“Unfortunately, I must agree with Sam on what he says. He is bullheaded, openly disdainful of any form of authority structure, and rarely willing to compromise or change course. Even now, he insists he was right to abandon our mission here despite seeing now that there are allies to be had here. The idea that he would kill one of us out of naught but frustration unfortunately aligns with the character he has revealed to me over our travels, having made multiple threats on my life whenever I try to stop him from making enemies for us. But I also know Muir well. His thoughts are unique and may often seem strange to those who know him not or understand him little. He is slow to act, quick to ask. He does not always pick up on the signs that someone would like him to stop asking his questions. If anyone would allow themselves to be eaten to avoid causing offence to someone as volatile as Sam, it would be Muir. I see no evidence that any of us are acting out of character. This all distraction. We waste time bickering, and show Shenoh and her esteemed advisors the division among us. We have wasted enough time leveling accusations at each other. It is time for us to display perhaps a fraction of the professionalism on display from the leadership here. Discussions about our group politics can be tabled. Are we in agreement?”
Vin has remained silent for some time, at first trying to be respectful in front of Shenoh, then because he is simply flabbergasted by Sam's attitude and latterly because he simply can't get a word in. Seeing Gewyn look to him optimistically he attempts to interject.
"Might I say something", he says. "Excuse me, I have something to say", he adds a little louder.
"Sam, if you insist that you were, and are, of right mind and this is who you are and who you have always been, then this situation is far worse than I thought. You blame all but yourself and accuse everyone else of being responsible for your actions. You would have us believe that an archer who hurts a creature by firing an arrow from their bow at it is innocent, and that it is the arrow to blame, or the creature that was hurt for allowing itself to be hit. You are callous, cruel and paranoid and I am saddened if that is the real Sam, and disappointed in myself that it took me so long to see it", he says with genuine sadness in his voice and eyes.
But his face sets and he carries on. "But Gewyn is right. We are not here to discuss group politics. And there are a few details that need clarifying. The one you call Mori is Nivara, I am certain. When Elthana was disguised as Ira, she was captured and manacles put on her that dispelled the illusion of Ira. The guards immediately recognised her as your Mori. As Elthana looks identical to Nivara, if she looked like Mori, so does Nivara. Also, Elthana could sense the presence of Nivara at the core whilst we travelled here. That is why she wanted to turn around. Up until then, Nivara's presence was more distant".
He looks to Shenoh a little agitated now as a thought occurs to him, "If Nivara is close, she will want to make her move before Elthana is safe with us. We should not sit around and wait, please let me go and meet her on route with whatever escort you deem necessary".
Sam deflates. Realizing that not one member of the team is on his side… that not one even understands his side… more, that not one sees him with anything but contempt… it is as if his heart shrinks three sizes and his will withers with it. At Vin’s words, and his own realization of this, Sam turns his back to the group and mutters a rather unpleasant curse to himself.
Sam stays there, listening and following words and events but avoids looking at any of the Peacemakers of Northmorrah.
Shenoh stands glaring at Sam, but answers vin, "respectfully, your request is denied, and I do not think that the conversation on your group politics is unimportant. You say that Elthana is the last key needed for Nivara to complete a ritual and become unstoppable, but I am to entrust this jet person to a group who cannot even share trust amongst themselves?
Sam, you admit to using violent to bring your own comrade to the brink of death in self defence because he dared ask you questions. You insult the way we operate, you continually insult my advisor in front of me, and when one of your own insults you back you threaten their life. The behaviour displayed in the short amount of time you have been before me has been nothing short of paranoid, immature, insecure, narcissism. Your allies may say that you are useful in a fight but so is a rabid roc, just as likely to turn on allies as they are to fell the enemy.
Your ranks are broken. You are all as trustworthy as your weakest mind. But I acquiesce, you do not want to hear it, do not want to do this 'kangaroo court' as you call it.
Instead I will dispell anything afflicting muir, have him restored as to clear any doubt of corruption or control. We will find out if your suspicions are correct or not, but either way it does not excuse the laws you have broken since your arrival. But before I clear up any doubt, you need to make a decision, to either stick to your suspicions or to make amends regardless of the outcome, without shifting blame, without making yourself out to be a victim.
