Thinking back to his youth, the transmuter nodded. I can relate.
Toramin calls up to the floating death priests, "Would you be willing to teleport these two so that they can be debriefed on the location of the rune giant. It might also prevent some violence as well. If you are willing, I will go with you."
The dwarf paladin wasn't going to let these giants out of his sight.
”That’s a good idea, Toramin,” Rilka says as she helps lift a fledgling from the pit.
”Pazeek, will your flock be disappointed if we take these two cloud giants?”
Liamsho floats down, landing silently on the stone floor. "Yes, although I will have to take them one at a time. Large creatures are more difficult to teleport."
"They won't be happy, but if the giants aren't here when they arrive, they'll let it go," Pazeek answers with a shrug. "I'm sure the elders will come up with something to satisfy anyone who is especially bothered by it." With that said, the avian returns his attention to the fledglings, directing them to gather near the eggs. The young tengu seem rather fascinated by the presence of non-tengu, chirping excitedly as they examine the various Aestherics. The surviving giants only get angry hissing and snapping beaks, however, and what are likely--if tone behind the words are any indication--some fairly nasty insults directed their way in the tengu language.
Toramin gives Rilka a confused look. "We are taking them because he wants to murder them, Rilka. Disappointment is to be expected when averting a mob."
Cocking his head to one side, Pazeek's dark eyes come to rest intently on Toramin for a time before he speaks. "You see it as murder. I see it as ensuring my flock's future safety by removing a proven threat. Of course I, to say nothing of the rest of my flock, would be unhappy at seeing that threat go free." Crossing over to the downed giant, he climbs onto the stilled torso and seats himself a pained grunt, adjusting his robes and sheathed weapons for comfort in the process. "But, as I said, if they're gone when the others get here, we will accept it and move on. I think there's even a term for that very thing, fate accomplishment or some such. Just know, however, that I will be loud and vigorous in pointing out the soft-headed foolishness of those responsible if this turns out to be a mistake on your part."
Settling on his current perch, Pazeek clacks his beak softly, eyes flicking between the other giants, Toramin, and Ianna in turn. "Haven't even been here a full candlemark, and already you apply your lowlander notions to us and our affairs. I imagine you'll likely burst something inside when you see what we do with the bodies of the fallen giants." The last comment is said with a tone of mingled curiosity and amusement, a tinge of anticipation overlaying it. But Pazeek doesn't explain the comment, instead directing his words to Rilka. "Say, did this one have anything interesting on him? They've been here long enough to do a bit of looting, and I'm pretty sure that my elders would want the return of anything these grasping bastards have taken."
”Ah didn’t I mention that?” Rilka says helping another fledgling from the pit. ”There was its chain shirt and falchion obviously. A very fine sky-blue sapphire necklace. I suspect it is magical. Dalton can confirm it. I didn’t find any notes or papers...though maybe his pants have back pockets. I couldn’t search there.”
While Toramin is confused when Rilka says foolish things, he is less confused by Pazeek. The swordman was a blowhard.
"In the mountains where we were raised, it is considered foolish to speak of things you do not understand, especially in front of those who do. But perhaps there are no traditions of wisdom in these mountains. Do you know what a rune giant is? It is a giant perverted by evil magic into an abomination. It can control the minds and actions of other giants. It can even attempt to dominate other species, though giants are especially vulnerable. The giants who attacked your home were as much of slaves as your tribe. Do you think it would be just to punish those of your clan for mining for the giants? In the mountains where we were reared, we were taught of the strengths and weaknesses of other peoples who might be our enemies. But again, ignorance might be preferred in these mountains. Of course the giants should not profit from the woe of your clan, and they should be punished for wickedness they did beyond the scope of their own duress, but murdering slaves for being slaves would create a bad precedent given your own tribes recent troubles."
The priestess doesn't react to Pazeek's jibes. She doesn't think losing patience or showing a negative reaction would help anyone flourish.
