After Larisa's sad speech, Veronica goes back to the prison with her and sits outside her cell for a while.
"That was pretty rough on yourself," she says. "You took on the whole burden, in order to save the country."
"I'll come by every day if you like, until you're out of this cell. I can bring you something better to eat than gruel."
"Still, that was very brave of you, Larisa. And I think Connor will come around to visit, too."
Larisa smiles at the priestess. "Thank you, I said what was needed to be said. I have been hoping you come to visit, I need to speak with you about about a matter of faith."
"Of course," says Veronica. "I'm always here to lend an ear." She gives a brief, crooked smile at the unintentional rhyme.
Larisa looks around the cell, trying to find the right words. "I was, visited, by Erastil the night I killed Grigori. I didn't live up to the ideals he expects of his faithful even if the man deserved punishment. He took something from me that night, and now I find myself having a crisis of well not faith but, I don't know." She sighs, leaning against the wall of her cell, turning her head slightly to look at the cleric. "Veronica, I don't think I'm a Good person. Not like you and Connor, I tried to be one but well. I don't know." With dismissive sigh she waves a hand around her slightly crapped quarters. "I worried, scarred actually. I've never thought of myself as a particularly good person, fair and honorable sure but not exactly altruistic. But, I don't regret killing that man. I look back on it and I feel, fine, I think a part of me might actually have enjoyed it. No that's the wrong word, more like, a part of me was satisfied. I, am, does that make me a bad person?" For the first time in a long time Larisa looks visibly unsure as she looks at her hands, slowly clenching them.
Veronica reaches her hand through the bars - human(-ish) contact being very important, and very missed, for any prisoner in anguish.
"I'll help you as best I can, both as a priestess, and as your friend," she says for a start.
"To start with. All actions have a motive and an outcome. Both are important. Wishing ill on someone, even if you don't act on it, is bad; similarly, if someone is hurt by your actions, even if that wasn't your intent, that's bad too."
"What this means for you is, what was your intent? I think you were doing what you trained to do - rooting out liars and malcontents who wanted to bring down the community. You found a man with wicked intent and you exercised judgment on him."
"The problems with that we've already discussed. But to your more important question, no, that by itself doesn't make you a bad person. Your action may have been rash, and it certainly was not law-abiding. But people do sometimes get killed in the defense of the community - whether fighting off marauding humanoids that want to enslave or eat everyone, or rooting out cultists of maltheistic faiths, or executing serial killers and rapists and similar criminals."
"But we execute these people because we don't have a better alternative. Bad people - evil people - kill because it's convenient, or because they like it."
The were-woman pauses and looks directly into Larisa's eyes and says, "Nothing that I have seen of you tells me that you enjoy killing, or that you do it to exert power over others, or that you do it for your own gain."
Her gaze softens and she says, "What you did hurt the fabric of law, because it was unjust; there was no trial, no proof, and you weren't protecting someone from the threat of imminent harm. And it wasn't... what I'd call a 'righteous kill,' where you were defending your community against someone who'd already attacked it. But your motivations weren't evil. And you did believe that, left unchecked, that man would continue to be a danger, would destabilize our community and cause people to get hurt."
"So you're not a bad person. You just made a mistake, out of concern for your fellow members of the community."
"Killing someone is one of our last resorts. It has to be, for a community to function. Better to send someone away and tell them they can't be part of the community than to kill them - but sometimes they don't give you much choice. To be an upright community, to be one that looks out for the good of the people, then, you have to always make sure that those very permanent solutions - execution, ensorcelment, using spells to change their personality and take away their will - those are the last thing you do when you have exhausted the other options, because that's the difference between good and evil: Even if we have the same ends, good people do what's right instead of what's convenient. A wicked ruler kills, enslaves, ensorcels anyone without a second thought, because it's the easiest way to suppress dissent. A righteous ruler shows caution and restraint in all these things, because protecting the community also means protecting against unchecked exercise of power against the powerless - and the ultimate corruption of that is the abuse of power by a leader against the people under his or her protection."
Veronica lets out a breath and with a smile says, "You're not a bad person, Larisa. You acted in good faith in a tense situation in a way that had bad results. Maybe there was no good outcome - maybe letting him live would've given him the chance to hurt other people. But you can't know, in the heat of the moment, how the dice will fall."
"And that's why it will be good to have you back when this is over, and there'll be time to heal those wounds and work out that trust again."
Larisa grasps Verpnica's hand tight for a moment, looking for a drowning woman holding on for life as she listens to the cleric speak. "Thank you. For what it's worth, can you tell Connor I'm sorry. I don't he's going to coming to see me." She says, pulling herself together. Composed she lets the priestess go, moving to the far end of the cell taking a seat to mediate on Veroinca's words.
