Logs > Gamma Logs > It's the Principle of It

It's the Principle of It

[Vinre Road, King's Woode]
Mammoth oak trees grow in sporadic patterns along the hillside, as it rises toward a dense forest to the southeast. Making its way down the slope, the road winds northward amid a sea of wildflowers that blankets the knoll, giving colorful life to the forest's edge. Also here is Raeh.
Obvious exits are up, down, and south.

> l raeh
Raeh is a halfelf woman of tain ancestry in her twenties. Her large eyes are brilliant green with deeper green flecks. She has a small nose, softly curving lips, and an expressive face. She wears her long golden blond hair in loose flowing waves with a few tiny braids among the waves. She has small ears, a fair complexion, and a slender figure.
Her hands are empty.
She is wearing a fine white brocade houppelande with a lined white frieze pelisse hanging over it, some delicate white slippers, a well-made forest green cloth pouch, and a soft forest green leather thigh sheath.

Raeh nods to you.
You say, "Raeh."
Corporal Khregen walks in brandishing his sharp low-steel longsword.
Raeh says, "Jurion."
You say, "Eve."
Raeh closes her eyes and mutters softly to herself.
The flesh of Raeh's left hand tears open and begins to bleed!
Khregen says, "Hello Jurion."
The blood trickles down Raeh's left hand and collects momentarily, before a large drop falls to the the rutted road. As the drop of blood lands, the skin on her left hand folds back together and knits back together before your very eyes!
You say, "And Khregen."
Raeh says, "I have to say..."
Corporal Khregen walks down.
Raeh says, "I'm strangely relieved to see you."
Corporal Khregen walks in brandishing his sharp low-steel longsword.
You say, "Unusual amount of people out here this evening."
Corporal Khregen walks up.
Raeh walks over to you.
Raeh grabs you by the arm, motioning for you to follow.
You hear Shadeark yelling, "Come on Merow. I thought I was easy for you." from up above.
You say, "Oh, shite."
You say, "Not this again."
You get a barbed jhakor fael from a polished steel thigh sheath.
Raeh asks, "Want to be filled in?"
Sergeant Shadeark walks in brandishing his sharp corinthian low-steel axe.
You say, "Please."
Raeh says, "Looking for Merow."
You say, "Move along, Sergeant Hair, this is a private conversation."
Shadeark says, "Now it is just the principal of it."
You smile at Shadeark.
Raeh glances at Shadeark.
Corporal Khregen walks in brandishing his sharp low-steel longsword.
Corporal Khregen walks down.
Shadeark says, "He is playing around too much."
Corporal Khregen walks in brandishing his sharp low-steel longsword.
Raeh concentrates and focuses her mind.
Corporal Khregen walks up.
Shadeark says, "At least he took the time to kill me."
Raeh concentrates and focuses her mind.
Shadeark says, "Last time."
Raeh nods to Shadeark.
Raeh says, "We'll be back."
Raeh smiles briefly at Shadeark.
You say, "Hopefully next time Eyssa will throw your arse to Ul'Mydar, or whatever it is."
Raeh walks down.
You follow Raeh down.

[Vinre Road, King's Woode]
To the west the road moves into a muddy quagmire, while to the southeast it diligently journeys over slow rolling wooded hills. Wild flowers scattered along the sides of the road give the green knolls much needed color and vitality. Also here is Raeh.

The sweet smell of wild flowers consumes the air, overcoming the smell of rot as it wafts in from the west.
Obvious exits are southeast and west.

A drop of blood follows behind Raeh.
Raeh turns to face you.
You shift your weight.
Raeh says, "The First Sergeant."
Raeh says, "He made a group, to chase Merow."
Raeh says, "He was in Kaezar, earlier."
Raeh says, "I followed him, alone."
You say, "I heard rumors they were assembling a mob."
Raeh says, "And found him here in Never."
Raeh says, "He had killed another child.."
Raeh says, "Actually held the corpse for my inspection."
Raeh grimaces.
Raeh says, "He took it to talk to the others."
Sergeant Merow walks in.
Sergeant Merow walks west.
You say, "Speaking of which."
Raeh walks west.
You follow Raeh west.

