Duo
Duo
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Duo was created near the end of a production-run in a far away land. The immediate need for warforged soldiers was quickly diminishing and resulted in many of the warforged in that particular production run being sold off to third parties in order to re-coup costs instead of enlisted to military service. He passed between several owners for the next couple of years who used him more as an image of their prestige and money in social situations (IE, look how important I am I bought a robot bodyguard). Each one kept him briefly before deciding having a sentient war machine following them around was weirder than it was prestigious and he was sold to the next individual who wanted to show off. Since many of owners were nobility or had significant disposable wealth, he was frequently brought to the social gatherings of such high class individuals. Eventually, he was sold to William DeWitt, a pompous merchant caravanner who was passing through and jumped on the opportunity to purchase a warforged bodyguard.
DeWitt owned Duo up until their caravan was ambushed by bandits on the roads in Faerun. During the ambush, the DeWitt met his demise (maybe?), or it at least looked that way to Duo. Harboring no duty to the caravan and resenting being continuously sold around as a commodity between owners who saw him more as a possession than a person, Duo decided he was done being someone else's toy and left on his own, shortly after finding himself in Tradefront.
Finding himself in a foreign land with an unexpected amount of freedom, Duo pursues a newfound curiosity for his own identity and culture.
Duo is a recently emancipated Warforged who is exploring his curiosity for his own identity and the foreign land in which he is traveling.
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Big Brain Experiments
Experiment for the appraisal of telepathically conductive material
Materials to test: * glass * clay * wood * iron * steel * stone * jet† * ruby† † due to size limitations of these materials, container will be constructed to reasonable size rather than whole-brain, and a smaller sample placed within Material cost estimate: 600g (200g excluding jet and ruby, only to be attempted if no otherwise suitable material passed test) Process: Emplace sample into rigid container composed of test material Emplace divination-based interface weaves across sample and container Attempt to link mind to sample via Helm of Telepathy Compare result to baseline link established with no obstruction Link exercises: * probe for contact (UDP) * probe for response (TCP/IP) * probe for self-awareness * apply command * apply threat * apply empathyExperiment for inheritence of biomechanical neuro-operation
Materials: * polished stone * emerald agate * recovered undeath agate * diamond * lizard brain * sheep brain * humanoid brain (seek via donation of recently deceased, or confiscated from felon) cost estimate: 200g Process: Combine biological and non-biological test material(s) via transmutation weave. Infuse resulting gemstone into homunculous servant Observe: * Homunculous's memories * Homunculous's impulses * Homunculous's skill aptitudeExperiments of Material Durability and Enhancement
Material to test: * Sheep muscle * lizard skin * lizard brain * pyrotol brain sample cost estimate: ? Pattern variations: * honeycomb * repeated sheets * concentric ring Process: Layer variations of weaves of Abjuration onto test material subject enhanced material to stress tests tests: * stretch * compress * heat * freeze * submerge * puncture * tumble
My Communion with Dol Azur
Begin writing your story here...In the temple of the Skinned Saint, I witnessed a rite of flesh and blood beseeching the attention of the god Dol Azur. The devotees ripped the very skin from their bodies in a demonstration of their commitment. My hope was merely to get some guidance: perhaps a sign or affirmation that their god was involved in luring us to their city, and ideally a direction to take. Unlike when I first approached the “god”-king Dreadgrax, I was unprepared to find myself speaking directly to a deity, yet Dol Azur’s presence was unmistakable through Archbishop Eldmor acting as his conduit.
“I sense the sacrifice of those devoted to me, but no sacrifice offered from those beseeching me.”
To be star-struck is an understatement. My feet felt immovable, welded to the ground, while my voice struggled to resound louder than a child’s bell. His statement carried an expectation, a demand from myself and my companions - Prove to me that you are of my ilk, that you are subservient to my Will, to my Order, and to my Designs.
He demanded a sacrifice. Victory at any cost.
Dol Azur’s devotees, still moaning in agony and the throes of death, gave clue to what was expected of us as well. Quickly, I calculated what we could offer. First, I drew my companions with me in this endeavor to seek the Skinned Saint’s guidance. It would be unjustified for any of them to make a sacrifice to appease this god. I would not tolerate witnessing their mutilation, either. Second, Dol Azur brought us as tools or pawns to his city of supplicants. Our very presence in this place, seeking a Victory on behalf of his people, indicated that our roles were more than to be mere blood sacrifices. My conclusion could only be that the sacrifice must be mine, but my death or dismemberment would be counterproductive. I also had the unique opportunity that no other being present could offer: I could offer my skin without offering my life.
