Zion: Light of the New Moon Part 2, Ch 1.5 Shrad
Zion - Light of the New Moon, Part 2 Chapter 1.5
Shrad Through the Bahn
Decidedly not interested in quarter or mercy, the Shradian party will wait until Urah is lured back to them by the slave bait and then strike with intent to kill; hopefully that'll work out for them. The modifiers for this Event Arc are as follows: + Delay, and - Favor.
It took less than an hour for the party to round up the slaves, and another hour for them to finally locate Nori and recall him to camp. Watches were set to keep an eye out for the bat woman, but the time was spent otherwise uneventfully. Loric, however, made the most of it.
While the party spent time sharpening weapons, collecting arrows and quarrels, and checking the quality of their armor, the arctic fox kept a tight reign on the slaves. Over the course of forty minutes the entire camp site was clean and organized. Supplies were stowed and secured, transports were cleaned and maintenanced (as much as magically constructed transports needed to be), and a fire was set with a meal being prepared.
"That's despicable." Shadow scowled, leaning back against the wheels of one of the transports, watching as Loric continued overseeing the movements of the slaves, sending two of them out to set up torches beyond the perimeter of the camp.
"He is keeping them busy." Tollie offered, "That is not a bad thing."
"We should have let them go by now... we're not slavers." Tolen noted, obviously agreeing with Shadow.
"We need them with us," Sten offered, retying the arm buckle of his shield, "otherwise that bat lady could just go out and gather them up again."
"These slaves are not our problem." Gaerid noted from off to the side, casually sharpening one of his throwing knives while Wyse remained on the ground beside him, sprawled out. The bounty hunter's dog seemed disinterested with the discussion, "We could have released them and she would have been so busy trying to gather them back up that we wouldn't have had to worry about it." Gaerid added.
"Then we would have failed in saving them." Shadow countered.
"This isn't about saving slaves." Sten noted simply, "This is about making a point."
"And what point is it we're making?" Shadow questioned, his voice hinting at a growl.
"Don't fuck with Shrad," Sten answered, setting his shield aside, "obviously."
"Somehow I don't believe that was the point Tollie was making..." Tolen offered, glancing at the hyena, whose eyes were affixed to Loric. "Are you alright, Tollie?" the healer asked.
"I am fine. Thank you, Tolen." Tollie replied, still watching the noble man, "He knows just the right task for each one of them."
Shadow scowled, "You make it sound like you admire his skill at repressing and abusing others."
"Have you never admired the way Gaerid handles Wyse?" Tollie inquired, motioning to the bounty hunter, "or the way in which the caravan's wagon masters were able to guide their beasts?"
"That's different." Tolen interjected, "Wyse... those working beasts... they're just animals."
"There is nothing limiting about being an animal." Gaerid spoke, "There is no 'just' about it."
"Animals need guidance in cities and on roads. They rely on their owners to aid in their survival and care for them." Tolen suggested.
"It can be argued that slaves are no different." Tollie spoke up, "Shrad is built upon the principles of the New Moon; the strong lead the weak, and in return the weak are given direction, protection, and guidance." the words came out simply and without conviction.
"You don't really believe that drivel," Shadow scowled, "do you?"
"It's obvious that YOU don't." Gaerid noted with a flat tone, sharpening a skinning knife.
"I've seen too many men abuse that power." the black wolf noted in a straight-forward statement.
"And yet you still serve the temple." Nori noted as he emerged from behind one of the wagons, "hypocrite."
"You can do more to help those at the bottom from the top." Shadow countered.
"I've heard that too many times to believe it's true." the ferret stated, "You just say whatever you need to say so you can look at yourself in the mirror." he chided.
"Think whatever you want, Nori." Shadow responded, "But the deed proves the direction, and when this is over these people go free."
"And, until then, you use them as bait." the ferret smirked scornfully, hefting his hammer, "such a 'hero-of-the-people'."
"You weren't exactly around to offer up any suggestions when we were making our plans." Sten noted from the side, "Calm down, boy... once Urah is dealt with we'll-"
"Don't call me 'boy', Webs-for-Paws." Nori countered, "I was busy chasing after her while the rest of you were sitting here fighting over who gets what slave." he pointed his finger at the otter, "And how in the hell do you even know her name?"
"She was introduced... and then introduced herself." Tolen offered calmly.
"Well excuse me for being more worried about slaves than societific graces." the ferret scowled.
"It's 'societal graces', Nori." Loric announced pleasantly as he made his way over to the group. The fox stopped long enough to ruffle the ferret's hair, causing Nori's scowl deepen, and he tightened his grip on his hammer. "So what are we talking about?" the noble inquired, oblivious to the ferret's disturbed response.
