Tearing at the hinges and straps along with Sebastian, Sha is able to pry the top of the breastplate open well wnough that you can all clearly see a woven collar around Sebastian's throat, which seems to have shrunk and contracted enough to be choking him. he reaches for it, but his bound hands and iron rod do not allow him to get any sort of a hold on it at all. He falls to his knees.
The collar is woven of a bright white thread, except for two blood-red bands, parrallel to each other, one above the other, which go around the circle. There does not seem to be any specific beginning or end to the circle - the weave is complete. Hemlock would notice an energy of enchantment magic on it, and Saoirse can tell that there is blood magic involved, too.
Hássan makes a death saving throw.
16
Samantha hangs limply from her bound hands... and makes a death saving throw.
- No, no no no ... - Saoirse says as she drops her weapons to the ground and moves close to Sebastian to try to help him too, her anxiety growing as the collar shrinks. They cannot loose him to that damned thing now. But how to remove it ...? At least they all could see the band clearly now thanks to Sha, Shar/Selune bless his dexterous claws.
- We could try and cut it but ... no ...no... that mustn't be it. Those blood marks, they must belong to the ones that where bound through this magic, right? The master and the servant. Samantha's blood, and Sebastian's. Could that be the solution ...? - without waiting for an answer the genasi approaches Samantha and soaks her right middle finger in the abdomen wound caused when extracting the journal, and then does the same with Sebastian. He was pretty beaten and bloodied from his previous encounter with the kobolds, so it's easy for Saoirse to find a wound where to soak her right index finger in.
With this, the genasi inhales deeply, praying she's doing this right. She shares a glance with her friends, trying to find some assurance in their eyes, and then looks at Sebastian, who is still trying to reach for the collar:
- Sebastian ... Seb... - Saoirse uses the short name some people at the village used to call him by all those years ago - Please, don't move. Let me try this.
With that, she places the bloodied middle finger in the top red mark, and the index in the lower. Then she moves them along the marks, tracing both circles at the same time, leaving blood upon blood...
When Saoirsecompletes the circle around both bands of red, she can feel her blood boiling, and the energy she imparts into hemocraft magic swells through her - drawing more energy than she has ever channeled through that magic before. She takes 6 necrotic damage, but the collar expands again, and threads bound by magic unweave, exposing a clasp that can be easily undone. The collar opens, and peels off of Sebastian's neck. Underneath it, the skin is red and dry - it has not been off of his skin in years. The red bands disappear from the collar, and a few drops of blood fall from it to the ground.
Sebastian begins to weep, loud sobs coming a moment after he rasps and coughs to restore air to his lungs. He moves towards Samantha, raising his hands and the iron rod still bound to them, seeming to ready himself to drive the metal through her skull. Through his sobbing, he mutters or shouts disconnected words, not finishing any actual full sentences or thoughts. "You took... We were supposed to... they promised... justice... lies, all lies!"
Sebastian brings his hands down, and a sickening crunch, then wet sounds, come from the top of Samantha's skull. She is... no longer making death saving throws. Then Sebastian collapses into the fetal position, clutching his knees to his chest. "Thank you," he mutters.
Saoirse falls back to the ground with a pained gasp after channeling such an amount of blood magic, but it doesn't wound her that much, thanks to Sha's protective spell during their encounter with the teenagers.
She looks away and closes her eyes when Sebastian crushes Samantha's skull... She would have preferred that hadn't happened, but who could blame him for that reaction, after so many years being forced to who knows how many terrible acts against his will...? The genasi had now lots of questions for him, but knowing that this isn't the proper time to ask them, she just puts a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to give him some modicum of comfort after all the ordeal.
As she does this, Saoirse looks at her companions, awaiting their reactions and realizes Hássan is not with them.
To answer Saoirse’s question, Lam says, “Hássan was… hurt.”He sure hopes Hássan is not dead, but it did not look great when he left that room. “Hemlock is there. …It might be ok.”
After that, Lam just stares at Sebastian, eyes full of understanding. He has never been through anything close to what Sebastian’s been going through for years, but his words and actions- all of them- make complete sense after what he went through. He then turns to Saoirse- he had never seen her this worried, but he had also never seen her figure out something as quickly as she just removed that collar. That was quick thinking- and it makes him curious about the blood magic that only she and Sebastian are familiar with. He wants to ask both of them if they are ok now after the ordeal they just went through, but knowing the answer, he just stays silent and ready to help with whatever is needed next.
