Shield of Lies chapter 15: The Technological Detour.

[slightly aboveaverage man]

Gabriel let out an uncomprehendable sound of shock and anger. "Who said this was about me or my family?!" He roared as he grabbed Hakar by the front of his new armour. Realizing that he was causing a scene, he released his old friend and continued in a lower, but still irritated tone. "This has nothing, nothing to do with my past, or the specific actions of my family members. This is about the people from whome I decend. Imagine for a moment, Hakar, a field... an endless field that once was filled with life and happiness. A land that once held your own people."

As he continued his rant, he lowered his voice even further to a harsh whisper so that the locals could not hear him. "Now imagine that land, your land, which was once fruitful and lively, now a baron wasteland of mud, cinder, mould and swamp. A land that is no longer land, but the decayed and dissolved remnants of everyone you held dear. Where the very Earth you step on were sisters, brothers, fathers, mothers- People!" He nearly barked out the last word. "A land composed entirely of PEOPLE! Where the earth is composed of bodies and the rivers run with blood. An entire civilization that has been wiped out, your civilization! No, Hakar. I will not set foot on that soil, and nor will I allow any of you either. You will let the Dead lie in peace where they rest." Gabriel was nearly shaking with emotion now, and gritted his teeth as he slowly backed away from Hakar.

Sarin, who was deemed fit to walk early that morning, stepped forward. "Gabriel is right, Hakar." he said softly. "It is not a matter of personal choice, or circumstance. No one with Elven blood may enter those lands, for it is sacred ground now. To set foot there is to dishonour those who have fallen."

Metrius, Arthos, Laine, everyone in the group who had even a trace of elven lineage nodded their assent.

Amidst the cold silence, Osiris cleared his throat. "Well..." he began trying to defuse the suddenly tense siduation. "If it is such a...personal issue, we do not have to land in the coves. Although their protection would be preferable, we can just bypass the Tigris Peninsula and land just beyond the old borders. It'll provide no cover, we'd have to take a dhingy to shore, and there's a moderate chance of getting caught by a patrol, but so far it seems our best option at keeping everyone happy."

[Darth SS]

"Okay, captain spaz? Metrius and I just said we can scale the cliffs with everyone. Not to mess with your 'greater adventure' thing you got going on, but our way is much simpler."

Alec shrugged.

"And, there's no big 'guards!' moments involved in it."

[slightly aboveaverage man]

Osiris leveled an arrogent sneer at Alec. "Yes, but you're idea causes us to lose a lot of time as we scale cliffs, and puts us nearly fifty extra kilometers away from our destination, through Enemy infested territory. My plan involves the risk of being caught by a corvette or two which any of us can sink instantly, and half the time in said enemy territory."

He pressed an index finger into Alec's shoulder. "What say we leave the sea travel to me: The only person here who knows what he's talking about. The second we hit a forest, feel free to take over!"

[Dragonsbane]

"Gabriel, if I WERE to encounter such a place, I would LEARN from it! It is not your right to turn an entire land into an enormous monument. The elves can rebuild, so can you. Stay here if you don't plan to come along, but don't try and force the rest of us to abide by your philosophies." Hakar realized he had his hand on the hilt of his dagger, and released it, his gaze steady.

"Either way, calm down. You've been acting steadily more strange recently, and it's becoming more than just an annoyance." Turning away from Gabriel, confident that his powers would inform him if the half-elf attacked, he adressed the group.

"I recommend we take the quickest, safest route. This is too important for personal concerns to get in the way."

[secretskull]

"Sorry Gabriel, but I'm going to have to agree with Hakar". Piped up Mat. "We just don't have time to spare just to avoid going through the elven lands". "I know this is hard for you, but it’s the most practical way unless you can get us an airship and we fly there” He finished with a hint of sarcasm.

[My Lead Airbag]

Gug strolled through the testing range with a determined gait. Not five minutes ago he had written out a lengthy and well articulated letter informing his former team that he had decided to stick around with Volcanus and develop amazing new inventions. Gug had never found a person who could transform ideas into cold hard "Wow!" quite like the metallurgist. He had woken up and decided to not pursue surenuff death and tell Volcanus about their new partnership in person.

As he passed by the forges beside the testing area he basked in the glow of the flames. A young elf called out a warning to clear the area but Gug didn't pay any attention. The flames danced in front of him, beckoning the goblin. He leaned forward, using his pyrokinesis to keep away everything but the nice warmth.

A sharp metal disk flew through the air and Gug's neck. The little green creature fell into the forge and was immolated immediately, not a trace to be found.

