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Post by notARobot on Apr 24, 2018 20:11:18 GMT -8
Theron seems content to ignore the ongoing debate about what to say regarding their encounter with the zombies in the swamp. It had barely registered as all that interesting to him when it happened -- he'd been preoccupied with the unfortunate effects of being bitten by a giant leech at the time. So he simply walks along in silence for a while, as the rest of the group shares their opinions on whether or not it's wise to mention the fallen Buhoans. At one specific point, though, something comes up that seems to pique his interest, and he can't help but interject: "Probably can't make an emotional appeal to a guy with a heart of stone," Jherek comments. "My heart...is not made of stone," Ingot corrects. "Oh, yeah, that reminds me..." Theron says to Ingot. "I'd made a similar remark a while back, on our way to the goblin village, and you corrected me. I had meant to ask a follow-up question or two back then, but for some reason or another I forgot. So...what's up with your physiology, anyway? If you aren't solid stone, then, uh...what are you made of?"
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 24, 2018 20:34:22 GMT -8
Ladonna tries not to stare at the other party members in disbelief as they try to handle Ingot's question. "Sometimes the truth isn't as important," Ladonna tries to explain. "Take Ethen, for example. If I were to tell him that his brother died thinking that he had failed Buho, that would most likely lead Ethen to drinking more than he all ready does, and ultimately it could lead to his death," she explains. "By telling him that his brother died bravely in the name of Buho, it brings closure to Ethen. With that closure, he might stop drinking and become a more productive member of Buho society."
After hopefully explaining the situation in a way that Ingot can understand, she lets out an audible groan at Theron's question. "I'm not really sure which is more offensive at this point. The heart made out of stone comment or the 'what are you made of' question."
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Post by Daos on Apr 24, 2018 21:03:52 GMT -8
"You believe...I do not comprehend...emotions?" Ingot asks.
"I am flesh...and blood. I am...human. I just...look different," Ingot responds. "And perhaps...my skin...is a little...tougher," he adds, looking down at his own hands.
"But they did...die bravely. Presumably. That they...rose again...does not dispute...how they died."
He adds, "Lying feels...wrong. Regardless of...motive. I am not...comfortable with this. Should we not...at the very least...tell the truth...to the reeve?"
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Post by GravityEmblem on Apr 25, 2018 4:16:13 GMT -8
"Oh," Lillian says, nervously. "My deepest apologies, Ingot. I did not mean to offend you in any way. It's just...I'm a bit sensitive to the subject at hand."
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 25, 2018 10:04:12 GMT -8
".... Okay. We can tell the Reeve."
"That way someone in a position of power knows about it in case it ever does become relevant to Buho's defense" Katya agrees. "I think Ser Walls will agree to keep it from the council."
"Because, yes, Gonto teaches us to tell the truth. She also teaches us to respect the dead, and not to harm our communities."
Katya lays a hand on Ingot's forearm. "If The Reeve knows and agrees that it's a detail best omitted, will that make you feel more comfortable?"
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Post by Daos on Apr 25, 2018 10:50:09 GMT -8
After several moments to ponder it over, Ingot nods silently to Katya.
It's not too long after the party reaches the eastern gate of Buho. "Halt, who goes there?" asks one of the watch as they approach. "Wait a minute...it's you guys! Why are you coming in from this direction?" The gates are quickly opened. "Never mind, you best report to the reeve right away. She's in her office."
A couple of the young watch recruits escort the party straight to the barracks, and into the reeve's personal office. Once again, it's a bit cramped with all nine party members. The reeve gets to her feet as soon as they enter. "I'm glad to see you made it back alive. We got reports that the goblin army had withdrawn, but we weren't entirely certain what that meant. It looks like you are all still in one piece, more or less, so should I take that to mean you have good news?"
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 25, 2018 12:05:58 GMT -8
"Yes" Katya confirms.
"When the leader of the Bloody Spear received reports that we were near he sent a runner to recall his army. The army did not arrive in time. We captured him, ordered him to have his men stand down until they received further instruction, and delivered him to the Wood Fang Tribe."
She watches how Ser Walls reacts to that bit of news.
"We made it clear before we left that we were delivering their Chieftain to the Wood Fang, not to Buho, so we should not be subject to any retaliatory strikes or attempts to free him. We spoke with Ubisek just hours ago. He believed the Bloody Spear are sure to fracture into a number of smaller tribes without clear leadership. They should not be a threat going forward."
"...We have more to report, but perhaps that can wait until after we've eaten? Supplies ran out two days ago..."
