Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
The
VOIDRUNNER'S CODEX
is coming! Explore new worlds, fight oppressive empires, fend off fearsome aliens, and wield deadly psionics with this comprehensive boxed set expansion for 5E and A5E!
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 6165044" data-attributes="member: 82687"><p><strong>34x02</strong></p><p></p><p>Silence. With Orchid’s mission stated baldly, none of them seemed quite able to find breath.</p><p> </p><p>“If the girl is killed by the wrong hand, it is the unmaking of all that has been made,” added Orchid. There was pleading buried beneath the calm resolution in her voice; Savina heard it and knew that the woman longed for them to understand and accept.</p><p> </p><p>Kormick had no interest in acceptance. “What’s your source for this?” he demanded. “Because <em>we</em> have a prophecy from an <em>actual Alirrian angel</em> that offers a little more hope than what you’re peddling.”</p><p> </p><p>“You have <em>an</em> angel,” Orchid replied. “We have communed with <em>many</em> since the child’s birth. They’ve revealed that Rose is perfectly safe unless her death is brought about by a being they call the Agent of Destruction. We cannot identify who the Agent might be, so we have determined that we must kill the child instead. We cannot risk the alternative.”</p><p> </p><p>“How do we know you’re not the Agent?” Savina asked, beating the rest of them to the obvious question and earning a thumbs-up from Kormick.</p><p> </p><p>It was Orchid’s turn to sigh. “We spent a great deal of time and effort communicating with the divine, making sure that it wasn’t me. It was exhausting—and conclusive. But that is <em>all</em> we know. No one but me is safe.”</p><p> </p><p>Twiggy spoke up: “I’d like to know a lot more about that process. What exactly did you do? And how do you know the Agent is anyone in particular? That you won’t somehow <em>become</em> the Agent simply by being the one to kill Rose?” </p><p> </p><p>“You must trust that we know,” said Orchid. “Making this determination was so difficult that it was almost beyond the Council. It took immense resources and the wisdom of our greatest minds, and no one is sure we could repeat the process. But the result was certain. This is our one chance.”</p><p> </p><p>Savina felt sure that Orchid believed what she said—which was more upsetting than the alternative. A lying Alirrian she could cope with. An Alirrian bent on this killing, however… plus the terrifying implications behind her reasoning…</p><p></p><p>“You’re saying,” said Mena, voicing Savina’s next thought out loud, “that this Agent of Destruction could be anyone. It could be one of us.”</p><p> </p><p>“It’s not one of us,” Kormick said. “We’d have done it already. We’ve had a ridiculous number of opportunities over the last few months.”</p><p> </p><p>“There have in fact been five hundred and seventy-six such opportunities merely during the events I have Witnessed,” Nyoko piped up.</p><p> </p><p>“We cannot know who it is. We only know it is <em>not</em> me. The Council went to great lengths to confirm that--to ensure that there was one person who could safely do what must be done,” said Orchid.</p><p> </p><p>“And what’s this ‘unmaking’ you talked about?” asked Kormick.</p><p> </p><p>“It is, as I said, the unmaking of all that has been made. An evil great enough that we must commit this lesser evil to prevent it.”</p><p> </p><p>“All right, let’s say we believe you,” said Mena. Orchid’s sincerity was too hard to keep doubting. “Maybe you’ve failed to find the Agent, but we haven’t even begun to try.”</p><p> </p><p>“With so much at stake? We dare not take the risk of letting you try.”</p><p> </p><p>“Now wait just a minute,” said Kormick. “I’m new to all this … divine stuff … but your answer to the problem is too pat. Sure, you could kill Rose, but do you really think that the <em>goddess</em> Sedellus would let her plans be wrecked that easily? She is a <em>goddess</em>. You can reroute a stream, yes? But you can’t make it disappear. You’ve spent sixteen years doing things people in robes do, and this is the best answer you’ve got? To reroute the stream? Meanwhile in just a few <em>months</em> we’ve found more leads than you ever did: we’ve got our prophecy, we’ve got this stuff about the Sheh killing baby girls, we’re on this. We may not be smarter than you, I’m not saying that, but obviously at least we’re luckier.”</p><p> </p><p>Savina felt like cheering, but Orchid merely raised an eyebrow and asked, “And you would trust to Sedellan <em>luck</em>?”</p><p> </p><p>“<em>Alirria</em> isn’t the goddess of killing,” Savina shot back.</p><p> </p><p>“You think we don’t know that? You think <em>I</em> don’t know?” Orchid shouted. Then she took a deep breath and, when she resumed speaking, her voice was calm once more, with only a slight tremble and that faint, pleading undertone, begging them not to make this harder than it already was. “The Ehktians don’t care about this problem--the Kettenites endlessly debate it among themselves, but take no actions--and the Sedellans… Pray you don’t encounter those the Sedellans have sent. They are without mercy, without compassion. They do not care who they hurt. I seek only one death.”