If not there will be consequences, for you, for your group, for the realm as a whole... And for what happens next with your friend Elthana."
Sam snorts. “Laws? Consequences? Queenie, my dear, you have a damned powerful lich and an undead army of kobolds coming for your petty real and instead of ensuring the safety of the last piece she needs your relishing in the drama of others. Do what you want. I’m not one for decisioning, just for hitting. So til something needs hitting just leave me out of it.”
Gewyn sighs in defeat. Watching all of his work come undone. With each word, their chances of winning back Shenoh’s trust or the ability to operate with any autonomy to help Elthana were crushed further into the ground. And he was partly to blame. He had mishandled Sam. Had no idea really how to handle him correctly. He didn’t respond to logic. He didn’t respond to scolding. He didn’t respond to pleading. Everything Gewyn had tried had only made things worse.
He feels the flush of frustration and anger welling up in him. No. Anger isn’t the answer now. His hands were off the reigns, but if he kept calm and quiet, he could focus on finding more subtle ways to nudge Elthana’s fate.
Muir hobbles forward "If checking me for abnormalities will help put this to rest so we can aid you in the threat facing your realm and uniting the Djinns to this cause than I am happy to do so. My things were taken from me...I believe they were stowed with Sam's belongings, possibly in that bag....May I have the bag please...I will not adorn anything to prevent suspicion, I just want to make sure all of my things are present...I thank you for considering my request" Muir bows his head and waits for Shenoh's response
Vin does not look happy at being denied the chance to go after Elthana.
"With the greatest of respect, Shenoh. Yes our group is fractured right now, but the same can be said of you and your advisors, one of which has turned out to be your greatest enemy you didn't even know you had. Next to Nivara, what Sam has done is mere child's play. Everywhere we go folk want to take responsibility for Elthana, but the truth is she is our family. You cannot simply decree that bond is taken away. Now, I implore you to see reason and send us to her".
Gewyn looks up at this, impressed with Vin’s point. He had been so focussed on his own group’s division, he had failed to utilize the truth Vin had brought up. This could be the opportunity. Now to nudge.
He nods toward Vin, letting his pride show and hoping it might inspire him to further boldness.
Muir hobbles back away from the bag at Sam’s refusal unless Shenoh decides to give him the bag, he won’t push it. Upon hearing Vin, he pats him on the back and stands behind the group waiting for whatever happens next happen
Shenoh shenoh takes a few strides toward Sam at his hard headedness and refusal to choose. "Deflection once again, complete lack of responsibility. Cowardice... A time of coming war does not excuse your actions." She stretches a hand out to one side pointing directly at Muir and clicks her fingers, at once Muir is covered in cinders and flame, though his clothes do not burn and he feels no discomfort. Sol strides toward Muir with the large book in hand and gives Muir a knowing nod hand outstretched in a calming manner he touches Muir's hand through the flame and a brilliant divine light begins to fill the core of Muir, his fingers crack back into place and the skin on the bones fill with flesh again, the weight of his body is lifted from his snapped Achilles tendon and he steps down on his foot comfortably once more. Sol finishes the spell, the divine light and the flames extinguish at once and he looks over to shenoh, "lasting damage typical of a small creature attacking, but no control, corruption or otherwise." Shenoh turns to Sam, but answers Sol. "None here either...".
As vin states his own concerns shenoh returns to her seat, "you are a small group heading hither and thither in search of help and sleeping next to a man who threatens to kill you and sometimes actively attempts it, that is not a family. We on the other hand are millions strong with a whole isles worth of resources and the magic and science of Ginro at our back. In terms of safety we are not the same... Mori will be found, Tried, and Executed for her crimes. But you have the facts now. Sam attacked Muir under the false and frankly paranoid assumption that Muir was not who he said he was. We also found no traces of corruption or control on Sam either. This may not make a difference to him but perhaps it does to the rest of you... I have a heading and a mission for you, I can provide the utmost safety for Elthana whilst you are gone, or you can take Elthana with you and leave Sam here to be tried for the crimes of madness he has committed on my isle... In the spirit of fairness I will let you-"
The djinni is cut off as the large doors swing open. Three griffons enter upon each griffon are two Goliaths of shenoh's right arm, Ingram's guard, complete with their feather engraved armour. The middle one is lacking it's second Goliath however as Elthana can be seen manacled to the saddle looking fearful. The griffons approach quickly the doors closing and locking behind them with a arcane twinkle.
