The Sounds of War (Inactive)

Game Master Arcmagik

Grendolynn wanders over to Erostil's 'tribunal' and crossing her arms over her chest asks, "What work will he do? Who will pay him? What will his punishment be for the murders he's committed? Will you put your own life on the line for his when he chooses to run off in the night?"

Tad and Morley have run off, we still don't have a solid plan and now one of our own is working to save the enemy. I am working with a herd of cats.

Antha ponders Erostil's words and Happs' actions.

I thought we were supposed to be exploring and taming; I am not the right person to sit in judgement of another.

"Although the man does seem to be misguided, having taken a few wrong turns in his life while trying to do some good for his family, Grendolyn does have a point," Aresmes says. "The man is currently under your influence through magic. What will happen once your power wanes? Will he still see with clear eyes, or return to his old clouded view? Will he aid us, or will he try to bring about our downfall? Will he even be interested in redemption, or will he continue to find glory in slaughter and death?"

"What is this near tangible facination and need for certainty? It's cloying."

Grendolynn pulls out her charter reading aloud, "Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Blah blah blah, The carrier of this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry remains, as always, execution by sword or rope." Huffing angrily she rolls it back up and shoves it through her belt, "Just a few moments ago before you ensorcelled him this man was bragging about how he had no shame for what he'd done, and how he'd kill again if he needed to. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHY he did what he did. Just a few minutes before that this man was going to kill us and gang rape our companion. You were hired to come out here and kill people like him. If you can't handle that, tuck your lilly-livered tail between your legs and go work at shelter for stray homicidal maniacs. He has told us everything he knows, and we have the certainty of magic loosening his tongue to back it. So by the authority vested in me by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of the Dragonscale Throne, this farce is over." She walks up to Happs, drawing her sword and beheads him in one smooth motion. Turning to Erostil she screams in his face "If you want to defend murdering rapists, perhaps it's you who needs redemption!!" Huffing and shuddering, tears streaming down her blood spattered cheeks she stomps off going to look for Tad and Morley.

I know that was totally bad gamer etiquette, but that's what Grendolynn would do.

"That was uncalled for, and unfortunate." Valeska simply stares over to what just happened.

"Perhaps, but that doesn't mean her conclusion is incorrect," said Antha who was just as shaken by Gren's outburst as the rest. Pausing a minute to think about what she'd just said, she exclaimed, "Oh, gods, I sounded just like my old tutor!"

Teyran had been surprised as anyone to see Grendolynn behave as she had, and then he'd felt ashamed. The truth was that she'd been right, and he had failed to come to the same conclusion. He wondered how Kesten would feel, having entrusted them to secure the Stolen Lands, when they were making a fine mess of it as things were.

"To be honest, I can't see how what she did was anything but justified. There certainly wasn't a single thing she said that was not the case. And anyway, we now have nothing to keep us here, so I suggest we head off on this fool's errand."

He headed off as well, following Grendolynn, pausing only long enough to grab Happ's bow and a quiver of arrows. He didn't say anything, because he didn't know what he could possibly say, but he hoped that she would take his presence as a sign of support.

As the blood flies from the severed head, a drop falls into Erostil's open palm. He wraps his hand around it, feeling the warmth and at that moment knowing that he had once more failed.

He grimaces, and then stands.

That was... unecessary, although your reasoning is sound. Based on what we have been told, I had put down the man as a survivalist, ready to do what it took to live rather than die. The rest of his words were in my opinion bravado. We will never have the chance to find out now. If I might beg a moment and a shovel please, then I will see this man buried.

Turning particularly to Grendolynn, he speaks calmly, hand clenched.
I am no coward. My methods might be different, and my desire to keep those who are alive in that same state might be a little stronger than yours, but that does not mean that we are opposed. Also, keep in mind that I was not hired to execute people, but rather chronicle the story of you all, and offer what small amount of help I might be able to offer. That does not mean that I will follow orders to the letter if I believe that a slightly more lenient punishment might be deserved.

Looking more closely at the body. Your swordarm is strong, and your skill evident. Long may it last you.

Arasmes watches as the bandit's head rolls away from the body and sighs. "Although the method may have been somewhat harsh, to others if not to this man, the end result would be the same. Under the influence of your magic, the light of truth came through his words. Rather than hiding behind bravado, he remained truly unrepentant. What started him down the dark path may have been unfortunate, and I suspect, had someone like you had been there to guide him back into the light, it would never have come to this. Unfortunately, he did not have that opportunity, and thus became what he was here: an unrepentant, remorseless killer. As such, Sarenrae's justice would have demanded swift punishment. Something he received at the edge of Grendolynn's blade."

"Nonetheless, allow me to assist you in burying the man and pray that he receives guidance in his next life."

Erostil and Arasmes begins the slow process of burying the judged and slain Happs while Grendolynn discovers that Thadeusz and Morley got two horses from Oleg. Teyran and her will find them investigating the bandit tracks at the back of the derelict keep.

Oleg will approach Antha and Valeska at some point after speaking with Grendolynn. He glanced at Erostil and Arasmes digging a grave for Happs then motions pair of ladies away before dropping his voice low to speak with them.

Grendolynn cleans her face off and approaches the two men. "Hello boys. Took care of that murderous bastard. You find anything out here?" she asks, looking for any tracks that head in the direction Happs indicated the camp was in.

Survival to track 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"Aye, lets head back." Grendolynn says, making her way back to the courtyard of the keep.

I'd still like to know if that 22 survival I rolled above turned up anything when you have time DM.

Catching sight of Grendolynn returning to the keep, Antha says, "Nevermind, Valeska, they seem to be returning now."

Calling out to Grendolynn, "So what happened to the rest of the bandits? Should we assume they fled to the four corners of the world?"

