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You are bunch of whining sissy girls. You say you here for Andoran, but you are not. You act like Andoran here for you.
CMIX does not care about reasons behind missions, he just does them, or tries to do them. Usually, CMIX fail miserably, due to language and social barriers, but not because he does not try!
Step up, and get with the program Freedom Fighters.
If leader needs mistress delivered to laundromat, then you DELIVER MISTRESS TO LAUNDROMAT!
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You are bunch of whining sissy girls. You say you here for Andoran, but you are not. You act like Andoran here for you.
CMIX does not care about reasons behind missions, he just does them, or tries to do them. Usually, CMIX fail miserably, due to language and social barriers, but not because he does not try!
Step up, and get with the program Freedom Fighters.
If leader needs mistress delivered to laundromat, then you DELIVER MISTRESS TO LAUNDROMAT!
In other words, "orders are orders."
How very Chelaxian of you!
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You are bunch of whining sissy girls. You say you here for Andoran, but you are not. You act like Andoran here for you.
CMIX does not care about reasons behind missions, he just does them, or tries to do them. Usually, CMIX fail miserably, due to language and social barriers, but not because he does not try!
Step up, and get with the program Freedom Fighters.
If leader needs mistress delivered to laundromat, then you DELIVER MISTRESS TO LAUNDROMAT!
In other words, "orders are orders."
How very Chelaxian of you!
Puhleese, is a very big difference here. In Cheliax, mistress goes to laundromat, even if she not want to, in Andoran, is mistress choosing to go to laundromat!
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Major Colson Maldris OVERSTEPPED the bounds of his AUTHORITY. The MAJOR decided that someone needed to be KILLED because someone DISCOVERED one of the Major's embarassing indescretions. I was NOT sent to liberate slaves or make the world "safe for democracy." I was sent to cover up an embarassing situation that Major Maldris got himself into. This order did NOT come from our government, but directly from the Major himself.
I would still like to see a public apologly from the Major to we the "Freedom Fighters." If our home government is somehow unaware of just how badly Major Maldris overstepped his authority, the home government should be made aware of the Major's transgressions. Major Colson Maldris should at least receive some type of reprimand from Andoran.
No need to break out the tar and feathers just yet...
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Major Colson Maldris OVERSTEPPED the bounds of his AUTHORITY. The MAJOR decided that someone needed to be KILLED because someone DISCOVERED one of the Major's embarassing indescretions. I was NOT sent to liberate slaves or make the world "safe for democracy." I was sent to cover up an embarassing situation that Major Maldris got himself into. This order did NOT come from our government, but directly from the Major himself.
I would still like to see a public apologly from the Major to we the "Freedom Fighters." If our home government is somehow unaware of just how badly Major Maldris overstepped his authority, the home government should be made aware of the Major's transgressions. Major Colson Maldris should at least receive some type of reprimand from Andoran.
No need to break out the tar and feathers just yet...
Pathfinder, it is not necessary to raise your voice in making your argument. We are all attentive to you, and your elevated tones merely make you harder to hear.
The major offered you the opportunity to serve Andoran. Clearly, as evidenced by your comments, you had some moral or ethical difficulty in the discharge of that mission. I certainly won't criticize you or suggest that, somehow, you are wrong in that view. We all determine for ourselves what our ethical or moral boundaries are. Where I will take issue, however, is your view that because he offered you a mission with which you disagreed, the entire faction should somehow take action, or that the major must somehow face a public rebuke by requiring him to apologize.
Clearly, the better and more appropriate action would have been for you to merely refuse to undertake the mission with which you objected. That is far more appropriate for a member in service to Andoran because it rests upon your individual ability to choose whether or not to accept it, and the terms along with it. Your failure to act in a manner consistent with your moral or ethical principles rests with you, and not Andoran. The whole of Andoran should not be required to save your from your own cognitive dissonance - you were aware of the mission, its terms, and requirements. And, in full knowledge of them, you undertook the mission just the same, correct? The burden then rests with you, not us.
For what must the major apologize? For your inability to refuse? There may be greater reasons as to why that mission was given - certainly, you claim it was because someone discovered one of his "indiscretions." From my own experience, the major has asked me to do nothing of the sort. And, were he to do so, I would most likely refuse. While I am not offended at the major's extracurricular activities (after all, he is free to choose that path if he wishes), I would not kill merely to obfuscate the facts behind them. Perhaps we are different, you and I - if there is a certain moral or ethical precept which I consider to be important to me, I will not violate it, even at the request of the major (or anyone else in a position of authority.)
Peace guide you on Freedom's Journey. The blessings of Arshea be with you.
