When they have found shelter, Zhalet gathers those who need wounds healed together. She channels bright, healing and cleansing energy to bring them relief.
As the group discusses what to do next, Zhalet adds her thoughts.
"I think we should move against the Battle Market beginning in the morning, when we are fresh and rested. We don't want to squander any surprise we have by starting something we cannot finish."
"But it is early yet today. Perhaps we could finish a check of the buildings in this outer ring. We don't want to find any unpleasant surprises behind us later."
"I could continue." Solomon said. "I defer to Alexander though. His magical energies are the most important for us to consider. The scouts could check the nearby buildings if the rest of you want to make camp. I think we can check things and return without fear of engaging anything unexpected. We have not heard any other movement. If anything not he side of the Gnolls was nearby, it would have heard and come with the demon's howling."
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"Well," Alexander says as he finds a place to sit, "let's take a moment to rest up. I'd like to tell you all a story. Bear with me; this is something us old folks like to do to bore you youngsters; it gives us the feeling we still have some relevance in your lives.
Once upon a time, there were a man and a woman who were very much in love. His family was rich, and hers claimed a glorious descent from the great King Nex through the sideline.
Honestly, I don't think it's much of a claim to fame to say your so-many-times-great-grandmother was a maid who lacked the sense to stay out of the King's bedroom and was fired when her belly grew, but people get caught up on the silliest things.
In any case, they fell in love, they got married, and in due time along came their first child: a boy. This made them very happy because they fancied here was the heir to the family name they needed and deserved. Bad luck, though; as the lad grew up it turned out he was a bit of a dreamer. He thought he would make his fortune through art. Sculptures, to be precise. He spent hours a day studying the works of great masters and banging away at blocks of stone.
Once he was old enough to do so - and had saved up enough of his allowance - the boy rented a space at a studio complex in the city, one where many artists came to practice their art, all so he could be out from under his parents' feet and work with live models. His mother especially was very opposed to having live models in the house. She said everyone knew what they were like.
Well, sure enough, the boy found a beautiful girl to model for him and she was accustomed to selling her looks in more than one way. Not surprising, really; a man in a room with a beautiful young woman for hours on end.... these things happen, and she could certainly use the mopney.
And yet, to her surprise, her latest employer really only paid her to stand as model for his art, no matter how little clothing this involved. She tried spinning a couple of sob stories about her sick father, her bedridden mother, her younger siblings who needed money to buy an apprenticeship, all the classics, and how she would do anything to earn a bit more. Again, to her surprise, the trusting fool just gave her the money. No 'special favours' asked in return. None.
So, our sly little minx had a meal ticket right in her grasp! But to her own surprise, she felt guilty. Most people would have fleeced the trusting fool for all he was worth, but she.... she felt guilty because the boy was genuinely sorry for her supposed woes, asked after the ailing relations she had made up. So guilty that she burst into tears, offered him the money back, confessed the whole thing.
Any man with more brains than a chicken would have taken the money and thrown the girl out on her ear for the liar she was, but our hero" - Alexander sneers - "just offered her his handkerchief and a chaste hug, and forgave her. Offered to increase her salary if she needed the money so badly, the rich buffoon.
For some reason, that really got to the girl, so she kissed the boy. One thing lead to another, hearts afire, passions rising, and before you know it they had become lovers. They believed they were in love, young fools that they were. Like so many young fools in love, they were careless. And so it came to pass that the girl's belly started to swell, and she had to break the news to her lover...."
Alexander breaks off for a moment, pale eyes staring into the middle distance. Whatever they see, it is apparently not pretty.
".... she had to break the news to the poor idiot who had gotten her in the family way.... and he went to one knee right there and then and offered her his signet ring because he did not have another one handy. He told her he adored her; her beauty, her strong spirit, her kindness. He told her how he could not bear to be parted from her, how he wanted both her and their child in his life, for however much of that life remained to him. Asked her to be his wife.
So she wept and said yes, then he wept, they hugged, they kissed, and he ran right out and bought the studio they always met at, had it refurnished into an apartment that very day. He begged her to give him a little time. His parents would not approve of just any match, they knew, so he was going to forge her a pedigree that would knock his mother's socks off and see his father nod with approval.
You might well expect the girl to be offended by the notion that her family was not good enough, but she was a practical girl with a keen sense of reality. Also, most of her relations were criminals of one sort or another, so a clean slate was a grand blessing.
They spent the evening in bed together, making up stupid dreams about the future, naive fancies. The next morning, he left her to start the forgeries in his study at home, where he kept books on genealogy. He promised to be back by evening."
Alexander briefly wipes a hand over his left cheek, frowning in displeasure.
