"Indeed the knocking is nice. I was thinking of putting a post in the ground with a small wooden hammer attached. The preparations go well. The trials should be relatively quick. There isn't much dispute of the facts. Was there something you wanted to talk about?"
Dengorin considers the elf for a few moments, before saying, "And if I remanded him to your custody, what would you do with him? I agree he shows a great deal of intelligence and leadership qualities, but he has committed a crime, and as the leader of this group, even the appearance of leniency to him could embolden others to similar action. This could lead to quite a bit of disorder, and the dissolution of the colony. It is a pity. Had they come to us with their concerns before committing theft, we could have addressed those issues and worked with them. Too, you do have more important duties than minding a hostile and uncooperative horse thief."
Kurhat spent this month parading around with the scouting troupe. He guided them in the most sensible, dwarfy fashion, encased in stone and safely squatted on his horse. The other dwarves spent the month preparing a taxation plan, but not all of them agreed, so they prepared half a taxation plan instead.
"Threat of execution when the charge is horse theft? We would look like tyrants should we do that. Still, there is merit in your case. Kael will be the final trial, so I shall think on this. Please, attend. I will have made a decision by then."
If we had a real road between here and there, making the trip wouldn't be as much of a hassle. We'd feel so much more part of the kingdom, rather than abandoned like we do now! Please, Lords, do this for us and our families.
Qazag nods. "Roads are also important for defense. They allow troops to move quickly to where they are needed. We should begin this at once."
"Rest assured it is something we planned to address, I will look into the matter more however we do not have infinite resources so it may take a little while but I will see if the process can be expedited."
Kurhat rides back into the upstarting settlement. One of the scouts of the army men approaches Qazag, "Sir, there are large, feline-like beasts roaming the south-east area. Their teeth are sharp, sir! Predators like that won't let us safely be if we are to build in the area."
The dwarf returns to his tent, where the other dwarves have devised a steady taxation plan. Taking off his travelling, glossy armor, "What a trip. What is the news around here?" Krom was feasting on a chicken leg and some ale, before he swallowed and pointed his chicken at the tent flap, "The youngin's be concerned about more unrest. It's got my appetite in a wonk." Khermet cracked the cartilage in his nose and snorted, "Unrest is expected. This isn't a dwarven settlement. The young races are always at unrest."
Kurhat sat in his velvet cushioned chair and rubbed his black whiskers, "Aye, I heard some news about travelers needing a road. Frankly, it was to be expected, but the others emptied the coffers before we could properly fill them. Hasty and..." Lighting his pipe, he puffs it lightly, "I'm not all convinced it was necessary." He would likely spend the entire day around his tent, and the next following days getting to know the locals. Within one week, 200 people would know the Grimjaw name and know it to be an honorable, just sort.
"Roads would allow us to bring in the harvest a lot easier and it would also mean patrols go smoother, would it not General?" Abalia asked with a smile. "Also I was thinking ahead, maybe we should build a granary. Somewhere to hold any extra harvest should we have any left over."
Kurhat rides back into the upstarting settlement. One of the scouts of the army men approaches Qazag, "Sir, there are large, feline-like beasts roaming the south-east area. Their teeth are sharp, sir! Predators like that won't let us safely be if we are to build in the area."
"Hmmm... we could set aside the area as a nature preserve. If these cats could be tamed... and trained... they could make fierce guard animals."
"Large apex predators that lack a pack mentality very rarely make useful military acquisitions without some form of magical control."
Varden will approach you at a point when you are away from everyone else, randomly running in to you while you are out and about in the budding township sometime in the week after your return from scouting.
"Ahh, Master Grimjaw, I have been meaning to speak with you. Fortuitous that I might find you here, I am in need of small aid."
"M'lord Moore, might I have a moment of your time."
"Large apex predators that lack a pack mentality very rarely make useful military acquisitions without some form of magical control."
"Indeed. The land there is desert, so it is not especially useful to us, so it will be some time before we concern ourselves with the area."
"Time enough to find the right kind of magic, if we need it."
Dengorin has spent as much time as he can assisting the people and providing direction for the construction efforts. He ensures that he is always easily found for those who wish to ask him a question or for the blessing of Abadar. He considers his position to be to listen to the will of the people and pass that will on to those who rule. The leniency he had shown Kael and the others would hopefully make them feel more comfortable approaching him and the Church of Abadar.
Dengorin considers the missive from the rather enigmatic Elf. He still suspected there was more to the desire to take custody of Kael than merely potential, and he wasn't entirely sure the man didn't have a private agenda, as well as goals that may not correspond with those of the other council members. Still, as long as the elf's goals aligned with the good of the colony, declining the invitation wasn't worth any perceived offense. It was just as likely that he was trying to make sure there was no ill will between himself and Tsiala. He didn't dislike her or her deity, so he suspected that wouldn't be an issue.
Penning a response, Dengorin accepts Varden's invitation to dinner. It should be a pleasant affair.
"Might I speak to you for a second Sir Qoroshúk?"
"Not at all. Sergeant! Take over here."
Qazag comes aside with Varden a little ways away from the soldiers.
"So... Lord Varden. So what can I do for you?"
