Warren looks at Andrei with a look incredulity.
"We must help Anwel you say. Unfortunately, I cannot be a part of dancing on the strings of the Nidal Court. I cannot be part of a plan to form an evil power base to supposedly balance a greater evil. I also refuse to consider Anwel as having a 'vote' anymore."
Warren looks for clarification: "My fears are all proven valid. Thad and I strongly supported the mission and wanted to go straight for the butte with all possible speed, but we all let Anwel lead us here. Anwel had his own motives for treating with goblins and bugbears, and now wants to lead us through unknown territory."
"Let me make my position clear. I oppose the Nidal Court and have no part of evil. I am for making these lands safe for the settlers. Andrei, all Anwel's words are suspect. He is probably going to tell us he wouldn't lie to us three times in a row about something this important. His first two acts of deceit are enough for me."
Warren motions to Imon to lower his dagger. "Imon and I stand on one side, and Anwel and possibly Andrei on the other. I accept the leadership of the anti-Nidal faction. Probably after we see which faction has the most support, we can see what the overall goals of this group are. I do not see much compromise between the 'we must help Anwel' and the 'we can't trust Anwel' factions. I do not want to raise a coalition of evil to pacify a greater evil. Seeing we are split two and two now, I do not like the future of a single group with a common goal."
Warren speaks to Andrei, "I am sorry, but Anwel's strong support for you as leader and his appeal to you directly instead of the group as a whole does not increase my confidence in you. Your immediate support of his plan to travel through unknown lands leaving a strong, fortified position doesn't help either."
Warren looks at Anwel, as he never has broken a steady gaze with the wizard. "You can summon your boogey-queen now, but I am not on your side."
"Be that as it may, Warren, I am on yours," says Anwel, looking back at the druid with his large, dark gray eyes. He seems calmer now, but the calm of the void rather than the calm of peace. "I believe I have made it abundantly clear that I have no interest in summoning Natala," he continues, using the name Andrei had invented, "and that everything I have done in these lands has been an attempt to avoid attracting her attention. Even if I did wish to summon her, I know of no reliable means to do so. The only method that comes to mind is repeating 'come to me, Natala,'" he says, making little quotation marks with his fingers when he says "Natala" to show that he would be using her real name, "day in and day out til she deigns to scry on me. My fear is that she has already done so, but I cannot make her.
"As for how that works, Andrei," says Anwel, using the man's name so he does not have to take his eyes off Warren, "I am unsure. I was foolish enough to never learn divination in Kyonin when I had the chance, and Natala was careful never to teach it to me. If I were to guess, I would say that she could observe a scene as though standing amidst it or floating above it. She could probably hear the contents of a communication spell about as well as any other nearby observer. She knows most if not all of the languages I know and more than anyone else here, and she can probably divine the cipher to any code. Bad handwriting, however, would probably appear as illegible to her as to anyone else.
"Thad, do you remember I gave you a letter back at the Levetons', when it appeared you would not be coming with us?" he says, still not taking his eyes off Warren. "I wrote it as illegibly as I could, because I did not want it to be scryed while I was writing it. It contains the same information I am sharing now, and I offer up its existence and contents as proof of both my intent to share my story eventually and its veracity. Speaking of which," he says, crossing his arms, "the only lie I have ever spoken to you was claiming Swordlord Tercio as my ultimate patron. What I have hidden, I hid for your own good, and if you feel you are in more danger now that you have heard my secrets, you have no one to blame but yourselves." Anwel's mouth hardens as he rifles through his memory for all the stirring phrases Darl ever taught him. His verbal offensive will need the revolutionary poet's touch. "Imon asks how he can trust me? I answer thusly: I have colluded in my own oppression for more than twenty years because I believed I deserved it. But the people here do not deserve it. You do not. And so, as I once fought noble and diabolist dominion in Galt, I fight my oppressor now, not for my own sake, but for yours and the settlers'. I fight subtly for now, in the hopes of open defiance later. Help me fight against my slavemaster, in a land where slavery is an abomination," he says, referring to the fifth River Freedom, "or reveal your courage for a mere pretense and your rule as base tyranny.
"As for leading you to this place, this is the speediest and most direct route to Arrowhead Butte. Tam advised us to stick to the well-beaten trails, and Cal said that the only known trails to the place started from here. I did not make them say those things. I simply counseled following their advice." Anwel's lip curls derisively. "I understand that you hate me enough to want to disregard that advice just because I wish to follow it. It is the height of foolishness, but understandable. However," he says, lowering his voice even more. The way things have been going today, one of the prisoners will wake up, hear him, and understand Taldane! "so what if I have an ulterior motive for making peaceful contact with the Bone Ravens? Politically, morally, there is no good objection to doing so. They have done nothing wrong. They do not molest travelers outside their territory, which they take the trouble to mark so trespassers know to stay away. They never harassed the Levetons. As far as I can tell, again, you oppose peace because I support it. You do seem, however, to hate these people just as much as you hate me, and with even less reason. Stellan's position on this issue is the correct one, and in this fantasy polity of yours, he would fit nicely into the role of general envoy."
