CH. 07 - Family Reunion

[GravityEmblem]

"Well, we have a lot of work to do!" Kori remarks, setting Habbakuk down. She scans the room for books which look out of place--or just interesting.

[Daos]

Habbakuk curls up in one of the chairs and quietly bathes himself while Kori looks over the books.  Many are written in Solamnic, but some are written in Common and a handful are even in Elven.  The books seem grouped by subject matter.  One section has books on history, one on geopolitics, one on agriculture, one on the knights themselves, one on poetry, one on religion, and one on basic education, presumably for children.  Nothing looks particularly out of place, at least that she can tell.

Chatty grows bored with looking, and just starts yanking books off the shelf and tossing them onto the ground.  "C'mon, one of these has to do it."

Katzsrutt laughs.  "I fooled you, didn't I?  And I've fooled Broadblade; he suspects nothing.  I'm a great actor.  You're just mad that I'm doing a better job at this than you."

[HorizonsDream]

"I don't know much about the Qualinesti attempts. I believe the group is called the Young Bloods," Ravarie says. "They sneak in, grab as many as thry can, and then just set us free," she says. "Even I was recaptured, but not by the Silvanesti," she explains.

"As for the ones following me, they really don't have a choice. They are dark elves now, by no fault of their own. Their mother wanted me to marry Sorrith, and then there was a coup in their house," she says. "So their mother was looking to unite the Kagonesti and the Silvanesti, but others didn't want it to happen."

[GreyWolfVT]

Regar "I only know what I've heard from stories and been taught growing up which is not a lot in the line of elven histories."

[TristenC]

So at least some involved feel intermarriage between the Kagonesti and Silvanesti will bring about some rebalance between the two? And I imagine those that oppose it want to retain their more favorable situation... Do you know any families or factions who might benefit the most or oppose the change in principal in such a clandestine and violent way?

Going back to her specific situation, How did they keep your people from escaping on their own? What did the group that freed you do to get you away?

[GravityEmblem]

"Careful not to destroy them," Kori says, leafing through the book of basic education. "That would make people mad."

[HorizonsDream]

"It really depends on the family that keeps the slaves," Ravarie says. "I jumped between, I think, 5 families before I ended up with Sorrith and his family. Most owners used violence of some kind. I think I remember not being fed a few times," she explains. "Sorrith's family was the only one to really treat me well. His mother treated me like her own daughter, and Lalora and I were like sisters," she explains. "But I don't know the politics of the Silvanesti. That is something Sorrith and Lalora would know more than me."

"As for how they got me out, I'm not really sure how they managed to get in honestly," Ravarie admits. "It all happened so fast. I think they managed to sneak us through some secret passage. They had to have someone on the inside."

[TristenC]

Well at least your companions have some insight into that society. Yet still you say even Sorrith, who you were being... let's call it 'arranged' to marry, still isn't convinced that keeping Kagonesti slaves is inherently wrong.. How would he feel about his family keeping goblin or human slaves? Or even Qualinesti slaves? Other Silvanesti? The line, to him must lie somewhere. I wonder if blurring that line in his mind might help him see beyond it... Maybe this is too much, coming from me, but if you had married him, would you still be considered a viable target for slavery? Would half Kagonesti/ Silvanesti children have been shuffled to one side or another? Perhaps that is what his mother was trying to do; blur the line so much it cannot be easily drawn and acted upon...

[Daos]

Nov 30, 2021 15:12:14 GMT -8 GravityEmblem said:

"Careful not to destroy them," Kori says, leafing through the book of basic education. "That would make people mad."

"Really?  Why would it make them mad?" asks Chatty.  "They're just books.  Things.  Dead trees, really.  Kind of sad how many trees died just to make some squiggles on a page, isn't it?"

[HorizonsDream]

"Sorrith and Lalora aren't convinced that keeping the Kagonesti as slaves is wrong," Ravarie says. "The way that many of the Silvanesti view it, including Sorrith and Lalora, is that they are civilizing us," she explains. "Honestly, it just sounds like an excuse to get their hands on our land," she says slowly, as if she just realized what was really going on. After making the connection, she laughs slightly and shakes her head. "I'm sorry. It might sound really...stupid, but I just pieced together was was actually happening. Taking the Kagonesti as slaves, disbanding out tribes, all in the name of civilizing us, is just a cover to take over our land....our home," she says. "And that is what is going to make a peaceful resolution extremely difficult. Not only that, but I have to find a way to restore Sorrith and Lalora to their proper place within the Silvanesti society. There are also the orges that keep slaves...or rather gladiators. I was hoping the knights would be willing to help with that problem."

[TristenC]

Grubnick grins, sardonically. Goblins do the same thing. Only the tribes and bands don't use the same pretty words. A tribe takes something from another because it can. Oh some might say 'your leader is weak, we are helping by making you part of our strong tribe now.' Or they just kill those who resist and tell the rest, 'what you had is ours, and if you want to live you are too.' his grin grows only on one side of his face into a horrific smirk, pulled up by the jagged scar along his temple and cheek. Few pretty words. Same difference. Those not in charge convince themselves the leaders must be right. The whole structure breaks down otherwise; like stacked pebbles.

[GreyWolfVT]

Regar stands around a bit uncomfortable and says nothing.

[GravityEmblem]

"Yes, but it costs a lot of money to kill trees and turn them into squiggles!" Kori reminds her. "...do Kender have currency, though? I seem to recall that Kender don't have personal possessions, either..."

[Daos]

Dec 2, 2021 5:28:14 GMT -8 GreyWolfVT said:

Regar stands around a bit uncomfortable and says nothing.

Noticing Regar standing alone in the hallway, the same maid Kori spoke to earlier approaches him.  "Was there anything you needed, sir?" she asks.

Dec 2, 2021 6:19:23 GMT -8 GravityEmblem said:

"Yes, but it costs a lot of money to kill trees and turn them into squiggles!" Kori reminds her. "...do Kender have currency, though? I seem to recall that Kender don't have personal possessions, either..."

"We don't believe in ownership," Chatty explains.  "It's silly to think a person can own anything--land, or items or even other people.  I mean, it's not like you can take any of it with you when you die.  And anything you pick up and say, 'This is mine' can be taken away from you anyway."

[HorizonsDream]

Ravarie seems a bit...unnerved by Grubnick's words and grin. "I'm sure the Silvanesti wouldn't take too kindly to be compared to goblins," she points out. "But, I'm at a loss on what to do."