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Post by HorizonsDream on Apr 25, 2018 14:43:09 GMT -8
"Actually, there isn't much more to report other than what we ran into in the swamp," Ladonna points out to Katya. "During the Battle of Buho, some men were sent out into the wild to wipe out remaining goblins," she explains. "We found one of those patrols in the swamp. They came back to life and attacked us, thinking that we were their enemy from so long ago. They apparently died believing that they had failed Buho by not wiping out the goblins during their patrol, so when they came back to life they will filled with so much hatred. One of those men was Ethen's brother. We came to the decision to tell you what happened, but most of us don't believe it is the best idea to tell the council what happened to these men. It is best to think that they fought and died bravely for Buho, rather than them coming back to life filled with hatred, and thinking that they failed Buho."
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 25, 2018 14:54:46 GMT -8
"I was also going to talk about Thul. We don't know whether or not there will be repercussions for him."
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Post by Daos on Apr 26, 2018 13:42:20 GMT -8
The reeve blinks in surprise. "The Wood Fang? Why?"
"I'll send someone to bring you some food. In the meantime, please continue with your report," she replies. "You mentioned a Thul?"
"Ethen's brother? You're referring to Davion's patrol." The reeve leans back in her chair, taking a moment to absorb this. "So that's what happened. When Davion's patrol first vanished, I sent men to find them, but they always returned empty handed. Never even found any bodies. That was almost twenty years ago. I had almost forgotten..." She shakes her head. "But you put these people back to rest then? At least poor Ethen can finally have some closure about his death."
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 26, 2018 14:16:11 GMT -8
Katya settles in to tell her story, since food is being brought to them and all.
"We arrived at the tunnels Garnet's vision had forewarned us of. It took us time to find the Chieftain - his name was Brakk-Ni - because he was hiding behind a hidden door. When we finally found it he was surrounded by" she pauses to search her memory "um, a dozen or so of his own men? And also an ogre. He introduced himself an the ogre to us - that was Thul - and claimed the Bloody Spear and the ogres were discussing a treaty. We talked a little while. Tried to get him to surrender without a fight. He would not, fighting ensued. Thul cracked Jherek over the skull and I... I admit I saw red. I engaged the ogre in single combat and killed him."
"While I fought Thul the others mopped up Brakk-Ni's men. When they were all knocked out or dead he barricaded himself in his room. Then we had a moment to discuss what to do next. Finbul pointed out that Brakk-Ni had stayed in his caves while the army marched. That meant they did not need him to lead the army its self. We needed a way to strong arm the Bloody Spear not just into retreating for the moment, but into not attacking Buho in the future either. So rather than kill Brakk-Ni we decided to take him captive. If we just brought him back to Buho, though, the army might march anyway trying to get him back. So we decided instead to bring him to the Wood Fang, since Ubisek has proven if not necessarily trustworthy, then at least proven that he has bigger problems with the Bloody Spear than he does with us."
"It was an effort to muddle the Bloody Spear's power hierarchy."
"That decided we broke down his door, I smacked him with the hilt of my blade and he surrendered immediately. The coward."
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Post by notARobot on Apr 26, 2018 14:42:43 GMT -8
Theron doesn't add his voice to the report; he appears to think Katya is doing a satisfactory job. He studies the reeve's face as she receives the torrent of information, though, mentally noting how her reactions coincide with each part of the tale. The gnome periodically looks back at the door they came in, as though Walls's promise of food delivery is weighing heavily on his mind.
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Post by Daos on Apr 26, 2018 20:31:17 GMT -8
"I see," Derica says, tenting her hands. "A clever strategy...and one I might not have even thought up myself. Then you've completed your objective. There will be no war with the goblins, not even in retaliation?"
"You sound disappointed that he didn't fight back?" she asks, curious.
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Post by Ezeze on Apr 27, 2018 6:07:15 GMT -8
"You sound disappointed that he didn't fight back?" she asks, curious. Katya shakes her head 'no.' "Not disappointed that he didn't fight back, but like I said we gave him the opportunity to surrender before a dozen of his men were dead. He threw away their lives, and was blustering and bragging about his magic right up until the moment I smacked him. Then he surrendered without reservation."
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Post by Daos on Apr 27, 2018 9:15:54 GMT -8
"I see. In any case, I'm impressed you faced an ogre in single combat and defeated him without any help at all. That's a difficult feat for a veteran, and as far as I knew, you had no formal weapons training at all," Walls says. "Perhaps that should change, though. You might want to consider training here with the militia. Maybe you can teach my watch boys a few things."
She adds, "As far as the ogres, I'm not sure how that will play out. Ogres tend to value strength above all else. Knowing that one of their own was killed may anger them. Or they may dismiss this Thul as being weak and deserving of death. In any case, if they do seek vengeance, they may well blame the Bloody Spear for his death, not us. For now, we'll just have to wait and see how things play out. But I think we're in the clear, at least for now. Unless anyone else has anything further to add?"
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