RP: Act II Opener

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I just saw a Machiavelli has some words of caution for the Silverwalkers.

"There is nothing more difficult to take in hand, more perilous to conduct, or more uncertain in its success, than to take the lead in the introduction of a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only lukewarm defenders in all those who would profit by the new order, this lukewarmness arising partly from fear of their adversaries … and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had actual experience of it."

What kind of heroes would be be if we didn't set our sights on slaying dragons and other foolishly perilous business? --Msallen

As best as I can tell, going through the undated quest logs and some handwaves, this conversation and the events of the past couple of hours are taking place in the predawn hours of 23 Verdant 1401. That's the date I'm going with unless someone has a better bead.

Act I Climax Summary

  • LE finally accepted the Melkior-related documents from Edrell.
  • Germain suggests not letting Mose know what Edrell has done, at least not immediately. Quin protests vehemently, and makes sure to tell Mose "Edrell screwed us over. I'll explain later, but we have to go NOW or the city will fall!"
  • Germain suggests, at the very least, not to tell anyone else outside of the Silverwalkers about Edrell's betrayal, at least not until the party can decompress everything and plan a well thought out next move.
    • He Fears the Silverwalkers will be implicated in the crime or even flat-out scapegoated.
      • Not only did the SW work closely with Edrell for between 1 and 3 years, depending, the SW were also the ones who gave Edrell at least one keys he needed (the mayoral ring) to open the vaults. Plus several other actions that further cast suspicion on you guys as accomplices. Sure, this was almost always done on false pretenses, but the optics are terrible. If the accusation is made, you willing to go through the Wydmoor or Church judicial systems? Even with Germain as your lawyer?
    • He believes in Information control: The Silverwalkers for the first time find them in a position where they know things no one else knows.
    • He sees the potential for False Flagging: If the robbery could be pinned on the Thieves' Guild, that could give a plausable casus belli to act against the Guild as well as potentially driving a wedge between them and the War Council.
  • Quin is willing to go along with this, to an extent, for now. -> He's willing not to out Edrell (yet), but feels obligated to at least warn Bog Wraiths of the infiltration in case there are more infiltrators or the Silverwalkers fail in their mission.
    • On his way back through the Cathedral not-gate, Quin sends an acolyte to Naprid with a message: "City is under the attack! Also, your fire charm was stolen."
  • At the door to the Magius Keep, Germain makes it clear that he believes it will be best for the party to capture, not kill, the half-elf woman Edrell mentioned as his sister.
    • Party is relatively resistant, but ultimately agrees not to kill her if they can help it. (Although, as we will see, those promises were, perhaps, not made in good faith.)


  • Battle Goes Down and Winds Down
    • The woman has been teleporting like mad, despite being in the same ROOM as the anti-teleport generator.
    • Woman also was originally encountered as a huge-size woman, and shrunk down to normal size after she was killed.


  • The Odessans, except the half-elf, are killed.
  • Kimi screams to the woman "We don't want to kill you! Edrell told us to spare you!"
  • The woman, herself clearly down to her last hit points, teleports into a back corner away from everyone.
  • LE lets loose a flurry of magic missiles and deals twenty-something points of force damage.
  • The woman is killed.
TeleporterBlockingRoom1.png

In the last game, there was some looting done, and we can assume that the looting goes down during and after the conversation we're all about to have. For what it's worth, the half-elf woman's spiked chain (which seemed to exhibit the Radiant Energy trait) and her mithril breastplate (which seemed to exhibit the Glamoured trait), both radiate no magic whatsoever upon close examination.

Additionally, the stuff with Al's swan statue, Mulligan, will go down at some point later on during this conversation in order to role play the full effect of that event

Silverwalkers Discussion

The second Act opens just as the adrenaline fog clears from everyone's mind and bullet time goes away. The party is scattered around the room, also filled with dead bodies, as pictured above. The battle is won, but all of the Odessans have been killed. The integrity of the teleport ward has been maintained. The lightning arcs and flares across the room, filling the room with light and sound. The party must shout to be heard.

GermainToken.PNG Germain scowls at LE : Damnit! We could have leveraged that into a surrender!


GermainToken.PNG Germain sighs : Let's get this mess cleaned up... we can be heroes or villians depending on how the next few hours go, and I want to leave this room with a plan that we all agree on. Say what you will of him, Edrell has left us with an out if we are willing to take it. He's promised to stage his own death, and we can spin this like he informed us of this attack and went off to stop the robbery on his own. Do we take it?


AlToken.PNG Al Roar, growl, rrrrgwlll. Snarl, roar, growl. realizes no one understands, changes back to elf form Dude, that was far out. My dad would FREAK if he knew I just fought a half-elf. somewhat sadly Might even make him proud that I helped kill her. glances expectantly at backpack, then glances around the room Man, what a mess. Next time we see Ed he's not gonna have to fake his death. Though I guess he did help us save all those people. Still, man, what he did was not cool.


GermainToken.PNG Germain shrugs : Really? Do you care? He stole money from the people who decided to let the refugees die. The people that were more concerned about saving their own ass than doing what was right. In some cases, the very people that antagonized this conflict in the first place. I don't like what he did, but I have a hard time feeling sorry for the people he did it to. If I find out he was responsible for the fire, my opinion may change, but right now the only thing I'm upset about is the mess he put me in.


MoseToken.PNG Mose is really confused: What in the world is going on? Quinn said that Edrell betrayed us, but now Germain is siding with him? What has happened? And who are these people we just killed here in Edrell's tower? Are they Edrell's friends? Clearly they were trying to ruin the city, but I don't know how they would get in here if Edrell didn't let them in.


AlToken.PNG Al These dudes were trying to turn off the teleport ward for some reason. Can't figure out why they thought that would be a good idea, but at least Ed told us what was up as he... Er glances at GermainToken.PNG Germain, unsure of his Grand Plan, but at least aware that one exists that might involve not telling MoseToken.PNG Mose everything just yet. So, uh, we stopped these dudes from turning off the teleport ward. Shouldn't have killed that lady, though I have a feeling it doesn't really matter. glances again at his backpack


LEToken.PNG LE carefully steps around the nodes to loot what she can. She doesn't seem to hear anything, even the deafening noise from the generator. She seems either deep in thought or completely without thought, you can't tell which.


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika looks dazed, still reeling from all the events of the last few hours. She rushes over to the half-elven woman to see if there's anything at all she can do for her. She kneels down next to her and, despite her being dead, at least makes an effort to wrap any wounds and prepare her corpse respectfully.


