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Post by Daos on Jul 13, 2019 15:45:52 GMT -8
It is around sunset just as the small village of Varvil comes into view. It's quite small, maybe home to two hundred souls at most. Nothing compared to the massive city of Daltigoth. It looks like the docks suffered some damage from the storm, but there is at least one boat still floating in the harbor. On the north side are some farms, as well as a large manor of some kind. Aside from the manor, most of the homes and shops here are weather-beaten and in some kind of disrepair. There's a shrine on the east side of the village, and just west of it looks like some villagers are making a bonfire. Surprisingly, there is very little activity over on the shore, despite this being a fishing village. As soon as they reach the village, a pair of human guards in chain mail, carrying pikes, and wearing red and white tabards with a sea dragon emblem on them, approach them. "Elves and goblins? A strange mix," the first one, a male notes. The other, a female, asks, "What business have you in the village of Varvil?"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jul 13, 2019 15:59:21 GMT -8
"We were shipwrecked," Ravarie says. She doesn't really seem pleased with the humans so far, bit maybe things would improve.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jul 14, 2019 9:30:05 GMT -8
Grognak stands back. Between his heritage and his poor social skills, interacting with humans may not be a good idea.
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Post by Daos on Jul 14, 2019 9:56:30 GMT -8
"And?" the woman asks. "That doesn't answer my question. Do you even have any coin to spend here?"
"Or maybe you're here looking to start trouble?" the male asks.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jul 14, 2019 10:58:11 GMT -8
"Erm," Ravarie says. "We aren't here to start trouble. We are just looking for, um, a place to stay for the night before we continue on our way."
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Jul 14, 2019 14:54:21 GMT -8
"Lady Ravarie speaks the truth," Dorias volunteers. Stepping forward, he nods to the two soldiers and introduces himself: "I am Dorias Mar-Quon, Cavalier of Ergoth. We were shipwrecked in an unseasonable storm and thrown ashore not far from here. I have family in Zhea Harbour, so we are on our way there and expect to be on our way in the morning again. We will be happy to pay for room and board for the night, if such is available, as well as share such news as we have."
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Post by Daos on Jul 15, 2019 11:02:20 GMT -8
The two guards share a look of surprise. "A cavalier? You certainly don't look like one," the male notes.
"Alright then, you can pass," says the woman. "But don't start any trouble. Our lord doesn't tolerate troublemakers. You'll be expected to have left by morning. There's an inn down by the docks. And keep those goblins in check."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jul 15, 2019 11:11:50 GMT -8
Once Ravarie passes through the little check point into town, and she feels as if she is out of earshot of the guards, she says. "I'm not really an expert, but did they seem a little off?" she asks. "Or at all humans that hostile towards other races?" If they were that hostile towards other races, then she had a feeling she was going to have a hard time finding allies among them.
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Jul 15, 2019 11:56:38 GMT -8
"The only thing we're interested in is something to eat and a good night's sleep," Dorias replies to the guardswoman. "By the way, is Varvil missing a fishing boat? We passed a wrecked boat on the way here - three crew, all dead unfortunately."
"I'm no expert on fishing villages, Lady Ravarie, but life here is hard to begin with and by all accounts the ogre occupation was worse. That tends to breed suspicion when it comes to outsiders, especially ones belonging to peoples that have, in the past, allied with the enemies of Ergoth," Dorias replies with a nod towards Reeker. "As for whether all humans are hostile to other races, the answer is no. Some certainly are, but most are merely disinterested in other places and people. Much like elves, really," he says with a sly look at the two Silvanesti elves accompanying them.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jul 15, 2019 12:32:32 GMT -8
Once Ravarie passes through the little check point into town, and she feels as if she is out of earshot of the guards, she says. "I'm not really an expert, but did they seem a little off?" she asks. "Or at all humans that hostile towards other races?" If they were that hostile towards other races, then she had a feeling she was going to have a hard time finding allies among them. "Most man are. Especially to goblins," Grognak answers.
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Post by Daos on Jul 15, 2019 12:57:31 GMT -8
"I haven't heard anything, but I'll pass it along to our lord," the guardsman replies.
After the party is out of earshot of the guards, they speak to each other quietly while heading toward the inn.
"Are you joking?" asks Lalora. "Humans caused the Cataclysm in their effort to wipe out everyone who doesn't think like they do. It's basically all they do, aside from breeding and consuming resources."
"It's less disinterest and more...wisdom," Sorrith explains. "We know that meddling in things makes them worse. And right now, at least, we're more focused on rebuilding our homeland...or making a new one."
"Which wouldn't be necessary, if humans hadn't destroyed our home," Lalora adds.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jul 15, 2019 15:25:25 GMT -8
"I've never came in actual contact with humans, so how would I know?" Ravarie asks curiously. She is rather naive about the world around her, and she was happy about that until her world was turned upside down.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Jul 16, 2019 3:58:20 GMT -8
"Was partly raised by humans. Pretty nice, except for leader who kicked wolf pups. But I killed him," Grognak says. "Can't just assume all one people are bad. Not all human like ones who caused...cat-list. Some are. Not all."
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Rax
Dicemaster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Rax on Jul 16, 2019 9:00:35 GMT -8
"I am no expert on ancient history, Lady Lalora, but most stories I have heard fault the Istarians and their Kingpriest for the Cataclysm, and the Istarians were not the whole of humanity at the time. However, if the cause of the Cataclysm was the actions of Istar, I find it difficult to believe that the gods in their wisdom could not have conceived of a less...radical...means of showing their wrath. Instead, they chose a means that was bound to strike everyone on the continent - man, elf, dwarf, kender, goblins and ogres alike. And when they withdrew their grace, they did so from all peoples, not just humanity. So it seems to me that whatever the failings of the Istarians, the gods felt that all of us were equally in need of their lesson."
"A great many people lost their homes in the war, Master Sorrith, and if you'll recall, the ranks of the Dragonarmies were filled with far more than just humans. Draconians, goblins, and ogres, to name some. And here in Ergoth, it was an elven Dragon Highlord that led the attack. 'Meddling' as you put it, is not the sole province of humanity - anyone can become a force for evil, and some become so even with the best of intentions."
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Post by Daos on Jul 16, 2019 15:04:19 GMT -8
"Then you are quite lucky, I'd say," Sorrith says. "I'd rate then higher than ogres, though, but not by a wide margin." "Then how many?" asks Lalora. "Either most humans are evil, and the handful of good ones are powerless to do anything, or most humans are good, but for some reason do nothing to stop their evil minority from nearly destroying the world." "Perhaps so. Perhaps the lesson was we should have put a stop to the humans back before they became such a danger," Lalora says smugly. "Not sure it's comparable," Sorrith replies. "We lost our entire nation. Also, when the war ended, many of those displaced got their homes back. We are still exiled to this land, and will likely remain so for some time. Maybe forever." Lalora's eyes flash angrily. "A dark elf, cast from the light," she argues. "Banished forever from his people and homeland; he was barely an elf at all after that. And even so, that's one compared to the thousands of humans who fought for the Dragon Queen." As they walk, they pass by a light house as they approach the harbor. One of the buildings has a simple sign over the door which shows a bed, but has no name or words at all. It's L-shaped with a yellow roof. The entire building, at least the exterior, is quite weather-beaten and a bit dilapidated. By now, the sun has started to set and the stars are beginning to emerge, although no moons can be seen at all. A warm, orange glow emits from the inn's windows, showing that someone is within, at least.
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