Mission Exits, Conversation Over Dinner
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Well I might have to work a bit, but I will stay. :) I think I know how Melani will justify it.
Damn, I was looking forward to a nice fight.
From: Scott
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
OOC: I'd like to stay, but Mission-- well, see below.
Nesalin rose about him, but all Mission can think of is the sea. And the land across the sea. The night air is thick with it, damp and rich with fish smells and salt. Promise coos.
Not there yet, boy. Not there yet.
His muscles do not lose their tautness, despite stone walls and roads. The college of wizardry was here, hunting for power. And like it or not, the Kaishin in his arms means power. What had Garyth told his commanders of Promise? What had they passed on in turn, to their superiors. What did the mages in this city know or think of his little boy? He should have come with the guardsman, should have run with all his might to Nesalin, and made an anonymous entrance. Now, surrounded by clanking guards, every open face watching him, measuring him and his child. . . Promise squirms a bit in his sling, whining.
Where would the Path turn? Mission sighs, knowing that he'd get little rest until he stood with Promise on the Mossground, cradled deep in his home, nestled away and protected by the stone of Bannock's Ire.
He picks at his food a bit with one hand, the other occupied with feeding Promise. Cadfael, Sa'id, Farron, Garyth, Rennick. . . Melani. Good people. He should feel like he is abandoning them to fight a war he started. He should feel some remorse. But he doesn't. All he feels is the draw of the ocean, and the desire to _get away_. A restlessness, like pebbles tumbling around under his skin. . .
There would be no goodbyes. Mission knows it and accepts the necessity of it. Even now, he finds himself slipping somehow away from his companinons, though they sit at the same table, eating together. He excuses himself and Promise, makes his way to the baths that had been set up for them. He washes Promise, and the blue robe that would be their passage back home. In the warmth of the baths, Mission rubs his eyes and yawns. No rest for the weary, though. Or the wicked. When would Kor Garesh strike? Too soon, any time was too soon.
So now, at last, after so long of shortening his stride, Mission would run. There is a bittersweetness in the thought.
Mission will sneak out of the dining hall, and if no one sees him, will make his way out into Nesalin. He will aim for the docks, and once there, attempt to trade the blue robe for a way to the city nearest Bannock's Ire.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Farron will stay, however, he is still worried about his Aunt and Uncle in Overlook.
I've apparently missed one of the emails from Ty. Is Nesalin going to aid Overlook? If forces are being sent, Farron will be patient, but if not, it seems a little out of character for him to just move on to the next adventure.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
I don't know if a force has actually been sent, but there is a high level guy in favor of it and he is taking his recomendation to the guy in charge. My guess is that force will be sent. The only question is how quickly it will leave. Maybe the Knights of the White Hand will go.
Mark
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
At this point, I am waiting on you guys before I move on.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
So, we're in Nesalin, right? We're able to spend the night, right? Farron wants to know what's up with the force going to Overlook. He's not going to rest well until he knows that at least someone in a position to do something understands the urgency of the situation and is acting on it.
If he can't get a straight answer from the Guard, he will go to the Wizard college and try and get one of the higher up mages there to see if they can scry for his aunt and uncle to know (hopefully) that they are safe.
Also, since Farron lives in and works out of Nesalin, he's probably got at least a room there, right?
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Yes. In fact, Farron has the most connection to the city of anyone in the party. He of course knows some people at the college, but he also knows most of the trading families. He keeps an apartment in a middle class neighborhood near the merchant district. He also has a bank account with a fair amount of money in it; just over 3,000 gp the last time he checked. He is generally well paid for his services.
It is nearing 11pm by the time the party gets into the guard's keep, so Farron would know that the college gates are locked, and won't open till dawn the next morning.
I am hoping that Mike can give us a Garyth turn before anyone does anything though. I think the characters actions will have a lot to do with what Garyth tells them.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
In that case, thanks for the info and I'll wait for Garyth.
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
The food is good, but Garyth has no stomach for it. All he can think of is the coming attack on his home. So when the group arrives in the dining hall, Garyth is slouched in his chair, resting his head on one hand while he idly pushes some scraps of chicken around his plate with the other. As soon as he sees his comrades, though, he is on his feet and walking toward them. "Hello, lads," he calls. "Please, come eat something." He smiles and waves them over to the table, though the creases around his eyes show the weight of his worry.
When the group has settled some, he addresses them. "I'm sure you want to know what preparations are being made. I arrived late this afternoon, thanks to your help, Farron." He nods to the mage. "I made my report to Knight Commander Mattias as soon as I could get in to see him. It went well." He looks from face to face, and takes a breath. "And not so well."
"Sir Mattias heard our story and I think he believed me and wishes to aid Overlook. He has gone personally to the Duke and Lord Marshall Whitlocke to try to mobilize the troops. But there's more."