Ianna wants to sigh at her brother's harsh words, but he had always possessed a blunt tongue. She understood Pazeek's anger and fear. She understood the temptation to lash out when powerless to try to assert oneself. Despite her understanding, she had no inclination to give way to his base needs. That would not be loving. Love would be to encourage the swordsman to be better and to rise above his pain.
"I believe what my brother is trying to say is that there are two people responsible for your clan's trouble. They are the cloaked man who is taking the metal and his rune giant ally. Pragmatically speaking it would be in your clan's best interest to strike at the root of your woe and not those who have also been coerced."
Considering Toramin's words with obvious care, Pazeek takes time before responding to the warrior's points. "Indeed, it is foolish to speak on subjects one knows nothing of, I'll admit. With that in mind, I find your own staunch opinion on the doings of the tengu and our varied foes to be quite baffling. By your own admission, these are not the peaks you know. Saving only your apparent familiarity with this rune giant you speak of, and whatever little bit of expertise you may have gained down in Grastle Hollow, you know as much of affairs here as I do in the halls of your kin." Though the words themselves may be heated, the tone in which the tengu delivers them is anything but; indeed, it appears as though the avian is enjoying this for some reason, voice taking definite overtones of excitement as he speaks.
"While this rune giant may be the source of their actions," he acknowledges with a pat on the armor of the cooling form below him, clarifying whom he is referring to when he uses "their". "It cannot have been in power for very long. Otherwise, its reach would extend much further and the only tengu in this part of the world would be dead or enslaved already." Quirking an eyebrow, he gives Toramin a questioning look. "Or would the self-professed expert on rune giants correct my assumption that such a creature would hesitate in seizing all that it could grasp the moment it felt it could do so?" Sliding--carefully, as he doesn't wish to catch and lose any feathers against the armor--off of his perch, he crosses the room and paces around the captive duo with a marked bounce to his steps, seemingly having some difficulty in remaining still right now. "If I'm not wrong in that assumption, though, then only their recent actions against us have any sort of excuse. Everything prior, to say nothing of our other foes' deeds, must be claimed by those responsible. And that would be sufficient for us, if we ever needed any reason or justification to present to others."
Glittering eyes shifting to Ianna, he gives her a slight nod before replying. "I quite understand what he means. Would that he, and yourself as well, understand that even removing those two from life and any further ability to cause trouble does not then make the giants allies, friends, or even acceptable neighbors to the flocks. Enemies we were, enemies we are, enemies we will be. If you think this to be something only my folk believe, feel free to ask their thoughts on the matter," the tengu adds with a nod toward the two captives.
"The scope of your ignorance I do not precisely know, but given your confusion on the leadership of Grastle Hollow -- your closest trading partner -- the self purported isolation of your clan, and the fact that it is well known that rune giants haunt the western mountains so much so that the elven nobility of the southern forest organize hunts to track and kill them to prevent their spread, it must be vast."
Ianna gives Pazeek a small, slightly sad smile.
"One does not need to be either friends or allies to choose not to murder those who suffer just as your people suffered. I doubt your people, however strange they might seem to us, believe that death is preferable to life. While I believe that acting rightly is a gift we give to ourselves and not something that depends on the actions of others, I do not argue that you must believe as I do. Preserving the lives of these two is not only right it is also pragmatic. Without their freely given information, you will remain unaware of those who truly wish your clan ill. People who know much more about you and your people than you do about them. Each day we create the world in which we live. I would urge you to reflect on the nature of the world in which you wish to live."
Hearing Toramin make reference to who is in charge of Grastle Hollow, and how the tengu have mistakenly identified that leadership, makes Pazeek chuckle, a soft, liquid sound leaving his beak. "Oh, we know who holds power in Grastle Hollow, and that power isn't invalidated by the fact that its owner chooses not to wield it openly. Or are you going claim that Villichi just pulled Alziver's name out of a hat at random when he was figuring on the best target in the area for his plans? Or that the Aestherics restored Alziver to that position when Villichi was overthrown just because you're nice like that?"
