2nd Adventure: Proxy War (Archive)

What took place before Mihai returned to the monastery.

Mihai is walking through the forest, surrounded by the chirping of the birds and the sound of the leaves creadled by the wind. He suddenly hears Breeze from behind her. "Seahunter? You okay?"

He cannot answer at first. After a few moments, his breathing becomes more laboured as he tries to force the words out. "Breeze, I.... I made the deal with him. I had to find Fedler, so I made a deal with him." He doesn't stop walking as he speaks. “And now I’ll have to pay. I'll have to pay it... I'll have to..."

His breathing becomes more unstable again. He keeps walking, fast.

Breeze flies in front of Mihai, and raises her hand to make him stop. "Now, you listen to me Seahunter. Got it?"

Mihai stops, but his breathing is frantic. He stares at her, almost a glaring at her like if he was angry.

"I don't know what kind of deal you made with meanie Snicker," continues Breeze, "but that doesn't matter right now. Our friends are hurt, some of our new friends are dead, and the woman you love is still trying to save them, by herself. You can't do anything about the deal, but you can still help people. So go back there, like a real hero would do."

Her arms are crossed, a serious expression on her face.

Mihai hangs his head, body trembling with tension, breathing hard. He doesn't say it, but he doesn’t know how he can face Fedler now; how he can face anyone now for that matter. When he finally succeeds, he walks over to the nearest tree and punches it as hard as he can; again, and again. He then bangs his head against it once, breathes hard some more, and steps away from it.

Breeze says, "You ready? Because we've got some work to do. Come on."

Mihai follows her without a word. He'll be pretty much at her command right now. He can't think for himself. He's shut down. What she tells him to do, he'll do.

As they're walking back towards the monastery, Mihai hears a familiar voice, echoing words it said before. "Is this the extent of your resolve?"

"Take what you want,” thinks Mihai. “Then never speak to me again."

It snickers. "Maybe I'll speak to Yennefer next."

His anger FLARES. The horror.

"She misses her mother,” continues Snicker. “Not the dead one, I mean her true mother. I could reunite them; give them back the life they yearn for."

That’s not gonna work. All Mihai gets is disgusted. He knows far better.

"I could torture you for days, but that wouldn't be interesting,” reveals Snicker. “Nor fun. Instead, I release you from our deal." Mihai feels heat coming from his abdomen, which immediately disappears. "It's done."

He gasps. "Why...?"

"Because it's only fifteen minutes... and I want us to be friends. We can have so much more fun together."

Mihai struggles to respond. It's bitter when he says it, but it's pretty much a plea. "Just... just stay away from Yen."

"I won't do so much as whisper to her," comforts Snicker. "Goodbye Mihai. Until we meet again."

Mihai stops walking. He shuts his eyes, and lets out a long breath.

"Seahunter?" speaks up Breeze. "Come on, we're almost there."

Mihai opens his eyes again and looks ahead. "Yeah."

The squad members do not want any of the loot, and neither does Fedler. Almost all of Kira Paddle's gear burned.

• 2 short swords, +1 to damage (used by Kira)
  
• 1 leather belt, +1 to AC (used by the mage)
  
• 1 magical ring, strengthen the power of a mage's minor spell(s) (used by the mage)
  
• 1 magical ring of light, projects a strong ray of white light from the quartz stone embedded in it (used by the mage)
  
• 4 daggers
  
• 3 long swords
  
• 2 bastard swords
  
• 2 studded leather armors
  
• 1 set of runic keys
  
• 1 copy of a book called "69 positions of power"
  
• 2 smoking pipes
  
• 1 small bag of tobacco
  
• 1 set of five dices
  
• 319 gold pieces

If you were helping the monks during this three hours period, or doing something else, please tell me.

Weapons
Steve gets (almost) all the weapons to sell, and the armor to do with what he will. He can have the Ring of Mental Focus (+1 Deception/Diplomacy) back, to use for that when we return. Konrad will keep a bastard sword for himself.

Pure Mage's Ring of Element
It's Decide Time...
Me: boost to deflection chance, and more effective non-combat telekinesis
Kolson: Minor Water missile deals more dmg, and I guess he basically becomes a camel?
I think it should be me. Because telekinesis.

Ring of Light
It's a ring of light. I dunno. I guess Steve can have it. I guess it will be useful to the person between us who doesn't have a lantern and a bunch of oil.

Runic Keys
These are probably the keys to that lock that was keeping the coffin shut tight. Without the lock, they are worthless.

Book
Konrad will open the book. If it is what I think it is, he will give it to Zelk when she can't sleep as something to read while she's awake. Completely in jest, will roll Deception if I must to get it into her hands. I believe there is a page in there somewhere that outlines the steps involved in removing an object that has become stuck in one's rectum. He will say that, too.

Smoking apparatus
One of those pipes is mine for sure. As is the tobacco. The one on the ship isn't mine, not exactly.

Dice
As we've seen, Konrad is not good at cheating, and Steve's poker face is a loaded gun compared to his. I talk about wanting to gamble and have a good time, but Steve should have the dice, not me.

Gold
I would like to take 119 gold and leave the remaining 200 for Steve. He's going to need it.