The warning that starts to form in Zechry's lips is muted by the sound of flying arrows. 

Five arrows cross the air towards Redgard. Four find their mark. The big man staggers and drops to his knees before even knowing what's going on. The other one turns towards him instintecly, just to see Kyne appearing with his hands cracking fire. The elf unleashes a burst of flame that catches both men surprised. Zechry tries to jump away but he only rolls enough to avoid beign turned into a charred body as Redgad does, for he hasn't the strenght to even move due to the four arrows that are puncturing his body. 

Moltaris extends the will of her Godness and Zechry feels the cold grasp of the grave inmovilizing his body. He can only move his eyes, darting around trying to understand what's going on. 

The smell of burned flesh fills the air and Mathilda realizes that is a smell that she is going to smell a lot if she keeps Kyne company. 

Mathilda watches from her cover as the first man drops to the ground after being hit by the others. The second one is still up, but Kyne's flames have burned him. Nasty fire magic, that's for sure. She tries to shake off the unease and ignore the smell of burning, uncomfortably close to her nice memories of the campfire they had earlier. Mathilda focuses on her bow instead and aims carefully. If I take him out now, he won't have to suffer, it will be quick and painless. She aims for the man's neck and her arrow hits home. 

(Discord: Rolled 26 to hit and 24 damage)

This time Mathilda's arrow sticks deep into the mans neck. She can see the pain and fear reflected in his eyes, he tries to get free of the magical grasp of Moltaris, but to no avail. The rest of the party closes in. 

     Hurosk emerges cautiously with bow drawn. "Where is every... Oh!" He sees the smoldering body of his target on the ground and the other locked in place. "Hmmm.... Well, do we think he'll be more use than Resken, or should we just cut to the chase?" he asks the others as he steps toward the frozen man.

Lyreis walks out of the cover, arrow nocked on his bowstring. "Unless we are trying to capture them I say the one who freezes them in place is the one who has to execute them from this point forward, and yes your friend was largely unhelpful and so we killed him. Are you going to be any more helpful? Oh yes and the mage is dead too, I slit his throat, and we shot your other friend just now, in a heartbeat you could join him, up to you really..." Lyreis puts up his bow and draws his scimitars whilst talking. 

Kyne also steps up besides the man, blade drawn.

"I strongly suggest you tell us everything you know about the lady on the island, right now."

Intimidation 23 rolled in discord.

Molly shrugs and releases her concentration on the spell. "Chatter away, little man... they're only going to murder you anyway..." she telepathically sends to the hapless Zechry as movement and control return to his form.

Mathilda shrieks when she realises that she has fired an arrow at a man who could not defend himself. She puts her bow away, but stays back, unsure of what to do. As Hurosk and the elves close in on the surviving man, she looks over at Moltaris. While she doesn't understand what magic the cleric has used to make the man immobile, it seems to have been non-violent. Slowly, she processes Lyreis' words and realises they must, of couse, have killed the other thug, too. Unease creeps over her. Before she travelled with this group, she has had to defend herself, but she had hurt others to get away in time, not to kill. Mathilda searches Moltaris' eyes, unsure what to do.

Moltaris gazes back at Mathilda without expression. "The world we dwell in is cold and bloody - doubly so when we -" the cleric gestures towards her breasts and the V where her legs join - "- have what men crave so desperately they will become monsters to take it. I only paralyzed that man so the others could finish him more quickly. But the elf complained, so I set him free. How he sullies his blades with the blood of the helpless... that is for his own soul to carry. My goddess dispatched me to give the Good Death to monsters who prey on women in this world." She sighs and runs her fingers over the chalice amulet dangling from her neck. "You are clearly not prey for monsters, Mathilda, so you will have to decide -- maybe all at once, maybe a little at a time -- what you can stomach of this world and what you must use your gifts to change."

"The elf complained because he is not a headsman.  I will happily face this one in combat now, as you have released him.  In truth though Moltaris you have done nothing wrong, I was merely pointing out the need to decide what happens to him now, maybe as we journey together we will come to understand each other better, I hope so." 

Turning to the man he states

"The cleric has told you the truth, I suppose, you are likely to die now.  Would you like to face it with a weapon in your hand and a warcry on your lips or would you prefer to kneel and close your eyes, I give my word I will be swift if you ask for that. Otherwise I will see you from this world or die trying blades in my hands."

Action: Dodge

Kyne holds his blade ready, waiting for the man to attack or run. He isn't interested in playing games and is growing tired of the moral questions surrounding the guilt of Voren's lackeys. Playing judge, jury and executioner is a slippery slope at the best of times. He just wants to get the job done and be finished. Nevertheless, Lyreis may be able to look after himself, but he also isn't just going to leave a friend to fight alone.

Readied action to attack with Green-Flame Blade if Zechry tries to run.

    Hurosk lowers his aim and steps back from the man. He goes over to the body of the man's companion, and with an arrow, begins to poke and sift through the man's pockets.

