Jirel observes from afar as Finn and Tylaerys attempt to pacify the crowd, Finn's voice booming with the aid of magic.  Tonight, her friends seem to lack their typical way with words, stumbling over one another and the message is lost on the crowd.  Perhaps these people are too afraid, or perhaps the Fields of the Dead are working their own old magics on the weak-willed travelers.  

As the last echoes of Finn’s booming voice fade into the tense air, a charged silence follows, broken only by the shifting of feet and the murmurs of the restless crowd.  Torches flicker wildly, their light casting dancing shadows across the clearing.  The mob, does not disperse, instead ralling around the knight.

Amidst this scene, the knight of Tempus steps forward, his crimson tabard swaying with his deliberate movement. His wolfhound stiffens at his side, its growl deep and menacing, fangs bared toward the sisters.  His steel-clad hand rises, his voice cutting through the din with calm authority:
"We will confirm your guilt or innocence here and now."

His sharp gaze fixes on Mirekki, the younger of the two traders.  "You," he commands, his voice unyielding, "if you be a shapeshifter, then I say unto you—TRANSFORM and reveal thy true nature."

Save:  11

There is a pause, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air.  Then, the power of the spell washes over Mirekki.  She jerks involuntarily, her body seizing as if grappling with an unseen force.  Her wide, fearful eyes meet Akreni’s for a fleeting moment before the transformation begins.

Mirekki’s body convulses, her breathing coming in sharp gasps as her muscles ripple unnaturally beneath her skin.  Her limbs lengthen and twist, her hands contorting into clawed paws. A low, guttural growl escapes her throat as her jaw elongates, reshaping into a wolf-like snout.  Her hair darkens and spreads, becoming thick fur across her arms and torso.  Her clothes strain and tear at the seams, barely clinging to her now-massive frame.  In mere moments, she stands revealed as a hybrid werewolf, her golden eyes blazing with a mix of fury and shame.

The crowd gasps collectively, stumbling backward.  Some of the bolder members begin to shout.  "See? Monsters!  We were right all along!"  Others scatter, their courage faltering in the face of Mirekki’s bestial form.

Beside her sister, Akreni cries out in anguish.  "No! Leave her alone!" she shouts, throwing herself protectively in front of Mirekki, her arms spread wide to shield her sister.  Her scarred face twists with a mixture of defiance and grief.   "She’s no killer!  We desire no fight with you !"  Her voice cracks, but her stance is unyielding, her body a barrier between Mirekki and the mob.

The knight watches somberly, his face unreadable behind his helm as he slowly draws his longsword, the polished blade catching the firelight.  He steps forward deliberately, his wolfhound snapping and snarling at his side, ready to lunge.  "This is not vengeance," he says solemnly.  "This is necessity.  I will end this curse."

The knight’s followers close ranks behind him, their martial forms a wall of disciplined force.  The crowd, still in chaos, splits further—some fleeing, others cheering on the knight’s actions.

At Akreni's feet, the tall, thin old man stumbles up from where he had been pushed down, his frail form jostled in the confusion.  His grief-stricken voice rises above the noise.  "Stop this!  Stop this madness!" he pleads, his trembling hands raised in a futile gesture of peace.  "This is wrong!  The women are innocent!"

But his words are lost in the swell of the mob’s cries and the knight’s inexorable advance.  The mob is on the verge of spilling over into violence, and the knight’s steel-edged determination leaves no doubt that bloodshed is imminent.  Mirekki, now fully transformed, crouches low, her claws digging into the earth as her golden eyes dart between the advancing knight and her sister standing protectively before her.

If there's a 'back' way out of the wagon, then Yeshil will take this opportunity to sneak out that way. Otherwise, she will take her chances and wait until the cultists leave the wagon, and then escape. That may give her a chance to swipe something as 'evidence' such as one of the prayer scrolls to Tiamat, or a distinctive piece of stolen treasure.

Jirel’s eyes narrowed, the weight of the knight’s actions settling deep in her bones. A low grumble vibrates in her chest. This was not proof of anything. There was no justice. He had forced his hand upon them, unveiling the truth in a way that was cruel and unforgiving. The giantess rolls her shoulders back and steps forward, striding through with purpose. She interjects herself, taking a firm stance at Akreni's side in defense of Mirekki. Jirel drew no weapon.

As she planted herself next to Akreni, Jirel’s voice rang out. It was low, steady, and unmistakable in its command. "That’s enough." It was not a plea, not an offer. It was an unyielding demand, like the ancient oaths of the mountain itself. She met the knight’s gaze, not with the arrogance of someone prepared for battle, but with the quiet certainty of someone who had seen enough blood spilled for the wrong reasons. "Yer no knight in this moment, but a judge." The giantess stood tall, her eyes locked on his, daring him to take another step forward. "This is not proof. An' this is not justice." she added, her voice low but cutting. "Yer righteousness strip these sisters of their dignity, exposing them teh a mob in a way that only fans flames of fear an' hatred. You have made these women prey."

