Zuriel listens to the speech mutely, taking stock of the situation. At the mention of Trish, he expected to feel the returning of his old rage, but instead, he felt only sadness. Sadness for Trish, sadness for Giles.

My gods, the man has been driven insane. For somebody to go from the heights of his heroism to...this...

Zuriel watches the others as he listens to Giles' speech, gauging their reactions, gratified to see appalled faces on some of the bluebands. Boreas catches his eye, and the paladin nods in reply.

If somebody who was once so good could fall to such depths of depravity...I wonder...who isn't capable of such a fall from grace?

As Giles finishes his smug monologue, Zuriel speaks up.

"I'm sorry Giles, truly I am. I'm sorry for the hero you once were, and for what your legacy has become...I'm sorry that fate dealt you such a wretched hand."

The paladin enunciates clearly, audible to the whole gathering. "This plan is madness. You're advocating the wholesale slaughter of the very people you professed to protect. Think," he continues, speaking for for the benefit of the bluebands, "Of what you propose. How do you think the Empire will respond when it hears tales of werewolves threatening the countryside? How do you think the Flame will respond when they hear tales of supernatural evil running amok in the forests?"

Zuriel pauses, lowering his voice somewhat. "I think we both know the answer to that. The Flame is more than capable of finding evil where it is not. They are absolutely ruthless in their drive to purge evil where it's confirmed. They will come into the forests. They will come upon the forests with fire and sword."

Boreas nods, and adds his voice to the oratory, gem flashing in the darkness. "Of course, you and your 'blessed' would likely just vanish. Melt away into the darkness between the trees. The hidden paths that you and I know. Perhaps kill a few isolated paladins on long patrol...but who does that leave?"

Zuriel picks up where Boreas leaves off. "That leaves Mid'riel. All the men, women, and children who are not part of your grand scheme, facing the full fury of the Order of the Emerald Flame intent on scouring Lycanthropy from every last crevice of the world. They'll find a den of outlaws and misfits, and what do you think they'll do? Carefully evaluate each denizen for infection? No," he says sadly. "They will purge Mid'riel from tunnel to tunnel and extinguish every living soul therein to keep the curse from spreading."

He turns to Lukas, addressing him fully. "This is what will happen for you and yours if you go along with this madness. Fire, death, and terror. Please, help me to stop this insanity before it spreads. Help me to save the thousands of lives that would be lost, directly or indirectly, to this curse. This affliction. Help me to save Mid'riel from this fate."

[Diplomacy: 20]

He turns back to Giles. "You don't have anything to offer that Keef doesn't already have within him. Strength? I've seen him face down horrors that would have sent me screaming at his age. Ambition? He's raised himself up from nothing and become more than you ever will be. Brotherhood? I'd lay down my life to defend him. Heroism? He has a purer soul than any I've ever met."

"No Giles, all you offer is death and destruction. That's all you *can* offer, as long as you're under that infernal curse. And if you refuse to treat your affliction like the disease it is and seek a cure, then you've forced my hand."

Zuriel points his sword at Giles. "I cannot allow this bloodshed to continue."

Let us see how far gone you are, Sir Giles Thistleworth. Does the Goddess have redemption in store for you this day?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:42, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

"It's refreshing to see that you still wear the cloak of hypocrisy as though it were crafted only to fit the visage of your undue self-importantance. Where do you even find a bespoke tailor of such skill in these woods?

You condemn me for having the audacity to espouse a dream where people are united under a common banner and purpose in the same breath you tell me the Flame will come and expunge us for not holding their ideals to be self evident and absolute? Who are you to say that your way of life is right? Who are you and the Flame to dictate to the people of the world what is right and what is wrong?

WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT?

You demand obdedience without question; I offer hope and the chance to be part of a better tomorrow. I offer the strength to be a law unto ourselves! Truly, which one of us is the uncompromising monster? Here I stand with my arms open, offering a blessing to all of you. You offer no such compromise, and respond only with ultimatums and threats.