[slightly aboveaverage man]

Ooc: And he lived happily ever after.

I think that's the first RP death from an industrial accident... Ever! For some reason I thought Gug's death would involve the words "Watch this," or "Oops!", and some sort of bright explosion.

Ic: For a moment it seemed like Gabriel was going to deck someone, his jaw clenched and his fists balled into fists. "So," he said slowly in a taut voice. "You would instead force us to abide by your own."

Jechir placed himself between the two of them. "Whoa, whoa, hold up here." he said in a calm voice. "I think we're missing the gravity of the siduation. Gabe, if we don't cross that way, Tigris Forest will not be the only such field of death. If Ashtar gets his way, the Avariel city, Barbarian lands, Dwarven Mountains, they all could end up like how you described. A vast continental graveyard. We need to get back and help the others, and Tigris forest is the fastest and safest way of getting there."

He took an involuntary step backwards, in case Gabriel decided to throttle him again. "Now, with that being said, I think we should all be present if we're going to decide our next course of action. Jerick's gone to the forge, and I haven't seen Gug since last night. Someone should go bring them up here."

He stood around, with everyone looking at him expectantly. "...Okay. I'll go." Jechir said with a roll of the eyes, and ran off towards the Forge.

[Dragonsbane]

"Innocent lives are more than just a personal concern. I respect the elven dead, but I doubt they would want us to take this detour if it meant victory for Ashtar...well said, Jechir" Hakar, his new cloak swirling about his ankles, replied.

[slightly aboveaverage man]

ooc: Sigh. Busy busy busy week.

Ic: Jechir made his way down the staircase to find the Forge bustling with activity. For some reason an unusual feeling caught him, as though something about the forge just wasn't right. Cautiously he entered and looked about. The Arrow Gollums which had been protecting the hallway a day ago had now been removed, leaving a long empty, and oppressively hot hallway in its wake. For a quick second, he thought he noticed movement in one of the empty alcoves. After a blast of bright light, it revealed nothing. Jechir shrugged it off and went the rest of the distance into the forge.

When he arrived, he was immediatelly hit with a horrible stench, like burning sewage, that seemed to be eminating from one of the firepits nearest the door. As he passed by a worker, he tapped on his shoulder. "What is that smell?" he called over the din of the Forge.

"We don't know!" the soot faced elf replied. "About fifteen minutes ago, two of our 'smiths was trying to forge an Adamant shield, but one of them got distracted. He lost control his own magnetic field, and the shield fragmented. We think a stray piece of metal knocked someones lunch into the fire, or something."

"Lunch?" Jechir called back incredulously.

"Yes. That's our best guess. The point is something fell into the number five Forge, that put up a stench. It wasn't one of us, because all the 'smiths are accounted for."

"Well thank goodness for that." A little gleam caught his eye. He looked over to see the swords of Gabriels father, which Volcanus had mentioned. He made a mental note to pick them up as he left. "Have you seen Jerick?" he added belatedly.

The elf nodded and pointed a few rows down. "He's in Row fifteen. They cleared everyone out of there at his request."

The bandit nodded and thanked the blacksmith, then ran down past the rows of furnaces. He found his friend kneeling before one of the furnaces. In his hands he clutched a dark crimson sword, over which he lightly sobbed.

Jechir approached him slowly, and layed a reassuring hand on Jerick's shoulder. "It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He said in a wistful voice as his eyes were locked on the blacksmiths Creation. "Your father would be proud."

Ooc: DB clear out your PMbox.

[Dragonsbane]

OOC: You mean "Golems". Gollums are little, mentally unstable creatures who talk to themselves, and seek the One Ring, which they call "the Preciousss!" :p

As for the PMbox, it's been cleared.

IC: Something flickered in the back of Hakar's mind, like the brush of cobwebs. He frowned, trying to discern the source of the feeling, but it was gone.

Meanwhile, Jaral was enacting his plans. A shadow crept along the ceiling, through corridors and down hallways, undetected even by the sharp-eyed guardsmen. Stopping for a moment at the entrance to the Forge, he inhaled...and nearly gagged on the stench of cooking goblin. Regaining his calm, and remaining in his shadowy state, the dark-clad assassin crept along the walls, hiding in the shadows of the flickering flames that burned in the furnaces.

The twin swords were on the table, magnificent katanas even without the fame of having been wielded by the Windrider. While Jechir's back was still turned, and none of the elves were looking in his direction, he took them both, shrouding them in shadow as well...then departing the same way he had come.

His first objective completed, he headed next to the elven harbour...