GermainToken.PNG Germain looks conflicted : Edrell did betray us, Mose... at least, in a fashion. These were his friends, and even family, and they expected Edrell to be here to let them in so they could turn off the City's defenses and capture it. Germain grimaces, clearly saying something he would rather not say. Edrell was the mole and the traitor, Mose, and he used us to further his agenda and pull off a massive bank heist against the Wydmoor Bank. He betrayed our trust, and because we now know his plans and know that we aided and abetted in them, he has put us in quite the predicament.

The complicating factor is that he also betrayed the Odessans, letting us in on their plan and sending us here to stop it. And, frankly, he's given Wydmoor the closest thing to an army that it's ever had, and probably put us in the unique position to save this city and end this war. I know some of you aren't comfortable with moral grey areas, but we are stuck in one now sure as a dwarf's hammer. I can think of some ways out of this mess, but all of them are either going to put our necks on the line or require is to politic and lie through our teeth.


GermainToken.PNG Germain eyes LEToken.PNG LE warily.


MoseToken.PNG Mose Edrell ROBBED the Wydmoor Bank?! That dirty cave rat! ... ... But if he was after money, why didn't he just keep all the silver we gave him instead of spreading it around? Are you sure it wasn't an imposter? Edrell wouldn't do that. (Mose isn't eager to believe he misjudged SO BADLY on someone's evil nature) The Odessans disguised before, perhaps they pulled their same shady tricks... or maybe the Thieves' Guild! They're also very shady... Maybe it was just more illusion magic? I know I doubted Edrell early on, but he helped us along. Gave us these great items-- why would he give us so much of value if he wasn't on our side of good?


GermainToken.PNG Germain Well, we can't be sure of anything, I agree! And it is a compelling theory--I'm loath to admit that I misjudged him so dramatically as well. The Guild's attacks on the Silverwalkers have demonstrated that their true loyalties do not lie with protecting the city, since we have been its most active and successful protectors. They certainly have the powers of deciet and illusion necessary to pull off such a feat. Besides, if Edrell was siding with the Odessans, why would it serve him to turn on them at this point? It only creates enemies for him, and does little to aid him. Frankly, even if it was Edrell that robbed the bank, I'd be inclined to blame it on the Guild to Wydmoor's power players against them and purge the city of their evil. Given the facts, I think your theory is a strong one to operate under, Mose... A strong theory indeed.

That theory aside, however, whose to say what's good and evil? Based on what Edrell (or his look-alike) said, he believes that those with a lot of money in the bank--the Mayor, the cowardly nobles, the Wraiths, etc--were evil. They punished the people of Wydmoor to further their own financial and political interests. The Silverwalkers, and by extension Edrell, on the other hand, were good. We risked our lives to protect and empower the innocents of the Wydmoor region--the citizens of Wydmoor, the Onrarch halflings, etc--from they tyranny of the Odessans, the elements, supernatural terrors, and their own leaders. "Edrell" thinks he is good, he considers us allies because we are good, and that the Nobles of this city, and even the Wraiths to some degree, are evil. Historically, we agree with that. While robbing a bank is certainly illegal, I'm not sure I'd call it evil. Murdering a Mayor is also illegal, but we consider ourselves good for doing it.

Get yourself ready... the way forward is only going to get a lot messier than the muddy waters we've travelled so far.


MoseToken.PNG Mose I can't support someone who betrays the laws and agreements they have made. If it was Edrell, he pledged to protect the city by accepting his different roles in the city government. To then betray the city... that's heartless and lawless. Even if some of the coin in the Bank was from those who were wicked, he's still harming goodly and religious people, too.

In the case of the Mayor, I directly sensed him to be evil, and his disregard for codified law in favor of tyranny required him to be removed like the swamp leech he was. Looking back, though, I am sad about the way that cleansing was done, and going forward we must insist that we stand above the "muddy waters" you mention. As my father told me, "No matter how low you find yourself, you won't get to higher ground by walking downhill."


GermainToken.PNG Germain It's not that I'm opposed to the idea, Mose, it's just that I can't see a way to actually do it. Maybe I don't know what you mean. What do you think we should do?

The testimonials are very clear on this matter--sometimes the righteous must do distasteful deeds to serve the greater good. We are the greatest good in Wydmoor as far as I'm concerned. And to protect the city, we assassinated the lawfully appointed leader of the city, willfully disregarded the wishes of the city's defenders, and played an instrumental role in robbing virtually evey power broker in the city blind. It doesnt matter why we did it. It doesn't matter if we meant to do it. It doesn't matter if we knew we were doing it. All that is will matter are the facts, and if word gets out, virtually every person that matters in this city will turn against us. How can we continue to protect the city and serve the good if we are crippled by adversity?


MoseToken.PNG Mose Your silver tongue can paint us as evildoers, alright, but I'd love to see you use your talents to describe our true intentions and acts! Wouldn't it be better to put forth the truth: that we're not perfect but ultimately good souls trying to do the right thing? If the truth gets us exiled from Wydmoor, so be it. We did what we could, saved the refugees, got them food, and prevented the city from falling multiple times. I'd rather die by the truth than live by the lie.


I mean, we can say all of this inside of a Zone of Truth if needed-- but if we try to hide what has happened, and it does come out later, then our cowardly act of dishonesty will get us beheaded. Honestly, I've just assumed with all the no-good snoops in town, we've been watched pretty much the whole time, so it's pointless to lie about what we've done and seen. Let's just be honest in talking to the War Council about our intentions and deeds.


My proposal is for us to reclaim the warrens for the halflings and the refugees, ensure there's food for everyone, send Odessa home, and to tell the truth about what happened with Edrell. Someone robbed the bank, it may have been Edrell, it may have been a Guild disguise, or an Odessan disguise, but whoever it was had enough secret spy intel to tell us how to thwart this Odessan attack on the Mage's Tower-- which we did and saved the lives of everyone!


In the end, I'll even tell them myself what I know because they surely understand I wouldn't risk violating my Traveler oaths to lie.


Is there another proposal? The only other one that comes to mind for me is to chase down whoever stole the money and return it, and I don't know if that's doable in the middle of this war.



GermainToken.PNG Germain smiles : I'm glad you think I can talk us out of this, and you might be right. Unfortunately, I don't have quite your confidence, and I think my chance of spinning this to the city at large is pretty low.

Where I agree with you is that we don't need to lie to everyone here, and I'm glad you have the wisdom to see that a little information control may be necessary until we get this city safe. Telling the entire war room may be a little overboard--if the Wydmoor nobles become aware that all their money has been stolen there may be a panic, or at least a backlash against the Silverwalkers, that will severely comprimise the defense of the city and the refugees. But I do think it may be safe to be frank with the Wraiths, because I think I can sell to them that our intentions were pure and that our accomplishments have significantly advanced their agenda. How do we feel about that?