Toramin's mention of the rune giants and their considerable numbers cause the tengu's expression to shift to a thoughtful frown, and he is quiet for a period. "No doubt Toramin is pleased with my silence,", a part of Pazeek's mind throws out silently amidst his thoughts. "How unfortunate for him that it won't last." And indeed, such is the case as the avian opens his beak once more. "In spite of not having seen one of these rune giants myself, I'm willing to concede that they exist, and that they're not something any right-minded folk want running loose. Whatever else my opinion my opinion on giants may be, I'll grant that they're no cowards. So having these two clearly unhappy about knowing a rune giant in the flesh says a lot to me." It's clear to anyone that Pazeek is reluctant to speak a good word about a giant for any reason other than to proclaim its death, but he's an honest enough bird, for the most part, and must give credit where it is due.
"But if these things were as numerous as you claim them to be, the flocks would have had trouble from them in person long before now, right? Further, our captives claim centuries of rule for the rune giant that holds power over them, and yet they don't have a lot to show for that span. So either rune giants are subject to much exaggeration as to what they can do, and their numbers as well, or there's something else going on. It may well be that you're as ignorant on the subject as you make me out to be." This puzzle about the rune giants is proving to be rather vexing the tengu. Toramin seems quite certain of his claims on the matter, and Pazeek isn't going to believe that it's all just speculation and fear-mongering in his part either. "Perhaps the elders will know more about such creatures and their activities. Just because I'm a tengu doesn't mean my leaders inform me of everything that they know. I'll wager that holds true for you and your leaders as well, whether those leaders be dwarves or Aestherics."
Ianna lets a tinkling laugh.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't laugh, but I think the two of you are talking past each other to a certain extent. I doubt that there are thousands of rune giants in these mountains. I doubt there are thousands in the entire world. Likely, they number in the tens or the hundreds along both ranges. The amount of magic it takes to create new ones is said to be immense, though I have read that they breed true. Though if the cloaked man is creating new rune giants, then that would be deeply troubling.
Nor is my brother an advocate of giants, he and his friends battled a frost giant jarl and his troll attendants not even a year ago when I was kidnapped. The history of the dwarves and those of giants is fraught with great conflict. However, the past should not turn our future to ash. We can choose better."
What Ianna leaves unsaid is that her brother is very defensive of her honor and status. It served no purpose to shame him and the less said of their place in the central families of Dalgin Kalp the better.
Nor did the priestess bring up that the only reason Alziver retook his position as an underworld kingpin was at her council after being visited by a heavenly messenger. Though she had no doubts that the blessed gods would get their due from Alziver.
"Speaking of the future, if you're so invested in these prisoners having one, you might want to get on with removing them," Pazeek says with shrug before switching his attention to Liamsho, who is--and he'll freely admit this if asked--quite possibly the creepiest spellchirper he's ever encountered. "On behalf of my flock, I'd be quite grateful if you'd return any tengu property you find on them when you're shaking them down."
"Grateful!"
Dalton allowed himself a deep laugh as the tengu tried-on the word.
"That whole exchange left you seeming anything but, Pazeek. I say, though I didn't care an ounce for an earl or a copper for a count my whole upbringing, you're making me think people willing to listen to squabbles like these actually deserve their hordes of coin and thrones." The ridiculous exchange had begun to give the mage a headache, though he'd blocked much of it out as he'd been busy inspecting the necklace Rilka found .
"You're welcome for the assistance in managing your flock's unfortunate circumstance. You're welcome for the evocation that protected your eggs from the giantess smashing them as you saw her move to do." The mage rolled his eyes. "I suppose I could get you tea and scones while I'm at it? Unfortunately, that particular cantrip has eclipsed my preparation for the day. Perhaps Ianna can help. Toramin could help you select a drink; I'm sure the two of you would love an ale together." On second thought, the idea of those two having to sit through a drink together was entertaining. He sighed, attempting to put the unrest behind him.
