Rehil shrugs. "Maybe we all should talk about what we're doing together. I'm not sure we're on the same track any more. I'm going to go think."
He walks out to the street.
Frowning heavily because he's thinking, Rehil walks through the town looking for a Flamer church or shrine.
The Flame said it wants us to save the world. But what is the Flame? Tal thought it was no deity. I thought it must be -- to save us from death. The others aren't as affected. It seems like just another event to them. My cousin got married. My life barely changes. So what is the Flame? What does it want? Do I think it's a good thing?
"Insults get you nowhere, neither does an inflated ego. I don't mind suffering your flaws if you don't mind suffering mine. This isn't about necromancy, I was trying to say that I understand your frustrations. I just choose to channel frustrations constructively rather than destructively."
Nalverren takes several steps back, turning to Rehil and Cole. "I'll let you think. I'll do so in our quarters. I have work to do anyway."
Ashshar shuffled on his feet. A lot. During the chat with the guard and specially during the tense dialogue with the Warden.
As the group reaches their quarters, he finally has the courage to speak "I come from a sssmall tribe, with few rulesss... but thossse rulesss are indeed important and we learn sssince we are mere hatchlingsss to obey them... that'sss why I believe the Warden wasss right to deny usss accesss." the lizardfolk sits before continuing "I don't like how they brought usss here, but ass Nalverren ssaid it'sss a separate matter from usss walking the tunnelsss. We have argued and confronted them, that the Flame chosse uss meansss little if we appear hosstile... and will only make them control usss even more. I wisssh not to be controlled, nor to make enemiesss of our posssible alliess..."
After he says his part, Ashshar bids the others farewell and decides to follow Rehil's example by going for a walk to think about his weight on the prophecy and how to ammend the initial hostilities with both the Council and the Wardens.
The adventurers split up, stalking away from the Warden's Redoubt and leaving Cole and Tal standing.
"May I help you, honoured guest?" asks a voice. A male shulassakar, the priest judging by his robe, smiles politely.
"May I help you, honoured guest?"
This was more or less what Rehil wanted, for someone to tell him about the Silver Flame that pulled him from death to save __ what? The world? Da'Sheth. Or just to stop something terrible. What was the Flame's purpose; its goals?
"Yeah. I, uh, I wanted to know about the Silver Flame."
He follows Wultram, his long strides catching him up quickly. His tone surprisingly reflective when he gets there. “I remember when you stood over me in the jungles. Only you and a spear between my inert frame and our opponents.” He looks over at the smaller Karn, “And you have proven your worth many times since. I don’t want to keep banging on a busted shield, but I think I must speak my mind. As friends.”
He pauses to gather his thoughts before continuing, “I’ve heard you. You think it is a mistake to play their game at all, and I respect your perspective. I’m asking now that you respect mine. I think there is value to being here and playing along. Maybe I am wrong, but we won’t know if we sabotage every effort while here.”
He puts a huge, metal hand on Wultram’s shoulder, “But either way, we stick together, right?”
For the record I am not sabotaging anything. I am simply acting as I would regardless. If I was intentionally doing so, I would have provoked someone to attack me.
Cole shrugs, "Sometimes when you pound a dent from a blade you also blunt its edge. Just because you're not actively trying to sabotage doesn't mean you're not still working against others' efforts. This is what being part of a squad means." He waves the thought away, "I didn't come to dwell on it. I just want to make sure you know there are some of us who think there is value in working with these people, at least for the time being. It has little to do with my conscience. More to do with learning everything I can to help us meet the task set before us."
He cocks his head as he looks down at the smaller man, his deep voice has the sounds of humor, "If you're proven right—and we survive—you can rub it in all you like. I'll buy you a pint while you do so."
Noticing for a moment as he walks before turning around and heading straight to them.
"I underssstand that you have to follow me... it'sss your duty asss warriorss and I take no offenssse from it, given how we have acted... could you guide me to your Chief ssso I may sspeak honessstly and make amendsss?"
"Can I touch it? No. Has it spoken to me? Perhaps, in dreams, but perhaps they were just dreams. But I worship the Flame, as does everyone in Krezent. I look at myself, and the others of my race, and see how we were transformed to resemble the couatls who created the Flame, and see there must be significance in such a thing. I cannot believe that this city would exist for thousands of years without the power of the Flame to sustain and inspire it.
The priest looks at Rehil closely. "You seem troubled. What has led you to these questions?"
