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Post by Daos on Jan 25, 2017 11:45:38 GMT -8
The next morning begins with a grey gloom settling over the village of Buho, both literally and figuratively. The skies are overcast, blocking out some of the sun. Despite this, it's still fairly warm out and will likely be fairly hot once the sun reaches its apex. It is Agate 30th, Darkday, in the year 312 and it's 7 AM.
Ladonna wakes up early that morning, at around 6 AM. Normally, she would have work today, but obviously that is cancelled now. Her father is already up and gone to work, if he ever came home last night at all. But her mother and sister are still asleep at first, giving her a chance to study her spells, if she so chooses to. Once they are up, the three have breakfast together. The mood is quite dreary, though. The thought of another goblin attack blankets everything else. Afterward, Ladonna heads to the village square to meet up with the others.
Ryan wakes up at dawn's light and has a light breakfast with his mother, who continues to worry about his safety. He then heads to the temple to pray and study, before making his way to the village square to meet up with the others.
Zurgrim stayed up late, soaking the grain he bought, but finally managed to get some sleep afterward. He awakens early, prepares his gear, and then sets off to the village square to meet with the others.
When the three arrive, they find that Damon, Tavos and Bula are waiting for them, as well. Damon is dressed in old, second-hand chain mail that looks slightly too big for him. He also carries a large, well worn great sword on his back that looks older than he is. Sometimes when he moves, his backpack makes a clattering noise, as if it were full of pottery. Zurgrim recognizes the armor and sword as having belonged to Sandon. In fact, for a brief second, he almost mistakes the lad for his father. The father-son resemblance is much stronger when Damon is dressed for battle.
Bula is wearing studded leather armor that appears crudely, but effectively made. She carries a great axe that has a few nicks and scrapes on it from past battles. Slung over her shoulder is a quiver filled with black or red feathered arrows and a long bow. She carries no backpack, but does have a belt pouch.
Tavos looks much better this morning, the color having returned a bit to his cheeks. He wears old leather armor that looks to have been made for someone bulkier, probably a human. The handle of a club sticks out of his backpack and slung over his shoulder is a quiver holding a short bow and quite a few green feathered arrows.
"McIntyre," Damon says with a heavy sigh. "This is the group you put together for me? Two mongrel bastards, an old man, and a barmaid? This isn't exactly the elite fighting force I was hoping for."
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(OOC: Spellcasters can pick new spells today. Everyone should check your equipment and decide what you are bringing and what you are leaving behind. Also take note of your clothing. It's summertime, and you'll be traveling, so you might want to dress lightly. However, it also looks like it may rain, so taking a cloak or something similar with you might be a good idea, just in case.)
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jan 25, 2017 13:09:02 GMT -8
OOC: Replace charm person with armor.
IC: Ladonna leans against the staff that was given to her last night, and looks over the group that has been gathered. "I don't know," she says as she absently runs her free hand through her hair. "We might not be an elite force, but we look like we can get the job done."
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Post by Nuke on Jan 26, 2017 8:04:00 GMT -8
Ryan shows up in the morning, refreshed and feeling strong in his faith.
He is happy with the group on hand, but much to his chagrin, Damon is not.
"This is it, hopefully we will meet your expectations. We are not looking for a fight, we are to investigate and report back."
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Post by djhyland on Jan 26, 2017 10:01:01 GMT -8
Despite his expectations of a sleepless night, Zurgrim awakens from a fitful sleep. It doesn't make much difference, though, as he feels barely more rested than he would have if he'd have stayed awake. But at least the wait is over: he doesn't look forward to what he has to do today, but at least it's finally time to do something.
As Zurgrim opens the old chest that he keeps his armor and weapon in, the memories of that day twenty-odd years ago come flooding back like they've never done before. Sure, he's taken his gear out to sharpen and polish and maintain--he's even done so recently--but the fact that he's about to put it all on again is striking. As he dons his gear, it's as if the years have fallen away and nothing has changed since the last time he went out to fight the goblins. Nothing, that is, except for the increasing pains of getting older.
By the time he arrives at the village square, Zurgrim's managed to mostly work the aches out of his body, and feels almost like the young man from so long ago. He waves to the others as he approaches, but his good cheer is cut short by Damon's remark. He makes a point to greet Ladonna, Ryan, Bula, and Tavos warmly before turning his attention to Damon. Pointing a stern finger at the fool, he scowls. "Listen here, boy. You're lucky ya have a fighting force at all, much less one that's willing to make ya part of it, ya know. And if I were ya, I'd start treating us with some respect...after all, you're going to be depending on us to keep ya alive out there." He looks Damon in the eye and holds his gaze for a long moment. "Now, if ya don't like what I've just said, you're welcome to go out on your own and take on the goblins all by yourself, then! Otherwise, you're going to apologize to us for your insult, and then we'll all move on and do our job to keep the town safe."
