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Selene watches the townsfolk and her companions attempt to put out the fires. Her current form was likely to ephemeral in order to assist, but it was unlikely she would offer in any case. She was too caught up with looking at the pain and suffering that was caused by the orcs and how the townsfolk were coping with it.
The shadowy wispy form of Selene flows out of the shadows, the bright light of the morning making her seem more solid although the shadows still seem to cling to her. "Indeed. They had overrun the town when the locals who may have been capable of protecting it were out tilting at windmills."
Selene flits through the few shadows that appear in the morning sun, wondering the extent of the damage.
"So due to the fact that much of the town had left to tilt at windmills, it was overrun by orcs? How is it that they were prepared for such an eventuality. One wonders whether someone helped rile the people up into a mob to cause them to leave the place undefended," Selene says. "So what is 'the worst part', then?"
Selene snorts at the massive numbers of coins and the excessive description of them. "We may need a beast of burden to carry this anywhere where we can exchange it for something more... portable. The rings however," she says, snatching them up. "Probably have similar worth and are far easier to carry... well for those of us with fingers. This one," she says, holding up one of the rings, "is even magical, providing its wearer with a decent amount of protection."
"This coin will not be sufficient to 'heal' his lost wife and son. What arrangements can be made, other than telling him that the manticore is no longer a problem? Or are you planning on marrying the man and breeding a replacement child with him?"
There is a ripple in Selene's shadowy form as she shrugs. "We did the work of finding the truth, protecting the cub, and even protecting the foolishness of the humans trying to follow their mob mentality. We've earned it."
Selene appears out of the shadows at the cave entrance. "Best remain inside. If the humans see you, then all this will be for naught. Let the others deal with this particular problem."
"It is likely that man has finally worked up the courage to come here for his revenge and likely has convinced others to join him. If you talk to them, mention that we have already been here, the Manticore is gone, and we plan on staking this place out for a time to be sure it does not return," she says. "I doubt they would wish to wait around with us rather than tend their crops, so they will leave the matter with us."
Selene flits from shadow to shadow, blening in with the background as she explores the cavern, pausing only to look at the manticore cub and its fledgling natural weapons.
Selene raises an incredulous eybrow at Shi'Vatha's words, the eidolon having taken a direction they had not previously discussed, nor a particularly possible outcome.
Selene shrugs. "The manticore could just have easily have killed them all and not have had to worry about things. Instead, she tried to take them, a far more gentle proposition than is typical for such a creature. And she has learned from the experience in that, if she wants to have a play toy for her brood, it is best to hire out. She won't be kidnapping another person." "The man, on the other hand, has not even taken responsability for his own actions. His arrow slew his wife and his wife's death clutch killed his son. Yet he talks about how his wife was taken and his son dropped. The manticore has at least been telling the truth and seems to have learned from her mistakes." "Also, the manticore does not seem to be something that is beholden to the laws of man, so an example of such a thing is effectively meaningless. Even so, the guard in the example would feel responsable and admit his error. The family would likely hold the guard responsible as well, considering human nature. The man in our story has not admitted to his error yet likely holds himself secretly responsible. It is for him to work that out. Not the manticore." "In any case, we can put forward the option to the manticore to see her opinion on the matter. I, and likely the man, would be satisfied if they were gone from here, never to be seen, and thus remind him of his error, again."
"I don't follow. The huband killed the wife in a vain attempt at trying to strike the manticore. At the death of the mother, the child she had grabbed plummeted to his death. If the man had not fired, his family would be alive to this day. Yes, had the manticore not attempted to 'borrow' the mother and child, they would likewise have been alive. Since the incident, however, the man has been lying by saying nothing of his role in his wife's death. Assuming the manticore was not lying, and it seems like it would have no cause to, the wife was not flown back to it's lair to be dined upon, as the man said, but she was dropped shortly before his son."
Selene nods. "Ahh, I see now. Victims of unfortunate circumstances and an overzealous, and not particularly accurate, individual resulting in the death of their own family. 'Tis a pity you hadn't killed him as well at the time. Circumstances being what they are, the man has been telling the tale of his family's abduction for some time. Most have, rightly it seems, taken him for a drunken fool, but some, such as ourselves have taken to investigating. Were you planning on moving your nest any time soon? If we were able to find it, others may as well. I am doubtful that the truth will bring the man closure, but a 'discovery' of an old, now vacted nest, might."
"Ahh," Selene says sadly. "More's the pity. Why had you 'borrowed' this woman and how did she die? Was there also a child involved?"
"I come in peace," Selene says. "I understand that you may not desire my presence. If we do not talk and come to terms, however, it is likely that more will come and those others will not be open to negotiation. I and my companions are here due to a rumor of manticores abducting people," she glances over at the humanoid that had been playing with the cub. "It seems likely that the tales we have heard are not entirely true, but there may be some aspect of the truth in them. Perhaps if we learned the full truth we could come to an arrangement and do what we can to ensure that your presence in the area remains... less obvious."
Even with Selene's shadowy form, the hint of an arched eyebrow is seen. "I am not a writer of speeches. I merely have some small training that can help with negotiation and other diplomacy. Which is, I assume, what we are going for here."
"If we are seeking to parlay, then perhaps I should be the one to approach. I am likely the most capable with speechcraft amongst us, and should things turn sour, they may have some more difficulty striking me."
She looks at Shi'Vatha for a moment, noting the scar, and shrugs. "I suppose, we'll let our new potential companion provide the magic that 'repairs most organic units', then."
Selene leans in to look at Shi'Vatha a little closer, he head cocked to the side. "Are you an eidolon? With no master? Or are you, like me, merged as one? If you are in need of healing, I do have certain magics that specifically affect our kind."
Selene moves to the nearest orc and slashes it with one of her claws.
Selene moves towards the group of enemies.
Selene waits, concealed in the shadows that envelop her.
Selene casts Mage Armor upon herself, but remains lost in the shadows.
"Perhaps if the mage is slain, his familiar will vanish as well, depending on their connection...," she says, glancing at Shi'Vatha, before shrugging and moving forwards to the assault.
Prior to reaching their destination Selene moved off to the side to perform a lengthy ritual. At its finale, Selene's shadow seemed to rise from the ground and envelop her.
And this is the synthesized form. |