Anwel finally looks away from Warren, but only to smile a warm, genuine smile at Stellan, and to look him in the eye. He owes the witch that much. "Thank you for your understanding," he says, "and for your help. If you do know of a place proof against scrying, and can find it, I will be even more in your debt than I am now. Such a place will be invaluable if I am ever to make my bid for freedom, especially if I can study it and learn to mimic its effects." Anwel uncrosses his arms and takes a deep breath. "Stellan, if there is to be a trial when we return to the Levetons', and if said trial proceeds according to some form of due process, I would ask that you be my advocate. I only hope I live to see it, and that no one cuts my throat in my sleep."
Having said all that he had to say, Anwel turns on his heel and marches over to the nearest sleeping goblin (). The others can argue over his fate if they like, or put it off to a public hearing at the Levetons'. Secure in the knowledge that he can do no more to influence their deliberations, he squeezes and shakes the goblin's shoulder muscle til it wakes, then plants a hand over its wide mouth and croaks out a question in the language of the Ozramanshai. Ironically, everything he ever learned about interrogation, he learned from his mistress. Only when he is done with his question does he remove his hand so the goblin can answer.
Imon scoffed as Anwel walked away. "He's so wrapped up in himself he doesn't even understand why this would be a problem. My distrust does not stem from any sense of betrayal, though there is that too. His presence is toxic, because he owes fealty to another who could be watching at any time. I don't have a problem with helping him, but I will not follow him."
"I suggest we keep him in the dark about any plans we come up with. To that end, does anyone speak Hallit? It is a barbarian language I found useful to know when dealing with the Kellids. I don't think they range so far as any of the places he's claimed living in, so I don't know that he would speak it."
Andrei give a big sigh as he watches Anwel walk away and looks frustratedly between Anwel and Warren. "The two of you are tearing apart this group." Turning to Warren he offers a smile and speaking softly"You misunderstand my support of the elf, I do not support any outside force here."
Andrei turn to look at each person pleading with them "I am trying to come up with a compromise that unites us rather than destroys us. A god has set us on an important mission, I want to see it done and will support anyone that has the best chances to do it. Has Anwel misled us? Yes, but he is powerful and may be difference in getting the seed. Will killing him or banishing or killing help? No, it will only draw the attention of an extra enemy we don't need right now. By keeping him around we can hope when we are more powerful to lure Natala to us and ambush her."
"I believe Anwel is genuine when he said he was forced into this and his wishes to see us succeed and prosper; maybe I am a fool for doing so but please hear my reasoning. Anwel is very smart and if he wished to deceive us he could have come up with a story that was more believable and didn't draw as much suspicion on him. If we do believe his story then he is in the same boat as the captive bandits. They have been given the chance to earn off their crimes through work towards the community as whole. Given that is what he is doing anyway by helping us defeat the goblins I feel little need to make it official but if that was the price of a united group then I am happy to go along with it as I suspect he would be too."
"As to leadership, maybe a compromise can be found there too. Warren quite rightly pointed out earlier that there is no reason why the leadership cannot be split in some way. I know little of military strategy being taught sword play between myself and one opponent and I don’t think either Anwel or Warren will stay in a party lead by the other. Here is my suggestion, Warren be our tactician and in battle his word is final, I lead the group out of battle determining our general direction and approach. If Warren disagree in that general direction on military grounds we turn to Stellan, who I believe has a wise opinion, as the arbitrator and his word will be final. Does that sound like a compromise that can work and bring the party back together?”
The young druid is exasperated by all this talk. Calming himself, he looks at Andrei.
"We are leaderless and in danger. We have an additional threat that has been revealed. And I will point out that I stayed in a party led by Anwel when Thad stopped giving directions, and I have stated that for now Anwel has lost his 'vote'. I followed his lead to this spot here."
He motions to the river and the fortifications. "This is ideal defensive terrain. The river splits the land in two and allows three retreat routes if pressed. It dominates the avenues of approach, provides concealment and cover, clear observation, and has strategic value on its own."
He adds, "Moving forward we would be enroute or in a travel formation which is significantly more exposed. We then expose ourselves to unknown threats which may be more than what we fought here. And, we are doing what Anwel wants to do, which he has admitted he has his own motives and may be what Nidal wants us to do."
"Thirdly, we have an interrogation to perform. Rough estimates on a thorough interrogation put them at many hours, not many minutes."
"We came straight here, and it was a mistake. What is done is done. We are on my turf here--the great outdoors. If you want someone else to take military command, let me know."
Andrei smiles at Warren "You make some good points but can we start deal with one issue at a time. Yes the leader will have to decide on when we leave this place but we shouldn't base the choice of best leader on the basis of this one decision."
"I have backed you as the military command, will you back me as civilian leader and Stellan to arbitrate when the two conflict?" Andrei looks around the others looking for approval.
Warren nods but raises a hand:
"Stellan can decide when a possible conflict between military and civil leadership arises. I have no problem with that."
"I concede handling the Anwel matter, except for protecting us from scrying, is a civil matter. And the disposition of the seed once recovered is a civil matter."
"But getting us safely to the seed and securing the seed is a military matter. One that I take seriously."