"Dust," he proclaims. "And grit. Where was I? Oh, yes.
By evening, he returned to the apartment he had bought his bride-to-be, and there she was. He did not recognize her at first.
Someone had broken into the apartment while he was away, you see, and had turned his lover and their unborn child into.... art. Part painting, part exposition piece. An unholy fresco to praise Urgathoa. It was an abomination."
Now, Alexander's eyes burn. The contrast with his deathly, dusty old voice is startling.
"The boy screamed and fainted, and eventually some of the other artists who used that studio complex came to find him and helped him back to his feet. They took him away from the complex and, I must say, set it on fire to destroy that foul 'art' - and also to make sure they would none of them become suspects. You know artists; they are eccentrics and wastrels and would make easy suspects. Just as well for the fool boy that they thought of him as one of them, or they might have blackmailed him!
None of them knew what might have happened. That is to say, none of them knew what might have happened until the bereaved almost-a-father passed around some gold. Gold does wonders for people's memories; they can make them appear and disappear just like magic."
Alexander sneers again; a hateful expression.
"As they say, money talks. In this case, the money told m -- told the poor fool that his bride-to-be had on occasion modelled for an old painter, a pesh-addict with bizarre tastes, who had been quite upset when she stopped working for him. Apparently, his money was not sufficient to convince a beautiful young girl to keep returning to his studio. And the money said that the old codger had been seen lurking around the studio complex of late.
Well, our hero may have been a fool and an artist, but he was indeed his father's son. When money talked, he listened. He followed the money's directions to the old painter's home, where he kicked down the door and found the evil old sot, trying to clean his brushes. And do you have any idea what he said when he saw the intruder before him?"
The sneer vanishes, and is replaced by an almost waxen expression. The old Wizard's eyes continue to burn, staring hatred across a vast distance in time and space.
"He complained to the boy how the blood and 'stuff' from 'his whore and his brat' had gotten into his brushes and would not come out. He demanded that the young fool pay him to buy new ones, so he could continue to honour the Pallid Princess with his artistic genius.
Alas, the old fool never produced another painting. His hovel burned down that night, and no one ever found out what had caused the blaze. And wasn't it a sad way to go? The city guard discovered his body in the middle of his home, the major bones in both his arms and legs broken. Can you imagine how the old bastard must have suffered, how he must have screamed for help that never came, with the fire drawing closer every moment?"
Alexander leans back and looks at his audience. He smiles, but the expression is humourless.
"Well, what about the boy who was not to become a husband, not to become a father, you might ask? And I will tell you. He went home, told his parents none of what had happened, retreated into his study.... and never really came out of it again. He became an armchair scholar. Let his old sculptures gather dust or sold them outright. Oh, he'd send off letters to this and that old sage and write complicated papers on subjects dead or so arcane they might as well be, and every now and then he would dabble in this and experiment at that, but he never really got out anymore. And he never told his parents why. Imagine their distress! How was this young man who had somehow turned into an old man overnight, and who was wasting his life instead of living it, supposed to be their heir?
Mind you, they had kept on making babies after their firstborn and they had plenty of daughters - eleven of them - all of whom showed energy and ambition aplenty, but they could simply not continue the family name. So, once more they strove mightily, and to their relief they had another boy.
Imagine how beloved that child was. Doted on by his mother, his father, his eleven sisters and, to everyone's surprise, his big brother."
For a moment, a gentler expression ghosts across Alexander's face -- but then it is gone.
"He was wonderful. Special. Full of life from dawn to dusk, and all too often from dusk to dawn as well. Curious about everything, eager to experience it all, to see the world. He was energetic, charming, playful, full of courage, good humour and dreams. Alas, what he was not full of, was a desire to settle down at home and learn the family business. No, he liked the adventuring life, our Timothy.
Mother and Father tried to keep him at home, asked the rest of us to talk to him, but he was a free spirit. The drive to go out and sample all the excitement this world has to offer would not be denied. Not until Mother and Father died."
Alexander wipes at his face again, scowling and muttering under his breath about desert dust.
"Well. Anyway. He said he would come home to stay after the burial. After one last adventure. One last hurrah."
Slowly, Alexander fixes his eyes on Dakshi.
"He came here. To this place. And he was sent home in a box. Tortured to death; savaged by Gnolls, to be precise. His eyes and tongue gone, nowhere to be found. His body withered to a mummy without the benefit of bandages.
And so, I packed my bags and left home. My sisters begged me not to, but I told them.... I told them none of what had happened to my bride. I only told them I was going to set things straight."
The old man utters a bark of laughter; harsh and humourless.
