Ashy's Oathbound Campaign II, IC


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The thought of any man being made anothers slave to work for building anothers wealth bristles the very heart of Julian....the need to do something quakes in his bones...but he knows that he must wait until more information is given before any hope of freedom can be gained for his newfound compatriats
 

Ashy said:
The asherake nods, and he seems spent. "Zlavez, mozt likely, alwayz the minez need zee zlavez."

"Mining has a high mortality rate I take it. Would they be kept together and sent to the nearest mine? Where would that be?"
 

The asherake lifts his head, "Zhey live in zee minez in which zhey work. Zee minez are beneath zee Faztnezz itzelf - you cannot zave zhem..."
 


Ashy said:
The asherake lifts his head, "Zhey live in zee minez in which zhey work. Zee minez are beneath zee Faztnezz itzelf - you cannot zave zhem..."

"That is the nearest mine? How long would it take them to be brought there?"
 

The questioning continues on until the wee hours of the morning. At some point, Xerxes returns and he can immediately tell that his aversion, or something that has resulted mentally from it, has nearly destroyed this creature's will. After probing this a bit more, the xeph soon finds that the asherake would literally rather die than give up the secrets that he is telling. Something planted deep within his mind, and rooted in his soul lets the asherake know that is life is essentially forfeit at this point. Further, his self-defining warrior's aspect has lead him down the emotional and mental path of failure to his lord and master, and so the creature has nothing left to live for.

This is reflected in its answers and in its demeanor - the creature has bascially given up and is now answering only because of its extreme fear of Baja (another aspect which creates a mental fift in the creature; it has no doubt faced larger and more fierce creatures in the past, and yet it is scared beyond all reason of this pale orc-man. Nevertheless, between the answers that it gives, as well as some intelligence that P.C. is able to offer up that he has learned in the service of Ossian, you learn the following:

  • The Grand Asherake's citadel/base (known as a holding in the parlance of Arena) is known as the Fastness
  • The Fastness is located about four hour's flight from your current location
  • The asherake's mission was to a. verify the Spire was being used as a base of operations for raids on the Grand Asherake's convoys and shipping lanes; b. destroy the means by which these raids were being performed (i.e. the gaunt gliders); and c. kill or capture (preferably) those responsible; the gaunt gliders' frames were destroyed during the attack, FYI...
  • Isror and the others were captured earlier, on one of their strike missions upon the Grand Asherake's supply lines. It was, in fact, that attack, which solidified the target location (the Spire had long been thought a target)
  • The wand-wielding ashrakes name is Kraxx Cloudripper
  • The Fastness is nearly impentrable; it is housed within a massive pit mine and is guarded by guards, walls, magic and more. Further, all of the slaves are located in one of the side mines off the main shaft. The Grand Asherake's fortresst, itself, is located deep within the main mine itself and its exterior is decorated with the bodies (some eternally animated) of those e has defeted in battle.
  • However, some of the mines extend deep under the sands and are rumored to connect to Gloomskein
  • If the prisoners are still alive (the asherake doubts that the male war valo is still alive, as they make wonderful pit slaves for the arena); the female war valo would have ben taken to the mines (or the harems) but the bug would have been fitted with a seeker's harness - a device that forces the wearer to use its natural abilities to see out veins of metal and gems for the warlord (to Xerxes, this sounds like some major mind control on...)
  • The Grand Asherake has a standing army upwards of 50,000; also the Fastness contains more than 55,000 additional folks.
  • No one will return to save the asherake; it is understood that asherakes will never allow themselves to be taken alive and if they are they are cowards that deserve death.
  • P.C. will go with you to save them, but only because he owes you his life, he really wants to complete his mission.

OOC: Let me know if you need any more info...Decisions? :)
 
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After listening to the Asherake this past hour and seeing the creature's ultimate demise of its self image, Xerxes approaches the defeated Asherake and says, "You know you will die because of the things you have told us today? So why? Why have you aided us so greatly?"

Without really waiting for the Asherake's reply, Xerxes continues, "Though you do not understand why, I believe that deep inside of you is a spark of goodness that has always known what you have served in the past is wrong. But your superior training and discipline as a warrior burried your feelings under duty. Honorable you are for serving your master unswervingly. But today I believe that you have found something. Surely you have not told us these things simply because you fear Baja? I say no!

"While Baja is a fierce warrior and a good friend, you, too, are just as fierce and equally as loyal. You did not tell us these things because you are weak. No, you told us these things because somewhere deep inside of you, you know this to be the right and honorable thing to do.

"I offer you my friendship, if you'll take it, and ask you to join us. You are a great warrior who can yet do great things with his life and die fighting for what is right and just and honorable as each of us hopes to. You need not die a spent and worthless death, but a glorious death in a battle for honor and justice! We face great and powerful foes here and we are no ordinary seeds, as your heart must tell you... for why else would you have risked all you are to aid us with your knowledge? Join us and be counted among our number as friends."


The Xeph stands silent, looking intently into the Asherake's eyes, unflinching and unwaivering.

((OOC: Diplomacy +6 if you need to make the roll... but my intent with the RP is to bolster the damaged ego of the Asherake and try to convince him that this is what he wanted all along. That his confessions of all the things he's told us are his own choice, a choice made at a subconscious level.))
 

Baja stares wide-eyed at the Xeph.....

Xerxes am gone crazy! Dumb Kitten-man not be our friend! Him help take our sheep men pals away and kill half man too!

Baja, a little less ready to forgive and forget than the Xeph, picks up the Asherak and hurls him into the nearest wall. Me Baja not so forgivin'. He rumbled, getting ready to tear the creature's head off with is bear hands.
 

Just as the asherake seems ready to speak to you, Xerxes, the creature is slammed into the wall by Baja. Already wounded and well past emotional and physical exhaustion, the creature passes out...

From behind you, the frey chuckles, as if the whole incident was slightly funny. "Good on ye, Baja", he says. He then yawns. "Time fer shut eye for the rest of us, suren..." He lays down and soon is asleep.
 

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