Hemlock looks down at Hássan, "You had me worried. I am not sure it is over, but the sorceress fell to my magic".
"Let us go and see how things stand", he says reaching a hand down to help Hássan up. He then assists the kobold in walking around the corner, and as he does he produces 10 healing berries, handing 5 to Hássan.
"My apologies friends, but there comes a time when someone is so wretched that more aggressive action is needed. This was such a time", he says as he takes in the butchered corpse of the sorceress and the guard curled up.
Saoirse blinks when Sebastian pushes her away, her hand falling limply in her lap afterwards. She should have expected that reaction, too.
Not really knowing what to do and lost for words, she just looks at Lam and Sha while muttering an almost imperceptible "oh, no ..." when she hears about Hássan. But moments after, the appearance of both the kobold and Hemlock brightens her:
- Hássan! You are ...! Oh, Gods ... - she says, relieved, and glances towards Sebastian, though she imagines that seeing the kobold alive won't be much of a relief to the broken man. He's got a tough road ahead of him now that he is free again...
Her voice is full of uncertainty when she asks the kobold:
Hássan eats the goodberries with gratitude, standing a little taller, breathing a little deeper. He leans on Hemlock as they walk around the corner. "Is the slave freed?"
Sebastian looks up when Hássan rounds the corner. "Oh, thanks be to the lightbringer." He reaches his bound hands towards the kobold for a moment, then drops them again, and casts his eyes down again. The moment of relief, washed away by other memories, other feelings.
Hássan's gem lights up again. "Hamza offers apologies to the four of you, and condolences to the former slave. This is not how this test was supposed to go. And yet, judgement seems to have been passed for this 'Samantha.' So, what remains is for you all to tell us what should happen to him, now. Then, you will follow me into our colony, and perhaps to the final test."
You see a few other kobolds running down the hall towards you. They heard the commotion, and were on their way to try to help, or to protect the rest of the caves.
The fire genasi exhales. "The final test". She had hoped all tests would be over by now, and she is not feeling in the best of spirits to participate in another one. Much less to pass the judgement Hamzawas requesting.
Silently, and not meeting anyone's eyes, she stands up and grabs and sheathes both rapier and dagger. Swordbreaker is still crackling with lightning and her right hand is still dripping flame-colored blood.
Saoirsethen walks a few steps away from the group, seemingly lost in though, but in truth waiting to hear her companions thoughts on Sebastian. She doesn't want to be the first to speak as her opinion on the matter is now of course deeply biased.
When Saoirse sighs at the mention of a final test, Lam knows exactly what she is feeling. For there to be more after what they all just went through…
Before he dares speak up on the subject of Sebastian’s judgement, knowing already what his instincts are telling him, he walks over to Sha and speaks in Goblin. “Dein schnelles Denken hat höchstwahrscheinlich das Leben dieses Mannes gerettet. Dankeschön für bieten deine Reflexe und Fähigkeit hier an.”
”Your quick thinking most likely saved this man’s life. Thank you very much for offering your reflexes and ability here.”
As he thinks about what to say about Sebastian, he looks to his friends, an opinion clearly on his mind. “Sebastian… should…” as he speaks, he wants to just say Sebastian should go free. The man shouldn’t be at fault for being a victim of magic for what was clearly a very long time. As he looks at the man’s distressed face, he feels a kinship he wasn’t expecting, and feels an ache for the man’s guilt over things he had no choice but to do. If this man is really anything like him, simple freedom without further instructions might not be the most helpful sentence right now. Since Saoirse doesn’t seem inclined to speak up first, he looks to Hemlock for permission to speak and, as he speaks, permission to continue. “Sebastian should… stay with Kobolds first. Help work. Rebuild what can be rebuilt. Tend to dead. After, he should be free. Choose how to atone.” He looks at Sebastian for this next part, partially to address him and partially to assess his thoughts on the previous words: “You know what you have done under spell? You know what needs made right?” He looks to his friends to see if they have any objections, additions or suggestions, seeming unsure of his own idea. He wants to say Sebastian doesn’t have anything to make right- that it wasn’t his fault- but he suspects it would not be received well by the man right now. Maybe giving him a place to start will help him on his continued path. Lam looks particularly long over at Saoirse, knowing she likely has background knowledge that he doesn’t know about and wishing he had an idea what was going on in her mind.