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Post by Daos on Jan 26, 2017 10:59:59 GMT -8
Damon says to Ladonna, "You're far too optimistic, I think. But hopefully we aren't slowed down too much."
To Ryan, he adds, "Hopefully there is at least some fighting. Otherwise this trip is going to be pretty boring."
At Zurgrim's remarks, however, the lad's face turns red. "You're one to talk about respect, old man! Are the rumors true then, and you're starting to lose it? Do you know who I am? My father's the only reason you lived long enough to go so grey. Feel free to go back home before you break a hip, if you want. But don't expect me to clean you up if you forget where you are and crap your pants or something."
Tavos meekly speaks up. "Uh, maybe...we should...get going. There's no need to argue among ourselves. I'm sure nobody meant any disrespect, right? We're all...just worried about the village. But we're all on the same side, don't you think?" He chuckles nervously, holding his hands up defensively.
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Zurgrim is now in light encumbrance.
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Post by djhyland on Jan 26, 2017 13:45:08 GMT -8
Zurgrim doesn't look away from Damon's eyes, or even move a muscle. "I said, apologize," he demands, but he keeps his voice even. "I know exactly who you are--you're Sandon's boy, and you've been raised your whole life being told that you're better than everyone else because your father was a hero. I agree, he was. But he wasn't the only one who fought the goblins that day, nor was he the only one who died heroically. But you...you're no hero. You're a bully, one who uses his father's name to get what he wants. And like any other bully, you're afraid. Afraid that you won't live up to your father's reputation. Afraid of losing your place of honor. Afraid of looking weak. That's why you throw his name around like water, so nobody ever forgets that you're Sandon's boy. So nobody ever thinks that you've done nothing to earn the respect that his name gives you. So nobody ever questions you."
Zurgrim turns to Tavos. "I'm quite certain that Sandon's boy does mean disrespect when he calls you a "mongrel". I'm sure that he meant disrespect when he was throwing rocks at you the other day. Tell me, do you really think he'll go out of his way to help you out there with the goblins if things go wrong for us?"
Turning back to Damon, Zurgrim says, "Now, say you're sorry and we'll all forget about this. I am old...too old to carry a grudge. But I'm also too old to let you bully me. If you're too full of yourself to admit you're wrong, then go ahead and go crying back to your mother and tell her that I'm being mean to you. Go ahead and go out to fight the goblins by yourself and die trying to prove you're as good as your father. Or just apologize and prove you're a man, not a boy, and come help us."
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Post by Nuke on Jan 26, 2017 17:38:26 GMT -8
Ryan thinks to himself, 'I could grow to like that old dwarf.' He watches the little discussion take place before he interjects himself into the conversation.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jan 26, 2017 18:43:11 GMT -8
Ladonna watches the exchange between the old dwarf and Damon before she finally clears her throat. "I don't believe we really have time for this," she says. "While we argue among ourselves, those goblins could be gaining ground to threaten our town more."
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Post by Daos on Jan 27, 2017 10:11:31 GMT -8
"No, no, no," Tavos objects frantically, wide-eyed. "He's right, I am a mongrel. 'Tavos the Mongrel' they call me, it's like a fun nickname." He laughs nervously. "I take no offense, it's all in good fun."
Damon's face goes from red to purple and a large bulge forms on his neck. "I'm not afraid of you, I'm not afraid of anyone or anything you old piece of--!" For a moment, it really looks like Damon is about to strike the old dwarf. In a one-on-one fight, Zurgrim can't be sure he could take him. Damon is younger, stronger and faster. But at the last moment, Damon seems to think better of it and immediately cools down. Taking a deep breath, he turns away from Zurgrim, toward Bula. In a calm, almost serene voice, he says, "I heard there's some new legislation being introduced at the council at the next meeting. A law that will make it illegal to sell alcohol in town without a license."
Bula, who had been watching the exchange with amusement, looks taken back. "What?"
"Well, it only makes sense," Damon continues. "We want to hold a high standard to the alcohol sold to our people. Can't have them drinking moonshine brewed in a filthy tub in someone's basement, can we? Not to worry, though. You can get a license from the council if you meet the quality standards."
Bula furrows her brow in thought. "And who decides the standards?"
"Why, the council, of course," Damon answers. The implication isn't lost even on Bula. Hazel and Rebekah could easily acquire the license, being on the council themselves. But as an orc who has only lived in the village for a year, and has no pull at all with the human council, such a law would be devastating to her business.
Zurgrim recalls Grat speaking earlier about how thin their profits have been. How much they are depending on the extra income from the upcoming festival. If they lose the ability to sell alcohol, the tavern would be bankrupt in almost no time flat.
