Shackled City - Chapter II

[kirinke]

Alinis grins at Orpheus . "When I was growing up, my nickname was Ruina. And not just because of my hair." she chuckles. "I can forgive temper, as long as it doesn't get any of us killed or hurt. His heart is in the right place anyway. If he were truly evil, he would not care for those missing children as much as he does or appears too."

ooc:
waves her bow in his general direction. you are now... not what you should be. so there.

 

[hippocrachus]

Finding Alinis so forgiving, Orpheus feels some vindictiveness is in order.
"Aye, I can thank you for that, then. He's gonna have to learn to respect us though. I can't be standing with his attitude all the time. There's just no pleasing some people..."

 

[kirinke]

She glances sidelong at Orpheus. "Perhaps if we showed him respect, he might reciprocate. We've been kinda hard on him since day one." she offered. "Perhaps that might be apart of the problem. I mean with everyone attacking him, he's going to be defensive as hell and if he's not seeing an enemy behind every bush and pebble I'd be surprised."

 

[hippocrachus]

Orpheus narrows his eyes in contemplation.
"I believe we were the ones that saved him," he says slowly, seeing her reasoning, but not agreeing completely.
"Possibly we can cure him of his paranoia..."

(OOC: Elyas is Dhes' coffee-addict wizard, krinke )

 

[Verbatim]

"Aye, you would be surprised at the pleasure you can get by simply watching," He replies to Zeric, ignoring the Half-elfs comments for the moment, "there is a lot I wish to know but for now tell me of how your group came together and how you all fare in this lost city."

Exhaling deeply, Zeric paused in his pacing and leaned against the wall, protecting his back, in case the skulks managed to sneak into the shop while the party was divided seeking to catch them unaware.

"I had been asked by Priestess Urikas to visit the orphanage on Lantern Street and to assure the headmistress that the church would be sending priests today to investigate the kidnapping of the children. Learning all I could, I sought to return to give my report to Priestess Urikas, when three brigands caught me while my mind was elsewhere."

Relaxing slightly as he talked, Zeric's voice lost the harsh edge that it normally carried, and a surprisingly pleasant baritone voice could be heard.

"I was a fool to think that the orphanage would not be watched by those involved, but the three men underestimated me, as well as those who came to my assistance. After they had been dealt with, they escorted me in taking them to the temple to be questioned, although they did not see the value in presenting a strong image in front of the weak to make them more agreeable to future questioning.

In the end, High Priestess Urikas asked us to investigate the kidnappings in conjunction with the church, a fact I am sure you already know, and we came here to the gnome's shop, unaware of his part in all that had transpired. Had he only possessed steel in his spine, none of this would have happened, and I can not forgive him of that fact, especially with the lives of the children at stake."

Looking into the dwarf's eyes, Zeric spoke truthfully to him, the same truthful tone that he had used when he spoke his final words to the priestess when he left.

"The church is aware of who and what I am, and they sent me to rescue the children or see that those who took them are held accountable for that deed. I will not apologize to any man, woman or god for what I do to get them back, as their safety is all that concerns me, and as I told the high priestess, I will now tell you. One way or the other, justice will be served by my hands, even if I must die to accomplish it..."

 

[Mimic]

Althron listens quietly to Zeric as talks nodding at key points in his speech. "Tell me Zeric," he says as he gets up, stretching out to uncramp some of his muscles, "when in your haste to see justice done, you are killed, and you will be if you continue to rush blindly ahead, taking most of your companions with you more then likely." His voice is flat, not accusing more like he is stating a fact.

"What happens to the children then? It will be days before the church could organize another search party and by that time the children will be dead and the killers long gone. We are the only hope they have of survival, for their sake we must trust each other and work as a team."

Althron studies the man, hoping that his words reached him and can somehow stop this reckless course that he is on.

 

[hippocrachus]

When Orpheus and Alinis get back to Keygan's shop, Orpheus addresses Althron.
"I hope we have returned fast enough, Althron," he says with a wink, noticing the tension in the air, and not paying it much heed.
"Shall we continue what we've started, then?" he asks everyone.

 

[Verbatim]

Zeric listened to Althron's words, watching every movement the priest made through eyes that had resumed their flinty look the moment the dwarf had stood up.

~He is like them...he thinks I do not consider my actions...thinks that I am one step removed from the savage mastiff on a chain that will bite the hand of a foe, as well as the hand that feeds it...I should not be surprised...~

"Do not mistake my willingness to die as blindness on my part, for I am no fool that will leap into a volcano to save one who is lost. However, I will not tolerate weakness when the luxury for such a thing has been taken away from us. I will not tolerate it in myself, nor in those that I travel with, and while that may seem harsh to some, it is the truth of the matter."

Standing up himself, Zeric saw through the window behind the dwarf that the archer and dandy were almost upon them, and timed his final words to be heard by all those in the room.

"I will work with those I travel with for the sake of the children, and I will give them all that I can with no thoughts on holding back. However, if they can not, or will not, do the same for me, then all is lost before we think of returning to the ruins below this shop."

 

[kirinke]

Alinis walks in and sighs. Why do males make things so difficult?

"Zeric. I do not think that you are a good enough actor to fake being so concerned for those missing children. Therefore, you cannot be evil. For evil only cares about itself."

Alinis walked towards him. "No one here believes that of you, that you serve hell. Too many black-guards want you dead for that." she grins lightly and looks at the rest.

"If we stand divided, we will fall beneath our enemies arrows. And we cannot just simply 'work' with one another. For that leads to folly. We must become a team in spirit, word and deed."

 

[hippocrachus]

"Right, so let's go save those children..." Orpheus says, not meaning to belittle Alinis' meaningful proclamation, but feeling that if they'd all just work together, things might become more team friendly.
Baby steps.