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Gorax, can't help hearing the bickering, the arguments, though they soon bore him and he lays out in the sun. He keeps his own council, as they speak of things of which he has no knowledge and from the sounds of it, that;s the way he wants it stay. Meanwhile the sun, strengthens and warms his body laid out on a platform. He interrupts the arguments by shouting down, "Just come up here and get some rays guys, save the talk for the campfire." Gorax closes his eyes and his thoughts drift to his mother and siblings, in his dreams he sees himself digging the foundations for their new life here. Gorax smiles, lifting his head up from the hard wood, he calls once more, "You don't know what your missing." His stomach rumbles loud and long, he's surprised the others don't hear.
"Too much to talk about in one meeting. Let's postpone discussing Anwel' revelations some more appropriate time. I'll accept being the group's Justicar to move forward with other matters."
Stellan sighs, "Very well Warren Warleader, you have given your reasons, good reasons, why we should stay. If I may draw your attention to the following points, the camp is large, our numbers few, if two sleep at one time, and one person is in each platform, we have nothing else left. Goblins can see in the dark very well, there were a few Half-orcs in my village, I learned something of how to hide from them but I'm at a great disadvantage at night, I cannot carry a light into the woods and hide at the same time. Most of my castings are gone I need rest and some prep time to get them back tomorrow, when attacked at night I will not recover. The goblin mounts can climb trees making this place less defensible than it looks. Chieftain Vrag was inept in his defense, we cannot count on that from another leader. A good one will guard the lines of retreat, and in any case a broken group routed, and with most dead or capture already (otherwise why retreat?) would be easy prey in the dark. With your woodland powers you could escape, I'm doubtful for myself and others. Just think about how you will deal with those issues before making a final commitment."
"We must question the prisoners, I guess, and I don't speak goblin." At Gorax speech and pleading stomach Stellan says, "I think it good to fed Gorax soon, I don't want him thinking of me as a light snack!" Stellan chuckles.
"Imon and Anwel, you are both bleeding, let me see your wounds, please." Stellan will busy himself with checking there wounds and bandaging them up. If either is really hurt, he will heaing hex them.
Imon shrugged, "I suppose you're right, though I won't be of much use in interrogation either. He tried to shrug off Stellan's offer of healing, but relented without much effort. Afterward, he set about, looking to recover the arrows that were not broken.
"I am sorry to bring up again, but saying this entire mission is military you are saying everything we do is military and removing the whole compromise. I think I was unclear I used civilian to summarise my previous statement of 'I lead the group out of battle determining our general direction and approach'. What I was thinking was in combat you are unquestionable as the last thing we need is second guessing in combat and in the planning of battles you are also in charge. Outside of that if you disagree on a decision on military grounds, for example leaving a defensible place before every is healed then we go to Stellan."
"Later if the out of combat duties become larger, or at any other time I would happy to renegotiate. But I don't feel that Anwel is safe with you in charge of everything or that he will stay and help."
Anwel looks understandingly but unblinkingly into the bound goblin's large yellow eyes. This is not just an interrogation tactic. He can really sympathize with the goblin's position: trapped among brutal, unsympathetic people and with imminent death a very real possibility. But he cannot share this particular common ground and maintain an interrogator's power and distance. So he waits for the goblin to answer, and listens to the arguments in the background in the meantime. He had called the others his friends for the goblin's benefit. Had he lied?
His faith should not have wavered. Andrei may have supported the war party, but the calculus he brings to the problem Anwel had presented him is exactly the one Anwel himself wishes he would have used in a similar situation. It is practical and materialistic, with sentiment shoved into the background if not banished entirely. The parallel Andrei draws between his situation and the bandits' is the same he had drawn for Thad and Kressle in his letter. That Andrei had seen it shows an eye for precedent that would be at home on a bench of judgment. And the compromise he proposes, which puts both him and Stellan, men friendly to Anwel, in charge in all the situations where it matters to him is one with which Anwel can easily go along.
Anwel has to suppress a sardonic smile at Warren's response. Backwoodsman? Pshaw! The man possesses a talent for word-twisting sophistry equal to that Anwel had employed on behalf of the first Revolutionary Council. Inventing a time when Anwel led the party is a political masterstroke, allowing him to claim something for nothing if only the others accept his premise. That that something is Anwel's 'vote' is troubling, if only because Anwel has no idea what it means. Anwel, of course, has made it clear that he has no more to contribute to this discussion, that he is leaving the decision up to the others on the faith that they will do the right thing. But now he wishes that at least one of them will see the shady maneuvering for what it is, and at least ask for clarity. As for Warren's plan, Anwel does not think much of it. The man's calling is clearly not military command, but he would do well for himself in Isarn's cutthroat political world. It turns out, however, that the point is moot. Warren leaves Anwel's fate in Andrei's hands, just where Anwel wants it. Maybe he had misjudged the druid.
