Island Empire Part 2, Mermaid's Rest

[Erland]

Morwyn

The room is suddenly silent after the din of combat. Marienna's spear clatters to the floor as the tired healer stuggles over the ripped and bloody body of Finn Hunter. She takes out the elixer of life and holds it over him raising an eyebrow in question.

Sadly shaking my head, "Not yet. When we used the elixer on Abelard, we all agreed that the other use was reserved for Allois. We've received confirmation that he is still alive, or at least was recently and that they were feeding him, but the situation may have changed. Once we've rescued Allois, then we can use the elixer on Finn.

However, I know that our chances of a rescue would be much improved with Finn. So, if Radoon and Rook agree that we should use the elixer on Finn now, then go ahead."

I'm going to take one of the cure serious potions. (3d8+5=13). I'll offer the other to Rook; Radoon should be able to collect enough daggers from this area to be able to provide ranged support should we run into any other opposition.

 

[mleibrock]

Radoon

Radoon will slide from the pig's back and say, "Capt, can I speak to you a minute...in private?"

 

[Erland]

Morwyn

"Certainly."

 

[mleibrock]

Radoon

Move with the capt out of ear shot of the other characters.

"Capt, can I speak freely?"

 

[Erland]

Morwyn

"Of course."

 

[mleibrock]

Radoon

"What was the point of this fight? It did not serve us in any way other than to follow your lead and now Finn is dead. I think you should feel some sort of responsibility to bring him back. It would also go a long way toward making you seem compasionate to the crew. Either way it's your choice, I will follow your lead but, and I am not trying to threaten you, but another ill-advised fight like that and I will take my leave from your crew."

 

[Erland]

Morwyn

A long pause as I take a measuring look at Radoon...

"Now I understand why you didn't take the captaincy. You're a good sailor, better than I am, which we both know. But you lack the edge to be a great captain. I don't know if I have it, but at least I'm willing to take the necessary risks.

The point was to take the fight to the enemy. Up to now, we've been reacting, letting our foe pick the times and places for our battles. In those fights, we could have just as easily lost a man as we did in this one, without exacting any noticable price from our foe. I came within a hair's breadth of Davy Jones' Locker in the fight with the Shadows; it was just luck I survived, and just luck that Finn didn't survive this one. At least here we took down an enemy lieutenant. I, for one, will be glad we aren't fighting Pelgarth at the same time as the necromancer behind this.

Do I feel responsible for Finn? Of course, as much as I did for young Abelard - no less, but no more either, because ultimately I was responsible for both their deaths. Do I feel responsible for bringing him back, since we can? Yes - but my first responsibility to Captain Marin and our mission.

When we brought back Abelard, we all accepted the fact that Allois has first claim to the other dose. On the one hand, we all owe our loyalty to Captain Marin, which means we may need to reserve that dose for his son. On the other hand, without Finn, we may not be able to complete the mission and rescue Allois, alive or otherwise. Which choice is the right one? I don't know.

We're not on the ship. We're not in front of the crew. I don't need you to 'follow my lead'. I need you and Rook to give me the benefit of your honest opinions. As long as we aren't on ship or in front of the crew, if you disagree with me then say so. If we are in front of the crew then say so under the guise of privacy. But understand, given a choice between apparently equal options, I'll choose to sail into the wind every time. Because, while the sea doesn't forgive mistakes, she deals even more harshly with the timid.

You help me avoid mistakes, and I'll provide the audacity. I'll accept the responsibility for the consequences.

My plan from this point is to collect whatever may be of use here in this room, then proceed to the loading dock and back to the ship. We'll recuperate for eight hours so Marienna and the rest of us will be as close to full strenght as possible, then attack the 'Fare and try to rescue Allois. If possible, I want to recover the ship as well, but that's a secondary goal.

So, what is your honest opinion, weighing the options - do we risk losing Allois and bring Finn back, or do we risk failure by waiting? Do you have anything else to add?"

This is all delivered in quiet, even, earnest tones. I really do value, want, and even need, Radoon's honest opinion. The gods only know if I'm making the right choices, or if I'm even ready for this responsibility.