So, I doffed my shell, my skin, my body. It did not have the impact which I had anticipated. Among my companions, I sensed their confusion, and from Dol Azur: disappointment. Albeit reluctantly, Dol Azur did accept my offering, stating that he had grown used to seeing his supplicants groveling in fear or respect, but had long since seen someone offer confidence and irreverence.
Thus largely concluded my first encounter with a True god. I would not seek any further wisdom from them. I would not inquire into their nature or endeavor to better understand their godhood. No, this was not the god for me.
What I failed to consider in my calculations was that Dol Azur is a god of FLESH. To a god, mortals are barely more than stones or insects that they can manipulate to their own whims and desires. Dol Azur is already isolated from empathy to the experience of mortals. So much further would he be unable to empathize with a creature not made from flesh. Unlike my original nature and the state other of my ilk remain, I’d modified my carapace in such a way that it’d be more easily released. I could imagine that the ease at which I separated created the illusion that my body is modular and disposable. For my companions to interpret my sacrifice as vacuous is a concession I am willing to make. However, for a god to do so as well is no less than disappointing. I gave the very skin of my back, and was met with indifference.
A branch may be ripped from a tree, a part of its body. While the tree may grow another, the tree’s loss is still tangible, measurable. A lizard may shed its tail to escape death. While hte lizard may eventually grow another, in the meantime it is vulnerable. Neither creature will ever be the same. So too was I left: naked, disarmed, exposed. Until I can construct or acquire another suitable carapace, I am left with a prosthetic.
Dol Azur’s disregard aside, this encounter left me with an acute understanding of what I had previously overlooked: not all gods are the same. In my immediate goal of pursuing apotheosis, I’ve yet to consider an important question: what kind of god will I be?
Observations of Fae Effects
On board the ship from Ebonait to the lands of Olak Vald, I found myself with an unprecedented amount of free time. I offered some of my services to the captain, largely out of idle boredom, but after repairing a few damaged boards, tools, and parts of the hull, the captain relieved me of such opportunities, stating that my aptness was likely to create some dissatisfaction amongst the normal crew. I suspect he worried that their pride in their work would be injured by seeing their poor results so easily outshined.
So, with little other action to sate my idleness, I decided this would be a prime opportunity to experiment with the boon placed upon me by the queen of the Timber Throne. To this point, I’ve yet to interact with this power, admittedly due in no small part to a certain amount of unease with the foreign presence now contained within me. While I expect the possibility of ascension will require the integration of external forces into my own, that possibility has yet to be truly tangible until this very time. For the first time, I’ve achieved an evolution to my being rather than simply incorporating an external accessory into the operation of my mechanics. At least, that is the hypothesis. Hence, I find the need to test and analyze the changes that have come as a result of this integration.
Day 1
I decided that my first experiment should be a conservative one, given that I had not yet tapped into the fae magic bestowed upon me. So, I descended to the ship’s hold, departing from any prying eyes and hopefully mitigating the risks to any crew of releasing the arcane energy without a full understanding of its effect. The goal of the experiment was three-fold: first, to witness the magic’s impact first-hand; second, to better understand the need for existing flora to benefit from the infusion of magic; and third, to determine the vertical and lateral radius of impact.
Day 1 - Outcome
The experience of releasing the fae boon’s potential was not quite anything I’ve encountered before. As of being of metal and consciousness, I am not precisely acquainted with the feeling of respiration, but the best analogy to which I can associate the release of the fae boon is that of releasing a deep breath of air. The potency radiated out from a part of my physical form in a brief but steady stream. Prior to release, I had a vague sense of the magic’s presence within. After, a vague sense of emptiness and fatigue replaced it.
The effects of the magic were immediately apparent, but not exactly what I had expected. Many regions of mold and fungus staining the ship’s hull ballooned outward in rapid expansion. The wooden boards, long dead remains of trees, sprouted new, gnarly shoots of growth. Seeds and spores which had made residence in the hold’s nooks and crannies suddenly found a surge of life within them, blossoming to maturity in mere moments. I had not expected such a potent reaction from the otherwise inert or deceased flora, but in hindsight, the energy released necessitated vessels to receive it, regardless of their quality.