"The obsidian is a lasting fixture, unfortunately; it is not something I can simply dismiss out-of-hand. I would imagine it was a small price to pay for the security it provided. We have two dwarves here though; I'm sure they could instruct you on how best to remove it if need be."
With the spellchirper making his thoughts known, Pazeek decides it's apparently no longer a risk of distracting him in whatever it was that he was up to with that trinket; whatever other flaws he possesses, the swordbird knows not to interfere with someone while they're obviously working. Bouncing up to the rotund mage, the tengu bows slightly at the waist before clasping his talons together before him. "Since you offered, I'll quite gladly accept a bit of tea, and strawberry jam for the scones if you can manage it. At your convenience, of course. Now then, since it appears to be an issue for you, I shall thank you in particular for today. I'd hate for you to think your efforts are unappreciated and unremarked." Bowing a second time, a bit more deeply than before, he speaks in as formal a tone as he can manage for the occasion; which is to say, the same as is his usual. "On behalf of the Rising Sun flock, I thank you for doing the job you were contracted to do, and for further using the skills you actually have to do it. I earnestly believe that you wading in with a sword in hand wouldn't have been nearly as effective."
Maintaining the bow, Pazeek lifts his head to fix Dalton with glittering eyes. "I am just a bit curious, since you mention the floor and all. If that stone between this level and the one below had been a bit thinner, how would you have explained dumping a load of molten rock on those you came to save? Would you have had an explanation to offer, something appropriately wordy and high-minded about the unfortunate reality of conflict and the tragedies that befall those caught up in it? Or would you have just gone with something simple and succinct, like maybe 'Oops'?" Straightening from his bow--and groaning in pain as his remaining injuries remind the tengu of their presence--the avian continues. "In case you're curious, or even if you're not, my personal favorite for moments like that is 'S&$& happens'. But I can't quite see you casually tossing out one those, you just don't strike me as the type for it." Looking to the aforementioned section of altered stones, he shudders just a bit at the prospect of what could have happened before putting the thought--and the horrific imagery that comes with it--firmly out of mind.
"As to the state of the floor itself? I'll admit to having only an observer's familiarity with magic, but I know well enough that there are spells that can reshape a portion of the world while their magic lasts, and return it when the magic ends. I thought it to be one of those when I offered my comment on fixing the floor." Eyeing the mage, Pazeek clucks momentarily in exaggerated disappointment. "I'll admit that my opinion of you has fallen just a bit though. You have a spell for tea and scones, but not one for light stonework? That's some rather slipshod spellchirping, I must say."
Dalon sighed. He's quite the talker, but perhaps his lack of spellken is cause for setting aside this brash chat.
The mage pointed to the obsidian disk, now part of the ceiling. "Of all the elements, earth magic is my specialty. A single earthen spell set me on my current path and kept me alive long enough to be part of one of the earth kin's rescue." He jabbed a thumb back towards Ianna. "You might find a sorcerer of stone more talented among the dwarves, but other than that, I'm it for a fortnight in any direction."
Dalton was visibly more animated now. "That disk is only inches thick. Do you really think I'd scuttle our whole purpose for being here?" His cheeks began to turn red. "If your roof wasn't at least that deep, it wouldn't have held these giants in the first place! I'd say it was far safer to hinder their movement and thus aid in our success than to have us be corpses than they make omelets of your offspring at their leisure!" Exhaling forcefully and slowly, Dalton stopped himself from rambling.
I could do with a spot of eggs right now.
"If you want the stone removed, it will take time, just as the tea and scones."
Dalton was still angry, though more in control of himself now.
While not the most socially adept tengu, Pazeek does, occasionally, get little bursts of insight into tne mindset of others. And one such burst just now tells him that the spellchirper is quite put out at having his skills called into question. Having some pride in his own little specialities, the avian readily understands that feeling, and moves to make some peace with Dalton--though he won't actually go so far as to apologize, for he said what he meant and meant what he said. "I appreciate your explaining that, and I'm happy to be working with a spellchirper who so clearly does know what they're doing after all. It's good to know that you aren't just throwing spells about at random and hoping it all works out."