Hemlock shakes his head at Hássan, "Another test? Was this not the battle you had spoken of? I guess it shows that whilst Hamza is knowledgeable, he is no prophet".
He then looks to Sebastian and listens to Lam speak, smiling at the bugbear as he looks to him for approval.
"I believe Lam has spoken wisely. You cannot be held accountable for the actions you performed whilst under the sway of the sorceress, but it was by your hand that they were done, and seemingly with your knowledge if not your consent", he says, adding to what Lam had shared.
"Sebastian", he says now looking down at the man. "I cannot imagine what you have been forced to do in your time under her thrall, but know that you are in a unique position. You have likely been witness to many of her dealings and know of the plans she made and the people allied to her. I concur with Lam, the judgement is one of penance, towards those you have wronged and in service of those who oppose the sorceress and her allies".
"But as yet only two of us have spoken, and there are yet two more whose opinions must be heard and accounted for".
Hássanis looking at both Lamand Hemlockwith admiration and respect as they speak, and seems torn between saying something, and staying silent so as not to interfere. He is almost about to comment on what Hemlock says, but then -
"No," Sebastian interrupts. "There is no penance. I have killed, and not just in battle. I have tortured and... other things. I could have - I should have - I could have resisted. I did sometimes, at first. It hurt my brain to say no, and it might have killed me, but I could have refused the things she made me.... I had a choice. I am beyond redemption. A shame to my order. You have my blade, use it and end me!"
Hássan does speak then. "My father's father, and all of our colony's grandfathers, knew mind-slavers before Hamza freed us. I believe that you can be redeemed, if you so choose."
Sebastian does not seem convinced, but it's not clear. He's not making eye contact with anyone. Mostly just staring at Samantha's corpse.
Saoirse, not expecting to receive a magical message from Tesfaye at that precise moment, almost jumps in surprise. She smiles fondly for a split second, thinking how much she could use a big tortle hug similar to the one they gave them before leaving Village tree. She doesn't answer just yet, though. First because she doesn't really know how to summarize everything that has happened in so few words, and secondly because she doesn't want to interrupt what is happening right now. It's probably best to wait to have the full picture once the judgement is made, at least.
Feeling Lam and Hemlock's gaze once they've spoken, she finally turns to say her own words, and is about to do so when Sebastian just answers.
Without saying a word she walks up to her fellow blood hunter, stopping when she reaches the collar that is still lying on the floor. Saoirse picks it up and examines it for an instant, and then gazes at Sebastian:
- This is the most terrifying object I've even seen in my life. And it creates so many questions in my head, Sebastian. Like ... who crafted it? It has to have been made by someone inmensely knowledgeable in Hemocraft magic. And... how many of our brothers and sisters are wearing collars such as this one? Was it only you, or could there be more of us in the same situation? You say that you are a shame to our Order, that we should kill you. But don't you think that the real shame would be to let this happen to more people? You have suffered this firsthand. Would you really forfeit your life, instead of using it to help expose what is happening and free whoever might be in that same situation?
She pauses for a moment, trying to find the right words.
- I know you have suffered tremendously and that you have done terrible things that will never be undone. But I am also certain that, deep inside of you, there is still the fighter I looked up to when I was an initiate that couldn't even barely hold her sword properly. Let him come to the light again, Sebastian. Let him turn the darkness he has experienced into a light that can shine on those who need it most.
Saoirse doesn't say anything else, and walks back to where her companions are standing, with the collar still in her hands.
When Saoirse walks over to join them, Lam looks at her with concern and then lightly, tentatively places a clawed hand on her shoulder, ready to remove it in an instant if it seems unwelcome. The gesture seems unnatural for him, like he put too much thought into it. A passive insight of 13 can see that:
Lam is still figuring out physical affection, and it does not come naturally to him yet. He is trying this as a method to comfort Saoirse purely out of learned observation- because he’s seen her do it to try to comfort and support multiple other people (including himself), he thinks it might be a valid way to comfort her.
He stares at Sebastian and furrows his brow. He seems to still be having trouble processing one of Sebastian’s ideas. Then he says: “Not everything that broke… is… some things can be fixed. Dying makes nothing right. But you can help now.”