Kurhat was riding around on his horse, meeting up with potential shop owners or with anyone who might have the inclination to become a shop owner. He wore his parade armor, for show, while his other dwarves were elsewhere, discussing the terms of the taxation to those who didn't understand it.
Kurhat woahs his horse and stops to give Varden some of his time, "Aye? Varden was it? And what aid were you hoping to secure from me?" His mouth shifted a bit, his black beard and thick stache moving around like a grumbly humbug, "Know that I only collect what is to be spent by others. If you wish for coin, you will have to discuss that with our royal family." Those were the dwarf's terms! One has to go through the proper channels for monetary spending.
Samuel will be willing to meet with Varden as soon as Abalia and Evin are ready.
Kurhat drifted his face away from the conversation, eyeing the elven man, "And so you raises these questions to a dwarf?" This wasn't a laughing matter and Kurhat pulled at his black stache, taking a moment to mull it over, "I don't hold the same deep sated hatred for the goblinborn. As long as they pay their taxes, don't stir up no trouble, and don't raise their fist to proper rulers. Under these regulations, I accept them."
Shaking his head, "Your charge has broken one of these tenets, but may still do well under the other two. Though a criminal is a criminal regardless of race and how many laws he's broken and a branding would have sufficed." Kurhat adjusted himself in the saddle, clearing his throat, "Anything else you would like to discuss?"
Elijah will patrol the emerging township, keeping a watchful eye out for any trouble or discrepancies. He is pleased that the Kael trial is over, but is worried that it may not in fact be truly over. He wonders if more trouble could arise.
He is in the middle of a report when Lord Varden comes up to him and asks for his time.
Of course, what is on your mind giving him a nod and offering a chair.
Kurhat grunts, sitting up on his saddle, "Asking another long-lived race, such as a dwarf, about the shorter lived ones is not the most efficient path. That's all. But I'm glad you found a satisfactory answer." Kurhat lifts his shoulders in a shrug, "I have no questions of immediate importance. But I do have business to attend to. If you'll excuse me." He would wait for a few moments before giving Varden a single nod and snapping his reigns for his horse to trot.
"You can give up some of your precious time to discuss a matter that has come up."
Qazag raises an eyebrow. "Can I now?"
"I do not have much dealing with short lived races, and in dealing with the young rabble-rouser I have come up to the edge of my knowledge. So, might I ask, how has your mixed heritage effected your life sir?"
Qazag scratches his chin.
"Hmmm... I suppose there aren't many half-orcs living in elven lands. So it makes sense you would have little experience with them."
"For a half-orc growing up in human lands, things can be difficult. Many humans, when they see a half-orc, do not recognize the difference and assume you are just like an orc. This can mean a lot of things; savage and violent, strong, stupid, primitive, and so on."
"As a child it is difficult growing up with these assumptions. If you are playing a contact sport with other boys, and one of them is hurt by you accidentally, the human parents will say 'See? The half-orc child is too violent! We must keep him away from the other children!', even if the human children would sometimes make the same mistake, and when they did, oh, it was just a mistake. Or the other children play tricks on you, and when you fall for those tricks they say 'look how stupid the orc is!' even though human children fall for the same tricks. Or when a human child is hurt in a typical child's brawl everyone assumes that the half-orc child must be the culprit, even if you weren't even there."
"Overall, a half-orc child living among humans learns to believe that the world is unfair."
"For some of us, this is a good thing, because the world really isn't fair, even for humans. Some get more than they deserve, and some less, and who knows if it is fate or chance. So you learn to fight for the chances you get."
"For others, they begrudge the world for its unfairness, and determine that there is no reason they need to treat with others fairly. That it is only through being unfair that they will get what they want, because this is the example set for them by the world."
Qazag shrugs.
"I suspect your Kael is in the latter category. He feels no shame for what he has done because he was just trying to give himself what others seem to have. And he has no reason to ask for mercy because he does not think it would be granted in any case, so there is no point in humiliating himself for no benefit."
"The reputation of half-orcs is not all negative. Some of it proves useful. Since we have a reputation for being strong and tough many of us are encouraged to join the military. This was true in my case."
"At the same time, the reputation for being savage, violent, and undisciplined made it very hard for me to advance in rank. I had to show twice as much discipline to get the credit a human soldier would have."
"If I wanted to take advantage of that reputation, I might have ended up in the criminal underworld, where intimidation is important and the reputation for being homicidal is useful. Sadly, that kind of like doesn't give you much of a future. I wonder if Kael has had that kind of life. Sadly, I don't know a lot about bringing people out of that life and into a life that is productive. You might ask our high priestess; that seems to be what Sarenrae is about."
Qazag shrugs again, and looks at Varden.
"Does that help?"
Elijah listens and ponders what Varden has said.
You make valid points. Your knowledge and experience trumps my own, and I would be foolish to turn down such an offer. Once this town is stable, and sustainable, a watch and larger sentry will be a necessessity. I would welcome sending my men to learn of various topics from you. While you may currently be unoccupied, such a state my be welcome down the line as there is only so much time in the day to accomplish tasks. My men should be well rounded, as one never knows what knowledge one will need. Enjoy your downtime, as Kael's fiasco has given me much to figure out and document. I hope we made the right decision that won't backfire