"Stuff and nonsense. I came to visit on who- or whatever murdered my brother. For you see, I loved him. Not the same way I loved my Muse, the mother of my child never to be born, but I loved him all the same.
That Urgathoa-worshipping hack discovered that I do not suffer my loved ones to be murdered for sport, or for someone's convenience. Until I find out which individual Gnoll is responsible for my brother's death, they shall all know my wrath. And if I should die while exacting this revenge.... Well. My life was wasted anyway. At least now it will be spent to a purpose.
So, Dakshi, hunter of Gnolls. Tell me a story. Tell me a story of how a human came to be kith and kin to the Three Jaws Tribe. Tell me a story about why they cannot possibly be responsible for my brother's death. I hope it will be a very entertaining story. And I hope it will be very convincing."
Rukn stirrs in his sit.
-Uh... Mmmh...
Then he turns his head to Dashki.
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Solomon had heard many stories of blood, vengeance and horror in his time with the temple. Many people with dark pasts come to Sarenrae seeking atonement or retribution. Alexander's story was particularly horrific, but the emotions and underlying pain were all there. Solomon knew enough to know that there was no fixing that kind of hurt. Only learning ways of processing and coping.
A wise man knows when to keep his mouth shut. At the moment, Solomon was wise.
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Dashki pales slightly as Alexander finishes his story and issues his threat. Though none was explicitly stated, Dashki heard it there.
He takes a deep breath and begins to speak, his voice quiet, "Gnolls killed my mother and grandfather when I was a young boy. They put fire to our village and slew hundreds. Somehow I escaped with my father to the town of Solku, not far from here. It was a long time ago, and I’ve forgotten most of what I saw. Terrible things. But I find it’s the sounds that stay with me. The shrill howls and barks—hundreds of them at once—that sounded deliriously close to an audience. Laughing at us."
"Father raised me to know everything about the gnolls, their customs, their language. So as better to track them down and wipe them out. All of them. Together we scouted out their lairs, studied their tribes, listened to them speak until we could understand what they were saying. They’re not dumb animals, you know. Not like you might think. In some ways they’re even smarter than us."
Dashki's voice is barely above a whisper as he continues, "Dad didn’t survive our first raid on a gnoll camp of the Three Jaws tribe. I saw them fall on him like hyenas on an abandoned kill, slathering themselves in his blood and innards. I can still hear the tearing of his flesh and the sound of his bones against frenzied teeth. Against this scene I was forgotten. Ignored."
Dashki takes a breath as if to speak, then pauses and lets it out. He looks around at all assembled, then seems to nod to himself and continues speaking in nearly a monotone, "Ignored for only as long as it took for the beasts to devour my father. I tried to escape while they feasted, but they chased me and caught me. I expected to be dessert. Though I spoke their language, and could understand their words long before this time, I have no knowledge of what they said as they stood over me while I trembled in my fear."
While he speak, Dashki's hands move absently to pluck a few stands of thread hanging from his clothing. With the automatic motions of a nervous tic, they begin to weave the threads into something. His voice continues in its monotone as his hands twist, weave, and tie, "I was taken to the camp of the Three Jaws tribe and tossed in among a pack of their own pups. I expected to be devoured by the young gnolls, but one of the adults spoke: 'Your new brother', it said, 'teach him'."
Both his voice and his hands are still for a few moments as he stares into nothing. His eyes snap to his hands and he drops the threads he was weaving, and a half tied poppet falls to the stable floor. His voice shakes a little as he continues, but evens out into the monotone with which he has related the whole tale thus far, "They treated me like one of their own pups. I was given raw meat to eat, and was forced to defend my meat against the other pups if I wanted anything to eat at all. I was trained like they were, pitted against the other pups in 'mock' games of stalking, hide and beat, and 'fake' combats. I was smaller, weaker, and lacking the natural weapons the gnoll pups were born with. I will not dwell on the years of cruelty, abuse, and humiliation. I was forced to give up my humanity to survive. I became as they were in all but body."
He turns away from the others, staring past Andrus out the stable doors, and his voice shakes again with pent up emotions, "I embraced my savagery to survive. I became like them. I became one of them." Relaxing once more with a few deep, measured breaths, he continues in a monotone, "Then they cast me out saying I must now learn to reclaim my humanity. I did as they asked, desperate to regain what little of their trust and companionship I had for I found that I craved it as I had wanted nothing else in this life. I became Dashki once more. But they never came back for me. I took to working as a scout, a guide to whoever would pay. That is how I met Lady Almah, and how I came to this point."
