Sacrifice!

[*Selebius]

"Most people are a collection of different strenghts and weaknesses. Through cooperation they can cover each other's weaknesses, combine their strenghts and talents.

The only useless person is who denies society its talents and support, whose acts are driven by egotism and false ambitions- I think we can agree in this. However by killing and not educating you rob yourself of their talents, waste ressources and so, in the end, weaken yourself.

By showing each indicidual the place it can serve Harmony best is our way. Benevolent guidance is the key."

He turns to the man hands the orb back to the trooper. "Speaking of usefulness and guidance- how many of those things have you hidden inside yourself? Tell me now, speak the truth and retrieving them won't hurt much. If we have to search for them things might get a bit messy though."

[*Krayt]

"Tolerance is the first step towards downfall. A empire in decline yield to the will of the individual whereas a strong nation crush it. Cooperation is useless when it remains without a firm hand to steer it. One to give the order another to obey. That is the only way there can be."

"Fist hand of Xvim has no use for disobidient slaves, unruly Soldiers and absolutly not of rebels. They will all be put the the sword. Coming generations will be more mallable."

His coalblack eyes affixed on Hograth throughout their discussion without wavering. Concluded in the Measure's query he was given a concise answer.

"I will tell you nothing."

Young silent Cian was growing impatient with the debate. Drawing his combat dirk he started to carve at priests embossed straps plated with bone holding the thick plate harness together. It was rigourously crafted however and it took a while before the two part curiass fell in two halves to the sandy ground. Baring a scared and aged body.

[*Selebius]

"Coming generations will grow up hating you. This hate will fester, it will spread. You will have to kill more, destroy more lives, waste more potential.

The way you choose will lead to your ruin as only through cooperation something can grow. Conquering is easier than holding what you have- you might learn that soon.

I see cooperation is not one of your strenghts. Very well then."

He nods to Cian. "Try to find out where he hid them by the use of Detect Magic.... then cut the Will Stone out of him. Keep him alive. If possible."

[*Krayt]

He nodded and started to prod the priest's bare torso. Tapping with the pommel to hear if something was hidden in the chest of the Xvimite with his ear pressed agaisnt his naked skin. The detect magic yielded several results the various spells that had just been cast most dominant, but no hidden orb. A battle mage suggested it had been protected from any form of scrying.

Cian seemed to have found something and started to carve in the central ribcage. The priest did only grimace faintly harden as he was to these ordeals. Cian eventually pulled the black orb free bones crakling as he did. Handing the bloodsoaked sphere to Hograth as soon he had freed it completly.

"Know how to make it show?" Cian asked somewhat ponderous.

Hograth could see tiny figures moving around within it but it was far to small to make any details out of the mishmash of dull colours swirling around in it. He had to activate it somehow.

[*Selebius]

He watches them work, leaving this task to the specialists. The Half Orc had not much pity for the priest but did he enjoy what hapens to him as well- it is just something that has to be done for his mission to succeed.

"I have no idea. Do you? If not... I try something."

Looking at the orb he then etends his hand, focusing on this item like he does when using a sensory stone, trying to carefully open his mind for its message.

[*Krayt]

Hograth sensed that there was a password to be spoken or something lifting the blockage of the message hidden within. He also felt the orb rejecting him seomehow perhaps you had to share alignment with the creator to unlock it.

"I have never seen such a device before Measure." Cian replied

The priest stoically maintained his glare at the hald-orc. The trooper slapped the back of his head as blood gushed forth from the wound left by the removal of the orb.

"Make it show!" He inquired commandingly to no avail the priest simply stared at the commading officer.

[*Selebius]

Hograth shakes his head then looks from the orb to the troopers. "Anybody good with tricking magical devices into doing what you want?"

The Half Orc looks up at the sky, expecting to se more riders arrive every minute. He knows this patrol will be missed, someone might come to look for them and a battle would drain their already meager ressources.

"Anyway we need to keep moving. We can deal with the orb later." Looking at the priest he then bows his head respectfully- quite the same bow he greeted the Dead with.

