At the Morninglord's temple
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- at least one member of the Dwarven coalition smirks and nudges one of his kin as the "long-ears" and "wigglers" go at it with each other.*
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Imril pushes himself from his leaning stance to stand upright, the look of surprise on his face melting to one of indifference, as he again folds his arms across his chest and speaks, there is a slight tinge of disdain in his voice though he tries hard to conceal it.
A most wise assessment Lady Ashena, I agree with you….
Come now Sirion, if you have anything else useful to say, let's have out with it and be done. Spare us your riddles and double talk for a moment, speak your piece and then, if it be the desire of those here, depart, least this whole coalition be sundered by your very presence. Speak plainly or waste not our time further.
He then crosses to stand near the other silver haired elf, whispering to him as he waits again with arms crossed.
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The young knight in question listens quietly, a look of slight frustration on her fair face before she speaks up once more, in a stern but calm tone:
"I will repeat myself - we are here to fight the undead threat against Norwick, not to throw accusation or judgement against one another. Please leave your grudges and your anger outside of this hallowed place.
I fully understand why people here have no trust for Sirion, but I must remind you all that his guilt - or indeed innocence - was not, and still cannot be proven or disproven. The temple wards allow no evil to enter, nor have I detected such from Sirion myself. However, that is not the same as saying he has committed no ill deeds.
If it was indeed Sirion who approached Fendon, as per the discarded plan hatched by the Norwick Remnant, tis a reprehensible and vile act, for it was performed after Therean had passed on a warning from his godess of the evil it would bring, and the many innocents who would perish. The ~purpose~ of the plan, however, was to create trouble for the bugbears and aid in liberating Norwick - not to doom all of Norwick itself.
T'was the undead who brought pain, death and suffering to the people of Norwick. Tis the undead who assail us still, and tis the undead that we shall fight now. I myself have ne'er encountered Fendon, and what information I have gleaned comes from Belia, Davos and the Order's own records. So, I would hear Sirion out, 'ere he departs, and decide the value of his words for myself, as suggested.
Then, we shall call the others back and continue planning. Another of the Order's squires has come up with a promising idea that I will share with the rest as soon as the details are made clearer."
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_"Now that's an interesting question, with even more interesting answers."
"And I did meet Fendon. That meeting, and others, is precisely why I was picked to entreat him, and that is precisely why you now hold me is such suspicion. Have you never met an enemy you did not kill?"
"If you do not believe me, it is not necessary. The young Knight's order had members present at several of the encounters. They'd remember the days quite well. How do you think I've come to know his temper and power so well? I brought paladins with me."
"If I wished to misdirect you, I would not be what you see now. I should play the part of the penitent, as yon Chancellor put it 'seeking atonement for a crime I did not commit,' asking you to trust me once more. I would seek first to earn that trust through trial and tribulation, then to lead you directly into a trap so that my dark lord might slay what little hope remains."
"If that's honestly my plan, I'm very bad at it."
"I am repaying my debts. Aramuil was a teacher of mine, for a time. As was Spellweaver. He is gone, and Spellweaver is errant. I act in their stead. Furthermore, I fought for this town when it fell to the bugbears, as did many here. I failed to prevent its fall. And I failed to succeed in its retaking. Ostromogs treaty and retreat took that from me. You think I wish to atone for something? That is it."
"I recognize that you cannot trust me. I do not expect you to. This is why I will not ask to join your fight. You cannot hope for victory while suspecting treachery from your neighbor, and I cannot protect those who do not trust me. I do, however expect you to use your minds. Hear my words and decide their value for yourselves. Ask what I have to gain by misleading you. Ask how I might do so. I give you nothing you cannot handle."
"And, when asked properly, I will depart."_
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- A tall silver haired elf stand up quietly from a bench where he had been quietly listening*
"This time Sirion, you have condemned yourself with your own words. You just admitted to haveing met with Fendon more than once by saying here he quotes Sirion's own word Arauil and I spoke at length after I first met Fendon here Ael pauses briefly, then he continues
"And why would you owe anything for as you say ,past deeds done, unless you did indeed make this deal with Fendon? For all we know, you are still working with the evil basterd and seek to misdirect this council"
finally with an angry glare he asks the leaders of the group
How can he even pass the wards on this temple with the blood of three hundred souls on his hands?
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A young Rashemi woman with long, thick black hair stands inside the temple watching the exchange. She remains silent for now, merely watching and listening.
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Beourn nods to Dwin and loosens his grip on the blade. As Sirion speaks, Beourn's face gets red and twists with anger.
Bah!!
The flustered dwarf stomps out of the temple, muttering in dwarven.
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_Sirion holds out his wrists to Beourn.
"Would you care to arrest me and try again? I am certain you can find a judge unwilling to listen to reason and make the matter of my conviction a foregone conclusion."
"I offer you what wisdom I can, and what I am willing to. If you wish to listen to me, fine. If you wish not, also fine."
"And if you're smart, you will not believe a word of it."
"And if you're wise, you will realize reality is not burdened by dependence upon your beliefs. What will be will be."_
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Dwin looks to Beourn as he finally realizes that Sirion is here, and male.
Relax, kin… they'll be no steel nor blood in this sacred place...
Seems to me there's quite a bit of unfinished business here, which should be addressed outside once we're through. And it will be.
If this betrayer is not here to help thumbs at Sirion I would suggest he leave. My understanding is that this meeting is for those who seek to help the Realm, not for those who wish to speak in riddles or praise their own wigglin' abilities.