 

[Erland]

Morwyn

It's obvious to the older sailer that he's dealing with a young pup raised on stories of naval heroes whose mottoes ran to "When in doubt, attack." (OOC: think Admiral Lord Nelson and the battles of the Nile and Trafalger.) Morwyn isn't acting out of a desire for personal glory, but out of a sincere belief that this sort of behavior is the "right" way to lead.

 

[Maidhc O Casain]

Rook

When Morwyn and Radoon return:

"Captain Morwin, since you asked my opinion I say 'Comhaimseartha anois tá - le teacht dol sé féin ní mór dom é a dhéanamh aire.' The present is now - the future must care for itself. I believe that we stand much better odds of getting to Allois in time with Finn than without, so my opinion is that we use the potion now. If we reach Allois and he's expired, we must needs find priest or potion to revive him if it take the rest of our lives but for now we'll need Finn's resourcefulness to get to him at all."

 

[mleibrock]

Radoon

A long pause as I take a measuring look at Radoon...

"Now I understand why you didn't take the captaincy. You're a good sailor, better than I am, which we both know. But you lack the edge to be a great captain. I don't know if I have it, but at least I'm willing to take the necessary risks.

The point was to take the fight to the enemy. Up to now, we've been reacting, letting our foe pick the times and places for our battles. In those fights, we could have just as easily lost a man as we did in this one, without exacting any noticable price from our foe. I came within a hair's breadth of Davy Jones' Locker in the fight with the Shadows; it was just luck I survived, and just luck that Finn didn't survive this one. At least here we took down an enemy lieutenant. I, for one, will be glad we aren't fighting Pelgarth at the same time as the necromancer behind this.

Do I feel responsible for Finn? Of course, as much as I did for young Abelard - no less, but no more either, because ultimately I was responsible for both their deaths. Do I feel responsible for bringing him back, since we can? Yes - but my first responsibility to Captain Marin and our mission.

When we brought back Abelard, we all accepted the fact that Allois has first claim to the other dose. On the one hand, we all owe our loyalty to Captain Marin, which means we may need to reserve that dose for his son. On the other hand, without Finn, we may not be able to complete the mission and rescue Allois, alive or otherwise. Which choice is the right one? I don't know.

We're not on the ship. We're not in front of the crew. I don't need you to 'follow my lead'. I need you and Rook to give me the benefit of your honest opinions. As long as we aren't on ship or in front of the crew, if you disagree with me then say so. If we are in front of the crew then say so under the guise of privacy. But understand, given a choice between apparently equal options, I'll choose to sail into the wind every time. Because, while the sea doesn't forgive mistakes, she deals even more harshly with the timid.

You help me avoid mistakes, and I'll provide the audacity. I'll accept the responsibility for the consequences.

My plan from this point is to collect whatever may be of use here in this room, then proceed to the loading dock and back to the ship. We'll recuperate for eight hours so Marienna and the rest of us will be as close to full strenght as possible, then attack the 'Fare and try to rescue Allois. If possible, I want to recover the ship as well, but that's a secondary goal.

So, what is your honest opinion, weighing the options - do we risk losing Allois and bring Finn back, or do we risk failure by waiting? Do you have anything else to add?"

This is all delivered in quiet, even, earnest tones. I really do value, want, and even need, Radoon's honest opinion. The gods only know if I'm making the right choices, or if I'm even ready for this responsibility.

"The older I get, the more I realize there are not really great men...just men that may good decisions in times of crisis. I think taking the fight to the enemy, as you say, can be a very good decision, depending on the situation. In this case, I feel it was not justified, we were outmanned and in this case, they were not our enemy. This was suppossed to be an information gathering mission not a mission to make our presence known. We were here under Degrasses' guises and now whomever is holding Allois is much more likely to know we are here and what our intentions are. I feel you have hurt the chances of our mission with this one fight and I think in some cases what you may see as cowardice by running to fight another day is actually the wiser thing to ponder.

Thank you for your honesty and realize I will always give you mine as well. I am not upset, I just wanted you to know I am passionate about putting people's lives on the line unneccesarily. I vot to use the potion - to succeed in the rescue we first have to rescue Allois and our chances increase with him. We may be able to find another potion or a cleric if it turns out we need but right now we have to work with the information at hand."

OCC - James - Thanks for the insight after your postind, it proved helpfull.