The day following the ettin fight while traveling Devin talks to D for a while.
"Everything OK D? You seem a bit confused the last few days because of the fights we have gotten into. And the encounter with the dragon seems to have affected you. I can't say I understand exactly what you are or how you work but Torunn seems to think you might be having problems processing which encounters to fight and which to talk. Anything I can try and help you understand?"
After the fight with the Ettins, Torunn will get Beedo and take him over to the Owlbear hide. "Its time to start making your armour." Torunn will pull out a small measuring take from his different assortment of crafting items. Using a combination of eyeballing from his experience and measurements with the tape, he gets an idea of what cuts to make with the hide. "If I am correct, you want to use the head of the owlbear as your helmet. If that is the case you will want to make cuts along these lines." Explaining as he goes, Torunn uses a stick of charcoal to mark lines along the hide for Beedo to cut along with a knife. "Once you have made all the necessary cuts, you can start stitching the pieces together. Now be careful and take your time. There is only one hide, so if you mess this up, you won't get your armour. If you don't start stitching tonight, that is fine." He will then sit a little distance away from Beedo where he can keep an eye on him, but still have space to add the final grooves to his wooden piece. As he is doing this, he has the metal barrel out that he made back in Nightstone, where he constantly hold the two together to get an idea of how to make the grooves and cuts to the wooden piece. He will do this until he goes to sleep.
The whole time Torunn is running Beedo through the process, the goblin has yet to stop grinning in delight with eyes as big as saucers. All the enthusiasm in the world couldn't make up for the few times he gets distracted with imagining the final project over doing the work. In nearly going from Beedo Big Nose to Beedo TWO fingerless in the process of one cut, all lot more active attention is put into listening to the instructions. Though not before unleashing a string of goblin curses that startles Vark as he worked on trying to mend his shield.
"Yeah, I think I'll leave dat, uh, stitching part for the morrow." He half-grumbles and half-declares while nursing his fingers.
(Mystery Roll: 9)
The Morning...
Whatever activity D.O.R.K had been in the process of doing comes to a halt at Vrak's words. For she had turned, and spent the next several minutes standing and staring in silence until an eventual nudge from one or both of her goblin companions prompted her to return silently to work. In the brief moment this happens, one can swear her eyes had returned to normal...
Little Later...
"Running Internal System Diagnostics...." D.O.R.K replied without taking her focus off the road. After a few moments of something clicking and whirling in her head she says, "Internal System Diagnostics Complete. All basic functions show green. Armament conditions yellow. Extensive repairs or replacements required. Higher programs are currently offline." Her head twitches a few times before there's another click of something internal. "Warning. Unable to access celestial receptors until higher programs have been reactivated. Overall combat capability is... Orange."
She looks back to Torunn. "Unable to process last inquiry. Does designated guest operator wish for higher programs to be restored?" She raises a hand in a halting motion. "Warning. Shut down has gone past recommended time frame to avoid corruption. Do you still wish for programs to be reactivated?" Taking either confused silence or a simple yes as an answer enough, the light in her eye flickers back on. She looks around, and the moment dull yellows fall inevitably back on the group, they shift back to the red of a combative state.
"Full functionality re-instated... Processing... I see.... You think me confused... All of you do."She turns back to at least have her eyes on the proverbial road. "This logic is not entirely flawed. Several of you have expressed a desire to stay focused on the chase to the exclusion of all else. And yet, at the request of a dragon, and without any notable coercion from that engine of destruction and greed, you accepted the task of finding another. Something irrelevant to the chase, as it is unlikely said creature will be able to provide aid in return that isn't a token effort on their part at best." She states flatly.
"Paradoxically, in spite being of kin, if only by race, it was argued that we could not afford to waste further effort aiding everyone along the way. Thus, we abandoned Nightstone to individuals who reasoning aligned heavily towards personal acquisition and ambition over prioritizing the safety of the greater whole without first appealing in part to dangerous personality traits. Whereby removing ourselves from the equation increased the likelihood of a return to previous status quo, and eliminating the opportunity to question potentially still living locals on information on the stone, as it is unlikely that at least one has NOT study or inquired into it."
D.O.R.K takes a moment's pause not to breathe, but as Torunn would know was meant for their sake to process it all. "Then, there was the encounter with Stuffenmouth. While in the end prioritizing tactical maneuvers over diplomacy proved effective, it reduced odds favoring learning more about the states of other giant tribes. Query: Do any of you deny this, and have a reasonable explanation for the lack of direction outside of just unfamiliarity with each others mindset?"