He turns back to Alexander, "There, you have my story. A story I have told to no other living creature. They are horrible and cruel, but the Three Jaws are all the family I have. Accept the alliance or do not, I care not one way or the other, but I will not fight the Three Jaws. I will happily kill any other gnolls, but I will not fight my family. Are the Three Jaws responsible for the death of your brother? I do not know." A look seeps into his eyes that is very difficult to read, "But I find it unlikely. For, you see, his body was recovered. The Three Jaws do not waste food."
"They may have raised you, but they were your captors. They were not your family. That is not what family is." Solomon said quietly.
"I see," Alexander says. "Yes. I see."
The old man taps his fingers against the head of his cane, his eyes fixed somewhere on the distance.
"This is a big decision, and so I call for the vote," he finally says.
"Dashki; Solomon is right. The Three Jaws are not your family, you are their victim. They have enslaved you in mind and body against their future need, whatever that might be. You are not one of them."
Slowly, his eyes never leaving Dashki's, Alexander holds out a hand to the broken man.
"You are one of us," he says. "May the whole hand of Nethys be upon you and heal you in body, mind and soul, protect you from further pain."
"Now, to the vote. And I freely admit mine is coloured by hatred.
I do not trust the Three Jaws.
If they join us in battle, they might fall on whoever emerges from our struggle with the Kuldiss the victor - or they might demand influence in the region after Kelmarane has been conquered, which would only lead to more trouble. Keep in mind, if we send them back home under their flag of truce, they may yet join with the Kuldiss to at least get a big meal and some loot out of the whole mess.
I vote we decline their offer and let them go home. The flag of truce is sacrocanct. But we keep them in mind; after the Kuldiss are gone, the Three Jaws must be broken."
Alexander's eyes bore into Dashki's.
"I came here to avenge my brother. I do not mind helping you avenge your father, your mother and your grandfather, Dashki. And I do not mind helping you avenge yourself."
Rukn alternates between looking at Alexander, Dashki and Andrus.
-I believe what they did to you to be a cruelty, meant only to corrupt an individual and then release him in his original society just for fun. Fortunately, you are stronger than that, Dashki.
He clears his thought, gaining a bit of time to put his ideas in order.
-However, the possibility of us making an alliance with the express intention of breaking it immediately after our goal is achieved is something I am not willing to consider. If this is any of you or Lady Almah's plan, I won't be able to talk you out of it, but don't count me in.
Kilarra waits for a few moments before speaking, "It seems clear to me that much like Alexander, your life has been filled with pain and bitterness. Hate has grown up from those seeds and threatens to consume you. That is not a criticism but merely an observation.
"What bothers me the most is that you openly and clearly are aware of the great many crimes that not just any gnolls but specifically the Three Jaws Tribe has visited upon you personally. Yet you still call them family and defend them and advise that you think it is best if we work with them. From my perspective their resume on whether we should trust them or not is grounded on little more than the fact that they 'sparred' you, if you can even call it that. In fact, your story makes me more inclined to not trust them given that they so mistreated you and then, after they 'made you one of their own' kicked you out for no other reason than that of your heritage."
Kilarra looks at the others meaningfully,
"I also agree that the flag of truce is sacred. However, as trustworthy or not they may be the fact of the mater is that the Three Jaws have done nothing to provoke us. Provided that they do not give us cause to force a decision like joining the other gnolls against us then I say we should not decide here and now what we may or may not do in regards to the Three Jaws here and now."
Turning back to Dashki her expression softens with some sadness and sympathy but also a hit of disappointment and disbelief.
"Dashki, I too was raised by the very people that killed my parents. They tried to teach me to be like them and I did learn a great deal from them. One thing I never learned from them is how to be one of them in my heart. Like you, I did what was required to survive which included behaving like them when required to do so. When I finally had the opportunity though I work quietly and carefully for many years to bring about their destruction. When that day finally came I did feel vindication. No, instead I felt peace, relief and a sense of triumph because I had finally seen justice done to those who murdered my parents. I knew they could finally rest in peace knowing that I had freed myself and at the same time made those responsible, or at least most of them, pay for their crimes with their lives."
Kilarra looks off in the distance with a faint expression of steely resolve and at the same time a willingness to accept whatever comes.
"The disease of bitterness can never be cured through revenge, Haleen taught me that. You must let the bitterness go. That does not mean that those who did the crime should not face the consequences of their actions but the motivation must be right or you will destroy yourself in the process."
Realizing how long she has been talking she says "I apologize, I vote that we do not work with the Three Jaws. I vote that we do let them leave in peace. I say that what we do with them later should be decided later and will depend somewhat on what they do between now and then."
Dashki simply looks at Alexander's hand, and for a moment it seems like you may have gotten through to him. But the expression on his face hardens, he steps back putting the open stable doors at his back, and his angry voice rings in the quiet stable, "None of you know what you are talking about! You don't know me! If you wish to spurn the aid of the Three Jaws, then so be it. I will convey to them your decision. But Dashki will no longer aid you!"
