"Not in this life." Dara responds. Then after thinking for a few seconds she continued, "Or any other for that matter." The Dwarf then climbed into the wagon and waited for the rest to board. Once they are all in the wagon, she steers west and drives the wagon towards the mountains.
"I choose free will, and my lifetime is longer than most therefore I musn't allow myself to be damned for eternity, or this life. It would be a fate worse than the twilight."
A brief pause.....
"However, the legitimacy of their use through the ages cannot be denied, but they have been severely limited to the hells, and for good reason. The beings of the other planes do not live in such a strict hierarchy that governs their every move. It makes sense for devils to use such things as it is very applicable to their realm. In other realms where the environment itself isn't tightly controlled these ideologies and contracts have great trouble taking root."
a field test, my my how interesting and what will you be summoning us?
Well if you aren't going to be the one doing it then i doesn't matter anyway because there won't be any contract signing. But thank you for the interesting information about you.
"I Seen the results of these contracts too many times, While some last, most do not deliver the results desired, so No I would not make a pact with devils from Hell."
Well joroth i guess you haven't quite heard me the first time. You can go home to your elders alone. I am not going, and by the reaction of everyone i don't think you can expect any signature on your contract during your lifetime either.
As the group debates the wagon continues to roll west. Around mid-afternoon you reach a river wtih a small bridge across it. Unfortunately the bridge appears to be guarded by a small squad of Turandian solders.
Masked men tend to drive suspicion. Ether take that ridiculous thing off or get in the back. If you not good at lying then don't, just say your here to guard this delivery. Lets try to do this without simply killing anything that moves.
I won't take it off as my anonymity is protecting me, from spy, assassin the wannabe Devil sub-contractors, and the rest of you.
There are a total of 6 guards, 2 on this side and 4 across the 50ft bridge, you are currently about 150ft from the bridge.
i'll let you try it your way wizard i'll be ready none the less.
"Who's good at bluffing?" Dara asked flashing back to one job she pulled, where she barely talked her way out of it.
"Don't worry I'm a pro at this. I got some forged documents that should do the trick."
The pair of guards look at you. Sense motive . The guard handling your documents seems very suspecious of them. "Sergent can you take a look at these papers".
I am acting non-threatening as guards approach. I had been listening to the others speak and guaging their ideas.
I have a held action to attack the target most likely to run for aid, or if able, force someone over the bridge into the water thus negating their abilities in a fight.
Not liking the look in the guardsman's eye, Dara dropped here hand, subtly, to her side, anticipating trouble.
ELrith crosses his fingers thta guards buy their story. Tho he has the feeling that is not the case as guards take their documents away. Elrith Prepares a Bless spells for if things turn ugly.
The cat hissed loudly at Joroth. Isaac tried to bottle up his rage, lest he let too much of it bleed into his familiar.
What my... associate means to say is that my papers are signed by the Spymasters first lieutenant, giving me amnesty and permission to freely travel for my services rendered. If you want to we can take my papers to the local inquisitions office, but I hear that once they start an investigation they don't stop until they find something.
I shake my head somewhat when Joroth attempts his intimidation tactic again. I stay in my position, actions stated above.
"I will just have my sergent take a quick look then everything should be good, no need to involve the inquisitors in this situation."
You can see 2 of the soldiers are crossing the bridge, the one on the right clearly has better armour than the rest."
I watch and determine the ranking individual with the action of rendering helpless/unconscious or use to subdue or halt the other Turandians actions, if needed.
Perception to ID type of armor and approximate capabilities/weapons/armor type of the armored one and the others (ID spellcasters, etc).
All but one are wearing scalemail, the other chainmail. They all have heavy shields, spears and short swords. 1 guard on each side of the Bridge has a crossbow. The better armoured soldier is clearly in charge. None appear to be casters of any type.
Elven (whisper)
Whispers "crossbows across bridge, all fully armored, and ready."
Isaac assessed his situation. He decided disclosure and truth were his best options. He peeked his head back into the wagon and whispered to everyone.
OK, look. I should be honest with you guys so you don’t do anything rash. The documents are very real. I did get pardoned, and I am cleared for free travel. We can talk about it later.
He looked coldly at Joroth
And I swear to your gods that if you screw this up I will turn you into them without a second thought. You should know better. Use your head and know when not to use your mouth. This is the time for subtlety and finesse.
Isaac turned back to the guard
So, how long have you been stationed here? You must miss Turandy, I hear the beaches in the south are beautiful this time of year.