     Finn strides over to the two women and takes up stance next to them as quickly as he sees the knight stand in opposition to them.  As the knight calls out it's spell, Finn draws his rapier and stands ready to defend them.  Naturally Finn is a bit apprehensive when Mirekki does indeed begin to transform but he does his best to stand his ground and not shy away from the woman. 

     When he sees Jirel step up as well he holds for a moment, waiting to see if her attempt to take command of the situation works...

As the two monks move up alongside the knight... Jirel please make a check.  [Either persuasion or intimidation, depending on which way she is trying to lean on this...]

(Same modifier of -1 for either. I suppose Jirel would be more trying to ‘awe’ than to graciously convince, therefore I would lean to intimidation if it matters. Rolled a 10 in log for a 9.)

Jirel stands beside the werewolf, her sister, and Finn, calling for the knight to back down.

For a brief moment, the crowd quiets, as they await his response.  Some in the mob exchange uneasy glances, a few even slipping away.  But Jirel’s words fail to sway the knight.

The knight exhales deeply, planting the tip of his longsword into the earth before him as he stands tall and unwavering.  “I am both judge and blade when Tempus wills it,” he says with grim finality.  “The curse of lycanthropy is a danger to all. I will not shirk my duty.”

With a single gesture, he calls his companions forward. The monks step silently into flanking positions.  Their movements are deliberate, their hands and stances ready for combat.  The wolfhound mirrors their advance, baring its fangs as it prowls closer, its growl growing louder, almost a roar in the quiet.  The two pilgrims in the rear remain where they are, their faces a mixture of apprehension and reluctant acceptance of what is about to unfold.  They begin to pray.

The crowd begins to murmur agreement again, though a few more slip away.   All eyes are on the confrontation as the knight locks his gaze onto Mirekki and grips his sword with both hands, raises it from the dirt, and holds it at the ready.

“If I am wrong, or I am weak, Tempus will punish me.  If He deems her worthy to survive, so be it.  But as long as I draw breath, here is this hallowed, bloodstained land, I will see this through.  Stand aside, travelers, or face the same judgment.”

Initiative:

• Jirel  27
• Finn  21
• Monks and Pilgrims  18
• Tylaerys  15
• Crowd  10
• Knight and Wolfhound 8
• Mirekki & Akreni  5

Meanwhile, in the cultists wagon, the two men and their dwarven guard exit the wagon to watch the 'festivities.'  And just like that, Yeshil finds herself alone inside the wagon.

Yeshil quickly pilfers a few coins, as well as one or two of the prayer scrolls for potential evidence. She also grabs the most expensive-looking (but portable) religious artifact, guessing that the most zealous help they could muster in a time of need would come from this quarter, and a recovered artifact could be persuasive...

Checking again that the cultists and guard aren't looking her way, Yeshil exists the wagon, then slips around to the front to investigate the hidden compartment that she saw the cultists glancing at earlier...

Jirel scoffs. "Your judgement seeks unnecessary bloodshed." She stands tall and firm, honeyed hues watching his movements. Though, a smirk does start to pull at the corner of her lip. If he wanted to settle this through battle, fine she was happy to play. The giantess adjusts her gate and rolls her shoulders back, taking up a defensive stance to begin this 'dance'. He'd have to strike first, then she'll punish.

Action: Dodge

     Finn.... hesitates for a moment, flashing back to an earlier time when Jirel seemed to get mad he interfered in a combat.  But that was a battle of champions, he thought.  Not an attempt to defend the helpless and innocent.  So this is different, he thinks.  He hopes.

     "You come here and you attack this woman merely because she is different?  Cursed?  I call you COWARD!" Finn declares.  "Go to Greenest and build a temple to Tempus to prove your loyalty and defend that city for all who would do it harm in his name," Finn [Tooltip Not Found] to the knight, "Or forever bear the title coward wherever you go!"

Action: Cast Suggestion upon the knight.  DC 13 Wis save.

Monks and Pilgrims are up...

WIS:  12

The Knight seems to hesitate at Finn's words.  

At his side, the two monks appear about to step forward, but they pause as well, looking at the knight and then to Finn, seemingly aware he has done something to influence their commander.  For now, though, they take defensive positions and await further command.

Behind them, the two pilgrims lift up their voices to Tempus.

“Tempus, Lord of Battles, grant us the strength to halt the unworthy.  Let this warrior be stayed, her will frozen like steel caught in the forge, so that your justice may march undeterred.  Restrain her hand, not out of malice, but so your divine purpose may be fulfilled.  By your will, let her yield.”

[Jirel, make a DC 13 WIS save, or be paralyzed for the one minute.  At the end of each of her turns, she can make another Wisdom saving throw.  On any success, the spell ends.]

Tylaerys is up.

Yeshil appears to have options.  She should be able to slip out, or she could go back to rifling through the crates and grab a few things.  From the sound of things, there's some sort of brouhaha out in the camp. 