Tell me Keef, do you ever grow tired of being told what to do? Wouldn't you like the chance to think for yourself?

Ah, but free will has no place in the Flame's teachings.

Take your zealotry elsewhere Paladin. You and the other sheep like you who blindly follow without question have no place in the new world order as anything other than cattle, fit to be slaughtered.

Ah, but you are right Zuriel, we should fear the Flame and their wrath.

Lukas, perhaps we should just surrender now. It seems we've been confronted by the error of our ways and the righteousness of the Flame's cause. I'm sure if you turn against me, the Flame will allow your extrajudicial brand of vigilante justice and tomb raiding to continue unabated. Perhaps they'll even provide some religious artifacts to assist you, and provisions to allow you to not rob to feed the men, women, and children who look to us protect their way of life? How clearly now do I see the error of our ways!

(turning back toward Zuriel)

And how can anyone stand up to the might of the Flame? Were I to search history, I couldn't find a single instance of any organization or people resisting the awesome power of the Flame's righteousness.

Tell me Zuriel, is Loe'driel nice this time of year?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

Zuriel shakes his head. "You misunderstand me Giles. I'm not here to bring judgement. I thought I was, at first, but... I'm here to save lives. I'm telling you what I know of the rest of the Flame, and how they respond to crises such as these. Whether or not you can ultimately resist the Flame is immaterial. Whether you win or lose, far too many lives will be lost. It's my fervent hope that we can avoid that outcome here today."

So much death...so much blood. Where does it all end?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 296):

To live as a slave to another man's code, or to die a hero to one's own ideals? How is a man to choose?

Lives may indeed be lost noble Zuriel, but they will be the doing of your masters, not I. The hero's blessing is bestowed with the briefest of pain and suffering, and requires no sacrifice other than giving one self over to the greater good.

But who am I to lecture the chaste paladin on the virtues of self sacrifice?

Zuriel arches an eyebrow. "You give a grandiose speech on your master plan to bathe the countryside in a realm of blood, and yet you say the lives lost won't be your doing? Are you even listening to the words coming out of your mouth, or are you just enjoying the sounds of your own voice?"

The paladin turns to Lukas. "Lukas, I'm not here to threaten you. I'm trying to contain a potentially cataclysmic crisis before it spirals out of control. You want your people to live in freedom from the Empire, freedom from cruel masters who look down on you? Fine. But don't think you'll win that freedom by exchanging the rule of government for the whims of an insane werewolf. That way lies only ruin, one way or another."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:45, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 298):

To those who refuse the hero's blessing, there can be no other answer than blood.

Tell me Zuriel, , how is this different than the blood your Flame promises to my children? By your own admission, you say they will strike out at us. You tell us that we must fight for our lives, and then question who is responsible for the results?

Where there is blood, there will always be blood. We discuss not how to avoid the inevitable, we merely barter to decide who will be providing the paint for the country's landscape.


This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

Chaste?  Maybe; I have my doubts Maeve thinks, then has to stifle a wild giggle as she thinks what an inopportune time it is to have that thought, facing down a pack of werewolves and having an offer extended to her to join them.

Why me, Giles?  Do you think that I have no less adherence to a code of honor and morality than Zuriel does? I may not follow the Flame as he does, but our hearts are in the same place.

I don't know whether to be somewhat flattered that you consider me a worthy fighter or horrified that you think I would consider your offer with any seriousness.  No, I do know.  It's both.

Maeve looks deeply sad.

I haven't forgotten that you gave me a healing potion back in that first clearing.  Had I been truly wounded, you would have saved my life.  Deny all you want to Giles, but I think the hero from the stories isn't all gone.

The sadness vanishes, to be replaced with cold calculation.

But if he is, then I will have no qualms about dealing with you accordingly.  You see?  I can be ruthless too.

In reply to Maeve (msg # 300):

With such decisively brutal sentiment so easily & intimately stated, how can you question why I would welcome you into the pack?