MoseToken.PNG Mose I'm fine with us telling the Wraiths the truth and letting them drive the decisions and discussions with the War Council. I just want to be sure we can continue to keep the pilgrims fed, inside the city, and that the land of the Warrens can again be rightfully returned and used by the poor of Wydmoor. Oh (remembering) and if somehow we can repeal that poll tax, even better! The refugees really should be getting a voice for them on the War Council... not sure how we might do that.

Beyond the silly politics, I know defenses are of utmost important right now, too. It probably makes sense for us to use the City Magus's Keep as our temporary base and protect it. What do you think? Regardless of what Edrell is up to, he's not here to protect it from invasions such as what we just saw. Clearly we're the only ones who can keep the teleport ward safe until the War Council comes up with another plan.

Would LE or Egg be able to figure out what magic safeguards remain intact here or in other parts of the Keep and see if we can get them operational?


GermainToken.PNG Germain One more moment, Mose. I know you and Al don't care for silly politics, but politicians run the world and we have to play their game to effectively fight the good fight...

When we talked outside of the Thieves' Guilds' trap, you were very adamant that we need a plan to attack them and purge the city of their evil immediately. Now, if Wydmoor's leaders knew what we suspect to be true--that the Guild robbed the bank--then virtually all Wydmoor's power brokers could be quickly united against them. While I may have doubted that the Silverwalkers alone could defeat the guild, I do believe this city, united against them, could free the good people of Wydmoor from their grasp. Our hunch is that Edrell is a good guy, that he travelled to the bank to stop the robbery, and that he alerted us of the Odessan attack. Even though we can't be certain of this, if we present what we believe... carefully... we may be able to finally launch an effective attack against the Guild. It might require speaking with a little more certainty than we actually have, but it's not exactly going to be a lie. Is that something you are comfortable with? Is purging the city of evil important enough to blur the line between what we know to be true and what we feel in our hearts is true?


AlToken.PNG Al Yeah, man, "silly politics." I agree with Mose. We need to keep the poor fed, preferably by getting them out of the city and teaching them how to take care of themselves, but that's more of a long-term goal. In the short-term, getting rid of evil and feeding hungry people is, like, way righteous. If the Guild has all this cash and stuff that you city-folk love so much, I'd hold my nose and use the cash to buy food so everyone doesn't die, but I'm going to make sure I help people learn to grow and forage their own food along the way.

As for Ed.. Man, I don't know. Assuming it was actually him doing the stealing, we need to get that cash back, punish Ed for taking it, and distribute the cash to all the folks who need it. But that's a less pressing goal than the situation in the city. Can't let all those people suffer unnecessarily. And, man, who knows. Maybe Ed did what he did for some, you know, reasonable reason that we just don't know right now. Whatever the case, I want to figure it out, punish Ed if he deserves it, and make things right.


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika She turns gets up slowly and brushes her hair away from her face. Her young face is streaked with a mixture of tears and the dirt from battle. She looks very tired and crestfallen. I can't help but think that Edrell taking the money is actually what is best for the city. This is MY city. I have lived and ministered here for my entire adult life. It was my HOME. Her voice shakes with emotion. This city has been ripped apart by the greed of its so-called leaders. Without money, why should they even bother with this city? Let them go elsewhere, and let the people have their homes back. Let US rebuild. Let US take back OUR city and let the politicians and the bankers and the rich vampires after Alexandria-knows-what go elsewhere. These people have been through well-enough. What is left? What is left is that this is our home. This is what we know. We will fight for our homes, we will fight to rebuild. Why would the Thieves Guild stay when there is nothing left to steal?

She sighs, heavy with the burdens and sorrow that she has been holding in for so long.

Let Edrell take the money. Good riddance. Those who only care for money will hopefully follow it out and go elsewhere. Say it's the Thieves Guild- perfect. Let the greedy aristocrats and thieves go after each other- just ensure our streets don't turn into a battleground. I say we let those of us with the gift of speech turn the greedy against each other and get them out of the city. The rest of us will work to get this city back to people and the people back on their feet.

Right now the people NEED us. They need those who know how to receive the blessings of the land without destroying it she looks at Al, they need the magically gifted to unravel the mysteries that have plagued this city for ages beneath the covers she looks at LE, they need the protectors to welcome the weary and protect what little they have she looks at Mose, they need those with skill to help them construct and plan she looks at Quin, and they need to do this while keeping those who would exploit them out of their hair she looks at Germain.

I can't say I agree with how these events have unfolded but if there is one thing we can do, it is take what appears to be a miserable situation and make the best of it. We are the heroes to the people, not the War Council that sits protected in their high and lofty towers. She waves her hand dismissively. Let them do what they like, our duty is to the people here. We have not come this far and worked this hard to let them down- and we are to whom they look.


LEToken.PNG LE shaken out of semi-awareness by the sudden lack of discussion in the room following Kimi's speech, walks up to the dead half-elf. She seems surprised at the woman's small stature as she crouches down low and stares into the lifeless face.


GermainToken.PNG Germain looks expectant.


DMToken.PNG DM The woman's corpse lies on the ground, her visage reflecting the confusion, shock, and anxiety that composed the last moments of her existence. Lifeless blue/gray eyes, opened wide, stare at emptily at nothing. Up close, and not giant-sized, the woman seems anything but threatening or imposing.

Like Edrell, her face is striking, but more handsome than beautiful. Her long, raven-black hair has come free of its braids and now splays wildly, clumping together where it has begun to absorb the blood of the other fallen Odessans that slowly spreads across the floor. Staring at her face up close, her elven features are far more noticeable and pronounced. The traditional pointed ears, the angular features, the almond-shaped eyes. She has Edrell's eyes, you cannot help but think to yourself.

Although impossible to reckon her age, if she were a human like yourself, you would imagine her to be in her late-twenties or early-thirties. His younger sister, then, you think.

Her armor and weapons, which so recently demonstrated extraordinary qualities, radiates little to no magic what-so-ever. You recognize her weapon as a spiked chain, but far more ornate than the simple iron contraption Qa used to swing around. The links are dark green and made of ironwood (the only part that reads magical), with many of the links having small, thorn-like barbs. The tip of the weapon, which once glowed with a bright pink light, has gone dark. While Qa's old weapon simply had a fist-sized spiked ball at the end, the business end of this weapon is an intricately carved pink crystal, fashioned to look like a rose in bloom.

Her armor is also amazingly well-crafted and, although made of rare and exotic Mithral, is non-magical and form fitting, obviously crafted especially for her. An indigo crystal is ensconced in the center of the breastplate, with a series of complicated whorls and designs radiating outward (or inward?).


