What Have You Done?!
Is there justification in life for a life?
When faced with a split second decision do you allow compassion to surface or do you bury it to accomplish the task at hand?
An untold number of miners have been killed recently by some type of beast. This much was known as we talked to Michel in Britain and observed a corpse ourselves outside the mines in Minoc. Thrym directed us to the Master-At-Arms in Minoc who spoke of Dash at the Compassion Shrine. The Master-At-Arms seemed to allude to the Royal Guard and we were directed to assemble in the throne room in Castle British at 8cst.
As we gathered much was said, in fact a lot was said at times until it filled the room like the sound of geese overhead clucking away about this or that. Then some stood idly by, not sure what to expect but willing to give ear to any orders dispatched on what to do with a strange beast.
It was Sergeant Hawkwood that would appear in front of us all with an announcement on this unknown beast saying, “the bloodied bodies I have seen of past miners speaks against any possibilities of being innocent.” The crowd seemed ready to rally as he next said, “Look, as far as I am concerned this monster has killed decent, honorable people.”
It seemed all there was left to do was await word on the location of the beast. When it was brought to Sergeant Hawkwood that the beast was indeed located back at Mt. Kendall, Marcus Murphy opened up a gate for all who dared to look the creature in the face.
At Mt. Kendall an army of Gargoyle Destroyers had assembled but they were not immediately hostile! They seemed to stare at us in surprise that such an army would assemble against them but once the first blade of steel was heard the gargoyles were swift to respond! The battle continued up the path into the mouth of the cave of Mt. Kendall. As I was healing those closest to me and slowly making my way, the others cut their way to confront the hairy hybrid gargoyle beast.
Had I seen the beast for myself perhaps it’s story would have been told through it’s eyes but as it was I got there only in time to see that in its wake was left two now orphaned infants! This strong beast was a mother and it was slain by those who wielded their weapons first at the command of Sergeant Hawkwood. Some I hear stood in it’s path to prevent any destruction without first capturing the beast instead. In the end though we were left with the pittance of regret from our Sergeant and a great deal of compassion from those willing to camp the cave and look after the juvenile dwellers.
We went back to the Castle to discuss the demise of these new hybrids and it was decided that those who took life away from a blind mother who mistook the miners with pointy things as a threat to her babies, would now be in charge of the orphans. In the meantime Sergeant Hawkwood could not deny those that did follow his orders as he commenced some to come forward and bare a robe of shame at slaying the beast or honor at retaliating in the name of the innocent miners, depending of course on your viewpoint. Those who showed true compassion to the hybrid gargoyle and it's babies were given a lantern of Enlightened Commiseration so that all may know their heart towards the least among us is true.
Some of us returned to the cave but noticed the anxiety was high with these new ones now without the comfort of their mother so Watcher volunteered to, well *watch* over them through the night and a New World Order Guard stood watch outside the cave out of their line of sight. This is how it would be then until further word on how to properly take care of them might be reached in a request that went to Gargoyle City. These hybrid orphans are closest to gargoyles and their advice is necessary.
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I had gone by the cave a time or two to check on the orphans the last few days but always tried to stay out of their site so they would not be alarmed. Finally two days later, word came to us at the Counselor Guild hall from EM Quantum. A letter from the gargoyles in Gargoyle City was returned with the following recommendations:
* Since the parents were killed by us they feel we are responsible for their care
* They advise against moving the orphans because they are perfectly at home in caves and this is the place their parents had chosen. As a hybrid of gargoyles they would have an affinity with stone
* People should feel free to visit them as long as they don’t harm them
* They also suggest that people wanting to assist in caring for them try to hand them foods instead of scattering them about. They will not respect that since they are actually intelligent beings
* No gargoyle of any age will respect intimidation or fear
Quantum ended by saying that he had word that declaration has come down granting the orphans freedom to dwell in the caves as long as necessary and that no one is to harm them while they remain there.
With that we ended the evening with idle chatter and a promise to get the word out to all that would listen. So please do not take the actions of their parents against these orphans. Take care of both the widows of the miners slain and these babies with full compassion as we move on from this treachery.