</p><p> </p><p>Finally, for the first time, Tavi spoke. “We left the safety of our family’s estates to face Rose’s destiny,” he said. “We are agreed with you that merely waiting is folly. However, to sacrifice the light that is my sister without recognizing that she is innocent—”</p><p> </p><p>“How many ways can I say it?” Orchid interrupted. “The Council has debated these questions at length. No one is happy with the answer.”</p><p> </p><p>“But they all agreed?” Savina asked.</p><p> </p><p>“Enough did.”</p><p> </p><p>Savina knew enough about politics to imagine the impassioned arguments that Orchid’s simple statement concealed. “What was the position of the dissenters?” she pressed.</p><p> </p><p>But Orchid would not be drawn out. “You are not a policy maker, Daughter,” she said. “We won’t roll dice with the world.”</p><p> </p><p>“The Twilight Lurker won’t be defeated this simply,” said Mena.</p><p> </p><p>“In fact, have you considered that Sedellus may have manipulated the Council?” Kormick snapped his fingers. “Tell you what. This is very complicated. How about you go back home, and we’ll go back to the city, and we’ll all think and research and meet again in two weeks to talk it over? …No?”</p><p> </p><p>Orchid’s face said it all. No. And still that pleading, deep in her eyes.</p><p> </p><p>“I’m so sorry for you that this evil is your burden,” Savina told her, and she was sorry.</p><p> </p><p>Orchid finally looked directly at Rose. “My dear, I regret this deeply, tremendously,” she said. “But for the good of all who live, please, will you surrender yourself?”</p><p> </p><p>As one, the party drew in and became a wall around Rose as Savina’s seedling pity for Orchid was swamped by a flood of anger. “Don’t you <em>dare</em>,” she heard herself saying, in a voice that shook with rage rather than fear. “Don’t you dare make this polite and cover it in pretty words and justifications. I trust Rose with my life. This. Is. Evil. Say that!”</p><p> </p><p>“Step aside,” Orchid said. “You’re so very young. The Council has far more experience fighting Sedellus than any of you or the organizations you represent.”</p><p> </p><p>“Wait a second,” said Kormick, and his warhammer was already in his hand. “I think… this is new for me, but I think, as a member of the Justicars, I’m actually offended by that.”</p><p></p><p>“I’m <em>definitely</em> offended,” said Mena. Her armor whispered: <em>offended…</em></p><p> </p><p>“While I’m sure due care was taken, your Council are <em>not</em> Adepts,” added Nyoko. Her hand lay casually on the shoulder strap of her quiver, but Savina knew how fast that hand could move.</p><p> </p><p>“Nonetheless,” said Orchid, “you have heard their judgment. Will you surrender, Roseanna di Raprezzi?”</p><p> </p><p>Tavi caught his sister’s eye for one long moment. She made no sign, merely looked back at him, ghost-pale. Tavi turned to Orchid, and when he spoke, every word was soft, slow, and considered. “I assure you, Rose will not be surrendered in this moment.”</p><p> </p><p><em>…in <strong>this</strong> moment</em>, Savina had time to think. <em>Someday, will another moment be different?</em></p><p> </p><p>“I am sorry,” said Orchid. <em>I am sorry,</em> said her sad, pleading eyes.</p><p> </p><p>And the ground around them erupted.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilex, post: 6165044, member: 82687"] [b]34x02[/b] Silence. With Orchid’s mission stated baldly, none of them seemed quite able to find breath. “If the girl is killed by the wrong hand, it is the unmaking of all that has been made,” added Orchid. There was pleading buried beneath the calm resolution in her voice; Savina heard it and knew that the woman longed for them to understand and accept. Kormick had no interest in acceptance. “What’s your source for this?” he demanded. “Because [I]we[/I] have a prophecy from an [I]actual Alirrian angel[/I] that offers a little more hope than what you’re peddling.” “You have [I]an[/I] angel,” Orchid replied. “We have communed with [I]many[/I] since the child’s birth. They’ve revealed that Rose is perfectly safe unless her death is brought about by a being they call the Agent of Destruction. We cannot identify who the Agent might be, so we have determined that we must kill the child instead. We cannot risk the alternative.” “How do we know you’re not the Agent?” Savina asked, beating the rest of them to the obvious question and earning a thumbs-up from Kormick. It was Orchid’s turn to sigh. “We spent a great deal of time and effort communicating with the divine, making sure that it wasn’t me. It was exhausting—and conclusive. But that is [I]all[/I] we know. No one but me is safe.” Twiggy spoke up: “I’d like to know a lot more about that process. What exactly did you do? And how do you know the Agent is anyone in particular? That you won’t somehow [I]become[/I] the Agent simply by being the one to kill Rose?” “You must trust that we know,” said Orchid. “Making this determination was so difficult that it was almost beyond the Council. It took immense resources and the wisdom of our greatest minds, and no one is sure we could repeat the process. But the result was certain. This is our one chance.” Savina felt sure that Orchid believed what she said—which was more upsetting than the alternative. A lying Alirrian she could cope with. An Alirrian bent on this killing, however… plus the terrifying implications behind her reasoning… “You’re saying,” said Mena, voicing Savina’s next thought out loud, “that this Agent of Destruction could be anyone. It could be one of us.” “It’s not one of us,” Kormick said. “We’d have done it already. We’ve