"I would agree with said sentiment", Marcus had barely let out of his mouth as a response to Lonett when he heard a cheery voice calling for him to relax from behind him. That since they were all here, it would be assumed that they could deal with any problem that could be thrown their way. A quick decision to be made in the case of a gathering of legendary heroes. Surely it would mean that the problem, just as well, was on the scale of legends? He returned his focus to the masked woman instead of the pink haired gnome over his shoulder, though this distraction had granted her time to don again her war face. "Yet to learn of the trouble we have is better to be done post haste. Any second wasted is one more second those of ill intent would have to assault our fellow man. And in a second, threats of our magnitude could level entire villages." A gloomy perspective, but something that grounded the responsibility of those gathered into reality.
The reception of the twin dukes was perhaps even more grandiose than it had been those times he had been called to speak to the court on the matters of judgement, righteousness and the justness of law and order. They had, of course, agreed. Few would dare speak against words of a paladin to the god of justice in matters such as those. Whether they had found it in their hearts was another thing. Marcus had not really followed. This time he was not here to speak of the matter however, but to deliver it. Not here, but wherever the summons would take him. And when the celestial messenger boomed and the paladin sat on his equally celestial mount, unflinching, it did not take long to make up his mind about what he would be heading to fight. The skills of one who possessed stoic fate and a blade of sunlight were called for in the West, where a most peculiar threat had arisen: Ghouls following a hierarchy.
In those around him, there were people of many opinions and varying knowledge. Even the duchess who would now abandon her title to seek the better future for the whole of the land seemed to lack information about this all, further speaking into the story of the divines not telling their blades what there was to be expected. Other than the immediate nature of the threat. Those who voiced their opinions were mostly interested in heading to the frozen North, to find the dragon and the giants working together. Then again, as they said, this was not always out of the ordinary, even if on this scale of power it was uncommonly seen. For all he knew, the once adult dragon enslaved by the giants could have now grown old and powerful. A natural event. But ghouls following a leader? Madness. As the halfling who called upon his attention seemed to think as well.
She had lots of things to say, the Paladin listening to her words attentively without making much of a noise for himself until she was done. She seemed to have some knowledge about these creatures as well, but ultimately chose to combat the threat in the North like many of the other vocal ones. He would speak up not too long after her: "Ghouls may swarm, but they do not work as an army. Usually. Now if they are adhering to the rule of another, Orcus meddling with matters sounds ever likely. My blade will undoubtedly shine upon the Western lands and my shield will be raised for those that would otherwise be trampled by the hordes of undead. I must still say that with all your knowledge on the nature of this threat, you would still dismiss it as mere ghouls to be... distressing." Having said his piece, he turned briefly to glare at Vincent, who he had just heard vocally dismiss them as just that.
Kethan's suggestions on splitting the amount of warriors in half sounded appropriate to the Paladin, who nodded at said words. The one known as Master suggested, not unlike many others by now, that Marcus would head into the fight against the undead. "I am glad you echo my sentiments, but this is truly undeservedly much. I may be half-orc, but my wit is completely whole", he commented on the eagerness of others to steer his decision. Speaking of steering of decisions, Kethan seemed to be making a division of resources of his own. A suggestion as it might be, it was a sound one to his ears. He could speak of his own though, but hopefully these people would learn that soon. Even if he took the time to weigh his words before letting them out. There was no taking back a letter pronounced, after all.
"The library would be an intelligent move, to seek all we can of the enemy that the divines themselves do not seem to know much of. Given we find all we can on our own, I will seek to counsel Tyr for his insight. I offer this aid to anyone who it needs, so those looking to head North may want to share their questions. But we must also act swiftly. A moment spent idly standing is a moment that may later mean the loss of lives."
Lakeltia