CH. 11: Dark Side of the Mond

[HorizonsDream]

Jocelyn smiles slightly at Andar. "Tie these people up then. Including Brock and Tia, and then I can take the spell off of them so they don't start fighting again."

[BishGada]

"We should stop those mages!" Baeros says. "You too don't want to see this city burnt to the ground and ruled by undead." he says to the human Leaguers. "Lets stop them first and then see what is that freedom you are speaking of, since attacking peaceful civilians doesn't seems like freedom to me."

[Breila]

Ouragana looks at Bearos with a weary eye, her impression was that they'd better leave here as soon as they could, these people couldn't be reasoned with, and they were likely to get hurt in the infighting, But for the moment, she does and says nothing.

[Nuke]

"So, are we going to deal with the symptoms, or find the cause?" Val asks.

[JadedDM]

"There isn't enough rope to tie them all up," Andar says. "I can tie up maybe five of them, at best. Unless someone is carrying more rope."

"Don't listen to their lies," the Leaguer human woman urges Baeros. "They are hardly 'innocent.' They are fighting against tyrants who want to take away our freedom. Would you not fight too, if everything you love--your very way of life--was being threatened?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Yes, well, now your home is destroyed because of the so called freedom that you are fighting for," Jocelyn says and motions around the burning city to prove her point. "Andar, just tie up Brock and Tia," she says. "I can understand wanting freedom, but to destroy a city and innocent lives to get it is going too far."

[BishGada]

"I've more rope." Baeros says. Then to the Leaguers, "Don't get philosophical on me! In the name of Crizza, You are killing your neighbors! Destroying your own city! Wars are fought between armies. Not neighbors. Help us stop the carnage first and we will try together to find out how to deal with this freedom of yours."

[JadedDM]

Using Val's rope and some of Baeros' rope, Andar and Areilon tie up all the sleeping citizens, as well as Brock and Tialis. "Now what?" Andar wonders aloud.

The Leaguer woman laughs at Baeros' speech. "And who the Nine Hells are you? You think you can swoop into this city and fix everything yourself? That we should all lay down our arms and give up because you ask us to? All alternatives were tried and failed. We tried diplomacy and they refused to listen. This 'war' as you call it is our last resort and our last hope for true freedom."

"Diplomacy my ass!" the adult dwarf retorts. "You gave us a list of demands, and we refused to buckle!" He turns back to the party. "You see? They're completely out of their minds!"

[HorizonsDream]

"It is pretty obvious they don't care who they hurt just as long as they get their precious freedom," Jocelyn points out. She releases the hold on Tia and Brock. "So, what exactly were you two fighting about?" she asks, as she crosses her arms over her chest.

[JadedDM]

Brock and Tialis can finally move again. "What the--?" Brock starts to struggle against his bonds. "You lot again? The devil are you doing here? I came here to fight the League, of course! I may be old, but I can still bust heads with the best of them!" He looks down. "With my daughter dead, I realized there was no point in staying in Narin anymore. I meant to give the inn to her when she came of age, but now...I had nothing left. So I sold it, packed up my gear and came here to fight the League. Felt like I should do something with my life that was worthwhile, instead of just holed up in my room all day. The League killed my wife, after all...so I thought I could make the world a better place if I fight them...like this elf bitch here," he adds, gesturing to Tia with his head.

Tialis sits quietly, almost amused. "I'm not a Leaguer. I work for them because they pay well, but I'm not a believer. For anarchists, they have deep pockets. They pay top rate for weapons and armor and will hire anyone willing to work for them for a very good price. You all should consider it. Untie me, I'll take you to them and you can be all rich within a day."

"Oh, Tia," Areilon says, kneeling down beside her. "The League are the bad guys, though."

Tialis chuckles. "There is no good or bad here, dearie. The world isn't so black and white. It's all just politics as usual. I'll work for the ones that pay better, personally. But whether they outlaw all religion or burn the cities to the ground, it doesn't affect me. By the way, good to see you all avoided prison time. I was sure you could."

"We only got banished from Narin for a year," Areilon offers. "And that time has passed. We never told the Wardens about your involvement, by the way," she adds eagerly.

"How sweet of you," Tialis coos. "Now if you'll untie me, perhaps we can come to a mutually beneficial arrangement. As I said, I'm not a Leaguer, so you'll find me much more reasonable, I'm sure."

[HorizonsDream]

"What are you doing for the League?" Jocelyn asks as she moves to untie Brock first mostly because she trusts him more than she does Tia.

[Breila]

Ouragana had crossed her arms and listened to all the axchanges, her face showing more and more disgust. Finally, she says:

"Jocelyn, I think we should leave here at the earliest opportunity and do what we set out to do for you. It doesn't seem to me that we can accomplish anything here, except getting ourselves hurt. I'm sorry for your hometown, Bearos, but it seems to me like you need to make yourself a home elsewhere, at least for a while."

[BishGada]

"It's not my hometown! But it's my homeland! And the Leaguers are attacking every city on MY island." he glares at the humans. "Fine! I admit I don't know how to solve politics. I've always tried to avoid this pit of snakes! But what about friendship? You are neighbors for gods sake! I've the feeling the Leaguers are abusing you. Feeding you with all this ideas of freedom so you will do their work for them, and afterwards they will exploit you and all the land resources to make more money have more power and go on to the next island. That's what I think! You got plenty of empty promises and turned your back on your nation! Bet they are looking for weak souls and play on their ambitions or fear."

[Nuke]

All this talk of politics is beyond Val's desire to comprehend. "Let's just go fight something."

[JadedDM]

"What are you doing for the League?"

"Whatever they ask," Tialis replies. "Mostly they have had me secure weapons and armor, spy, and gather intelligence." Areilon kneels down to start untying Tialis, as well. Once Brock is untied he rubs at his wrists and gets to his feet, favoring his good leg.

"Jocelyn, I think we should leave here at the earliest opportunity and do what we set out to do for you. It doesn't seem to me that we can accomplish anything here, except getting ourselves hurt."

"She's right," Tialis agrees. "These people are going to kill each other no matter what. You cannot stop it any more than you could stop a storm from hitting the coast. So if they're going to do it anyway, why not profit from it?"

"I've the feeling the Leaguers are abusing you. Feeding you with all this ideas of freedom so you will do their work for them, and afterwards they will exploit you and all the land resources to make more money have more power and go on to the next island. That's what I think! You got plenty of empty promises and turned your back on your nation! Bet they are looking for weak souls and play on their ambitions or fear."

"The League are the only ones fighting to protect our rights from you tyrants!" the human woman responds.

"Let's just go fight something."

Tialis laughs. "Then come work for the League. You can fight and get paid well for it."