, as well. If there is any chance they are still there and we could retrieve them in under an hour or so, that would be a great boon. I agree with Azira, it is worth scouting further."

It has been decades since this road was used by Crusade forces, and the cache was likely discovered and looted long ago. But on the off-chance that it wasn't, perhaps there is healing there that could even get some of the worst wounded back on their feet. But she does not want to either be unduly negative or raise hopes that might be dashed, so she does not mention these concerns. One thing she does feel compelled to bring up, however.

"We would be taking a risk, though. Part of the reason to use this riverbed to approach Drezen is that it largely conceals our progress from unfriendly eyes as we travel through enemy territory. If we stick our heads above the parapet, so to speak, we must be careful. I don't suppose horses can go up the stairs anyway, but perhaps the six of us should go as part of any scouting party, in case they run into trouble."

What kind of healing do the dozen knights who need more healing than is on hand require, GM? Also, if the ruined chapel itself has not been scouted, Verene would recommend we do so before going in. At a minimum she would send Thamyris to fly high over it just to see if anything was moving around inside.

Previously

Merixia listens as the others make their arguments for and against keeping Nurah alive. She's in favor of the former; they need to know exactly what the spy has done, what information she has passed on, who the others in her cell of the Templars are. And given that torture is very much against both Ragathiel's code and that of Iomedae, coaxing it out of her is probably the most effective (albeit time consuming) solution. Nurah has already demonstrated a strong will that would enable her to resist charm spells and the like.

Besides which... there but for the grace of Ragathiel go I.

Current time

"Agreed. We can never have too many healing potions and such." She shades her eyes with her hand, looking the chapel over. "It doesn't look that big from here. Can't hurt to go see what's there, clean it up some. I wish we had a cleric of Iomedae around to cast a consecrate, though." If Merixia tries that around a shrine or altar of any deity other than her own, the spell will cut the shrine off from Iomedae. Not the effect anyone here wants.

Spell list for the day has been updated in my profile. Pretty sure I got everything Merixia prepared and cast so far today, she used a MP for chain of perdition.

Aron nods at Verene and Azira's words, confirming them. "That's what I've heard, too. Healing items are always worth gathering, I think."

Sosiel rubs his mustache. "I don't think the delay will hurt us much. Plus, I think at the very least going out and cleaning those monsters or demons that might be lurking there is a good deed. Even if we cannot consecrate it to Iomedae ourselves, cleaning it up would be a good deed."

Irabeth nods in agreement with Sosiel and then Verene. "I wouldn't send the whole army up." She agrees. "Just you six should probably be enough." She looks to Anevia.

Her wife nods. "Yes, it looks too small to fit all of us, and the horses definitely can't make it up there." She pauses. "None of us went up the stairs, though - we didn't scout anything inside properly, in case there are demons or other beasts in there."

Verene - the healing they need varies, though most are missing limbs or hands (or eyes, etc.) So it's some pretty potent healing necessary there.

Irabeth considers, then looks to the others inquisitively.

"I believe that we can safely stop here for a time." Aravashnial says. "And if there are any enemies in the chapel, I would rather not have them at our backs."

I'm assuming Verene is sending out Thamyris. If he's getting any buffs, let me know.

Sosiel’s words, and a strange urging from Radiance turn Azira’s mind to the shrines in the Gray Garrison and how pleased Iomedae had been with their cleansing. “Yes,” she agrees more enthusiastically than she’d intended, “we should definitely go and restore it to a usable condition, as much as we’re able at least. It should go faster than the previous shrines too, because Wulfric can use the same cleaning magic that Thesius did.”

Nope, no particular buffs on Thamyris, GM.
Verene's brows knit. "Briefly looking for supplies is one thing. Restoring a shrine that has been ruined for decades might not be a good use of our time, depending on how long it would take." She pauses as though listening to something. "Thamyris is calm. He doesn't see any enemies in the chapel." Still, when he returns, she asks, "What did you see, my dear?" She also casts merge with familiar on them before the group ascends the stairs, figuring there is little enough left of the day anyway that she might as well.

"We don't need to do repairs or anything, just clean it up some. At least the altar room." Iomedae obviously approved of their cleaning the defiled shrine in Kenabres, so it's a good idea to follow suit here. The Inheritor may not be Merixia's deity, but she's both Ragathiel's superior in the hierarchy of Heaven and the patron goddess of the Crusade. Merixia definitely wants to stay on her good side.

Now, how many spells should she cast? The cleric looks over at Anevia. "Provided we only spend an hour or two here, do you think we'll reach Drezen today?"

Elliot does a half-grin when he sees Akravash making an effort to be helpful on the way there. Technically, he was a prisoner, and didn't really have to do anything - as far as he knew. Was he making progress? Were they making progress helping him along?

He looks in the direction of the shrine when it presents itself to the Crusade and he shrugs. "Probably wouldn't hurt to check it for enemies at least, yes. Iomedae seemed to react well to Azira cleaning shrines back in Kenabres as well, apparently blessing her, so who knows what good it will do further down the road."

