IC II Toes In The Water

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Explore," she says, "Reconnaissance." Henry's tracking skills would be extremely useful. "Not far, can't go deep. Hourglass runs no matter what."

She's not looking to kill orcs, she's looking to get more info...

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Henry's probably not going to follow them in. Looking to mollify him, Natalia asks, "Scout...Together, but separate? You watch, we search?" But only as far as they're comfortable, or have time, to search.

[achinca]

Miriam thanks Henry for the information and nods at Valen. "Let go through the back entrance. Let's moves."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia has to ask Miriam, "Looking for...Information, or heads?"

[achinca]

She looks at Natalia "Both. We save Linwood. Then we go save ..." She does not finish the sentence ....

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Natalia pauses. That's not right, that doesn't seem right at all. "But if...If doing nothing, then why...Not a hunt, a slaughter. Not right, no...No justification, no reason."

If the orcs weren't doing anything, and instead they went into their caves, their homes, and killed everyone, then they were no better than them.

[Zman]

"They've already sealed their fate, and I have no quams about collecting their due on behalf of the corpses in Linwood.". Valen adds Grimly, "Besides, we took on a contract."

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"But...But all?" Natalia protests. She speaks as clearly as she can. "What...gives us right more?"

[achinca]

Miriam shakes and her and a cold look reappears in her eyes. "Natalia, if you want to stay on the lookout with Henry, it is fine. You do not have to come into the caves."

She turns toward Mithril "This is valid for the rest of you. Right now Valen and I are going in. If you have problems with the idea, you are welcome to go back to town and let them know that you found the entrance of the cave."

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"Miriam..." She would have expected such bloodlust from Valen, but her? "Don't...Let Calric...Kill your mercy too."

Natalia hangs her head. A place for all kinds...Her side would have just a hard time with it as theirs. She glares at Miriam again. "Them all? Judge...Them all? Even those...Too young to read, fight, understand? To live?"

[Zman]

"Spare the children if you wish, I wont kill a child unless it raises a weapon against me, they would not show your child the same curtesy." Valen grits his teeth at Natalie's misguided innocence to the world.

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"Then leave for the rocs?" Natalia shakes her head. "I...Want peace, Linwood safe too, but...Not by writing peace in blood! Blood makes more blood, need to clot it instead!"

Her voice cracks, a whimper at the end. "Find...Find a place...Place for all kinds..."

[Zman]

"You cannot deny the nature of our existence, There is blood on your hands already, don't you forget. And it is blood on good men's hands which keeps civilization standing." Valen is obviously confused by Natalia's love for the Orcs.

[achinca]

Miriam looks at Natalia confused "I never said I will take a child life. If they surrender and give away their weapons and agree to start destroying the farm and killing people from Linwood, I will show them mercy and will not touch a hair from their head. But somehow I doubt that the fighter will give up."

She stops and kicks a stone "What about the choker Natalia? You were vicious about not only killing it but cooking it and eating it. All it did was defend its lair from an intruder. Would it takes your love to be attacked and raped for you to move?"

"I am a priestess of St. Cuthbert. I provide justice and fight evil and chaos. I was chosen. It is my duty and unless the orc fighters surrender, I will do all I can to stop them."

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Spoiler

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What? Natalia never cooked and ate the choker She asked Kurt to chop it up but that's because she wanted to make very sure it was dead.

"Shut up!" Natalia snaps at Miriam when she suggests what it would take to make her kill the orcs.

She sits down. "Just...Don't see why...Violent, but born that or made? Makes...Makes no sense." They couldn't all be like the ones who fought them.

"I'll go, but...Not looking to fight...If possible." After several minutes of silence, Natalia gives up. She can barely gather the thoughts in her head; how can she ever even come close to expressing them?

"...Misunderstood...Sorry..."

[Athedia]

Mithril clutched Whiskers, shaking in distress. "Stop, just stop. Natalia and I will wait outside. Don't blame her for attacking the choker. It is my fault. I angered it. Don't fight now. We are friends here." Aren't we? Before the caves we got along. Why is it so hard to make these decisions. She bit her lip in frustration and went to stand near Henry. Tears welled in her eyes, "I grew to trust Shiny, even with his mindbending. Can't you believe in each other? Please?"

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"Not...Not your fault," Natalia tries to say as she goes over to Mithril. She turns back to the others. "Please...Friends...Stay together. I...Misunderstood." She tries to mollify the group, and is also trying not to cry.

[achinca]

Miriam puts her smile on her face "We are friends. We don't force each other. We do not trick each other. We are open about what we are and what we do. I believe Linwood only chance for survival is us. So I will go in the caves. But no one is forced to follow. Look into your heart and do what you think is right."

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Natalia looks to Miriam and says, "We...Putting off problem...Should...Find new land for them too." She sniffs and wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. "Angry now, angry and vengeful later."

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Natalia adds, "Here to scout and save, not...not kill." Even her traps are for defense. She gets up, but honestly doesn't know what to do. But they have to save Linwood.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Another thing comes to mind. She goes to Miriam and says, "Maybe...Ogres before magic...Stop meals now, search caves later?"

[achinca]

Another thing comes to mind. She goes to Miriam and says, "Maybe...Ogres before magic...Stop meals now, search caves later?"

Miriam looks confused. what meals? Listenwe agree to go after the orcs before the ogres. We are at the entrance of the orcs caves. Let's finish what we came here for. And as I said no one is forced to do something they don't want to do.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Just...Thinking ahead," Natalia says, shaking her head. She says, "...Thank you...I...Search, but not hunt. Not hunt, but defend. Searching first, knowledge over battle. Unless I must." If only she could articulate it better...

Natalia looks back to Mithril, "You...Your choice? I promise...I'll protect you. No more chokers."

[Cavelcade]

Kurt listens to the exchange in silence, brooding over all that is being said as the group almost splits itself in two for a moment before Natalia swallows her misgivings and agrees to go in. He goes to her and nods at her. "You're right, Natalia. We can't just kill them all and say that's justice...but they attacked first. You heard the orc warrior. If we don't at least find out what's going on, the innocents in the town will be in great danger, that we swore to help them avoid. A contract mightn't matter a menknurlan but their lives and our word...they're important."

[CoffeeIncluded]

Natalia nods; Kurt's right after all.

[Zman]

"We d what we must." Valen fingers the hilt of his heavy sword.

It certainly feels right...

[CoffeeIncluded]

Seeing that Mithril isn't going to come along, but rather stay with Henry, Natalia hesitates. For a moment she feels a surge of jealousy, then remembers that Mithril's probably uncomfortable going into caves right now.

She goes over and hugs her friend, burrowing her head into the crook of her shoulder (it's not hard; they're the right heights). "Stay safe," she says, handing Mithril another potion.

[Athedia]

"I don't plan to stand in front in the horde." She hugged Natalia back. "But you return the favor."

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"Back at night...Promise," Natalia says, still reluctant to leave her behind.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Somewhat reluctantly, Natalia leaves Mithril and Henry behind and follows the rest up the slopes to the winding rocky switchbacks above. Once they being to leave the balley Natalia's movements become more purposeful; her steps become quieter and she clings to the shade.

Spoiler

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Take 10 on Hide and Move Silently for 19 in each.
If possible, Take 10 on Spot and Listen for 17 in each. If that's not possible, then:
Spot: (d20+7)[10]
Listen: (d20+7)[12]
Please let me take 10 in spot and listen.
Survival: (d20+2)[8]
Knowledge (Nature): (d20+2)[6] (8 actually, but that doesn't matter.

Hooray for extremely ****ty rolls.