However, this is not my temple... looks to Ashena It is not for us to judge who should stay or leave.
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A low grumble from a corner of the temple is heard as Sirion speaks, suddenly Beourn steps forward and points his grubby finger at Sirion.
Who let this murderin' dog in 'ere! Fer all we know he's bringin' this information back t'Fendon!!
Beourn growls as he grabs the hilt of his sheathed longsword strapped to his back and glares threateningly at Sirion.
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_"You shouldn't go. You'll be the one to trust with this, not me. Dwin's words alone make it clear how you and the others feel regarding me. And I have already decided not to fight alongside you. Win or lose, you will do so without me."
"I am here only to share what is owed for deed already done."_
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Has no Idea who let Sirion in side the temple, but María leaves when she notices him, eye-rolling
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_"Aramuil and I spoke at length after I first met the dead man. He's confident and arrogant, as well as functionally insane. He sees himself as Herald still of this true "Lord Norwick." Some of you seem to think that is one of Jandor's lineage, raised and directing behind the scenes. If that is so, you will have other problems. More likely it is a construction in Fendon's of mind. Disrespect of this Lord and of Fendon's station as his herald is the quickest provocation.
If you desire information on the lichblade, there are spells that can accommodate. I know most of them. But ultimately, you need to know what happens to it up the demise of his corporeal form."_
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Dwin nods and smiles warmly to Ashena.
I am not suggesting that we use any bait thumbs to himself before we have a good hook, lass. If and when it makes sense to follow that path, I am prepared, as will my kin be prepared 'swell …
Now, my kin and I have been trapped underground, not only did we lack sunlight, but we lacked information---perhaps more painfully.
Is there a quick way to catch us up on this red-mist and Fendon-sword? I am not completely aware of what these threats are...
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A delicate pink tinges Ashena's cheeks as she realizes the dwarf speaking is in fact Dwin Dolvak himself, though her expression remains as solemn as before, a small frown on her brow as she listens. She pauses slightly, then speaks up once more:
"I believe Fendon's old grudge ~could~ be to our advantage, but to challenge him will also carry a great risk, not least to yourself, mister Dolvak. I also dislike the idea of risking any potential messenger's life, as I am fairly certain Fendon's eye is quite firmly fixed on us already. Finally, the further Fendon is from his lair when and if he is successfully defeated, the further we may have to search for the sword afterwards. Tis this search I would have us focus on next; any and all ideas of how to follow the red mist or in some way divine the location of the sword, speak up and share them. Without a feasable plan to seek and destroy the sword, provoking confrontation with Fendon himself will be pointless."
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Dwin listens to Havon speak and nods, perhaps not knowing who he is.
Rage is more often a weakness than a strength–that I can personally attest to.
Let it be known that I am back and sitting on the Chancellors throne. Of course, I have no desire to be chancellor again, I am only here to lend my considerable experience in trying to keep Norwick's people safe... but he doesnt need to know that.
But when the time is right, perhaps this Sirion person can relate a message to Fendon that I am on the throne and... perhaps... discounting the very threat of Fendon himself... Fendon the Fool, Fendon the Scroll-Reader... Fendon, Dwin's errand-boy...
Ought that be enough to draw him from his nest where the best blades of the land can shred him to pieces?
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_Imril nods in agreement and thanks to Ashena's words, and gives Dwin a half frown at his apparent jab. But his frown curls to another sarcastic smirk as Ashena goes on relating that Dwin aught to be the bait….
He looks about ready to reply when the words die on his lips as he hears Sirion's foot falls near to him.
A look of surprise crosses his face as those near by hear him mutter something in elven._
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_Soft footsteps echo behind Dwin, and as the veil drops a gold tressed elf, wrapped this time in white and grey silk, stands leaning against wall and looking for all the world as if he has been here for some time. The baleful image of the Scream is tucked under his arm. His eyes are heavy, and his boots more travel stained than you have even known in memory. His countenance is weary, but his words flow as quick and sharp as ever.
"You have fair measure of your situation. Fendon's weakness is his rage. Challenge him, and he will rise to the occasion. That is the best and worst hope I can offer you."
Sirion makes no move to leave at that point, and simply remains where he is, where he had been apparently for sometime._
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Well, that's interesting… chuckles Here I am tryin to go fishin when I'm the worm! Ha!
In that case... I offer meself up in whatever capacity makes sense, ma'am. I do enjoy my time here, in one piece... but should we need to... tempt Fendon by using me, his old boss, then I'm up for it.
Otherwise, you can count on the steel of the Hold for this purpose of his removal. Dwin nods at his kin.
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Ashena's expression turns increasingly stern, and she folds her arms with a clank of armor.
"We are here to fight the undead threat against Norwick. Destroying Fendon and whatever else dark force may be backing him is most certainly the goal I have in mind, and I would ask that those present here focus on the same objective, instead of seeking to insert insult and accusation that serve no purpose but to divide us. The undead are a foe to ~all~ living things, if this cannot unite us then nothing will. And unite we must, to succeed.
If the idea of baiting is to have any merit, then I have been told that Fendon bears a special grudge to the old leadership of Norwick; arcane advisor Aramuil and former Chancellor Dwin Dolvak, to be precise. Just the type of juicy worms to make a foul fish like Fendon leap out of the water, I imagine. Though I do not feel we need to resort to baiting when he is already biting us plenty, nor place these persons in harms way when there are other options. I suggest we take the fight to him instead, to make the initiative ours. Striking him close to home likely means a smaller area to search the whereabouts of the sword, too."