He wants to clap at Andrei's response, but again represses the urge for the goblin's benefit. The way things are shaping up, the compromise is not a separation of powers at all, but a chain of command. Andrei is the general, the strategist and logistician who has it in his power to create the circumstances in which Warren can exercise his own tactical command. And if Warren objects, they both must defer to Stellan, who is sure to consolidate power around himself, even unwittingly, should jurisdictional disputes like this continue. Anwel is tempted to plan ways to aggravate such disputes so that Stellan will have to take charge, but something holds his thoughts back from proceeding according to this first impulse. He had tried manipulating the others before, into advancing his plans for opposing his mistress. Not only had he failed, but as Andrei put it, he put them all in jeopardy. It was not right. Stellan is, as Alexis would put it - Anwel blinks at the thought of what the girl and her mother will say when the others tell his story - a pillar of righteous chivalry. Why not leave that be, so that it can exist even if Anwel cannot share in it?
As if gravitating toward his thoughts, Stellan addresses Anwel directly, posing a problem. He cannot leave the interrogation. As the witch had pointed out, Anwel alone among them speaks Goblin. Not to mention that any attempt at establishing an information-rich rapport with the prisoner might be ruined by a disruption. After a moment's hesitation, Anwel whirls around sending tiny droplets of blood flying in all directions from his sleeves. "You leave him alone," he says in an assertive voice, but with a wink at the witch that he hopes will be hidden from the goblin's view by his flying hair. His wounds are many, and though Anwel has not rolled up his sleeves to look he is sure they are ugly, especially among the geometrically artistic tracery that is his mistress ownership mark, but they are superficial. He can wait til the end of the interrogation for Stellan's ministrations. The goblin, meanwhile, should see Anwel fulfilling his promise; if he understands Taldane, the illusion will be even more complete, but the tone of voice should suffice.
The small goblin wakes with a snarling, frightened start. Blinking rapidly, the creature struggles momentarily at its bonds, more out of reflex than an actual attempt to escape. Finally it's gaze focuses on Anwel. As the elf's words register the goblin's face and body seem to sag in defeat and fear. Its expression becomes one of puzzled confusion as the shouting among the others of the party continues.
A few more seconds tick past as the goblin watches Anwel seemingly come to his defense against Stellan's advance. Finally finding its voice the creature answers quietly in a rough accented form of goblin.
"'Я Jink людей, кістки ворон. Ми бачили світло в небі і прийшли подивитися на джерело. Лідера групи сказав люди бігли цей табір і що ми могли б прийняти його.'
A look of sadness, or perhaps resignation, crosses its face as it notices the various corpses scattered about the camp. But there is little uncertainty about the fear in the goblin's eyes when the shouting causes the bugbear, Vrag, to stir and start to wake.
Anwel nods his head once at Jink's story. It rings true. The lights in the sky were no doubt the same ones he, Andrei, Gorax, and Stellan had seen four days ago. The Bone Ravens had likely occupied this outpost two or three days ago. Anwel had hoped Jink would have mentioned the Red Crescent or another pre-Bone Raven tribal formation, but he can work with the response he got. If Jink thinks of himself as a Bone Raven, then the tribe is more cohesive than Anwel had thought. Anwel hears Vrag beginning to stir, and knows he has only a few seconds before the bugbear is fully awake and alert. He keeps his voice slow and calm, however.
"'Лідер групи'. Це Vrag лідер групи? Кому він повідомити? Tartuk? Про те, як велика група? Є групи працюють разом?"
Warren begins to explain to Andrei:
"You are now claiming the military leader or general leads only in battle. The fortification or abandonment of this position and the strategy to recover the seed are not military decisions. You admit you have knowledge of military strategy, but want to make these decisions. That is misinformed."
As Warren turns to Stellan:
"This is the test of the arbitrator who decided what is military and what is civil in nature. Is the race to the seed against a significant threat through hostile lands a military matter or civilian matter.?"
Then, Warren notices the botched interrogation and looks at Andrei:
"The interrogation of the prisoners, a military mattter, is now being conducted by Anwel without input from anyone else. Rather than list the errors in the interrogation, let us decide the matter of leadership. You want to lead us now, and you once again let Anwel jeapordize our safety. Do you understand the intelligence from the interrogation of these prisoners is essential to our safety?"
Warren resumes after a pause to collect himself. He addresses the group: "We can continue to put this leadership issue off and allow further problems to develop, or resolve it. Unfortunately, Andrei, the committee approach to military decisions is not working. How we decide to proceed from here is a direct reflection on our competence to lead. Fortify or abandon--let Anwel interrogate prisoners alone or follow a military plan--allow Anwel 100% access to our plans and hope he is not scryed or keep him from revealing things he knows--these are the issues at stake. We do it your way, or we do it my way."
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Gorax lets the sun warm his body, but when there is talk about interrogation coming up from below he shakes the fuzziness from his head. He shouts down "Oi, any of you got a shovel? I forgot to bring mine. If you got one bring it over." He comes down from the platform, a lazy smile on his face. He takes his longsword in one hand and rests it on his shoulder, whilst in the other he grabs a goblin by its hair and starts to drag it along the ground. Once he is in sight of the captives tied up, he smiles over towards Anwel and dumps the dead body on the ground. He winks to the Anwel and returns to collect the other body.
