Cradlesong's torment

[Sargon]

Hello Clan

I've heard that Cradlesong is still fallen in TK and can't depart from there for some reason. It seems to me that the only way to help him is to chain him to town and see whether we can heal him.

Does anyone know if there are any plans to try this? I don't think I'm in a position to organize such a rescue, but I can't just sit down and do nothing either!

I guess that many exiles won't be interested in such a rescue and say things like 'even if we drag him to town, he won't be healable anyway, since he took so many bolts'. Well.. that may be true, but we can't be sure without trying first... And I'm sure if there would be a remote chance of finding one of these bloody fragments/shards/whatever, all these high-rank exiles would run to TK and try to get it. Which makes me very sad... I mean there's an exile fallen which can't depart and depends on our help...

Tenebrion obviously didn't help him during the wedding, but that's not a surprise to me.. But how so many exiles could celebrate a wedding with the help of the 'guy' who's the _very reason_ for Cradlesong's torment escapes me completely and makes me very sad.. I'm sorry if I offend some clan members here.. but these are my feelings.

So I ask whether any of you have an idea how we could organize a rescue for Cradlesong. Or if there's any interest.. I personally despise Tenebrion but did (and will) enter his(who is he to claim a whole island?) island to rescue exiles in need. Maybe we could organize something with RQ?

If we have some respected exiles behind a rescue-idea, we can get more interest from other exiles as well. If I'd see a remote chance for me to survive a run thru his tower, I'd try it. But being there (and departing always) I know I don't have _any_ chance to survive even one floor.

Sargon

[Nuvali]

You're right Sargon...on most counts. Looking back, I think I was marginally aware during the wedding that Cradlesong had fallen somewhere in the keep, but I'm afraid that I assumed:
1) Cradlesong had taken the prime opportunity of the wedding to go poking around the keep and fell, and
2) Because of my assumption, I didn't really understand the gravity of his dillemma.

Now... I'm willing to take responsibility for not "acting" appropriately on the matter, and I'm also willing to assist any rescue attempts that might be made. But--and this is a strong but--I don't think it's too callous to make the point that Cradlesong entered Tenebrion's Keep without Tenebrion's consent, and that Cradlesong's demise was no one's fault but his own. Please don't get the wrong idea. I am not a fan of Tenebrion, and I keep him very high on my list of untrustworthies, but, at the same time, accusing exiles of some kind of treason because they went to a wedding in Tenebrion's Keep, and didn't rescue Cradlesong at the appropriate time, is a criticism based completely on the clarity of current hindsite. More importantly, it won't do much to help Cradlesong.

In my opinion, here's what needs to be done, first:
We need to establish a firm policy on Tenebrion. We can a) respect his privacy, or b) support the current trend to invade his keep. Rescuing fallen exiles in his keep can not be considered part of the "a" option. It would be nice if there was that kind of gray area, but there isn't. Personally, I would like to opt for "b", but I am willing to follow the consensus of this clan.

Either way, we need to make that decision, because once we do (especially if we choose "b"), it will be hard to turn back. I recommend we expeditiously vote on the matter, so that our future actions are consistant with each others.

[Kiriel]

Actually, I've heard that Cradlesong is no longer in the keep. He was rescued and was able finally to depart.

[Nuvali]

Good. But, does that mean we won't take a firm position on Tenebrion? Or has this topic already been settled? My apologies if this subject is water under the bridge.

[Sargon]

Hello Nuvali, hello Clan

I'm very glad to hear that Cradlesong finally could depart. I wasn't aware of this when I wrote my previous post.

I realize that my previous post sounded a bit welp.. harsh. I in no way intended to accuse you or any other exile of some kind of treason.. if you felt offended, I hereby apologize. I merely voiced my personal feelings..

About the firm position on Tenebrion: I'm slightly worried about this... let me try to explain. I'm aware that members of a clan should have common goals, common ideas about certain subjects etc. I have joined WoD because I like helping newbies (but also other exiles). I also love the people in the clan and it was clear to me that WoD was the only clan I could join. (before WoD existed it was SDC)

I don't think that we have to share the same opinion about every subject though. It would be impossible anyway. Concerning the Tenebrion issue and the two options of Nuvali: while his point of view makes sense and I can accept the decision an exile makes for himself/herself, I could never identify myself with any of these...

Personally I would prefer that exiles don't enter his island at all. So that would sound like option a. But still, I couldn't ignore rescue-requests if people fall there.

Let me make an example: Let's say our clan would vote for option a. My love Sinan would decide to join a hunt to TK and fall there. She isn't a member of WoD and so she maybe doesn't agree with option a, as our clan would. Maybe she would even have joined a clan which did the same vote but voted for b. But if Sinan would fall and a rescue would be needed, how could anyone except from me to not try everything to rescue her!?