Damon turns back to Zurgrim. "Of course, with a few words to the right people from me, the law could be killed before it even gets passed. But that's up to grandpa here." He looks down at Zurgrim smugly. "Either you apologize for insulting me and my family's honor and fall in line...or we see just how many demi-humans you're willing to drag down with you."
Bula looks to Zurgrim fearfully, knowing that her family's business now lay in the old dwarf's hands.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jan 27, 2017 20:15:31 GMT -8
Ladonna rubs her face with her hand for a moment, and sighs softly before she walks over to Tavos. "So, do you know the farms all that well?" she asks. "I know you've pretty much been all over this town, which is why I asked you to come along." In the back of her mind, she was thinking about taking out her spell book, hitting the old dwarf over the head. This was not what they discussed doing in their little meeting last night.
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Post by djhyland on Jan 28, 2017 5:11:51 GMT -8
"One more time, boy," Zurgrim says. "Don't you see what I'm trying to do? I knew your father. Not well, but enough to know that he was a good man, a humble man. And you know what? If he could see you now, he'd be damn ashamed of the way you're acting! Your father was no bully. Oh, he could be tough, but he was a fair man, a respectful man. But you...you may look like him, but you're nothing like him."
Zurgrim shakes his head, but maintains his stare. "I suspect that you want to be more than Sandon's boy, eh? You want to live up to being like your father? Well, you can go off and fight the goblins all you want to prove you're as great as him, but it won't be enough. Your father's not just a hero because he died fighting the goblins, he's a hero because he was loved and respected beforehand, too. He's a hero because he died to protect not just himself, but his whole community. No, if you want to be like your father, and not just your father's boy, you've got to respect other people, even if you don't agree with them. If you don't, well, some day being Sandon's boy won't be enough for anybody else, not just me. It won't be long before everyone else is as sick of your behavior as I am right now."
"Do you want to be like your father? Then start acting a bit more like him!"
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Post by Daos on Jan 28, 2017 9:15:58 GMT -8
Tavos the Mongrel fidgets a bit as he splits his attention between the confrontation and Ladonna's question. "Actually, I probably know the woods better than the farms. The farmers don't like me near their land. Too afraid I'll steal something. I know where the Kurtz farmstead is, though."
Damon scowls at Zurgrim angrily. The dwarf's attempt to reason with the lad seems a little too late after the previous exchange. "Don't you speak about my father, dwarf. You don't have that right. I don't need a lecture about family from you, old man. My father died protecting this village, as a hero. But from what I've heard, you abandoned your family. So what would you know?" He crosses his arms. "So I'm only going to say it one more time. Either apologize and fall in line, or you and your orc friend are out of a job. What's it going to be?"
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Post by djhyland on Jan 28, 2017 9:42:47 GMT -8
Zurgrim shakes his head sadly. "Blackmail, is it? How about this? I'll apologize for the way I spoke to you, but I won't apologize for calling you out as a bully or demanding that you treat us all with respect." He stares at him for a long moment. "Do you know why I've stayed in Buho for all these years, even though you and the rest of the town treat me as a pariah? Because as bad as it is, it's better than what else is out there! I've seen an entire city put to the sword. I've seen men, women, and children raped and murdered to slake a monstrous bloodlust because they dared to resist!" He shakes his head. "No, you don't scare me. Whatever you might do, I've seen worse. You will not blackmail me."
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Post by Daos on Jan 28, 2017 11:20:41 GMT -8
Damon shakes his head. "You still don't get it, do you? This isn't a negotiation. You can't ask for compromises. You have nothing to bargain with; no leverage at all. Either you accept my terms or you don't. In which case, the Goblin's Tooth gets shut down. This isn't blackmail, it's about respect. You talk a lot about it, but it's clear you have none. Not for the council, not for my father, and not for me. Well, consider this a lesson in civics. This is how things work here. You either have power, or you don't. And you, dwarf, don't. So you want to stop wasting time while the goblins form an army and advance toward this village and accept my terms? Or do you want to take your orc friends down with you?"
"Zurgrim, what are you doing?" hisses Bula. "I have a son to look after. Just swallow your damn pride and do what he says before I lose my business!"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Jan 28, 2017 19:40:06 GMT -8
"Well, you'll get to explore the farms today," Ladonna says, though she seems pretty distracted from the argument behind her. With a sigh, she steps in between Damon and Zurgrim. "Excuse me," she says over her shoulder to Damon as she grab's Zurgrim's arm and starts to drag him off to the side away from the group. "You are insane. We agreed not to do exactly what you are doing right now," she said in a whisper. "And you are just making things worse for those that are not human, so stop it! We have more important things to do than you trying to whip some boy into shape."
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