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin has been sitting close to where he stood when the final blow of the battle landed. He has been quiet and withdrawn. Other than absent-mindedly cleaning his scythe and re-arranging his armor and equipment, he hasn't said or done much. After Kimika finishes stating her desire for the bad people to go away and leave the city to the citizens, he finally stands, brushes off the last remnants of battle dust, and walks over. As he comes closer, you see a look in his eyes that you recognize -- turmoil and defeat. This is the look that haunted him after the vampire took control of his mind and nearly caused him to slay Mose.

When he stands with the group, he begins to speak, with a voice subdued and sorrowful. Kimi, I'm sorry, but while I'm not the politician that Germain aspires to be, I do know that one inevitable truth is that a power void is always filled, and it is usually by the ones with the least scruples and restraint. I think we could do our best to try to nudge a few of the players that we feel aren't quite as bad into position ahead of the obvious evils, but I have to say I don't know how much it would actually improve the daily life of the common citizen. Even the best of the people we know here still believes that the status quo from shortly before the war was perfectly acceptable. I came here looking for a place that I could do some good, clear my head of the grief of my father and the shame of my uncle, and maybe even one day have enough money and power to retire from adventuring and rebuild my father's legacy. I have a hard time seeing how I am significantly closer to any of those goals after our years of struggle here in Wydmoore. shakes his head and scowls for a moment as he straightens his back and pushes his shoulders back out of the slump that has been creeping over him I'm sorry, I don't want to just sit here and complain, I would love to do something honestly good and productive to help us climb out of this midden we have been swimming in. If Germain feels that he could retain enough Silverwalker influence long enough for us to ensure that the refuguees we brought in have at least a chance of staying in the city and not starving or wasting away from disease then I am happy to strive toward that. Otherwise, if there was an opportunity for me to clear out of this place and travel somewhere else, hopefully where skills with a blade and a decent set of morals could actually be of practical use, I have to say I'd think long and hard about taking that road. Hopefully with you at my side, but...


GermainToken.PNG Germain I agree with all of that... but why it can't be us that fills the vacuum? I can't think of another group that would be better more noble, and we are positioned to step into a number of power broker roles in this city. I certainly agree that none of the "usual suspects" are going change anything that we care about, but isn't that more reason that we should do it? Even the worst of us is going to be a difinitive step up from today's players. Is it just personal aversion to politics that is keeping everyone away from this obvious conclusion? Or do you not realize how powerful we are already? We have so much energy and leverage right now... it seems a shame to squander it on someone else that we don't even think is up to the damn job!


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Well, yeah, I have no desire to become mayor or arch-warden, or even captain of the guard. I would be happy to help any of those people if I felt it was right, but I am not ready to retire from adventuring yet. smiles I'll certainly admit that any of those roles could probably be used to acquire all the wealth I wanted to retire with, but it would likely be at the expense of people that I would prefer to lift up rather than trod upon. So.. to those ends, I would certainly be happy to take advantage of this unfortunate circumstance to do our best to decapitate the thieves guild. Granted, that uber-secret guy might be a bite more than we can chew since we don't know much of anything about him, but I'd still be willing to explore the possibility..


GermainToken.PNG Germain squints quizically : For the record, I not sure I buy the implication that politicians have to become greedy and callous to succeed. I'm more suggesting that we could become people that do the job for the right reasons and not just to get rich. Also, I don't think all the 'Walkers want to be political forces. I would think Kimmy and I would be the obvious figureheads for the Church and Guard respectiveley, with Mose and Quin playing roles with the Travellers and Wraiths if they have the appetite for it. Everyone else could, as you say, be "helping any of those people if they feld it was right," it's just that "those people" would be "us," and as a result would be "right."

But... am I hearing that you want to abandon Wydmoor and go somewhere else, Quin? The rebuilding effort is going to be substantial here, and it'll be a long time after the Odessans leave before the city is really "safe" in any meaningful way. Given how hard we've worked here, I'd hate to abandoned it withouth reaping what I've sown. Kimmy... LE... Mose... are you ready to turn this city over to its fate with the Odessans gone? We need to be having a very different conversation if that what everyone is thinking here...


MoseToken.PNG Mose I don't really believe any of us can have non-Wydmoor goals on the table for the short-term. I mean, the city is still at war, we have the Walker Army waiting for instructions, the bank is empty, the Thieves Guild will be moving quickly, and who knows what will happen.

Let's get some specific proposals of next actions and stop with the soul-searching. We don't have time for that, frankly.

As I said before, I just want to be sure we continue to keep the pilgrims fed, let them stay inside the city, and eventually get the land of the Warrens rightfully returned and used by the poor.

What's the best plan you smarties have for making that happen? We don't have much time!


LEToken.PNG LE *seemingly oblivious to the discussion around her*

She's.... so small...


AlToken.PNG Al Yeah, man, I still agree with Mose. Well, mostly. I mean, there's almost always time for soul searching, and I really think we should get those folks out of the city so they can start to really live, and, well, the Warrens aren't rightfully theirs at all, they're on land that was borrowed from Nature. And I could definitely find some non-Wydmoor goals, but right now I think I'll wait on those. The point is that I think Mose is right in everything he said except for the stuff where he's not: We need to keep all those dudes fed, and we can worry about returning Wydmoor to nature later.

You probably all know that I'm not big on the politics of this whole situation, but I at least realize that we've probably got nearly as much power and influence as anyone else. We should use it, ya know? Stick it to the man. The first problem in keeping people fed is finding a supply of food. Ideally, we'd get all the poor folks out of the city, somewhere far enough away that they won't need to worry about Wydmoor, and start feeding them there, then start the process of teaching them to fend for themselves. But since that's probably not all that practical just now, I suppose we need to end this goofy siege and make sure the folks in charge of Wydmoor (if they're not Germain and Kimi and whoever else wants the job) know that we expect them to take care of the folks that live here. Once the siege is over, food will be easy to find and get to the folks who need it. So.. We've got a bunch of people willing to fight with us, right? Why not work with them to end the siege? I'm sure we could get all of those dudes into some critical area of the Odessan lines at a time and place that they don't expect it and get the whole darn army running back to where they came from.


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Germain, I am fine with doing our best to set the city on the course we see for it. I am just saying I don't see myself living out the rest of my life as a politician here. So, down to logistics and tactics. Should we go to either Naprid or the Council and shed light on what we want to share about this current situation? Do we want to also try to press them into making more permanent accommodations for the refugees? Then, do we try to do something to take on the Thieves Guild? Also, I guess as a more immediate action.. Al, do elves have any particular burial rites? We shouldn't leave these bodies to rot here, this isn't some cave in the wilderness.


