Eli slowly rouses himself from sleep, old bones reminding him of his mortality. As he makes his way towards the food wagon, he takes note of the absence of belly grumble. Out of habit, he's found the others congregating for their sustenance.
He listens to Joth, Jurin and Cole debate the boy's fate. He looks back and forth, focusing his white eyes on each speaker, each with his own measured reason. He speaks up, to begin to propose his own.
"Why don't we simply kill the boy?"
Beagan blinks. And blinks again. Finally drawing his Lord's blade and stepping forward to place himself between the boy and Ely.
He speaks slowly and clearly, in a manner very much unlike anything he has spoken before.
"Over My."
"Dead."
"Body."
"It is not vanity that makes me agree with Jothinra, Sir." Sosiel adds. " But perhaps a small handful of the paladins might take the boy back, carefully. We would have to give them some of our limited rations, but the would be better served than going forward and weakening when we need to be strongest. They will be able to avoid some of our detours, so should make it home the faster. I fear you will need me at the end, Sir, and I would not be able to catch up in time."
"OK Sosiel. Jothinra..."
"Why don't we simply kill the boy?"
er. what?
"Over My."
"Dead."
"Body."
Cole stiffens, takes a deep breath, and speaks softly, "Beagan, surely Ely didn't mean it that way. He knows we're not monsters. Right Ely?"
He looks hard at Ely and waits for a response.
Eli looks at Beagan, and sees the lack of understanding behind the gnome's eyes. Turning back to Cole, and hearing his words, Eli nods, and continues nodding while he turns back to Beagan to explain.
"You are at war, Ser Beagan. You seek to defend a single boy, and that's a noble thing, but you would risk bringing death... no. Something much blacker than death, to thousands of boys just like him, if we weaken enough to lose our mission for his salvation." Eli's face reflects a sadness reflected in a new reality.
"I propose this- if the boy was put down, I could preserve his body in the moment of death. For several days, he would remain in a state amenable to his rising, when we return to Kenabres following our mission. We could then invite him to rejoin this world, rejoin us. Perhaps he would find his reasons for living again. Or perhaps not. Perhaps he longs for death, even now. You'll note he hasn't spoken since we brought him out of the well." Eli debates further words, but decides to understand how his current words settle in.
Serra keeps his fat trap closed, admiring Ely for his willingness to openly speak his mind and for Cole to allow open discussion. Of course they would never kill the boy, but in times of crisis is it good to have an understanding of one another.
Serra looks at his be-tasseled shirt, spinning each to make sure that they are dangling appropriately and puffy.
"I understand the trade-off of one versus many, of weighing the sacrifice of an individual to save more. I've been forced to make that trade before. We're not there yet. At least I'm not." All of this for a bloody banner? Big R' Almighty do I hate politics.
His eyes narrow at Eli's proposal. "As easy as that? Invite him to rejoin? Sounds rather unnatural to me. I'd rather send him back breathing than rely on such an invitation."
He turns to Cole. "I could take the boy back. Boris, Xanthos and I. We're quick. We're smaller and harder to see. We're expendable." He nods at Eli. "I understand the math."
He puffs himself up just a bit. "And I'm tough enough, tough enough to fend off enemies, or at least tough enough to make sure the boy would be out of his misery if we were ambushed and beyond all hope. And if I don't make it back..." He shrugs. "I'm just a Gnome. The smallest of your knights. Maybe that's a better option than sending any of the bigger folk."
"Ely we're not there yet. Reagan, you're needed here. Jothinra, select a handful of knights as you say to escort the boy back and return with supplies. We might not meet them until the way back, but I suspect we'll be glad for them when we do."
Cole looks to say something else, and decides against it. Satisfied the matter is closed, he breaks up the meeting and moves through the camp on his normal rounds.
- - -
After a while he looks in on Aron. "Aron, I would like you to assist Sir Beagan in his scouting. He's going just a little ways ahead of the main force helping us to avoid more bogs as much as anything. I'd like someone with him."
He looks at Aron and wonders if this is the best use of his talents as he awaits a reply.
Aron startles as Cole sticks his head into the tent, but nods quickly. "Yes, Sir. I was just thinking I should come find you and suggest the same."
