Editing Midnight RPG - Chapter 16.28 (section)

== Bill / Kyuad ==

As Durgaz walks through the swamp, carefully deciding where to step, Kyuad walks directly behind him stooping, and with his face cast downward into a book.  The floating book cover tied to the base of Durgaz's pack holds a large tome almost high enough for the tall Erenlander's needs.  Nisse rides on the top of the orc's pack, with her head tipped to one side, apparently reading along.  Every now and again Kyuad mumbles to himself and whistles through his teeth.

As Durgaz begins to speak, Kyuad looks up at the orc's back, and then around at the dismal surroundings again.  His face lit from below by the flaming rock in his hand, Kyuad looks troubled in more ways than one.

As he studies, Kyuad speaks to Durgaz distantly, though with cogent focus.  "I think we two are of slightly different minds on this issue.  The goals and intents of the courtisan and his old beast are most likely ''not'' in line with ours.  I fear that his primary purpose in tagging along with our band was little more than survival and the desire to use some capable allies.  The imp of his knows clearly how to tailor its conversation best to suit the listener, and it was telling to hear it cowtow, praise, and make promises of power to Zal'Kazzir.  His willingness to give in to the tempting black power I felt when within the tower, his manipulations of our enemies, and his eagerness to ''play'' with one of the Shadow's legates only solidifies my suspicion that his hunger for power has virtually no bounds.

"What's more, I think that despite his weaknesses, he could be of great use to us.  If you remember, he ''did'' manage to convince the lorekeeper in the tower that not only he but also we were friends.  He also succeeded in earning enough of the trust of a legate to have his way with her," then under his breath, "or hers with him."

"An elf cannot be trusted by minions of Shadow.  An orc should be trusted, but it is unacceptably dangerous for you to be called upon to ''prove'' your loyalty to their side."  Kyuad rubs the his wrists as he then says, "I've experienced that type of ''proof'' first-hand."  He continues, "Shadaar, the tragic once-man we found in the tower, is at so much of a risk when close to priests of Shadow that I have been working on ways to protect him from being used ''against'' us if that were to happen.  And do not think that I have missed the way you all look at me.  I know that my pallor is disturbing, and my skin is cold and blue.  The... ''condition'' of my birth seems to be getting worse, and this will help us none at all were we to be forced to deal with legates.

"Face the sad facts my friend: Zal'Kazzir is our only means of hoping to ever survive a non-violent encounter with those of the unholy priesthood, or for that matter, any of his ilk of the 'idle rich'.

"And make no mistake - all of the events so far point to a direct conflict with the Priest of Shadow himself.  The living denizens of Cambrial, and there are many, will warm to the foolish Sarcosan and none of the rest of us.  I can think of no other option open to us but to use him until such time as we have finished with Sunulael.

"In the meantime we must work out ways to keep him in check and to prevent him from endangering us more than he already has.  His hunger for power is my primary concern because it has such far-reaching dangers.  We must never allow him to feel as though he has ''any'' power over the rest of us at any time.  Though I hate the concept of slavery, we must do all we can to hold power over him and his actions, not only to prevent him from turning against us, but also to prevent him from feeling the freedom to act without our blessing.  He is an exceptionally smart man, but his inability to recognize the most obvious dangers to himself and others marks him as a fool - he should have the freedom of a fool.

"We must also ensure that he does not know too much of our secrets, because you are right that his is the most dangerous mind in the hands of the enemy.  It is an unfortunate issue that he knows our destination right now.  His future ignorance is essential.  This will be difficult until we establish power.  How that is to be accomplished, I am not sure.

"For now, we must wait and see what results from his plan, and if he survives Vrolk's tower.



'''Bill:'''<br>OOC: I totally understand him going to great lengths to use the abilities that he has worked very hard to get.  It's exactly the same as Kyuad constantly requiring huge amounts of time for things like study and making stuff.  I think those are equivalent abilities in the minds of Adam and I as players (Zal'Kazzir using diplomacy with legates = Kyuad learning and creating).  But I agree that putting everything else at risk just to ''do'' the Big Cool Thing he can do is really detrimental to the rest of us.

I just say we go with it!  There '''is''' legitimate reason for us to want him around, and just as legitimate reason for us to not trust him.  So we will have to work against Zal'Kazzir in some ways just to protect ourselves and to keep him under ''our'' control instead of the Shadow's.