Tom collapses from the exertion on his body in between rows of soldiers needing medical attention in a field infirmary. With his wounds he doesn't look a far cry different from the soldiers laying to either side of him.
Ron watches Conwall leave his side. Whatever it is, I trust he can handle it.
His eyes narrow at Selwyn. Aye, ye might win this war by bedding down with the devil. But when he turns on ye, how ye expect to be rid of him? Never took ye to be so short sighted. This be about territory then? Lookin' to cleanse Norwhich and ferry Braxans in?
While I don't find the solider's objections entirely without merit, I still owe it to Sheridan to defend her on this.
Yes, by your standards it's a horrific thing to feast on the flesh of man. I certainly share the view. But this Merfolk, who I should note saved our lives during that battle, possibly feels the same way when you consume fish flesh. Iron Tom fed that bear a dead solider and I see no one moving to execute either Tom or the bear. Surely this is a time for education and understanding instead of revulsion and punishment?
Tom collapses from the exertion on his body in between rows of soldiers needing medical attention in a field infirmary. With his wounds he doesn't look a far cry different from the soldiers laying to either side of him.
Ron watches Conwall leave his side. Whatever it is, I trust he can handle it.
His eyes narrow at Selwyn. Aye, ye might win this war by bedding down with the devil. But when he turns on ye, how ye expect to be rid of him? Never took ye to be so short sighted. This be about territory then? Lookin' to cleanse Norwhich and ferry Braxans in?
We hadn't intended to make a fll pact with them, just use them to weaken your border towns, then dispose of them. you know all about that, I just don't do it with my own men. He says sneering, and then says It is about more than Norwich. The western farmlands need expansion, and Tanard doesn't have the strength to hold the borders. our people need food.
a thought clearly occurs to him as you speak I am not the only one who has made dark pacts, I think he nods to remorse by all apearances, you're slinging spells as much as the cultists are
what do you do?
After Sheridan explains the sending, (blood noticeable on her fingers and teeth, and you notice bodies haphazardly hidden in the bushes) you spend a short while with the militia, before you hear shouting behind you, near the Mercenary camp. What do you do?
Tom collapses from the exertion on his body in between rows of soldiers needing medical attention in a field infirmary. With his wounds he doesn't look a far cry different from the soldiers laying to either side of him.
Ron watches Conwall leave his side. Whatever it is, I trust he can handle it.
His eyes narrow at Selwyn. Aye, ye might win this war by bedding down with the devil. But when he turns on ye, how ye expect to be rid of him? Never took ye to be so short sighted. This be about territory then? Lookin' to cleanse Norwhich and ferry Braxans in?
We hadn't intended to make a fll pact with them, just use them to weaken your border towns, then dispose of them. you know all about that, I just don't do it with my own men. He says sneering, and then says It is about more than Norwich. The western farmlands need expansion, and Tanard doesn't have the strength to hold the borders. our people need food.
a thought clearly occurs to him as you speak I am not the only one who has made dark pacts, I think he nods to remorse by all apearances, you're slinging spells as much as the cultists are
what do you do?
After Sheridan explains the sending, (blood noticeable on her fingers and teeth, and you notice bodies haphazardly hidden in the bushes) you spend a short while with the militia, before you hear shouting behind you, near the Mercenary camp. What do you do?
Belym hustles over, arriving as Conwall finishes speaking, and waits to see the militia's response before jumping in.
Ron gestures to the devastated military camp surrounding the two commanders. I think you'll find Tanard has more than sufficient strength to protect what is ours. Have ye even considered reaching out to me King to discuss the food shortage? I'm certain our kingdoms could come to a trade arrangement that would feed your people.
In response to Selwyn's final comment: Aye, tis true enough. But ye know as well as I that not all magic in this world springs from demons.
While I don't find the solider's objections entirely without merit, I still owe it to Sheridan to defend her on this.
Yes, by your standards it's a horrific thing to feast on the flesh of man. I certainly share the view. But this Merfolk, who I should note saved our lives during that battle, possibly feels the same way when you consume fish flesh. Iron Tom fed that bear a dead solider and I see no one moving to execute either Tom or the bear. Surely this is a time for education and understanding instead of revulsion and punishment?
[dice=Defy Danger Cha]2d6+1
The men lower their weapons, realizing that you might be right. Zoe speaks up But... She's desecrating them... and she can't eat people... it's just not eight she says, growing quieter with each statement. They are't releasing Sheridan, but they also don't seem outraged enough to kill her anymore. What do you do?
Belym
Ashton comes over to you, and whispers the Mermaid is eating the dead he says, disgusted. What do you do?