Garyth repeats what the Knight Commander said about the attack on the road to Landfall. When he's done, he pauses, and when he continues, he can't bring himself to look at Rennik or Melani. "The command here believes that the halfling tribes have declared war on the human population of Huss. I tried to get the Knight Commander to see the truth, I tried to explain..." Garyth's frustration with himself tangles his tongue, and he clenches his eyes shut for a moment, taking a breath. He opens his eyes and looks up. "I tried, but I failed. I think that he believes I am in earnest, but he just doesn't understand. And he probably thinks I have been fooled."
Before anyone can speak up, Garyth raises a hand. "There's more," he says. "There is an order of Knights here, the Order of the White Hart. They are holy warriors of Pelor. The first time we saw her, Elise was wearing the armor of a Knight of the White Hart. I told this to Sir Mattias and I think he believed me, but another of the Knights was there. I think he may have been the head of the order; his name was Sir Danbury. He got very angry and stormed out." He thinks a moment. "Before Sir Danbury left, he said Elise's full name: Lady Elise Duskane. I don't know if that's important, but it's something."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Thanks, Mike.
I will wait for reactions and declared actions from everyone before I write the next turn.
From: Mark
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Melani, with her mouth half full of food, sputters and almost chokes on it.
"Us, declare war on you humans? Is he crazy? You have nothing we want. True, we would hunt you and kill you if you invaded our forest, but why would be want these desolate outpost near the water. As far as I am concerned you can have them.
Did you tell them about the halflings that have fallen and that will fall fighting this evil? That the leaders of this evil band are not halflings but humans and other half humans. If he wants to point a finger, he should look closer to home."
OOC: Alot of wether Melani stays depends on if Rennik stays with the group.
Mark
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
"I told him everything," Garyth replies. "I tried. Really, I did. But I think that most people would have a hard time believing the real story if they weren't there."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Sa'id nods. "Farron and I will have to speak with the masters at the wizards' school," he says. "I believe we may have enough evidence with us to convince them of our tale; it's possible that the weight of their opinion might be sufficient to sway the commanders here."
From: Mike
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
"Thank you, Sa'id. I just hope that they can do something in time." He clenches a fist and lets out a breath. "We have so little left."
From: Matt
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Rennik rode uncomfortably on the back of the warhorse, but understood the need. As the walls of Nesalin approached, and the sounds of the city began to waft through the air, his shoulders tensed. He could almost feel the oppressive crush of humans living on top of one another, building floor on top of floor, crowding the narrow streets...
He shuddered. He would see these humans safely to their haven, but the sooner he was out of Nesalin the better.
Rennik has=d always hated human cities. Their towns were unnatural enough, with their strange customs and disregard for the land, but the cities were a blight. They were like pulling a log from the forest floor to find a teeming mass of fire ants all climbing over one another, each with an insane need to attack and kill any who threaten their hive.
The open sky was uncomfortable enough, though he had gotten used to it during his time with the elves. The leaning walls of human buildigns, with the smoke and dust sitting heavilly in the air, was enough to make Rennik nauseous. He watched the merchants and sensed their greed, saw the priests and felt battered by their arrogance and superiority, and observed the peasants, angered by their neglect.
This was not civilization. He did not harbor the same fascination with the race as did his elven companions. The humans had despoiled the island, nothing more. He wondered how men such as Mission or Garyth could have been produced by such conditions. It was a testament to their strength of character.
Seeing Garyth was a relief, if only to see a friendly face amidst the chaos. The new clothes made him seem distant, though, somehow foreign. They created a rift between him and the halfling, conjuring feelings akin to those Rennik had felt when they first met.
He suppressed those instincts and fell upon the food, happily tearing at the chicken with his hands, remembering the first meal the group ate together in the pub at Overlook. The claustrophobia of the city receded momentarily as Garyth began his tale.
Rennik quickly lost his appetite.
"Humans..." He trails off.
"Wrapped so tightly in their own lies and corruption, they cannot hear truth when it is spoken. A man may be a worthwhile companion," he nods to Garyth, Mission and Farron, while studiously avoiding Sa'id (and therefore Cadfael). "But the race is foolish and panicky, and wouldn't know true wisdom if their noses were pressed in it like a wayward puppy."
He shakes his head. From what Garyth said, the humans had finally turned against he halfilngs like the tribes knew they eventually would. In their paranoid fear, they would strike out in force against the tribes, pinning them between two fronts. The forces of the dark god would watch their enemies fall upon each other, then destroy the weakened remains of both forces. The halfling tribes stood little chance against the army they currently faced... another at their backs would mean certain death for everyone he cared for, and his entire way of life.
"The Chorrdath have long foreseen this day. It is no surprise that the humans would pick the worst of possible times turn us. We who provided the earliest human settlements with trade goods and knowledge, who kept the foolish humans from falling prey to swamp dragons and the other dangers of the island. A small amount of power can never be enough for the humans - they jealously horde it, and now seek to wipe out the only civilized race on this island."
He thought of his family. His mother and father, and his brothers and sisters. He thought of his young cousins, nieces and nephews playing melektet in the grove, chasing each other round and round in a chorus of giggles and hoots. His mind turned to the memories of his love, smiling at him under the wreath of wildflowers placed as a crown around her head, and remembered how he marveled at the way the sun danced in her eyes. He felt her breath on his face, and smelled the oil she used to keep her hair out of knots.
