"We may still be able to negotiate an exchange, however, you are correct. After all the bloodshed, it will not be easy."
"I was not using the word with much seriousness, Finnabar. The point was he is now gone, so whether we hoped he could be asset or 'ally,' that is now for the moment, moot."
Jack looked to Xarafine. "I want to believe in your plan for negotiation. But I am growing increasingly doubtful. We need to be able to watch our backs if anything goes wrong, for if things fail, both sides may take it out on us as well as each other."
"Anyway, I agree, let's go back, I don't think there is much we can do now."
Jack pondered that what he really wanted to do was get far from this area and leave the cave-livers and kalds to sort out their mess, while they hunted down what he felt in his heart was the real problem: the human bandits. But he knew Finn's and Xarafine's concerns about making the whole realm safe were valid. He just wished very heartily they could focus on one thing at a time. There were only four of them, after all.
You make your way back to the camp without further incident and the rest of the night passes uneventfully. The next day, the 20th day of Pharast, is hot and accompanied by a warm southern wind, passes without incident, or sign of either Kalds or Birdlings.
Xarafine sighs with frustration, her posture visibly tense.
"Neither tribe cares about anything but spilling blood, it seems. Perhaps, I was naive to think a peace could be treated."
Seeing the Teacher's disappointment, Jack shoved aside his own thoughts of frustration and impatience.
"If you are naive, Xarafine, we would live in a better world if only more people suffered from naivete." He gave the priestess a soft smile. "War is easy. Peace is a very hard thing to achieve. I think you were right to try. Let's hope at least a seed of reason has been planted in the kald. We still have our 'cave-liver' captive, thanks to Bein, and maybe if we have a way to convince her that returning this 'stone man' to the kalds would prevent bloodshed on all sides, we have hope."
He sighed. "We just must also be prepared for failure--and that in the worst case, the fury of both tribes could fall on us. But because I am cynical does not mean it is worth trying for something better."
Bein nods in agreement with Jacks words of encouragement to the Teacher but shakes his head grimly. "So far it continues to resist decent treatment, it also doesn't appear to speak Illisnari... You would have better luck with it then I, Teacher." Bein cleans his sword, noting the hateful expression the savage birdling continues to cast at him when it doesn't think he's looking. "After all, you didn't kill its children..."
Satisfied with the new edge he sheathes the longblade and adjusts his armor. "Jack's words ring far truer then you could imagine teacher. Fighting men are common, those who seek peace are rarer then the purest gem and are far more useful. Your ideals not only humble a man such as myself but also embolden me to hold myself to a higher standard. Besides without high ideals, savages remain savage." He gave the birdling another look before turning back to his equipment.
He remembered something his father had told him, in his own loving way. Remember this son, Hope is the first step on the road of disappointment. He drew his greatsword, keeping his hands busy lest he thought of how he would face his family again someday and take his younger sister away from them...
"So shall we ride back to the birdlings caves and see if an exchange for this stone-man is possible for the life of their... Trainer. Or shall we release this one and move on?" Many more inappropriate names had came to his mind but what did one call a wrangler of creatures? It was obvious that those centipedes were under this ones command and that mad them valuable.
Xarafine approaches the birdling, and sits on her knees before it.
She speaks in Canari , then touches the creature
Once the spell takes effect, she addresses the creature.
"I would like to hear about your people's fight with Kalds. How did this conflict begin, and why have your people taken their Holy Man prisoner?"
As yoy wait through the day, the birdling shows considerable discomfort in the bright light. As the sun sets, the temperature drops and Xerafine moves over and casts her spell, the Bridling seems to recover somewhat and listens intently as Xerafine asks her question...
"The feather-lizards live here long time." it replies, "We true-people want to live here. We fight for a place. It good to kill the feather-lizards. It good to steal their holy-carved man. That make them mad - Hah! We kill them one-by-one. We catch some and give to the big-spirit. We kill more. We catch more and give to the big-spirit. They are not worthy of life but big spirit likes their pain, likes their hate. We give the big-spirit what it likes we true-people live well. Now you kill my babies big-spirit not like you! Big-spirit will help us kill you too!"
