This post will probably concern only a very small percentage of the
Achaean population, specifically the high level bashers who frequent
Belladonna's Keep. For those of you unfamiliar with the territory, you
must take a narrow path hidden north of Hashan and cross the fens, then
swim through a small lake before you arrive at the gates of the Keep.

My concern is with the set of people who don't seem to show regard for
their fellow Achaeans. Bashing ethics you might call it. First of all,
let me tell you how people kill Belladonna in small groups or even solo.
Trying to stand toe to toe with Belladonna is suicide, so some form of
hit and run is invariably required. The most common way seems to involve
hoisting over the lake, or if you can survive a round of attacks, flying
above her. Hit, get in air, heal, repeat. Its not as easy as it sounds,
as things can still go wrong. However, it is very possible, as numerous
people have demonstrated over the years.

My gripe is that when people do these hit and run tactics in the
lake/fen area, people walking by get nailed when they walk into
Belladona on the ground. You will almost never notice anyone shouting a
warning until someone has died, and afterwards, -NOBODY- will confess to
having led her out when asked. Guilt or shame perhaps. My question is,
are these people who led her out responsible for her kills? Granted
their intentions were pure.. they did not mean for innocents to die.

If you ask me, I would say yes, due to lack of thought. When planning
stunts like that, perhaps more thought should have been placed in safety
of others? Most of the time, a simple shout or yell would suffice. If
you have ever planned a stunt like this, you will know what I mean. You
would tell friends at least that you're doing it.. and to warn them not
to come near? Why not grant your fellow Achaean the same courtesy? The
safety issue first came to mind once when I was hatching some
harebrained idea for yudhi long time ago. An extra person would be
recruited for the purpose of icewalling off the ferries and standing
there to warn off people. Granted I never got to try out the actual
plan, but the concept is there. Try to minimize the chances of others
getting killed unnecessarily.

I was curious as to whether this situation was pk'able, since it would
be a reasonable measure of whether the Divine thought these people were
responsible or not for the deaths they cause. I was told no, because
these people did not -intend- to have Belladonna kill others. The
methods used are acceptable because apparently, leading Belladonna out
into anywhere in that area is -OK-. The reasoning ran that the second
you step onto Belladonna's territory, be it the Keep itself or outside
in the fens, you should be wary as it is a "dangerous" area. Getting
ambushed by Bella is the same as getting shot when you step into a
warzone.. you should have seen it coming.

I don't agree with that at all. I take the description of Belladonn's
Keep as dangerous with a grain of salt since most high level bashers
kill everything but Belladonna and Dawn with relative ease. People do
not expect Belladonna herself to run around rampant in the lake or fens.
Granted by this time you've probably gathered that I've died this way
and hence am angry, which I am. I'm paranoid and squint at least 60% of
the time I'm in the area, but to expect anyone to do that -all- the time
is insane. Besides, look at how many people have died this way in the
past years?

On flawed methods. Intention is an iffy thing, which can't really be
proved or disproved half the time. If I suddenly decide I wish to kill
Belladonna regularly and lead her out onto the fens everyday, is that
OK? The instance I was talking about when I got ambushed earlier, the
person was not after the title line. They -HAVE- the line already, and
was killing Bella because they felt in the mood to.

Assuming I find a way of surviving Z, if my method involves me leading Z
around Azdun, can I argue people walking into Azdun should have been
careful anyways as it -is- the lair of the Vampire Lord after all? In
reality, shutting Azdun down that way would be impossible as Z is even
harder to live through if you come face to face with him. HOwever,
shutting down the path to Belladonna's Keep is very possible. Anyone who
walks through that path will have to either fly or find some other way.

I don't really want to put this in practice just to prove a point, as
many people will probably die and be very angry with me. Mind you, right
now I wouldnt mind if some people weren't alive, but thats just me in a
bad mood. I'll get over it. I just want to ask if people agree with me
or not that leading Bella out like this is wrong, and that the person
should be responsible.

What then if we say they are? Perhaps the Gods may see fit to make it a
Pk'able offense as a deterrent. Better yet, perhaps people will realize
the danger to others and think twice before they attempt a stunt like
that just because they can. As I said before, a simple shout of warning
would suffice in most instances. I'm not saying you shouldn't do it at
all, but rather to make sure other innocent parties are not affected by
your lack of thought. And in the case your actions do affect others,
please have the courage to take responsibility and say you messed up. A
simple sorry if nothing else would be the least you could do.

Thus ends my rant. Thank you for your time.

-V.

Penned by my hand on the 8th of Valnuary, in the year 331 AF.