The lateral impact of the rampant growth matched my expectations. However, the experiment proved a failure when determining the vertical impact. My intent was to depart from the origin of the effect once released and observe any remains left behind in the quarters above, determining if the effect is bound by direct accessibility to nearby flora, or if any flora within the true radius would be affected. I could not reach the location given my own impaired mobility until after the effect’s termination. Upon termination, though, the new growth dissolved into dust and vanished just as quickly as it had appeared. The conclusion to which I am led is that the power of the fae boon not only drives the rapid growth, but also acts as the very material which the flora inhabits. Thus, upon the magic’s diffusion, the very material ceases to exist as well. Further experimentation of this phenomenon will require additional aid to act as a witness in locations that I cannot.
Day 7
The vessel’s captain was quite furious by my unannounced experiment on the ship’s deck yesterday. So as to not further fuel his irritation, I’ve chosen to redirect my next goals toward ones less detrimental to the crew’s normal procedures. I’ve purchased a small amount of grain from the ship’s hold (to act as catalyst), a span of cloth, several ropes, and a mangonel stone. By spreading the span of cloth among the ship’s rigging and distributing the grain across it, I will test the overgrowth’s capacity for load bearing by introducing the mangonel stone to the new growth. This will better help determine the overgrowth’s compression threshold, instead of merely the effect’s ability to withstand tension.
Day 11
I discussed my next idea to the ship’s bosun, and word apparently got around, for many crewmembers have started a wager to guess whether “the metal man will sink or float.” However the crew wish to observe the experiment is entirely their own business, though I do confess a bit of pride at having earned a small crowd of observers.
The specifics of my experiment are to better understand the fae boon’s frame of reference and its effect within an aquatic environment. The experiment will require me to disembark from the vessel, connected to the ship by a long dockline rope tied around my waist. Once the line becomes taught, I can release the fae boon’s effect upon the water. Thus, I will ascertain if the radius of effect is stationary in reference to the water or in reference to myself, the origin, as the ship pulls me along.
Day 11 - Outcome
The experiment once again yielded unforeseen results. Rather than testing the effect’s frame of reference, the experiment exceeded the hull’s structural integrity. Once released, the fae boon created a significant overgrowth of algae and aquatic flora in a hemisphere around me. The instantaneous increase of drag resistance through the water ripped the fastener from the ship’s hull, leaving me temporarily adrift at sea. The inconvenience my rescue demanded on our itinerary forced the captain to forbid any further experimentation while aboard.
No Good Deed
Duo dropped the empty vial thoughtlessly to the ground, its contents already fast at work as Gramlek’s eyes fluttered to life.
“Where is she!?” the warforged cried out as he scanned the sanctum for Lady Chamylla. He staggered toward the inky bubble in which he assumed Sylvie still hid.
“Intactum Reject!” Sylvie recited in response. An arcane crack roared out from the darkness, immediately followed by a frustrated grunt and another loud cracking sound. In an instant, the black sphere vanished, revealing the straining and blood smattered combatants within. Lady Chaylla stood thrusting her rose rapier toward the half-drow, held back by a faint ripple in the air just beyond Sylvie’s outstretched arms.
Darnath was the first to react, his bow already half drawn with its next arrow. He hastily drew a bead on the fey and loosed the boney missile, wide of his target. It was enough to draw Chamylla’s attention, though, and she glared daggers at her assailant through the disheveled locks of her fair red matted over her brow. Rather than duck back into hiding once again, Darnath leveled his gaze back on his enemy. He steadied his stance and let the sound of his pounding heart beating in his ears set a rhythm to his movement.
Chamylla started another angry threat, “I will NOT tol-” but was cut short as a second arrow from Darnath’s bow found its mark and buried itself into her abdomen. The moment seemed frozen in time: Chamylla’s stance faltering as her eyes fell down in disbelief to the mortal wound. Time snapped back into meaning when the boney missile shattered into fragments, further tearing apart Chamylla’s stomach and gown.
The would-be fey queen collapsed, lifeless to the ground. Her fair form and bright red hair splayed across the ground, like a flower blooming at its peak, only to be plucked and trodden by uncaring soles.
The quiet and serenity of the sanctum became a sharp contrast to the bloody conflict that finally finished. Nearby, tongues of flame still flickered from the charred limbs of Chamylla’s treant protectors. The grandeur of the place had been broken. The previously vibrant and colorful flora surrounding the glade seemed to droop and dim.
Anxious, Duo and each of his companions approached the defeated usurper, unsure if their victory was complete. Duo looked down at the Chamylla’s lifeless body and felt… petty.