The Goliath with Elthana unclasps her manacles from the saddle but leaves them firmly around her hands as he assists her down and walks her through the crowd of you all gathered in front of the throne.
Vin's heart sinks when he hears that Sam is not affected by any corruption or curse. His shoulders slump and he looks lost. Shenoh's speech irks him, but the small fire in his belly is almost extinguished by the thought that Sam truly had chosen to do what he did.
But then the doors open and Elthana is returned to them. Even the sight of her in manacles does not detract from the relief he feels at that moment. Not just knowing that she is safe, but knowing that if anyone can get through to Sam it is her. The last remaining card to play.
Shenoh had said they weren't a family. But families weren't perfect, that was the point. They were tied together no matter how imperfect they were. And he had spent too much of his life without family, or with just Neferox looking out for him. He wasn't willing to give up either Sam or Elthana. Not yet.
And all Shenoh's millions of people and all the science of Ginro had been focussed on the will of Nivara for so long. All that had done was make matters much worse. And he was sure of one thing, he didn't work for Shenoh.
"Are you ok, Elthana? They know the truth. About who Mori is and who you are", he says as she is marched past him. He wants to demand the manacles are removed, but stays silent, not wanting to make matters worse until he sees how things play out a little.
Sam stiffens when Shenoh says the word "cowardness" and even reaches to his side but, perhaps luckily, his maul is several steps away and thus out of reach. She saw that before she said it, he thinks to himself.
"You're magics are wrong," Sam says softly but confidently, again the steel evident in his words. "No man allows himself to be eaten by a rat if they're all right in the head."
As Shenoh starts speechifying and tossing around the idea of allowing or not Elthana to go with the group and the idea of a trial, Sam unSamly-like says nothing. Instead he just idles sideways until he is indeed standing next to his maul. He has no time to reach out and grasp it, if he so intended, before the doors burst open.
Muir's shoulders slump at the hearing that Sam did what he did right in the mind without corruption....He walks over to the bag, picks it up, and checks to make sure all of his stuff is in the bag. He hears the door open and Elthana walking through and thinks on what to say about the situation......
Relief pours through Elthana as she sees all of her friends together in the throne room. But as she is led away from the griffen, she can cut the tension with a knife. What was going on here? What was being discussed... must be something about her since the goliath knew her name. She looks upon Shenoh and is humbled a bit, as well as the golden one by her. Seeing Vinghov brings her back to a level remembering the issues they had with him.
She smiles at Vin as he swiftly tries to catch her up. She responds to him, "Mori isn't Nivara, she's some sort of creation of Nivaras. Nivara is not on this isle, it was Mori I felt." she also smiles at Gewyn, so very glad to see him ok. She didn't realize how worried she was about him until now. She continues to Shenoh, assuming she is brought before her and gives her a small bow in recognition.
Shenoh, seated now looks around the room, at Sam's comment she responds "my magics are not wrong, they find no arcane corruption, whether Muir was in his 'right mind' is not dependant upon the magics, the truth is he was not compelled or controlled, nor was he some doppelganger as your delusions have told you.", then to the rest of the group "your decision will have to wait."
Then her eyes settle on Elthana. "Mori is your mother's name..." She stops, pensive, gauging Elthana's reactions before continuing "Your friend Vincent here seems adamant that Mori is Nivara in disguise, how can you be sure of what you state?"
"You cannot even defend yourself against a mouse," Sam points out.