Yeshil isn't here to steal from the plunder per se, but if it takes no extra time, then she'll simply swipe a prayer scroll and possibly an artifact (perhaps an image or statue of one of the major celestial gods), and maybe a handful of coins (because stealing treasure from evil gods never backfires, ever!). Her priority now though is to exit the wagon, and while the cultists are distracted, to sneak to the front of the wagon and check out the hidden compartment (from post #2143).

Sensing the magic in the air, as the delicate tension in a situation about to turn violent, the young  blonde half-elf still hopes the unfortunate situation still can be defused somehow. She pleads with the mob to not interfere with the tempurans or they too might be found to be wrong-doers that needed punishment in their fickle eyes.

Persuasion: 13

She had hoped to avoid this attention to the team, their mission was still to follow the cultists to find out where Naerytar was, and if they raised suspicions the cultist would ptobably be even more careful about covering their tracks. Now things had escalated out of hand and some sort of intervention had been unavoidable. The silver lining of the situation was perhaps that by the tempuran's moronic logic, if he failed in battle he would also be wrong to mete out justice, so fighting him would possibly seen as a way of finding out whether the werewolf was to blame for anything, perhaps he would even admit to her innocense if he was defeated. She keeps concentration on the invisiblity spell, hoping the green-skinned girl realizes she could turn visible at any moment depending on how the situation evolves.

Wis ST: 3

Unworthy. The story of her life. Even the gods will it upon her. So be it. Jirel feels her body and muscles stiffen out of her control. Though even in this state she stands firm in her disgust of them imposing their Gods ideals on them.

Tylaerys' does her best to encourage the mob to stay out of this.  Some of them seem willing to listen, the sight of an actual werewolf taking some of the steam out of their kettles.  Others, however, remain whipped with zeal.  They pick up whatever they can find around their feet - rocks, dried wood, an old, rusted helm - and throw it in the direction of the werewolf.  

DEX 13  18

[Finn, make a DC 10 DEX save or take 2 bludgeoning damage from thrown debris from the mob.  Jirel,  paralyzed , unfortunately fails this save automatically.]

The wolfhound, barking furiously, charges ahead.  It sidesteps the paralyzed Jirel and lunges for the transformed Mirekki.

• Bite:  19  Piercing Damage:  4

STR:  11

The big dog bites down on the werewolf's arm, threatening to pull her off balance, but she is just barely able to remain on her feet.  With the bite released, there doesn't appear to be any damage to the werewolf's flesh.

The knight, still standing tall... sheaths his sword.  He turns and walks back toward their camp.  "He's right.  I am no coward, and by Tempus' might, I will see that village defended.  Greenest is many leagues southeast.  Let us pack our things and make haste." 

The monks look stunned.  "You've been bewitched, Sir Groening!' one cries, while the levels a steel-eyed look at Finn.  

The knight just continues walking back toward their camp.

Mirreki rears up over the dog, lashing out with fang and claw.

• Claws:  18  Slashing Damage:  7
• Bite:  19  Piercing Damage:  5

The barking dies with a whimper as the wolfhound is torn apart by the werewolf, blood and furr splattering the side of their wagon.  The werewolf then makes one stride forward, staring defiantly at the monks and the mob.

"Mirekki, calm yourself!" Akreni pleads. "Transform back.  We can still salvage this...".  She moves alongside her sister, taking the dodge action.

From somewhere to the west, you hear Jararaka's voice as she castigates her guards to 'Get over there and put a stop to that riot!'

Round 2

• Jirel  
• Finn  
• Monks and Pilgrims  
• Tylaerys  
• Crowd  
• Knight 
• Mirekki & Akreni  

Yeshil, please roll a d20 to see what she snatches out of the wagon.

Also, throw in a stealth check (with advantage) as she opens the secret compartment in the wagon while they are distracted.

Dex Save:  5    - 2pt damage taken
Con Save:  13 - to maintain concentration on Suggestion after the damage

     "Ow, fudge!" Finn shouts, or something like that, when struck in the head with a rotted cabbage.  Who saves rotten cabbage just in case they need to chuck it at someone anyway?  Compost that crap! 

     But a second later Finn has regained himself (pauses, checks, and yeah... himself) and began focusing on what matters once again.  The fact that the idiot knight is departing the field!  That is the number one goal, as Finn sees it.  The others are likely to follow him... Specially if they have no way to snap him out of it.  With that idea in mind, Finn decides his best option is to get out of sight of anyone who may think targeting him is the best way to snap the knight out of it.

     Finn books it north with a quick "Gotta stay focused... I'm out!" quickly said to the Jirel and the wolfies.  (Did she really just make a snack out of that hound?  Damn... Finn isn't positive he's on the right side or not!)  

(I believe 30' movement puts him just other side of the cart and ox?  If there is something within 30' further away that would give Finn full cover he'd likely do that... Otherwise he will use his action to try to hide from the monks there...)

Snatch roll: 16

Stealth roll: 24

[As she is still paralyzed, another save to escape would end Jirel's turn.  So Tylaerys can act now as well.]