Crushed Slavers

[Anastasia]

A grunt. "I can see the fool's logic about it, how someone making a better weapon means it'll chase away goblins or bandits with less losses." Jannel says, "But it's not right.  Most of them study things that aren't going to help people, or chasing down random dead ends because it's their research." Waving a hand out towards you, a sharp motion, "If Gondsmen made such practical things, then I would not be here."

Kascha gasps softly at the table pound and then adds once he's done, "You wouldn't."

"Ultimately, I traveled and sought Gond's council directly," Jannel says. Here his face grows tight again, "I went to the House of Wonder. What wonders did I see there," his voice turns sour again. "A devil, working on siege engines to better oppress and slaughter. A daemon worshiping knight, purchasing new tools and weapons to make the innocent suffer. A rich marid prince, spending unthinkable money on what were mere toys and frivolities to him. Aye, there were angels and heroes and others there as well. Everyone was. Purpose meant nothing, only invention, only creation!"

[Corwin]

Seira's face sours. "I'll be honest, I wondered how Gond could have paladins because of precisely that."

[Anastasia]

"When I finally got to talk to Gond, he told me..." A pause here, a stillness.

"Do y-" Is all Kascha can get out, starting to extend a hand out to him.

"I'm fine," A grunt at that, "He told me that I was an upstanding champion who shouldn't be serving him. That as devoted as I was, that I was called to other places. That I had more than paid back any debt to Cragen. That I hadn't fit in his teachings for some time and wouldn't ever again. He cast me out, released me from my vows and wished me well." His voice is tight, tense as a drawn bowstring. "He bid me to find someone I could serve with all my heart and that he bears me no ill will."

[Corwin]

"That's the past. What's in your future?" Seira asks Jannel. "Where do you see yourself one year from now if you follow me? Five years? A decade?"

[Anastasia]

"Fighting, doing what's right and helping people," Jannel says, "It's what I do. It's what I'll do until I can't do it any more."

[Corwin]

She grins. "That's what I get for asking too generic a question. No, I'm not questioning your character or your resolve, Jannel. I'm... seeking to understand you better. How would you accomplish this? Who would you pursue, who would you defend? People understand each other well through anecdotes, so I'm wondering whether you can tell me a few specific plans?"

[Anastasia]

"It comes down to using the sword how it's meant to be used." Jannel admits, a pause as he slowly flexes his fingers, loosening his balled up fist. "So much poverty and wanting can be stopped by reclaiming what has been stolen and returning it. A starving village needs no further donations if their stolen harvests are returned. A man who lost everything to thieves is no longer destitute if the thief is captured and his possessions returned."

After a moment and another, "When a sword is used in the right way, proper morals and goals see to the rest. Life can be lived one step at a time, so long as all of those steps are the right ones to make."

[Corwin]

Aww, and she hoped Jannel had amazing inventions Gond's faithful didn't care about to revolutionize a Prime or two.

"Say there are three worlds," she voices. "A frozen world, all but lost to Auril, where my faithful are trying to keep hope alive. A world with a bright future, recovering from past calamities and adapting to planar influences and fresh technologies. And a world that is but a step short of paradise, where everything is shiny and new. How would you help the people of these worlds, protect them from harm and help uplift their societies?"

[Anastasia]

To this Jannel shakes his head, "I don't know. You can't describe worlds in a few sentences. When I went to Galaran, Cregan gave me a bit of information, a summary of that world. It was woefully insufficient, so much can vary kingdom to kingdom, barony to barony, village to village. What I'd do would be to get more information on one of the worlds and work on that world from there."

[Corwin]

"Cautious, but I would be betraying my nature if I were to dismiss the need for knowledge," Seira tells him in amusement. "Alright, let's not drag this out. I think we'll do a lot of good together, and the three worlds I mentioned are very real worlds that require a more direct touch. I'm barred from doing so myself by the rules that govern deities, but a likeminded, capable individual such as yourself could turn things around. Would you like to?"

[Anastasia]

"The world of winter," Jannel says without hesitation, "It has the most for me to do."

[Corwin]

Seira stands up, reaching across the table smoothly to offer Jannel her hand. "Welcome aboard!"

[Anastasia]

Jannel's handshake is firm, "May this relationship be strong and eternal," he agrees. "For now, I will follow your banner and see what path that leads me on."

Kascha smiles, "Welcome! Come to me if you need anything, Jannel."

[Corwin]

The urge to tease Kascha about pining for Donald or looking after young Surraruthru is strong, but Seira is able to resist!

"I'll be sure that you have all the relevant information I have about the Prime, but for now, just spend some time at the Cauldron? Seeing what I view as an ideal afterlife should come in handy."

[Anastasia]

Great! Anything else to add here?