You can fight your battles alone

[sageaqua]

He get's more rest. He's been running tired a lot lately. Having a -4str with his normal combat dificultys means that he can't depend on his str to get him out of trouble and until that's over he's not going in to help anybody. He'd be a well meaning liability.

[at]

Ka'lion is woken by Elika's return, slightly after sun-down. The barbarians are not with her.

She states that the lack of light underground made it almost impossible to determine the full extend of the ancient city or the activities below but she could hear the echoing sound of work to the south, something guiding the undead to work. The negative energy that had been strengthening the undead above ground was also stronger below, permeating the whole city.

Turning to the still unconscious wounded barbarian she notes that his condition had worsened, and that she encountered a creature similar to those he and Ka'lion had described - living shadows - but it was small and she had been able to destroy it with magic.

Gathering her things to rest and once again recover her spells she suggests that Ka'lion relieve the young lookout, and uses the last of her magic to restore most of Ka'lion's lost strength.

"I intend to return tomorrow at first light, and find out what the undead are building down there"

[sageaqua]

"Use your wand on his wound. I want to see if he needs to be tired up for our safety. He may be turning into undead. So wake him up. Kid, get some sleep. I'll take over. Kid what's your name?" asks Ka'lion, "Kid gets some rope and tie up your freind but be very careful of his arm. I dont want you to get infected. Your the only one here is good health."

[at]

Elika reminds Ka'lion that she has already done what she can with healing magic - and even Ka'lion himself had tried. The barbarians injuries clearly require some other form of aid.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion thinks he's dying and becoming a ghoul and securely ties him up near his heavy warhorse. Knowing animals fear the undead knowing the big horse will kick him in the head the instant that he does. Dead wont bother the animal. undead will. So what is the barbarian youngsters name?

[at]

The boy identifies himself as Criel (Kree-el). He says his father and both brothers fought and died here in Clearwater, but he was too young to come that day.

[sageaqua]

"Well get some sleep, your coming with us into hell tomarrow in the morning. We are setting the horses free if we don't make it back they can run free. We can track them down if we need to. It's just extra work. Why are you here?"

[at]

"To learn the truth of what happened." He waves towards the horses, "they are mine, the others could not refuse my coming here but they would not take me with them because I have not yet passed the rites of battle."

[sageaqua]

"The rites of battle? I've never heard of it and I'm a barbarian. But I can train you as a barbarian in the field - how ever your people need your horses. They are on the run from the ibaxien and your king and his son is dead. I just thought you should know." said Ka'lion, "When we go in it's to save any of your people we can. And if we learn something useful. We will let your people know."

[at]

He seems to take the news well, "these are the end times, the last great war. Now is the time to die well, to fight hard and to deny the dark ones their prize."

[sageaqua]

"No Kid. This is not the great war nor will it be. War does not make anyone great. It is a war with high stakes but all wars have that in common and it's going to take time to win. How long is anyones guess." said Ka'lion

[at]

"You speak like a Merebas mercenary."

Ka'lion knows a little about the mercenaries, it is said they are as brave as you can afford them to be. They are well equipped and trained but will only stand and fight in accordance with their contracts, fulling willing to abandon their allies or switch sides once those contracts have expired.

They are a counterpoint to the knightly orders of Merebas who are aligned to individual lords and who fight for glory and varying interpretations of honour and conduct.

[sageaqua]

"I've never met a Merebas mercenary but mercenaries work for pay. I rarely do. My loyalties are not for sell to anyone but they can be earned or freely given. You might call me a reluctant anti-hero - which is a true statement. I don't sell my life for glory or coin or for honor. I work to save lives when I can and I can see the possibility of a positive outcome. I stay clear when I am injured or otherwise crippled so I don't become a liability. That’s about the size of it.” said Ka'lion

[at]

The night is quiet but cold as no fire can be started - the risk of attracting the undead is too great. The sun rises over a dark and misty morning with Elika ready to move at first light.

[sageaqua]

Ka'lion loads up on cure light wounds and create water spells in the morning. He removes all gear from his animals so they can run free if they need to and baries his exsess gear under some brush. He brings all his rope and his net and his magic weapons, his bow and arrows and tells everyone to bring full water skins. He checks on the dying man?

[at]

The dying man still lives, though he cannot defend himself. Elika does not wish to leave him without a guard though the boy himself seems of two minds about it.

[sageaqua]

"It's crap shoot. We leave him tied securely somewhere here and leave him behind. Or I kill him and put him out of his missery. It's his choice. But we are not taking him with us. His illness suggests he's turning undead. Now I don't know that's true. But I'm not leaving him here as a danger to the animals unless he is tied up." said Ka'lion, "So far nothing we have done to help him works and I don't think he would want to be remembered as the walking dead."

[at]

Elika replies, "if he is changing then it is unlike any undead I have encountered. I agree that he cannot be left unattended but Criel can watch him, if he awakens he may be able to tell us what happened to the others."

[sageaqua]

"Good arguments. But why didn't you ask him when you where walking him out. Never mind. Hindsight is always clearer then our present. But I’m done with I hope he knows something useful. I spent a month chancing down someone to trainslate my book and nearly killed myself trying to save his life only to have the man try to bully me afterwards. At this point. I wont raise a finger to help him again - even to save others. He’s just not worth my time.

Criel the choice is yours do you want to watch your horses and watch the current liability or set the animals free and put the man out of his misery and come with us? It's your call - you at least come from the same people." said Ka’lion

[at]

Criel pauses and then shake his head with a sigh, "he is not my kin, it is not my right to take his life. I will stay."