Gibble's choice... and the price to be paid.

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*** I find Qhussusk within Maelbrim and we meet to talk. ***
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You tell Qhussusk 'It would seem that a banner has been raised, Qhussusk. And I must seek to answer its call.'

[Qhussusk] 'What do you mean, Gibble?'

You tell Qhussusk 'The work I have focused on for so long, the road I have travelled, has now crossed with the responsibilities that have been thrust upon me, yes.'

Qhussusk walks in.

[Qhussusk] 'Welcome, friends.'

[Qhussusk] 'How is your hunt with the Vellichor tyrant?'

Qhussusk peers at you intently.

Gibble sighs longingly at the mention of 'Friends', for it never was, and never shall be.

Qhussusk raises an eyebrow at you.

You say 'Have you faced yourself upon a crossroads, knowing that to follow the truer path, means to forsake some kernel of truth you once held dear, hrm?'

[Qhussusk] 'No. My path is clear. Order, structure. Protection for those around us.'

[Qhussusk] 'We all act as one, we all profit as one.'

The anomaly above Gibble's shoulder trembles slightly, as if still unsure of something.

You say 'A noble thought, though perhaps misguided, yes.'

[Qhussusk] 'Misguided how?'

You say 'It is based upon an assumption that all wish to be one, I think, yes.'

[Qhussusk] 'If they don't wish to be part of the unity, the exit is that way.'

Qhussusk points east.

Gibble slowly turns his gaze Eastwardly and begins to mumble, 'If only it were so easy, hrm.'

[Qhussusk] 'Is it not?'

[Qhussusk] 'We have an understanding. Those who are too weak to survive in the wilds come here. Those who don't wish the empire's thumb are free to leave.'

[Qhussusk] 'We don't expand. We exist. As others do, to protect those who lay their heads at night.'

Gibble nods solemnly.

You say 'For now.'

[Qhussusk] 'Why are you speaking like this Gibble? We've had an understanding for some time. This is not like you.'

You say 'But as I mentioned, a call has been raised from the Glade, and one I can no longer logic away, no.'

[Qhussusk] 'Well. Break the laws, and I'll have to do what I can. As I have.'

Gibble picks a journal from his satchel, turning it slowly to a recent writing of his own.

[Qhussusk] 'I enjoy our chats. I'd hate to have it become less than it is.'

You say 'These pages... I have written much in, and followed a path that I would have hoped to have found myself completing the journey I have been on, I believe, for more than my lifetime.'

[Qhussusk] 'Stop speaking in riddles. Be plain with me.'

Gibble flips page by page, the extensive writing obvious to all around.

You nod.

You say 'I have become merely a carrier of my legacy, to pass to the next that follows me through the halls of our Tower.'

Qhussusk narrows its eyes. 'I think I understand. They're asking you to do something you don't quite agree with.'

You say 'As I have taken up the banner of Slayer, and with it, I too, shall lead the Warder cause, as much I have lead those of the Stalkers.'

[Qhussusk] 'If I may offer a suggestion.'

You say 'Your will is your own, of course.'

[Qhussusk] 'If repairing the signals is your true goal, perhaps the watchers are not the place for you. There is another.'

Gibble turns his head to the side, almost as if ashamed, 'Perhaps that path is before me, yes. One I still might walk some day.'

[Qhussusk] 'One you could do well with. I imagine.'

[Qhussusk] 'Your goals to be your own. Your own path. Not told what to do. Seems the watchers are creating structure and order within you.'

Qhussusk chuckles politely.

[Qhussusk] 'We're not so different. Just I wear a badge, and they wear the guise of chaos.'

You say 'My source, I have realized now, has always been the work.'

[Qhussusk] 'The work of your repairing reality? Because I know you don't care for those who stay within the walls.'

[Qhussusk] 'If you find a wounded deer, you care for it, yes? Protect it. Feed it. Give it a chance to recover. That is these people. The chaos they've endured.'

A brief glimmer of a thread appears in front of Gibble, a single knot tied at the end, small, almost invisible, but present.

[Qhussusk] 'Don't do it Gibble.'

[Qhussusk] 'These people deserve peace.'

Gibble glances about the square, watching the people move here or there.

[Qhussusk] 'You've above this. Being ordered to do things you don't agree with.'

You say 'Perhaps they do that, yes. And perhaps these lands will grant them such one day.'