Muir ignores Sam and waits for Shenoh believing now that Sam is not himself
“Unfortunately, I must agree with Sam on what he says. He is bullheaded, openly disdainful of any form of authority structure, and rarely willing to compromise or change course. Even now, he insists he was right to abandon our mission here despite seeing now that there are allies to be had here. The idea that he would kill one of us out of naught but frustration unfortunately aligns with the character he has revealed to me over our travels, having made multiple threats on my life whenever I try to stop him from making enemies for us. But I also know Muir well. His thoughts are unique and may often seem strange to those who know him not or understand him little. He is slow to act, quick to ask. He does not always pick up on the signs that someone would like him to stop asking his questions. If anyone would allow themselves to be eaten to avoid causing offence to someone as volatile as Sam, it would be Muir. I see no evidence that any of us are acting out of character. This all distraction. We waste time bickering, and show Shenoh and her esteemed advisors the division among us. We have wasted enough time leveling accusations at each other. It is time for us to display perhaps a fraction of the professionalism on display from the leadership here. Discussions about our group politics can be tabled. Are we in agreement?”
Gewyn looks to Vin hopefully for support.
Muir nods “I certainly came here to aid and help, not squabble. There will be no trouble from me.”
Vin has remained silent for some time, at first trying to be respectful in front of Shenoh, then because he is simply flabbergasted by Sam's attitude and latterly because he simply can't get a word in. Seeing Gewyn look to him optimistically he attempts to interject.
"Might I say something", he says. "Excuse me, I have something to say", he adds a little louder.
"Sam, if you insist that you were, and are, of right mind and this is who you are and who you have always been, then this situation is far worse than I thought. You blame all but yourself and accuse everyone else of being responsible for your actions. You would have us believe that an archer who hurts a creature by firing an arrow from their bow at it is innocent, and that it is the arrow to blame, or the creature that was hurt for allowing itself to be hit. You are callous, cruel and paranoid and I am saddened if that is the real Sam, and disappointed in myself that it took me so long to see it", he says with genuine sadness in his voice and eyes.
But his face sets and he carries on. "But Gewyn is right. We are not here to discuss group politics. And there are a few details that need clarifying. The one you call Mori is Nivara, I am certain. When Elthana was disguised as Ira, she was captured and manacles put on her that dispelled the illusion of Ira. The guards immediately recognised her as your Mori. As Elthana looks identical to Nivara, if she looked like Mori, so does Nivara. Also, Elthana could sense the presence of Nivara at the core whilst we travelled here. That is why she wanted to turn around. Up until then, Nivara's presence was more distant".
He looks to Shenoh a little agitated now as a thought occurs to him, "If Nivara is close, she will want to make her move before Elthana is safe with us. We should not sit around and wait, please let me go and meet her on route with whatever escort you deem necessary".
Sam deflates. Realizing that not one member of the team is on his side… that not one even understands his side… more, that not one sees him with anything but contempt… it is as if his heart shrinks three sizes and his will withers with it. At Vin’s words, and his own realization of this, Sam turns his back to the group and mutters a rather unpleasant curse to himself.
Sam stays there, listening and following words and events but avoids looking at any of the Peacemakers of Northmorrah.
Shenoh stands glaring at Sam, but answers vin, "respectfully, your request is denied, and I do not think that the conversation on your group politics is unimportant. You say that Elthana is the last key needed for Nivara to complete a ritual and become unstoppable, but I am to entrust this jet person to a group who cannot even share trust amongst themselves?
Sam, you admit to using violent to bring your own comrade to the brink of death in self defence because he dared ask you questions. You insult the way we operate, you continually insult my advisor in front of me, and when one of your own insults you back you threaten their life. The behaviour displayed in the short amount of time you have been before me has been nothing short of paranoid, immature, insecure, narcissism. Your allies may say that you are useful in a fight but so is a rabid roc, just as likely to turn on allies as they are to fell the enemy.
Your ranks are broken. You are all as trustworthy as your weakest mind. But I acquiesce, you do not want to hear it, do not want to do this 'kangaroo court' as you call it.
