Miao Miao's Musings - Session 71
The following account is by Miao; an IC summary of the last session. I give +1 character point (XP) for those players who submit a summary for me to post here on the blog. This session was played 2020/07/02.
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Miao Miao's Musings
For reason that soon be obvious, Miao once again been thinking of thing like Mercy and Honour. Miao normally not have much patience with words, but Mercy and Honour good words. Words to live by, yes? But where limits of Mercy? What danger in Honour? Again, Miao forced to think about this in fight with beast-kind. And after... oh yes, after, yes yes.
Now, Miao not best at focusing on single thing. It easier when writing, because it not always single thing, see? Sharpen quill, dip quill in ink, write, scritch scritch of quill on paper, mutter at ink running out, dip quill in ink again, scritch scritch scritch...
What Miao saying again?
Ah, yes, Miao focus easy when writing. Not so when doing things other than fighting. Again, fighting easy. Long time fighting really only collection of exciting few seconds strung together to form long chain. When doing other things... Miao admit, she not the best at remembering important things. In truth, Miao would have forgotten to bring food for journey if Jenkins had not remembered. Good Jenkins... Miao in so much trouble without him. Same Warian, is Miao's moral direction-finding thing that usually point towards north. Except Warian always point towards Kindness, Charity, Honour... Much like how Jenkins always point to Sense and Reason.
So, anyway, Miao forgot buy tent and camping supplies for long trip.
Again.
On first night on way to Marsh Hall, Miao remembered. And then Miao remember sleeping on floor in inn. Now Miao had sleep on dirt, under wagon, wrapped in cloak. Must remember tent next time. Big tent. Huge tent. Pavilion, with quarters for friends. Honestly, Miao not that bad off. Fur keep warmer in cold than smooth skin of furless. Also, fur pick up more dirt than smooth skin of furless, it always if not one thing then other. On whole, Miao prefer not being cold.
Of course, Miao had suggested going with caravan of goods to Marsh Hall, it easier and safer than walking in wilderness and get lost because Llandor still wandering around somewhere not with group. Miao can find way in any village or city, but get lost in thick hedge, or tall grass. No, on whole it safer to follow road, and Miao think if wagon attacked, then at least some excitement on trip, yes?
There some excitement on trip.
Little-One-Bert, he spot sign of something that not friendly, and gesture for everyone stop. We stop. We get ready. Out of forest come Beast-Kin, Boar and Goat.
Now, here Miao must say that although she herself Cat-kin, she never seen these Beast-Kin before. Oh, Miao heard of Beast-Kin, but they always bad tales, tales of violence and plunder. Tales of big hordes, of destruction of kingdoms.
Miao think these tales give other Animal-Kin very bad name. How long it before everyone start looking at Cat-Kin and wonder, hmmm, where loyalties? They look like Beast, maybe Cat-Kin too dangerous and smelly and violent like other Beast-Kin. Then, anyone look at Miao in current state, and they not far wrong. But day of rough travelling make everyone smelly.
So, Miao tell everyone, stay near wagon. Hemmu sees Boar-Thing, charges Boar-Thing. It okay, really, Miao expected thing like that. So Miao tell Yvor to engage Goat-Thing on flank, and then Miao cut way through two Boar-Things and run towards remaining Goat-Thing and Boar-Thing that not already been butchered by Hemmu. Behind, Miao hear Yvor go to work with glee (If Miao had never seen face, Miao swear that Sir Yvor either Orc or Bear-Kin) and crackle of lightning. Miao certain, that flank in good hands between Yvor and Adam.
On other flank, Davin take one look at Goat-Thing, shrug, lift it in air and leave it struggle. That hilarious! Make such noise, flailing sword, trying run in mid air. Flail flail flail, shout shout shout, flail more, shout more. It like small angry mouse hanging by tail.
Miao only remember charging into Goat-Thing... or was Boar-Thing? Hmmm. At any claw, Miao charge into Thing, and Miao bounce off. They strong! Luckily there also Bert and Hemmu and Davin, and soon Thing and other Things very much down.
Not dead, down. That ... Miao get to that in moment.
So, now only one Goat-Thing hanging in air. Wagon driver and mate say 'kill'. Davin not certain, but he looking ready to do unpleasant things to Thing. Miao and Bert say, we let it go. Davin try to talk to thing, thing brays in face. Sometimes Miao think others not understand how strange Furless language is to Animal-Kin. Miao very good at it, but others not so much.
So Davin uses illusion, to show Goat-Thing throw away sword and walk away. That also not help. Miao think it is because throwing away weapon is very, very strange concept Miao has only ever seen in certain Furless races.
