Diner Table Conversation

Setting the Scene: [The Compnaions are sitting down to a fine meal Errandis catered from Bilit Isle.]

IC: Errandis: "My friends, I need to talk to you about something that Arteasian has commented on. It involves my Vetoing of Dain's idea to Summon Quetzalcoatl using the Human sacrifice. I vetoed the idea because I am against Human sacrifice. I also think you are not fully aware of the consequences of using such magic in Megalos." [He looks concerned now]

"I am also concerned that you believe I am making unilateral decisions on your behalf with out consulting you. You are my friends, not my vassals, servants, or hirelings. If you feel I am behaving against your interests I will apologize and remove myself from your company. I cannot change who I am. I will respect your judgements"

IC Ismail: "I have known Errandis longer than any of this company, and know him to be a valiant and heartfelt friend to all who fight with him. We may question his motives, his taste in clothes, and the intentions of his horse, but not his loyalty to a cause or the sincerity of his words. I for one am honoured to keep his company and trust his advice, and will unhesitatingly enter any combat with him kept clearly in sight in front of me."

"And in this question I cannot but agree with him. Human sacrifice is repugnant to civilized mankind, which I agree may seem a curious qualm in the midst of a bloodily contended civil war, but for the benefit of the other species here assembled, please allow me to explain the difference. Any human sacrifice has a terror and horror to it that far exceeds that of
merely deliberately seeking the death of another. Any human sacrifice necessarily invokes some power, some god, as the sacrificer would have it, that is external to the world of men, and in whose debt we would then fall. More severe than this, is the terror or almighty God, called as He is by various names among men, that is the eternal and only God of all creation. To summon a great beast by means of sacrifice, especially a beast long worshipped by the Bilitese, would necessarily bind us in the tentacles of the sin of idolatry, which was forbidden us by the first and most solemn of the commandments given unto the prophet Moses (peace be on his name) that was first of God's messengers to all mankind. Such an act could only serve the way to corrupting us all and leading us onto a path that serves only the tentacles of him who waits in lower darkness to receive te world. We should do nothing to hasten his plan."

"The act proposed is therefore anathematous, and injurious to our very souls, which we should all hold dearer than our cause, or victory, or our lives themselves. Also, remembering that the Christians too believe as I do, we'd be doing our reputations such an injury by this act, that there would be nowhere safe for us to live thereafter ina ll Yrth, except perhaps Bilit, and I for one have already been there twice too often."

IC Fingolfin: "Dain said what? Did he really suggest human sacrifice? I wasn't paying close attention, I was trying to figure out how to improve my glassblowing technique. I'm somehow managing to take what starts as a lovely curved shape and have it squash into squat ugliness by the time it cools. But from what I caught, Dain advocated a result which as a non-wizard I think he just wasn't aware of the possible complications involved in trying to achieve. Personally, I'm not at all sure we could do it, with or without human sacrifice. I'm not sure that what Imric has is, or is still, quite what Dain thinks it is, and if it were I'm not sure we would have any real idea how to use it."

"I also hesitate to second-guess Imric, but the whole notion hinges on persuading him to do something dangerous with an artifact he's very serious about keeping safe, to help win a minor battle. I suspect he would give us that smile and say he had "the utmost confidence" in our ability to solve the problem without his help. You know how he gets."

"People are really so much more difficult to deal with than metal and mana. Did we not follow you into this danger? I personally have little stake in human civil wars, or understanding of their ramifications. But I trust your word that those ramifications are significant, as apparently do we all. What, then, would you begrudge your comrades a bit of carping about specifics? Would you "apologize" for some perceived problem by leaving us in the midst of a confusing and dangerous situation only you among us has a really strong understanding of?"

"But, as to understanding, whether what is going on or just who you or any of us is . . . this is all quite a mystery to me. I'm well out of my depth when it comes to people's frictions and reactions and slights. So if the conversation takes too complicated a turn from here on in, I'm afraid you will all have to forgive me if I go back to the forge. Wood and leather, metal and stone don't second-guess a man, and I have grave doubts I can contribute much to the tangling and untangling of whatever this is."

IC Rene: "I must confess dat I vas not paying too much attention eider. But, you know - it seems as if zummoning ancient bad tings iz... not such a great idea, particularly given de specifique requirements mentioned."

Really, I don't care too much if ze Megalans want to cut each other up into leetle peeces. I'm not too sure what is going on 'ere; and I'm pretty sure I don't really want to know. I trust 'dose of you who do dat you are giving good advice and want to be doing de right thing. An I am pretty sure dat zummoning dis Qwetza guy is probably not a good idea or a good t'ing.


IC Dain: "I have to agree with you all human sacrifice is a bad idea and i was unaware that it took this terrible act to summon the breast and knowing this I will veto the whole plan. to do something that evil would only hurt us all."


IC Kraypike: "Dain! You told me that to do this you were going to get Imric involved in some ceremonial magic and sacrifice your virginity. You need to work on your Anglish. There's a big difference between sacrificing virginity and sacrificing a virgin."


IC Fingolfin: "Well, as long as it's just Dain's being sacrificed. Although, didn't he have a fling in Tredroy? And in Dekamera, with some little acrobat girl?"

IC Kraypike:" No no, that was the *other* Dain, wasn't it? ... from before Bilit Island. The Dain with the bigger beard. This Dain hadn't seen a human before then. << leans over to Dain and mutters in a low voice >> you *are* still a virgin aren't you?"

IC Dain: "BIGGER BEARD no way i have the BIGGER BEARD. you fat ugly green monkey. [OOC: This is said with a smile on his face]

[Errandis gets an odd look his face and coughs behind his hand. You think he just avoided choking laughter. He elegantly reaches for some wine and raises it slightly to you in toast.]
IC Errandis: "Thank you my friends. I will endeavor to be worthy of your trust and be a better friend. Dain I did not mean to accuse you of advocating such action. I simply wished to point out to you the consequences involved in such action."

"With regards to the siege I find it necessary leave for 10days to Recharge my Powerstones. I can return, but will only be able to operate under my own power or with you assistance. Do you have any low powered suggestions?"
[Errandis smiles at you all. Looking mildly embarrassed. He spent his 60pt. Powerstone bringing you all here.]


IC Kraypike: "If you're teleporting off somewhere, come back with some serious movement magic items so we can do hit and run raids on that army encampment and actually get away. Hawk flight or teleport items would be good. I'm quite willing to spend the gold to buy that kind of gear if you're short on funds. Say, Dain, need a loan?"


IC Dain: "A loan A LOAN are you play games with my mind i dont want a loan from a goblin you would never let me hear the end of it. Plus i have more money then you and thats all that matters."


IC Rene: "Peut-etre nous pouvons ...find one of dose colonists from the New World on Earth and sacrifice them, non? I understand 'dere are beaucoup des Virginians in zose. colonies."

IC Errandis: [He smiles broadly at Rene's statement and adds] "Uhm... Rene, could you say that again in Anglish. I do not believe it translated very well."