"As easy as that? Invite him to rejoin? Sounds rather unnatural to me. I'd rather send him back breathing than rely on such an invitation."
Eli frowns, as Beagan raises a reasonable stance. "I didn't say this was easy, Beagan. If the trade has been made in the past, then you know how unreasonable the choice is to be made when the trade is demanded."
"You understand less than you think if you consider yourself but one of Iomedae's pieces on the board, Beagan. Losing a pawn against losing a Knight? Well, if it's in defense of the Queen, sure, but it's a reckless strategy most times."
When Cole speaks, Eli looks relieved that the commander considers the circumstances not as dire as needing to kill an innocent boy for logistics sake.
Aron startles as Cole sticks his head into the tent, but nods quickly. "Yes, Sir. I was just thinking I should come find you and suggest the same."
"Good. Then report to Sir Beagan and let him know I've assigned you to help him scout. Let me know how it goes."
Cole continues his rounds and sleeps little, and restlessly. His eyes are rimmed with red in the morning, but he does his best to keep upright and mobile.
"Why don't we simply kill the boy?"
Joth's eyes go wide.
Because we aren't monsters. Because we are the hope...
"Not an option," the captain says flatly.
""Ely we're not there yet. Reagan, you're needed here. Jothinra, select a handful of knights as you say to escort the boy back and return with supplies. We might not meet them until the way back, but I suspect we'll be glad for them when we do."
"Right away sir."
"You understand less than you think if you consider yourself but one of Iomedae's pieces on the board, Beagan. Losing a pawn against losing a Knight? Well, if it's in defense of the Queen, sure, but it's a reckless strategy most times."
"Whether knight, queen, or pawn, when the game is over they all return to the same box. It's placement on the board and how they are used during the game that matters, but ultimately no piece is more or less powerful than another. Keep care to remember that. Sir."
"You understand less than you think if you consider yourself but one of Iomedae's pieces on the board, Beagan. Losing a pawn against losing a Knight? Well, if it's in defense of the Queen, sure, but it's a reckless strategy most times."
The Gnome sighs. Wouldn't be the first time I've been called reckless. But whatever I contribute, it's already more than should have happened, right? I shouldn't be here, Cathyra should! A look of understanding crosses his face. Yes, that's right, I need to take up her mantle. I shouldn't be here, be she should, so whatever she was needed for, I need to... He swallows, choking down the realization very, very hard. How can I hope to do that? I'm just a Gnome! I'm only Elf-by-association!
"It's placement on the board and how they are used during the game that matters, but ultimately no piece is more or less powerful than another. Keep care to remember that. Sir."
He ponders a bit before responding. "Are Paladins always like this? Half the time you strike me as the wisest, most commanding sort, a stout leader of righteousness into battle. And the other half, well..."
"Placement on the board is key, and something I don't claim to be good at. But Tenderlev was a powerful piece. More powerful than just about any other." He nods and waves. "Look, I know no piece, no soul, is more important than another. And the least powerful still can play an important role - a pawn can threaten a King and end it all." But he shakes his head, his eyes widening in wonder "But I've seen the power of Queens. Up close and personal. Tenderlev. Mendev. The Unquenchable Fire. The Queen of Hell. The Herald. It would seems sometimes the power of particular pieces makes more of a difference than others."
"Whether knight, queen, or pawn, when the game is over they all return to the same box. It's placement on the board and how they are used during the game that matters, but ultimately no piece is more or less powerful than another. Keep care to remember that. Sir."
"No piece... more or less powerful...? You can't be serious, Captain. Well, I know you're serious, but you would rightfully decline a wagered game where I play with only backrow pieces to your frontrow pieces only. Terendelev herself would agree with me." It's plain that Eli doesn't care for Joth's lecturing.
"Captain, if I may inquire? What are acceptable losses to you? As long as only one of us makes it back with the Banner, we've succeeded? Is failure truly an option here?" Eli looks seriously at Joth.
Jurin listens to the discussion intently.
"As long as we're sending people back, do we need all these followers? They're almost as soft as the paladins, the enemy can probably smell them coming."
