A morning stroll (open)

[Lita]

Lita sighed, quite exasperated. Must I deal with such closemindedness even here? she thought. "I expect you feel the same about those who eat meat? You must because there is no difference except that I am not the one responsible for their deaths when I look for the perfect specimen. I am not some cleric or priest who drags souls back from the eternal slumber to this world of life, I create new life entirely using the bits left behind. When you die, your body is of no use to anything but the worms and plants that steal nutrients from it. I take it upon myself to make use of that discarded shell so it can do at least someone good even after the host has left."

She crossed her arms. "Look here, when a soldier dies in battle, he is of no use to either side, nor his family back home. If I am able to take that leftover body, whose soul has departed for calmer pastures, and give it the ability to do work farm work for the family now without a son or spouse, than I have not only helped these people, but honored the dead man. The same policy can be made for helping the living." She became calmer and less animated as she entered lecture mode.

"We'll stay with the war analogy. Two men are fighting in a great war, one is slain and the other loses his arm. Now, the dead man is of no use to anyone and the use of the crippled man is far diminished. Using what I've learned I can give him the dead man's arm. Thus giving meaning to the senseless death of that man and returning the injured man to a semblance of normal life. Is that what you consider sacrilegious?"

[Sablerose]

Calla sighed patiently. This was an argument she had gone through with some outsiders who misunderstood exactly how Druids saw the world. "Actually, I do eat meat. I don't make it a heavy part of my diet, but it is there. As a Druid, I respect the fact that a creature hunts other creatures to survive. It is part of the way life progresses." She smiled. "In fact, you should speak with my Familiar, Greystreak. He is a wolf, and he would certainly give you an...interesting view on being primarily carnivorous.

"That said, there is a considerable difference between hunting an animal for food or using aspects of their bodies for clothing or shelter, and turning them into what amounts to an undead servant. In my lands, we respect that the body may no longer be alive, but the spirit of the animal can remain. Use the body wisely and minimize the waste, and that spirit is able to rest easily. Abuse the body or waste the carcass unnecessarily, and it is not uncommon for their spirits to seek vengeance, especially if they met an exceptionally violent or messy end.

"Outside the borders of Laurelmoon, mainly to our south and west, there are what are known as Ghost Packs. These are the angered spirits of animals. Mainly wolves, but it is not unknown to see other creatures gathered together in their pursuit of revenge. They are spirits of creatures who had met violent ends, relative to the use of their bodies afterward. Trappers, as you can imagine, are usually the targets. I have seen a Ghost Pack in action. They are merciless, fast, and leave little behind that is identifiable of their victims. Thankfully, they are rare, and never enter Laurelmoon or there would be far more victims, I think."

She shifted slightly. "Now, let us look at the other part of your argument: a soldier who dies in battle. You say that you have honored him. But have you really? Have you spoken with his widow? His children? The other friends and family he leaves behind? Have you asked them how they feel about the scavenging of their loved one for parts the same way someone might go through a pile of discarded items, searching for something that might just work. A pile of metal items was never alive. Had no soul nor ability to speak or reason or love. The soldier did."

She caught her breath a moment, surprised at how calm she was. "Though I consider it honorable to wish to help those who have lost a limb through accident or war, there are other ways that do not violate the sanctity of someone's else loved one who is no longer among the living.

"To you, the end result of the journey is more important than the path taken to get there. That is where we differ. To myself as a Druid, the path is no less important than the destination, and the least amount of disturbance that can be done on that path allows those who would follow to enjoy the view that previous travelers saw. If there are ways to improve the path, then it must be taken into consideration whether or not the improvement is truly worth the change."

[Lita]

"But it isn't unnecessary. I'm doing it to make something useful. Do you object to using bones for tools? Admittedly most of us have moved past such archaisms but it is still valid. As I said before I do not do the killing, I simply see no reason why a good body should go to waste for no reason." Lita was quite pleased that the disagreement had yet to end with immolation, it was certainly longer than most of her conversations went.

"And again with the soldier, should his family have need of him whole I can simply find a different body for the arm and restore the dead soldier to help his family as he would have done should he survived. The family of the victim should understand that their son is helping his fellow man even in death anyway and shouldn't raise such a fuss."

[Sablerose]

Calla gave a half-smile. "I noticed that you neatly side-stepped my question about having ever spoken to the people the soldier left behind. But I'll let that one go for the moment and address your other points.

"Actually, believe it or not, we do use some bone tools in Laurelmoon. Truthfully, it's mainly we Druids. There are some that are quite opposed to the idea of unnecessary mining that they refuse to use a tool that cannot be made with ambient materials. One of my teachers was very much like that. Refused to enter our castle, so all my lessons took place outside. Each side of an issue has those who hold their ideals in extreme.