Can Lam possibly help to give Saoirse advantage on her persuasion roll?
The genasi looks at the towering bugbear and, understanding his intentions, she smiles gratefully - though sadly - to him. His gesture may be small in appearance, but she feels greatly supported by it.
Saoirse then places her hand over Lam's clawed one, letting it rest for a while there.
“May the Goddess grant you peace Sebastian, she has been know to grant rest and take bad memories. Perhaps an atonement is in order for you. Heed the words of Saoirse she knew you before the collar and she can help you now.” Sha also approaches Saoirse places a paw on her forearm. “I warn you though atonement only comes to those who earnestly seek it.”
"The boy you knew was a naive fool. They told me that these collars were designed by the lightbringer... it may have been another lie. I dont know. But now they are crafted in Springdawn, by Strixwell. I can not talk about my tim with Samantha... it hurts too much. I will do what the lizar - sorry, kobolds - ask of me for now. If I still wish for you to strike me down when next we meet, will you do it, Saoirse? Please?" Sebastian is still sitting on the floor with his knees at his chest, but he is looking up at you as he speaks.
At this point the other Kobolds have gotten close enough to hear. Hássan speaks first to you, and then to the others. "Very well. I will tell them that he was a mind-slave, and that he is to see a healer, and then to work alongside us for a time. Some of them will not be ready to forgive you, warrior."
"تم استعباده. سوف يكفر معنا. يرجى إظهاره للمعالج."
"Now, you four. Follow me when you are ready. I will show you to our home."
Hássan turns and takes a few steps awaybfrom sebastian, looking to see whether you are ready to follow.
Tearing at the hinges and straps along with Sebastian, Sha is able to pry the top of the breastplate open well wnough that you can all clearly see a woven collar around Sebastian's throat, which seems to have shrunk and contracted enough to be choking him. he reaches for it, but his bound hands and iron rod do not allow him to get any sort of a hold on it at all. He falls to his knees.
The collar is woven of a bright white thread, except for two blood-red bands, parrallel to each other, one above the other, which go around the circle. There does not seem to be any specific beginning or end to the circle - the weave is complete. Hemlock would notice an energy of enchantment magic on it, and Saoirse can tell that there is blood magic involved, too.
Hássan makes a death saving throw.
16
Samantha hangs limply from her bound hands... and makes a death saving throw.
7
DM: Heavy is the Head
Hássan's eyes flutter open. He takes a full breath. He's stable, at 1 hp.
"الله أكبر."
DM: Heavy is the Head
- No, no no no ... - Saoirse says as she drops her weapons to the ground and moves close to Sebastian to try to help him too, her anxiety growing as the collar shrinks. They cannot loose him to that damned thing now. But how to remove it ...? At least they all could see the band clearly now thanks to Sha, Shar/Selune bless his dexterous claws.
- We could try and cut it but ... no ...no... that mustn't be it. Those blood marks, they must belong to the ones that where bound through this magic, right? The master and the servant. Samantha's blood, and Sebastian's. Could that be the solution ...? - without waiting for an answer the genasi approaches Samantha and soaks her right middle finger in the abdomen wound caused when extracting the journal, and then does the same with Sebastian. He was pretty beaten and bloodied from his previous encounter with the kobolds, so it's easy for Saoirse to find a wound where to soak her right index finger in.
With this, the genasi inhales deeply, praying she's doing this right. She shares a glance with her friends, trying to find some assurance in their eyes, and then looks at Sebastian, who is still trying to reach for the collar:
- Sebastian ... Seb... - Saoirse uses the short name some people at the village used to call him by all those years ago - Please, don't move. Let me try this.
With that, she places the bloodied middle finger in the top red mark, and the index in the lower. Then she moves them along the marks, tracing both circles at the same time, leaving blood upon blood...
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Saoirse completes the circle around both bands of red, she can feel her blood boiling, and the energy she imparts into hemocraft magic swells through her - drawing more energy than she has ever channeled through that magic before. She takes 6 necrotic damage, but the collar expands again, and threads bound by magic unweave, exposing a clasp that can be easily undone. The collar opens, and peels off of Sebastian's neck. Underneath it, the skin is red and dry - it has not been off of his skin in years. The red bands disappear from the collar, and a few drops of blood fall from it to the ground.