Zoe, you're of course right. I can see why this is so upsetting to you. I'll talk to her. This is just a cultural hiccup. Nothing we can't smooth out.
I approach Sheridan, speaking quietly and kindly to her. I know that meat is meat to you, and you don't understand why what you did upset everyone here. Among the, what was it you call us? Sky folk? Among the Sky Folk, we differentiate between person and beast. Probably because unlike you we cannot speak to beast. I don't expect you to know which meat you can eat and which you can't and I'm sure any attempt to give a set of rules to follow will end in disaster, but can you check with me before eating? I can help you tell the difference and keep you from offending others.
Ron gestures to the devastated military camp surrounding the two commanders. I think you'll find Tanard has more than sufficient strength to protect what is ours. Have ye even considered reaching out to me King to discuss the food shortage? I'm certain our kingdoms could come to a trade arrangement that would feed your people.
In response to Selwyn's final comment: Aye, tis true enough. But ye know as well as I that not all magic in this world springs from demons.
We did, we sent an ambassador, and an offer of a trade between or northern mines, and your eastern farmland. The prince sent him away, telling him to enjoy watching our people starve. We did what we had to do.he says. it rings true, the kings eldest son is not a kind individual, and many of the common folk dread the day the king succumbs to his illness..
You stopped us by trickery, it was a good attack, but this he gestures to the camp as best he can with his bound limbs It won't be enough to stop the kings army.
at your last statement, he shrugs Demons, gods, spirits, none of them are trustworthy. I put my faith in steel.. What do you do?
Ron stares at Selwyn for a few moments as he inwardly curses the prince. Ye give me much to ponder. We'll talk later.
Ron leaves Selwyn and surveys the progress of the deconstruction of the camp. Don't want to stay out in the open for a minute longer than necessary.
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Ashton comes over to you, and whispers the Mermaid is eating the dead he says, disgusted. What do you do?
"I agree, that's not right. Conwall will talk to them, and they'll stop. But... On my first trip to the surfacers' realms, I was chased out of three towns before I started to learn your ways. And we dwarves aren't all that different from you. Look at them. I've never even heard of them before a few days ago; how much more must they be having to deal with? If they won't listen, then we'll have a problem to deal with, but they've earned a chance to be taught with their actions. "
Sheridan hears the whispers and looks down at the shackles. "No, that's just fine. I'll be sure to check with one of ye before I get out the cutlery. Can't help but call it wasteful, but I suppose in the interest of keepin' the peace... You folk put a lot into these disputes. I hope the peace you've won here will outlast the damage to the earth, the water, and the lives of those who live on." Sheridan looks out toward the field of wayward livestock. "We all are just lookin' for our right place. Just wonder if there's a right place without such a high cost."
*snore*
Ron stares at Selwyn for a few moments as he inwardly curses the prince. Ye give me much to ponder. We'll talk later.
Ron leaves Selwyn and surveys the progress of the deconstruction of the camp. Don't want to stay out in the open for a minute longer than necessary.
You examine the work, half the militia is exhausted, and passed out in the makeshift camp. the other half are working to take down the tents, but are hours away from finishing, even with the men Jericho and Owen will bring.
Zoe, Ashton, Sidney, and Ivon come forward, between them marches sheridan, bound in shackles. Lord commander, she was found consuming the dead. Your companions vouch for her, what are we to do? Zoe asks. What do you do?
"I agree, that's not right. Conwall will talk to them, and they'll stop. But... On my first trip to the surfacers' realms, I was chased out of three towns before I started to learn your ways. And we dwarves aren't all that different from you. Look at them. I've never even heard of them before a few days ago; how much more must they be having to deal with? If they won't listen, then we'll have a problem to deal with, but they've earned a chance to be taught with their actions. "Ashton comes over to you, and whispers the Mermaid is eating the dead he says, disgusted. What do you do?
Aye he says but this has to be dealt with now, it is abomidable he says. he walks back to his group, now escorting Sheridan to see Ron. As he leads her away, he asks What did you do in those village?
What do you do?
Sheridan hears the whispers and looks down at the shackles. "No, that's just fine. I'll be sure to check with one of ye before I get out the cutlery. Can't help but call it wasteful, but I suppose in the interest of keepin' the peace... You folk put a lot into these disputes. I hope the peace you've won here will outlast the damage to the earth, the water, and the lives of those who live on." Sheridan looks out toward the field of wayward livestock. "We all are just lookin' for our right place. Just wonder if there's a right place without such a high cost."
Spare us the lecture, maneater one of the guards (Sidney, you think) says. he and another grab you.
We have to consult with the commander about this Ashton says Belym and conwall, please come, your testimony may be helpful he says as they walk of.
what do you do?
