audio | un: yiling patriarch

[weifinder]

We've just heard from our friend Haltham about the fighting between Unhalad and Anurr forces nearby, so here's a question for everyone, brought up originally by our companions who got themselves drugged and fight-happy against the second living: what actions do you think we should or shouldn't take?

In Haltham's encouraging words, think wisely. Whatever we're doing or not doing has an effect by merit of choice. Also, a reminder that we still need to not end up in either's hands or revealing our location, given the reason we were summoned here has not changed, and our deaths can be a benefit to either side. Our lives benefit ourselves and our rescuers and the peoples here, by keeping us out of warlord hands.

( He's not opening up with his thoughts because he doesn't want it as a discussion against his take, but as people offering their thoughts after he asks the question. )

Comments

[weifinder]

I would hope so, and that depends on how willing people are to listen to a vote they don't agree with, which, ah...

( He trails off into a dry laugh. )

[somebadnews]

[ Yeah. He sees where he was going with that. ]

What are the odds? [ Not saying he's one of them, but. ] What seems to be winning?

[weifinder]

Leave the forces themselves to fight as they fight, generate and use some confusion to free the captives and send them on their way while the fighting is on. My leaning is with also making sure they go away from the farm, but Archeval brings up a point that if these people are turning, we need to have some idea of what to do then.

I'd still say send them home, without ever coming to where we stay. Without time and resources and a better understanding of the magics of this world, I don't reasonably think we can do anything more, and they shouldn't be shown to anyplace where we're staying.

[somebadnews]

[ Well. That's a vaguely terrible plan. Those captives are definitely getting slaughtered if they just send them off on their own. ]

We're not exactly hidden. I wouldn't be surprised if they already knew where to find us. [ And they absolutely will the second they get involved. ]

You're just hoping the two sides wipe each other off the map?

[weifinder]

( Here, he sighs. )

I'm hoping they'll remain more concerned with each other than anything else. One because they want to resume power, the other because they don't want to lose it.

( Death might be preferred for the captives, if what Archeval mentions is true. )

Not sure to what degree the ones from the forest are going to weigh in, but they're aligned with the Anurr, either way.

[somebadnews]

[ So why not just kill them? That seems to be where this is headed anyway. Not that he's volunteering.

Before he says as much, his last comment gets his attention. ]

Is that so? [ Noted. Since they've been so effective against them so far. ] We really lucked out having them in our backyard.

[weifinder]

( Choices matter, that's why, and deciding people should die is not something he does except in the case of Wen Chao and his mistress.

And their soldiers in the wreckage of the home he grew up in.

Ahem. Anyway. )

Yes, lucky us, with the voices in the wind, the half possessed wolves, and the lake I've heard about in passing.

[somebadnews]

[ He's experienced two of those, but the other... if only he knew to ask Vanya. ]

What's the deal with the lake?

[ lol like he's changing the subject. ]

[weifinder]

I'm not sure, I haven't gone myself. There's been a handful who have, ah? Maybe ask on here who has, I'm not certain what that number looks like right now.

( Also he's not heard enough on it beyond an in passing "frustrating" so )

[somebadnews]

[ He makes a face. Just ask a question to the general public? That's... like you're asking people to talk to you. ]

You could probably get an idea if you checked to see the last time someone did a head count.

[ He for one has no idea how many bodies are in the lake. ]

[weifinder]

... I don't think we're missing anyone in that way.

[somebadnews]

[ Recent experience finds that surprising, but who is he to know. ]

That has to be frustrating for them.

[weifinder]

Can't say this is the first time outside forces have ended up frustrated with my continued existence, and from the sounds of it, not the first time for a number of us either.

[somebadnews]

[ He can't refute that. Not when there's a part of him that still blames the Commission for sending him here. ]

That explains it. [ Explains what? He doesn't say. ] If they were doing their jobs well, they've come up with the right distraction.

[ Diego would have fit right in. Everyone has a hero complex. ]

[weifinder]

Haaah.

( Throw in the bone that people can't resist latching onto when they're not pragmatic enough to say no. )

Don't think they were thinking in this way, to pull us out. Which is half the problem of going in.

[somebadnews]

[ Luckily, their enemies don't seem to be that cunning. Instead they're just waiting for them to make mistakes, which takes a lot less energy on their part. ]

I didn't think that was still up for debate.

[weifinder]

I'd wonder.

( Said with a low laugh, because he seriously does find himself wondering with this ragtag group of theris. )

[somebadnews]

[ Teamwork is exhausting. There's no telling when he's going to be done with all of it and decide he's better off on his own. If he can talk Vanya into it, which he's famous for. ]

At least it won't be a surprise.