You have a Collar of the Bound Servant.
Sebastian begins to weep, loud sobs coming a moment after he rasps and coughs to restore air to his lungs. He moves towards Samantha, raising his hands and the iron rod still bound to them, seeming to ready himself to drive the metal through her skull. Through his sobbing, he mutters or shouts disconnected words, not finishing any actual full sentences or thoughts. "You took... We were supposed to... they promised... justice... lies, all lies!"
Sebastian brings his hands down, and a sickening crunch, then wet sounds, come from the top of Samantha's skull. She is... no longer making death saving throws. Then Sebastian collapses into the fetal position, clutching his knees to his chest. "Thank you," he mutters.
We are out of initiative.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Saoirse falls back to the ground with a pained gasp after channeling such an amount of blood magic, but it doesn't wound her that much, thanks to Sha's protective spell during their encounter with the teenagers.
She looks away and closes her eyes when Sebastian crushes Samantha's skull... She would have preferred that hadn't happened, but who could blame him for that reaction, after so many years being forced to who knows how many terrible acts against his will...? The genasi had now lots of questions for him, but knowing that this isn't the proper time to ask them, she just puts a gentle hand on his shoulder, trying to give him some modicum of comfort after all the ordeal.
As she does this, Saoirse looks at her companions, awaiting their reactions and realizes Hássan is not with them.
- Is Hássan okay? Where is he? - she asks.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Sebastian pushes your hand away, and stays where he is. "I killed him, too. I killed so many... og gods."
Hássan looks up at Hemlock. "Is it over?"
DM: Heavy is the Head
To answer Saoirse’s question, Lam says, “Hássan was… hurt.” He sure hopes Hássan is not dead, but it did not look great when he left that room. “Hemlock is there. …It might be ok.”
After that, Lam just stares at Sebastian, eyes full of understanding. He has never been through anything close to what Sebastian’s been going through for years, but his words and actions- all of them- make complete sense after what he went through. He then turns to Saoirse- he had never seen her this worried, but he had also never seen her figure out something as quickly as she just removed that collar. That was quick thinking- and it makes him curious about the blood magic that only she and Sebastian are familiar with. He wants to ask both of them if they are ok now after the ordeal they just went through, but knowing the answer, he just stays silent and ready to help with whatever is needed next.
Hemlock looks down at Hássan, "You had me worried. I am not sure it is over, but the sorceress fell to my magic".
"Let us go and see how things stand", he says reaching a hand down to help Hássan up. He then assists the kobold in walking around the corner, and as he does he produces 10 healing berries, handing 5 to Hássan.
"My apologies friends, but there comes a time when someone is so wretched that more aggressive action is needed. This was such a time", he says as he takes in the butchered corpse of the sorceress and the guard curled up.
Saoirse blinks when Sebastian pushes her away, her hand falling limply in her lap afterwards. She should have expected that reaction, too.
Not really knowing what to do and lost for words, she just looks at Lam and Sha while muttering an almost imperceptible "oh, no ..." when she hears about Hássan. But moments after, the appearance of both the kobold and Hemlock brightens her:
- Hássan! You are ...! Oh, Gods ... - she says, relieved, and glances towards Sebastian, though she imagines that seeing the kobold alive won't be much of a relief to the broken man. He's got a tough road ahead of him now that he is free again...
Her voice is full of uncertainty when she asks the kobold:
- What happens now...?
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Hássan eats the goodberries with gratitude, standing a little taller, breathing a little deeper. He leans on Hemlock as they walk around the corner. "Is the slave freed?"
Sebastian looks up when Hássan rounds the corner. "Oh, thanks be to the lightbringer." He reaches his bound hands towards the kobold for a moment, then drops them again, and casts his eyes down again. The moment of relief, washed away by other memories, other feelings.
Hássan's gem lights up again. "Hamza offers apologies to the four of you, and condolences to the former slave. This is not how this test was supposed to go. And yet, judgement seems to have been passed for this 'Samantha.' So, what remains is for you all to tell us what should happen to him, now. Then, you will follow me into our colony, and perhaps to the final test."
You see a few other kobolds running down the hall towards you. They heard the commotion, and were on their way to try to help, or to protect the rest of the caves.
