Annoura smiles gently at the priest. "Wonders, indeed. Yes, the Moon Goddess is a wonder, but my story goes back a bit further, to Eapish. I know many view the elves a being somehow superior to humans, in culture, in wisdom, in many things. The truth is, elves can be every bit as callous, as cruel and avaricious as any human...or anyone else. My family was poor in Eapish, which is nearly a crime. We were looked down upon, treated badly, just for our situation. I longed to escape, to travel someplace with my family where our worth as people would count for more than the contents of our purse. I remember spending many nights looking up at the sky, gazing into the heavens, dreaming of that escape. It is how I got my name, Stargaze." She pauses, then, the memory a strong one and, to judge by the expression on her face both pleasant and painful. "One night, not long before we left as it turned out, my mother called me in for bed...she'd called many times I realized, but I hadn't heard them, not until she said, 'Annoura, my little stargazer, come in to bed!' After that, it was shortened to Stargaze. I know now it was not the stars I yearned for but the moon and have considered changing my name but I decided to keep the name my mother gave me."
She pauses again, then continues, "The journey from Eapish to the Empire was long, arduous. We did not have the money for the sea voyage, but my father and mother," her voice catches for just the briefest of moments before continuing, "worked to pay for our passage and my brother was born not long after. Eventually, my father found good work in a wood-shop and my mother took care of us and made a little on the side with her herbs and such. Finally, we found ourselves in Demipek. I never did stop gazing at the night sky, the stars were beautiful but I always found the moon more entrancing. Again, life was good for a time then, a merchant bumped my father on the street, accused him of trying to rob him. Maybe if it hadn't been the Month of 'Liberation', he wouldn't have been taken, but it was and he was and we never saw him again. It was about then I began to pray. Not to Selune, not yet, or rather not knowingly to her. My mother did her best but soon grew ill and died and it was just my brother, Tchandry. I had witnessed the destructive power of lies first hand and vowed never to lie or cheat or steal. A hard oath to keep, for an urchin on the streets of Demipek, but I found a way. Whenever I wavered, I always found a little extra strength to look a little harder...Selune was even then watching me, guiding me."
"Eventually, Tchandry grew sick and I begged for a way heal him, to save him. Selune's holy light filled me and he was saved. I have devoted myself to her service since that moment. She guided us both to Quesada, to a man who trained me. After him, she guided me to many others. Eventually, I found myself here, with you." She looks around. "That is my story."
He listened the histories with solemn attention, nodding to Annoura when she spoke in dwarvish. Tension became visible on his posture from the moment Emel mentioned Deeprush. It was a subtle change, that only the keener observer would have notice but it was a change nonetheless.
“Maybe it really was fate that brought us together, seeing as so many of us are tied to gods and one of us is tied to the dragons themselves.” It seemed to him that each one of them should have died many times over before having a chance to meet the others. “Maybe our mission will be a turning point. A moment in history capable to affect this world to the extent of interfering with the visions our patron deities have for the future - the start of the end for this accursed Empire, I would like to hope.” What other reason could there be for their paths to cross? “Or something like that will happen later. Either way I know that you are all deserving of admiration. For being a force for change without malice.” He said looking at the cleric. “For embodying the determination to keep going on even in face of certain death.”His head turned to the ranger, then to the paladin. “For surviving against this world itself.”
Findal could not fathom what kind of destiny tied Emel to dragons, but had a suspicion about how Ebril and Annoura came upon their gifts. He lived how his Lady of Luck liked the most and that could be enough to gain her blessing. Sharindlar did something like that in the face of true love, at least once. Stargaze likely turned her voice to a favorable direction the moment she started looking at the skies with fondness. The stout folk was not known for traveling the seas, but even they knew Selûne guided sailors and astrologers and the lost. Besides, an oath as heavy was her was bound to bring great return.
“Anyhow, we leave the lying for our gambler. You take care of persuasion and intimidation will be a group effort.” That should work well enough, considering their talk about torture. “Also, you guys recognize the places marked in red around the Maw?”
"You made quite an oath Annoura. And I presume you still hold to it," Ebril says. "That is quite the commitment. I commend you for it." He then turns to Findal. "If you need someone to bluff their way through something, I'm your man. You'll probably not believe me, but I'd rather not cheat - I'd prefer to win fairly. Doesn't mean I won't work to keep the odds in my favor though." He chuckles lightly, "Guess that's my way of saying I agree with your assessment. I'm sure more will be swayed by Annoura's beauty than my crazy face."