[ We chased Merow, but lost him, then decided he might be going to Mena's to be healed. ]

[East Hills, Mena's Ministrations]
On either side of this small establishment, several long spartan cots have been set up, each with their own cotton blanket and small square pillow. In the center of the back wall stands a ruddy stone fireplace, beside which is a stack of firewood. Situated in front of the fireplace is a trestle table with a bench pushed up on either side. Two small windows have had diaphanous curtains hung over them, and flank a dark red door. On the far wall, two old planks have been put up and serve as shelves. You see Mena.
Your group follows you.

You say, "No. Blast."
Raeh sighs disdainfully.
Raeh shakes her head.

> go door
[Never-upon-Vinre, East Hills, Puffin Point]
Situated amidst a tangled grove of elm trees is a small, one-story structure. Two narrow windows flank either side of a dark red door in the building's front, and hanging on the wall next to the doorway is a polished brass plaque. Someone has put their push-cart between two of the elm trees beside the establishment. To the north, away from this quiet stretch of road, stand several ostentatious houses.
The only obvious exit is north.
Your group follows you.

Raeh says, "In any case, he says if he is taken, the orcs have 10 children they will kill."
You ask, "Is he working for the orcs, Raeh?"
Raeh says, "So since then they've been trying to take him anyway."
Raeh says, "Jurion..."
Raeh says, "I don't know.. but it all leads to that."
You say, "Raeh... I don't much care whether he is or not."
Raeh says, "The orcs, I think they thought the letter to Vek was a writ."
Raeh asks, "You don't care?"
You say, "So Xelian says as well."
You say, "No."
You ask, "Does that shock you?"
Raeh says, "It's a relief to hear you say that."
Raeh clenches her fist.

[ Looked about some more, didn't find Merow. ]

[Never-upon-Vinre, Cannikin Heights, Market Walk]
A low stone wall parallels the road along this section of the Merchant Walk. Overhanging a long wooden bench, a recently constructed roof offers anyone that happens to be seated a modicum of protection from the elements. Towards the northwest and east, the cobblestone road leads to several small, nondescript
shops. Obvious exits are northwest and east.

Your group follows you.
You say, "I don't know Merow very well, perhaps."
Raeh glances at you.
Raeh says, "I don't know him at all, I now realize."
You say, "But Pariah and I do owe him. And I always counted him as someone to speak to, if not as a friend."
Raeh says, "I truly thought I knew him."
You say, "I do not like mobs, nor baying townsfolk who think they know what's best for the city, regardless of the cost."
Raeh sighs.
You ask, "What are you going to do?"
Raeh shakes her head.
Raeh says, "I don't know.. at all."
Raeh says, "I want to help him."
You ask, "Has he any allies at all?"
Raeh says, "He has orcish contacts, that I know of."
Raeh says, "Xelian, she still has compassion for him."
Raeh says, "And I of course am bound miserably."
Raeh says, "Anyone else, .. I believe not."
Shala walks in.
You say, "I think Sceen has decided to make Merow his own private cause."
Shala strides through the opening in the stone wall.
Raeh says, "Is that so."
You say, "It appeals to his sense of morbid drama, I suppose."
Raeh broods.
You ask, "Will Merow accept help?"
You ask, "Or is he bound to do... whatever it is he's doing?"
Merow comes through the opening in the wall.
Sergeant Merow walks northwest.
Raeh says, "I.."
Raeh peers off to the northwest.

[ Chased him again. No luck. ]

[Never-upon-Vinre, Cannikin Heights, Four Lions Bridge]
Guarding the great ramp that leads to the top of this tall bridge are two huge sandstone lions. Southward, a large warehouse dominates a cluttered cul-de-sac and to the north, past Dubber's Way, long wooden docks project into the Vinre. Obvious exits are south, southwest, and northeast.
Your group follows you.