S
R
K
"We do appreciate the offer and your willingness to act as a go between. Please remember that just because we do not accept their aid does not make us your enemy, Dashki. Are you really going to stop helping Lady Almah just because we don't trust someone that we don't know? I would hate to loose your friendship just because we don't want their help and I know that Lady Almah would not be happy to see you go either. I know she values and respects you. Take some time to think about it before you make any decisions. Go and deliver the news, then, I hope you will return even if it is just for a time so that we can enjoy your company once again."
"I would spit on the aid of the Three Jaws," Alexander says, his voice calm as he rises to his feet and leans on his cane. "I would not spit on yours, Dashki. Please reconsider. Stay with us. Be a man, not a Gnoll."
Solomon sighs. "This has gotten out of hand. Why don't we all take a step back from this and breathe."
Dashki looks at Solomon, ignoring both Kilarra and Alexander, "Yes, lets take a step back from this..." With that he turns and stalks out the stable door, turning left and heading out of town.
"Dashki of the Three Jaws," Alexander says as soon as the other man starts to turn away, "stand and face me!"
If Dashki refuses, the old man jerks his head at Andrus and Solomon.
"Grab him. But take him alive, if you can. Hurry!"
"Dashki of the Three Jaws," Alexander says as soon as the other man starts to turn away, "stand and face me!"
Round 1:
As soon as Alexander issues his challenge, Dashki tries to break into a run. But it seems that Andrus has been waiting for just this thing since the confrontation in the stable began.
Alexander begins to command Dashki's apprehension, "Grab h-" and Andrus' tucked shoulder slams into Dashki's ribs, flinging Dashki past the open doors to the stable, and fetching him up against the wall beside the door.
"-im. But take him alive, if you can. Hurry!"
Dashki steadies himself and whirls to face the group, scimitar and kukri sliding free of their sheaths. Suddenly, Dashki's tale of becoming a gnoll at heart seems much more believable; his mangy, unkempt hair, ragged appearance, and his snarling, rage-filled expression all make him seem less than human. His voice is rough and not unlike the voices of gnolls when they speak the common tongue, "So this is the truth of your offer of peace! You will die under a tide of the Three Jaws!"
Initiative:
Dashki: 26
Zhalet: 23
Solomon: 18
Kilarra: 14+
Andrus: 14-
Rukn: 12
Felliped: 6
Erizi: 4
Alexander: 2
Solomon: .
Kilarra: .
Erizi: .
Zhalet: .
Alexander: .
A
F
D
ABR
"What now?"
Rukn adopts a fighting stance and gets close to Dashki.
"So, this is what the Three Jaws wanted. Divide us and make us fight between ourselves. Can't you see we're trying to be fair?", the last word accompanied by a punch to Dashki's jaw in an attempt to knock him out.
Zhalet said nothing during Alexander and Dashki's exchange. There was nothing in her life, rather ideal as it had been actually, to prepare her for the great suffering they had both endured. What could she possibly say that would be useful or comforting?
She remained firm and certain that she would refuse to turn on the Three Jaws gnolls and Dashki without provocation if they aided her and the others at Kelmarane. Whether or not Dashki's tribe helped them was something she was ambivalent about, so she also left that to be settled by the more passionately interested parties.
What she did not see coming was the sudden turn to violence. She saw nothing at all that would explain Alexander's sudden move when Dashki moved to leave.
Zhalet calls out "Stop! Wait! There is no need for this"! She draws no weapon, but it is too late to insert herself between Dashki and Andrus.
Solomon folds his arms across his chest and stepped back. "Not my fight. I'll patch you both up when you're done."
"I don't want him hurt, but we cannot let him return to those Gnolls! Please subdue him until we can get him somewhere they can fix his head!"
Kilarra runs to try and place herself between Dashki and anyone that would do him harm. Over her shoulder she says sharply to Alexander "The ONLY reason we would not want him to return to his family is because of your sharp, inflammatory words. If you could put a muzzle on your hatred for one minute and use that vast intellect of yours to try and choose words that will NOT lead us to WAR it would be oh so helpful. Dashki has been our ally and friend. I will not stand by and watch you make him an enemy for no reason but his affiliation with a group that has done us no wrong!!"
Erizi watches the heated exchange, with his facial expressions mirroring his changing moods as each presents his case. He picks up his hammer, but takes no action... and will not unless someone is getting ready to die. He is obviously torn and distraught at the conflict between his party members.