I follow along behind the procession. This seems to he getting far out of hand. Is the bear in shackles too? No indeed not.
It wasn't long ago that I was under arrest for saving the town in a way seen unfit. If this is the treatment we outsiders receive then they can tame their own damn bears.
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As they follow the group, Belym answers Ashton's query. " In the first one, I lost control of this ability," she says, creating a pebble in the air and watching Ashton's reaction. " I'd only just figured out I could do it; I was trying to help buttress a wall bring mortared, but it got away from me and collapsed the wall instead. The stonemason was lightly injured, but I was run out. In the second, I was offering devotions to the stone, at what turned out to be an altar of a surfacer diety; the local priest took exception to my hammering on his altar. In the third, I'd run out of coin but spent the night in the town inn; among the dwarves, such places are open to all, and you pay if you can."
Ron turns away from inspecting the camp and Sheridan and their captors come forwards. Consuming the dead?
He looks at the blood around Sheridan's mouth and he sighs audibly. His head falls as he raises his left hand to pinch the bridge of his nose.
Sheridan, please explain why you would eat the dead.
I am, absolutely, without a doubt, too old for this shit.
Sheridan mops their face with the back of one hand. "See, I know that's an easy question fer you ter ask, I'm just havin' a spot of trouble figurin' out which of those things is the bad thing I did. I eat meat. I'm suddenly not sure if I recall y'all eatn' meat, but that's a basic dietary need. Leaves an' berries an such pass right through me. I eat the dead because it's mighty dificult ter eat the living. I mean, there wasn't going to be any way ter preserve that much meat. I'm sorry, could someone please explain the part of what I did that y'all are takin' offense to, so I can not do that? Cormwall says there's certain meat you don't eat, but liver's really nutricious." At this point, Sheridan is rambling through deep sounds of distress like croaking hiccups, and wringing their hands to try and rub off the drying blood.
Perhaps I can clear this up a little for you Sheridan. The type of meat we don't eat isn't based on the part of the body, but where the meat comes from. As I explained before, we separate "Person" from "Beast." I'm a person. Ron is a person. Belym is a person. You are a person. Skylanders don't eat things we can talk to and have conversations with. I understand that's confusing to you because you can talk to more creatures than we can. You just have to trust us when we say that certain sources of meat are not ok, and certain sources of meat are. In the meanwhile, I'm very curious...do Merfolk eat other Merfolk?
A light seems to go on behind Sheridan's eyes. "Oh, well you'd wanna be more careful eatin' yer own folk," they say in a matter of fact tone. "Ye can get mighty sick eatin' yer own folk b'cause they can get sick from the same soil as you. S'long as they're well when they die, though, like an elder, eating them is a sign of respect, and about the only way to pass along their wisdom if they had no apprentice. Letting someone spoil in the dirt is a bit like saying they might as well have not been born." Their voice grows less eager, and more somber as they continue. "S'much as they're set against us, I don't wish oblivion on any of these folk. I can see though that it may not have been right with their culture ter tuck in without asking."
With the Skyfolk, they hold bodies in reverence. Elves don't leave corpses, so I don't understand it, but...
I turn to the guards.
I trust this matter is now settled. They know not to do this again, they meant no harm. But know this, the next time a Norwitchian places me or mine under arrest for harmless actions taken while saving your lives, it will be the last time we save your lives. Do you understand?
Ron doesn't watch Sheridan and Conwall as they speak. His eyes are focused on his soldiers.
When Conwall finishes speaking he holds up a hand.
Well, Zoe. What would you have me do here?
Ron doesn't watch Sheridan and Conwall as they speak. His eyes are focused on his soldiers.
When Conwall finishes speaking he holds up a hand.
Well, Zoe. What would you have me do here?
I suppose the elf is right, we should let her go. But Please keep an eye on her Zoe concedes, unshackling Sheridan. She is free from the law, but this will make her somewhat mistrusted for a while.
from the south (Norwich) you hear horses, what do you do?
A wise choice Zoe. We do not punish a child for breaking a law. Nor should we punish an outsider who knows nothing of our ways.
Ron stands and looks towards the South, gripping his spear. Form a perimeter!
I give Zoe a scowl as she stink eyes Sheridan then rush towards the south, ready for whatever comes from the south.
Sheridan stays near Lord Commander Bucanero, trying not to look awkward.
What great plague must these skyfolk have suffered to have made eating other hominids utterly anathema? Are they so riddled with diseases? I hope I didn't get gill rot from that liver...
Sheridan is suddenly much more interested in getting the blood off her hands and face. She checks herself in the tiny reflections of Bucky's scales.
Belym assumes an elevated position behind the front line, where she has a view of anything coming.