"As Gerhast of The Ruby Light brought peace to the northern tribes in the Second Uprising I shall bring peace to your soul. All your troubles come to an end, your soul will be mortar of the Pale Castle, the Ruby Sorceress will judge you." Another Jasidin prayer spoken with a solemn almost gentle voice, a blessing gesture closing the ritual- but as he turns to his troopers his voice changes to his usual commanding tone.

"He is of no help, he will just slow us down. Execute him."

[*Krayt]

Hograth realise that whom ever the smoke signals were for they was likely to arrive soon. The premature interruption may have hindered the receiver from spotting it. Likely linked to the orb he was holding. The skies were clear for now and he could see nothing.

One of the battle priests approached Hograth taking the orb. "I'll have it unlocked for you at dawn sir."

"We're moving out!" Cian shouted as drew his sword when the half-orc had finished his prayer. Pulling the priest to stand on his shins. The priest's chest bleed profusely from the hole the orb had left. Still unflinching the priest glared at the Measure. Gripping the longsword with both hands Cian swung it vertically from behind the in a straight line severing the head from the body with one stroke. The stump left on the neck follwed over and dyed the grey body crimsone as it fell to Hograths right. The holy symbol of Xvim around his neck fell and buried itself in the sand. The wildman was eager to collect the head but the executioneer didn't allow it pushing him away. His bloodied sword still in hand.

The troopers readied themselves to continue march quickly. Forming lines in good order towards their northward destination.

There was many things to consider. Higher grounds awaited them in the mountain ranges ahead. The route to the bastion itself known only by their guide. They could even attempt another ambush but it was risky as they would have to wait for days mayhap.

[*Selebius]

"Good." He answers the priest then turns to the troops, ready to lead them out. No more prayers or burial rites are wasted on the Xvimite's corpse, his soul already at peace as far as Hograth's faith is concerned, his duties performed.

Hograth follows the directions given by their guide and has the troops move onwards following standard protocols of marching through hostile territory and he will try to avoid any contact with their enemy- their numbers and supplies must be conserved for whatever awaits them at the fortress.

The half orc is proud of the troopers performance even if he does not show it, instead leading by example, pushing himself forward, keeping his chin up despite the dire circumstances.

[*Krayt]

They advanced quickly on the easily traversed ground near the shore while relative safe from patrols.

After their first camp the priest returned to Hograth at the break of dawn. Handing him the orb. His tone much strickter than the soft spoken man he had talked to the day before. "It respond only to one of curelty and the harshness of laws. I have alter myself so I can unlock it."

Placing his hand on the orb he had just given to Hograth he spoke agian. "Play the recordings."

The orb swirled with red lights mixed with blackness. A crimson sky over black jagged mountains. The landscape seemed unatural and out of place in this plane's nature. He see a train of men all wearing harmonium armour and weaponry marching down narrow winding paths. He sees the ships standing on the red soil as the marching men made their way downward.Those were no doubt the ships they came with. The surrounding men seem to have barricaded themselves from a external further away. The arriving men halts, forms a line and salutes a waiting officer. What happens next as the troops start to board the ships the men at the back lit torches. The flame traveling from man to man liting their own torches conealed in ther cloaks. The men in the barricades rush in quckly to prevent the disaster but it was too late. Dark red arose flames most likely magical enhanced they spread fast and consumed the ships fully as a swarthy mist layed thick over the mountain pass. A chaotic melee ensued. Shouts of confusions, war cries, incitement to kill and not to kill. Harmonium against harmonium all in the sheen of the pillars of ruddy light. It ceased however when men still at the barricades sounded an alarm and the two oposite forces joined to face the new threat.

The priest showed a grim mien as the orb went silent again. "Betrayed and stranded.I have not told the men. It will certainly demoralise them from continuing if they knew they couldn't return at the end of our journey. Orders sir?"

Outside his command tent the men are packing up. getting ready to continue the marsh. They had plenty of fish and sweetwater. Food would be scarse in the journey ahead.

He saw no battleships burning it was only the freighters. But the radius of the sphere had a limited recording span.