This was neither a grand quest nor triumph of a greater cause; at least, not one to which Duo was committed. Rather, he felt once again like a pawn, used and abused at the leisure and whim of a being willfully imposing their authority on a lesser creature. Would Chamylla have made similar demands if she ascended to her mother’s throne? Or would Chamylla have had respect for those beneath her station instead of treating them like tools and disposable resources? “Unlikely,” he thought. “Dusksprout made it pretty clear that Chamylla and members of her court harbored little respect for mortals.” For that, despite feeling used, Duo felt no remorse for this errand.
This debt he’d owed linked all the way back to Edwyrd. He was the one truly at fault in all of this. Duo kept his promises. He fulfilled his end of the bargain made with Lady Timber, unlike Edwyrd who put his own selfish wants ahead of his commitments. Duo bound himself to that debt when he and the others intervened where they weren’t involved. Hopefully, with this act of violence, that debt will finally be closed.
As for his side of the bargain, Duo felt a little uncertain about the deal they made. Chamylla was powerful - not just in her physical and magical talents, but in the authority she held over her followers. Lady Timber had agreed to transfer some aspect of that power to his companions, but the form or function was yet to be determined. Lady Chamylla shared the same bloodline and thus a similar connection to Edwyrd’s curse. So, it may prove to be the case that accepting this boon could further tie Duo to Lady Timber’s employ, with or without his consent. However, the opportunity is one that cannot be passed. For the first time, Duo will have access to (or at least witness the transference of) some of the innate power of a higher being. Seeing it in its raw form, observing how it can be molded… there are secrets hidden within that Duo trembled with anticipation to discover. Even understanding the transference of the power would be a crucial first step, and unlock that first step for his own ascension. Then, perhaps, he could gather more samples and condense them into something useful, something powerful. Best not to get too far ahead of himself.
One thing was for certain, though, as Duo looked once more at his haggard and exhausted companions and the foe they had felled: the gap in power wasn’t as vast as it once had been.
The Journal Entry’s title
Begin writing your story here...
Duo's Wishlist
Ring of Protection (rare, A)
Cloak of Displacement (rare, A)
+2 Shield (rare)
Wand of Lightning Bolts (rare, A)
A gem or crystal worth at least 100 gp (homunculus Servant)
G0ggles of Night (uncommon)
Pearl of Power (uncommon, A)
Ring of Swimming (uncommon)
Ring of Water Walking (uncommon)
Rope of Climbing (uncommon)
Potion of Growth (uncommon)
✔️All-Purpose Tool +1 (uncommon, A)
✔️Bag of Holding (uncommon)
✔️Smith's Tools
✔️Splint 200gp
✔️100gp pearl
✔️owl feather
✔️Cloak of Protection (uncommon, A)
✔️Shield, +1 (uncommon)
✔️Wand of Magic Missiles (uncommon)
✔️wand sheath (common, A)
✔️Plate 1500gp
On the Elevation of Species
Recent events have convince me to consider the direction of my research and skills. To this point, I've considered development and improvement of my own functions purely for their own sake. By improving my tools and bodily structure through the application and improvement of my exoskeleton, I've achieved a greater amount of agency and domain over my immediate surroundings. However, as I consider the continuation of these improvements, I am convinced that mere tuning and improvement will eventually approach a bounded upper limit. Within the nature of my physical form, I am restricted to the amount of power and agency I am able to consolidate. Thus, the next question becomes how to remove or exceed this upper limit.
Firstly, I must consider the order of species, from highest to lowest: gods, demigods, mortals, beasts, plants, and mineral. Within those orders themselves are less structured importance and power, but those are unique to the creature rather than the order containing them. For example, a king wields more power than a pauper. A Lion possess a greater domain than a hare. Power may comparisons of individual creatures across orders may exceed the rankings of those orders, such as a Cave Bear wielding more power than a halfling child. The orders represent the hypothetical potential of its members, rather than the specific power one wields. A hare may fall victim to a falling rock, but the rock has no means to autonomously traverse distances, engage in relationships with other members of its species, or even have an awareness of the difference between self and other. In this way, the hare as a member of the order of beasts will always exceed the potential of a mere rock.
