I think we established as early as the encounter in the alley that
Elden doesn't like killing. And then in the aftermath of the encounter versus the slaver guards, when Alanya lost her shit and slapped Weylan, it was established that most of the orphans are of the same mind: sick to the stomach because of the killing. Yes, even when their own lives are threatened. Some are a little more ambivalent. For example, Rufio, while not bloodthirsty, isn't as bothered by it as the others. He had a rough childhood, had to kill or be killed on several occasions long before he hit his teens. But like I said, he doesn't seek out killing, doesn't enjoy it (but he does love fighting). Weylan killed a wolf when he was 8! He’s sympathetic towards Elden but mostly the young halfling just wants everyone's acceptance and approval.
Next, the orphans
kill the ninja rogue, and during the brief rest afterwards there are no more guilt pangs or remorse, no more arguments. Nothing. Have the orphans, having lost their innocence, been desensitized to the horror of killing?
Then this new group shows up and battle ensues again.
For the record, the orphans struck first. Seneia beats the halfling dead. The orphans then rush to Feylinde's aid and gang up on the half-orc.
Elden takes care to make his hammer blows non-lethal but the others don’t care and soon the half-orc is dead. Elden hammers the fleeing cleric with non-lethal blows and Alanya blasts him with Vicious Mockery. In the end
Alanya knocks the cleric out with the flat of her blade, and Seneia captures the elf.
Now it looks like the kills have upset some of the orphans again, particularly Elden and Alanya. For the rest of us, did we all intend to pull our punches and deal non-lethal blows but simply forgot to specify? Or is the intent to just carry on as before (at least for now)? I confess that I haven’t had Rufio give it much thought. In any case, it’s interesting. Each player is telling their PC’s own emotional journey and personal story arc, and I think that’s the way RPG should be. :-)