(Post 2) The 2nd IR
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 01, 2001 07:38 PM
The Chosen pronounce the NeoIllithid innocent of all crimes.
The Chosen ask if any of the other powers wish to dispute this verdict, and if so, to present their
case.
The NeoIllithid are treated well, and housed in pleasant conditions, while the Chosen wait to see if
any others will bring claims.
If nobody does, the NeoIllithid will be released, given leave to depart, or stay and observe as they
will.
- - -
The Chosen consider the argument of the Deep Illithid, and some amongst them actually smile (a
certain one from Waterdeep all but snarls.)
Then the Chosen turn to the OTHER powers, and ask them what THEY think of the Deep Illithid
argument? (refer to the Post immediately above this one.)
Then the Chosen break the Psionic Compulsions upon the two Thralls, and restore their minds to
perfectly normal condition and with all memories with their magic.
The Chosen then ask the two former Thralls to give their own testimony.
(The Chosen are powerful enough to actually do that. Phasmus, feel free to speak for the two
former Thralls.)
[ December 01, 2001: Message edited by: Edena_of_Neith ]
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
Phasmus
Member
Member # 2639
posted December 01, 2001 08:30 PM
The ex-thralls speak... but their voices are slow and halting. The shock of having their minds
returned will take some time to wear off.
It seems the Illithid are true to their word... In that no race has been exterminated by their
activities. But the societies of the underdark races have been utterly obliterated. The MindFlayers
had nothing but contempt and disgust for their thrall-races' "pitiful attempts at culture"... and none
of it was spared. From the forges of the Deep-Gnomes to the Drow's spider-temples... all telltale
signs of life before the rise of the Illithid have been wiped away.
The lot of the thrall is to serve its master, until it dies... either naturally or as a meal... or in far
worse ways. There is little pain in the life of a thrall... as punishment is rarely necessary against
individuals incapable of disobedience. When a master asks its thrall to do something, the thrall
does its best to serve. It has no choice.
Living conditions vary according to the purpose of the individual Thrall, but they are rarely above
what livestock could expect.
The Illithid also speak the truth when they tell of the 'peace and harmony' that their rule would
bring. The old racial hatreds are gone. For example, drow simply see the deep-gomes as
different-looking thralls, and vice versa. Any attempt to resist the rule of the Illithid, or to act
against them or another thrall (outside of "sporting events") is met with reconditioning... or simply
being eaten if reconditioning seems like too much trouble.
It is not like living a life... Only the mind-numbing effect of the Illithid's mental domination makes
existence bearable.
The ex-thralls have no doubt that the Illithid would like nothing more than to bring their rule to all
sentient creatures of Toril... and eventually the multiverse. But that much is already known.
They plead for the destruction of the Illithid... irregardless of the lives of the thralls. Death for them
would be a much-savored release, they say.
They say that the Illithid are not bluffing about using their weapon... and that they were instructed to
mention another bargaining chip if things turned grim... A psionic enchantment that would not block
the light of the sun, but would allow the solar-wind to reach the surface of Toril... They do not know
what the effect of such a change would be, and they don't care. They claim that the death of every
creature in realm-space is preferable to the *risk* of living under the yoke of the Illithid.
As for the three Neoillithid, something very rarely seen in their race is occurring. They seem to be
having an argument. When questioned they indicate that it is a private matter. They very definitely
intend to stay for the length of the trial.
Posts: 74 | From: Oregon | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
Victim
Member
Member # 9
posted December 01, 2001 09:05 PM
Deliberate and unprovoked sabotage of the Technomancy that was the reason the 7 Year War
started.
---------------------------------
You Chosen and your Harper friends do the same thing all the time; and about as ineptly.
Also, your refusal to intervene before this point allowed the war to reach such destructive heights.
You failure to prevent abuse of High Magic and the return Karsus's fool spell constitutes serious
neglect of your duties to Mystra, the weave, and the people of Toril.
You should be accountable for your conspicious LACK of action for 7 years.
I hope you're proud of yourselves, especially those of you who considered themselves friends of the
elves.
--------------------
Got vorpal?
Posts: 919 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged
Riot Gear
Member
Member # 202
posted December 01, 2001 09:11 PM
Hey Phasmus, can I be the delegate from New Umbra, the artificial Illithid plane?
--------------------
-------
I love maces, I really do. That crunch noise is just SO satisfying, and the flying shards of bloody
bone - Well, that's just icing on the cake.
Posts: 1574 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged
Phasmus
Member
Member # 2639
posted December 01, 2001 09:27 PM
Yes, that is fine with me, Riot Gear.