"Nobody's killing anybody here. We are not enemies. I am not a wise man, and what's kept me alive is learning not to let my emotions rule me. I also learned that the enemy before me is the threat, not what enemy might appear next. This does not need to be decided at this time. Let us concentrate on our next actions".
Round 1 - Final:
Zhalet calls out "Stop! Wait! There is no need for this!" She draws no weapon, but it is too late to insert herself between Dashki and Andrus. She makes no move to join the fray.
Solomon folds his arms across his chest and stepped back. Like Zhalet, Solomon does not get involved in the budding conflict.
Kilarra runs to try and place herself between Dashki and anyone that would do him harm. Over her shoulder she says sharply to Alexander "The ONLY reason we would not want him to return to his family is because of your sharp, inflammatory words. If you could put a muzzle on your hatred for one minute and use that vast intellect of yours to try and choose words that will NOT lead us to WAR it would be oh so helpful. Dashki has been our ally and friend. I will not stand by and watch you make him an enemy for no reason but his affiliation with a group that has done us no wrong!!" Other than acting as an obstacle, Kilarra also takes no further action.
Andrus does not press his attack, though he does draw his blade gripping it tightly in both hands. He looks from Alexander to Kilarra, to Dashki, "I watched gnolls torture to death and eat nearly my entire company. If he claims to be a gnoll, let him suffer the fate of 'his kind'." He seems ready to attack, but is holding back for now.
Rukn adopts a fighting stance and gets close to Dashki. "So, this is what the Three Jaws wanted. Divide us and make us fight between ourselves. Can't you see we're trying to be fair," the last word accompanied by an attempt to punch to Dashki in the jaw. Kilarra's interference foils his attack, however.
Felliped moves over to Andrus' side, spear held firm but his body language shows he is uncertain what to do.
Erizi watches the heated exchange, with his facial expressions mirroring his changing moods as each presents his case. He picks up his hammer, but takes no action... and will not unless someone is getting ready to die. He is obviously torn and distraught at the conflict between his party members. "Nobody's killing anybody here. We are not enemies. I am not a wise man, and what's kept me alive is learning not to let my emotions rule me. I also learned that the enemy before me is the threat, not what enemy might appear next. This does not need to be decided at this time. Let us concentrate on our next actions."
Alexander does not take any hostile actions either, but instead tries to explain his desire to restrain Dashki, "I don't want him hurt, but we cannot let him return to those Gnolls! Please subdue him until we can get him somewhere they can fix his head!"
Initiative:
Dashki: 26
Zhalet: 23
Solomon: 18
Kilarra: 14+
Andrus: 14-
Rukn: 12
Felliped: 6
Erizi: 4
Alexander: 2
Round 2 - Begin:
Trapped in the corner, Dashki snarls in anger and frustration, glaring at everyone, "How I choose to live my life is none of your business, fool! I am not yours to 'fix'. Either let me leave, or kill me but stop this pointless posturing." He fixes rage filled eyes on Andrus, "And you! The Three Jaws had nothing to do with your company being captured by the Kulldis. But anytime you are ready I will feed your bones to the crows."
Initiative:
Dashki: 26
Zhalet: 23
Solomon: 18
Kilarra: 14+
Andrus: 14-
Rukn: 12
Felliped: 6
Erizi: 4
Alexander: 2
"Don't you understand? We don't want anything bad towards the Three Jaws!" says Rukn while dodging and bobbing. "But we can't let you tell them to attack us just because we didn't accept their help!"
He turns to the others between one move and the next. "Doesn't anyone understand?"
"Don't you understand? We don't want anything bad towards the Three Jaws!" says Rukn while dodging and bobbing. "But we can't let you tell them to attack us just because we didn't accept their help!"
He turns to the others between one move and the next. "Doesn't anyone understand?"
Zhalet move between Dashki, her back to to the man and facing the others. She intends for the show of trust to calm Dashki, bringing him back to a point where reason can be used. She raises her hands to stop her companions.
"Andrus, Rukn, step back. Please." It may be framed as a request, but the tone of her voice makes it clearly a command.
"This is going too far. We all need to stop for a moment and calm down. Lower your weapons everyone. Pause right now while there is nothing yet to regret."
"Dashki, please come outside with me. I would like to speak with you alone."
Kilarra relaxes a little seeing that it does not seem that things will come to blows. "Dashki, please go with Zhalet and if I do not see you before you depart please believe me when I say that we are not your enemy. While Alexander's words may have been hurtful, I know that in his heart he genuinely cares for you and does not want to harm you. Go in peace my friend, I ask that before you make any final decisions you please talk to Lady Almah. Given your history with her I feel that she would be hurt if you did not give her at least that much."
Alexander watches the events unfolding in grave silence....
