The Four Lands - The Great North Part 2

[Scotley]

Bertrand

Bertrand waits in silence as the others have their say. "On one level I wish the book was your problem and that I could just go back to my little piece of land and raise horses." He sighs and takes a drink of water. "However, I know that our dammed book has a hold on me as well. I'll await the results of Vadric's divination before I commit to this Fortress of Balance, but I am friend to all of you and I will see this through. I've seen the pain of war up close and suffered terrible loss. I would not chose any path that will lead to certain war." He gestures at the entrance to the tent. "You've left one or two critical point out of your otherwise well reasoned analysis. What of deSion? He sees the book has the property of his family and he is almost certainly caught more tightly in its grasp than any of us, even you Jarroth. You've said the book and the spirit within it is irredeemable. And yet, you did not mention that as a part of your divination. What is your source for that information?" He fixes Jarroth with a hard gaze as he asks this last. "I ask this because I thought such an effort at redemption was a part of our plan up unto this point. What has changed?"

OOC: What does Bertrand know of the Fortress of Balance? Knowledge geography (1d20+8=11)

 

[Canaan]

Jaroth -- The Discussion

Jaroth listens to everyone intently and sighs.

Thank you all for listening to what I had so say and the reasons for my decision. Thank you also for your friendship. I am saddened, however, that some of you have mistaken my meaning. Perhaps it is because I am not very good at admitting weakness. The truth is, I do not want to consign any of you to my fate. I care about you too much. I do not wish my burden on any of you. I am prepared to walk this journey alone. I do not wish to do so, because I agree that I cannot do it alone. And I would not want the Book to make me a vessel of its evil. That is why it is important to me that Vadric and Anniston are in agreement with this decision and choose to come with me. They must use their intuition and their gifts to discover any machinations by the Book or other forces. In many ways, only they can center my thinking, should the forces of darkness try to influence me.

****

Vadric, please conduct your divination. I think that would be most helpful. I do not disparage the Light in my dialogue, only its wordly servants who make the decisions for the Church as a whole. I do not include those like you and Anniston in that category, nor do I include most of the faithful. But I fear that the faithful will be lead astray by the Church's leaders.

****

Vorian, we have discussed this before with Lady Vera. The magicks necessary for such a feat are beyond me. Only magicks of the highest valence could possibly effect such a feat. and it may require transvalent magick to do so.

My divination revealed that destruction, no matter where or when or how, will result in all being lost. My divination did not explain how that would occur or why, but I am simply not willing to risk it by assuming that destroying the Book in some remote area will lead to a different result. Would you take such a risk with the lives and souls of the entire world?

I do not view taking the book to the Fortress of Balance as hiding it away. We would be giving it to the forces of Balance, who are made up of both the Light and the Dark. We are therefore giving the Book over to both the Light and the Dark. Neither will have any reason to go to war over it. In many ways, it is the only solution that involves no bloodshed. Besides, based on what I know of the guardians in the Fortress of Balance, the Drakkar would not stand a chance against them.


****

Bertrand, we were talking about trying to redeem the spirit within the Book. But I since learned that the spirit is unredeemable in the sense that we were discussing. It can never become a part of the Light. It is not within its nature to do so. At best, the spirit can obtain a balance, but it will be near impossible to make that happen whilst we and it are being assaulted by evil. That is the basis for my analysis in this regard. I believe the Fortress to be a better location for that transformation to occur.

As for DeSion, I realize he could be a problem. But this matter is beyond he and his family, would you agree? I suppose he might object. I suppose if he does and we do not acquiesce to his wishes, he may be upset or angy or even violent. We can only take things one step at a time. Know however that I am commited to this path and provided the rest of you agree, should he stand in its way, we will have to act appropriately.

OOC: I think I addressed everyone's issues. If not, it was unintentional. Let me know if there is an issue I failed to address.

 

[Rath Lorien]

Anniston nods, satisfied with Jaroth's response to the party's concerns.

However at some point in the discussion, Anniton says, "Jaroth, now is probably not the time for an extended discussion on this topic. But for the sake of our friendship and for the sake of your relationship with the Church and with the Light that guides it and protects it, I need to respond to what you said about the leaders of the Church.

As you are a follower of the Light, it is very important for you to understand that while the leaders of the Church are fallible men, the Light will not allow them to mislead the Church in maters of faith and morals. With respect to the particular case of this book it is possible that the leadership of the Church might make mistakes. But when you say 'I fear that the faithful will be lead astray by the Church's leaders' then it is difficult for men of faith to avoid taking offense. In other words, be careful what you say as misunderstandings in this subject matter will quickly make it difficult for us to accomplish our goals."

 

[Canaan]

Jaroth - The Discussion

Jaroth nods at Anniston and smiles slightly in approval.

I agree this is not the time, but I would discuss this topic with you in private at a later time.

 

[J. Alexander]

The conversation contiunes as Vadric leaves the tent to gather his on impression of the choices offered by Jaroth. The party see's him cleary thru the doorway as he walks to one of the small hills and settles in for a quite meditation. As the party debates for hours the form of Vadric can still be seen kneeling in prayer the faint movement of his hands working his prayer beads discenrable. As the sun begins to set from the afternoon long debate, the smells of feasting in the air the, rays of brilliant light begin to fall about the praying form of Vadric until he can no longer be seen by the party thru the intense rays of light.


For Vadric
[sblock]sorry for briefly taking over your character..........
Kneeling in prayer Vadric soon loses himself in the ritual of prayer and opens himself up for the augries his cast. Completing his spell he settles in to await what will be revealed. Frustration soon sets in as even his most powerful and complex spells fail to penetrate the complexity of his request. Remembering his training Vadric realizes that he is going about it the wrong way. Magic, even Divine, can not pentrate or give guidance when there is no yes or no answer or when a nexus has been reached. Only an open heart cand honest faith call pierce that veil and give guidance..so finally opening his heart he begins to pray the simplest, the oldest prayers he knows..prayers handed down thru generations and lost to the modern church as being to outdated to mystical....

