Northern Interlude thoughts, Council talk
Subject Northern Interlude
(ooc - Lucky for Salix he's still in ignorance of this. *I* on the other hand am pretty scared for the party. I mean whatever this is must be pretty damn powerful if it can do *this* to the Stormfather.)
From: Karl
Subject During the Council
"What precautions, if any, were the other Wealdwards instructed to take in investigating this problem? Knowing this might help us anticipate the danger since apparently all precautions they *did* take were insufficient.
"Also, you mentioned that Stormfather Acer left a long note with you before he left. May we see the note? It could have some clue that could be useful."
From: Karl
Subject Northern Interlude
And who knew Mark has such a dark streak in him. That's a genuinely disturbing scene.
From: Kevin
Subject Northern Interlude
I knew.
I tried to warn you guys, but you did not listen.
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter here."
From: Mark
Subject Council talk
A different Father speaks. "They were told to use the usual precautions. Stay in the woods. Use the woods as your ally. They would have talked to the local animals, maybe contacted some of the local forest creatures, the like."
A third Father then takes over. "Acer's message was one of warning. He said that he felt something evil from that part of the forest. That it had been growing, like a cancer. We who follow Obad-Hai do not stand much on ceremony or rank, but acknowleged and respect ability. Acer was the best of us. He was the head of this council. His note covered many topics, most of which I will not discuss with outsiders. However, two parts concern you young Salix."
"First, he says that he has a premonition that the druids would not be able to defeat this incursion on their own. You do not know what an uproar that caused. The druids do not ask for help easily. The StormFather felt that this incursion was aimed at the power of the druids. He expressed his concern for sending you into this danger but also his confidence that with the help of these outsiders, you might succede where the others have failed."
"Second, he warned us about wanting revenge. Of reacting with anger. He reminded us that the forest can be vicious but it is not cruel in the way normal people think of it. The death of a young one to a predator is not cruel, but nature at work." The old man stops, looking at the party.
From: Karl
Subject Council talk
"If something has corrupted the woods to this degree, then communing with it is probably unwise," Salix muses out loud. "I believe I should avoid direct communion with the trees and animals there, but that would mean no way to contact this council. You would then have no way of knowing our status or progress. Knowing beforehand that we will not send word until/unless this problem is squelched, you should not assume from our silence that we have suffered the same fate as the others, at least not at first. Perhaps we should set a time by which you will expect to hear something, either of our success or at least our progress. If we are able, and have not yet fixed the problem, perhaps I could return far enough from Bodentown to be able to communicate without interference from the corruption.
"On the other hand, if you do not hear from me within that time, I strongly urge you to get in touch with Captain Angelwing. There are dark forces on the move in the world at large and I fear this problem may be related, though at this point I couldn't say how, exactly.
"I understand not wanting to speak of sacred things in front of those not of our circle. Is there something this Council would like to say to me in private? I want only to remove this threat and hopefully bring the Stormfather and the others back to us, but the task seems daunting. Any information, assistance or encouragement you could provide would be welcome."
From: Porter
Subject Northern Interlude
Ooh! There are all kinds of cool monsters to kill in Dante's Dungeon!
From: Porter
Subject Council talk
"No offense or nothin'," Mund says with uncharacteristic civility, "but this is an awful lot to ask us to do. It's eve more to ask when you're not telling us the whole story. Maybe you don't think that most of what Acer said concerns us, but you don't really know, cause-of you don't got no idea what's going on out there and what's concerning us."
"I figger that we need to know everything that was in Acer's message before we even think about going."
From: Mark
Subject Council talk
Howls of protest come from the assembled druids at Mund's request. ForestFather Bindle holds up his hands and faces the druids. "We are asking these to sacrifice for us, maybe even their lives. He does not ask too much." Another druid speaks up "It is forbidden to outsiders." Several others voice support for this view when MountainFather Flint speaks up. "Friend Mund, would you accept this compromise. We inform Salix of all of the content and we let him decide what is relavent to your needs. In his travells outside the woods he has come to know what concerns you might have."
From: Porter
Subject Council talk
"As long as you leave Salix free tell us whatever he thinks is important, whenever, then sure. Problem is, that boy is so gol-durn honerable," Mund spits out the bad-tasting word, "that if'n y'all tell him he can't tell, he probably won't, even if it might get him killed. You've gotta leave it free to his judgmentation. Are y'all willing to do that?"
From: Karl
Subject Northern Interlude
Yeah, you gotta kill a three-headed dog just to get in!
From: Karl
Subject Council talk
OOC - Salix's part about talking in private with the council can be taken as coming in response to Mund's comments.)
