"What you don't understand is that torture, and evidently contracts, are not just an ends to a mean. For me, as Faeryl says, it is all about the trip there, not the information gained. Whatever secondary goals accomplished during that trip are just that, secondary."
Reasonable but oh the agony of the wait... !!!
Torture being used as a tool
Is torture the tool? Or is the tool torture? Inquiring, and demented, minds want to know.
"The issue with Kuthites is they lack perspective. Living in the now is all fine and dandy but it won't get you anywhere." The words come from a newcomer entering the room. The newcomer is a very tall, bald and quite handsome young Drow. His frame is hidden under heavy robes and based on his jewellery, which is all in silver, he must come from a rich background.
"Pardon my manners, my name is Kaer'Anbreth Jezzavon. Now do tell me, I hear kuthites also delight in the stinging bite of various creatures?" As he says that he holds up his hand and a pale green scorpion skitters onto his open hand.
Why don't we attack each other now, and whoever is left by Wed, can play :P
"That, my friend, is a question you must answer for yourself."
As the newcomer enters the conversation, Sashin turns, and admires his figure.
"Lack perspective? I believe you are the one lacking perspective. Pain colors everything, and 'living in the now' as you say, allows us to have experience without limits. Isn't that all everyone wants, ultimately?
And, I am familiar with this creature, as I have felt its sting. Greensting scorpion, correct?"
She seems fascinated by the creature, and in fact, glides over to and holds her hand out in order to hold it.
"If I may...?"
"Now, now, Salacious. No need for unnecessary violence..."
The moment the woman glides over the scorpion vanishes back under Kaer's sleeve, "Apparently you may not." He smiles.
"As for pain, all it shows is a lack of power. Dealing pain is power while feeling pain is lack of power. I don't care about experiences it it or anything similar." Then again, if some of these insane Kuthites were willing to pay for being tortured he'd probably be glad to oblige.
"Ahh, a shame. I enjoy the little things.
Again, the uneducated misunderstand. You say dealing pain is power, and I agree. Feeling pain, however, is what allows us to truly know we are alive."
How would feeling pain make you realize you are alive? Does not pleasure, or hunger, or taste, or smell, or any other sense provide the same knowledge?
Gneiati turns toward the newcomer. And why would dealing, or feeling, pain have any relationship to power? Can not you sway another just as easily with something sweet? Or something sour? On the surface they speak of placing a carrot before the horse to make it move. Is this pain? Or the expectation of pleasure, in the case of the horse the pleasure being getting to eat the carrot.
"I would argue that hunger is pain, but that is not the point. There are many things, in this world and the next, that can be fabricated. Your senses fooled, your pleasure faked. But pain, any kind, cannot be easily faked, or imagined. True pain forces you to accept this reality, and that is glorious.
She has a point, Kaer. Power can be gained through other measures, and pain can be used for other purposes.
I'm beginning to like you, Gneiati. Perhaps we could discuss this more...?"
Salazar looks over at Sashin Perhaps I have much to learn of your... unique perspective on torture. I have not experienced the kind of lash you speak of. Though tell me, can one teach another their errors through such religious means?
"I welcome you and your thirst for knowledge. And yes, it is possible to shed light, metaphorically of course, on that path that is most righteous. I would be honored to join you on this journey to self-enlightenment, if you allow."
"Now it seems you misheard, for no where have I said power exclusively comes from inflicting pain. There are many routes to power, inflicting pain however is one of the easiest." A grin appears on his face fitting his somewhat mocking tone.
"As for experiencing life, what is so good about it anyway? You are lucky, placed in a position of power purely based on nothing but your gender." Women had it easy. From the moment of their birth they would hold more power than any man of similar stature and even most man above theirs.
Gneiati sighs:
Why is it that these drow always focussed on pain and harm to acquire power. There were so many other methods. Deception, diplomacy, money. True, the techniques espoused by the others were not wrong. She just knew that there were so many other options that were possible, and likely more prone to success.
I have simply been posing questions. As can be seen, you all have different opinions as to what is right, . . . and wrong. To me it is interesting how different people can view the same conundrum.
I will of course allow you to lead me in me journey. But I will warn you up front, I plan to use this knowledge to punish those who have murdered my family as well. Salazar will turn to Tirion Power is not the only thing one seeks with pain and harm. Some wish only for retribution
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Torture is listening to you males blather. If I want to hear your opinions, I'll rip out your intestines and squeeze it out of you! Salacious stalks off
"While I agree with the sentiment, Salacious, in this case I elect to remain with this prospect for conversion. Be over in a moment.
As we were saying, Salazar, I do not care what ends the means bring, for the Dark Prince watches every act of pain."
"Now now, Salacious... males have their uses, and sometimes they even have salient points to share... I give all people their due, regardless of gender. But retribution my dear Salazar? Living well is the best revenge in my opinion... "
Revenge is a wet balde blade, with the blood of my enemies dripping from the hilt, or them nailed to a mushroom for the oozes to feed from. They took everything from me, and one day, I will return the favor Salazar turns to Sashin well, then I look forward to what teachings you have for me. This may yet be an equitable relationship
Since there is much clamoring for it, the selections will be done VERY EARLY on Wednesday morning, likely 2:00-3:00 AM EST. Those selected will have time to finish their characters.