"Placement on the board is key, and something I don't claim to be good at. But Tenderlev was a powerful piece. More powerful than just about any other." He nods and waves. "Look, I know no piece, no soul, is more important than another. And the least powerful still can play an important role - a pawn can threaten a King and end it all." But he shakes his head, his eyes widening in wonder "But I've seen the power of Queens. Up close and personal. Tenderlev. Mendev. The Unquenchable Fire. The Queen of Hell. The Herald. It would seems sometimes the power of particular pieces makes more of a difference than others."
"Cannot a pawn take a Queen or a King? Cannot a pawn become a different piece? It is all a matter of placement. Power on the board is determined by placement. Terendelev knew that. The Enemy does not."
"Captain, if I may inquire? What are acceptable losses to you? As long as only one of us makes it back with the Banner, we've succeeded? Is failure truly an option here?"
"Sir, I don't have the luxury of looking at the world like you do. I have my orders and my ethos. My orders are to accompany you to get the banner - my ethos says that I WILL NOT casually murder an unarmed boy for the sake of ease of the mission. My soul is not an acceptable loss. That is the talk of the ENEMY, not the righteous."
"Sir, I don't have the luxury of looking at the world like you do. I have my orders and my ethos. My orders are to accompany you to get the banner - my ethos says that I WILL NOT casually murder an unarmed boy for the sake of ease of the mission. My soul is not an acceptable loss. That is the talk of the ENEMY, not the righteous."
Eli's eyes narrow as he considers his next words carefully.
"You slander me, Captain, if you think I would casually consider ending the boy's life. Temporally, mind you. That we even talk about the boy's death reminds us of the importance of the mission. Not its ease. Its success. If the boy dies, so that several of your paladins may live to fight, and better our chances of success, then the thought must at least occur. Acting on it, a very different matter, no? Cole has already weighed our circumstance, and found the situation not so dire as to act upon the option, but do not think for a moment that you are free from such considerations."
"A demon swooping from the sky, snatching one of your men, he is lost, correct? You do not send off three more, themselves lost to the retrieval, am I right? You already have your calculations, even if you will not share them with us. If you will not engage in the talk of the enemy, then you do not truly understand the enemy."
Eli looks at Serra, and considers him in a new light, for the mimicking actions he demonstrated to overcome the evil in the surrounds of Neatholm. Must we become demons to overcome demons?
"My soul is not an acceptable loss."
"Hmmm. I guess that's how we differ."
"I slander you? Why don't we simply kill the boy? Simply? Your words. Not mine."
Serra listens, still lost over many of the recent events and revelations. He does not say much, but only accounts for the viewpoints of the speakers.
Yes, Captain, I proposed a singular, simple action. My words. What is said cannot be unsaid.
Eli listens, and closes his eyes for a moment. "I appear to be wasting our time on this matter. For that, I apologize, and ask that we continue on. It sounds like delaying anything further is only one more coffin nail set in place." He opens his eyes, and nods to Joth as he takes his leave.
Returning to Marcus and Saul, Eli mounts up, and talks quietly to his horse, getting out a little seethe here and there.
"Hmmm. I guess that's how we differ."
The captain turns to Sir Beagan and again says flatly, "That may be the beginning of where we differ and it most certainly isn't the end of it either. You talk an awful lot like someone willing to bargain their soul for victory. Ask Kandro Nyserian how well that turns out."
He lets the words hang for a moment before turning to leave.
"No, I would give up my own soul to protect others." And probably already have.
"And you sound like one who would put the safety of your own soul above that of others. There are a hell of alot more precious things in this world than my own soul. If I get mine dirty to prevent harm to the vulnerable, I will." And I have.
He turns and departs himself, muttering about banners, trying to get some sort of rest before he needs to depart with Aron.
The captain exits the tent and calls for a runner to fetch Alethcar, Valance, Architeuthis, and Ansvar.
"I need you to take a wounded boy back to Kenabres. He's still grievously wounded so keep an eye on him. Make a litter for him and ride; not hard but certainly not easy. Take a couple of extra horses with you, because I need you to bring supplies back. I am entrusting this mission to you because I know your horse-skill. I want you strapped and ready to ride by daybreak. Clear?"
If there are no other pressing matters or questions, Joth will wander the camp once, scanning the perimeter and checking in on the various watch.
