Vizuri

Vizuri is a pegasus zony player character in the Horn of Darkness campaign.

Letter to the party:

Angel Gaze and company:

After the terrible shock of what I witnessed yesterday and giving careful thought to the matter, I've decided that I can't continue taking part in this expedition. There are several reasons for this:

1. As a protest against unfairness. I was NOT informed of the true nature of the situation. I was led to believe that Colonel Curse controlled a small force that was a threat to a small number of indigenous warthogs. The reality of Locktown instead indicates a large, well-organized, fast moving army capable of destroying an entire town in minutes, despite it being protected by a sizeable garrison of soldiers. I see no plausible way for a tiny expedition of mostly non-military ponies to expect to emerge victorious against such a formidable enemy. Had I been told I was signing on to a suicide mission, I would have declined at the outset. Having become aware, I'm declining now.

2. Because after having witnessed several mistakes and unwise decisions, I've lost confidence in both the leadership and military competence of this group. Sound security advice I've offered has been ignored without even the courtesy of explanation or discussion. Those in leadership positions have put themselves and others in danger by taking risks not justified by necessity. This only compounds my belief that none of us will survive if we attempt to engage Colonel Curse's vastly superior force.

3. Because even if this expedition does somehow succeed, I have no confidence that I won't be cheated. I've already been unfairly drummed out of employment in the recent past, and I recognize the symptoms of forthcoming unjust treatment. Angel Gaze explicitly stated her intent not to disburse my pay, and even offered it to another expedition member. I no longer feel that there is any good faith intent to honor financial agreements and therefore I feel no obligation to take part in a venture that will not compensate me.

4. Because even if there was an intent to pay me, no amount of money is worth dying for, and per #1 and #2 above, I don't see how this task is survivable. Therefore, no payment could possibly be sufficient to justify staying on.

5. Because I find myself questioning the morality of the Equine cause with regard to colonization and the resulting conflicts with native peoples. I can reach no other conclusion than that the situation with Colonel Curse is a symptomatic malignancy growing out of the larger general imbalance and unfairness inherent in this system, and in light of the reality about the massive scale of his force, I see now that the type and degree of insanity we face here would not have occurred in people not made insane by institutionalized inequality and mistreatment. I believe that our attempt at intervention, meeting violence with more violence, will only help perpetuate these problems.

6. Because I don't appreciate the unprofessional treatment and sexual harrassment visited on me by other expedition members. I've been ordered around as if I were a lowly enlisted soldier, but I am not military. I've had my flank grabbed in a crude and disrespectful manner, but I am not here to serve the carnal pleasures of others. I choose not to expose myself to this environment any longer. If a group can't respect and work harmoniously even among itself, it has no hope for success in any venture.

To conclude, I can only offer this advice: Those who have any wisdom will turn back from this fool's errand. To those who insist on proceeding anyway, I wish you the best, and it hurts me to say that I don't expect to see any of you alive again. I hope that this letter finds you all well, and quickly enough to give you the chance to make the right choice. I also hope all of you will take heed and will not let yourselves be bullied or lured by promises of wealth or glory into wasting your lives for nothing, but the decision of how to proceed is ultimately down to each of you as individuals and you'll have to search your hearts and make that choice for yourselves.

I'm also sorry about leaving so suddenly, but I can't see any good outcome from staying to discuss this. Firstly, it would be time wasted with no point: having been ignored before, I don't think I will be listened to now. Secondly, those who fight monsters are at grave risk of becoming one themselves, especially a pony like Angel Gaze, who is young, naive, and, most dangerous of all, certain and self-righteous about her cause. The tunnel vision brought on by her determination has already made her willing to march an impossibly insufficient expedition to certain destruction at the hooves of an enormously larger hostile force whose brutality and bloodthirst is undeniable. I have no doubt that in her zealousness she will resort to ever more extreme methods as events unfold, and given my poor treatment and the pettiness already evident so far, I worry that if I wait, I might be prevented from leaving at all, perhaps even being physically restrained or coerced with threatened harm.

Having carefully considered all of these things, the only acceptable option, for me, is to remove myself from this situation before it spirals further out of control and the worst happens.

Goodbye, and good luck,

• - Vizuri