Asked and answered sweet Maeve; asked and answered.

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 301):

Keef maintains a death grip on the Everstaff, but relaxes his stance somewhat.

...but... the children, will you really protect them?  Arm them, empower them?  They will not want?  There will be blood, there WILL, but whose?  It is ours to protect our own, our friends, our companions, our kind.  Neither Giles nor the Flame suffer outsiders to live, to threaten them... in this we all agree...

Keef is clearly struggling to make sense of this all.  He takes a few cautious steps toward Giles' outstretched claws.

In reply to Keef (msg # 302):

Of course I will Keef, and so will you.

The children will be strong. They will be resilent. They will command respect. And never again will they be told what to do, and when to do it.

Join us and escape the shackles of religious morality and civilized society. What have they ever done but disappoint you and fail to live up the promise of your righteous potential? Where was the Flame to protect me from my family? Where was the Flame to help you?

Life is for those willing to take what they want, and who are strong enough to defend it.

Be the greatness you wish to see in the world, Keef.

(Shep begins to plod happily toward Keef, his tail wagging with excitement as the boy draws closer)

In a world of sheep and wolves, could the choice be any clearer?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:41, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

Zuriel murmers quietly to Keef. "You don't need this, Keef. You have all that greatness inside you already. I've seen it. If what you truly want is to protect the children, protect the world...to be a true hero, then the answer lies within, not without. You. Keef. Not Giles, not the Everstaff. You have that power."

It's not about whose banner is the right one.  It's about life or death, harmony or destruction.  It's not about living under your rules, or mine, or the Flame's.  Giles, the world you describe will never know peace or balance, only fear and fire and blood.

Lukas, citizens of Mi'driel, if this comes to blows, I would wish you no harm.  We fought side-by-side once before.  Let us not be enemies now.

Boreas looks over at Keef and Shep, the dog happily approaching the boy.

And Keef.  I have seen you grow from a child to a warrior in only a few short weeks.  I want to see the kind of hero you will become, but that won't happen if you accept Giles' 'gift.'

Shep, we want only to help your master and friend.  If he won't let us, we might have to hurt him some in order to do it.  But if we can help him, we will.  Please don't fight against us.

[Wild Empathy 22]

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 305):

A confused Shep shoots Giles a pitiful look  before wandering past Keef and taking a position behind Boreas and the party. A withering glance from Sir Giles seems to do nothing to alter Shep's trajectory or alignment.

"It would seem that one can even be a sheep in wolf's clothing"

In reply to Giles Thistleworth (msg # 306):

Keef stops moving and looks down at his feet.

The children should be protected... that's good... but I'm.... I don't want.... I CAN'T be the wolf...

Keef raises his head and looks back at the P.A.R.T.Y. then at Giles and his companions.

the children MUST be protected, by their own, by Giles... but I'm not one of them.  If I were I would fight with them, but I'm not. I'm... I'll protect my own.

Keef resumes a combat stance, but at a neutral position threatening neither Giles nor the P.A.R.T.Y. with his weapon.

Giles should go and protect his, and we should go and protect us.  Against outsiders and against threats.  Unless those collide... he should go his way and we ours.

Lyriel speaks gently to Keef. I'm afraid it's not that simple, Keef. If Giles has his way, many, many more people will die, whether directly at his hands or through the conflict he creates. We have to stop Giles if we want to protect the children.

The flickering emerald fire in Lyriel's cupped increases in intensity with a whooshing sound, bathing the party in a surreal green glow.

Protect the world. It's what Eldric would have done.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 308):

Lukas frowns, wheels turning in his head as options are weighed, measured, and discarded in turn.

"The Empire has better things to worry about than Mi'driel," he says, more to himself than to anyone in particular.  "As does the Flame.  Only a truly dedicated force could hope to located Mi'driel, let alone properly besiege it.  And though the Flame may attempt it, they would be inviting enemies of the Flame to openly ally with our cause."