Devin looks a bit perplexed. "We never agreed to help the dragon find anyone. He asked some questions, we tried to help and then he left. He never threatened us in anyway and as Meiva said, the metallic dragons aren't evil. We are still focused on our mission and headed East following the giant's floating castle. The dragon helped us by giving us some information to steer clear of further trouble. Right now I see us taking each encounter at face value. If we have to fight, we fight, if its something we can overcome. If something is too powerful for us, perhaps we talk, or run. I don't see the issue."
"... Correction accepted. Agreement is too strong a word. However, Your mistake is ambiguity for denial, or an acceptable answer to a request. There is never a 'maybe' with such a beings, and his last words implied an agreement being reached between our two parties favoring a search or keeping a proverbial eye out."Something visibly sparks in her neck at the last statement, prompting her to cover it with a hand.
"Furthermore, Meiva's assertations that metallic dragons aren't evil is incorrect. One cannot be good without doing evil. And one cannot be evil without doing a measure of good. They merely have a propensity for cooperation over tyranny. Which is why it was clarified that there was no such thing as a "good" dragon. Only a non-immediate threat. The main issue is that such a course of action was not clarified sooner. I cannot make... adjustments as quickly as you can without falling back to basic programs: limiting my ability to act, as you have seen. I need to know the course and code of conduct in full to perform at maximum efficiency. Everything must... I need... I-I-I..."Her neck 'sparks' again with now more visibly red energy that quickly dissipates once more. "... This operative does not wish to speak anymore."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"There was no evidence that that dragon was evil, nor a threat in any way beyond physical might. Though you say that one cannot be evil without doing good, it is also true that one cannot be good without being good. Really what is true is that a single act does not necessarily determine whether a creature is good or evil. Having only seen this dragon perform acts whose nature would be difficult to discern but equally difficult to describe as evil, I found myself unable to fully judge this dragon, and instead referred to my own knowledge on the creatures, which is this: that metallic dragons are rarely evil, if ever. Perhaps you have contradicting knowledge. I would like to hear it, though I admit that if truly contradicting, it will imply that one of our opinions is not truly knowledge at all."
D.O.R.K makes an up and down motion with her shoulders, but small jet of steam comes out of vents in her neck. "I believe I made my wishes clear. But if you must insist upon an immediate response on an adjacent topic, then my reply is thus: To re-iterate, there is no such thing as a 'good dragon'. To expand upon this, it is because the very act of existing requires one to do a great many evils. One consume resources, potentially taking from or eliminating the competition. One procreates. And one either manipulates or destroy anything that does not agree with your personal sensibilities or proves a threat to your existence until it is no longer an immediate concern to one fulfilling other desires. Even if one were to eliminate the above topics, so long as others exist, you commit yourself to the evil of inaction or stagnation, if only from the perspective of those that would benefit from your own existence. I can expand more directly upon 'that' dragon in particular, but at the core of things, it is the simple truth." She states, glancing back near the end with purple eyes.
"I do thank you, Meiva. This discourse has helped provide insight into your mindset, and possibly in part to other 'fle-... Elves, increasing likelihood of better anticipating and adapting in the future. However, I noted that my previous disclosure has upset you. Thus, I suggest we cease all further conversation until the evening. Whereby such distractions can best be afforded." D.O.R.K turns away on that excitedly spoken last point, resolving to stay silent regardless of further prompting until absolute necessity dictated otherwise. Speaking of which...
Back to the Future(Sorta?)
"Hm. It would make for an excellent test for Golemgote and ourselves. However, if it is your recommendation that we cannot reason or avoid him Beedo, then we should prepare for an ambush." D.O.R.K points over to the copse of trees just to the north of them. "Clarification. Some of our forces wait there. The others to the trees to the south. Not in them, however, as it is likely this Ogre will just topple the tree with anyone in it. This operative, you, and Beedo shall wait on this side of the river just before it."She looks to the others. "Is this... acceptable?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Yes, though I am not sure that I can agree with you on this. But you do speak eloquently." Meiva turns away before mouthing the words she thinks it unfair to say at present: ("for a machine"). In any case, Meiva does not bring up the subject again.