"Though I can hear Verene think it now... why would we still have to prove ourselves to Iomedae for aid or further favor? Given what we're doing and have already done? And it's not like I can blame that logic... why would the patron of the Crusade, of Mendev, be holding back any aid if she could give it? Wouldn't that essentially be treason against her worshippers?"

Sosiel nods thoughtfully at Azira's words, before looking to Verene. "I don't propose a full renovation, of course. Just a bit of a cleaning, maybe a few prayers, that sort of thing." He smiles.

Thamyris lands lightly on Verene's shoulder, cocking his head. "A horse-house... stable, yes, that's it. A chapel with some more buildings attached, and a courtyard. The outer walls are broken, too. I didn't see anyone, but didn't get too close."

Anevia shakes her head at Merixia. "No. If we pushed on right now, we might make it there tomorrow before noon, but there's no way we'd get there today."

Irabeth nods firmly. "Then it is decided. You six will head out to clean things out up there. If you need a hand doing so, send word down and I'll get some volunteers up." It's fairly obvious she means help with the cleaning rather than with any fighting.

I'll give you another bit to prepare before sending you off. You may want to ask some other questions, as well, so feel free.

"Thank you, Thamyris." Although Thamyris saw no one in the ruined building itself, Sosiel, Irabeth and Elliot seem to expect that monsters might be lurking there; and even if there are none now, they might attract some by walking around above the canyon. Verene uses the wands of mage armor and longstrider on herself before the group climbs the stairs. She also casts a message to include the party and Irabeth, and keeps detect magic up once they have ascended the stairs, to provide advance warning of possible invisible creatures. No further questions and not too many buffs to apply today. She will save things like the alter self scale, mirror image, the shield wand, and magic circle against evil for if it seems danger is imminent. Will update status bar later.
Use Magic Device, DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 For wand of longstrider.

Thesius offers to help keep an eye on Nurah when available for such as they discuss her future. While he understood the reasons to not keep her around, he would still prefer to give her another chance. She was no longer a threat as far as he could tell.

Upon the revelation of a vandalized shrine, Thesius is happy to offer his services. They needed to make camp as it was and with no other immediate concerns, it made sense to him to take the time to clean the place now.

He would also take the time to make note of the location in his journal.

The ascent is unsettling at times, and Wulfric almost falls down the stairs twice - however, with the aid of the others, he is able to keep his feet. Soon they arrive at the top of the stairs, where they find themselves outside of the chapel itself.

The gates to its small courtyard lie smashed and broken with tall grass growing amid the rubble. Two main buildings stand side by side to the east, separated by a single alleyway. The smaller structure appears to be a stable, while the other is much larger with several doors and stained-glass windows, apparently a chapel judging by the pious statues along its rooftop.

Last chance for buffs before you head in.

Chapel on the cliff:
Verene tells the other five what Nurah told her on the way up the stairs, along with everything she knows about ghouls, gargoyles, the demon lord Kabriri, and nabasu demons. Feel free to read the previous spoiler for Verene.
Knowledge (Planes) - nabasu: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Knowledge (Religion) - ghouls: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Knowledge (Religion) - Kabriri: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Knowledge (Nature) - gargoyles: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
"...Kabriri, as the demon lord of ghouls, graves and secrets, is a common patron of evil undead, cannibals, and nabasu demons, who have a special affinity for death magic and raising the dead as ghouls. Some sources say such demons can drain life from the living and turn them into ghouls just by looking at them. I don't know if a half-nabasu could do so, but I expect one would be able to fly, because half-fiends typically can and nabasu are also winged demons. And half-fiends resist all mundane weapons, not just those that are not cold iron or good-aligned, as we saw with the minotaur in the Gray Garrison. The gargoyles are more of a mystery to me — both their capabilities and why they would be here serving the demons."

Since it seems they will certainly be facing combat in the chapel, once close to the top Verene applies all the helpful spells available to her without using up more of the Wardstone's power, which she is reserving for its versatility. She did not prepare any extra awareness-sharpening spells today besides the already-used one for Merixia, and unfortunately has no fly spells readied either. But she adjusts to have the scroll of fly and one of dispel magic available on her bandolier, and in under a minute, she appears as several small white kobolds overlapping each other, each with a small rose quartz prism spinning lazily about its head and a twenty-foot-wide circle of glowing white runes under its feet. Just before entering, she uses and puts away the shielding wand and readies the magic missile wand.
Casting alter self, magic circle against evil, mirror image. Magic circle against evil will apply, as protection from evil, to anyone who stays within 10 feet of Verene, but will break for them if they leave. Since Thesius has no existing deflection bonus and only a +1 resistance bonus, she will offer her remaining single-target protection from evil to him. Also fixed the fact that the ioun stone was not represented in her initiative in her status bar — current corrected initiative is +11.
Mirror image images: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

She follows the others into the rubble-strewn courtyard when they move, trying to stay in the middle of the group so as to keep them all within her 20-foot-diameter circle.