"Nah, jest tha four corners a tha Forest."
As he gingerly guides his horse along a bit behind Grendolynn.

"Yeah, we're thinking there's little chance of catching them unprepared and that it might just be better to hole up here and try to fortify the place. No need to put you in harm's way." Grendolynn says to Antha.

Stayed pretty busy for Halloween.

"Well, I suppose between you all," she nods at Teyran, Tad, Gren, and Morley, "you know best about that kind of thing. Besides, I wouldn't mind some place more stable to study than the back of a wagon: I've been spending a lot of time lately trying to recreate a number of spells I practiced when I had access to my old Master's spellbooks but wasn't able to keep when he sent me back to my grandparents'."

When he was close enough, Teyran dismounted and began leading his horse back. He didn't seem comfortable on horseback, and in fact seemed releived to be off of it. "We felt it best to return. It seems as though those who escaped are either beyond our reach, or waiting in ambush. The best course of action might be to prepare ourselves here, and see how Kressle reacts to what we've done."

Fleeing isn't the word I would use Sir. There was a band of 5 or more bandits who wished us ill. A short scuffle occured, with this man instantly being knocked out from a spear to the chest. The other bandits fled. We healed this man, began interrogating him, and then one of our party decided that rather than continue questioning the man, who had alluded to other larger groups of bandits, she was going to behead this man and continue attempting to hunt down the bandits that had fled. We figured the least we could do for the poor b*stard was to bury him before he began to stink

Erostil will take a break from the digging for a while, manual labour was a new experience to him, one he had been able to avoid thanks to working in the inns and taverns, singing for his supper for so long.

Grendolynn sees Arasmes and Erostil digging a Happs a grave and walks over to them. "Got another shovel?" She asks them, bowing to Kesten "M'lord."

Kesten nods to Grendolynn, "The soldiers will dig the grave. I don't need people digging up my fort anymore then has been started. That man will be the blood that builds the foundation of this new border keep, however foul he was in life. I would prefer that no one goes digging any more graves inside my walls. I was just asking which of your companions passed judgment on him?"

Continuing after Grendolynn, Tad interjects "What does it matter? We all read the writ. Unrepentant banditry receives the rope or the sword. Further, you asked us to do your work for you."
Arms spread to indicate the surrounding walls, such as they were, "These are your walls through our actions."

Dropping to one knee and lowering her eyes, Grendolynn says, "I did it m'lord. I was overcome with rage after his attempt to rape our companion and his flippant manner as he discussed the murders he'd committed."

Standing her side, Teyran said, "I stand by her decision, sir. The man was an admitted, unrepentant murderer, and she was right to slay him."

Valeska watches and listens to the exchange from several paces. There is much she would learn.

Kesten raises a hand to stall Teyran and Thadeuzs a moment before turning his attention back to Grendolynn.

"Back on your feet. I will not punish you for passing judgment on the man, this time, as I would have passed the same punishment if he was as vile as you say. However I admit that I am vexed by the lost of a source of information on the bandits and my lines of question would have likely been different. Did you think of questioning him about what he knew of the attacks on Restov?"

He waits a moment for the hobgoblin to answer before he turns his attention to the pair of them. "Your willingness to stand by your companion is admirable.” He said to Teyran, and then turned his head slightly and locked onto Thadeuzs. ”Do not think I am ungrateful for your actions in putting the border keep back in Restov hands, and that has earned you some leeway but that does not put you above the law. Your writ extends to the wild and unclaimed places of the Stolen Lands when I claimed this place then it became my responsibility to steward. It also means I would like to know what happens here and the why it happens. That is why it matters to me, Orlovsky.”

Valeska, a short distance away seems visibly frustrated but working on keeping calm.. A look that, Kesten were he to see it would recognize as one she oft has at the end of a duel she's lost.

Shifting her weight, she reaches for the hilt of her blade, holding tightly.

Blushing Grendolynn remains on her knee "I did not m'lord. I apologize, I let my anger get the best of me." She slowly stands, not wanting to disobey a command, but keeps her eyes downcast.

Gazing steadily back into Kesten's own gaze, Tad grins lazily. "You might consider the possibility that your Informant," with that word, he rolls his gaze towards Erostil, "might match Grendolynn in lacking self-control, and would hope to avoid equal censure by tattling."
"Also, until we claimed this patch of dirt, for you, it was a wild, unclaimed place."
Don't start fights you won't enjoy winning, Swordlord."

Kesten glanced at Erostil then back to Thadeusz, "You are mistaken. The very informant of the act was the woman herself. I also had words with Erostil and Arasmes about digging graves here. It appears that only person that is behaving like a tattling child is, you." He points at Thadeusz. "Do not play politics with me, Orlovsky. You know full well that this border keep though allowed to go derelict was still under the purview of Brevoy. Duels have been started by lesser words, and if you challenge my authority then there will only be a single course of action that I can take as a Swordlord."

Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Teyran sighed, this man's inability to get on well with apparently anyone was getting tiresome. He decided that he was going to have to step in if a fight was to be avoided. "With respect to you both," He said, looking from Kesten to Tad, "We have bigger concerns than disputes over stewardship. For the moment I would suggest we focus on securing the walls, and keeping guards posted. I don't know that we will be attacked, but from what I've heard Kressle has her defensible position, I see no reason why we shouldn't do the same."

Seeing that she's apparently not going to be punished, Grendolynn will approach Erostil and whisper to him "May I have a brief word with you in private?"

Someone's playing peacemaker. I suppose it's just as well.

Turning fully to face Teyran, "True enough. An' those chambers, sech as they are 'r' filthy."
With that, Tad ambles amiably away to fetch brush & detritus from within the remaining structures.