The Blackmire Company: Campaign

"Well, looks like Alul was unsuccessful in his venture. Go looking for vengeance, and you have to be ready to pay the price." Sighing, Abigail continues, "What hope we had of finding Shale is probably lost at this point." 

Visibly agitate Yaalin spits on the ground.  "There were tunnels here yes?  I cannot, and will not simply walk into this place again.  Should you choose to I will wait here until you return."  She shuffles her feet caught in a quandary on what she is about to suggest. " We could torch their crops.  lure the village away from the main tents get to the ruins, take a look around.  or take the leader by force.  I do not wish to harm the innocent and the children but as far as I am concerned the leader is a heretic and deserving of death for his perversion of life"

She will then sink to the back of the group trying to get the village out of sight

Sim steps up to Yaalin. “My friend, I am concerned for you. It seems you need to refocus your mind. You are talking of destroying the homes and food sources of an entire tribe containing many people including women and children who have not personally wronged you. I understand you are mad at those who killed the goblins but those people were warriors doing their best to keep the evil locked away and none of these people are them. Their leader has the job of preserving the memories handed down of that evil and while you many not agree with how they do it I know you as one who gathers knowledge and stories can see the prudence of not forgetting such things. Hell you wanted to ambush that other group whether they were warriors or not and spoke of interrogating parents in front of their children. Your anger runs dangerously close to no longer being so righteous. I think you are right maybe you should stay here unless you can recognize those who have not wronged you.”

"can we go get this apple already? I'm ready for whatever evil is related to it. We are going to have to deal with it eventually...."

"Not personally wronged me?!  I am a protector of life and the cycle that binds us all! These filthy beings profane that and worship and serve one who wields blood in ways you cannot possibly fathom.  They murdered the weak and defenseless Goblins in those caves with no thought and now you wish to show them the mercy of a fair free life?" Yaalin is nearly yelling but struggling to keep her voice down. "Fine do it your own way, and when your souls cursed by those you protect you shall receive only the judgment deserving of such actions."

She will then turn and storm into the woods away until the party and village are out of sight.

Sim listen to Yaalin and only says “And how far does the guilt of one hn’ti murderer reach? Is every hn’ti blame for the action of one?” Then he will stop and watch as Yaalin stomps off sad that she is in such pain and decide to let her go for a bit. He will track her but stay back to ensure she is not without aid in case she needs it.

stealth 12

Diadochi sighs "Even if these were the Hn'ti that killed the goblins, us killing the defenseless Hn'ti certainly won't make up for that time they killed the defenseless goblins. Blood doesn't wash away Blood. Like I said, nothing we do up here feels good. Evil now to prevent evil later, or avenge the evil of the past. It makes me... miss home." Diadochi will follow Yaalin wherever she goes "you mentioned that who we protect curses our souls. As your bodyguard it is my solemn duty to protect you. Lately I've been wondering how I can protect you from yourself. This path you are going down, it worries me for your own safety.  I hate to say it but I don't know how to help you. However, If you wish to talk, I wish to listen."  

"fighting hate with hate only creates more hate. Killing them won't solve anything. Everyone that we need to find that will help us locate Shale is long gone now. It's time to make another plan."

Abigail kicks some rocks further up the path, frustrated with her situation. "If only I was a better strategist," she thinks to herself,  "I could plot out a course for this crew." Coming out of her own head, she watches Yaalin heading off with Diadochi and eventually Sim following after. She blinks in disbelief, then rolls her eyes.

"Well, this is just great. Yes, a fine mess indeed. They all just walked off." She pauses a moment. "Two can play at that game."

Abigail starts up toward the Hn'ti village, making sure that they see her coming, and attempting to judge their intentions before she gets too close.

Abigail, you walk away from Diadochi, Sim, and Yaalin who are all heading to a small outcrop of rocks to be behind.

After about a 10 minute walk getting closer to the village, the Hn'ti notice you.  Those keeping watch give a brief whistle to the others; an alert or warning.  Some of the children pipe up a bit more than the others in the fields.  Heading out to take a look at Abigail and noticing her tabaxian looks.  The older ones in the fields give the kids a bit of a thwap; getting them back to tending the mountain reeds.  They're on a higher alert than the last time you came by.  But they aren't hostile.  Nobody begins to make a approach, the kids aren't running and hiding.  But you definitely feel the eyes upon you.

A few more minutes of walking, and you do see someone beginning to approach your direction.  The Hn'ti woman with the ritually scarred nose and spoke common.  Her eyes seeming to be cast down as she approaches, stopping on the edge of one of the sections of reeds.

Yaalin turns to Diadochi.  "Friend, you have done more than any reasonable person could ask and for that you will always have my gratitude. But, we are up here for a job.  We are fighting on if we are even going to finish a job for which we have already been paid and supplied to do.  Evil exists.  Good exists.  All we can do is the best we can.  I am not stable no will I be as long as I am upon this mountain."  She shakes her head,"  I know the others will disagree but I MUST attempt again to get the apple.  regardless of the dangers within the chamber.  I know that I will attempt to defeat the dangers where others may simply unleash them.  That is my line in the sand.  That is what I am compelled to do."  

"I will not intentionally hurt these creatures. as I suggest a way to distract them. I will however remove those who come between myself and my goal.  I will wait here for the decision of the group for no more than 24 hours and then I head for the Ruins where we found Alul.  with or without the rest of you.  You my friend are not obligated to follow me further if this confilicts with your ideals.  you are released from your contract should you wish to be."

(( this is said loudly enough for Sim to hear at least))

Sighing at Yaalin’s stubbornness and refusal to acknowledge that opening the prison could lead to them failing to destroy the evil inside and it then destroying the world Sim moves back toward the rest of the party. Finding Abigail has gone in to the village Sim heads that way as well. 