"In my experience there is no winning fairly." Emel says, glancing at Ebril. "Either you win or you lose. And since in our case a loss would be deadly, I find how you achieve victory far less important than ensuring that you do."
“Canna say I disagree that there are situations when the way you achieve victory matter less than achieving said victory and I definitely believe our cause is one such situation, but to say there is no fair win is to say that there is no unfair one.” Findal said with distant eyes, as if contemplating old memories. “To say that is to justify the methods of the Empire, after all to many of the dogs defeat means death. Is to alleviate the weight of every hard choice we take, to diminish our responsibilities. Make no mistake lass, every time we rob we make someone have less. Every soldier we kill was someone’s child. Maybe someone’s brother and parent.” The ones fighting were not the only causalities of war, he knew well enough. “I’m no saint. In fact, I think there are plenty of situations when an oath such as Annoura’s can be far from commendable. For example, a situation where saying the truth destroy a life.”Considering the rebellion, the barbarian was sure his companions could understand that this destruction was not always warranted. “To me one should do what one needs when there is no other choice, even if it is robbing or killing, and plenty of times there will be no other choice for the like of us, but one should not forget the weight of the wrong one does be it directly or otherwise. Same way one should not forget the merits of one's actions. The good doesn’t erase the bad, nor the bad erase the good.”
OOC: So, no one knows the places marked with red points around the Maw?
"It is a powerful oath, but it does not hamper me in the way you think it does. No, I will not adopt the Empire's tactics against it...what use victory then, to become as I have fought against? Findal speaks wisely, though I think he underestimates me. Still, time will tell." Glancing at the map, she ponders the dwarf's question.
ooc: Does Annoura recognize any of the red marks around the maw?
Emel hiccups, let's out a mirthless laugh, and takes yet another shot from her flask, staring into the flame of one of the candles. "Y'all are overthinking it by my reckoning. The empire has done too much to to many people for us to be queasy. Just look at each of us. The empire has taken everything." When she says everything the candle flares up for a moment before settling, and she turns her gaze back to them. "The only thing it deserves are the only things it left me with. Fire and blood." There's a beat of silence before a drunken grin spreads across her face again. "I... Wait what was I talking about?" She thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs."Oh well. Hey did I ever tell you guys about the time Mep and I -" She stops, looking suddenly ill. "Guys I think..." Without bothering to finish her thoughts she stumbles to the hole with a ladder, teeters on the edge looking down it, throws up, then stumbles over to one of the beds and passes out, clutching her flask close to her chest.
Annoura sighed inwardly, wondering if this was how the Empire had started. Had someone there, at the beginning, seen something wrong with the society, something so terribly wrong that the method of correction did not matter? Had someone said to herself that it didn't matter how she stopped whatever it was, as long as she stopped it and put something else, anything else, in its place. She feared it was so. The best of intentions often led to the very worst of behaviors.
“Lass, words I couldn’t agree if your last words more if I tried. Just don't forget that the people are not always synonymous with this shite” He said to Emel. “Personally, I think we should overthink and talk about overthinking. It is useful to know each other way of thinking and inspiration often strike on this situation. You would be surprised with how many artisans got sparks of genius when making a skunk look sober.” The dwarf had seen that happen then and again, before taking to the martial arts. The worst of it was when the artists ended throwing up. “For example, analyzing your declaration…”.Findal speaks to Annoura. “… of not using the Empire tactics, the definition ‘the Empire tactics’ is being equated as practices that doesn’t sit well with your moral principles even when this is not always the case. Fighting, using weapon, magic and armor are tactics and the Empire uses it. It looks like semantic preciousness, but perception starts in the mind and few things influence the mind like words.”The world of the old men ringed on his memory - orders should be clear and leave no room for any interpretation besides their real meaning. “On regards to your question, there is a great use. By winning through becoming the thing you were fighting you also become the only source of it and gain the unique ability to stop its wrongs with no more than a decision.” As far as the barbarian was concerned, if by sacrificing principles one can save lives that was what one should will do. “The true question is taking this decision. Most fail to.”
OOC: Unless someone grew around there I agree it would be a question for the DM to answer. Findal wouldn't really know the area. He is relatively new to the city.