Dashki eyes everyone around, particularly Andrus, and when no one makes any overt hostile action toward him, he straightens and walks out the door to the stable. As zhalet follows him out, she finds him standing some twenty feet away, facing back toward her. Both his weapons are still drawn, but not held up in a battle-ready posture. His voice is still angry, but no longer quite snarling mad, "Say what you have to say, Zhalet. I wish to be off."
***
Andrus watches Dashki leave, then slams his blade back into its scabbard with a disgusted look on his face, "You are all making a mistake. Mark my words."
Alexander just looks at Andrus and holds up the scroll.
"Alma will hear our words before the Three Jaws hear his," he says.
"But we can't let him go, he's completely mistaken and out of order!" snaps Rukn. To him, no one seems to get to the point of things. "Just because his pride is hurt, he's going to tell the Three Jaws no one knows what, and make them attack us as if we'd done some kind of stupid honour breach."
"Seeing as we are suffering a difference in opinion on this, we should probably vote," Alexander suggests. "I advocate capturing and restraining him; he is not in his right mind, no matter what he says. He is a victim of conditioning and cruelty. We can't let him march right back into the paws of his abusers."
"This is not a democracy." Solomon said quietly. 'You cannot out vote the consciences of the people who do not agree with this."
"Alma ordered his death for no reason other than association with gnolls who are not her enemies. He is right to be angry."
"What if they had been orcs? Would she order my death also?"
"I am here to find my mother. Not kill people who have not wronged me."
"It's not the same, Solomon, but in any case, it's irrelevant" tries to explain Rukn. "The question here is, do we want the Three Jaws to attack us? Because, face it, they will attack us. It's not like they will say 'oh, no, leave those poor guys and kill only Andrus'. No one here is talking about killing Dashki, actually, that was what we tried not to do in the beginning." He looks at Alexander, face saying Are we not? "Otherwise, we would have just followed Almah's orders to begin with." With Solomon mentioning what's on the scroll, Rukn sees no point in hiding it from Andrus anymore. "But that doesn't mean we're suddenly Dashki's best friends and we should release him to do his will, because he doing his will is going to get us all killed. So, I hpe Zhalet can convince him on staying or at least giving his word, if he has one, on leaving the fact as it is, and we can convince Almah on leaving the Three Jaws as they are. That would make finding Haleen that much easier."
Kilarra seems visibly confused over part of the discussion. She stalks over, picks up the note and begins to read. "What in the bloody hell??" Looking back at the others "So I definitely missed the part where we were ordered to kill him. However, to be specific, it says we are supposed to do that AFTER Kelmarane is liberated. That is precisely what I was thinking, we do not want to fight the Three Jaws and the forces here at the same time. We needed Dashki to go back and say positive things about us in order to minimize the odds that they will side with these gnolls here. The odds of that are much less now. Besides, what was the plan anyhow, capture and detain Dashki and then tell the Three Gnolls what, that the demon got him? Who would deliver that message, Andrus? Forgive me but he does not strike me as the type who is comfortable with miss-truth. So the likelihood is that he would spin his falsehood, they would see right through it and be even more likely to side with the forces here for not returning Dashki and for lying to them."
Erizi stands and scratches his head, confused as to what is happening.
The pit is much easier. You know who to smash, and who not to. I never thought having friends cold be so hard
Zhalet gestures toward the bridge. ”Will you walk with me for a bit Dashki?”
As they begin to walk, Zhalet says to him ”I am so very sorry for what happened in there. I want you to know that Alexander does not speak for all of us, or perhaps even most of us, on the question of aid from the Three Jaws, or you.”
”As you know now, Alexander is gruff and does not bother much with niceties when speaking. Remember that only a short time earlier he and Andrus exchanged sharp words as well. You brought an offer of aid. He attacked your offer unfairly, demanding you prove things that cannot be proven. You are the wronged party Dashki, and I apologize.”
”I would have preferred to accept the offer from the Three Jaws. I do not doubt their bravery or skill, and they offered help that would have been very valuable. But I think we have passed the time when that is possible. To join together in retaking Kelmarane would require a degree of trust between us and the Three Jaws that is no longer attainable. We cannot cooperate if each of us is trying to anticipate the moment when one will turn on the other. “
”Both you and Alexander have seen great cruelty in your past. In that way, you are like brothers. Certainly you don’t share brotherly affection, but the link is still there. The cruelties you have both seen have sparked an anger in you both that cannot be put aside. I do not say this as an accusation, nor do I judge either of you for it. It is what it is, and I am in no position to comment.”