"Er, um, I don't know..." They confer briefly. "Please follow us, honoured guest." They lead him back to the Warden's Redoubt. As he draws close Eyalteph emerges on to the street, accompanied by a small escort of underlings. Ashshar's two wardens bow to their leader and quickly explain the situation to him. Eyalteph looks towards Ashshar.
"I'm on my way somewhere," he says gruffly, "You can walk with me and we can talk as we go. What do you want to talk about?"
"I'd be honored, Chief Eyalteph." says the lizardfolk as he bows slightly and brings his right fist to his heart. "I would like to apologize for our... wrongss, asss I believe them. Both of action and word."
"I can only ssspeak for mysself, but the way we were brought here wassn't completely honesst. I do underssstand that the enemiesss of the Great Sserpent are many and they work in the sshadowss and that'ss why I underssstand the measssuresss your people hasss taken, ssstill trussst needss to be nurtured for friendsship to grow. That'sss why I wanted to apologize persssonally and assk that you reconssider our requessst to visssit the tunnels." the lizardfolk says, struggling to put into words the thoughts he has "We need to underssstand what the Sssilver Flame sshowed uss, we need to know better ssso we can fight your and our enemiess and defeat them. If you ssstill refusse our requesst I will undersstand it, we have... earned the hosstility, but I hope we can end being true alliess and that our tribe and yourss be friendsss."
As he finish he looks the High Warden in the eyes and adds, his voice trembling "I have perssonal reassons to be here too... my people needs to advance, to become wisse and ssstrong ssso our hatchlingss don't need to live in fear and poverty asss I do... for that I need to undersstand your ways and thosse of the humansss, elvess and the resst. If you allow me, I'd be honoured to accompany you and know more of your people."
He looks back at Wultram, "Where are you headed, anyway?"
Cole turns to their pursuers and makes a show of waving to them.
"I cannot permit someone to come to this city and make threats of violence. Particularly when it would serve such little purpose, beyond easing a wound to their pride. At the very least, I am not prepared to risk injuries to innocent parties caught in the middle. It is my personal responsibility to make sure this does not happen. If necessary, I will have to exile your group from the city in order to keep its people safe. Or worse, should the need arise. I sincerely hope that this won't be necessary, but should violence occur our actions will be swift and decisive.
"I understand that the way you were brought here seems underhand. That was not our doing. We are allied with the Chamber in this matter but we are not one and the same, and our methods and objectives do not necessarily align either. The same with Bokehn and the Gatekeepers. But alliances are necessary to fight back evil. Those who stand alone are inherently weaker than those with allies. Unfortunately, at least two of your number do not see the wisdom in that. Trying to stand alone against the Lords of Dust is a sure way to ensure that they will be the ultimate victors.
"I am heading to meet with the city elders to discuss this matter. The disruptive behaviour of some of your compatriots has not gone unnoticed. The value of our alliances is also being questioned."
Eyalteph looks speculatively at Ashshar. "Forgive me, but some are asking why the Flame has chosen such a group as yours - mercenaries, lizardfolk tribesmen, a relic from the Age of Demons, even a Karrnathi necromancer. It is causing consternation, even anger, as it challenges everything we thought we knew about the Flame. There are those who would prefer to treat you as a mistake or an aberration. They simply want you to go away, to make you disappear. When your companions act irresponsibly it only reinforces this view and gains them support.
"And it drives a wedge between us and our allies. The dragons and the gatekeepers acknowledge but feel no particular affinity with the Silver Flame. But the crisis could also affect our relations with them. And if that happens, the Lords of Dust move closer to victory.
"So, as you can see, there is rather more at play than whether your friends feel adequately respected. If they don't moderate their behaviour, there will be some very adverse consequences. And you will be not avoid being caught up in the crossfire.
Eyalteph and his entourage arrive at a large, grand building. "I will see if I can provide you with a permit to visit the depths. It will depend on what transpires in this meeting. Thank you for speaking with me. I hope it will help."
The priest frowns as he sits down beside Rehil. "What are the gods? That is a big question with no answer. All I can say is that I see the city around me, and the work of the citizens to hold back evil in the name of the Silver Flame. I cannot but conclude that the Flame is a great force for good and that those who dedicate their lives to it are given power - great and small - to fight the evil in Khyber and beyond.