"However, the thing to remember is that, again, we make use of parts and have usually done a quick rite to honor the being who gave us the part, even if we have never seen said being. In your case, you're so willing to look only to the person you believe you're helping, you seem to do no honor toward the one who made the sacrifice, to the family he or she left behind. You don't know nor seem to care whether that person would want to have their body used in such a manner.

"For example, there are some religions that require that the body be left whole for the passage into the afterlife. Your actions would make that impossible, and, in the case of the family, they would see you not only as violating their loved one's body, but also denying the chance for passing on. It is little wonder that you have been chased out of some places."

She sighed. "I know I am not going to change your mind, but maybe it was time someone reminded you that there are valid points to both sides of an issue, not just the one that allows for the most expedient or practical result."

[Lita]

Lita frowned. "I didn't side step it. They should understand. I can't go around and explain why I'm correct to every person who disagrees with me. As for your foray into such strange a thing as religions requiring wholeness of body, that in and of itself is nonsensical. Have you seen a body after only months in the ground? There is nothing whole about that, let alone those who, as I mentioned, lost bits and pieces in fighting or accidents. But I suppose that sort of delusion is not what's being debated." She rolled her eyes. "All I'm saying is that once a person is dead, it hardly matters as to what happens since all that's left is a pile of meat and bones that is, again, of no use to anybody. Once you die, I'm sure you have more to think about than whether or not your body is used to fertilize soil or till it depending on whether I got a hold of it."

Lita was becoming animated again. "As for your reminders, I have enough of those already. I'm elven, there's a reason I'm off alone instead of with my people and home. Of course other than that I have scars here, here, here, and many more." She said, pointing out different parts of her body. "I'm reminded of my 'lack of tolerance' every time I have another layer of skin to grow after it's been burnt off. It's bad enough that in most cases my experiments almost end with my own death before townsfolk decide to finish the job themselves." She stopped and took several deep breaths to calm herself.

"People just don't seem to understand. A human corpse has no more importance than that of an animal. I'm simply trying to make it important again."

[Sablerose]

"So, in your opinion, everyone is wrong, simply because they disagree with you? No other opinion holds any value unless they subscribe to your world view? And then you complain that you shouldn't have to explain yourself to the family who sees you as little more than a graverobber?" Calla's voice took a frosty edge to it, but she shook her head. "You truly must spend too much time among the dead, if you give so little value to the feelings of the living."

It took a few seconds for her to rein in her temper. "The main thing I notice out of your justifications has been the idea that you should have the right to decide how someone else's remains should be used. And that they should be used for your experiments, solely because you're the only one that sees the correct value of their worth. Such megalomania, in other forms, have caused wars.

"As for your scars, I won't lay judgment on whether you deserved them or not, but I will say that it doesn't surprise me that you received them. When the day of your own passing comes, and no one shows up to bury your corpse, much less mourn your passing, and the scavengers come by and make use of it as a meal, maybe your spirit will finally understand what it must have been like for those who you simply saw as fodder for your experiments.

"But honestly, I doubt it will. And not because you lack a spirit to do the mourning."

[Lita]

I am simply saying it's up to me because I am the only one who knows how. Much like a chef with a special recipe says he is the only one who is able to make that dish. It is not out of pride, it is simple fact. I decide because until I train apprentices, I'm the only one who knows how. Once I have proven the worth of my creations, people will clamor for them, and then I can train others who will also be able to choose what is done with a body. As for The feelings of those who are alive, I do care for them or else there would be no reason for me to create new life. It is hardly my fault if they do not understand that I am helping them. It is not far off from uneducated refusing medicine because they do not understand the offering given by those who have the knowledge to help. Now you'll twist this around and claim that I am holding myself in a position of greater importance than those who refuse my gifts." She sniffed.

"This is not true in the least. I want to help, and this is what I know how to do. I am sure that with understanding and demonstrations, my work will be recognized as something good and helpful. I respect the opinions and beliefs of others, even if I do not agree or find them laughable and illogical. Much as you would should someone tell you their religion was that drinking anything that was not ale is a terrible sin. I simply have moved on to where these beliefs will not stop me from helping those who are not subject to such ideas. And when I die, I don't expect my body to be used for anything but nutrients for the ground, but if I am very lucky, I should hope that it is used to help even more people."

[Sablerose]

"You say that it is not out of pride, but the next statement out of you is that people will clamor for your services, as if it were a forgone conclusion. You use your supposed cool logic to cover for your own pride. It is everyone else's fault for not seeing how your experiments would help them. It could never be your fault for not seeing things through their eyes.

"But enough of that. I'm willing to concede that neither of us is likely to move the other toward the opposing opinion. I will not wish you luck in your experiments. I will also give warning to my people to watch for any activity similar to your efforts. I doubt that any attempt to find fodder for your work will be treated with any less loathing in Laurelmoon than in most other areas you have encountered. If you come and do not cause any disturbances along those lines, though, you would be welcome to visit." Calla gave Lita an honest smile. "I enjoy a good philosophical debate, within reason."