He felt the weight of her body against his chest as he screamed to Mielikki for taking her from him, screamed out the pain and sadness and hurt and suffering that forced him away from his home. The same suffering that has plagued him, haunting his dreams and driving him to wake each morning, eating at the edges of his mind.
He then imagined the panicked flight of the women and children through the forest, trying to flee an evil army of undead on one front and a paranoid army of humans on another, their warriors cut down before their eyes.
He fought the tears.
The army of the dark pressed on, and there was nothing he could do about it except return to the Kal'tenn of the Kalama and fulfill his promise to fight, and die, by his side. His pride compelled him to choose this course, but his heart denied him the release of easy death, of blood and glory and a final end to his suffering.
Mielikki had directed him here, to this cesspool of human corruption. Here was where he needed to change things. He needed to fight the humans, to stop their madness and make them see reason. To bestow wisdom on the rampaging H'ruggda.
It was as though he were being asked to hold back the oncoming ocean tide with his bare hands.
This was not his place! He was a warrior, not a diplomat! What could one halfling do against the ignorance of so many, the racial prejudices and paranoid fears of a race whose first instinct was only to destroy? Could they even be stopped, or shown the way of truth? Or were they too bound by their corruption?
Or was he meant for this role... was this what Mielikki had ordained for him, the words the mystics had spoken at his birth, that he was destined to be a uniter, one who brought the tribes together. Did this mean he was being asked to unite the humans and the halflings? Were these the thorns of the throne he saw in his vision at the mountain, the pain he would suffer out of duty?
He felt dull. Hollow. And, for the first time, truly scared. This was not his place, but it must become a new kind of battleground. This was a war to be fought not with axe, but with words... and that thought only increased his discomfort. He must show these humans the error in their ways, be an ambassador of sense in a city of madness, a light of hope in this blight on nature's landscape.
Finally, he addressed Garyth.
"I must speak to this human Mattias, and the unseen masters he serves. The tribes are the humans' only allies in this conflict, and open conflict would only hand victory to the dark god and his minions. I must stop them before it is too late and the entire island is lost to the darkness."
He tries valiantly to keep the quaver out of his voice, but fails. He carries the weight of his entire people on his shoulders, and prays with every ounce of his soul to his patron Mielikki that he will not stagger in this task.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
"Yes," Farron chimes in. "We should go there straightaway at daybreak."
He turns to Sa'id, "I have a small place in town, but it is late and I think we should take advantage of the offered hospitality here for the night."
(OOC - Farron will bed down with the others tonight. He (and Sa'id, I assume) will go to the college at dawn. He will recount there story to whichever person of authority there he most trusts. If he knows someone with power to see whether his Aunt and Uncle are safe or not (and I'd think he would being a Divination major and all) he will ask them to do so.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Nice work there.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
Yeah. I was totally taken by surprise. That doesn't happen often.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: The Party in Nesalin; The end of a chapter
When Sa'id first asked for an answer as to what happened between the arrow and his healing Cadfael gave him none. Rather, he surprised himself with thoughts of the ways he could hurt him, could crush what little spirituality was within him. To be close enough to death, close enough to believe that oblivion
was all that awaited when the gift of life was squandered. He was not, however, so far gone as to voice these thoughts and give them shape, and rather turned away in silence. Gently pushed Sa'id back to Farron and the comfort found in old friends.
And still he had risen with him in the morning. Had said the prayers and made an honest effort to reach out to Pelor, as honest an effort as he could and so more an effort than most. Perhaps Sa'id was his own child in this, and just as Promise had brought peace
to Mission so too was Sa'id bringing peace to Cadfael. It was the innocence of it all, and the clarity that comes with when innocence depends upon you blindly.
The walls of Nesalin came almost too soon and being back within the city was a tantalizing agony. So close to the church, so close to being the student once again, the sinner, to being himself without conditions. Promise's coos catch his attention and with a wistful smile he realizes that what he craves for, more than rest, rapture or revenge, was to be held.
It is strange to hear Garyth speak and see how naturally he fits the captain's uniform. He is leading them now, though he may not know it. "In the morning," he tells himself as he listens to Garyth's tale, "We can start again in the morning. But first I must see to myself."
He can put it off no longer and comes to his feet, a moment passing while he stands, not realizing he has caught the attention of the group and only dimly aware that he has stood.
"It has been a long night, Brothers. You must forgive me, all of you, if I do not spend this one here with you; I feel the need to be elsewhere and look forward to the morning in ways I have not felt for years." A sudden decision flashes across his face and he slings his shield from his back and pulls his mace free from his belt. With a tenderness that surprises him he presents them both to Garyth, "If you would, Garyth, I would have you hold these for a time. I cannot imagine needing them within the city walls; indeed, no small part of me hopes to never need them again. But I would... I would walk to Pelor's temple dressed as I was the when I first stepped through the doors. I need... it is time for a new beginning of sorts." With a smile that gives more thanks than words could dare to impart he turns and steps lightly away from the group, heading without pause to Pelor's temple.