Stellan is pulling out his sad remains of a exhausted healing kit in order to start his medicating on Anwel. As he approaches he's challenged. "What the --- oh ... OH! UH... He's all yours." He backs off as Warren says his piece.
Hóru sonur! Stellan does not sound happy, Anwel and Gorax can see him frown. Vinur growls.
He turns back to the fray, plastering a smile on his face.
"Warren, it would help if you started with a bit of tact and give some time to work things out with Andrei. You are not a general, not even a junior officer, we agree to give some authority over, in order to get things together between very different persons, but diplomacy is required, at least a little. We can't debate everything but we are not your vassals either. Try harder, please. As a quick answer, staying to defend or leaving is military. I just think it courteous if you address the genunine fears of Andrei and myself as to the viablity of your plan. As to the larger question you pose, well it's so large that both matter. As you are forcing the issue, I rule it civil as it involves much more than the narrow concern of combat."
Stellan gestures toward the captives, lowering his voice, "As to questioning the prisoners, who else speak goblin? Like it or not, he's the only resource we have. If you want to guide his questioning, Andrei or Imon can get whispers to him unnoticed. For the larger issue of how much we let him know, can we have that talk later, much later? There are many factors to consider and I'm really busy, and will be for some time."
Stellan heads to Imon to treat. "So let's take a look, shall we, Imon. Not too bad on wounds but that poison is not good. It'll take time to treat."
Heal Start long term care for poisoning, reduce roll for lack of good tools. Maybe -2? 8 hours light activity.
Stellan will also, in between his duties, check out the camp further. He does not get involved in the questioning of prisoners unless asked.
Perception Check camp, Get familar with the woods about, maybe he gets a slight chance at night if he's not totally ignorant of the area. Nothing that will interfere with his care of Imon.
With a nod, Jink affirms Anwel's suspicion that Vrag is the band's leader. Keeping his voice down, the goblin continues to answer the elf's questions occasionally glancing over at the stirring bugbear.
"Ravens кістки є багато війни смуги. Деякі співпрацювати, деякі ні. Всі відповіді на великий головний." His voice drops to a small whisper, "Хоча Vrag лише незначні групи лідера. Я не думаю, що he, коли-небудь говорив з Tartuk."
Andrei smiles and looks like he about to answer Warren when Stellan speaks up. Figuring that speaking now would only heat things back up he moves on to another topic. "Warren, can either Tuney or Montey do a quick scout to the west to check if they can see any other feasible defensible camping sites before we decide to move on or not. Stellan could you have a look at Imon's bite marks that thing might have been poisonous and then the two of you can see in the bugbear speaks Taldan. Thad could you have a look at the bugbear and see if it is enchanted like Kessel was. Gorax is doing well." Andrei starts to walk towards Anwel but keeps his eyes on Vrag and the other goblin. "Warren shall we see what Anwel has learnt and supervise any more questioning?
Arriving where Anwel is questioning Jinx. "Have you learnt anything interesting?" He asks Anwel then turning to Jinx he tries taldan "Do you speak any human tongues?"
"I have," says Anwel brusquely, as though Andrei is an unwelcome intruder. This is an act for Jink's benefit, and Anwel expects perceptive, intuitive Andrei to see it for such. He lays out his report with clinical coldness. "Jink has been very helpful. Vrag, the bugbear, led his band here to investigate the same lights in the sky we saw, and stayed when he saw the camp was abandoned." As he talks Anwel's fingers work subtly, making a small, quick-speaking voice appear to issue from next to, and into, Andrei's ear.
"This has convinced me we can stay. Please cast a whispering spell on me so I can explain more fully." Jink obviously wants to keep the fact that he had shared certain bits of intelligence from Vrag. With the bugbear stirring, Anwel thinks this is a good idea. He might understand Taldane! While that would let Andrei take over the investigation, letting Vrag know the limits of their knowledge would undermine Anwel's strategy (), which relies on convincing him that they know everything worth knowing.
Anwel turns back to the goblin. "Мій друг хоче знати, якщо ви знаєте, будь людську мову," he translates coaxingly. "Хіба Vrag знає? Хіба ваш товариш?" he adds, asking the next logical question.
"Include Warren in the spell. This is military intelligence."
"I explained this position was poorly defended and I was going to improve and consolidate it. We have not resolved the leadership issue. My attempts to explain the merits of this position did not work."
"I heard you, I'm just not sure how it will work, our few numbers mean a small labor force. I'll be busy treating Imon, and he being treated, and I'd like to check the woods about so I somewhat familiar with it, that could mean life or death for me. I am not a warrior. That will take all my time till I sleep, and I'll need to take first watch as well. Or are you ordering me to abandon Imon's treatment? I think, with my aid, the poison will be gone by morn, without it not as much. Again, answering the concerns is best, work with Andrei and see. Leadership is shared between you and Andrei, work with him, talk to him, deal with all the problems. That's not a committee, that's one other person, if you can't handle that I don't see how you can ever be a leader. If we stay we can hope that it will take more than a day for a response, that would be the best for us. Now, please, leave me to my duties." Stellan takes Imon to the campfire area and starts the treatments.