In Liberty.
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...Your leadership will always be human (relatively human at least), they're always going to be flawed, make mistakes, and let the people who idolize them down...
"Similar to what I said, yes."
Pathfinder, it is not necessary to raise your voice in making your argument. We are all attentive to you, and your elevated tones merely make you harder to hear.The major offered you the opportunity to serve Andoran. Clearly, as evidenced by your comments, you had some moral or ethical difficulty in the discharge of that mission. I certainly won't criticize you or suggest that, somehow, you are wrong in that view. We all determine for ourselves what our ethical or moral boundaries are. Where I will take issue, however, is your view that because he offered you a mission with which you disagreed, the entire faction should somehow take action, or that the major must somehow face a public rebuke by requiring him to apologize.
Clearly, the better and more appropriate action would have been for you to merely refuse to undertake the mission with which you objected. That is far more appropriate for a member in service to Andoran because it rests upon your individual ability to choose whether or not to accept it, and the terms along with it. Your failure to act in a manner consistent with your moral or ethical principles rests with you, and not Andoran. The whole of Andoran should not be required to save your from your own cognitive dissonance - you were aware of the mission, its terms, and requirements. And, in full knowledge of them, you undertook the mission just the same, correct? The burden then rests with you, not us.
For what must the major apologize? For your inability to refuse? There may be greater reasons as to why that mission was given - certainly, you claim it was because someone discovered one of his "indiscretions." From my own experience, the major has asked me to do nothing of the sort. And, were he to do so, I would most likely refuse. While I am not offended at the major's extracurricular activities (after all, he is free to choose that path if he wishes), I would not kill merely to obfuscate the facts behind them. Perhaps we are different, you and I - if there is a certain moral or ethical precept which I consider to be important to me, I will not violate it, even at the request of the major (or anyone else in a position of authority.)
Peace guide you on Freedom's Journey. The blessings of Arshea be with you.
In Liberty.
"You make a very compelling point sir. It will always be the ideal of freedom and that I follow, not a country. I was born in Andoran, and as long as it remains the land of freedom, I will serve it. However, if there is anyone that I will always serve, it is Cayden Cailean, and no other."
*takes a swig*"Ah, why does the wine always dry up so fast?"
He jumps down from the railing and starts walking to the bar.
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You serve in the Gray Corsairs, you learn that sometimes you have to stick by your shipmate, even if they're in the wrong. I'll stick by Maldriss because I know he'd do the same for me. That means some slave-taking blackmailer has to get acquainted with the finer points of Andoran policy, so be it.
Knight-Captain Sir Galengol Greencloak
of the Andoran frigate Impartial
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"You sure are right about the conflict, Major. Shelyn's desires are very different from the Pathfinders', and the Pathfinders' can oppose the cause of Liberty. However, can the abilities of we, the agents in the field, be taken into account? I would far rather persuade someone to turn themselves in to the proper authorities than to commit murder, myself. And, in almost all circumstances, I will be more successful at the former."
Sheliantha smiles sadly. "I can understand the need to remove certain--elements from the general population, and if they choose to go voluntarily, it might be better for every one. Not that I shirk from open battle with evil-doers. I serve my parties well."
(Posting as Thaddeus Lamplighter, Pathfinder Chronicler:
Major Maldriss was my introduction to the Society, and I served Andoren principles on many of my early missions as a Pathfinder. Over time, though, I learned... Well, I learned many things, but one of them was that politics trumps history every time. When a political agenda guides reason and research, only certain topics and discoveries will be supported. The discoveries are chosen in advance for political goals, and other worthy expeditions are halted because the knowledge they could uncover is not pleasing to the powers that be.
I found that by renouncing my formal external allegiances, I was never given conflicting orders again. If I come across slaves on a mission, I don't need a note from the Major to tell me I should aid them. Neither do any who truly hold the Andoren ideals of freedom in their heart.
I urge you to make a choice, as I did: serve the Society foremost, and maintain your ideals through conscious actions, not through blithely following orders from someone who claims to share those same ideals.
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As a Major of the Eagle Knights, I make decisions and assign tasks to further the goals of Andoran. In return for achieving these tasks, I ensure that those who carry them out are suitably recognised within Andoran. You are not required to carry them out, and I am willing to fulfill my end of this agreement even if the actual work has been subcontracted out.
Caw, you don't get it do you you limey bugger?
Anyone can hoist up a pretty piece of cloth and draw some lines on a map and say "These are my people, all these people work for the benefit of these people" and usually the folks at the top benefit a lot more than the folks at the bottom.
Thats NOT what we're fighting for.