Standing at the edge of the town entrance Larisa checks her weapons for signs of wear and tear. Confident in their reliability she puts the crossbow away and checks on the treee sapling in her pack. "After the trolls are dealt with I'll start tracking the ley lines." She mutters to herself. "Might ask Seres to give me hand with this one, if I can get him to speaking terms with me."
Standing up a thought occurs to her as looks around for Corax. I wonder...This tree needs a more attendant guardian, Tiressa the dryad could she perhaps form a bond with the tree?
After several months in town you are approached by the gnome captain Jubilost Narthropple and his entourage. "I grow tired of waiting to resolve the situation with my brother, Tartuk. I am beginning to suspect that you have no intention of helping me after all. Perhaps it is time that we exterminate these filthy kobolds! If you don't act, I will lead my soldiers, and all the mercenaries I can hire, to destroy Tartuk and his Sootscale minions!"
Connor listens to Larisa but breaks eye contact every time her gaze comes near him. When they return her to the cell, Connor doesn't go to visit her until it is time to release her.
The burgeoning monarch heads down slowly to the slayer's cell stopping in front of it, two arms lengths away. He looks at Larisa and opens his mouth as if to say something, but then clamps it shut and stares at her in silence.
"We will head that way forthwith, Jubilost. You have been more than patient and we've been focusing internally ... to your detriment. You have my deepest apologies. I will talk to my council and attempt to resolve the issue this very day and return to handle the trolls on our southern border. Perhaps you'd be willing to linger and help us with those beasts? Scout them out while we handle the kobolds. We can meet back up in a couple days and build a plan for them?"
As Connor walks onto view Larisa feels her heart jump into her throat. She examines him, slowly walking to the bars as a tense silence fills the air. She stands there as her thoughts try to find something to say."I didn't think you come." She whispers, gripping the bars tightly as she speaks again in a louder voice. "What can I do for you, Lord."
"I feel like maybe we should have a court recorder or seneschal who helps take care of our schedule of pressing events," mutters Veronica.
"I think dealing with the kobolds is a good idea. Better to handle the issue now, rather than waiting until our borders abut their territory directly. Then we can handle the trolls immediately thereafter."
Jubilost nods wearily at Connor, "Aye, we'll scout your southern border. We'll return in a week. I hope that the situation with my brother is resolved when I return."
The following day you journey east into the Kamelands. The sun rises over the rolling grasslands and a gentle warm breeze greets you from the south.
As the night begins to descend, you notice that you are being followed. Six worgs are barely discernible through the high grasses. The beasts creep slowly behind their intended prey. They appear to have been stalking you for some time. A baleful red worg with intelligent, gleaming eyes leads the pack.
Your horses begin to neigh and whinny uneasily.
Raff, in an attempt to dismount his horse, gets his foot caught in the saddle. Slowing him down considerably.
Larisa focuses on the lead worg, drawing her crossbow as she imbues it with deadly power.
Still lingering against the wall, Connor whispers out, "I didn't think I'd come either ...". He steps forward, eyes glistening as he locks gazes with Larisa, "After stopping me with Jax ... and then our talk about decisions as kings ... I thought ...." he breaks off, obviously at a loss. His gaze falls down and away as he whispers again, "You were supposed to be the better of us ..."
"It will be, Jubilost, you have my word on it." Connor reaches out his arm to clasp the gnomes.
Connor eyes the large wolf skeptically waving at it with his lance, "This thing seems ... different ... than the others. Anyone see anything remarkable?"
Connor delays a moment [ooc](until after the wolves' action), awaiting a reply and for the wolves to close the gap. Once they do, he sets his spurs to Cinder and charges, taking on the aspect of the bull.
"I'm really not Connor." Larisa says looking at him as her eyes mist up. "I like you, because you're a better person than me." She grits her teeth as she constructs her thoughts. "Did you ever wonder why I'm here Connor? In the stolen lands."
Gritting her teeth she grips the bars tight as she forces the words out. "I'm a murder Connor. I killed my cousin, a true born noble of my father's house. Lured him into the woods and put a bolt in his head, like Grigori."
Connor looks up with shock and disbelief, "Why?"
"I uncovered a plot against my grandfather, Lord Gurev Medyed, instigated by the son of my Aunt. I should've told someone, brought it to my lord's attention. But I was so, angry." Larisa hisses, almost seething with rage as she recalls the memory. "Out of all my family, only my lord treated me like I was more than a tool, a bastard. I wasn't trueborn but he loved me like he loves all his grandchildren. He only spared me because I kept the evidence of my cousin's treason, but what I had uncovered and what I had done broke his heart."
"I understand how he feels," Connor hurts out and then frowns before adding lamely, "But I can see your side as well ... I was in that place with Jax, myself."
