Ironworks Gaming Forum - View Single Post - Antagonist's Anarchy: Destruction in the Darkness

Calaethis Dragonsbane · 09-25-2005, 08:15 AM

Nivram followed Isokla through the bushes, to a small clearing among them where she was sitting on a flat rock, deep in her thoughts.

Without looking up, Isokla did not acknowledge Nivram's presence. If she even knew he was there, he did not know.

If she did, she gave no sign of it.

Nivram put his pack on the ground and sat on it, then looked at Isokla.

"I do not mean to dwell in your past, or try to be overly inquisitive, so if it be your wish you do not need reply, however earlier you evaded my question about what your objective was." - he said, only glancing at Isokla for a short moment before observing the trees not far away. The birds in them were still singing, unaware of the bloodshed, which was soon to come in the bandit's tower.

"Go on." She answered softly, still not looking up.

"You said earlier that maybe this was a simple journey for you. I disagree. On a simple journey you do not get into a situation where the bandits at the bridge wound you. A simple traveller would have given in to their demands, don't you think?"

"I don't know." Isokla answered, her pale blue eyes meeting Nivram's, "You tell me what a simple traveller would have done. Or maybe, a simple character couldn't meet their demands."

Her body language wasn't hostile - but it wasn't welcoming. At best, it was neutral. At worst, cold and standoffish. Cautious.

Was his curiosity taking him too far? Shouldn't he continue? On a first glance everything seemed to be completely normal about Isokla, but Nivram suspected that there were things she did not want to talk about. Possibly things from her past, secrets in her past. His curiosity pushed him forwards, yet another part of him cautioned him. He felt that it would be a grave mistake to make himself an enemy here.

"For me a simple traveller is someone who goes from one place to another with this being his or her only purpose. His or her objective is to get to his or her destination. He or she shall do what is necessary to get to the destination. Someone who would have needed to get to a destination over the river would have known about the bandits and would have known what to do to meet their demands prior to meeting them, since in the small village on this side of the river he or she could have found out about them."

The sentence was long, and Nivram took a long breath when he finished.

"So," she asked, her voice dangerously quiet, "If they had asked you for your belt purse, would you have given it to them?" Her question was not cutting; but it was pointed, but only slightly. "Or..." she asked, without waiting for him to answer, "If they had demanded something else... say, a kiss, would you have gifted it to them? What if they had asked for more?" Now her tone was edged, "Where would you draw the line?" She asked icily, "When is enough, enough? Where does it end? When do you stop allowing others to walk over you?"

Her tone softened, "Some prices are too high to pay."

This was the point to stop, Nivram realised.

"I'm sorry, I did not know." - he said.

"I did not mean to offend."

"You didn't." She said simply, "Just as I've not said what they asked for. I merely showed you an example." Isokla sighed, "I do not blame your curiosity, but, be aware, there are some things that you would be better off not knowing. Innocence is a wonderful ideal to keep - if you can. Time will erode it by itself; there is no need for you to hasten the process." She sighed and looked away, "Some of us learn the hard way."

"Now that I have tried to satisfy my curiosity, I shall ask you whether you want to know anything about me?" - he said. It was not an attempt to give information and probably get some in exchange. He was just trying to be friends, although was probably making a bad try at it.

"It is all right," Isokla soothed gently, "If there is anything you wish to know, I will tell you. I just warn you of the price first. Yes, perhaps," she reflected, "I should have given the Gate Guards their due, but... I did not. I did not wish to pay their price - not of gold, nor of... other means. So instead, I paid another price. The price of their blade penetrating my flesh."

Looking at Nivram with troubled eyes, she asked, "And what of you? Has there ever been a price that you did not wish to pay?"

"There were times when I could not pay the price..." - he paused thinking back. "But about when I did not wish to pay..." He paused again, trying to think back. "Once when I was seven years old I took a chicken from the village cleric's pen, without telling him, but I guess that doesn't count."

It was hard thinking back to his past. There were many dark episodes in it, and some to which he would rather have not thought back.

"There was one time when the price was too high, but I'd rather not talk about that now. It reminds me too much of why I had to leave my sister's place." - he said, his voice weak.

She nodded, and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, "You'll find your sister," she soothed gently, "After all, that is the destination of your journey, is it not?"

"It is." - he said simply. "If only I knew where to start looking..."

"You've already begun," she smiled. "Your feet are already upon this journey; do not falter now."

He felt that Isokla understood him much better, than he understood her. He sighed and lay back on the grass.
---
OOC: No one else can hear these two btw - and Isokla will know if anyone creeps up. Therefore, no one can hear a word they say. So sayeth your DM.
Edit: I'll wait for you others to do something, and then I'll post a reaction to Ivelliis's post.