We're fighting for an IDEA. That you can't push little people around just because you're the government. That people have an inherent right to make their own way in life without someone clapping them in irons just because they have an army at their backs. Whether that takes place for 500 people inside some lines on a map or 500 people spread over the fields of cheliax is irrelevant, we're bringing freedom to individuals. Anything else makes you no different than any other country, and there's a reason I'm not fighting for them.
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We are fighting to bring freedom to beings everywhere. No one wants or deserves to be slaves. It is morally wrong to own a sentient being.
We are not fighting to cover up Major Colson's affairs. If this was a one time slip, I'm willing to forgive the Major. All I want is a formal apology from the Major.
I have spent too much time fighting on behalf of Andoran to simply quit and join another faction.
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Then perhaps you have never accepted who it is you are 'fighting' for Corvus.Its not supposed to be a WHO at all. Its supposed to be a what.
I agree, in principle, but sometimes the fight for liberty requires us to align with a person, organization, or other entity. While I agree that freedom and liberty are the "what" we are fighting for, doing so is not always mutually exclusive of conducting those fights on behalf of another.
May liberty's blessing be upon you.
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"Always good to see you, Nesod," Sichelgaita greets the monk cheerfully.
She turns serious again. "For my part, I don't find any conflict between my ideals and the ideals of Andoran. Fighting to free slaves, to overturn oppressive regimes, and to make all men and women as equal before the law as they are before the gods...these are goals that march well with my oaths as a Paladin of Iomedae and a hawk of Saint Lymirin. Plus, as an Andoren by birth, I'll always put my body between my beloved homeland - the land where my mother and little brother still live - and harm's way. But I subject each and every assignment I receive from the Major to close scrutiny, before I agree to take them on. And if they ever seem immoral, I will refuse them, as is my right as a free citizen of Andoran." She grins. "Besides, that we're having this discussion at all speaks volumes about our love and respect for freedom. If one of the Vipers even whispered a word of dissent about *their* masters, they'd find themselves getting skinned by the Hellknights before day's end."
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"Besides, that we're having this discussion at all speaks volumes about our love and respect for freedom. If one of the Vipers even whispered a word of dissent about *their* masters, they'd find themselves getting skinned by the Hellknights before day's end."
A lean halfling with visible burn scars on his hands and arms raises his pint of ale and laughs.
Here here! What so many of these foreign aristocratic-types don't get is that arguing and complaining is precisely what made Andoran great in the first place, and what keeps us from turning into just another nation of slaves and boot-lickers.
The Major's a smart man and a good officer, and even though it's us out there breaking chains, it's good to have somebody like him around who can focus on finding the weak links. It looks from where I'm sitting like he's earned that fancy hat of his, so I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt about some of his more... uncomfortable assignments.
Still, we aren't soldiers, leastways not when we're out on Pathfinder duty. I choose what to do with those letters the Major sends out according to what my own heart tells me is right, and I, for one, would trust any true Andoren to do the same.
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"Exactly!" the Paladin says, nodding in agreement. "The reason the country is great, and the reason so many peoples of different nations and races join us, is that we *can* argue, we *can* ask questions of our leaders, and we *can* call our leaders to account if we need to." She grins. "And if anyone tries to get me to lick boots, then they might lose their feet."
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"Exactly!" the Paladin says, nodding in agreement. "The reason the country is great, and the reason so many peoples of different nations and races join us, is that we *can* argue, we *can* ask questions of our leaders, and we *can* call our leaders to account if we need to." She grins. "And if anyone tries to get me to lick boots, then they might lose their feet."
A halfling directly to the left of Sichelgaita pipes up, mug still in hand.
"Ha ha! I like this lady!"
He dumps some ale from his mug on the ground, spits in his hand, and extends it toward her expectantly.
"My name is Ewan."
(Pronounced E-won)
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I will not tolerate alchohol abuse in this establishment!
"I was consecrating our introduction! Also, I may be a little bit drunk..."
His eyes wander for a second.
He looks back and smiles.
"Oh Corvus, if you would like, I have some spirits of much higher stock with me. I have Sealord Wine and Baijiu, whichever you prefer."
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He wipes off his hand on a handkerchief, and sits down.
He look at Corvus, he wrinkles his mouth and drums his fingers on his chin.
"Hhhmmmm... You know what? You seem like a whisky man to me."
He pulls some whisky from his bag and starts pouring the drinks. He passes the mug to Corvus, and shows him the label on the bottle.
"Is this to your liking?"