After a short moment of silence, the tengu clicks the upper and lower portions of his beak together once before asking, with obvious curiousity. "So, um, do you actually have a spell for tea and scones? Because that would, honestly, be more impressive to me than that whole molten rock thing you did." Patting his satchel a taloned hand, Pazeek clarifies that statement. "Prior to joining you lot, I've spent more time than I really wanted out in the hinterlands around these mountains, and my rations had to either be hauled in with everything else I needed, or gathered as I travel. Always a choice between weight or time, and the risk of maybe losing it too. But being able to just chirp a spell and have something tasty appear? That's the sort of magic any sensible traveler would love to have."
At Pazeek's mention of the "whole molten rock thing" Dalton did, the man looked like he was about to burst.
"Well, it's a damned shame I'm not here to impress people then, isn't it?! Lunch sounds lovely, but living sounded better. Did it look like I came out of a lamp? I'm not a genie; I can't just grant wishes." His jowls were jiggling as he spoke, gesturing wildy with his arms. "So glad you're happy to be working with us! Sometimes things get lost between translation in cultures. Things like patience."
Dalton whipped out his spellbook, licked his thumb, and began flipping through the pages rapidly, humming a half-baked tune in obvious annoyance while he did. "Here! This spell?" He jabbed a finger down at the page after he turned the book around the face the tengu, his beak between the covers. "You probably can't read the inscriptions, but this is stone shape. I can only imagine what it might do. This rather slipshod spellchirper just didn't have the sense to study it this morning."
An idea came to the mage. "But you know what, Pazeek? In my old age, I forgot I do have a way to deal with the obsidian!" Dalton became happy in his visage, although clearly in sarcasm. "It's your lucky day, my feathered friend! This won't have quite as much finesse than I've we'd waited a day, but evidently, pastries are higher on your list."
Pointing a finger at the warrior as if he was to continue talking, Dalton thought better of speaking insults. He turned the finger to point at the center of the obsidian circle, and uttered a cryptic word. A green ray shot from his finger towards the circle, and then it - and some of the stone beneath it - were gone, only a trace of dust remaining.
"That's the sort of magic any sensible traveler would love to have." Dalton exhaled. "The next trip to the bakery's on me."
The angry wizard turned to Rilka. "What's our next course of business here, Miss Featherfeet?!" Though Dalton's voice was still loud, he wasn't yelling at the halfling. Rather, she was a clear pivot from him away from the cause of his ire.
Dalton's rather emotional, and very unexpected, eruption leaves Pazeek blinking in startled confusion. How does someone get so worked up over an earnest compliment and a simple question? Unfortunately, the puzzled tengu has little time to work out what could be irritating the elf so severly, as his beak is very nearly driven through a rather thick tome. Its ranting owner doesn't give the poor bird even a moment to focus on the odd lines filling the pages--not that Pazeek can understand what little he can make out--before he's off on another tangent.
And then a patch of the building's interior is removed from existence, and Pazeek's feathers fluff out in shock, his weapons half-drawn before he's even aware of having grasped them. But his conscious mind quickly assumes control over his instinctive reaction, thankfully before anything unfortunate happens, leaving the tengu visibily jittering on the spot with the effort of suppressing his first response. Following a few slow, deep breaths to get himself calmed some, he eyes the (former) patch of heat-warped stone, then turns his eyes--with the pupils shrunk to mere points, the only remaining sign of his heightened tension--back to Dalton.
"You seem a bit tense," Pazeek offers cautiously, carefully watching the worked-up spellchirper for any further signs of potential violence. "If that's a regular thing for you, I can cook up some nice calming aids for you. Maybe something you can have with your tea. Just, uh, let me know, alright?" With that offer tentatively made, Pazeek drifts away slowly, warily, in Bjorkus' general direction. Anyone watching him would note that his eyes remain fixed on Dalton, he doesn't give the elf his back, and his talons hover readily around his weapons, the blades to start but then the crossbow as the distance between the two opens up.
