The Blackmire Company: Campaign

Sim nods as Yaalin speaks. Yeth was killed and we used her resurrection pool to heal a friend and she remains dead.   I believe Gore to be an Orc who founded the town of rest at the bottom of the mountain. I saw a picture of him and the armor you described. He is dead too and his grandson is now mayor over the town of rest. 

If we can fully rest somewhere then I will help you cleanse this town as well for they are warriors of evil.  We can discuss those down mountain once those here are dead. 

Lafetha takes the remaining 4 gold and the 180 silver along with the scroll of thunder.

While listening to Alul she stands and listens in disbelief. "I did not know Yeth well, but these words you speak of her cannot be true. When we were down the mountain we ran into her brother and her bird companion. I spoke with the bird and he said that Yeth was courageous, compassionate, and had conviction. Were all of these traits related to something horrible", she asks in disbelief not wanting to think that someone of her kind could do such a thing. She boils over with anger, and nods her head in agreeance with Sim and Yaalin. "I guess if someone is going to put an end to this dark evil then it might as well be us."

She thinks back to what else the bird told her, I wonder what he meant when he said that he wondered if I had these traits that he described about Yeth? If these were meant in a different context then I would not want to be like her. He also said that she saw me in one of her visions. Was I saving the day, or doing something as horrible as Alul has described?

Diadochi looks at Yaalin, then the group, he looks at his feet and sees the child from the flash back clinging to his leg, he looks back at the group but he sees a silhouette of a loxodon standing in front of a wall of fire, back in the present, Diadochi says"I've heard such rhetoric before. An entire village, evil to the core, blight of the Earth, needs to be wiped out. It's a thing people excuse use to make excuses for themselves for the evil they do.  I'm not going to allow that again. Not if I can. I can't believe Abigail and I have to argue against this. I say to you all what I said to him" he looks at Yaalin "if you attack this village you'll have to walk over my body first."

Sim steps up to Diadochi and looks him in the eye.  "You are my friend and I know what you struggle with but you are wrong in this thing.  I know you see what you lost in your mind and heart the loss of family and village.  I know that you went out and trained and learned to be the Loxodon warrior that you are, to try to protect others who have not been protected. But you are reacting to the wrong events and if you continue down this path you will find yourselves on the side of the oppressors, people like those who destroyed your life.  You see only the village but not the acts of those who come from the village. Think of everything that we now know.  Those people attacked the priestess of the temple.  Think of all that was lost because of the attacks on them.  How would feel to have the sacred history of your people destroyed and suppressed?

The Hn'ti attacked and killed, imprisoned them, and drove the rest out.  Then they chained Alul and stole the memories he cherished most, those of his family, much like you and I had memories taken in a false misleading manner.  But it gets worse they forced him to butcher his own family and then as a "Reward" they returned those memories to him to torture him further because now he knows what he did.  They have chased us up this mountain and tried to kill us at every turn and why? For no other reason than to hide their shame.  To keep their evil works from being undone and becoming known to the world.  But like your great grandfather Tylemon said "All it takes for evil to triumph is for good Loxodons to do nothing."  We would not kill them if they would turn to acts of goodness and leave us alone.  If they would free their prisoners.  We do not joy in the need to remove their poison from this earth just in the joy of justice being done and horrible acts being undone.  But if you stand between us and them you are no longer Diadochi the protector, the warrior of the innocent, you are Diadochi the enslaver just like them.

I am not saying we should kill the children and raze the village to the ground but those who did this thing and those who would stand in our way of righting this wrong will need to be dealt with.  You can not put yourself on their side simply just because you feel for their little ones.  Your enemies had little ones, Alul had little ones. It is not so simple as that one fact. All I ask is you think on it and feel it out."

Then Sim steps back and sits down to let Diadochi think.

Diadochi looks at Sim, eyes wide "I'm not sure how you know about the village but if you do you know this can't be the right call. What we did there scarred my soul and destroyed my life. My city still stands, my family's house still stands, but they cast me out for doing exactly what you are proposing now. Being a Loxodon goes beyond parents, trunks,  tusks and ears, it's a thing that is earned a philosophy that is embraced."  Diadochi squeezes the grip of his hammer "By all counts, I am not a Loxodon. What good is my people's sacred history if I don't hold up those ideals in the here and now?" 

