“Well, I certainly don’t want to be here a week without food and water and…” Inara looks at her zombie stained robes, “…a bath. Anyway, if we need speed, then let’s be speedy. If someone can be reasoned with, and they have just been smacked around by an… ettin, was it?... I’ll head in that direction.” Inara points off to the east.
“The library seems easy enough, but the bloodthirsty whats-it-fussies didn’t sound too pleasant. I suggest some stronger arms than mine head off in that direction. Shall we split in two, and when done come back here? We can then all sprint to the library and finish with this place.”
Inara involuntarily shivers. “I want done with all of this.”
“Remmy and I are headed east. Any of you want to join us? Or anyone want to volunteer for the planty-like-thingies to the south?”
Elby give an uneasy look at the floating head, "I suddenly feel rejuvenated. Do the rest of you feel the same?"
"If this princess is can be believed, then we should split up. Although Qwyn can be quite convincing, I think his his talents will be will be wasted when dealing with a dragonborn. But we will need some who are quick and gifted with a silver tongue. Radegast and Inara should be able to convince Gharash to join us. Stones could give Gharash the head if he needs additional convincing. And I will be able to scout ahead and get there quickly."
Pointing at the others in turn, "That would leave Alion, Qwyn, Voss, and Remmy to venture south and face the arboreans. Those four seem are best suited for any heavy melee. I don't think we'll encounter much resistance that Inara would require her bodyguard. What do the rest of you think of this grouping?"
Inara retorts quickly, "Remmy will not leave my side, Elby. He receives a handsome sum from a dwarven king to protect me, and I rather like having my friend around. Your bow, however, may be far better served helping to the south. Fighting isn't so much my thing. But I would travel with Stones, Radegast, and Remmy if you, Voss, Alion, and Qwynn would take the possibly rougher path. We re-meet back here as soon as we can? If we are first back, we will try to help support you to the south, and vice-versa. Agreeable with everyone?"
"If this is the path we must take, so be it, but I will voice my objections one more time, then be silent about it. We are trusting a prisoner, a prisoner who can conquer our very thoughts, put things into our minds, and heal our bodies. A prisoner who can float about, conversing and spell casting. A prisoner who wants us to free her on nothing but a few pictures and some pretty words. I would not trust this bauble. I would smash it on the ground and be done with this. But she is not in my hands, so I will say no more on the subject."
Noienna gives Radegast a look that makes her displeasure at this statement quite clear. "I heal you...I help you...yet I am the bad person?" Her high cheekbones somehow become tauter- as though her feeling have been hurt."
Radegast pauses for a moment. Deep in thought.
"Elby, your plan seems sound. The library must be approached carefully, and we must have time to explore it's depths before we depart. Please, we must be careful and not burn this to the ground." He shoots a quick look at Stones.
"Both parties should meet back here before approaching the library. On this I must insist. Are we agreed?"
Elby continues with Inara, “Perhaps he would be protecting you best by traveling south and capturing part of Karavakos's soul and getting us out of here faster. You're right, I am amazing with my bow. I am the best hunter of my village and probably all the surrounding land. However, I'm more inclined to deal with one or two foes at most. If it's a large battle, I don't think I would be very effective. Remmy on the other hand seems well suited for that type of work. What say you Remsfeld?"
"Elby, I think it best to let Remmy fulfill his obligations to Inara. But you are right, we must divide and conquer. Radegast, your feelings are clear...I understand your distrust, and we will be careful to not act with haste. Unfortunately it sounds like time is not on our side. I will go where I am needed, though negotiations are not my strong suit...people don't always like me for some reason. Not a fucking clue as to why, but there you have it..."
He turns to Radegast, "and never fear my friend, I will not burn this place to the ground until we are ready to depart!"
Voss finishes another swig of dwarven ale. He holds it out to the group. "Anyone want a sip? Nothing like a strong pull of strong ale after a bought. That, and saluting Krom for seeing us through.”
Voss continues. "As Qwyn, Alion and I have traveled and fought together, I am for the three of us combining our strength. But we could use one more, and, no disrespect to my friends, but we could use some steel strength. I would have Remmy at our side, or someone else handy in a fight. “
Voss considers once more. "Unless we three take the road of persuasion and you 5 handle battle.”
Inara looks both bemused and confused.
“Voss makes a strong point. As Remmy knows me... Voss, Alion, and Qwynn know each other. They must work well together. Let us split that way then. Voss, Alion, and Qwynn and one more sword go south. Myself, Remmy, and Elby go east. Radegast, care to join us to the east? Stones appears better armored for the south."
Inara moves eastward, Remmy at her side. She points to the ettin. "And someone made a good point. The head of the ettin would prove useful in negotiations. Remmy, could you get a clean cut with your sword to show our good intentions? Let us get this show on the road."
“Armored?” Stones looks down at his black coat and complete lack of armor…”Hmm, armed perhaps, but I don’t like to be weighed down...” He attempts to smile but it comes across as more of a grimace. He then raises up the orb in front of him, to look the queen in the eye, “And I’m sure Radegast does not mean to sound ungrateful for this boon, but you must admit it is a bit odd to see…well, all of this…Radegast, my friend, do not fear the intentions of this Eldarin. I do not know them as a people, but even if she serves her own ends, for now she serves ours as well. We will defeat these foes, and return to Brin and the fat man soon. I cannot believe there is one in this place that can stand against all of us together.”