Elrith listened intently. I hope Issac can pull this off. He watches the direction the man who took the papers went, and will cast bless if trouble seems to be brewing
A few moments later the Sergent reaches the guard, they talk quietly, then the sergent walks over to the wagon. Gentlemen your papers appear to be in order, sorry for the delay but a madman murdered several guards a few miles away. Better to be safe rather than sorry. Be glad you are not in the neighbouring village.
As we move away from the bridge without anyone else around:"Being aware of the situation is best, even if the information is not used. We are fine now."
To Isaac: "You let some anger slip with Joroth, but such feelings are not misplaced or invalid. An inner balance must be achieved, all parts make the whole. Good to see you haven't left yourself behind."
"Where to now?"
Elven
Relaxing a bit after crossing the bridge, Dara answered the query, "A little further west, there is a hidden Dwarven warehouse I used to use back in my......acquisition days."
If he joined the resistance, maybe he led them there. She thought to herself.
"Acquisitions, the exploits of youth. I haven't had the occasion to do so yet, but there is time."
To Joroth:"Where shall you go? If we are to part ways I wish to know you will be safe or prepared in your travels."
To Isaac:"When you feel comfortable I am interested to know what you were pardoned for, and how that changed your perception, as you have stated it is thus."
"Wrath and pain are one option of many. What of those that sought to retake Pathad from the Turandians? I don't seek to replace leadership specifically or advocate any one individual to power, though it helps progress peace. I seek the removal of the Turandian invaders and peaceful existence to follow, however it is possible."
Himonim speaks wisely. peace is the ultimate goal. Joroth, aiding in this I think would cur favor with the heir, and they might be disposed to give you what you as for without dealing with devils.
Looking at dara, "An abandoned warehouse would be a good place to make plans.
bla,bla,bla Joroth. You just wished. Have fun on your trip and be careful that temper of your will get you killed one day.
you are assuming that even under a kingdom rule not all could be represented. Ever heard the a king's big and small council where ministers help shape policies or even Legislative bodies or advisory bodies to a monarch that could traditionally be grouped along lines of representative estates (bodies of representation, groups that are appointed/elected). i guess you didn't studies as much political history as you should have, nor any different political systems. I bet you were too busy with learning Devil Summoning Rituals anyway.
To Elrith: "Yes it is."
Dara just shook her head and silently chuckled, Doesn't matter what the game of politics is, they can be robbed just like anyone else.
To Issac "Good work back there." Happy that the confrontation was avoided.
Looking at Dara "So are you here just for the weapons or are you one of the growing rebellion sympathizers? i have know only a few other dwarves, but they were all good men who definitely enjoyed a few rounds of ale." Chuckling some, as it brought back memories from the past, when war did not seem imminent.
As the cart pulled away Isaac’s spirits began to rise. It worked, everyone got to go home. Isaacs cat seemed to become disinterested and curled up behind the bench seat of the wagon to sleep. A smile spread across Isaac’s face. Even Joroth’s rantings were less pungent or perhaps just harmless now. It wasn’t the words or the feelings but rather what they would do to other that made Isaac angry but now they were harmless, untoothed.
Himonim, humans can’t have balance. We can’t even be happy, the one thing we obsess over. We have to do extreme external actions to force ourselves to feel how we want to. I simply realized this too late.
You want to know how I got those papers? Well to tell you the truth it’s a bit hazy. I remember having something inside of me that I couldn’t control. I think someone betrayed me and took everything that I cared about. All I can remember is a memory of a memory. kind of like when you dream and try to remember it, you remember saying to yourself what you saw and felt but you can’t actually remember the thing itself it slips from you.
Anyway, this thing inside of me drove me to desperate measures to get back what I lost, but the more I fed into the more I realized I wasn’t getting back anything, I was just loosing myself in revenge. I made concessions, did horrible things, forsook my identity and destroyed so many lives. By the end of it all Isaac was standing at the royal palace where he had just let in Turandian soldiers to kill those that had betrayed him, framed him, tortured him. The soldiers killed his enemies, and then their families… and then all the children. I can’t seem to remember what happened next to Isaa-… I mean me.
Isaac pauses thoughtfully, but then the smile comes back.
Cats are amazing creatures. They have so much emotional depth you wouldn’t believe it. I took that part of me I couldn’t control and all the cancer of my soul and I found a vessel for it. Though it makes some things hazy sometimes. Long story short, I was rewarded with amnesty and I think some land but I forget where exactly.
Turning her head towards Elrith, she says bluntly, "I'm looking for someone."