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Perhaps, but were I you I might be concerned that none of your players seem to understand what you think will happen here or think that the things that your experts believe will have the exact opposite effect of what those experts want. As for my characters preferences they clearly diverge, from the NPCs. That's okay. They don't need to converge. And my suggestions for how council could get from A to B has nothing to do with my character's preference.
I don't think anyone was saying they are evil at the moment. I think people are saying that their plan vis-a-vis Brumik is some combination of dumb, naive, and/or confused depending on whom you ask.
I'm not exactly sure what you mean here.
I have to agree with Dalton. This plan/situation does not currently make any sense to me out of game given what I know about political systems in general and even what we have been told about Erandor in the past. I briefly spoke to Bjorkus last night and he is also confused by all this. Perhaps we are missing some key piece of the puzzle.
"Intent does not always determine consequence. Prudence comes from observing the past and learning its lessons."
"While I think my brother makes excellent points about the political and military fallout of such a conflict, I am more concerned with the parameters and goals of this mission. You have identified four locations upon which you want to exert your influence. Do you have a specific list of goals and methods for each location? From what I have observed of my brother and our friends, is that you send them/us into tense political situations where they/we annoy those in power until those authorities confront confront them/us and are then slain or subdued in that confrontation. It's a recipe from coups and chaos. Is that your intent here as well? Because if you do not have a plan that seeks to leverage their strengths, you will have the same results as before. If you will forgive me for being direct, it is madness to repeat the same action again and again and expect different outcomes."
Ianna bows respectfully to the council and follows Bjorkus out the door.
"That might be wise. Our mission should have clear goals. You mentioned before a briefing about the southern merchants?"
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?"
"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?"
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.
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.
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."
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."
"Please do not blame those who have been oppressed for being oppressed. You were forced into this situation as well creating a cycle of abuse. The next step will be breaking that cycle. We can help you."
"I am Ianna, a daughter of Bolka, the Dancing Goddess, the goddess of love and beauty. It is by her grace that your man has been restored for she cherishes love wherever it is found. Let the memory of her mercy guide you. You have done grave wrong to this flock. How will you make restitution for this ill? It should start by telling us what you know about the evil that enslaved your clan, but it should not end there."
"What vengeance your flock demands is of no matter to me. There will be no further murders done here. As for their knowledge, they might barter their freedom for a Geas of silence on the matter." Ianna's voice is calm and resolute. She turns to the giantess, "Can you understand my tongue?"
Ianna looks serene in the face of Pazeek's anger. "I give my gifts as they are needed. The giant would surely die without intervention. My gifts will also be given to your flock. I came here to save your children, not to help you wreak your vengeance. The fruit of such is only bitter. Mercy can have a sweeter harvest. Both in answers from the giants now and perhaps future kindness. The dead learn nothing."
"Why should a shadow on their hearts dim my light? If I could, I would restore even Calios to sanity. Love and compassion are stronger than fear and hate."
Ianna watches the giantess with sad eyes as the other woman cradles the body. Though she doesn't understand the giant's tongue, she knows heartbreak when she sees it. Where love has blossomed, goodness can grow. Besides mercy is a grace given to the just and unjust alike. Golden and emerald light unfurl from her breast where her heart beats in aural waves.
Not knowing if the giantess can understand her, "Love is the most precious gift of life. Treasure yours. Let it shine through you and light your path."
Ianna kneels down next to Rilka, "Dancing Goddess, I beg you to share your grace with this woman. Please do not let her love depart from this world." *1.5: 37 Golden and green light explode from Ianna's hands as her prayers are answered.
A Hound Archon appears behind the male giant, flanking him with Bjorkus, he salutes Ianna with his sword before slashing down on the giant inspired by Bjorkus' song.
The bull slashes the giant before him with Tryrantbreaker.
Blow after devastating blow rain down on the giant before the bull follows it up with a gore from his horns.
Ianna starts praying for celestial aid.
Ianna's initiative is higher now. Though it wouldn't chang much with that roll.
Ianna prays over Pazeek and Toramin wrapping them in the power of her faith. She then calls down a mighty blessing from the Golden Gift, the Grace of the Dancing Goddess.
When they arrive, Ianna offers a Prayer up to Heavens, "I beg that you look upon us with favor and hinder those who would do us harm."
"Hmm. Most of the gifts the goddess grants me are those of peace and succor. However, I can ask her to intercede with Grundinnar, who has many friends, to send an archer to fight by our side."
Thank god for liches.
After being long silent, Ianna speaks up. "I'm less concerned with killing wicked giants, than I am with making sure that they cannot hurt the Tengu hostages. I know little in the ways of war, but could an obvious assault be timed with a rescue attempt? We do not want the bulk of the giants falling back to the main building."
Geoffrey:
Angry. He is so angry. If anything breaks him, I think it will be that. He expects a return on the work. It is sad; but, sometimes, there is none. Though depending on how it is expressed, anger can be a good thing. At least now he is aware of both his thirst and his anger. "Of course, Geoffrey," Ianna replies brightly, not letting him see her worry. "Just remember that if you need to talk, then I am here to listen. I may not have all the answers, but I can still listen." Ianna doesn't push further than this. She doesn't want to push further. Spiritual healing is rarely immediate.