It is possible that they are, in fact, the Deep-Illithid, though...
If so, you may take over for the Deep Illithid as well, from here on in... if you wish.
-Phasmus
Posts: 74 | From: Oregon | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged
Rhialto the
Marvellous
Member
Member # 4171
posted December 01, 2001 09:36 PM
In a sudden swirl of rainbow colors, a human shape forms in the courtroom. It quickly becomes a rather
lanky man, dressed rather eccentrically. He coughs, then begins to speak.
Well, I seem to have arrived just in time to witness what will certainly be the trial of the
Cross-Universal Eon. So please continue as you were before, and make no effort to dislodge me
from my vow of utter impartiality. I am here merely to witness in my function as a wizard of the
Monstrament. Nothing more.
With that he takes a seat and immediately begins to rest his feet on the back of the chair before him.
--------------------
Rhialto relaxed, smiling at his own odd fancies, and poured out a final cup of tea...He let it cool
untasted. On impulse he rose to his feet and went into the parlour, where he donned a cloak, a
hunter's cap, and took up that baton known as 'Malfezar's Woe.' He then summoned Ladanque, his
chamberlain and general factotum.
"Ladanque, I will be strolling around in the forest for a period. Take care that Vat Five retains its roil.
If you wish, you may distill the contents of the large blue alembic into a stoppered flask. Use a low
heat and avoid breathing the vapor; it will bring a purulent rash to your face."
"Very well, sir. What of the clevenger?"
"Pay it no heed. Do not approach the cage. Remember, its talk of both virgins and wealth is illusory;
I doubt if it knows the meaning of either term."
"Just so, sir."
Rhialto departed the manse.
"The Murthe", Rhialto the Marvellous, by Jack Vance
Posts: 122 | Registered: Apr 2001 | IP: Logged
Riot Gear
Member
Member # 202
posted December 01, 2001 09:41 PM
Actually, now that I think about it, unless the Chosen use magic to open a gate between New Umbra
and Toril using powerful magic, the power of the Psionics League prevents us from ever coming
back... So that's in Edena's hands.
--------------------
-------
I love maces, I really do. That crunch noise is just SO satisfying, and the flying shards of bloody
bone - Well, that's just icing on the cake.
Posts: 1574 | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 01, 2001 10:27 PM
The Chosen listen solemnly and carefully through the testimony of the Illithid Thralls.
After freeing the Thralls, the Chosen listen even more carefully to their new testimony.
The Chosen then listen as Victim advocates the Technomancy's cause by going on the attack
against the Chosen themselves.
The Chosen take a large number of notes, then sit back and consider the matter telepathically.
The decision is made to not make any hasty decisions here.
The decision is made to hear out everything that each side would say, before decisions are made.
- - -
Rhialto the Marvelous is given a seat at the Court, and is asked to interject comments as he sees
fit.
- - -
The Chosen do not need to open a Gate to New Umbra.
It has been long enough - 40 years - since the 7 Year War and the sacrifice of the Psionic League,
that the Deep Illithid can now link up with New Umbra themselves.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Several of the Chosen comment upon Victim's speech (see the thread several posts above), and
they say:
The Deep Illithid have argued that, were they in control of yourself, your Technomancy, and all the
people of the surface ...
You would not have been able to wage the War that devastated our world.
There would have been a Deep Illithid imposed peace.
We do not dispute this.
We concur that there would have been peace; the Deep Illithid statement is a truism.
The Chosen of Mystra, us, believe in the self-determination, of all conscious beings.
We choose to allow you your freedom.
Freedom to grow as you would, learn as you will, and use that learning as it pleases you.
Especially when it comes to all things magical, we have encouraged you to grow and learn.
So, which would you rather have?
The peace of the Deep Illithid?
Or the freedom the Chosen of Mystra allow?
Unfortunately, YOU have chosen to abuse the freedom we permitted you.
You chose to use your knowledge to commit mass destruction, to kill vast numbers of people, and
to surpress and enslave others.
Freedom entails responsibility
Only slaves are free of responsibility.
You are not a slave.
You are a freeman, and you are thus responsible for your actions.
Responsibility means just that, and if you fail in your responsibilities you are answerable for it.
In so misusing your freedom - in abusing your learning and knowledge - you have committed a
crime, and you must answer to us for that crime.
If you cannot answer satisfactorily to us, you will be required to pay a price for your failure to live up
to the responsibility of freedom.
[ December 01, 2001: Message edited by: Edena_of_Neith ]
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 01, 2001 10:36 PM
The Chosen give the 2 freed Thralls safe quarters, but they are called to testify against the Deep
Illithid.