Andrei steps away from the captives and says "Noitasrevnoc Derepsihw" pointing his fingers at Anwel and Warren. He casts message, for those who are familar with magic you do not see Andrei pull out the normal piece of copper wire.
Jink shakes his head at Anwel's first question claiming little or no understanding of any languages beyond his own. Then his eyes flash back to Vrag. "Vrag говорить поширені мови використовуються людьми та інших."
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Several sacks, four mid-sized chests, and one small chest are loaded onto the sled and secured with several strands of strong, sticky webbing. A quick search reveals that the sacks contain a variety of dried meats and nuts. Along with several bottles of a very strong smelling liquor. Clearly rations for the band for several days. The four larger chests are empty but each has a padded space that seems to fit the four larger dart throwers mounted on the platforms. The small chest is locked.
Stellan works on Imon's treatment and searchs the camp while Imon rests, checking as needed. He quietly points out the locked chest to Imon.
Stellan casts message to talk to Andrei and Warren privately. "Not much stuff in the camp. The spider-sled has cases for the tube-things, the sacks have nuts and other food for supplies, some meat which we need to check to see it's not roast bandit or some such. Nothing valuable, but there is a small chest with a lock. I've pointed it out to Imon, but you guys need to know about it, maybe we can find the key? Oh and some bottles which smell like some strong brew."
Stellan goes a bit into the woods about trying to memorized key points and easier travel routes, making it barely possible to traverse in the dark.
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With no shovels forthcoming, Gorax starts to collect dry wood from around the camp and in the forest close to the camp. With the wood he starts to make a pyre large enough to take the dead. "Don't want no vermin and scavengers attracted by the smell of death." he replies to anyone asking what he's doing.
He winks at the goblin as he builds the pyre, which can easily be seen by the captives. He shrugs as there is continued talk and argument about a command structure for the group. Gorax just gets on with it, as he would have done from the City Guard Manual.
Anwel whispers his extended report as quickly as he possibly can without losing the sense of the words.
"The Bone Ravens are organized into bands, each subject to one leader. The leaders are all responsible to Tartuk, though some report to each other. Jink, however, does not remember Vrag ever speaking with Tartuk, which would make him unimportant within the overall hierarchy. It probably means his band is small. Bring that up when you talk to him. It will shake his confidence.
"Given the circumstances that led them here, I do not believe the other Bone Ravens know where Vrag's band is. I will try and confirm this now. Should it be the case, make it clear to Vrag that, thanks to his rashness, he cannot expect rescue. I still think speed should be our primary concern, and eventually the escapees will report in, but it should be safe to stay here one night."
"I think," says Anwel, wondering if Warren heard the last bit, "that this information equips you well to talk to Vrag. Since he will understand you without an interpreter, I will remain with Jink to corroborate anything you discover. Just remember: attack his confidence. He can hide nothing from you. No one is coming to help him." Just to be sure, Anwel has one more question for Jink.
"Vrag сказав, кого він привів тебе сюди?"
Hmm, does message allow the targets of the spell (that is, Warren and me) to communicate with each other, or can we only communicate with Andrei, the caster? The line "the creatures that receive the message can whisper a reply that you [the caster] hear" seems to suggest the latter, but it'd save time and trouble if the subjects could communicate with each other as well.
Imon grudgingly let Stellan tend to the spider bites, knowing that if he refused, he would likely get worse.
"I don't understand how you can be okay with this." He said quietly. "I knos that you have known him for longer, and that Anwel is in this situation through no fault of his own, but he has betrayed us, whether he wanted to or not. It is not a matter of trusting him, it is that we can't trust who he is joined at the hip to, and that she may know anything that he does."
Warren draws a rough outline of the camp in the dirt with sticks and brush and puts the river down the middle with a long vertical line. He adds local terrain features so the map is clearly of a large scale.
He speaks to the interrogators. "If you can, I would recommend getting the location, numbers, races, number of casters and possible mounts of the local forces."
He resumes moving the barricade to the bridge over the river with Tam's help and shows Tam how to arrange the brush Warren gathers in the two towers and tie them to provide over 90% concealment.
Warren opines: "With the leader issue unresolved I think the other issues are unresolved. Let us each just continue to do what we feel is right."
Warren then speaks to Tam: "We need bonfires out about 60 feet in the distance to be lit. I will show you the wood that burns the best and help you dig a trench around them so they don't spread."
Andrei will relay Anwel's information to Warren before speaking to Anwel again
Anwel nods and relays Andrei's questions to Jink. "Де ви були, коли ви побачили світ? Мій друг хоче знати, скільки часу знадобилося, щоб отримати звідти сюди. Ви були поруч з табором? Чи були інші групи в регіоні? Якщо б не було, який вів їх? Я знаю, що прошу багато," he adds. "Не поспішайте. І не хвилюйтеся. Я буду тримати мої друзі подалі від ваших людей."
I know I am asking a lot. Take your time. And do not worry. I will keep my friends out of your people's way."