As its speech comes to a climax it jerks forward against its bonds, trying to reach Xerafine with its sharp beak.
Jack reflexively reaches to pull Xarafine away from their captive.
Xarafine flinches back from the creature's lunge, putting her arm up defensively.
Taking a moment to regain her composure, she addresses the creature again.
"Why fight? Why kill? Can your people not live in peace with the Kalds? Why not trade with them, and share knowledge with them, so that both your people benefit?
As the birdling grew louder Bein turned his attention to it and upon seeing Jack reach for Xarafine he moved for the creature. He stopped short as Xarafine spoke again, which he didn't understand a word of it, and he was forced to read body language again. This time however he remained close enough to get between the creature and Xarafine if needed.
Despite trying to treat the creature fairly as a prisoner deserved, this respect would end if it overstepped itself and injured one of his comrades...
The birdling tilts its head quizzically as Xerfaine speaks as if pondering the meaning of her words. "Feather-lizards have nothing that true-people want. Nothing except land which does can not belong to not-true-people. Only thing Feather-lizards can give is to make the big-spirit happy with their pain. You big not-true-people will make big-spirit happy too! You'll see."
With that the birdling cackles, and sinks back to its haunches, looking up every now and laughing to itself.
"There is no peace to savages like these Teacher." Bein looks to the birdling and shakes his head. "Tell me your name birdling, tell me as well that if it dislikes us so, then where was this big-spirit when your children were being slain by my blade?"
Seeing as that got it's attention he pressed on, slowly circling the birdling as he spoke. "Quite a useless god if it doesn't aid you when you need it most. Big-Spirit? What name is that, does it rule the earth or sky, Forest or Marsh? Is it a god of war, famine or hearth? I've not heard of it and so yet again we find another people ignorant of the true gods and worshiping a figment of their own foolishness." He stands before it just outside the reach of its chains but close enough where if it lunges they will be face to face. "The only thing I see is a prisoner, godless and abandoned by its true people and is too afraid to ever try and make peace with their equals the feather lizards. You no truer then they are..."
"Bein," Jack whispered, reaching out to the cavalier. "Last night you stayed my hand to give this creature and our comrades' plans a chance. Be careful you don't dash your own efforts. Let's at least try to get some more information."
"Is that your people's only purpose, to bring suffering and death to those who are not of your tribe? Do the feather-lizards torture your people, do they sacrifice your people to their god? I want to understand the nature of your war with them."
He looks to Jack, before shaking his head and moving aside so that Xarafine can do her work unobstructed. "As I said, she is far better then I at this. This birdling's blind devotion to a being that did nothing to aid them is foolhardy. I fell yesterday Jack, broken and defeated and yet she brought me back. That creature had me dead to rights, yet here I stand to repay a deep debt to her and the rest of you. So I believe in her gods, I may not worship them, but they aided me and that is something I know exists." He waves an arm to the bridling in a controlled and reasonable manner. "Yet this one sends forth its beloved brood and its Big-Spirit did Nothing. Even now she gives it the ability to understand us, to speak to us! Yet it remains naively ignorant of what she could offer it and its tribesmen. I hope, no better yet, I pray they do not push for continued violence because they will perish... The least it can do is prove how this big spirit exists... Why it exists, other then to seek pain and suffering." Through out all of this he kept his voice low, having opened his visor to convey his words to Jack.
Jack continued to speak to Bein quietly, trying not to overshadow Xarafine's interrogation.
"There is not a sentient being who has asked their god for help, only to find their god say, 'no,' at some point or another. If the gods did all we asked of them, there would be some good men alive today who are not." Jack's eyes grew distant and glassy a moment, and he tried to physically shake off the sadness that threatened to overcome him.