-Aged Oldlaw Whisky, Talden Stock, 4670-
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~Liran Ver'Ha~
A tall, blonde haired elf in chainmail, a dragon tabard over his chest walks into the establishment, and takes a seat by the halfling and the Tengu.
"My friend, would you have some extra of that drink perhaps? I have heard of whiskeys excellence." he says with a smile and wink.
Turning to the Tengu he says, "You have quite the impassioned voice my friend, I heard it even from outside, yours and my friends Sichelgaitas'. We fight for the ideals of this country, and her people. Not one man. The chain of command in the military is important, but corruption seeps into all things. No race is immune to such things. When I fought in Peoples Revolt I was fighting because my liege lord and I believed in the cause that the people were fighting for. It is why I returned. To continue defending this great little nation and it's people. I do not wish to offend, but humans are all very short sighted, I always make sure to think over the Majors orders before accomplishing them. Out there in the other nations, we are representatives of our nation. Not only in speech, but in behavior. We must represent the people over one man."
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Points at Liran
"Yes! Exactly! You people are great with words."
"I will always share Whiskey with those dedicated to the cause. I don't know the Major personally, so I don't know what his real motivations are. His past dictates that he is indeed a very devoted man, but you can never really know; you can never tell who really is dedicated and who isn't... Oh, unless you are a telepath and can cast Detect Thoughts. Oh, the world of magic..."
He chuckles.
He fishes a mug out of his bag and pours another healthy amount of Whisky.
You notice that all of the mugs that Ewan uses himself have the symbol of Cayden Cailean on them.
He shouts at the barkeep.
"Hey! Do you serve Rumboozles here?"
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Grinning, Sichelgaita takes the Halfling's hand and pounds him on the back. "Good to meet you, Ewan. Don't call me 'Seashell' and we'll get on famously, especially if I can cadge some spirits. "
She grins over at Liran, friendship and respect lighting her face. "You're absolutely right. When anyone sees us, they see Andoran and her ideals. And if we just follow orders without question for their rightness, then how does *that* show democracy to be a more moral system than Kingdom or Empire. How are we seen to be different?" She grimaces. "Especially since, any time one of us slips up, every king and noble in the world will rejoice and say to their people 'this is why we don't have democracy'..."
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I think the Major might need a little help. His behavior has been a bit self destructive ever since his Uncle was killed by a Chelaxian pirate.
Democracy is most certainly a better way to govern. All the Kingdom's and Empire's need is either another noble family to take power and screw things up, like our Chelaxian friends have discovered, or for a possibly corrupt and thin-blooded son of nobility to foul things up, the way our neighbors in Taldor had to suffer under Baron Dalsine.
To be fair, it eems our great experiment in democracy could use a little house cleaning. Nepotism and "croney-ism" are creeping in. People with wealth are getting positons of power they aren't qualified for-we have that nincompoop Alex Bedard. The last thing I want to see in Andoran is an Eagle Knight coup.
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Jaleel, I am appalled to hear of this kind of abuse of power, and I believe the Major should come to trial. I know you and I are both concerned for the future of our beloved Andoran, there are many now who have this information who would love to use it to try to drive a wedge in our faction.
These maters should have been dealt with discretion and through the proper channels. That being said I agree whole hardheartedly that personal assassination is not, and should never be our job, I just worry that such a public ousting was unwise. Even in an Andoran friendly place, we should always be weary of Chelish spies.
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Jaleel, I am appalled to hear of this kind of abuse of power, and I believe the Major should come to trial. I know you and I are both concerned for the future of our beloved Andoran, there are many now who have this information who would love to use it to try to drive a wedge in our faction.
These maters should have been dealt with discretion and through the proper channels. That being said I agree whole hardheartedly that personal assassination is not, and should never be our job, I just worry that such a public ousting was unwise. Even in an Andoran friendly place, we should always be weary of Chelish spies.
Well, we can have the meeting out in the open where everyone can see and decide for themselves and risk the Chelish spies hearing it, or we can try to hide it in a deep, dark, dank hole in the ground and tell their demonic masters directly.
And While we're there we can sign ourselves over because we'll be no better than they are.
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Jaleel, I am appalled to hear of this kind of abuse of power, and I believe the Major should come to trial. I know you and I are both concerned for the future of our beloved Andoran, there are many now who have this information who would love to use it to try to drive a wedge in our faction.
These maters should have been dealt with discretion and through the proper channels. That being said I agree whole hardheartedly that personal assassination is not, and should never be our job, I just worry that such a public ousting was unwise. Even in an Andoran friendly place, we should always be weary of Chelish spies.
Strictly speaking, I am not a spy.
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A tall half-elf, who has been standing mainly in the corner, chimes in.