I don't think that "respecting his privacy" means that I can't do a rescue there. See.. I remember a family on the main island.. the children liked to play with their fathers weapons. Since it's dangerous their father forbid them to do so, and I couldn't agree more. Of course they still played behind their fathers back and eventually one of the children ended up wounded. I tried to ease the pain of this child with the little knowledge I had about healing others. That doesn't mean that I _encouraged_ the children to play with weapons though!

I know that the comparison I'm doing here is not perfect.. but I hope you understand what I mean. Sure I could say 'bah, I won't rescue people on TK' and if everyone would do that, there would be much less invasions of his keep eventually. So saying 'no' to rescues would be a logic thing to do. As it would be to not help the wounded child.. I'm sure that if the wounded child would have died instead it would have been a very good lesson for the other children to not play with their fathers weapons..

Dear clan members - please don't put me in a situation like this where I don't have a way out.. I love this clan and its members, but healing exiles is my life.

I would heal all these fallen guards at TK as well, but for some reason my knowledge doesn't allow me to heal them. I'd prefer if exiles wouldn't fight these guards. But I can't decide that - it's the exiles and the guards decision to fight each other until one of them dies. If I was as strong as Thuja and could heal the guards as well as the exile, I would heal them both until they both stop fighting each other. But I'm not. I can help a fallen exile, but I can't help a fallen guard.

Sargon

[Nuvali]

I respect your idealism, sir Sargon, and I apologize for my obtuse rationale. You are correct in your beliefs, and I will not try to dissuade you of them.

[Althus]

I'd just like to point out that I consider myself allied (in the loosest sense of the term) with Lord Tenebrion. I refuse to go to his keep for anything but a mission of diplomacy such as the wedding. Otherwise, I don't care WHO's fallen there, I will not go. This will probably get me yelled at and pounded into the ground, but so be it. I'd just like to point out that the loathing of all things foreign to this isle is not universal.

Respectfully
Althus

[Farhope]

I am, in most part, with Althus here (or Nuvali). Not that I consider myself as allied but I have a lot of distrusth in Tenebrion. But I still don't consider him as an ennemy (we have enough problems with him).

I respect your position Sargon.
And I would like (but perhaps it is not possible) to have a common position in the clan about that.

My proposition:
We don't invade Tenebrion (what it is? I proposed his castle, the rest of the island is fine I think).
We don't go there beside for diplomacy, etc (cf. Althus) and beside rescue. If we go there, we never attack his guards, only the undines, the rats, etc.
If the guards attacks us, we run or block them to attack others when we are actively trying to rescue after that we go away.

Any remarks?

I must say that even for a rescue I am very reluctant to go there.
Yes, if one of my clanmates or my friends will be there, fallen, I will be ok to help to rescue. But I think I will not take the initiative or lead as I don't know the place... and I feel "guilty" when "invading" his privacy.

[Althus]

I'm fine with rescuing and not attacking the guards, except... seriously, do you really think that could happen? :P Anyways, only the keep is his, so the rest of the island is up for hunting (although it's not very good hunting).

-Awfus

[Lilly]

My opinion is that having a clan stance on this particular issue would be more detrimental then helpful. Tenebrion strikes a personal nerve in alot of people, and I think that deserves a personal response.

on an ooc note, I enjoy roleplay alot, and admire all the diverse stances on Tenebrion. My take on it as a player, though, is that the GMs keep on throwing things into his keep, and seem to be making it quite clear that whatever Tenebrion says IC, players are supposed to keep on invading his territory. I don't really understand what angle the GMs have here - I would be unsurprised if the GMs lead the exiles to disaster with this storyline - but this quest is about the only one I have been able to follow part of the story for in CL, and so by default it is the one I continue to play in. So, my stance is that I'd like to be able to go there unrestricted, because thats where the fun is.

Arteress Lai

[Cradlesong]

Ah, my friends...it is GOOD to be back amongst the living...

I am still weak from my ordeal, but I will attempt a brief synopsis of the events surrounding my torment...

OOC: Thusday the 8th...
Jan'a, a relatively new exile to me aproached whilst I pondered in town. She seemed very preturbed about something, but was unable to speak. After arduous puzzling, I deduced that Neige had fallen within Tenebrions' Demesne. I rushed to the isle and met up with several exiles (Sargon included) who were antiously attempting a rescue. Upon reaching Neige within the tunnel leading to the courtyard, we learned of other fallens within the tower. After being reinforced by another influx of rescuers, we braved the tower. J'jh, who has been nothing but a saint to me since my arrival on the isle, was one of many fallen quite high up in the tower.