Presently:
"There is an ogre," Meiva replies succinctly to Jaylen. She gestures at D.O.R.K.
"...She has proposed a stratagem which I find no fault in at present, should we choose to engage the likely lout."
"An Ogre with Goblin passengers."D.O.R.K adds, then cants her head. "You've -- Hm? Mn. Possibility. However, as they are coming from the direction in which we need to head, and chase is more likely to ensue."She looks over to Golem. Realizing they would need to possibly have him ford back to the river to come around the southern trees, she motions for Vark to get started moving Golem and the cart around while Beedo gathers his thoughts.
"A chase we will not win against a potential foe more familiar with the territory, and effective at mobile combat."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
D.O.R.K shakes her head. "Unless you are volunteer to ride your horse one way while we head another, the only change in results is your life at best. And now is not the time for such self-sacrifice." She replied. "Think of the ambush instead as a last resort, than a first should they not wish to converse. Though if you wish to personally add your voice to any negotiations, you are welcome to stand beside me and my acolytes."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Or," Jaylen says, looking a little weirded out, "everyone could hide in the bushes, I could [for lack of a better way she could say this] invoke duplicity and have my duplicate cross the bridge back the way we came, hopefully drawing them that way and not looking in the bushes. Then, once they are far enough away, we could keep going and maybe not draw their attention. If we do, then we stop and fight."
At Jaylen's suggestion Beedo says "hey lady, I know dis Gobbo. Dus ya reckon yous could do some sort of magiky stuff and make it look like you're leading Golemogote 'ere. Da bigger da better as far as Boss Gark goes and I reckon 'e chase an elephant for more ten days dan I got fingers if'n 'e reckoned 'e could capture it and ride it!"
"Query: Then what is the range of this clone of yours? For if its not indefinite, we would at best have a temporary head start before ending up in previously mentioned poor conditions. And I'm not sure you noticed, but Mr. G is a sizeable object to miss. She crosses her arms and shifts her weight, again trying to mirror one of Jaylen's previous movements. "And if my records are correct, you do not wish to needless endanger either Mr. G or the horse. Query: Or did you have some other reason for refusing to assist in the previous encounter?"She asks, canting her head, then rights it for a shake. "An inquisition for another time.
The day following the ettin fight while traveling Devin talks to D for a while.
"Everything OK D? You seem a bit confused the last few days because of the fights we have gotten into. And the encounter with the dragon seems to have affected you. I can't say I understand exactly what you are or how you work but Torunn seems to think you might be having problems processing which encounters to fight and which to talk. Anything I can try and help you understand?"
After the fight with the Ettins, Torunn will get Beedo and take him over to the Owlbear hide. "Its time to start making your armour." Torunn will pull out a small measuring take from his different assortment of crafting items. Using a combination of eyeballing from his experience and measurements with the tape, he gets an idea of what cuts to make with the hide. "If I am correct, you want to use the head of the owlbear as your helmet. If that is the case you will want to make cuts along these lines." Explaining as he goes, Torunn uses a stick of charcoal to mark lines along the hide for Beedo to cut along with a knife. "Once you have made all the necessary cuts, you can start stitching the pieces together. Now be careful and take your time. There is only one hide, so if you mess this up, you won't get your armour. If you don't start stitching tonight, that is fine." He will then sit a little distance away from Beedo where he can keep an eye on him, but still have space to add the final grooves to his wooden piece. As he is doing this, he has the metal barrel out that he made back in Nightstone, where he constantly hold the two together to get an idea of how to make the grooves and cuts to the wooden piece. He will do this until he goes to sleep.
The Evening with Torunn…
The whole time Torunn is running Beedo through the process, the goblin has yet to stop grinning in delight with eyes as big as saucers. All the enthusiasm in the world couldn't make up for the few times he gets distracted with imagining the final project over doing the work. In nearly going from Beedo Big Nose to Beedo TWO fingerless in the process of one cut, all lot more active attention is put into listening to the instructions. Though not before unleashing a string of goblin curses that startles Vark as he worked on trying to mend his shield.
"Yeah, I think I'll leave dat, uh, stitching part for the morrow." He half-grumbles and half-declares while nursing his fingers.
(Mystery Roll: 9)
The Morning...
Whatever activity D.O.R.K had been in the process of doing comes to a halt at Vrak's words. For she had turned, and spent the next several minutes standing and staring in silence until an eventual nudge from one or both of her goblin companions prompted her to return silently to work. In the brief moment this happens, one can swear her eyes had returned to normal...