Anwel pulls the slate and chalk off his sash to take notes. He plans to transfer any information he gets about the Bone Ravens' other encampments and settlements to his map once the interrogation is over. He finds Warren's refusal to do as Stellan asks and work with Andrei funny, but if he is right and the Bone Ravens will not know the fate of Vrag's group til the escapees report in, there is no harm in doing what he wants and staying til Imon is healed.
Stellan listens to Imon's speech. "I'm not OK with any of this. I see it differently than you. I'd tell you why, but since I intend to use this as the basis of Anwel's defense you would need to give oath that you would not reveal it to anyone before things are resolved or I give you leave. With that given I'll try to tell you briefly."
Stellan whispers. (I'll not use small text, it's hard enough to read as is. Please take it as though I did. Thanks.)
"Anwel's a victim and is not by law or custom a betrayer. Either you take all he says as truthful or none of it, how could you anything otherwise? So he's a Kyonin elf, a former and failed leader of Galt, and a tortured, broken slave of 'Natala'. I assure you, in examining his scars, I'm sure his tormentor was more knowledgable of healing than I, and used that knowledge as darkly as possible. As a former lawman of Brevoy, not a land noted for gentleness, you've seen terrible things done. Worse was done to him, I tell you, you would break under that torture. So he obeys and comes here at his owner's command. He takes the charter, it lays down certain obligations but what law has he broken? He owes no allegence to any lord of Brevoy, or any in this land at all, until he takes the charter. Do we know that the issuer did not know what Anwel's mission was, maybe they did? In any case he was not sent to spy on Brevoy, or really anyone at all. He was to gain influence that could be used to gain power over a place that is a hundred, two hundred? miles south of here. Why would Brevoy care, why do you? The groups holding it now are not nice, if I remember my history; if the power shifts, what is that to us? Even if his owner learns all about us, who cares? We are not important, really not! She has a goal to gain a little power far away from us, and why? Looking at history, the most likely reason is two fold, first as a wizard she is attracted to a place of interest and power. Why care, she'll do no more harm with that than any other in these troubled lands. Her ultimate goal is power in her court, status before her peers, in far away Nidal. What do you care about that, I care nothing at all. She learns all about us? Again so what, we are not interesting to her, we're nothing but tools, and minor ones at that. And don't overrate her power, I assure you, even if she's an Archmagi, she's more limited than Anwel, her tortured victim, would ever believe."
Now you're saying OH the risk! They are no greater from her than any other rival for power here. There'll be more spies, good and loyal ones to contend with, this is nothing. But there is real danger here to us. Not from her ambitions, from vengence. Anwel has asked our aid to be free of us, from almost the first moment I met him, he dropped hints. Only his justified fear of his owner, kept him from being more overt, and perhaps his nature, an illusionist is never really straightforward. And it's this wanting to be free that endangers us at all. But under Brevoy law, under the freedoms of the River Nations, no one is a slave, and any who ask for help in freedom should get it, regardless of the risk. So Imon, I'm not OK with this, I very, very disappointed in you for not taking that risk, gladly. I, for one, am proud to take that risk, and honored that Anwel asked me. Not the answer you were looking for, I suppose but there it is. Anwel is not a betrayer, not by intent or in any other way, he's a victim, like Oleg and Svetlana, and all the people of this land you say you want to protect. In not protecting him, even at great risk, you're just being a hypocrite. And saying you didn't know the risk you were taking brands you more naive than a kid from a small hold in mountains, the risks in this land is endless, if this is the greatest you face, a thousand times blessed you'll be."
Stellan whispers for a while to Imon, then louder says, "I've treated you the best I can for now, I'll need to check on it often and you must rest. Don't do construction work, some talk, minor stuff's ok, no heavy lifting or shoveling!" Stellan seems to go off, searching the camp in a huff, Vinur trotting behind him.
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Gorax finishes building up the pyre and collects the rest of the corpses. He strips all the corpses before resting them on the top of the pyre. He whistles a merry tune as he goes about the business, leaving a pile of armor, weapons, clothes and anything else away from the pyre as he continues his clean up work.
revise: how could you anything otherwise? to
how could you know anything otherwise?
revise: Anwel has asked our aid to be free of us to
Anwel has asked our aid to be free of her
Rather important difference.
Distracted as he watches Gorax pile the bodies of his comrades on the pyre, Jink hesitates before answering Anwel's next set of questions. After a few seconds of internal struggle, the goblin shrugs his shoulders slightly and continues to cooperate.
"Я дійсно don ' t знаю, який він говорив з. It-не моя справа знати." He pauses for a few seconds. As he's thinking you notice the tip of his left ear twitch slightly from front to back. Finally he continues although he seems to be less certain. "Ну, мислення назад він послав Filip геть на побігеньках перед від'їздом. Філіп не повернулася до того часу, ми відправилися, тому він може послав слово для кого-то."
"Well, thinking back he did send Filip away on an errand before we left. Filip had not returned by the time we set out, so he could have sent word to someone."
Thad comes up to Warren and Andrei, pulling them both aside.
"I've checked the bugbear and the others and none of them have a charm. They all have a bit of evil in their auras, but nothing more that what you might expect from goblins and a bugbear. I think Vrag may be awake, so guard your tongues if you plan to let him live."