Will there be a follow up to their last exchange?
I don't know how you are feeling about this side plot with Geoffrey, Omen, but I'm enjoying it.
Geoffrey:
Ianna leans over and deftly takes the cup from his hands. "That's not helping you, Geoffrey. Moreover, it's causing you some amount of harm." She pauses for a moment; her heart sore from the paladin's pain. "There is no easy answers. We can approximate the greater good. Things can improve; I've seen it. I've done it. My confrontation with Calios taught me that hope and beauty can flourish despite the wickedness of men. But things can also get worse through wickedness and inaction. I have no neat theodicy to tie the world in lace and ribbon. Yet, there is still so much beauty in the world. I see the ugly, by I rejoice in the beauty. The work never ends. That is why it is so important to guard your joy, Geoffrey. To find solace, hope, beauty, and joy in the midst of such turmoil. I sense that you carry a weight of guilt and anger with you. They feed upon each other, Geoffrey. They are valid emotions, but they are crushing you. Face them and let go. For your own good and the good of other, please, lay those burdens down. Let me lighten your load. Know that I and the blessed gods love and cherish you." Ianna stands up and kisses Geoffrey on the forehead and embraces him. When she does there is an after image of a much more beautiful and divine woman embracing the paladin.
Awesome! I hadn't spoken up because I didn't know if I was here.
Geoffrey:
When she has finished her diagnostic prayers, Ianna invokes her goddess once again. The paladin is bathed in a shower of green and golden light that eases the physical signs of his stress and renews his physical beauty. She then leans back and gives the paladin a frank but sympathetic look. "My brother told me of the steps you took to prevent those infected by a magical plague from spreading the disease to the healthy. That must have been a difficult choice. How do we know the greater good? The honest answer is that often we do not. The best we can do is to make choices that minimize those harms we can see and that maximize the good we can see. Sometimes, you will make mistakes. Could you have saved more loves with different resources, more time, and greater information? Yes. Undoubtedly. But many live today who would not, if you had not acted. This is the great burden and test of leadership. You need to ask yourself whether you did the best you knew how in the circumstances. Not even the blessed gods can foresee all ends. Are you trying to hold yourself to a standard that not even the gods attain? You are beautiful, Geoffrey, not because you are perfect but because you have devoted your life to being better and to making the lives of others better as well. Worry not if you fail; worry if you stop trying." The priestess pauses briefly before giving Geoffrey a knowing, sad smile. "Even if there have been moments when you have failed to try, you should still find a way to forgive yourself."
GM: "It's a shame that you don't have the opportunity to spend more time in places that you enjoy. While some, like Toramin, believe that life is all about the work, I believe it is important to guard your joy. If one doesn't take the time to cultivate their joy, then the work only grinds us down. What good are we to others if we cannot be good to ourselves?" Ianna smiles and kneels down near the chair where Geoffrey sits, "I'm going to invoke the goddess; and, with her grace, I will learn whether there is anything troubling your body and its connection to your spirit. While I am doing this, I would be honored if you would unburden yourself to me. What troubles you? What weighs down your spirit? I suspect that you spend a lot of energy presenting a certain view of Geoffrey to the world. You do not need to perform for me. I do not need you to be anything. Know that I see and respect you."
"Yes, that sounds excellent." Ianna takes his arm as the others head off in their separate directions."[/b]
Basically, she is going to go over with spells like Sense Madness, Diagnose Disease, Improved Detect Magic, Lesser Restoration, Restoration, Absolution, and Atonement. If there is some pathology, she will root it out. If it is stress and guilt, then Absolution and some talk therapy would do him some good. At the very least we can get him his hair back. :-) And if he has misplaced his paladinhood, then Atonement and religious guidance might be able to save him from being a fighter without the bonus feats
I wanted a small scene before we move on to see if Ianna can provide some amount of healing and therapy to Geoffrey as we discussed earlier in the conversation.
"It has an elegance to it, if it were someone's aim. Killing you might go against their values. Moreover, it would be difficult. You would resist. But to honor you? Especially, when military and political affairs obviously weigh so heavily upon you? There are few fetters stronger than one's own desires." Ianna murmurs the last sentence into her wine with a subtle smile. "But such talk is morbid, unfit for such a lovely dinner, and rank speculation besides . . ." The priestess turns conversation to lighter and more genial affairs.
By the by, don't forget to age up your characters. Toramin is 51 now. :-)
I got a little worried when you said amiss.
Just to clarify, Ianna doesn't think that there is anything wrong with being asexual. She doesn't judge Toramin for it afterall. Besides, love can take all sorts of forms.
"Well, then I would ask myself two questions. First, do you want the Aertis name to continue? Second, who benefits from the obsolescence of the Aertis?"
"Forgive me if this is an intrusive question, but did my brother mention that you are the last direct heir of your line?"
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