Mattie (OOC) Note that Germain's suggestion of using this situation as a way to turn against the Thieves' Guild is awesome. If Quinn can stomach that, then the only thing you have to do is come up with a clever way where Mose will not have to lie about this. Mattie is happy with going that route, but Mose wouldn't knowingly lie about it and right now saying it was definitively the Thieves Guild is further than he'd be willing to go if he himself were asked. He believes it's quite possible and that they'd be eager to do that, and could be coaxed into believing that it's the only sane recommendation if the party is willing to lie to him. Still, if we can come up with any plan where the lying is done without Mose involved, then I think Germain already has a pretty good plan for how to "spin" this with the locals.


MoseToken.PNG Mose While Al figures out last rites for our fallen foes, we need to set a course for next moves. Germain and Quinn, perhaps you two should come up with an agreement for how to continue. I think if both of you agree on a plan then there's a very good chance the rest of us will see the wisdom in it, too.


GermainToken.PNG Germain Well, in the short term I think Mose is right--the keep is a massive security hole, and we need to shore it up as soon as possible. I think Naprid is the only person we know who can reasonably be expected to manage the keep, but I'd like for Egg to get as much time with it as possible before that. I think most of the 'Walkers should stay here and defend it until we can get reinforcements that can get the magical protections working. A small group of us--I'm thinking myself and one other person--should meet with Egg, the Geese leadership, and Naprid and let them know what is going on. Any volunteers? Kimmy? Quin? LE?

Other than that, it depends on what we can get away with. I think we need to make sure that the Wraiths are on our side regarding putting the blame for the robbery on the Guild, and I can take care of that. Our new army can maybe manage the defense of the city, but given their lack of training they will be poor at best. We need to arrange to get them as much military training and management as possible. I know there are some old military men in the Geese, and I think Quinn and Mose can help a lot, but I'd like to get some more help if possible. Perhaps the Wraiths... or a noble house... If we can get them in good enough shape, I'm hoping we can convince the Wraiths to move off the defensive and attack the Odessans.

That's plenty to keep us going for the next 24 hours, I think. After that? I'll need to spend a lot of time with the Geese to identify and track the Guildsmen that have infiltrated the Guard. I think that's the next best move against the Guild while we get the city turned against them. Perhaps we should kill the many-wyrm so the lizardmen can more completely bond with the turtle temple and its guardians. I was also thinking those iron-eating bugs could do a number on the Odessan forces, and we do have all these wands of hold monster. Or possibly there is a short-term attack we could launch against either the Guild or the Odessans. I'd be curious to see what ideas Naprid and Ralth have on this matter as well...


AlToken.PNG Al Notices LE over by the dead lady. Curiosity piqued, Al walks over to see what's so intriguing.


DMToken.PNG DM When you approach within about thirty feet of the body, something in your backpack begins to rustle and stir.


AlToken.PNG Al A not-entirely-surprised look comes over Al's face as he notices the rumbling backpack. He glances knowingly at the dead lady, then somewhat reverently, somewhat reluctantly, opens his backpack and reaches in, but before he can do anything a small white figurine leaps out all on its own and quickly settles on the chest of the dead lady.


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin To Germain Yeah, I'd certainly be for taking out the many-wyrm and I also really like the idea of unleashing a hoard of rust monsters on the Odessan army. Capturing and transporting might be tough, but Al could burrow a tunnel into the center of camp and we could unleash them through the tunnel. I imagine they could cause quite a problem before the mages toast them.

Notices Al and the figurine

What in the world is that?


DMToken.PNG DM "That" is no longer a simple ivory figurine, but it has now grown into a full-sized, perfectly white, and quite alive swan. The bird comes to rest on the dead woman's chest and folds up, as if it were sitting on an egg, its long neck rest on its feathery body. If anyone approaches the corpse, the bird will crane its neck upward and stare at that person, but otherwise takes no action.


MoseToken.PNG Mose Al, what would possess you to bring a goose (sic) along with you? I think your barnyard friend is being a bit irreverent to the dead... I'm not one to leave bodies to be picked apart by wildlife, as natural as that may be for you...


AlToken.PNG Al Wonders briefly why Mose is asking about a goose when there isn't one present, because who could possibly mistake a swan for a goose? Figures it out soon enough

Dude, just wait and watch. That swan isn't something I can control, and I have a feeling we'll soon all be far less upset about killing the lady.

QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Um.. is it going to re-animate her or possess her body or something? No.. you wouldn't be "cool" with that. Quin wonders what is going on, but takes a moment to make sure her weapons are not handy just in case.


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika Kimika watches the entire scene carefully. She recognizes that something must be happening and figures that it might be due to the Elven connection that Al and Edrell's sister share. She watches the swan and the woman closely, silently.


AlToken.PNG Al To Quin Uh, no, dude, I wouldn't be cool with that at all. Kimi's got the right idea. This is something we should all shut up and appreciate. I always figured the swan was meant for me. Never figured I'd run across someone else it would work on. Trailing off I'm gonna wanna to talk to her about...


LEToken.PNG LE is startled by the swan, and backs away from the woman. She looks around and notices the other party members watching the bird.


GermainToken.PNG Germain realises that no one is paying attention to plots and schemes anymore, and turns his attention to the unfolding events. Having kept an eye on LE since she blasted the elven woman, he is keenly aware that she is struggling with internal conflict. As she steps back, he moves to her side, places a supportive hand on her shoulder, and directs his gaze towards the swan and the corpse.


DMToken.PNG DM Nothing happens for two or three minutes. Then, suddenly, the swan rears up, neck and wings fully extended. Those nearby instinctively take a step back in settlements at the unexpected change. It lets out a ghastly, morunful shriek that sounds nothing like a sound that should come from a swan. The room fills with blinding bright light, and those who do not avert their eyes from the light are possibly blinded.

The pressure and temperature of the room drop, and you can feel rather than see the Swan flap its gigantic wings, all the while you can feel an overpowering - but not exactly unpleasant - warmth surge over you. There is a POP, followed by a sudden increase in pressure... The warmth and light is gone, the room is still. You hear something small and metalic clatter to the floor. When you open your eyes again, on the floor next to the woman's body is a blackened and broken swan figurine, about the size of a fist.

The half-elf woman begins to stir, but weakly.

MoseToken.PNG Mose Al, what have you done?!(Mose is shocked! He moves forward and changes tone dramatically to harsh.) DO NOT MOVE, UNDEAD VILLAIN! You twitch a single muscle wrong and I'll slice that muscle off. (Mose readies flaming sword against any action other than being still and speaking) AL, tell her! Can you speak her language?! (Over the next moment or two, if Mose can be readied and also Detect Undead then he will do that, otherwise he remains readied.)