Sound reasonable?
Looking forward to it!
And this was the attitude from females he was used to. If given the opportunity he'd kill them all in their sleep. He'd kill all female Drow. If he ever felt the need to spawn he'd just use one of their surfacer kin or even a human. "There we go, always so predictable."
He sighs, "I had hoped I would find the few sensible ones of our kind here, seems I was mistaken."
Tazennin's crunch is complete and ready for your perusal. Fluff is still very much in the works. Taz is a houseless 'dobluth', formerly of House Sathys, now a loner of sorts, who wants to incorporate the use of elven weapons (composite longbow and elven curve blade) into drow society.
He believes the true path to power is through amassing a large amount of wealth. Therefore, he functions much like a ninja, working for the highest bidder. I look forward to your attempts at swaying him to your cause after our party is finalized. :)
Tazennin's fluff is complete. I apologize for the length of his background, but the words were really flowing this morning.
Hurkkagg remains in the shadows watching the assembled dark elves' verbal sparring with bored indifference.
Talk. Talk. Talk. Dokk-olv love talk. Make Hurkkagg's ears hurt.
The bugbear brute fights the urge to emit a frustrated snarl as he looks to his Mistress for a sign;
No screams. No pain. No fear. No like.
Gneiati continues to pick at her nails, trying to get some of the residue from a large mushroom she had to climb and hide in a day earlier from under her nails. As she does so, she wonders how long it will be before these drow begin to turn on one another and the bloodshed will begin.
Bloodshed among others is always good. I don't get hurt and people complain less when I find things I like.
Seeing the strange bugbear, Gneiati gets up and walks over to it.
You seem as out of place as I. Want to bet on which one dies first? Or which one will survive the longest? How about on whether the first one dies of a sword wound? Poison? Or magic?
Hurkkagg eyes the small woman before him. He says nothing but his blue tinged nose wrinkles and snorts lightly as he takes in her scent.
Not born of the deep this one. Not dokk-olv, but dokk-olv blooded...
The giant goblinoid leans forward so his slave brand on his ear is visible. He then answers in a raspy low voice:
"Hurkkagg no out of place. In his place."
Good luck everyone. There's a lot of really great concepts here!
What they all said. :)
I didn't do it.
Your doom approacheth!
Hast thou repented thee of the folly of thy defiance?
Embrace Asmodeus, accept his compact, and be born anew to carry forth his word into the Underdark!
But why would my doom be coming?
Gneiati pulls a small piece of crumpled paper out of her pocket. Holding it out to Kolaiah, she points to a date at the bottom:
See, my birth certificate has an expiration date. Clearly I have no need to worry about doom until then, and when that time comes, I will not have to be concerned about compacts, because my time will be up.
Smiling the short half-elven woman places the paper back in her pocket, clearly sure that she has adequately demonstrated to the devil worshipper the error in his logic.
And the time grows nigh... just a couple/few more hours... oh the sweet agony of anticipation...
gnight, Sashin... and to the rest of you too... pleasant dreams... and good luck to all
Ok all ye would-be conquerors of the Azathyr! The time of selections of nigh and the eternal darkness of the land below engulfs the thread! Who will be left standing after the horrors of the Azathyr have their way?
Keep in mind that this list was, most definitely, NOT an easy one to finalize! There were so many good applicants that it was nearly impossible to select only 6. And I am aware that I initially stated selecting 4-5, but I decided that there simply must be one more PC! Those of you not selected, I hope to see you all in my upcoming Razor Coast recruitment, because you all are great writers and are just the sort of PCs I look for in games!
Slot one... ME! Because I'm the GM, obviously! How can the campaign be run without moi?
Now, for the PC slots!
1. Zahir with Koliah, servant of the Ruby Prince whose word is Tyranny itself!
2. JAFO with Faeryl Dusk, child of two worlds and two dark bloodlines!
3. Black Dow with Hurkkagg, deadly and unflinching right hand of his mistress!
4. Sixteenbiticon with Tazennin, renegade soldier of fortune!
5. Joey Virtue with Xodar, disciple of the Order of the Jet Star!
6. Drayen with Akor'maybryn, poised hand of dark vengeance!
And there is our group! I'm quite interested in seeing how the interparty dynamics work, especially with such divergent beliefs and lifestyles! This will be an interesting exercise in how Drow make their society work, albeit on a microcosm. Those of you selected, finish up your backgrounds and such, for soon you march to CONQUER!!!
EDIT: Those selected, remember to dot the gameplay thread!
oh oh oh I am SO excited to be selected - thank you GM!!! I will endeavor not to let you and the other players down... This game sounds like SO much wicked fun!!!
I am gonna miss Ruul though... sigh
Congrats you guys, GL & HF!
Stoked to have made the cut - was some amazing submissions.
Congrats all. Gneiati will continue to wander the underdark wondering why drow do the foolish things they do, albeit without really caring one way or the other.