Qhussusk shakes his head slowly, not lifting his gaze. 'My friend. These people.  Think of the lives.'

You say 'They are a strong folk, I have seen it myself, sensed it, about them.'

[Qhussusk] 'Even if you're told to take me out, the peace and structure I've created is worth far more. I've not stopped you in your mission.'

You nod at Qhussusk.

You say 'The work requires, demands, that the Warders are held up, bastioned, by someone.'

You say 'The same as the Stalkers are, and have been, under my watch.'

[Qhussusk] 'If we're to do this. Let us take it outside. I don't want these people hurt.'

Gibble lifts a small whistle from his coat pocket, and slowly, almost unwillingly, brings it to his lips.

[Qhussusk] 'Don't do it.'

[Qhussusk] 'Not these people.'

[Qhussusk] 'They have no say in our war.'

With a single sharp blast from Gibble, the whistle sounds, and the alarm bells start ringing from a distance.

Qhussusk sighs.

A messenger yells 'Miruvhor is under attack by elementals!'
[WATCHER]: 'On Gibble's orders elementals march on Miruvhor.'

Qhussusk shakes its head in dismay.

[Qhussusk] 'You break my heart and trust, Gibble.'

[Qhussusk] 'I planted you above the rest. That is my fault.'

Gibble's shoulders slump slightly at the sound, both the alarm, and the words.

Maelbrim shivers, a cold, solomn wind blows through the alley ways.

[Qhussusk] 'People die by your actions. Those who just live their lives.'

[Qhussusk] 'They want no part of this. None.'

[Qhussusk] 'They hide from the vampires and the demons. I protect them here, as you protected them there.'

A citizen runs by screaming, "No, please get out of my way!"

You say 'It is a burden I seem to be destined to bear, yes.'

[Qhussusk] 'You dissapoint me. I thought you greater than this.'

Gibble watches as the citizens run by, fleeing from the distant chaos.

A woman screaming at the death of her child is heard near by.

[Qhussusk] 'If you'll excuse me. I have innocent people to save.'

Qhussusk performs a mocking bow.

Ghregen sighs. (He'd been here the whole time)

The anomaly locks in place at Gibble's side, as it has done each time he has been face-to-face with one that is corrupted.

There is no one here though, other than Ghregen the Healer, and Gibble himself.

Gibble looks sideways to the anomaly, knowing the meaning, understanding it.

Gibble glances to Ghregen briefly, 'I think such chats upon the forums such as these may be at an end, for some time, yes.'

You nod at Ghregen.

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*** I go to play flag tag, Qhussusk and I tussle about for a bit ***
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You tell Qhussusk 'nO MmMOoreh BlooOoD need bEh sSzheD, nO. nNnOt tHiisSs dawY ahht lEasst.'

[Qhussusk] 'You slain eight people. I counted the bodies.'

[Qhussusk] 'You'll hang, Gibble.'

You tell Qhussusk 'ao toOoll WhhICh WIill bEh rEzjOrDeD, yEhszs. ahnd iI'mm sSsuRe Pahid fOR, InNn thE ennnD..'

[Qhussusk] 'You sold your soul, Gibble. You're no better than the undead in my eyes.'

[Qhussusk] 'For power. Advancement. You sicken me.'

You tell Qhussusk 'mmy shhammmE ii Weaor opEhNnly, yehss. bUht ThEh wORK, ThaaT hhAhsSz alWayZsz zjomeh first. nNnOow, Iit hHahszs aoNly ehkxpAhnnnDehd i ThiInnnck.'

[Qhussusk] 'It could have expanded without being a puppet of the watchers.'

You tell Qhussusk 'Yes, perhaps it may have. You do not speak anything untrue, no.'

[Qhussusk] 'I will miss our friendship, Gibble. But order comes first. I gave you every chance. I begged you.'

You tell Qhussusk 'That you did... that you did.'

[Qhussusk] 'You were to mend this war! Not advance it! Now order is broken! On your hands! They're red. Your dreams, I hope they continue to haunt you.'

You tell Qhussusk 'I've no doubt they shall... no doubt...'

I deliberately picked Miruvhor for the raid. It was Gibble's way of trying to show a sense of remorse, impliedly and however misguided it might be, in such that the attacks would not take place upon the city where Qhussusk and I currently stood.

I enjoy Rp logs, please post more of them.

I felt like the citizens panicking was a nice little addition. :)