(That is, Phansmus, you get to speak for the freed thralls and NeoIllithid.)
Then they send a demand that an ACTUAL Deep Illithid now appear in their place, and restate the
case of the Deep Illithid before the Court.
(Riot Gear, speak for the Deep Illithid.)
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
uv23
Member
Member # 8404
posted December 01, 2001 10:59 PM
For the second time, what are you guys talking about??? In the other IR thread I asked what all this
business was about and no one bothered to answer. Was this some online campaign? If so, why are
these postings in the general message board?
--------------------
You put Basil in the ratatouille??
Posts: 90 | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged
Forrester
Member
Member # 2760
posted December 01, 2001 11:10 PM
I have been called here to answer for the actions of my people by you, the Chosen, but I do not
come here because you demand it, for I do not recognize your authority. Nor, for that matter, does
anyone else present. But because our actions led to the near-extinction of a race . . . a race most
foul, but a race nevertheless . . . I come. I come, to celebrate the events of the Seven Years War
(or the War of Liberation, as my people call it), and to meet old friends and talk about why we did
what we did, so that our voices may be heard and our stories recorded for posterity.
You arrogantly insist that you are the Caretakers of Toril, yet in your Care, the elves stole all magic
from the Realms for a full month. Why did you not stop it? You insist you are the Caretakers, and
yet you let the elves attempt to destroy the whole of Toril with their suicidal spells. Perhaps if you
are looking for someone to blame for Toril?s current state, you should look in the mirror.
On the other hand, if you are looking for someone to PRAISE for Toril?s current state, you should
look to the Humanoids. More technological and psionic advances have been made in the last forty
years than had been made in the previous millennia. All inhabitants of Toril who have embraced
these advances live longer, happier, more fulfilling lives. While there have been some skirmishes
here and there, especially in Realmspace, on Toril itself there has been an unprecedented Peace.
For all of these things, you can credit the Humanoids.
For without us, the Technomancy would have fallen to a group of selfish, egotistical, power-hungry
elves who would not embrace change, but sought to destroy it. There cannot be any doubt that but
for us, the elves would have killed them all.
Without us, the elves would have continued to work their Magics to end all technology, and crush us,
the Humanoids, back into the earth from which we came.
Without us, Toril would be in the sad, pathetic state that Oerth currently is, where my people live off
of grubs and roots, where they must rely on combat and plunder to have any chance of improving
their condition.
For all their myth and legend, the elves were a blight on this land. Nothing could change, nothing
could improve without their blessing. And their blessing was not in coming . . . for an elf?s opinion
does not change in a hundred or a thousand years. Toril was their birdcage, and we were their birds.
They discovered too late that their birds had grown teeth.
Let us face the facts; the elves were a dying race before we attacked them, for what cannot change,
surely dies. We simply sped up the process. We will not apologize for killing the elves, as they will
surely not apologize for the Month of Terror or their attempted destruction of all life on Toril.
Imagine if we had sought peace, and let them live? Imagine what they could have done in a
hundred years time, or a thousand! We SAVED Toril by destroying the elves. And everyone except
YOU knows it!
Now, to these ?charges? of yours ? as if a court of twenty lackeys of some god should have power
over tens of millions of good, sentient beings who have earned the right to think for themselves . . .
Charge: We exterminated the elves on Toril.
Defense: They deserved it. And this defense is not one of unthinking hate, or of some mindless
vendetta. No, they proved themselves unworthy of Toril when they ended all magic on it for a month.
Surely, you remember when they did THAT to you? They proved themselves unworthy when they
trampled on the rights of others to live their lives as they wish. They proved themselves unworthy
when they acted as though they were gods themselves. Such hubris is unforgivable.
The elves started this war. We ended it.
Charge: Consorting with Devils and Demons to achieve our ends.
Defense: We did not consort with Demons, nor did we make any deals with Demons. The devils were
very, very clear on this point: we were not to associate with forces demonic or risk breaking our deal
with them. Any demonic assistance we gained stemmed from the Demons? own hatred of the Elves.
We cannot be blamed for it.
We DID consort with Devils . . . but it was truly necessary to do so. The elves consorted with beings
of much magic and power, and without the devils? help, the elves would have been victorious. War
leads to strange bedfellows. So, a few devils have machine-guns . . . they use them mostly against
their demonic enemies. For this we are to apologize? We are sorry we had to make deals with Devils
to counter the elves? deals with Dragons and other mystic forces ? including the Chosen. You were on
the wrong side of the war; it is a bit late to get testy about it now.
Charge: We consorted with Iuz the Old to achieve our ends.