Too incensed to say much else without causing more of a scene, Dalton opted for silence as his reply to the tengu.
Tea, scones, and an omelet all really would be great now. His tummy rumbled. Maybe Ianna does know such a spell...
Pazeek finds the big bull diligently watching the entrance to the temple for signs of giant reinforcements. Somehow he seems to have tuned out the tense exchange not more than a few yards away.
Rilka answers Dalton quickly, ”We simply need to secure her then we can be on our way,” she says bringing out an iron chain (made of three chains braided together) that she wraps around the giantess’ wrists then “sews” the ends together with a length of fine mithral chain. Finally she throws a tanglefoot bag against the chained wrists for an extra bit of security.
”Oh, do you mind doing a bit of prestidigitation?” Rilka asks Dalton hoping to get him focused on something else. She’s pointing to her clothes and armor, stained with fresh blood and the grime of battle. ”I really appreciate it. I remember firing my pistol and then...pain and darkness. Still got a small headache and my body feels like I’ve been trampled.”
After much heated (albeit civilized) disagreement between the party, Liamsho has made the necessary preparations. Pazeek takes the last few minutes to make sure the fledglings are in the hands of the community, then Liamsho disappears the party and the giants in three separate chunks, until Pazeek's village is abandoned by the party.
The room Liamsho teleported into...is bleak, to put it in great detail. A bare stone room with no details at all save an enormous cell and an equally large metal door. Besides that, there is nothing that makes the room memorable in the slightest.
The cloud giants are inside the cell, shut off from the rest of the party who are outside the cell. Liamsho gestures at the door, making it open seemingly of its own accord. Beyond lies complete darkness, but once the party passes beyond it they find themselves on the bank of the river running through the middle of the Aestheric base.
Liamsho departs up the river on one of the boats, and as he leaves Krokar and Alia walk up to the party.
"Looks like it all went well, yeah? Even got some prisoners based on what Liamsho told us. So, where do we want to go from here?"
After yet another stomach-turning ride on the creepy spellchirper's travel magic--and Pazeek is slowly coming to fear that that particular reaction won't be fading with continued exposure; the creepiness or the nausea, either one--the tengu takes a moment to finally relax and settle his nerves from the perilous fight. Still, he's quick enough to answer Krokar's query with a suggestion that might further aid in deciding the next course of action. "We've learned that the giants who invaded in the Rising Sun flock's nesting grounds were taking their marching orders from something called a 'rune giant'. According to Toramin, that's not a good thing. He also indicates that these giants are seen with disturbing regularity in the very ranges that the flocks have claimed as their territory, yet I've never seen or even heard of them before today." Pazeek is visibly frustrated by that admission, for it paints a troubling picture about the scope of the threat to the tengu when combined with the involvement of lowlanders.
"However," the tengu adds with some reluctance, not very keen to reveal this particular detail, but deeming it necessary nonetheless. "It is known among my people that the elders, on behalf of their own flocks and the tengu as a whole, have periodically judged certain sorts of knowledge to be too dangerous for any save themselves to possess. So there is a strong likelihood that they do know something of rune giants. Further, the safe recovery of the eggs and fledglings has clearly demonstrated that our alliance is more than just empty promises. Between that and the accompanying rout of the invaders, they should be in a cooperative mood. If you could arrange, either in person or via magic, for a conversation with the elders on the matter of these giants, it might prove helpful."
With that, Pazeek steps clear of the others with a soft warble and a wave of a taloned hand indicating his ragged physical condition. "Beyond that idea, I have nothing else to suggest right now. And my bleeding everywhere would distract me enough that I wouldn't be able to participate in anything to any useful extent. So I shall seek some healing, and some cleaning as well. After that, however, I am at your service, so don't hesitate to ask if there is something you need." Having said what he needs to, Pazeek waits with an expectant expression in case any of his new comrades or superiors have a request, or any orders in the case of the latter, for him.