"I am not saying that Ahul has not endured a great tragedy, he absolutely has. I think it is quite natural to want to murder everyone involved in that. Which makes it so he can not carry out justice. "Cleansing the mountain" doesn't correct this evil I guarantee that the pain Ahul is in right now won't ebb through killing, and after its done there will be more regrets than when we started."

 The fact that you can't see that this deed right now is the evil that Tylemon told me to prevent. Also I never told you about Tylemon last time I told that to anyone was... not important right now. What is important right now is we need to remove the evil form the village surgically and then show the rest of the village there is a better way. Your way we become the poison. I'm do not and will not EVER tolerate slavery I hold the same regard for ethnic cleansing. Which is what our new friend proposes, someone we just met, who up until 10 minutes ago was threatening to kill us, someone who eats the flesh of sentient beings. Doesn't seem to have the most trustworthy history but he confirms our preconceived notions about who we should wholesale slaughter so that good enough for us, is it?"

Diadochi steps in front of the entrance they all came through, warhammer still in hand  "These crimes started hundreds of years ago, are the ones that even started this crime still alive? will their Children's children even know why they are being killed? If sins transfer between family, between neighbors and you consider yourselves the arbiters of justice then it is your Duty to start with me. As someone who wants to be a Loxodon it is my duty to stop you. Go ahead, here's my body, step over it."

Sim looks up at Diadochi sadly and sighs. “If you want redemption my friend than threatening your friends is not the way to earn it. I will not fight you but neither will I let this evil continue. You say you are not a Loxodon? Well you are the greatest Loxodon I have ever known because you have learned more than some ideals taught in school. You have gone out and made mistakes and have also had great triumphs. You put your philosophy into practice you have earned your lumps but grown from them too.

Your family was wrong to disown you for what you did. They should have stepped in to ensure you learned and grew but instead the left you alone. Since when do Loxodon abandon those in need? Yet they did it to you. But you rose above them even if you don’t see it. You need to forgive yourself. You always have been to hard on yourself even back in the courts.

If you want to ensure only those who by choice perpetuate this evil of subjugating others, those who deserve it are punished than come with us and guide us.”

Yaalins black eyes turn to diadochi, "the strongest survive.  Thus it is, thus it has always been.  You wish to remove the threats surgically.  I agree, that is where it must begin.  And if you can show me that they will not be considered martyrs for their deaths that is where it will stop." She glances at Alul,  "at least by my hand, though I have no intention of stopping our new friend.  I know the catharsis of being allowed to die pursuing revenge, though it was denied us,...denied me."

"I do not know what drives everyone here, and I suspect I never will.  But revenge and redemption are never solid states to make decisions.  We must and we will complete the tasks we came here to do.  And as we return we will address the Hn'ti first your way, then if you cannot prove the infection of bloodmagic is routed, our way.  I suggest figuring out what is needed to free these people."

She walks over to Diadochi placing a hand gently on his hammer "please friend, this is not how or where your journey ends. Let him," waving at Alul "do what he needs to do.  He is not bound by your traditions. Let him follow his own path."

Diadochi grips his warhammer tightly, shaking in his hand "This isn't a threat, this is the promise of Prakan-Dek,  every Loxodon strives to be the stand between the innocent and evil. Yes the is barbaric and, yes, the strong survive, but it doesn't have to be. It's a promise my people gave to the world.  I don't know how to do this thing, I just know it's the right thing. You may be right it maybe impossible to do it my way, certainly not quickly. If we agree that we need to take out the leaders, Ahul is our best chance of doing it, and he seems set on a 100% population reduction. If that's the case then I can't let him leave. So the question goes to you, Ahul, what are you going to do?"

Alul's eyes dart around as people talk, watching the group dynamics.  But his ears are constantly twitching into different directions.

"I did not misspeak on my intentions," he says as his ears and attention turn back to Diadochi.  "I will attack the village, and wipe them out.  And in our earlier spar, I think you know that you will fall if you decide to attack."  He pivots the blade on it's point as he stands back up.  Spinning the blade on it's point between his paws.  "But I don't have to actually exert any force.  The Hn'ti have found the bodies and lit their signal fire.  They come here soon.  And if they open that catch and see you?  Well... you'll die by their hands.  Then we see if your friends here survive being sheep down a hole.  Or you let us all go up, give your friends the best chance to fight, and then we can continue this conversation."

