Dust and blood

[Anastasia]

"Our hopes is for peace," An old man says, "We've grown on war, year in and year out. It grinds us down as they attack us."

[Iron Dragoon]

"I want to hear specifics. Peace takes more work than war."

[Anastasia]

"Life," An old man finally wheezes, "Please, we want a world where we don't bury sons and fathers every year, and that maps are constantly redrawn because villages are sacked."

"Please," The old woman says, "I had four sons and buried each one. Please."

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa taps the table in annoyance, "We will not wage war on your behalf without the entire story. So far all you've done is tell us the other side is evil and deflect my questions. I want specifics. Now."

[Anastasia]

Gimme an Intimidate check, +10 circumstance.

[Iron Dragoon]

Intimidate/Cunning Knowledge/+10:

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+110 : 4 + 110, total 114[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

Immediately you are answered, "Peace. We dream of it. Our kingdoms and homes not under attack every year. Harvests not ruined by raiders." The old woman says, "We have grown thick and bloated on war. Our kingdoms can grow and be prosperous. We are controlled by it, so much is in reaction to that."

[Iron Dragoon]

"War economies have a difficult time transitioning. What are your plans for that? Once your magic is no longer focused on war, what do you plan to do with it?"

[Anastasia]

"Build," Is the answer from an old man. "We have the keys of power, but they've only been used for war because we have no choice. What marvels we can build in peace!"

[Iron Dragoon]

Can I sense motive on these guys? They're not directly answering anything.

[Anastasia]

Sure, go for it.

[Iron Dragoon]

Sense Motive/Cunning Knowledge:

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+88 : 3 + 88, total 91[/blockquote]

[Anastasia]

They're on the level. You don't detect any obvious lies.

[Iron Dragoon]

Alyssa sends to the others, They're not lying as far as I can tell, but they're being evasive. Unless... They just flat out don't know how to deal with a non-war economy.

[Anastasia]

That's my inference of the situation. It's not that they're lying, but they're genuinely so lost in a long term conflict they don't grasp what you really mean. An eternal struggle between order and chaos, how many mortal minds can properly cope with eternal war?

I think Jarem's right, Alyssa. I think a gentler tack is needed, they seem more in need than we realized.