As he completes a series of prayers and opens imself up to the Light, he begins to feel the warm glow of a thousand rays of sun falling upon him and warming him deeply to his core. His mind is filled with images and paths the decision is his to make but the paths are his and his alone to choose.

The first path shows him allowing the book to fall into the hands of the Church. Internal strife and civil war follow within the Church for control of the book and it's powers.

The second path shows the book once again becoming a possession of the church and the Knights of the Light mustering to finally establish control over the Borderlands, the unclaimed lands and the southern kingdoms.

The third path shows the book falling into the hands of the Drakkar, only blackness is seen with their possession of the book.

A fourth path shows the book being hidden by the simple expediant of moving it around......wars of generations occur bewteen the dark and the light in a see saw battle of who will dominate the four lands.

A Fith path shows Vadric and Anniston having been tried for heresay and apostay being lead to stakes around which faggots of wood and bags of charcoal have been laid. The charge consorting with an enemy of the church.

As the vision ends.......you open your eyes to find the sun setting on the horizon.[/sblock]

 

[J. Alexander]

For Bertrand
[sblock]Bertrand only knows of legends of a place of perfect balace..where both good and evil coexist in harmony and terrible strength.[/sblock]

 

[Rhun]

[sblock=For JA]
No problem on briefly taking over Vadric; that is pretty much exactly what he was going to do anyway.
[/sblock]

Weary and exhausted from the hours of prayer, Vadric takes a few minutes to collect himself, breathing deeply of the cool, fresh air, and reveling in the simple pleasure of the glorious sunset. Finally, though, the cleric rises, and slowly makes his way back toward the tent to rejoin his companions.

He runs a hand through the matted tangle of chestnut curls atop his head as he looks from face to face, thinking for a moment before speaking. "My friends, my prayers to the Light have been successful, or at least as successful as such things can be when opening oneself up to the divine for guidance. As much as I had hope Jaroth's words did not carry the ring of truth, I'm afraid that I must concur with many of his findings. Should the Drakkar gain this Tome, darkness will overcome the land. Oppression, despair, oblivion. We can obviously not allow this to happen."

Vadric glances as Anniston, offering the noble paladin the slightest of smiles. "Neither can we allow the book to fall into the hands of the Church. It pains me to say that, but the image that the Light imparted to me cannot be disputed. If the Church gains the book, there are two outcomes: One, internal strife and civil war will tear the Church apart as the unfaithful vie for control of the book. And two, with the Tome in possession of the Church, the Knights of the Light will muster and march upon the Borderlands, the unclaimed lands, and even the Southern Kingdoms. War and death. I feel that this path, too, must be avoided."

"Lastly, the Light showed me that if we attempt to keep the book hidden by keeping it on the move, wars that span generations will engulf the Four Lands. Again, this cannot be allowed. What all this tells me is that it appears we have little choice but to go along with Jaroth's plan. While I know nothing of this Fortress of Balance, if the book can be safely kept their, out of the hands of those that would misuse its power, than I must lend my sword and my faith to that quest."

Vadric again turns his eyes to regard Anniston. "If the rest of you will excuse us for a few minutes, I need to speak to Anniston in private." With that, Vadric again withdraws from the tent, motioning to Anniston to follow him. The knight leads his companion to a sufficiently sheltered area where he cannot be overheard, and begins a mutted conversation with his friend.


[sblock=For Rath Lorien/Anniston]
"My friend, I am afraid there is one piece of information that I felt I could not share with our companions, but that I must tell to you. If we take on this quest, the Light showed me a vision...a vision in which you and I are tried for heresy and apostasy, and of consorting with an enemy of the Church. I did not see what the final outcome was, but the vision ended with the two of us being led to the stakes, with wood and charcoal piled all around." The cleric shakes his head, and smiles. "While I do not wish to lose my life, neither can I, in all conscience, turn away from this quest. It seems that the only way to prevent darkness, and the deaths of thousands, is to lend my aid to Jaroth, and to ensure that the book does not fall into the wrong hands. However, before you make your final decision in this matter, I wanted to warn you of the consequences."[/sblock]

 

[Scotley]

Bertrand

Upon hearing Vadric's news Bertrand responds, "All paths seem to point to the fortress of balance. I guess the next step is figure out where it is. I have traveled a goodly swath of the Four Lands in my time, but I have only legends to offer, no specific path that we might follow." He takes out his extensive collection of maps and looks over the far north. Are the any obvious clues or tracks to be taken?

 

[Rath Lorien]

[sblock=for Vadric]"Vadric, my friend. I have known this to be a possibility for awhile now. I am comforted by the knowledge that many saints are recognized for their righteousness only years or even centuries after they were condemned by an eclesiastical court. Thank you for telling me, but I am not dissuaded."[/sblock]

 

[Canaan]

Jaroth -- the Discussion

Jaroth breathes a sigh of relief and gratitude.

Thank you all for your support. I am sure this is not a decision easily made for any of you. And I am truly blessed by the Light to have such good friends.

I recommend that not speak of our destination outside of a protected area. Just as I have done here, I can call upon my gifts to shield our conversation and presence from prying eyes, ears and other senses, both mundane and magical. When we need to discuss the Book or our destination, I recommend doing so within such protected confines, lest the enemy know our destination and try to stop us.

[sblock=For DM Only] Do I have any idea where the Fortress of Balance is located or its general location, other than in the far North? [/sblock]