Anyone planning to run a D&D 3.5 campaign?

[Ben Zwycky]

[I meant Aiden would ask the man giving the talk]

[Tanakh Keeper]

[Picture a politician giving a speech. The crowd gets tighter, the closer you attempt to go to the speaker. Bearing that in mind, how aggressively are you pushing through the crowd? How much of a heckler are you trying to be? Also give me a d20 roll.]

[Ben Zwycky]

[ I didn't register that the crowd was big, I was just counting on calling from the back when the guy paused]

d20 roll: 1

[That's sure to be good news ]

[Tanakh Keeper]

Aiden enters the dojo. To the other side, a much larger crowd is gathered listening to a man in black clothes talk about the Way of Strength.

Aiden drifts over to the back of the crowd. When the man pauses to some scattered applause, Aiden calls out "Where is Shoulin?" The speaker pauses incrementally and then resumes his topic. One person in front of you turns around to look at you for a moment, then turns back again.

[Ben Zwycky]

Aiden will try asking the people watching the bouts.

[Ben Zwycky]

[for the record, I'll be away tomorrow and most if not all of the day after]

[Tanakh Keeper]

Aiden gets the gist that Shoulin teaches those that have formally joined his monastery. So he's probably with the students, in their wing of the dojo.

[Note that you never got a good look at the speaker, as you were at the back of the crowd.]

[Ben Zwycky]

Aiden goes out and tries the student entrance, letting Keyleth and Maverick know that he's doing that and see which way he went.

[Tanakh Keeper]

This is a hallway with larger rooms. You can see whole groups of students being instructed in a group setting by various instructors. The hallway ends at a larger room. Groups of students are going at each other in combined martial combat. At the far end of the room, is a 10' raised platform. On this platform, you can see a figure with bluish scales overseeing the activity.

[Ben Zwycky]

Aiden approaches the platform.

"Brother Shoulin, I presume?"

[Tanakh Keeper]

"Greetings Aiden. You're Brother Pratchett's latest protege, yes? And it's Master Shoulin."

[Ben Zwycky]

"But of course, I should have expected you to take such a title, and to know of me, considering how parallel our paths have run, both in terms of heritage and education. What you have built here is impressive, but from what I gather of the philosophy on which it is based, I must ask you to reconsider the path you have chosen."

[Tanakh Keeper]

Shoulin looks down at you.

"Ah Brother Aiden. I don't take titles, I earn them.

Throughout your career, you have followed the Way of Strength in all but name only. Why have you not embraced your destiny? I know that you have felt the prejudice of humans towards our perfected form. Cast off your fear and join me."

[Ben Zwycky]

"The only 'perfected' forms are those of the angels. I am not ashamed or afraid of my heritage in any way, and defy their prejudice by acting differently, with honour and for the benefit of the community. Your path would only confirm their twisted view of us, that every one of us is but a tyrant in waiting."

By your words you show that you know of me but do not know me. I have not followed the Way of Strength but the Way of Wisdom, that observes the workings of nature, where symbiosis is the norm, the bedrock and the framework within all life thrives most abundantly. The role of the strong is not to prey on the weak, but to protect them from predators, enable them to specialise, focus and hone their arts, working and trading for mutual benefit, supporting the strong in their efforts and making them more capable than they would otherwise be. This healthy civilization is what is worth fighting for, through philosophy, by example, and occasionally through confrontation and combat. The path you offer only leads to destruction in the long term, someone stronger will always come along eventually, and will you be happy to submit to them?"

[Tanakh Keeper]

"Ah Aiden, you are clinging to your fears, weakness, and false bravado. Afraid to realize all your full potential. The only thing standing in your way is you. I seek to expand your knowledge, to reveal all the things that have puzzled you. I want you to understand the truth. I want you to experience power. I want you to experience perfection. There is no limit to what you can possess. All that you desire can be yours. Tell me that you want all that and join me. Only I can can show you the way and make it happen for you." says Master Shoulin, his eyes bright with fervor.