Diadochi says "we can't be the only group to fail a job to prevent a great evil and we won't be the last. Maybe I should have read that contract more closely,  Great Grandma Gertrude probably wouldn't be pleased to hear that, but there has to be some clause about reprocussions if we fail, a refund with interest perhaps."

Diadochi waves his hand dismissively "that's not even the most pressing point. This apple quest, is not the job I care about. You're the job I care about. When I agreed to be your body guard, it's not unlike a sacred ritual for my people, the Prakan-Dek... How to explain this... Protecting others is core Loxodonian beliefs and philosophy. We don't let our friends wander into evil alone. I don't let my friends do that.  Wherever you go, I go, that's the bond we have. Sorry if that wasn't clear when you agreed to take me on as a body guard, it's hard to remember not everything works the way it does back home. If you wish to formerly resend Prakan-Dek that'll be the end of it, but if you are leaving it in my hands then things start as they are." ((Diadochi doesn't  care if Sim hears this but if he thinks others are in ear shot, he'll quiet his voice. This next part be doesn't care who hears))

Diadochi stands up, "Prakan-Dek has many angles, in this case I have to protect you, but we also have to protect the world. If we are going to go for the Apple we have to agree wiping out the evil is more important than getting the Apple and it's more important than our lives, otherwise it's irresponsible and selfish to even try. If we are going to do something so stupid we need to do it the smart way.  If Alul can really help us. I've somewhat of a rapport with the Hn'ti, I'll approach the village to see if he's still there. If the Hn'ti stop me, I'll try to be friends, they'll attack me, you all save me. It's not ideal but it's worked so far and that way we've at least given them the chance. I can't do that if I don't know you're safe. Like I said, wherever you go, I go. So lead the way."

Abigail attempts to greet the Hn'ti woman before trying to communicate, "Hello, again. I fear my party left your village as less than friends, which is why they stay back." She places her pack on the ground and produces a bag of sharp teeth ((the species was never identified)) attempting to handed to the woman.  "We are on the hunt. We have two prey we seek. One is a magic goblin who claims to be their leader; the other is a tiger-man once bound, but now loose. Both have eluded us, but we are still on the hunt. Do you have any information on either of our quarry?"

"I,...think  I understand your position friend."  Yaalin stands  judging from the past our companions need you more than I at this moment" 

She will walk with Diadochi until the village is just around the corner.

"Go protect them and see if they know anything.  I will not move from this spot." she chuckles patting the Loxodons arm, "on that you have my word.  Go see what you can do to help and I will be here ready to move again when tomorrow comes."

She will sit against a tree with her back to the village, calmer than before but still refusing to go to the village.

Quote from Emzad >>

Abigail attempts to greet the Hn'ti woman before trying to communicate, "Hello, again. I fear my party left your village as less than friends, which is why they stay back." She places her pack on the ground and produces a bag of sharp teeth ((the species was never identified)) attempting to handed to the woman.  "We are on the hunt. We have two prey we seek. One is a magic goblin who claims to be their leader; the other is a tiger-man once bound, but now loose. Both have eluded us, but we are still on the hunt. Do you have any information on either of our quarry?"

 "This one says hello."  She says with a bit of a bow.  She heads over, taking the teeth.  "These are from the wicked wind beasts."  She shakes them around a bit.  "This one feels this is fair trade."

She looks over her shoulder for a brief moment before looking back to Abigail.  "The magic goblin is the uniter of Goblin clans. But this one has never met the goblin leader."  She grows a bit more visibly angry at the mention of Alul.  "Yes.  The Butcher.  Came here, killed many.  But the Chief fought off the Butcher.  It fled.  Hn'ti did not give chase, the cost was too high.  Stay away from such a creature.  It is more dangerous than the stories the Elder said to Hn'ti in youth."

"I am sorry for your losses. We were no match for the Butcher during our first encounter. If he survived an assault on your home, he is indeed too much for us." She pauses, "It seems we must focus on the magic goblin then. We lost his trail as he fled from us, and we know that he seeks to release a great evil by sacrificing many of the goblin. We have thwarted him once already, but he will try again. Do you where we can find the goblin clans, so we might continue our hunt?"

She gives a bit of a skeptic look.  Hearing that you fought Alul, and that of a sacrifice.  She glances off to the distance for a second, before looking back.  

"This one did not go to goblin clans. But there are many. The..." she pauses.  There a long moment of her saying words in Hn'ti and trying to figure out the translation.  "Their names to us and to you are different.  The Sky. The old Fire. The Mountain. The Moss. The Tall and of Steel."  She points in different directions as she points out the different clan names.  Sometimes doing short points, and other times doing longer points, to say that some are closer and others are further.

But... she does begin to turn at the end.  "No evil on the mountain can be released by being sacrificed," she begins as he heads back to the village.  "Only with enough to choosing to die.  And Hn'ti will always stop them."  As she gets a few paces away, she does turn and give a small nod of her head.  Showing that there's a bit of respect, even if a moment of not trusting all the information coming in.  It doesn't look like she's the one to press for answers though.  Her eyes and head casting back down as she heads towards the village again.

Abigail bows her head at the Hn'ti woman before heading back to... wherever her group went off to.

((Assuming that she finds them, she will relay what the Hn'ti woman told her - especially in regards to the possible locations of the goblin tribes.))

Sim approaches as Abigail is talking and upon hearing the information Abigail obtains especially about the goblins needing to have chosen to be part of the ceremony he nods. Taking note of the locations of the tribes he says “Thank you for your help. I would like to see your elder.”