DM: Heavy is the Head
The fire genasi exhales. "The final test". She had hoped all tests would be over by now, and she is not feeling in the best of spirits to participate in another one. Much less to pass the judgement Hamza was requesting.
Silently, and not meeting anyone's eyes, she stands up and grabs and sheathes both rapier and dagger. Swordbreaker is still crackling with lightning and her right hand is still dripping flame-colored blood.
Saoirse then walks a few steps away from the group, seemingly lost in though, but in truth waiting to hear her companions thoughts on Sebastian. She doesn't want to be the first to speak as her opinion on the matter is now of course deeply biased.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
A familiar voice suddenly appears in Saoirse's mind:
"Scouts report dwarves left mine early, hurried. Rhys asks for report. Are you guys OK? The teenagers are here safe and ashamed. Love from Tesfaye."
DM: Heavy is the Head
When Saoirse sighs at the mention of a final test, Lam knows exactly what she is feeling. For there to be more after what they all just went through…
Before he dares speak up on the subject of Sebastian’s judgement, knowing already what his instincts are telling him, he walks over to Sha and speaks in Goblin. “Dein schnelles Denken hat höchstwahrscheinlich das Leben dieses Mannes gerettet. Dankeschön für bieten deine Reflexe und Fähigkeit hier an.”
”Your quick thinking most likely saved this man’s life. Thank you very much for offering your reflexes and ability here.”
As he thinks about what to say about Sebastian, he looks to his friends, an opinion clearly on his mind. “Sebastian… should…” as he speaks, he wants to just say Sebastian should go free. The man shouldn’t be at fault for being a victim of magic for what was clearly a very long time. As he looks at the man’s distressed face, he feels a kinship he wasn’t expecting, and feels an ache for the man’s guilt over things he had no choice but to do. If this man is really anything like him, simple freedom without further instructions might not be the most helpful sentence right now. Since Saoirse doesn’t seem inclined to speak up first, he looks to Hemlock for permission to speak and, as he speaks, permission to continue. “Sebastian should… stay with Kobolds first. Help work. Rebuild what can be rebuilt. Tend to dead. After, he should be free. Choose how to atone.” He looks at Sebastian for this next part, partially to address him and partially to assess his thoughts on the previous words: “You know what you have done under spell? You know what needs made right?” He looks to his friends to see if they have any objections, additions or suggestions, seeming unsure of his own idea. He wants to say Sebastian doesn’t have anything to make right- that it wasn’t his fault- but he suspects it would not be received well by the man right now. Maybe giving him a place to start will help him on his continued path. Lam looks particularly long over at Saoirse, knowing she likely has background knowledge that he doesn’t know about and wishing he had an idea what was going on in her mind.
Hemlock shakes his head at Hássan, "Another test? Was this not the battle you had spoken of? I guess it shows that whilst Hamza is knowledgeable, he is no prophet".
He then looks to Sebastian and listens to Lam speak, smiling at the bugbear as he looks to him for approval.
"I believe Lam has spoken wisely. You cannot be held accountable for the actions you performed whilst under the sway of the sorceress, but it was by your hand that they were done, and seemingly with your knowledge if not your consent", he says, adding to what Lam had shared.
"Sebastian", he says now looking down at the man. "I cannot imagine what you have been forced to do in your time under her thrall, but know that you are in a unique position. You have likely been witness to many of her dealings and know of the plans she made and the people allied to her. I concur with Lam, the judgement is one of penance, towards those you have wronged and in service of those who oppose the sorceress and her allies".
"But as yet only two of us have spoken, and there are yet two more whose opinions must be heard and accounted for".
With that, he looks to Sha-Gravis and Saoirse.
Hássan is looking at both Lam and Hemlock with admiration and respect as they speak, and seems torn between saying something, and staying silent so as not to interfere. He is almost about to comment on what Hemlock says, but then -
"No," Sebastian interrupts. "There is no penance. I have killed, and not just in battle. I have tortured and... other things. I could have - I should have - I could have resisted. I did sometimes, at first. It hurt my brain to say no, and it might have killed me, but I could have refused the things she made me.... I had a choice. I am beyond redemption. A shame to my order. You have my blade, use it and end me!"
Hássan does speak then. "My father's father, and all of our colony's grandfathers, knew mind-slavers before Hamza freed us. I believe that you can be redeemed, if you so choose."