"Can I touch it? No. Has it spoken to me? Perhaps, in dreams, but perhaps they were just dreams. But I worship the Flame, as does everyone in Krezent. I look at myself, and the others of my race, and see how we were transformed to resemble the couatls who created the Flame, and see there must be significance in such a thing. I cannot believe that this city would exist for thousands of years without the power of the Flame to sustain and inspire it.
The priest looks at Rehil closely. "You seem troubled. What has led you to these questions?"
Rehil exhales heavily. ". My companions and I shared a -- religious vision -- with the Silver Flame. At least I think it was the Flame. We were given a mission. Now our company is breaking apart. It seems my companions were hardly affected at all, and some follow their own whims, not the mission.
"I am not sure if what we experienced was real or a delusion. If it was real, if we were held by a god wouldn't we change? Wouldn't we be united? Wouldn't we be better? I am not. And I am not sure what to do."
The lizardfolk nods, smiles and bows "I appreciate it, Chief Eyalteph, and I hope the Great Ssserpent protectsss and guidess you in thisss and any battle to come. If you ever need an outsider'ssss help you can count on me."
Having bid farewell to the High Warden, Ashshar turns and heads to the accommodations.
The priest shakes his head. "I am sorry. All I can tell you is to have faith. In the end, it is our choice if we chose the Flame, or instead chose a darker path. Perhaps this is the meaning. You have been gifted with a vision from the Flame. But perhaps it is up to you to draw the right conclusion from it."
"You say you were touched by the Flame and yet you felt nothing?"
Rehil nods. "Except releif. The Flame was warm and comforting. Before it came, I was in agony. We all were."
The priest looks aghast, then looks away, his mind clearly in turmoil. "I cannot... Everything I know of the Silver Flame, everything I believe of the Silver Flame, tells me that it touches the hearts and minds of the pure, and makes pure that which is impure. Perhaps... Perhaps your vision was a false one? Or perhaps there is a deeper purpose which we are too ignorant to fully comprehend?"
Rehil nods again. "That's my problem. We seem unchanged. Was it real? Was it false? Why weren't our instructions clearer?"
The priest shakes his head. "I am sorry. All I can tell you is to have faith. In the end, it is our choice if we chose the Flame, or instead chose a darker path. Perhaps this is the meaning. You have been gifted with a vision from the Flame. But perhaps it is up to you to draw the right conclusion from it."
"That leaves me where I started." Rehil stands up. His hand dips into his belt pouch, and comes out with his single platinum piece. He weaves it through his fingers and offers it to the priest. "You seem like a good ma- ... priest. Do some good with this."
The elf lifts his long curved sword from the bench and slings it over his left shoulder.
"Thanks."
Eventually the adventurers begin to return in dribs and drabs to their accommodation, where they find Nalverren working industriously to reconfigure the magic items they found in Kalaktua's lair.
Ashshar bows his head and greets the others before sitting on a chair.
"The wardersss were following me during my walk, ssso I assked to bring me to the High Warden."
The lizardfolk plays with his claws on the table as he decides how to proceed with the next part. "I apologized, becausse I think we have acted wrongly with ssome of them that weren't ressponsible for bringing usss here. The Wardenss are allied with the Chamber and the Gatekeeperss, but they aren't the sssame."
Ashshar allows the others to express their opinions before continuing "The High Warden wass headed to a meeting with them and allowrd me to accompany her. I asssked her to reconssider our requesst to visssit the tunnelss and sshe will do ssso... depending on the meeting, becausse they will discusss our open hosstilitiesss towardsss them."
"That'sss all, I jussst wanted to be honesst with you about what I did. I can't ssspeak for you, but I can't sstep assside and let the world burn becausse of petty wordsss and insssultss. I wass... we were chosssen by the Flame, we ssshould ssstart acting like that."
"In my opinion, you're not in the wrong, Ashshar."
Cole—standing near the door—shrugs, “We did have followers. I’m guessing the Warden would name them something other than spies.” He puts a hand on Ashshar’s shoulder, “It’s appreciated. Hopefully we’ll still get to see what’s below.”
Rehil pushes silently through the door. He pauses to announce, "The priests of the Flame are useless. They seem to mean well, but are no help."
Without waiting for a reply or comment he moves through the apartment. After placing his sword carefully with the bulk of his gear, he continues toward the baths, shedding armor and clothing behind him.
"I saw them as well. No bother to me, I'm not hiding anything. And yes, as to divinity, I agree. Power calls to power. If the power is evident, I recognize it. Not by faith in it. I have a lot to learn in this journey, which is why I stay the path."