"I do not know if this creature's Spirit is a figment or a real entity, but that it did not come down in a blaze of fire to save this creature is proof of nothing. Perhaps if it is real, it offers different gifts--like the ability to communicate with and tame giant centipedes, perhaps." Jack shrugged. "The bigger issue is that these creatures revel in depraved conquest, in the name of this Big Spirit and in their own. And their faith drives their fury, just as yours is driving your own rage, at this very moment. And that is a dangerous thing."
"It's hard to think that's where we used to be..."
Not wanting to spoil his cousin's interrogation of the cave dweller, Finnabar shook his head at the violence of the small creature. These were just pests and would prey on anything not able to resist them. To secure this area, we will have to remove that threat one way or another.
Approaching the teacher, he switched to the old tongue to avoid being understood.
To Bein:
Jack grew thoughtful. "In fact, I wonder if there would be a way to smoke them out. Force them to evacuate, then plug up the cave somehow..."
The birdling doesn't seem inclined to answer but, after a little more prompting is a little more forthcoming. "True-people's purpose? It not matter if not-true-people hurt. That is good for the big-spirit" It tilts its head as if trying to think philosophically does not come naturally. "True-people only ones that matter because true-people are true people. Not-true-people are not true people - Only true people deserving of land, of food, of living. Big-spirit doesn't care for not true people - only true people matter. We fight feather-lizards because they not-true-people - it doesn't matter what not true people do, only that they use things big-spirit means for true-people to have. You can't understand - you not true-person, only animal like feathered-lizards, like that four-legs, (here it indicates a horse) like teppecs, like birds - you can't understand."
"How much land do your true-people claim? How far from your tunnels do you hunt?"
"I told you that you not understand! Stupid big-not-person! All land belongs to true people."
She turns and looks over her shoulder and speaks to Finnabar in Canari.
She turns and looks over her shoulder and speaks to Finnabar in Canari.
** spoiler omitted **
Finnabar considers the suggestion for a long time. Then he replies, weighting his words, his answer more formal that you are used to.
Noting the change in tone, Xarafine responds in an equally formal tone.
She turns back to the birdling.
"Do all of your people believe as you do? Do they see all others as weak, as prey, and as food for your Big Spirit?'
Bein was getting nervous now, the creature showed no remorse for the things its kind did. He was sure Mikmek's people were the same way and he was trying to think of a way to shake this creatures resolve....
The birdling sits sullenly, looking up as if its getting sick of your questions. "All true people know this. Only not-true people not know. True-person who not know is not a true-person. Why you asking questions - not-true-people can't know anything!"
Jack spoke up, leaning toward Xarafine. He did not know what transpired between Xarafine and Finnabar, but the tone had grown decidedly more grim, and he guessed the conversation would not last much longer. "She would likely say such whether it was true or not. I doubt she is a useful source of information on anything but her religious beliefs. As such, please ask her more about her big spirit. I want to know whether this is a god, or spirit, or even perhaps a creature they serve. After all, the kalds worship a statue, whatever they worship may not be a god as we imagine it."
Xarafine pauses, listening to Jack's request. She considers a moment how to phrase the question.
"How do the true-people feed the Big Spirit? What does it eat, not-true people's spirits? Their pain? Or does it eat their meat? Where does the Big Spirit make its home?"
The birdling shifts its expression into something like a... grin?
"Big-spirit likes not-true people's pain. Takes blood. Takes not-true people's life-force. Can't take not-true-people's souls - Hah! - Not-true-people have no souls to take. Stupid, ugly, big, hairy, soulless not-people. It will take all these things from you too!"
Jack moves closer, paraphrasing Xarafine's last question that had gone unanswered. "And where does it takes their blood?"
"Ritual torture and blood sacrifice," Xarafine says through a clenched jaw.
Taking a deep breath, she rises from her knees and faces the rest of the group.
She switches to Canari, speaking to Finnabar:
"Yes but where?" Jack's thoughts had gone to wondering if any "not people" were held captive by the cave-livers -- and if their sacrifices were to something extant, then it was the source of the evil, as far as he was concerned.
She turns back to the creature.
