Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Aftermath at the hill

Pensive sinks down by the fallen man's side, wrinkling his nose at the stench. "Well, wolf," he says, looking Tichenor in the eye. He trails off for a moment, then loops the stonesash over the man's chest, and under his arms.

"The difference between you and I, wolf," he says, as he begins dragging the body back to the dugout, "is not that I would have let this man go free. The difference is that if I killed him, it would be done for more than just the brutal necessities of war. Was it really even neccessary to rip this fellow's throat out? Hmm? Some would argue that it was, pending our ambush of the witch. But that smacks more of a killing of convenience, not a neccessary brutality. We killed this man to keep him from alerting her. But we men are cognizant and imaginitive creatures-- much of our thinking lives are spent coming up with alternatives to neccessary brutalities. That's how civilizations flourish and remain stable."

He pauses a moment to wipe the sweat from his face. "I hope you'll forgive my rambling. I was talking about the differences between us, wasn't I? Do you see that body up on that rise over there? I killed that man because he attacked me. I was ready to kill

the alchemist that had been holed up in his wagon. Those were neccessary brutalities, because in the end, we came here to stop the witch's attacks and both those men stood up in opposition to us. But killing this man, after he had been knocked unconscious was. . . graceless.

"It's graceless because. . ." and for a moment, Pensive flounders. Was it really that different? All this talk of coming up with alternatives to neccessary brutalities, and had he even tried to come up with alternatives to killing the alchemist? Or the soldier on the rise? No-- he hadn't even offered the men a chance to surrender. Weren't these men, not beasts? They had access to the same reasoning facilities that Pensive had-- shouldn't they have been allowed the opportunity to offer their allegiance to a better cause? What if these were not soldiers at all, but conscripts forced to fight for the Pathless?

Pensive continues dragging the dead, stinking body across the dust and patches of grass. But he is silent in thought, now. Conscripts or no, the army of the Sandtaken was a threat to Huss. He should not forget that, in all his grand. . . niceness. Pensive spits. He was no savage. What was the balancing line between necessary brutality and wanton mercy? The man the wolf had killed could have easily alerted the witch, and what were they to do with him if they took him prisoner? Was it really feasible to demand that a trial be held on each and every Pathless soldier to determine if they were worthy of death?

Pensive grunts as he hauls the dead body over a patch of rocky ground. "War," he pants, "sharpens boundaries through neccessity. I think I see that now. I cannot spend so much time bawling over the perhaps-circumstances of these men that I loose focus of the fact that they have in fact, aligned themselves with the Pathless. However, I hope you'll understand, wolf, and your master as well, that I do intend to show mercy where I can. I would have shown this man mercy, because. . . because I could not countenance killing him in cold blood. It is not in me to do so, no matter the reason. What is it in you that affords you this capability?"

A bloody, wolfish grin is all the answer that Pensive receives. Was that it then? No logical reason for his actions, no defineable method for determining when to show mercy, and when neccessity demanded brutality? Just, 'it is not in me?'

This was new territory for him-- and for the Path of Blood and Stone, he realizes. There was nothing in their history that dealt with warfare or armies. The body behind him snags on a rock buried in the ground-- Pensive takes a moment to free it. And then continues trudging on back to the dugout.

He deposits the body in front of Rennick. "Here is the body of the man your wolf killed," he says plainly.

Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Aftermath at the hill

Osred nods at Melani's words. "Hironeous smiles on you, little one. You made him proud with the boldness you showed in attacking the brute."

As Vincy lets forth another round of explosive coughs, Osred turns back to him. "Gods boy, you'll wake the dead with that cough, and we'll have to kill them all over again," he says, laughing. "Come here." He places his palm against the soldier's chest, closes his eyes, and says a quick prayer [sacrifice 1st level Shield of Faith for Cure Light Wounds]. As he feels the warmth fade from his hands he stands, his eyes seeking the captain. He starts to head toward him, but winces are his armor shifts, putting pressure on the shaft of the arrow that still protrudes from his back. Gritting his teeth, he resumes his path.

"Captain?" he says, approaching Garyth, "Let Hironeous lift some of the pain from your shoulders--we need you hale and whole if we're to bring down this witch." Placing his hands over the worst of Garyth's wounds, the divine energy seems to flow through him almost unbidden [sacrifice 3rd level Magic Circle Against Evil for Cure Serious Wounds], before he can even close his eyes. He shudders with joy as the pale flame of Hironeous' grace washes across his vision, rendering the scene before him pale and unreal. He holds his hands in place for a few moments after the healing has occurred, half smiling, his eyes focused elsewhere. With a shake of his head he comes back to himself and surveys the rest of the group.

"Kenneth, Munch, you both look worse for the wear. You fought valiantly today, and both of you deserve what healing the god will give you. Come here lads." He touches first one and then the other, giving them what healing he can spare [sacrifice 1st level Remove Fear and Divine Favor, both for Cure Light Wounds]. When the healing energy has flowed he begins to turn away, then winces again. "One of you do me a favor and pull this arrow, would you?"

[OOC: Osred has a couple of healing potions, but it reluctant to use them since they'll probably be needed after we finish with the witch. Likewise, he's reluctant to burn through any more of his spells for healing purposes. I'll see how the roles go, though, before I decide what else to do healing wise.]

IC: Once the arrow has been removed he ignores the wound completely, turning his attention on Melani as she lays out her plan for the ambush. He nods noncommitally and turns his attention to Garyth, obviously waiting to hear if their leader endorses the halfling's plan, or puts forth one of his own.

Subject: Re: The Battle for Overlook; Aftermath at the hill

Pensive frowns at the idea of wearing armor, but he holds his tongue. This halfling would not be the one to make an objection to, anyway. He moves away from Rennick and Melani, up the hill to the swordsman he'd killed, and drags the body down to the dugout to lay with the other dead bodies in the dust.

Then he approaches the priest. Osred, was it? "I have some healing kits, priest," he says softly. "Who among these men needs aid the most?"