Kelleris
Explorer
"Thank you for your aid, servant of Devom.
I trust that those who know more will tell all.
Now we must go and seek other wise ones.
Their stories told, we are vengeance's hand."
{Blank verse. But I can't tell what syllables are stressed and unstressed for the life of me, so it probably isn't, really.}
Arion turns to the others. "I will seek my own sources, and I suggest you do likewise. It would not do for such a motley gang of overtrained adventurers to be rooting around the planes. Whatever sources you have, tap them, and we shall meet back here in as timely a manner as possible. I trust that Fairweather's divinatory skills are sufficient to keep tabs on us as long as we allow her to do so." {Read: no mind blanks or similar effects, or we'll never find you.} After speaking, Arion concentrates for a moment and a twisting spiral of shadowstuff uncoils from his feet. "I am bound for Sigil, crossroads of the planes. Do try to keep a low profile."
*Arion uses the shadow walk effect of shadow mastery, or just casts the spell.*
Before he leaves, he waits for responses briefly, though he's likely going to head out regardless, and then turns to Taos Ress:
"A gift, friend of the Good, and a promise,
that our conduct will honor this, our quest,
and a warning to those steeped in power:"
Arion glances at the party as he recites the poem, indicating that he means to include them in his advice as well as the gods. He speaks in a ringing voice that can be heard even by Fairweather and Su'ryuu {who may or may not be close, I'm not sure}. *Arion fascinates the hollyphant until the end of the poem; he finds it adds to the effect it has on people when they really, really pay attention to it. He tends to use the ability without really realizing it, as he is now.*
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; (1)
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, (2)
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; (3)
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, (4)
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the World and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Hero, Mighty One! (5)
The following actions and telepathic communications occur at the specified points during the poem:
(1) - To Taos Ress: Only a matter of time, I fear, but keep the faith. Your master's name will echo in time because of it. True heroism comes from the most unlikely of places. Projecting a mental image of Rahveon {Arion has his doubts}, Su'ryuu {evil with a capital EVIL}, and Pilmer, Arion continues: Devom only knows how they will act; but he watches us too.
(2) - To Fairweather if she's close enough: Be strong. We act for the memory of all you have loved and still do love. *inspire courage +4 on Fairweather, not maintained. Just enough to be striking moment of hope.*
(3) - To the party: This means YOU!
(4) - To Arion: Seek the murderous one. He will reveal us before sufficient knowledge has been gained, with his foolish beliefs about the gods.
(5) - *Inspire courage on everyone present, maintained until Arion leaves.*
*Perform (oratory): 51.*
{OOC: This is a slightly-modified version of Rudyard Kipling's "If", with telepathic interpolations and a very skillful recital.}
I trust that those who know more will tell all.
Now we must go and seek other wise ones.
Their stories told, we are vengeance's hand."
{Blank verse. But I can't tell what syllables are stressed and unstressed for the life of me, so it probably isn't, really.}
Arion turns to the others. "I will seek my own sources, and I suggest you do likewise. It would not do for such a motley gang of overtrained adventurers to be rooting around the planes. Whatever sources you have, tap them, and we shall meet back here in as timely a manner as possible. I trust that Fairweather's divinatory skills are sufficient to keep tabs on us as long as we allow her to do so." {Read: no mind blanks or similar effects, or we'll never find you.} After speaking, Arion concentrates for a moment and a twisting spiral of shadowstuff uncoils from his feet. "I am bound for Sigil, crossroads of the planes. Do try to keep a low profile."
*Arion uses the shadow walk effect of shadow mastery, or just casts the spell.*
Before he leaves, he waits for responses briefly, though he's likely going to head out regardless, and then turns to Taos Ress:
"A gift, friend of the Good, and a promise,
that our conduct will honor this, our quest,
and a warning to those steeped in power:"
Arion glances at the party as he recites the poem, indicating that he means to include them in his advice as well as the gods. He speaks in a ringing voice that can be heard even by Fairweather and Su'ryuu {who may or may not be close, I'm not sure}. *Arion fascinates the hollyphant until the end of the poem; he finds it adds to the effect it has on people when they really, really pay attention to it. He tends to use the ability without really realizing it, as he is now.*
"If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; (1)
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, (2)
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise; (3)
If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, (4)
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the World and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Hero, Mighty One! (5)
The following actions and telepathic communications occur at the specified points during the poem:
(1) - To Taos Ress: Only a matter of time, I fear, but keep the faith. Your master's name will echo in time because of it. True heroism comes from the most unlikely of places. Projecting a mental image of Rahveon {Arion has his doubts}, Su'ryuu {evil with a capital EVIL}, and Pilmer, Arion continues: Devom only knows how they will act; but he watches us too.
(2) - To Fairweather if she's close enough: Be strong. We act for the memory of all you have loved and still do love. *inspire courage +4 on Fairweather, not maintained. Just enough to be striking moment of hope.*
(3) - To the party: This means YOU!
(4) - To Arion: Seek the murderous one. He will reveal us before sufficient knowledge has been gained, with his foolish beliefs about the gods.
(5) - *Inspire courage on everyone present, maintained until Arion leaves.*
*Perform (oratory): 51.*
{OOC: This is a slightly-modified version of Rudyard Kipling's "If", with telepathic interpolations and a very skillful recital.}
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