Instead I will dispell anything afflicting muir, have him restored as to clear any doubt of corruption or control. We will find out if your suspicions are correct or not, but either way it does not excuse the laws you have broken since your arrival. But before I clear up any doubt, you need to make a decision, to either stick to your suspicions or to make amends regardless of the outcome, without shifting blame, without making yourself out to be a victim.
If not there will be consequences, for you, for your group, for the realm as a whole... And for what happens next with your friend Elthana."
Sam snorts. “Laws? Consequences? Queenie, my dear, you have a damned powerful lich and an undead army of kobolds coming for your petty real and instead of ensuring the safety of the last piece she needs your relishing in the drama of others. Do what you want. I’m not one for decisioning, just for hitting. So til something needs hitting just leave me out of it.”
Gewyn sighs in defeat. Watching all of his work come undone. With each word, their chances of winning back Shenoh’s trust or the ability to operate with any autonomy to help Elthana were crushed further into the ground. And he was partly to blame. He had mishandled Sam. Had no idea really how to handle him correctly. He didn’t respond to logic. He didn’t respond to scolding. He didn’t respond to pleading. Everything Gewyn had tried had only made things worse.
He feels the flush of frustration and anger welling up in him. No. Anger isn’t the answer now. His hands were off the reigns, but if he kept calm and quiet, he could focus on finding more subtle ways to nudge Elthana’s fate.
Muir hobbles forward "If checking me for abnormalities will help put this to rest so we can aid you in the threat facing your realm and uniting the Djinns to this cause than I am happy to do so. My things were taken from me...I believe they were stowed with Sam's belongings, possibly in that bag....May I have the bag please...I will not adorn anything to prevent suspicion, I just want to make sure all of my things are present...I thank you for considering my request" Muir bows his head and waits for Shenoh's response
"After he's checked," Sam states calmly and softly but with iron in his words.
Vin does not look happy at being denied the chance to go after Elthana.
"With the greatest of respect, Shenoh. Yes our group is fractured right now, but the same can be said of you and your advisors, one of which has turned out to be your greatest enemy you didn't even know you had. Next to Nivara, what Sam has done is mere child's play. Everywhere we go folk want to take responsibility for Elthana, but the truth is she is our family. You cannot simply decree that bond is taken away. Now, I implore you to see reason and send us to her".
Gewyn looks up at this, impressed with Vin’s point. He had been so focussed on his own group’s division, he had failed to utilize the truth Vin had brought up. This could be the opportunity. Now to nudge.
He nods toward Vin, letting his pride show and hoping it might inspire him to further boldness.
(bardic inspiration to Vin)
Muir hobbles back away from the bag at Sam’s refusal unless Shenoh decides to give him the bag, he won’t push it. Upon hearing Vin, he pats him on the back and stands behind the group waiting for whatever happens next happen
Shenoh shenoh takes a few strides toward Sam at his hard headedness and refusal to choose. "Deflection once again, complete lack of responsibility. Cowardice... A time of coming war does not excuse your actions." She stretches a hand out to one side pointing directly at Muir and clicks her fingers, at once Muir is covered in cinders and flame, though his clothes do not burn and he feels no discomfort. Sol strides toward Muir with the large book in hand and gives Muir a knowing nod hand outstretched in a calming manner he touches Muir's hand through the flame and a brilliant divine light begins to fill the core of Muir, his fingers crack back into place and the skin on the bones fill with flesh again, the weight of his body is lifted from his snapped Achilles tendon and he steps down on his foot comfortably once more. Sol finishes the spell, the divine light and the flames extinguish at once and he looks over to shenoh, "lasting damage typical of a small creature attacking, but no control, corruption or otherwise." Shenoh turns to Sam, but answers Sol. "None here either...".