Little Later...
"Running Internal System Diagnostics...." D.O.R.K replied without taking her focus off the road. After a few moments of something clicking and whirling in her head she says, "Internal System Diagnostics Complete. All basic functions show green. Armament conditions yellow. Extensive repairs or replacements required. Higher programs are currently offline." Her head twitches a few times before there's another click of something internal. "Warning. Unable to access celestial receptors until higher programs have been reactivated. Overall combat capability is... Orange."
She looks back to Torunn. "Unable to process last inquiry. Does designated guest operator wish for higher programs to be restored?" She raises a hand in a halting motion. "Warning. Shut down has gone past recommended time frame to avoid corruption. Do you still wish for programs to be reactivated?" Taking either confused silence or a simple yes as an answer enough, the light in her eye flickers back on. She looks around, and the moment dull yellows fall inevitably back on the group, they shift back to the red of a combative state.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Full functionality re-instated... Processing... I see.... You think me confused... All of you do." She turns back to at least have her eyes on the proverbial road. "This logic is not entirely flawed. Several of you have expressed a desire to stay focused on the chase to the exclusion of all else. And yet, at the request of a dragon, and without any notable coercion from that engine of destruction and greed, you accepted the task of finding another. Something irrelevant to the chase, as it is unlikely said creature will be able to provide aid in return that isn't a token effort on their part at best." She states flatly.
"Paradoxically, in spite being of kin, if only by race, it was argued that we could not afford to waste further effort aiding everyone along the way. Thus, we abandoned Nightstone to individuals who reasoning aligned heavily towards personal acquisition and ambition over prioritizing the safety of the greater whole without first appealing in part to dangerous personality traits. Whereby removing ourselves from the equation increased the likelihood of a return to previous status quo, and eliminating the opportunity to question potentially still living locals on information on the stone, as it is unlikely that at least one has NOT study or inquired into it."
D.O.R.K takes a moment's pause not to breathe, but as Torunn would know was meant for their sake to process it all. "Then, there was the encounter with Stuffenmouth. While in the end prioritizing tactical maneuvers over diplomacy proved effective, it reduced odds favoring learning more about the states of other giant tribes. Query: Do any of you deny this, and have a reasonable explanation for the lack of direction outside of just unfamiliarity with each others mindset?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Devin looks a bit perplexed. "We never agreed to help the dragon find anyone. He asked some questions, we tried to help and then he left. He never threatened us in anyway and as Meiva said, the metallic dragons aren't evil. We are still focused on our mission and headed East following the giant's floating castle. The dragon helped us by giving us some information to steer clear of further trouble. Right now I see us taking each encounter at face value. If we have to fight, we fight, if its something we can overcome. If something is too powerful for us, perhaps we talk, or run. I don't see the issue."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Meiva frowns at D.O.R.K.
"There was no evidence that that dragon was evil, nor a threat in any way beyond physical might. Though you say that one cannot be evil without doing good, it is also true that one cannot be good without being good. Really what is true is that a single act does not necessarily determine whether a creature is good or evil. Having only seen this dragon perform acts whose nature would be difficult to discern but equally difficult to describe as evil, I found myself unable to fully judge this dragon, and instead referred to my own knowledge on the creatures, which is this: that metallic dragons are rarely evil, if ever. Perhaps you have contradicting knowledge. I would like to hear it, though I admit that if truly contradicting, it will imply that one of our opinions is not truly knowledge at all."
She waits expectantly.
And that's all I have to say about that.
D.O.R.K makes an up and down motion with her shoulders, but small jet of steam comes out of vents in her neck. "I believe I made my wishes clear. But if you must insist upon an immediate response on an adjacent topic, then my reply is thus: To re-iterate, there is no such thing as a 'good dragon'. To expand upon this, it is because the very act of existing requires one to do a great many evils. One consume resources, potentially taking from or eliminating the competition. One procreates. And one either manipulates or destroy anything that does not agree with your personal sensibilities or proves a threat to your existence until it is no longer an immediate concern to one fulfilling other desires. Even if one were to eliminate the above topics, so long as others exist, you commit yourself to the evil of inaction or stagnation, if only from the perspective of those that would benefit from your own existence. I can expand more directly upon 'that' dragon in particular, but at the core of things, it is the simple truth." She states, glancing back near the end with purple eyes.
