Forest of Doom - IC Thread

[AlphaSheWolf]

Kip steps away as his offered hand is passed by without any acknowledgement. He smirks, but shrugs and turns.

This one is your responsibility. Though I dare say her opinion of us may not be much more than that of one of the very hordes you are talking about. Did we, I mean you, not just slay her lawful, how much ever we may not agree with it, owner in cold blood? I will have nothing to do with care of her. You and...

He points toward Paaq, as well as he can, anyway

..him are responsible for her.

Before Kip has a chance to leave the hut, Keena says coldly, her back turned to him, "Wait until you family and friends are taken by slavers and your elders murdered by them before you judge me. Then and only then do you have the right to condemn my actions."

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

Jonath Cailan:

Jonath stands by the doorway, listening to the argument between Kip, Paaq, and Keena. In his heart, he leans more towards Keena's point of view, and yet ... Well, and yet Paaq had a point. Blood was not the only solution here, by any stretch of the imagination. Still, though, the poor woman is ... was? ... a slave, and there was little doubt of the man's intentions; and if she'd've chosen "No," given her druthers, well, then, we all know what that would mean, so, really, it was more a slightly pre-emptive form of frontier justice.

And yet, the group was perfectly willing to leave that pirate to his fate, rather than murder him in cold blood, and there was much and more blood on his hands; should I have said more, then? Should I have tried harder to get the man to condemn himself out of his own mouth? In failing to tell the rest of the group more about him, did I commit a greater evil than Keena's brash arrow? Was I any better than she?

Shaking his head, Jonath returns his thoughts to the present. "Kip, Lirael and Eric left. They could not abide, as they saw it, cold-blooded murder - keeping a slave not enough, to their consciences, to warrant death. I can't say that they were wrong entire, but, well, here we are regardless. Will you help me with the body? We can give the man a burial, at least. That will give Keena and the girl some time to cool, and I would think that removin' the man from the girl's sight can't but help. Also, it's gettin' on t'wards evenin' - the sun'll be settin' soon, and a real roof beats a roof o' trees, in my mind."

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

Before Kip has a chance to leave the hut, Keena says coldly, her back turned to him, "Wait until you family and friends are taken by slavers and your elders murdered by them before you judge me. Then and only then do you have the right to condemn my actions."

Kip freezes at the voice. He stands stiffly

It is not I who have judged. It is not I who has killed in cold blood. You should be careful whom you judge without knowledge, Keena. I know far more of the loss of those close to you and the coldness of murder than you might suspect.

He emerges and does as stated above until Jonath approaches with answer to his questions.

I cannot say that I blame them. Yet what is done is done. I just will not be responsible for keeping that woman out of trouble, clothed, fed and babysat if she has not received the proper education to survive. Nor will I protect her from the predators of this area. They have chosen to...remove...her, by law, legal guardian, let them deal with the consequences. As for the body...

He turns and looks at the corpse hanging from the window.

Perhaps it is better late than never that I can at least put one soul to rest. But I will not sleep under that roof. I will sleep outside and act as early warning should someone approach. I saw a clear spot in some shade over there...

He points to a spot.

Shouldn't be too many roots and rocks to prevent digging a proper spot for him.

Kip approaches the body to assist Jonath, fighting back a visible shiver. Once the man's body is clear of the window, he will take the feet and assist Jonath in carrying and will assist him as he can in burial. Aside from that he will keep careful distance from the house, though in time he might rest his back against it when tired.

 

[Cor Azer]

Paaq slumps into the crook of a tree, just within earshot of the rest of the group, although he barely registers the conversation. She's right, of course... he thinks. How can I judge her? Mom and Dad still tend the bakery, and Nan visits every day to play with Dotti... He shudders at the thought of his little sister bearing witness to anything as horrid as Keena's memories.

He looks down to his sword, and sees a spot of blood not yet cleaned. He hesitates.

She didn't even kill him... I did. Hells below, I did it...

He looks up from his sword at Keena comforting the freed slavegirl. And so one fantasy dies...

He sighs, and wipes the blood from his sword. As he sheaths it, he notices two wild flowers fighting for sunlight on the forest floor. A wistful, innocent smile flashes briefly.

Paaq approaches Keena and the girl slowly and non-threateningly. "Hi, I'm Paaq." He crouches a comfort distance away so as not to crowd her. "Keena, I will apologize to you later, but for now, is there anything I can do to help either of you?"

I will be a better man from now on. I must.

 

[S'mon]

Kip is, for a time, oblivious to what transpires outside, instead trying to ease the poor woman's fears as best as he can while trying to deal with his own trepidation. He will look at her ankles, wrists and neck, looking for chains, cuffs or other restraints. If any exist he will seek a key, probably on the man's person. If not he will extend his hand slowly toward her, palm up and hand open

It is best if we distance ourselves from this place. you can come with us if you want. You're free now.

GM: Her only bond is the leather collar, you don't see a key.

The woman looks at Kip. She seems to take a long time to take it in.

"I'm Chera... Free? Can you escort me back to Anvil? My home?"

 

[S'mon]

Keena's eyes fluttered open. Slowly she sits up, testing her arms, legs and then stands brushing dirt and leaves off of her. Without a word, she picks up her dropped bow and heads into the hut.

Smiling at the slavegirl, she sits crosslegged in front of her.

"You are free now," Keena says. "I understand your situation. No man or woman should deny another their freedom. My mother's tribe was all but wiped out by slavers and I have no love for their ilk. I pledge my sword and bow to protect you until you can be returned to your people."

The woman nods, looking happy at Keena's words. She looks about 30.

"I'm Chera... I was seized from our farm near Anvil by raiders - Plains Barbarians - it must be five years ago now. They sold me to the dwarves. I had a husband, a son... He must be all grown up now!"

She looks thoughtful.

"If he still lives... I must return there."

 

[S'mon]

OOC: You play the alignment well. I can only assume you play them all equally well.

OOC: She does a good LG, CG, CN and CE from what I've seen. Not sure about LN & LE.

 

[S'mon]

He shrugs and wanders a few steps from the cabin, looking the forest over, more keeping himself busy than anything else, picking out a place here or a place there where the forest is just close enough to the small clearing to give him good cover, perhaps looking for a small storage shed of some sort, or a small barn or stable.

GM: There's the open woodshed I mentioned, and a chicken coop.

 

[S'mon]

Before Kip has a chance to leave the hut, Keena says coldly, her back turned to him, "Wait until you family and friends are taken by slavers and your elders murdered by them before you judge me. Then and only then do you have the right to condemn my actions."

GM OOC: This isn't mentioned in Keena's background, the entirety of which is:

--Background: Keena was born in the Darkwood to a Human Ranger (cousin to Lirael on her mother's side) and an Elvin Druid. Her father was the youngest and knew any chance of achieving power in the family was slim to none, so risking disinheritance, he took off to find his own way. It wasn't long before he fell in love with the wilderness and Keena's mother. Keena followed her father's footsteps as a Ranger.

That doesn't tally with what she's telling the other PCs. Of course you're entitled to lie but we'd need to know for Bluff checks.

 

[Patryn of Elvenshae]

OOC: I suspect that it's more extemporaneous additions to backstory, rather than in-character lying.