[Lita]

Lita rolled her eyes. Such a statement was much like telling the person you had just stabbed to have a nice day. It was such a backhand that Lita was slightly stunned. She recovered quickly however. "I expect I'll find enough work in this town with its abundance of slaves that I won't need to visit your homeland. Of course your presence here preaching to me instead of doing what you can for those poor unfortunate souls makes me wonder if you care as much for the living as you do about the dead. I know if I was half as opinionated as yourself I would be working hard to solve the despicable art of buying and selling people. Fortunately, whether you are right or I am right, should I succeed in creating the perfect companion, I will have eliminated the need for slavery which I'm sure is a victory for either party." Lita smiled, flashing her teeth.

"It was very pleasant speaking to you, have a nice day, and may you rot in the ground as is your wish when death comes for you." With that, Lita turned and walked away. Her mind already turned back to the task of finding the burrow of one of the small furry creatures.

[Sablerose]

Calla shook her head. "You know, there are very few times that I will get angry enough to pull rank. I don't do it often, but I am going to do it now." She stepped in front of Lita, knelt in the dirt and locked eyes with her.

"Like my views or not, I am still a royal Princess. You will not speak to be that way. And I am still a Druid, which means that all I have to do is give the word, and every single animal here will not make a single appearance in your presence ever, and may do some rather nasty things to you, wherever you go. And if you wish to go to Anactoria about this little talk, feel free. You might find that rank does have its privileges. You might not respect me as a person, but you will damn well respect the rank I hold! Oh, and for the record, Laurelmoon never had slavery.

She drew in slightly closer, returning Lita smile with a feral one. "And if you ever, ever insinuate that I do not care about my people again, I will shove your head so far up your arse, that you will be on a first name basis with your intestinal tract. Do I make myself clear?"

[Lita]

Lita jerked back at the sudden interruption after she had ended the conversation in her own mind. However she quickly recovered. "Very well, princess." She said, emphasizing the word. "Even if you were that powerful princess, which I can't tell if you are or not, it matters little, as I am simply trying to find the dead comrades of the animals. Should I be unable to find them here, I will go into the city and purchase a dead animal for next to nothing." She stood up to her full height, no longer slouching as she had been earlier.

"You may be a princess, but you are also a child. You can add your name to the list of people who have put a bounty on my head. I am the daughter of the leader of my kind. Your rank may seem high to you, but my rank is just as important. The difference is I stood up for what I believe in and am now paying the consequences." Lita scowled. "I do not need to run off to the princess to fight my battles for me." She took a deep breath. "There is slavery here, and here is where you are. Back home, we had no snow, yet there is snow here. I react to the snow here even if it was nonexistant back home. You should still turn your mind to slavery even if it doesn't happen in this Laurelmoon. If you only react to the situations you knew while at home, how do you expect to rule this land with the princess if that is your goal?" Lita turned away. Maybe this time she would stop and think before accosting her again.

[Sablerose]

Calla took a deep breath. "Lita, there are other ways, other methods to fight injustices. I was honest in my saying that I respect your goals, but I can't condone your methods. Not as a princess, not as a Druid, and not as a person. You want to fight slavery? That's fine. I can only do what my power allows, both as a person and a princess. I cannot rewrite the laws of this country, but I can bend the ears of those who can. Will it work? I don't know."

She laughed, a release of tension she needed for the last few minutes. "I've only been in town since yesterday. I haven't been able to do much more than nearly start a bar fight in the hopes of helping someone else who wanted to do good in an odd way. Then, I barely fall asleep when someone comes to my door, wondering how she can 'see' me, despite being blind. And no sooner do I try to go for a peaceful walk the next morning than I get into a shouting match with a stranger over what to do with the dead. However, it is still early. With luck, I can get two countries to go to war before lunch."

She stood up, her voice more subdued than it had been. "Despite my words, I don't wish you harm, so long as you are not a threat to my people, the ones that you so casually say that I don't seem to care about. The terrifying part is that you and I are not so different, Lita. We do what we do out of a caring for others, though we go about it in different ways. We are willing to go to extremes in carrying out our views. I would gladly kill for my people, if the need arose. And I would die for them as well, again if the need arose. I don't do it because I'm a Royal Princess or a Druid. I do it because if I don't, I would never be able to look at my face in the mirror later and feel that I was worthy as someone who loves my people."

She turned slightly. "Before I go, though, I have one last thing I'd like you to think about. This isn't some royal decree or a dire warning from a Druid. It's from one living being to another. Remember to spend some time to look for the living and associate with them, while you're also looking for the dead. Do this, before your soul forgets the difference between them. Being dead is not all that hard. It's being alive that's difficult.

"Goodbye, Lita. I hope we can talk again, with a less trying time of it." With that she did leave the woman to her work, grisly though it was.