Gameplay 3 - Demonic Petitioner

"Answer my questions completely and in good faith, Hooda. Then, yes, I will set you free." Jhishma gives a look to Owen as if to say, Stay your hand.

"It's no bother. Is anyone else badly injured? I have a prayer that works on multiple parties. If not, I'll be happy to just take care of Cyrind'ae."

"I wouldnt mind, since you offered." Owen says to the priest

Hooda appears willing to take the paladin at his word. She will stand if allowed, and relate the following:

Our Lord father, Prince of the Undead, has commanded us to prepare to strike. We have gathered in the secret places, and know this land is weak. Our plans were interrupted when the acolyte Rigavian was captured. We sent a number of followers into the prison, and were blessed with the Prince's blessing. The notorious criminal Gilchan Abidal was also hired to assist in the escape.

We could have destroyed the prison, but we wished to undermine the rule of law. Still, vigilantes were successful in interfering with those plans, and Rigavian was unable to retrieve certain artifacts from the archmages abode. Artifacts that would allow us to control a great beast hidden in the mountains.

Regardless, we must strike now, and burn this land. Our rewards will be eternal.

She looks hard at each of you, clearly hoping that one of you will come to her aid.

To Fritz, "I think we're all significantly damaged. Just don't heal this filth in the crossfire."

He glances at Grok, who is trying to figure out how to put horsie back together, to see if her words have any effect on the bearer of Sharpie.

He looks back at Hooda and becomes thoughtful. Internally, he is struggling with his need to rain vengence down upon this minion of evil and what that might do to betray his captain's honor. If it were his own honor at stake, he would kill her, no question. If only there were something to gain in the greater fight by letting her go...the turmoil is evident on his face.

Grok, completely oblivious to what the rest of you are doing, is stroking the neck of his horse while feeding it dried fruit.

Fritz's face wrinkles at the hooded figure.

"Sometimes I pity misguided heathens like yourself." He moves in close to Hooda. "Apollo is waiting for you to open up your heart to his light. You still have a chance."

Fritz moves back and takes a seat on a nearby rock. "This prayer will take a little while, but it seems like we have the time." He makes eye contact with Hooda again. "Witness the power of the light."

Jhishma listens to Hooda with disgust. "I've heard enough. If it's Helge's artifacts they're after, then we've already wasted too much time here."

"Cyrind'ae, relieve the witch of any reagents, crystals, wand or other arcane focus. And if she's got a spellbook, take that too."

Looking over towards Grok, he calls, "Grok! If Fritz can't help your horse at this point, no one can. Sorry, friend. Now, get over here and cut out Hooda's tongue!"

Turning back towards the witch, the dragonborn adds, "I'll make sure she doesn't die from it, but she'll never cast another spell, that's for damn sure...""If she carries food and water, leave it with her, but strip her of any weapons," the paladin orders.

When the deed is done, Jhishma regards her one last time, "There. Now you're free," and he walks away...

"C'mon, horsie. Eat. Mean woman no hurt you no more."

Nodding in approval, and brimming with pride in his captain, Nar walks over to horsie. If Fritz's healing didn't apply to him, Nar will kneel beside him and lay on hands for 1 hp.

Gathering hi own horse, Nar offers it to the team, "Two of you might fit on her. I'll walk."

Looking up at Nar and Frits, unsure who's magic did the trick, Grok picks up both of them and starts dancing a happy (but not entirely graceful) dance. "You fix Horise! Grok loves you bros! Horsie good now!"

A look of utter terror flashes on Fritz's face as Grok embraces him. "Ahhhhhhh."

Cyrind'ae will approach the women.

"You've heart the dragonborn, hand me your spell components and any weapons and magic items you carry, we're letting you go with the bare minimum. If you fear your master much more than you fear us, then I suggest you flea those lands and never show your face again. Perhaps head Fritz's words, mend your ways and give up the dark arts."

At the mention of cutting the woman's tongue, Cyrind'ae will frown.

"Is this really necessary? This sounds unusually cruel. Simply letting her go unarmed seems punishment enough for now. She'll already be dealing with surviving in nature, and hiding from and running away from her former employer. I doubt she'll have the time or the opportunity to cause any mischiefs..."

Responding to Cyrind'ae, "Her heart is black, blind and in the unrelenting grip of the prince of undeath. She must never have the ability to cast another spell - especially necromancy - for the rest of her life...what's left of it... The only other alternative is execution, but that went off the table when I gave my word she could go free."

"Grok! As I said, cut out her tongue."

"I must agree with Cyrind'ae on this matter. Though I won't stay your hand."

Searching the necromancer, you find a hand-sickle, the leather armor she is wearing, and odds and ends for casting spells (but no spell book). She had no waterskin, food, or other survival gear, although such might be on her dead horse.

At the prospect of cutting her tongue out, Hooda grows dark in countenance. Her muscles bunch as if she is going to fight, though her chances are slim.

Cyrind'ae starts searching the dead horse for the rest of the necromancer's stuff.

"You want to be the leader of this little group, fine, I have no objections. I'm more comfortable with books and stories than with people. But I draw the line at cruel punishments. Destroy her spellbook and take her raegents away, this will prevent her from casting. Beat her unconscious if you have to! As I said, she has more pressing problems right now. Though we spared her life, I doubt her employer will be as merciful..."

Owen has the opposite reaction from Cyrind'ae "If you say its your honor on the line Jhishma, I wont push it. But I still say a quick execution would do her better." Owen takes a few steps deeper into the woods and kneels. Closing his eyes, he exhales slowly and focuses on his senses. "Lets see if there is anything else out there..." He mutters.

Nar takes in the debate and is thoughtful for a moment.

"So far she hasn't told us anything we don't already know, other than shedding light on why they want something from Helge. If we set this witch free with her faculties, it will surely come back to us. Death is more merciful than living as blind mute."

Looking for compromise he suggests, "Perhaps if we get actionable intelligence from her like the location of troops and concrete invasion plans, her fate would be sealed as a traitor."