Annoura shakes her head. "I respect your wisdom, Findal, but you are mistaken. No use at all if we simply replace this Empire with another, equally bad. The issue is not the methods, but the line. What line? This line. Each person has a line beyond which they will not go, beyond which are things they will not do. Once you've moved that line, the worst thing is not that the line has been moved. No, the worst thing is that you have made the line movable. Once that happens, it is very hard to make it unmovable again. I will do my part, never fear, but I will do it my way. And that is the end of that. I do not expect to convince you on this point. I say this so you understand me."
Ebril continues to look at the map, studying the red points around the Maw. "Even if we don't know these now, might be something to check on as we prepare."
“I’m wrong? Did you heard yourself? Besides being abstract to the extreme your idea either fails to consider how each and everyone decides what is this line thus creating the question of what subjective opinion would ultimately have value, is arrogant enough to preach what should be objective right to everyone or simply put ideals over lives. The later two are ironically fundamental parts of the way of thinking of the very thing we are trying to destroy.” Part of him wanted to ask if she would have preferred principles and truth to the life of her parents given the choice, but that was low even for someone under five feet tall. “I would trade an evil empire that no one knows how long will last for one that won't stand for a year anytime and with all due respect, if you can’t see the value on that then let's just agree to disagree and not get in the way of the cause.”And a long way it was likely to be. He could feel it on his bones. “And at best I have pragmatism. Wisdom is for better people.”
On the last words his voice was distant, almost melancholic, showing rather clearly that the dwarf didn't think higly of himself. Even his fighting style was a grim reminder of the fact that he was less than before. Almost all technique gone, replaced by cold rage. Findal then tried to memorize the red points closer to the Maw but his hopes of success were not great.
“Maybe we could divide the task of memorizing them between our group.” That would ensure all of them would know of somewhere potentially safe, even if separated from the others. It also would ensure none would be able to give all the information if captured. “I mean, I’m barely anything more than average when it comes to this kind of thing.”
Annoura smiles at the dwarf. "As I said, I do no expect to convince you, just to help you understand me. And I think we already agreed to disagree on whether the ends justify the means. But, do not sell yourself short, my friend. You have wisdom a plenty."
Turning to the map, she too attempted to memorize the layout of the red and black, choosing the pins between their location and the maw. "Good idea, Findal. I will memorize the pins between here and the Maw."
Annoura smiles gently at the priest. "Wonders, indeed. Yes, the Moon Goddess is a wonder, but my story goes back a bit further, to Eapish. I know many view the elves a being somehow superior to humans, in culture, in wisdom, in many things. The truth is, elves can be every bit as callous, as cruel and avaricious as any human...or anyone else. My family was poor in Eapish, which is nearly a crime. We were looked down upon, treated badly, just for our situation. I longed to escape, to travel someplace with my family where our worth as people would count for more than the contents of our purse. I remember spending many nights looking up at the sky, gazing into the heavens, dreaming of that escape. It is how I got my name, Stargaze." She pauses, then, the memory a strong one and, to judge by the expression on her face both pleasant and painful. "One night, not long before we left as it turned out, my mother called me in for bed...she'd called many times I realized, but I hadn't heard them, not until she said, 'Annoura, my little stargazer, come in to bed!' After that, it was shortened to Stargaze. I know now it was not the stars I yearned for but the moon and have considered changing my name but I decided to keep the name my mother gave me."
She pauses again, then continues, "The journey from Eapish to the Empire was long, arduous. We did not have the money for the sea voyage, but my father and mother," her voice catches for just the briefest of moments before continuing, "worked to pay for our passage and my brother was born not long after. Eventually, my father found good work in a wood-shop and my mother took care of us and made a little on the side with her herbs and such. Finally, we found ourselves in Demipek. I never did stop gazing at the night sky, the stars were beautiful but I always found the moon more entrancing. Again, life was good for a time then, a merchant bumped my father on the street, accused him of trying to rob him. Maybe if it hadn't been the Month of 'Liberation', he wouldn't have been taken, but it was and he was and we never saw him again. It was about then I began to pray. Not to Selune, not yet, or rather not knowingly to her. My mother did her best but soon grew ill and died and it was just my brother, Tchandry. I had witnessed the destructive power of lies first hand and vowed never to lie or cheat or steal. A hard oath to keep, for an urchin on the streets of Demipek, but I found a way. Whenever I wavered, I always found a little extra strength to look a little harder...Selune was even then watching me, guiding me."