At length, Miao suggest we put Goat-Thing down near edge of forest, and let it decide where go. To be certain, Miao put herself between Goat-Thing and friends. Goat-Thing is put on ground, look at chances, turn and run away. In end, that good thing, perhaps.
Miao has mentioned before, but Miao hate killing for sake of killing. Flailing Goat-Thing harmless, defenceless. Yes, it smelly, violent, dangerous Beast-Kin, but Miao had prove, we better than Beast-Kin.
Even if Miao is Cat-Kin. Perhaps that make it more important to prove Cat-Kin better than other Beast-Kin, yes?
Bert insist, we look after wounded Beast-Things, and Miao agree. Miao get feeling rest of party not so sure, and Wagon driver and mate really, really not happy with this. But we just saved Wagon, from odds driver and mate could not beat, so Miao believe Driver stay silent because of this.
Boar-Things come to, look around confused, run immediately.
Goat-Thing come to, look around confused, bite Bert immediately. Clearly Goat-Thing want more fight, so Miao grab it in head-lock. Biting bad! Struggle, struggle, but Miao either stronger than Goat-Thing or angrier than Goat-Thing. Miao drag Goat-Thing to edge of forest, well away from others, turn it around, give kick up backside, tell it run.
Goat-Thing does not run.
No, Goat-Thing does run, but straight at Miao, looking for more fight. Honest, after everything Miao has done to stop Goat-Thing bleeding to death.
But Miao unarmed now, so Miao jump out of way of charge, and realise that Goat-Thing is running back towards Wagon for more fight. Miao realise she never draw Mister Stabby in time to kill thing before it reaches Wagon.
That when Miao see that Davin had followed Miao, to watch back, in case Goat-Thing ... do exactly as Goat-Thing did. So, Davin throw ice knife in Goat-Thing's eye, and that end of it. Just to be on safe side, Miao stab Goat-Thing through heart few times, make sure it dead.
So... Miao again reflecting on Mercy, on Honour. It was honourable thing to save life of enemy that could be saved. Miao would hope that, if situation reversed, someone do same for Miao. But Miao not hopeful about that. In world, there little true Honour, even less real Mercy.
But clearly, Goat-Things not understand Honour, or Mercy. It seem, Goat-Thing only know strength and weakness, and believe Mercy is Weakness.
It pains Miao, but she can no longer show Mercy to Goat-Kin. It too dangerous. So, that end of that.
As writing, Miao can see three moons in sky, so pretty! It rare sight, they say, it usually sign of something.
When Miao hear sound of Goat-Kin nearby, Miao hope it not sign of invasion...
Now, Miao not best at focusing on single thing. It easier when writing, because it not always single thing, see? Sharpen quill, dip quill in ink, write, scritch scritch of quill on paper, mutter at ink running out, dip quill in ink again, scritch scritch scritch...
What Miao saying again?
Ah, yes, Miao focus easy when writing. Not so when doing things other than fighting. Again, fighting easy. Long time fighting really only collection of exciting few seconds strung together to form long chain. When doing other things... Miao admit, she not the best at remembering important things. In truth, Miao would have forgotten to bring food for journey if Jenkins had not remembered. Good Jenkins... Miao in so much trouble without him. Same Warian, is Miao's moral direction-finding thing that usually point towards north. Except Warian always point towards Kindness, Charity, Honour... Much like how Jenkins always point to Sense and Reason.
So, anyway, Miao forgot buy tent and camping supplies for long trip.
Again.
On first night on way to Marsh Hall, Miao remembered. And then Miao remember sleeping on floor in inn. Now Miao had sleep on dirt, under wagon, wrapped in cloak. Must remember tent next time. Big tent. Huge tent. Pavilion, with quarters for friends. Honestly, Miao not that bad off. Fur keep warmer in cold than smooth skin of furless. Also, fur pick up more dirt than smooth skin of furless, it always if not one thing then other. On whole, Miao prefer not being cold.
Of course, Miao had suggested going with caravan of goods to Marsh Hall, it easier and safer than walking in wilderness and get lost because Llandor still wandering around somewhere not with group. Miao can find way in any village or city, but get lost in thick hedge, or tall grass. No, on whole it safer to follow road, and Miao think if wagon attacked, then at least some excitement on trip, yes?
There some excitement on trip.
Little-One-Bert, he spot sign of something that not friendly, and gesture for everyone stop. We stop. We get ready. Out of forest come Beast-Kin, Boar and Goat.
Now, here Miao must say that although she herself Cat-kin, she never seen these Beast-Kin before. Oh, Miao heard of Beast-Kin, but they always bad tales, tales of violence and plunder. Tales of big hordes, of destruction of kingdoms.
