BF105

Mission: Irresponsible

Episode Number: (BF105)
Original Airdate: 6/2002

This is yet another part of Blade and Fist.

The party is in various states of charm over the conduct of the naga. She convinces a couple of the party to retrieve a mind flayer to take part in some powerful ritual or other that is supposed to weaken Thalax. The charm is eventually broken after she tries to lock the party in a solid-adamantine room with said mind flayer; Gurk bisects the mind flayer and opens a nice hole through which the party escapes. The naga earns herself a very bloody end.

After a little more questing, the party take a correct turn (for once!) and find the remains of the dwarven keep. Inside, the giant Thalax cowers before the white dragon Ilcitrix, who brags about her plan to overrun the halfling village with an army of kobolds, bequeaths unto him much frostiness, and kicks him down a chasm. The party quickly rush in to recover the crystalline spear which Thalax drops, only to have Gurk smash it to pieces.

Plot Points

• This flavor of naga is really a pain in the butt, in the social sense. (Unless, say, you close your eyes. In which case, not so much. -- DMP)
• Gurk is very experienced in destroying inanimate objects.
• Arlemis was able to converse with the mind flayer.

Analysis

• Gurk apparently got different orders than did Arlemis and Gryffid.
• The halfling sage declared that the Covenent with the Dragon had been broken because someone who had shed the blood of Ilcitrix had entered the town. Given that Arly and Gryff were among the party members who fought and killed Arik and, later, Lig, they have indeed shed the blood of Ilcitrix -- by killing her half-goblin children. It would appear, however, that Arly and Gryff have not really bought into this line of reasoning.
• Arlemis seems to have recognized the giant cylindrical room. He also found some runes and was quietly reading, "delwys, wysdel." What this means is as yet unclear.

Unanswered Questions

• Is the mission a failure?
• Is there something wrong with Karilon?
• How hosed is the halfling village?

Gryffid Speaks

I am so glad that the naga was removed from my life. That is one complication I am not prepared to deal with at the moment. I have enough other crap to think about.

Such as Gurk's misconduct. I don't care what his orders were.

Which brings me to what I think of Karilon...well, my opinion is certainly not improving. We need to have a long talk.

The halfling village can deal with its own problems. I didn't cause this one.

Arlemis Speaks

Sure. Gurk's a strong guy. Great in combat. Not the world's best conversationalist. But he sure does have a problem with magical items.

What I don't understand is why Karilon would send a guy who's so hell-bent on destroying magical items on a mission to retrieve a very important magical item. Just whose side is Karilon on, anyway?

DMP Speaks

Call me crazy, but I don't think Gurk would have introduced himself with, "Hi, my name's Gurk, I live out west of Alyon, I'm into hiking, swimming in mountain springs, and oh, yes, I destroy any magical items I can get my hands on, death to arcane sorcery, bah!"

Imagine the line of questioning Karilon might have pursued. How well does Gurk fight? How dependent is Gurk upon magical abilities? How well does Gurk function against large, combat-oriented opponents in a non-magical situation? By those standards, he measures up pretty darn well. Unless you're metagaming. And you're not metagaming, right? 'Cause I'd hate to think you were metagaming.

Quotable Notes

naga (staring into Arly's eyes): Hey, wake up.
Arly: Why are you looking at me like that?
naga: Aren't my eyes pretty?
Arly: Uh, yes?
naga: Do you still like me?
Arly: Yes?
naga: Okay, go back to sleep.

Back to Complete Listing