Investigation 13 (rolled in discord)

Encouraged by Moltaris' words, Mathilda steps towards the two elves. "Wait, we should hear what he has to say for himself before..." she struggles, almost losing courage, but then continues, "before deciding anything." Turning to the man, she asks: "Why were you selling drugs? What would you do with your life if you got a second chance?" Her gaze is hopeful. Maybe he had a reason, maybe we can let him go and he will turn his life around.

"Hurosk, please take Mathilda to check the boat over, she could learn a lot from you." The battlemaster walks closer to the man, holding his gaze the whole time, the cold green eys hard as stone.  As the half orc and the young girl leave Lyreis carries his walk past the man who stands rigidly, fearing what is coming, he feels nothing though as the double-bladed scimitars flash once, for a moment it appears Lyreis has done nothing at all until the head comes away from the body and hits the floor, rolling away.  The body stays in place for a few seconds longer before crumpling on itself. "More food for the crows, let us go now, I am sick of this place."  Lyreis wipes the blade clean and moving off after the others towards the boat.

Kyne sheaths Daedagnir with a grimace and helps Hurosk check the bodies for valuables, before also heading for the boat.

Investigation 18 rolled in discord.

The man drops to his knees once the spell is released. Blood pouring out of his wound. He touches it and mutters some words. And the blood stops. ( Cure Wounds for 8 HP healed ) 

"What the ****!!" he yells when he is able to speak again, the wound of his neck healed by his own magic. " I yield I yield!! " he screams, droping the shield. " What?! " he turns to Mathilda, fear in his eyes " Why we.. what? I mean.. why not? The pay is good and we are just making a bunch of rich bastards happy. Is not like we are forcing them to take it... and it's harmless... just to give them some fun... who are you people?! why did you had to kill them?! What do you want to know? Just don't kill me!" 

He nods to the elf words and replies to Kyne's answer. 

" I only know that she provides the main ingredient of the drug to Voren. And I suspect that ingredient is her own very blood. I do not know if she is devil or undead... and I don't really want to know. She has power but not divine power if you know what I mean. I am not sure where she dwells, but Voren and her used to come from that direction." he points to the direction where Hurosk sensed that undead presence. " She is beautiful though,and convincing... and pays well. She told us that her only concern is to debunk an old rival that has been hiding in the twon for decades now. She only said that this drug dealing thing was the first step in her plan, but she hasn't shared anymore with us... at least with us I don't know about Voren. I guess that it was you who made that half-ocr leave twon then. You let him live... let me be too, ok? please?" 

In the pockets of the dead man Hurosk find a coin purse, not so heavy but with some coins. He notices that his greatsword is really well made and is kept oiled and polished.

The man, seeing that this is it took back his weapons and says 

" I guess that if I kill your friend you will not let me go, so... I'll have to deal with all of you... so be it. Come you ugly pointy eared bastard!" 

Zechry puts a good fight, and surprises Lireys using a blinding spell on him, but it was to no avail. Even with his eyes covered by a deep black blanket, he was able to cut pass the defenses of the cleric, his armor and his flesh. He spins and stab him in the heart, clean and fast. Lireys recovers his sight as Zechry's last breath leaves his falling body. 

Among his goods the party find another coin purse, the bag containing a dozen of small wooden boxes similar to the one they found in the dealers hideout and his shield has some arcane runes inscribed in the inside, near the leather hold. Kyne recognize them as protection runes. 

Moltaris sighs at the foolishness of the brigand, then makes her way over to his fallen body to try and discern what sort of priest he was... what sort of deity they might have angered by slaying him. "Fair Mother, help me send his spirit to rest so his master or mistress' grief may not hinder your work." 

OOC: Casting Guidance

Religion: 6

She also tests out the shield, comparing it to her own with some interest.

OOC: Do I need to have prepared Detect Magic to use it as a ritual?

Moltaris has no problem in recognize the symbol of Dolosh, god of Trickery in a chain that the man carries under his armor. One of the members of the Sovereing Host, Dolosh is followed by jesters, bards, thieves, and commonly prayed when something is missing without much explanation, or by gamblers asking for a strike of good luck.

The shield has no other visible marks aside the runes they had already discovered. It seems a little bit lighter than hers but the steel has been well forged and surprisingly it has no marks or dents on its surface. It could use a polishing stone or some acid to get it cleaner, but it's quite a splendid shield. 

( No you haven't. You can cast it as a ritual without having it prepared. You just need 11 minutes to do it. ) 

Kyne shakes his head as they board the boat.

"I don't like this," he remarks, as he sits counting the coins. "A beautiful, undead creature that works with blood stinks of vampirism, and I don't have a lot of power left in me. I don't know if it's better to head for this island now and hope for the element of surprise, or wait and rest a while first..."

"We cannot guarantee surprise anyway and she may well not expect them back soon either way, a rest will not hurt us."  Lyreis looks at the dead cleric "He did say something interesting that has a bearing on what we do - if our mysterious benefactor who set us on this quest is the same rival the cleric mentioned then we have possibly set ourselves the task of removing one evil to replace it with another.  Once the source of this filth is destroyed we may have to be continue in our efforts against another drug pusher."