"To give Talien the complete experience you should show him," Arxius says with a smirk.

As the lady wishes.

Alten demonstrates the "ritual"

Quote from Sdclaybrook >>

To Talien

No. There could be a kingdom where theft is punishable by death, but I do not know of one. Murder and treason are the most common crimes that would result in an execution in most places.

Theft is probably most punished by imprisonment, flogging, stocks, or sometimes amputation. It also depends on which kingdom or lands you commit the crime in.

Also Talien, in regards to how babies are made - I'm going to explain it to you exactly how Marta explained it to me back when I was a young boy.

When I was 7 or 8 years old, Marta and Versad were talking about a friend of their's who had just had a baby. I asked Marta how the baby was made and if she was going to have a baby. After she finished laughing at me, she told me how when two people decide that they want to have a baby, they offer up prayers and conduct a sacred communion to ask the goddess Storkus to bless them with a baby. If they catch the attention of Storkus and Storkus grants their entreaty, then one of her fey agents visits the couple while they sleep. The fey magically takes essence from each parent and implants an egg in the female's womb. The female carries the baby for about 9 months until it is able to be born.

Of course I had lots of questions. Why did the baby go in the mother and not the father? What makes a good prayer to Storkus? What was involved in the ritual? All that sort of thing. Marta said that much of it was simply the will or Storkus. She said it would be Versad's duty to explain more about the ritual when I was older. Versad found the whole thing amusing. He piped up and said, 'Hells Marta, I'll teach the boy about the ritual right now'.

Marta looked a little shocked and said something about me being too young. He laughed and told her not to worry about it. He said that the two people, when they were ready to try to be parents, would offer their prayers, remove their clothes, and conduct a ritual. He said that he wasn't going to remove his clothes or offer any prayers, but he could show me the ritual. 

I finish by describing what you see in this (SFW) vid: https://youtu.be/6UV3kRV46Zs?t=84

 

 So much new information. Talien responds, You don't kill thieves here...back in Cyre, everyone gathered to watch the criminal be placed upon the Suns Glare. Talien can tell from your expression that you do not know what he is talking about so he explains. Basically, there is a set of chains at the bottom of this giant hole, and just before noon the criminal is brought to the pit and manacled on the bottom floor, and everyone spectated for the next 50 floors up. (think of upside down tier cake but 50 levels) There are mirrors in place and at noon everyone will pull their mirror into position and the criminal will be roasted alive, leaving only ash and soot. The light is so strong and there is so much heat thatwe only put the mirrors in position for 7 seconds, or it would be possible to start killing everyone in the bottom sections...

So there is another God I must appease? I have never heard of Gods before I came to this land. Perhaps once I complete this ritual, I may then poses a child. Those are indeed some of the questions I have, Alten, you must know a lot about this ritual. But as you have no children, then your ritual must have been rejected by Storkus because you like Torm more? I mean I like Torm more because War is what I know... So maybe Storkus will not ever grant me a child because I am a warrior...

Quote from Sdclaybrook >>

As the lady wishes.

Alten demonstrates the "ritual"

 As Alten demonstrates the chicken dance, Talien watches intently. Once it is completed, he walks over to Rees and says, Will you let me practice this ritual with you? I know little of the rules of this realm it seems, but you told me to ask you before I just did something...So will you assist me on this?

Quote from Sorvas33 >>

So there is another God I must appease? I have never heard of Gods before I came to this land. Perhaps once I complete this ritual, I may then poses a child. Those are indeed some of the questions I have, Alten, you must know a lot about this ritual. But as you have no children, then your ritual must have been rejected by Storkus because you like Torm more? I mean I like Torm more because War is what I know... So maybe Storkus will not ever grant me a child because I am a warrior...

A few things:

I've never invoked that particular ritual as I do not wish to have a child of my own. At least not now.

Other people and races might have their own ways of begetting a child. I'm not an expert in inter-species breeding practices. Usually you have to have a partner who is the same species as yourself to have a child.

Second, again, you have to have consent. Trying to force another being into having a child with you is a crime in most parts of our world.

Third, there are gods for just about everything. Most are not jealous of other gods because each has their own influence. 

Quote from Sdclaybrook >>

Quote from Sorvas33 >>

So there is another God I must appease? I have never heard of Gods before I came to this land. Perhaps once I complete this ritual, I may then poses a child. Those are indeed some of the questions I have, Alten, you must know a lot about this ritual. But as you have no children, then your ritual must have been rejected by Storkus because you like Torm more? I mean I like Torm more because War is what I know... So maybe Storkus will not ever grant me a child because I am a warrior...

A few things:

I've never invoked that particular ritual as I do not wish to have a child of my own. At least not now.

Other people and races might have their own ways of begetting a child. I'm not an expert in inter-species breeding practices. Usually you have to have a partner who is the same species as yourself to have a child.

Second, again, you have to have consent. Trying to force another being into having a child with you is a crime in most parts of our world.

Third, there are gods for just about everything. Most are not jealous of other gods because each has their own influence. 

 Well the more I seem to lean, the more compilated everything is here. Talien says, I am a simple person with little wants, just practice and train for War, forge War weapons, and have a child. I do not require much more, not food, nor much beyond items I can sue for War.

I am beginning to understand this consent thing if it means the same as permission.

Now dealing with the Gods, even if you believe a God has the answers you seek, will he reveal them to you? These Gods you mention are the most confusing by far. They are your father but not your father, they watch you but are not here to see... So strange.

After a few hours of banter you all settle down and Rees and Arxius assume their watch. The pair chat and the time passes quickly. Nothing of significance occurs and they trade off with Alten and Chatra.

Relieved of her watch Arxius lays down next to Rees and stares up at the broken ceiling for a few minutes reflecting on a day spent with these strange people. Before long her eyes grow heavy and she drifts off into a deep slumber...

 @Dallirious I need you to make a Constitution saving throw for Arxius please [DC 15].

Constitution Save: 9

Arxius awakens suddenly and tries to sit up, but finds she cannot move her body. She tries to open her mouth to scream, but finds her vocal cords strained. All of her muscles ache as she fights against the wave of fear crashing over her. Her stomach feels twisted and black. She feels shallow and empty, like a pit devoid of all light. Her forehead is soaked in sweat, her hair matted against it. The sweat rolls off her chest as her lungs begin to tighten.

Arxius strains hard against the invisible force restraining her, but is unable to move a muscle and becomes paralyzed for 1 minute.

The minute passes 1 second at a time while Arxius is frozen in excruciating pain.... 59... 58... 57... 56...

The pain suddenly subsides... the tension releases... Arxius is able to move her head once again. Her voice returned she lets out a blood curdling scream. Panicked she searches for a familiar face. She reaches her hands out grasping at the air. She searches and all around her for the one thing that can make it all go away. She grabs for Rees who in turn embraces her. And Arxius once again finds herself in the broken tower -- the entrance to the Sunless Citadel.

[OH MY GOD I LOVE IT]

Arxius clutches at Rees, holding onto her for dear life. Her body shakes almost violently as though her muscles are trying to make up for their failure. She gasps for air but all she finds is the stale stench of rotting flesh. It settles on her tongue and burns her lungs. "Have to get out-" she mutters, bordering on hysterical. "Have to keep moving-"

The scream shocks Rees awake and she sits up, reaching for a dagger when Arxius grabs her. Instinctively she wraps her arms around her friend, still looking around for any danger. "Easy, easy...it's alright. You're alright. You're safe. I'm here. What happened?" 

"They're coming-" Arxius insists. "We have to keep moving-"

She feels the cold settling deep in her bones. Burning. A familiarity she does not wish to rediscover. And yet she cannot bring herself to move.

Alten, who sleeps in his bedroll using a rolled up cloak for a pillow, is awakened by the scream. He rolls into a crouch with a dagger (kept under his pillow) in hand grabbing the glaive from beside him, scanning the room for any signs of danger or enemies.

What?!?!

 {could have sworn I had a dagger on the character sheet - also can't read apparently since I missed the handoff of watches}

Rees frowns, looking around the room again for any sign of danger, anyone who'd been missed by the watch and had made it into their camp. "There's no one here but us, it was a dream. You're safe. Do you want to get up and do a quick lap around to make sure?"

"It was not a dream!" Arxius snaps, raising her voice as she pushes away from her friend. Growing angry at the implication. "Do you think I do not know my own mind?"

"Alright, okay," Rees says, raising her hands in surrender. "What do you want to do, Arxius? I'll follow your lead."  

What's coming? There's been no sign of anything.

Arxius turns suddenly on Alten, picking up her axes from beside her bedroll. In the midst of her heightened emotions she had not heard him before. “What do you want?” She growls. “Are you part of this? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted any of you. We were better off alone.”

Alten brings his glaive up into a defensive stance. He stays calm, trying to assess the situation as his battle training would have taught.

I want you to put the axe down. I want to know what's coming. And I want to know what in the hells you're talking about. We're all part of this - going down into the Citadel, getting paid to do a couple of jobs. Ring any bells?

If Arxius continues to come at me in a hostile mananer, I'll take a disarming strike with the pole end of the glaive at the hand with the axe.