"Eventually, Tchandry grew sick and I begged for a way heal him, to save him. Selune's holy light filled me and he was saved. I have devoted myself to her service since that moment. She guided us both to Quesada, to a man who trained me. After him, she guided me to many others. Eventually, I found myself here, with you." She looks around. "That is my story."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
He listened the histories with solemn attention, nodding to Annoura when she spoke in dwarvish. Tension became visible on his posture from the moment Emel mentioned Deeprush. It was a subtle change, that only the keener observer would have notice but it was a change nonetheless.
“Maybe it really was fate that brought us together, seeing as so many of us are tied to gods and one of us is tied to the dragons themselves.” It seemed to him that each one of them should have died many times over before having a chance to meet the others. “Maybe our mission will be a turning point. A moment in history capable to affect this world to the extent of interfering with the visions our patron deities have for the future - the start of the end for this accursed Empire, I would like to hope.” What other reason could there be for their paths to cross? “Or something like that will happen later. Either way I know that you are all deserving of admiration. For being a force for change without malice.” He said looking at the cleric. “For embodying the determination to keep going on even in face of certain death.” His head turned to the ranger, then to the paladin. “For surviving against this world itself.”
Findal could not fathom what kind of destiny tied Emel to dragons, but had a suspicion about how Ebril and Annoura came upon their gifts. He lived how his Lady of Luck liked the most and that could be enough to gain her blessing. Sharindlar did something like that in the face of true love, at least once. Stargaze likely turned her voice to a favorable direction the moment she started looking at the skies with fondness. The stout folk was not known for traveling the seas, but even they knew Selûne guided sailors and astrologers and the lost. Besides, an oath as heavy was her was bound to bring great return.
“Anyhow, we leave the lying for our gambler. You take care of persuasion and intimidation will be a group effort.” That should work well enough, considering their talk about torture. “Also, you guys recognize the places marked in red around the Maw?”
Emel let's out a drunken laugh. " Guess eat the rich is relevant for any race, in any city. Glad you got outta there."
"You made quite an oath Annoura. And I presume you still hold to it," Ebril says. "That is quite the commitment. I commend you for it." He then turns to Findal. "If you need someone to bluff their way through something, I'm your man. You'll probably not believe me, but I'd rather not cheat - I'd prefer to win fairly. Doesn't mean I won't work to keep the odds in my favor though." He chuckles lightly, "Guess that's my way of saying I agree with your assessment. I'm sure more will be swayed by Annoura's beauty than my crazy face."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"In my experience there is no winning fairly." Emel says, glancing at Ebril. "Either you win or you lose. And since in our case a loss would be deadly, I find how you achieve victory far less important than ensuring that you do."
“Canna say I disagree that there are situations when the way you achieve victory matter less than achieving said victory and I definitely believe our cause is one such situation, but to say there is no fair win is to say that there is no unfair one.” Findal said with distant eyes, as if contemplating old memories. “To say that is to justify the methods of the Empire, after all to many of the dogs defeat means death. Is to alleviate the weight of every hard choice we take, to diminish our responsibilities. Make no mistake lass, every time we rob we make someone have less. Every soldier we kill was someone’s child. Maybe someone’s brother and parent.” The ones fighting were not the only causalities of war, he knew well enough. “I’m no saint. In fact, I think there are plenty of situations when an oath such as Annoura’s can be far from commendable. For example, a situation where saying the truth destroy a life.” Considering the rebellion, the barbarian was sure his companions could understand that this destruction was not always warranted. “To me one should do what one needs when there is no other choice, even if it is robbing or killing, and plenty of times there will be no other choice for the like of us, but one should not forget the weight of the wrong one does be it directly or otherwise. Same way one should not forget the merits of one's actions. The good doesn’t erase the bad, nor the bad erase the good.”
OOC: So, no one knows the places marked with red points around the Maw?
"It is a powerful oath, but it does not hamper me in the way you think it does. No, I will not adopt the Empire's tactics against it...what use victory then, to become as I have fought against? Findal speaks wisely, though I think he underestimates me. Still, time will tell." Glancing at the map, she ponders the dwarf's question.
ooc: Does Annoura recognize any of the red marks around the maw?
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
(I agree - I think recognizing places around the Maw is a DM question.)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Emel hiccups, let's out a mirthless laugh, and takes yet another shot from her flask, staring into the flame of one of the candles. "Y'all are overthinking it by my reckoning. The empire has done too much to to many people for us to be queasy. Just look at each of us. The empire has taken everything." When she says everything the candle flares up for a moment before settling, and she turns her gaze back to them. "The only thing it deserves are the only things it left me with. Fire and blood." There's a beat of silence before a drunken grin spreads across her face again. "I... Wait what was I talking about?" She thinks about it for a moment, then shrugs."Oh well. Hey did I ever tell you guys about the time Mep and I -" She stops, looking suddenly ill. "Guys I think..." Without bothering to finish her thoughts she stumbles to the hole with a ladder, teeters on the edge looking down it, throws up, then stumbles over to one of the beds and passes out, clutching her flask close to her chest.