Miao think these tales give other Animal-Kin very bad name. How long it before everyone start looking at Cat-Kin and wonder, hmmm, where loyalties? They look like Beast, maybe Cat-Kin too dangerous and smelly and violent like other Beast-Kin. Then, anyone look at Miao in current state, and they not far wrong. But day of rough travelling make everyone smelly.
So, Miao tell everyone, stay near wagon. Hemmu sees Boar-Thing, charges Boar-Thing. It okay, really, Miao expected thing like that. So Miao tell Yvor to engage Goat-Thing on flank, and then Miao cut way through two Boar-Things and run towards remaining Goat-Thing and Boar-Thing that not already been butchered by Hemmu. Behind, Miao hear Yvor go to work with glee (If Miao had never seen face, Miao swear that Sir Yvor either Orc or Bear-Kin) and crackle of lightning. Miao certain, that flank in good hands between Yvor and Adam.
On other flank, Davin take one look at Goat-Thing, shrug, lift it in air and leave it struggle. That hilarious! Make such noise, flailing sword, trying run in mid air. Flail flail flail, shout shout shout, flail more, shout more. It like small angry mouse hanging by tail.
Miao only remember charging into Goat-Thing... or was Boar-Thing? Hmmm. At any claw, Miao charge into Thing, and Miao bounce off. They strong! Luckily there also Bert and Hemmu and Davin, and soon Thing and other Things very much down.
Not dead, down. That ... Miao get to that in moment.
So, now only one Goat-Thing hanging in air. Wagon driver and mate say 'kill'. Davin not certain, but he looking ready to do unpleasant things to Thing. Miao and Bert say, we let it go. Davin try to talk to thing, thing brays in face. Sometimes Miao think others not understand how strange Furless language is to Animal-Kin. Miao very good at it, but others not so much.
So Davin uses illusion, to show Goat-Thing throw away sword and walk away. That also not help. Miao think it is because throwing away weapon is very, very strange concept Miao has only ever seen in certain Furless races.
At length, Miao suggest we put Goat-Thing down near edge of forest, and let it decide where go. To be certain, Miao put herself between Goat-Thing and friends. Goat-Thing is put on ground, look at chances, turn and run away. In end, that good thing, perhaps.
Miao has mentioned before, but Miao hate killing for sake of killing. Flailing Goat-Thing harmless, defenceless. Yes, it smelly, violent, dangerous Beast-Kin, but Miao had prove, we better than Beast-Kin.
Even if Miao is Cat-Kin. Perhaps that make it more important to prove Cat-Kin better than other Beast-Kin, yes?
Bert insist, we look after wounded Beast-Things, and Miao agree. Miao get feeling rest of party not so sure, and Wagon driver and mate really, really not happy with this. But we just saved Wagon, from odds driver and mate could not beat, so Miao believe Driver stay silent because of this.
Boar-Things come to, look around confused, run immediately.
Goat-Thing come to, look around confused, bite Bert immediately. Clearly Goat-Thing want more fight, so Miao grab it in head-lock. Biting bad! Struggle, struggle, but Miao either stronger than Goat-Thing or angrier than Goat-Thing. Miao drag Goat-Thing to edge of forest, well away from others, turn it around, give kick up backside, tell it run.
Goat-Thing does not run.
No, Goat-Thing does run, but straight at Miao, looking for more fight. Honest, after everything Miao has done to stop Goat-Thing bleeding to death.
But Miao unarmed now, so Miao jump out of way of charge, and realise that Goat-Thing is running back towards Wagon for more fight. Miao realise she never draw Mister Stabby in time to kill thing before it reaches Wagon.
That when Miao see that Davin had followed Miao, to watch back, in case Goat-Thing ... do exactly as Goat-Thing did. So, Davin throw ice knife in Goat-Thing's eye, and that end of it. Just to be on safe side, Miao stab Goat-Thing through heart few times, make sure it dead.
So... Miao again reflecting on Mercy, on Honour. It was honourable thing to save life of enemy that could be saved. Miao would hope that, if situation reversed, someone do same for Miao. But Miao not hopeful about that. In world, there little true Honour, even less real Mercy.
But clearly, Goat-Things not understand Honour, or Mercy. It seem, Goat-Thing only know strength and weakness, and believe Mercy is Weakness.
It pains Miao, but she can no longer show Mercy to Goat-Kin. It too dangerous. So, that end of that.
As writing, Miao can see three moons in sky, so pretty! It rare sight, they say, it usually sign of something.
When Miao hear sound of Goat-Kin nearby, Miao hope it not sign of invasion...
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