Kinden had agreed so quickly for his own reasons. First, the Order of Pelor had sent him to investigate this rebellion, and to do that he needed to join it. Also, he had no where else to go, and did not want to continue to put the Order in danger by hiding in their temple. Last, he had seen how cruel and vicious the Emperor Joahna was, and knew he must be stopped. The elders taught that evil leaders sway the masses towards evil with them. These were but Joahna's first two laws, and already he could see the effects, the poisoning of minds against non-humans and those who could manipulate the weave. The children were the most susceptible, and would influence the empire for generations. What would be the next laws? Each of these reasons alone were enough for Kinden to join. Truly, there was no other option for him.
But what of the others? The beautiful human girl would be a great ally. Like himself, she seems to have a strong dislike of the emperor's policies, if not the emperor himself. Perhaps she is an elf-friend, or can manipulate the weave? The male human sitting with her was clearly suspicious of this Felswarth's tactics, and rightly so. Unlike Kinden, the human seemed to have a choice on whether to join or not. His words carried boldness and fire, and Kinden thought it would be good to swing swords together with one such as he, if he would be his ally. The elf in the shadows surprised him by joining, at the same time proclaiming his distrust for the man. Was that the kind of thing an imperial spy would do? No, it wasn't. Spies would try their best NOT to call attention to themselves, like those half-orcs and humans in the middle are doing. If not a spy, then, why was he here? What was his motivation? And the bard? Fortunately, Kinden's words seemed to have stopped the bard's mad rush out the door. If he had tried to push his way out the door, the scene could have turned very ugly very quickly, with chaos all around, no one knowing who was a friend and who was an enemy. The last two, the noble dwarf and the other elf, had said nothing.
Felswarth had said he and Incantus would provide as much help as possible. Well, there was no harm in asking, and it might help convince the two human men, dwarf and elf to join...
Felswarth, you are a well-to-do man. As a token of your goodwill, perhaps you could pay the head tax for us non-humans? For one who wears such rich robes as yourself, this should be no problem. And of course, as the bard points out, there is the further matter of our... travelling expenses. And Incantus, if you truly are a General, you could equip us with masterwork weapons, armor, warhorses and supplies, could you not?
Kinden kept playing with the amulet around his neck. The brothers had said this would determine the motives of others, but how did it work? Perhaps there were too many people here who's motives he was trying to read. Perhaps he should try reading the motives of the assembled group one by one. But if it turned out this amulet didn't work at all, well, if Pelor wished him to go questing with a lightly armed human girl, beautiful though she may be, and a somewhat sinister elven bowmen, then so be it. He would do it, for his brethren, for the Order, for Pelor, and for the remaining good people of Faunt. Aye, and even for the emperor, if he is truly innocent, as that scheming Felswarth says.