Defense: Iuz really didn?t do much for us or against the elves, now, did he? Oerth remains without
humanoid technologies, the elves of Oerth are (currently) fine and healthy, and the forces of Iuz
were hardly necessary to take Evermeet. Most of the work, we did ourselves, and with the help of our
other allies. Again, War makes strange bedfellows. As you should know . . . having allied yourselves
with the Elves after they ripped all of your power from you for a month.
Decide what you wish. But if you act against us, expect to meet the same fate that befell the LAST
group of magically-inclined whiners that insisted on imposing their misbegotten judgments on
others.
Forrester
Destroyer of Evermeet
Peacemaker
[ December 01, 2001: Message edited by: Forrester ]
Posts: 699 | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 01, 2001 11:13 PM
UV23, it's not difficult.
I asked what people would do IC if, theoretically, gnomes started the Industrial Revolution on Toril.
It was a What If kind of question.
I got a lot of answers, so I asked more What If questions, and commented on the likely results of
the answers I received.
The result of questions, answers, commentary on results, followed by more questions, led to a kind
of story being told out.
In this story, there was a War, which people refer to as the 7 Year War.
Now, I am continuing the What If scenario - and I asked permission and obtain it, first, from
Piratecat, before doing this.
This time, the What If involves the question of what do you do when the Chosen call you to heel for
your actions in the previous IR thread.
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
uv23
Member
Member # 8404
posted December 01, 2001 11:35 PM
Ok thanks for the clarification. Still think it should be in a different forums so all this kind of
in-character stuff is grouped together (its cool) but oh well. Down with the elves (and the paladins)
--------------------
You put Basil in the ratatouille??
Posts: 90 | Registered: Nov 2001 | IP: Logged
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summoned by the Chosen to face charges (Page 2)
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Topic: (IR) All involved in the Gnomish IR: You are summoned by the Chosen to face charges
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 01, 2001 11:36 PM
The Chosen listen to Forrester's argument in silence.
And there is a long silence afterwards, in which nobody speaks and the hush in the Court is deafening.
- - -
One of the Chosen rises, and he addresses the Humanoid emissary (Forrester):
We concede the destructive abuses of the elves.
Indeed, the elves are also being charged, just as you are, and if they cannot give answer to us, they
will pay even further for their actions.
However, you cannot justify your atrocities by pointing out the atrocities of others.
The behavior of others is their responsibility.
Your behavior is your responsibility.
It is quite true the elven leadership attempted the destruction of the Technomancy, and the
supression of your people.
However, did the elven children do this thing?
Yet, you slaughtered (and ate) elven children at Evereska, did you not?
The majority of the elven people did not act against you or the Technomancy.
The majority of the elven people attempted to mind their own business, conducting the day to day
affairs of staying alive.
Yet you choose to slaughter these elves, all of them, and feast off the corpses.
We concede that the some of the elves would have destroyed the Technomancy and oppressed the
humanoid races: the elves with the capacity to wage war would have done these things.
We do not argue that you had a right to defend against those elves who waged war on you, and we do
not argue against your right to have waged war on them in return.
How, though, do you answer us concerning the slaughter and devouring of those who had not raised
arms against you, or who could not raise arms against you, such as the children of the elves?
- - -
Another Chosen rises, and speaks, and he says:
You speak of a world of peace.
Have not the Deep Illithid just stated that the alteration of the Magnetosphere is a thought away?
To either blot light out from this world, or to allow the solar wind in to wither us where we stand?
How is this peace?
We do not perceive ... peace.
As we speak, the Weave slowly decays because the Faerie departed the world.
Exactly what has the Humanoid Alliance done to address this situation?
Have you attempted to return the Faerie?
Have you attempted to find another answer to the problem?
We concede that the humanoid races have evolved greatly, both in intelligence and in wisdom, in
creativity, and in magical and psionic abilities, not to mention your capacity to create civilization.
However, you face a situation here that could mean your extinction.
You say you have come here to celebrate.
Why don't you celebrate by talking to the Deep Illithid, hmmm?
Perhaps you might even talk them into agreeing not to exterminate your race - or if you are really
lucky, into treating you well as their thralls?
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
Edena_of_Neith
Member
Member # 1235
posted December 02, 2001 12:07 AM
Good arguments, guys.
Your emissaries have the Chosen on the defensive already.
By the way, the Chosen are rather curious as to what the NeoIllithid are arguing about ...
(And remember, the Chosen are NOT in the right here, although THEY believe they are.
I am presenting the arguments of the Chosen to the best of my ability.
If I fall short of the mark, then please remember that I am no lawyer!
