un: unlikely friend

[allforthecause]

[ Stealing a second pendant wasn’t easy, exactly, but not was it particularly difficult. As shrewd as merchants were, they were simultaneously arrogant when they thought they were going in for the kill - so using Kahl as a distraction (deliberately looking both well meaning and slow with too much coin weighing him down) made it easy to slip the device away and make his own exit long before the man noticed. He and Kahl met up again in a dank little corner, dark and damp, and crouched down over it as they changed the username and prepared their post.

They needed to get the word out - and quickly - but doing so as themselves would only paint a target on their back. So. Burner device, pretend to be a native from the city, get the word out, then ditch the device as soon as they were done.

Time to go. ]

To our foreign guests:

You’ve been promised to Rakkathu as bodies for his horde. Our King plays your host but has already cut a deal - your lives for ours. Or at least some of them.

A dozen plus a tax - this is what he has been promised.

My conscience won’t abide for it. You’ve done nothing but help where and when we’ve asked, only to get this in return. Don’t let him sacrifice you. Murder won’t buy us freedom, whatever our masters believe.

Please. If you’re anywhere near as strong as I think you are: help free us from him once and for all.

-L

[ ooc: comments with this icon and the un “unlikely friend” are from kahl and cass’s burner phone stolen pendant. Any replies from Kahl or from Cassian’s un “bee” are from their personal pendants. ]

Comments

[inferus]

I have felt it along with magical and demonic energies, which is expected with this version of Hell so close.

I agree. Being ruled by one's emotions is dangerous at any time but especially in the middle of a siege. The group must act cautiously. We do not have enough information yet and certainly not from a reliable source.

I am certain the king has made a deal of some kind, but we do not know the nature of it, and war requires such difficult choices.

[weifinder]

Considering the king has willingly enough taken us in and tasked us to help, it's inevitable he's made other plans and allowances. What we don't know are his intentions with them, or what they are, beyond one implied surface read offered here by Mister L.

This situation is unstable. The king has negotiated to keep his people fed for months. We can't know better than the people in power deciding how to keep things moving here when we act.

Harm the king prematurely, then what? Intuit who will keep this from falling into further chaos? Hope people all despise their king enough to celebrate his deposing in a crisis? Very unwise.

[inferus]

Acting impulsively would only invite more instability and chaos in a situation that cannot survive more of either.

The only other option for a king is Thyvault who has already imprisoned one of our group. Many soldiers are loyal to Deimar, and the two sides fight among themselves when they should be focused on surviving the siege.

The chaos of not having their leader would only serve to harm their efforts to survive the siege, and they are already losing. We can only hope reason breaks through to anyone who may be thinking of doing something reckless.

[weifinder]

Another thing not considered: a people need to be responsible for the choosing or challenging of their own kings or queens. We aren't the people. We're nothing to the soldiers and civilians here.

Even if he's of the worst character, who among us is so innocent as to presume only good intentions from strangers? He has more desire for us to live than for us to die.

And why does this person believe us powerful? This voice speaking to us now. Is it just for Strange? What feats have we been showing overtly to 'them?'

[inferus]

There are many aspects to consider - I believe those who have made it up to the towers likely have seen what many in our group can do. Regardless we cannot blindly trust the word of a stranger.

My concern is the information being stated as if it is fact, and in further reading, it appears to be more complicated than that - an intercepted communication but only the words of the undead warlord have been shared. The message may have been intended to be intercepted.

I will not claim to assume such a deal may have not been made, but it is dangerous to present such an accusation as pure fact.

[weifinder]

Yes, and some clarity in wording helps to make this person's intent clearer than before.

I would presume all messages would be sent knowing they can, would, and likely are being intercepted more than once along the way. So that is worth keeping in mind. None of these are meant to be secure.

Even if such a deal is made, what is behind it? In thought. I don't need to think someone is beyond foolishness or hubris to believe they're also not this shortsighted given the nature of the siege that's been ongoing.

[inferus]

Regardless of intent, such accusations stated as fact are dangerous.

There are occasionally benefits to making deals with your enemies. The king certainly has had ample opportunity, however, to hand over several of us.

Why wait? Why give us room to stay here at all if he intended to hand us over? And he must know we would protect our own, creating enemies who already reside within his own walls- Far too many questions without answers.

[weifinder]

There's no benefit to waiting on his behalf. We might not have access to everything within the fortress, but we do have access in a more viable way than simply the Gut's Bind. Which by feel is stomping ground for death, some element of seeping from the gateway itself I presume, and the ones at hand for Raichuchu too.