"We're talking about you never doing that again." Nori growled, "Because if you do, I can think of a dozen unpleasant places to stick this hammer, and you don't want me to start trying them out on--" Nori froze in place, ears quickly swiveling, "What was that?"
"That was me laughing at your idle threats." Loric answered mirthfully with a smug grin on his muzzle.
"No, you city-dwelling hate-slug..." Nori turned to the side, "There's something--"
Loric interrupted the ferret by convulsing and issuing out a strangled gurgle, fur across his body beginning to shed rapidly as his eyes rolled back in their sockets. The fox collapsed, body shuddering again as whisps of energy flowed from him to a shadow atop one of the wagons.
"You did me a favor, you know... ridding me of that fat lizard and his lackey..." the voice murmured from the darkness, "but taking Allin... that's unforgivable."
"So much for preparing." Nori noted to Loric. The ferret sprang forward, going into a roll on the ground, reaching out with his spare paw to grab hold of the fallen fox's dagger as he did so and, as he came up, Nori let the weapon fly into the darkness. The resounding thump of metal entering flesh identified a solid blow and the black tendrils creating a veil of darkness faded away around the bat.
Urah stared down at the blade protruding from her chest, "This... was... unforeseen." she murmured, and fell forward off of the carraige. She did a complete flip in the air, landing, unmoving on the ground.
"It was as you expected." Gaerid noted to Tollie, "She came back for her Blade Slave.".
The hyena simply nodded, standing up from his spot next to one of the wagons. He crossed the distance between himself and the bat, passing by Loric Kriabnish, who was still shivering, as if freezing cold. He motioned with a paw and Allin, following along directly behind him, picked up Loric without so much as a grunt, and followed after the Tollie.
The hyena knelt down next to the bat, running a paw across her face, "She is..." he began.
"Dead." Nori proclaimed, "That was the point."
"...mostly dead." the hyena finished the announcement.
"Well, then I'll finish the job." the ferret noted, moving forward with his hammer at the ready.
"It is not your place." Tollie spoke up.
"Well telling me what is and isn't my place isn't your place." the Wild Lander countered.
"You cannot kill her, because we need her still." the hyena explained, brushing a paw across her face. He motioned to Allin and the dog obediently set Loric down beside the fallen bat.
"Do you have something in mind?" Gaerid asked, a hint of curiosity in his usually neutral tone.
"Yes." Tollie acknowledged and, suddenly, a powerful blast of energy surged between the two bodies. Urah took one last breath, and a shaky exhale signaled her end. A faintly glowing mote of energy rose up from her open muzzle, and the hyena quickly reached for it, closing his fingers around it, but still not touching. Lowering his paw to Loric's muzzle, Tollie let go of the mote of energy, and it sank, disappearing down Loric's throat.
The arctic fox suddenly gasped, wheezing as fur spontaneously regrew across his body, health returning to him, "bat!" he rasped, and fell unconscious.
Tollie slowly stood, looking down at Loric, "He wanted to keep all of the slaves..." and with that, the hyena made his way back to his carriage, "that was his vote... I suppose the rest of you will make up your minds."
"They all go free." Shadow noted without hesitation.
"Set them free." Tolen agreed.
"Free em." Nori acknowledged.
"In the Wild Lands, that's a death sentence." Sten noted, "We should be able to loot the slavers' wagon and bring them along with us to the next Wayside... let em go from there."
"What about him?" Gaerid questioned, glancing over at Allin, who followed after Tollie only to stop outside of his carriage door, turning around and assuming a ready stance.
"Blade Slaves may as well be golems." Sten noted, "He's been a slave all his life... I don't think he'd even know how to be on his own."
"We can still give him a choice." Shadow offered.
"Choices..." Gaerid chuckled, reaching down to pat Wyse, "Perhaps the greatest lie destiny and fate ever gave us was the illusion that we have choices that matter..." and, with that, the rottweiler retired to his own wagon leaving everyone else to stare off after him. His comment certainly didn't help end the argument.
* * * * * *
Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Zion concludes for Shrad.
Believe it or not, Nori's first roll for the combat round in this chapter was one point off perfect... and his target's roll... well... she was REALLY unlucky... and it shows. For now, however, we'll have to figure out what happens with the group:
Contributing Readers, please choose the culminating decision for the party:
1) Send the slaves back to the slave trader wagon and move them along. 2) Gather up the slave wagon and bring the slaves to a town as slaves. 3) Gather up the slave wagon and bring the slaves to town as free people. 5) Keep the slaves... they may come in handy. 6) Let THEM decide.
NON-Contributing Readers may now elect which of the following be granted to Shrad:
1) +1 Favor 2) +1 Luck 3) - 1 Danger 4) +1 Willpower to all characters!
Please have your vote posted here by Friday, December 2nd! All readers, also keep an eye out for the upcoming journal!