As vin states his own concerns shenoh returns to her seat, "you are a small group heading hither and thither in search of help and sleeping next to a man who threatens to kill you and sometimes actively attempts it, that is not a family. We on the other hand are millions strong with a whole isles worth of resources and the magic and science of Ginro at our back. In terms of safety we are not the same... Mori will be found, Tried, and Executed for her crimes. But you have the facts now. Sam attacked Muir under the false and frankly paranoid assumption that Muir was not who he said he was. We also found no traces of corruption or control on Sam either. This may not make a difference to him but perhaps it does to the rest of you... I have a heading and a mission for you, I can provide the utmost safety for Elthana whilst you are gone, or you can take Elthana with you and leave Sam here to be tried for the crimes of madness he has committed on my isle... In the spirit of fairness I will let you-"
The djinni is cut off as the large doors swing open. Three griffons enter upon each griffon are two Goliaths of shenoh's right arm, Ingram's guard, complete with their feather engraved armour. The middle one is lacking it's second Goliath however as Elthana can be seen manacled to the saddle looking fearful. The griffons approach quickly the doors closing and locking behind them with a arcane twinkle.
The Goliath with Elthana unclasps her manacles from the saddle but leaves them firmly around her hands as he assists her down and walks her through the crowd of you all gathered in front of the throne.
Vin's heart sinks when he hears that Sam is not affected by any corruption or curse. His shoulders slump and he looks lost. Shenoh's speech irks him, but the small fire in his belly is almost extinguished by the thought that Sam truly had chosen to do what he did.
But then the doors open and Elthana is returned to them. Even the sight of her in manacles does not detract from the relief he feels at that moment. Not just knowing that she is safe, but knowing that if anyone can get through to Sam it is her. The last remaining card to play.
Shenoh had said they weren't a family. But families weren't perfect, that was the point. They were tied together no matter how imperfect they were. And he had spent too much of his life without family, or with just Neferox looking out for him. He wasn't willing to give up either Sam or Elthana. Not yet.
And all Shenoh's millions of people and all the science of Ginro had been focussed on the will of Nivara for so long. All that had done was make matters much worse. And he was sure of one thing, he didn't work for Shenoh.
"Are you ok, Elthana? They know the truth. About who Mori is and who you are", he says as she is marched past him. He wants to demand the manacles are removed, but stays silent, not wanting to make matters worse until he sees how things play out a little.
Sam stiffens when Shenoh says the word "cowardness" and even reaches to his side but, perhaps luckily, his maul is several steps away and thus out of reach. She saw that before she said it, he thinks to himself.
"You're magics are wrong," Sam says softly but confidently, again the steel evident in his words. "No man allows himself to be eaten by a rat if they're all right in the head."
As Shenoh starts speechifying and tossing around the idea of allowing or not Elthana to go with the group and the idea of a trial, Sam unSamly-like says nothing. Instead he just idles sideways until he is indeed standing next to his maul. He has no time to reach out and grasp it, if he so intended, before the doors burst open.
Muir's shoulders slump at the hearing that Sam did what he did right in the mind without corruption....He walks over to the bag, picks it up, and checks to make sure all of his stuff is in the bag. He hears the door open and Elthana walking through and thinks on what to say about the situation......
Relief pours through Elthana as she sees all of her friends together in the throne room. But as she is led away from the griffen, she can cut the tension with a knife. What was going on here? What was being discussed... must be something about her since the goliath knew her name. She looks upon Shenoh and is humbled a bit, as well as the golden one by her. Seeing Vinghov brings her back to a level remembering the issues they had with him.
She smiles at Vin as he swiftly tries to catch her up. She responds to him, "Mori isn't Nivara, she's some sort of creation of Nivaras. Nivara is not on this isle, it was Mori I felt." she also smiles at Gewyn, so very glad to see him ok. She didn't realize how worried she was about him until now. She continues to Shenoh, assuming she is brought before her and gives her a small bow in recognition.
Shenoh, seated now looks around the room, at Sam's comment she responds "my magics are not wrong, they find no arcane corruption, whether Muir was in his 'right mind' is not dependant upon the magics, the truth is he was not compelled or controlled, nor was he some doppelganger as your delusions have told you.", then to the rest of the group "your decision will have to wait."
Then her eyes settle on Elthana. "Mori is your mother's name..." She stops, pensive, gauging Elthana's reactions before continuing "Your friend Vincent here seems adamant that Mori is Nivara in disguise, how can you be sure of what you state?"