Chapter 2: Playing With Fire

[Grimbold]

Eyris shrugs. It isn't fair, she thinks, but when was life ever fair to her? Or anyone? And it won't do any good making all these knights angry. You need to be clever and keep your head down. You have to be realistic about these things.
"You only brought us here to tell us that? Why? What do you want?"

[Vardaen]

The Lord Command lets Morwen rant, he is calm and shows little emotion at her outburst. He looks at Mongo and Eyris. "I brought you here to judge you of course. Do you believe in the same moral code, do you see the dangers of the darkness creeping in? I can see some of you are pragmatic, some of you are weak and soft hearted. Will it change your mind to know she stabbed one of my Cleric's in the chest when we pulled her from the hiding hole her mother hid her in when we arrived? Likely no."

He paces past you leaving the cages behind and he stops to look back at Morwen. "The Ends my dear Morwen are all that matter. The end is blackness, enteral judgement by the Hand of Junil. It is unfortunate that innocents die in order to burn away the darkness, but I would rather a thousand innocents die then let one ounce of corruption spread. You must cut off the infected limb to save the body you see."

[Grimbold]

Eyris shrugs again. "What now? Do we thank you for your hospitality and go on our way?"

[Othniel]

Morwen says nothing, but glares at the Lord Commander, furious at being snared by a trick of words.

[ManWithDoor]

Mongo frowns as the Lord Commander is clearly trying to start a fight, or at least a shouting match. After being burnt and stabbed and cut up, he is in no mood to battle again. "Done? Both hate slavers and undead and evil. Yes? Maybe not bestest friends, but no need to be enemies."

[Vardaen]

"We are not enemies Mongo. I am a just and loyal follower of Feral and the Hand of Justice. You have proved yourselves no friends of the Calabim, and my clerics have detected no corruption in you, yet." He motions at a nearby burnt out building and two men step from it, holy symbols in hand, their magical scyring ending as they step forward. "I would aid you if I could. I suggest you take your things and travel south, into safer lands, and be rid of these lands before it is too late."

[Grimbold]

"I would like to go back to Malakim sometime. But I do not know these lands. Where could we go?" Eyris says, looking around nervously.

[ManWithDoor]

"Mongo not sure where we are. Maybe if look at map we make better decisions than wandering south and hoping we find something 'safer'." He idly scratches his neck with one hand. "On other hand, safer is not true goal. Want to make difference. Maybe not join Hand of Justice people, but still do good. Stop slavers. Fight evil. Where can we go to do that?"

[Othniel]

"I do not care at the moment, so long as we join neither these people or the slavers," Morneth answers.

[Vardaen]

The Lord Commander, offers one last bit of help, "I must return to my purge of these lands, yet I can give you some help before you leave. Come." He stalks away, and you notice an armed patrol heading to the prisoners, the two, father and daughter will be executed in the next few minutes as ordered.

When you reach the camp he provides you with some supplies, food, and camping gear, but also a map. "It is better than nothing, but lacks a great deal still. Take it, and go." He hands over the map to Morneth, who he guesses is the only one that can read.

"Now then..."

Then you hear commotion at the edge of camp. A solider rushes into the tent with you, "Lord Commander! Our scouts have spotted more Calabim on the move, not far!"

He gives his orders without hesitation, "Give the signal, I want everyone on the move to cut down these bastards at once!" The scout nods and races into the camp, you hear a horn blow, and the men and woman are rallied to war. He nods to you, "Its time we part way. Good luck."

Map

This is the map he gives you. You are in Grimdale. Morneth knows someone that could aid you in a nearby location. I have to look up where, been a bit!