escordvi | [ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

[ It had all started with a quick message to Zack. An inquiry about this "property" that is being protected by Paladins... That's when G'raha realizes that this "property" is a person. It upsets him, actually, that a person should be thought of as such. At that point, it is G'raha that is making a strange request:

Allow him to accompany Zack on the ship to ensure that this lady is kept safe. So that she can have the freedom that she seeks. He promises that he will explain this all later, considering he's quite adamant about it.

Thus do they appear on the ship escorting the seamstress ~~Cloud is there too in his log but meh~~. Naturally, they are going to run into trouble. A Corsair ship cozies up next to the one they are currently on, hooks and the like digging into the wood like barbs. That's when Corsairs themselves are invading the deck and the both of them are called into action.

G'raha's back slams against Zack's at one point, his staff out and magicks at the ready. ]

If you can keep them off of me for but a moment, I can stun them. I can provide Regen and a barrier, of sorts, for you.

[ Voting is going to be taking place. G'raha knows this and has found his way to Elah just to see if the rumor is true. There are actually quite a few Corsairs creating quite the fuss. Demanding blood for blood, so to speak. They would see this Paladin, heinous as he is, suffer brutally before dying some kind of gruesome death. The Paladins themselves are divided on the issue as well.

G'raha is standing at the edge of the people that are circling the area, some that are lining up and others that are getting ready to place votes in. While he knows that some Corsairs are wanting to vote, they are not permitted to. ~~Openly that is~~ This is also creating more hostilities, more tension.

There is some nervous energy about the Miqo'te. His ears are pinned back and his tail is still, save for the nervous twitching at the tip. This is a complicated issue and he has quite the mixed emotions regarding this matter. He had been someone directly involved in this, after all. ]

[Zack had signed up for this mission from the very start. He didn't know the background of why the woman needed a paladin escort so badly but it only took a few messages from a frantic G'raha to realize there's more to this than meets the eye.

Here they are on the ship desk and Zack has his weapon out. The corsairs are closing in fast and Zack is not going to let them get close to the lower deck if he can help it.

He quickly steadies G'raha's shoulder with a hand.]

Can do. Whatever you have planned, do it as quick as you can.

[Zack is a bulldozer but there are a lot of corsairs flinging themselves onto the ship deck right now. Without another complaint Zack lunges forward and slams into them, working his way to push them back.]

[Daqiang intended to get his vote in. He needed the crowd to be a bit thinner to slip through invisibly and, since his invisibility only lasted a few minutes because of the seal on his power, he would not be able to wait it out unseen. Since there was a crowd already and it was fairly tense, he made his way around the outskirts of it, looking for a place to stand for however long it would take for the crowd to disburse. As he did so, he spotted the familiar ears and red hair of G'raha. Who was looking very upset and ill at ease.

He pushed his way between people to come stand at G'raha's side and announced his presence by saying:]

Did you know? They gave this venerable one a medal for his help in destroying the corrupt paladin's improper prison and court.

[ G'raha almost startles when he feels someone else appear at his side. Upon seeing who it is, G'raha relaxes and hums. He's still not feeling very great about all of this but - ]

I was not aware, no. If that is the case, then I should extend my thanks and gratitude towards you.

[ He looks up at Daqiang. Attempts a frail smile before his gaze returns to the voting box. ]

Were it not for some Paladins I have become acquainted with, I might not have escaped this Paladin's designs.

You were captured?

[Even more reason to see the paladin executed.]

Who rescued you?

Aye, though I assure you that I truly wasn't doing anything that would merit such a thing. It came as a surprise, hence why I didn't fight back.

[ G'raha can't think of a reason why execution is on the table, Daqiang! ]

Dion and Xenk.

Do not look up.

[ G'raha provides both to Zack, a barrier and regen both. Then simply trusts him to keep the Corsairs away from G'raha as he begins a longer cast. Holy is useful in this situation, surely. The only downside is that it takes a little longer to start and G'raha cannot be interrupted.