“Very well, I go to the South to confront these Arboreans. But beware the dragonborn. As the queen says, it is the priests that believe he can be reasoned with, and who the priest would reason with I would destroy. Now, I’m going to go burn down some fucking plants, grab some ‘soul fragments’ or whatever the hell it is we’re looking for…Qwyn, Alion, Voss…it looks like we will be delivering some pain. Shall Voss and I lead, and you can support us with your magics?” He has his sword in his right hand, the orb in his left, and seems anxious to depart. Stones seems to have also produced yet another bow from somewhere, which is now slung over his back.
Qwyn adds, "Well then. Let us be off." He steps toward the Southern passage way.
Elby holds up the bow that Stones gave him earlier, “I have an extra bow, if anyone wants it. It may come in handy depending on what we face ahead. It's an enhanced bow.”
Qwyn grins as he replies, “"Thanks Elby, but I could never figure those things out. I'd be more likely to shoot myself than my quarry."
Voss nods his agreement as he takes the bow, “Thanks Elby. I'll gladly take it. Does anyone need the bow I've been using?”
No one answers.
Inara looks distressed as Remmy exchanges words with her quietly. She nods, curtly, but does not look happy. She turns back to the group.
"Gentlemen, we have a fight, and a search, and we are wasting time. Voss, Stones, Remmy, and Qwynn, take the southern route. You have the majority of our strength. A lot of steel and magic to support. We have a fight in that direction. I, on the other hand, am not going to fight the dragonmen. We are going to reason with them. Radegast, Elby, Alion, and I will head east. We can offer them their ettin, as well as healing, since they just got thrashed, in return for their help. Whomever finishes their task first moves to support the others, likely to be us, but possibly you. Once done and reunited, we move on the library united and finish this thing. Tempus fugit, gentlemen. Go."
Inara turns, and heads east, looking rather upset.
Remmy unsheaths his sword and grunts, "Let’s go.”
No one else moves. Massive confusion.
Voss turns to the group. He adds his latest thought. "If we have little time to get the two pieces of her husbands soul, and one piece lies with the angry plant people to the south, the other lies in the Library to the north with all the additional information we'd need, why are we sending swords East to deal with dragon men?”
Everyone looks a bit confused, trying to remember what he or she heard the Noienna say.
"To recruit them against the plant people? Against the Priests? If time is a factor I say we go for the soul shards directly. If we run into dragon men who want to help, so be it."
Voss looks from person-to-person.
"Unless one among us can reason this differently."
“The dragon guys have a fragment of kukamunga's soul too. We’ve got to get all the fragments, put them together and then kill kukamunga....at least that's how I interpreted...” grunts Stones.
Voss acknowledges Stones words with an easy smile. “Oh. Then I did not catch that. I thought there were 2 shards, and she said the dragonborn were at war with the plant people, but nothing more. Was thinking if the dragon men have a shard and can be recruited to help get the plantmen's shard, then that can be tasked to one group perhaps. Let the other hit the library and get crackin, and come back to help should they finish early.”
The Princess blinks her doe-like eyes,"No. That IS what I said. The former, not the latter." She sniffs. "No one ever REALLY listens to a woman!"
"Off to the library then. Maybe they'll have some good books." Qwyn steps toward the Northern passageway.
Voss’s face shows absolutely no exasperation, having been through many battles and planning sessions. "Then the head speaks troo. I say we go for the soul shards directly. One group to the library. One to the plantmen of Arbor Day. If war with the dragon men has them looking over their shoulder while fighting us, then all the better. And if we meet dragonborn or they see us fighting their foes, perhaps they will join OUR cause rather than begging them for help. A couple of hours is not a lot of time to venture through unmapped corridors to find a leader who may not see eye to eye. We don't know how he'll react to us. If he'll help. “
Voss continues with his monologue. "The plant men have what we want and we'll be cleaving them with or without dragon blades beside ours. So lets get to it.”
"What say you?" Voss finishes. His words would be inspiring to most. Somehow they come out wrong, more like a commander barking orders.
“Can anyone see if we need light where we're going? Can we see torches on the walls or shall we bust out lanterns? That's gonna hinder wielding with two hands, unless you magic casters can cast with one.” Voss asks, deeply trying to peer through the fog.
"I can see in anything except total darkness, but that obviously doesn't help those who cannot." Qwyn says it with a casual shrug.
Alion chimes in, “I'll hold a torch. Haven't been swinging my morning star, anyways. And if one of you going to the library runs into trouble, you could do worse than set its books on fire too."
Stones looks horrified, “The library holds all the knowledge of my mentor, Suresh…I must make sure it is not lost. I would help kill the Arboreans, but cannot risk losing this knowledge…”.
Where he once seemed assured, Stones appears to be torn. “The library may be my last chance to save his life’s work and make sure that I carry on his legacy. I am sorry friends, but it is too much to risk. Not just his soul, but everything he is, and everything he may have hoped for me to be…”
Qwyn mutters under his breath.
Radegast nods. “Then my mind is settled. I go to the Library. Who else is coming with me?”
“I have ways to light the path ahead, so worry not about that, companions. No torches or lanterns in the Library until we have found what we need.” He pulls a small piece of cloth out of his pack and begins securing it around his nose and mouth. “The coughing should be lessened the more quickly we move down this hallway. If there are no other objections, I am ready to move.” He goes to stand by the corridor leading to the Library.
Stones continues to look confused, “uhh…a little voice in my head says I should go south despite my other feelings…so, I guess I’ll go there?”
He pauses once move. “Nah fuck it. I’m going North.”
Remsfeld steps back to the Ettin, casually decapitates one of its heads, holds it up and asks, “Are we going to need this or not?”
DM Note:
· Going North to the library I have Stones, Radegast and Elby
· Inara is standing at the east most corridor
· Going Southto the plant-people I have Remmy, Voss, Qwyn and Alion
No comments:
Post a Comment