We gained floors, rose whom we could and chained the others. Upon reaching a room new to me, I was struck by many bolts coming from an artifact in the center of the room. Running for my life, I tripped and fell through a concealed passageway to the uppermost level of the tower. I believe upon my arrival, Skirwin was laying near a bed and I had stumbled quite far into the room before I could get my bearings.

Tenebrion...
I had met him before, but never imagined his cruelty. As I stated, I had stumbled and then fell into the center of the room. Tenebrion (or something being a representation of Tenebrion) began to hurl bolts of lightning and fire ball upon my fallen body. Other exiles began to arrive in the room and were quickly cut down by the undine milling about. As I was closest to Tenebrion, I absorbed the full onslaught of his anger. The other exiles, being behind me, were spared his torment.
As a healer, I felt it was my duty (even though I couldn't save the fallen) to ease thier suffering and absorb the pain which otherwise would have been inflicted upon there fallen bodies. I did not fool myself into thinking that I would be saved.

I awaited the others to (ooc disconnect) loose conciousness before I did the same. I believe that soon thereafter, they were able to depart or be saved.

I awoke a day later...
I had believed that Tenebrion would have his servants thow me into the cooler. I could not have been more wrong...
Tenebrion had remained...he immediately resumed his assult.

OOC: Sunday the 11th
The day of the wedding had arrived. I felt it would be my last chance for Tenebrion to release me in good will. Alas...I was ignored. With my remaining strength...I tried to depart my body...and failed.

OOC: Monday the 12th
In the early afternoon. Again my plight was noticed by several good exiles. (Up till this point, I was urged to depart by those who could not hear my cries for help) Thuja, Babajaga, Achates, and many others felt the need to at the very least, return my body to the peace of the town. It was a brave and valiant rescue.
Upon the return to town...a dark pressence left my body, I know not what it was, but I got the feeling that Tenebrion may have had a lock on my soul which kept me from departing. Being free of his grip...and with the friendly hopes of the rescuers, I once again...with my last breath whispered the word...\depart.

After being asleep in the mists for days, I returned to the library and my studies. I am loath to speak of the ordeal so soon, but will answer as I can if there are any querries.

I again thank all involved in my return.
-Cradlesong

[Konoko]

That sounds dreadful! I'm glad to heard that everything is ok again and that you're back on your feet...

[Tater]

And I thought all of my experiences there were bad!

Although leaving your body certainly wasn't your first choice of action, I'm glad you were eventually able to do so.

I've heard rumors that exiles may actually be able to experience Death at some point. I'm glad that time hasn't come as of yet.

I'm sure it'll take some time for you to recover, but as with Nuvali, I'm glad you're back with us again.

-Tater

[Althus]

Fireballs, eh? Wasn't Tenebrion, then. Most likely, your tormentor was Umbrion, who hates all exiles and wants us dead. Tenebrion was away meeting the other brothers 'Brion whilst all this occured, and I think Umbrion was in charge of most of his keep.

-Awfus

[Nunul]

If it were Umbrion, then he stole Tenebrion's name tag. It was quite clearly his.
-Cradlesong

[Sargon]

Dear clan

I'm very pleased about the opinions concerning the TK issue voiced here by my clan members. I don't see a problem with having different thoughts/feelings concerning the TK issue or any other issue which might show up. What's important (at least to me) though is that we respect the feelings of the other clan members. (and any other exile for that matter)

I'm not sure what this means for a potential meeting with Tenebrion though. (I'm not sure whether he still intends to communicate with whole clans/groups or whether he changed his opionion again and deals with individuals again) Should the clan ever meet Tenebrion himself, I guess it would be helpful that the participating clan-members would have at least similar thoughts about him. They don't have to agree in the details but it doesn't make sense for Tenebrion to meet with a group which in itself has completely different feelings about him. For example I would not be part of this group, since my feelings towards him are 'more different' (Sorry for my bad common language) than for example Althus' and Farhopes.

Again, I'd like to thank to the clan members who accept my feelings here. And I hope that the other members I couldn't talk to as far will accept it too.

Sargon

[Althus]

"While I disagree with what you say, I shall defend to the death your right to say it." -Voltaire

I'm happy to accept your opinion, Sargon, but I will have nothing to do with it. Hopefully this won't end up being too much of a problem.

-Awfus

[Sargon]

Well said, Voltaire! <G>

[Althus]

"I know what god thinks. God think's you're [we're] an idiot[s]." -Voltaire, again.

I think he was looking at me when he said that.

-Awfus