You say, "If he's gone to the healer, he'll have to come through here."
You turn to face Raeh.
Raeh nods to you.
You say, "If he goes on as he is..."
Raeh says, "I had a great deal of pleasure last night when I told Sceen to be quiet."
Raeh says, "That felt oddly.. good."
You smile slightly.
You say, "I, er..."
Raeh says, "Although I apologized later.. in any case.."
You say, "Yes."
Raeh says, "I've no idea what Merow's plan is."
Raeh says, "He told me a few weeks ago, but since then.."
Raeh says, "Something snapped within him."
Raeh says, "He is in agony."
You say, "You can't find him, or he'll kill someone else."
Raeh says, "I've seen him a few times, but he will not talk to me for long, except to relay messages to the town."
Raeh shakes her head at you.
Raeh says, "I won't use magic on him."
You ask, "What does he want? Does he even want help?"
Raeh sighs restlessly.
Raeh says, "He's waiting on something."
Raeh says, "Something that he has to be in contact with orc parties to do."
You say, "He said something was going to happen. Something big."
Raeh says, "Then he will give up and be killed."
Raeh asks, "When did he say that?"
You say, "Yestereve, after Sceen died."
Raeh says, "Interesting.. I wonder if that could be related to.."
You say, "He said Never was going to be a bad place to be, and that we should stay clear of it."
Raeh says, "He said the night he left Kaezar, that if he were to send me a warning, to heed it."
You ask, "Can we do anything other than stand out there and try to tell everyone to go home?"
Raeh says, "Perhaps he will find us."
Raeh says, "He has found me several times, even when I was not looking for him."
You act: Jurion shifts restlessly.
Raeh says, "Those out there, will not listen to us."
Raeh shakes her head.
You laugh sourly.
You say, "No."
Raeh says, "I'll tell you something."
Raeh says, "The First Sergeant asked me to betray Merow."
Raeh says, "In any way he needed me to, so he would be detained."
Raeh says, "I agreed."
Raeh says, "But there's a problem."
You ask, "Did you?"
Raeh says, "I've discovered I can't."
Raeh says, "I always said I couldn't.. but I thought I was just talking."
Raeh says, "Please don't tell anyone else."
You smile wryly.
Raeh says, "But it is disturbing."
Raeh says, "And would probably be disturbing to others."
You say, "Raeh, with what we have already done together, there are things neither of us can afford to tell."
You say, "Listen, I will tell you this."
Raeh gazes intently at you.
You say, "Some time ago I finally realized that I wasn't going to be Duke of Kemstead."
Raeh smiles wryly.
You ask, "What has this city and this Prince gotten me?"
You say, "Nothing."
You say, "I don't know what Merow's reasons are."
You say, "I'm curious, but..."
You act: Jurion lifts one shoulder in an idle shrug.
You say, "I find it easier to make a stand for him than against him."
You say, "Perhaps my conscience is misplaced. I don't know."
Raeh sighs restlessly.
Raeh says, "I know exactly what you say."
You say, "Time is I have thought I would see what the orcs pay, myself."

[ Went back to Market Walk. ]

[Never-upon-Vinre, Cannikin Heights, Market Walk]
A low stone wall parallels the road along this section of the Merchant Walk. Overhanging a long wooden bench, a recently constructed roof offers anyone that happens to be seated a modicum of protection from the elements. Towards the northwest and east, the cobblestone road leads to several small, nondescript
shops. Obvious exits are northwest and east.