"No, I would give up my own soul to protect others. And you sound like one who would put the safety of your own soul above that of others. There are a hell of alot more precious things in this world than my own soul. If I get mine dirty to prevent harm to the vulnerable, I will."
The words and thoughts haunt the youth for the remainder of the evening.
With the boy and four of the paladins sent back to Kenabres, the group can prepare to move out once more. The threatened storm from the night before does not materialize, this time.
Aron joins Beagan as scout, moving quickly and quietly ahead of the slower, noisier troop.
With the reduction in numbers, the party is able to make better time than before. Travel is along the West Sellen, almost directly north now; sound and scents that slough across from the 'Wound are ominous at best. In the late afternoon, Late in the afternoon, a flock of tainted birds tears itself to pieces, fighting over some bit of offal they've picked up somewhere. The one that survives flies north.
river.
"I think I saw someone. We're a few hours from the Ford, perhaps it is a crusader? Should we approach, or head back?"
Cole spends his day riding along in his ‘command’ location in the caravan. He occasionally moves about the group, checking in on various folks as they travel.
"Vilareth Ford is another day away. We'll cross there." he says to his niece. "Notify the leaders we cross into the ‘wound before camp tomorrow night if all goes well. The following morning if we’re further delayed.”
"It would be good if something could go well." Laina says, eyeing the land to the west of them. Shaking herself, she nods. "I'll let them know."
Laina approaches Jurin like one might an old crabby hound with a tendency to snap. "Quartermaster, Commander Cole sends word. We're to cross into the Wound before tomorrow night if all goes well. If not, it may be the following morning."
Know (Local)
Know (History)
"Yes, Cole. The Ford," Serra agrees knightily. "They say it was named for the crusader general who first held the ford against a host of tiefling cultists eager to use it as an invasion point, Vilareth Ford has long been watched over by a small contingent of crusaders."
Serra looks about for his mentioned crusaders.
"Somehow I doubt we will see much here."
"Just one? We're here to scout, so let's scout."
He will say a few soft prayers.
He nudges Xanthos ahead, approaching cautiously. "Do we need to sneak up? Can we?"
Jurin peers at the girl.
"Into the Wound at night? Brave. Stupid. Same thing. Potatoes then, demon's hate the stink."
He nods, dismissing the girl as he prepares for potato stew.
"You helpin' or runnin'?"
Jurin peers at the girl.
"Into the Wound at night? Brave. Stupid. Same thing. Potatoes then, demon's hate the stink."
"We'll have to do it at some point, anyway." Laina offers, with more confidence than she feels.
He nods, dismissing the girl as he prepares for potato stew."You helpin' or runnin'?"
She looks at the piles of potatoes then back out into the camp.
"I've got to tell the others."
With that she heads back out. Stopping first to tell Serra. She saves Eli for last and approaches him reluctantly.
Unfortunately, Beagan can't see whatever it is that has caught Aron's attention.
The Gnome's eyes glow with a little firey fervor as he replies softly.
"アロンは、私たちは見やすい静かじゃないが、我々は、おそらくあなたのように卑劣じゃない。"
Abyssal:"Aron, we're quiet and not easy to see, but we're probably not as sneaky as you."
The Bonalagus grumbles a little and speaks in common. "Aron, go sneak. If there's danger, come back, or call and we'll come."
The Gnome taps his haversack and makes sure a couple of specific scrolls are accessible.
Eli turns from his conversation with Marcus and Saul as Marcus flicks a look over Eli's shoulder. He looks upon Laina as she approaches.
"Ah, young woman. The one who travels with Cole. When will you turn back? You've traveled far enough, don't you think? You should have returned with the boy. You would be safe by now. Traveling with us will prove dangerous, now that you say we're on the verge of passing into the Wound."
Eli turns back to his companions, and tries to remember where he left off.
Laina bristles in umbrage at Eli's words, but it is him turning his back to her that really has her fuming. She steps between him and his companions and states her message, "*Commander Cole* sends word, 'Valareth Ford is another day away. We cross into the ‘wound before camp tomorrow night if all goes well. The following morning if we’re further delayed.' SIR". With that she turns on her heel and stalks off, mumbling to herself.
Eli raises his eyebrows, detecting a bit of hostility from Laina. Before he has a chance to respond, she's a bit farther than he'd feel comfortable, asking after her. Instead, he turns back to his friends a second time.