Alia raises her staff, and a burst of healing magic fills the room, nearly overwhelming the senses as wounds heal at an alarming rate.
Krokar nods. "Right, if you remember we had some concerns about the possible involvement of a rune giant. They're a damned blight on the world, but they're too tough to just go after casually. We have to pick our battles with them. I'm sure I speak for the council when I say this level of involvement will easily force our hand." He looks at the party. "Are you still interested in pursuing this further? We will likely quickly follow up on the rune giant lead."
"If we don't go after this rune giant in force and bring him down, he's gunna keep sending giants after Pazeek's village. Whoever is behind all of this has shown that they'll sacrifice anyone or anything to get the adamantine they're after", Bjorkus adds. "If we kill this fool, do you think the rest of the giants in his thrall will surrender in exchange for their lives? Even better, imagine what he could tell us if we can take him alive."
”I second your thinking, Bjorkus,” Rilka says. She appears more energetic since the healing. ”I’d like to research rune giants in the library. All the information we can gain I think will help us. Contacting your flock’s elders is a good idea Pazeek. What about you Toramin? Any giant lore from your homeland that we might be able to acquire?”
She turns to Krokar. ”I would like to pursue this rune giant. Not only for protecting the tengu of those mountains, but also for any links to our previous mission in Grastle Hollow.”
Gesturing at Pazeek, Toramon grates out, "This one is rude and unpleasant. I cannot say that his contributions are worth the trouble. If his services are the reward for saving his village, you should have done it for free. They likely offered him up to be well rid of him.
As for the rune giant, we should destroy it. Slavery is wrong no matter who is enslaved. Rilka, as for the lore, I do not know much more than what has already been said. The last two rune giants who bothered my people were destroyed by the Titan golems my father, the Master Maker, created. Golems cannot be dominated and rune giants can be torn asunder given sufficient strength. However, only two such golem have ever been created at the order of the Voices in the Stone. Creating a third might strain the resources of even this group. The Master Maker's skills come dearly. It would be cheaper to assemble a skilled team and ward their minds before hand."
"If the Aestheric libraries are lacking, I could Send to our mother. The daughter of Maerin Saifír has access to many tomes and scrolls of lore. But, I suspect that the Aestherics already know much of rune giant lore.
Does this council think we are skilled enough to destroy a rune giant? I would make no such claim myself. And what of the southern rumors of war?"
"If we don't go after this rune giant in force and bring him down, he's gunna keep sending giants after Pazeek's village. Whoever is behind all of this has shown that they'll sacrifice anyone or anything to get the adamantine they're after", Bjorkus adds. "If we kill this fool, do you think the rest of the giants in his thrall will surrender in exchange for their lives? Even better, imagine what he could tell us if we can take him alive."
"I agree, I think it is vital to get to the bottom of this adamantine matter."
Krokar looks towards the huge prison where the cloud giants are. "They may be under the rune giant's control, but that doesn't mean they are our allies by any stretch. From what we know of this clan, they're certainly one of the destructive and malicious ones. I would assume the worst going in."
She turns to Krokar. ”I would like to pursue this rune giant. Not only for protecting the tengu of those mountains, but also for any links to our previous mission in Grastle Hollow.”
"Yes, there's clearly a connection, due to the adamantine and the fact Calios was using giants."
Gesturing at Pazeek, Toramon grates out, "This one is rude and unpleasant. I cannot say that his contributions are worth the trouble. If his services are the reward for saving his village, you should have done it for free. They likely offered him up to be well rid of him."
Krokar raises an eyebrow. "Hmm. Well opinions are always welcome, although we were simply doing this for the good of the tengu as well as pursuing what was going on in Grastle Hollow."