Now, having established the order of species and the implications on the potential for each species, I can consider the boundaries between those orders. The orders themselves are closely tied to the nature and understanding of its member species. While one could argue that a plant has no true awareness, I assert that within its nature is an awareness of growth and reproduction. Within the form of the plant is the rules and structure necessary to continue the process of life. This is something clearly lacking in the mineral species. A beast has the same process of life, but also has the awareness and understanding of its surroundings. A mortal has the same processes as a beast, yet also possesses the awareness of itself. As I am neither god nor demigod, I will not presume to speak of the nature that those species possess beyond my own. With the examples thus far, however, I can draw several conclusions. Firstly, that the higher orders are a superset of the lower orders. I can see this to be true both by the consolation of nature in each higher order, but also in the fact that each order lives by the fruits of those orders below it. A plant consumes minerals to benefit itself the same as a mortal may employ beasts for profit. As an aside, this further brings to question whether a god is truly such if not for the mortals that worship it. The second important conclusion to make is that members of a species may transfer to a new order upon a change in their nature. A plant is made of the mineral it consumes to grow. Prior to becoming part of the plant, the mineral is a member of its own order. However, upon changing nature to become part of a plant, that mineral is now elevated into the order of plant as its identity is now that of the plant. Similarly, a beast may consume a plant to elevate the plant into its own being, or a mortal may perish, returning their material to the order of mineral. Finally, I can assert that such power exists to elevate beast, plant, or mineral to mortal directly. Some orders of druid can instill the change in nature upon a beast or plant, "awakening" them to the state of mortal. My very existence is evidence of a mineral directly elevating to the order of mortal.
In all examples I have thus far discovered or considered, the elevation of a species required the intervention of a higher order. In no case has a species achieved a higher order by its own volition. Thus, this outstanding question must be answered: can a species reach a higher order through its own means? Either I may pursue an elevation of my own will, or I must seek the intervention of a higher order. For the purposes of my research, it is more beneficial to pursue the former, as the latter has been proven. Revisiting my examples, each elevation implied an increase in awareness, some change to cognitive function. As such, my research will begin in that regard.
The recent events that have inspired this redirection of my efforts was the witnessing of the studies performed by the kingdom of Brenica. The experiments showed certain changes in nature being imposed upon beasts partially though the intervention of mortals, but more largely through the interaction of a beast with a specific, foreign mineral. It is a tragedy that the bulk of the research was lost in a conflagration, but some specific notebooks were recovered. Personally, while studying these notes, I will be considering the cognitive changes that occurred. Hopefully, they will provide some hint into the changes in nature and the process that occurred to achieve them. By doing so, I may be able to create and test some means of increasing the cognition of another being beyond their nature.
Given the preferences of my immediate companions, any such testing must be done or perceived benevolently, not bringing harm or disruption to the subject. I have a subject in mind given the potential for growth; so hopefully my research into the means proves fruitful.
Creatures and Mortality
The preconditions leading up to the circumstance in which I am composing this reflection are both complicated and straightforward simultaneously. They are complicated due to the actors and motivations they possessed. Yet they are straightforward, as once one understands the players on the stage, the resulting decisions and direction that have led myself and my colleagues this far are very simple.
While I have done a poor job of documenting the exact passage of time during the course of this journey, I would estimate that it began roughly three 10-days prior. My traveling companions and I followed a rumor that unfolded in our discovery of the individual Edwyrd. Edwyrd, while not the core actor upon which I reflect, is a crucial component to the events that have followed. Edwyrd's history is a very disappointing one. A simple summary is in order. His family, for many centuries and generations, allied themselves with forces of the Fae. Through their pact, they were given prosperity in their kingdom. Edwyrd broke the contract through selfish actions, resulting in the downfall of his kingdom, along with potentially the most squandered of opportunities. The opportunity that was given to Edwyrd is that of immortality - the pinnacle of all mortal achievements. While his specific circumstances came with some criteria, I would argue that infinity - reduced by any quantified amount - is still indeed infinity. Thus, we found ourselves seeking a solution to separate Edwyrd from his granted immortality, as the fool chooses to count his thorns before his blessings. This agreement was the catalyst setting us forward on the journey that has followed.
Before continuing, I can assure you that Edwyrd has proven to be of absolutetly NO benefit. Despite his agelessness, he has allowed himself to be frozen at the moment of his granted immortality. He knows nothing of the power that encompasses him. He has made no effort to grasp at the eternity lying at his fingertips. I have restrained myself from berating him too harshly, as one consequence of his prevents clear communication between us outside of his domain of rulership (and I must re-iterate that a god, even when shackled, would still be a god).