"She is determined to stay, then. As are you two. I suppose I should avoiding asking you two the same thing, eh?"
"Somehow, I doubt he's out here by himself."
"You're quiet. You first. We'll follow a little bit behind, and try and keep in sight of you. If he runs or sees you, signal or shout and we will charge."
"Yeah, I won't be nearly as polite as she was, *SIR*!" Saul answers, then laughs loudly. Marcus, his eyes twinkling, just nods.
Serra looks forward to seeing the Ford. Serra continues whatever he was doing.
They will hang back, but try and remain alert for any sign of conflict from the direction Aron left pursuing the enemy.
Cole rides along, happy with each passing mile that something else hasn't gone wrong. He tries to think ahead and anticipate problems, but he can think of dozens of ways to slow the advancing column, and few counters that would do any good - without slowing them even further.
Can't protect against everything. We'll just have to be sharp.
He frowns at the likelyhood of things improving.
His horse plods along.
The trek continues uneventfully for the rest of the party. There is still no sign of the scouts when the day's light begins to fade and approach a low, flat hill, that will make for a perfect campsite.
Serra looks at Cole, waiting to hear what the thinks or if he desires opinions.
"Camp, Sir. We should roll into the Ford tomorrow fresh."
Cole stands in the saddle and looks around for any sign of the scouts.
Seeing nothing he sits back down and looks at Serra frowning. He stares a long while, thinking.
"We'll camp here and hope there's not something wrong with this campsite. There must be a reason they're not here. Serra, care to join me? Eli! Come on we're going!"
"Laina, notify everyone else we're making camp on that hill. I'll be back in a little while."
He looks for Jothinra as he rides through the column, "We're looking for our scouts. Double the watch until we return, there may be a reason they're not here. Well, a bad reason."
Cole then spurs his horse and rides ahead of the troop. Once far enough from their trampling ways, he dismounts and checks for tracks. He digs deep into his mythic power to find a trace of their passage.
(tracking, mythic)
Serra kicks Dinner in the ribs, 'spurring' the horse to action.
"Right away, Cole!"
"We're looking for our scouts. Double the watch until we return, there may be a reason they're not here. Well, a bad reason."
"Sir," Joth says as an affirmative.
"We'll camp here and hope there's not something wrong with this campsite. There must be a reason they're not here. Serra, care to join me? Eli! Come on we're going!"
Eli nods to Saul and Marcus, then spurs his horse to join Cole's, hoping it will keep a regular distance with the other.
"Scouting for our scouts, eh? Isn't this how we lose more men? When we fail to come back, then they send out more...?" Eli snorts to himself, but doesn't balk at the speed the horses gain.
A couple of hours after night falls, Cole picks up the faint sounds ominous sounds of something moving in their direction. Beagan's beret bounces atop his head as he rides Xanthos across the darkened hills. As they get closer, Aron also comes into view, though he blends with the darkness better than the gnome.
Yeah, you guys aren't stealthy... why even try?
Cole straightens up in his saddle and watches the two approach.
When they're close enough to avoid shouting, he speaks, "Find anything?"
A tired but alert Gnome trots up on his mount and snaps a quick salute. "Sir! Yes, Sir!" He nods and gathers his thoughts enough to speak firmly and slowly, at least for Beagan. "Aron here spotted and tracked what we think was a cultist." He shrugs. "Pretty sure it was a tiefling at any rate, traveling in this area. Aron followed the guy north until the sun went down. At that point, we didn't want to play into the tiefling's sight advantage, and we wanted to report in, so we didn't pursue him into the night."
"I don't believe he spotted us, as Aron blends in well and I tried to stay well behind as backup. Also, there was no immediate indication of other cultists in the area, but I don't have a good idea of what he was up to." Single scout? Part of a larger party? On a mission to somewhere specific?
He turns to Aron in case the scout with the keen eyes has anything to add or clarify.
Serra looks over the area, listening to Sir Beagan's report.
This is gnome is a good and thorough knight. We are lucky to have him.
He nods at Beagan and his formidable steed.
"Not sure what else we can do, Cole. Make camp and check it out when the sun is up."
Edit: Serra, before turning in for the night, will memorize Daylight.