”Alexander will never trust the Three Jaws enough to accept their offer. You understand why. The Three Jaws cannot trust us either, not only because of Alexander, but also Andrus and Filliped, perhaps others. When Kelmarane is taken, what then? I for one do not wish to see more blood spilled at that point. I hope you feel the same way.”
When they reach the bridge Zhalet stops.
”There, that should be far enough. By the time I return to the others, you will have plenty of distance and time to safely be on your way. There is much about you to admire Dashki, you have survived incredible hardships, and you have come though them to be a man of loyalty, honor, and intelligence. I have not forgotten how you have helped us. You have given us sound advice, you have stood with us against a demon. You may feel like you have no choices, but I think you have all the options in the world open to you if you choose to take them. That is why I walked you away from there. It may be there can be no great trust between our respective companies, but we can trust each other.”
”I trust you, and so I have ensured your freedom and perhaps your life. In doing so I will undermine my companions’ peace of mind, and I will pay a cost for it. You owe me no debt. I will ask you to reciprocate though. You will know best to put it to them, but inform the Three Jaws that while they have our great respect, an alliance is not possible at this time. Walk them away from here. Don’t let us spill each others blood.”
Zhalet gestures toward the bridge. ”Will you walk with me for a bit Dashki?”
As they begin to walk, Zhalet says to him ”I am so very sorry for what happened in there. I want you to know that Alexander does not speak for all of us, or perhaps even most of us, on the question of aid from the Three Jaws, or you.”
”As you know now, Alexander is gruff and does not bother much with niceties when speaking. Remember that only a short time earlier he and Andrus exchanged sharp words as well. You brought an offer of aid. He attacked your offer unfairly, demanding you prove things that cannot be proven. You are the wronged party Dashki, and I apologize.”
”I would have preferred to accept the offer from the Three Jaws. I do not doubt their bravery or skill, and they offered help that would have been very valuable. But I think we have passed the time when that is possible. To join together in retaking Kelmarane would require a degree of trust between us and the Three Jaws that is no longer attainable. We cannot cooperate if each of us is trying to anticipate the moment when one will turn on the other. “
”Both you and Alexander have seen great cruelty in your past. In that way, you are like brothers. Certainly you don’t share brotherly affection, but the link is still there. The cruelties you have both seen have sparked an anger in you both that cannot be put aside. I do not say this as an accusation, nor do I judge either of you for it. It is what it is, and I am in no position to comment.”
”Alexander will never trust the Three Jaws enough to accept their offer. You understand why. The Three Jaws cannot trust us either, not only because of Alexander, but also Andrus and Filliped, perhaps others. When Kelmarane is taken, what then? I for one do not wish to see more blood spilled at that point. I hope you feel the same way.”
When they reach the bridge Zhalet stops.
”There, that should be far enough. By the time I return to...
Dashki seems like he will refuse, but after a moment he gives a sharp nod and falls into step with Zhalet. He does keep some distance from her, though, making it impossible to speak quietly.
Once they reach the bridge, he stops with Zhalet and listens to the last of her words, and much of the anger seems to have faded within him, "I will tell Narg your words, Zhalet. I do not wish to fight against you either, and though I would happily fight with Alexander right now, I have no desire to slay him. I cannot predict how NArg will react, but I will do what I can to stave off bloodshed."
With that he turns and heads out of Kelmarane at a loping run, moving surprisingly similarly to a gnoll, now that the connection has been pointed out.
"No one here is talking about killing Dashki, actually, that was what we tried not to do in the beginning." He looks at Alexander, face saying Are we not?
"Indeed not," the old Wizard says in a soft tone of voice. "In my own way, I was trying to save his life, and possibly his soul. Even if he does not see it, he is walking along the edge of the Abyss -- by no fault of his own. I also wanted to avoid us all becoming Lady Alma's contract killers."
The old man gives Andrus a calm, direct look.
"Her command to execute one who has been our ally lacks.... elegance, to say the least, friend Andrus. I can say it no differently."
"We needed Dashki to go back and say positive things about us in order to minimize the odds that they will side with these gnolls here. The odds of that are much less now. Besides, what was the plan anyhow, capture and detain Dashki and then tell the Three Gnolls what, that the demon got him?"
"Not at all," Alexander replies. "We could have simply kept Dashki captive and delayed the negotiations until we were done with our work in Kelmarane - or at least until we had reached a tipping point where we could be certain of victory. The Three Jaws are no more to be trusted than the Kuldiss; we do not want them taking any action at all until we are in a position to squash them and the Kuldiss have been eliminated as a threat."
"Your anger is clouding your empathy." Solomon said gently. "The story you told did not seem like an attempt to save his life, or soul. It seemed like a threat, and like you were looking for someone to blame."
"There are some who the shock of your story would sway. He is not one of them."