Connor draws himself together and having come to an internal decision looks down at Larisa through the bars, "That day, you you told me something and stopped me from becoming like the men we hunted. You said, Mercy and redemption are fleeting things out here, but if you discard them...that's the first step on the same path men like them take"
Connor moves forward and unlocks the cell door and opening it wide, "I agree."
Indicating the hallway out, he adds "Always forward, Larisa."
"More worgs," Seres groans. "They must be breeding them out here." Seres casts a spell, emporwing his bow.
The worgs charge forward.
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
; 1=C, 2=E, 3=L, 4=R, 5=S, 6=V
Raff, finally dismounting his stead, throws back an all to familiar potion as he lands, bulking up to monstrous proportions as he finishes the quaf. Finally he shouts at the beasts in a strange tongue before drawing his blade.
Larisa attempts to dismount from the horse quickly but gets caught up in the saddle and has to take a moment to untangel herself. As she hits the ground she takes aim at the lead worg and fires.
Connor charges the nearest worg and skewers the beast with his lance.
Veronica blesses the group.
Raff dismounts and quaffs a potion.
Larisa fires on and wounds the worg approaching her.
Ezekial dismounts and prepares to attack the first worg that approaches .
Two worgs charge Raff and rip him off his feat with snarling bites to his legs .
A worg lunges at Ezekial and sinks its teeth into his flesh
A worg attacks Cinder but is unable to penetrate its armor.
The wounded worg counter attacks Larisa and sweeps her off her feet with a bloody tear of its jaws .
The last worg attacks Veronica's horse and tears it from its feet - sending both the beast and Veronica flying to the ground
; Raff
;
; Raff
;
; Ezekial
;
; Cinder
;
; Larisa
;
; Veronica's Horse
;
Veronica crashes to the ground as her horse falls.
From her prone position she shouts, "Moondancer!" and points.
Her wolf companion snarls and lunges at the worg that threw her down.
(Probably a miss, though)
Veronica, meanwhile, tries to manage a spell while on the ground.
...but she fumbles the spell and it fizzles.
Raff lashes out at his aggressors with string of enraged insults. "You whoreson's! I'll rip of your pelts and turn you into rugs for the town!"
After thinking about this for a day or two Ezekial comes to Connor privately and proposes You asked me to think on this and I have. I see no value to sending anything, even a message back to Pitax. Better to keep the gear, bury the body in an unmarked grave, and see if anyone outside our little kingdom makes any noises about it. Put the gear in storage if you like but sending anything back to Pitax would send them the wrong message. They did not take action against us and we gain nothing by accusing them of doing so. Sending them the body back is an accusation and would play into the hands and goals of whoever did hire Gregory. I am sure they hoped to cause strive between us and Pitax. Lets not give them that. If anything we send a diplomat to Pitax to suggest an alliance. If an enemy wants to drive a wedge between us and a potential ally then I say we strengthen the relationship with that ally.
Connor frowns at Zeke's proposal, "I actually asked you to come up with a plan to use this to our advantage. What you've done is repackaged your position with different words. We are new to these positions and for some reason this is particularly important to you. I truly believe we could turn this into a counter intelligence opportunity, but perhaps you need more infrastructure to make that work. Sieze the goods, put them in evidence and we will hold them in case there is a later advantage although I feel that window is now. Regardless, let's move on to building up our espionage apparatus." Connor's mouth twists in disappointment but doesn't push the matter any further.
As she hits the ground and begins scrambling to defend herself from the worg Larisa releases the energy from her crossbow. Drawing on her power she unleashes a blistering litany of insults at the worgs.
Moondancer charges the worg as Veronica and her horse crash to the ground. The hound's jaws are unable to penetrate the worg's thick pelt, but the attack is enough to distract the dire wolf from Veronica.
Raff hacks his falchion into one of the wolves on top of him - seriously wounding the worg, but not killing it.
Larisa calls down the fury of Erastil on the worgs. The divine invective blast four worgs and kills the beast attacking Larisa - though none of the worgs ignite.
; 1=L
; 1
; 2
; 3
; 4
Seres backs up and fires arrows at the worgs attacking Raff.
;
;
Sorry for the hold up. Long work days and Wayfinder is broke.
Connor will charge the nearest warg as will cinder.
|
Connor frowns at Zeke's proposal, "I actually asked you to come up with a plan to use this to our advantage. What you've done is repackaged your position with different words. We are new to these positions and for some reason this is particularly important to you. I truly believe we could turn this into a counter intelligence opportunity, but perhaps you need more infrastructure to make that work. Sieze the goods, put them in evidence and we will hold them in case there is a later advantage although I feel that window is now. Regardless, let's move on to building up our espionage apparatus." Connor's mouth twists in disappointment but doesn't push the matter any further.After thinking about this for a day or two Ezekial comes to Connor privately and proposes You asked me to think on this and I have. I see no value to sending anything, even a message back to Pitax. Better to keep the gear, bury the body in an unmarked grave, and see if anyone outside our little kingdom makes any noises about it. Put the gear in storage if you like but sending anything back to Pitax would send them the wrong message. They did not take action against us and we gain nothing by accusing them of doing so. Sending them the body back is an accusation and would play into the hands and goals of whoever did hire Gregory. I am sure they hoped to cause strive between us and Pitax. Lets not give them that. If anything we send a diplomat to Pitax to suggest an alliance. If an enemy wants to drive a wedge between us and a potential ally then I say we strengthen the relationship with that ally.