Our journey through the wilderness of Faerun passed briefly through the domain of the black dragon Undreeg, Lord of the Lake. This was an encounter of which I hoped to take better note, as the dragon seemed to be approaching the pinnacle of mortal existence. Dragons are well known throughout the nations of the world as the most fearful, wrathful, benevolent, and simply powerful creatures. Yet, I must still emphasize that last descriptor - creature. We encountered this dragon, Undreeg, in the midst of a parenting session, instructing his brood of the hatred they should have for other mortal races. We acted as assistants in the exercise, serving as the objects to be hated by imposing our own superiority over them. In the natural order, those of higher status should be most offended by those of lower status lording over them. Undreeg granted us mercy in his domain. In the natural order, those of higher status are justified to show mercy and pity on those of lower status. Should I ever find myself arisen above Undreeg, I would deign it quite fitting should I someday show mercy and pity upon Undreeg in return.
In the most recent leg of our travel, toward rumors of one Fenbi Truefin, we have entered a broad expanse of desert. This desert is the motivation for my potentially preemptive reflection, for I cannot guarantee a return from this desert to civilization. However, I remain hopeful that the foray will prove profitable.
In this desert, we discovered a unique location which has aided me in putting several ideas in clearer perspective. We happened upon the remains of a long-gone wizard's tower. The tower was guarded by several sentries of undeath. Each, at is core, was an crystal imbued or focused with the power of undeath. These crystals animated corpses of sand and wrappings, serving at the defense of the desolate tower. Undeath is a notable variation on immortality, though incomplete of true immortality. My basic understanding of the craft is that while the undeath carries a semblance of eternity, it is very fragile. Firstly, the gift of undeath is usually paired with an imposed servitude. Secondly, while undeath allows for permanency when unaffected by external forces, the undeath can be extinguished by force or omission - either the undead is physically deconstructed or the flow of power creating the undeath is interrupted. In either case, the appearance of immortality is broken. The one outstanding question, which I hope to find time to study from these crystals, is whether the acting, autonomous entity present in the undeath is a new creation, a new soul, a new spirit, or whether it is an imprisonment of one that already existed. By studying this, I hope to better understand my own individuality. I, as a mechanically created being, have my own autonomy, but it is unclear whether my individuality is a uniquely created one or if it is one derived from a previously existing one. This will better help me clarify whether the creation of (or recycling of, for those convinced of perpetual re-incarnation) of a unique consciousness is innately tied to biological reproduction or if mechanical reproduction can also access that mystery.
The undead creatures did provide proof of one thing so far - that my entity is one currently tied to the cycle of life and death. Specifically, during our conflict, those creatures of undeath attempted to deconstruct the living essence of myself and one other, not through the normal means of physical deconstruction, but rather through some means of spiritual, life-draining interaction. This confirms my prior conviction that my personal entity is in fact one containing life. Thus, the act of my creation did imbue life into my form (though, as mentioned before the uniqueness of my spiritual entity is still open to interpretation).
The last note which I leave in this reflection is about the upcoming dialog I will have with Fenbi Truefin. Wrapping back to the original instigation of this journey, Fenbi may have a better understanding and clarity as to the powers at work which have granted Edwyrd his immortality. Learning what Fenbi knows will further my investigation toward my own ascension.
On Culpability and Consequence
The recent conclusion of our vigilantism warrants reflection for the purpose of improving my own understanding of events and for any who may seek truth in records around the fate of those involved.
First an explanation of context. Darnath, Gramlek, Kalgan, Omnu, Sylvie, and myself initially went in pursuit of Ragnar and Tovoch out of our desire to determine their involvement in the burning of Groundbreak. The best lead we had on the issue was that those individuals were likely operating out of the town of Stoneheart. We did not know the true extent of their involvement, the motivations for their actions, or any parties who may have been complicit to the destruction and murder of Groundbreak inhabitants. Upon our arrival in Stonehearth, we learned of the Mayor's frequent employ of Ragnar and Tovoch, leveraging them as general "problem solvers" whenever something inhibited the town's productivity. We also learned that Ragnar and Tovoch kept very close company with a minor named Ciara, who was rarely seen socializing around the town. Sylvie concocted a plan to lure Ragnar, Tovoch, and their assistant Sylvie out of Stonehearth so that our personal conflict may be resolved without incidental involvement of the residents of Stonehearth. Ultimately, we apprehended the trio, and made our plans to return to Tradefront while interrogating the three. Concurrently, Darnath acquired access to Stonehearth's mayor's logbook, which will be referenced later.
Now that the context has been established, I may begin the explanation of the complexity of the situation. From interrogating Tovoch and Ragnar, and through reliable means of learning the truth from them, we established the following chain of events. Firstly, the mayor of Stonehearth recognized the steady decrease in the town's prosperity, a trend that surely pointed to the ultimate, economic failure of the city. Those employed by and inhabiting the town would be beset by steadily increasing poverty and loss of their livelihoods. Secondly, the mayor, upon determining that the trend in the town's income and expenses, contracted Ragnar to find a solution to the problem. The mayor and Ragnar had a strong relationship, nearing that of being partners to some degree. So, delegating this responsibility to Ragnar's creative mind is a reasonable conclusion for one who is occupied with the operations of the town. Now, Ragnar, weighing his own personal strengths and weaknesses, determined that a profitable, short term action could be made to adjust the trend of the towns operations by disrupting the operations of Stonehearth's greatest competitor: Groundbreak. Ragnar acquired the information and schedules of Groundbreak's caravans, determining a opportune time to cause a maximum disruption to their supply. Ragnar then delegated the responsibility and details of this particular mission to his long-time partner - Tovoch. Tovoch took the plans that Ragnar had outlined and became responsible for executing them. For this operation, Tovoch would need man-power, individuals strong enough to fight off the caravan's protectors and skilled enough to drive the caravan once it had been taken over. Tovoch had existing connections to orcs in the region, likely due to his heritage as a half-orc. He was able to approach such a group on good terms, offer them a form of contract - the details of which were never made wholly clear - and dispatched them to carry out the mission. Ultimately, the raiding party saw fit to attack more than just the caravan, laying Groundbreak to waste, slaying many of its residents, and evicting the rest.
Stonehearth's mayor's logbook, the contents of which were accessed by Darnath, confirmed key details of this chain of events. Firstly, the town's finances are in a clear downward trend. Second, the mayor did establish a contract with Ragnar to determine a solution to the town's impending financial crisis.
In all of this, the clear victims of the wrongdoing are the former residents of Groundbreak. They, being innocent actors seeing to their own livelihood and prosperity, had disaster thrust upon them in the form of axes, arrows, and flame. However, the set of perpetrator(s) of these events is poorly defined. Surely, the individual orcs who brandished their blades and torches are culpable for their actions, but beyond that, my certainty is much less clear.
An analogy before continuing: upon achieving victory in a war, the soldiers are celebrated for their contribution. In addition, the General who commanded them receives rewards and accolades for his guidance and planning, despite likely never engaging in the battle himself. Furthermore, the king is showered with glory for bringing victory to the nation. Even beyond that, the national pride is brought to the forefront of everyone's mind - "how great is our nation of the fatherland." So, despite the soldiers being the ones standing in battle, the General, the King, and the nation as a whole, all claim a share of the responsibility for the victory.
Who too then, should culpability for wrongdoing be applied? Though the raiding orcs brandished the steel, they were not acting in isolation. They received motivation and incentive from Tovoch. Tovoch too, the general to the orcs, received his orders from Ragnar. Ragnar acted on behalf of the mayor of Stonehearth. The mayor of Stonehearth acted in the stead of the towns denizens. Following this chain of motivation, I must consider who is considered culpable to destruction of Groundbreak.
My assertion is thus - one cannot be culpable where choice does not exist. A stone cannot be culpable for the damage done when thrown, for the stone has no choice in action.
Furthermore, for culpability to apply, the choice made must correlate to an intent of wrongdoing. Could a smith who crafts a dagger be culpable for a murder in which that dagger was used? Possibly, for the smith made a choice to craft an implement of violence. However, could a smith who crafts a carpenters hammer be culpable for a murder in which that hammer was used? I would assert no, for the smith's choice was to craft an instrument of peace. I assert even further that neither smith could be culpable for the decisions of those who use the tools they created. For the free-will of the murderers is tangential to the free-will of the smiths. The smiths' actions had no affect on the mindset or choices made by the murderers.
In the case of Groundbreak, then, I must consider where choice was made for the wrongdoing. The orcs' choice to raze the town makes them directly culpable for their choice. Tovoch's choice to execute the plan to attack the caravan, to instigate violence, ensures his culpability. Despite the plan omitting any intent to do harm to the town, that destruction is a direct consequence of Tovoch's choice for violence. Furthermore, Ragnar's intent to disrupt the caravan lays culpability upon his shoulders as well. Ragnar made a clear choice for illegal, immoral action to be taken against the property (and ultimately lives) of his neighbors. The last relevant choice to consider is that of the mayor's. The mayor's choice was to rescue the town's financial situation. While the mayor's choice is directly related to the events that transpired, I must apply the concept of intent. While the other individual's choices innately included wrongdoing, the mayor's did not. In fact, the mayor's attempt to prevent the town's imminent financial crisis, had no consideration of Groundbreak, its people, or its operations what-so-ever. Thus, the line can be drawn and culpability applied.
Beyond the culpability, I cannot answer the consequence of this situation. This is a lesson I may learn by observation of the events that transpire. Tovoch, Ragnar, and Ciara have been delivered to the guardsman, Jarvis, in Tradefront. Jarvis, he who upon which the responsibility has fallen, will mediate the application of justice to those individuals to answer for their actions. I hope to observe how he weighs the passion and needs of those wronged against the scope of each individuals contribution to the crimes.
The last thing which I must confess, is my own culpability to the fate of Ciara. Up to this point, one may recognize that her name has appeared only twice - once to mention her association with Ragnar and Tovoch, and once to mention her delivery to Jarvis. In no context has she had involvement with the events at Groundbreak, nor has her culpability even been considered. Rather, Ciara's involvement is merely that as a by-stander caught in a disaster. Ciara's delivery to Jarvis is purely that of completion of the apprehension of Tovoch and Ragnar. Her hands are entirely clean of the Groundbreak's ashes. However, her connection to Ragnar and Tovoch must not be underestimated. In our brief conflict, the child placed her own self at risk in defense of her allies. Leaving her in freedom while the other two await justice creates a risk in which Ciara may act incorrectly and attempt to free her allies from the necessary judgment that they require. This detail must still be made clear to Jarvis - Ciara's involvement in this case is not as a perpetrator.
I fear, after reflecting on these recent events, that our return to Tradefront cannot come soon enough. Should ill-fate come to Ciara, my own involvement would place me as directly culpable for it. My actions placed her in captivity. My choice placed her to be judged adjacent to Tovoch and Ragnar. This girl does not deserve a failure of justice.
Reflections on the Confrotation with Tovoch and Resolution of Contracts with Levon
8th of Uktar
After our short debate over how we should engage with the Orcs who holed themselves in a cavern beneath their fortress, Sylvie's silver tongue once again proved a valuable asset. Much was learned during that relatively short conversation. For instance, Tovoch seemed to have no ulterior motives encouraging his banditry of Groundbreak's fortune. Just as we find ourselves working for the employ of Levon to retrieve the goods, Tovoch's employment placed him on the opposite side of this altercation. He seemed regretful of the events that left many in Groundbreak without home or hearth, not out of pity for their loss, but out of the complications it added to the work he had been trying to achieve. Ultimately, his life was more valuable than the job, the goods, his accomplices, or the hostage he had taken. Perhaps I will encounter this Tovoch again in the future. Perhaps as an ally, or perhaps once again as the antagonist toward my goals. I must admit there are players in this theater that I have yet to fully perceive. Have I moved from a life of commanded slavery to a life of circumstantial slavery? Are the likes of Tovoch and I merely pawns conveniently used by those with actual power? Thus far, the language of power and importance commonly spoken among all beings in the land is that of wealth. They hunt for wealth, and once obtained they leverage that power to control their surroundings. My road, the answers to my questions, may thus be gilded with the gleam of wealth until that wealth can be discarded for the higher ascension.
Regardless, my party's dealings with Levon have reached an underwhelming conclusion. While grateful for the work we performed for him at risk to ourselves, our compensation proved less than I had anticipated. The components, the materials I need are still outside my grasp. I must take this as a lesson to calibrate my understanding of the value of the labor that I can provide. Surely, the greater risk to self that such endeavors entail ARE compensated greater than a labor of safety such as the plane and the lathe. So, I see that I must continue this path as the means to an end, lest I fall into squalor and lose all opportunity. Levon did offer his aide in knowledge of these lands and the mercantile powers at play. I will learn what I can from him. If nothing else, he has proven to be a trustworthy patron, and he may be a source of patronage again in the future.
For now, I shall increase my patience and take what opportunities I can as they arise. I intend to inquire as to the history of the Tabaxi, Kuro, and how one such as her came to the possession of such an exquisite item of craftsmanship. Similarly, Omnu continues to hide their knowledge from me, as I have yet to find a means to earn their confidence. Other than their curious desire to learn a secret from me, they have not yet even shown a glimmer of their motives. Though, perhaps secrets themselves are their motive. Finally, without an active patron offering an opportunity, it may be some time before another arises. The others in my recent crew have shown some dissatisfaction with the outcome of our recent contract, despite proving successful on all accounts. Depending on how much I can advocate for reason, perhaps we will be speaking with Tovoch again sooner rather than later.