"As for the rune giant, we should destroy it. Slavery is wrong no matter who is enslaved. Rilka, as for the lore, I do not know much more than what has already been said. The last two rune giants who bothered my people were destroyed by the Titan golems my father created...It would be cheaper to assemble a skilled team and ward their minds before hand."
"If at all possible, I agree. But we have to be careful. They're immensely powerful, and not just physically. Our primary goals are to keep them out of the tengu's homes and to find out what is going on with the adamantine. If you can kill it, don't hesitate, but don't throw your lives away."
"If the Aestheric libraries are lacking, I could Send to our mother. The daughter of Maerin Saifír has access to many tomes and scrolls of lore. But, I suspect that the Aestherics already know much of rune giant lore."
"Yes we have the information here, I've been browsing it myself so I already have the books located. I'm happy to share."
"Does this council think we are skilled enough to destroy a rune giant? I would make no such claim myself. And what of the southern rumors of war?"
Krokar gives Alia a brief looks, then sighs. "Honestly...no. Not in any sort of fair fight, much less surrounded by hostile cloud giants. Unless Jasper has something significant to bring to the table, I think we will end up advising trying to avoid combat completely."
When Toramin offers his opinion of the tengu, and Krokar states that opinions are welcome, Pazeek can't resist leaning toward Alia and Krokar and stage whispering a rebuttal to the dwarf's words, though he does at least have sense to wait for a break in the conversation. "Just between us, I think Toramin's a little cranky because I wasn't suitably impressed when he tried showing off how much he knows. But it's alright, I'm sure we'll be friends eventually, once he gets over himself just a bit." Glancing off to the side with a roll of his eyes in Dalton's direction, he offers a further assestment to the council members regarding the spellchirper. "And that spellchirper there, Dalton? Awfully tense, he is. Gets dangerously worked up over inconsequential matters too, especially if you bring up the subject of tea and scones. Speaking as a healer, I'm quite worried that he may suffer a mischief inside somewhere if he doesn't learn how to relax."
Turning slightly to face Toramin, Pazeek sticks his tongue out and makes a rude warbling sound. "And I am not rude or unpleasant, I'll have you know. I have manners, and they're very nice ones too. I just save them for special occasions. Further, the only reason you find me unpleasant is because I'm not mindlessly worshipping at the altar of your greatness." Turning back to the council members with a disdainful sniff and a dismissive flick of his tailfeathers, the tengu continues. "But aside from some minor issues that I'm sure will sort themselves in time, I rather think this lot'll be good to work with. I'm looking forward to it, in fact." Falling silent, the tengu adjusts his robe and satchel--the former because of dried blood painfully sticking a portion of the cloth to his feathers--and eyes the other members of the Aestheric team sidelong before chirping and saying, in quieter tone. "And before I forget, thank you sending them to aid my flock. It would have been much harder to drive those giants out without their help."
"You bark like a small dog: loudly and with little sense."
Krokar clears his throat, crossing his arms with a stern expression on his face. The meaning is clear - enough bickering.
His expression softens as Pazeek thanks them. "It was our pleasure, I'm glad we could help. I suppose you are an entirely different matter Pazeek. You are not an Aestheric, but I imagine you are interested in going after this rune giant, yes? Arguments aside I think your knowledge of the mountains could be a great asset, although I am concerned you may attack the rune giant if provoked."
"I would sooner have Heff at my side. At least with Heff I can rely that he will disappear to pursue his own agenda only to return after he could be of use to complain about the manner in which we helped him. This one doesn't even have to dignity to disappear, though he complains just as loudly."
Krokar allows a moment of silence, looking between the two. "Is this going to be a problem? Beyond clashing personalities, I don't care if you b@#%& at each other out in the field. Can you work together without compromising the mission?"
"I will do my duty. I also believe he will be an active detriment."
Ianna is tired. It has been a long day, and while she does not find the tengu very agreeable, she also doesn't see the point discussing how disagreeable he is.
"If violence is not the goal, what is? I support diplomacy, but what diplomacy is possible with something that believes all sentient life should be its slave?"