From: Karl
Subject Council talk
Salix cowers inwardly at the brusqueness Mund displays before The Council, and in The Grove of all places! But he says nothing and tries not to show his discomfort to Mund. He was what he was and The Council should be wise enough to see beyond the rough face of things. They've had badgers at the dinner table before, after all, and their manners are even less polished.
From: Derek
Subject Council talk
Allistair nods in agreement. "My brother is right. It shows bad faith to ask us to go where several of your most powerful members may have already been killed, and then withhold pertinent information from us, sacrosanct though it may be. If you cannot agree to divulge the information directly and completely, then you must also give us your word that you will give Salix no order or compulsion not to tell us whatever information he thinks is important. Surely you can trust the judgement of Salix, who has had much more experience in dealing with outsiders such as us."
From: Randy
Subject Council talk
Ranthir nods at Allistair and Mund's comments.
He and his companions were a formidable force but if the head of the Druid order had been unable to overcome the problems that were facing the North Woods then could this group have more hope? Possibly. The Stormfather suspected that the danger was focussed on the druids.
"If this danger is primarily affecting the druids then should Salix be accompanying us at all? Based on the events we have been told, he is taking on a very great risk by taking this mission. Salix is a true friend and a powerful companion and I should not like to lose him as either."
Ranthir hopes that Salix is not offended by his comment.
From: Karl
Subject Council talk
Salix quickly responds, "If the Stormfather asked for me, he would not have done so for a trivial reason. I cannot say why he thinks I have a hope of succeeding where others have failed, but I could not stay behind knowing he has requested my help." He says this, trying desperately to hide the skepticism he has at his own words. What was the Stormfather thinking? If *he* could not stand against this evil, how on Earth could Salix? But then again, they did not know that the Stormfather had fallen or been taken captive. Perhaps he sensed the evil influence on the woods around Bodentown and simple does not have a way to contact them. That was probably the case, of course. He is waiting for the aid from Salix and his friends and he will be with them when they confront this evil. "For what it's worth, he may even now be waiting for us. There are many reasons short of failure that he might not be able or willing to communicate directly with our circle."
From: Jason
Subject Council talk
Ragnar, after consulting briefly with Harp (and assuming he agrees with what follow), says "Our order has its own reasons for needing to contact Stormfather Acer, and we would do so despite any risk we may have to undertake. Whatever information you can give Salix will be appreciated. I do not speak for others, but those of us with duty to the Order of the Silver Sword will accompany Salix to seek out and assist the Stormfather, and any who are held with him, even if we must rely solely on the mercy of Heironeous to guide us."
From: Kevin
Subject Council talk
Harp does agree.
OOC: I will write more later today or early tonight.
Just got really busy here and cannot write more now.
From: Randy
Subject Council talk
"I will leave that decision to you my friend. I will, of course, be more than willing to continue with you on this journey."
From: Kevin
Subject Council talk
Harp sits quietly as he listens to the discussions of others. This he was used to. Harp had had his taste of command and he had not enjoyed it. He was content to listen, learn, and follow his friend, even if it was to his death.
Harp feels a tap on his shoulder and then Ragnar leans over and whispers a few short words in his ear. Harp nods, knowing that even if their quest was tied up with the Stormfather, he would have gone with Salix anyway, barring a direct order to the contrary. He was lucky that wasn't the case here. There was little he could add in the planning or discussions, but he could add his sword and his strength to the cause. With Heironious's support, he would not fail.
From: Ashley
Subject Council talk
Surin listens intently to the goings on, smiling at how well Salix was handling the situation. He had some good ideas, and wasn't afraid to stand up for them. The conversation winds down but Surin can't help feeling ansy about the situation. If he was expected to go into this freaky area, he at least wanted to be well armed with information. "Have your people ever had serious altercations with these people before? Do you have any idea what we might possibly expect if we make it to Bodentown, other than angsty townsfolk? Is there anything we should try to learn about the area before going in?"
From: Karl
Subject Council talk
"On that note, I hesitate to suggest this, but maybe if there's some way I could hide my druid allegiance I and the others might be able to make it into town without arousing suspicion of the true nature of our visit. Any suggestions on how to do that? I'm loath to hide like that, but in this case it might be best. Obad-Hai will know my heart."
From: Kevin
Subject Council talk
'If Mund and me can get into town, we might be able to pick up on any local gossip. This might be a case where my background works to our benefit - I bet no one will look twice at me up there, if I can learn some more orc from Mund on our way up there."
From: Porter
Subject Council talk
"From what I know of Bodentown, nobody will look twice at any of us less'n we don't got enough money to pay or iff'n we look like we've got enough money to rob. Hell -- they'll even let," Mund stops himself short of saying the word elves "well, anyway, the whole group should be as welcome as anybody else."