Should Zack be successful in keeping Corsairs away from the Miqo'te, his staff spins and a little ball of light is tossed into the air. It explodes, showering the immediate area with its light. Stunning everyone caught within its radius. ]

[He'll trust that G'raha knows what he's doing. Meanwhile, Zack will do his part of the job and aggro all of the corsairs that are trying to ambush the ship. Several of them try and lunge at Zack but some of them lunge at G'raha too. In those cases, he shoulder-checks one and hits another with the pommel of his greatsword.

The flash of blinding holy magic does get into Zack's eyes briefly but the searing explosion has Zack holding his arm up and several of the corsairs go down. Hot damn. Literally.

The ship rumbles. And in the rush of activity, another corsair appears and tries to slash his dagger through Zack's side. He just narrowly misses and Zack slams him back with a kick too.]

[ They will be stunned for a few seconds. Enough time for G'raha to switch from white magicks to the black. Swirls of purple surround G'raha as he casts fire spells - targeting the Corsairs.

Then rounding it off with a Flare to discourage further trespassing upon the ship. ]

[Boom!! It's an explosion before the silence and Zack stares with an impressed grin on his face.]

Damn, Raha. You're explosive.

[He looks over his shoulder at the cat man and winks. All the while many of the ambushers are trying to retreat to the enemy ship.]

That should stop them for now. But we probably don't have much time. If the reward to kidnap this lady is as big as you said, I'm guessing these assholes won't give up that easily.

[ Augh that line would be so bad! ...If it were anyone else other than Raha that Zack had said it to. Instead his tail wiggles and there's a smile returned. Then his focus goes back to the Corsairs fleeing. Raha's ears fold back, just like a displeased feline as he joins Zack's side. ]

I very well should be. Were it simply the fabrics they were after, that would be one thing. Seeking to claim a person is entirely another matter.

Though, just to be sure...

[ G'raha puts his staff at his back. Seeks out something on the ship and makes a small sound of "this will do" when he finds it. A bow and a couple of arrows. He dips three into a lit flame and knocks them back - displaying perfect form.

Then he fires. Right at the Corsair ship's sail. All so that it will catch fire. ]

Now that should keep them busy.

This venerable one is aware that those who were victims of the paladin were not necessarily guilty of any crimes that warranted such punishment.

[The guy was looking to play judge, jury, and executioner and likely had already, before this specific incident. Seeing as how he was so bold as to do so much, so openly. More over, doing so at all violated the oath the man had made to his armada. He betrayed them. Betrayal was the worst crime one could commit in Canyanhai.

And now, he had also sought to harm one of Dongfang Qingcang's people. Even if he had agreed to Xenk's plea that the paladins should handle the judgement of one of their own, he was still going to get his own vote in.]

It is why his own should be as equally as harsh as that which he intended to bring upon those who were innocent.

I may slip into the archives now and then, under an invisibility spell. Though yes. The Paladin was very adamant about punishing Corsairs simply because they were Corsairs. Little reason needed at all. Guilty by association, perhaps.

[ People have their reasons for doing things, G'raha believes. Not that it makes it excusable, in some cases. However, if there is reason? Reason can be argued with. Logic might able to be applied. Radical fanaticism, on the other hand? Not so much. So which is it in this case... ]

Hardly surprising that this would be your approach. Execution means that this person will not ever be able to see the error of their ways. Death, at times, is no deterrent or punishment at all.

He is already unable to see the error of his ways. Death provides not a lesson for the one killed, but satisfaction and the knowledge that the one who targeted them is no longer capable of doing so be it now, or in the future, to those who were his victims.

There are those who were not so lucky as to be rescued unscathed.

While potentially creating a martyr for others to rally behind...

[ He understands what Daqiang is saying though. Truly, he does. But if there are others who feel just as strongly, is this a mistake? ]

Then they will make themselves known as an enemy that those who were targeted can now watch out for. And they, too, can be eliminated.

[It would not be the first time he had wiped out whole swaths of people. Of course, at that time, he had not had any emotions to sway him. Now... he felt some discomfort at the idea. He wondered why. Not enough to say anything aloud. But it was a curious feeling.]

Eliminated for sharing a belief?