Your group follows you.
Raeh smooths her skirts distractedly.
Raeh glances at some shops.
Raeh narrows her eyes.
You act: Jurion turns his ring around his finger.
Raeh asks, "What shall we do?"
You ask, "What shall we do? Sit? Wait? Search?"
Raeh chuckles ruefully.
You smile slightly.
Raeh says, "He'll not be found if he doesn't wish it."
You say, "True enough."
Raeh says, "But I told myself this, Jurion."
Raeh says, "After leaving the woods with the mob."
Raeh smiles wryly.
Raeh says, "Never again."
Raeh says, "Never again will I do something that feels wrong just because I think it is right."
Raeh says, "It felt horribly wrong to chase him. Let him finish."
You nod imperceptibly.
You say, "It is a pity there aren't more out there who would do the same."
Raeh says, "If he'd been left alone in the first place none of this would have happened."
Raeh says, "It was petty bickering that pushed him over the edge."
You ask, "In the Guard? Or the town?"
Raeh says, "This fellow stole 3 sovereigns from this fellow."
Raeh says, "This lass thinks this fellow is a traitor."
Raeh says, "No one trusts anyone, and Merow was supposed to fix it."
Raeh says, "And when he couldn't, it was all his fault."
Raeh furrows her brow slightly.
Raeh looks up at the sky.
You say, "They cannot work together, except to bay after someone when their blood's up."
Raeh says, "And so, here is what it has come to."
Raeh shifts her eyes to you.
You say, "Merow has done more than I ever did for Kaezar."
Raeh says, "Lynch mobs after Merow, I would have laughed at the thought two weeks ago."
You say, "I feel as though I could burn the town and cheerfully walk away, some days."
Raeh rubs her eyes bitterly.
You say, "I can't imagine what he is going through."
Raeh stares off into the distance.
Raeh shakes her head disdainfully.
You say, "Shala..."
Raeh asks, "What is she doing, anyway?"
You say, "Spying for the guard."
You smile bitterly.
Raeh furrows her brow.
Raeh says, "Is that so."
You say, "Ironic, isn't it? After our little play, she's gone and sold her services elsewhere, or at least so I hear."
Raeh grimaces faintly.
You say, "She met with a guard at the Tankard a few days past."
Raeh nods to you.
Raeh says, "I recall."
You nod to Raeh.
You say, "Yestereve, when I came back from Never..."
You say, "Well, we have not been getting along, she and I."
You say, "We made an attempt at reconciliating, and when it failed, the first question that leapt to her lips was in regards to Merow."
Raeh raises an eyebrow.
You say, "I don't know whether she's selling him to the guards or distraught that she already has."
You cross your arms.
Raeh frowns.
Raeh blinks back some tears.
Raeh closes her eyes.
Raeh says, "I actually trusted her."
Raeh opens her eyes.
You smile bleakly.
Raeh says, "I told her I did.. completely. I finally could."
You sit down on a long wooden bench.
Raeh holds her abdomen.
Raeh shifts her eyes to a long wooden bench.
Raeh sits down on a long wooden bench.
Raeh leans forward while sitting on the long wooden bench.
Raeh holds her head in her hands.
Raeh says, "Merow, now Shala. Who next."
You ask, "Why doesn't he leave after he does... whatever it is he's doing?"
Raeh glances at you.
Raeh asks, "Leave?"
You lean forward while sitting on the long wooden bench.
You act: Jurion laces his fingers together.
Raeh says, "That's a good question."
You say, "Leave."
Raeh says, "I don't think he cares after that, really."
You ask, "What purpose does it serve for him to die?"
Raeh says, "He's complicated.. and has told me little of his past, but I've pieced together what I can."
Raeh says, "Something very bad happened, Jurion, in his past."
Raeh says, "Something he would never tell me of."
Raeh says, "But it has to do with his people, his tribe, in Kuthgard."
Raeh says, "Massive destruction wrought by some sort of snow wraith."
Raeh says, "And personal failure."
You say, "Vurlak..."
Raeh gazes at you.
You ask, "Is it gharkin honor?"
You shake your head.
Raeh says, "For Merow, it was redemption, at least at first."
You say, "Vurlak served on the Gilded Lily in his youth. He was impressed into service."
You say, "He killed... many people, and worse."