"Greetings. For those who do not recognize me, I am Arannis Telanderil, originally from the village of Erages, in Kyonin. As there are not many of my kind here in Absalom, I suppose I am an unofficial ambassador to the Andorans here within the Pathfinder Society, and I suppose an unofficial ambassador of Kyonin to the Society itself."
The half-elf pauses for a moment, as if in thought, and then continues.
"Although I know of a certain Elven ambassador who involves himself with bored married noble women and produces half-elves as a result..."
A sad expression appears on his face. But it is gone almost as quickly as it arrived.
"... Still, I think I agree with Jaleel Livianna in that Major Colson should at least apologize to his people for his indiscretions. Kyonin views Andoran as one of its few allies. In my opinion, if this were to get out before any such apology, it may hurt the relationship of our two countries. Although how much exactly only Queen Telandia Edasseril would know."
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~Posted as Liran Ver'Ha~
The tall, blonde haired elf raises a shot glass to Arannais Telanderil, smiling.
"Good day brother. I believe there are more of us here than you might believe. Erages is a nice town, but sadly, my kind turn a far too cold shoulder to your kind. I think you might find Andoran a far more friendly place than Kyonin. Bellis in particular, on the border of the Verderun forest, is a nice place. My two sisters and I own a farm and meadery up there. I must invite a fellow Kyonin up for a visit some time! Elven mead making traditions mixed with the finest of Bellis honey! Nothing better!"
Taking the shot glass back he grimaces and chuckles.
"Ah! Ahem. I do doubt the Queen cares much for the bumbling of one human in an office, truth be told, she cares little for anything outside of Kyonin. The Major, for much of his bravado, does not actually control much more than the pathfinder agents of Andoran. Sure he has some military and political power, acting as an ambassador, but really, it is those men on the Peoples Council that should be worried about. For a human, the Major is not a bad guy, they all make mistakes sometimes. In a hundred years or so, no one will remember."
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Arannis, who is surprised at being spoked to so politely, turns to the tall elf, bows slightly, and speaks in Elven.
"You are correct that I have indeed received many cold shoulders during my time spent in service to our Queen. It is something I am accustomed to. However, it would indeed be my honour to visit your farm someday and take a sampling of your Elven mead. It has been quite some time since I have tasted anything of quality."
Arannis returns to speaking in Common.
"You may, indeed, be correct that our Queen may not care. I was simply putting in my opinion on the matter. The decisions she makes seems to change as does the wind, so it is hard for me to predict."
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"Oooh, freedom from the corrupt government of the Nation? I hope that works out well, and frees us to take a more active hand in removing tyrrany from the oppressed. I do suppose that we have to be subtle about things still, with the Society's reputation on the line..."
The tattooed woman taps her lips with a forefinger, in thought. Her mass of hair moves as she turns back around, glinting in the indoor light.
"I know. We could petition the Decemvirate for a Lodge of our own. Perhaps a reserve to allow former slaves and captives to recuperate before starting a new, and productive life?"
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A high pitched voice cuts through the din of conversation, "I have a Lodge in Whistledown that is pretty empty. We could always use it -- at least temporarily until we figure things out."
A gnome strides into the middle of the room wearing full plate and a brown tabard with Cayden's mug on its front. He casually carries a human-sized mug of dark beer in his left hand. This is Seeker Utan Wortmuddler, Battle Oracle of Cayden Caylean. He's a known scribe, translator, and healer for the society.
"I'm an Eagle Knight of Andoran third, Venture Captain of the Society second, and champion for freedom first!"
He raises his mug and shouts, "To Freedom!" and then takes a long pull.
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With a slightly swaying and serpentine swagger, in walks a slender elf. His hair is blonde and his face shows the scars from quite a few blades. Dressed in an Andoren naval officer's uniform and topped by a tricorne hat he is finally accented with an ominous runed black scimitar at his side. Sipping on a pint of ale from a silver tankard, he takes a swig before speaking...
"It was funny listening to all of the complaining about the good Major. You all wanted a new leader. Now in the end, we find he out was the leader we have needed all along. In order for us to save Andoren and the cause of liberty, we're going to have to leave it."
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"It was funny listening to all of the complaining about the good Major. You all wanted a new leader. Now in the end, we find he out was the leader we have needed all along. In order for us to save Andoren and the cause of liberty, we're going to have to leave it."
Quite the opposite. With the move we're going to be the ONLY thing keeping him in check. Double check all of his orders yourself, turn down any you think aren't worth following and we still need to ask him about that assassination. Someone put the blonde and the bourbon out the window again...