Storm King's Thunder

Probably a little wet.

”Is it lawful to execute a being on the basis of possible misdeeds? More accurately, should one destroy something based upon the harm that could be inflicted? I have spent countless years in constant stasis, being steadily infused by the raw concept of law and order. However, in the short time that I have been awake, I have been faced with numerous tragedies that have required every ounce of my reason. Do you recall the nobleman that killed his brother? I do. I also recall the town of undead. I also recall the event with Rip. At each event, the organic concept of law seems drastically different. I find myself conflicted between the concepts of law, which is know to be right, and the concept of compassion, which is inherent in my directive to protect and serve. Therefore, I will ask the question once more and clarify. Should I execute my fellow Crownsguard units?”

"Nope."

Quote from DarthAvarice >>

"Nope."

 Crownsguard tilts his head, “That is quicker than I anticipated. Do you organics not usually take time to estimate answers to questions regarding morality?”

From the tunnel you hear an echo with an elvish tinge, "Nope!" 

"Mostly no. Too many factors at play. Sometimes th' right path is easy ta  see. Sometimes ye gotta cut back th' weeds ta  fin' it. Take that barbarian lass, what does law say about that? Ye  could say she tried ta  kill ye, ye could also say she had good reason. All ye can do is what ye know ta  be right, an' failin' that, do what ye think ta be right, an' stand by yer choice. As fer  executin' on "th' basis o' possible misdeeds" as ye put it, ye  should know that's not right. It'd lead ta  corruption beyond countin' with kings goin' ta war again' neighbors who might be thar enemy. So no, ye shouldn't execute th' others like ye  because they might cause trouble. They gotta cross th' line first, they gotta chose ta do th' deed, then ye give 'em fittin' justice."

Quote from DarthAvarice >>

"Mostly no. Too many factors at play. Sometimes th' right path is easy ta  see. Sometimes ye gotta cut back th' weeds ta  fin' it. Take that barbarian lass, what does law say about that? Ye  could say she tried ta  kill ye, ye could also say she had good reason. All ye can do is what ye know ta  be right, an' failin' that, do what ye think ta be right, an' stand by yer choice. As fer  executin' on "th' basis o' possible misdeeds" as ye put it, ye  should know that's not right. It'd lead ta  corruption beyond countin' with kings goin' ta war again' neighbors who might be thar enemy. So no, ye shouldn't execute th' others like ye  because they might cause trouble. They gotta cross th' line first, they gotta chose ta do th' deed, then ye give 'em fittin' justice."

 Crownsguard nods, “Understood. However. I believe that you misunderstand my use of the word ‘possible.’ I believe that regarding my fellow Crownsguard units, the matter is not ‘if’ they will cause havoc, but ‘when.’ Ink used the term ‘death bot.’ His term of phrase is accurate. Have you noticed my design, Flint? I am exceptionally equipped for warfare. My armor is better than most, if not all, mundane metallurgy, even challenging the effectiveness of minor defensive magic. My fists are easily classifiable as lethal, should I need to fall back on them. In many cases, they are more effective than my light hammer. I do not sleep. I do not eat. I do not breathe. I am immune to disease and resistant to poisoning. Can you imagine what would happen if I were to actively desire the destruction of anything? I would be an incredibly efficient killing machine. I was not designed to Protect and Serve, I was designed to be a weapon.”

"Sounds a lot like my warhammer. But ah  stand by me words, if ah  were ta  meet any o' yer kind, it'd be na  different from when ah met ye, until ther actions or deeds name them enemy, ah won't treat them as such.

Crownsguard nods, “I see... Thank you.”

Crownsguard will pick up the woman, turn, and leave down the hall.

Flint will rearguard

The barbarian woman groans, but does not rouse.

You eventually find each other in the Temple’s main complex, where you begin to work out your plans for the evening and the following day. Harshnag is adamant that you waste no time. “The sooner you return with one of the stolen relics, the sooner we can figure out this whole mess. 

“And that barbarian, what to do with her?” Harshnag muses. “Can’t risk her becoming violent. Did she say how she got inside the temple?”

Ink exhaustively and meticulously explains.

"Right. The plan is to rest tonight  because I'm pretty sure I'm still actively bleeding from the remorhaz's bite. In fact, many of us haven't been this beat up in a long time."

"The barbarian woman got in by... (Ink describes the spider tunnels, the opening to the mountain side and the crevice leading into the tunnels in the room to the north - in fact he shows it to him and he shows him what area triggers the boulder and stone giant trap)."

"Regarding what to do with her, seeing as we went out of our way not to kill her - odd given how we just attacked her brethren - I say we put her out on the other side of the bridge outside with her mate's axe, rations and some extra clothes and survival gear, while we set up a show of force, with you included, on the temple side of the bridge. Rip can use his healing words to heal her from afar. Hopefully, she just leaves."

"In the morning, we have some follow up questions to ask the All-Father if you'd allow it. I planned on asking those while the others made preparations for the day and readied the airship."

Harshnag shakes his head, speaking slowly, thoughtfully. “It occurred to me that if these barbarians found a way in, then this location was better known than I thought. And who knows how close they came to desecrating the temple—if there is one thing Annam doesn’t stand for, it’s sacrilege. 

“I think it best that you take the steps to prove yourselves before approaching the oracle again. If only for practicality...strange winds are blowing, and we need answers sooner rather than later. But also to ensure not displeasing the All-Father. The giants were complacent, and look where it got them!” Harshnag looks towards the misty archway. As if mulling something over, he says absently in giantish, <Oracles have answers, but only the worthy are given clarity.>

"Tie her up, when she wakes up offer to help her give her kin a proper burial. oh, by the way... Flint, Ink, Crownsguard meet Kara and Roony, my children. Kara, Roony, this is Flint, stalwart dwarves wish they could be like him, curerer of lycanthropy and skilled smith! Here is Ink, great wizard and apparently rather tasty. Best for last is Crownsguard, righteous ally, budding comedian, and a ROBOT!! how awesome is that! Also Quill... Ink where is your better half? did she get poofed again?"

Marav places a hand on CG's shoulder. "Careful, the girl spooks easy. She cried when I came in as that cute spider." he whispers.

Flint uses a short rest to create a polished brass mirror for Kara and a blunted mini rapier for roony.

Ink snaps his fingers and Quill poofs into existence. She flies over onto Rip's shoulder and looks curiously at the children. 

Ink turns to his compatriots and in Giant, unwittingly, exclaims, "<<Then prove ourselves worthy we shall! Right, everyone?>>"

Ink peeks outside and notices the change in the scenery, commenting, "Seems like someone already cleaned up outside, so no burials possible." Ink looks back at Marav and notices some blood that wasn't there before.

"Let's give her some supplies, her axe and her freedom. Place her on the other side of the bridge and have Rip wake her with some healing words, if he can, and just let her be. Let her leave. It's more than most would give her seeing as she took an axe to both Crownsguard and Flint - even if it was in revenge."

"Then, let's get going. The Oracle will not answer us again... Until we prove our worth - again." 

To Harshnag he says, "Plug up that crevice I showed you or the All-Father will be covered in frozen spider webbing."

Quote from Hardcopi >>

Marav places a hand on CG's shoulder. "Careful, the girl spooks easy. She cried when I came in as that cute spider." he whispers.

 Crownsguard nods, “Thank you, Marav. Good to know.” Crownsguard will gently wave to the little ones.

Regarding Ink’s plan, Crownsguard agrees, “Yes, that would be the best course of action.”

Harshnag agrees with Ink. "I'll use the remorhaz corpse to block it for temporary. Should be cooled down enough now, and that hide would stop just about anything." 

The children accept Flint's gifts with glee. Rooney immediately starts talking Flint's ear off about "all the sword fights my dad has been in," and "if I saw an orc I would go like this and this and then THIS!" He says, thrusting the sword with childlike precision. "Look dad! A real sword!"

Kara, meanwhile, holds the mirror close to her chest and smiles shyly. You think you may have heard a very faint "thank you." 

---

The barbarian woman is easy enough to move across the windswept causeway, even dressed as she is in furs and thick hide, and laden with the extra cloak and rations. With the two axes placed in her hands (hers and Wormblod's), she lay motionless now in the sunlit snow.

The airship crew call out to you as you pass by, ignoring the unconscious barbarian, "So...are you ready to take to the skies?"

Quote from Awaypturwpn >>

---

The barbarian woman is easy enough to move across the windswept causeway, even dressed as she is in furs and thick hide, and laden with the extra cloak and rations. With the two axes placed in her hands (hers and Wormblod's), she lay motionless now in the sunlit snow.

The airship crew call out to you as you pass by, ignoring the unconscious barbarian, "So...are you ready to take to the skies?"

 Ink suggests as the air ship is getting loaded, "RIP, could you throw her a healing word? I feel bad leaving her there like that. I'd prefer to see her leave before we do. Let's make sure the kids are safely aboard first."

After getting his kids settled in the boat Rip will over the rails and yell "sorry about your mate, try not to get killed by stupidity!"

healing word 6