[ 09-25-2005, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]

09-25-2005, 08:15 AM	#176
Calaethis Dragonsbane Legion Symbol Join Date: May 29, 2002 Location: Somewhere in between Age: 40 Posts: 7,029	Nivram followed Isokla through the bushes, to a small clearing among them where she was sitting on a flat rock, deep in her thoughts. Without looking up, Isokla did not acknowledge Nivram's presence. If she even knew he was there, he did not know. If she did, she gave no sign of it. Nivram put his pack on the ground and sat on it, then looked at Isokla. "I do not mean to dwell in your past, or try to be overly inquisitive, so if it be your wish you do not need reply, however earlier you evaded my question about what your objective was." - he said, only glancing at Isokla for a short moment before observing the trees not far away. The birds in them were still singing, unaware of the bloodshed, which was soon to come in the bandit's tower. "Go on." She answered softly, still not looking up. "You said earlier that maybe this was a simple journey for you. I disagree. On a simple journey you do not get into a situation where the bandits at the bridge wound you. A simple traveller would have given in to their demands, don't you think?" "I don't know." Isokla answered, her pale blue eyes meeting Nivram's, "You tell me what a simple traveller would have done. Or maybe, a simple character couldn't meet their demands." Her body language wasn't hostile - but it wasn't welcoming. At best, it was neutral. At worst, cold and standoffish. Cautious. Was his curiosity taking him too far? Shouldn't he continue? On a first glance everything seemed to be completely normal about Isokla, but Nivram suspected that there were things she did not want to talk about. Possibly things from her past, secrets in her past. His curiosity pushed him forwards, yet another part of him cautioned him. He felt that it would be a grave mistake to make himself an enemy here. "For me a simple traveller is someone who goes from one place to another with this being his or her only purpose. His or her objective is to get to his or her destination. He or she shall do what is necessary to get to the destination. Someone who would have needed to get to a destination over the river would have known about the bandits and would have known what to do to meet their demands prior to meeting them, since in the small village on this side of the river he or she could have found out about them." The sentence was long, and Nivram took a long breath when he finished. "So," she asked, her voice dangerously quiet, "If they had asked you for your belt purse, would you have given it to them?" Her question was not cutting; but it was pointed, but only slightly. "Or..." she asked, without waiting for him to answer, "If they had demanded something else... say, a kiss, would you have gifted it to them? What if they had asked for more?" Now her tone was edged, "Where would you draw the line?" She asked icily, "When is enough, enough? Where does it end? When do you stop allowing others to walk over you?" Her tone softened, "Some prices are too high to pay." This was the point to stop, Nivram realised. "I'm sorry, I did not know." - he said. "I did not mean to offend." "You didn't." She said simply, "Just as I've not said what they asked for. I merely showed you an example." Isokla sighed, "I do not blame your curiosity, but, be aware, there are some things that you would be better off not knowing. Innocence is a wonderful ideal to keep - if you can. Time will erode it by itself; there is no need for you to hasten the process." She sighed and looked away, "Some of us learn the hard way." "Now that I have tried to satisfy my curiosity, I shall ask you whether you want to know anything about me?" - he said. It was not an attempt to give information and probably get some in exchange. He was just trying to be friends, although was probably making a bad try at it. "It is all right," Isokla soothed gently, "If there is anything you wish to know, I will tell you. I just warn you of the price first. Yes, perhaps," she reflected, "I should have given the Gate Guards their due, but... I did not. I did not wish to pay their price - not of gold, nor of... other means. So instead, I paid another price. The price of their blade penetrating my flesh." Looking at Nivram with troubled eyes, she asked, "And what of you? Has there ever been a price that you did not wish to pay?" "There were times when I could not pay the price..." - he paused thinking back. "But about when I did not wish to pay..." He paused again, trying to think back. "Once when I was seven years old I took a chicken from the village cleric's pen, without telling him, but I guess that doesn't count." It was hard thinking back to his past. There were many dark episodes in it, and some to which he would rather have not thought back. "There was one time when the price was too high, but I'd rather not talk about that now. It reminds me too much of why I had to leave my sister's place." - he said, his voice weak. She nodded, and placed a sympathetic hand on his shoulder, "You'll find your sister," she soothed gently, "After all, that is the destination of your journey, is it not?" "It is." - he said simply. "If only I knew where to start looking..." "You've already begun," she smiled. "Your feet are already upon this journey; do not falter now." He felt that Isokla understood him much better, than he understood her. He sighed and lay back on the grass. --- OOC: No one else can hear these two btw - and Isokla will know if anyone creeps up. Therefore, no one can hear a word they say. So sayeth your DM. Edit: I'll wait for you others to do something, and then I'll post a reaction to Ivelliis's post. [ 09-25-2005, 08:17 AM: Message edited by: Calaethis Dragonsbane ]