He turns to look down the passage toward the vault, then glances at the Blueband lieutenant at his side.

"Thoughts, Shaw?"

His companion shrugs, apparently nonplussed by the werewolves around him and almost bored by the entire situation.

"Chief, I see -- what -- a paladin, a cleric, a squire, and two mercenaries?"

Shaw laughs softly.

"Do you actually need me for this, or can I go back to studying the vault?"

Zuriel looks sadly at the Bluebands. So they've made their choice...

Speaking once more to Keef, the paladin continues."Lycanthropy is a disease and a curse. He cannot be reasoned with, though stopping him may not require his life. He was a hero, once. We owe it to him to attempt to cure him."

I owe it to Trish that her death not be in vain. That her story not end in blood.

Zuriel once again points his sword at Giles' monstrous form. "One thing we can agree on, Giles, is that the time for speeches is over. Let's write a new ending to this sad tale."

Goddess help me, I refuse to believe that there can be no redemption for one who was once so good.

"Hikh'Siyf!" Zuriel's palm begins to glow white with holy energy, and he passes it over the length of his longsword. The energy leaves a glowing white-silver trail on the blade.

[Casting Silvered Weapon]

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 310):

The Bluebands react to Zuriel's magic with spells of their own, each shimmering with what you have come to learn are standard protective enchantments.  They continue to keep their distance from everyone but themselves, and all but Shaw appear ill at ease with the current situation.

Lukas, for his part, appears to be waiting for Giles or the P.A.R.T.Y. to make an aggressive action.

Shep, protect Keef!  The time for talking is over.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 312):

I won't hide behind a dog... Keef mutters.

Keef stands his ground, refusing to budge one way or the other.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 312):

Shep responds to Boreas's command with a pronounced growl.  The wolfhound pads slowly toward Keef, positioning himself as far away from Giles as possible in the process.  The growling continues, however, and soon it becomes clear that something is wrong.

The faithful pet of the self-styled People's Champion shudders slightly, then begins to grow.  Thick coils of sinew and muscles spring forth from his form as it becomes more human-like, and a deeply disturbing yellow glow emanates from his eyes.

Before long, Shep has reached a height of nearly seven feet, towering behind the P.A.R.T.Y. to unleash a horrible howl that causes Bluebands and Blackarms alike to cringe.

When he has finished, he turns his toothy grin to the heroes before him.

"I believe you may be laboring under some false pretenses as it pertains to just who the brains of this operation may be. Please, ladies, gentlemen, allow me to elucidate."

Shep pauses to flick a piece of flesh from his teeth.

"Elves are just so stringy, wouldn't you agree, my pet?"

A clearly amused Giles cannot contain his evil laughter, watching the shocked P.A.R.T.Y. flanked by the two towering werewolves.

"It is as you say, as always, Master."

Lukas looks thoroughly confused by this development, and shrinks backward a bit toward the cavernous tunnels that lead toward the vault.  The other Bluebands follow suit -- save for Shaw, who remains more amused than anything else.

Ignoring these movements entirely, Shep continues to speak in a raspy voice that does not seem to have seen use in quite some time.

"How refreshingly gratifying is it to have the opportunity to explain my machinations; you'd be surprised how few people ask."

Shep lets out a sinister, crackling howl, that a lesser man may recognize as laughter. All of the other wolves follow suit.

"But where does one begin a tale that spans centuries?

I was born into this pitiful plane of existence as a lycanthrope, and for decades, I searched your lands for my brothers and sisters. Sadly, this plane knows little about my kind, their power, and their gift; I was utterly alone."

He flexes his powerful claws to demonstrate the reality of his words.

"For the first few decades after the realization of my solitude, I lashed out, desolating countless villages and killing untold thousands in my grief. But over time, the anger subsided, and a more ingenious plan developed.

If I could not find a way to return to my Master, I would form a pack of my own.