Sebastian does not seem convinced, but it's not clear. He's not making eye contact with anyone. Mostly just staring at Samantha's corpse.
DM: Heavy is the Head
Saoirse, not expecting to receive a magical message from Tesfaye at that precise moment, almost jumps in surprise. She smiles fondly for a split second, thinking how much she could use a big tortle hug similar to the one they gave them before leaving Village tree. She doesn't answer just yet, though. First because she doesn't really know how to summarize everything that has happened in so few words, and secondly because she doesn't want to interrupt what is happening right now. It's probably best to wait to have the full picture once the judgement is made, at least.
Feeling Lam and Hemlock's gaze once they've spoken, she finally turns to say her own words, and is about to do so when Sebastian just answers.
Without saying a word she walks up to her fellow blood hunter, stopping when she reaches the collar that is still lying on the floor. Saoirse picks it up and examines it for an instant, and then gazes at Sebastian:
- This is the most terrifying object I've even seen in my life. And it creates so many questions in my head, Sebastian. Like ... who crafted it? It has to have been made by someone inmensely knowledgeable in Hemocraft magic. And... how many of our brothers and sisters are wearing collars such as this one? Was it only you, or could there be more of us in the same situation? You say that you are a shame to our Order, that we should kill you. But don't you think that the real shame would be to let this happen to more people? You have suffered this firsthand. Would you really forfeit your life, instead of using it to help expose what is happening and free whoever might be in that same situation?
She pauses for a moment, trying to find the right words.
- I know you have suffered tremendously and that you have done terrible things that will never be undone. But I am also certain that, deep inside of you, there is still the fighter I looked up to when I was an initiate that couldn't even barely hold her sword properly. Let him come to the light again, Sebastian. Let him turn the darkness he has experienced into a light that can shine on those who need it most.
Saoirse doesn't say anything else, and walks back to where her companions are standing, with the collar still in her hands.
Persuasion: 12
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Saoirse walks over to join them, Lam looks at her with concern and then lightly, tentatively places a clawed hand on her shoulder, ready to remove it in an instant if it seems unwelcome. The gesture seems unnatural for him, like he put too much thought into it. A passive insight of 13 can see that:
Lam is still figuring out physical affection, and it does not come naturally to him yet. He is trying this as a method to comfort Saoirse purely out of learned observation- because he’s seen her do it to try to comfort and support multiple other people (including himself), he thinks it might be a valid way to comfort her.
He stares at Sebastian and furrows his brow. He seems to still be having trouble processing one of Sebastian’s ideas. Then he says: “Not everything that broke… is… some things can be fixed. Dying makes nothing right. But you can help now.”
Can Lam possibly help to give Saoirse advantage on her persuasion roll?
The genasi looks at the towering bugbear and, understanding his intentions, she smiles gratefully - though sadly - to him. His gesture may be small in appearance, but she feels greatly supported by it.
Saoirse then places her hand over Lam's clawed one, letting it rest for a while there.
Rolled the advantage but got a 7. 😭😭😓
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
“May the Goddess grant you peace Sebastian, she has been know to grant rest and take bad memories. Perhaps an atonement is in order for you. Heed the words of Saoirse she knew you before the collar and she can help you now.” Sha also approaches Saoirse places a paw on her forearm. “I warn you though atonement only comes to those who earnestly seek it.”
SEA MISTRESS CREW
"The boy you knew was a naive fool. They told me that these collars were designed by the lightbringer... it may have been another lie. I dont know. But now they are crafted in Springdawn, by Strixwell. I can not talk about my tim with Samantha... it hurts too much. I will do what the lizar - sorry, kobolds - ask of me for now. If I still wish for you to strike me down when next we meet, will you do it, Saoirse? Please?" Sebastian is still sitting on the floor with his knees at his chest, but he is looking up at you as he speaks.
At this point the other Kobolds have gotten close enough to hear. Hássan speaks first to you, and then to the others. "Very well. I will tell them that he was a mind-slave, and that he is to see a healer, and then to work alongside us for a time. Some of them will not be ready to forgive you, warrior."
"تم استعباده. سوف يكفر معنا. يرجى إظهاره للمعالج."
"Now, you four. Follow me when you are ready. I will show you to our home."
Hássan turns and takes a few steps awaybfrom sebastian, looking to see whether you are ready to follow.
DM: Heavy is the Head