This is all meant as non-serious fun, no matter how vehemently the Chosen denounce the emissaries
- or if they decide the time to vaporize a nation or two has come ...)
[ December 02, 2001: Message edited by: Edena_of_Neith ]
Posts: 1566 | From: Michigan, United States | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged
Blood Jester
Member
Member # 1651
posted December 02, 2001 12:14 AM
Sadly, no Elves of Toril live to defend themselves.
The Faerie left Toril under threat from other races, and in fear and horror of what those races had
done, they WILL NOT send one of their own to die on Toril. A - fiery- elder druid (one of those who left
with the Faerie) chooses to speak on both their and the Elves behalf. He fears nothing, he is close to
re-entering The Cycle so there is nothing to threaten him with, only Sylvanus could pull him from The
Cycle.
**************************************************
"As the Faerie are charge with naught, they offer no defense."
"As for the fallen Elves..."
"Your entire case against the Elves is based off of the one charge" *ahem*
Deliberate and unprovoked sabotage of the Technomancy that was the reason the 7 Year War started.
"You (conveniently?) overlook the very first report to come out of this conflict."
*ahem*
Elminster, the Chosen, and the Harpers try to stop the gnomes covertly. The gnomes take their
losses, then blow up Shadowdale. World War is then declared, with Amn, Tethyr, Calimshan, Thay,
Zhentil Keep, Mulmaster, Thesk, Mulhorand, and Chessenta on one side, and Waterdeep, the Lord's
Alliance, Westgate, Luruar and it's 8 cities, Rashemen, Aglarond, Cormyr, and the Harpers and
Chosen on the other side. Sembia is neutral, trading off of everyone, making huge money in the war
business.
This war wakes up and annoys the phaerimm, who had been sleeping under Anarouch. (There is a
saying with hornets: If you can see them, you're too close ... ) The phaerimm burst through the
ancient and collapsing sharn wall, and go to war against everyone.
The Sharn had been sleeping deep under the earth. The phaerimm were their ancient enemies. Now the
sharn come up to the surface and go to war against the phaerimm.
In the Hordelands, the fierce peoples there look west at the mess, and also at the riches for plunder.
They muster all their armies, and march west, and a new Tuigan invasion is begun.
Up in space, the Neogi look down, and the Mind Flayers, and the Goblins, and they see plunder, and
their fleets attack in force.
Only to be met by the Elven Imperial Navy, which battles them in spectacular combats across the
Torilian skies.
Finally, the tumult wakes up the Tarrasque.
"So, YOU are responsible for the start of this war!!! Yet you duck your responsibilities (as ever) and try to
blame others while profiteering in the worst way from the bloodshed. You seek POWER!"
"Certainly the destruction of the land caused by the Gnomes needed to be stopped. And had you acted
OPENLY, and spoken out against their abominations, you might have swayed the tide BEFORE the war ever
began. Even after you took action, you did not then stand with those whom you had thrown into turmoil, but
instead sat back waiting for the opportunity to sit atop your throne of skulls!"
"You accuse the Elves of awakening the Tarrasque. The above report shows that this occurred long before they
allegedly did so."
"The Elven actions were a race's desperate attempts to survive a horrific onslaught by surprise enemies. An
attempt by a race that had already given up so much to the younger races in terms of land, life, and
freedom."
"Several members of the Druidic order, the Magocracy, and the Elven Council tried to reason with the Techs,
we were met with responses such as:" *ahem*
The gnomes refer you to their Complaints Department.
Case 55.
Section B, Article 235.
You must go before an Arbitrator, and state your case.
If the Arbitrator allows, this can be taken to Court.
If you win your case in Court, the gnomes will consider your case before the Tethyr Circuit Court.
If that Court is favorable, your case will be considered by the Tethyr supreme court.
If the Tethyr supreme court agrees your case is reasonable, the High Court will take it up.
If the High Court agrees your case is reasonable, the Gnomish Bureaucracy will take up your issue,
and - the gnomes proclaim - you will receive a reasonable judgment.
The whole process shouldn't take more than 10 years.
"The Land had not TEN YEARS to wait!!!"
"You accuse others of attack, but ignore that ALL of it was SELF-DEFENSE against the destruction and
DEATH being unleashed upon the surface of Toril by the uncaring Gnomish Technocrats!!!"
"I place the BLAME for starting this tragedy squarely at their feet. And secondary responsibility goes to
those who took the FIRST major action against them...YOU!"
*he glares defiantly, and then, with slow dignity, turns and walks from the chamber*
Blood Jester
--------------------
Laugh 'til you die.
Posts: 402 | From: Fairfield, CT, USA | Registered: Jan 2001 | IP: Logged