The paladin then turns and walks toward the edge of the clearing where he seems to stop and listen for something off in the distance. It is easy to see he is distracted and not his usual self.
Tams finishes picketing the horses and then listens quietly as the group goes back and forth over the leadership issue and Anwel's revelation. Pulling out a small pipe he tamps down a pinch of dried leaf and lights it using a small piece of tinder from Gorax's growing pyre.
When approached by Warren, he nods at the druid and turns to get started on the work. After taking a few steps he pauses and swings back around with a puzzled look on his face.
"Umm. Hey boss?" He says to Warren as his eyes flick between the druid and the growing column of smoke from the pyre. "Aren't all these fires goin' to 'tract a little attention that you all were lookin' to avoid?"
As you strip the bodies and toss then onto the pyre you manage to find a handful of coins and a few other potentially useful items.
"Ми були полювання в горах на сході. Ми побачили світло від хребта, з видом на ліс." Replies Jink. His ear continues to twitch as he thinks rapidly. "Я не впевнений, як довго або далеко. Це зайняло у нас про подорожі в night спуститися з пагорбів і знайти табір."
His eyes wander back to the pyre as Gorax tosses one of the last bodies onto the flames. As he watches the fire consume his former companions both of his ears begin to twitch even more. Flicking back and forth with greater and greater speed. At the same time a slight tick jumps rapidly under his left eye and the creature starts to squirm in place despite the bindings.
"I am not sure how long or far. It took us about a night's travel to come down out of the hills and find camp."
Warren speaks to Tams:
"The bonfires will only be lit at night if we detect an approach. Unlit bonfires should attract no attention until we fire them."
He points to the pyre and motions to Gorax:
"That one is already lit. Gorax, Tams seems concerned the bonfire will draw undue attention at the moment."
Warren responds to Andrei magically:
"It would be helpful to get an idea of the enemy forces. The goblins are more likely to talk than the bugbear."
Anwel holds off reporting to Andrei until he is sure what Jink tells him is true. This "Filip" character seems to have come out of nowhere; Anwel would not be surprised if Jink invented him. He also marks out some hills on his slate, east of the border of the Narlmarches. Would those be the same hills where they had found the dissected spider?
By the time he finishes this simple task, Jink has begun straining wildly against his bonds. Anwel grabs the goblin's wide chin and holds his head still, forcing him to look into Anwel's eyes and away from the pyre. "Стоп!" he says, insistent, intent on re-establishing his control. "Якщо ви боретеся, друзі мої зробить мене поставити вас в потоці. Ваша облігацій затягне і тверднути у воді, і ви будете замерзати. Не змушуйте мене робити це."
Andrei whispers again
Then Andrei walks over the to bugbear and after checking is bonds sits down next to him in silence.
Imon didn't like the lack of a chance to respond, especially since he was to play invalid for the next several hours. He decided he would use Message to continue the conversation. He pointed at Stellan and then whispered.
After a moment, Stellan hears Imon's whisper, "What da you want? Oh, sorry just cranky." Stellan searches the camp.
He listen to Imon's comments, "OK, I see your point as well, I just do not think it's all that important. I'll try to explain why. Scrying is not all that easy and more important takes time. I doubt his owner has that much to spare, but even if so, then what can you do? She would be able to see all around him, and could cast further spells to see any of us. Knowing our names would be enough to scry on us, and I bet she had that before she sent Anwel. Indeed most information we know could be had more easily, obtained by paying for it. You would know better than I, but mi'lord Ivan said that honor in Brevoy had fallen so low, any noble could be bought for two coppers. Maybe he was just a bitter exile, maybe true, you tell me. Any agent she has in Brevoy could find out much for a small sum of gold. She could possibly bribe us. Why not, a payment of a thousand crowns would help us greatly, depending on what she asked not illegal, and not likely to harm, could even help those who are in our care. I suppose that thought offends you, but I'm not Brevic and I expect we'll be making dirtier deals than that just to survive. By the way, I wouldn't do that without agreement. I will hold to my duties by the charter, beyond Vinur, my mother, and a few other friends I have no other loyalites. Just sayin' we have bigger problems. As for leading us, all Anwel has done is keep the maps, if you want to take that over, be my guest. As for coming here, what other choice did we have? Warren can walk through dense forest as easy as air. I can't, you can't, the horses damn well can't, did you know of another trail to get where we need to go? I don't and I do not know this area. Give me a month and I'll find a way. Give me a day, I'll get us lost, maybe ride us down Tartuk's throat."
"Keep Anwel in the dark? He likes it there anyway and it won't make any real difference. Did you think why the dark lady sent a disloyal, mostly incompetent at real spying, agent among us? Because he's not a spy. His job was to see what was useful to her politically, he has experience there, and magicly. For politics and most other things she could have sent or done many better things. You'd make a better spy for her, a lot better. She's using Anwel for two reasons only, his ability and knowledge as a shadowcaster to see the value in things no other could, and because he's totally expendable. You tell me how common such people are even for a wealthy lord."
Stellan finds the stuff listed in earlier posts and everthing moves forward as it should.