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Post by Ezeze on Apr 18, 2018 13:54:55 GMT -8
"I'll defer to the group, of course" Katya inclines her head at Ladonna and Finbul "though I don't think we'd be spotted, and definitely don't think we'd be pressured to return home. If Wood Fang scouts could get into an occupied farm without being seen then surely we can get into an empty one, and even if we are discovered the people most likely to be anywhere near the farms are my mother, Jherek's parents or Finbul's siblings. None of them would order us back if we said our mission was incomplete."
"Plus..." she appeals to Ladonna directly "a bath." She grins, her attempt to indicate this is a joke. Well, partially a joke. Even an hour or two to soak in warm water would be so, so welcome right now.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 19, 2018 1:45:25 GMT -8
"A bath would be wonderful," Ladonna admits. "But it is a luxury right now. I would prefer not to waste anymore time," she explains. "Besides, I really do believe your farm is going to be watched by our people."
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Post by notARobot on Apr 19, 2018 10:31:20 GMT -8
Theronymous lets out an exasperated sigh. "Well, if it's not practical, it's not practical. Sure woulda been nice, though. Ah well, see you guys in the morning." He looks around the camp for the driest, most comfortable spot to sit through watch duty and settles in.
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Post by Daos on Apr 19, 2018 12:16:22 GMT -8
The night watch passes without incident. Now that they are out of the hills, there is little they have to worry about. The following day, Chrysote 5th, they set out again. Whether they stop at a farm or not, they arrive at the edge of the Hartwood Forest either at sundown or a little after sundown. Almost immediately, three goblins jump out of hiding behind trees or shrubs, armed with short bows, pointing arrows at them. "Stop," one says. "This Woodfang terra...terro...this Woodfang place!" Nak'skree steps forward and the goblins seem to be surprised, lowering their bows in recognition. She has a private conversation with the lead goblin, who then turns and disappears into the brush. Nak'skree returns to the party and explains. "They are fetching my lord. He has remained close to the border in anticipation of news of your return." A short wait later, Ubisek emerges from the brush along with an honor guard of six more goblins. Nak'skree hurries over to him, then drops to her knees. " Sko," she says reverently. "Nak'skree...you are alive," Ubisek says incredulously. "I...when you failed to report in, we assumed you had been killed." "No, my lord. I was taken prisoner and interrogated, but I told the Bloody Spear nothing," Nak'skree explains. "The villkru rescued me and together, we captured Brakk-Ni." "Brakk-Ni?" Ubisek only now notices the second goblin with them, his hands tied together. "Captured?" Brakk-Ni snorts and takes a few steps toward Ubisek, but stops when his honor guard point their spears at him. "Hmph. Ubisek. Been a long time, brother." 'Sko' roughly translate to 'my lord.'
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 19, 2018 12:57:30 GMT -8
"...Brother?" Ladonna asks, looking between Ubisek and Brakk-Ni.
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Post by Nuke on Apr 19, 2018 16:36:14 GMT -8
Ryan can't help but let out a "Ha." but refrains from saying anything further.
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Post by GravityEmblem on Apr 19, 2018 16:43:13 GMT -8
"I don't find that very surprising," Lillian says softly.
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Post by notARobot on Apr 19, 2018 18:05:07 GMT -8
Theron steps forward, taking in the exchange between Ubisek and Brakk-Ni. "My friends and I were thinking it might be better to leave him with you, rather than see him face the villkru's 'justice'," he says, addressing Ubisek. "...but before we commit to that, I have to ask: what would you do with him?"
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 20, 2018 10:28:39 GMT -8
Katya does exactly what she said she would and defers to the will of the group; they do not stop by the farms on the way to see Ubisek.
Once they meet with Ubisek Theron jumps to ask what she views as the most pressing question before she can, so with nothing to add she remains quiet.
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Post by Daos on Apr 20, 2018 12:16:36 GMT -8
Ubisek frowns. "I believe in your own language, the more accurate term would be 'half-brother.' But the distinction is moot. Familial units are not a thing in goblin culture; such attachments are considered weakness. He is only bringing that up to throw you off your guard."
Brakk-Ni just laughs at this. "Come now, dear brother. You'll make our dead mother's soul weep with your cold attitude. She would hate to see us fight."
"I have to admit, I didn't foresee this. Villkru aren't known for sparing our kind's lives, except to torture or enslave us," Ubisek says. "I am impressed you were able to put aside the decades' old animosity between our peoples long enough to do this."
"I will see to it he's treating humanely and will no longer be a threat to anyone," Ubisek answers. "And without his leadership, the Bloody Spear will crumble into bickering, smaller tribes that will no longer be large enough to threaten Buho."
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 20, 2018 12:45:51 GMT -8
"I am impressed you were able to put aside the decades' old animosity between our peoples long enough to do this." Katya speaks up for the first time, saying; "It seemed right that we should start since you've done so much already, Chieftain." "Forgive me for asking, but during our trip Nak'skree mentioned that you spent time as a slave..." she hesitates, unclear which question to ask first. 'Where', 'How did you escape?' and 'yet you reject Renos?' are all good candidates. She ultimately decides to leave it open ended, allowing Ubisek to decide which parts he wants to talk about - if any.
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 20, 2018 13:56:29 GMT -8
"As we believed, you would be able to handle him better than our council would," Ladonna says with a nod of her head. She seems to agree with the way that Ubisek would handle his brother. Though, she doesn't seem very convinced that family units don't really exist in goblin tribes.
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Post by notARobot on Apr 20, 2018 15:06:26 GMT -8
"I will see to it he's treating humanely and will no longer be a threat to anyone," Ubisek answers. "That is reassuring," Theron replies. "If you'll forgive me for prying, though...would you mind elaborating on what, precisely, that entails? Our leaders in Buho will want a full report of all that has transpired...and the more details we can provide, the better it is likely to be received."
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Post by Daos on Apr 21, 2018 7:19:51 GMT -8
Ubisek looks over to Nak'skree. "Did she now?"
Nak'skree blushes deeply and drops to her knees again. "Forgive me, my lord. I...I was careless!"
Ubisek shakes his head and chuckles. "At ease. There's no harm done, I suppose." Turning back to Katya, he says, "Yes, it is true. The villkru raided my home and captured many of us. We were enslaved to work some mines to the west. I spent nearly twenty years there."
"And now, instead of seeking revenge against those who wronged you and our people, you break bread with them," Brakk-Ni accuses. "Disgusting."
"Not at all," Ubisek counters. "The villkru responsible for enslaving me are all dead now. Every single one of them. These are not the same villkru," he says, gesturing to the party.
"Villkru are villkru. They are all the same. And mark my words, you will one day regret ever trusting them for anything," Brakk-Ni warns.
"I cannot," Ubisek replies. "As I have no idea. I never expected this scenario, and so never prepared for it. I will need some time to decide what to do. In the interim, I will keep him locked up. You can tell your leaders that the Bloody Spear will not be a threat to you any more."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 21, 2018 14:08:48 GMT -8
"If we were all the same, wouldn't you be dead by now?" Ladonna asks Brakk-Ni. "That is what you expect from us after all."
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