had a ridiculous number of opportunities over the last few months.” “There have in fact been five hundred and seventy-six such opportunities merely during the events I have Witnessed,” Nyoko piped up. “We cannot know who it is. We only know it is [I]not[/I] me. The Council went to great lengths to confirm that--to ensure that there was one person who could safely do what must be done,” said Orchid. “And what’s this ‘unmaking’ you talked about?” asked Kormick. “It is, as I said, the unmaking of all that has been made. An evil great enough that we must commit this lesser evil to prevent it.” “All right, let’s say we believe you,” said Mena. Orchid’s sincerity was too hard to keep doubting. “Maybe you’ve failed to find the Agent, but we haven’t even begun to try.” “With so much at stake? We dare not take the risk of letting you try.” “Now wait just a minute,” said Kormick. “I’m new to all this … divine stuff … but your answer to the problem is too pat. Sure, you could kill Rose, but do you really think that the [I]goddess[/I] Sedellus would let her plans be wrecked that easily? She is a [I]goddess[/I]. You can reroute a stream, yes? But you can’t make it disappear. You’ve spent sixteen years doing things people in robes do, and this is the best answer you’ve got? To reroute the stream? Meanwhile in just a few [I]months[/I] we’ve found more leads than you ever did: we’ve got our prophecy, we’ve got this stuff about the Sheh killing baby girls, we’re on this. We may not be smarter than you, I’m not saying that, but obviously at least we’re luckier.” Savina felt like cheering, but Orchid merely raised an eyebrow and asked, “And you would trust to Sedellan [I]luck[/I]?” “[I]Alirria[/I] isn’t the goddess of killing,” Savina shot back. “You think we don’t know that? You think [I]I[/I] don’t know?” Orchid shouted. Then she took a deep breath and, when she resumed speaking, her voice was calm once more, with only a slight tremble and that faint, pleading undertone, begging them not to make this harder than it already was. “The Ehktians don’t care about this problem--the Kettenites endlessly debate it among themselves, but take no actions--and the Sedellans… Pray you don’t encounter those the Sedellans have sent. They are without mercy, without compassion. They do not care who they hurt. I seek only one death.” Finally, for the first time, Tavi spoke. “We left the safety of our family’s estates to face Rose’s destiny,” he said. “We are agreed with you that merely waiting is folly. However, to sacrifice the light that is my sister without recognizing that she is innocent—” “How many ways can I say it?” Orchid interrupted. “The Council has debated these questions at length. No one is happy with the answer.” “But they all agreed?” Savina asked. “Enough did.” Savina knew enough about politics to imagine the impassioned arguments that Orchid’s simple statement concealed. “What was the position of the dissenters?” she pressed. But Orchid would not be drawn out. “You are not a policy maker, Daughter,” she said. “We won’t roll dice with the world.” “The Twilight Lurker won’t be defeated this simply,” said Mena. “In fact, have you considered that Sedellus may have manipulated the Council?” Kormick snapped his fingers. “Tell you what. This is very complicated. How about you go back home, and we’ll go back to the city, and we’ll all think and research and meet again in two weeks to talk it over? …No?” Orchid’s face said it all. No. And still that pleading, deep in her eyes. “I’m so sorry for you that this evil is your burden,” Savina told her, and she was sorry. Orchid finally looked directly at Rose. “My dear, I regret this deeply, tremendously,” she said. “But for the good of all who live, please, will you surrender yourself?” As one, the party drew in and became a wall around Rose as Savina’s seedling pity for Orchid was swamped by a flood of anger. “Don’t you [I]dare[/I],” she heard herself saying, in a voice that shook with rage rather than fear. “Don’t you dare make this polite and cover it in pretty words and justifications. I trust Rose with my life. This. Is. Evil. Say that!” “Step aside,” Orchid said. “You’re so very young. The Council has far more experience fighting Sedellus than any of you or the organizations you represent.” “Wait a second,” said Kormick, and his warhammer was already in his hand. “I think… this is new for me, but I think, as a member of the Justicars, I’m actually offended by that.” “I’m [I]definitely[/I] offended,” said Mena. Her armor whispered: [I]offended…[/I] “While I’m sure due care was taken, your Council are [I]not[/I] Adepts,” added Nyoko. Her hand lay casually on the shoulder strap of her quiver, but Savina knew how fast that hand could move. “Nonetheless,” said Orchid, “you have heard their judgment. Will you surrender, Roseanna di Raprezzi?” Tavi caught his sister’s eye for one long moment. She made no sign, merely looked back at him, ghost-pale. Tavi turned to Orchid, and when he spoke, every word was soft, slow, and considered. “I assure you, Rose will not be surrendered in this moment.” [I]…in [B]this[/B] moment[/I], Savina had time to think. [I]Someday, will another moment be different?[/I] “I am sorry,” said Orchid. [I]I am sorry,[/I] said her sad, pleading eyes. And the ground around them erupted. [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
Playing the Game
Story Hour
A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
Top