You all form up, men with pikes near the front to stop a charge. Suddenly the oncoming Force crests the hill, blue and silver banners, it is Owen and Jericho returning, with half a dozen additional men. the reach you quickly, Jericho dismounts early, near the front, but Owen continues on until He reaches the Lord Commander (yes, Garin was a bit of a pompous ass, demanding that title). I apologize, commander, but the Mayor forbade me from taking more than this. he says we're to return as soon as possible. What do you do?
Meanwhile, jericho walks up to the front, and says We have to go back soon. We can get that ale from Lorry's she saysas she walks over to a campfire. what do you do?
Take everything of value ye can carry and destroy the rest. Once the latrine is contained, we march. Cut enough tent canvas to create litters for all our wounded.
Ron quickly changes into his armor and grabs his shield. He leaves the cultist robes and the incriminating note among the debris of the camp. He will load Selwyn's armor, sword, chest, and all documents that were in the commander's tent onto Roach. Finally, he reloads his adventuring gear.
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I help cut the litters for the wounded and get ready to head back to Norwich.
A fresh realization dawning, Sheridan looks down at her chainmail, then back up to the Lord Commander. "Bucky? Are those not your scales? I mean, ye weren't..." Her hands slap over her mouth in an attempt to avoid further social faux pas by suggesting Bucky wasn't born with scales. "I mean.. if ye donna eat them then yer not likely ter skin 'em, so is that a beast's coat of scales?"
Most of the rest of the day will be filled with endless questions if Ron has the patience for them and doesn't delegate her supervision to someone less busy. If she's given time she'll pack up TAM and ride alongside Roach.
Ron assures the gathered soldiers that he will take personal responsibility for Sheridan.
He stands next to Sheridan, willing to answer any questions as they oversee the final deconstruction of the camp.
These? These scales are made of metal ...
Ron watches Belym stare in consternation at Selwyn's stone. I bet it has something to do with Scrying. Let me see it for a minute. He touches the stone to Remorse's spearhead. He closes his eyes and tries to feel the stone...
Belym, Ron, you both touch the stone, and feel such power within. you feel your consciousnesses expand, and for a moment,you can see the whole world from above, as the gods must see it. Would you both be so kind as to DD+Wis
"Stonelord Belym!" When Sheridan spots the dwarf, she shimmies down to talk to her. She's lost track of which human is Ron again, so she doesn't realize they're talking. "S'cuse me, but I saw you had a..."
She points to the whip. "This thing. I couldn't help but notice it was different, and that you didn't seem all that interested in it."
As you two clutch the stone, your gaze is drawn to a cavern, far below the earth, deeper than the Dwarven mines. Within it, half flooded, hundreds of pale, emaciated men work, expanding the cavern upward. Not far above you, through the stone you can sense a barrier, some magic that seals this cavern away.
inside the water sit large creatures, half whale, half kraken, pure milky white, except for their bright purple eyes. you hear them conversing in a strange language that you nonetheless understand.
Will her magic be lifted in time?
It will, our agents will insure it
She has grown strong in our absence, are you sure your puppet can overthrow her?
They will perform adequately I assure you
Tread carefully, we cannot lose another artifact
I will insure that the girl pro- a third one cuts off the two that converse
We are being scried upon, the interloper is privy to your plans. He turns his eyes to you Belym, staring straight into yours, and as you release the stone, the cold hatred in those purple orbs haunts you.
You reach the town of Norwich. where a dozen carpenters swarm all over the walls, trying to patch and strengthen them. half a dozen unfamiliar horses are in the stables when you drop roach there. the injured (fortunately stable and recovering) are mostly dispersed to their home.
most of the town cheers at your return, but they quickly slide back into mourning, so many were lost.
Ron, you get a call to go to the town hall (The mayor's house), to assume your duties as commander of the militia.
What does everyone do?
Tom gathers the rest as Ron walks off, I'm concerned about the blight the citizens described at the farms in the area. I don't know that the Braxans twere involved. I think the name o' the place was... Lexand? It is said the farm is overrun by wargs now, so I would appreciate any of your help if ye be willing t' spare it.
Seems as worthy of a cause as any. I don't know that there's much left for us here in Norwich and I can't imagine that I'd like to stick around and be the full time protector. However, first I am owed a drink by Lady Jericho and I owe a drink to Sir Ron. Perhaps if I play my cards correctly I'll be able to shift the credit to my debt.
Ron ensures that Selwyn and his men are properly secured in town before heading to the mayor's office. If these men escape, any man on duty will earn their sentence.
Ron asks Jericho (and any of the PCs that care to come along) to join him, and together they head to the mayor's house.
Ron sighs and then knocks on the door.