He glances about the room, before picking up a small bit of leather.  He speaks a few arcane words twist twisting his fingers around the leather.  A glass-like armor forming on his chest arms and legs, protecting vital areas.  "So tell me long-nosed," there's a tone in his voice, as if he's hoping it's actually his nose and not another appendage, "Will you stand aside or should I wait for the Hn'ti to kill you?"

Watching as the tensions in the room rise, Abigail rolls her eyes. "Well, you do not get to pick you team fellows I suppose. Diadochi, you can stay here if you want and fight Alul; or you can come up to the surface and fight the Hn'ti first, then fight Alulan... Your life is yours to live, or sacrifice, or whatever.  The rest of you can go with Alul and wipe out a village. Again, your life. I am heading up to the surface so that I do not get trapped like a mouse in its hole, then I plan to make my way to this temple."

Turning to Alul, "I would very much appreciate being shown the way to the stairs, before you go on your rampage." Abigail waves a hand in wide circular motion encompassing everyone in the room and out toward the way they came, "And once this, is resolved."

Abigail then walks past everyone and heads up to the surface. Stealth 18

Yaalin visibly droops at Diadochi's words, "I am with Abigail could you show us the way to the stairs before you begin your work? I will await your decision upstairs."  before following Abigail up ((unless physically restrained from doing so)) and looking around to see what may be coming.

Perception 16

Diadochi's mind races, what happens when the Prakan-Dek is split and so far away. A loxodon how gets stabbed in the back is not a Loxodon. A loxodon that leaves their friends is not a Loxodon. A loxodon that forgets their tactics is not a Loxodon. Then in his head he hears a gentle female voice "A loxodon who foolishly throws away their life, when there is more good they can do is not a Loxodon." Diadochi says to himself "I don't think there is anymore I can do." the female voice replies "I know that you can." Diadochi manages to drop his warhammer and says to Alul "I'd certainly hate to play you in chess. After I made this a whole thing and you disarm me so readily.  Let's part ways and I hope you find peace."

  He goes towards the stairs and says to himself "If he wins that's another 5 years."  The female voice replies "the world will be richer for it." 

Sim waits and watches Diadochi for a response. Seeing him visibly relax Sim walks up and puts a hand on his shoulder. “I’m glad you are with us my friend. Let us remove those above from our path and then we will see about the temple. Alul your help will be welcome.”  He then turns to leave but stops after a steps. Sim turns back to Diadochi and says “We should talk after this.” Then heads upstairs. 

stealth 12

Alul stops for a moment as Daidochi points his weapon at him.  "I don't meet many warriors who actively oppose me after knowing they cannot harm me.  I admire that," he gives a small nod as he follows Yaalin up.  Exposing his back to the others as people climb up the chain rope ladder.

The air is still quiet and cold.  A column of thick black smoke rises into the air; easily visible for miles and if they have any other hunting parties nearby.

Yaalin you see a few of them in the distance, still a little ways away.  Four of them moving on the roofs and ruins.  A short bow in their hands, quiver strapped to their backs.  Coming down the alleyways, three others.  Two wielding spears, one with a pair of silver-metal gauntlets on.  None are quite in their shifted bodies just yet.  Their cautious and on alert, searching around.

Hn'ti Scouts Perception: 1

They have definitely not seen you yet, but are about a minute out (600 feet) from being on your position.

What do you all do?

Sim whispers to the others that now would be a great time to set up an ambush and after discussing it in short he blends back in to the shadows taking up as best a position as he can find. 

initiative 4

stealth 19

Alul gives a nod, as he moves to find a better spot to hide and ambush from before the fight starts.

Stealth: 5

Initiative: 20

Diaadochi awkwardly remebers he dropped his warhammer comes back down for it and comes up. He nods to Sim "indeed we should."  Diadochi becomes one with the shadows 8 ((by that I mean puts on a lamp shade))

initiative: 17

Yaalin sighs and dips behind the nearest LoS blocking corner and sinks to a sitting position waitong for the sounds of combat to erupt near her.

Initiative 0

(Will delete this post if Lafetha gets the chance to post today)

Lafetha nods, grabbing a few stones and casting magic stone before placing them into her pocket.  She then slips off between the buildings to get into a better position.  

Stealth 11
Initiative: 19