"I do thank you, Meiva. This discourse has helped provide insight into your mindset, and possibly in part to other 'fle-... Elves, increasing likelihood of better anticipating and adapting in the future. However, I noted that my previous disclosure has upset you. Thus, I suggest we cease all further conversation until the evening. Whereby such distractions can best be afforded." D.O.R.K turns away on that excitedly spoken last point, resolving to stay silent regardless of further prompting until absolute necessity dictated otherwise. Speaking of which...
Back to the Future(Sorta?)
"Hm. It would make for an excellent test for Golemgote and ourselves. However, if it is your recommendation that we cannot reason or avoid him Beedo, then we should prepare for an ambush." D.O.R.K points over to the copse of trees just to the north of them. "Clarification. Some of our forces wait there. The others to the trees to the south. Not in them, however, as it is likely this Ogre will just topple the tree with anyone in it. This operative, you, and Beedo shall wait on this side of the river just before it." She looks to the others. "Is this... acceptable?"
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
Jaylen pulls Trayan up alongside Golem. "Is there a problem?"
Devin listens to D's plan.
"Sure, that works for me. I'll head to the north side of the trail and hide in the trees. (P11)
He then climbs off of Gol and moves swiftly to the trees and attempts to hide.
Stealth 13
Still in the past:
Meiva nods stiffly at D.O.R.K's final words.
"Yes, though I am not sure that I can agree with you on this. But you do speak eloquently." Meiva turns away before mouthing the words she thinks it unfair to say at present: ("for a machine"). In any case, Meiva does not bring up the subject again.
Presently:
"There is an ogre," Meiva replies succinctly to Jaylen. She gestures at D.O.R.K.
"...She has proposed a stratagem which I find no fault in at present, should we choose to engage the likely lout."
And that's all I have to say about that.
Torunn will follow Devin to the north.
Stealth: 11
Jaylen sighs. "More ogres." She looks about. "Can we go around it?"
"An Ogre with Goblin passengers." D.O.R.K adds, then cants her head. "You've -- Hm? Mn. Possibility. However, as they are coming from the direction in which we need to head, and chase is more likely to ensue." She looks over to Golem. Realizing they would need to possibly have him ford back to the river to come around the southern trees, she motions for Vark to get started moving Golem and the cart around while Beedo gathers his thoughts.
"A chase we will not win against a potential foe more familiar with the territory, and effective at mobile combat."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"A distraction, then, perhaps?" Jaylen sighs. "I know we had trouble hiding before, but we could try it again."
D.O.R.K shakes her head. "Unless you are volunteer to ride your horse one way while we head another, the only change in results is your life at best. And now is not the time for such self-sacrifice." She replied. "Think of the ambush instead as a last resort, than a first should they not wish to converse. Though if you wish to personally add your voice to any negotiations, you are welcome to stand beside me and my acolytes."
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.
"Or," Jaylen says, looking a little weirded out, "everyone could hide in the bushes, I could [for lack of a better way she could say this] invoke duplicity and have my duplicate cross the bridge back the way we came, hopefully drawing them that way and not looking in the bushes. Then, once they are far enough away, we could keep going and maybe not draw their attention. If we do, then we stop and fight."
At Jaylen's suggestion Beedo says "hey lady, I know dis Gobbo. Dus ya reckon yous could do some sort of magiky stuff and make it look like you're leading Golemogote 'ere. Da bigger da better as far as Boss Gark goes and I reckon 'e chase an elephant for more ten days dan I got fingers if'n 'e reckoned 'e could capture it and ride it!"
DM - Stopping a god in his tracks
Jaylen scowls, but then says, "I cannot create an image of the elephant, if that is what you are asking. That is beyond me."
"Query: Then what is the range of this clone of yours? For if its not indefinite, we would at best have a temporary head start before ending up in previously mentioned poor conditions. And I'm not sure you noticed, but Mr. G is a sizeable object to miss. She crosses her arms and shifts her weight, again trying to mirror one of Jaylen's previous movements. "And if my records are correct, you do not wish to needless endanger either Mr. G or the horse. Query: Or did you have some other reason for refusing to assist in the previous encounter?" She asks, canting her head, then rights it for a shake. "An inquisition for another time.
When you realize you're doing too much: Signature.