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Calm down Mose, I haven't the faintest idea what *exactly* is going on here, but we know that Al hates the undead as much as you, and he already said it wasn't anything like that. Besides, she hardly looks like she is going to be bouncing up and trading blows with you. It won't hurt to bind her though.

Unless stopped, Quin walks over and sits her up, drawing her arms behind her and tying them in a secure knot

Now.. Al, care to shed some light on this?

GermainToken.PNG Germain Hold up, everyone. We've already killed this poor woman once, and have no intention of killing her again, or even molesting her with ropes and restraints. Al clearly knew what was going to occur, and I have complete faith that he wouldn't let this happen if it was going to be unnatural or unwholesome. I believe this woman may have a lot to offer us, and regardless of how you may feel about Edrell, I have every intention of honoring his last request. It's imperative to me that, when she comes to, she understands that we are not her captors, are not going to interrogate her, and that she has a chance to see us in a sympathetic light.

With a pained yet sten expression, Germain rests his hand on the hilt of his sword and surveys the Silverwalkers.

I know I'm asking you to put a lot of trust in me, but this is important to me. Mose, please sheath your sword. Quin, please step away from her. Kimmy... Al... could you please tend to her, and make sure she is alright?


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Stops before going all the way over to her, and hisses at Germain with a glare Poor woman!? We didn't just stumble in here and drop a sword on her head while she was reading a book! She and her party came close to opening the way to destroy your fucking city and they came damn close to destroying us as the first step! What kind of a two-faced political snake-in-the-grass game are you playing at here? I obviously don't think she is undead nor do I think that Al would be walking around with some evil bird artifact in his pack, but you better start pouring the diplomacy on if you think I'm going to be content to let Kimi walk up and heal the powerful vicious fighter who was a hairs-breadth from killing Kimi without first restraining her and treating her as a dangerous opponent who may have valuable information to barter with us.


GermainToken.PNG Germain Calm down, Quin. She's a "poor woman" just the same as virtually every other grunt in this stupid war. A dumb soldier dying so Naprid and King Aiden can jockey over money, power, and politics. Wydmoor is no more special than Odessa, and no side in this war is "right". She's a friend of a friend (at least... a fiend of my friend), a disenchanted outsider who grew up under a yoke of fear and abuse, and another person trying to get by in a shitty world. She's no less deserving of sympathy than anyone on our side who is killing for a living.

I would agree with you if I thought the risk was significant or the reward was small. But I don't believe Kimmy is in danger, and I am sure we are more than capable of putting her down again if we have to. I believe strongly that this woman could be a surprising and valuable friend if we show her a little respect and treat her as a human and not as an enemy. Comming to tied up with a sword pointed at her at the hands of those that killed her will do nothing to engender this. Please trust me... killing enemies is your area of expertise, but making friends is mine, and my gut tells me this is right. I promise it'll be no dumber or riskier than the sort of shit we do day after day without batting an eye.

Turning towards Kimmy and Al: But, yeah, for what its worth: towel under the head, some bandages, but let's save magical healing for the Silverwalkers--it's been a long, dangerous day, and I doubt it's over yet.

MoseToken.PNG Mose (Mose uses 12 seconds of Germain's and Quinalin's arguing to Detect Undead and Detect Evil, aimed at the lady. If neither registers, Mose trusts Germain's "gut" and puts his sword away, but keeps his shield ready for bashing if needed.)


DMToken.PNG DM Not Evil. Not Undead.


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika As soon as anyone starts to move towards the woman, Kimika holds her arms out protectively. She seems to have been watching the whole display carefully, reverently. Without taking her eyes off the woman she says quietly but sternly, Do not bind her. She is not evil. She is not undead. Let me tend to her. Let her be. Kimika expertly uses her heal skill. She nods gently in Germain's direction in agreement. Perhaps while I continue to tend to her, the rest of you can make plans to rebuild the city. Perhaps Germain would be best in dealing with the bureaucrats while the rest of us dig into making the city inhabitable.


AlToken.PNG Al Chimes in somewhere along the way Naw, man, she's not undead. She's just not dead any more. That's what the swan did. 'Course, she's still whoever she was before we killed her, so she may want to lop our heads off still, but, you know.. What was I saying? The swan.. Yeah, it's not evil. It's elven. a little wistful They gave it to me when I left the island. But it's done its thing now. As for what happens when she wakes up fully.. I dunno, what would she think if she woke up to an elf? Would she freak out on us, or do you dudes think it might calm her some? Maybe she'd think I'm Ed or something, at least long enough to not try to kill us until we get a chance to talk to her.


GermainToken.PNG Germain looks reflective. I can't even imagine... Edrell sure seemed upset about how this world treated him and his mother. I can't imagine she fared any better. Do you think she's even met another elf other than her mother? I know you don't like to talk about it, Al, but it doesn't sound like they'd even let you back on the island, so I can't imagine they'd welcome a half-breed. Maybe she hates elves, but I can't imagine she's even known enough to hate them more than humans.

Germain bends over and brushes the hair away from the woman's ears, checking to see if they too have been chewed off.

DMToken.PNG DM The woman's ears are intact. Like Al's, they are tapered to a slightly rounded point at the tips.


GermainToken.PNG Germain What a mess. I guess the Odessans would be better to half-elves than any other peoples, given their long history with the elves and the elven lineage of the Odessans kings. But Edrell must have really hated them too, given that he turned on them like he did. But then... I guess they must have kept it secret, right? I wonder what happened to these two. As far as I know, there isn't really animosity towards elves, although it sounds like this family was treated like freaks. Is that the only reason to keep it secret? Why do you hide it so carefully, Al?


LEToken.PNG LE at Germain's touch, looks up at him with a mixture of gratitude and relief. As the woman begins to stir, LE takes another step back and tenses up.


AlToken.PNG Al To Germain I hide it so people don't freak out, man. The one or two people (other than you guys) who have figured out what I am didn't exactly take it well, and it wouldn't be unfair to say that the other elves I lived with for so long don't have much nice to say about non-elves. They didn't give me much confidence that I'd be treated well off the island.


GermainToken.PNG Germain looks like his is about to say something, but bites his tongue and nods solemnly.


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika continues to tend to the elf woman gently and as she stirs addresses her in a calming tone

Shhhh, everything is fine now. You've been through a lot. You need to rest. You're safe. Just relax. You're safe.

 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady Groan Ahhrr... whu-


MoseToken.PNG Mose (nervous) Oh, she's awake now.. Okay, talk to her, guys! (looks around) Germain did you want to ask her about Edrell? Al, did you want to tell her you're an elf, too? I mean you brought her back to life with your elven powers...


KimikaToken.PNG Kimika shoots a dirty look at Mose briefly before turning her attentions back to the Elven woman. She gently places a healing hand on her forehead and speaks softly to her in a calming manner Don't strain yourself, just relax. You're safe. You've been through a lot and need to rest. You're safe.


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady Coming To

Ein... Eyndredell?

Growing Alarmed

Elves?


GermainToken.PNG Germain kneels down beside the half-elf, and rests his hand gently on her arm. Listen to Kimika... you've been through a lot... more than any of us can possibly imagine. You need to rest. Your brother--I assume Eyndredell, although we know him as Edrell--asked us to spare your life. I'm afraid we didn't do it in quite the way he might have hoped, but... well... let's just say he asked under less than ideal circumstances. You are safe now. Do you hear me?


DMToken.PNG DM dice clatter

(18) + 30 Bonus +2 Circumstance : 50)


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady Eyes open

I hear you.

slowly sits up on her elbows

I feel... strange.

looks around. Seeing the bodies, and perhaps starting to remember the fight, nods solemnly

Spare *me*, then. Not us. He's gone rogue after all. sigh I told them.


GermainToken.PNG Germain We didn't do all that good a job sparing you to be honest. Perhaps he just understood our limitations. Talk of elves certainly seemed to effect you, and I'm guess I'm not surprised given what I learned of your brother. Looking at your ears, it seems you fared a little better, although perhaps I'll eat my words for suggesting that. Germain reaches down and picks up the battered swan, but it crumbles into a fine, gray ash. He looks momentarily startled, but quickly recovers...

You brother went completely rogue. He betrayed the Odessans, he betrayed Wydmoor, and he betrayed us. For all practical purposes, this almost caused him to betray you, since many of the people in this room are so mad at him that they may just try to kill him, and were not in the least inclined to honor his request. In that final case, however, he was saved by nothing short of a miracle. We are traveling with an elf... yes. One who sacrificed a powerful elven artifact to bring you back to life. From what little I know, his kin would not have approved, but I get the impression that he is quite unlike most of his kin. He has been a good friend to us, and I would trust him with my life. And now, I supposed, I would trust him with yours.


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady I don't know why, but I believe you.

You see a look of understanding begin to creep across her face

A.... swan? Could he really have been telling the truth about our mother?


GermainToken.PNG Germain Yes, a swan... Ivory and silver, with impossible pearl eyes. I've never seen, or heard, of anything like it.


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady laughs The only thing he ever told he that was true was the one thing that was impossible to believe.

she looks at you seriously

I know this sounds crazy. Tell me the truth - Was I dead? Did you kill me?


GermainToken.PNG Germain Miss, we are all too familiar with crazy. Yes, we killed you.


AlToken.PNG Al Pulls himself out of the silence that was imposed upon him from afar, as if some foreign being had a really busy day and wasn't able to give Al his voice Hiya, half-elf lady! Man, do I want to talk to you. Germain here is right. He'd trust me with his life, and, man, is it weird to talk to anyone who's even remotely elven. I thought those days were behind me completely, since they kicked me out and all. What was being dead like? it's one of those completely natural things that I'll probably only get to experience once. Weird.. Does anyone else know you're half-elven? What was your mom's name (she was the elf, right?)? What do you want to know about elves? I can tell you all sorts of stuff, though much of it would be pretty upsetting. I mean, don't get me wrong, there are elves I like, but some of them are just crazy. Not into nature at all. Can you believe that? So, you see, I was living on the big island with all the other elves, only they didn't always like it when I told them how wrong they were about some really obvious things, so after a while they just kicked me out, though I guess by then I was pretty much ready to go. There's just so MUCH to see in the world that can't be seen from one small island. Just the other day I saw this really awesome bug. Red eyes, goofy wings. It was AWESOME! I assume by now someone not-so-subtlely gives Al a hint to shut up, so I'll stop here for now


GermainToken.PNG Germain chuckles. That's Al, which is short for something unpronouncable. Looking towards Al. Not just yet, buddy.


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady It's true then... Wow, I never thought... I don't know why I'm telling you this, but... You know what I am.
  • Who* I am.

When I was growing up... he raised me, you see, after she died. I was a little girl when it happened, and so I asked him all the time about her. Where we came from. Things like that.

He always told the same story but, well, I knew from an early age Eyndredell wasn't exactly trustworthy. And, he said our mother told him the story, which doesn't exactly lend it any real ... anyway, I always assumed it was just a deflection, but thinking back on it, he only ever lied when he had something to gain. There was no reason to make up a story so extravagant...

seems almost lost in her own thoughts now

The Hand.. You know of the? The Halflings? There are as many as there are colors in the world, I think. White Hand, Red Hand, Grey Hand...

shakes head

The Silver Hand, they're known for their .... exotic menagieres. Two headed goats. Horned dwarves. And... others. Carted from town to town. Gawk for a copper, toss rotten vegetables for a silver. For a gold... well, gold gets what it wants, doesn't it?

It shouldn't have been possible, no matter how much she was sold. My mother's kind, exceedingly rare on the mainland. And, at least to her Eyndredell tell it, are not supposed to be able to bear child. The Sidhe, they're a hateful people, and a prideful one. They would rather march into the abyss than see their blood tainted by human blood. Our kind, he always said, would be particularly feared and despised by them. Not only because they are hateful, but because we should not be allowed to exist. Not allowed.. We should not be *able* to exist.

Even among the Sidhe, there are discontents and outsiders. Sidhe does not kill Sidhe, and so they are instead exiled to the lost homeland. But, exile is not their only punishment. Along with exile, they are made barren. So Eyndredell claimed. But he also claimed, when I pressed him, that our mother was ... different. She was given a special charm with her exile. A symbol of ancient Elven power.

A power so great that when she was finally met her end... her first end, I suppose ... it raised her from the dead. And restored not just life, but the ability to make life.

shakes head, clearing away mental cobwebs, and descends into silence


AlToken.PNG Al Ha, discontents and outsiders. I tell ya what the elves need. They need more discontents and outsiders. Rile things up a bit, shake them out of their funk, ya know, man? Ed's right.. Er, Eyndredell's right. I can't have kids. I wonder why your mom could. That's weird. I also was given a charm when I left. Well, "charm" might be the wrong word. A powerful item. You're here telling us all this cool stuff cuz of that swan. Do you know what your mom had?

Ya know, though, exile isn't necessarily a punishment. I mean, there are times I miss it, but like I said before, there's so much more to see and do off that island. It's a great island, but I already knew every tree, rock, and animal on it. Ya gotta get out and experience the world before you can save it, ya know?

And by the way, "Al" isn't short for something unpronounceable. It's short for Aldoronavazingortulip.

GermainToken.PNG Germain looks sad. It just doesn't sound right... none of it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Your brother was a hell of a liar, I'll give him that. But I think, perhaps, I know a thing or two about him, never-the-less. Regardless of what my companions may think of him now, he did a tremendous amount to help us, and even now he is doing more for us than I think some of us realize...

I don't care much for anyone in this wretched war: the Odessans, Wydmoor, the Wraiths, or any of them. Clearly, your brother didn't either. The Silverwalkers--that's us--have had one agenda since the beginning. To protect the people of Wydmoor, who have suffered terribly for this war, will gain nothing from it, and have no allies in it. Now I wouldn't go so far as to say his intentions were noble--I think he was more interested in screwing over the powerful than helping the weak--but the enemy of your enemy and all... I do think he genuinely appreciated that we cared, and I believe he helped us more than he needed to as a result.

Which leads me to a question: where do your allegiances lie? Why the Odessans? Why this war? Who do you care about? Why?


 NPCEmptyToken.JPG Lady He said that she always said it was a swan - a symbol of ancient elven power... Aldoronavazingortulip.

She says the word as if tasting it.

<In Elven: A strange name, but of the Sidhe without a doubt. I am Marhagarain>

looks at Germain

It sounds like you really do know him. Who do I care about? At this point... I don't know. If Edrell's burnt us, if I turn, too... Oh, no...

fear begins to creep into her voice for the first time

Kaleesarynn...


DMToken.PNG DM Al, and anyone else who speaks Sidhe (anyone?), recognizes this as someone's name.


AlToken.PNG Al Holy crap! That's someone's name!


 MarhagarainToken.jpg Marhagarain What? Yes, it's a name. It's the name of my sister.

If Eyndredell really has betrayed Kaine... and if Kaine thinks I have betrayed him, as well...

GermainToken.PNG Germain Hedrafax Kaine? Where is your sister?


 MarhagarainToken.jpg Marhagarain Where else would she be? She's so sheltered. She's still on Kaine's estate in Cebridon. If he thinks... After losing two of us, or even thinking he has... He'll kill her.


MoseToken.PNG Mose Wait, though-- why were you helping Odessa try to destroy the teleport ward here? (points to the crackling energy) Is it because of your sister? Or...? (somewhat lost)


GermainToken.PNG Germain I doubt there is much we can do to hide this development from the Odessans, and Edrell's betrayal alone is probably enough to doom your sister. Still, there may be many solutions to your problem, and there may be many ways we can help. But first...

Germain turns towards Mose and Quin. Slavery. Abuse. Rape. These are not the sort of things that you wish on your enemies. They are the sort of things that happen to people in a fucked up, unfair world. Just because someone tried to kill us does not mean they are not a human, and it does not mean they do not deserve compassion, sympathy, or help. This war needs to end, but moral absolutes and black and white thinking are not going to end it. Building bridges and leading through compassion will.

Turning back towards Marhagarain, Germain changes his tack. Many of the 'Walkers feel betrayed by your brother, Marhagarain, and you almost killed us trying to take our city. They are not inclined to either feel sympathy for you or to trust you. I believe they can, but I need you to promise me you will stay with them until I get back. Now is not the time for secrecy, lies, or manipulations. Show them your heart. Let the Walkers know what you've been through, how you became the woman that you are, and about the family that you are from. If you do, I believe we can help your family.

There is much to do, and little time to do it. I need to secure the city, and make sure that we do not take the blame for Edrell's betrayal. LE, I want you to come with me. Secure the keep until re-enforcements arrive--they will be here shortly.

Germain squares his shoulders and marches towards the non-gate and, pausing to collect LE, leaves the keep.


QuinalinToken.PNG Quinalin Quin still looks pretty upset. If asked out of earshot of the half-elf, he'll say bluntly that while everything that happened to her is deplorable, nothing that was said justified her actions to destroy the city and kill us. Quin will act cold and wary of her unless that opinion is changed.

She only said her name in elven to Al so I don't think any of us know it yet, right? So... Lady, Germain suggests that we secure the keep. Is there still a threat? What was your plan once you took down the teleport ward? Did you have a contingency plan? Reinforcements? An escape route?



AlToken.PNG Al Take it easy, dude! She's been mostly dead all day! Well, completely dead for part of the day. But, uh, yeah, is there anyone else who's going to try to kill us?

So tell us about your sister, dudette. I guess she's a half-elf too?

Manageable [edit]ing

 MarhagarainToken.jpg Marhagarain Hm. sigh I told them the team needed better equipment. shakes head I would not expect any follow-up attacks, no. Had the teleport ward fallen, a legion would have been teleported into the city proper. Destroy your not-gates network and the siege gets turned on its head. Us in command of the city, and the Wraiths penned up in their little castle. With the ward still up, though? Nope. Just another busted plan.

shouts towards Germain

What you say is as I have said: our team's failure will become known soon, and Eyndredell's betrayal soon after. And then.... she lets the implication hang in the air If you really do think you can help my sister, it needs to be done fast. I don't even think she realizes the danger she's in, even if she wasn't powerless to do anything about it. And, yes, Elf, my sister is also a half elf. We all shared the same mother.


GermainToken.PNG Germain I'm sorry to have to be blunt, but you are still an unknown quantity, and Wydmoor is still my charge. I must tend to her defense first. I promise I will act with all the haste I can muster... no more than an hour, if Alexandria permits it. It is ambitious, but it would not be the biggest miracle of the day by a long shot.

Germain removes the hat of disguise, and flicks it towards the Marhagarain.

Use it's magic to disguise yourself. You look far too distinct, and I am not ready to reveal your presence to anyone outside the 'Walkers yet. Do not use it to flee, or your sister will die for certain. That legion you mentioned... how many? And where would they come from? The front lines? Iros Forge? Odessa proper? Perhaps our hand holds more tricks than I realized...


 MarhagarainToken.jpg Marhagarain puts on the hat, and takes the form of an unremarkable human woman

Where would it come from? What kind of question is that? There are ten thousand armed men outside your city walls, and half as many spread out through the region. Dozens of University mages. Where do you think they would come from? Wherever the commanders feel like pulling them from. With the teleport ward down, King Aiden himself could show up in the center of town with 1,000 cavalry fresh from Cebridon. Man for man, you're outnumbered maybe ten to one. The city's wards and walls are the only thing staving off total destruction.

But, an hour.. She should be safe for an hour, maybe for a day or two, even. Kaine has invested too much in her to kill her hastily, but if he feels his ... she says the word with distaste creations are slipping from his control, he won't hesitate.


(put rpchat above this)