Ezekial frowns back at Connor. That is because my position is well thought out and your's has no merit. Look, I don't care if you are disappointed with me or not. I am certainly disappointed with you. I want to remind you that I do not work for you. In fact I did not vote for you to be my king. Hells, I voted to not have a king. First you threaten to jail me for following your orders and now you treat me like a child because I disagree with you and try to explain why you are wrong. I am done taking orders from you Connor. Run me out of town if you like. He turns his back on Connor and leaves.
Connor frowns at Zeke's proposal, "I actually asked you to come up with a plan to use this to our advantage. What you've done is repackaged your position with different words. We are new to these positions and for some reason this is particularly important to you. I truly believe we could turn this into a counter intelligence opportunity, but perhaps you need more infrastructure to make that work. Sieze the goods, put them in evidence and we will hold them in case there is a later advantage although I feel that window is now. Regardless, let's move on to building up our espionage apparatus." Connor's mouth twists in disappointment but doesn't push the matter any further.After thinking about this for a day or two Ezekial comes to Connor privately and proposes You asked me to think on this and I have. I see no value to sending anything, even a message back to Pitax. Better to keep the gear, bury the body in an unmarked grave, and see if anyone outside our little kingdom makes any noises about it. Put the gear in storage if you like but sending anything back to Pitax would send them the wrong message. They did not take action against us and we gain nothing by accusing them of doing so. Sending them the body back is an accusation and would play into the hands and goals of whoever did hire Gregory. I am sure they hoped to cause strive between us and Pitax. Lets not give them that. If anything we send a diplomat to Pitax to suggest an alliance. If an enemy wants to drive a wedge between us and a potential ally then I say we strengthen the relationship with that ally.
Ezekial frowns back at Connor. That is because my position is well thought out and your's has no merit. Look, I don't care if you are disappointed with me or not. I am certainly disappointed with you. I want to remind you that I do not work for you. In fact I did not vote for you to be my king. Hells, I voted to not have a king. First you...
Let's try to move this type of kingdom level discussion to the other thread.
Seres fires on the lead worg with the red fur but his heavy arrow is deflected by its thick pelt.
After wounding his attacking work, Ezekial tumbles over to flank the red worg - slashing the wolf deeply with his kukri.
Connor steps back and drives his lance down on the worg attacking Cinder - severly wounding it.
The red worg turns and snaps at Ezekial, but the nimble rogue dodges the attack. The worg that Ezekial tumbled away from moves to a flanking position and tears into Ezekial's hamstring .
The worg standing over the prone Raff continues to ravage the investigator .
The worg attacking Cinder again is rebuffed by the horse's armor.
The worg near Veronica rips into Moondancer and knocks the mastiff off of its feet .
; Ezekial
;
; Raff
;
; Ezekial
;
; Cinder
;
; Veronica
;
Still stuck on the ground, Veronica tries to cast another spell.
...and fails again.
Moondancer stands up (and provokes an AoO).
Moondancer snarls and lunges at the worg that bit her.
Seres fires another arrow, letting out a groan as it flies wide.
;
Cinder attacks and then steps back allowing Connor to attack.
; miss
;
;
Larisa flips onto her stomach, loading her weapon as she looks around. Taking aim at the worg attacking Veronica she draws again on Erastil's divine power to infuse her weapon with baneful energy and fires.
Raff, still on the ground cursing and yelling, Slashes at the red Worg once more. Trying despretly to down it.
The worg bites Moondancer as the wolf stands and knocks it back off its feet . Moondancer snarls and counter attacks with a bloody bite to the worg.
Ezekial slashes the throat of the red worg - sending geysers of warm blood spraying across both himself and Raff.
Seres fires again but again narrowly misses.
Connor and Cinder back up and the war horse crushes the attacking worg with his mail clad hooves.
Larisa fires from a prone position and blasts a divine infused bolt through the head of the worg on Moondancer.
Raff hacks the heavy blade of his falchion into the skull of his worg - killing the beast instantly.
The remaining worg locks its jaws onto Ezekial's leg and rips the rogue off of his feet
; Moondancer
;
; Ezekial
;
Veronica and Moondancer both stand up. Veronica launches an arrow past Larisa at the worg still fighting Zeke, while Moondancer follows hot on the arrow's trail.