Annoura sighed inwardly, wondering if this was how the Empire had started. Had someone there, at the beginning, seen something wrong with the society, something so terribly wrong that the method of correction did not matter? Had someone said to herself that it didn't matter how she stopped whatever it was, as long as she stopped it and put something else, anything else, in its place. She feared it was so. The best of intentions often led to the very worst of behaviors.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
“Lass, words I couldn’t agree if your last words more if I tried. Just don't forget that the people are not always synonymous with this shite” He said to Emel. “Personally, I think we should overthink and talk about overthinking. It is useful to know each other way of thinking and inspiration often strike on this situation. You would be surprised with how many artisans got sparks of genius when making a skunk look sober.” The dwarf had seen that happen then and again, before taking to the martial arts. The worst of it was when the artists ended throwing up. “For example, analyzing your declaration…”. Findal speaks to Annoura. “… of not using the Empire tactics, the definition ‘the Empire tactics’ is being equated as practices that doesn’t sit well with your moral principles even when this is not always the case. Fighting, using weapon, magic and armor are tactics and the Empire uses it. It looks like semantic preciousness, but perception starts in the mind and few things influence the mind like words.” The world of the old men ringed on his memory - orders should be clear and leave no room for any interpretation besides their real meaning. “On regards to your question, there is a great use. By winning through becoming the thing you were fighting you also become the only source of it and gain the unique ability to stop its wrongs with no more than a decision.” As far as the barbarian was concerned, if by sacrificing principles one can save lives that was what one should will do. “The true question is taking this decision. Most fail to.”
OOC: Unless someone grew around there I agree it would be a question for the DM to answer. Findal wouldn't really know the area. He is relatively new to the city.
Annoura shakes her head. "I respect your wisdom, Findal, but you are mistaken. No use at all if we simply replace this Empire with another, equally bad. The issue is not the methods, but the line. What line? This line. Each person has a line beyond which they will not go, beyond which are things they will not do. Once you've moved that line, the worst thing is not that the line has been moved. No, the worst thing is that you have made the line movable. Once that happens, it is very hard to make it unmovable again. I will do my part, never fear, but I will do it my way. And that is the end of that. I do not expect to convince you on this point. I say this so you understand me."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Ebril continues to look at the map, studying the red points around the Maw. "Even if we don't know these now, might be something to check on as we prepare."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
“I’m wrong? Did you heard yourself? Besides being abstract to the extreme your idea either fails to consider how each and everyone decides what is this line thus creating the question of what subjective opinion would ultimately have value, is arrogant enough to preach what should be objective right to everyone or simply put ideals over lives. The later two are ironically fundamental parts of the way of thinking of the very thing we are trying to destroy.” Part of him wanted to ask if she would have preferred principles and truth to the life of her parents given the choice, but that was low even for someone under five feet tall. “I would trade an evil empire that no one knows how long will last for one that won't stand for a year anytime and with all due respect, if you can’t see the value on that then let's just agree to disagree and not get in the way of the cause.” And a long way it was likely to be. He could feel it on his bones. “And at best I have pragmatism. Wisdom is for better people.”
On the last words his voice was distant, almost melancholic, showing rather clearly that the dwarf didn't think higly of himself. Even his fighting style was a grim reminder of the fact that he was less than before. Almost all technique gone, replaced by cold rage. Findal then tried to memorize the red points closer to the Maw but his hopes of success were not great.
“Maybe we could divide the task of memorizing them between our group.” That would ensure all of them would know of somewhere potentially safe, even if separated from the others. It also would ensure none would be able to give all the information if captured. “I mean, I’m barely anything more than average when it comes to this kind of thing.”
Annoura smiles at the dwarf. "As I said, I do no expect to convince you, just to help you understand me. And I think we already agreed to disagree on whether the ends justify the means. But, do not sell yourself short, my friend. You have wisdom a plenty."
Turning to the map, she too attempted to memorize the layout of the red and black, choosing the pins between their location and the maw. "Good idea, Findal. I will memorize the pins between here and the Maw."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric