CHAPTER XVI
in which Glad gets manhandled by Sovelus, and also some stuff with Ori the Centaur...
Previously (07/10)
The group:
reveal to Kasim that he is being suppressed and overpower him and his griffin when he reacts hostile.
capture a centaur scout.
meet up with Cadence's men. Tzolton dispels the suppression on Kasim and reveals that the approaching griffin riders are also being suppressed by individual centaurs.
Tzolton invites the suppressors to try to assault them, but they fail.
Important information learned:
The centaurs have suppressors in their army.
A suppressor can only suppress someone that is weaker than him/herself.
Happy thoughts make you stronger against suppression.
Pissing off the side of an invisible hover ship is not the wisest idea.
Interviewing Ori
With Tzolton and his companion in tow, the group returned to Cadence's camp at Krom's hometown of Kharn Ulum. Upon arrival to the temporary military post headquarters, there was a loud commotion heard in town center. The group left the prisoner with the guard at hand and went to investigate. When they got there, they found an angry mob consisting of the townsfold of Kharn Ulum were in an argument with Cadence and a few of her soldiers. Shouts of being unwanted, and of putting the town at risk, could be heard from the mob. Glad flashed lightening to his hand to get the attention of the mob, and started to explain that the centaurs were using suppression, but he was interrupted by Cadence. She led the group back to the HQ, where she learns about the group's experience with the centaur suppression users and the captured scout. The prisoner is then brought in for questioning. He tells the group that his name is Ori, and that the reason for the centaur march is to find a new home. Ori says that the centaurs are not looking to start a war, but that they will fight for a new land if they have to. He tells them that the war with the Westerners left the Jhora Plains in ruins, and much of their homeland is devastated. He claims that the centaurs have been trying for years to find sanctuary with the other races, but brenthians and the humans have denied them any help. He even implies to Elias that it was the brenthians, and not the centuars, who closed the border to travelers. This is troubling to the group, and they are skeptical about it's truthfulness, since no one has heard anything about this before. Rimi relays this information back to Sovelus, who responds that he has no knowledge of recent politics because he has been across the Rift for 15 years. Ori is given a meal and led back to a holding cell, but he is allowed to remain unbounded.
The group discusses with Cadence what the next step will be, and she says that with the centaurs this close they will need to evacuate the townspeople, and that they will check in with Sovelus in the morning, who will be in town by then. During this exchange Glad makes several comments alluding to his desire to copulate with Cadence. All of his advances are shot down, but he is not deterred.
The next morning, the group goes out to the town center and finds the mob has been replaced with a jovial bunch, entertained and calmed by the appearance of Sovelus. Before the group proceeds to business, Glad first offers to spar with Sovelus. Glad does got one good shot in and manages to cut Sovelus' arm, but he is largely ineffective, as is his Quasith, and yields after being put into a choke hold.
Post Game Summary
Important information learned:
The Brenthian citizens are uneasy with the underexplained Felsparian occupation.
The centaurs believe that their cause is just and non-violent, claiming to be refugees in search of hospitable land that have had their pleas for aid rejected by the Brenthians amongst others.