For all the benefits the form of a wolfhound holds, there remained a challenge to overcome: your bipedal bias that I was just a 'stupid animal'.  I required a herald, someone I could use to spread my blessing and will to the people while keeping my true presence concealed.

What? You thought Sir Giles Thistleworth to be the first self-styled hero I rescued from anonymity and made into something more?

I have empowered countless heroes across countless lands and generations as my emissaries, spreading my will and my blessing to all those willing -- or forced -- to listen"

His lips curl into a cruel smile.

"Do you now see the scope of forces rallying against you, dear P.A.R.T.Y.? You face not just one idealistic werewolf and his small pack. You stand in confrontation with the master of all Werewolves on this pitiful plane, and against him, there can be no victory other than acceptance.

You are right to say that time for talking is over.  We have now reached the moment of your final decision: Will you be part of the oncoming storm, or will you be the cattle swept away in the aftermath?  The choice -- and its consequences -- are entirely up to you."

[Private to Boreas Highwind:
Sense Motive reveals that perhaps Shep is being overly generous with the numerous-ness of his forces.]

[Private to Zuriel Silendril:
Everyone in the room now registers as evil except for the party... and Giles.  You know enough about werewolf lore that killing the alpha breaks his hold over the lesser pack members, much like destroying a vampire lord damages any vampires remaining in their circle.]

In reply to DM (msg # 314):

Disposition of Forces

The P.A.R.T.Y. is one move action from the tunnel through which they came, and a full-round move action to the tunnel on the other side of the room.

Lukas and two Blueband Mooks stand in the mouth of the far tunnel, while Shaw the Blueband Lieutanent stands slightly before them.  All are a full-round move action away.

The Blackarm Mooks are one move action from the P.A.R.T.Y., standing near a table to the left of the opening in which the Bluebands are located.

Sir Giles Thistleworth stands one move action from the P.A.R.T.Y., located to the right of the opening in which the Bluebands are located.

Shep stands one move action behind the P.A.R.T.Y., pinning them between the opening to the tunnel through which they entered and Giles.

~~ INITIATIVE! ~~
Boreas 22
Keef 18
Giles and Shep 17
Maeve 15
Lyriel 7
Blackarm Mooks 5
Zuriel 2
Lukas, Shaw, and Blueband Mooks 1

Zuriel's golden eyes widen in shock as he witnesses Shep's horrendous transformation, though it is quickly replaced by grim determination. He whirls around and takes up a defensive stance towards the Werewolf Lord. "If anybody was curious as to what the face of true evil looks like..." he says, speaking to the room at large, "then here it is. Lukas, if you don't wish to stand against this menace, fine, but please, look at the evil you would be serving should you aid them. At the very least, go home and protect your city. Protect your families and your children. We'll hold them off here."

Do my eyes deceive me? Giles is still not registering as evil...could it be?

More quietly to the party, Zuriel says, "If this is their Alpha, then we can break his hold over the pack by eliminating him."

Tassada help us all.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Thu 05 Dec 2013.

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 316):

We have resided in Mi'driel in peace and prosperity prior to this moment. Why is it you believe that disposition would change based on the current circumstances? Had we desired to harm Lukas and his bluebands, we would have.

Being a werewolf doesn't mean you don't need allies, Zuriel.

One would thing the solemn Paladin would know better than all others the value of having a few good friends to aid you in your times of need, or have you forgotten your lesson in tree carving so shortly after its delivery?

Zuriel shrugs off Giles' goading, slipping onto a state of detached serenity as the paladin faced the most horrendous sight he'd ever seen in his life.

"You said yourself, you're either part of the pack, or against it. How long would the Bluebands be of use to you before you decided that they would better serve your cause as fodder to your hunger? Lycanthropes," he says to the crowd, "See the world in two shades: the pack, and the sheep to feed on. In his own words. As his "allies," you'd simply be more useful sheep, until they deemed your usefulness was at an end."