"Does the Big Spirit live in the caves with you, literally eating the spirits and drinking the blood of those you call non-people, or does it live deep in the earth, or in the sky, or another plane of existence, and only accepts your offerings symbolically?"
She makes no effort to hide the anger and disgust bubbling beneath her demeanor.
The birdling thinks for a moment, not seeming to understand your question. Finally it responds: "Big-spirit is everywhere. Of course Big-spirit eats spirits and accepts blood-gifts. I told you that!
Finnabar breathes deeply and raises his head. Moving his injured leg to support him as best as he can, he stands strait and faces the small creature, insuring that his axe is ready to be drawn.
"Let it be known that the Governor of Restov and through him, the Dragonscale Throne has seen fit to grant me a Charter to explore the lands known as the Greenbelt in which your tribe has settled. Under this charter, I am bound to fight against banditry or any unlawful behaviour. The acts of ritual torture and blood sacrifice you have freely confessed under no duress clearly fell into that category. Furthermore, you have clearly demonstrated your absence of repentance for those acts. For those acts, the Charter clearly states that the sentence is death by rope or sword."
"As sworn to follow this Charter, I have witnessed, heard and judged. Do you have any last words?"
Bein stood shocked for a moment when Finn's judgement rolled forth in a language he could understand. He wanted to shake his head in disbelief, but stood stock still as he thought furiously to think of a way to diffuse this. Yes the savages wretched way of existence was barbaric and low in all senses of the word but it wasn't a means to punish the unenlightened.
He stepped forward, not further then Finn or he risk besmirching his lords honor, but enough to gain the birdlings attention.
"Forgive me Milord but I would know its name before you complete your judgement." He pulled off his helmet and look the birdling in its strange eyes as he spoke. "I am Bein and what do your people call you birdling? If we are unable to have peace at least give me your name." He paused for a moment before adding, more respectfully then before. "Your war beasts fought and died well, it's a pity I won't be able to understand how you trained them..."
The birdling sits and listens as Finn announces the verdict, seeming not to understand what he's saying, instead it simply stares at each of you as the words are read out. "what are you talking of big-not-person? Who is Restov and why would he kill a true-person?
As Bein asks his question, the bridling seems to begin to understand what you plan. It doesn't answer but begins screaming out incoherently, sobbing and wailing, begging.
Jack disliked simply killing the creature right then and there, and did not understand why they had gone through all this trouble when in the heat of battle the creature could have been killed quickly and painlessly, without torment. Certainly, the things it spoke of were evil, and certainly, they were hitting a point where it was no value to them as a prisoner, but something sat wrongly with him.
And yet even as the creature began to beg, he felt only the coldness he felt toward the creature speak through him.
"You beg animals for mercy? We are not people, how can we be capable of that?"
Maybe it would see. Perhaps too late, but maybe.
Xarafine was ready for the rush of begging and cries for mercy from the creature, as this would be the obvious tactic of one wishing to forestall punishment, and yet...
Her cries were so plaintive, so pitiful. They seemed so genuine. This creature was truly sorry for her actions, she was sure of it.
She turns to Finnabar, speaking in Canari:
"Are we being too hasty, Captain? Maybe my initial assessment was wrong. What are the protocols for treatment of a repentant criminal?"
Xarafine was ready for the rush of begging and cries for mercy from the creature, as this would be the obvious tactic of one wishing to forestall punishment, and yet...
Her cries were so plaintive, so pitiful. They seemed so genuine. This creature was truly sorry for her actions, she was sure of it.
She turns to Finnabar, speaking in Canari:
** spoiler omitted **
Irritated by this show of weakness or maybe to cast away his own doubts, Finnabar stops his hand half-way to his axe and replies tersely to the Teacher.
Tears fill Xarafine's eyes as she responds to Finnabar:
"I saw what she and her tribesman did. I heard her boast of sacrificing other sentient beings to her god. In my mind, I know she is a despicably evil thing that needs to be destroyed. But when she wails, and cries, and begs for mercy...and I see the terror in her eyes....I...I..."
She trails off with a stifled sob.