You say, "He always wanted to join the Guard when he came to Kaezar."
Raeh nods to you.
You say, "He said it would serve to pay some of his debts."
You ask, "Was it like that?"
Raeh says, "Somewhat. He'd studied the situation here with the impending war from all angles."
Raeh says, "Merow is .. very quick. He's fooled me entirely twice... twice."
Raeh says, "He created a plan to save the people of Kaezar, possibly."
Raeh says, "This would be his redemption."
Raeh says, "He saw that otherwise we would all die. May still ..."
You ask, "Has he abandoned that now?"
Raeh says, "It doesn look pretty hopeless for that city."
Raeh says, "Er, does."
Raeh says, "Jurion, that's the question."
Raeh asks, "What is he doing?"
You ask, "Is he selling Never to save Kaezar? Or merely burning Never to strike at those he's given up saving?"
Raeh shakes her head.
Raeh says, "The night the orcs and Jayden escaped he lost all hope."
Raeh says, "That is when he snapped, and it was over."
Raeh says, "I saw it in his eyes."
Raeh says, "He lost all trust in me..."
Raeh laughs wryly.
Raeh says, "The one person who can *not* betray him!."
Raeh blinks back some tears.
You raise your head and look at Raeh.
Raeh says, "It is madness, Jurion. I am at a loss for what to do."
You say, "If he won't be helped, I cannot see how to help him."
You say, "I have some reputation. I can speak for him against the town, but I don't know what good it would do."
Raeh says, "It would do no good."
Raeh says, "And it wouldn't help him."
You say, "It would not stop what he is doing anyhow."
Raeh says, "He wants the town united against him."
Raeh asks, "Did he say anything else when you spoke to him?"
You shake your head bleakly.
Raeh asks, "Anything at all that might be of consequence?"
You say, "Let me think on it a moment."
Raeh gazes hopefully at you.
You act: Jurion steeples his fingers together.
You say, "He said Jayden had the unfortunate luck to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."
Raeh nods.
Raeh says, "Yes, see..."
Raeh says, "Merow was speaking with an orc messenger when Jayden walked in."
Raeh says, "He had to make up the story so Jayden wouldn't mess up his plan."
You ask, "Why not confide in Jayden?"
You say, "Not that I trust the man..."
Raeh says, "It was all part of the plan, to save the people. He didn't trust him."
You nod to Raeh slowly.
Raeh says, "It was a mistake, I suppose."
You say, "I have my doubts yet. Merow said..."
Raeh glances at you.
You say, "Merow told me to watch Jayden."
Raeh asks, "The other night?"
You say, "No..."
You say, "I can't recall exactly when."
You frown.
Raeh ponders the situation.
You ask, "Just that Jayden had been speaking to the orc as well?"
Raeh shakes her head.
You say, "Am I mistaken? But I saw those halflings when Jayden came in."
You say, "They were terrified."
Raeh raises an eyebrow.
Raeh asks, "Of Jayden?"
You nod to Raeh.
Raeh says, "Then again.."
Raeh says, "At some point they became in league with Merow."
Raeh says, "Could have been an act."
You say, "Aye."
You sigh.
Raeh grimaces.
You say, "And it still does not address our problem."
Raeh says, "The problem."
You say, "The problem."
Raeh sighs.
Raeh says, "Well, what do you plan to do."
Raeh leans back while sitting on the long wooden bench.
You say, "I don't know."
Raeh crosses her legs.
Raeh nods to you.
You say, "If I walk in and it's a battle..."
You say, "I expect I'll side with Merow."
You ask, "Other than that, what else can I do?"
You say, "If he wants to die, I cannot stop him."
Raeh says, "I have decided tonight, there is one thing I will not do."
Raeh says, "And that is turn my back on my heart."
Raeh says, "I am very uncomfortable with what I came close to doing tonight."
Raeh says, "I'm growing bitter towards the Kaezarians, it is infectious."
You act: Jurion chuckles with honest humor.
You say, "Yes, well."
You say, "It becomes easier as you go."
You smile sadly.
You say, "At any rate."
You sigh.
Raeh smiles ruefully.
You say, "It's trite, I know."
You say, "If there is anything I can do..."
Raeh nods to you.
Raeh says, "Let's get out of this city."
You say, "All right."
Raeh stands up.
You stand up.
Raeh smooths her skirts briefly.

Logs > Gamma Logs > It's the Principle of It