[ G'raha sighs and shakes his head. ]

I have wiped out far more existences than this Paladin can ever dare to achieve. Few ever will. Thus am I to be put down when and if my values do not align?

Eliminated for being a threat and for any actions they take against the victims.

[Plenty of fairies had been spared destruction in his conquering. It was the fairies of Shuiyuntian that stood against him and would see his people destroyed for simply being of the Moon Tribe that he had no mercy for. So it was not as simple as sharing a belief. Though that usually led to worse.]

It is not the misalignment of values. It is the actions taken, the betrayals done in their name, that would cause judgement. My younger brother and I do not agree on many things. He has even sought to kill me. But that is easily forgiven. What would not, is if he betrayed his oath to our people.

[ He wants to ask if the elimination would be before any criminal activity had actually been done or not - even just preplanning. Would these theoretical people be held accountable for having done nothing or at least after they have attempted something?

Instead, his ears perk at the change in Daqiang's tone. G'raha looks at the man with a tilted head. First person and speaking of a brother. ]

I know your point isn't to have me inquire about this relationship you must has with your brother. The point is the oath, yes. Normally I would agree. However, even that can be... Deceptive. There are times where people do not see some actions as a betrayal of oaths.

The oath to our people is clear and easily understood.

[That specific oath wasn't the point, however. But he wanted that to be known. Cangyanhai had not survived as long as it had without understanding the obligations each person had to each other.]

As for other oaths, it is not for the one breaking the oath to solely decide if it is broken. It is for the ones the oath is made to and those they answer to as much as it is the one held to it.

[He nodded at the crowd near the box, which was growing louder and more violent.]

The paladin broke his oath to his armada and ultimately to the people the armada serve. Those who govern it are now faced with the consequence of either turning a blind eye or not being attentive enough. For that, their own oaths are strained. But only broken if they chose to look the other way. To not seek out the truth of a matter before allowing one of their own to cast judgement simply because of another's affiliation.

[He paused and tilted his head.]

Do you think they will draw weapons any time soon?

Edited 2024-01-08 03:15 (UTC)

[Wow it was cheesy for a reason! Just look how much damage G'raha did in a couple of explosions?! And now look what he's doing to the corsair flag with those arrows that are on fire?! Consider Zack deeply impressed.]

Damn, what I wouldn't do to see you shoot an arrow at this man's ass too.

[Who would think anyone is property of all things. People don't belong to people. It's no wonder this poor lady wants to get the hell out of Nogard.]

You better check to make sure she's safe below deck. I'll get us back on track towards Eltrut.

[Zack will do some ship steering. They need to move fast.]

When I return to the leviathan, I may yet do just that.

[ He's saying that he, definitely, is upset over this one. Raha dislikes the deception that had been at work here. The seamstress shouldn't be brought back to Nogard under any circumstances. Raha won't stand for it. Even if she were, he'd probably go out of his way to attempt to free her. ]

Right. Her safety is priority... Do you know how to sail?

[ It makes sense, he supposes, on some level. The Ancients had obligations to each other. To the star itself. And they all readily understood those obligations. Though it came with the price of sacrificing some individuality. Even if they didn't all agree, no one spoke of those things. Nothing had ever been challenged...

No matter, no matter. Daqiang really is more of a black and white person. There are times where G'raha wishes that he could be that way. Alas, there are too many variables that are in need of consideration for him to do that. ]

I thought that, perhaps, it might break out into a fight. Tensions are certainly high enough for it.

[ He sighs, shoulders sagging. ]

Whatever the case, you are correct. It has already been decided that his oath has been broken. That cannot be denied. Mayhap I'm not entirely sure why there is need to turn into such a spectacle.

[Zack grins again and closes a fist to flex.]

Yeah, sure. You catch the wind and steer it with the wheel.

[Confidence can get Zack a long way, actually. He's seen the ships and how they're sailed a lot by now so he's got this. Probably.

...

When G'raha heads down below... There will be a shadow around the corner waiting for him. One with a sharp dagger. And when he comes close the shadow will attempt a sneak attack on G'raha.]

[ Closed ] If you like, I will tell you a tale.

🐺🐈🧵

🌙🐈🗳️

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject