Hypothetical 4: Prison guard (Ginny Di video)

Na'Krasha: This is longest shift. They should have blown horn by now, yes? Don't you think? Maybe you fell asleep.

I know it does not matter to you! You're stuck here. But I want to go home! And eat. Maybe I want to be here even less than you! Well, probably not.

I am Na'Krasha!

Ah. Yes. Shackles. Those do not look very comfortable.

What is your name?

Nepheri, after making a choice in her head: ...Nepheri.

Na'Krasha: I know. You do not want to talk to me. I am keeping you here. I understand. Sigh

I have idea! I take shackles off — you talk to me. Yes? I'm so bored.[be]
Na'Krasha takes off the shackles.

This is not dreamjob. Lots of sitting around. And sometimes captive spit at me. Ugh.

Tell me —why are you here? Did you make trouble?

Nepheri, leaning against the bars as it's the only wall almost guaranteed not to be covered in urine: I aided in the rescue of a creature in agony, preventing some deaths while possibly opening up for others.

Na'Krasha: There is no shame in making trouble. I like a little trouble. Is this first time behind bars for you? Or is this something you've done before?

Nepheri: Not the first, no. Can't say I've missed it.

Na'Krasha: And how is experience here? You have been here few days, yes?

Nepheri after a dry laugh: On a scale from one to five, I'd rate this prison experience as a four. Mostly getting better thanks to you, my new friend. I still prefer freedom, given the choice.

Na'Krasha: I know — it is prison! It cannot be good experience. How is food? I wonder if they feed you same thing they feed me? Not very good.

Nepheri: I would assume we get the burnt leftovers of what you get. But it's ok, I've had worse. Had I been allowed to pray, but my faith would surely sustain me. (thinking: because I can cast Create Food and Water, not to mention all other spells with somatic components)

Na'Krasha: Does it bother you? To sleep on floor? How is your back?

Nepheri: I've slept in much worse places.

Na'Krasha: At least you have little window. For air. Cells without window, they smell very bad. Very bad.

What is worst part, you think? So far?

Nepheri: Of prison? Mostly, I can't check in on the rest of my party. I think they escape. And an evidence locker is bound to be less nasty... never mind.

Na'Krasha: Yes, that is not good. How will you get out then? Make escape or try to prove you are not guilty of crime?

Nepheri: Well, since I'm very evidently guilty of breaking the law, I double pleading innocence will get me far. I'm not sure I should discuss any options with my guard, though. No offence.

Na'Krasha: Of course. Why would you tell me this? I will not tell. No one listens to me anyway. Sigh. If you do have trial, what will you tell them? How are you defending yourself?

Nepheri: I will tell them what I know to be true. I contributed to as little chaos myself as I could while doing what should have been done in the first place. Not learning what they dealt with was a mistake on their part and it forced our hand. Communication and understanding must be the beginning of any endeavour.

Na'Krasha: Do you think you would be good at this? Do people believe you when you tell them things?

Nepheri: Usually. I sometimes find it easier to sell a lie than convey a complex truth. Depends on how self-righteous they are, I guess.

Na'Krasha: I believe you. I think you are very persuasive. But, I would not be judging you. Really though, do you make crimes sometimes?

Nepheri: I used to. These days, I might follow a higher law more than I care about the law of the land, but fortunately, they usually align.

Na'Krasha: I make crimes. I am not ashamed to say it. I do what I have to do. Even, I once killed someone, but don't worry — he deserved it. What is worst crime you have made?

Nepheri with a voice somewhere between deadpan and mournful: I'm responsible for the deaths of likely dozens of people by selling false hope, destroying possibilities and making them waste what little coin they have.

Na'Krasha: What drives you to make these crimes, do you think?

Nepheri: Back then? Selfishness and a sense of revenge against the world, all masquerading as a desire to survive. I no longer pretend to worry about my own death.

Na'Krasha: For me — it is rage. I have much anger inside. About everything. Sometimes, it simply comes out of me. But also, lots of things are against law. So many things. I wonder, who makes law and why? Not every time does against law mean wrong to do, would you agree?

Nepheri: I do. Laws are written by mortals with their own agendas and they can't account for every possibility. I will follow the guidance of my Goddess.

Na'Krasha: Maybe you never get out of here. Maybe you die here! Do you think? It is possible. Some die. The sick ones, mostly. If you died here — who would miss you?

Nepheri: The rest of my party, probably. Hopefully, Lavia wouldn't feel too hurt. My eventual death is inevitable, as it should be, and I hope they have learned from me to accept it. I will atone for my sins.

Na'Krasha: I would miss you. Little bit. You're good talking partner. You were probably in the middle of doing things when coming here, yes? Important things? What would— what would not be finished if you died here?

Nepheri: I wouldn't get back home. I would say that would prevent me from any tasks in my own world, but if it's my time to move on, fate clearly didn't include more.

Na'Krasha: Unfinished business. They call it this, no? If you are ghost? If you become ghost - who do you haunt?

Nepheri, suddenly looking horrified: Unable to get past death?! I would hope I'd have the capacity to seek out a cleric of the Raven Queen to destroy me or force my soul to move on! Unless it's a direct intervention by my Queen, that sounds very much like a nightmare!

Na'Krasha: You cannot haunt me! Even if you die here. I did not kill you, it would not be fair! I am not afraid of many things but I am afraid of ghost. Weapon would go right through ghost! How do you kill them — they're already dead! I do not like that. it is probably best if you do not die.

Nepheri, calming down a bit: Probably. And call on a cleric if you have issues with the undead. Or get a magical weapon.

Na'Krasha: I could let you out. Should I? Give me your pitch! Why should I unlock door?

Nepheri: Because, like you, I understand that law should be about making sure death happens when it should, like with the one you killed and is prevented when it shouldn't. And if I'm free, I will lay any ghost or other undead I encounter to rest.

Na'Krasha: Hmm... You are making good argument, actually.

Horn sounds.

Ah! But that is the horn. Time to change shifts! Yawns and hands over shackles. At least make it look like you are wearing this, yes? Otherwise, I get in trouble. See you tomorrow, my friend.

Nepheri nods and waits for the orc to be out of sight before pulling her holy symbol out of... an uncomfortable place: Thank you, but I think I have everything I need now to help the others help me.